Let’s start with the obvious, his full name is Shane Patrick Victorino or Shawn Victorini if you happen to go by the name M. Dawg.  He is a 28 year old outfielder for the defending world champion Phillies with great speed and defensive ability. More impressively, he came from being a rule 5 draft pick, like the Mets own Johan Santana and many others listed here.
His career batting stats aren’t too shabby either, especially for a Rule 5 draft pick. Oh and let’s not forget his supposed personal life, where shown here or through a friend of mine who has met him, he thinks of himself as quite the “ladies man” or jerk, depending on how you see it.
Weee womanizing is fun!
But lets go back to his baseball career for a second. He plays for the Philadelphia Phillies, who as I mentioned are the defending World Champions, as much as that pains me to say. This Phillies team, led by an outspoken Jimmy Rollins, has said for years that the Mets celebrate too much.  They make light of Reyes’ handshakes and the smiling and obvious enjoyment of the fact they can play a game for a living and make millions. Any sports fan would give up quite a bit to have this kind of lifestyle, so forgive me if I don’t get offended for players having a good time with this.
If you want to talk about what the Mets do, it is in no way an attempt to show up the other team when they get a big hit, get a save or hit a home run. Does Frankie Rodriguez stare into the opposing dugout when he gets a save and points to the sky while I assume saying a prayer? Does Jose Reyes do a handshake with Carlos Delgado in the Phillies on-deck circle while staring in at them as well? Lets go one step further, if David Wright scores a run late in a game against a division rival, does he fist pump directly at the opposing team dugout? The answer to all of these questions is NO. They show emotion and excitement to their own team, teammates and mostly to themselves..
I will say though, that for the most part, the Phillies don’t do the things Mets players do with the handshakes and gestures to the sky, but does that make mean them immune from the criticism? Absolutely not. Jimmy Rollins showed us on Tuesday night that he likes to play with the crowd, and you know what? Good for him, but realize that this is very similar, if not worse to what Mets players do. Worse because once again most players do their celebrations only for their enjoyment as a teammate and as a player, not to opposing fans or players. Ryan Howard will also admire virtually every homerun the big man hits, and again, for good reason as they are typically landing the next day in another country. By all means take that sight in before you trot around the bases, you earned it. Once again though, with this observation lets quit with the double standard of the Mets celebrations. How is admiring your home run from the batters box and different from a handshake on your way to the dugout?
For the record, I dispise seeing virtually every batter on the Phillies come to the plate, not because I would not love a player like that on my favorite team, but simply because they can always hurt you. Even with Jimmy Rollins batting a bomby .226 , he still makes me nervous stepping to the plate in a big spot against the Mets. The one player that doesn’t fit into this same mold is Shane Victorino, and not because he can’t get a big hit to hurt the Mets. He has proven he can, but its his other actions that make no sense.
Victorino unlike the players on his team does taunt toward the opposing team and specifically seems thinks that is the right thing to do, he does it repeatedly. Did anyone else notice last night after Utley hit the eventual game winning homerun that most players in the Phillies dugout were celebrating, high fiving and excited. Victorino was too, but he needed to make it about himself, trying to mock Frankie Rodriguez and also had no other Phillies players near him to high five. Coincidence? When he gets a big hit late in a game and is standing on base, what does he do? He claps loudly, typically in the exact direction of the Mets dugout, and I can only imagine the words out of his mouth. Last year after scoring a run against the Mets in a close game, he literally STOOD both feet on home plate, again, clapping toward the Mets dugout. How is this not worse than a high five or a fist pump when a player on the Mets gets a big hit? I actually don’t think that Victorino does this by chance though.
Its about me!
Last October in the NLDS against the then CC Sabathia of the Milwaukee Brewers, Victorino hit a grand slam into the left field stands at CBP. He responded by rounding the bases with one arm raised, as he should have, it was a huge hit and the first of a very successful postseason for Shane. After the game, his teammates put a sign on his locker with “J Reyes” as the name. This is dumb on a couple levels, beginning with the fact that Victorino can’t be excited to hit a huge grand slam in the playoffs? This homerun all bust secured game 1 of this series, and put shockwaves through the Brewers system as if Sabathia couldn’t do it, who could? Secondly, why is it after the Mets are playing golf, the Phillies must still think about the Mets?
what is wrong with celebrating this?
