Cole Hamels joins the show!

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Speaker 1: Hi, this is Chase Utley and this is the Phillies Show.

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Speaker 2: Hi, everybody, Welcome to The Phillies Show with Ruby Tomorrow Junior Jim Salisbury. I'm todd z Lucky. We have a special guest today. Cole HAMMILS two thousand and eight World Series MVP, World Series Champion two thousand and eight NLCS MVP joined us. He is in town on Friday night for his retirement ceremony with the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole was the final member of the two thousand and eight Phillies to retire from Major League Baseball. We had a lot of fun catching up with him, telling and reliving some old stories and memories from his time with the Phillies. This episode is brought to you by shybe Vintage Sports. The Phillies are hot and sore the at shy Vintage Sports. Check them out for all your Philly shirts, hats, and more for kids and adults. Locally owned, SHIBE carries exclusive designs from national brands as well as original creations from phillyary artists. Think powder Blue and Maroon, the Vet and the Whiz Kids. So visit shy Vintage Sports. They have three locations Center City, Wayne and Westchester. Tell them The Philly Show sent you and you will get fifteen percent off. Or visit shibeesports dot com and enter the promo code the Phillies Show for fifteen percent off. And now The Philly Show Conversation with Cole Hamil's Cole, thanks for joining us, man. We really appreciate the time you are having your retirement ceremony Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. How meaningful is that to you are excited to come back and you know, be feted with by the fans and see your career highlights on the on fanavision.

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Speaker 1: I know, yeah that you know, video boards a lot larger than when I was playing there. So no, it is it's been It's been great. I know, you know the last couple of years I've just been kind of interesting for you know, to conclude my career. But you know, there's there's nothing better than to see the reception, you know, being able to come back to Philly the past couple of years in the playoffs and really see just the excitement, uh surrounding that team and just standing in a different scenario because I'm not on the field, you get to kind of receive it. In a different way, and you get to feel the energy in a different way, and it's just you start to really appreciate, uh, you know, just the support of what Philly fans really are. And I'm really excited just to kind of get back there and and really try to hopefully get involved with the Philly baseball community and uh you know, the organization and just you know, see what what they have in store.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, you just got back from you were in London as well. You got to see all your buddies. You got to experience the atmosphere and the excitement. What's it must be awesome just to fly to London and you see Chooch. I don't know how often you see Chooge. When's the last time you saw Chooche? Ryan Matt's and Matt stares all those guys. You guys are like permanently bonded. It must be so cool just run into these guys and see these guys and hang out, isn't it?

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Speaker 1: It really is? I think as athletes, you when you do something really special, it stays with you and you build on it. And when you're with these groups of guys, you know, you can just fall right back into that sort of relationship that we had together just because we did something very special and it wasn't easy. And so that's what we can acknowledge is we all had a part in winning, and we had to do it believing in each other. And now we get to sit back and enjoy it and discuss it and talk about it and and just fall back in line with you know, how how lives are after baseball and what we're up to. But the Phillies do a really good job with keeping us together, including us with you know, the alumni and you know, with the teams and these opportunities, and to go to London, it was a dream. I think that's, you know, something that is so great for baseball and to be a part of it. And all of us jumped on board so quickly because we understand the significance of what the Phillies are the world of baseball and we're excited to participate and partake in anything that they're offering.

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Speaker 3: Hey, I just want to stay on this London theme. Tell me about the fan support out there, because it looked like it was amazing.

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Speaker 1: It was absolutely nuts. You know, that's my first time in London, and I'm sure a lot of fans, but it was about eighty twenty Phillies fans. I mean, just to see how well they travel. And you know, I think as players we did when we would go on West Coast swings. You know, we would see the Phillies fans out in the stands and they'd be there early, and you see them around the cities. Philly travels really well. Uh, and that's just the the support of you know what they do. They they love sports, uh, and we are very appreciative. And so to go all the way to London uh and just kind of interact with them at a different level, I think they were more surprised to I guess see us mingling with them, uh and really enjoying the city and the tourist destinations and and you know, partaking and just uh, the the atmosphere. And then you get there to that stadium and Major League Baseball has done a really good job with creating that that stadium into a baseball stadium. You know, the similarities to sort of a Toronto uh. And so you know how they've they've done it, and uh, you know it's to get there and and the activities surrounding baseball. They they've really taken it to another level, and I think we're excited to see what they're going to continue to do over there. Cool.

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Speaker 4: The whole retirement ceremony coming up on Friday night, it should be great. Was it was it something that the Phillies had in mind? Or was this important to you to retire as a Philly How did it kind of come about?

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Speaker 2: Uh?

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Speaker 1: You know last year, you know, last two years, coming to playoffs, you know, going to the World Series back in twenty two, and then last year, you know, a couple of the games, you know, just being honored and just you know, slowly discussing it. I think for you know, me, Philly means a lot, you know. I know I spent the majority of my career there. That's where I came up. You know, it's my first introduction to to baseball at a professional level. They they really helped give me the platform, uh to do what I like to do, which is to play baseball and to win along with growing up. You know, I came there so early in my career, so that that's the impact that they had and that's the memory that I want to keep. Is what Philadelphia and the the the Phillies stand with me and and to my heart and you know where I am as a person. It is a lot to do with that situation and with them.

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Speaker 4: What do you think it's going to be like, well, well, you have a lot of guests there in terms of you know, people who are impactful in your career, maybe coaches, scouts, teammates, And will it be very emotional for you?

