I'm not in San Francisco, but a good friend of mine is on the beat today and got word that Cliff Lee will make his Phils debut against the Giants Friday. (So much for a Lee-Lincecum matchup, matching the reigning Cy Young Award winners against each other, on Saturday).


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Pedro Martinez (remember the Phils have him too?!) will also pitch Friday.... in Lehigh Valley. Martinez threw a bullpen session earlier this week with no problems, and my eyes in Citizens Bank Park told me he was there working out today.

This will make Martinez's second rehab outing... my guess is he could be ready to join the Phillies sometime next week.

Where he'll pitch is another story altogether.

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To make room for Lee and new outfielder Ben Francisco (who's starting in CF tonight), the Phils optioned outfielder John Mayberry Jr. and right-hander Steven Register to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.


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One of the reasons I love my paper is there is never any shortage of opinions on the printed page (and online). I'm a big proponent of a paper packed with pointed columns.

We had two today, one from former Phils beat writer and current Sixers beat guy Dennis Deitch, and another from our Flyers beat man, Anthony SanFilippo. Both opined on the Lee trade.