Really an ace?

Is Cliff Lee really an ace? Not when he won't pitch on three days' rest when his team needs him.

Last season for the Phillies in the World Series, he didn't say 'Give me the ball' the way a Jack Morris would. Though Lee won two games against the Yankees, the Bombers went on to win the Series.

This year, the Rangers decided before their Division Series against Tampa Bay that they wouldn't ask Lee to pitch on three days' rest. So, the lefty was dominant against the Rays in Game One. Texas won Game Two, and was just one win away from winning the first postseason series ever, in club history.

Game Three on Saturday saw the Rangers have a 2-1 lead, and they were just five outs away from advancing, before the Rays rallied.

Now, Game Four on Sunday isn't going to be Cliff Lee. It's going to be Tommy Hunter.

So, suppose Hunter doesn't beat the Rays. Then it's going to be 2-2 in the series going back to Tampa, with Cy Young candidate David Price going for the Rays in the finale.

No pressure on you, Tommy Hunter.

The bigger pressure is going to be on Cliff Lee, who doesn't want to pitch on three days' rest. If it goes to a fifth game, you better hope you bring your "A" game, or you'll be letting the whole franchise down. Might as well pitch a no-hitter, Cliff, to show your worth. Otherwise, it's going to be ugly...

Jack Morris wasn't perfect, and I'm not a fan of his, but you have to admit, the former Tigers and Twins World Series hero was one of the gutsiest pitchers of his era.