Phillies contend Myers and Hamels were joking

NEW YORK – A brief and seemingly testy exchange between Philadelphia Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels(notes) and Brett Myers(notes) after Game 5 of the World Series was jocular in nature and not representative of a clubhouse feud, a team official contended Tuesday afternoon.

Contrary to a witness account late Monday, Phillies public relations director Greg Casterioto said Myers was joking when he said to Hamels, “What are you doing here? I thought you quit.”

Hamels responded with an expletive.

Myers’ observation was believed to reference Hamels’ remarks following Game 3, when he told reporters, “I can’t wait for [the season] to end. It’s been mentally draining. At year end, you just can’t wait for a fresh start.”

Myers and Hamels have denied a rift and contend the incident was light-hearted.

“Everything that was written was correct except for the interpretation,” Casterioto said. “It wasn’t a confrontation by any stretch of the imagination.”

Casterioto said he then pulled Hamels away from Myers because he had a meeting with manager Charlie Manuel, not because he believed the situation would escalate.