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Cole Hamels: not a fan of homegrown stars leaving via free agency

Philadelphia Phillies v Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 29: Cole Hamels #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 29, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Cole Hamels, who grew up a Padres fan, spoke to the Union-Tribune yesterday about how much of a bummer it was to see players leave via free agency when he was a kid:

“I mean, I loved that team, and all of a sudden it disappeared. I remember watching Fred McGriff before that, loving that guy, and boom, he’s gone. I think it’s hard to be a fan to devote your time to players, then see them leave like that.

“It’s not the fans. They alienate their own fans by not keeping guys around, especially the guys they develop. They won’t keep an Adrian Gonzalez or go get that big-name guy. That’s just hard on a fan.”


No word on whether that’s gonna fuel a hometown discount from Philly. You know, for the 2012 version of little Cole Hamels from, say, south Jersey, who loves watching Hamels like he loved watching Fred McGriff.