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Speaker 1: You know it is. I know we're gonna have you know, a few players and you know some staff, you know some family and friends that that have kind of been there along the way. It is I think you know, there's always gonna be the emotional side that you try to hold back. And you know, for me it's I've always tried to be really straight laced to the point in those moments and then when I can finally relax, I sit back and soak it all in. But it's it's just a special moment, a special team, a special organization, and you know, utmost such a special sports town to be a part of.

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Speaker 4: And with you retiring, it makes me feel so old because I remember the day at a place called Veterans Stadium you had your introduct to repress conference after being drafted, and I don't even think you shaved yet.

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Speaker 1: I don't even think I have a razor yet. Yeah, no I did. Yeah, that that was mind blowing. I mean too, you know, being from the West Coast, you don't really know much about the East Coast and the teams and the philosophies and and the fan base as much, just because you don't get that. Nowadays, with TV Internet you can really follow along. But it was a it's a it's a far stretch for a lot of us, uh to kind of understand the significance of Philly's sports. And so you get to Veterans Stadium and you know, you see this bohemoth of a of a place and you're like, oh damn, this is this is huge. Uh, there's a lot of people. And then that's the first thing that they said when I was signed. I always got this new stadium going up. You're like, oh, great, real grafs, this is okay, this is a lot better, you know. So it is you're like, hey, by the time you get up here, being that new stadium, I'm like, all right, that's great. So it's just work your way through the minor can get up there as fast as possible.

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Speaker 2: What do you remember about your debut. I was just looking at your debut and in Cincinnati a strikeout junior Ken Griffy Junior. I think he went five innings. I remember after the game talking to Reale Cormier and He's like, this guy does not act like a rookie.

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Speaker 1: And he looked so poised and calm.

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Speaker 2: I mean, I distinctly remember Real telling me that, And so what when you think back to your debut, what jumps out? Were you as cool as calm, as collected as you is? Real seemed to said.

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Speaker 1: You know what led up to that was? You know, the first day get called up. You know, I'm not on the team for the you know the I guess the roster yet, so I have to sit in the clubhouse. And that day is the day that Aaron Rome ran into the fence. And so I'm sitting in the training room and I see the play and I'm like, oh my gosh, what just happened. I mean, this is what you know big leaguers do. They're all out there getting outs. They're there to win, are there to get the job done. And and you know, I knew of Aaron Rowland just in spring training, but I was like this guy is serious business. And he comes into that training room with obviously medical and this I mean blood everywhere. I mean obviously his face is broken. He doesn't know at the time, but you can figure that. And he's just, you know, just super cool and just like, all right, we gotta get this fixed. What's the damage? You know? How long am I out? You know, that's his first question, and I'm trying to like escape, you know, I'm like, oh my god, I don't want him to see me. Holy crap, what did I just witness? I mean that kind of shook me in a way, like this is the real deal, Like this is what This is the effort that you give on a daily basis. I mean, you run through walls for your teammates. So, you know, then I got to pitch the next day, you know. So we go to Cincinnati and it's it's the the uh, you know, forecastage rain. Well, grown up in San Diego, we don't play in the rain. I mean, if there's any sort of forecasting rain, it's like, not out your games rescheduled, It's already done there, there's no So I'm like, I've got to pitch in the rain. I've never pitched in the rain in my career, my life. I was like, all right, I've got to get the job done. This is what you do for your teammates. I mean, just from that image that I had from from Aaron and I was like, all right, who am I playing Cincinnati? You know, kind of went over to the scouting report with Richard Dubie and you know, I knew at the time I'm facing one of my childhood heroes and care of Virginior. I mean, I think every kid had Kingerfory Junior Slugfest on Nintendo sixty four, you know, so you just kind of you know he's the big deal. So it is you know, I'm facing him in the first inning and I do I strike him out, which was just an incredible moment for me. But again, it just it solidifies that you're like, no, I'm in the show. I'm here, I'm here to stay. I'm good enough. I've got to get this job done for my teammates. And that was just the mentality that I took. And you know, I'm playing with some of the best players on our team, and you know, you have Charlie there, so there's just a lot at stake. I knew it was We're here to win. And that was the message that I remember hearing in spring training before I was called up, was I'm here to win and what can I do to help this team get to the playoffs?

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Speaker 3: Hey, weoll Cole, can you talk a little bit about like your and and trying to make it You don't have to sit here and talk about it forever. It can can last forever, but your your sort of maturation through the whole process of getting drafted, working your way through the minor leagues, and then that opening day.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, the minor leagues. You know, I know, there's always a lot of pressure in your first rounder. There's there's a lot of expectations that's thrown your way. And you do you you look up who are the previous first rounders? You know what are where are they? How long they taken you to the big leagues? You know what type of numbers they are putting up. And I mean if you look at it, I mean it's you know, Pat Borough, Brett Myers, gam Floyd. You know, you had Mike Webthal, you have u. You know, even the top round picks of Jimmy, Ryan Howard, you know, Ryan Mattson, you're like, oh, this team is full of players that were drafted high, they developed, and they're now making a difference in the big leagues with all the same mentality, which is to win. And so I was like, all right, let's that's that's what I've got to do. I've got to win, and you know I'm going to do it. I'm going to try to get through each level. Uh. You know, there's always something where you're trying to see if you can skip levels, and I think that's more of the ego uh in us. All so it's like, all right, how long do I have to I don't want to spend every year at a level. I want to be able to accelerate and and that's just but then that's up to you and you have to prove yourself. So, yeah, you go to Lakewood, you learn about, you know, certain things that you have to get through. Then you go to high a and and I did. I ran into the fact that you know, I got injured and pitching every five days and the workload and it's just a different training regiment than what I think anybody's accustomed to in say a high school or even possibly college.

