Hamels: 'You can't count us out'
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Cole Hamels said he agreed with sentiment that Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon expressed about the current Phillies roster. The team's top pitcher said the Phillies can compete this season despite management's comments that the franchise is rebuilding.
"You can't count us out," Hamels said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. "We do have a lot of guys who like to go out and compete at the highest level and expect to do so and expect their teammates to do so."
Hamels said his comments earlier this week in USA Today about wanting to be traded were from a "continuation of a conversation from January." Asked if he stills feels that way, Hamels answered "I'm a Phillie."
As trade rumors swirled this offseason, Hamels said all he could do was prepare for the season.
"No matter what jersey's the name on my chest, I have a job to do and I have to be accountable for it," Hamels said.
Phillies president Pat Gillick said in October that he did not expect the team to contend until 2017 or 2018.
“An organization, they have a bigger picture that they have to worry about. As a player, we really have to take the straight and narrow approach,” said Hamels. “We have a job to do, people are counting on us, and I think that’s kind of what an organization, an upper management, has to worry about is what players are going to be accountable, what direction can we go with what we have.”
