The last time that Cole Hamels did something off that field that was funny and/or cool might have been when he called the Mets choke artists (never gets old).  But right now, Cole Hamels is in the middle of a controversial commercial-advertisement-type internet spot for the hot new video game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that released last night at midnight.  Here is Cole's cameo:

It's strange to imagine that Cole Hamels is a big video game guy, let alone Call of Duty where you kill people in a military setting.  That's the main reason I'm skeptical of whether this was actually Cole.  Whether it was or it wasn't I think it's funny and like to think that Cole's a normal guy and not somebody who's so laid back that it's weird.  Good move Hamels.  Please, if you actually acted in this, don't back off it with some weak apology and public statement.  Who am I kidding...

Well it took some time to get back to the blog after the World Series finale.  It wasn't so much a bitterness, more like a detox.  I needed to shut the book on 2009, laugh, cry, whatever, and get ready for another fun offseason of trades and signings and Scott Boras (that part is no fun).  In the past few days, there has been some interesting Phillies news and lets jump into each one individually.  First the guys we won't see next year:

Brett Myers

This one hurts.  Brett has been a Philly lifer and fun to root for.  I understand all the problems he had with his wife, but I like his as a baseball player, not as a drinking buddy.  Well then again, he's probably a great drinking buddy, just my guess.  Myers has had ups, downs, more ups, more downs, but it's been a good ride.  It'll be sad to see him pitch in another uniform, but there really is no reason to pick up his option because he can't stay on the field.

Pedro Feliz

Pedro never hit 30 home runs like we hoped for in the pipe dream scenario when he signed.  However, Pedro played fantastic defense and added a few clutch hits and home runs to boot.  Pedro never set the world on fire, but Happy Peter was a great role player for some great teams.

Matt Stairs

I don't need to get into how much I love Matt Stairs.  I doubt he's going to accept a minor league deal from the Phillies but the move makes sense.  Stairs is an old man and we need to thank him for one of the biggest home runs of the 2008 title run and move on.  I'll still be wearing my Stairs shirt on the regular though, he was too much fun to watch hack to really forget about.

Also, some guys have surgery this week and that includes, Lidge (elbow), Eyre (elbow) and Ibanez (hernia).  Hopefully these surgeries explain some of the downward trending play from these guys and they'll return to health and maximum productivity in 2010.  It rarely works out that way, but a guy has to have hope.

Only Jimmy Rollins could find himself all over the internet the morning after losing the World Series to the Yankees without blowing the game the night before.  Jimmy obviously made a big old prediction to start the series because... that's what he does.  The Phillies didn't make good on that prediction, but that's not why he's dominating the blogosphere.  No, this is:

"They were the better team this series," Rollins said Wednesday night. "Do I think we're the better team? I really do. They just executed. I think we weren't playing bad, but they were playing that much better. ... They got the hits, we didn't. It's that simple."

Naturally, there's a pretty uniform response to him thoughts: just Jimmy being Jimmy, what an idiot. Step back a little here and take a breath.  What was Jimmy supposed to say?  Yes, he could've said the "ah shucks, they're better than us, get 'em next year" line that every guy gives, but that wouldn't be who Jimmy is.  What made him a great player and an MVP is his supreme confidence, if not cockiness.  That's the same reason that Rollins constantly says big bold things in the media, but it's what motivates him.  He loves to talk big and go out there and back it up.  Granted, he was poor on the field this year, but no one can take away the fact that the guy is a gamer and plays hard and fast for a terrific ballclub.

So who cares if Jimmy Rollins thinks the Phillies are better than the Yankees?  Should we put the parade on hold until he apologizes or sees the light?  Jimmy is going to be brash and bold as long as he's still lacing up the cleats.  The lesson if you don't like it is ignore it.  I personally like it.  Rollins is part of what makes the Phillies the team they are and gives them the identity we all love.  So Jimmy whatever you've got to say, I'm listening, even if it's a little foolish.

If I learned anything in winning the World Series last season, it taught me nothing about how to deal with losing one.  Watching a season slip away after coming so close spawned some emotions that I have never dealt with as a Phillies fan.  It takes everything I have to fight off the bitter and spiteful hatred I have for the Yankees right now and congratulate them on definitively being the best team in baseball.

