You have to wonder if Cole Hamels was having second thoughts.
The Phils’ ace left-hander put his name on a contract that will pay him $144 million last week. Then last night he took the mound and looked out at a 10-cent outfield.
You could almost see Hamels gritting his teeth as Michael Martinez – inserted into the starting lineup by Charlie Manuel – threw to the wrong base, setting up the Nationals for an easy run.
Then again, Hamels didn’t get much support from his old pals, either. Not in the field or at the plate.
Jimmy Rollins butchered a ball he usually makes look routine to set up the Nats’ big inning. Chase Utley did likewise. And the Phils bats were silent as they fell to the first-place Nationals, 3-0. In the process the Nats managed to avoid being swept.
You can read beat writer Ryan Lawrence's take on the game here.
Manuel’s outfield last night consisted of Martinez in center, Dom Brown in leftfield and John Mayberry in right. It won’t make anyone forget the ’27 Yankees. Or the Phils of last week, with Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence patrolling the outfield.
The Phils return to Citizens Bank Park tonight to kick off a long homestand in which they play their next nine games.
But the big question is will the fans continue coming out to the games, now that the Phils are dead in the water and several of their high-profile names are now toiling on the West Coast.
Stay tuned.
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