Notebook
Phillies' Lidge, Indians' Lee Named Comeback Players of the Year
Philadelphia's Brad Lidge converted all 41 of his save opportunities for the NL East champs.
(By Tom Mihalek -- Associated Press)
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Pitchers Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians and Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies were honored yesterday as baseball's comeback players of the year.
Lee went 22-3 with an American League-leading 2.54 ERA after going 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA in 2007, being demoted to the minors at one point.
"I've never seen a season like that," Indians Manager Eric Wedge said. "From start to finish he was incredible. There were real reasons for it. He worked hard physically to get back."
Lee was Cleveland's first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry in 1974. He is the favorite to follow ex-teammate CC Sabathia for the AL Cy Young Award. "I'm sure he's going to be busy this winter," Wedge said.
Lidge was a perfect 41 for 41 in save opportunities as the Phillies' closer. In 2007, he converted just 19 of 27 for the Astros.
"I never lost confidence in myself, no matter what the years were like or the results," he said. "I always felt I was going to come back and pitch to the best of my ability."
"Where could we go get anybody better? He's been that good," Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel said.
· CUBS: Manager Lou Piniella plans to stick with Chicago for a while. The Cubs picked up the option on his contract for 2010 yesterday, a day before the NL Central champions open the playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 65-year-old Piniella guided the Cubs to a 97-64 record, the best mark in the league.
"I'm thankful and I look forward to a couple more years," he said. "I should be tired, but as long as I have the passion, why not?"
Piniella, who has 1,701 career wins, signed a three-year, $10 million deal with a club option after the Cubs went 66-96 in 2006 under Dusty Baker. The Cubs have gone 182-141 in two seasons under Piniella, with two postseason berths.
· YANKEES: General Manager Brian Cashman agreed to a three-year contract that runs through 2011. New York missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Cashman took over as GM in 1997 and his current deal was set to expire at the end of October.
