Recently inked Braves lefty Cole Hamels isn’t reporting to camp just yet, the team informed reporters including David O’Brien of The Athletic (Twitter links). He’ll remain at home for a stretch after experiencing shoulder irritation this winter.
The news isn’t drastic just yet, but it’s certainly not what you hope to hear at this stage of the pre-season. Hamels is set to be reevaluated in three weeks’ time, which means he’ll almost certainly miss most or all of Spring Training. While manager Brian Snitker is expressing optimism, it’s hard to imagine that Hamels won’t be delayed at the start of the season.
For the Braves, the hope will be that this is just an early-season blip. The club had inked Hamels to a one-year, $18MM deal with the expectation that the durable veteran would anchor the rotation at a solid value, without any long-term entanglements.
Hamels has been one of the game’s most reliable arms over his 14 seasons in the majors. The 36-year-old missed a handful of outings last year (27 starts) and was sidelined for a bit in 2017 (24 starts), but has otherwise taken the ball more than thirty times in ten of the past dozen campaigns.
At this point, it doesn’t seem there’s reason for the Braves to go scrambling for fill-in options. The newfound concern could help explain why the club just added Josh Tomlin, a potential swingman, to a group of non-roster invitees that already includes Felix Hernandez. There are plenty of younger pitchers who could be candidates to fill in for a few early-season starts as well, though obviously the calculus could change if Hamels doesn’t respond as hoped to rest and treatment.
Ugh… at least it was hurt from trying to get better vs being dumb I guess
glass half full type of guy huh…lol i’ll take it
Hamels is in the BSOHL, eh?
Bursitis-like Shoulder Oh Hëll, Lefty, or
Bummedest Shoulder Of His Life.
I’ve been reading a lot of self help books lately trying to overcome my frustration with Georgia based sports teams…. I guess those books have helped a little here
Please point me towards said books. I find myself needing help for the same reasons
Geez
Sounds irritating
First wheel to fall off. Acuna injures his ACL during his 1st ST at bat.
Rude
Sounds like a Mets fan. Dumb Drunk and Stupid.
Sounds like a Mets fan. Dumb Drunk and Stupid.
What a dick thing to say
He should be banned. Top-5 worst MLBTR poster and he’s using the name of a legend.
He should be banned because you don’t like him?
Nobody likes him.
Chesteraarthur should be banned also because he’s a giant troll… but apparently they still allow him to post
You must really be depressed to wish injury on someone.
I usually do not bother with Trolls…..Karma is involved. Lol…Even with this setback…I like our chances..Lets just play ball!
Play with fire…
He’ll be fine. This is a precaution. The guy has a tremendous work ethic and has been reliable for his entire career. Sure he’s at the end of the road, but the Braves will get some solid innings out of Hamels.
You can fit the Phillies 2021 payroll in the chasm between “some” and $18MM worth.
What? Completely irrelevant.
Simma down, y’all.
-needing to take a precaution in Feb
-he’ll be fine
Pick one. Might he be on a mound come beginning of April? Sure. Totally fine? Probably not. Something is finicky or a precaution wouldn’t be necessary. It doesn’t bode well when you realize he needs (or we’d like him) to go a full season.
Nothing to indicate he won’t go a full season…yet.
I’m curious, what is an indicator he won’t go a full season to you?
Remember we’re talking an indicator, not a confirmation of an injury that will keep him out. An injury guaranteeing he will miss time isn’t an indicator at that point.
So the question stands, what’s an example of an indicator that he might not go a full season if this isn’t one to you?
If he still has irritation closer to meaningful baseball woild be an indicator. It’s Feb 12th. Cole is a seasoned vet. It’s okay if he misses a week or two of pitchers and catchers.
Ugh. Forgive my horrible typos. My fingers and phone do not get along.
“ General manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters that Hamels won’t be ready to start the regular season.“
Lol sorry buddy your indicator meter sucks. Looks like mine is tuned nicely though. Maybe adjust yours is all I can tell you
google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/am…
I did say “yet.” I mean of course it looks bad, but if he misses a week and has a solid year who cares? It’s not the end of the world…yet.
this is full blown cope mode.
The time between your “yet” and my post with AA confirming he’d miss time was the span of a few hours.
So it wasn’t an indicator at 11 am but it was an indicator by 3 pm (not even an indicator just straight confirmed really)???