Victorino does many things that I honestly don’t think you would see out of the rest of his teammates. I may hate the Phillies as a passionate Mets fan, but they come to play, they may showboat a bit and not admit it, but they play clean. They slide hard into second, they run around the bases as fast as possible and they make great defensive plays on what seems like a nightly basis. They even have relief pitching, which even when not as solid as last year, can still get the team through a close game, as they did last night. Victorino disrespects the other team, makes bush league plays like the shove of Jose Reyes last month and feels the need to always be seen.
With all this said, I have come to the conclusion its not that Victorino is trying to be hated, I actually feel sorry for him. He does make the bushleague plays, and that may just be him, but it may be something else. What if Victorino is not meant for this Phillies team? What if he has a Napoleon complex? What if he looks at the Mets team having fun, smiling, high fiving and doing some dancing in the dugout and wishes he was there? Shane Victorino might just be jealous of what the Mets have, and he just doesn’t fit on his own team. The truth appeared to come out during that homerun against Sabathia and even last night when he imitated Frankie Rodriguez, his natural reaction may have been to jump up and down and run around the dugout high fiving, but he can’t do that. He can’t do that because the Phillies just don’t accept that type of personality. They don’t appear to accept him on their team, they seem to dislike him. For that reason he needs to relate it to what the Phillies say about the Mets, they celebrate too much.
Keep telling yourself this Shane, or Shawn, whatever you like to be called, but from now on, I’m going to give you a pass and not let it effect me as much because its sad and its pathetic. Be yourself, I bet your teammates and the fans will respect and cheer for you even more. You can tell they sure don’t now, and if I’m wrong about this, Phillies fans, let me know! You would never fit on the Mets, at the least, players on the Mets, while on the field appear to be themselves. They may not be perfect, but they show the emotion they want to show, they high five, they point to the sky, but that is who they are. I respect players and people who know who they are, and you Shane, obviously have no clue who you are as a person.
its ok to admit it
77 comments
rustyjr
6/11/2009-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
great article mrose …. and victorini is a di** with a capitol D which Ryhmes with T which stands for tool !!
dirtysanchez
6/11/2009-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
outstanding piece matt…well done
i think it is a jealousy thing. I mean albert puljos does the same thing as howard but nothing gets said about him? It all comes back to the double standard and all shane will say is the mets did it first. Thats why i never thought we should have given into that.
dirtysanchez
6/11/2009-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
btw..that homer pick is creepy lol
rustyjr
6/11/2009-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
well he is creepy – he makes morticians look normal lol
rustyjr
6/11/2009-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
btw the bosox drafted beltrans cousin
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Thank you mrose! Maybe it is Napoleon complex. Vicky is 5’9 small frame with smaller penis. Reyes is 6’3 with Mandingo in his pants.
Vicky needs to get beaned. Normally I wouldn’t say this about other players, but after last night’s debacle, Vicky just became my public enemy #1.
BTW, Rollins was next to Vicky on top of the dugout seats doing the same thing.
mrose
6/11/2009-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
was he? i missed that
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
yes, Rollins was kinda off to the side on the screen, but clearly it was him.
There's Always '09
6/11/2009-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
I don’t feel qualified to comment on either one’s penis size.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
LOL
rustyjr
6/11/2009-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
Rotfl
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I have always wondered what Rotfl meant….
stickguy
6/11/2009-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
rolling on the floor laughing.
I will let you guess what the MAO extension means.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
hmmm… i know what LMAO means…
metsgirl31
6/11/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Great post!
metsfan4decades
6/11/2009-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Great thoughts on this subject of Victorino and celebrations.
I don’t think I’m as magnanimous as you, mrose. I can’t stand him and he’ll never be getting my sympathy – lol. Close behind for me is Rollins and Hamels…..
mrose
6/11/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
lol
i just came to the realization last night…and I just had to post about it…
don’t have to feel the same..but he is truly a pathetic guy
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
Grave, my point continues here.
