Hamels Has Emerged as Elite Hurler

The chorus of boos rained down on Colbert Michael Hamels from the denizens of Citizens Bank Park. It was April 5 of this year and Cole Hamels had not even survived the third inning against the New York Mets, who had pounded him for six runs, seven hits and built a 6-0 lead. 

As Hamels handed the ball to manager Charlie Manuel, the cascade of boos from the tough loving faithful failed to even remotely rattle the now 27 year-old southpaw. The game which signified Hamels’ initial outing of the season marked the ever increasing maturity of the now veteran left-hander. 

At the post-game press conference, Cole was asked if he was at all bothered by the crescendo of boos accompanying his exit from the playing field and his answer raised a few eyebrows. 

“I would have been booing, too.  In fact, as a kid, I would attend games in San Diego and I would boo Adam Eaton all the time.” I’m sure, Eaton, a former teammate of Cole’s with the Phillies, must have been less than thrilled with his less than flattering, if not humorous statement. However, it displayed that young Hamels could now handle a few bumps in the road.

After that disastrous appearance by Hamels, one that left him with an ERA of 20.25 and a 0-1 won-loss record, Cole’s following fifteen starts have been nothing less than sensational.  In those 15 starts, Hamels has pitched 109.1 innings, allowed 79 hits, walked 19 and struck out 105.  His record in those games is 9-3 and his ERA is an unworldly 2.06. 

Despite his first game struggles, Hamels, through games of June 25, has a cumulative record of 9-4 and an equally impressive ERA of 2.49.  His WHIP is an unbelievable 0.95, as he has allowed a mere 21 walks (of which two are intentional) and 86 hits in 112 innings.    

Cole Hamels was quoted as saying earlier this season that he had no idea how he was even slightly successful against major league hitters with essentially just two plus pitches. Of course, he’s always had an excellent four-seam fastball and a devastating changeup, rated by many as the best off-speed pitch in the game. However, his “rolling” curveball was a work-in-progress. Cole also had an improving cut fastball, which he developed last year, a pitch that was a staple of his former teammate and close advisor, Jamie Moyer.

However, watching the great Roy Halladay throw his cutter and receiving instruction on how to improve it from both “Doc” and pitching coach Rich Dubee, has given Hamels another devastating bat-breaking weapon, especially against right-handed hitters. When you add the no longer “rolling” curveball, which is now more of a “tight” biting breaking ball, you have a four pitch Warren Spahn-like all world hurler.

Cole Hamels was born in San Diego, California on December 27, 1983.  At 6’3 and 195 pounds, the gangly left-hander is an imposing presence on the mound, especially with his high leg kick. Hamels had limited success in his rookie year of 2006, compiling a 9-8 record and a 4.08 ERA in 23 starts. However, the former first round draft pick (17^th overall) in the June 2002 draft, showed his mettle in his sophomore season of 2007, by going 15-5, with an ERA of 3.39 in 28 starts, allowing only 163 hits in 183.1 innings, posting an impressive 1.12 WHIP. 

In 2008, Hamels became a household name not only in Philadelphia, but throughout the United States.  Although his record was a misleading 14-10 because of a lack of run support, Cole limited opponents to a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts, which included his first two complete game major league shutouts.

It is what he accomplished in the post-season which made a lasting impression on baseball fanatics everywhere. In leading the Phillies to their first World Series Championship since 1980 and the franchise’s second in their history, Cole garnered both the MVP of the NLCS and the World Series by compiling a combined 4-0, 1.80 post season ERA, making his coaches at Rancho Bernardo High School pretty darned proud.  In 2007, Cole was selected to the NL All-Star team in his first full season in the major leagues.

Hamels suffered a slight hiccup in the year following the Phillies World Series victory, falling to 10-11, with a 4.32 ERA, but rebounded nicely in 2010 with a once more misleading 12-11 record, again due to a lack of run support, with an excellent 3.06 ERA. 

Both of Cole’s parents are educators and their influence has no doubt, had a positive effect on their son’s demeanor. Cole and his lovely wife, Heidi, have established a wonderful charitable organization, the Hamels Foundation, which is dedicated to instilling a community based approach to education by providing assistance to inner-city schools in the United States. This includes providing stimulating learning environments, educational programs as well as provisions.  he Foundation has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and includes HIV/AIDS relief to impoverished nations.  

Cole Hamels is an outstanding athlete, a good hitting pitcher, an excellent fielder and a pretty good baserunner.  One of the more interesting scenarios to be played out this year, is seeing how the quartet of Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hamels, “push” each other to new heights. The friendly competition of each hurler attempting to match each other’s exploits, may very well lead to even loftier expectations and accomplishments. 

Another situation, which, hopefully, will be resolved smoothly, is the fact that Hamels is signed through the end of this season. However, I’m sure that Ruben Amaro and company are more than prepared to offer Hamels a long term contract, in order to keep his young ace around for many more seasons.  As effective as Cole Hamels has been, there is reason to believe that the best is yet to come.