Victorino expects suspension
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Victorino expects suspension
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- The repercussions from Friday's fight night may not come until Monday from the comissioner's office, but Shane Victorino is expecting a suspension for his actions.
A day after the scrum with the Giants, the Phillies were still laughing and talking about it in the clubhouse. Victorino eagerly read about himself in the newspaper and then rewatched the chaos on his iPad with a bunch of teammates.
Victorino said he clinched a suspension when he reentered the fracas and tackled Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens. (By the way, Victorino said, he wasn't going after the 44-year-old coach on purpose. He said he saw Carlos Ruiz in danger and torpedoed in the catcher's general direction.)
But Victorino, just as he did Friday night, maintained that everything only escalated because of Giants catcher Eli Whiteside's actions.
"I had no intentions of going out there and charging the mound," Victorino said. "I just wanted to go get an answer. I did step forward and Eli, from looking at his reaction, thought I was going to go. Then [Placido] Polanco came in and he tackled Polanco. Everything escalated from there. I had no intention."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy defended his catcher Saturday.
"He's in a hard spot there," Bochy said. "He's got all kinds of sides to cover there. He's trying to protect the pitcher. If anybody knows Whitey, he's not a fighter -- but he's going to protect his pitchers. He saw a player come from the side there and went at his feet, but it wasn't like he was throwing punches or anything."
As for the pitcher, Ramon Ramirez, he has declined to make any comment about the incident. Whiteside claimed he called for a fastball inside, "but not that far inside."
The plunking came shortly after Jimmy Rollins stole second base in a six-run game, but Charlie Manuel disagreed that had any part in escalating tension. Rollins was being held on at first base, so nothing was conceded.
"I think us hitting them upset them," Manuel said.
Carlos Beltran had a different view of Rollins' steal.
"I wouldn’t have done it," Beltran said.
Either way, the rivalry between these two teams has only intensified.
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So according to Beltran, if his team is losing 8-2 in the 6th the game is already lost for him? Good to know. No wonder why the Mets always collapsed. I'm glad that winning attitude has been rubbing off on his new team too.— IssueMovement- Dead on correct. You are conceding defeat down 6 runs with four innings left to game, nearly HALF of your at-bats! To a rival team, with first place and your playoff spot on the line! Not only was it a loss in Beltran's mind, it was a loss in Bochy's and Ramirez's minds... That was the moment I KNEW the 2011 Giants will be nothing to worry about. The 2010 Giants will probably go down as a fluke. The 2007-8-9-10-11-12?-13?-... Phillies will go down as one of baseball's most resilient winners. — PhilaLogic
- So according to Beltran, if his team is losing 8-2 in the 6th the game is already lost for him? Good to know. No wonder why the Mets always collapsed. I'm glad that winning attitude has been rubbing off on his new team too.— IssueMovement
- Shane Victorino should be suspended for going back on his word. No questions asked, don't throw at his head.— tgray83
- I say he gets at least 3 games-more play for Mayberry.Intentions aside he went back into the fracas- and like it or not-someone could of gotten hurt.Jimmy stealing-debateable-but it sent a message to the Giants and they blinked.2-0 in the sixth today in a great pitchers duel.— HO HUM
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- lmao.. a bunch of millionaires fighting— zwarte piet
- I agree, that is a major reason Beltran is a loser and always will. The Phillies play and play to win, why the hell not steal, not like it was 20-2, what a joke. Giants whine about everything, they are pathetic..Go Phillies !!!!!!!!!!!!— TexasYankee
- I agree accept the proper conjunction is "couldn't/"— KINGOFZED
- and the proper word is except — PhillyfaninMD
- and the proper word is except — PhillyfaninMD
- What I wonder is how many on here that are making fun of Beltran, wanted him before he was traded? Just curious...The only thing missing from that fight last night was Pedro Martinez!!!!— PhilliefaninAZ
- Some did push hard for Beltran. I conceded he was the better hitter out there, but also cited reservations. He seemed a bit old and tired to me, the last thing the aging Phillies needed. My greatest hope for Pence was that he would invigorate the lineup with his energetic play -- he sure has, no losses yet -- and all this hitting has been a bonus. Pence will level off in terms of production, but not spirit. Beltran (what's the Giants' record with him now?) will hit the ball well going forward. But small injuries are likely, he clearly lacks a fighting spirit anymore, and he's either gone after this season or not worth a big contract. — PhilaLogic
- This is how the Giants get into your head...do you remember the 2010 NL series. First, Doc hears Burrell say, "Who are you looking at?" and Utley get hit by Sanchez and rolls the ball back toward Sanchez and SF bench clears. It's a no offense SF team in 2011; Arizona will prevail out west.— Doc1947
