Victorino, the 1999 Maui Interscholastic League Boys Athlete of the Year out of St. Anthony High School, is currently on the Phillies' 15-day disabled list. He suffered a setback in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment in Reading, Pa., on Tuesday when he aggravated his strained right calf muscle in his third at-bat as a designated hitter.

After sitting out Wednesday's game for Double-A Reading, Victorino met with Ciccotti in Philadelphia yesterday. The MRI showed no further damage to the calf muscle, but Victorino, who is on the DL for the first time in his career, said he will not take part in any baseball-related activities through the weekend and may go to the team's training facility in Lakewood, N.J.

"They say it is healing,'' Victorino said to The Maui News. "I might be rejoining the team (today) in Pittsburgh to work on my rehab. I haven't talked to the trainer yet to figure out what we are going to do. I might just go down to Lakewood and do some rehab there. Basically the rehab schedule, that is what we are trying to figure out.''

Victorino said he is hopeful that he can be back on the field by Monday, but the Philadelphia Daily News reported the team is looking at late next week for his return. The news Victorino received yesterday was about as good he as could have hoped for.

"I took another MRI and the doctor said it is healing and it looks better,'' Victorino said. "I am hoping to be back with the team in Philly on Monday.

"Dr. Ciccotti said there is no further damage, which definitely makes me happy with that news. I am glad to see that it is healing, there was no re-injury; it isn't any worse than what it was.''

The Phillies are second in the National League East, three games behind the New York Mets, and one game behind the San Diego Padres in the NL wild-card chase.

With second baseman Chase Utley also on the DL, the Phillies are missing the Nos. 2 (Victorino) and 3 (Utley) hitters in the regular lineup.

"It is definitely frustrating seeing the scoreboard and not being able to help,'' said Victorino, who was placed on the DL on July 31. "I will be there for moral support like all my teammates have been there for me all year. We are close and we are going to fight to the end.''

Tadahito Iguchi, who is filling in for Utley at second base after a trade from the Chicago White Sox, was 15-for-39 in the first nine games after Victorino's injury. In the last five games, Iguchi is 3-for-22.

Pat Burrell has moved up from the No. 6 slot in the lineup, where he was prospering, to No. 3, and is 3-for-16 in the last five games. Since moving to third in the lineup on Aug. 5, Burrell is 7-for-36. In the 27 games before that, Burrell hit .450 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel told the Philadelphia Daily News that he is contemplating lineup changes, at least until Victorino gets back. The team is averaging about one run per game less than the five it was scoring with Victorino and Utley in the lineup.

"You've got to do something,'' Manuel said. "I'll go back to the hotel and write out some lineups, I guess. I'd like to have Shane and 'Ut' back as soon as possible. That gives us more weapons in our lineup, especially against right-handed pitching. I'm very concerned about that. We have a very different makeup when we get those two guys back. Speed comes into play.''

Victorino said he has been impressed with the reserves.

"This team is a lot of fun, there is a lot of excitement and good chemistry,'' he said. "You've got to have 25 guys who can play. The guys who have filled in have done the job. That is what it is all about – when guys step in and do the job. That is how you win a championship or make the playoffs.''

Victorino is hitting .284 this year, and his 32 stolen bases are tied for fourth in the NL. His 10 outfield assists are tied for fifth among NL outfielders.

Utley is tied for fourth in the NL hitting race at .336 and has scored 79 runs.

Adding to the Phillies' woes is the fact that All-Star Jimmy Rollins is in a 8-for-46 slide and Aaron Rowand, in the fifth slot, is 9-for-47 in his last 13 games.

Victorino stressed that he must be careful not to come back too early and risk tweaking the calf again.

"No not at all, I have got to make sure not to do that,'' he said. "Utley and me not being in there is tough – my speed, Chase's bat, my defense, Chase's defense is all needed, of course. But it seems like you are not missed because other guys are stepping up. They are going out there and doing what they do.''

Victorino's contract is up at the end of the year, but he is not thinking about his next deal.

"No, not at all,'' he said. "I mean, you just want to play — that is what it is all about right now. I want to keep getting better and be an everyday major leaguer.''

Victorino said he simply wants to get back, keep improving and help his team into October. His season so far appears to have him on the cusp of a large contract.

"You know you always have to get better,'' he said. "Nothing I have done this year really surprises me. I just try to keep getting better every day. Hopefully I can keep getting better, putting up the numbers and going out there and working hard.''