Phillies Don't Care That Chuck Norris Waits in Line for Cole Hamels' Autograph

On the heels of the second consecutive year featuring a public contract dispute with a core player, the Phillies have another All-Star feeling "low-balled" by the team's yearly renewal. On Friday, Bill Conlin's column ominously worried that this Phillies front office is likely to have trouble staying competitive with the other large-market teams as salaries continue to go skyward and their young (but maturing) core continues to excel on the field, a concern many of us share. Today, the Phillies news is focused on Cole Hamels, the Phils' true ace, who yesterday was given a $100,000 raise over his 2007 salary of $400,000, a bump with which he was less than thrilled.

Hamels, who was asking for a salary of $750,000 at this, the time of his annual renewal, called the raise a "low blow." Going an impressive 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA and 177 K's last year, Cole showed that he's well on his way to being a dominant pitcher, and he didn't think he was asking for much, but apparently the $250k difference was more than the Phillies were willing to part with. Unfortunately, it may cost the front office (and possibly Cole's fans in Philly) in the long run. David Murphy quotes Cole as follows:

While acknowledging that the team is being "business-savvy," the 24-year-old pitcher also said he felt disrespected by the deal, calling it a "low blow" that he will remember down the road.

"You just want to be treated fairly, equally, and if you're not, then you're going to remember it,"

Before we take the road most traveled and pile on the Phillies management, Jim Salisbury soberly cautions that Hamels is out of line, and that the current situation has little in common with what we've witnessed between the club and Ryan Howard over the last two years.

Howard, Salisbury points out, received a $100,000 raise last year after being named the NL MVP, as well as the Rookie of the Year in 2005, while leading the league in HR and RBI over that time—honors that designate the slugger as being in a class all his own for that span. Hamels, although he was the team's best pitcher and among the best in the NL, received a number that was comparable to what others in the league with his stats and service numbers, such as Scott Kazmir and Chien-Ming Wang, have been given.

There's nothing unfair about this deal. It's not a "low blow," as Hamels so foolishly and naively called it. It is completely in line with the way the system works for players not yet eligible for salary arbitration, and, lest we forget, the players sign off on this system every time they OK a new labor agreement.

Salisbury also calls BS on Cole's statement that he'll remember this low blow in the future:

Hamels, frankly, sounds spoiled and out of touch when he talks of being slighted by the deal, when he hints that he'll hold it against the club in the future. What does that mean? He's going to walk when he becomes a free agent after the 2012 season?

MLB salary structuring and renewal is a complicated (although not very) process, and it's easy for us fans to become frustrated when we see a top player like Hamels making so much less than an absolute trainwreck like Adam Eaton. It's a process that sometimes doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's not without precedent, and until it's officially changed, we'll continue to read these stories and be frustrated. As fans, we'll almost always side with shelling out that "little extra" to keep the young talent in town, because (1) it's not our money, and (2) nothing is scarier than the thought of that talent leaving for greener pastures after years of strained relations. I'd rather this post have been about a young star happy with his new Phillies contract, but the fact that it's not is more of a reflection on the status quo of Major League Baseball than that of the Phillies organization, which we know is far from perfect.

Comments

[Castor&Cottman]

Cole your our ace and all but....shut up and pitch

[Gaze]

What a baby... Chein Ming Wang wins 19 games two years ago and makes $425K the following year and you didnt see him crying. Cole Hamels is an "ace" in training and still has a lot to prove before everyone should cave to his demands. That extra $250K is probably paying for the team of chiropractors they need to staff to keep this guy happy.

[gootman]

Maybe we should fire Cole's chiropractor and give his salary to Cole so maybe then he would feel appreciated. Oh thats right, the Phils want the chiropractor because they are willing to try anything to get a full season out of Cole. He needs to let his agent worry about his contract, focus on his pitching, stay healthy, and he'll eventually 'GET PAID'.

[johndewar]

First it's the chiropractor. Now this.

Hey Cole: if Philly learned anything from years of Steve Carlton and Curt Schilling is that the ace of the staff is better to be seen and not heard. Let your agent handle the money. Go get your free chiro adjustment and relax.

[bigmyc]

Big Cole fan here; but......

