Prince Bests King Cole in Phils Loss

The losses are always tougher when you're just a few outs away before the game slips from your grasp. Last night's game with the Brewers went back and forth but the Phils had the lead with Cole Hamels on the mound going in to the 8th.  They didn't have it once the inning ended.

You can all play armchair manager in replaying Charlie Manuel's decision to leave Hamels in to face Prince Fielder who had homered earlier in the game but Uncle Cholly stuck with his man. And lost the game. Fielder hit his second homer of the night of Hamels and the Phils couldn't come back yet again in the ninth despite So Taguchi getting himself to third base with only one out.

Chase Utley and Pat Burrell continued down the path to righteousness while Ryan Howard continued to strike out a lot. Video highlights below including Kruker's love of taters.

Notes: Geoff Jenkins got a nice little welcome back to the ballpark he played in for years. [ESPN Photo]

Comments

[BadMotherFutley]

Regardless of game situation, sending Hamels - with his history of arm problems - back out for the 8th with his pitch count already at 110 was a bad decision even before he gave up the hits.

I'd rather have him make all of his starts in July than try to squeeze out an extra inning in a situation like this.

[Bryan]

Cole got pissy last year when Charlie pulled him in situations like this. He gave him a chance to pitch and this was the result. I don't blame Manuel for this one. Now he knows better.

[rosco]

i blame it on charlie. he's not there to coddle cole, he's there to manage the team and win ballgames. let cole get pissy. if he was facing the 6-7-8 guys, thats one thing, but you had braun and then fielder, and he's already thrown 110 pitches, its just stupid.

[Dubs]

I agree about pulling Cole. You have JC warming up. He's their third or fourth best pitcher right now. Use him in an important situation.

Also, anyone else notice the Philly teams are either all winning or all losing on any given night? I knew the Phils were in trouble after the Sixers lost.

[bboova]

This would have never happened if there was a traveling team chiropractor!!

Prince Fielder is a beast!

[Gaze]

Games Chollie has won this year: 1/2
Games Chollie has lost this year: (approx)4

I think it's pretty obvious the ball was jumping out of the park last night... why bring back a guy who has already given up a few long balls and who has thrown 110 pitches? Someone buy this guy "Managing Major League Baseball; For Dummies!"

[bigmyc04]

Simply AWFUL pitch choices in that last Fielder at bat....dreadful.

What were they thinking?

I sense a little Big Ego Headstrongedness involved in this one...

Every pitch was right down the middle of the plate!? ...with an 0-2 count?! Mind boggling.

[bigmyc04]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree that Cole shouldn't have been on the hill with 110 pitches or so under his belt...he was throwing fine...he just got a little wrapped up in trying to muscle out Fielder..I think ego might have had a role in that one.

[JB]

Regarding the comment about Howard striking out a lot, what's the deal? Honestly. I am so frustrated with this guy. When was the last time Howard stepped up when he needed to? He's horrible right now. People aren't talking about this serious issue enough. I suggest moving Pat to 4th and Howard to 5th in the lineup. What do you guys think? Something has to be done.

[ill]

I agree with bigmyc on the Hamels topic. He was breezing through batters in the 7th, so I would have sent him back out there. It's early in the season, and now is the time to see how deep he can go. I don't even think about him being "injury prone" anymore (knock on wood). He wanted the CG, let him do it. However, I would have been alright with bringing in relief as well.

I don't think we should move oward. He looks terrible up there, so the only thing I would consider is sitting him a few games and let him regain focus in a couple pinch hitting spots. Give Dobbs the start at 1st and Feliz at 3B, batting between Utley and Burrell.