Cole Hamels says he's trying to bring old school baseball back with pitch that hit Harper
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Cole Hamels says he's trying to bring old school baseball back with pitch that hit Harper
David Murphy
Cole Hamels likely just cost himself some money in the way of a fine, but the new contract he continues to pitch his way into will more than cover the expense. After holding the Nationals to one run with eight strikeouts in eight innings of work on Sunday night, Hamels didn't beat around the bush when asked what he was trying to do with a first-inning pitch that hit 19-year-old super prospect Bryce Harper in the back.
"I was trying to hit him," Hamels said. "I mean, I'm not going to deny it. It's something that I grew up watching. I'm just trying to continue old baseball, because I think some people get away from it. I remember when I was a rookie, the strike zone was really, really small and you didn't say anything, because that's the way baseball is. But I think unfortunately sometimes the league is protecting certain players and making it not as that kind of old school, prestigious way of baseball."
Hamels channeled his inner Bob Gibson when explaining his mind-set.
"It's just welcome to the big leagues," said Hamels, "and I think he kind of did that to me."
Hamels was referring to the fact that Harper, who was awarded first base with two out, went first to third on an ensuing single, then stole home when Hamels threw to first on a pickoff play.
"If he continues to do that, he's going to make a really good name for himself," Hamels said.
Nationals righthander Jordan Zimmermann responded by hitting Hamels in the leg as he squared to bunt in his first at-bat of the game. Zimmermann told Washington reporters after the game that he was not trying to hit Hamels.
Hamels said he expected to get hit.
"I'm happy that's the way it worked because that's the way it should work," Hamels said.
Hamels emphasized that he was not trying to hurt Harper.
When a reporter asked when he decided to welcome the kid to the big leagues, Hamels offered his first "no comment" of the night.
Earlier, Charlie Manuel said he did not think Hamels was trying to hit Harper.
"It looked to me like he was trying to come up and in on him and he hit him," Manuel said. "That's what I saw."
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Ice water in his veins. Rube sign him now!— vishman14- Ice water in his veins. Rube sign him now!— vishman14
- Sign him— davi
OK, my opinion of Cole was always positive. But now, it's thru the roof. Ruben, please.— zubzub- All good til he gets his suspension from MLB— m82492
- How will you "Philthy Phans" who are reveling in Hamell's confession that he deliberately hit Harper going to feel when he misses at least one and maybe two starts while suspended by MLB? Remember, the Commissioner's Office suspended Ubaldo Jimenez five games for deliberately hitting Troy Tulowitzki -- in Spring Training. A pitch deliberately thrown at a batter during the regular season is very likely to get a longer punishment. — TheVirginian
- Hey Virgin, not proud of the pitch but your pitcher did retaliate when he hit Hamels in the third so give it a rest. Let's see how long you stay on the Nats bandwagon with Werth out.
- Always been a huge Cole fan but now its through the roof! What an awesome quote! In this day and age who ever admits to hitting someone? I love what Cole is doing to fire up his team and get the adrenaline flowing. This was leadership!— philsfan in the atx
- Amen!! — BuddyBall92
- Hamels isn't "Hollywood" anymore. He's Philly.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- not for long...he'll be in some other town in 2013 — djmarco
- ATX ... exactly. It wasn't that he hit him. It was the admission. And all the while I'm arguing that he wouldn't want to hit a fast LH hitter in order to face Werth. And then, WTF. I know it's wrong, but I love it. Exactly what this team needs. You said it, leadership.— zubzub
- The upstart Nats may have this, that, and the other...whoop dee doo...but one thing we still have that they can't touch is Cole Hamels. At least for now. Sign him, dammit!!!— dasher
- I don't want to start a negative rant, but does anyone know who was responsible for the second pick off move that Harper scored on ?? After the first one even the announcers pointed out that Harper had a huge lead because Polanco wasn't holding him on. Was this Hamels or Ruiz or the bench? Someone underestimated the kid. No?— zubzub
