But he also said he won't rush his arm to be ready for Opening Day and jeopardize aggravating his elbow. The Phillies don't play April 6, April 9 and April 14 and may not need a fifth starter until April 20. So, if the tightness Hamels has been feeling between innings and after starts doesn't immediately subside, there's no need for him to rush.

"I can pitch with it. It wouldn't kill me," Hamels said. "It's just, mentally, you don't want to go into a game knowing you're going to get a sore elbow in between innings. But I've been able to do it for a month here and there throughout my career. It normally just goes away naturally. I know I can still be effective. I'd just rather be effective knowing I'm good to go."

Hamels returned to action March 24, pitching in a minor league game against Pirates prospects. He tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings and reported his elbow felt fine.

--C Chris Coste knew he needed to have a productive spring training to keep his job as the Phillies' backup catcher. It hasn't gone that way, and with two weeks until the season opener, he's starting to sweat. "Absolutely," Coste recently told the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal. "But my whole life has been this way."

Indeed, nothing ever has come easily for Coste, who toiled for 11 seasons in independent and minor leagues before finally reaching the majors in 2006. And although he spent most of the past three seasons with the Phillies, an offseason trade for C Ronny Paulino has left the 36-year-old Coste's status in question. It didn't help that he felt tightness in his right hamstring early this spring, keeping him from playing regularly in Grapefruit League games.

Coste said his hamstring has healed, so he is hoping to get more at-bats during the next two weeks.

"To start out spring training with an injury, it's a brutal way to start out," he said. "Coming into spring training, I knew I had to do well. Missing time with a hamstring didn't help my case. I don't know what the decision process will be. I really don't."

Manager Charlie Manuel has always been a fan of Coste. And although he's taking a long look at Paulino, Manuel hasn't forgotten that Coste has batted .288 with 21 homers and 90 RBIs in 211 career major league games.

"Costey's been here three years and done a pretty good for us," Manuel said. "I'd say it's his job until somebody takes it over, whatever that means. I know what Costey can do."

--2B Chase Utley has begun playing in Grapefruit League games and isn't showing any effects of having right hip surgery Nov. 24. On March 18, Utley sprinted from first to third base on Eric Bruntlett's double in the second inning and dove for a ball up the middle in the first inning. "When I saw that, I kind of went (gasp)," Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin said. "You want nothing to happen. We're just happy to see him progressing." Initially, Utley was projected to miss four to six months, but barring any setbacks, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Utley is on pace to be ready for the season opener.

Utley hit his first homer of the spring on March 24, a two-run shot off Blue Jays LHP B.J. Ryan.

--INF Miguel Cairo is playing well for the Phillies this spring. Through March 20, he was batting .314 (11-for-35) in 16 Grapefruit League games. He had seen time at every infield position and even had two home runs after not hitting any in his last 781 regular-season at-bats since July 28, 2005.

Sounds as if he could help the Phillies, right? Possibly, but for the moment, the bench is full. Pinch-hitting specialist Greg Dobbs, INF Eric Bruntlett and veteran OFs Matt Stairs and Geoff Jenkins have major league contracts, and Chris Coste and Ronny Paulino are vying to be the backup catcher. So, unless manager Charlie Manuel decides to carry 11 pitchers (he usually prefers 12) or the Phillies are able to trade Jenkins or Stairs (they're shopping Jenkins and have told teams they're willing to pay most of the $8 million left on his contract), there isn't a spot for Cairo.

"The way I look at it, when I go to a team, I go to work," Cairo said. "It's better to be fired if you're not good than to be fired if you're lazy. I cannot control what is coming in two days or two weeks or a month. Other people make the decisions."

--OF Dominic Brown once was such a skilled wide receiver at Redan High in suburban Atlanta that he got recruited by the University of Miami. Almost everyone, including most major league scouts, was sure he would be like most kids and opt for the instant gratification of college football rather than the long, glamour-less climb through the minor leagues. But Brown had other ideas.

"Baseball is my first love," he said recently. "A couple of friends were like, 'Brownie, you've got to be out of your mind.' I was like, 'Man, baseball is what I want to do.' My mom says I was hitting off the tee when I was 3. I told all the scouts that. But I was so highly ranked in football, I guess they just couldn't believe that a guy with my caliber of skills on the football field would take the baseball route."

One scout did. And, finally, in the 20th round of the 2006 draft, the Phillies took Chip Lawrence's suggestion and selected Brown. The following week, they signed him for $200,000 and dispatched him to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. And now, three years later, Brown has been rated their top prospect by Baseball America.

Brown, 21, he batted .291 with 23 doubles, nine home runs, 22 stolen bases and 54 RBIs last season at Class A Lakewood, then paced the Hawaiian Winter League with a .389 average. He appears destined to open this season at advanced Class A Clearwater.

The Phillies, following their usual protocol, have advanced Brown through the farm system one level at a time. It's possible he could be ready for the majors by 2011, when LF Raul Ibanez will be 39 and on the final season of his three-year, $31.5 million contract.

"It's a good thing that I'm the No. 1 prospect or whatever, but I really don't get into that stuff at all," Brown said. "I'm just looking to go forward. I just want to come in here, work hard and get a good start in Clearwater. That's all I'm worried about right now."

BY THE NUMBERS: 262 1/3 -- Innings pitched by LHP Cole Hamels last season, including the playoffs.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They have nothing to worry about. They don't need to go jump on the bandwagon of freaking out. I try to be honest with you guys and tell you the truth as much as possible, and if I was in serious pain, I'd let you guys know." -- LHP Cole Hamels, on being bothered by inflammation in his left elbow.