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Phillies Notes: With Phillies' Rollins back at shortstop, Galvis returns to second

ST. LOUIS - With Jimmy Rollins back at shortstop, Freddy Galvis has returned to the position he had never played before this season but has played almost flawlessly so far this season.

"I think Freddy [Galvis] does a good job of keeping his cool," manager Charlie Manuel said. (Jeff Roberson/AP)
"I think Freddy [Galvis] does a good job of keeping his cool," manager Charlie Manuel said. (Jeff Roberson/AP)Read more

ST. LOUIS - With Jimmy Rollins back at shortstop, Freddy Galvis has returned to the position he had never played before this season but has played almost flawlessly so far this season.

Galvis admitted it was kind of nice logging three days in a row at shortstop during the Phillies' series against the Washington Nationals and that he'd like to play there again at some point in his career.

"Yeah, it was good to be back at my original position," he said. "It seemed kind of far to first base that first game, then after taking a few ground balls, I got used to it."

It seems as if Galvis can get used to doing anything in the field and he's having a solid month at the plate, too. After hitting .191 in April, Galvis has rebounded to bat .300 with 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs in May.

Those numbers include a three-hit, three-RBI game Thursday night that helped the Phillies pull off a wild, 10-9 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

"I think Freddy does a good job of keeping his cool," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He stays relaxed, tries to stay focused on what he's doing. Every now and then his swing will get long . . . but at the same time that's to be expected. I like everything about him. His hitting has improved ever since last year. Now he's starting to show he's a little stronger than you think he is and he's starting to hit the ball hard."

Galvis said it was advice from Manuel that helped him at the plate.

"Charlie, he told me I was trying to do too much two or three weeks ago," Galvis said. "He told me to go to home plate and relax and wait for a good pitch. Right now, that's what I'm trying to do - see good pitches and relax."

While Galvis is playing a Gold Glove-caliber second base, he said he still thinks about playing shortstop in the future.

"Yeah, I mean I always was a shortstop," he said. "The only thing I wanted to be was a professional shortstop in the big leagues. Right now, I'm playing second, but if I have a shot to play shortstop again, I will do it. But second right now, I have to say I really like it. It is a good position. In the beginning, I didn't feel so good there because it was weird sometimes, but after a while I started liking it."

Manuel said Galvis' hitting style coming through the minors was always more conducive to being a shortstop, but if he continues to show some of the pop he has this month that opinion may change.

"When I really think about it, I think the type of player that he is, that he shows up better at short," Manuel said. "He's a little bit bigger than Omar Vizquel, but they're very similar. But at the same time I think he can play second base and if you see his hitting keep improving, without a doubt he'll be a tremendous second baseman."

Whenever Chase Utley returns from the disabled list, the Phillies will have to decide if Galvis is better served getting regular at-bats with triple-A Lehigh Valley or remaining with the Phillies in a utility role. He certainly could help as a guy who could provide rest for Rollins, Utley and even third baseman Placido Polanco.

"If they tell me they want me to be a utility guy and play a lot of positions, I can do that," Galvis said.

Tracking Utley

Utley put in extensive fielding work at second base before Friday's game, fielding 25 grounders off the fungo bat of coach Mick Billmeyer. He also spent a considerable amount of time tracking and fielding balls during batting practice.

Extra bases

Jim Thome, on the disabled list with a lower back strain, went 1 for 4 with a double in an extended spring training game in Clearwater, Fla., Thursday. He played in his third straight extended game Friday. . . . Ryan Howard (left Achilles) and Michael Martinez (right foot) both took live batting practice in Clearwater.