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Speaker 3: Uh.

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Speaker 1: But you know, the minor leagues are my college. It's it's just this is where you have to take it seriously. It's a job, so you know, you go through the bumps and bruises, you learn what you have to do, You learn your body type, you learn the sort of marathon of a season of baseball, and you start training, and then you have the off seasons too. You can't take that for granted. It's not pure vacation. You're training to get to the next level, because the whole goal is to get to the big leagues and be successful. So that's what I learned in the minor leagues. And then you know, honing that sort of craft of learning how to pitch, read swings, studying hitters, and then you get the job done. So that's kind of what it took. And it's a great learning lesson in life because you just have to start doing the little things to make a big difference.

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Speaker 4: How much you talk about in the minor leagues and dealing with some adversity and not being the education even before that, I would think you had some education with adversity with the broken arm in high school. Did you ever think in high school after you broke your upper arm correct. Did you ever think this might not happen? Do you ever look back at that and kind of like, wow, I mean crazy?

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Speaker 1: I mean when the doctor that I had at the time, you know, fortunate enough, my parents did a really good job, had good health insurance, so I ran to So the doctor I had was actually the Padres team doctor, and he just happened to fall in so he saw me, and I think he's the one that kind of shocked my system in my dream of playing professional sports and playing baseball was He looked at it and goes, man, nobody's ever come back from that. Can you play a different sport? I mean from that before at sixteen years old and they're like, yeah, that's not gonna work. Do you play another sport? I'm like, no, baseball. That's this is what I'm gonna do. I'm going to do baseball. He was like, all right, well, I'm going to try this new surgery and he did. It was a new type of surgery that he did. He put metal rods in through the humorous bone of post to doing plates. A lot of guys that ever had that injury in the past had plates. When you put plates, you're having to cut through a lot of muscle tendon, and it's just there's a lot more risks. So this was a new and improven because of my age. Uh, you know, I'm still growing, so the bones can strengthen. Because that was what they were they were afraid of, was me having a reoccurring injury.

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Speaker 3: Uh.

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Speaker 1: And you know, then you just have to fly by the sea of your pants and just test it out. I think that's what trial and error is. And I did. And I think once I got through my senior year and did so well, all reservations and just anything that I would have thought of reoccurring that injury ever happening again, it went right out the window. I believed with all my heart I was healed and it was not going to happen again. So now let's let's move forward. Uh, and not ever let that kind of linger in the back of my head. And that was that was a big deal. I think that was a mental toughness that I had to develop that sometimes you probably learned that a little bit later in life. And I think that helped me just accelerate the hic ups that you'll have along the way in the minor leagues and in the big leagues.

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Speaker 3: Hey, I wanted to ask you about that, But did that prepare you for? Like, you had some back issues and I've saw how diligent you were about, you know, getting yourself prepared and doing the prehab and rehab and whatever to prepare yourself with your back. Was that part of that process and that what helped you get, you know, have that same sort of mindset as you work through it.

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Speaker 1: It does, you know, anything with any injury, and I think all of us as athletes, we all have some sort of injury or lingering injury that we have to play through. And with the back, I mean, you had a herniated disk and they just say, hey, a lot of people have this and they just deal with it. I think, you know, Pat Burrell at the time had something in Jim Tony. So there were there were some periods where, you know, I had Jim Tomy come down, and you know, when you you're twenty years old and you have a Hall of Famer coming down to do a very similar regimen as you, You're like, I'm not gonna let Jim Tony out do me. I've got I've got I'm younger, I've got to do this. So we would actually do these exercises together. And I think that just helped to build confidence because you have that type of caliber guy and person and player looking over at you and encouraging you, and then at the end of the day, you know, giving you a pat on the back, like, all right, let's do it again tomorrow. You know, that's just the mentality. That's true. I have to do it again tomorrow. There are no days off, like this is a serious thing that I think that just helps build up And that's you know, like you said, Ruben, it just it creates a mentality to continue to perform and do the little things. Cool you.

00:18:32
Speaker 2: It's two thousand and two, right, you're senior your high school when you got drafted. Correct, Yes, okay, so two years later, less than two years later, you face you go to Yankee George Steinbrennerfield in Tampa for this highly anticipated Do you remember you strike out Derek Jeter, A Rod and Tony Clark? Do you remember, like, how good is your baseball memory? Do you remember the pitches, the count?

00:18:53
Speaker 1: How good are you?

00:18:54
Speaker 2: Because I wrote it down, I'll see if I can test you. Don't feel bad if you don't remember.

