Hamels the talk of Spring Training thus far
Written by Mike Mariano   
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 13:53

Coming straight for the "thank the lord, I needed to hear that" department, Jayson Stark reports in a interview with The Fan that Cole Hamels is looking fantastic down in Florida.  Phew.  There's a big difference between quality Florida pitching and regular season success, however it's a leap in the right direction.  Here's the transcript from iSportacus:

“Cole Hamels showed up last spring throwing 77 mph…This winter, he has been a man on a mission…I’m telling you, he is throwing harder in the bullpen sessions than he threw in the games last spring.”

That's the kind of stuff Hamels needs to have written about him to be our ace again.  "Man on a mission" -- kind of like his 2008 playoff performance.  Kind of the way we've been praying he would pitch since he first showed his brilliance as a rookie.  I only wish I had resigned him in my fantasy league before this tid bit broke.  And the praise doesn't stop there, more from iSportacus:

In an article in the Delco Times, Raul Ibanez had this to say about Hamels: “Honestly, he looks great,” workout maven Raul Ibanez said, one of four hitters to face Hamels Friday. “From watching him, he’s looks stronger. He looks thicker than he did before. He looks like he’s in really good shape and excited to get going. He’s in a really good frame of mind.”

The post also talks about Hamels adding a curveball and cutter to his repertoire for the upcoming season, both of which will be on display this Friday.  Well, at least Hamels is admitting that he previously had zero curveball to speak of.  That lack of a third pitch speaks volumes about just how good of a pitcher he is if he can get by on two pitches alone (get by is a relative term in this context).

Well, I don't know about the rest of the Philly Phaithful, but I needed this news at some point in the Spring and I'm ecstatic now that's it's finally here.

 



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Comments (21)Add Comment
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written by Benny B, March 03, 2010
So you guys got the "He's in the best shape of his life" spin too?
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written by philliephan2, March 03, 2010
Yeah, but this is coming from a reporter (albeit a Philly one) that is making the comment, not the front office. The Ibanez comments are nice to hear, but not as much as Starks'. While you can say Starks is a homer, you forget that this is Philly and he'd get just as much mileage bashing Hamels as he does praising him. So I'll take the Cole news as GOOD NEWS and go from here!
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written by jerseybuc, March 03, 2010
"I’m telling you, he is throwing harder in the bullpen sessions than he threw in the games last spring."
Honestly, he looks great,” workout maven Raul Ibanez said, one of four hitters to face Hamels Friday. “From watching him, he’s looks stronger. He looks thicker than he did before. He looks like he’s in really good shape..."

D Wright reports to camp more muscular and in top shape and we get a story on how he should be considered a potential steroid user. Cole does it and it is GREAT NEWS.

Be consistent at least.
smilies/wink.gif
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written by philliephan2, March 03, 2010
Again Buc, I'm talking about what Starks said, not Ibanez. I haven't seen pictures of Hamels but if he looks as jacked as Wright, I'd say he'll have to endure talk of being juiced just like Wright. I'm not saying anything about how he got to be throwing stronger, harder, etc. - at this point, after last year's dismal outing - i'm just glad he is. I'm responding to Benny's comment that the info was 'spin' and maybe just that. If both guys come out strong and look like their former selves we'll each be happy and we'll each have to live with speculation that maybe their performances are enhanced. Welcome to baseball in the year 2010.
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written by TeamToBeatMike, March 03, 2010
what? I relayed a comment somebody else made about Wright. if someone says one similar (other than you of course) about Cole, i'll report on it. absolutely.
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written by will.H, March 03, 2010
id love to see HGH improve his changeup because strength improves that type thing. i mean, it doesnt. it does i mean, i mean. it. uh. hi
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written by Mets Next GM, March 04, 2010
at least we know Wright's roids are workin for him, 1st AB of spring training is over da fence smilies/grin.gif ...great to see
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written by ForeverShea, March 04, 2010
anyone see halladay today?? I'm pretty sure Cole is a little boy compared to Roy.... best thing that ever happened to cole was getting to be the #2 that he really is..
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written by will.H, March 04, 2010
forevershea, with a ring and a WS mvp, how does his resume compare to all your favorite pitchers?
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written by amazinz55, March 04, 2010
a career 3.67 era doesn't compare to a true ace.
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written by will.H, March 04, 2010
amazinz,

Nolan Ryan has a career ERA of 3.19, which means he really sucks. unless .48 ERA is the difference between greatness and mediocre? tell me more.
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written by amazinz55, March 05, 2010
were you trying to argue cole isnt a 2 or were you not? again..this has nothing to do with nolan ryan and i never said anyone who isnt an ace is mediocre.
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written by amazinz55, March 05, 2010
heres some baseball 101 for ya...you cant compare stats from this decade to the 60s, 70s, 80s, or even the 90s. the game has changed. the ball has changed. the players have changed. the ballparks have changed.
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written by will.H, March 05, 2010
damn, my bad. Oh hey, look what i found, CC Sabathia's career ERA: 3.62

What else?
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written by amazinz55, March 06, 2010
were you trying to argue whether coles an ace or a 2? cc hasnt had a great career everyone knows that. he wasnt great until recently.
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written by will.H, March 06, 2010
You posted Cole's ERA and claimed it doesn't compare to a true ace. Then, like a reasonable person, I referenced two of the most dominant pitchers in this modern era. Their ERA's were 3.19 and 3.62. Cole's is 3.67, as in.. your argument stinks. I suggest you take another route.. i'm tired of making good points.
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written by amazinz55, March 07, 2010
really? you made a good point? do you honestly think sabathia has been dominant his whole career?
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written by will.H, March 07, 2010
nope, he devloped into domination which is Cole's likely path. We've seen it before and we'll see it again. He's not as good as CC, but your original post made an insinuation which i fliped upside down with stats and figures. I'll hold back next time since it appears I was way out of line.
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written by amazinz55, March 09, 2010
i feel like theres a reason you completely refused to answer my question multiple times. it would be awesome if you could take back that part where you tried to argue against cole being a 2, wouldnt it?
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