MESA, Ariz. — It's hard to believe Cole Hamels has actually only spent two months of game action in a Cubs uniform.
It feels like he's been around a lot longer than that, largely due to how seamless his transition was into the Cubs clubhouse and how quickly the fanbase embraced him late last summer. (It certainly helps when you put up a 1.00 ERA in your first 7 starts with a new team in the midst of a heated pennant race.)
The 13-year pro believes he fit in so well with this Cubs team because they've had similar experiences of "winning young.