Honestly, I woke this morning thinking about Chan Ho Park's sparkling outing yesterday. I was thinking too that the last time the Phillies went into a season with a plethora of pitchers, they ended up going through 27 or 28 by year end. Several hours later I heard the news that Cole Hamels is headed tomorrow to Philadelphia for an elbow examination. Nothing to worry about, sez Hamels. Nothing to worry about, reiterates Amaro, Jr. Is or isn't, there's no point in worrying till the doctor speaks and Hamels does or does not start the season.
Let's hope that the race for the 5th starter stays just that, a race for 5th. The leaders so far are Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ. I've become rather partial to Park, who has refined his change-up, to great success, under the tutelage of Jamie Moyer. Park says he much appreciates the pitching tip but admires Moyer even more as a person. That's pretty cool. I like that CHP also appreciates his many fans in South Korea. He says that when times were tough there some years ago, people were cheered by his pitching performances in LA. That's why he wants to start, so that his Korean fans will be able to follow him.
I also saw a sweet article about Chan Ho and his Korean-Japanese wife, who recently put out a cookbook based on the meals she makes for her famous hubby. Park looked absolutely besotted in the picture that accompanied the piece. Very sweet.