00:19:00
Speaker 1: I remember a little bit of it. You know, it's funny because Bo was talking about it last week too, because you know, you know, but Larry bow is the manager at the time, and I think you know, when you when you think of him, it's an ESPN game, which you know were rare. They were very rare. You know, it's not like today. Uh, so you know it's a big deal. And he was gonna throw me out there as a you know, a twenty year old against these big shots. You know, he didn't fear it, and he's like, no, there's what I was gonna let you have it. And I was like, good, thanks, Larry. I mean, I was gonna show you I've got got what it takes. So, you know, we laughed about it last week. It was great. But yeah, no, I think you know, with with all three of those hitters, what I was trying to do is really just establish fastball down in a way that was something of my strength to try to steal strike one. Uh and then you know what, I'll uh, if you don't swing out, let me see if I can get another one. And so I think that's why I did. And then you know, once I got two strikes, it's like all right, well, this is my bread and butter, is my change up. I'm gonna see does my change up hold up to big league hitters. And I again, I'm really big at watching the swing and mess. I love to watch, you know, what guys do with their swinging, their approach, and that kind of tells me how I have to then do the cat and mouse game. And so I threw it. When you see a big swing and miss and a whiff, I'm like, I mean, there's nothing, there's no contact there. I'm like, all right, well, you guys are gonna keep getting this. So I think that's kind of what I did. I don't know if I got any foul balls in between, but they were. It was a very quick in it. It was I don't know if it was ten or eleven pitches, but I do know I struck everybody out with a change up. Yeah.

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Speaker 2: It was a Jeter one two change up swinging, a Rod one two change up, looking Tony Clark too to change up swinging. And then everybody's like, when's he coming up? When's he coming up?

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Speaker 5: Yeah?

00:20:41
Speaker 4: We heard all that.

00:20:43
Speaker 1: That's the worst. I'm like, hey, you know what, I guess I put the pressure on those guys, but it is it's still a process. Yeah.

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Speaker 4: I remember speaking with your high school pitching coach. I believe his name is Mark Firtak, Yes, and he took me through the story about how he taught you to change up and he said, I'm gonna you know, he's I think you were maybe a sophomore and you're gonna pitch for City and didn't have a big fastball yet, but he loved everything else about you, and he said, I want teach him a change up and teach him to pitch backwards.

00:21:14
Speaker 1: You remember that, No, I did, and it's something that you know, he continued to try to do later on with with a lot of different players. But you know, at the time when I when I was a freshman sophomore, I mean, the team was the number one team in the nation, you know, and that's you know, when you have Baseball America and USA today. So they were a number one team and there's thirty to forty scouts at these at their practices and let alone their games. I mean, that puts a lot of pressure on you. So they had a big pitcher at the time. Matt Wheeland pitched for Team USA. You know in Taiwan when they won, and so he was the big guy, and he ended up being a first rounder to Detroit and unfortunately suffered a couple of injuries and wasn't being able to make it. But you just learned from watching those guys, and I was, you know, he goes if you want to be like this guy, watch what he does. And you know I didn't have a ninety five mile an hour fastball yet I was barely touching eighty. Uh so you know my curve ball is very inconsistent. So it's hey, this is this change up. Matt has it. You're going to learn it and watch what he does, but you're probably gonna to use yours a little bit more until you can throw ninety five. And I did. I used to. They would bring me in late in the game, and you know, I would again throw, try to establish a fastball down in a way. If I could get a quick, easy out, that was great. Most of the time, they were just guys were just trying to watch to see what I had while I'd steal a strike and then I would just change up, change up, change up, and these guys would be swinging fallon And then also I was I was able to throw a fastball and it looked ninety five. And that's kind of the report that I was ended up getting. And I worked my way into, you know, the starting being the number two guy behind him. But yes, I mean that was the lingo. As you're left handed, you got to be crafty, you got to go backwards. And I think you know at that time too, being in San Diego, you know Sterling Hitchcock was pitching there, you have Tom Glavin, that is that. Those were the guys that I would look at and watch and they were very similar style because they didn't have the big fastball, so they had to learn how to pitch. And that's what I was trying to emulate. Hey, when you were a young player, you.

00:23:17
Speaker 3: Talk about studying and emulating certain players, anybody on the Phillies organization. As you were getting closer to the big leagues, you're getting opportunities to be in big league camp. Anybody that you sort of picked their brain, anybody special that helped you move the process forward for you.

00:23:37
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I played catch a lot with Randy Wolf and Real Cormier, so you know left handers. I think that was helpful. I lasted one day with Billy Wagner, and I was out. I mean, if you ever played catch with Billy Wagner, I mean he would go back about fifty feet, not even sixty, and throw it one hundred miles an hour at you first. That's just right there. I nope, I'm out out all right, Randy. You know they were they were they kind of stretched out slower and were more methodical about it. And I'm like, uh, those are my guys I need to play catch with and and Billy made fun of me, I think for weeks, you know, because I started to avoid him and he's like, where are you going cale where are you running away? You don't want to play catch anymore? You know, he would just give me crap, and I'm like, no, I don't want to play catch with you. I'm sorry, I'm gonna and I'm like, Randy, please save me, real save me. So, you know, just being able to watch them how they played catch, you know, it makes a difference. That's you spend so much time on the baseball field. You know, there's a lot of busy time, and there's a lot of waiting and hanging out, you know, dead time. But playing catch, I mean this is what we do. So you don't take it serious. You have to do it every day. If there's a way that you can learn how to do it right, uh, it's going to translate into your bullpens, and then your bullpens are gonna translate to the game. And so, you know, I just watched Randy and how he really started. He'd work one side of the body when we play catch, and then he'd move over to the other and it was just one after another, one after another. It wasn't chaotic, it wasn't sporadic. There was a rhythm to it. And then when he would get to us off speed stuff, and that was something because I struggled with my curveball. Randy had a really good curveball and he knew how to work it from the outside of the plate to the inside of the plate. So you know, I just kind of watched how he did that and then I tried to apply that with other pitches. But yeah, it was good to watch them. And you know, at the time, those were you know, those you know, were the big guys. I mean, real was there forever and in the bullpen, and Randy was, you know, a big time pitcher for the team at the time, So it was nice to be around those guys and have that opportunity in spring training to be able to play catch with that and then translate that into the minor leagues. When I was playing catch with other guys.

