Over the next 28 days Philly Pressbox (https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com) (@phillypressbox) will be doing a review and analysis of each Phillies player, Manager Charlie Manuel and the coaching staff leading up to Opening Day 2012. On Day 5 we preview Cole Hamels.
Cole Hamels – Cole is the pride of the pitchers in the Phillies organization. He was a 1st round draft pick, 17th overall, in the 2002 amateur draft by the Phils. He made his professional debut on May 12, 2006 throwing 5 scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He went on to start 23 games in his rookie year finishing with 9 wins, 8 losses and a 4.08 ERA. Hamels continued to improve in 2007 producing a 15-5, 3.39 ERA season and being selected to his first All Star team while increasing his innings worked from 132.1 in 2006 to 183.1 in 2007. 2008 was the year for Cole Hamels to break out! Again, Cole increased his innings worked, 227.1, while striking out 196 hitters on his way to a 14-10, 3.09 ERA season. The 24 year old lefty stepped up his game in the playoffs and the World Series. His playoff record was 4-0 in 5 starts with a 1.80 ERA. He was named the NLCS and the World Series MVP as the Phillies won their first World Series Championship since 1980.
2009 was a letdown for Hamels. His innings were down, 193.2, his strikeouts were down, 168, his ERA was up, 4.32, and his won-lose record was 10-11. His playoff numbers ballooned as well. He finished the playoffs with a 1-2 record and a 7.58 ERA. He gave up 5 runs in 4.1 innings in the Game 3 World Series lose to the Yankees. Coles struggles even had his work ethic and dedication questioned by the local media. In 2010, Cole was now pitching behind Roy Halladay in the rotation and he bounced back and continued his development. He finished with a 12-11 record, a 3.06 ERA and a career high 211 strikeouts. 2010 also included a 5 hit shutout in the clinching Game 3 NLDS sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. In 2011, Hamels was now pitching behind Halladay and Cliff Lee in the rotation and settled in the #3 spot with his best statistical season. He finished 14-9 with an ERA of 2.79 and made his 2nd All Star team.
Hamels 6 season Phillies statistics read like this:
74 wins – 54 loses
3.39 ERA
1091 Strikeouts
2 All Star Teams
Personal Analysis:
The 28 year old lefty continues to improve each season. It is our feeling that this is the year that Hamels moves from “star” to” superstar” status. As the #3 starter in the rotation behind Halladay and Lee he should always get a good matchup against the opposition and if the Phillies score some runs for him he will be very tough to beat. We’re looking for a career high 20+ win season from Cole. This will be his year and he will win the Cy Young Award.
Tomorrow we will preview Vance Worley.
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[…] nothing like the home opener. As we stated in our Phillies Profile on Hamels, the link is attached, https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/phillies-profile-cole-hamels/, we expect a great season from him and it starts today. The Phillies pitching is going to be fun to […]
[…] Cole Hamels signs a multi- year deal. Every time Hamels goes to the mound it’s costing the Phillies money. He’s presently 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA. He’s started 7 games and the Phils have won 6 of them. He leads the team with 49 strike outs while holding the opposition to a .229 batting average. The 28 year old lefty has not reached his prime yet and needs to be locked up for the long haul. We’ve been on that bandwagon since Spring Training. The Dodgers, Angels and Yankees will likely be interested if Cole tests the free agent market and will all be willing to dish out big money. The Matt Cain contract in San Francisco has set the bar at $120m and the Phillies need to beat it and they need to do it now. Following is the link to our preseason player profile on Hamels. https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/phillies-profile-cole-hamels/ […]