Cliff Lee: We Expect To Ultimately Win World Series
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Cliff Lee pitched five innings on Wednesday, allowing just one run in a 1-0 loss to Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. Lee, in six Spring starts and 24.2 innings pitched, has an ERA of 2.55 with a mere four walks and 26 strikeouts. He has been one of the lone bright spots this Spring for the Phillies.
After his outing yesterday, Lee has some things to say about the lack of expectations for the Phils as they get ready to begin the season on Monday in Texas.
"For us, we've got all the confidence in the world," Lee told reporters, "and expect to win and win the division and get to the World Series and win that ultimately. That's what we're expecting to do."
While Lee remains optimistic with high expectations, the majority of the fan base, the media, and scouts around the league do not agree. Most analysts expect the Phillies to finish no better than third in the NL East, behind the Braves and Nationals.
"I don't care what people are expecting. I know what we expect and that's what matters," Lee said. "Experts or whoever predict who's going to win what and they're never dead on. There's a reason why we play the games and at this point we're all even and it's a matter of just taking care of one at a time."
While the Phillies core players are admittedly older, for the first time in awhile, those veterans are healthy as Opening Day nears.
"Our every day guys are healthy. It's nice having [Ryan] Howard and Chase [Utley] and Jimmy [Rollins] and Ben [Revere] and all the guys that over the past couple of years been banged up a little bit, it's nice to have all them healthy and going to start."