Freddy Galvis

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.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Freddy Galvis suffered a bruised left foot Tuesday after fouling a pitch off it, but the Phillies said the injury is not serious. The 22-year-old prospect turned starting second baseman this spring is day-to-day, Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. After a brief examination, team athletic trainers determined an X-ray wasn't necessary. "I'm good," Galvis said. "I'm doing fine. I'll just put some ice on it. " Galvis said he could play Wednesday, but it's likely he does not ride the bus for the lengthy trip to Fort Myers, Fla., where the Phillies face Minnesota.

The Phillies' prospects didn't look so bright. Having been in a serious offensive drought, they entered the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale with the Cincinnati Reds trailing by 2-1. And they had to face reliever Aroldis Chapman, a pitcher they were 3 for 21 against with zero runs scored, all-time. Manager Charlie Manuel contemplated pinch-hitting for Freddy Galvis, the man who hit a home run to win it. None of it made much sense. A team that had scored one run in its previous 17 innings blasted consecutive home runs by Erik Kratz and Galvis off the flame-throwing Chapman in the ninth to stun the Reds, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park.

NEW YORK - In the grand scheme of things, a backup catcher is not crucial to a team's success. The Phillies possessed two backup catchers during the season's first month, and one had to go Sunday when Carlos Ruiz returned from his suspension. Humberto Quintero's locker was cleared early in the morning. The Phillies chose Erik Kratz as their backup and designated Quintero for assignment. They hope to retain Quintero in the organization, but that requires his passing through waivers unclaimed.

NOW THAT HE is the Opening Day second baseman, it is appropriate to know how to pronounce Freddy Galvis' last name. Is it Gal-Vis or Gal-Vees? "No," he said. "It's not Gal-Vees. It is Gal-vis. (slowly) Gal-Vis . . . V-I-S. " It is somewhat of a mystery how Gal-vis became Gal-vees, he said. But there's no secret why Galvis became the darling of spring: He batted .280, tied for the team lead with 23 hits and the Phillies desperately, desperately need him. No matter how you say it, the youngster who was the shortstop of the future last season is, for now, the starting second baseman of this one. Remember.

FREDDY GALVIS At some point in the next several months, the Phillies will have to make a decision on Jimmy Rollins, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Many factors will be taken into account. How well Rollins plays. How much money he wants. How many years he wants it for. And, not insignificantly, who takes over if the best shortstop in franchise history doesn't return. Which is what makes Freddy Galvis such an intriguing player to follow starting with spring training.

LEHIGH VALLEY (AAA) IronPigsBaseball.com/610-841-7447 Tonight: at Gwinnett, 7:05 Tomorrow: at Gwinnett, 7:05 Thursday: at Gwinnett, 7:05 Friday: at Charlotte, 7:15 Saturday: at Charlotte, 7:15 Sunday: at Charlotte, 2:15 Monday: at Charlotte, 7:15 READING (AA) ReadingPhillies.com/610-375-8469 Tonight: vs. Akron, 6:35 Tomorrow: vs. Akron, 2:05 Thursday: vs. Akron, 9:35 a.m. Friday: at Richmond, 7:05 Saturday: at Richmond, 7:05 Sunday: at Richmond, 2:05 Monday: vs. Trenton, 7:05 CLEARWATER (A)

WHAT THE PHILS WILL DO: Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel love Freddy Galvis. They gush over his defense and baseball acumen. They wanted him in the field enough that they endorsed Chase Utley taking ground balls at third base in a monthlong experiment that was eventually shut down. With Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins healthy, the only hole the Phils should have is third base and it says here that Galvis will be given the job this spring after adjusting to the position just as easily as he moved from shortstop to second base last spring.

CHARLIE MANUEL said a mouthful Monday. Well, he didn't actually say much. But what he said carried a deeper meaning than he could express comfortably after a third loss in four games. All three losses wasted acceptable efforts from the Phillies' celebrated starting rotation, around which the team was built. Built, that is, on the cornerstones of All-Stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, both of whom are injured. The Phillies have no idea when either will be ready to play, if at all, or how well they will play upon their return.

A TEAM spokesman said Freddy Galvis would not address the past, as in the events that led him to test positive in June for using a performance-enhancing drug. Galvis wasn't too comfortable talking about the future, either, or at least about where he saw himself with the 2013 Phillies. But in his current state, as a rookie infielder recovering from a serious back injury, Galvis was as positive as a young major league player could be at the end of a roller-coaster first season. "It's not disappointing for me," Galvis said of not being able to rejoin the Phils this season.