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SNT: Q&A with Shane Victorino

Click to enlarge the Q&A with Phillies CF Shane Victorino, which ran in the Mat 9th, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today.

Shane Victorino is a Fan of the Line

As in, the shortest distance between two points is a line. Shane Victorino likes that. Observe.

Phillies/Marlins win probability for game on April 24, 2009.

Victorino's Grand Slam - the first* of his career - gave the Phillies a 6-3 lead in the top of the 9th versus Florida closer Matt Lindstrom. Philadelphia would add an insurance run a batter later when Chase Utley took Lindstrom deep for a solo shot. The final score remained 7-3, good guys.

Entering the 9th inning, the Marlins had a win probability of 98.5%. Prior to Victorino's Slam, it was 76.5%. Immediately after? 4.2%. A change of 72.3% with one swing of the bat. Nothing like grabbing a win in the face of a loss. And it looks like a straight line.

The Phillies are now 7-8. All 7 wins are come-from-behind victories.


*Regular season only. Apparently, postseason means nothing.

Victorino Wins Lou Gehrig Award

The Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity annually awards "the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball Player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Brother Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field". For 2008 the award was given to the Phillies Shane Victorino, for his commitment to the city of Philadelphia and his actions for those fighting ALS.

"Traditionally, the Gehrig Award has recognized veteran players who have made an impact through a long standing relationship with their community,” says Sean Wagner, spokesman for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee and Associate Executive Vice President of Phi Delta Theta. “The fact that Shane has won this award at such an early stage in his career demonstrates the incredible impact he has had in the fight against ALS as well as on the City of Philadelphia, and speaks volumes about him as an individual.”

...

“When Shane makes a commitment, you can count on him to do his very best work and rely on his positive attitude” says Suzanne Bruce, Co-Founder of the SaVes4ALS program. “We are proud to have him recognized for his support and efforts in this meaningful way”.

The award is to be presented to Victorino prior to the 4:05 PM game against the Mets on July 4th. Legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas was to take part in the ceremony but unfortunately passed away last week.

Originally scheduled to participate in this presentation was Phillies Hall of Fame Announcer and member of Phi Delta Theta, Harry Kalas. Although he passed away prior to the presentation, Kalas will be with his Fraternity Brothers in spirit to present the award to Victorino. Kalas had served as a member of the Gehrig Committee since 1994 helping select the winner each year and represented the committee at Veterans Stadium in 1995 when Curt Schilling won the award.

Victorino, like the entire Phillies organization, had a lot of respect for Kalas. It would have been very fitting for Kalas to participate in the event.

Last year's winner was Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin. You can read more about the Lou Gehrig Award here.

Congratulations to Shane!

Harry Kalas, YOU Are the Man

As the posts and tributes roll in around the blogosphere, I wanted to highlight two things. First is this remark by Harry on August 9, 2006. Crashburn Alley has the call.

“Chase Utley, you are the man!” Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas gushed from the booth.

Why was he gushing? Utley scored from second on a routine ground ball. Harry loved hustle.

And second is a move by the classy Shane Victorino, who Franzke noted was the first player to approach the broadcast crew after the news.

from The Fightins

That's Shane pointing to the broadcast booth after his home run against the Nationals today. Franzke gave the home run call.

...and, yes folks, it's outta here.

RIP Harry.

Phillies rally in 8th, hold on for NLCS Game 4 win

Wow. If When the Phillies move on to the World Series for the first time since 1993, the top of the 8th in NLCS Game 4 will be replayed for years to come.

After giving up a single to Ryan Howard to start the 8th, Dodgers manager Joe Torre chose to replace reliever Hong-Chih Kuo with Cory Wade. This is significant because Kuo had stymied the Phillies for all but Howard's lead off single. Kuo pitched masterfully in the 7th, striking out Jayson Werth and Chase Utley. Torre decided to remove Kuo after Howard's single in the 8th to play the percentages. Kuo is a lefty and Pat Burrell was coming to the plate, a righty. Lefty to a righty is a no-no in baseball protocol. So Torre took the ball from Kuo and handed it to rookie Cory Wade, a righty. Smart move, at first. Wade got Burrell to pop out to 2nd and the Dodgers were now 5 outs from evening the 2008 NLCS at 2 games. The Flyin' Hawaiian had other plans.

Shane Victorino has undoubtedly been the Phillies postseason MVP. He has been masterful and energetic, exciting and clutch. When he stepped to bat last night versus Wade something was in the air. Victorino is a switch hitter so whoever Torre through out there he was able to counter. Torre stuck with Wade. Mistake. Victorino drilled a pitch down the first-base line. It was long enough. It was high enough. Home run, game tied 5-5. Wade would get Pedro Feliz to line out before facing Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has been hitting better of late. Ruiz singled on the first pitch from Wade. Torre had seen enough; time for the closer. Enter Jonathan Broxton, an imposing man standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing in at 290 pounds. And his stuff can be electric. And also a bit unpredictable.

