Cole Hamels is having a fantastic season. After a bad first outing in which he lost his composure in a game against the Mets, the former World Series MVP has been enjoying the strongest start to a regular season of his career. Nearly every one of his starts since the poor effort against the Mets has been a high-quality outing. He’s been just as good, if not better than every pitcher on the staff, including the reigning Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.
The statistics for Hamels are impressive so far. His record currently stands at 8-2. His eight wins tie him for the league lead. The left-hander also has one of the best ERAs among starters at 2.58. He is ninth in the league in innings pitched at 90.1. His 91 strikeouts are 7th best in the league, and he has only walked 18 batters.
After lasting just 2.2 innings in his first start against the Mets, Hamels has gone at least seven innings or more in all but two of his 12 starts. The 27-year old has given up less than three runs in eight of his starts, and has only given up more than three runs once since his first start of the season.
Hamels is pitching better now than he has ever pitched before in his career, with the possible exception of his performance in the 2008 playoffs. Collecting eight wins this early in the season with the support of such an anemic offense is more evidence about just how great he has been this year.
The bats have put up three runs or less in 35 of the 62 games played this season. To earn eight wins behind this offense means that a
pitcher will need to be nearly flawless on the mound, and capable of pitching deep into games. Hamels is doing that right now, and he is enjoying the strongest start to a season of his career.
With every strong outing, the great season that Hamels is having will gain more recognition. Right now, he is one of the early season candidates for the Cy Young award. He’s been performing as well as any other dominate pitcher in the league, and he’s been surpassing his expectations for the season. If he continues at the rate he is going, talks of his chances for the award will become more serious.
He’s dealing everytime he’s starting. Figured his hard work in offseason and the end of last year he would kill it. Would love too hear some of you dudes who killed him for raging out in the Mets game.Unlike others on this site who start every sentence with..As i stated before or As i predicted..ill just say…who beats this line up in 7?Noone.
Hamels has had an outstanding season thus far, I tip my hat to him for raising his level of performance.. More importantly, he is trusting his stuff more and being more aggressive and going after the Batters instead getting too cute or wasting pitchings and running too many deep counts.. Hamels has always had the Physical Ability, now he is showing his maturity and mental toughness consistently and I congratulate him…
I also stated that after the All-Star break, that he should be moved to #2 in the Rotation after Halladay… I would go Halladay,Hamels,Oswalt,Lee & 5th
Other Pitchers in the NL having CY Young Type of Seasons so far
#1) J Jurgens (Atl) 72 IP 7-2 WL Record, 1.75 ERA
#2) K Loshe (St Louis) 86 IP 7-2 WL Record, 2.41 ERA
#3) C Morton (Pirates) 75 IP 6-2 WL Record, 2.52 ERA
#4) R Hallady (Phils) 98 IP 8-3 WL Record, 2.56 ERA
#5) C Hamels (Phils) 90 IP 8-2 WL Record, 2.58 ERA
#6) S Marcum (Brewers) 83 IP 6-2 WL Record, 2.58 ERA
Josh Johnson from Florida had a great start until getting hurt
his #’s were very impressive 60 IP 3-1 WL Record and 1.64 ERA but has missed about 4-5 Starts now
I also stated…..
Good thing your not managing the club Paul.Sure Cole would be all about switching up his routine after a dominating first half.
Again with the Braves.Do you watch them play dude? Theres a reason there this close and cant close in EVER.
“cole hamels is game on!” as stated by the great larry bowa
As I said at the beginning of the season, before it even started, Cole is my pick to win the Cy Young this year. He’s back to his 2008 form….but better. His changeup is one of the best in the game. His mind is where it needs to be. Getting Doc, Cliff, and Os has really lit a fire under Cole’s ass — and I love it.
Like I said before even when others tried to discount me — Cole Hamels is a TOP TEN pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Good quality article Denny, cole will be a 20 game winner this yr i called it since the beginning, ive always felt if cole gets his head in the game that hes one of the very best pitchers in the MLB. He has all the pitches no,got some nasty nasty stuff… hes elevated his game to another level, n i had a feeling he would do that since the acquired 3 other premier pitchers… Hes winning 20 games this year…
Yea, you called it alright. Just like you called LBJ being the best player in the NBA and the Heat sweeping the Finals.
He has 3 pitches acting filthy every outing.Good stuff….will be nice too see the dude in the All-Star game this year.Him and the Doc.
Pman: By your reasoning you’d leave Lee out of a 7-game playoff series by placing Oswalt ahead of him in 3-man rotation. NO WAY should Lee be put behind Oswalt or left out of the playoffs unless something catastrophic occurs. He’s been too good for too long… he’s proven to be a “money” on the big stage. Besides, not so sure you can depend on Roy O. to stay here with ties to close in south.
Go Cole!
Bird, Lebron is still in my top 2, tonight will be a night to remember, he going for 30 or more points… again i jokingly said heat sweep, i knew this was going to be a good series. The mavs are no slouches they just finished beating the defending champs… At the end of the day the heat are the best team in the league and will prove that tonight…
To Iggles,
I stated the ROration for the 2nd half of the Season and stated nothing about a Playoff Rotation.. I would have Lee & Oswalt battle it out over this 2nd half of the Season to determine the #3 Starter come playoff time..(Halladay/Hamels as the Top #2) Lee is a proven stud come October time but I would let Oswalt & Lee still battle it out over the remaining season, besides lots of variable based on whop your opponenet is, injuries , etc,etc..
Paul was one of the Hamels doubters in the beginning of the season. Don’t be fooled people. He is a moron. I love to see prediction after prediction fail. Just can’t wait til the regular season to end til some more fail.
How cool would it be to have two 20 game winners. Hamels is a monster on the mound. Do those nit wits who booed him his 1st start feel better now. We better hope this continues, because this team can’t hit for shite. Amaro has got to get really lucky this year, because it’s going to be really hard to pull off a deal for a right handed power bat.
To all, what is the deal with all the childish insults on here lately. I gotta think we all were raised better than that. Can’t everyone have opinions loving & hating our squads, & having fun without the 12 year old kid insults? I believe we are all grown ups here. Being sarcastic to each other is funny, calling people names & hating on people for their opinions isn’t right & is uncalled for. Come on guys, have fun, life is too short.
The only negative I see in this is cole will demand the big $ and you know the phillies won’t let him walk. What has been up with cliff? He already has more walks than all of last year. Also does anyone think the phils will make a trade this year? I think they should trade for someone good and young maybe in LF or center like an adam jones.
They will have to open their wallets for Hamels who is just raching his prime and have really had an injuriy with his arm/shoulder and most MLB Observors will say, If you can make it by 26-27 and have ho arm trouble, you are tyhe type of player who obviosuly is mechanically sounds and ends up with a long carreer…
With Oswalt (retire) and Lidge (released) most likely not back next season, that’s about $20 MIllion right there.. and when you add in Baes,Romero theres another $4-5 Milion, so they can afford to 5 year $80-$90 Million deal to keep him (which is proabably whats it’s going to take)
The do need a right-hand Bat who plays OF and there are not a lot of them around right now .. OF A Jones I love from the Orioles who is 25, great fielder,great base runner and could be an All-Star playing in Philly.. hunter Pence is another good solid player from Houston who is 27 and doesn;t have the upside,atleticism that A Jones has, but it a good all-around solid players who is a 20HR-80 RBI player easily on the PHils and surprising better RF than many would think… it would probably take a lot to get either one of these players but they need to pull trigger for these eplayers can play 5-7-8 more seasons and the Phils will have some real need by next year in the OF as Ibanez & Francisco gone..
PP & Paul, I would love Jones, Pence, Quenton, Kemp or Ludwick, but I do not think Amaro will be be able to make a move until the off season. The Phils are up against the luxury tax & they have no trade able pieces. They would have to get rid of contracts like Blanton, Ibanez, Baez & Lidge first. They all suck &/ or they are hurt & have no trade value. Rollins might be able to get you something, but do you want to hurt your leadership & defense on this team, right now? I might if the right package can be made. How’s about Rollins & Brown for Kemp & a prospect? Too much, too little, am I nuts? What do you think?
We got to hope they get healthy, that Dom Brown grows in a hurry, the vets start playing like they should & that the pitching carries them, because that’s too many if’s for them to advance in the playoffs let alone win a World Series. HOW DO YOU BLOW A 3-0 LEAD, DAMMIT!!! F^@king mother F^@kers!!! Where’s this f^@king offense? SICKENING!!!
Does anyone hear that damn “Atlanta Chop Rally” getting a little louder…
“Phillies Lite” only 2 games in front of them now..
Phils are 37-26, for them to win 115 games like many on here projected,
they would have to go 78-21 the rest of the way… I stand by my Feb/MArch analysis and prediction that this Phils team would win 92-94 games making them have to finish with a 57-42 Record which is more realistic with this batting line-up…. The Phils are my favorite team and I want them to win, but I have not liked this Batting LIne-up, & Bench Depth since the off-season and look at this team chances for what they are which is barely making the playoffs (as a Wildcard) and getting bounced out in the 1st or 2nd Round
but no WS appearance or win.. They need to shake things up….
Pnisman, would you just claim your allegiance to the Braves already?
You jump around more than a two dollar hooker with your so called “predictions”.
Didn’t you say the Reds are your pick out of the NL? How’s that looking?
Just STFU and enjoy the season if you’re a so-called Phillies fan, which many on here seriously doubt.
Paul,no real phils fan would ever bring up that damn, bandwagon chop thing, that is the most annoying sound to us, keep it out of here
Your right Jake,
It is the most annoying chant/hymn in all of Sports.. unfortunately, the Braves are a pretty good team with the best 10-11 Man Pitching Staff in the NL/MLB as I predicted they would be.. They are in it for the long haul whether you like it or not (and to be honest, I can’t stand them either, but I know good teams when I see them)
To Birdo, I did predict the Reds to come out of the NL but was off the mark, Their Starting Pitching has been below average to say the least and unless their Starting Rotation picks it up big time, they will finish behind the Cardinals/Brewers in the Central and not even make the Playoffs
The Cardinals are playing better than I though they would and their pitching has been pretty good considering the lost Wainwright for the Season and had Closer issues the first 4-6 weeks of the Season, Berkmann is easily the Comeback Player of the Year and is having a monster year which I and many others did not expect… The Cards look like the team to beat with a strong batting line-up with Rasmus/Hollida/Pujlos/Berkmann/Molina that is the best middle of the
batting lineup in the NL by far.. The big questions remains their BUllpen which is the same to be said of the Brewers who have another excellent batting line-up with Weeks,Braun,Fielder,Hart & McGhee which again is going to produce runs to give them a chance, but the Bullpen is still a question mark for them too..
An interesting note, would the Phils be willing to let’s say, trade a Brad LIdge to one of these competitor teams for some offensive punch in return…I could see Lidge being moved to a team in need of Bulllpen help.. The Yankees about to lose J Chamberlain for an extended period of time and maybe the reaminder of the season and are a little thin and could use set-up help for RIvera..The Rangers and Angels could also use Bullpen Depth .. It will be an interesting month as teams look to solidify their rosters before the trade deadline, The one thing we know for usre is that there appear to be many teams with a legitimate shot this Season so there probably will be a lot of “Buyers” with few “Sellers” which means the cost of obtaining good players in return is going to be steep…
Chop this Paulman! The only things more annoying than the Atlanta chop, is that F^@KING song in Chicago, when they score a goal. I want to go on a murder rampage when I hear it. That retarded rally monkey for the Anaheim Angels, sucks too.
I agree DDCar
Maybe th eFlyers should start playing some “Mummers Music” after they score at home, thta should be enough to drive the other teams,coaches and fans off the deep end… ha,ha..
On a side note about the Phils, it appears this Phillie Bullpen is starting to show some signs of wear and tear as th eseason has progressed.. The lack of depth is catching up with them for Bastardo/Madson can’t be lights out every appearance and Pitchers Herndon,Baes,JC Romero just don’t exude any confidence that they can get the job done.. Keep an eye on this PHillie Bullpen as it now gets to summer time and the Starters are going to need a break from time to time and can’t pitch 8 innings every start….
Man dd, did you have to remind me of that song following hawks scoring, do da do dodiodope, whatever, your right, worst than the chop
Sorry Jake, Paulman got me started! LMFBO!! 😀 Paulman, I agree 100% about the bullpen side note.