00:25:49
Speaker 4: Cool when I was twenty four years old, I was eating cheerios in my mother's kitchen. When you were twenty four years old, you put a team and a city on your back and pitched them to the World Series Title League Championship MVP, World Series MVP. I mean, I still see those Knights in Dodger Stadium and Citizens Bank Park like there yesterday. It just blows my mind. The talent you showed, the toughness you showed, the poise you showed, and the way you picked up this team and this city and delivered it where it wanted to go, where it hadn't been in a long time at age twenty four. I'm wondering if if it maybe were you kind of because you were so young, were you oblivious to all the pressure and what it meant and the stakes, and maybe that kind of help you did you kind of amaze yourself at doing what you did at that young age.

00:26:50
Speaker 1: It's a little bit kind of similar to what you said. But I think at twenty three, when I lost that first playoff game to Colorado, I think I put a little bit pressure myself. Wanted to deliver. It's game one. You want to always start off hot, you want to get that first win. And I think, you know, I had bases loaded, I start giving up some runs on the second ending or something, and there was a potential almost grand slam from that holiday that I think just went foul. I mean, he hit it so far it was over the foul pole, and it was weird. It was like this release of pressure. And you know, we did lose that game, and I know we got knocked out, but I think going into the postseason against Milwaukee that next year, I I just told myself, I'm like, what do I have to lose. I already lost one playoff game. I mean, I already lost a game one. What's the worst that can happen? I lose again? It sucks. I didn't want to. I don't want that to happen, but it completely released all of the anxiety and stress that I supposedly carried in that first opportunity in the postseason to then just bearing down in folks is seeing it what my task was, which was to get each individual hitter out. Let's work through, let's get through the first inning, where you get through the second inning. It kind of simplified it for me, and it made me just kind of hone in and getting through that first game boom. I mean, we did a great job, the team scores, and you know, we end up winning that series and then going to the Dodgers. That's when I started to develop the confidence. I always loved pitching its to the Dodgers, always wanted to beat the Dodgers, and it just built and it built, and I think going into Dodgers Stadium, I knew I'm very successful on the West Coast. You know, that's California. That's where I'm from. I'm not going to lose games in California. And I just kind of kept that and I built that confidence that I was like, I'm not losing. I'm winning. I'm not losing. And when you have players like Jimmy hitting home runs in the first inning, I mean, are you kidding me that? That just makes it a little bit easier for me. I'm like, I just needed one or two runs. Thanks Jimmy. Thanks for getting it out the way early. And it is it just it's snowballs and everything, you know, just knowing what you have to do, knowing your teammates have your back, and they did. I mean, when you have one of the best defenses, that is the best feeling when you're playing, when you're struggling or you're behind in the account, you're like, all right, I'll just get a ground ball. I don't have to strike everybody out. Uh So, it just it's a team. And I understand, you know, I started playing better and I was on a roll, and you get these you know, these these sort of trophies and the MVPs. But it's it's not because of me individually. That my teammates did everything possible to make my job easier and for me to build on my strengths and to attack and not fear attacking and doing what I need to do, risk taking because I knew I had them behind me, and I knew they were going to score runs, and I knew they were not going to make airs. They were going to get the place done. And that right there is that's the recipe for success. There.

00:29:55
Speaker 2: When you think back to that two thousand and eight postseason. Is there something that I always comes back to mind, a moment that gives you chills, or a moment like Wow, that was freaking awesome and you can just replay it in your mind over and over and over again. Doesn't have to be pitching necessarily.

00:30:11
Speaker 1: No, Yeah, no, I mean I think there's a lot of moments. But when you know Papparol got up in that second game and hits up ball off the wall, I mean it was so close from Homer. I mean it's so close. But the stadium was so electric in you know, batting practice, because I mean when everybody's got two innings, they're like two innings, let's I mean, they're losing it up. I mean they are like, we're winning this. We're not going back to Tampa. I mean the fans were awesome. Uh and you I mean they're on their feet, and you know from that very first at that and Berl hits that one off the wall, You're like, oh, we've got this, We've got this, this is ours and you know that right there, that's the energy. That's the moment. I mean, it gives me chills. We got the on the goosebumps thinking about it. And especially for Pat because he was so Pat was the first person I met in that clubhouse when I was going to sign. So I hadn't signed yet, and I go to the game in San Diego and the you know, the Phillies are the Padres, and you know, eighteen year old kid, I walk into the clubhouse and Pat Burrell grabs me right, It pulls me aside, just you know, it just starts to kind of grill me a little bit. And I knew who he was because anybody has Fantasy Baseball or obviously watching his Pat the bat, so you kind of recognize he's on you know, he's on sports in our all time head homers against the Mets. That was a big moment. I was like, oh my gosh, you know Pat Burle okay. Uh, and so he does that and it was just really kind of great to see. Uh. And then it is us taking it and uh, you know, winning winning in Philia that there's no substitution for how amazing that really is, man, the importance and how special.

