BASTARDO WORKLOAD WATCHED

IF THEY GAVE out an award for such a thing, Antonio Bastardo would be the MVP of the Phillies' bullpen.

So it was with mild alarm the other day when Charlie Manuel indicated he would shut down Bastardo for a little while. Nothing serious, the manager insisted, the kid's prized left arm is just a little tired.

Bastardo, pitching in his first full major league season, had thrown 53 1/3 innings and opponents were hitting a miserable .110, best mark of any National League reliever. But his last few outings were shaky, including Saturday night, when he walked the only two batters he faced in Florida before the Marlins went on a home-run spree against David Herndon.

Last night, after 3 off days, Manuel called on Bastardo again to pitch the eighth. The result?

"I've seen him pitch better," Manuel observed afterward.

Bastardo pitched a scoreless frame, thanks in large part to a sparkling doubleplay started by third baseman Placido Polanco. Bastardo gave up a leadoff single to Chipper Jones and walked Brian McCann. He was on the ropes before Polanco bailed him out. A harmless flyout to right ended the inning.

"He didn't look as sharp as he had been," the manager said.

The Phillies felt so good about Bastardo, they did not add another lefthanded reliever during trade season. When the playoffs roll around, Bastardo will be Manuel's only lefty option with extended major league experience this season.

The Braves, by the way, have two terrific lefties in their 'pen with Eric O'Flaherty and Jonny Venters, even if Venters blew the save last night in the Phillies' 3-2, ninth-inning win. Atlanta's other lefty, veteran George Sherrill, is on the disabled list.

Manuel said afterward Bastardo will be watched closely.

"We're going to monitor Bastardo, but, at the same time, we're going to pitch him," Manuel said. "We want him to stay sharp."

Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee must walk the fine line of not overusing the lefthander versus making sure he is sharp for the playoffs. If not, Mike Zagurski and Juan Perez are in Triple A.

The Daily News was not able to catch up with Bastardo by the time the team bus left for last night's flight to Milwaukee.

Charlie Manuel was asked for an Eagles prediction, with their season starting Sunday: "Oh, they're going to win a bunch, 12 maybe 13 wins," he said.