Former Phillies have strange feeling

PHILADELPHIA -- Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal have played 23 seasons in the major leagues combined, yet neither had been to Philadelphia as a visiting player until Tuesday. So it was no surprise both said they got lost trying to find the visiting team’s locker room.

“I’ve never been on this side, never seen this clubhouse,” Lieberthal said after taking in the Dodgers’ spacious digs. “It’s nice over here. It’s just different to be here, not there.”

Wolf, who made the first stop of his homecoming at Jim’s Steaks, the venerable South Street cheese steak restaurant, agreed.

“It’s really weird,” he said. “Seeing all the guys by the parking lot. Seeing the guys that work here. The door guy at the [Phillies’] clubhouse. [I] gave him a hug and then, ‘All right, we’ll see you later.’

“You spend a lot of time with an organization you get to know a lot of good people. And it is strange when you come back and you’re on the visiting club.”

Although both were fan favorites in Philadelphia -- Wolf as an All-Star pitcher and Lieberthal, a two-time All-Star, as the franchise leader in games caught -- it’s unlikely either will get the type of warm reception Jim Thome got when he returned to Philadelphia with the Chicago White Sox this summer. That’s because it’s unlikely either will appear in a game, Wolf because he’s on the disabled list with a sore shoulder and Lieberthal because he backs up ironman catcher Russell Martin, who has started 113 of the Dodgers’ 125 games behind the plate.

“I just hope to get that at-bat,” Lieberthal said. “I’ve been telling everybody ‘please have a rainout.’ I think that’s my best chance.”

Wolf, who hasn’t started for the Dodgers since July 3, is still uncertain whether he’ll pitch again this season. Which makes this pennant race more difficult than some he took part in with the Phillies.

“It’s hard not playing,” said Wolf, who is scheduled to test his shoulder with a light throwing session today. “It’s tough when you can’t help. Especially when you’re watching a team . . . and see them kind of falter a little bit and try to get back on the right path and you know that the only thing you can do about it is watch.

“That’s the toughest part.”

Left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo, sidelined nearly two months because of an elbow problem that required surgery, also is scheduled to start throwing this week and infielder Nomar Garciaparra, placed on the disabled list eight days ago because of a left calf strain, swung a bat Tuesday. Manager Grady Little says Garciaparra remains on a go-slow approach and probably won’t step up his rehab until next week.

Little insists the last year has made a huge difference for Andre Ethier, who doubled in the Dodgers’ first run Tuesday while batting third in the lineup for the first time this summer.

“[He’s] a much more mature kid,” Little said of the 25-year-old outfielder. “Last year about this time he was starting to really have a tough time. It’s something all players have to go through in their first years.”

Ethier, who batted .132 in the last month of the 2006 season, started the trip hitting .277 in August with a team-high .532 slugging percentage. In his first two plate appearances Tuesday he fell behind 0-and-2 and 1-and-2 but turned both trips into 10-pitch at-bats, the first ending with a run-scoring double to the opposite field and the other in a walk.

“He hit a wall last year,” Little said. “This year I can’t see that happening to him. He’s grown up a lot.”

kevin.baxter@latimes.com