Kuzul

Cliff Lee decided the Phillies were the best fit for him and his family.

Didn’t see this one coming. Everyone thought Lee would be a Yankee. After all, players never reject money from the Yankees. This would not suit the Players’ Association well if they did.

The Yankees were led to believe Lee wanted the money and lifestyle. They assumed he would take a page from CC Sabathia and go for the money.

When Lee signed that extension, it was shocking, awesome, and hilarious. It was a great day in baseball when the ace rejected their overtures.

One can only envision what Goon was thinking. He beamed with joy. He praised Lee’s character. There’s no question that pitcher is his favorite player for doing the right thing.

Good for him. There’s no reason to be mad at him. He did what was right for himself and his family. His wife did not like anything about New York, especially with the way she was treated in the playoffs.

There’s no point in having him if he does not want to be there. The Yankees experienced this with Carl Pavano, and it did not go well after his first start with the team. Plus, he did them a favor. No team should be overpaying a starter for seven years, especially when the guy is hitting his thirties.

It was clear he wanted to stay in Philadelphia all this time. He wasn’t happy about being traded in the first place last year. The Phillies traded him because they didn’t believe he would sign with them.

Apparently, that team was on his mind all year. He pitched well for the Mariners and the Rangers, but that wasn’t enough for him to be happy. He was hoping he would be traded to the Phillies during the trade deadline. The Phillies tried to get him but it never happened, so they settled with acquiring Roy Oswalt.

It was interesting Lee took his time to make a decision. This writer thought he would stay with the Rangers. He had every reason to stay. They were going to pay him well. That’s a team that is going to be a powerhouse for the next seven years. There was no pressure to win. Plus, Arkansas is an hour away from Texas.

Those were good selling points, but it came back to wanting to go back to Philadelphia. He enjoyed it over there. He loved the fans and he loved his teammates. He enjoyed being around Charlie Manuel, who is a player’s manager.

He hoped the Phillies somehow were in the race. If they were, he’d sign on their dotted line.

No matter how much money Brian Cashman offered, it wasn’t going to be enough. In life, money doesn’t mean happiness. Lee applied that theory well.

It was clear he didn’t want the grind of playing in New York. He didn’t want to be in a situation where winning was a relief. For him, he needed fun. He has it in Philadelphia.

Good for him. It’s about time a baseball player did something different. Lee did something others won’t dare to do. They were tempted by the almighty dollar or the lure of the Yankees.

He sacrificed all that money just to be on a great team. He showed he wasn’t about himself. He didn’t need to be the man or deal with the attention of being a Yankee.

The Yankees got what they deserved here. They had no backup plan. They did not do their homework on Lee. They should have focused on other players while they were focusing on their prized recruit. No one should feel sorry for them.

It’s amusing ESPN wasted their segment focusing on what the Yankees can do. It’s doubtful baseball fans care one way or another. Even Yankees fans are not worked up on that.

Now, the Yankees have to do it the hard way. That is developing pitchers. What a novel concept, right?

This should be a good thing. It’s time they learned getting a pitcher to sign with them is not easy as they thought. It’s never a guarantee they can trade or hope to get that guy. After the Lee experience, they should know better.

They shouldn’t be so sure that Lee is an aberration. In baseball, players are competitors. Most of them either stay or go to a team where they can make a difference. They don’t join a team where they take the easy way out.

Lee’s decision could be a trend. Players can realize they don’t have to be a Yankee to be a winner. They can join other teams. They can win while being comfortable.

Baseball should be proud of what Lee did. Now, small-market teams don’t have to fret about their core players going to the Yankees. He set an example that being a Yankee doesn’t have to validate a career. He also set an example where guys can be content without much money.

It’s rare the Yankees get shut out in this type of situation. We always hear how players want the money, and how they love the lifestyle of New York. Yankees fans have been smug and arrogant forever.

This also means the Yankees are not going to win a championship this year. The Red Sox and the Rangers are the two best teams in the American League.

The Yankees don’t have the pitching. Their hitting has gotten older. It’s hard to believe Cashman will make moves that will make them better. Their prized prospects are overrated too, so don’t expect them to make a difference.

Now, there’s no guarantee Lee will have success in Philadelphia. The Phillies look like an aging team over the last two years. Most of their players are hitting at the wrong side of 30. Lee was better off staying in Texas.

Lee is going to try to win a championship and be happy at the same time. If he falls short, don’t expect him to lose sleep over it. He’s content in being happy, and making sure his family is happy.

This is what sports should be about. Too many times, there is too much talk about how it’s important to be a champion to validate a career. Lee doesn’t need that. He pitched in the World Series in the last two years. He will try to get one more next year, but he’s not going to think of himself as a failure.

He doesn’t need to be a champion like Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Sabathia need to be. He’s not going to apologize for it either.

It would be a nice story though if he won a championship in Philly. It would show the Yankees he didn’t need them to be a champion. Here’s hoping that happens.

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