That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Comparing each 2008 star to a current MLB player

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 24: Gold Medal Olympians Carli Lloyd, Heather Mitts, Jordan Burroughs, and Susan Francia pose for a picture with Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Cole Hamels after the Olypians threw the first pitch before the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 24, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 24: Gold Medal Olympians Carli Lloyd, Heather Mitts, Jordan Burroughs, and Susan Francia pose for a picture with Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Cole Hamels after the Olypians threw the first pitch before the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 24, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) – Philadelphia Phillies
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) – Philadelphia Phillies /

Cole Hamels: Sandy Alcantara

Cole Hamels has had a really interesting career as he has always been a really good pitcher in the league but has never been considered to be the best of the best. Hamels has been to four All-Star Games and has been named both the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP.

That being said, he never finished higher than fifth in Cy Young voting and received a Cy Young vote four times. In hindsight, it seems like Hamels’ career was better than it actually was, but the fact still remains that without him, the Phillies likely don’t win the 2008 World Series.

We cannot use playoff numbers for 2021 as the playoffs have not begun and out of all the comparisons, this one was by far the toughest. The game is different now so there are plenty of pitchers with higher strikeout rates and better ERAs but still have a lower ERA+ as they are not better compared to league average than Hamels was in 2008.

The player that compares the best is Sandy Alcantara. He is not a southpaw but he is a young pitcher in the NL East that could be starting a great career. Hamels was 24 in 2008, Alcantara is 25.

Hamels finished the 2008 season with a 3.09 ERA, 1.082 WHIP and 196 strikeouts in 227.1 innings pitched. He did not strike out as many batters as today’s pitchers do, but he was a workhorse. His advanced numbers are solid as well with a 141 ERA+ and a 3.72 FIP.

Alcantara is also a workhorse. He likely won’t get to Hamels’ innings pitched but he has made 27 starts and is on pace for 33 with 202 innings pitched. Believe it or not, he is actually fourth in MLB in innings pitched.

Alcantara has a 3.27 ERA, 1.119 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 165.1 innings pitched. He owns a worse ERA+ at 125 but a better FIP at 3.57. His rates per nine innings are similar as well. Hamels struck out 7.8 batters per nine innings, Alcantara has struck out 8.6. Hamels allowed 7.6 hits per nine innings, Alcantara allows 7.5 hits per nine.

Hamels walked 0.5 batters less per nine innings than Alcantara has this season but allowed 0.2 more home runs per nine innings.

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Regardless, the numbers are not perfect but Alcantara at least fits the mold of being a young workhorse pitcher who is near the top of the league in innings pitched while not being a high-volume strikeout guy.

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