A couple talk show hosts on WFAN in New York asked Cole Hamels today if he thought the Mets were choke artists.
He said they were because, well, they were choke artists the last two years.
"Last year and this year I think we did believe that," Hamels said on WFAN. "Three years ago we didn't because they smoked everybody, and I think we all thought they were going to win it all. Unfortunately that didn't happen. But, yeah, that's kind of what we believed and I think we're always going to believe that until they prove us wrong."
One of the show's hosts apparently gave Hamels a chance to back away from his comments.
He didn't.
"For the past two years they've been choke artists," Hamels said.
This apparently has not gone over well in New York. Ruben Amaro Jr. apparently caused a mini-uproar yesterday as well. When asked about the Mets signing Francisco Rodriguez he told Philadelphia reporters, "I don't think it affects us much. They had Billy Wagner for three years and we still beat them the last two years."
Personally, I like it. None of this everybody-in-a-big-league-uniform-is-tough-to-beat stuff. Mix it up a little bit. Why not?
Comment removed.
Good for Cole and Ruben; but, let's tone it down a bit. Anyhow, I think there is a lack of good chemistry on that Mets team and multi-millionaire closers aren't going to make that much difference.— thejerz- Well, yeah, the "Mess" DID choke. They were leading the division in the last couple of years, and PRESTO!!! They went south fast. Up 7 games with 17 to play in 2007? I'd say that was a choke. What else would you call it? Then, you have Carlos ("Mouth") Beltran stating that the "Mess" was the team to beat this year- and we all know how that played out. CHOOOOOOKE!!!!— mrjarn
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- Well, the kid didn't lie. The Mets have had an epic collapse and fell apart last year in the stretch. Great team on paper, but on the field it hasn't happened.— JSaq
- Sign that man long term, NOW!— sxedge
- What?...Would you rather him lie?— rich_gelman
- Excellent!— adman
- The great thing is the Phillies won it all and Cole was MVP of the Series and NLCS. He and the rest of the Phils can pretty much say whatever they want. If you're the Muts or their fan base, well you pretty much have to go scratch! The Muts inabilty to to put the thumb down on the Phils reminds me of Buddy Ryan's old saying when asked about playing the Giants..."they know they're gonna' lose, they just don't know how yet". Classic. MUTS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!— phillyWASnice!
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- CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKE!!!— mrjarn
- Congratulations to the Mets for winning the Winter meetings again. Mets get duped by K-Rod and his one-inning saves. What's with the Jackie Robinson rotunda at their new stadium? Did he play for the Mets? Nice job, Cole!— 2Parm
- As much as they collapsed, the Phillies stepped it up to win too. Lets not forget that. But I absolutely love it. They should have the Ring and Banner ceremony when the Met's come to Philly for the first time next season. That would make this rivalry better. With everything going on for the past few years, I think this rivalry is becoming one of the best in baseball. And Cole has the right to say what ever he wants and so does Jimmy, Chase and who ever else is on this team because we truly are the "Team to beat" in Beltran's words!— flyersphan731
- YES, sign him long term. He should've been the only pitcher to ever go 5-0 in the post season. Except it got rained out and the commish dropped the ball. The mets are saying they got the best closer in baseball, but he didn't go 48 for 48 AND WIN the World Series!!!!— CAskier
- Don't think you see pros talking like that much, but...who cares? He also said they smoked us and everyone 3 yrs ago. All I know is...when I see those stinkin' Mutts fans this year with their gay little Jose Reyes chant and all, I'm just gonna chant...We're the Champs!— PhillySubsMac
Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.
This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.
Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.
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