Hampton remains hopeful for return

ATLANTA - The herniated disc in Mike Hampton's back is feeling well enough that the Braves' injury-plagued starter plans to play catch today. A return to the mound, in 2005 anyway, still isn't a guarantee though, he said Monday.

"There's a possibility on both sides," said Hampton, who's had four trips to the disabled list this season, two for his back. "I'm not giving up on the season until I physically feel that I can't go. If I can't help this team, I'll have to come to grips with it."

The left-hander said his most optimistic forecast has him returning for two or three starts and, if the team makes it, the playoffs.

"I'm going to do everything I can to get back on the mound. I'm not going to take the mound if it's not going to help this team get better. That's not fair to myself and it's not fair to this team for me to come back for selfish reasons. If I can come back and be an asset, I'll definitely pitch again."

Hampton, who said back surgery is a remote but unlikely option, is 5-3 with a 3.50 ERA in just 12 starts.

"Injury after injury, it's pretty much been a nightmare season," said Hampton, whose also dealing with tenderness in his forearm and a sore knee that was surgically repaired in the off-season. "(It hurts) not to be in there especially down the stretch when we need our best guys out there to be able to compete and help these guys' chances of winning."

It's irritating, too, since Hampton was such a crucial cog in terms of the Braves' 2004 run to the playoffs. He went 9-1 in the second half last season to lead the team to its 13th consecutive division title.

If and when he'll be able to help the team toward a potential No. 14 is definitely up in the air.

"I'm not going to set that as a target date," said Hampton, who's eligible to come off the disabled list on Sept. 4, but will likely need more time than that. "I'm going to take it easy and see how the back responds."

An epidural injection was the spark for whatever improvement it's made since he flew home from Chicago on Wednesday.

BRAVES MAKE TRADE: Atlanta traded minor league pitchers Todd Blackford and Angelo Burrows to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Todd Hollandsworth on Monday night.

Hollandsworth will give the Braves a left-handed bat and a reserve outfielder during the rest of the season. He is a career .299 pinch-hitter.

JULIO'S 'BOW: An X-ray exam of Julio Franco's left elbow came back negative, and the reserve first baseman is considered day-to-day with an inflamed elbow.

Franco said he's unsure exactly how he hurt it, but that the soreness is impeding his range of motion. He said he'll likely take a couple of days off before returning.