Sept. 13 -- WOUNDED KNEE

So, during batting practice yesterday, a few of us reporters were talking to pitching coach Rich Dubee about Cole Hamels' encouraging 30-pitch bullpen session (more on that later). Dubee was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Hamels pitching next Tuesday or Wednesday in St. Louis. But, with the way things have gone for the Phillies' pitching staff this season, Dubee didn't want to get too far ahead of himself.

"The way our rotation has gone,” he said, “we just wait until the day before and find out who’s healthy and go with them.”

A few hours later, Dubee was standing over Kyle Kendrick, who was writhing on the ground after being hit in the knee by a Garrett Atkins line drive in the fourth inning.

As you may imagine, Kendrick was the focus of my game story in the 50-center. After the game, he was walking around the clubhouse with relative ease. Other than a mark on the outside of his knee and some swelling, he looked fine. X-rays were negative, and Kendrick was diagnosed with a right knee bruise. Depending on how he feels over the next few days, he may not miss a start.

That would be a rare lucky break for the Phillies. Kendrick has been their most consistent starter since Hamels got hurt last month. But that's not saying much. In their last 11 games, the Phillies have gotten only two quality starts, both from Kyle Lohse. In the 25 games since Hamels' last pitched, they've had only eight quality starts.

For a team that's trying to make the playoffs, that's not good enough. Not even close.

"It's show-me time," Charlie Manuel said of his pitching. "If we have it, let's see it."

*
Hamels threw 25 fastballs and five changeups without reporting discomfort. Next up: a two-inning simulated game Saturday in New York. After that, he may be ready to start in St. Louis. Interestingly, Hamels has felt better ever since he began taking anti-inflammatory medication after a setback during a bullpen session Aug. 31. Hamels doesn't like taking drugs to help heal his arm. Instead, he's a proponent of new-age remedies, like chiropractic treatment, massage therapy and homeopathic medicine. But, in this case, the anti-inflammatories did the trick.

*
Because he plays in Denver and not Philly or New York, Matt Holliday is the best player most people have never heard of. This week, he's showing the Phillies exactly how good he is. In the first three games of the series, Holliday is an astounding 6-for-11 with four homers and eight RBIs. I really wish I'd squeezed that into the newspaper, but unlike Holliday lately, I whiffed. Holliday has 30 homers and a league-leading 119 RBIs and has to be a serious MVP candidate, with Prince Fielder, David Wright, Jimmy Rollins, Albert Pujols and possibly Chase Utley.

*
Spent so much time on Kendrick that I didn't write much about the first-inning triple play turned by the Phillies (against Holliday, no less). With runners on first and second, Holliday hit a line drive to Greg Dobbs at third base. Dobbs doubled off Cory Sullivan at second by throwing to Utley, who tagged Troy Tulowitzki between first and second. It was the 30th triple play in Phillies history and their second this season. Abraham Nunez, Utley and Wes Helms turned one April 21 in Cincinnati. "Matt hits the ball so hard," Sullivan told the Rockies Web site. "That very easily off anybody else could've been two bounces, but the third-base umpire immediately called an out and I just stopped. I think they ended up turning five."

*
Taking the day off for the Jewish holiday. Talk to you Friday from Shea Stadium. Meanwhile, chew on this: the Phillies are 76-69. Chances are, the NL wild-card winner will have 86-88 victories. That means the Phils would need to go at least 10-7, but probably 11-6 or 12-5 to make the playoffs. Can they do it? Talk amongst yourselves.