Major League Baseball

The skinny on Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels

Published Oct. 21, 2009 1:33 p.m. ET

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Cole Hamels has it in his hands again. Hamels hopes to make up for a disappointing season by pitching the Philadelphia Phillies back to the World Series on Wednesday night. A postseason star last year, Hamels hasn't been the same dominant ace in 2009. Here's the skinny on the slender left-hander since last October: - Goes 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts last year, helping the Phillies win the second World Series title in franchise history. He's named MVP of the NLCS and World Series. - Arrives at spring training talking about his desire to pitch no-hitters and win Cy Young Awards. Instead, he's slowed by minor injuries and later admits his offseason workouts didn't properly prepare him for the start of the season. He misses a chance to get his first opening-day start and struggles from the beginning. - Finishes 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 starts, hardly the type of season anyone expected. His struggles are one reason the Phillies trade for another No. 1 pitcher, acquiring Cliff Lee from Cleveland in late July. - Pitches five shaky innings and takes the loss against Colorado in Game 2 of the NL division series. Upon exiting the game after allowing four runs, leaves the ballpark to join his wife, a former "Survivor" contestant and Playboy model, who went into labor with the couple's first child. - In his first outing after the birth of his son, earns a victory over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS by tossing 5 1-3 effective innings. But he shows up teammates by displaying his frustration after Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins fail to convert a potential inning-ending double play that proves costly. - "It's a new year," Hamels says Tuesday. "I've gone through different and new struggles, different successes. So truly, I'm just focused on going out there and just trying to do the best I possibly can."

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