Phillies Notes: Manuel: Hamels may be affected by innings jump
ATLANTA - After leaving his second straight ineffective game in the fifth inning Wednesday, Cole Hamels insisted he was healthy. But he also admitted that he had no idea how the tremendous jump in innings last season has affected him this year.
The 25-year-old, after throwing 1911/3 innings in 2007, appeared in a career-high 2621/3 last year, including the postseason. Has that been a reason for his inconsistent year?
"I don't know. I can't answer that," Hamels said Wednesday. "I think that I'm sharp. I feel good every single day I go out there. I haven't had a single problem. The elbow thing was a spring training issue. That's gone. I have not felt that at all. I haven't felt any stiffness, or any more tired. I really haven't."
Yesterday, manager Charlie Manuel mentioned the innings issue without being asked about it. "Here is a guy who used to throw 180 innings for us, then all of a sudden when he throws [2621/3], that's a jump," he said. "All of a sudden the season is longer and the winter is shorter . . . All that can affect you, and all that's new to him."
Still, the manager believes that last year's World Series MVP will return to form. Manuel watched tape of Hamels' four-inning, seven-run debacle Wednesday night, and saw nothing noticeably wrong. "I see the same guy who can pitch good," he said. "I think it's just a matter of time until he gets sharp. That will come."
Pitching coach Rich Dubee has not yet pinpointed a specific cause for Hamels' recent performance. "It could be a lot of factors," Dubee said. "His command hasn't been very good. Whether it's the innings [he pitched] last year or he isn't as focused, it could be a lot of things."
When pressed about the issue of Hamels' focus, Dubee said: "It's happening with a lot of our team. Some of the mistakes we make, we seem distracted at times. . . . His preparation is very good and it remains so."
Rehab delay for Ibanez
Raul Ibanez (groin strain) had his first rehabilitation game delayed for the second straight day yesterday. After two days of working out with double-A Reading, Ibanez and the team decided he was not ready to make a hoped-for start last night. The Phils have maintained that Ibanez has not suffered a setback, and that they are simply demonstrating caution.Because Ibanez needs 10 to 12 at-bats, he will not appear in this weekend's series against New York, but he could join the Phillies on Monday night if he plays in a rehab game today.
Myers makes progress
Brett Myers was reexamined by surgeon Bryan Kelly yesterday and was cleared to begin a throwing program in two weeks. A return from hip surgery this season remains unlikely, but could Myers potentially help the Phillies' bullpen down the stretch if he makes a quick recovery?Dubee said that, while no plan has been established for Myers, a bullpen role would require a shorter rehabilitation. "Of course, it takes longer to work up to 100 pitches than it does to pitch an inning, but we have to listen to the doctors and see how things go with Brett," Dubee said.
A hit at last. Jimmy Rollins singled in the third inning last night to end a career-high hitless streak of 28 at-bats. He went 2 for 4.
