Results tagged ‘ Cole Hamels ’
World Series: Philly's Cole Hamels
ST. PETERSBURG – Phillies starter Cole Hamels knows that his start in Game 1 of the 2008 World Series is a big deal.
He’s just not going to let you know that he knows it’s a big deal. Why make a bigger deal out of a big deal, you know?
“I think from everybody that is outside, there’s a significance with the game that we’re playing, but for us, the World Series is something that you look back on,” Hamels said. “It’s something that I think I will cherish probably ten years from now, and I’ll probably go through my head with what was going on, what I was thinking, who I was playing, what results I had.”
No, Hamels is not kidding. He’s not bluffing. The left-handed pitcher is as famous for his laid-back Southern California attitude as his blistering fastball and offspeed pitches. With all apologizes to the Los Angeles Dodgers manager, Hamels is the real Joe Cool. There’s a joke that says Hamels doesn’t sweat when he’s nervous. He only sweats when he is hot.
He’s confident, borderline cocky, and all Californian. He also has the reputation as one of the nicest players in the Phillies clubhouse.
“When you play 10, 15 years and never make the World Series, then I think this kind of stage becomes a little bit more, and it can be either more burdening or it can be more exciting,” he said. “For me, because I played three years, been in the playoffs twice, World Series once, I think it’s kind of a normal thing, and I hope it is. But going out there knowing that you have to get a job done. I know with the extra added attention it’s more excitement, with family coming in. You just have to push that aside and let people know I have a job to do.”
The pitcher’s numbers are impressive. He is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in the postseason this year and was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player after going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA against the Dodgers.
Hamels is also 24.
“Every time he walks out on the mound I expect him to win a game,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He’s definitely capable of shutting a team out. He’s capable of throwing no‑hitters; I look for him to throw a good game. Every time he goes out I look for this guy to throw a good game and put us in a place to win the game.”
Don’t expect Hamels to change a thing come Game 1. That’s not his style.
“I know there is an excitement level and I think I’ve been able to hone in on it and control it,” he said. “It’s just one of the biggest stages in sports, and I think going out there and being able to succeed is what you want to do, but you can’t necessarily go into the game knowing that you’re going to do it. You really have to go in there and let it happen. And that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
No big deal.
Phantastic Phillies
LOS ANGELES – The smell of champagne was eye-stinging and the music blasted to speaker-busting levels.
Grown men acted like little boys.
The Phillies had just topped the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series to win the National League pennant for the first time in 15 years so the atmosphere was understandably out of control in the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium.
In the corner of the training room, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was on his cell phone addressing another party in Panama.
It turns out that the people in Central America are celebrating the team’s World Series appearance just like the people are in Philadelphia. Both should thank Cole Hamels and his soft-spoken battery-mate Ruiz for the party favor.
“We were able to get on the right page all year and when it comes to postseason, you definitely need to have that and see eye-to-eye,” Hamels said. “You really have to have confidence in your catcher and know what you have to do to the hitters. Carlos is good at that.”
Hamels didn’t disappoint. The left-hander was solid, as usual, allowing only one run on five hits in seven innings for his second victory in the NLCS. Ryan Madson pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Closer Brad Lidge shut the Dodgers down in the ninth to send his club to World Series for the first time since 1993.
Ruiz eventually joined the clubhouse party and was showered with beer and champagne. Praise for the catcher also came pouring in.
“He is a catcher with a lot of potential and will only get better in the future,” said Phillies reliever JC Romero said. “Once he gets a better feeling of what to do on offense, he is going to be really good. Defensively, he might be one of the best I have
ever played with.”
Hamels won two games was named the NLCS Most Valuable player but like Romero, credited his light-hitting catcher for helping make it possible. Make no mistake, Ruiz is hardly an offensive threat (he hit .219 during the regular season) but he sure can play defense.
That’s the reason why he has played in every postseason game for the Phillies this year. It doesn’t hurt that the Phillies pitchers posted a 3.89 ERA during the NLCS. Ruiz went 0-for-4 Wednesday but he did finish the series with a .313 batting average.
“I stuck with him because he’s a good catcher,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He can hit better than what he hit this year but at the same time he does a good job and is a tremendous catcher. Once we started winning, it was easier for me to keep playing him.”
Defense is important to Manuel. It’s the reason Dominican Pedro Feliz saw significant action during the NLCS and why he will get plenty of playing time in the World Series. Feliz only hit .154 but his play at third base during the postseason was crucial to the team’s success.
“These are going to be the most important games in baseball,” Feliz said. “I am so proud of what we were able to do. I know we are prepared for whoever we face. It doesn’t matter who we play from the American League.”
It doesn’t matter to Ruiz, either. What does matter is getting a good cell phone signal so he can speak to his loved ones back home if the Phillies win the World Series.
“Everybody is at my mom’s house right now celebrating,” Ruiz said. “I am so happy. I’m sure all of Panama is really happy right now. I just hope we can win a World Series trophy for all of us.”
Jesse Sanchez
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