Victorino ready for return to Philly
Despite being on the disabled list, Shane Victorino will join his Red Sox teammates in Philadelphia following tonight's game at Fenway Park.
Domonic Brown was named the National League Player of the Week on Tuesday, and for good reason.
Brown batted .348 (8-for-23) with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored in six games. In the month of May, the only major leaguers who have hit more home runs than Brown's seven: Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout and Carlos Gonzalez.
That's pretty good company. Not exactly the kind of company he shares in a current Phillies outfield that ranks 28th in baseball in OPS and was referred to by my friend Phil Sherdian of the Philadelphia Inquirer in his column today as, "The Outfield From Hell."
Shane Victorino, then, escaped hell.
After establishing himself as a big league player in Philadelphia - going to two All-Star games, winning three Gold Gloves and being a pivotal part of the 2008 World Series-winning team - Victorino was traded by the Phils last July. The Phils also decided to look elsewhere when Victorino filed for free agency this winter.
Victorino signed in Boston.
Shortly after he signed, Victorino circled four games on his handy Red Sox pocket schedule: the four games the Sox and Phils play against each other in late May.
But Victorino went on the DL (left hamstring strain) three days before the home-and-home series with the Phillies began this week. Despite not being able to play, Victorino will fly to Philadelphia tonight.
On Wednesday, the Phils will almost certainly play a tribute video in his honor, much like the Red Sox did on Monday night at Fenway Park for Jonathan Papelbon. Victorino is looking forward to it.
"I definitely wanted to go," Victorino said of making the trip despite being on the DL. "I want to go because I want to see the fans. I want to acknowledge them, show I appreciated playing in Philly for all of those years.
"And not only on the field, but off the field in allowing me to have my (Nicetown) Boys and Girls club, the support they gave my foundation. That's stuff that's special to me.
"Going back and seeing everybody is special too. ... tip my cap and show the fans I appreciated them just as much as they appreciated me. I enjoyed playing in front of 45,000 (fans) every night, that showed up every night, wind, rain, whatever. That's what's special to me, that's why I really wanted to go."