Hamels, fresh off a 15-day stint on the DL, went six strong innings, giving up two hits, one run and striking out seven while walking none, as the Phillies dumped the Reds, 3-2, on Monday.

With the series of rainouts, the Phillies had played just once since last Wednesday. As a result, many, myself included, questioned whether or not the Phils should just keep Halladay and Lee in line to start Monday and Tuesday. The theory was why not give Hamels, who had an inflamed shoulder, a few more days rest?

Obviously, the Phillies knew Hamels was back and wanted to ease him in slowly to prepare to battle the Braves next week at CBP.

The youngest of the aces tossed just 76 pitches in the no-decision performance. Could he have pitched more? Probably. But, why risk it when you don’t have to. This isn’t about the Reds in August. It’s about the Braves in September and the playoffs in October.

You have to think the Braves, who have Tommy Hanson battling injuries, aren’t thrilled to see Cole back and dominant. Oh, and we didn’t even mention that he was perfect through three innings.

A) A guy coming back from a stint to the DL with shoulder inflammation
B) A stud who has thrown just five innings since mid-August due to a rainout and a rain delay
C) An ace who was originally schedule to pitch Tuesday after not starting a game since last Monday?

Of course, we refer to Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

While Cole Hamels is healthy enough to strike a pose, would you want him to start Monday or let him rest a few more days?

Hamels has been set to come back from the DL an start tonight since mid last week. But, that was before rain delayed Halladay and Lee.

Doc warmed up and tossed a bullpen session on Saturday after the game (the Sunday game) was postpone due to Hurricane Irene. Lee was slated to pitch Tuesday in Cincinnati.

My question is this: Why rush Hamels back at the expense of pushing Doc and Lee back even more? Why not give the ace with the inflamed shoulder a few more days of rest? Doesn’t that make more sense?

Now, you are moving Halladay back yet another day when he already has a week of rest. And, you bump Lee back another day when he has a week off himself.

Why not let Halladay pitch Monday, keep Lee on Tuesday and let Hamels throw on Wednesday? And, keep in mind that the Phils play the Braves next week. Lee, Worley and Oswalt likely get those starts against the Braves with the way the rotation is now scheduled. Oswalt, Hamels and Halladay will likely start against Florida next weekend.

The Phillies have a chance to set their rotation for next week in a division showdown in a playoff atmosphere against the Braves. And, they’re not taking advantage of it. Do you trust Oswalt and a rookie in Worley against the Braves when you could toss Halladay, Lee and Worley or Oswalt?

Why not give Hamels until Friday? You still give him a start against a team playing out the string, allowing him to shake off any rust.

Then again, that’s why I sit in the nosebleeds while Charlie Manuel sits in the dug out. We’ll see how this shakes out.

Pat Burrell and a couple of his San Francisco Giants teammates are familiar with October baseball. None, however, know anything about Doctober, the month defined by the best pitcher in baseball finally getting a spot on the stage during his profession’s biggest month.

Philadelphia got its first taste of Doctober when Roy Halladay took the mound on October 6 and proceeded to pitch his way into the history books with the second no-hitter in postseason history and launched a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the process.

The game was your DailyPhiladelphian’s first playoff baseball game. Doc gave me and the Mrs. a night neither of us will ever forget. More importantly, that game is my defining in-stadium moment as a Phillies fan, something I had been searching for during the last few years.

Doctober arrived like a lion when Roy halladay pitched a no-no in his first playoff start. What does he have as an encore tonight?

There’s nothing like being in the stadium during historic, playoff moments. The Sixers capturing the Eastern Conference title in 2001 sent me into a state of euphoria. I’ll never forget AI running around the court like a kid cupping his ear Hulk Hogan style and Dikembe Mutumbo screaming “Who want to go to LA with me?” in his cookie monster voice.

That moment was topped only by the Eagles dropping Michael Vick and the Falcons in 2004 to secure a spot in the Super Bowl. BDawk’s voice shouting “We came and we brought it every God darn play,” still rattles through my head.

As a Phillies fan, I just hadn’t had that moment. The high-pitched, decibel breaking roar of the crowd is something I hadn’t experienced at a Phillies game. The Phils have been successful recently, but something was lacking since I’m used to the “high” you get from being part of the moment, part of the ride toward championships.

Sure, the Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and I was happy. Having said that, when Brad Lidge recorded the last out I didn’t jump out of my seat and go nuts. The excitement watching an entire playoff run from your house just isn’t the same. Not when you’re used to the cheers, the high fives, the Mike Sweeney hugs with thousands of your closest friends.

Don’t get me wrong. I was thrilled to share the championship-drought clinching game with the woman who became my wife and her nephew. But, it just wasn’t the same. I wasn’t part of the ride.

