I'm not in complete agreement that things like babip are completely random and a horrible indicator. a pitcher getting too much of the plate and lacking pinpoint control (or not getting the speed variance between his fastball and changeup) can actually lower his walk rate and increase his babip because he's getting too much of the plate. I'm not saying that's the case with hamels (in fact, I'd argue it isn't, because usually your HR rate would increase in that scenario, and k rate usually drop), but I don't agree with the notion that you can throw out ERA, or that babip is completely random. Like all stats, babip needs to be taken in with other stats to formulate an informed opinion on whether it's meaningful, just like era.
But, opponents are only hitting .246 against Cole post-allstar break, and .238 in September. He's rounding into form nicely, whether that's due to the law of averages catching up with babip or because he's command has returned is cause for another argument.
W/L I'll agree is completely meaningless.
