Shane Victorino doesn't think he has lost his job. He said so five times during a 3-minute interview session with reporters yesterday. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel also refused to say that Victorino has lost his job.

But on the first night Victorino was activated from the disabled list - and, he says, is completely healthy - Jayson Werth was in centerfield and Victorino was on the bench until flying out as an eighth-inning pinch-hitter.

It is unclear how long that will remain the case.

"Tonight, [Werth] is our centerfielder," Manuel said. "Victorino is still going to play centerfield and he's still kind of our centerfielder. At the same time, Werth's our centerfielder tonight, if that makes sense. For me to say no, Victorino is not going to play centerfield for us anymore, I'm not going to say that, because that's not true."

Victorino, sidelined by a calf strain April 12, said he feels 100 percent and was disappointed he wasn't in the lineup.

"Anybody would be," he said. "Wouldn't you? But like I said, the team's been playing great. You've got to give it that. I haven't lost my job. I got hurt, and that's the bottom line. I'll get ready to go when I get called upon, but like I said, I'm not worried, I didn't lose my job or whatever is going to be thought or whatever wants to be said. I'm just ready to go help this team win, and tonight's tonight."

Werth, who has started 15 of the last 16 games in center, is hitting .289 with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Victorino struggled early in the season, getting just four hits in his first 38 at-bats. But he went 7-for-19 in the five games before going on the DL.

Victorino began the season as the starting centerfielder, while Werth was sharing time with Geoff Jenkins in rightfield. Manuel said there is a chance Victorino will end up in right, where he played most of last season.

"Competition never hurt nobody," Manuel said. "Why should you give jobs away?"

Manuel also has said several times he might be careful with the way he uses Victorino in order to protect his calf, which also was a problem last season. But Victorino said it shouldn't be a concern, and that this year's injury is different from last year's.

"I'm not second-guessing it, so I don't think anyone else should besides me," he said. "I think I would be the only one who needs to worry about it. I'm not second-guessing it at all. My leg feels good. It's not even close to anything that I felt last year. I'm happy it feels good and that's all that really matters, that I make sure that I feel good, and it feels great."

No news good news

Yes, Jimmy Rollins heard the hot Internet rumor that his sprained ankle actually was broken.

"Yeah," the shortstop said, rolling his eyes, "it's broken."

Rollins was back in Philadelphia yesterday and walking without a limp. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, when the Phillies open a series at Arizona.

He said there is "nothing new to report," but declined to speak at length with reporters.

Charlie Manuel could not offer a definitive prognosis, but there are no signs that Rollins won't be activated when he is eligible.

No looking back

Tadahito Iguchi said he thought hard about re-signing with the Phillies this offseason, but the opportunity to play his natural position at second base in San Diego convinced him to pass up a sweeter deal to stay in Philadelphia. Had Iguchi re-signed, the Phillies would have played him at third base. Instead, the Phillies signed Pedro Feliz when Iguchi signed a 1-year contract worth about $4 million with San Diego.

"I had an attachment to this team, but I think second base is the position I know and what I can offer most," said Iguchi, who hit .304 in 45 games last season after the Phillies acquired him from the White Sox to fill in for injured second baseman Chase Utley. "It did come down to a decision, but this is where I ended up."

Talking long-toss

Charlie Manuel would like to see righthander Brett Myers improve his conditioning, particularly when it comes to playing long-toss between starts. Manuel said he planned to talk to the starter, who has suffered a marked decrease in the velocity on his fastball this season. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said after Myers' most recent start that he thought the veteran could build arm strength if he played more long-toss.

"There's a reason why guys can throw the ball hard, and most of the time the conditioning plays a big part of it," Manuel said.

Phillers

To make room for Shane Victorino on the roster, the Phillies optioned T.J. Bohn to Triple A Lehigh Valley . . . The Phillies claimed infielder Oscar Robles off waivers from San Diego and assigned him to Lehigh Valley. They released outfielder Valentino Pascucci 2 days ago. Robles was hitting .208 with a home run and 10 RBI for Triple A Portland . . . "Old School" star Luke Wilson is scheduled to attend Sunday's game against the Giants. *