Hamels

Cole Hamels looked like the Hamels of old last night. Allowing just 2 hits in 9 innings of work, striking out 9. At one point he retired 21 straight batters. This is the Cole that we have come to know last year. He has not given up a run in his last 19 innings pitched. If he can continue this trend, the Phils will be unbeatable in the playoffs.

Charlie Manuel said it best last night in his press conference. He said "Hamels will tell you that his best pitch is his changeup, but his fastball is what makes his changeup go." Everyone of Hamels' pitches revolves around his fastball, that is what keeps hitters off balance. Now this may sound like the opposite of what I just said, but there have only been two instances this season where Hamels' threw less than fifty percent of his pitches for fastballs. In those two outings he has averaged 8.5 innings pitched with and ERA of 1.06. This just proves that if he can get ahead with his fastball, then his changeup is pretty much unhittable. When fifty percent or more of his pitches are fastballs he starts to fall behind and gets hit around. His ERA is 4.65, and he is averaging about 5 2/3 innings pitched. If these last two starts from Hamels are any kind of indication of how he will pitch going forward, the Phillies will repeat.