Cole Hamels: Disrespected Ace or Whiny Bitch?
Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels may deserve a raise, but he’s in dire need of an attitude adjustment. Once again the 24-year-old pitcher has dropped an inappropriate sound byte in front of the press, responding with befuddled bitchiness to the Phillies’ lowball salary offer of $500,000.
Hamels was hoping to get $750,000, but the Phils continued a disturbing trend of stinginess with their young stars (see: Howard, Ryan) by not budging on on their initial offer. In response, Hamels spewed this huffy little rant:
“I’m not angry, I just feel a little … I can’t think of a good word. I’m a little surprised. It’s about respect, and when people don’t show that to you, you’re caught off guard. I thought it was a low blow.
“I felt it wasn’t necessarily equal compensation for what I do and for what I can do. I have to follow the ladder of other guys, some who play every day, and I know I’m not in that category, but you want to feel like you’re getting equally compensated for what you do on the field compared to other people that are in the same league.”
Phillies writer Jim Salisbury isn’t buying Hamels complaint, writing that he’s coming off as “spoiled and out of touch” for his comments and pointing out that the $100,000 raise the Phillies gave Hamels this year wasn’t inconsistent with other salary bumps handed over to other pitchers with the same amount of big-league service.
Besides the perceived stinginess of the Phillies, could the team’s unwillingness to give him a huge raise have something to with the lanky pitcher being a selfish prima donna? He’s a tremendous talent, and if he stays healthy, he’s poised to become one of the most dominating pitchers in the league — but he’s also developing a reputation as a diva.
Phillies contract offer to Hamels a “low blow” [Bugs and Cranks]
Cole Hamels is out of line [Inquirer]
September 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
He made it it the playoffs didn’t he????
October 10th, 2008 at 9:55 am
THE PHILLIES BETTER PAY HIM, THEY NEED HIM, GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS, HE HAS A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM, AND AS LONG AS HE IS THERE THE PHILLIES WILL BE IN CONTENTION TO WIN A WORLD SERIES. IF THE PHILLIES DONT PAY HIM HE WILL SURELY FIND THE MONEY HE IS LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE.