Rope-A-Dope: Pirates at Phillies Game Thread, April 23, 2013

Ok, Cole Hamels. This is it. This is when you should do it. You've lulled all the other teams into thinking that you're having a lot of trouble. You've got them fooled. This is the perfect time to duck into a phone booth and whip off the horn rimmed glasses and the nerdy suit and reveal yourself. Your true self. Cole Hamels, man among men, king of pitchers, our hope for the future. Now's the time. Come on. We're waiting for you.

I don't even care about this:

Jeff Locke vs. Cole Hamels tonight. Two lefties facing the two offenses worst in baseball vs. lefties.

— Matt Gelb (@magelb) April 23, 2013

Yeah, so the Pirates suck against lefties. But this could be a real confidence building start for Hamels. He needs that. On the other hand, if he sucks, then I don't want to talk about it because that won't happen shut up shut up shut up I mean it.

Hamels faces off against Jeff Locke, who is also a lefty pitcher. I'm guessing this is going to be a night of little offense, so pour yourself a glass of whatever you're drinking and make sure you have plenty more on hand. I'm drinking Tenacious Traveler Shandy. And later on, probably bourbon. (Eagle Rare.)

What is everyone drinking tonight? Discuss that and the game in the comments below.

Cole Hamels

#35 / Pitcher / Philadelphia Phillies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Dec 27, 1983

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	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2013 - Cole Hamels	0-2	4	4	0	0	0	0	23.2	24	17	17	4	10	20	6.46	1.44

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Jeff Locke

#49 / Pitcher / Pittsburgh Pirates

Height: 6-0

Weight: 185

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Nov 20, 1987

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	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2013 - Jeff Locke	1-1	3	3	0	0	0	0	15.2	18	9	9	4	9	6	5.17	1.72

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