Cole Hamels looks to forget last season as he makes his first start Wednesday night against the Nationals.
It’s now, or maybe never, in Cole regaining the confidence of Phillies fans.
After sitting in the shadows of the visitors dugout while Roy Halladay performed surgery on Washington's line-up, Hamels gets his shot to be No. 2 in the 1-2 punch the Phillies pitching staff is relying on this season.
If all goes according to plan, life will be good in Philadelphia. If not? Look out.
Hamels, who dealt with a lot of criticism last season for not only on-field temper issues, but off-field comments as well, has a lot to live up to in his 2010 campaign.
Not to mention a glaring 4.32 ERA, 10-11 record uncharacteristic of a left-hander who was supposed to anchor the Phightins' pitching staff.
“Last year, the fact that he was having trouble with his command, he got away from his coolness and focus,” manager Charlie Manuel explained to the Inquirer. “He's had that. It's the easy part for him to get back.”
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Easier said then done. Hollywood Hamels ended Spring Training 1-1 with a lofty 6.00 ERA in 24 innings, things should only look to get better for the lefty.
“You live and learn,” Hamels told MLB.com back in February. “You sometimes need to have games go the way you don't like because it lets you know that this game is hard. It's not going to be easy. Even though you might have games where everything goes well, you'll have games when times are tough. You really have to learn a little more about yourself.”
Let’s just hope that Hamels learned what he needed to learn.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in D.C.
