Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has new Full Count video up, so let's dive in…
- Rosenthal says it's interesting that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro declined comment after Nationals GM Mike Rizzo criticized Cole Hamels for intentionally hitting Bryce Harper. It may be an indication that the relationship between the club and the free agent-to-be left-hander is touchier than it has been in the past.
- Hot starts by the Orioles and Adam Jones should reduce the chances that the center fielder is traded this summer and could create momentum for a long-term deal. Jones has emerged as a leader in the clubhouse and is a piece they could build around going forward, along with prospects Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado.
- The Nationals have been trying to acquire Peter Bourjos since last offseason, but the Angels view the center fielder as a long-term asset and possible replacement for Torii Hunter. Hunter will become a free agent after the season, but that does not mean Bourjos is untouchable.
- The Padres have Huston Street, Carlos Quentin, and four starting pitchers on the disabled list, and Rosenthal says they could infuse some young talent into the roster by trading some of their back-end starters. They need Tim Stauffer (elbow) to get healthy and for Clayton Richard (5.32) to pitch better first.
Ruben is a class act type guy, he’s not going to stoop down to that level.
Commenting on the situation is a no-win situation. He either defends Hamels, ticks off everybody who thought it was a classless thing and possibility puts his own players at increased risk of getting hit in retaliation; or he says some variation of “Cole was wrong,” risks angering Hamels himself and gets a perception with other people that he throws his players under the bus.
“No comment” was simply the best response. If he wants to address it at all, it should be with Hamels, Harper and/or Rizzo in private. He doesn’t owe the media a response, even if it does mean they’ll make up a story about it in return.
I agree that no comment was simply the best response. But I believe the reason for it is that Hamels’ actions were indefensible, plain and simple.
There was nothing wrong with hitting Harper. His mistake was that rant he went on after it.
Following Cole for years, he’s said some odd things to the media… he’s an honest guy to a fault. “I just want this season to end.”
He did address it… saying something like “generally, that’s not the way the Phillies conduct themselves and that we like to be above that type of behavior.”
The Nats still aren’t interested in getting Bourjos. They won’t be no matter how many times members of the media repeat it.
Rizzo needed to let his players take care of what happened with Hamels and leave it alone.
Eh, I think someone from the Nats should have called out Hamels. Rizzo just went too far.
Hamels made a big deal about old school baseball rules being the reason why he hit Harper but old school rules usually means you brush back the annoying rookie. So yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Nats looking for payback.
Yeah… there’s a clear difference between brushing back the rookie and pegging him in the spine with a 93 mph fastball. It was classless of Hamels to do that and not at all in line with old school baseball, and Mike Rizzo was absolutely right to point that out. Ask anyone in the baseball community about Mike Rizzo’s professionalism, he’s as well respected as anyone and comes from an old baseball family. Someone had to set the record straight, and he did just that.
Hamels will get his $ and years no matter where he signs. He’s looking for a contender to play for and the Phils don’t fit the bill. The entire infield will have to be replaced during his contract: Polanco, Rollins, Utley, even Chooch will all age out, as will Halladay and Lee. Howard will be under contract, old and broken down, and only a shadow of his former self. Plus the Phils would have to let Victorino and/or Pence walk to pay Hamels, further weakening the offense. There’s not a single player on the Phils current starting team Hamels can be sure of. He has no idea what kind of team he’ll be playing for in Philly as the farm system is tapped out. But L.A. (and others) looks very healthy 1-5 years out. Count on it: he’s gone and Amaro knows it.
Orioles really should sign Jones long term now. They finally seem to be going in the right direction, and he and Wieters are guys to build this team around. Its gonna be expensive, but I believe he’ll be worth it.
It’s over people. They hit him back. Why is this still a topic? It’s done. Everybody wants to turn this into some WWE grudge match. It’s baseball. A non-contact sport. And what was done was avenged – same game. Done.
The issue is after the game Hamels was pretty much bragging about it and trying to justify himself. Even despite the fact that old school rules really only meant brushing back a cocky player, if you’re aiming at a player then that alone should be your message.
Add to that I would hope that Hamels’ teammates would be a little irked by his actions. If you’re really going to send a message by hitting someone then you should only do it later in the game if you’re winning or losing by several runs. Not in the first when it’s 0-0.