It was an important day for the rehabilitation of Brad Lidge Wednesday morning at the Carpenter Complex.

Lidge, who had offseason knee and elbow surgeries, threw to hitters for the first time and took part in his first complete PFP (pitcher's fielding practice) session afterward.

Lidge will throw another BP session in a day or two; he is on tap to get into his first game on Monday. (He thinks that might be a "B" game).

Lidge threw 21 pitches Wednesday - both fastballs and sliders. He remains hopeful for Opening Day but is going to continue to proceed with caution.

"I’ll still leave it open," on possibility of Opening Day. "Unfortunately it’s not just what I think that might be the case. Even if I feel good enough to go on Opening Day, they might say we can tell your arm speed could use one or two more outings and then we’ll feel comfortable. It’s really a question now of how fast things will come once we get going. There is enough time, but coming off knee surgery and elbow surgery, I’m not sure my body is going to get there as fast as that time. I would say it’s definitely a possibility, you can’t rule it out for sure."

More on Lidge in Thursday's paper (and online, of course).