The veteran first baseman was out of the starting lineup here again yesterday against the rival Phillies, although he did pinch-hit (drawing a walk) in the eighth inning.

Jerry Manuel originally penciled Delgado into the Mets' lineup yesterday morning, then scratched him after Delgado experienced further problems during batting practice. Fernando Tatis once again replaced him at first.

Although the Mets are still considering putting the 36-year-old Delgado on the disabled list, they plan to give him at least one more day - this afternoon's series finale at Citizens Bank Park - to see if he can hit and move with pain little enough to be tolerable.

Manuel said yesterday the hip is expected to be an issue the rest of the season for Delgado, who is in the final year of his contract with the Mets after the club picked up his option over the winter. "In talking to our people, we think it's a matter of tolerance," Manuel said. "It's something we don't feel could get any worse - that type of thing. So obviously it'll be clearly up to him whether he can tolerate that or not."

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Major League Baseball fined Manuel an undisclosed amount yesterday for violating Baseball's "pace of game" rules in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Marlins at Citi Field.

Manuel was docked after Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez complained to the Commissioner's Office because Gonzalez felt Manuel delayed the game needlessly while pinch-hitting Omir Santos for Ramon Castro.