At midnight Cole Hamels strolled the length of the Phillies' clubhouse to Charlie Manuel's office.

The pitcher had requested a meeting with his manager. The door stayed closed for a good 10 minutes.

Hamels was very clear.

He wanted to start Game 7 of the World Series.

He had never quit anything in his life.

"It's the ultimate competition, the ultimate dream of a competitor to pitch the deciding game at the biggest moment on the biggest stage ever," Hamels said Monday night. "I've always had that. I've always wanted it."

OK, time to cut the kid a break — and Hamels is still a kid, just 25.

If the Series gets to Game 7 and Manuel picks Hamels to start — neither a sure thing — the challenge for the left-hander will be pitching well, not wanting the ball.

Still, Hamels' comments after his poor start in Game 3 created a different impression, one he needed to correct, both with Manuel and the public. Hamels, referring to his disappointing 2009 season, said, "I can't wait for it to end."

Manuel did not sound terribly concerned about Hamels' remarks in a meeting with the FOX broadcasters the next day, embarking upon a lengthy, impassioned defense of his pitcher.

Yet, Hamels felt compelled to set the record straight.

He showered and dressed after the Phillies 8-6 victory over the Yankees, a victory that sent the series back to New York for Game 6 and possibly 7. A Phillies' public-relations official came to Hamels' locker and indicated that Manuel was ready to meet, and off the pitcher went.

"I felt like, I'm obligated enough, I'm man enough to tell him and show him who I am," Hamels said. "He definitely does know who I am. But this was not what I ever wanted. It definitely hurt the way it came out."

He was in shock, basically.