Was it broke?
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Was it broke?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
They were cruising.
Cole Hamels, the Phillies -- everybody.
Then came a close 3-2 fastball down and in that home plate umpire Brian Gorman called a ball, putting Mark Teixeira on base with a walk. Up to that point, Hamels had been lights out. He'd retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, allowed no hits, and been staked to a 3-0 lead by an offense that took advantage of Andy Pettitte's lack of control. One inning later, the Yankees led 5-3, Hamels was out of the game, and the sell-out crowd of 46,000-plus was attempting to digest what exactly it had just witnessed.
Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run -- initially called a double but ruled a home run after replays showed it striking a camera that was out of play -- on a fastball that Hamels threw right down the middle. Hamels retired the next two batters he faced, escaping the inning with a 3-2 lead. But in the fifth, things spiralled out of control. Nick Swisher hit a 2-2 curveball for a double. After striking out Melky Cabrera, Hamels then threw a first-pitch curveball to Pettitte, who singled into center field to tie the game. Derek Jeter hit a bloop single, then Johnny Damon doubled to drive two more runs home. After walking Teixeira, Hamels was done. Manager Charlie Manuel pulled him from the game after just 69 pitches and called on rookie lefthander J.A. Happ.
So what the heck happened?
Did Hamels allow the close pitch to Teixeira to get into his head? Did he lose composure, as has happened several times this season? Did his sudden insistence on throwing his curve ball lead to his down fall? Or did he just lose control?
It is impossible to crawl inside of his head, so I'll let the amateur psychologists out there determine if Hamels lost his composure. But Hamels' insistence on throwing his curve ball can be documented.
In the first four innings, he threw the pitch just twice. In the fifth, he threw it on four of his first 10 pitches, including on Swisher's double and Pettitte's single.
Hamels' first five pitches of the inning were off-speed pitches, despite the fact that he had displayed excellent command of his fastball through the first four frames.
Perhaps Hamels, catcher Carlos Ruiz, and pitching coach Rich Dubee decided that Hamels needed to start relying more on his off-speed stuff as the Yankees prepared for their third trip through the order. Perhaps they decided that the bottom of the order was a good place to start. Perhaps if Hamels hadn't started relying more on his curve, the Yankees would have feasted on his fastball.
I guess we'll never know. . .
hamels is just a litte b*tch— joeyhydro
Comment removed.- Whatever Cole had, it is long, long gone and ain't coming back this year. If we can push to a game 7, we're in huge trouble if we trot him out. He shouldn't be out there the rest of the series.— BeamMeUpScotty
- He let the Yankees beat him with his worst pitch, which is exactly what's never supposed to happen.— CoolZanna
- Up 3 runs and you decide to throw your 3rd best pitch? Whose decision was THAT? Go after 'em with your best stuff. Although his "fast" ball was a pedestrian 89 mph he could get by with the change-up and location. This entire staff has to be re-done anyway. After Lee, this staff just isn't good enough.— scootch
- Game 7? The way the Phils are playing, the series won't last through game 5.— Manor2009
the "ball" to Texiera was a joke, considering how generous the umpires have been to Yankees pitching. The A-Roid "HR" would have hit the railing and bounced into the field, it was way to close to say it would have been a homer.— Pelti- Cole, you're done. If the Phillies extend this series Hamels should not be a part of it, he's toast right now.— philsfan417
- Hamels has no mental toughness. IF we can get to a game 7, there is no way he should pitch again. Sure hope Blanton comes up big in game 4.
- Adios Hollywood, thanks for the help in 2008 but my goodness you are doing your best to wipe out the memory of what you did last year. Izel Cole Toast Jenkins Hamels.— zonaindie2
- I've said it since before the playoffs started, Hamels should not be starting a game, I really don't want to hear what he did last season, that's counts for NOTHING! Last season is over, you go by what a player has done THIS season, and except for a couple of games he has been horrible, I mean all season long when he has something go wrong he totally loses it, he can't let whatever it was go, the man is a deffinite head case this season, stick up for him if you want but you don't have an argument, his record speaks for itself, pretty sad really, I hope they find him a good sports physhe guy in the offseason, he sure needs one, just sayin'...— DJ
- Hamels is a porcelain baby-doll, the first little crack and he crumbles. Series is over, turning point for posterity sake is a hanging curve to Pettite. Does Cole have a future in Philly?— StuckInTexas
- Sick of excuses. We all knew Cole had to step up and he did not. Do you think Gibson, Koufax, Carlton etc etc let a bad call total f-them up! Cole is a weak-minded twerp that has two pitches. If there is a Game 7, Lee pulls a 1968-vintage Mickey Lolich and comes back on two days rest to win. Maybe Blanton shows pretty boy what a real man on the mound looks like and outpitches CC tomorrow and Lee gets us up 3-2. Then we get Pedro in game six which is an infinitely better bet that Hamels in game 7— davi
- blanton pitches well, he pitches game 7 on short rest— BlairW
- I felt at the time that the biggest mistake Charlie made before the playoffs was relegating Happ to the bullpen and keeping Hamels in the rotation. Hamels was lights out last year, but that was last year! He has been more prima donna than premier starter. Happ was excellent all season and should have been given a real chance to start in the playoffs. Had Romero been healthy, perhaps that would have happened. Too late now. If Blanton wins tomorrow night and Lee in game five, then Pedro is the key! If this goes 7, who starts?— chuckw
