While Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee has been etching his name into baseball lore for his postseason performances, one thing he hasn't come across as is a wonderful husband.

During his dominating Game 3 appearance in the American League Championship Series — a 13-strikeout, two-hit performance over eight innings in an 8-0 victory at Yankee Stadium Oct. 18 — Lee's wife, Kristin, was cursed at, spit upon and had objects thrown in her direction by some unruly Yankees fans.

When the story about this broke a week later, what did the former Cy Young winner do? Did he lash out at Yankees fans? At security? At the city in general?

No, he downplayed it.

The last time I checked, spitting on someone was seen as a completely disrespectful act (remember Roberto Alomar spitting on an umpire several years ago?).

Lee's response? "I brush that off as fans being fans," Lee told ESPNNewYork.com. "You can't control 50,000 people and what they are going to do. There were some people spitting off the balcony on the family section and things like that, and that's kind of weak, but what can you do?"

Oh, I don't know, maybe — defend your wife.

Kristin Lee told USA Today, "The fans did not do good things in my heart. When people are staring at you and saying horrible things, it's hard to not take it personal."

Ouch. Looks like Lee could lose his Husband of the Year Award.

Even his agent, Darek Braunecker, said the whole thing is a nonissue, that Lee's wife still likes New York.

The big question in the offseason will be where Lee goes.

He will be a free agent and could command $20 million a year, as he has been one of the most dominant pitchers over the past three years.

He helped the Philadelphia Phillies reach the World Series last year, was traded to Seattle, then was sent to Texas in a last-second deal at the trading deadline that prevented a trade to the Yankees.

Were the fans disappointed about that? Perhaps, but the guess is that Lee didn't want to rip Yankees fans and the city because they might be the highest bidder for Lee's services.

If you take out the Yankees, then all that might be left are the Rangers and Boston Red Sox. With the Yankees in the mix, the dollar value will soar and Lee knows that.

With Andy Pettitte getting older, the Yankees could use another pitcher. And having another Cy Young pitcher in the rotation, along with CC Sabathia, who played with Lee in Cleveland, wouldn't hurt.

Lee might be able to bring home more money, but I would think your wife's honor would be worth a little bit more.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.