By John Klima
October 22, 2008
The Phillies won by one run, but the difference might have been three inches.
It was the fastball that Cole Hamels threw to B.J. Upton with the bases loaded in the third inning that darted inside as it crossed the plate, where Upton’s lightning quick hands could not catch up to Hamels’ advanced thinking. It turned the Rays’ potential game-changing moment into the split-second that Hamels needed to win and showed you everything you need to know about why he’s come so far, so fast.
Hamels threw 102 pitches in seven innings in Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory over Tampa in Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, but none were more impressive or more important than the fastball Upton grounded into for a double play in the third inning.
Protecting a 2-0 lead, Hamels had nothing new to show Upton, who had also grounded into a double play in the first inning when he couldn’t turn around a 91-mile per hour fastball on the inner half.
Hamels methodically set up Upton like a bullfighter dangling the cloth. Nothing was over the outer half of the plate, including the first two change-ups that made the count 1-1. Hamels missed with a fastball inside to run the count to 2-1, but in hindsight, you have to wonder if he intentionally missed so he could cut off Upton with the next pitch.
The next fastball exposed why Hamels is undefeated this postseason and why his natural gifts are equal parts cunning, deception and late life on his otherwise pedestrian fastball.
Hamels tried another fastball, but this time, he brought it back out toward the middle of the plate. The pitch enticed Upton, and his bat was moving when the fastball cut inside. Upton hit a sharp ground ball to third baseman Pedro Feliz, who stayed with a tricky hop and started a 5-4-3 double play.
“That was something I was very aware of, especially with B.J.,” Hamels said. “He's the type of guy that can change a game in an instant. Being able to get that ground ball out and getting the double play, I think was definitely the kind of momentum swing into our favor.”
Hamels gave the Phillies seven innings and scattered five hits and two earned runs. You can expect the home run he surrendered, especially when Carl Crawford had him timed in the second and did not miss in the fourth. While Hamels’ outing will tend to be overshadowed by the power arms in the Philadelphia bullpen and the power bats in the Philadelphia lineup, he still could be the biggest reason the Phillies might win. He’s mature and composed, pitches instead of throws, believes he can win with what he has, and isn’t scared by cowbells. And Tampa could face him two more times.
Hamels is thoroughly reminiscent of Tom Glavine at the same age, on the mound, in mannerisms, in personality and in professionalism. Like Glavine, his thoughts and words are as carefully selected as his pitches, and delivered with passion and precision. He is articulate and enthusiastic. Listening to him, like watching him pitch, is enlightening. Like his cut fastball to Upton in the fifth inning, there’s more to it than just a pitch.
“His changeup was very good,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It's so good because the arm stroke really resembles his fastball. He repeats his delivery well, regardless of the pitch that he’s throwing.”
Charlie Manuel broke it down.
“Cole? He was pretty good, man,” Manuel said. “He was very sharp tonight. I might have thought he could have thrown his curveball a little more, but he had such good command of everything that it wasn't a problem. I feel like he's got a good chance to shut somebody out. And also a chance to throw a no-hitter sometimes.”
Maddon simplified: “He didn't throw any hanging changeups.”
He also left no reason to hang his head, left the Phillies a place to hang their hats, hung the Rays out to dry, and left Upton wondering why one pitch couldn’t have been just three more inches outside.
John@KlimaInk.com
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