Cole Hamels is set to make his 2009 debut against the Colorado Rockies on Friday Night.
From Phillies.com:
“He’s a guy that likes a third deck and the big lights,” Dubee explained. “He proved that during his first couple of the past few years and the playoff run that he had. Physically, I think he’s fine. We had that MRI and all the tests done, and there’s nothing structurally [wrong].”
Cole’s velocity obviously has been down so far this spring, but I feel as if he is ready to go. He was pushed back a week just to give him extra time to get healthy. He’s ready to get this season started as well.
The Phillies-Rockies series will start off with Hamels and Jason Marquis getting the call for the Rockies. He’s fighting to keep his rotation spot, so he should be throwing his best. The Phillies need to get their offense going, so maybe the thin air at Coors Field is just what they need.
Colorado is an interesting place for the Phillies. In a moment that made me extremely proud to be a Phillies fan, the following happened:
The extreme unselfishness that the Phillies showed in that moment is something that still makes me proud to this day.
-KK
