Galvis out of lineup for fifth time in nine games
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Galvis out of lineup for fifth time in nine games
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
We might be getting close to a point where the Phillies need to make a decision on rookie second baseman Freddy Galvis. Tonight, he is out of the lineup for the fifth time in the last nine games. As usual, Pete Orr is replacing him. The Phillies haven't seen anything out of Galvis that has surprised them thus far: most people figured he would struggle at the plate. If anything, his performance on defense has exceeded expectations that were lofty to begin with.
But is his defense worth keeping him at the big league level, even though it means sacrificing at-bats in the minor leagues that might help him develop into a player who can help at the plate in the future?
In Galvis' last 14 games, he is 5-for-39 with three doubles, one walk and seven strikeouts.
In 28 games overall, he is hitting .190 with a .218 on base percentage and .298 slugging percentage for a .516 OPS. In 89 plate appearances, he has one home run, six doubles, three walks and 14 strikeouts.
Defensively, Galvis has committed just one error in 116 chances, turning 14 double plays while displaying excellent range.
Last month, the Phillies signed veteran utility man Mike Fontenot to a minor league deal. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter has gotten off to a hot start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 12-for-32 with five doubles, four walks and five strikeouts for an .872 OPS.
Of course, Galvis' defense is important to consider. Even when he does not start, he comes into the game as a defensive replacement in the final few innings. He's appeared in all 28 of the Phillies' games this season.
The Phillies could also replace Orr with Fontenot, since Fontenot provides a better mix of offense and defense. They could then keep Galvis around as a utility man, at least until Chase Utley is ready to return from the disabled list.
Here's tonight's lineup against Jordan Zimmermann:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Juan Pierre LF
- Shane Victorino CF
- Hunter Pence RF
- Laynce Nix 1B
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Pete Orr
- Cole Hamels
The problem is too many regulars are hitting about the same as Galvis. If the high-paid guys could hit, then it would be no problem to carry him. Schmitty only hit about .200 in his first season.— 4thand10- Manuel is not capable of Managing unless he has veterans with power.Amaro has stocked the team with slow single i.e. i base per hit and is not sure who to play and he has a difficult time playing hit and run since his players are slow. The sell outs are going to stop with this team. Why is it taking from last year to now to rehab Utleys knees?? The way Amaro has handled Utley and Howard's injuries is a farce.— tulsaphil
- You belong in Tulsa— WFChamps
- @tulsaphil; the chip on your shoulder really isn't attractive! You need to get over yourself; anyone can be an internet genius. You're living proof!
Galvis isn't major league material offensively; not sure he ever will be. This team can't afford the luxury of an automatic out every 9 batters and his defensive skills are wasted if he's riding the bench. Fontenot and Orr are more useful on this team.— JBinPA - Freddy will never be optioned back to the minor leagues. If Utley ever plays again Galvis will be Utley's every game late inning replacement and will give Chase and Rollins periodic days off at the middle infield positions. You don't send out one of the best fielding middle infielders in baseball to ride a bus in the minor leagues.— Dull
- Fat Charlie has completely LOST this team. His nightly lineup juggling acts continue to prove that his "hitting guru" status is as out of date as grunge music. Watching them hack & flail away night after night is so pathetic. But rather than play the young guys (junior/galvis) and really give them a shot, he keeps trotting out AAAA guys like frigging Pete Orr & Ty Wigginton then wonders why his team cant hit (& sucks defensively). If he's not gonna play Galvis, send the kid down so he doesn't get all of this loser-stink on him.
My remedy? FIRE CHARLIE, PROMOTE RHYNO, bring up D Brown & roll w/D Brown, Junior, and Galvis. Only way this team can start winning again is to get young & rediscover the fire/passion that they had 5 years ago. Brown, Galvis, Junior certainly can't be any WORSE than the current disaster that gets trotted out there every night so what do you lose??
