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Monday, November 02, 2009

Fitzpatrick: Hamels: Not enough Philly in him

Pop the trunk on that blue 1990 Chevrolet Caprice sedan…more long-range sniping from Fitzpatrick.

This will come as no surprise to anyone who watched Cole Hamels pitch or answer questions Saturday night - or any other night - but the Phillies lefthander might be the most un-Philly Philadelphia athlete ever.

Mike Schmidt was an enigma, too, but at some level he understood us and, eventually, we grasped him. Ditto Randall Cunningham and many others who have passed through but never left their hearts in South Philadelphia.

Hamels will never be one of us and it’s not his fault.

The whiny voice. The fashion-mag looks. He was born with those. In Southern California, no less.

That’s all fine for him. But it’s grating to us.

...It’s easier to imagine him as a waiter in a trendy restaurant (“Hi, I’m Cole. I’ll be your waiter. Would you like to hear our specials?”); a dance instructor (“You call that a battement fondue?”); an architect (“If I don’t use dentil molding, it could ruin the neoclassical motif.”); or a model (“Work it, Cole. Work it!”).

When a guy like that fails in a town like this, it could get ugly.

Repoz Posted: November 02, 2009 at 01:36 PM | 46 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: phillies

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1. rconn23 Posted: November 02, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3374386)

Not having "enough Philly" in them has to be one of the highest selling points for any human being.

Good for you Cole Hamels, for actually having a soul.

2. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 02:03 PM (#3374390)

Fitzpatrick makes Bill Conlin read like Grantland Rice.

3. TVerik Posted: November 02, 2009 at 02:19 PM (#3374396)

Is that how you spell that kind of molding?

4. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: November 02, 2009 at 02:20 PM (#3374397)

Yeah...trade Hamels for somebody uglier. That makes sense.

And when did architects get worked into the mix for thinly veiled nancy-boy insinuations?

5. HCO, Transgressive Herbivore Posted: November 02, 2009 at 02:48 PM (#3374411)

Since this goat, carrying the sins of the people placed on it, is sent away to perish, the word "scapegoat" has come to mean a person, often innocent, who is blamed and punished for the sins, crimes, or sufferings of others, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes.

- Wikipedia

6. Crispix Attacks Posted: November 02, 2009 at 02:51 PM (#3374417)

Man, all we ask from a guy is that he win NLCS MVP and World Series MVP two years in a row, and he lets us down like a fraud who poops his pants.

7. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:00 PM (#3374424)

I love an article that basically boils down to "Cole Hamels is gay."

8. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:08 PM (#3374437)

I love an article that basically boils down to "Cole Hamels is gay."

If the Phillies lose the Series I fully expect Hamels to do his penance by running up the Rocky Steps 100 times in a row, to the Philadelphia Orchestra's rendition of "YMCA".

9. pv nasby Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:20 PM (#3374450)

Not enough Philly in him? Maybe Coorey could make a stop next time he's in the states.

10. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:21 PM (#3374453)

And when did architects get worked into the mix for thinly veiled nancy-boy insinuations?

Obviously Fitzpatrick hasn't read his Ayn Rand, has he?

11. AJM Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:22 PM (#3374454)

I don't know, Hamels seems like a battery throwing kind of guy.

12. Maxwn Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:44 PM (#3374471)

Man, I remember a time when a 24 year-old Cole Hamels threw 227 1/3 innings with a 149 ERA+ and the Phillies won the division. Then he went 5-0 in the playoffs with a 1.80 ERA and won the WS MVP. At the time, I was sure that he would be good for a long time. It's such a shame that all these many years later it's clear that he never quite panned out. What a bust.

In all seriousness, does anyone think that Hamels' struggles this year have anything to do with him throwing so many innings last year? It looks like his regular season was 44 more innings than he'd ever thrown before, and then he went and threw 35 more in the postseason. I haven't really followed him this year, so I don't know what the word has been around the Phils. I just wonder if 80 more innings and basically an extra month on the season might have set him back a little.

13. JJ1986 Posted: November 02, 2009 at 03:51 PM (#3374476)

Utley's pretty SoCal too. I guess it doesn't really matter at all.

14. Sox Machine Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:09 PM (#3374499)

His wife did pose for Playboy...

15. HCO, Transgressive Herbivore Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:11 PM (#3374505)

If the Phillies lose the Series I fully expect Hamels to do his penance by running up the Rocky Steps 100 times in a row, to the Philadelphia Orchestra's rendition of "YMCA".

Not every franchise likes that song as much as your Yankees do.

16. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3374515)

to the Philadelphia Orchestra's rendition of "YMCA".
"Philadelphia Freedom" would be a far greater punishment.
Or, if YMMV, I imagine that Hamels might not like "God Bless America" done by Kate Smith.

17. pthomas Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:25 PM (#3374522)

Chase Utley has all the same problems. His middle name is Cameron for chrissakes!!!!

Chase Cameron Utley (pronounced /??tli/; born December 17, 1978) is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School before moving on to UCLA.

18. Lassus Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3374528)

I love an article that basically boils down to "Cole Hamels is gay."

I'd love for Pedro to pitch one more game (game 7?) for a victory, and then come out in his "THAT's IT" press conference right after the game.

19. Gaelan Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:34 PM (#3374535)

I love an article that basically boils down to "Cole Hamels is gay."

That's it exactly. It wasn't even subtle.

20. retro-shiite Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:43 PM (#3374546)

Chase Utley has all the same problems. His middle name is Cameron for chrissakes!!!!

No kidding. And what sort of effete, prepschool-sounding name is "Chase Utley"? Is his brother's name "Chauncey"?

21. Sox Machine Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:45 PM (#3374549)

But Utley let an oil tanker explode in his hair, making himself forcefully ugly, just like a blue-collar guy.

22. retro-shiite Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:46 PM (#3374551)

a dance instructor ("You call that a battement fondue?");

I love an article that basically boils down to "Cole Hamels is gay."

Personally, I question Fitzpatrick's straight cred, just for his having come up with the "battement fondue" example...see, this is fun: gratuitous gaybashing's always in fashion. Especially if it's completely out of context...

23. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:50 PM (#3374553)

But Utley let an oil tanker explode in his hair, making himself forcefully ugly, just like a blue-collar guy.

What is the deal with his hair? Jason Giambi has used that look before as well.

24. Gold Star for Robothal Posted: November 02, 2009 at 04:55 PM (#3374557)

Hamels is so Philly. Like the city itself, he spent long, hard hours greasing innumerable poles before the series even began.

25. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: November 02, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3374587)

I know a guy who knows a guy who was roommates with a guy who can vouch for the fact that the crack in Cole Hamels' ass looks EXACTLY like the Liberty Bell's.

26. bobm Posted: November 02, 2009 at 05:51 PM (#3374615)

" Mike Schmidt was an enigma, too, but at some level he understood us and, eventually, we grasped him."

WTF? What the #### did Mike Schmidt do to Phillies fans? Too few World Series, MVPs, all star appearances, Gold Gloves, HOF votes? WTF?

27. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:15 PM (#3374631)

It's an old story -- he struck out too much, he didn't dive for balls, unclutch (look at 76-78 playoffs). He was the star on 3 straight losing Division playoff teams -- frustrated fans usually place the blame on the best player. He played next to the scrappiest scrapper who ever scrapped in Larry Bowa. Schmidt was somewhat aloof.
I never understood the booing because it was easy to see that he hustled, made himself into a great fielder, improved as a hitter, ran the bases very well, was head's up and did care. All the "problems" were either fluff or a team problem.
When Schmidt was emerging as a star, I worked with a guy who predated the last great A's dynasty, and he really disliked Schmidt for the Ks. It was fun to hear him reminisce but he had a real blind spot to the low avg., high OBP, high SLG player.

28. Lassus Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:24 PM (#3374638)

I never understood the booing

What's to understand? Of course there are plenty of great Philly fans, but it isn't like the city's reputation as a fandom cesspool came from nowhere. They are not fun people.

29. Tripon Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:36 PM (#3374644)

This Cole Hamels hate came on recently, at least on the national level. Hamels was never talked as a potential trade chip in any Lee or Halladay trade. He was viewed to be way too good to trade for the Phillies to be traded.

30. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:41 PM (#3374650)

In all seriousness, does anyone think that Hamels' struggles this year have anything to do with him throwing so many innings last year? It looks like his regular season was 44 more innings than he'd ever thrown before, and then he went and threw 35 more in the postseason. I haven't really followed him this year, so I don't know what the word has been around the Phils. I just wonder if 80 more innings and basically an extra month on the season might have set him back a little.

Hamels year X: 7.8 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 8.5% HR/FB, .157 ISO, 19% LD

Hamels year Y: 7.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 8.7% HR/FB, .167 ISO, 20% LD

Can you guess which one was his 142 ERA+ year and which one was his 99 ERA+ year?

Now figure out which year he gave up 7.6 H/9 and which year he gave up 9.6 H/9.

I'm not sure what it means when a guy becomes more hittable without giving up a significantly different amount of line drives and extra base hits. But it might mean nothing at all.

31. Gold Star for Robothal Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:48 PM (#3374657)

I think it means Raul Ibanez was playing in LF.

32. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 06:49 PM (#3374659)

What's to understand? Of course there are plenty of great Philly fans, but it isn't like the city's reputation as a fandom cesspool came from nowhere. They are not fun people.