I’m torn about this Yankees team despite all there is to hate about them, there is so much to admire.  Enraged and disappointed, I came back to earth when I saw Jeter and Mariano find each other during the celebration and hug like brothers.  Those are two baseball players that I have more respect for that any other guys in the league.  Watching Derek Jeter play is one of those things that I won’t forget and I’ve spent the majority of my life despising the Yankees.  Mo is another guy that is so historically great and likeable that it takes some of the sting out of this loss.

Now that the series is over most of all, I’m proud of my Phillies.  If you’d have told me three years ago that we’d win the World Series and then take the title defense all the way to the World Series (against the Yankees no less) I’d have been ecstatic.  That’s why it’s so tough for me to let tonight bother me.  Don’t get me wrong, watching the title slip away was excruciating, but the way the game played out game me some time to prepare for the depression and honestly, it’s not that bad.  I’ve had more fun watching Chase, Jimmy, Howard, Werth, Shane, Cole, Brad, and Cliff than I ever would’ve dreamed not so long ago.  I’ve sang “High Hopes” down Broad Street and hugged complete strangers in pure joy.  I’ve got the World Champs gear and I got to go toe to toe with all my buddies from home who’re big Yankees fans.  All in all, it was an awesome run and I’d give anything for the Phillies to keep it rolling next season.

Congratulations Phillie!  You earned it!

This Cole Hamels story has taken on a mind of it's own.  I've probably read about it at every website and blog I visited yesterday.  The response was largely the same, "how dare you", "send him home", "he sucks".  That had to be expected because Cole committed one of team sports biggest crimes -- apparently, he quit on his team.  Benny already talked about this at length, so I won't reprint the quotes because I'm sure you've heard it by now.  Also, apparently the entire clubhouse is splitting over the Myers/Hamels blowout, or so the media would have you believe.  I'm more inclined to think they were just joking/there was a misunderstanding and that more of the clubhouse is indifferent to the situation.

If a game 7 is forced, Cole Hamels is the man to pitch it.

So Cole "quit" on the team and is ready for the season to be over?  Come on.  Yeah the comments were unforgivable if you take them at face value, but they came in an honest response about how tough this year has been for him.  In that interview he talked about Game 7 and how important it is.  Cole Hamels did more to seal this town their first championship in a quarter century during last years playoffs than anyone.  The guy stepped up bigger and bigger every single time he threw.  The guy is struggling this time around and understandably his confidence isn't what it was when he was mowing down hitters into November last season.

And it's not the first time that Cole has answered an question candidly and got himself in trouble for it.  As the Mets fans won't let anyone forget, Cole had his comments about the Mets being choke artists (get over it, it was a pointed question and he answered in the context of the question and you can't be mad if it's true).  Now it happens again and everyone wants to jump down his throat like he was trying to recreate the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

More importantly, Cole Hamels is the best pitcher the Phillies have available to pitch a potential game 7.  J.A. Happ has had a great season, but he hasn't started since Colorado.  Big Joe Blanton is good, but he'd be on short rest.  I think this controversy might actually help the old ace to become his former self on the biggest of all stages in the biggest game of his career.  Game 7 is a long way away, but should we make it there, Hamels is going to take us home.  Until then, let's get a W tonight one inning at a time.

Sorry for this post coming so late in the day, but I think I developed an ulcer during the ninth inning of last night's game.  Two men on and Derek Jeter up, with no outs nonetheless, I was in knots.  Madson closed out the game for the win, but not without nearly causing me to develop a hole in my stomach.  Just glad that's over with.

Chase Utley continues to make me look smarter and smarter by mashing home run after home run and carrying this Phillies offense through six games.  Chase's resurgence might be the first prediction I've gotten right in weeks and I feel damn good about it.  The man is unstoppable at the plate right now and you can tell that none of the Yankees pitchers want any piece of him (let alone Sabathia).

