I’ll take pitching over hitting any day especially in the post-season. Say what you want about the Phils poor hitting, they’ve got pitching which could break some records before it’s over.
This starting pitching staff entered the season with a lot expected of them and they’ve stepped up and delivered so far. They haven’t been perfect but they’ve been dominant.
I guess the Phillies players love to return home to where they grew up. Ryan Howard kills the Cardinals every time the Phillies visit St. Louis and last night pitching ace Cole Hamels, who grew up in the San Diego area, threw eight-shut out innings while leading the Phils to a 2-0 win.
Howard drove in Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco in the third inning with a two-out triple to provide all the offense the Phillies 
needed. The first-baseman didn’t know whether it was a curve ball or a change up which he hit, but he got all of it, then legged his way to third and slid in under the tag.
The big guy needed to bounce back with some production after striking out four times the night before and looking pitiful at the plate.
Back to the league’s best starting rotation, that’s five shut outs for the Phillies starting staff in only 19 games, which is an amazing percentage. It’s the second shut out for Hamels after he had that poor start in his first outing at Citizen’s Bank Park and was booed by 
Phillies fans.
Roy Oswalt pitched six innings of shutout baseball in San Diego on Thursday, then the bullpen kept it going for anther three innings, then Hamels did his thing last night. I don’t know if the Padres hitters will score at all in this series, but if they are they’d better do it tomorrow against Joe Blanton because they’re going to have to deal with an angry Doc Halladay (had a poor outing in his last start) on Sunday and that probably won’t be any fun for them.
This was probably his best outing. Hamels threw a total of 126 pitches on the night. He allowed only four hits, while striking out eight.Charlie Manuel was a glad to see it with his closer Jose Contreras having been pushed to the limit the night before. The Phils skipper had set-up man Ryan Madson close the game out for Hamels against the Padres. Madson made easy work of the poor-hitting Padres with a 1-2-3 inning.
Now the lefthander has a 2.92 ERA with two shutouts at this stage in the season.
Good stuff. I heart this staff.
Excellent performance by Hamels,
The Phils Staff is really starting starting to get into a rhtyhm which is bad news for every other team out there.. 5 Shutouts PItched in the first 19 games is ridiculous (Almost 25%).. If Hamels played out in San DIego, (his hometown) and a big pitchers park, he would win 20-25 games a year, he pitches great when out west and hopefully will keep this up…
“hopefully will keep this up” so paulman will look like a fool
Hamels has taken his pitching to another level, he’s hitting guys with the change up but also has others, he would be an ace on any other team, he’s gonna get 20 wins this year
The phils still need a bat, ruben at the trade deadline should get one
And you know whats even better Gary, Is that Chase will be back soon and im sure we will add some players by the deadline.!!
Gary I also said that Ben Fransico is my MVP. I totally change my mind… Our MVP is Placido Planaco! dude is in beast mode right now!
I’ll take looking like a fool all summer long Jake if Hamels and the Phils can keep it up (It’s really not much different than I appear the remainder of the year..)
I’ll take that too.
Hamels was killin it. Dudes got the goat goin now too. Maybe he does have a little badass in him.Its all about getting hits in crucial situations right now for this team.RISP isnt right yet but it will be once the weather turns.Yes,the weather. Baseball players are used to hitting in nice weather. Its the majority of there season.
Right now the MVP is Rhino/Doc.
WTF is Jimmi doin right now?
Another GEM by a TOP TEN pitcher in MLB.
Gotta love it when the most idiotic poster on this site continues to be proved a fool.
