One of the reporters asked a question of Cole Hamels about what it’s like to be the one guy who has a World Series ring. He forgot that Joe Blanton had been on the World Series Championship Phillies team of 2008. That was the feel of the news conference. It was almost like Blanton shouldn’t have been up there with this group.
For that he got some very uncomfortable questions, but Cliff Lee did him a favor by not approving of any nicknames which involved four pitchers rather than five.
Lee, who is the most outgoing of the veteran hurlers, took on the role of being the spokesman for the the group. When a question wasn’t directed at another pitcher, Lee answered it. Lee said he won’t be trying to compete with his pitching teammates, but he’ll be competing with the other team.
Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt spoke only when a question was directed at them.
He said the best rotation he could remember was the Braves rotation of the early 90’s with Avery, Smoltz, Maddox, and…. etc.
Roy Oswalt said he would love to stay in Philly next year, but he’ll have to wait until after the season to see how his body feels.
Cole Hamels, who is probably the most outgoing of the group along with Lee, says that all the guys have the same type of values and that’s the reason they get along with each other. Cole says they all get along and will be spending time talking to each other in the outfield, during batting practice.
When asked whether anything short of a World Series Championship would be good enough? Lee says they’re after a World Series title and they should be able to get it, if they prepare properly and let their talent take care of it all. Lee says the World Series title is the ultimate goal but we’ve got to focus on giving ourselves the best chance to win and means preparing properly.
Lee said that he doesn’t want to get the cart in front of the horse. They’ve got to handle their business right now.
Roy Oswalt said that the biggest thing he learned from pitching with Andy Petitte and Roy Clemens was their preparation. He was asked anything about the steroid controversy which Pettite and Clemens got involved in. Oswalt said the veteran star pitchers went into each game with an idea of what they’re going to do during the game.
When asked if there was an advantage to pitching in the 5th spot in the rotation. Blanton said hopefully the opposing lineup falls asleep because they’re glad they’re not facing any of these other guys in the rotation.
When asked about why he picked the Phils over the Yankees and Rangers, Lee said he went to the team that he thought gave him a good chance to win a World Championship.
When Blanton was asked if he feels like he’s overlooked in rotation. He responded that he’s not after a lot of attention and he doesn’t feel any of the guys in the rotation are, so it doesn’t bother him. He says he’s not big on attention.
As for what Lee wants from the every day guys when he pitches. He said he just wants all the guys on the team to come in and prepare. He feels if that happens their talent will take care of everything after that.
who is Roy Clemens?