Victorino Emerging As Star
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, October 11, 2008 10:44 AM
I could write about Brett Myers’ hot hitting, but that would be unfair — he did it once. This guy’s been doing it all season.
Shane Victorino hit an RBI single and RBI triple in the game two victory, raising his postseason numbers to:
.304 AVG / .385 OBP / .652 SLG / 3 2B / 1 3B / 1 HR / 9 RBI / 3 BB / 0 K / 3 SB
Pretty good numbers. You could argue Victorino has won two games for the Phils in this postseason — game two of the Brewers series; game two of the Dodgers series. Lest we forget his sparkling defensive play, including his game-saving, breathtaking catch last night to rob Casey Blake of an extra-base hit.
Of course, Victorino has been doing this for some time. He hit .311 with an .852 OPS in the second half, posing as possibly the Phils most dangerous hitter before the Ryan Howard September to Remember. Oh, and Vic has the best batting average among Phillie regulars in 2008.
Regular season stuff aside, Vic has lived up to the challenge of performing in the postseason. He has succeeded beyond hope, supplying the Phils with a clutch bat and exhale-inducing glove.
Sadly, Vic suffered a loss last night, learning after the game that his grandmother died. Phils manager Charlie Manuel lost his mother, June, yesterday. Vic spoke about the importance of baseball in time of grief:
“It’s about baseball. Charlie stayed strong and kept us all strong. My dad didn’t want to tell me — I found out the news after the game. It’s definitely an emotional time. But you know what? It’s all about baseball right now. That’s what we’re focused on. You’re guaranteed of one thing in life, and that’s death. She’s in a better place.”
Class. And right now, Vic is sitting first class on the Phils voyage to the world championship.
Related posts:
- Victorino Deserving Of Long-Term Deal
- Phillies, Victorino Agree To 1-Year Deal
- 2009 Projection: Shane Victorino
- Rollins and Victorino Paltry Against Braves
- Victorino Set To Return Tuesday
20 Responses to “Victorino Emerging As Star”
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October 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Shane, Werth, Hamels, Utley, Madsen, Dobbs, Happ, and Mr. Howard (he could very likely pull out of slump and win us a world championship) … this young talent at our core gives us a good team for many years to come. As well as going as far as we have already, puts the pressure on the ownership here not to let fan favorites go once Pat Gillik leaves. Maybe after a season like this he would consider staying.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am
You said it Tim-class. There are alot of players with alot of class on this team, and that is so important. It starts at the top with their skipper, imo.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:20 am
You know, the more you watch this team, the more you realize that this team more than any other in recent Phils memory (or Philly sports memory, for that matter) has all the intangibles it takes to win a title. You can talk OPS, RISP, etc etc all day long – when you get down to it the team with the best numbers may not be the best suited to win a title. You need character, guts, leadership – all the things you can’t see on the stat sheet. Victorino is one of many Phils with all the intangibles. Something special is going on – this may be the year…..
October 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Shane needs to stay on this team. He always has the passion and fire and plays to get this team going. When the phils were slumpin he was there doing the job trying to get them going. He will turn a routine infield out into a single. He will turn a single into a double! You see him smiling after catching that ball at the wall, he shows his emotions. HE DOVE INTO THE STANDS LAST YEAR TO TRY TO CATCH A FOUL BALL!! Shane is a great player and will be a great leader too. I just hope the Phils keep him on this team for a very long time because he seems like the glue that keeps these guys together.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I agree. Those with class show class, as one of my old coaches would say. This team needs Vic. He’s just as much our sparkplug as Jimmy is. My favorite part of the game yesterday was his smile during/after that catch.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I have been saying all season long that Vic is what makes this team go. He is the spark plug, he makes things happen. He plays the game the right way, to him every game is the ninth inning of the seventh game of the world series. No doubt in my mind, the Phillies are not in this position with out Vic. I truly hope management rewards him this offseason.
GO PHILLIES!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:45 am
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October 11th, 2008 at 11:48 am
best…..shane…..ever
October 11th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Last night was the loudest noise I ever remember. I live only eight blocks from CBP. The crowd noise could be heard outside my house . After the game was funny. My wife was in center city at happy hour and I went up broad to pick her up the cars were all blowing there horns. They were waving rally towel from there windows and there were some people standing in broad street around washington waving towels and the people were going nuts. Hope they get to the series. love to see us there. Parade on broad street is something to witness. The one in eighty was so jamm pack I never will forget it. Made the flyers parade look silly. and that was jamm. but couldn’t commare to phillies
October 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I was at the game last night, crazy atmosphere, fans were awesome. The place was rocking. I love this team.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I don’t think shane will be a hard player to sign. He is not going to command big dollars. He is a nice player but not the kind of player who gets the big dollars the phillies won’t pay. Howard is gone for a lot of reason. one body type . he could lose it by thirty four or five .two family asking for more than twenty million a year for 8=10 years. three chase utley project to be able to handle position and hit with enough power to warrant the position. And the phillies probley feel they can get a good second basemen to fill the spot cheaper. Werth scares me I still think he can’t hit right handers must see another year to find out if he is good enough to play everyday. Before giving him a contract for more than one year. Hamels I believe will leave and go the root of free agency unless these owners can make a offer and blow him away. Which they haven;t done in the past. madson as a setup man will get his four or five million three year deal. they will pay that after this year. when they free up. tome and jenkins money. Dobbs isn’t a starter and they will pay give him top bench player money.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
here’s an argument my friends and i are having, what do you guys think…?
rally towels…
like em or no? my friends say no, because we cant be as loud with all the waving…
i say yes… i’ve been to probably 60 games in the last 2 years, a small handful of which had the rally towels… i think with the whole crowd goin nuts waving those things they actually yell/cheer louder…
and they are way better than thundersticks or cowbells, although ‘gotta have more cowbell baby!’ comes to mind and makes me laugh
October 11th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Victorino won’t be hard to sign at all – the Phillies own the rights to him, so he’s not a free agent.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Rally towels: YES!
October 11th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Oh, and Mikemike, Hamels can’t leave either. He’s not qualified for free agency yet. Not Howard either, nor Dobbs, Werth, Vic, Blanton, and several others. We still control their rights for a few more years – THEN they are eligible for free agency. So we can all relax knowing they will be wearing red pinstripes for at least a few more years unless we trade them.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Gabriel- “Gotta have more cowbell”. Yesterday during the game I clicked on a poster’s name “Matty” and got the centralmainesportsblog, where they have done a remix of the 1980 Phillies Fever theme song with Chris Walken’s SNL cowbell skit. It is hilarious, but then just looking at Walken makes me laugh.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
But why not sign victorino,now he proved his worth. Hamel signing would be good message for all . Why not buy up his arbitration years and add on three more and keep him. show the players they will reward people for performance. Plus he is home grown. Remember there was bad blood last year when he was renew at lower figure. because he felt they were low balling him. five hundred thousand for a fourteen game winner. He didnt sign for a little more which they would have given him as good faith money. they were going to give him extra seventy five thousand if he agree to the deal and sign it. He refuse just like howard the previous year. when they offered him more to agree to a contract or renew at nine hundred thousasnd he was authomatly renew. after he refuse. we need to show these players we are committed to keeping this team together.
October 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Stuff happens when you’re hot. Who’d have thought — Myers 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs. And Victorino has been super. Phils win and Vic should get NLCS MVP.
October 11th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Can you believe we’re starting to have World Series talk?
Victorino has been the catalyst these past few months. No doubt. I can’t wait until Howard starts hitting something.
That’s uber pwnage.
All the way, baby!
October 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I do agree that it would be wise for them to lock Hamels, Victorino, etc. up on long term deals now to save money later. However, you have the Rocco Baldelli factor you have to consider. If you ink them to a long-term deal and buy out their remaining arbitration years and a few free agency years and they get hurt or turn into the second coming of Adam Eaton, then you’re on the hook for the entire thing. I’m not saying it’s the right move, but this is a business, and I certainly understand the business side of these decisions.