Levine: Jason Hammel On A New Mission

By Bruce Levine--

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- The end of the 2015 season wasn't what right-hander Jason Hammel or the Cubs wanted.

Hammel was made a sacrificial lamb by the charging New York Mets in Game 4 of the NLCS. Humiliated by allowing five earned runs in 1 1/3 innings, he dedicated himself to a tough workout regimen in the offseason.

Hammel and his family stayed in Chicago, and he adhered to a six-day-a-week core-and-leg training routine at the prestigious East Bank club all winter. On Monday, he threw two scoreless innings against defending world champions Kansas City in a Cactus League contest.

"I had a little spring training nerves," Hammel admitted after walking the first hitter. "I don't know why, but after that I calmed down from there. The timing was somewhat off, but for the first one, I will take it."

Hammel's hoping he can have a little more left in the tank when the second half of the season rolls around. Before he hurt a calf muscle in early July, he was one of the leading pitchers on the team. It was a similar situation in 2014, with a strong first half followed by struggles.

Last year, both the production and the confidence of Hammel dissipated after the injury. With the help of pitching coach Chris Bosio, there are high hopes for Hammel to return to form. He was 10-7 with a 3.74 ERA in 2015.

"His delivery was prone to getting offline with his fastball," manager Joe Maddon said. "Now, he is doing something different, and he is getting over his front side. I love the delivery in general."

The likable Hammel has been working on his physical and mental approach to the job. He now has to believe in himself and the people who send him out on the mound. Maddon began to have a shorter leash for him as the season progressed in 2015. Frustration set in when Maddon began to take Hammel out with leads in the fourth and fifth innings.

"He came to terms with what happened to him last season," Maddon said. "I think he is accountable to that moment (when he was knocked out in the second inning by the Mets). He knows he has to get better, and I like that. When I talk to him, he is in a pretty good, calm, good spot."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.