7/25/07 A Tale Of Two Lefties. or A Power Change Vs An Eerie Calm. or Cole Hamels Figurine Night, What Is He?Too Good For A Bobblehead? or Is A Bobblehead A Figurine?

Live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Citizens Bank Ballpark, it’s the second of three between the Phillies and visiting Washington Nationals. Left-handed change-up specialist Cole Hamels on the mound for the home team opposed by the Nationals twenty-four year old left handed wunderkind Matt Chico.
     Hamels, also twenty-four and a native of San Diego, California was drafted by the Phils seventeenth overall in the 2002 Amateur draft, struggled through several injury-plagued seasons before finally getting things together on the mound in this, his first full season in the Majors. With a record of (11-5, 3.66 ERA) thus far this season, Hamels features a power change that is the envy of the entire league, and increasingly the bane of the existence of every batter the young lefty faces.
     While Hamels ascent was considered delayed by many, Matt Chico’s presence on a Major League roster has been to most a surprise. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with right hander Garrett Mock, in the trade that sent Livan Hernandez out west, Chico’s (4-6, 4.61 ERA) ascent is viewed as forced by many, due to the Nationals lack of available Major League arms. Chico’s performance thus far has silenced those whispers though, and he’s beginning to look a bit like a future fixture in the Nationals starting rotation.
     Hamels pumphandle delivery is clearly the source of some obfuscation of the opposing batter’s view of his pitches, but Chico must also create some deception, because his fastball rarely reaches the low nineties, his curve’s effective but not dramatic, and his slider’s the pitch voted most likely to leave. Yet somehow, Chico’s achieved success beyond the expectations for a rookie starter on a destined-to-be last place team.
     According to Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East this season, but just past the halfway point they find themselves in a familiar position in third behind the Mets and Braves and ahead of the Marlins and Nationals. “Almost Always Almost There,” go ahead, that’s a free city slogan for you Philadelphia, but with the Cy Young caliber Hamels on the mound you might just mistake the Phillies for a contender.
     While the Nationals are fairly well out of contention, there is just as much of interest to watch in the second half of the season, as young players like Chico, Ryan Zimmerman and Jesus Flores continue to grow as professionals, not to mention the impending debuts of several pitching prospects including this year’s first round draft pick, lefty Ross Detwiler who has already made his way to Triple-AAA Columbus, and seems destined for a September start to his MLB career, or another left-hander John Lannan who has emerged from the system to become number one in line for a promotion, which came today, and will get Lannan his first Major League start tomorrow at 1:00 pm against these same Philadelphia Phillies.
     Another player to watch for the Nationals, Nook Logan single handedly scores the first run of the game off Hamels, singling, stealing second, and scoring, when he steals third as Felipe Lopez singles to left, allowing Lopez to walk the distance to home. 1-0 Nationals. Chico gets in deep trouble in the fourth, loading the bases for Aaron Rowand and issuing him a walk to tie the game, before Wes Helms singles and knocks in two for a 3-1 Philly lead.
     Chico gives up another run and loads the bases with two out in the fifth before Manny Acta, Nationals Manager, makes the move the bullpen and brings out Chris Schroder in the middle of another bases juiced jam. Schroder gets Helms staring at strike three for the third out of the fifth. 4-1 Phils.
     Hamels is cruising through the sixth when a fastball of his meets the bat of Ronnie Belliard and ends up twenty rows deep in left. 4-2 Phils. Hamels is done after seven, replaced on the mound by Ryan Madson, who works a scoreless frame. Luis Ayala holds it at 4-2 Philly through eight.
     Antonio Alfonseca gives up a one-out double to Ryan Ch-Ch-Ch-Church in the ninth. Brian Schneider walks. Pinch hitter Tony Batista DOUBLES off the scoreboard in right center. 4-3 Phils. Philly Manager Charlie Manuel pulls Alfonseca for Mike Zagurski. Jesus Flores on to pinch hit. Full count. Flores DOUBLES off the scoreboard. FLORES DOUBLES OFF THE SCOREBOARD!! Two runs score. 5-4 Nationals. Wait for it...
     Chad Cordero enters the game in the bottom of the ninth. Cordero wears the away gray Nationals uniform, navy blue cap with white cursive “W” stitched above a brim as flat as the fastball Mitch Williams threw to Joe Carter. (Ouch!) The Flat-Brimmed Closer gets the first two outs, bringing up Jimmy Rollins. Rollins goes deep to left, Church and Langerhans almost collide, and the ball falls between them, Rollins heads for third, the throw is off, Rollins heads home, Schneider can’t handle it, Rollins slides in safe. Tie game after nine. Add an extra frame.
     The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History walks Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to start the tenth. Aaron Rowand pops out on a bunt attempt. Michael Bourn grounds out to first. Jon Rauch will face Chris Coste, who bats for the pitcher. Rauch gets a pop out to end the tenth, and it’s 5-5 headed to the eleventh inning and hour.
     Saul “Sa-ool” Rivera gives up a leadoff walk to Carlos Ruiz, but fields a sac bunt attempt and cuts Ruiz down at second. Jimmy Rollins up again with the bunter Greg Dobbs at first, and Rollins grounds into a force at second. Shane Victorino grounds back to the pitcher. 5-5 after eleven.
     Saul Rivera walks Chase Utley to start the twelfth, and gives up a single to Ryan Howard, to put two on in from of Rowand again. Aaron Rowand flies out to center. Utley advances to third. Rivera walks Bourn to load ‘em up. The Phils have no more pitchers so no pinch hitter for reliever Clay Condrey. Condrey down swinging for the second out. Carlos Ruiz grounds to second. Lucky #13 coming up.
     Who would’ve thunk that Saul Rivera is actually a switch hitter. Batting from the left with two on two out in the thirteenth, Rivera grounds out to second. Bottom of the frame. Leadoff single for Dobbs. J-Roll? Beats out a double play ball, force at second for the first out. One out later, Don’t Run on Schneider! Rollins nailed trying. Fourteen anyone?
     Chris Booker walks Chase Utley to start the bottom of the fourteenth. Ryan Howard ends it with one swing of the bat. Five hours after it started, Howard hits the second deck in right, and the two run blast gives the Phillies a 7-5 win.

Nationals now 42-58.