The Trouble with Cole Hamels

The Phillies' problems this season are numerous. Some of them are due to injuries (Brett Myers, Raul Ibanez, Scott Eyre, Brad Lidge) and some are due to poor performances (Jimmy Rollins, most of the bullpen, anyone off the bench not named Matt Stairs). But a major problem the Phillies have that's flown under the radar for most of the season has been with alleged ace Cole Hamels.

You see, as far as I can tell, the term "ace" should mean something more than simply being the #1 pitcher on the staff. An ace is the rare pitcher who gives you something extra every time he pitches. If he's on he can dominate the opposition, carry a team on his back, and stop losing streaks. If he doesn't have his best stuff on a given night, he can still go deep into the ball game and give his team a chance to win. Roy Halladay is an ace. Tim Lincecum is an ace. Zack Greinke is an ace. This year, Cole Hamels is not an ace. And for the Phillies, that has been a big, big problem.

Last year, Hamels was an ace and the Phillies reaped the benefits. This year, he has been unreliable. Hamels began the season late because of some elbow issues in spring training. Once he finally got going, he was pretty shaky, dealing with a lack of command and then some freak injuries. Hamels didn't have his first really good outing until May 14, giving up just one run in 7 innings of work in a 5-3 loss to Los Angeles. He's had some 6 inning, 2-3 run outings mixed in this year, but he's had only one truly dominant start, pitching a shutout on June 4th against the Dodgers. In fact, Hamels has had just three starts this season in which he has pitched 7 or more innings. With a bullpen as beleaguered as the Phillies' has been this year, getting 6 or less innings out of your #1 starter just isn't going to work.

The big issue with Cole Hamels this season has been command of his fastball. Specifically, he has been leaving his fastball up in the zone far too often. Hamels has dominating stuff, but his dominant pitch is not his fastball, it's his change up. There is nothing wrong with pitching up in the zone every once in a while to change the hitter's eye level and set up the offspeed stuff down. But Hamels can't afford to live up in the zone with a fastball that is generally in the 90-91 mph range. What ends up happening is that hitters can catch up to that type of fastball left up in the zone and hit it hard. At the very least, a hitter can foul it off and extend the at bat until he gets a pitch he can do something with. So at bats are extended, more effort is expended, more pitches are thrown and Hamels is unable to pitch as many innings as his team needs him to.

Obviously the Phillies' have more to be concerned about than just Cole Hamels. The rest of the rotation is shaky, the bullpen is a mess, and no one seems to be able to hit. Hamels can't do anything about the offense, but if he can return to last season's form he can take some pressure off both his fellow starters and the bullpen. An ace bears a disproportionately larger burden than the rest of the pitching staff. Cole Hamels was an ace last year, and the Phillies desperately need him to be one again this year.