Good News On Hamels
Posted by Amanda Orr, Tue, March 17, 2009 09:40 AM | Comments: 13
News, Posts
Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies have received good news on pitcher Cole Hamels, who visited a doctor in Philadelphia today. The doctor revealed there is no structural damage to his pitching elbow.
“Hamels had a MRI and dynamic ultrasound today in Philadelphia. [Ruben] Amaro said there is some inflammation in the posterior lateral aspect of his elbow joint. He received an anti-inflammatory injection today and will not throw for two days. That means he will begin throwing again Thursday.”
The Phillies were pleased to hear that there is no serious injury. Hamels will not be rushed, but Opening Day is a possibility.
“We’ll start when he’s ready to start,” Amaro said. “He’ll start for the Phillies at the major league level when he’s ready to start. If it’s Opening Day, it’s Opening Day. If it’s some time beyond that then that’s when it will be. He’ll let us know what the pace is. We’ll monitor his progress. It’ll depend on how he continues to progress. For us, again, it’s the same old mantra: It’s not about Opening Day. It’s about 162 games, and hopefully beyond 162 games that we really have to worry about.”
Posts: 0 Havoc
Excellent! I really don’t care if Hamels starts opening day I’m just glad that it doesn’t look like a serious injury… I guess I can get down from the Walt Whitman now…
Posted: 09:50 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
We need Hamels to start 30+ games… and if he’s going to miss any starts, i’d rather they be in April
This kid is the future of this organization… 25 years old and already one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Lets be 100% sure he’s ready to go before we put him out there April 5th
Posted: 09:53 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
To echo Don’s comments, epsecially when you have competition in ST that looks like it’ll be a tough call between starting Park or Happ in the rotation. if Cole’s not 100% then skip a start or two or start him on the DL with Happ in there for a couple of spot starts at a time he can come out firing and have that extra roster spot so when you send a guy down he’s less likely to be picked up with the rosters set.
It’s like with Romero, it’s not want to you but providing it’s only minor which it clearly is you can use this to your advantage. We’re not going to ride the core guys early so they can be effective late so why not use an opportunity to lean on the guys you don’t expect to be key contributors late while their fresh and eager.
Posted: 10:05 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Glad to see good news for Cole and the Phils!
Posted: 10:14 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Chutley
Oh Happy Day
Posted: 10:19 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
If as Don M said that Hamels “is the future of this organization”, must we always worry about his health; his frailty for the rest of his career as a Phillie? Will management always closely supervise his off days between starts? Will he be limited again to a number of starts/innings pitched? I doubt the management will allow Hamels to duplicate his total innings pitched last year (262+) in his only full season without being on the DL.
In the meantime, we can breathe a sigh of relief with the latest news and keep our fingers crossed that Hamels can pitch another full season.
Posted: 10:26 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Since you can’t afford a non homegrown pitcher with the talent of Cole Hamels (Santana, Sabathia, etc.. $$$$$$$$$$$) ….. he’s definitely the future of the organization.. you need to have him healthy, instead of just having him pitch.
If he’s not ready to go on Opening Day, don’t force the issue, and not only that, but don’t even worry about it.. I’d rather have him miss starts in April than later in the season
He pitched like 262 innings last year including the postseason.. for anyone to think that he would be at 100% for Opening Day is actually a little foolish.. if he’s only at 85-90%, but pain-free… then i’m sure we’ll still see him pitch, maybe he gets yanked after the 5th or 6th inning
I wouldn’t say “frailty”… but he went above and beyond ALL EXPECTATIONS last year.. I’ve said before that his 5 games in the postseason are, in my opinion, the best 5 game stretch of his career.
He’s something special, and they need to make sure they have him for years to come.. not just for April 5th
Posted: 10:44 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
Like I said before and I’ll say it now….Glad to hear Hamels is OK and as a fan I won’t feel cheated when the Amazins battle the Phils.I want my Amazins to go out there and win with the Phils at full strength.This year i want no excuses IF the Amazins do happen to come on top as I will offer no excuse IF we lose.
Posted: 10:46 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Harper, Professional Proofreader
Amanda:
It’s received, not recieved.
Posted: 11:03 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt Kwasiborski
PHEWWW!
Posted: 11:29 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 130 Amanda Orr
Harper, sorry about the typo. I didn’t spell check it.. I was just trying to get the news out as quick as possible. Sorry about that.
Posted: 11:50 AM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Brooks
This is not the last we’ll hear about Cole’s elbow. It’s a long season.
Good to have Happ or Park – as security. Don M has a good point – we need Cole as fresh as possible for the second half of the season.
Posted: 12:24 PM on March 17, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug D.
Good news that it’s only inflammation. After checking the schedule, we can go with a 4-man rotation, if necessary, all the way through April 19th. Of course, if Happ and Soeul Man continue to pitch lights to the end of ST, we can use both of them in a 5-man rotation until Cole is ready to step into the #1 spot. That will buy him more time to get right.
Posted: 12:31 PM on March 17, 2009