Hamels, fresh off a 15-day stint on the DL, went six strong innings, giving up two hits, one run and striking out seven while walking none, as the Phillies dumped the Reds, 3-2, on Monday.

With the series of rainouts, the Phillies had played just once since last Wednesday. As a result, many, myself included, questioned whether or not the Phils should just keep Halladay and Lee in line to start Monday and Tuesday. The theory was why not give Hamels, who had an inflamed shoulder, a few more days rest?

Obviously, the Phillies knew Hamels was back and wanted to ease him in slowly to prepare to battle the Braves next week at CBP.

The youngest of the aces tossed just 76 pitches in the no-decision performance. Could he have pitched more? Probably. But, why risk it when you don’t have to. This isn’t about the Reds in August. It’s about the Braves in September and the playoffs in October.

You have to think the Braves, who have Tommy Hanson battling injuries, aren’t thrilled to see Cole back and dominant. Oh, and we didn’t even mention that he was perfect through three innings.

“I ain’t an athlete, lady.” — John Kruk

The Phillies added one of the most colorful characters in team history into the Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park last night. John Kruk joined names such as Robin Roberts, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and others.

John Kruk joined the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday night.

The ceremony and the fact that Kruk just gets Philly fans is well documented on the Internet and in the papers this morning. There’s no need to join the Department of Redundancy Department that comprises 53.5 percent of blogs with yet another recap or opinion piece.

Kruk’s induction, and Daulton’s last year, do evoke memories of the scrappy, hairy, macho 1993 squad that — for fans in their 30s — represented the one shining moment in a childhood of piss poor Phillies performances. We grew up on a franchise that steamrolled to 10,000 losses.

Yes, there was the team that included eight players and a manager currently part of the Wall of Fame. Of course, that is the 1980 Phillies, the first World Series Champion in franchise history. But, as much as I want to vividly recall that parade, I just can’t. I was four. Sure, I remember Schmidt, Lefty, Pete Rose and others as their careers winded down through the mid 1980s. But, as far as seeing a title team take the field at the Vet, I just don’t recall it that well.

What I do know is this current Phillies squad is the best era of Philadelphia baseball I will likely see in my lifetime. One WFC parade, Two World Series appearances, four straight division titles and all-stars at every position. It just doesn’t get better than this as we approach a fifth division title and another Red October.

How many current Phillies will join the team's Wall of Fame in the future?

Ten to fifteen years from now, the Phillies that placate every baseball fan’s needs these days will be standing where Kruk did on Friday. The question becomes who will make it, and could this era eclipse the 1980s era in terms of the number of people to make it. Remember, eight players (Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Bob Boone, Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Gary Maddux, John Vukovich, Tug McGraw) and a manager (Dallas Green). That is a tall order.

Let’s get to it.

No Brainers:

• Jimmy Rollins – No guy had more to do with developing this squad’s championship swagger than JRoll. His 2007 MVP season will always be special. His ability to deliver in the clutch and on the big stage can not be overstated. Does he swing at too many first pitches for some? I guess. Still, you can’t argue with what he has meant to this team an locker room. And if you do, remember the guy is closing in on 2,000 career hits — all as a Phillie.
• Chase Utley — If Rollins was the vocal leader, Utley has been the guy who played every game like it was his last and led by example. Nobody hustles harder than the perennial all-star who has amassed nearly 200 homers and 700 RBI, with a career .292 average. If that’s not enough, his “WFC” statement alone gets him in.
• Ryan Howard – The Big Piece is the second best first baseman in franchise history, trailing just Pete Rose. The 2006 MVP and multi-year all-star will bash his 300th homer next year and likely ends his career somewhere between 400 and 500.
• Cole Hamels — Sure, he’s still young, but the kid has accomplished a lot in the early stages. Two all-star nods, an NLCS and World Series MVP and the look of a true ace. He already has 72 wins and, at 27, is just entering his prime. Should he stay in Philly, 200 wins in red pinstripes is almost a given. He is our Greg Maddux.
• Charlie Manuel – He’s already done more than Dallas Green. He’s in.
• Pat Gillick — Three seasons as a GM yielded two division titles and a parade. He transformed the front office philosophy into an aggressive one. How does he not make it?

