Inside Charlie's Head: Manuel likely to turn to Hamels

Ramirez's famous flakiness is dismissed as Manny being Manny. Manuel co-opted the phrase and pinned it on Myers after the pitcher made headlines with his sharp tongue yesterday morning. By the end of the day, Myers and Cole Hamels, the target of said sharp tongue, had laughed off their well-publicized bit of locker-room byplay and made plans to dine together in Manhattan.

Boys being boys. Brett being Brett.

Charlie being Charlie.

Is there such a thing?

You bet there is. And if things go well for the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series tonight at Yankee Stadium, you're probably going to see Charlie being Charlie in action, right there under the bright lights of the Bronx in Game 7.

What is Charlie being Charlie? It is loyalty. It is sticking with people. It is never giving up on the folks who've made you look good in the past. It is having a feel that they are ready to deliver.

Manuel's successful use of tortured closer Brad Lidge in the first two rounds of this postseason are a good example of Charlie being Charlie.

Game 7 - if there is one - will likely provide another example.

Manuel would not name a starting pitcher for that game, and that was not surprising considering the team's back-to-the-wall status and his unwavering personal commitment to the one-game-at-a-time ideal. But if this thing comes down to Game 7 tomorrow night, you can bet your entire bag of Halloween candy that Hamels will get the start.

The same Hamels who has struggled mightily, recording a 7.58 ERA in four starts, this postseason.

The same Hamels who so many folks are saying should be sent home for the winter.

After much bobbing and weaving in a news conference yesterday, Manuel tipped his hand: He's leaning toward Hamels if there's a Game 7.

"When we sit down and measure out everything and talk it over - more than likely that might be exactly what we're going to do," he said.

Manuel is right for thinking this way.

Despite all the drama surrounding Hamels, his stuff, his lack of a consistent - and that's an important word - third pitch, his recent results and his mind-set, he remains the best option to start a possible Game 7.

Pedro Martinez, who will be entrusted with delivering a seventh game tonight, is out of the question. Joe Blanton would be on short rest. J.A. Happ would be on too much rest. He has pitched just 7 1/3 innings since the start of October. It would be too risky to believe he has the sharpness to succeed against the most powerful lineup in baseball.

Cliff Lee, who pitched into the eighth inning in Game 5 on Monday night, could probably give Manuel an inning or two, but if that's all you're going to get, why not try to use him to protect a lead, if the Phils can get one against CC Sabathia?

The most viable Game 7 starter, the pitcher with the best chance of succeeding, is Hamels. Yeah, he's been inconsistent all season. Yeah, his arm is ready for a break. (Has been for a while.) But he's got the talent to succeed one more time. And before you say he lacks heart or guts, remember how many dreams he made come true last October?

Hamels kept the Yankees' lineup off balance for three innings in Game 3. He did it with just fastballs and change-ups. If adrenaline gives him some extra gas and Game 7 intensity some extra focus and fastball command, that change-up could be awesome.

The lack of a consistently sharp and well-located third pitch (curveball) has hurt Hamels in the middle innings. But that's not to say he doesn't have a good one. If he uses it early enough and gets a feel for it, he might have a third pitch with which to keep the Yankees honest. If he doesn't, a fastball-change-up mix might be enough to get the Phils three or four innings before it becomes all-hands-on-deck time.

Hamels' heart has been questioned over a comment he made after Game 3. Basically he said he was ready for his personal struggles to be over and would welcome a fresh start. The comment he made before that, the one about wanting the ball for Game 7 and ending the season with a good feeling, was conveniently ignored.

All this has created another reason for Hamels to get the ball in Game 7: He might be pretty good with a little sneer, a little anger, the feeling that he has something to prove.

"He came in and talked to me [Monday] night," Manuel said. "We talked about some of the things that were said, and I felt good about it, really. I want you to listen to this: I never, ever questioned his mental toughness because he's just as tough as anybody on our team. There's definitely no quit in him. He's had a freakish year and he's going through a bad time, but he'll get through it, and he'll be the pitcher that you saw last year."

Look for Manuel to give Hamels the ball if there's a Game 7. That's textbook Charlie being Charlie.

And if it comes to pass, some Cole being Cole (2008 version) would serve this team well.

Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury at 215-854-4983 or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.