STACKED AGAINST HIM
Cubs’ loaded rotation likely leaves Hammel out of postseason mix
Joe Maddon will be the envy of every manager in baseball when he selects his postseason rotation.
He has the reigning Cy Young Award winner in Jake Arrieta and two more pitchers vying for the honor this season.
He also has John Lackey, who has two World Series rings and eight years of playoff experience.
The odd man out, it seems, will be Jason Hammel, who finds himself in that position despite winning 15 games and posting a respectable 3.88 ERA.
Hammel’s body of work would put him in the rotation of almost any other team in the postseason.
“Sometimes there are guys that really deserve a spot and pitch well enough to get in there,” Hammel said, “but for whatever reason, you have so much talent, unfortunately there are guys that are going to get left out.”
Hammel had a rocky start Saturday, giving up six runs in a 10- 4 loss to the Cardinals. It was his fifth loss in his last seven outings.
“I’m a selfless guy, and I don’t really try to think about the cog that I am in the machine,” he said. “When the season is said and done, I’ll look back at the body of work and be proud of it.”
Maddon said the team hasn’t discussed the postseason roster yet and wouldn’t say if Hammel will have a spot.
Hammel has had stretches this season during which he has been nearly unhittable. He went 5- 0 with a 1.77 ERA in his first seven starts, then 6- 0 with a 0.95 ERA in six starts out of the All- Star break.
Hammel arguably would be the No. 3 playoff starter for the Giants, Dodgers or Cardinals.
And surely the injury- plagued Mets, who learned this week that Steven Matz might miss the postseason, could use Hammel.
“A lot of people would love to have a guy like him,” catcher Miguel Montero said. “He’s having a great year. He’s won 15 games. He’s won 15 games because he’s done a great job. They don’t give you 15 wins because you’re pretty. They give it to you when you earn it.”
The Cubs could choose to keep Hammel in the bullpen for the postseason, but that seems unlikely.
First, it’s unclear whether he would be effective out of the bullpen. Hammel’s struggles often come in the first inning, which was the case again during a four- run first. Relievers don’t have the luxury of settling in.
Also, the Cubs already have a bullpen loaded with right- handers who have proven themselves.
“Hammel is probably the guy that gets the least amount of credit around here,” catcher David Ross said. “He’s the type of guy you take for granted. You take guys like Jason for granted until you don’t have him and until you have to fill in for him with a minor- league pitcher or a bullpen guy who is in the bullpen for a reason.”
No matter how it shakes out for him at the end of the year, Hammel said he’ll be happy with his season.
“You check your ego at the door,” he said. “We’re all good at this level. You pick your roster and you play your game with that roster.
‘‘ If somebody is going to be too into themselves, too egotistical about [ their role], that’s not me. I don’t have that kind of character. I’ll be happy if I’m there and happy if I’m not.”