By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor 
Former Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels is in the midst of 9-1 campaign for the Texas Rangers, who have the American League's best record at 51-28, but Hamels stopped after his win over the New York Yankees earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics pertaining to his former team.
Hamels made a point of telling the collective media, including Evan Macy of Metro Philly, that he believes the Phillies group of young talent is going to thrive with Pete Mackanin at the helm:
"Especially with Pete, he’s one of the best," Hamels said. "Gosh, that timing of that group with Pete is outstanding with how they are going to build.”
Mackanin was the Phillies interim manager for the final month plus of Hamels' Phillies career, but was on the Phillies coaching staff two different times during the nearly 10 seasons Hamels spent in Philadelphia. He was the team's bench coach from 2009-2012, and then returned as their third-base in 2014. Mackanin went on to become the interim manager in June of 2015.
Hamels actually has a very valuable perspective on Mackanin because he's seen him coach in different roles and also on teams that were World Series contenders and teams that were contenders for the No. 1 pick. It should be encouraging to Phillies fans that Hamels believes in Mackanin.
Phillies brass seems to agree with Hamels' thoughts on Mackanin, as general manager Matt Klentak ripped up Mackanin's one-year deal this Spring Training and gave Mackanin a new two-year deal with a club option for 2018.
