Is there any doubt who the best pitcher on the Philadelphia pitching staff is right now? Its not Roy Halladay, its not Cliff Lee, its free-agent-to-be Cole Hamels. The Phillies desperately needed a win to snap their four-game losing streak and salvage a game from the series against the Washington Nationals. They handed the ball to their ace of aces on Wednesday night, and the lefthander responded with eight scoreless innings to pave the way for his team’s victory.
“Without a doubt, he’s been big for us,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “Tonight was big for us. We needed to win a game.”
Hamels now sits at the top of the league with seven victories, and is also in the top 10 with a 2.17 ERA. He’s been nothing short of spectacular this season, and is one of the early favorites for the Cy-Young award.
The 28-year old has shown remarkable growth in his contract year, not just as a pitcher, but as a leader. Hamels has taken charge of the team in more ways than one. Whether its making a statement to create a spark for his team (like he did when he threw at Washington’s Bryce Harper), or coming up with dominating, shutdown performances to snap losing streaks, Cole is quickly becoming one of the best in the game.
“Ultimately, if we won 20 in a row I’m going out there with the same sort of emphasis as if we lost 20 in a row,” Hamels said. “Ultimately, I like to win. I don’t like to lose. I know in order to get ready for a game, I have my routine and I stick with it no matter what the circumstances are or how we’re playing.”
Just several years ago, Hamels was looked upon as a pitcher who wasn’t tough mentally, and that could easily be rattled. There would be games when he would allow himself to lose get frustrated when things went wrong, and he would lose control of the game completely. That pitcher seems to be long gone, and in his place is a mature 28-year old that is starting to realize his full potential.
Excellent Game by Hamels which came at the Perfect time..
The Phils are now 2-4 Over “Paulman’s 23 Game Stretch to Define the 2012 Season”… They go on the road (Where I think they play looser and better as a club than at home) for a 7 GAme Road trip and face the Cardinals in a big 4 game set and then travel to NY to face the Mets for 3 Games before coming back home to face the hottest team in baseball for MAy, the Marlins and Dodgers… The Phils need to bring their A game every night to the Park
Hamels was awesome last night. He is the most important player on the team going forward in my opinion.
With each passing good start, that next contract goes up & up. Get him signed Amaro, or file your resignation.
There should be no doubt that Hamels and his Agent will not even think about signing any Deal until after the Season is over.. Why should he, if he ends up with a 20 Game Win Season, in the hunt for the Cy-Young Award which he is currently, his value and price will continue to go up.. The Phils and GM Amaro blew this entire contract situation with Hamels and Pence and should have locked up both these players last off-season.. Now they have to keep them for the Season to have any chance of making the Post-Season which means they will probably end up losing them both for Draft Picks once Free-Agency hits next off-season due to having too much Salary tied up with 5 aging/injured players whose best days are behind them (Rollins,Utley,Howard,Doc and Lee) does anyone see these 5 PLayers as productive MBL players come 2013 & 2014 …
He gets no less than 6 years, $138M. + RISING.
I agree with you Dcar, and it won’t be from the Philadelphia Phillies unless they trade Cliff Lee..
Hamels will command $22-$24 Million per Season and will have the
Yankees,Red Sox, Angels,Dodgers, salivating to sign him.. I’ve said for 2 years thay he will most likely end up out on the West Coast to be back home…
That sounds about right. How can you give him less than Matt Cain? This deal should have been done a long time ago. Not because of the money, but because if he makes it to FA, then he will be gone. I would rather trade Halladay and keep Hamels than let him go.
I would rather keep Doc and trade Cliff Lee who probably has more left in his left-arm but has a higher trade value (especially being left-handed)
I would trade Lee to the Red Sox or some other AL team (maybe back to Cleveland)
Oh, I would rather trade Lee too, but I don’t know if he has the bigger value because of the size and length of his contract. I think that Lee is the logical choice, but I don’t know that you can move him.
It’s a shame, because unless Lee & Halladay wave their possible, no trade clauses, &/or agree to the trade, they ain’t going anywhere. The only possible trade chips we have right now, are Blanton, Rollins, Victorino & Brown. How much are we going to get back for any of them? Not much, IMHO. So I think Hamels is a GONER. I dread that thought, but it’s reality.