PHOENIX - On the first day Jimmy Rollins was eligible to be activated from the disabled list, the Phillies received the first significant sign that the MVP shortstop's stay on the shelf could be drawing to a close.

Rollins went 4-for-4 in an extended spring-training game in Clearwater, Fla., and, most importantly, reported no ill-effects from his four innings of work.

Rollins' biggest hindrance the past week was the pain he felt in his sprained left ankle while running around the bases. But Rollins ran the bases fine yesterday and said he only felt a twinge in the ankle once.

"It was fine," Rollins told the Associated Press. "Running around the bases for the first time, it felt good. Second time, I felt a little twinge, but I was still able to kick it in coming around to score, and I was fine."

Still, it's too early to tell when Rollins might rejoin the team. Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he did not know whether Rollins would be able to return to the lineup before the end of the Phillies' current West Coast road trip. But manager Charlie Manuel said Rollins returning by this weekend is a possibility.

"I think we definitely could see him this weekend [in San Francisco]," Manuel said. "As far as me knowing for sure, no, I don't know for sure. But I think it's very possible we could see him, yes."

Rollins played against a team of minor leaguers from the Yankees' organization. He hit three doubles with two RBI.

Needless to say, the Phillies were very happy with the performance. Rollins injured the ankle on April 8 while sliding back into second base in a win over the Mets.

Surgery for Mathieson?

Righthander Scott Mathieson could be facing a third surgery on his throwing elbow. The 24-year-old, who had Tommy John surgery in September 2006 and an ulnar nerve transposition last September, recently had an MRI in Birmingham, Ala., and the Phillies are awaiting word from three different doctors who have examined Mathieson.

Mathieson said at the end of spring training that he hoped to be pitching in games by May, but that was before this latest setback.

"We're not particularly optimistic about his situation right now because it just hasn't progressed," Amaro said.

The baby 'Backs

Heading into last night's series opener against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies had faced just three teams who currently have winning records. Arizona, meanwhile, entered 21-10 and in first place in the National League West. With four games against the young and talented Diamondbacks, this week's series should provide a good indicator of where the Phillies are.

"I'm looking forward to playing this team, because they are good, and that's a good way to kind of get a reading on how good we are," Manuel said. "I think our schedule so far, and I'm not knocking any team at all . . . it might have favored us a little bit at times. I think this is going to be a good road trip . . . It's going to be a good test for us."

In many ways, the Phillies will be playing a team that mirror themselves, relying more on homegrown talent than pricey free agents. Six of the Diamondbacks' eight regulars have come up through the organization, the exceptions being second baseman Orlando Hudson and leftfielder Eric Byrnes.

The only Phillies regulars who have played outside of Philadelphia before joining the team are Greg Dobbs, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.

"If you have the right plans in place and you prepare the players properly, that's the whole plan, you try to bring as many of your own homegrown talents to the big leagues," Amaro said. "The teams obviously that have done that the most have had the most success."

Benson improving

Kris Benson is currently throwing long-toss and working to strengthen his injured groin in Clearwater, though there is no timetable for his return to the mound. The veteran righthander was hurt in an extended spring- training game 2 weeks ago.

Phillers

Closer Brad Lidge, who had pitched in four straight games, was unavailable last night. Lidge has never pitched five consecutive games in his career . . . Manuel said Jayson Werth would likely start in rightfield tonight against lefthander Randy Johnson. Werth was out of the starting lineup last night for the third straight game . . . Leftfielder Pat Burrell is 12-for-29 (.414) with runners in scoring position this season, including 0-for-4 last night . . . Second baseman Chase Utley is hitting .392 with seven home runs and 15 RBI vs. righthanders. *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.