As far as predictions of mine go, here are two more for you:  In game 6, Ryan Howard is going deep and Raul Ibanez will have two hits and two RBIs.  The big boy has had his struggles and that's just fine, he's a streaky hitter, but that ends tomorrow.  Ryan Howard can snap a slump with one swing of the bat and I think he'll do just that.  As far as Raul, I'm counting on the bomb he hit last night to propel him into a strong game 6.  If Howard and Ibanez step out of the black hole that has been their spots in the lineup, one to nine, the Phillies are going to wear out Andy Petitte.

I don't think Andy Petitte is going to hold down the Phillies lineup in Game 6.  He survived on guts and glory in the later innings of his first start and on three days rest I don't think he can make magic happen a second time.  On our side of the mound, I think we can expect a similar outing from Pedro which the Phillies will have to hit enough to support.  6-7 innings, 2-4 runs from Pedro and I think the Phillies win.  Yes, that involves two innings from the bullpen but I think they can handle it.

If the Phillies can force a game 7... anything can happen.

We all know Cole Hammels has a big mouth, or perhaps just doesn't think before he speaks....or both.  After last year's dominating performances during the regular & post seasons, he had the right to flap his gums; most notably with his "Mets are choke artists" barb.  But this year, Cole has been a shell of himself.  Sometimes you see flashes of the old Cole, but for the most part he has been mediocre to flat out horrible.  One would think that his performance would be punishment enough, and that he would learn to keep his mouth shut. Apparently not:

Showing his frustration after giving up five runs in just 4 1/3 innings, Hamels told reporters in the Phillies' clubhouse that he "can't wait for [the season] to end."

"It's been mentally draining," the lanky left-hander said. "It's one of those things where, a year in, you just can't wait for a fresh start."

Ummmmmmm,  Whaaaa? Listen, I know that you just got pounded.  I understand it has been a long a grinding season.  But open your eyes douche bag!  Not only did you and your team make it to the world series, YOU ARE STILL PLAYING IN IT!  You can't go moping around and saying that type of stuff to your teammates in private, let alone to the press!  And to make matters worse, Cole is slotted to be the Game 7 starter.  I know it is too early to talk about Game 7, with Game 6 yet to be played, but this has got to be very concerning for Manuel.  A true gamer would not act this way.  He should be hoping, praying and cheering his ass off to get to a game 7.  Not only is it a chance to win the World Series, it is a chance at redemption Cole.  If you go out and pitch your team to a Series victory, do you think anyone is going to remember your shitty year?  No.  In fact, it would forever cement your name in Phillie lore. Instead, you have a divided clubhouse, with  Brett Myers calling you out:

Teammate Brett Myers reportedly walked by Hamels in the clubhouse after Philadelphia's 8-6 victory in Game 5 on Monday night and blurted: "What are you doing here? I thought you quit," Yahoo! Sports reported.

According to a witness cited in the report, Hamels replied with an expletive and the two were quickly separated.

Actually, you should keep your pie hole shut too wife-beater Myers, but I can't blame you for saying something.  I don't see how you can start this guy if there is a game 7.  Then again, I don't see how you can't start him.  I suppose Blanton could get the nod, but then if he falters, are you going to turn to the dejected Cole to pick him up?  It probably is best to keep him on track to start, and if he still has his head up his ass, yank him for Blanton.  This would really piss me off if I was a Phillie fan...hell I am pissed off anyway.  Quite frankly, it's disrespectful to the game of baseball.  I would expect a story like this to come from my team, the Mets, not the Phillies.  You guys got plenty on your plate to worry about this type of nonsense.  Regardless of the outcome of the series, it is going to be very interesting to see how this shakes out.

Other Random Thoughts:

Ryan Howard.  Hi!  How ya' doing.  Care to--you know--maybe, get a hit?  How bout just getting wood on the ball?  If the Phillies have any chance of taking two at Yankee stadium, and more importantly, keeping the Benny B. curse alive, you are going to have to produce.  Obviously, 6 runs is not a safe lead.  As I stated before, you guys are gonna have to slug your way to victory.  Utley can't continue to do it alone.

