In addition to writing a fine story on Cole Hamels' legacy with the Phillies, Ryan Lawrence provided these numbers on the ace lefthander ...
COLE vs. CARLTON
Here is a look at how Hamels' numbers compare with all-timer Steve Carlton during their peak years (beginning with the fourth year in a rotation, from ages 25-31 seasons):
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Major League pitchers' average run support per start, 2015 (min.: 5 starts):
Note: Hamels is the only major league pitcher with an average of less than 3.5 runs per start in each of the last three seasons.
AMONG THE STARS
Where Hamels ranks, since the beginning of 2010 among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings:
♦ ERA: 3rd, 3.03 (behind Clayton Kershaw 2.34, Felix Hernandez, 2.74)
♦ Innings: 6th (behind Hernandez, James Shields, Justin Verlander, Kershaw, David Price)
♦ ERA+: 3rd (tied with Verlander; behind Kershaw, Hernandez)
♦ Opponents OPS: 6th, .662 (Kershaw, Hernandez, Price, Verlander, Jared Weaver)
♦ K/BB ratio: 6th, 3.72 (Price, Zack Greinke, Hernandez, Kershaw, Dan Haren)