00:31:57
Speaker 6: Hey, So, what's so I'm kind of wondering what what you'd like to do in the future, and and I know you got I know, you have a lot of different interests.

00:32:07
Speaker 2: But what's the plan for Cole Hamil's now.

00:32:11
Speaker 1: Uh you know, I think, you know, slowly just kind of, you know, getting back into the game of baseball. Obviously, I'm pretty good at, you know, pitching, so I I know that's kind of the side that that I would probably have to look into. You know, it's it's just how how to develop you know, great pictures. I was very, very fortunate to have incredible mentors. And you know, when you have guys like Jamie Moyer and Roy Holliday, Roy Oswald, uh, you know, Cliff Lee, Uh you know, then you then you kind of you know, I got to pitch with John Lester. You just have these really really good pitchers and they help you along the way.

00:32:53
Speaker 2: Uh A.

00:32:54
Speaker 1: J Burnett. You know, he helped me with my my spike curve. I mean I completely changed my curveball grip because and when he came over and then all of a sudden, it just start working. So you just you understand the importance of what a mentor, and especially a player that has a certain caliber or has accomplished certain things, you want to listen. So I feel like I can pass down a lot of the information that I was given and sort of the stories and the failures and successes and how to build build the future generation of starting pictures. So you know how I can do that, and you know how it works. Like anything, I want to be good at what I do. I don't want to just come in with all the answers because I don't have them. You know, you have to go through a process of sitting back and watching and slowly then integrating what you can in your knowledge without stepping on any toes. So I think that's what this year and possibly next year really, I'm just going to slowly try to see where I can fit in, observe and then just kind of you know, ros and tidbits before it gets a little bit more involved. Very cool.

00:34:04
Speaker 4: Well, I mentioned eight postseason and how it kind of still blows my mind. There's another moment in your career that still blows my mind, and that was your last Philly start. There was so much to that build up. So it was at the trade deadline. I think Ruben had a deal done the day you went to the Mound and Wrigley feel that day pretty close, pretty close. Well, basically he just had to do the I's and the t's you weren't. You struggled in your previous two outings, and but we all kind of knew you were getting traded. You go to the mound that day and your fastball is just popping. It is electric. And I'm up there charting and I'm like, oh my god, he is firing. And then all of a sudden, it's the fifth inning. You're cruise into a no hitter. You pitch a no hitter on your way out the door. They didn't nickname you Hollywood for nothing. I mean, that's still like this does it kind of that day that exit, that story book ending kind of blow your mind a wee bit.

00:35:03
Speaker 1: It really does, you know it Like you just said the two starts before, I mean, I got boot off the field in Philly. I think it was my point of my last started in Philly. It's like I got boot off the field because I gave a five run lead, and you know, so I just went into it and I'm like, all right, I love Wrigley Field. I do very well here. I love the backdrop. It was a great day, you know. Chooch and I we we just kind of sat out there and as we were playing catch, getting ready. It's like, all right, this is go time. Let's let's see what happens today. Because he knew too, He's like, hey, it's your last start next week. You know started We just we knew I was going to be gone. It was, you know, just the understanding. So we just let it happen. We wanted to enjoy the moment together. And from that first pitch I threw, uh, you know, very first pitch. I mean it came out of my hand and it split the corner of the plate and when it hit chuochslop. I mean, when he received it, you could tell he's like, whoa that Uh, what's happening. And then we went to the next pitches and everything was working. You know, my cutter was tight. The curveball is probably the best I've had. My change up was was my change up. So you get into there, the first guy steps up and I let it fly, and it is I was just hitting every little corner up day. Uh out, just tell me there aren't uh now it's one. I was thinking, we get a couple of one here, but chance and it's the game builds and builds and builds. There were parts in that game where choose he would, he'd throw the ball back at the pitch he wanted, and I'd kind of laugh, going, yep, we already had. It's like the game plan was already laid out and we were just following along. And you know, there were times where I mean he probably could close his eyes on a few pitches because I was hitting his glove. He didn't have to move it. Uh. And and then you know, there have Wrigley Field. I mean, Wrigleyfield's a very special uh, you know, baseball town. That field is amazing as the innings and and the outs kind of you know, accumulate, Uh, the fans are on their stands, the energy, and so I'm kind of soaking in that energy too. I mean the extra adrenaline uh is pumping. And yeah, it just it finishes the way that it finishes, which I think, right there is a heart attack in itself. But I think it's probably one of the few times in my career I've ever thrown a three two curveball. Uh, you know, the three two three two curveballs, Like, no, we're even gonna go cutter, We're gonna go fastball. Change up. You know, change up was obviously a big, a big one. I do. But She's just like, no, your curveball has been working today. Why change it? Why over complicate this, This is already working. Let's do it. And I go, you know what, Hell yeah, let's do this. Wow. And I saw I do. I throw a three two curveball and he hit it. I'm like, oh my god, I just gave up a homer. I've never doing this again. Uh uh And then uh, I've got uh double circus circles. Yeah, running run the circles. Uh, you know, going around and making interesting for everybody.

00:38:06
Speaker 4: I could I could still see I could still see that ball. It was Chris Bryant, right, yeah, yes, I could still see that ball coming off his bat. And I'm thinking, here's a University of San Diego kid, you were committed to the University of San Diego. He's not going to do this to you, right. Would you have killed o'duble if you dropped that ball?

