Hamels, Papelbon at opposite ends of payday

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Both Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon pitched in the Phillies' spring-training opener on Saturday with the subtext of free agency looming over their seasons. For Hamels, it's what he will do - entering a market this offseason in which he's the elite starting pitcher available. For Papelbon, it's what he did do - setting the market during the winter by signing with the Phillies for the most money any closer has ever received.

Both were strong in their season debuts. Hamels started and pitched two innings, allowing one run and one hit while striking out a batter. Papelbon pitched a perfect fifth inning, arriving to the mound with the same music that greeted him as Boston's closer, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys. Both appearances were simply the first in a progression of tuneups before the games count.

When that happens, there will be an introduction of Papelbon to Phillies fans - and what those fans can only hope is not a farewell to Hamels. When Hamels threw after his start in the Bright House Field bullpen, which is overlooked by a tiki bar and a pedestrian walkway, Hamels found cordiality not just from those fans in red.

"The Yankee fans were real nice for some odd reason; I don't know why," Hamels joked. Of course, the Yankees could be contenders to sign Hamels if an agreement is not reached with the Phillies.

In 2009, when the Phillies traded for Cliff Lee, Hamels was Lee's throwing partner before games. Even though Lee remained more than a season away from hitting the open market, the hype and speculation was such that fans were already trying to court him. That stuck with Hamels, who expects to experience much of the same this season.

"Fans these days, they prepare themselves and have information," Hamels said. "They know when the names are coming up. They know the trades. They're very involved."

Hamels enters his contract year with the benefit of a full pitching arsenal. He's now up to four pitches - fastball, changeup, cutter and curveball - after adding options the past two springs. Hamels admitted it used to be a coin flip between a fastball and changeup, but now he can throw the cutter on both sides of the plate. And he's comfortable making those pitches in any count and situation, a luxury he never had before.

"I think it's nice not having to focus on trying to add something else," Hamels said. "I have my four pitches; it's just going out there trying to execute and make the best of it."

Saturday was the first step for Hamels, as it was for Papelbon, who likely didn't hear many platitudes from Yankees supporters. There was excitement in the ballpark when Papelbon took the mound, even though it was only March and it was not the ninth inning. Pitching coach Rich Dubee regularly monitors Papelbon to see how he is feeling, especially in comparison to the past. But Dubee said Papelbon is "regimented" to the point that the closer has an idea of what he needs to do.

Papelbon merely wanted to focus on mechanics and his fastball command. He said it's impossible to simulate closing a game in a sold-out Citizens Bank Park during an early March spring-training outing. There's solace in the fact that Papelbon is a proven closer in pressure situations, and Dubee said each pitcher's personality dictates how effective spring training becomes.

Former Phillies closer Billy Wagner, for example, thrived so much off adrenaline that Dubee admitted he had a difficult time pitching in the spring.

"Pap pitches off adrenaline," Dubee said, "but I think he's been through enough spring trainings to get where he needs to get later on in camp."

Papelbon will need to do that, because fans are much more forgiving of a pending free agent than a past free agent. When a player like Hamels has a chance to go elsewhere, there's hope in keeping him. But when a player like Papelbon signs for big money, there's a demand for performance.