Texas Rangers: Cole Hamels the Ace they deserve

The Texas Rangers have a great chance to win every 5th game because of Cole Hamels and maybe he doesn’t get enough credit for that.

Cole Hamels former manager made a remark that suggested he may not be and “ace” and anyone who watches the Texas Rangers could make a very simple case that he is not only an ace but the kind of ace that the Rangers deserve.

Just a day after there were reports that starting pitcher Yu Darvish suggested that he wasn’t sure if he had enough gas to go another inning after the finishing the 6th. He had 93 pitches and only a 1 run lead at the time in a game against a division opponent in a race that the Texas Rangers have seen their lead shrink dramatically over this past month. The Rangers lost that game and simply put, it seems that he chose not to put the team on his back.

Cole Hamels is the Texas Rangers only true ace on the roster as it stands today. Just one day after that performance by Yu Darvish, there were never any questions about when Hamels was going to come out of the game.

He delivered a performance of 123 pitches over 8 innings in a tie game that the Texas Rangers won in the bottom of the 8th by Mitch Moreland‘s 2nd HR of the night. Even before that tie-breaking HR Hamels was somewhat expected to walk out of that dugout for the top of the 9th.

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The fact is that Cole Hamels was not putting himself before the team like it appears Yu Darvish may be doing with his contract ending after next season. Hamels has been with the Texas Rangers just about a year now, has started 33 games and has a record of 19-3 in that time. He has shown that he owns the mound every 5th game and right now provides the team with the confidence that they have a great chance to win on that day.

In the absence of gritty Colby Lewis It appears that Cole Hamels has taken over that cornerstone position that provides confidence to the rest of the team. A true ace that fits the “Never Ever Quit” mantra that manager Jeff Banister has established with this team is what the Texas Rangers deserve.

Cole Hamels should be getting more consideration for a Cy Young pitching award this year as he is towards the top of the AL pitching stats in every category. He is only 2 wins off of the league lead and he has the 7th best strikeout count right now.

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The Texas Rangers absolutely need help in their starting pitching rotation but it is a relief that Hamels chooses to play the game the way he does. Ranger fans can only hope that his aggressive play will make Yu Darvish’s competitive nature kick in and maybe they can end the season going into the playoffs with at least 2 pitchers acting like true aces.