Orioles 16, Philllies 4: Scouts watch O's hammer Cole Hamels

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CLEARWATER, Fla. — With dozens of scouts in the Bright House Field stands in anticipation of a trade that may never happen, along with a sellout crowd of 8,407, Cole Hamels was hammered for five runs in two innings Monday as the Baltimore Orioles, the weakest-hitting team in the American League this spring, pulverized the Phillies, 16-4.

“It wasn’t pretty,” admitted manager Ryne Sandberg. There wasn’t a lot more to be said.

Hamels, the Phillies’ opening day starter, served up six hits, four of them for extra bases. He also walked two and struck out two. Hamels faced 14 Oriole batters, allowing eight of them to reach base.

“My goal every spring training is to try to get a 10.00 ERA,” Hamels later said, facetiously. Hamels’ actual ERA after three starts is 9.00.

The Phillies' left-hander said he was working on throwing his fastball for strikes. “And I have to continue working on it,” he admitted.

“He threw a lot of fastballs, but his control was not there, so (he) fell behind in the count and he kept throwing fastballs,” Sandberg said. “So he didn’t in rhythm on his other pitches.”

Hamels shrugged off the shellacking.

“I have to stick to the plan, no matter what the situations are,” he said. “I have a certain agenda and that’s what I’m going to stick to, regardless of the results."

“All in all,” said Sandberg, “I’m not worried about Cole.”

Domonic Brown was removed from the starting lineup before the game because of dehydration and replaced by Grady Sizemore.

Halladay sees role as mental consultant
Roy Halladay, who is planning a career in sports psychology, said he sees a future role for himself with the Phillies as a mental consultant rather than as a uniform coach.

“I think that’s where I can help the most,” said Halladay, who visited the Phillies’ clubhouse and the press box Monday.

“There’s so many young kids playing that have all the tools, but they’re lacking in some things that it takes to be successful here.”

The thing that is lacking, Halladay said, is “mental fortitude."

“It’s a weapon, an absolute weapon,” he declared.

Up next
Well-traveled Jerome Williams, the first player in major league history to record three wins against one team in the same season — while pitching for three different teams — will take the mound Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Last season, Williams posted victories over the Oakland A’s while pitching for the Houston Astros (April 26), the Texas Rangers (July 25) and the Phillies (Sept. 20).

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