Phillies Notes: Biddle soaks up lessons from Halladay

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Roy Halladay pulled a chair to the corner of the Phillies clubhouse reserved for players with jersey numbers in the 60s or 70s - the veterans hanging onto major-league hopes and the prospects experiencing their first taste of the life. Halladay wanted to see No. 70.

Jesse Biddle, 22 and lifelong Phillies fan, listened while the rest of the room emptied for the day.

"There are a lot of things you want to learn from a guy like that," Biddle said. "He's a Hall of Famer."

This spring is about education for Biddle, who will not make the team. The former Germantown Friends star and first-round pick is here for moments like Tuesday, when Halladay devoted more than 15 minutes to the organization's top pitching prospect.

"I just kind of want to soak it all in," Biddle said. "I know I won't be here the whole time, so while I'm here it's nice to kind of take what I'm learning here and apply it to my season."

Biddle was 8 years old when Jimmy Rollins debuted, and the two faced each other during live batting practice. Halladay watched that session.

"There are some pitches I threw that I thought were pretty good pitches and they don't even act like they're going to swing at it," Biddle said. "It's that kind of stuff, but it's also the feedback they give you. 'Hey, good pitch.' When they say that, it means a lot. It's a confidence booster, you know."

Date for Hamels. Cole Hamels said he would throw his first bullpen session Tuesday, 13 days after disclosing a bout with biceps tendinitis during the winter. Hamels said that he was pain-free but that the injury sidetracked his throwing program. He will miss the start of the season.

At first, Hamels planned to throw within 10 days of his announcement.

Cautious Adams. Righthander Mike Adams will start the season on the disabled list after July shoulder surgery. The reliever expects to throw a bullpen session Feb. 27, and he will not rush a return.

"If it's late April, it's late April," Adams said.

Adams, 35, is owed $7 million in 2014. The Phillies have few expectations for his coming back from a complex shoulder procedure.

"I would love to be ready for opening day, but I have to do what's smartest for myself and smartest for the team," Adams said. "I want to make sure I'm there for the long haul and not rush myself out there and do something that's not smart."

A $6 million vesting option for 2015 triggers if Adams pitches 60 innings this season. He has not reached that threshold since 2011.

Extra bases. Miguel Gonzalez had control problems when facing hitters for the first time in batting practice. "It was his first time doing that," manager Ryne Sandberg said, "and it's something he can learn from and build on." ... Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen practiced infield drills with the regulars. Darin Ruf was the first baseman for another group. Sandberg said Ruf will do both infield and outfield work this spring.