Victorino as MVP?
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Victorino as MVP?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CINCINNATI — No one will say Shane Victorino is the National League MVP, because he isn't. But the fact that we're even having this discussion says enough.
Victorino is unquestionably the Phillies' best hitter through 130 games in 2011. In the National League, he ranks eighth in batting average, eighth in on-base percentage and ninth in slugging percentage. He is second in the league with 14 triples, a career-high. He has 15 home runs and will probably set a career-high there, too.
He missed 27 games because of two disabled list stints.
And he should still appear on a majority of MVP ballots this fall. Yes, Joey Votto, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki and others are arguably having better seasons.
Voters are asked to pick the top 10 players in each league. Right now, Shane Victorino is one of them. That's an offensive transformation no one could have foreseen.
While Cole Hamels' triumphant return was the most important story of Monday's 3-2 victory, Victorino's home run ensured victory. It was easily a footnote because Victorino is having that kind of a season. His key hits are expected — even after momentary failure.
"The guy ends up striking him out," Charlie Manuel said, "threw him a couple of breaking balls on 3-1 and we had guys in scoring position. He swung at one and then took strike three. Then he comes back, gets a breaking ball and hits a home run.
"He has been getting a lot of extra-base hits and it seems like every one of them is big at the moment. He’s been getting some big hits for us."
The most impressive thing about Victorino's 2011, as I noted in a story a few weeks back, is how his game has evolved.
| Year | Age | Tm | PA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25 | PHI | 462 | 1.3% | 11.7% | 5.2% | 7.1% | 2.25 | 0.80 |
| 2007 | 26 | PHI | 510 | 2.4% | 12.2% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 1.68 | 0.90 |
| 2008 | 27 | PHI | 627 | 2.2% | 11.0% | 7.2% | 8.3% | 1.53 | 0.81 |
| 2009 | 28 | PHI | 694 | 1.4% | 10.2% | 8.7% | 8.9% | 1.18 | 0.84 |
| 2010 | 29 | PHI | 648 | 2.8% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 8.3% | 1.49 | 0.80 |
| 2011 | 30 | PHI | 451 | 3.3% | 10.0% | 9.1% | 11.1% | 1.10 | 0.74 |
His strikeouts are down. His walks are up. He's hitting for more power, but not just home runs — the bad pattern that marred his 2010 season.
One more table:
| Hits | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | H | Inf | Bnt |
| 2006 | 25 | PHI | 119 | 14 | 2 |
| 2007 | 26 | PHI | 128 | 23 | 2 |
| 2008 | 27 | PHI | 167 | 36 | 9 |
| 2009 | 28 | PHI | 181 | 29 | 0 |
| 2010 | 29 | PHI | 152 | 18 | 2 |
| 2011 | 30 | PHI | 123 | 8 | 0 |
His career arc has followed common sense. As a major-leaguer in his early stages, Victorino relied heavily on his speed. In 2008, when he hit a then-career-best .293, 21.6 percent of his hits were on the infield. It was his game.
Now he's 30 and his power has filled out. Only 6.5 percent of his hits are of the infield variety. His 11.1 percent extra-base hits ranks eighth in the league (ahead of such names as Kemp, Prince Fielder, Lance Berkman, Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard). It required 2010 for Victorino to realize line drives are more valuable than trying to hit long balls. With age came maturity both mentally and physically.
For that, these Phillies are quite thankful. And the rest of baseball is probably about to notice.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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First in triples makes you first in triples, not MVP. If everybody agrees that Upton, Kemp, Fielder, Braun, Tulowitzky and Votto are all more worthy candidates, then what the heck does "in the conversation" even mean??— 1980- My apologies - I assumed this was a discussion among baseball fans, not just Phillies fans.— 1980
- For all that Howard contributes in terms of RBIs, last night was a perfect example why he is NOT the MVP of the Phillies; another lackluster performance, 0 for 4, 2 Ks, , BA .249, unable to scoop the throw from Polanco in the 8th inning that lead to the 2nd run. With all the solid pitching we will have going for us in the playoffs, we will not go far in the playoffs if Howard does not step up his game.— jeff007
- Which is why he is the most valuable player on this team every year. He cannot be replaced. Shane has been replaced for 30 games last year. Howard has not been the same since he hurt his hand. — chuck49
- Phils have proven they can win while key kogs are disabled.
But Victorino might be the guy they would miss the most. (Chooch should also be in that conversation.) And that's saying a lot— VicM - From what I saw, the called strike on Shane with 2 on was not a strike. It appeared to be low and outside. The ump gave both teams a very generous strike zone and hopefully, it all balanced out in the end. Shane V for MVP!— pajamas
- I guess 1980 can't read, since the people who vote for MVP have to choose 10 players as the article states. Victorino will be one of those 10 and probably every ballot, thus putting him "in the conversation". People get offended so easily. "How DARE you say Victorino is in the MVP conversation?! Well...you've just ruined my day!"— vvvmetallicavvv
- Where are the stats that matter? Game-winning hit, game-winning RBI, game-winning run scored, etc?— Seegs
- Shane Victorino is the MVP. No argument. We has been the most valuable player to this team in clutch situations. And his fielding has been nothing but superb. The Phillies' only EAGLE SCOUT should be the MVP. Nobody deserves it more.— GigantiSP
- If Mayberry keeps this up and Brown produces there will be a tough decision to be made. Pence is locked up until the end of 2013 and Shane will be free after next year.— KINGOFZED
- the only decision to make is whether to put you in a special ed program or just medicate you and put you on disability. Doc Brown is hitting below .200 in AAA he will not be part of the post season and he will never make the club. They should have dumped Mr "potential" when he had value Wake up son, he can't hit and can't field. Tool box is empty. Mark my words that this name will soon disappear as he bounces around farm teams until he hangs em up. I said last year and this year Mayberry is the guy not Brown. — ziggy26
- Let's face it, Shane is not the NL MVP as the article leads with. That said, i think the most "under-rated" part of his game is his defense. The guy can flat out PLAY CF. He rarely misplays any ball (funky grass trip earlier this year aside), almost always tracks EVERYTHING down and we miss him terribly in the field when he is out. That old baseball adage of being "strong up the middle" to win is so evident here in Philly. Forget MVP...Flyin' Hawaiian for PREZ.— miahjer
- Ah the morons are out today, particularly psualum. shane is rock solid player and Howard is all over the place. And as for stats anyone who has read Moneyball knows how useless they can be. Shane has done more for this team than any other position player. He is the leader of the group of players that have kept this team going while the heart of the lineup is struggling. His HR last night was a nod towards an MVP vote, it felt as if he had it planned before he reached the plate. Will he win the MVP...absolutely not. But he is a candidate and a top three team MVP— ziggy26
- Having his best all around year ever? Yes.....re-dedicated and rebounding from a sub-par year? Yes.....good enough to be Phillies MVP for 2011? Yes.......NL MVP? Uh, no.— Mark1npt
