That's a winning percentage of .542, not far below the .549 clip where they finished the season overall.

Their ability to overcome injuries to two key players was a major reason they were in a position to rally for the division title.

Now, the team must hope for similar results knowing that MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be sidelined for at least the next 12 games.

"If you stop and think about it, one guy can hurt your whole season," manager Charlie Manuel said. "This is a game where you can't afford to lose too many games."

Rollins isn't eligible to return until May 5. By that point, the Phillies will have played 32 games, nearly a fifth of their schedule.

They'll get some help on April 28 when Shane Victorino returns from the disabled list.

Until then, the Phillies will have to make do with So Taguchi leading off, Jayson Werth batting second and Eric Bruntlett playing shortstop.

"That's not what you'd expect," said Bruntlett, who has started the last 12 games in place of Rollins. "The guy played every game last year. I wouldn't have guessed that I would have played so many games at short the whole year."

Is there a bright side?

The Phillies will try to make one. The injuries to Utley and Howard last year gave various players an opportunity to step up. The addition of Tadahito Iguchi, who hit .301 starting at second in Utley's place, played a big role.

But players like Greg Dobbs also received valuable playing time, and Iguchi hit .320 for the team after Utley returned to the lineup.

"I think that brings you together as a team," Manuel said. "Also, that charges everybody else up, especially the guys that are sitting on the bench, the part-time players. I think that's a good mark of a team that wants to play and win."

The Phillies entered last night with a 5-6 record since Rollins sprained his ankle against the Mets on April 8. In the eight games he started, they were 4-4.

Can they find a way to make lemonade out of their lemons?

Bruntlett is one obvious guy who will get more playing time. Since committing two errors in his first start, he has proven himself to be a capable defensive replacement - although he did commit a throwing error last night. Two nights ago, he made a great play on a grounder by Carlos Beltran that ended the game. Taguchi, who has been leading off, and Werth, who has been batting second, are two other guys getting more playing time.

"You never want to see your All-Star guys going down, but it shows the character of a team, and it shows you that every guy in the clubhouse matters," reliever J.C. Romero said. "When you have some guys that have to step up, it says a lot for the team."

Bohn with the wind

The outfielder had just left the field in the bottom of the second inning when he was pulled into the clubhouse and told to pack his bags. The Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs were playing an afternoon game in Syracuse, N.Y., and Bohn had already batted in the top of the second. But the Phillies were in need of an outfielder to replace Chris Snelling, who was placed on the disabled list, and Bohn was the guy. So Bohn went to the airport, rented a Nissan Pathfinder, drove 5 hours to Philadelphia, battled rush-hour traffic, and reported in time for Sunday's night game with the Mets.

He eventually got into the game, playing the sixth and seventh innings. He struck out in his only at-bat.

"I just know they wanted me to get there by game time," Bohn said. "I was just trying to get there as fast as I could. It was getting called up though, so it could have been 10 hours and it wouldn't have made a difference to me."

Old school

"Spit some tobacco juice on it and go get 'em," he said.

Manuel is one of several managers taking notice of the apparent increase in players on the disabled list. With his first two hitters in the lineup currently on the shelf, he certainly has reason to pay attention.

"I think nowadays you want to be more cautious because of the money you've got invested in guys, but also I think that people realize more about the game and what's best for the player," he said. "I think a lot of time [in past years] it was more left up to the player whether you could play. If you were hurt and the manager walked around and asked you, 'Can you play today?' you don't want to tell him no because somebody will take your place. That's before arbitration and free-agency and all that, but somebody would take your place."

Phillers