It's still somewhat hard to believe that between 1989 and 2004, Jose Lima was the only pitcher to win a playoff game for the Dodgers. Perhaps, it's even harder still to believe, that Lima passed away over the weekend at the age of 37.
I was in St. Louis with the Angels when the news first broke. Players and coaches on both sides weren't just surprised. They were stunned and saddened.
The fiery right-hander was never the best pitcher in the game during his 13 MLB seasons. He would tell you that. But he was also far from the worst. He won 21 games for the Astros in 1999 when he was a National League All-Star and finished fourth in Cy Young Award balloting.
What Lima may have been, however, was the game's best character during his playing days. You would be hard-pressed to find another player of his generation who brought more personality to every game, every start, and every pitch than Lima.
He didn't wear his emotions on his sleeves. His emotions wore him.
foxsportswest.com: Lima Time Was Always a Good Time
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