Cliff Lee's Tenure as Mariner Goes Full-Cycle

Cliff Lee did not make a start until the last game in April due to the abdominal injury he suffered in Spring Training. At the time Lee came off the disabled list, the Mariners were still in the thick of things. Despite not having their left-handed ace, the Mariners had still managed to kick and scratch their way to an 11-11 record. They were only one game out of first place in the AL West.

Then, Lee came off the disabled list a few days after throwing a very economical rehab outing in Tacoma. He opened a weekend home-stand against the Texas Rangers and was just as sharp as he would look the rest of the way as a Mariner. He went seven shutout innings, allowed three hits, struck out eight, and walked none—classic Cliff Lee. Mariner fans learned that Friday night—if they did not already know—that watching Cliff Lee ply his craft is a true treat for any baseball fan.

But, that same game that went so well for Lee ultimately signaled the beginning of the end for the Mariner’s season. The game went into extra innings after both teams failed to score, and most will remember that game as the one that witnessed Eric Byrnes draw his bat back on a failed suicide squeeze play—a blunder that has come to epitomize a blunder-filled Mariner season. It was shortly after that game that Lee’s agent shared Lee’s intention to test the free agent market after the season. These two revelations—that Lee wasn’t going to get any run support as a Mariner, and he sought a free agent contract at season’s end—demonstrated the reality of the situation, that Lee would not be a Mariner beyond this season.

That game was also the first loss in an eight game losing streak, and the team has not sniffed .500 since then. We all know how the season has played out since Lee’s debut. Things have not gone well, and many fans knew, even before Memorial Day weekend, that Lee would be dealt sooner rather than later.

The Lee sweepstakes became the talk of the trade rumor mill, and even after it had become a foregone conclusion that Lee was going to the Yankees in exchange for the Montero/Adams/McAllister package, circumstances changed. The Rangers seemingly made one final plunge, adding Justin Smoak to their trade package to seal the deal with Jack Z.


Now, Lee goes to the Rangers, the team against whom he battled when he introduced himself to the Mariner fan base back in April. Mariner fans will miss his tempo on the mound, his working ahead against opposing hitters, and generally, his professional approach to the game. We may see him pitch again in Safeco Field this year, albeit in a Rangers uniform. The Rangers will travel to Safeco two more times this season, for a total of six games. Fans will come prepared to applaud Lee, as he most definitely earned the respect of the Seattle faithful.

I want to thank Cliff for the memories this season. His outstanding month of June was one of the few highlights of the season, and the Seattle fanbase will recall his short tenure with the ballclub as an unfortunate, missed opportunity—just because he was so good, yet the Mariners have been so bad.