The Zingrods' owner was on hand in 1997 at the first ever regular season interleague game at Three Rivers, Pirates vs. Chisox. At the time, Albert Belle's salary was higher than the Pirates' entire 25-man roster. Seriously. Albert doesn't seem to give many people a warm and fuzzy feeling to begin with, so add the salary situation and you can imagine he didn't get a very friendly welcome to Pittsburgh.

What does this have to do with Lieber? He pitched a complete game that day. He had already struck Belle out three times when Albert came up again in the top of the ninth with one out. Steelers games have a reputation for being noisy, but when Lieber struck Belle out for the fourth time, I thought the place was going to collapse. After that, it was almost an afterthought when Frank Thomas made the last out to give Lieber the win.

Add to all this the fact that he now pitches for a contender, plus the unfortunate season-ending injury to Kerry Wood, and you begin to see why I'm so keen on this guy.

Update 10-14-1999: Did I say "pitches for a contender"? Jeez, he'd have won more games if he'd stayed with the Pirates! Maybe the Cubs can trade him to Florida next...