Guys who should make it with a few more seasons in Philly:

• Doc Halladay — One Cy Young Award and another possible this season is not a bad way to start a Phillies career. If he pitches this way the next two seasons for which he is under contract, the future MLB Hall of Famer is on the Wall at CBP. The man already has 36 wins in 57 starts. He just needs to do it here more.
• Cliff Lee – The man who spurned a pile of cash that stretched from the rats of the subway up to the Empire State Building to play in front of the Philly fans has already done enough to join The Wall. Numbers-wise, he just needs to pitch like the ace he is for the next three years to ensure his induction. he has 23 wins in 41 career Phillie starts (playoffs included). Again, length of service keeps him from being a “No Brainer.”
• Shane Victorino — The resident hothead has turned in two all-star years, can hit .300 a season and adds a spark to the team. Closing in on 1,000 hits and 600 runs scored in just five years as a full-time starter, Victorino will be WOF material should he continue this pace for another 2-3 years. Another WFC parade wouldn’t hurt, too.
• Ruben Amaro – The man has simply gotten the job done in the GM chair and built Pat Gillick’s squad into a true superpower. A few more successful seasons, including retooling the squad as it ages, and Amaro is in.

Bubble Guys:

• Brad Lidge — One year does not make a WOF inductee. The 2008 season was magical, but injuries have derailed Lidge’s Philly career. Still, with 112 saves in red pinstripes, I’ll contend that if Mitch Williams (106 saves) makes it, so should Lidge.
• Jayson Werth – For Werth, we say the bubble will burst. A fan favorite who “got it?” Sure. But, a guy who did it long enough? Unlikely. Three seasons as a full timer just isn’t enough.
• Carlos Ruiz — Another Mr. October-type postseason run could get Chooch in. That and another Cy Young or two from the rotation would help. He is a solid catcher. His regular season numbers are far from prolific, but the intangibles and length of service put him in the mix.
• Pat Burrell — 251 career Phillies home runs and a solid, if underrated, Phils career should get him in.

In the end, we see nine players (Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels, Halladay, Lee, Victorino, Lidge and Burrell) as well as Charlie Manuel, Ruben Amaro and Pat Gillick making it. The total number of 12 tops the 1980 Phillies.

What do you think? leave us thoughts in the comments section and we’ll respond.

The fact is, most Phillies fans are bright enough to know that Cole Hamels horrid start against the Mets was a hiccup at worst in what will be a stud season for the Fightins longest-tenured ace. When all is said and done he will have an ERA at or below 3, along with 15-18 wins or more.

Cole Hamels turned in another gem in another Fightins win on Sunday.

Still, there are those who hated on Cole, said he wasn’t mentally tough enough and continually referenced his dumb, taken-out-of-context “I can’t wait until this season is over” quote from the 2009 World Series.

Two starts later, where are the Cole Haters? I’m not talking about those who booed his first start. I’m not saying it was something I would have done, but it was justified in the heat of the moment despite what Paul Hagen and others say.

But to the rest of the fans, the minority who question Cole, put a fork in it. Dude goes out and fans six in his first three innings. Granted, who sat one guy down in his final four frames. Still, Hamels sacttered seven hits and allowed just two runs in a no decision, 3-2 win over the Marlins.

The win was huge because it gives the Phils a two-game cushion in the division, as opposed to being tied for first with a Marlins team that would have won both games here.

As awesome as the Phillies have been so far in this young season, things could change very quickly should the team not own first place after today.

The Phillies need to knock the Marlins outta the yard today and take a 2-game edge in the division.

The Phillies are a remarkable 9-4; the Marlins are right on their tails with an 8-5 mark. Let’s face it, a loss to the Marlins today would hurt for a number of reasons.

First, it would be the Phillies first two-game skid of the year — something that shouldn’t happen often with four stoppers on the staff.

Second, it would mean the Phillies lost twice to a young, hungry team that could challenge for the dvision.

Third, it would drop the Phillies into a tie for first against a team they were up two games on before the season,.

Fourth, you need to see two quality games from Cole Hamels after his spring and putrid opening start against the Mets.

