Texas Rangers pitcher and Yankee-killing mercenary Cliff Lee gave his team a 2-1 lead in the ALCS last night after totally skullf:cking the Yankees high-priced lineup. Lee took the mound to start Game 3 and went eight innings, striking out 13 and surrendering only two hits. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Rangers scored six runs in the ninth inning to lock up the win.

From a career of humble beginnings, he’s starting to run with men such as Koufax, as Gibson, as Hershiser. At 32, Lee reached his prime just as his ballclubs began reaching October, and the result is eight playoff starts, seven wins and a 1.26 ERA. Over three starts and 24 innings this postseason alone, he’s let in two runs, struck out 34 and walked one.

I get that if you want to field a team in New York City and expect people to come out to see it, you have to get elite talent, just like Broadway acquires the best stage actors, or how Skeezy Pete’s on 145th Street gets the finest hos. So I’m not bothered by the $200-million-plus payroll that the Yankees have. But that won’t stop me from waving that number in the faces of Yankees fans if their team doesn’t reach the World Series. Stop laughing, Phillies fan. You’re next…

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