Hamels’ Train Reaching Station
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, September 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Comments: 10
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While Cole Hamels isn’t the A-No. 1 blame target for last night’s loss, he had a difficult time finding a groove. Pitches remained high in the zone, the changeup wasn’t falling in the way it should, batters found patience.
Hamels accrued 116 pitches in his seven tough innings, bringing his season total to 227.1. That’s easily his career high, and it leads all of baseball. Hamels says he doesn’t feel fatigued …
“I know it’s a new stage for me. But it’s just something I’m doing everything I possibly can so I don’t feel that fatigue. And I haven’t felt it.”
… but the mounting innings have taken a toll. He’s averaged about 6.1 innings in his last four starts. He has thrown 442 pitches in those games. He has also allowed 29 hits, but just 10 runs. He remains an ace because of how he limits damage while being dominant. But I fear he’s running out of steam.
Basically, I don’t want Hamels pitching Sunday. I want JA Happ on the mound. For that to happen, the Phillies need to clinch a playoff spot before then. It’s absolutely possible, but right now, the Phils stand at an awkward place. While they need to focus on each day without looking ahead, they do need to look ahead. They need to construct the roster and set up pitching matchups for the playoffs.
It’s easy enough to say they need to win tonight, Friday and Saturday (that would get them in). But they need to. Not just for their playoff lives, but for their playoff lives.
Posts: 0 the rookie
Hamels maybe venturing into new territory for him, but he doesn’t look as bad out there as everyone makes him out to be lately. He is the ace. When aces don’t have their “A” stuff they gut out games like Hamels did last nite. the offense should be able to get to an injury riddled pitcher like Hampton. The Phils should win games like this for Hamels. He did his part for the team.
Posted: 11:10 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 GM-Carson
Although Hamels has only given up 5 runs, 4 earned, over his past 2 starts, it still seems that he’s been coming up small. The numbers suggest he is pitching well, but watching him can be a bit painful at times.
Posted: 11:13 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
agreed phils need to clinch this up sooner than later if possible. it would be nice to set up our rotation in some way for the post season, and rest our bullpen.
clinching one day early may do it, that gives everyone a few days rest, but again, the sooner the better.
Posted: 11:20 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 clicheguevara
I don’t understand all of the criticism of Hamels. Statistically he is one of the very top elite pitchers in the league at an incredibly young age. Yet instead of trying to nurture his arm, the team seems to have no regard for the man’s health as they try to smash the 50-inning rule. He is being run into the ground, then faces criticism when he can’t pitch a complete game shutout every time. I feel sorry for the man – by the time it comes for an actually chance at a payday, the Phils may have burnt him out. For his situation, age, and history, he is performing at least on par with, and often beyond his expectations. To criticize the mismanaged young aces 7 inning, 3 run performance just because the offense didn’t come through is a good way to misdirect the blame and drive the man out of town.
Posted: 11:22 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
Cannot excuse the offense last night, no matter how average Cole Hamels pitched, he only gave up 3 runs(2 earned), and he should have won the game.
It is unpopular to say this in light of Burrell’s recent big hits, but he HAS to go after this season. HUGE mistake on the base path last night. He puts up virtually the same HOLLOW numbers every year, while taking 2-3 months off every season.
Posted: 11:23 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I would agree that Burrell has to go.. the most consistently Inconsistent player of the past decade..
I disagree that Hamels’ outing was “average”.. or “bad” or anything else people say… 2 Earned Runs.. 3 Runs…. should be good enough EVERY game. A few weeks back I laid out his sesason log, he should easily have 20 wins this year, but thanks to a bunch of NO DECISIONS, he’ll be lucky to get 15.
Posted: 11:31 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Jim
Myers has to rebound tonight with sabathia on the mound for the brewers.. And oliver perez ( who when he shows up has top notch stuff). We need to give hamels the last day off so we can have him on top of his game for the playoffs big game 2night
Posted: 11:56 AM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 ryan
14-10 is a ludicrous record for cole hamels to have this year. if they gave him just average run support from game to game he should be 22-5.
Posted: 12:29 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Karch
I did some math on hamels to see exactly how often he was victimized of a bad offense and how often the offense bailed him out of a bad start. Overall, the loss total is about right (he got no-decisions for couple bad games and that’s balanced out by losses for good games), but he should have another nine wins. So, to this point, Cole Hamels SHOULD be 23-10. Most of his no-decisions were games where he gave up two or less runs.
Posted: 12:37 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
I agree with most of you guys that hamels should have upwards of 18 wins this season. Hamels had a quality start last night, technically speaking, but I think it was average compared to what he can do.
Does anybody else have the feeling that they will resign Burrell because they are afraid of change? It may be unfounded to think this, but I just have a feeling they will resign him, and keep the status quo, rather that take a chance on someone else in here. They know they will get 3 solid months of Burrell and 3 months where he is lost at the plate, and can’t touch an offspeed pitch.
Posted: 02:13 PM on September 24, 2008