Friday, July 1, 2011
Posted: 12:35 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
TORONTOCole Hamels was upbeat and smiling on Friday, the day after being forced from the game shortly after taking a bruising line drive off the base of his right hand, just below the bottom edge of his glove.
If demeanor and body language are accurate indicators of the future, you can expect Hamels to make his next scheduled start Tuesday in Miami.
In my mind I expect to pitch, but team medical personnel know best, the pitcher said.
Hamels threw before Fridays game against the Blue Jays. A team trainer caught the return throws. More will be known about Hamels status for Tuesdays start when he throws a bullpen session on Saturday.
A lot of it depends on if Im able to throw a bullpen, Hamels said.
MLB
Hamels does not expect any problems with the bullpen session. He was thankful that Adrian Gonzalez line drive hit his glove hand, not his throwing hand. He was also thankful it hit solid meat and no bone. Hamels was wearing a wrap on the hand Friday.
It bruised up right away, he said. But the trainer said it was not as swollen as he thought it would be.
Hamels was hit in the fourth inning. He finished the inning then was removed from the game for treatment. He said he wanted to keep pitchinga good signbut it wasnt my call. Hamels did not allow a run in those four innings. The Phils ended up losing, 5-2, to Boston.
It kind of steals the thunder coming out of a game like that, Hamels said. Here you are, locked in and you know its going to be a competitive game and it kind of gets stolen away.
Hamels has spent more time than hed like in the trainers room recently. That bandage hes been wearing on his chin stems from a recent infection that needed to be drained.
Its been a bad week, he said.
But it was a good month. Hamels finished June with a 1.31 ERA in six starts. Opposing batters hit just .182.
Rollins tender
Jimmy Rollins was the Phillies designated hitter for Fridays game against Toronto. Wilson Valdez started at shortstop.
Rollins has been experiencing some soreness in his throwing shoulder recently, but manager Charlie Manuel said that was not the reason for his decision to play Valdez at short.
Im just getting Jimmy off his feet, Manuel said. Its something Ive been wanting to do. Hes got a little soreness from throwing, but thats not why Im doing this. At the same time, we have to watch him.
Rollins did not take ground balls before the game.
Transaction
Minor league infielder Brian Bocock cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A, leaving the Phillies with one opening on their 40-man roster.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSalisburyCSN.
Related: Hamels dinged as Phils drop finale to Red SoxChampion Hopkins passes wisdom along to Phils