Shane Victorino benched as Charlie Manuel laments his approach
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Shane Victorino benched as Charlie Manuel laments his approach
Matt Gelb
There was a meeting before Charlie Manuel benched Shane Victorino. It happened Thursday night after a Phillies loss. Victorino had started 70 of the team's first 71 games and in his last one, he popped out in the eighth to strand the potential tying run on second base.
He was booed as an ordinary season slogged to another day — until Manuel told him he would not be a part of Friday's action.
"There was no apparent reason," Victorino said.
The manager was more revealing.
"I wanted to sit him down and want him to relax," Manuel said. "I just want him to sit there and see if he can clear his head a little bit. We'll give him a break and see what happens. Sometimes an off day is good for you."
Victorino, who is some 100 days away from free agency, says he is not concerned by that impending status. When asked if Victorino's contract has had a negative effect, Manuel rolled his eyes and said, "What do you think?"
That said enough.
For one, Victorino has not driven the ball with the frequency he did a season ago. He was among baseball's best when 10.2 percent of his hits went for extra bases. That rate has dropped to 7.4 percent in 2012, which would be his lowest since 2006.
Nearing the halfway point of this season, Victorino is on pace for career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Victorino predicted he would lead the league in triples as part of a national ad campaign for Major League Baseball before the season started. Through 71 games, he doesn't even lead the Phillies. Juan Pierre has three and Victorino has two.
"The way they're pitching him, he's striding quick and getting out on his front side," Manuel said. "He's an arm and hand hitter right now. He's an upper-body hitter. He's like a two-strike, defensive hitter from the left side right now.
"I want him to stay back and take better cuts at the ball."
Data from MLB's Pitch F/X system shows Victorino is seeing slightly fewer fastballs. He has seen more change-ups in 2012 while putting fewer in play.
"They take the sting out of his bat," Manuel said.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Victorino needs a rest, Charlie is the best at this kind of thing with a hitter. Victorino should just sit and shut up.— Ron- Best to move the "sittin Hawaiian" for prospects. Time for a yoot movement.— NewMick314
- Lack of talent is excusable, but lack of effort is just sickening. Vic has the talent, he just needs to focus and stop trying to hit a 5 run homer in each abat. (He is not the only one!)— Liferphan
- RAJ ought to give Uncle Cholly the rest of the year off so he can clear his head of all that hot air. Maybe he can take Polanco with him who is the Barack Obama of the Phillies---constantly getting a free media pass for ineptitude.— Phillip Phan
- You guys should be in your glory these days! You're all a bunch of negative, grumbling, unhappy old ladies! I swear I've never heard more unhappy "fans" of a team that won a world series, played in another one, and won FIVE straight NL East Championships...Seems like you guys are happier when you really have something to complain about...Don'y worry, eventually the Phillies will return to a second rate team and you will all be so much happier!— drjimmy
- FF— VicM
