The Key? Cliff Lee

Heading into Game 3 of the ALCS in New York, the Rangers were looking to capitalize on the pitching matchup at hand and ride a Cliff Lee victory to a 2-1 series lead. They did just that, and it might be a great sign for Texas. The last time a road team won Game 3 of the ALCS and went on to lose the series was all the way back in 2001 when the Mariners took game three at Yankee Stadium, but ultimately lost the series in 5 games. With the Rangers leading the series 2-1 now, though -- losing in 5 games won't be an option for this resilient group.

Since he's the x-factor of their postseason thus far, I'm going to introduce you to the man they call Cliff Lee. He's 3-0 this postseason with a 0.75 ERA. He has become the first pitcher in the history of the game to strike out 10+ batters in three consecutive starts in the same postseason. Those just happened to be his first three of the playoffs. At the age of 32, it's been a roller coaster ride for Lee. How did he find himself in this position after all these years?

It's been unique from the very beginning of his professional career. Lee was drafted by the Marlins back in 1997, taken in the 8th round, straight out of high school. Instead of going the pro route, though, he decided to enroll at Meridian Community College in Mississippi. A year later, Lee was drafted again in the 1998 amateur draft -- this time in the 20th round. Like before, however, he opted to pass the professional path for the time being and enrolled at the University of Arkansas. When he was drafted for the third time in the 2000 amateur draft -- snagged by the Montreal Expos in the 4th round -- he couldn't hold off any longer. Lee signed with the Expos in July of that calendar year.

Lee never broke onto the Major League scene with Montreal, and he was traded to the Cleveland Indians (packaged with Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, and Lee Stevens) in 2002 in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. He made his Major League debut later that season for the Indians, going 5.1 innings and allowing just 1 run on 2 hits in a loss to the Minnesota Twins. He would finish that year starting just 2 games and compiling an 0-1 record, but his 1.74 ERA was a bright sign for the future. In the following season -- 2003 -- Lee started 9 more games at the Major League level, going 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA. It was the final season that he would only be a part-time contributor on the pitching staff.

Once Lee got the chance to be a full-time starter, he never loosened his grip on the opportunity. Starting in 2004, he has registered 14+ wins in every season that he has started a minimum of 30 games. His most masterful season came in 2008, when he racked up a filthy 22-3 record with a flashy 2.54 ERA and a then-career-high 170 strikeouts. Since that season, those strikeout numbers have risen -- he tallied 181 in the 2009 season before punching out 185 this season -- and so has his stock. From seemingly nowhere, Cliff Lee has become arguably the most dominant pitcher in the league.

Sure, it's pretty painful to think about the fact that Lee has been on the market each of the past two seasons. Cleveland dealt him to Philadelphia before the deadline last season. He was dealt to the Mariners in the offseason. The Mariners dealt him to Texas before the deadline this season. It's easy to point out that trading for Cliff Lee might have been a much better investment than going after a guy like John Lackey. But hey, I guess we just have to count our blessings. He didn't go to the Yankees, and better yet, he might be the determining factor in the downfall of the Bombers this postseason.