The good news is the numbers are on Hamels and the Phils side. Hamels was 2-1 with an ungodly 1.25 ERA last year. Conversly, the Marlins starter, Anibel Sanchez, does not fair well against Philly. He’s 3-6 with a 5.03 ERA against the Fightins over the last three years. So far this season, he’s 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA.

Think Ryan, JRoll, Shane, Polly and Chooch aren’t licking their chops right now.

The Phillies need a win today to send the Marlins out just as they came in — two games behind the four-time, four-time, four-time, four-time defending NL East Champs.

The offense produced just three runs and the starting pitching paced the way to a shutout victory over a team that has the talent to be around come October.

Cole Hamels, who lasted just 2.1 innings in his season debut against the hated M-ts, came out guns blazing in Atlanta on Sunday and led the Fightins to an impressive 3-0 win. The loss sent Atlanta, the one team many predict to challenge the Phils for the division title, to 3.5 games behind the Phillies and in last place in the East.

Cole Hamels hammered the Braves hitters on Sunday, striking out eight, as the Phillies won, 3-0.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, holds a two-game edge over the Marlins (5-4) after the season’s first week.

Hamels tossed seven innings of four-hit baseball, throwing 62 of his 102 pitches for strikes. He K’d eight while allowing just one free pass. In the process, he lowered his ERA from 20.25 to 5.59. Smart money says that number drops to under 3.5 by the end of April.

The Phillies lineup, meanwhile, looked like the one many feared with the loss of Werth and Utley. Still, the hitters managed seven hits and two runs against the Braves Derek Lowe, a Phillies killer in his career.

Shane Victorino, who entered the series with a .261 average, went 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored to lead the way. The man whose fielding blunder on Friday was replayed over and over, goes to Washington this week hitting .417. Methinks the Flyin’ Hawaiian wants to chill in Atlanta a bit longer.

The Phillies, who now sit at 6-2, go to Washington on Tuesday and get their first shot at Jayson Werth. Werth gets to see Blanton on Tuesday, before facing Halladay and Lee.

But, don’t put up the “W” just yet. Cole Hamels still has to pitch well an the Fightins need to keep the offense going.

The New York Mets have a 2-1 record and get rewarded by facing Hamels and halladay this series. Hamels, the fourth Phillies ace, has not faired well against the Mets in his career. Can he keep up with the Lees and Oswalts?

The Mets come to South Philly 2-1 after taking the weekend series against the trendy Marlins in Miami. They have to be feeling good with a new manager and a fairly decent lineup when everyone is healthy. Maybe they even have visions of giving the Phils a run for their money this year. Heck, they missed Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt, so they should feel OK.

Then, it’s time to realize they’ll face Hamels and Halladay this week.

Hamels gets it started and gets to keep up with his co-aces who tossed 19 innings of ball and racked up 23 Ks to 1 BB. But, this is where the feel good news stops. The fact is, this won’t be a given for Hamels.

First, the man is 1-7 with a 4.33 ERA against the Mets over the last three years. Sure, he has nearly a 3.5-to-1 K to BB ratio. Still, 74 hits in 54 innings over that time period is far from solid. The fact is, the team he once called choke artists has owned him.

If you break it down even more, Hamels was 0-4 with a 3.20 ERA against the Mets. Again, his 4-to-1 K-to-BB ratio was superb. Yes, his ERA was respectable and the lack of run support hurt him. Still, 0-4 is 0-4.

Hamels and the Fightins need to send the Mets back to the cellar.

Second, Hamels had a poor spring, which isn’t unexpected as pitchers often work on new pitches and are less concerned about their numbers. Still, a 6.67 ERA is something to keep an eye on. Will Hamels start this year like last, or pick up where he left off?

The bottom line is it’s time to send the Mets back to NY with a losing record. And, that starts with Hamels on Tuesday.

A year ago, Halladay started the year with an 11-1 win over the Nationals in which he tossed seven innings and struck out nine batters. Doc ended the year with a 21-10 record and a 2.44 ERA, including a perfect game, en route to claiming his first NL Cy Young Award. He also started Doctober with a no-hitter against the Reds.

But, Halladay would have traded all the accolades for a parade down Broad Street.

Fast forward a year and Doc faces stiff competition for the title of undisputed ace, let alone being an outright favorite to win a second straight Cy Young Award.

And, that’s just the competition from his own staff members. Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt will give Doc competition and a run for his money.

