PHILADELPHIA — The fallout from Cole Hamels’ horrific Game 3 start Saturday lingered into yesterday for the Phillies.
That fallout was so great, in fact, that it could alter Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel’s thoughts of keeping Hamels in his turn if the Phillies extend the World Series to a Game 7.
What prompted the concern about Hamels yesterday was as much what he said after the Phillies’ 8-5 loss to the Yankees in Game 3 as it was his dreadful performance during it.
Showing his frustration after giving up five runs in just 4 1/3 innings, Hamels told reporters in the Phillies’ clubhouse that he “can’t wait for [the season] to end.”
“It’s been mentally draining,” the lanky left-hander said. “It’s one of those things where, a year in, you just can’t wait for a fresh start.”
Hamels’ despair is understandable, considering the awful outing against the Yankees merely continued what has been a woeful postseason for the 2008 World Series MVP.
Hamels is 1-2 in four playoff starts this year — and his ERA is an ugly 7.58.
When you combine those pitiful numbers with Hamels’ poor mental state, it was easy to see why Manuel was peppered with questions yesterday about going back to Hamels if the reeling Phillies manage to force a seventh game.
“Right now, I’m focused on today,” Manuel said. “We’re a long ways from there. I’ve got a lot of time to think about things.”
Manuel sidestepped the Game 7 question, but the manager’s alarm at Hamels’ “can’t wait to get it over with” sentiment was obvious.
Manuel said he did not know Hamels had made the statement until it was relayed to him yesterday afternoon. He chalked it up to a frustrated, 25-year-old perfectionist letting off steam.
“This is all part of the process,” Manuel said. “This is the first time that things have not gone his way, and he’s [struggling with it.] He’s never been through this before, and it’s something that he will get through and probably be even better.”
The Phillies don’t have the luxury of thinking about next season for Hamels if they want to complete their quest to become the first NL team since Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine in 1975-76 to repeat as World Series champions.