Some of the booing I can understand -- Rolen decides not to sign with the local team, Dick Allen behaving badly, even drunk Santa during the lowest of many low Eagles eras. The Schmidt booing was the worst -- he was being booed because he didn't hit a homer every time even though it looked like he should. :)

I'm not sure what it means when a guy becomes more hittable without giving up a significantly different amount of line drives and extra base hits. But it might mean nothing at all.
Sid, I'm too lazy (sleep-deprived is more like it) but I wonder about pitches per PA. To my non-critical eye, it seemed like Hamels had trouble putting batters away with 2 strikes -- they fouled off a lot of 2 strike pitches. I also think the batters now look for the change knowing that they can at least get a piece of his straight FB. Plus he has had bad luck, although someone showed some numbers recently that made it look like Hamels is as unlucky this year as he was lucky last year.

I think he needs a laterally-moving pitch, either getting his curve to be a good pitch or learn a cutter.

33. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:03 PM (#3374673)

Sid, I'm too lazy (sleep-deprived is more like it) but I wonder about pitches per PA. To my non-critical eye, it seemed like Hamels had trouble putting batters away with 2 strikes -- they fouled off a lot of 2 strike pitches. I also think the batters now look for the change knowing that they can at least get a piece of his straight FB. Plus he has had bad luck, although someone showed some numbers recently that made it look like Hamels is as unlucky this year as he was lucky last year.

According to Fangraphs, Hamels threw more fastballs and fewer curves this year. Changeups stayed the same (although that says nothing about sequencing, natch). Velocities were consistent.

P/PA up slightly from 3.74 to 3.83.

There might be something hidden deep in the numbers, but we're starting to get into minutiae. Fact is, he was substantially the same pitcher this year as he was last year.

34. The Essex Snead Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:12 PM (#3374685)

Yeah, what little I've read on Hamels this year (maybe from Fangraphs?), coupled w/ what [31] posted, suggests that 2009 was just a bad luck / inexplicable BABIP spike sort of year.

35. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:13 PM (#3374686)

Mike Schmidt gave Phillies fans 1,883 reasons to complain.

36. Tripon Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:13 PM (#3374688)

Or 2008 was an inexplicable BABIP valley sort of year. I wouldn't be surprised if Hamels 2010 year is closer to 2009 than 2008.

37. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:14 PM (#3374689)

Fact is, he was substantially the same pitcher this year as he was last year.
Thanks, I hear ya, but it doesn't make my gut any more comfortable. :)
Maybe he is a good pitcher, but not a great one, who looked great last year and so-so this year.

38. bobm Posted: November 02, 2009 at 08:13 PM (#3374764)

Re 36:

"Mike Schmidt gave Phillies fans 1,883 reasons to complain.". That's 1,883 occasions, not reasons, to complain at a strikeout.

39. jwb Posted: November 02, 2009 at 09:22 PM (#3374853)

Mike Schmidt was "grasped" so well that he sometimes found it necessary to show up for work incognito.

40. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: November 02, 2009 at 09:53 PM (#3374889)

Mike Schmidt was "grasped" so well that he sometimes found it necessary to show up for work incognito.
That was one of the turning points in his relationship with the fans. (or I should say the fans relationship with him.)
He gets big time credit in my book for that move.

41. Liver of blaspheming 'zop Posted: November 02, 2009 at 10:02 PM (#3374898)

I normally find the necessity for political correctness to be thoroughly disdainful.

But I find it shocking that an article that can be distilled into "Cole Hamels is a fag, and we don't like fags in Philly" could be published under the name of a major newspaper, even if only on their website.

42. billyshears Posted: November 02, 2009 at 10:54 PM (#3374972)

If you want to figure out who are the most hated athletes in Philadelphia, you have do two things:

1) Identify any Philadelphia team that was good over a period of time, but never won it all.

2) Identify the best player on that team.

I would bet that Eric Lindros will never set foot in Philly again without police protection.

43. jwb Posted: November 02, 2009 at 11:00 PM (#3374983)

Dr. J. was still on the '83 Sixers. I was worried for a moment.

As an aside, many years ago, my sister dated a guy who played against Moses Malone 3x per year in high school. Said he got his ass kicked. Repeatedly.

44. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: November 02, 2009 at 11:27 PM (#3375024)

he got his ass kicked. Repeatedly.

Cole Hamels is intrigued and would like to subscribe, if there's a newsletter or some sort of trial offer or whatever.

45. Win one for Agrippa (haplo53) Posted: November 03, 2009 at 02:29 AM (#3375277)

But I find it shocking that an article that can be distilled into "Cole Hamels is a fag, and we don't like fags in Philly" could be published under the name of a major newspaper, even if only on their website.

Speaking of which, I'm shocked the Conlin column didn't get posted here today. That was like the sportswriting equivalent of a fever dream.

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Fitzpatrick: Hamels: Not enough Philly in him

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