mixed bag

Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon made their spring debuts for Philadelphia today. Meridian Community College product Lee was sharp, ex-Mississippi State star Papelbon not so much. Lee started and retired six of the seven Detroit batters he faced, walking one and fanning two. Papelbon, usually a ninth-inning guy, came on to start the fifth inning. He threw 22 pitches, 13 for strikes, two of which left the yard, including a monstrous home run by Miguel Cabrera. Papelbon’s day then ended after he issued his second walk. He allowed five hits and six runs all told in 2/3 of an inning. It’s only spring training, sure, but that had to hurt a little.