Hamels vs. Hollywood - which pitcher will we get?

Written by Mike Mariano | 21 October 2009

Game 5 and the potential clincher tonight will rest on the shoulders of 'ace' Cole Hamels.  If you blacked out after the World Series celebration last year (totally understandable) and just woke up, you're probably very excited.  Shit, if that's the case you've probably thrown down a couple hundred bucks on the game because there's no way King Cole will lose.  Sadly, Cole spent most of the 2009 season undoing the magical work he did in the 2008 postseason.   Essentially, 2008 was a wash for the Phillies ace.  10-11 record.  4.3 ERA.  Blah.  And he's 1-1 thus far in the playoffs with a near-7 ERA.

So what's it going to be?  Is Hollywood Hamels, the man with ice in his brains and lasic-lazer pinpoint control, going to return?  Or will we see Ol' Cole the guy who's most likely going 6 innings and giving up 4 runs?  I could say that I really think tonight he'll reign on top once again and be the ace we need him to be, but honestly I don't believe that anymore.  I've written before nearly every Hamels start that tonight is the night he figures it out again and he routinely lets me down.  So watch tonight's game with open expectations because there's not a man in America who knows what the hell Cole Hamels is going to bring on the mound tonight.  We can only have (high) hope(s).