The Phillies clearly have a back-end rotation problem. From the start, we knew that. Matt Moore, currently on the IL, has an atrocious 9.82 ERA. Chase Anderson has lost all 3 of his starts and has posted a 6.48 ERA. In his lone start, Vince Velasquez went 5 innings and allowed just 2 ER but his ERA is also bad at 6.75.
The Phillies need to sure the rear of the rotation up. There’s only one man for the job.
Don’t forget to grab a mask from FOCO! The official provider of on-field face coverings for the MLB!
COLE HAMELS
It has been 6 long years since Cole Hamels last pitched for the Phillies.
6. Long. Painful. Hollywood Hamels-less years.
Hamels has pitched for 2 other teams in that time period: the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs. That’s all the teams. Just 2. He certainly didn’t pitch last season for an NL East team. No-sir-e-bob.
For the Rangers and Cubs, Hamels posted a 3.73 ERA and struck out 714 batters. He has taken a step back since his Phillies’ years when he had a 3.30 ERA. And yes, I guess I’ll get it out of the way. Hamels did pitch 3.1 IP for the Braves in 2020. He gave up 3 ER.
If Cole Hamels does have something left in the tank, now is the perfect time for a reunion. The minor leagues kick back up in a week. Cole Hamels wouldn’t be ready right out of the gate since he missed spring training. It would be fun to see Cole pitch in Double-A Reading again. He also wouldn’t be the first Phillies to take this route.
In 1967, the first season in Reading Phillies history, Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts made 11 starts in the Eastern League. In 80 IP, he posted a 2.48 ERA with 7 complete games. He, unfortunately, didn’t get the call-up and chose to retire.
Hamels hasn’t appeared in Reading since 2005. The 37-year-old could take the same route as Roberts to try and extend his career. It would be an easy one, but if it ends with Hamels back in Philadelphia, I think we’d all be happy.
If he were to come back and win just 1 game as a Phillie, he’d move into a tie with Curt Simmons on the All-Time Phillies win leaderboard with 115. Cole Hamels as a top-5 Phillies pitcher all-time? That just sounds right.
Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire
