Philadelphia.Phillies.MLB.com

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

Cole Hamels is expected to miss a month because of soreness in his left elbow. (Rusty Kennedy/AP)

The Threshers, under new skipper Mike Schmidt, begin their season on April 8 against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Hamels, 20, had an MRI performed on his left elbow by team doctor Michael Ciccotti. The MRI revealed the cause of the soreness, and the Phillies aren't willing to take any chances.

"Obviously, we're going to take a cautious approach," said Mike Arbuckle, the team's assistant general manager, scouting and player development. "We don't view it as anything significant, but we're taking a conservative approach to the treatment. We anticipate with two weeks down time and another two weeks to get in game form, we're looking at four weeks."

During his first big-league Spring Training, Hamels wowed everyone with his Major League-ready changeup. In his first appearance of the spring, Hamels faced the Yankees and struck out Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Tony Clark -- all on changeups. He struck out Rodriguez again a few days later.

The Phillies also received bad medical news concerning right-hander Darin Naatjes, a 14th-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He has a partial tear of the tendon in his right elbow. It doesn't need surgery, but Naatjes will be out at least 4-6 weeks.

Go Huskies: As the University of Connecticut's basketball program celebrated its second national championship of 2004 on Tuesday, one of the school's former students celebrated as well.

"Oh, yes, I did," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "I went to a bar to watch [the men's team] on a big screen. Then, last night, I watched [the women's team] in my room. I'm proud that I went there. I still have friends living in that area, and it was fun to watch."

Hernandez spent his freshman year as a catcher for the Huskies in 1985, and measured himself against other Big East collegians such as Craig Biggio (then a fellow catcher), Mo Vaughn and John Valentin. That trio went to Seton Hall.

He attended high school in New Hampshire and New York and was recruited as a backstop by the Huskies. Beating out two juniors, he hit .260 with limited power, but had a strong throwing arm. That year was the first for the school's baseball program.

"I called a pretty good game," he said. "As a pitcher, I understand both sides."

Hernandez started to pitch as well during that season and liked it, so he played in a summer league in Virginia, where the competition is similar to the more well-known Cape Cod League.

"I pitched and caught," he said. "My first game, I struck out 14 and said, 'I want to stick to this.'"

That brought him to the University of South Carolina, where he took to pitching full-time. And 320 saves later, it appears he made the right decision.

He's a big hoops fan, and keeps in touch with many of his ex-teammates and his former head coach at UConn. He's also proud of UConn alum Cliff Robinson, now playing for Golden State. When Hernandez attended UConn in 1985, the Huskies weren't very good basketball school, but they have been a national power since 1989-90, amassing 12 NCAA tournament berths and two titles.

And he didn't waste the opportunity to needle Duke fans Kevin Millwood and Billy Wagner. UConn upset Duke to the get to the finals.

"I left them a little 'Go Duke' message on their cells," he said.

Take the tour: Public tours of Citizens Bank Park begin on May 24, at a cost of $8 for adults, and $5 for children. The tour includes an audio/visual presentation about the park and a full tour of the home/visitors' dugouts, bi-level bullpens, Diamond Club, Cooperstown Gallery and the Hall of Fame Club. The 90-minute tour begins and ends at the Majestic Clubhouse Store.

McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon will offer lunch specials to those who show a tour receipt.

The tours take place Monday through Saturday, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., until the end of the season. There will be no tours during home day games. Tickets are available at www.phillies.com, by calling the Phillies Phone Center at (215) 463-1000, or in person at Citizens Bank Park ticket windows.

Quotable: "It was good to get my feet wet. It was awesome to get a chance to go out there and face the Phillies. I grew up watching them, and it's just a dream come true." -- Pirates left-hander Mike Johnston, a Philadelphia native who grew up rooting for the Phillies. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning, with two strikeouts.

Schedule changes: Thursday's series finale against the Pirates will be televised on CN8, instead of Comcast SportsNet. ... The April 23 game at Montreal has been changed from 7:05 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. ET. That game will be televised by UPN 57.

Did you know?: The Phillies have opened the regular season on the road for the past eight years, and have a 4-4 record in those games. Overall, they are 55-65-2 on Opening Day. The two ties occurred in 1923 and 1924.

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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