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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Once againg thank you Ruben Amaro jr. for not trading for Carolos Beltran because he is a player who will not win a championship. Hunter Pence I can appreciate because he hustles and hustles hard like Pete Rose use to P.S. We gotta get Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame somehow!— male- Doc1947.....This is the first i'm hearing about Burrell saying, "Who are you looking at"?. Was he talking to Doc and if so why did Burrell say that?— associate
- It doesnt matter - with his new crouched batting stance - John Mayberry has been a MONSTER. 6 home runs and 15 doubles comprise his last 21 hits. The offense will not suffer.— zen
- You better hope for no injuries. I believe this series would have been a little different if Posey and Freddy would have been playing. Stay healthy Philadelphia, there's 2 more months of baseball left...
— Sfgiants10 - based on the Giants whining about Rollins' stolen base sin Friday: Hear ye, Hear Ye, "From this day forth, any team with a 6 run lead in the top of the 6th inning wil automatically be awarded the win, no exceptions. This will shorten games significantly and allow teams to rest instead of dragging the games needlessly into the 7th and beyond in what is an obviously 100 percent futile attempt to comeback. 6 runs is insurmountable...too bad this rule wasn't in effect Friday or the fight could have been averted.— sedale
- I've never understood trolling another city's sport site. Heck, I wouldn't even know were to find San Fran fans online watering holes. Look, I definitely would not kick up dust in some other team's message boards, and I *most definitely* would not do that if my team just dropped 3 out of 4 to said team AT HOME.— 3-hit shutout
- I wasn't trolling for this site. I came across it when I tried to find out how many games your boy, Victorino will be suspended for. Timmy will shut you down today and the champs will prevail again. Who has more world series titles again? Come on Phillies fans, answer that one! — Sfgiants10
- Pence a much better choice than Beltran, especially given their contract status, and is having a much bigger impact.— VicM
- He's the one that took a hit. The SF players didn't take the hit. The SF players started the incident, Victorino didn't start it. You want to solve it, let Victorino throw a ball from the same distance and hit the SF player(s). Come on SF, take one for the DADT team.— ISawChuckPlay
- @SFGiants10: You should realize that when you said we choked last year you are also saying that the Giants couldn't have won that series unless the Phillies didn't play well.— judas_priest
- Hmph. A stolen base is a stolen base on the player's record, no matter what the lead might be. Besides, anything less than aggressive play would be both an insult to one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball AND could come back to bite the Phillies if the Giants had managed to rally. They've done that in the past, haven't they?— Tucci78
- manuel said it right giants were angry because phillies were scoring runs against their pitching, that rollins stealing angle is B.S. if you don't want him to steal throw him out its baseball every run counts. giants cheered, partied,drank etc after winning nlcs in phila like I said before season started now they must wear being the WS champions the target on their backs everyone going after them deal with it.— only 9
- Pay attention SF, the Phillies are handing the Giants their lunch, along with everyone else lately. What are your one year wonders, 1-9 in the last 10? Can you say "Padres North?"— jburd641
- That's probably also why you suck in any year that's not a contract year, Beltran.— cloudkitt
- Yeah, we'll do that here in SF while you people come up with your clever "you pee the bed" signs. Yeah, that's really mature.— Sfgiants10
- You're wrong. I've watched every game that The Champs have played this year. They've sold out every single time. Can't wait for Timmy to shut you people up tomorrow. Go to bed, it's late.— Sfgiants10
The Giant fans should avoid Baseball and go and discuss that all important referendum in SF Ballot this Fall. Banning Circumcisions! almost as dumb as a SODA Tax— Kevinmac- Philly_Mike,
I agree 100%. Beltran is a quitter!!!! Great post!!!!— MikeOct20 
Carlos Losertran....nothing but a greedy loser— jamarder- Last year was last year, right now is what counts. Bochy's problem is the D-backs.— Northcountry
- the giant players should get double what shane gets...— truebluehen
- sfgiants10. looks like giants fans have a little bit of insecurity.— starman76
- The giants have sold out every home game this year. Why would fans pay for over priced beer and $30 for parking if they were so insecure? Don't get to cocky, you guys will choke again the playoffs. — Sfgiants10
Comment removed.- I love how Utley leaned in to that pitch after the incident and acted like it hit him. I'm surprised he didn't get drilled for that. You Phillies fans need to get over last year.— Sfgiants10
- Issuemoment - Great point! You play to win no matter the scorem, and it wasn't a blow out. Who says you can't steal 2b? These modern players are so sensitive like everyone these days. Look at Verlander. A stud pitcher but a tool! He's throwing a now-hitter and he gets made because an opposing player tries to bunt against him?!?!— SBHAMILTON
- I agree except the proper word is "except".— delcofan
Not surprised at Beltran's comments...did you see his lack of effort in RF last night?? Makes me even happier that we signed Hunter Pence instead...Beltran will always be a Mutt...- A six run lead in the 6th is not insurmountable. By suggesting that it is, Rivera is basically saying, "My team can't win this game." 7th inning or later, 8 runs or more, then you stop stealing bases and start going station to station. Rollins did nothing wrong, and he didn't get Victorino suspended. Victorino did that himself when he went towards the mound instead of pulling an Utley and taking his base.— Scorekeeper
- I think Victorino should get a minimum of five games; two for charging the mound, at least three for pushing an umpire. Five at a minimum, should probably be more— cybersport
- 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
- 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
- I agree accept the proper conjunction is "couldn't/"— KINGOFZED
- and the proper word is except — PhillyfaninMD
- and the proper word is except — PhillyfaninMD
- 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
- lmao.. a bunch of millionaires fighting— zwarte piet
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- 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
- Shane Victorino should be suspended for going back on his word. No questions asked, don't throw at his head.— tgray83
- 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