Now, I am, thanks to $155 and Doc Halladay.

I always wanted to see a baseball playoff game and a no-hitter. Halladay delivered both as Doctober arrived in historic fashion. The night was full of emotion, optomism, nervousness and just about any other emotion you want to throw in.

After the third inning my wife mentioned that Halladay hadn’t allowed a runner yet. My response: “If he continues this, we don’t talk about it until after the game.” Yes, Doc was throwing so well and mowing people down with such authority that the idea of a perfect game was in my mind at that point.

After the walk in the fifth, I still thought he was in position to get a no-hitter. After the sixth inning, I thought “he really can do this.” Following the seventh, I knew he had it as did most people in the stadium, including the Reds. To the crowd’s credit, nobody in section 304 discussed what was happening, but we all knew it. We all had our eyes on Doc.

Watching him walk from the mound into the dugout by himself after the eighth inning is something I’l never forget. Seeing him go into his own corner, a baseball no-hitter superstition, was one of the defining moments for me as a sports fan.

The anticipation of Doc pitching the ninth had us hoping the Phillies didn’t produce baserunners in the bottom of the eighth so our superstar stud pitcher could get back out and finish putting his stamp on playoff baseball history.

As much as I knew he’d get the no-no, I was just as nervous. This is Philadelphia, plus we’ve all seen a perfect game get messed up by a bad umpire call this season. I even have video of myself yelling “shit” when Brandon Phillips hit the dribbler in front of Chooch Ruiz. My thought was, “this is how he’s going to loose the no-no.” Luckily, the nervousness was for naught as Chooch calmly threw out Phillips and put the final stamp on Doctober’s arrival.

The crowd was as loud as the Sixers and Eagles conference clinching contests that I attended. And, although I never thought it would happen, the Phillies first round playoff game was “funner” than both of those games thanks to Doc Halladay.

I’m part of this run now and can’t wait to see what Halladay has for an encore against the Giants tonight — from my couch. Doesn’t matter, the rally towel will be out.

Let’s get the Doctober train rolling again.

Dusty Baker gives Johnny Cueto advice on maintaining the flat brim usually worn by geezers.

As if the fact that his name has two “N”s in it, Johnny Cueto is a walking baseball fashion violation. Unless you are a retiree at Del Boca Vista or part of subculture, since when does a flat brim hat equate to coolness.

Yet, that’s exactly what Reds starter Cueto wants to believe. His fashion faux pas alone should be enough to wake up the Baseball Gods tonight when the Phillies try to sweep Cueto’s hat and the Reds to postseason oblivion.

Pay attention to the man’s hat tonight and see how utterly redonkulous he looks. Oh, and don’t forget, this is the same guy who kicked Cardinals in the back during a fight this summer. Yeah, he’s a wuss in a “cool” hat.

Johnny Cueto's catcher asks him how he got to the big leagues without knowing how to properly break in a New Era 59Fifty hat.

Just a mere 24 hours ago, the Land of the Red Pinstripes was in a state of shock. Both Placido Polanco and Chase Utley were heading to the DL at the beginning of an important two-week stretch before the All-Star break.

The Phillies had to find a way to stay within striking distance of the Braves in the NL East as Atlanta is first on the docket when the Fightins return home next week.

A loss to the Reds Monday and the DL news from Tuesday seemed to sink the Phils fate. Now, following a dramatic 10th inning win Tuesday, the Phillies could actually leave Cincinnati with a series win, having knocked the Reds out of first place in the process.

The man charged with winning the rubber game? Roy Halladay.

With the Phillies lineup down three starters, ace Roy Halladay looks to pick up the slack in Wednesday's afternoon tilt against the Reds.

Let’s just say things actually look as good as you could hope for right now. A win today followed by a four-game series in Pittsburgh could put the Phillies in position to challenge for the division lead starting Monday.

Before jumping ahead, however, the Phils must take care of business one game and day at a time.

Today, Halladay and his 9-6 record and 2.29 ERA take on Aaron Harang and his 6-7 record and 5.07 ERA. It’s easy to give the Phils a win on paper today based on the matchup. But, as we’ve learned, you have to play the game.

While Halladay was hailed as the next hero in Philly, his presence on the mound does not guarantee wins. The Phillies lineup still has to score runs. Halladay has lost four games this year when he’s allowed three or fewer earned runs, In three of those games, he went at least eight innings.

Wilson Valdez and Brian Schneider can’t come up with three-run shots everyday. JRoll, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard need to come up with the hits in today’s afternoon finale. Oh, and if Jayson Werth wants to show up, that’d be cool, too.

