Cole Hamels called classless, gutless by Nationals GM Rizzo

If any questions remains about the burgeoning Phillies-Nationals rivalry after last night ... well, it's on.Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made sure of that this morning in an calling Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels "fake tough" and that hitting Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch Sunday was "a classless, gutless, chicken (bleep) act."
Hamels admitted after the Sunday night ESPN game that his fastball to the middle of Harper's back in the first inning was intentional.
"I was trying to hit him," Hamels said after the game, which he and the Phillies won 9-3. "I'm trying to continue the old baseball. I think some people kind of get away from it."
If Hamels was referring to noted intimidators such as Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson, he might have missed one point. They didn't admit to throwing at anyone. They just stared down their opponents.
"Cole Hamels says he's old school?" Rizzo told The Post. "He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough. He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with."
Harper, who said he had no idea what prompted the pitch, said nothing on the field and took first base. He also took home later in the inning, stealing home when Hamels made a pickoff attempt to first base.
Rizzo called for Hamels to be suspended. Major League Baseball has not announced any disciplinary action.
The Phillies-Nationals rivalry has been evolving, but previously it was mostly among the fans. Phillies fans have regularly filled Nationals Park when their team visits Washington but this year the Nationals made a concerted effort to have their fans gobble up tickets for the three-game weekend series. They didn't complete shut out the Phillies fans, but did finally regain majority representation.
And it doesn't hurt that the Nationals, who haven't finished over .500 since moving to Washington in 2005, lead the NL East while the five-time defending division champion Phillies are in last place after winning just once over the weekend.
"I think it could be a good rivalry," said Hamels, who was hit on the leg by Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann while attempting to bunt in the third inning. "We have 15 more games against them."
The next four are May 21-24 at Philadelphia. Barring a suspension that could be delayed if Hamels would choose to appeal, there's a good chance he'll get the face the Nationals again soon.