Sept. 5 -- HAMELS: WHO'S GOT MY BACK?

ATLANTA -- Basic anatomy tells us the back isn't connected to the elbow, right?

Cole Hamels believes it is.

In a pregame conversation yesterday, Hamels insisted he wouldn't be on the disabled list right now if the Phillies hired a traveling chiropractor. Hamels tries to go to a chiropractor twice a week when he's in Philly. But on the road, it's more difficult. He attributes the Phillies' busy travel schedule in July and August as a contributing factor to what the team is calling a "mild medial tendon strain" that has kept him from pitching since Aug. 16.

I spoke yesterday with Dr. Craig Morgan, the Wilmington-based orthopedic surgeon who has operated on Curt Schilling, Paul Byrd and many others. Morgan's opinion is this: "Chiropractors can do some good stuff with the spine, but in a throwing athlete, chiropractic manipulation is of limited benefit. There’s nothing a chiropractor can do in this setting."

Few teams employ a traveling chiropractor. Braves pitcher John Smoltz and Chipper Jones routinely see a chiropractor, but it's on their own time. Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Hamels is welcome to see a chiropractor if he chooses. Hamels said former Phillies trainer Jeff Cooper (and Delaware native) didn't endorse chiropractic treatment. He said new trainer Scott Sheridan (also from Delaware) is more open to the idea.

What do you think?

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Meanwhile, there's no guarantee Hamels will pitch again this season. He'll toss lightly Friday, then throw at least two bullpen sessions next week. But there's almost no chance he'll make another start until at least Sept. 17 in St. Louis, assuming the Phillies are still in the playoff race. If the Phillies fall out of contention, Hamels said he doesn't see much point to pitching.

Your thoughts?

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With Hamels on the shelf, every start is more magnified. Kyle Lohse did his part in last night's had-to-have-it 5-2 win. Can Kyle Kendrick keep the magic going today? I'll try to post a few in-game updates today from Hot-lanta, where it's pretty steamy.

(Update, 2:24 p.m.): 5-0 Phillies, fourth inning: Tim Hudson threw 31 pitches in the Phils' three-run first inning, fueled by Jayson Werth's two-out, two-run RBI single. Phillies picked up two more runs in the second on Jimmy Rollins' league-leading 17th double, a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell's 25th homer. Kyle Kendrick is cruising through three.

(Update, 3:12 p.m.): 5-2 Phillies, sixth inning. Well, Kendrick was cruising. But, after he'd retired seven straight batters, Willie Harris opened the sixth with a solo homer. Kelly Johnson singled and scored on Chipper Jones' double. Now, J.C. Romero is in to face Mark Teixeira, and we have ourselves a game. Stay tuned.

(Update, 3:30 p.m.): Crisis averted, thanks to Aaron Rowand's sliding catch in center field to rob Jeff Francoeur of an RBI single. Still 5-2, Phillies, top seventh.

(Update, 4:15 p.m.): 8-3 Phillies, eighth. Phillies sent nine batters to the plate and scored three runs to seemingly break the game open. But Tom Gordon, pitching for the third day in a row, just gave up a run and loaded the bases in the eighth, making things interesting again.

(Update, 4:30 p.m.): 8-6 Phillies, ninth. The Phillies' bullpen strikes again. Brett Myers, forced to enter with the bases loaded, allowed a run on a wild pitch (8-4), walked Yunel Escobar to re-load the bases, gave up an RBI infield hit to Matt Diaz (8-5) and walked Willie Harris to force home another run (8-6). But he got Kelly Johnson to pop out to third and Jones to fly to left. Still, he threw 25 pitches in the eighth inning, and he'll have to pitch the ninth. Buckle up.

(Update, 4:53 p.m.): 9-8 Braves win. You knew that was going to happen, didn't you? The Braves staged a two-out rally against Myers. After infield singles by Jeff Francoeur and Martin Prado, Myers walked Escobar to load the bases and gave up a bases-clearing double by Diaz. You can read all about it in tomorrow's 50-center. Should be a fun clubhouse today.