This piece of news makes me want to bitch slap the fans who jump on his comments about not minding the opening day slight like it was the almighty scripture (if you're are religious, that is). The guy is still just a kid, by baseball standards anyway. He usually says the right kinds of things, but then he's no dum-dum. He might as well say the right things.
In this case, what he said was ridiculous and the comments of a kid who hasn't learned to mitigate his emotions.

[ill]

I think Moyer needs to sit Hamels down and have a little talk about loyalty. If Hamels becomes the Phillies first 20-game winner in years, then he will get paid like Howard did. He will have plenty of time to get paid, especially once Burrell and Thome come off the books next year. You don't make a "they will regret this" comment when the team has such a good vibe going.

[Ricky]

I agree with everyone else.

I love Cole, I think hes great and I believe he pumps his own gas in New Jersey, however, he needs to shut the hell up.

Honestly, there's no one that can just take him aside and tell him to close his mouth?

The only thing that saved him a little bit is the fact that he said he would rather stay here and be teammates with Chase and Ryan rather than pitch against them.

[ColeHamelsIn2008]

Look, you can tell by my handle that I love Hamels as pitcher. However, his comments are absolutely out of line. He is not arbitration eligible and he made just as much if not more than his fellow comparables of Scott Kazmir and Chien Ming Wang. To hear Hamels complain about this is just ridiculous, it is kind of spitting in the face of some of his more veteran teammates who had to pay their dues too before they could make their big salary.

Cole, is a professional baseball player, he is my age, if I as an outsider can understand the salary structure of the business he should understand how his own business works. Howard had to pay his dues too, making his $900k last year, so did Albert Pujols before he got his long term deal (as great as Cole has been, he hasn't been been close to the same calibur these two guys were in). Mr. Hamels should be more concerned with keeping his elbow healthy (which is probably a reason the Phillies will always be hesitant to give him a long term deal or more money).

Lastly, I can't find any exact citations to a quote, but maybe someone can help me out here. Last season when he was hurt towards the end of the year, did anyone get the feeling that the Phillies wanted Hamels to come back a little earlier than Hamels wanted to? And Hamels seemed to me like he wanted to wait it out for a little bit longer missing one or two more starts? I could be losing my mind, but I seem to remember that. Anyway, I still think Cole is the man, but come on, you don't even have two full seasons of major league service yet, know your role and let your agent do your money managing. I just home this is not a preview of things to come.

[Joe Ferry]

Everyone needs to relax. Look, two of the reasons Cole Hamels is a great pitcher are because he's competitive and egotistical. What are contract negotiations all about?: competition and ego. I don't want him cowering on the mound and I don't want him cowering at the negotiating, either. If that's what he believes he's worth -- and we all know he's "worth" a lot more than that -- then I say good for him.

[Kulp]

Joe, that is actually a good point, but here's the problem. I don't make $400k/year, so I don't want to hear a professional athlete complain about his salary.

Look, I think these guys deserve to get paid because the money is there. And every once in awhile, the player is actually correct when he wants to renew his contract. On the other hand, Cole is plan wrong.

The rookie pay scale exists for a reason. Take a look at what has happened to the NFL draft. Picking at the top has become detrimental for many teams thanks to all the guaranteed money being paid for unproven talent. When a mistake is made in the top 10, it is costly to say the least.

I think it's great that Cole has some fire to him. He has every right in the world to want proper compensation for his services. However, he needs to keep that between himself and the club, because the real "low blow" here is to all the fans who pay good money to watch him pitch.

[Michael C]

And let's not forget, Cole was a first round draft pick, so i am pretty sure he got a nice little signing bonus back then. He should remember he plays a game for a living. now, if he goes out and wins 20, i will be all over the team to pay him, but for now, go pitch a full season, please

[theKrisheim]

just win baby

[Tony]

he got a $2million signing bonus i believe

[Phils Phan]

Not to mention Cole's wife. Give me high six figures and that tail, and see if I complain.

:)

[william]

since when is a second year pitcher,who missed a month with injuries,who won 15 games,who looked very very hittable at times.a .ace.....do it for 4 or 5 years,then get payed cole