I'll admit it. When the Cubs traded for Cole Hamels less than a week ago, I wasn't exactly blown away. Yeah, the guy has been pretty solid throughout his career and has historically pitched very well at Wrigley Field (remember the no-hitter?) but honestly, it seemed like his best baseball was behind him.
Then I watched his Cubs debut last night and I can happily say that I'm a complete idiot. Granted, it was only one start so I'm not fully sold here yet but if the rest of his starts are anything like the gem he threw last night, I think the Cubs rotation will be just fine down the home stretch of the season.
Hamels line from last night was spectacular -- 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 9 K, and 2 BB. You hear that Tyler Chatwood? Only TWO walks allowed were allowed last night.
Hamels had all of his pitches working last night and I'd have to say I was quite surprised with his change up. Six of his nine strikeouts from last night were from throwing his change up which was his highest change up strikeout total since 2015. He also threw 27 change ups which is the second highest total for him this season. The scary thing is, Hamels said that pitch has been pretty shitty all year.
“All year my change up has been horrendous. That’s been my focus these last couple weeks. To get back to what I know."From a fan's perspective Cole, the change up looked pretty damn solid last night. The change up may have been his close out pitch last night but what he did with his fastball should make Cubs fans take notice. For a guy who historically has sat right around 90 mph with his four-seamer, he was throwing some gas last night.
As it mentions, adrenaline may have something to do with it being that it was his Cubs debut and all but he still hit 92 mph on his second to last pitch of the night so that lets me know that he still had some gas left in the tank. It almost seemed like he was using his four-seamer the way pitchers use change ups since his change was so goddamn good last night. Hitters would begin to sit on his change and he would throw 94 mph right down the heart of the plate. Both Hamels and Cubs manager Joe Maddon admitted that his four-seam command isn't "where he wants it," but it will definitely be a pitch he will utilize more and more each outing. He was pulled in the bottom of the fifth after 95 pitches and undoubtedly could have went longer but Maddon seemingly always likes to pull pitchers on a high note after an injury or during a debut. And with a 6-1 lead after five, why risk it? Five solid innings of baseball and one of the best debuts in Cubs history.
I can't wait to see what he can do down the stretch when the games mean that much more and see if he can keep that velocity up in high pressure situations. He's pitched on the biggest stage in baseball and even though it's a small sample size from last night, the guy battles. It's looking like a change of scenery for Hamels may just work out in the Cubs favor this season.
