Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
May 25, 2006
Comeback, Shane!

The Phillies are facing a very good problem. Shane Victorino is playing lights out while Aaron Roward is recovering from his broken nose. He's creating about two more runs per 27 outs than Aaron did, and his defense in center is very good. When Rowand comes back, does Victorino become trade bait for a pitcher? Or do you keep him around, spelling Abreu and Burrell defensively and filling in when someone's injured? He reached base twice in five tries today, keeping his OBA at .400. At age 26, he's at the peak of his abilities. He seems he would be valuable to someone in a starting role.


Posted by David Pinto at 06:59 PM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Word around the Phillies Nation-State is that Abreu is being shopped again, and that Victorino would slide over to RF.

Not bad for a Rule V pick that was declined when offered back to his original team, eh?

Posted by: MAW at May 25, 2006 09:37 PM

It's a tough situation. trading Abreu would also get the team some payroll flexibility, but I don't know that anyone is in the position to give equal pitching value for Abreu. One could probably get equal pitching value for Victorino.

It's a tough call, but one thing is certain, the Phils need pitching and they need it bad. Bullpen, starting, and everything in between.

Posted by: Tom G at May 26, 2006 07:27 AM

Nice to see Victorino doing better in his second stint as a Rule V guy. Apparently he was much more ready for the big leagues this time than in his shot with the Padres.

I wonder whatever happened to Kory DeHaan?

Posted by: Geoff Young at May 26, 2006 10:40 AM

victorino has been a joy to watch.

Posted by: Tim at May 26, 2006 05:04 PM

re: victorino

(1) victorino was MVP of the aaa international league last year.

(2) switch hitter, very fast, line drive power.

(3) The grass in CBP slows the ball down in the alleys, preventin the easy doubles of the Vet, where it skidded on the astroturf to the walls. Victorino due to his speed can get to second even when it's cut off in the alleys. This demonstrates the value of speed in a grass and turf ballpark. He gets from home to 2d, 1st to 3rd and 2d to home faster than anyone since Rickey Henderson.

(4) He has pop down the lines.

(5) having said all this, Burrell & Abreu are terrific players., and Roward is very experienced.

I would keep victorino. I wouldn't trade him. I would use him to rest the outfielders and keep them fresh for September. You basically play four guys and start three.

Also, Victorino is a good leadoff hitter, you can lead him off and drop Rollins to 2d or 6th or 7th in the order.

He's the kind of Lonnie Smith rookie the Phils used in 1980 to spark the offense, even though they were starting Luzinski, Maddox & McBride in the outfield, they'd use Smith from time to time to rest those guys and change up the lineup card. It worked well that year.

--arthur john kyriazis
--philly

Posted by: arthur john kyriazis at June 1, 2006 05:23 PM

He is only 25 not 26. Very young still. Somebody better sign this boy and maybe the Phillies will counter or trade B.Abreu. He has a whole lot of talent to be a ph.

Posted by: sam at June 8, 2006 12:37 AM
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