Say What? With Carlos Lee  PGA TOUR Media Official Editor's Note: Media Official John Bush recently sat down with Major League Baseball player Carlos Lee at the Nationwide Tour's Movistar Panama Championship for another edition of "Say What?" Lee is a native of Panama, and recently signed a six-year, $100 million contract with the Houston Astros. Since turning pro in 1999, he has accumulated 221 home runs and 782 runs batted in. Since 2003, he is one of only three major league players to record 120-plus homers, 400-plus RBI and 50-plus stolen bases. PGATOUR.com: Your thoughts on signing with the Houston Astros? Lee: I'm very happy to have found a place that I'll be for a long time. Houston is one of the main places that I wanted to go, so I couldn't be happier.  (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
PGATOUR.com: Can you talk about the thrill of hitting a home run in your first career at bat in 1999? Lee: It definitely ranks as one of my favorite memories so far in my career. The funny thing about it is I didn't arrive at Comiskey Park until just before game time, so I missed batting practice. It was basically my first swing of the day. PGATOUR.com: What is the single most important aspect of hitting a home run? Lee: Patience. You have to wait on the right pitch and not try and do too much. PGATOUR.com: What is your favorite ballpark? Lee: I enjoy playing at Safeco Field in Seattle. I tend to hit pretty well there. PGATOUR.com: You own a cattle ranch in Panama. What is the toughest part of that job? Lee: The number of hours you have to put in. You never finish the amount of work you have to do each day ... and then it begins again tomorrow. PGATOUR.com: How did you get your nickname "El Caballo?" Lee: When I played for the White Sox, television announcer Hawk Harrleson gave me that name. He knew I was a rancher, so the nickname "The Horse" seemed to fit. PGATOUR.com: Who do you consider the greatest baseball player ever? Lee: There are too many good players ... past and present ... to single out just one. PGATOUR.com: Who is your favorite athlete in any sport? Lee: Lance Armstrong. His story is amazing, especially when you consider all that he had to go through to reach the top. PGATOUR.com: Who is your favorite professional golfer? Lee: I'm going to sound like a frontrunner, but I always follow Tiger Woods. PGATOUR.com: Speaking of golf, do you get the chance to play much in the States? Lee: I play as much as I can during the offseason and during Spring Training. PGATOUR.com: What is your handicap? Lee: When I'm playing my best I can shoot in the upper 70s. PGATOUR.com: What is the strength of your game? Lee: It used to be how far I could hit the ball. But since I've improved my game, I don't hit it quite as far. PGATOUR.com: What is your favorite golf course? Lee: If I had to pick I'd say the TPC Sugarloaf. PGATOUR.com: Who is the best golfer among baseball players you've played against? Lee: Probably Toronto Blue Jay Royce Clayton. He has shot under-par a couple of times when I've played with him. PGATOUR.com: Do you see any similarities in baseball and golf? Lee: They are very different sports. In baseball, you have room for error. In golf, if I make an error I have no chance. |
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