There you go with “BirdBrain’s Top 10 List” again…
Here is a list of the current Top 10 Pitchers (as of last nights games in MLB
for 2011 Season, based on a minimum of 24 Innings Pitched)
#1) Josh Johnson – Florida 3-0 1.00 Era
#2) Jared Weaver – Anaheim 5-0 1.23 Era
#3) Jaime Garcia – Cardinals 3-0 1.44 Era
#4) Dan Haren – Anaheim 4-0 1.46 Era
#5) Brett Anderson – Oakland 1-1 1.63 Era
#6) Tim Lincecum – Giants 2-1 1.67 Era
#7) Justin Masterson – Indians 4-0 1.71 Era
#8) Mike Pienada – Seattle 3-1 1.78 Era
#9) Gio Gonzales – Oakland 2-1 1.80 Era
#10) Roy Oswalt – Phils 3-0 1.88 Era
#11) Aaron Harrange – San Diego 4-0 1.88 Era
and in case your wondering….
#30) Roy Halladay – Phils 2-1 2.83 Era
#33) Cole Hamels – Phils 2-1 2.92 Era
#64) Cliff Lee – Phils 2-1 3.91 Era
For the MLB Team Pitching Stats so far this 2011 Season
#1) Oakland A’s – Team ERA is 2.60 and Batting Average Against is .225
#2) Anaheim Angels – Team ERA 2.88 and BAA is .212
#3) SD Padres – Team ERA is 2.92 and BAA is .239
#4) Florida – Team ERA is 2.98 and BAA is .223
#5) Atlanta – Team ERA is 3.16 and BAA is .242
#6) PHILLIES – Team ERA is 3.19 and BAA is .240
The Bottom 5 in MLB are Arizona,Houston,Cubs,Boston,NY Mets so far
There are lots of very good pitchers in the MLB and the best ones will rise to the top as the year progresses, but before you want to list players as current Top 10 players in MLB, you may want to check your facts first
(Hint- Check ESPN.com and click under “STATS” icon under MLB Page to get/check your research)
Paul, how many on that list were world series MVP?
Name the last 5 Year World Series MVP
2010- E Rentieria – San Fran Giants
2009 H Matsui – NY Yankees
2008 C Hamels – PHillies
2007 M Lowell – Boston Red Sox
2006 D Eckstein – SL Cardinals
2005 Jermaine Dye – Chicago White Sox
These are all good MLB Professional Baseball Players, Were any of these players a Top 10 at their positions while they played…. Anyone can be hot for a Season, a 1/2 Season, A month, a Playoff run (which Hamels definitely was in 2008) or in a WS but before we use the reason, well he won a WS MVP 2 years ago,so this automatically qualifies him as a Top 10 Pitcher today in 2011 is ludicrous.. Again look at the Stats and then you can decide based on facts and not your heart…
Of the 11 on that list, who would/should phils trade for straight up for ham els, and the gms of those teams would easily take Cole over any of them with the possible exception of lincicum and haren and maybe Johnson,
Hamels is a top ten pitcher in baseball. Hes better than most teams aces. The sooner u accept that, the better off u will be.
paulie= clown, journalist wannabe, stat geek, unphiladelphia
Hamels Regular Season Rankings since the 2007 Season
based on ESPN Statistics for Starters over 150 Innings pitched
2007 – Ranked 15th (183 Innings, 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA)
2008 – Ranked 10th (227 Innings, 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA)
2009 – Ranked 62nd (193 Innings, 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA)
2010 – Ranked 17th (208 Innings, 12-11 with a 3.02 ERA)
Hamels culmative Ranks from 2007 thru 2010 would average out to be #22. Hamels Career Stats don’t warrant a Top 10 as his numbers above indicate
but really has only had 1 average/disappointing season which was in 2009, after throwing a lot of Innings in 2008 during the WS run, which he probably got a tired arm and suffered a little post World Series letdown. He’s been very durable his career and has shown no real issues with his arm,elbow & shoulder which is a huge plus. Most MBL Observors will say that if a Pitcher can get by his first few years in the BIG’s and beyond the age of 25-26 years old and not incur any real arm,elbow,or shoulder issues, then you have a great chance of a long healthy career as today Pro’s take better care of their bodies and can various strength exercises year round to protect their arms and keep their pitching muscles in good shape..
Does Hamels have the Stuff and desire to be a Top 10 Pitcher, absolutely, Is he there right now, no, but he isn’t that far off and another good Season or 2 will put him right in there…