I believe that Manuel made the right move keeping everyone on regular rest.  Petite is 146 years old.  So is Pedro.  But I think that extra day is going to serve him well.  If Phillie can force a game 7, C.C. will be pitching his 2nd consecutive game on short rest.  I think the starting pitching is now tilted in your favor.  The real wild card for both teams is relief pitching, and I believe that is where these games are ultimately decided, a task made more difficult with the 2009 version of Lidge vs. the machine Mariano.

Stop with the "Ya Gotta Believe".  That is a Mets mantra.  Period.  If you don't want to hear anymore about NY envy, then stop biting our slogans.

Everyone's favorite blogger (you didn't know it was Hyperbole Monday around here?) was interviewed between the douple-dip yesterday and there's all kinds of good quotes in the interview.  Here's some quotes from the article and there's even a video compilation to go with it.

PHILADELPHIA — The noise swelled along Pattison Avenue — cars honking, fans shouting, tension building — and Mike Mariano tried not to dwell on his impending academic doom.

“I should have brought some of my school stuff,” said Mariano, a 20-year-old from South Brunswick and a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. “Because I’ve got a midterm tomorrow that I’m probably going to fail.”

Then he shrugged it off. So what? He was too busy Sunday afternoon, soaking in the day-long party at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex as the World Series and the NFL converged for fans from the Delaware Valley to the Tri-State Area.

***

Mariano grew up a Phillies and Eagles fan in central Jersey — and he had tickets to both games. School could wait.

“I’ve been talking trash all day, to all my friends at home,” Mariano said. “Text messages, phone calls, little side bets and all that kind of stuff. It’s been exciting.”

***

The Eagles’ victory energized Phillies fans who were downtrodden after Saturday night’s 8-5 shellacking by the Yankees in Game 3.

“I wasn’t feeling all too confident,” Mike Mariano said. “And then once things started rolling our way, you kind of remember how good the teams are and how exciting it all is.”

The noise swelled around the third-base gate as the baseball game neared. The line for McFadden’s wrapped around the stadium, past a statue of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt.

In the back of Mariano’s mind, he stressed about his midterm, a survey on the philosophy of astronomy, spanning from Greek philosopher Aristotle to German physicist Albert Einstein. But he still had a chance to tailgate with his family.

And another game to catch.

“I prioritized probably in the wrong way,” Mariano said. “But I decided it could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” He added, “It’s not something I wanted to pass up.

“So I think I’m going to be pulling an all-nighter tonight after I get back.”

For the Video I'm the last guy talking.  Hell I think the camera loves me...:

Well that sucked.  That's been about my only concrete thought for the past twelve hours since the game ended.  The series isn't over and in baseball anything can happen, but I'm undeniably in a deep state of melancholy and depression today.  It's not so much the fact that we're down 3-1, it's more of how we got here.  The Phillies had the lead in all 3 of the first 3 games and were tied 4-4 with 2 strikes and 2 outs in the top of the ninth last night.  Things could be so different right now and it hurts to think of where we'd be if not for a few breaks.

I did the douple-dip yesterday which started off fantastically when the Eagles waxed the Giants at 1.  This surprising mollywhopping really set the tone for the Phillies game.  People were excited and loose and ready to take Game 4 and even out the series.  The fans went into last night's game as champs, you could feel it.  The Phillies trailed all game, but the whole time you could sense that we were going to pull it out. When Pedro Feliz homered I thought it had come circle.  No problem, Lidge shuts it down and we walk it off with a home run.  Stairs, Rollins, Vic, Utley, somebody would've blasted one and it would've been pandemonium.  A 2-2 Series and Lee going in game 5, things would be fantastic.

Instead, the wheels fell off.  It's incredible how dominant Lidge was until Damon stole second and third.  He looked like he'd never give up a run, he was dominant.  Then he flipped the switch and became tenative and got bashed around.  In retrospect I'm not mad that Charlie took out Madson, I think that was the right move.  Lidge had Damon K'd on that pitch in the dirt that he somehow fouled off and in the end, Damon outlasted Lidge and broke all our hearts.  How sweet it would've been.

That's all the coherent thoughts I can put together right now.  Much more to come.