Galvis starts hot in winter ball; no left for Ruf
Four days into Venezuelan winter ball play and Freddy Galvis has made a splash in his return to organized baseball while Darin Ruf is awaiting his chance to gain experience in left field.
Galvis starts hot in winter ball; no left for Ruf
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Four days into Venezuelan winter ball play and Freddy Galvis has made a splash in his return to organized baseball while Darin Ruf is awaiting his chance to gain experience in left field.
Galvis had not played in a game since June 6 because of a fractured back and performance-enhancing drug suspension. He was 4 for 5 in his first Venezuelan game and is 8 for 18 in four games total with two home runs and a double.
Galvis, 22, is playing shortstop for Aguilas del Zulia. He could be starting at third base for the Phillies on April 1.
Meanwhile, Ruf has started three of four games for Tiburones de La Guaira. Each time he has batted cleanup. But twice he has served as designated hitter and once as first baseman.
Ruf is hitting 1 for 12 with a double and four strikeouts.
When discussing Ruf's winter plans, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expected Ruf would primarily play left field in Venezuela. It is a position both team and player believe requires more work time. The Phillies, of course, do not have any say in how winter league teams manage their rosters. They can reach out to teams with suggestions or requests.
The director deportivo of Tiburones is Jorge Velandia, who is the Phillies' assistant minor-league field coordinator.
"He's going to be playing for Jorge Velandia, so he will be out in left field every day," Amaro said in late September. "It should be a good experience for him."
So far, it has yet to happen. There is time; they play a 63-game schedule in Venezuela. But this is a situation worth watching.
Other notable Phillies in winter ball:
OF Tyson Gillies (Venezuela): 7 for 15, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B
2B Cesar Hernandez (Venezuela): 3 for 13, 4 R, 4 SB
C Sebastian Valle (Puerto Rico): 2 for 6, 2 R, 1 HR
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Vote: Phillies: Stay or Go?- No reason to spend more time in monors, Galvis is already a better glove than Utley and probably better defensively at short than Rollins. Why waste him in the minors? I don't remember Brooks Robinson being any kind of power hitter. How many homers has Wright hit at third? Polanco was a helluva third base until his body broke down, but he was not a power hitter. Get a couple of boppers in the outfield and who cares what Galvis hits.
— mike l - Short Circuit 3.....3rd is a power position?....Frandsen and Polanco?
They will have plenty of power with their 3,4,5 hitters....Most feared in baseball.....Hamilton,Howard and Ruf......YEOW!!!!— mainstreet - Galvis will have 3/4 of the RBI's that Rollins will have...???? Are you sure you want to re-think that thought???? Sitting in the 8-hole, not seeing any strikes or hittable pitches hitting in the spot before the pitcher???? Galvis will have 45-50 RBI hitting there??? I think not....if he is smart his on base percentage could be around .400 and he'll give the pitcher the chance to sacrifice him over...— michael2_19030
- Galvis had 24 RBIs in 58 games last year. That pace would give him 67 in a 162 game season. Rollins had 68 for the year.
Now there's no way to predict if the pace he was on was some big spike we'll never see again. But that's the history we have so you can't laugh the idea off until we see him hit more.— s - I'd also add how ridiculous putting a .400 OBP number out there is. That's HOF level -- only 59 players with 3000 PAs or more have an OBP of .400 or more.
A few other interesting stats: Frandsen was a high average/OBP guy this year (first and second on the team) but he also played in three fewer games than Galvis (55). In 55 games Frandsen had 14 RBIs compared to 24 for Galvis in 58 games.
Polanco was even worse: 90 games, 19 RBIs. That's only slightly more than half the pace Galvis was on.
Which suggests that if his short 2012 stint wasn't a complete fluke or completely chemical induced, it's unlikely Galvis represents any drop-off at 3B from what we've been seeing.
That said, I still think a trade for a third baseman should be plan A.— s - The best thing this organozation could do is quietly trade Galvis and not have him become a controversial figure every time the team appears on national TV games. Is he or is'nt he still juiced up is not something I want to be hearing for years to come.
If Ruf gets most of his time at First Base in winter ball, look out. The Phillies may be trying to move Howard. Good !— candidly - @shortcircuit: I'd like to have plenty of players, heck, I'd like to have Miguel Cabrera at 3rd. But let's be realistic. The Padres have new ownership with deep pockets, they have no reason to trade their best position player unless they receive an offer that really improves their ball club. Since PETCO is the kind of ball park that will let them get away with mediocre pitching, the Padres would probably want position players from the Phils , which the Phils don't have. It's probably either Galvis , Frandsen, or washed up FA, so if those are my choices, I'll take Galvis.— drbob1
- Galvis at third only works if Howard and Utley consistently hit for power and we get a true lead off hitter to play center (sorry Jimmy, you are my new number 6 hitter). I guess all that is possible.— bobcitydoc
- I was in Cooperstown fall 2011. A picture of Freddy Galvis was in one of the newspapers at the Hall of Fame. In the picture he looked very thin and slight. At Citizens Bank Park he was much more muscular and beefy. I guess if he was suspended at least some of that bulk was the result of banned substances?
I wonder if his slight frame could not support the extra muscle, contributing to the Pars fracture. I have no expertise in this at all, but I think his health is something to consider. I like his defense and attitude, but they need to have an informed medical opinion before making any commitments.— jerseyshorefan - Let's forget about 3rd and play Frandsen. He hits and get on base with greater frequency than the others, except Ruiz. Straighten out the outfield. Right now it's a musical merry-go-round. Of all in the organization, my bet is on (sleeper)Gillies in center. Someone has to show up in left and right or by trade. Young Tom— Young Tom
- "The best thing this organization could do is quietly trade Galvis and not have him become a controversial figure every time the team appears on national TV games." Did Frandson embarrass himself on National tv? Funny that nobody minds Frandson playing here but some fans are holding what Freddie did against him. Why would trade you trade a great utility guy possible future ss at the age of 22 when nobody can say how well he will do. We can all project what we think he will do but after watching him play for 2 moths nobody knows. I do know this team has a very good glove man that can play 3 positions as well as most starters on other teams. Why on earth would you trade him? I guess we ought to get Valdez back instead? Silly that fans can see how good he is on defense and how poor we were this season when he and PP went down.PP is old and injured. As far as I know Freddie's injury is 100 percent and he 22 years old. Lets trade all the youth away so we can pay someone to do what he can do but not half as well. Silly idea!
— pattymac3 - Galvis got some clutch hits in the time he was starting. I do not see him as a slugger, and he doesn't have to be. He is a very good fielder, and ought to be given a shot to pay SS, while moving J-Roll to 3B.— Paul SoTX
- Cody Asche is well ahead of Freddy Galvis as a hitter.— Bobby G
- Again, what is love affair with Galvis? I see him as next years M. Martinez, period. If someone is injured, he is a fill in. Check the numbers, Frandsen had about the same number of AB, had 11 less KO and hit a hundred point higher than Galvis. I still think the team is going outside to get a 3rd baseman.— lefty27
