Chances are Cole Hamels next start will not be in the minor leagues, but instead for the Phillies. The big question, of course, is when. Hamels, the Phillies' rookie phenom starter, completed a rehab assignment for Single-A Lakewood on Thursday night where he worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run on three hits and two walks, while striking out three. The lefty threw just 55 pitches.
With general manager Pat Gillick and his assistant Ruben Amaro Jr. watching from the stands, Hamels worked pain free and could pitch for the Phillies five days from now against Arizona.
If that happens it would be likely that Gavin Floyd will be removed from the rotation. Floyd allowed three homers and seven runs with seven hits and four walks in a rather auspicious outing against the Dodgers on Thursday night. Thanks to those numbers, Floyd's league-worst ERA jumped to a rather eye-popping 7.29 over his 11 starts.
Other options include shifting Ryan Madson back to the bullpen, adding Ryan Franklin to the rotation or standing pat with Eude Brito in there.
The liklihood of any of these actually occuring are about the same as Charlie Manuel setting himself on fire and circling the bases naked. Well... maybe not that far-fetched, but you get the idea. Chances are that when Hamels returns, Floyd will go.
Nevertheless, the question still remains when will Hamels return? The answer to that is a rather cryptic, soon.