Freddy Galvis

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Charlie Manuel can't mask his love for Freddy Galvis. From the time the slick-fielding infielder stepped into the second-base spot for the first time in his life last spring to his holding down the position - and looking like a Gold Glover in doing so - in the first 2 months of the 2012 season, Galvis won over his big-league manager. But Chase Utley is healthy and set to take the field for his first Opening Day start in 3 years. Jimmy Rollins is back from the World Baseball Classic and ready to return to shortstop, and veteran Michael Young has handled his return to third base with ease this spring.

ALLENTOWN - Whether it's at this year's trade deadline or after the season, one of the most difficult decisions in franchise history is going to have to be made in the not-too-distant future. Chase Utley: stay or go? Much of that decision will be influenced by the play of the team and the play of the veteran second baseman who so far has been solid offensively and shaky at times defensively. Some of the decision will also be influenced by the play of Cesar Hernandez, the 22-year-old second baseman at triple-A Lehigh Valley.

If you are heading to tonight's exhibition game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies will be using what could be their lineup for Opening Day. Charlie Manuel has talked this weekend about using Juan Pierre at the top of the lineup and moving Jimmy Rollins down to third. Manuel used 108 different lineups in the regular season last year, but the batting order he used most often (10 times) had Rollins batting third. Another interesting quirk, when Pierre bats first, the Phillies might bat 5 straight hitters who average under 10 HRs per season (Carlos Ruiz, Freddy Galvis, Pitcher, Pierre and Polanco)

Even though the Phillies were off on Monday and have another day off on Thursday, manager Charlie Manuel decided not to start second baseman Chase Utley against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Utley's replacement, Kevin Frandsen, hit a solo home run in the first inning. Because of his chronically injured knees, Utley played in a total of 186 games over the previous two seasons. This year he had appeared in each of the Phils' first 39 games, making 37 starts.

Charlie Manuel grabbed a first baseman's mitt hours before first pitch Tuesday night and manned the position. Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen wanted extra work on the infield. The 69-year-old Manuel helped. "We needed somebody," the manager said. What Manuel needs is the man usually at first base, Ryan Howard, to produce more. Howard, typically a slow starter, was off to his worst 18-game stretch entering Tuesday. It is early and the sample size is small, but Howard was trending downward.

The brace, affixed to Freddy Galvis' torso for six weeks, could be removed only when the 22-year-old Phillies infielder showered. "So yeah," Galvis said, "I stayed a long time in the shower. " Now there is progress from a fractured vertebra in his back, even a target date in which Galvis can play minor-league baseball. It has been a trying season for the rookie Venezuelan, who started opening day at second base, injured his back, and was subsequently suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

ALLENTOWN - Luke Carlin hit a two-run home run, and Joe Martinez struck out 13 as the visiting Columbus Clippers downed the IronPigs, 6-2, putting Lehigh Valley on the brink of elimination. After capturing the first game of the best-of-five series, the IronPigs have dropped two straight. They will host Game 4 on Friday. Martinez, a righty, went seven innings and allowed just one run on three hits.     The IronPigs threatened in the eight as the go-ahead run reached base before Josh Barfield flied out to end the rally.

The Phillies beat the Pirates Tuesday night, 7-2, to finish the spring training 14-16-4. (Gotta love all those ties.) Placido Polanco's three-run homer in the fifth inning was the difference. It was Polanco's first homer of the exhibition season. Freddy Galvis' double was his 23rd hit of the preseason and his ninth extra-base hit in 82 at-bats. He had seven in 121 ABs at Triple A last year. Granted, spring statistics hardly forecast future results, but it's better than Galvis having zero extra-base knocks.

After being sidelined for more than a week, shortstop Freddy Galvis should return to action for his Venezula winter league team by Thursday or Friday. The Phillies top prospect had a cyst drained in his right wrist, according to Greg Casterioto, the Phillies' director of baseball comunications. Galvis, who will turn 22 next month, was pulled from the lineup of Aguilas De Zulia shortly before the game on Oct. 18 game due to discomfort in his right throwing wrist. Long known for his smooth glove, the Phillies named Galvis the top position player prospect in the organization after he hit a combined .278 last season in double A and triple A. He remains one of their top in-house options if shortstop Jimmy Rollins leaves via free agency.

A SPRING that has had more than its share of sour notes ended with a nice surprise. The Phillies announced after Tuesday night's game that lefthanded reliever Joe Savery had made the roster. Though he pitched in four games as a call-up last September, making the club out of the gate represents another step in Savery's career. The Phillies drafted Savery as a first baseman in the 2007 first round. "He's a good story," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's come a long way. " Veterans Scott Podsednik, Hector Luna and Raul Valdes did not make the club.