BRADENTON, Fla. - It's spring training and the games don't count, but Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Tike Redman still didn't like sitting on the bench for the first week of games with a right hamstring injury.

Redman is anxious to prove his play in the final two months of 2003 wasn't a fluke, which is why his inactivity bothered him so much.

"He doesn't want to lose credibility," said Pirates outfielder J.J. Davis, who is Redman's roommate this spring. "Everyone is playing and he's not. That bothers him. He's the type of guy who loves competing."

Redman returned to the lineup Tuesday and made his third consecutive start Thursday when the Pirates played the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I was so bored," Redman said. "Never in my life have I spent so much time in the training room."

Redman has three weeks left to prepare for the season. His goal is to duplicate his 2003 finish when he batted .330 in 56 games and tied for the major-league lead with 76 hits after Aug. 1.

"That's what I can do if I get a chance to play everyday," Redman said. "I know I can do that, but I just have to stay healthy."

Not satisfied with his finish, Redman went to Venezuela for two months in the winter. He played for a team managed by Pirates bench coach Pete Mackanin. While Redman batted .313 and had 195 at-bats in 54 games, the Pirates wanted him to concentrate on his defense and bunting.

"We feel he can hit," Mackanin said. "It's a matter of him polishing his skills. We thought that was a good chance to do that."

Redman, however, was slowed by a hamstring injury. He was injured on the first day of full-squad workouts in February while running in the outfield. When Redman finally returned, he went 1-for-3 with an RBI single.

"I was still a little nervous because I didn't want to pull anything," Redman said. "I'm told it's about 80 percent, so I have to stay controlled. I don't want to blow it out. If I keep playing every day, things will get better."