Cole Hamels’ baby was going to come any day, but Phillies fans would have preferred that Cole Hamels’ baby came today, not yesterday. Cole Hamels’ baby is now born under a cloud of uncertainty around his father, after yesterday’s Phillies loss. But for the next week, Cole Hamels’ baby can be front and center in Hamels’ mind, since he isn’t scheduled to pitch for the rest of the NLDS. Phillies faithful might be a little more relieved about that after his Game 2 start – though Hamels had other things on his mind minutes later.
Cole Hamels’ baby son was born last night in Philadelphia, as Heidi Strobel went into labor just minutes after her husband was taken out of the Phillies-Rockies Game 2. Right after he found out, he left the dugout and rushed to the hospital to be by Strobel’s side, according to Yahoo Sports.
Before his start, Hamels’ state of mind was already in question, with his wife close to being in labor. After going only five innings and giving up four runs in the Phillies 5-4 loss, Cole Hamels’ baby is suspected as one of the causes, as concern for his new family might have played with his head. The Rockies’ lineup might have had a little part in it, however, as they got a two-run home run and two sacrifice runs.
Cole Hamels has had a rough year all around, and was the center of various stories this week going into the NLDS. First, Charlie Manuel put the 2008 World Series MVP as his Game 2 starter instead of his Game 1 starter. Second, Hamels slammed MLB’s decision to put the Phillies in two day games this week – and Hamels hasn’t won a day game all season.
In the end, Manuel made the right call in going with Cliff Lee in Game 1, since it got the Phillies their sole win. Cole Hamels’ baby was born on an otherwise dark day in Philadelphia sports, as the Phillies are now in big trouble against the Rockies.
Since Hamels was the Game 2 starter, and Manuel is using a four-man rotation – though no one knows what the back of that rotation will be yet – Hamels will likely be absent the rest of the series. If it goes to Game 5, Cliff Lee will likely start the winner-take-all game, a prospect that now looks much more promising to Phillies fans.
Cole Hamels’ baby son should get his father’s undivided attention for the next few days. But if the Phillies make it to the NLCS, and have to use Lee in a Game 5, Hamels would then likely have to start Game 1 of the next series. By then, fans hope that Hamels’ head will be clear, and that he can help get another World Series ring in honor of his son.
But first, the Phillies have to get past the Rockies, a much more harder task today than it was to start yesterday. If the Phillies get knocked out early instead, then Cole Hamels’ baby could be cited as a cause, as unfair as that is. But the Phillies bullpen, the back of the starting rotation, a slow starting offense, and the chilly Denver weather will be much stronger factors this weekend than a baby.
Sources
Yahoo Sports- “Wife’s labor added drama to Hamels start” sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news
Philly Burbs- “Hamels’ wife goes into labor during NLDS game” www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/124/2009/october/09/hamels-wife-goes-into-labor-during-nlds-game.html