Notice the team down in DC - plucky, young, never gives up until the final out. Remind you guys of somebody we used to know??— thomaspfoolery - Galvis needs to stay. Since the Phillies are wedded to Rollins at SS for the foreseeable future, Galvis needs to be in the bigs as a utility infielder. He's already better than MMart. AAA won't do a thing for him other than keep him poor.— jtj10
- Galvis needs to stay. Charlie is just seeing who can play and who can"t. When Utley comes back the Phillies need to put him at first base, so they can trade him to an American league team after the All Star break.— angrybear
- The bigger question is - will the fans continue to sell out CBP with a LAST PLACE team!
This is about the time when a LAST PLACE team with the NL's highest payroll possibly makes a managerial change unless Mgmt make Greg Gross to be the scapegoat!?!?!
Clearly, it ain't workin!!!!!!!— johnpaulcpa - The Phillies know that Galvis is a light hitting, bench player specializing in fielding. He should stay here and assume the role he is going to be in the long run anyway, a defensive replacement, utility player.— UncleStosh
- That line up flat out blows
Rollins....solid
Pierre....over rated base runner...one of the dumbest
Victorino....in his prime
Pence...in his prime
Nix....are you kidding me
Ruiz....in his prime
Polanco...over the hill
Orr....wtf are freakin kidding me
This team will be ten games under .500 by the All Star break and out of the playoff race if Ruben doesn't make a couple moves soon. Utley and Howard will not be back before July and won't be close to what they were this season....its gonna be a long one....I CAN'T WATCH THIS TEAM AND I AM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER FOR YEARS!!!!!!— bbrady25 - Rollins solid? Rollins hasn't been solid for years, and has never had a good approach to hitting. As for Galvis no team can carry a sub .200 hitter. Keeping Galvis around shouldn't even be an option. There are plenty of great fielding SS and 2B that never see the majors because they can't hit. Howard and Utley look like they are getting close to coming back. Lee is back next week. Time to start getting serious about the season and send Galvis to AAA so Rollins can start hitting 8th.— lazyboy
- What the heck? Galvis is one of the few bright spots this season. I'd rather watch him develop than watch a bunch of guys like Orr and Fontenot who aren't going to make a lick of a difference, anyway.— Sam Crow
- Pete Orr is not the future. If there was no Galvis then I'd say use Orr. What's Orr's upside? At least there's hope for Galvis. A good manager uses the young players and develops them, not sticks with the career Triple A players. Same logic could be used for Mayberry/Pierre.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Unless Galvis improves at the plate, he will only be a utility player like Wilson Valdez. Send him down to the minors to improve his swing and bring up Fontenot.— zeke128
- If the Phils don't turn this around, Unca Chollie is history.
— Barneyboy - Galvis just needs to change his approach. Keep the ball out of the air and try to hit linedrives or hard grounders. If Utley returns they may want to rest him. That would figure against lefthanders and Galvis would play. Galvis is only 22 plays wonderfull defense, time in the minors rather than the bench makes sense.— Don w
- Galvis a bright spot? Only because we can get up and get a snack or use the bathroom every time he comes up to bat.— blaqjaq
- Galvis isn't hitting, but overall he's not killing the Phils. Mayberry and the dreadful, dreadful bullpen are where you really need to be concerned.— dasher
- —Mike Fontenot is not a "better mix of offense and defense" than Pete Orr. Fontenot is, on the whole, a better hitter but he is a straight up bad fielder and on this team, with the indifferent fielding of Wigginton and Nix, they cannot afford another offense first, defense never, back up.
—Secondly, while Fontenot will hit on occasion, he's no sure thing at the plate either. Fontenot should remain either an emergency option for the Phillies or tradebait for some one else.
—And while you are right about sending Galvis down at some point, that point should not be until Chase Utley is back on the field for the Phillies, whenever that may be.
— Finally, I kind of like Pete Orr. He can field multiple positions fairly well, get you a clutch hit, is lefthanded and plays hard. What more do you want from the 25th man on the roster?— aintnorep - Orr is a terrible fielder.— EL Zorro
- I'd rather see Orr go down than Galvis. Orr makes plenty of bone-headed plays in the field, and it's not like he makes up for it with his devastating bat. Let Fontenot start and keep Galvis for late-inning defense until Utley comes back.— jermigio
