Hamels/Myers Channelling Koufax/Drysdale

At the beginning of this season, the Phillies' starting rotation was riddled with questions. Adam Eaton? Well, enough said. Kyle Kendricks was a pleasant surprise as a rookie but he was still something of an unknown quantity. And how much longer could the master illusionist Jamie Moyer pull rabbitts out of a hat? But there was more confidence about their top starters, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers. Yes there were some issues concerning Hamels' durability and Myers was returning from a sabbatical to the bull pen but they were both talented young pitchers coming off solid seasons. Hamels in particular seemed ready to take it to the next level. Some optimistic types had visions of a superstar lefty-righty tandem in the mode of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale of the great Dodger teams of the sixties. Maybe this was a bit too optimistic. In 1965, Koufax/Drysdale had a combined record of 49-20. But you get the point.

For most of this regular season, these hopes never materialized. Myers struggled early in the season. And Hamels, while solid, had a number of bad patches, gave up some untimely long balls, and was given anemic support. These first two games of the playoffs remind us of what might have been and still could be. Maybe not Koufax and Drysdale, but still one of the best pitching combinations around.