Cueto obviously learned how to pitch and play baseball through his rise to the major leagues. However, somewhere along the way, someone forgot to teach him the art of breaking in a hat, specifically the brim. Seriously, has any player in MLB history ever had more than a cup of coffee in the big leagues while wearing a flat brim hat to the mound?

Take a look at the following and pay special attention to his hat.

Now, in fairness to Cueto, preliminary research does indicate this could be a sign of respect to players from the Negro League era. Still, it’s annoying, especially when he’s outpitching Kyle Kendrick.

As a result, we want to make Cueto more likeable, especially since he appears to be a guy we’ll see for years to come. Here’s tips for bending the brim of your hat.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

The Phillies started the season strong, and have a chance to finish the first half the same way. Winners of nine of their last 13 games, the Phillies offensive machine is coming out of its funk just in time.

Out of first place by five games just a week ago, the Phillies now sit 2.5 games behind Atlanta, and two games behind the Mets in the Wild Card standings. Make no mistake, this team wants its fourth straight division title, and their in a position to make that statement before teams break for the All-Star game on July 11.

If the Phillies want another scene like this in the locker room this year, they need to make a run before the All-Star game. It's time to make a statement and put the NL on notice.

It’s not going to be easy, but it’s doable. Except for four games against the lowly Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Phils face nothing but first place lineups the next two weeks. They get the NL Central leading Reds (42-34) for three in Cincinnati and four at home. They also battle the Braves (44-32) for three games at CBP.

To make up ground and take a run at regaining first place by the All-Star game, the Phils must keep playing the way they have the last two weeks. The 9-4 record they posted the last two weeks is what they have to duplicate. And, it’s not as if they’ve posted that record against stiffs. They’ve done it against the Red Sox, Yankees, Twins, Indians and Blue Jays.

Cleveland sucks and the broom the Phillies used to send Jason Donald and Co. back to LBJ country was missing a ton of bristles. Two of the three wins were far from overpowering. We won’t hang our red hats on that series.

Otherwise, the Phils did their damage against the three likely playoff teams and the best fourth place team in the league. The Red Sox lead the AL Wild Card race, and the Yankees look destined for another October run. The Blue Jays at 40-36 would likely lead almost every other division in baseball. Their lineup is that good.

The bottom line is the Phils took the last game against the Red Sox in Boston, won two-of-three in New York, swept Cleveland, lost two of three to the Twins and won two-of-three from the Blue Jays.

That’s not too shabby. They’ve won three of their last four series. They’re hitting their stride again. Oh, and the spark plug — Jimmy Rollins — is back.

To be the best, you have to beat the best. To be in first place, the Phillies need to beat first place teams.

It won’t be easy, but it’s definitely doable. If Rollins, Roy Halladay and company want to send the NL a message that they’ll be a player in the playoff race the second half of the season, they have a chance to make a statement.

The stretch to the All-Star break starts Monday in Cincinnati when Kyle Kendrick battles Johnny Cueto.

The surprising Braves sit in first, a half game ahead of the Mets and 2.5 games ahead of the Phillies. The return of Jimmy Rollins has sparked the Phils to win five of six, and the Fightins have made up some ground on the Braves. yet, it’s the Mets who sit in position to make a run and steal first place.

With easier schedules than the Phillies, the Mets and Braves could be battling for first place before the All-Star break in two weeks.

Here’s a rundown of who each team plays the last two weeks.

BRAVES
Atlanta has the next six games at home, before finishing with six on the road. The Nationals (33-43) visit Atlanta the next three days, followed by Florida (35-40) on July 2-4. The Braves then come to Citizens bank Park to battle the Phils (40-33) before heading to CitiField to take on the Mets (43-32).

METS
The Mets go on the road for seven and finish with six games at home. They start with three games against the Marlins (35-40) in Puerto Rico. They then head to Washington (33-43) for four before heading home. The Reds (42-34) come to town for three, followed by the Braves (44-32).

PHILLIES
The Phillies have seven on the road and seven at home to finish the first half of the year. They travel to Cincinnati (42-34) for three and then Pittsburgh (25-50) for four games. The Braves (44-32) then come to Philly, followed by the Reds.

ANALYSIS
The Phils have the toughest road, but if they continue playing well, they have a chance to make a statement. Besides the Pirates, they play 11 games against first place teams from now until the break. If they stay within striking distance of the Braves, they have a chance to go head-to-head with Atlanta and take first before the Midsummer Classic.

The Braves and Mets both have series against the struggling Nationals and Marlins. They will face tough pitchers in Josh Johnson and Stephen Strasburg, so it’s not like they have a completely easy road. The Mets get the Reds and Braves at home, while the Braves play the Phils and Mets on the road.

At the end of the day, the Mets have the best shot to end the first half in first if they can take care of business at home. The Braves need to win their home games and hope to split their road games.