What happened to Cole Hamels?

Has there been a bigger pitching disappointment than Cole Hamels this season? I don't think so. I guess you could factor Brandon Webb into this conversation as well, but I think it's totally different when you're basically injured the entire season versus being ineffective at your craft. Coming of a World Series championship, the Philadelphia Phillies were counting on Hamels to be the ace of their staff just like he was last year when he won 14 games and posted a 3.09 ERA with 196 K's.

Unfortunately, he's been anything but an ace and has lacked the consistent dominant "stuff" that we've come to expect from him the last couple of years. After being in the Cy Young conversation the last 2 seasons, his statine this year looks more like a middle-of-the-rotation starter (7-8, 4.78 ERA, 119 K) who's struggled with consistency all season. One start he'll be in total control like his win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 28 (8 IP, 1 ER, 9 K), but then the very next start against the San Francisco Giants he'll seem completely out of sorts (5 IP, 6 ER, 2 K).

With a little over a month left in the season and the Phillies likely headed back to the playoffs, there's still time for Hamels to turn it around and pitch like the front-of-the-rotation stud that he is. You can bet that some dominant September and October starts will make the people of Philadelphia forget about the long season of mediocrity.

Fantasy Impact: Likewise, a strong finish to the season will help heal some of the wounds of an utterly disappointing first 5 months of the season. If you've stuck with Hamels to this point, then you're really hoping for the payoff come September to justify that 1st or 2nd round draft pick. If you've acquired Hamels via trade or somehow picked him up off of free agency, then there's really nothing to lose in this situation. With only a couple weeks left in the regular fantasy season, a strong finish by Hamels could be just the ticket to securing that Fantasy title.

Biggest surprises so far in 2009?

With the All-Star Break just around the corner, let's take a look back at some of the biggest offensive and pitching surprises of 2009:

National League:

Offense:
Raul Ibanez (PHI) 51 R, 22 HR, 59 RBI, .312 BA
Even having missed 2+ weeks of the season while on the DL, Ibanez's numbers still so impressive that he earned his first trip to the All-Star game. Easily the best signing of the offseason, Ibanez has been a huge contributor in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup. If he can get healthy, this should be a career year for the 37-year-old outfielder.

Brad Hawpe (COL) 48 R, 13 HR, 56 RBI, .325 BA
Midway through the season and Hawpe has done his best to help fill the void left by Matt Holliday's departure from the Colorado Rockies in the offseason. Like Ibanez, Hawpe has also earned his first trip to the All-Star game, but I'm sure he's hoping it's not his last. Although not a pure power hitter, Hawpe's ability to spray the ball all over the field and hit for extra-base power make him an extremely tough out. He'll still need a strong 2nd half to prove that he's finally arrived.

Pitching:
Josh Johnson (FLA) 7-1, 2.76 ERA, 97 K
After a breakout season in 2006 where he finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA and 133 K's, the sky was the limit for this top prospect. Unfortunately, injuries have sidelined him for most of the last two seasons, but now he's back healthy and has regained his old form. Having made his first career All-Star team, he'll be the guy the Florida Marlins lean on to get them into the playoffs.

Matt Cain (SFO) 10-2, 2.42 ERA, 93 K
Another 25-year-old budding star, Cain is starting to put it all together. Having been snakebitten the last couple seasons by horrible run support, this year he's not only gotten the runs but also he's developed the type of pinpoint control and mental toughness that all great pitchers posess. The San Francisco Giants will rely heavily on Cain and Tim Lincecum if they hope to return to the playoffs after a 5-year absence.

American League:

Offense:
Aaron Hill (TOR) 51 R, 20 HR, 59 RBI, .295 BA
Although not a household name yet, Hill was named as an alternate to the All-Star team this year after a tremendous 1st half. Batting in the middle of a potent Toronto Blue Jays offense has helped vault him into the top tier of middle infielders in the league. A strong 2nd half could let everyone know that he's for real and here to stay.

Shin-Soo Choo (CLE) 49 R, 12 HR, 53 RBI, .301 BA
Having made the most of an opportunity to play next to Grady Sizemore in the Cleveland Indians outfield, Choo has far exceeded any expectations to this point in the season. Having never played a full season in the big leagues, it'll be interesting to see if he can keep it going.


Pitching:
Zack Greinke (KC) 10-4, 2.00 ERA, 120 K
There's really no doubt about this one. Greinke has been the best pitcher in the league thus far. Once upon a time Greinke was a hard-throwing 1st-round draft pick who showed flashes of greatness as a rookie in 2004. Now, 5 years and a social anxiety disorder later, he's finally living up to his potential. He's the one bright spot on another dismal Kansas City Royals team.

Edwin Jackson (DET) 6-4, 2.59 ERA, 93 K
Although the record doesn't bare out how great Jackson has pitched, the 13 quality starts begin to illustrate how good he's been so far. Another victim of poor run support and bullpen meltdowns by the Detroit Tigers, Jackson continues to shutdown potent offenses with a combination of power and control, having only walked 33 batters in 114 innings.