But yeah you said yet. So I’m going to hit you with a yet of my own
You’re not very good at recognizing obvious indicators yet. I put the yet on there because for the sake of us both I hope you improve so I don’t have to embarrass you twice
Felix Hernandez it’s your big come back time, baby!
Yeah! Instead of having The Freeze race fans, they could have Hernandez try to throw faster than fans! I’d bet The Freeze has a higher win percentage.
King Felix about to show em! And I don’t mean that in the sarcastic he’ll get injured too kinda way. I think he’s probably gonna come I’m motivated and with a chip on his shoulder. I’m glad the Braves picked him up.
Four pitchers needed going into first week or so, so hopefully we aren’t in need of a call up…
Actually, from the point of the opener in Arizona, the Braves play 24 out of the next 25 days! The only off day between March 26th and April 19th is April 2nd. Then they play nine straight more after that second off day. So, they are playing 33 of the first 35 days of their season. That is absolutely BRUTAL to start the season.
I have a feeling they will be leaning on that bullpen a ton early in the year. I certainly hope they do not blow anyone out. They have plenty of candidates to hit a few spot starts and not be too worried, but all these expensive bullpen guys need to stay healthy.
Looks like the Braves threw away some money.
The season didn’t even start yet. Calm yourself.
Three weeks is still spring training camp but it’s not great news.
Why would he not be with the Brave training staff trying to get better ???
Is it he just doesn’t want to report yet
Or was it a bad signing
I am alarmed by this. I hope Wright steps up this year & Newcomb has a great spring to put pressure on Hamels.
With as much as Boston are off of Price’s contract I couldn’t understand why the Braves didn’t push for him.
Do you always make stupid posts? Is this some kinda online gimmick? Like a pro wrestler?
The trainers can’t fix his shoulder, if they could he would be with them.
Stay off the panic button.
Wright…. hah! I have flashbacks of Jose Capellan and Kyle Davies here.
Why would he not be with the Brave training staff trying to get better ???
Is it he just doesn’t want to report yet
Or was it a bad signing
I am alarmed by this. I hope Wright steps up this year & Newcomb has a great spring to put pressure on Hamels.
With as much as Boston are off of Price’s contract I couldn’t understand why the Braves didn’t push for him.
Should have used the $18m on the washed up 3b.
That does really suck for the Braves. I’m glad the Dodgers passed on him.
From day one I thought this was a stupid signing by the braves. They must have not been paying attention to the last few years we’re he was prone to injury and not to mention they didn’t check his birth certificate to realize that he’s not a youngster
So much overreacting…the world is ending
Seriously. The guy is taking a precaution to ensure that he’ll be able to contribute when it matters and people are proclaiming that he’s done.
And it bothered him a year ago, don’t forget that. Sunk. Cost.
really now. no indication that this is even serious.
It’s not a good sign. Even if he ends up being opening day ready there’s obviously some lingering issues or he wouldn’t need to be taking a precaution like this.
Serves the Braves right routinely adding aging veteran over the hill pitchers every year
For now just wait and see, however as a Brave fan you have to feel a little disappointed by the news.
waste of money
Shoulder irritation during winter = 3 week shutdown and no reporting to camp to begin warming up and stretching out? That doesn’t sound right at all.
Phillies are looking pretty darn smart now.
Cubs trade Jon Lester to Braves
Not going to happen unless Lester decided to waive his no trade clause.
Father Time finally creeped into his shoulder maybe. Tomlin and Felix are poor options to replace him.
Lets see, Teheran gone ( gave innings ), Kruchel ( sp, also gave innings gone ) now Hamels a late start at best. Folty & Newcomb erratic. Fried and Soroka and pray.
Braves should be looking for another starter and not waiting until opening day….. make a trade, Anderson ready?
Not a big deal. At least this team will be out of the playoffs by the time he comes back. Hopefully, some of their overrated pitching prospects prove to not be such, but chances are they will all fail. Should have traded them already.
Can someone ban this troll you must be a miserable boy
Well crap. Maybe Felix has a comeback in him.
Pretty sure it’s vaginal irritation and it autocorrected.
Was Hamels hurt when he signed? Did the Braves know it? If so, was the signing price impacted by Hamels being damaged goods?
Old fart with signs of health issues last year and Braves didn’t have a clue by signing him up. Old has been pitchers are well known to put together an all out effort in the last contracted year to secure another season or two then they just cruise and even complain about Aiken bones so they can get paid while sitting on the job. Braves signing him was quite moronic!!.