Two Good Pieces on Cole Hamels

SI.com's Jon Heyman writes that Hamels is the key to the Phillies' season.

Okay, so Phillies' fans know that. But Heyman writes a good article differentiating between the 2008 version and the 2009 version, worthy of a read.

And then there's this piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. Hamels' curve ball went AWOL last season, making him a rather predictable two-pitch pitcher (still, he won 14 games). This season, the lefty working on improving his curve and is developing a cutter. If he can throw three pitches for strikes, look out. If he throws all four for strikes, you're talking Cy Young territory. Then again, if he only throws two for strikes, he'll get hit.