Cole Hamels: The Last 28-Game Winner

Philly fans love Colbert Michael Hamels. The last two seasons, he has gone 29-15 with a 3.22 ERA. Those sound like numbers of a two-time All Star. However, I'm going to show you that Hamels deserves much better than that.

In an article I wrote recently, I listed the top 30 aces in all of baseball. One user claimed I put Hamels on the list because he won the World Series MVP. As a baseball fan and a huge Hamels fan, that comment irked me. Let me provide you some proof that Hamels really is better than his 29-15 record the last two years indicate. Let's take an inside look.

To open the 2007 season, Hamels worked his way to two no decisions. On Opening Day against the Braves in a 3-2 loss, Hamels pitched seven innings, allow one run and strike out eight only to see Tom Gordon blow a lead in the ninth inning.

He then pitched two good games, one against the Astros, one against the Reds. He earned two wins, struck out 19 and walking just five and lowering his season ERA to 2.57. After an iffy outing to end the month of April, he saw himself at 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA. However, he really deserved a 4-1 record. So, Hamels deserves to be 4-1.

In May, he was fantastic and the offense backed him. He pitched six games, winning five and losing one. He rose his record to 7-2 and had a good 3.74 earned run average. Hamels deserved everything he had coming in that month. He put the Phillies in a great position to win baseball games, which has epitomized Hamels' career.

In June, he was an iffy 2-2, but really deserved three wins. In his six starts, he tossed three quality outings. In a 6-3 win over the Mets, he allowed just three runs over seven innings, but Mike Nagurski, who pitched one inning, got the win. So, he's in actuality 9-4, but deserves 10-4.

In July, he was 3-1. However, he deserved five wins. Take this into consideration. In a 1-0 loss to the Padres, Hamels allowed a lone run to the Pads. However, the Phils only mustered four hits against the trio of Chris Young, Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman. After the month, he was 12-5, but he really deserved to be 15-4.

In August, Hamels was again consistent. He started three games, going 2-0 and lowering his ERA to 3.50. He deserved all three wins, though. He was 14-5 after the month, but what did he deserve? 18-4. Those numbers, which are much deserved, make him the frontrunner for a Cy Young Award, something Hamels has been robbed of, in my mind, twice.

In his last three starts, Hamels continued the pace. He pitched just three innings in a win over the Cards, getting a no decision. In a 5-3 loss to the Nats, he pitched five innings and allowed one run, definitely deserving of a win. However, he got a no decision. He's still 14-5.

But, in a fair world, he's 19-4. In a 6-0 win over the Nats days later, he pitched eight innings of shutout ball and got the win, improving his record to 15-5. He really should've been 20-4. That's a Cy Young winner. However, Hamels got inadequate run support and the voters don't see it. It's a true tragedy. Lets fast forward to 2008.

On Opening Day, the Phils lost to the Nats, 1-0. Hamels allowed just one run on eight hits. What'd he get? A loss. That's not deserving of a loss by any stretch of the imagination.

Throughout the season, Hamels was consistent. He pitched 227 and one third innings and pitched six or more innings in 29 of his 33 starts—an amazing feat coming off a season we has "15-5." Hamels was the most consistent pitcher all year, hands down. Let's take a look at his starts.