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Bench Warmer
Cole Hamels isn't ready to call it a season.
Hamels wants to pitch again if the Philadelphia Phillies need him against the New York Yankees in the World Series. It would be the struggling left-hander's turn to take the mound in Game 7 on Thursday.
Hamels angered fans and created a stir on talk radio with his comments after his poor outing in Game 3 Saturday night. He clarified those remarks after the Phillies avoided elimination with an 8-6 victory in Game 5 on Monday night.
"Sometimes I might not say the best things or the smartest things, but I've learned and am learning," Hamels said. "I wasn't able to sleep the past couple of nights because of it."
Hamels allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-5 home loss in Game 3. Last year's World Series and National League Championship Series MVP, he's 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA in four starts this postseason after going 10-11 in the regular season.
"I can't wait for it to end," Hamels was quoted as saying after the game. "It's been mentally draining. At year's end, you just can't wait for a fresh start."
Many took that comment and ran with it, but Hamels talked for about 30 minutes Monday to groups of reporters and also said he looked forward to the possibility of redeeming his season in Game 7.
Still, his comments seem to have created a ripple in the clubhouse.
Responding to a Yahoo! Sports report that Hamels was confronted by reliever Brett Myers after Game 5, Myers told ESPN's John Kruk on Tuesday that there was no confrontation. Myers called it a misunderstanding.
Myers told Kruk that he was asked by someone in the clubhouse if he knew where Hamels was. Myers said in jest, "He quit. He went home." Myers said he was not referring to Hamels' comments on Saturday night.
When Hamels was told what Myers had said, Myers said Hamels came over to talk to him about it. After the media left the clubhouse, Myers said the two talked again and had a good laugh about it.
Myers said he considers Hamels probably his best friend on the team.
Meanwhile, Hamels reached out to manager Charlie Manuel to make sure the two were on the same page. Manuel has not announced his starter for a Game 7.
"I went to Charlie just to talk to him because that's who I am, and I think he understands that," Hamels said. "I just wanted to tell him my true thoughts -- that I'll never ever quit. I want to play this game until somebody takes it away from me.
"I think Charlie knows me. He has managed me for quite a few years. I think the only doubt it left in people's minds were the fans, and you know, it hurts. I love the city of Philadelphia, I play as hard as I possibly can. I might not necessarily have the results that they hope [for], but I know that if I go out there, and do everything I possibly can, and in the end they see [that], then I think they can respect that."
Hamels wants to pitch again if the Philadelphia Phillies need him against the New York Yankees in the World Series. It would be the struggling left-hander's turn to take the mound in Game 7 on Thursday.
Hamels angered fans and created a stir on talk radio with his comments after his poor outing in Game 3 Saturday night. He clarified those remarks after the Phillies avoided elimination with an 8-6 victory in Game 5 on Monday night.
"Sometimes I might not say the best things or the smartest things, but I've learned and am learning," Hamels said. "I wasn't able to sleep the past couple of nights because of it."
Hamels allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-5 home loss in Game 3. Last year's World Series and National League Championship Series MVP, he's 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA in four starts this postseason after going 10-11 in the regular season.
"I can't wait for it to end," Hamels was quoted as saying after the game. "It's been mentally draining. At year's end, you just can't wait for a fresh start."
Many took that comment and ran with it, but Hamels talked for about 30 minutes Monday to groups of reporters and also said he looked forward to the possibility of redeeming his season in Game 7.
Still, his comments seem to have created a ripple in the clubhouse.
Responding to a Yahoo! Sports report that Hamels was confronted by reliever Brett Myers after Game 5, Myers told ESPN's John Kruk on Tuesday that there was no confrontation. Myers called it a misunderstanding.
Myers told Kruk that he was asked by someone in the clubhouse if he knew where Hamels was. Myers said in jest, "He quit. He went home." Myers said he was not referring to Hamels' comments on Saturday night.
When Hamels was told what Myers had said, Myers said Hamels came over to talk to him about it. After the media left the clubhouse, Myers said the two talked again and had a good laugh about it.
Myers said he considers Hamels probably his best friend on the team.
Meanwhile, Hamels reached out to manager Charlie Manuel to make sure the two were on the same page. Manuel has not announced his starter for a Game 7.
"I went to Charlie just to talk to him because that's who I am, and I think he understands that," Hamels said. "I just wanted to tell him my true thoughts -- that I'll never ever quit. I want to play this game until somebody takes it away from me.
"I think Charlie knows me. He has managed me for quite a few years. I think the only doubt it left in people's minds were the fans, and you know, it hurts. I love the city of Philadelphia, I play as hard as I possibly can. I might not necessarily have the results that they hope [for], but I know that if I go out there, and do everything I possibly can, and in the end they see [that], then I think they can respect that."
