The Zo Zone

Please give Cole Hamels whatever he wants. Ruben Amaro - please go to Houston and take Pat Gillick with you.

Nice win last night, they needed it.

If Hamels feels that strongly about it, why doesn't he stay home and get his chiropractor to work on him? Other than cheering, what's the point in being on the road trip, unless the trainers want him around for daily treatment. Methinks he needs a wheel of cheese to go along with his whine.

Way to drop the blockbuster news about Hamel on the pre-game show last night. You are a media maven, blogs, Q&A, radio podcasts, beat writer and now TV star. Ya did good!

Cole Hamels is full of baloney (for lack of a more derisive word in this venue). If chiropractic adjustments are that critical to his geting back on the field ASAP, he shoould be in Philly getting treatments instead of playing clubhouse lawyer in Atlanta.

It's not a question of Hamels needing a chiropractor now that he's injured. He wanted regular, ongoing treatments to prevent arm trouble. But he is a whiner.

Many normal civilians who are constrained by health insurance, co-pays, in network doctors, plus kids and jobs get to the chiropractor with no trouble. Even with business travel.

If Cole Hamels thinks he needs regular trips to the chiropractor to maintain his health, what's the challenge for a MLB player? Unless the Phillies block the treatment, if it violates his warranty so to speak, Cole needs to work a little harder on his own. I'm sure he can afford to fly his doctor in for an adjustment if a doctor can't be found on the road. Or he needs to be more vocal before the trouble hits. If you are a professional athlete, there is no excuse for not maintaining your health. Take personal responsibility, child.

Hamels is more important to this team than Clemens is to the Yankees. Roger flew to Houston for a cortisone shot. Something similar should and could be done for a future/current ace of the staff with a history of back trouble, especially if it also helps his arm.

I suspect 99% of fans don't want him to pitch if he's hurt and cause long term damage, except maybe a few nitwits calling WIP. If we miss the playoffs because he is done for the year, so be it. Same as if it was Utley with this hand. Ain't about cujones or being a gamer.
I really like this team but even I never beleived that they would get to the World Series. I will/would have settled for a first round win. The playoffs aren't worth the expense of losing a possible long term staff ace.
Take heart, modern medicine will soon let us live to be 100 +, so there's still a good chance many Phillies fans will see a World Series title in their lifetime. If we can outlive Monty and Co.

Todd, did you talk to the scores of medical professionals who believe chiropractors are not beneficial and that in some cases they may do more damage than good? Of course a chiropractor is going to tell you he could help. Hell he probably wants the contract.

jimmymac,if you miss the playoffs it wont be because hamels is hurt....it's because your phillies stink......die hard met fan and your tormentor for life.

I never expected a WS this year either, and do love the fight they've continued to show; not throwing in the towel, just trying to be realistic. Amazing enthusiasm the town and team had last week - who knows, there still might be a little magic left.

As to Hamels: my understanding is that Orthopedic medicine and the use of chiropractors are, in a lot of ways, at odds.
Probably why it's not as common. I could be wrong, though. Either way, like several other people have already said: if Hamels wants it, be a bigboy, Cole, and make it happen.

Go Phils!

Jimmymac:

It's now official - you have a Tormentor For Life. Be strong, buddy.

"If the Phillies fall out of contention, the Phillies likely are going to pull the plug on Hamels -- not Hamels himself."

True, Todd, but Hamels himself is the one who initially pulled the plug on Hamels, the same way he did last year for 'precautionary reasons'. How much heat he's taking, I don't know, but the fact that he wasn't at least willing to put his 'discomfort' to the test in a game situation, at this point in the season, does not sit well with me.

It's true. If the Phils miss the post season, Cole Hamels will be a small part of that.

I see both Orthopaedic and Chiropractic doctors and both help. Both hate each other.

More important than the Hamels debate...

"The All You Can Eat Seats" in Atlanta.

There's been an ad behind home plate during the Braves broadcasts.

From braves.com:

"Braves new All-You-Can-Eat Seats! Purchase a Ballpark Favorites Package and enjoy select ballpark fare including Hot Dogs, Nachos, peanuts, popcorn and Coca-Cola products...all for one low price!"

Hmmmmm. Ballpark favorites.

I can't remain idle and read all of these bogus posts. Seriously, why would any of you want Hamels to rush back and potentially miss all of '08? That's just crazy. I think the man deserves to sit if he needs to sit.

Yo Mets fan: LOL, bring it on baby, we Philly fans have been battle tested by our sports teams for years, so a stinking front running "tormentor" like you ain't no big deal.

Now go back down the basement until Mommy calls you for dinner. You'll never finish that GED course if you keep blogging on a philly site.

For those where are interested, here is an article from ESPN (Tim Kurkjian), that talks about Granderson's chances of having a 20-20-20-20 year and doesn't even mention J-roll. (Who I believe is 3 3b's short of the same feat)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=3004014

Above (Where) should be, who are.

jimmy, jimmy, jimmy...THIS IS WHY THE PHILLIES WILL NEVER GAIN ANY GROUND ON THE METS BECAUSE YOU LOSE BIG GAMES LIKE THIS...THIS WAS YOUR CHANCE AND YOUR TEAM BLEW IT...YOU CANT GO INTO A BIG GAME LIKE THIS AFTERNOON, AND LOSE...GRANTED, WE BLEW A CHANCE TO OPEN IT UP EVEN MORE, BUT WE HAVE ROOM FOR MISTAKES, YA'LL ON THE OTHER HAND DONT...THANK YOU, REALMETFAN

I am sorry to say but this game might have ended our season. 7 runs in 2 innings?

What was Roberson doing out there? Picking flowers?

We waste another great game from Kendrick all because we can't catch 2 fly balls in the 8th.

I would send a message and ship him back to Ottawa, even with our expanded roster. Bring up someone who wants to play.

Playoff teams don't do this.

The Mets series was a mirage. They were able to focus for 4 days. I'm convinced that they did well in that series because nobody expected them to play well. As soon as it ended, everybody was saying that they should be able to take care of business in Florida & Atlanta. They didn't.

Maybe these guys will all look better in 2008 as Iron Pigs (where they belong):
http://www.ironpigsbaseball.com/

Wednesday - one of the worst losses I can remember in over 50 years of fandom..and there have been a few !!

hey jimmymac,i am so sorry that you are probably the only phillies fan who has any thought that you still have a chance....yesterday's game was the icing on the cake.....your nail in the coffin....your team can't win with a 6 run lead in the late innings?your big league team suck and so does your minor leaguers....a little league team in williamsport would have made a catch on any of the 2 fly balls in the last innings....LETS GO METS.....down with philly.....lol...your tormentor for life

Playoff teams don't do this twice in the span of week.

There. Fixed it for you.

oh my....a terrible ninth inning loss on weds....an off day to think about it thurs......and then the marlins roll into philly fri,sat,and sunday.....all this and the mets still in first place.....must be hard being a philly fan right now jimmymac....hope you got a month supply of tums ready ...you're gonna need it chump