For the first time since 1993, the Phillies are one game away from the World Series. The game belongs to Cole Hamels. It is rightfully his.
He says he welcomes the increasingly ratcheted pressure. You ask him and he says, "Of course,'' as if there was no other possible answer. Of course. Of course.
"I think throughout my career or my lifetime . . . you know going out there in the big game, you want to be that guy that can dictate it,'' he said.
"And I think if you have the mind-set and the talent to do so, then you should be able to go out there and have success. And I think that's something I have the confidence that I can go out there and do it. I know I have the talent to do it. It's just a matter of time and getting that opportunity to do it.
"I've had the opportunity this year and I've been able to not only come through but hopefully put us into more situations where I can do it again, and again, and again,'' Hamels said.
Again and again and again.
It had been such an emotional game, with so many twists. For a long while there, it looked as if the Phillies would squander their 2-0 series lead over the Dodgers, raising every terrible feeling a Philadelphia sports fan has ever felt. Today would have been the longest off day in NLCS history, much more than 24 hours, crammed with anxiety.
But first came Shane Victorino, then Matt Stairs. And now what is left is Hamels, and history. He swore before the game yesterday that he would not be nervous.
"I think with having last year's, I guess sort of excitement and introduction to the playoffs in the postseason, that pretty much taught me what I need to know this season, even though it's a different situation around and around,'' Hamels said.
