Dallas Sportscaster Disses Cliff Lee

Dallas ESPN radio personality Colin Cowherd trashed Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee on his show August 23rd, saying the lefthander “hates Texas” and wants to be a New York Yankee. “That is a dude that gets out of town the second the season ends. He’ll get out of town, go to the Yankees and jettison the Rangers”.  Cowherd fumed on: “He wanted to be a Yankee. He doesn’t like Texas. He doesn’t pitch well in the heat. I’m told he will not re-sign with Texas.”  Cowherd said he had been told “by a source” that Lee, who is a free agent after this season, will not re sign with the Rangers.

“It’s a lie” Cliff Lee said in response.  I did not say that…Either say who the source is or shut up because I am saying it is not true.”  Cowherd stood by his comments that Lee has never pitched well in Texas, wants to play for the Yankees, and would not re sign with the Rangers.

Well, let’s break this down a little.  The Rangers made the trade for Cliff Lee in July knowing he was a free agent to be.  They made the move to win now, and were well aware they could lose him to the Yankees or someone else next year.  That’s just the way it is these days, you do what you have to do to win especially if your franchise doesn’t make it to the post season very often.  A couple of years ago the Milwaukee Brewers picked up CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians, knowing full well they were likely to lose him to the Yankees after the season.  He did, indeed, lead the Brewers to the playoffs, and then left for New York.  The Brewers are rare visitors to the playoffs, and so are the Rangers, so the moves make sense.  And if Lee doesn’t pitch well in the heat, who can blame him for leaving for a more moderate climate where he would pitch better over the course of a long season? It wouldn’t do the Rangers any good to pay Lee some big time money in a multiyear contract if the guy wilts in the heat every August.  Then watch guys like Cowherd complain about all the money tied up in an underperformer. 

Actually, most of this is pretty obvious.  Maybe Cowherd’s anonymous source was just a guy overheard at the next table in a sports bar.  Get a grip, Colin.

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