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2014 comes into focus for Hamels Quoted
“What I hope happens is that we’re finally healthy next season. We had so many injuries and so many things go wrong last season. We need to stay healthy and perform up to our potential. I think we’ll be tough.” Hamels
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Hamels. Making big difference in Malawi Before pitchers and catchers report, Cole Hamels is focusing on his foundation and project Malawi. Malawi, an oft-overlooked nation, is an AIDS-ravaged African country. It’s been estimated that more than 1 million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Malawi. “We’re trying to make a difference in Malawi,” Hamels said. “They need our help.” Hamels, along with his wife Heidi, will open a school in September 2014 in the deprived land. “It’s something that we can’t wait for,” she said. Could a baseball academy follow the conventional school the Hamels Foundation is constructing in Malawi?
“We brought whiffle balls and bats down to Malawi and before explaining the rules the kids came up with some pretty inventive games with balls and bats down there,” Heidi Hamels added. “We’re still introducing the game to them.” But can the Phillies starting pitcher foresee tapping into a new world of talent and capitalizing on it as an agent or as a scout in his post-major league career? “That’s an interesting idea,” Hamels said while laughing. “But I hope that I have plenty of years left pitching for the Phillies. I’m not ready to think about what I’ll do when I’m done pitching.” ED CONDRAN
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Cole Hamels went 8-14 with a 3.60 ERA in the 2013 season for the Phillies. / GETTY IMAGES
MLB. The Phillies hurler is looking forward to more W’s next season. “Focus” was a word bandied about quite a bit during Cole Hamels’ baseball clinic for children last weekend in Boothwyn, Pa. Charismatic motivational speaker Jim Brogan, Cincinnati Reds farmhand Mike Costanza and Hamels kept dropping the F-word — focus — when speaking about mental toughness to little leaguers at Maple Zone Sports and Fitness. So, what is Hamels, who will turn 30 in December, focusing on after the Phillies disappointing 73-loss season in 2013? “I’ve been watching a lot of football,” Hamels said. “That’s what I’ve been watching. It’s that time of year.” The San Diego native,
who resides year-round in Philadelphia, is rooting hard for his Chargers. “I would love to see them catch up to the Denver Broncos but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” said the lefty. Hamels is taking a bit of a mental break from the Phillies while recovering from a lost season. “I’m trying to recharge my batteries,” Hamels said. “I’ve been thinking about other things.” When pressed about 2014, Hamels quickly detailed what needs to go right. “What I hope happens
is that we’re finally healthy next season,” Hamels said. “We had so many injuries and so many things go wrong last season. We need to stay healthy and perform up to our potential. I think we’ll be tough.” Hamels refused to comment on general manager Ruben Amaro’s recent signing of Marlon Byrd. But he did note that he’s optimistic about next season. “We have a lot of talent on this team,” Hamels said. “I believe we can bounce back. I’ll be ready when it comes time to go to Florida.”
100 Triple-digit threat
The next game Hamels wins will be the 100th of his career. He likely would have accomplished the feat last season but received the worst run support in the National League.
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