Hamels: Phils/Mets cross-talk hype 'out of hand'
Stopped in the 7-Eleven on East Bay Drive for gas, a coffee and the morning papers on the way to the ballpark today and couldn't help but notice the back page of the national edition of the New York Post.
Hamels: Phils/Mets cross-talk hype 'out of hand'
Inquirer Online Desk
Inquirer staff writer Jim Salisbury reports from Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla.
Stopped in the 7-Eleven on East Bay Drive for gas, a coffee and the morning papers on the way to the ballpark today and couldn’t help but notice the back page of the national edition of the New York Post.
Here we go again, I thought.
Cole Hamels was splashed all over it with the accompanying headline: COLE WAR.
That’s writing it haaaaaahd, as they like to say at the Post.
I plunked down a buck and a half and tucked the paper under my arm.
The story inside turned out to be a whole lot of nothing. The Post regurgitated some comments Hamels made on WIP last week. The Phillies ace essentially stood by comments he had made in December, when he called the Mets "choke artists," but he has done that all along. Hamels also explained that he was led into the initial comment by a New York radio show host who first used those words. He had done that before, as well.
Hamels laughed when he saw his picture on the back page of the Post this morning.
"I think it kind of gets out of hand," he said of all the Phillies-Mets rivalry chatter that he helped stir. "But you know what? If it spurs enough (interest) to where we get a lot more attention when we face each other, that’s fine."
Hamels made a point to say he respects the Mets.
"I don’t want it to be bad blood against their players and us because we respect each other," he said. "But if it really gets the fans involved, that’s OK.
"I know that I have the Phillies fans on my side and I know I’m never going to have the Mets fans on my side. So it’s not like they’re going to cheer me when I go out there. I guess if it gets more exciting when we play, I think that’s good for baseball. I think that’s what baseball needs. It needs some good rivalries to forget about the other stuff off the field that’s been happening."
Hamels doesn’t regret making the initial comment.
"I’ll live with it, and I’ll never regret anything I say because I learn from it," he said. "It’s a situation where I can try to apologize to players because I don’t want them to be offended by it. I have a lot of respect for all the players on their team. I guess it’s just something to stir the pot. Hopefully it’ll get things going for when we compete during the season."
Will Hamels say anything to Mets players when he sees them?
"Yeah, most likely," he said. "And I think they’ll understand. They know. They know the game. We try to play it as best we can. We like to be competitive. But we’re not trying to kill each other out on the field because further down the line we might be playing with these guys. It’s not like it used to be back in the day when players could go at each other because they knew they were never going to see them because they never had the free agency or trades that they do now. I have a lot of respect for them. They’re major leaguers and they play for a big-time franchise and city."
Over in Atlanta Braves camp, Chipper Jones has been amused by the byplay that has gone on between the Phils and Mets over the last couple of years.
Jones offers his thoughts in Wednesday’s Inquirer.
In actual baseball matters, Hamels threw 41 pitches in the bullpen today and is on track to start March 4.
Phillies players scattered quickly after today’s workout and headed off for the team’s annual golf outing.
The first Grapefruit League game is tomorrow against the Pirates in Bradenton. Jamie Moyer will start.
Goes to show you stupid fans that Hamels isen't your best pitcher. He can't pitch for squat! I think he is the choker!— MRD- I'm all for you Wizard. Those stupid Fans who think their team can beat the Mets are the Mets had a better record on them last year are crazy. They may have won the WS, but they won't beat New York. They are a bunch of cry babies!!!!!— MRD
- I have one question for the Filly fans...if it was Brad Lidge who was lost for the season last July instead of Wagner, how many games behind would the Fillies have finished behind the Mets? Certainly more than the 2 games that separated them last year. And maybe the Mets would have also improved on their 11-7 record vs. the Fillies. So, keep woofing boys...you are in for a real disappointment. Memo to the punk Hamels...keep up the diarrhea of the mouth. Jerry Manuel is right. Continue to give the Mets ammo instead of showing a little class and being a humble winner like most professionals.— The Wizard
- All you Fhilthy fan will be crying when your team is losing this season Just look at your pre-season, BAD START!!!!!!!!! Your 0-2!! Shut your mouths!!!!!!!— MRD
- Hey Betsy, Eagles fans are also Phillies fans you moron. They are also Flyer fans. The point is that Hamels is as much as a superstar as McNabb and got the job done while McNabb hasn't it. Betsy....fat girl name, right?— OMIGODEAGLES
