We’ve now gotten a good look at our deadline acquisition in Cliff Lee – both in the vast expanse of AT&T Park out west as well as in the cozy confines of Citizens Bank Park.

If he keeps this up, he’ll find a place in every Phillies fan’s heart like Raul Ibanez has during the “year after”.

Ruben Amaro and the Phillies coaches have some decisions to make about the rotation as the season heads toward its conclusion. We know that J.A. Happ will remain in the rotation, and rightfully so. What we don’t know is what will come of Jamie Moyer and Pedro Martinez. Martinez and Moyer will either platoon as the fifth starter, or one will land in the bullpen.

Neither should be expected to start a postseason game for the Phillies, barring an injury to one of the team’s top 4 starters.

Assuming the Phillies win the National League East (which I won’t be placing in the bank until the magic number is 0), the postseason rotation will be Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ.

Inexplicably, the biggest question mark of the bunch is the reigning World Series MVP.

While the Phillies got solid contributions across the board during their 2008 World Series run, there’s no disputing how important Cole Hamels was to the Phillie’s second World Series title.

Hamels was the winner of the first game of all 3 series openers, and was also the starting pitcher for the NLCS and World Series clinching games.

Not only did Hamels sport a razor-thin 1.80 ERA during the 2008 postseason, he seemed completely oblivious to time and place. He had ice in his veins, and seemed to thrive as the stage got progressively bigger.

When it was all over, the young Southern Californian had taken a fanbase and a franchise on his back and took us to the promised land. Fears that the Phillies would somehow find a way to lose became moot as Hamels was the anti-loser. He exuded confidence.

Well, a lot has happened since the Phillies piled on Brad Lidge on October 29, 2008. And much of it inadvertently played a role in sending Cole’s 2009 off in the wrong direction.

Not only has Hamels been average at best (3-4, 4.93 ERA and opponent’s BA of .286 since June 10), but he has also lost some of that cool demeanor that made him such a force in 2008. In fact, Hamels has lost his cool on more than one occasion, including an ejection for arguing with home plate umpire Mark Carlson on June 26 as he was leaving the field following a hook from Charlie Manuel.

The addition of Cliff Lee was seen as a plus for Hamels, who puts a lot of pressure on himself to be the staff ace. In his first start of the Cliff Lee era, Hamels was cruising in San Fran until he allowed a 2 out single to Barry Zito, which lead to a 3 run inning for the offensively thin Giants. Hamels couldn’t get anyone out in the 6th before giving way to Chan Ho Park and being on the hook for 3 more runs.

Cliff Lee was not brought here to be the Phillies ace. He was brought here to add an additional ace. While it is unfair to expect Hamels to replicate his 2008 performance consistently, especially after his hectic 2008 offseason, the Phillies cannot expect to win in October if Hamels regresses to something resembling the league average.

In a short series against the Giants or the Saint Louis Cardinals, the Phillies need to be able to throw 2 stoppers in an attempt to take a strangehold on the series. Joe Blanton has already proven himself to be a steely postseason performer, but J.A. Happ will be in unchartered territory.

Imagine Lee and Hamels both dealing in October, engaged in a friendly tit for tat as they try one up each other for the benefit of the Phillies. Joe Blanton in game three to demoralize the opponent and by the time we can throw J.A. Happ in the fray, it could very well be over before folks knew the first pitch of the series had been thrown.

The road to repeating is paved much smoother if Hamels can get his location, and his head, in the right place.