On a day when it was announced the Mets had lost Pedro Martinez for 4-6 weeks, the Phils sent Cole Hamels to the mound to even the series with Washington and the season's record. After a shaky first inning the Phils' real ace (not that guy who started Opening Day) settled down and pitched a masterful game. His lone mistake was a home run surrendered to Ryan Zimmerman, who truth be told, hit what would have been a three-run shot in the first inning only to have a strong, gusty wind knock it back to the warning track.
Unfortunately, Hamels' opposite number, Tim Redding, pitched like Cy Young and held the Phils to a lone hit, by Pedro Feliz. The final score was 1-0. So much for taking advantage of the circumstances.
Three things have become abundantly apparent about Hamels:
1. He is the only reliable starter on this staff.
2. He is going to give up a lot of home runs, especially in this ballpark.
3. He does little to hide his disgust when things don't go his way.
Hamels facial expressions betray his easy frustrations with teammates' lapses. Though not as egregious as Curt Schillings' towel-over-the-head routine, Hamels' behavior won't exactly endear him to the guys playing behind him if he keeps it up.
Following his petulant response to the Phillies' contract tender this Spring and his warning he wouldn't forget their snub, Hamels appears to be laying the groundwork for his departure several years hence when he is eligible for free agency.
In the meantime, it would help his demeanor if his mates got a few runs for him. They can ill-afford to waste an eight inning one-run effort from anyone, least of all him.
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