00:38:26
Speaker 1: No, you know I would have killed I would have let everybody else. But I think at that time, I'm my outfield and I don't mean this in a in a in a bad way, but you know, they always do the stats for you know what your outfield ranks, and I had an outfield that was not you know, the highest uh of success rate. You've got Oduble second baseman. Uh. You know you got Ashy out there. Who's a third baseman, Dominic Brown. At least I had out uh in right field. But it wasn't a very you know, electric in a way of they're used to playing the outfield that you know, at a time uh, I think earlier in my career when you have a victory, now a Michael Bourne and a Chris Uh, you know, Robson out in the outfield. Some of the best outfielders are fastest outfielders to play play. I'm like, oh, I can let the ball go anywhere they're going to catch it. So it's a little different. So but you just make it. You just do what you gotta do.

00:39:20
Speaker 2: I remember Jeff Frankcour after the game in that clubhouse yelling out as you guys are celebrating. Nice catch, o dubal.

00:39:27
Speaker 4: That was hilarious.

00:39:28
Speaker 1: Just one of the funniest.

00:39:31
Speaker 4: That day was the trade done well.

00:39:34
Speaker 3: I think we were pretty close. I mean it was gotten to the point with John Daniels at that point that you know, we were sort of uh starting the whole process of checking medicals and that kind of stuff. But you know, again, that was one of those situations where you know, you didn't want to trade one of the iconic, you know, starting pitchers in your franchise, but it was sort of the right thing.

00:40:00
Speaker 1: To do for our you know, for our organization at the time.

00:40:03
Speaker 5: And and you know, he had a kind of kind of a a limited note trade clause, so it was there was a lot of complications. We were talking with the agent a lot, and uh, you know, we finally got something done that I think served both both the Phillies and and Cole as well.

00:40:20
Speaker 4: And it went down. We were in Toronto when it went down, and from Chicago to Toronto, and I still Cole remember you coming out of the back of that clubhouse and walking across the tunnel they pulled the buses inside, and I remember kind of getting a lump in my throats, you know, thinking, wow, it's over us, seeing you walk to the bus, knowing that this trade was done. Basically, do you remember that night Toronto when it was consummated.

00:40:46
Speaker 1: I do, you know, because it is you're on the phone, you know, you're kind of working through it, and it is you're just kind of like, wow, Okay, I've got to move forward. I mean, this this happens to athletes. Uh, it's just the nature of the business and the situation, and you know, you've got to move forward. And I think, really what I take from it is it's a new chapter in my career. But I really do appreciate, you know, the Rouven for the opportunity of trading me to a team that wanted to win now and to have some more opportunities to try to win. I mean, I got to go and chase down a postseason again with Texas and you know, I know we lost in that weird epic, that flip Game five in Toronto that I was pitching. So but then the next next year, I got another opportunity to pitch in the in the postseason. So and that I think, as all of us in our careers, we just want opportunities to win. And I understood where the Phillies were going. They need to rebuild, uh to where they are today, and you know, they've done a great job. But that's what happens, I think enfranchises it's the ups downs. You don't always get to stay great and and I think that's you know, the hardest part. And I don't run it, so uh, I don't ununderstand the ins and outs. But it's a very difficult thing to keep the team at the top level all the time forever. It's just I don't think it's possible. So your career is very short and you just have to make the best of it. And for all of us, we're just trying to win.

00:42:15
Speaker 2: And then Cole, I remember the year that you signed that one year deal with the Dodgers. The Phillies were coming after you, and there's some talk maybe of the Phillies signing. I remember asking Bryce Harper, I said, you know, what do you think about Cole coming back? Because you guys had that thing back in the day. And he goes and he's like, no, I don't care if Cole can pitch and he can help us when I would love to have Cole Hammil's on the team. Have you have you talked to him, you know, over the years, And I mean that was such a you know, you're drilling me, steals home on you. It becaus this big kerfuffle with Mike Rizzo, and but it was cool, Like Bryce.

00:42:48
Speaker 1: Is like, I don't care. That was a long time ago.

00:42:51
Speaker 2: I want to win. So have you ever talked to you? Do you know Bryce? Have you talked to Bryce and you know, hey, maybe you could throw out the first pitch to him on Friday night.

00:43:04
Speaker 1: No, it's no. I have the utmost respect for him, I think, you know, and even at the time, we're such competitors, we're such athletes, and he's he We knew he was going to be the face of baseball. And I think he's even blown all of us away with how how much he really understands and who he is as a person and a player. Uh, he's he's sky's the limits with him, and I'm happy to say that I competed against him. It would have been great to be a teammate with him. I think, just who he is, it's you want to be surrounded by the best, and I think that's where you develop over time, you develop friendships. We've just had some period periodically, you know, highs here and there. But I have no ill will. I I really do respect him and I am a fan of him, and I think that's what it takes is we all check some balances. We're all when we start, you know, everybody's checking us. We just got to prove ourselves. We got approve to everybody, and it just is what it is. But yeah, situation kind of I guess got a little hand. I learned a very valuable lesson out open my mouth.

00:44:12
Speaker 2: Right after the game, we go we were we walked out of the clubhous we were four. We're like because we asked he said, did you throw him on a purpose? Like, oh, yeah, I drilled him on purpose?