- Chipper Jones has been the best player in both leagues, that never brings attention to his self by being an a--hole I am sorry the Phils never had him. Even now I would welcome him— wiseoldowl
- This is NOT a football blog! Shut up Eagles fans - your days of taking over Phillies games with Fly Eagles Fly, comment boards, etc. are over! Until you win the Super Bowl of course:)— betsy72
- Jim, we can forgive you for any mistake you make as a journalist, but wasting $1.50 on the New York Post is unforgivable. I hope you don't lose your job for that!!!!!!!!!— Erich H
- Hey Phillies08, the point isn't McNabb's play, its his whining and media sniping. Who did Brady have at WR for the three SB wins? Troy Brown, Deion Branch..........OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE HOFers.— OMIGODEAGLES
- MRD he's only speaking the truth, dont be offended.— PhilsPhan83
- This kind of talk is part of baseball. It helps get the players fired up and it makes things more interesting. It's a long season and although the money they make should be enough, staying motivated is sometimes difficult. Go Phils!!!— James TL
- Phillies08, good call. Mick314, nice one. As for Choking Dogs from Bailout Field try this one http://www.theonion.com/content/news/struggling_mets_combine_to_form
- MRD = Mets R Dopes. Hamels is classy in how he handles this, and, he is definitely NOT like Carleton who was classless.— mick314
- N.Y. Mutts...... Bulldog bark...... Chihuahua A zzzzzzzz......— tjeagles
- MRD, repeats are difficult, but the Phils have as good a chance as anyone else. In any case Mets fans need to be quiet for a while. In the last two years the Mets have far exceeded the infamous 64 Phillies choke. Every time a Met fan opens his mouth, everyone else in baseball just laughs.— ameadie
- MRD- learn how to spell your players names and maybe you will not get pegged as a 2nd grader from North Jersey. By the way in case the last two years have not shown you a division is not won on paper, you have to play the entire season...including SEPTEMBER (insert scary music)— philsfan in the atx
- MRD - you are a total idiot! Cole is telling the truth. If that had been the Phillies that "choked" 2 seasons in a row during the final weeks/days we would still be hearing about it! I would love a repeat appearance in the world series, but we all know how many times in the 21st century baseball teams have won back to back championships. Love 'em regardless!— WPhillyguy
- Do I enjoy the trash talk? Hell yeah!!! As long as Cole, Jimmy, Ryan, Chase, and the Phils continue to back it up with World Series Championships!!! This just gets the fans going. Go Fightins!!!— phillyfunk
- Brilliant observation there by Cole. He's saying that maybe the game is less aggressive than it was back in the day because of free agency and more player movement. I wonder if that extends to pitching inside?— celtic_13
- "For a pitcher to call the Mets Chokers", What are you talking about? I don't make comments about grammer. You made no point there. The Phillies have a much, much better chance to repeat than the Mets do to win.— ktdb05
Comment removed.- mrd, no, the mets will, sure, choke, choke, choke.— JACK V
- New Mets Stadium=New Team with a new Bullpen and K-Rod will kick your Fhilthy behinds when he saves all the games this year!!!!!— MRD
- For a pitcher to call the Mets Chokers, I hope Beltron knocks him out for the season!!!!! And by the way, You won't win the World Series this year!!!!!!!— MRD
- You spent $1.50 for a copy of that racist rag?— p-diddy
- Salisberry how about something other than the article from todays paper? What a freaking disgrace a freaking DISGRACE.— Truth
- Cole Hamels is the new Steve Carlton, minus the 'crazy streak' and killer slider-but I'll take the 94 mph heater and killer change up any day.— zdog
- You guys keep talking about Mcnabb but if you see what the man did with this team itis incredible,HE WENT TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP with nobody and thats not an excuse and by the way he eliminated the giants. Show some support.— Phillies08
- Hamels said today that if the front office doesn't add more weapons, that he won't resign with the Phillies and may ask to be traded....oh wait that the cry baby across the street. Its amazing what a star who doesn't make excuses can accomplish like winning a World Championship instead of being so concerned about his image and his feelings.— OMIGODEAGLES
- I am counting the minutes for Larry's interview.......NOT. Who cares what Chipper thinks...his name is Chipper for goodness sake.— rockinrob
- ryan - not really, at least mcnabb makes it to the playoffs and won divisions— donutdan
- ryan they cant be the mcnabbs... mcnabb chokes in the playoffs.. the mets choke well before that..— bleed green forever
- Wise beyond his years...Phillie writers, talk show hosts and fans could learn alot from this kid.....Maturity....— nuggett
- mets = losers. the mets are the donovan mcnabb's of baseball.— Ryan
- Well if he were playing 3rd this yr. for us, we would be a cinch for PO's and WS.— KGKoons
- Chipper Jones? Didn't he used to be on some playoff team?— Jeffrey
- PH*ck the Muts!— EAglesPhilliesSixerFLyers
- class act all the way. we are extremely lucky to have this extraordinary young man on our team.— writerstephen