Associated Press

Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino celebrates his game-tying 2-run home run in the 8th inning of game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sent up a pinch hitter for pitcher Ryan Madson. His choice? 17-year veteran Matt Stairs, acquired from the Blue Jays by Pat Gillick in August. The Phillies are Stairs' 11th team. This was an obvious decision by Manuel; Broxton was a righty, Stair batted left. Good match up. This was only Stairs' 7th postseason game and 13th postseason at-bat ever. He had 0 runs and 0 RBIs in the postseason. Until last night.

Stairs worked Broxton. After throwing a 1st pitch strike Broxton got in a hole, throwing 3 straight balls. With the count 3-1, Stairs waited for the fastball. And he got it on the 5th pitch of the at-bat. Without hesitation Stairs unloaded on the ball. Suddenly the Phillies had the lead, 7-5.

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Phillies pinch hitter Matt Stairs belts this pitch deep to right field, giving the Phillies a 7-5 lead in the top of the 8th inning of Monday's game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.

Matt Stairs is congratulated by his teammates as he enters the dugout after his 8th inning home run.

J.C. Romero would get the 2 batters he face in the bottom of the 8th out but it wasn't without a little drama. He walked Rafael Furcal, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Andre Ethier. Fortunately for Romero and the Phillies, Ethier grounded into a double play. Next up, Manny Ramirez.

The Phillies have been a perfect 79-0 this season with a lead during the 8th inning (74-0 regular season, 5-0 postseason) thanks in large part to Madson, Romero, and closer Brad Lidge. Manuel turned to Lidge for his first 4-out save of the year. And it would start with Ramirez. Things would get a bit shaky. Ramirez drilled a 3-2 pitch to center field for a double. With 2 outs and a man in scoring position, the Dodgers could tie the game with one swing of the bat. Lidge would strik out the next batter, catcher Russell Martin, on 3 pitches. Despite the strike out, technically the 3rd out of the inning, the 8th wouldn't end. Lidge's slider got away from Ruiz and Martin easily made it to 1st while Ramirez trotted to 3rd. Crap. The next batter was first baseman James Loney, who was having a great day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a single, double, and a walk. He has the power to put the Dodgers back in front and shift the pressure back to Philadelphia. Loney tried. Boy did he try. After a first-pitch ball, Loney fouled off 4 straight pitches. On the 6th pitch of the at-bat Loney flied out to Eric Bruntlett, who was a defensive replacement for Burrell. Inning over. One more to go.

It would be nice to get another insurance run plated. Utley got things going in the top of the 9th with a single. Howard stepped to the plate and grounded into a fielder's choice to second base, rendering Utley out. The same thing happened to Bruntlett during the next at-bat. With Shane Victorino up, and down in the count 0-2, Bruntlett attempted to steal second on the next pitch. The Dodgers nailed him on an out pitch, inning over. No insurance runs. Lidge back to the mound to close out game 4 and secure a 3-1 Phillies lead in the series.

Things went surprisingly easy for Lidge in the bottom of the 9th. Pinch hitter Nomar Garciaparra flied out to center on his 2nd pitch, Casey Blake struck out on 3 pitches, and pinch hitter Jeff Kent lined out hard to third baseman Pedro Feliz. Game over. 7-5 Phillies. 3-1 series lead.

Brad Lidge went 1-2-3 in the 9th inning to save the win for Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels will face off against Chad Billingsley in Wednesday's game 5 in Los Angeles. A Phillies win sends them to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.

Kendrick vs Marlins; Phillies soon to enter 'do or die' part of schedule

The Phillies take the field tonight at 7:05 looking to sweep the Marlins and move to eight games above .500 for the first time since the final day of the 2006 season. Kyle Kendrick takes the hill for the Phils and I must say I'm happy about that. Kendrick has been, to say the least, a pleasant surprise this season since his first start on June 13. Kendrick is 5-2 and his last start was strong: 7 innings, 8 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts...but a usually strong Phillies offense floundered and Kyle got the L. Kendrick's ERA is a respectable 3.88 and he has 25 Ks compared to 16 BBs. The Phillies offense is on a tear and they're facing Sergio Mitre who's ERA has been steadily rising since mid-June (2.29 on June 15 -> 3.67 August 8).

Prediction: Phillies 7, Marlins 3


It's important the the Phillies sweep the Marlins because they are about to enter an extremely important 3 weeks. The Braves come to Citizens Bank Park tomorrow and the 3-game series will play a crucial role in the NL East and Wild Card races. The Phillies get lucky and do not have to face John Smoltz. In contrast, the Phils send out their ace, Cole Hamels, in the first game. I think the Phillies will take 2 of 3 from the Braves, with Philadelphia losing the 2nd game (Adam Eaton gets the start...we're doomed). After the Braves series the Phillies head to Washington (when Shane Victorino returns) and then to Pittsburgh (when Michael Bourn may return). They should return to Philadelphia going AT LEST 4-2 on that mediocre road trip. Then comes 10 games that the Phillies must bring their A game: Dodgers (3 games), Padres (3), Mets (4). All at Citizens Bank Park. From the first game of the Braves series to the end of the Mets series I have the Phils amassing a 12-7 record, which wouldn't be too bad. If they finish off Florida tonight, take game 1 of their next series with Florida (last day of August), and go my predicted 12-7 in between the Phillies finish with a 18-10 mark in August and would be 74-60 heading into October...when Chase Utley returns! Wow, wouldn't that be something? I have faith.