Cliff Lee: 4 Reasons Philadelphia Phillies Should Start Him in Game 1

Call it a best-case scenario come true.

When the Philadelphia Phillies signed Cliff Lee last December they had one thing on their mind: a World Series Championship.

Now, nearly nine months later, the time has come to live up to expectations.

The Phillies are closing in on their fifth consecutive NL East title, as expected.

General manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. went out and acquired what was seemingly the missing piece to the team’s lineup, as expected.

The starting rotation (although Vance Worley has greatly exceeded expectations) has dominated hitters all season while helping the team avoid any prolonged losing streaks, as expected.

And now the door is about to be opened to the next set of expectations for the Phillies as they continue their historic season.

If someone had told manager Charlie Manuel in December that one of his toughest decisions this season may be deciding who should start Game 1 in the playoffs, Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, he would’ve gladly taken on the challenge.

But now the time has almost arrived for Manuel to make this decision.

And his decision should result in handing the ball to the pitcher who has appeared in the past two World Series.

No matter which pitcher takes the mounds, the Phils should have a great chance of winning Game 1.

But their chances may be best with Cliff Lee on that mound.

Call it unfinished business.

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