Cole Hamels was doing his best Pat Croce imitation.

“I felt great,” was the way the Phils’ ace described his cranky left elbow after throwing 48 pitches yesterday in his first outing since having the elbow checked out and getting an anti-inflammatory shot. Hamels threw 35 of those pitches for strikes in allowing just one hit and no runs in three and two-thirds innings.

Of course that is the mantra of the Delco native, turned fitness guru, turned Sixers exec, turned pirate-loving entrepreneur.

Croce once penned a book titled, “I Feel Great, and You Will Too.”

Phillies fans certainly feel better this morning knowing that the MVP of last fall’s National League Championship Series and World Series is on target to be the leading cog in the Phils’ rotation.

Still, pitching coach Rich Dubee is preaching caution, and warning that Hamels is not exactly a lock to be on the hill on opening day. He called it a “long shot.”

Which is exactly what the Phillies’ chances of defending their World Series title will be if they are without Hamels for any extended period of time.