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Lee Captures AL Cy Young

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The Associated Press

Published: November 14, 2008

Updated: 11/14/2008 12:11 am

NEW YORK - Cliff Lee went from the minor leagues to the pinnacle of pitching in one fantastic year. Now, he is eager to repeat his award-winning performance.

Lee took the American League Cy Young Award in a runaway Thursday, capping a dominant comeback season that made him the second consecutive Indians left-hander to earn the coveted prize.

"It feels a lot better than it felt in '07," Lee said on a conference call from his Arkansas home. "I want to win this Cy Young again. I want to make a habit of it."

Demoted to the minors last year, Lee went a major league-best 22-3 this season with a 2.54 ERA. He received 24 of 28 first-place votes and 132 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Toronto ace Roy Halladay was a distant runner-up with four first-place votes and 71 points. Record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels finished third with 32 points.

Lee became the third Cleveland pitcher to win a Cy Young, following Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in 1972 and CC Sabathia last year.

"We are pretty close friends, and there's a lot of things I picked up from him and I'd like to think there's a few things he picked up from me," Lee said of Sabathia. "I've tried to help him out in situations, and he's tried to do the same for me. Apparently it's worked. We've turned into pretty good pitchers."

The 30-year-old Lee led the AL in ERA and ranked second in innings (2231/3) and complete games (four). Halladay, the 2003 winner, topped those two categories with 246 innings and nine complete games. The right-hander also was 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA, second in the league. He piled up 206 strikeouts to Lee's 170.

AL Cy Young voting, Page 8

BREWERS: The team exercised Salomon Torres' $3.75 million option even though he announced his retirement Tuesday. The Brewers plan to place Torres on the voluntary retired list today, which will remove Torres from Milwaukee's 40-man roster and keep the club from having to pay his salary.

CUBS: Chicago acquired reliever Kevin Gregg in a trade with the Marlins, a move that appears to end Kerry Wood's career with the team. Gregg was acquired for minor-league pitcher Jose Ceda.

DIAMONDBACKS: Pitcher Randy Johnson, 45, filed for free agency after failing to reach a contract agreement to return to Arizona.

METS: The last remaining luxury suite at Citi Field, which opens next year, finally sold. The Mets' suites, which hold 16 to 22 people, sold for $250,000 to $500,000 apiece.

PHILLIES: Former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo joined the coaching staff, but he wasn't immediately assigned a specific position.

TWINS: Manager Ron Gardenhire signed a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season.

YANKEES: Started their offseason makeover by acquiring utility player Nick Swisher and minor-league pitcher Kaneoka Texeira from the White Sox for pitching prospect Jeff Marquez, infielder Wilson Betemit and minor-league pitcher Jhonny Nunez.

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