00:44:22
Speaker 1: I was like, oh my, oh You're not supposed to do that.

00:44:27
Speaker 2: Do you have a we had we had Chase on a couple of weeks ago, and we had Burl on or about a month or so ago, and and you know, Pat told a great Chase story. Chase, we asked him stories. Do you have a favorite Chase utlest story? Just kind of shows you what kind of competitor he is.

00:44:43
Speaker 1: Oh man, I mean there's times, you know, Chase could be very like a silent assassin in a way, and you know, he he didn't really like to show he was frustrated. But every once in a while, I mean you'd see behind closed doors and you know, you have we have stuff every where. And I think there was one moment. I mean he came in and just blew up anything that was in his way. I mean, I mean he had a bad I mean he's throwing stuff, he's hitting stuff, and he's blowing up all sorts of things, and like, oh my god, I wanted to laugh because you just don't see that side of him. I mean, he's so serious and I'm just like, this is awesome to watch and he's just flipping out because you do you can understand this frustration and how much time he puts into what he did. I mean, the game finished, Boom was in the video room. He wanted to rewatch a few things so that he could go to bed, either processing to trying to move forward or going, oh, this is what they're gonna do tomorrow. I got a prep for this tomorrow. That taught me a lot. I mean the video time that taught me to put in more time video and the video room was watching him. But yeah, no, I think we've had some some fun times off the field a little bit more that you know, we're just kind of keep is enjoying the moment, especially on golf trips, which you know, golf trips involved uh, you know a lot of other extracurriculars and and that sort of thing. So it's been good, but you know it's been a golf story.

00:46:11
Speaker 4: We need a golf story from you.

00:46:15
Speaker 1: I mean, you know we had a really good uh he had a forty. So we're all down in in uh Cabo and a lot of us all came and you know, you the golf, the the course we can play at. I mean it's it's you wear a bathing suit, that's about it. No shoes. I mean, you're drinking tequila shots throwing them out a bell. I mean, it's it. It's in a ruckus, uh, in a way, and you know it's like, oh man, when we go, you know, all the wives or girlfriends are waiting. You're like, this is not going to end. Well, we're finishing up eighteen. I mean it's a circus. And we've got Nick Punto there too. Uh and I think you guys know him, Like we got to go back and like we got to clean it up. So it's just those things. It's all a sudden, you see. It's fun, fun, fun, and then ever sort of like looks at each other and like it was all serious. Eric, All right, guys, let's get back to serious mode. So yeah, that's uh, it's just a good time with all those guys, and you know, to see him now and you know in London with a lot of those guys, it was just great to be around. I think the funniest thing that he told me while he was doing last week he was doing like the sort of home run hitting contest or it was a point thing against Daniel Murphy, and I mean, he's in there he goes, this is my worst nightmare. And I'm like, what do you mean, Chase. He goes, I have to hit right now, and he goes in front of this like, this is my worst nightmare. I was like, damn it, Chase, Now you get in my head. I gotta throw a first pitch out and I throw a fall in. That's my worst nightmare. I'm gonna throw. I'm gonna bounce this. So now I'm like, Chase, what do you do? He's like practice. I'm like, so, you're gonna see me probay after this, and we're I have to go throw a ball into the into the fence to get ready for a first pitch. One pitch coming true right now.

00:47:59
Speaker 2: Well, good luck man, good luck and enjoy yourself. On Friday. We really appreciate the time. It's going to be a lot of fun. I know that it's going to be packed ballpark, and they're going to love to see the highlights and see you and and and you know, relive some of those great moments.

00:48:12
Speaker 1: I think.

00:48:13
Speaker 3: And congratulations from someone who's got a chance to watch you grow up and become the person and the player that you are.

00:48:21
Speaker 1: Were.

00:48:22
Speaker 3: You should be very proud of your accomplishments and soak it in. Man, enjoy every minute of it, because you deserve it. You are one of the more iconic players in the history of our of our franchise, and you made lives very very happy. There are fifty sixty seventy eighty year old people who are in that parade.

00:48:44
Speaker 2: Who are forever ever in your debt and debted to you.

00:48:48
Speaker 3: So thanks so much for what you've done for this franchise.

00:48:52
Speaker 1: Oh, thank you, Revan, Thanks for your kind of words.

00:48:54
Speaker 2: Thanks again to Cole Hamil's for the time. We had a lot of fun. We hope you did too. Remember Gibe Vintage Sports Westchester, Wayne Center City. Go to one of those stores, tell them that the Phillies Shows sent you and you will get fifteen percent off your next purchase. If you can't make it to one of the stores, go to shib sports dot com and use the promo code The Phillies Show. We will be back next week for more Phillies Talk. Thanks everybody, This is the Philly Show. If you haven't already, please subscribe to The Phillies Show wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch us on our YouTube channel. If you like what we do, give us a review, tell a friend. Catch Ruben, Jim and Me on Phillies Nation TV, presented by Valley Forge Tourism. New episodes air an hour before every Saturday Phillies game on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Replays air throughout the week and on Philliesmation dot com. Get more of Reuben's analysis during before and after Phillies games on NBC Sports Ville Piladelphia, on the Sports Radio ninety four, WIP Morning Show, and MLB Network. Read Jim at the Allcity Network at allphl y dot com. Find more of me at MLB dot com, the philliesb Newsletter, and occasionally on MLB Network