Phillies' Dobbs looking for his swings

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Greg Dobbs became one of the best pinch-hitters in the majors during the 2008 season. But in 2009, he hit .167 as a pinch-hitter, and his total at-bats went from 226 to 154.

What did he learn?

"I could sit here and talk about it for 30 minutes," Dobbs said yesterday.

The hardest part, he said, was accepting the diminished role. With Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz entrenched in their starting spots, plus little playing time to be had in the corner outfield positions, there just wasn't room for Dobbs - and he couldn't duplicate his success.

Ideally, Dobbs said, he needs at least 200 at-bats to avoid a season like 2009. Dobbs batted just .247 after hitting .301 in 2008. His slugging percentage dropped by more than 100 points.

The problem is, the at-bats won't be readily available, barring an injury to a regular.

"It's tough to put up good numbers if you're not getting at-bats," said Dobbs, 31. "It just is. And not that it's an excuse. It's just the way it is."

Replacing Feliz at third is Placido Polanco, who has played in at least 141 games in each of the last three seasons. Howard has averaged 156 in each of the last four seasons. And if any of the corner outfielders need a day off, playing time will likely go to Ben Francisco.

Further complicating things for Dobbs is the off-season acquisition of Ross Gload, a player similar to Dobbs. Gload, also a lefthanded batter, plays first base and the corner outfield positions.

"It's tough," Dobbs said of being a reserve. "When guys say it's a tough job, it's one of the toughest jobs in the big leagues and baseball, period."

Dobbs said there wasn't much he could do to change his approach. And there is nothing to substitute for live at-bats, he said. This off-season, Dobbs said, he worked especially hard on strengthening his right calf, which bothered him throughout 2009. He said he was now healthy.

Even with the decrease in at-bats, Dobbs still had the most of any bench player for the Phillies last season. However, it was a far cry from 2007, when he had 324, and the 226 he had in 2008. Gload had 230 at-bats for the Florida Marlins last season and hit .261, with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs.

When asked about the similarities between Dobbs and Gload, manager Charlie Manuel said there would be room for both. But he has never been liberal with his use of the bench.

"I'm not going to sit here and promise anybody at-bats," Manuel said recently. "I never do that. But at the same time, we'll try to get our guys on the bench as many at-bats as possible because that's what keeps them sharp."

Gload isn't expecting a huge role.

"I'm not dumb," Gload said. "I looked at the numbers and saw what the guys did in the past. I see how many Dobbs gets."

Dobbs said he must maximize every at-bat this season. He has always prided himself on preparation, but it has to be even more meticulous this season, Dobbs said.

And if the at-bats aren't there, he said, he feels better-prepared coming off a season like 2009.

"Now I know what it's like to go through both ends of the spectrum - to get the at-bats, put up good numbers, and not get the at-bats and not put up good numbers," Dobbs said.

Extra bases. Shane Victorino was held out of some outfield drills with soreness in his right, or throwing, shoulder, Manuel said. Victorino took batting practice, and the injury was not considered serious. Manuel wasn't sure if Victorino would play in tomorrow's exhibition opener against Florida State. "We'll take it easy on him for a few days, make sure he's all right," Manuel said. "That's kind of typical when you come into spring training and first start out. It can happen from sleeping on the arm or on that side." . . . Jared Fogle, of Subway ads fame, will be in camp today to visit fellow pitchman Ryan Howard.