Hamels Backtracks From Comments; Lee Ready to Help in Possible Game 7

PHILADELPHIA -- Now that the possibility of a Game 7 start is looming for Cole Hamels, he is backtracking madly from his eye-opening comments about being eager for the season to end, comments that reportedly sparked a clubhouse tussle with Brett Myers.

Although the Phillies still may opt to give someone else the ball for Game 7, assuming they even get there, Hamels said that his perceived mindset should not be a reason for him not to pitch.

"The way it came out was not the way I intended," Hamels told reporters after the Phillies' 8-6 victory in Game 5. "It hurt the way it came out. I was shocked. I didn't even know what I said. It's not what I was thinking."

The comment in question came following Hamels' disappointing Game 3 performance, yet another in a season that has failed to live up to the expectations he set last year.

"I can't wait for the season to end," he said Saturday. "It's been mentally draining."

In Hamels' defense, he also said in the same interview that he felt confident that he could turn it around and that he hoped his teammates and manager Charlie Manuel still had enough confidence in him to give him the ball on his normal turn, which would fall in Game 7.

Considering the options -- a slumping Hamels or J.A. Happ, who hasn't pitched much lately -- there is going to be a growing sentiment among Phillies fans for Manuel to give the ball to Cliff Lee, on two days' rest, in Game 7. Manuel had already said that Lee would be available for two or three innings of relief. Lee threw 112 pitches on Monday night.

After Monday's game, Lee said his normal between-starts bullpen would fall on the second day after his start, which in this case would be Wednesday, the day of Game 6. Presumably, he'll skip that and be available in whatever capacity he can pitch in Game 7 on Thursday.

Again, assuming the Phillies get there.

"I think I'll be fine," he said. "You're going to have to talk to Charlie. I don't know what his plans are. I'll be ready to pitch whenever they want me to."

Manuel said that maybe he'd hope for rain that would push the series back a day. Short of that, he wasn't ruling out anything. He said he and pitching coach Rich Dubee would definitely talk to Lee.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-03-2009 @ 6:46AM

therodeobarbie said...

Little Diva. I for one don't want to see Hamels or Lidge anywhere near the pitching mound in any game left this season.

11-03-2009 @ 8:39AM

celtsic said...

I aggree if Hamels wants the season over let it be over for him. And for Lidge it's clutch time and he has proven he's not a clutch player this year and in the playoffs.

11-04-2009 @ 2:01AM

broadstreetbully said...

Cut Hamels some slack. He was the World Series MVP last year. Without him there would be no ring and most likely the Phils wouldn't be here this year. He is on the biggest stage and every word that comes out of his mouth is analyzed to the Nth degree. It's understandable that he could say something that comes off different than intended. It's been a tough year and I'm sure he is ready to put it behind him. That doesn't mean he isn't going to give everything he has to win it again. Phils in 7! Go Eagles!

11-03-2009 @ 8:36AM

macungiee8 said...

Hamels is upset with Lee taking the spotlight, it really should make him pitch better, but it did a reverse on him. He's will do fine in game seven if there is one, I don't think it will get down to it anyway. Howard is having a lousy series and they do need is bat, not his strikeouts.

11-03-2009 @ 8:44AM

marycolket said...

It is amazing that these highly paid, well lived athletes need two days to rest from playing a GAME and our soldiers sleep in the desert and fight for our freedom without rest. Go figure.

11-03-2009 @ 9:09AM

Sally said...

Post-partum Depression!!

11-03-2009 @ 9:14AM

They don't call him "Hollywood Hamels", because he came from Hollywood!! All these "I wanna be in the spotlight" athletes, should just get thrown in a pit, and let them see who survives....T.O, Hamels, "NimRod", Iverson, etc.... u get the point.......Then "SHOOT" the one that survives, just for kicks.....PS...just for the hell of it, let's throw Joe Buck in with them, too......

11-03-2009 @ 9:31AM

hello Joe said...

thanks for bringing that idiot joe one sided buck up. i would love to give this guy a piece of my mind. as a reporter or analyst, your suppose to be fair and open minded. this guy bashes the yankees any moment he gets. that because he from the mid-west and can't stand the big city team. but you as long as people who hate buck, write or talk about this ass. then the stations love it, because of ratings.the only one to put buck in his spot was the guy from the howard stern show arty lang i think his name is. and he did on joe bucks lame show.

11-03-2009 @ 9:34AM

Yankees will win this series, and i hope buck cries all the way home

11-03-2009 @ 9:38AM

wlh1923 said...

Maybe Charlie has confidence in him but the fans don't. Its scary watching him out there. Like the movie Halloween. When's the next big thing going to jump out at you (or in this case off the bat of the batter). Watched him all season. Most of his losses were well deserved and most of the wins came because the Phillies score so many runs. Can't recall a game he threw where there weren't home runs being bombed off him.

11-03-2009 @ 11:04AM

bikinginor said...

Doesn't matter who pitches when for the Phillies, the Yankees are going to take the series. Could expect the Yankees loss last night with Lee on the mound and the Phillies backs to the wall but the Yankkes won't lose two at home.

11-03-2009 @ 12:23PM

Dave said...

Good points bikinginor. For once I agree with Jay Mariotti. He said that if the Yankees can't win one of two games at home with Pettite and CC, they do not deserve it! I think the Yankees will win game 6. They have a lot of guys hitting well right now and their middle relief/set up, while still not as good as the last half of the regular season, seems more stable now than a it was earlier in the post season. Also too much is being made of the 3 days rest stuff. If you look at Burnett, he could have pitched the same way with 4 days rest. He's just not quite consistent enought from start to start. Finally, I think the Phillies bullpen is very shaky right now. This would be a completely different series if Lidge was playing half as good as he did last year. The fact that he sat last night in a save situation speaks volumes about the managers confidence of lack thereof!

11-03-2009 @ 12:43PM

jjessi83 said...

COLE HAMMELS,LOOKS LIKE HE SHOULD BE SOMEBODY'S BITCH,HE ACTS LIKE ONE ANYWAY......,hehehe

11-03-2009 @ 1:52PM

pahudhomes said...

Cole is a one and done Prima Donna that needed his own traveling Chiropractor to travel with him for road games. As far as I'm concerned and being a season ticket holder he and Lidge can both pack their bags and head for Toronto where Holiday will join up with Lee and make the Philly staff the best in baseball. Holy sh-t. "He can't wait for the season to end"? Damn. I'm going to go through baseball withdrawal until next April. Go home Cole and enjoy watching golf on TV---you bum!!!!!!! Give the ball to A.J. for game 7 and let the dice roll.

11-03-2009 @ 3:21PM

joed5217 said...

How quickly we forget!Give the kid a break! He helped win us our WS last year and is still a very talented pitcher. He will win his Cy Young next year! I wish him the best!

11-03-2009 @ 6:42PM

zemog44 said...

Why such negative comments against Joe Buck? He and McCarver are doing a fine job of covering the World Series. I don't see any bias between either of them. Both are super knowledgeable about baseball and Tim actually predicts at bats before they occur. Many times he is right on. I can't stand the "I'll pay any price to buy a championship" Yankees but whoever wins will deserve it. To both Tim and Joe, keep up the good work! You seem pretty unbiased to me.