Rollins heads back to disabled list

Sometime before Saturday's game, Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr. met with Jimmy Rollins. They explained to their injured shortstop there was no need to play around with this newest calf strain. He was going on the disabled list for the second time in 2010.

And, Manuel said, there wasn't much protest from Rollins.

It's still May and the Phillies want Rollins' right calf healthy come the important time of the season in October.

"I hope it's not an issue all year," Manuel said. "He's one of our main players. We want him. We need him. He's a big part of what we're trying to achieve."

Rollins suffered what Amaro called a Grade 1 strain of his right calf during Friday's game. He had an MRI done Saturday morning before going on the disabled list. This strain is "much, much milder" than the one that kept Rollins out for 30 games earlier in 2010, Amaro said.

"It's a two-week thing," Amaro said. "I don't see this going much longer than the DL stint."

Rollins declined to comment Saturday.

To replace him on the roster, the Phillies recalled Wilson Valdez from triple-A Lehigh Valley just one day after he cleared waivers.

Manuel said Valdez and Juan Castro would share the responsibilities at shortstop while Rollins is out. With that pair, the Phillies were 18-12 without Rollins during his first stint on the disabled list.

"It's hard to tell who I will use," Manuel said. "Whoever I think is best on that day. I'm concerned about Castro. He gets hurt. But at the same time, Valdez is a good option."

Before Saturday's game, Castro said his right knee, which has been injured twice this season, is 100 percent healthy. Castro, 37, has hit .257 with 11 RBIs in 24 games.

Valdez, 32, hit .231 in 18 games before being designated for assignment. Amaro said the Phillies were "very fortunate" that Valdez cleared waivers.

Rollins is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 6.