Doc starts his Cy Young defense today at 1:05. Lee starts his campaign to unseat the defending champ on Saturday night, while Hamels guns for his first award starting on Monday.

A year ago, Halladay was The Man for the Phils. Hamels was coming off a piss poor 2009, while Lee was in Seattle and Little Roy was in Houston. Now?

Now, opposing hitters might as well go to the plate with chopsticks when coming to Citizens Bank Park.

Michael Bourn, you’re up first.

Prepare to see a paparazzi-level swarm of cameras descend on Clearwater tomorrow when the Phillies Phour Aces plus Joker Joe have their first official presser together. It will be the first of many for the four All-Star pitchers. And, the cameras will be there to capture and document the entire season. Just look at today’s Twitter feeds if you doubt that.

Cliff Lee's addition to the Phillies rotation puts the team's starters in unseen territory.

Never has a rotation of this caliber been assembled together at one time. Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Millwood came close. Then again, Millwood was as good as Joe Blanton and he’s our fifth guy, not the fourth.

The second the ink dried on Cliff Lee’s contract in December, Philly had a group that would get as much attention in the baseball world as the Beatles received in the music industry. Wherever the Phillies go this season, the local media and fans will be waiting to see this rotation. Once ever five days you will not see an ace.

The Phillies home games are practically all sold out except for three and six game plans. The road games are likely close to sell outs as well. Pure baseball fans want to see this rotation and be a part of what appears to be a magical season on the outside. Of course, they players have to go out and perform.

And when they do, the cameras will be there every step of the way.

We’re like kids on Christmas Eve day waiting for Santa to come so we can unwrap the gifts bought weeks earlier. Only, Ruben Amaro is Santa, and Charlie Manuel is his not-so-small elf.

In just a few short long hours, our gift will be unwrapped. The best starting rotation this side of an all-star squad will take to the mound at Bright House Field at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater.

In honor of the Phour Aces and Joker Joe (and that’s not a slight as everyone wants the joker in poker), here’s an abridged version of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Phillies fans are ready to unwrap the gift Ruben Amaro delivered this Halladay Season.

Twas the Night Before our Cliffmas Halladay

Twas the night before Spring Training
When all throughout Philly
Not a pitcher was stirring
Not Oswalt, Hamels, Halladay or even Cliff Lee.

The jerseys were hung in the lockers with care,
In hopes that the Phour Aces soon would be there;
Phillies fans were lying all snug in their beds
With visions of 20-game winners dancing in their heads.

And Ruben with his cell, and Charlie in his cap,
Had just awoken from a long winter’s nap,
When out on the mound there was the core,
a rotation made for Mt. Rushmore.

Away to the plate balls flew like a flash,
The Phillies have indeed learned how to spend their cash.
The cameras were ready to capture The Show
and include the fifth guy named Kentucky Joe

While Kyle Kendrick shed a few tears,
the fans erupted and chugged their beers.
Yes, this rotation is ready to beast.
As the Phillies again take the NL East.

But don’t dare think this is just a charade,
It don’t mean a thing without another parade!

Other than going through another man’s laundry, we have no way to confirm this. However, the evidence overwhelming suggests that Jayson Werth has crapped his pants in a messy preschooler kind of way.

Jayson Werth forces out the final turds as he craps his pants following the Phillies signing of Cliff Lee. Werth, who chose money over winning, now must face Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt the next few years.

The former toast of free agency who spurned the Phillies to chase every red cent from the Washington Nationals woke up in the middle of the night with a case of the runs. Seems that he had nightmares of facing the most potent pitching rotation since the heyday of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz — and maybe even since the days of Koufax and Drysdale.

The Phillies, a team Werth must now face 18 times a year, just inked one of his good friends in the game, Cliff Lee, to a five-year, $120 million contract.

That means Werth, who chased the money instead of winning and signed a seven-year, $126 million deal, now has to face Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt whenever his Nationals face the Phillies

Something tells me he’ll regret chasing the money somewhere in mid May when his team is eliminated from playoff contention and his friends are thrashing him and striking him out at will.

For now, he can just spend the next two months smelling the stench of crap in his pants every night he wakes in a cold sweat from the fear of facing Phillies Phour Tops.