"A little arm soreness is nothing new for Brad Lidge in spring training, so pitching coach Rich Dubee was quick to write off his closer's latest injury.

"It's a yearly thing, really," Dubee said.

Lidge was supposed to be on the bus to Kissimmee to face the Astros on Monday, but the Phillies held him back after he complained of some soreness that the team categorized as mild biceps tendinitis. General manager Ruben Amaro said Lidge would be "pushed back a few days." He was next scheduled to pitch Thursday.

Dubee said there's no specific timetable to get Lidge back on the mound, but Opening Day isn't in doubt for the closer at this point. Lidge told reporters Monday that he started feeling the soreness after his first outing of the spring, on Feb. 27, which would help explain his rather lifeless fastball and his 9.00 ERA in five appearances.

Dubee doesn't seem particularly concerned, noting that the work Lidge has gotten already is more than he's had at this point in recent years, although he believes Lidge needs to work on his mechanics.

"He's always got some inflammation early in the spring," Dubee said. "He's got to work on his path a little bit, his arm action, and get that straightened out."

Lidge's injury follows a troublesome trend this spring for the Phillies, who have already lost Domonic Brown and Chase Utley. So while confidence remains high that this is little more than a temporary setback for Lidge, manager Charlie Manuel voiced the same concerns most fans have at the moment.

"Lidge will be OK," Manuel said. "I said the same thing about Utley, though. I guess I always look on the positive side."

No hard feelings?

Cole Hamels wasn't sharp in his fourth outing of the spring Tuesday, but it wasn't the three homers he allowed that stirred some controversy. In the second inning, Hamels allowed a solo homer to Carlos Lee for the Astros' first run of the game."