Phillies Notes: Elarton is making strong bid for job

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Scott Elarton should have spent Saturday night in Pueblo, Colo. The Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A boys' basketball championship was there, and Limon High School was playing. Last spring, Elarton was a volunteer assistant coach for the Badgers.

"They got rid of me," Elarton said, "and smooth sailing."

No, Elarton was in Florida writing the latest chapter in this spring's most improbable story. The 36-year-old righthander four years removed from his last major-league appearance was the first Phils pitcher to go four innings in Grapefruit League play.

He has faced 19 hitters in his first two outings and retired 18 of them. His latest work, four innings in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore on Saturday, was stunning. He threw one bad pitch, to his first batter - a fastball jacked for a solo home run by Chris Davis - and then recorded 12 straight outs.

"I'm satisfied with my performance," Elarton said. "But I don't want it to end. I don't want that to be the last performance. And I hope it gets better, I hope it gets a lot more important than a spring training game."

That idea, so preposterous a week ago, is somehow possible against all odds.

"Scott is getting our attention," Rich Dubee said. That's the highest of compliments from the gruff pitching coach.

Elarton coaxed an invitation to spring training from Ruben Amaro Jr. He was expected to toil in obscurity, much like the other 36-year-old reclamation projects that dot baseball this time of year.

"He changes speeds and commands four pitches," Dubee said. "He cuts the ball. He commands his fastball. He throws change-ups for strikes. He throws his curveball over. He has an assortment of stuff."

If anything, Elarton has merited a spot at triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he could provide starting depth. That in itself is remarkable.

"I'm just grateful," Elarton said.

After a four-inning taste of second base Thursday, Freddy Galvis started there for the first time Saturday. Galvis, a shortstop by trade and one of the team's top prospects, asked for extra work at other positions.

"He can play anywhere," said Sam Perlozzo, first-base coach and infield coordinator.

Galvis is a long shot to make the club, but he has certainly raised his stock with the major-league staff. The minor-league officials have long been raving about his ability.

Amaro said Galvis would be in the mix for the utility-infielder job when he traded Wilson Valdez. But the Phillies probably prefer that Galvis see regular playing time at triple-A Lehigh Valley to nudge his development offensively.

"We just want to see if he can handle those positions," Amaro said. "We know he can play short. We'll flip him around a bit. He's been fine."

Galvis is 5 for 17 (.294) with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBIs in Grapefruit League play.

Dontrelle Willis played catch for the first time since Wednesday's disastrous outing. He will not pitch as scheduled Sunday because of left-arm soreness, and Dubee did not know when he would pitch again. . . . Joe Blanton started and pitched three scoreless innings. He relied heavily on his change-up and reported no elbow problems. . . . The Phillies will play two games Sunday, with a split squad headed for Tampa to face the Yankees. Kyle Kendrick will start that game. In Clearwater, Cliff Lee will start against Detroit.