"Man," the kid says, "they let you wear Rollins' jersey?"

The big-league shortstop realizes the kid is serious.

"Yeah," the shortstop says. "They say I look like him."

The kid still doesn't know any better.

"Ah," he says. "Well, that's cool."

According to Jimmy Rollins, this actually happened in an extended spring training game.

He laughed about it then, eventually signing an autograph for the embarrassed Yankees minor leaguer, and he laughed about it yesterday afternoon, his first day back with the big-league club that helped make him a household name.

The Phillies hope that Rollins' reputation isn't the only thing that will be restored, now that he has been activated from the 15-day disabled list. The sprained ankle that has hindered him for more than a month might not be 100 percent - "Is anything ever 100 percent?" Rollins asked rhetorically - but both player and organization are confident that it is healthy enough to return the shortstop to everyday action.

Rollins started last night for the first time since he injured the ankle sliding back into second base during a win over the Mets on April 8. Before the game, he said that the aforementioned three-game rehab stint in Florida convinced him he is able to do all the things asked of a major league shortstop.

Rollins went 4-for-4 in his first extended spring training game, hit a home run and stole a base in his second, and then went 0-for-3 for Class A Clearwater.

"You don't know you are ready until you get out there and start doing things," Rollins said. "It's not the game, it's what you are doing in the game. I was down there messing around - stepping on the bag, jumping in the air like I normally do, going through my legs, throwing the ball to first. It's all those things - that's when you know you are ready."

By the time manager Charlie Manuel arrived at AT&T Park yesterday morning, he had already decided to put Rollins in the lineup. Based on the reports he received from trainer Scott Sheridan and Rollins' assertions that he was ready to go, Manuel saw no reason to keep him on the bench.

Perhaps the only person who wasn't sure was Brad Harman, the Phillies prospect who has spent the past 3 weeks filling Rollins' roster spot. Harman took early batting practice with the team before walking into the clubhouse and seeing Rollins' name on the lineup sheet. He was then informed of the move by Manuel, who said 2 days ago he expects Harman's bat to carry him back to the big leagues at some point in the future.

"I'm a smart kid, I know what's going on," Harman, who started two games and had one hit in 10 at-bats with the Phillies. "I was just waiting for them to let me know."

So what can the world expect out of Rollins?

According to Manuel, it's full speed ahead. He wants Rollins to steal if he can steal, to turn a double into a triple if the situation presents itself, to command the infield dirt between second and third the same way he did en route to last season's MVP award.

"If he can run, run," Manuel said. "That's how we manufacture runs. That's how we do it."

Rollins said he still might feel some tenderness in the ankle.

"Five seconds later, it's gone," he said.

"I'm ready," Rollins said. "It doesn't bother me. There's always going to be some tenderness just because there's bruising."

But he won't play with tape on the ankle, something Rollins tried in the days after the injury. The shortstop made three pinch-hitting appearances before going on the disabled list, getting one hit.

Utility man Eric Bruntlett played well in his place, rebounding from a tough start to hit .312 over the past 15 games.

"Believe me, if something was wrong, I'd let Charlie know," Rollins said. "Eric's been playing well . . . If I felt a little something that was a little different than what I've been feeling, Eric's ready and he's moving now."

Of course, the Phillies and Rollins hope that won't be the case.

Homer happy

Second baseman Chase Utley, who entered last night leading the major leagues with 13 home runs, has yet to hit a home run in 54 at-bats at this park (his career average is one every 20.7).

"You are never supposed to change your swing," said third baseman Pedro Feliz, who played for the Giants for eight seasons before signing with the Phillies in the offseason. "Your swing has to be the same always, no matter where you are playing." *

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