Notes: Williams impressed with Lee
Facing challenging pitching; Cubs, Marlins not bitter rivals
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Billy Williams has been watching Derrek Lee and he likes what he sees of the Chicago Cubs first baseman.
Lee started the day Monday leading the National League in hitting (.377) and home runs (17) and was third in RBIs (53). Could he win the Triple Crown?

"He can," said Williams, a Hall of Famer who came close in 1972 with the Cubs when he led the NL with a .333 average, hit 37 homers and 122 RBIs. "The RBIs, you've got to depend on somebody else. You've got to have two guys going good at the top of the lineup. You've got to have a couple guys hitting good, and every time they get on base you've got to pick them up."

Williams talked to Lee when he was on his hot tear in April, batting .419.

"I said, 'That ball has to look as big as a basketball to you,' and that's what happened," Williams said. "When you're in a streak, it seems like the ball just floats up there and stops. He's been in that kind of streak."

But Lee, who started this year a career .266 hitter, also is smarter and he's made some minor changes to become better. Opponents could pitch him inside and get the big first baseman out. Not this year.

"He's beginning to get a little quicker inside," Williams said. "Pitchers have nowhere to go now. He's been getting a lot of base hits to right field, and when they come inside, he'll hit doubles down the left-field line.

"He's made the adjustment, just like coming from Florida, coming here and all of a sudden he found his way," Williams said. "He's always been a good hitter. He's an outstanding hitter now to put these kinds of numbers up."


I love reading what old vets like Billy have to say. Fun to get their point of view.