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Phillies Notes: Rollins returns 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.

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 was not available for comment before Saturday's game.

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.

After Friday's game, Rollins said he first felt soreness in the calf in the fourth inning when running on the bases. He popped it in the sixth when running to first on a single.

The Phillies have found out over the last three seasons how bothersome calf injuries can be. Greg Dobbs strained his right calf in spring training last year and the injury nagged him during the entire 2009 season.

"It's tricky," Dobbs said.

Amaro said Rollins' most recent strain wasn't worrisome

"I don't know if it was related or not," to the first one, Amaro said. "I know it was completely resolved when he came to play again."

In 11 games this season, Rollins is hitting .341 (14 for 41) with two home runs and seven RBIs. Just because the Phillies survived without Rollins the first time doesn't mean Manuel is optimistic about being without his shortstop again.

"That was then," Manuel said. "We're in the now situation."

Familiar Halladay

For the 39th time in his career,

Roy Halladay

will start a game against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Halladay is 14-14 lifetime against Boston with a 4.28 ERA, all while pitching for American League East foe Toronto.

In fact, the opposing batter with the most career plate appearances against Halladay is Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. He is hitting .273 with six home runs and 24 RBIs off Halladay in 109 plate appearances.

Extra bases

Righthander

Brad Lidge

(right elbow inflammation) played catch on flat ground again Saturday. Pitching coach

Rich Dubee

said Lidge felt good but would not say if a bullpen session is scheduled. Amaro said Lidge probably will not need a rehab assignment before returning. . . .

J.C. Romero

earned his second save of the season Friday, establishing a career high. Dubee said the lefthander has pitched well of late. "He's starting to get into a nice comfort zone," Dubee said.