I get your point. Yes, my comparison is stupid between WS victory and 4th inning HR in May. But I also think this “un-written rule†is stupid as well. I mean how do you know when it’s okay to celebrate on the field? Who determines that? Who is Vicky to say that KRod’s celebration wasn’t out of pure joy similar to a WS win? I don’t understand.
Reyes hits a HR and does the cheesy handshakes on top stairs of the dugout. So, is it okay if Reyes went down one step and did this? Or does he have to be completely in the dugout? So, if he’s in the dugout, is it okay to give the opposition a F-U and moon them?
Say Delgado hits a HR, and bow to the opposition thanking them for allowing him to hit a HR and the go into the dugout and give them a big F-U. Is that okay since he was gracious on the field and mock them in the dugout?
I mean this rule is ridiculous. Why can’t they celebrate what they just did? and Why is it okay to do that in the dugout (you can clearly see other team’s dugout) and not on the field?
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
The way I see it, they can talk all the trash they want (As much as it makes me cringe), because they CAN. Until the day we shut their ugly heads by winning the division or outlasting them in the playoffs, we gotta grin it and bear it. Nuff said,,
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Thanks Qns, I agree SO totally.
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
And you got these two devestatingly witty characters…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3495281115_cb24886eae.jpg
You gotta grin it and bear it here too… but I would most likely get into a fight with this guy…just because.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
LOL! Damn, never saw that before!
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Look familiar…
http://www.calvintang.com/albums/Philippines/lg/big%20eyes4s.jpg
dirtysanchez
6/11/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
lmao disturbing but i get the point
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
LOL. That’s a funny picture.
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
That’s actually Vicky’s father. I have proof of that thanks to Maury Pauvich.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
This Vicky @ age 50
http://datastore.rediff.com/briefcase/54615E6A566A5A646B71713030/1k3frz475v0lpanr.D.14429.big_eyes.3gp-0001.png
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Just emailed Evan Roberts regarding this matter. Surprisingly he replied back! He said that he’s sick of this punk and he’ll bring it up on the air. Funny.
mrose
6/11/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
nice, can you tell him to look at this post!!!
lol
i’m serious too!
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
LOL. I will do that.
There's Always '09
6/11/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
did he mention it?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Nope. He didn’t mention it
mrose
6/11/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
did he touch on the subject yet?
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Nope.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
They just went over Mets turning point… Werthless catch…
mrose
6/11/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
i have officially turned on wfan now
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
The fat man comes on at what time again?
mrose
6/11/2009-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
1
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I refuse to listen to that guy. I dont like having high blood pressure.
mrose
6/11/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
me too, i’ll listen until then..
then back to the opie and anthony from yesterday
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Yeah me too. I turn off the radio at 1.
udontmesswthejohan
6/11/2009-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Good job Mrose. I’ve kind of had it with this jerk. I have never liked him but at least used to respect his ability, but it’s becoming more and more clear that he is just a jerk.
Also, as you noted, there is a double standard between the way the two teams are treated and it is really becoming tiresome. I would also add the incident last year where J Roll didn’t run out a ball (shouldn’t happen but most of them do that to some extent) and then a few days later showed up late for a game (unexceptable) and yet he is constantly lauded as this great team player and leader.
Honestly, I think the Mets have had enough of it and I think these teams are really starting not to like eachother and it may well culminate in a fight. You had back to back night’s of clean hard slides breaking up a double play and then the Pelfrey insident. I think the straw has finally broken the Mets collective backs and they are ready to fight back.
There's Always '09
6/11/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
I think we are going to beat the Phils this year and shut them up for good. That being said, I think Tim Redding needs to put one in Vic’s or Jimbo’s back.
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
We beat the Phils last yr(head 2 head) and we still ended up where we ended up. Its’s just our inability to slap around the sub .500 teams and letting unknown pitchers man handle us.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Again, completely right.
There's Always '09
6/11/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I wasn’t referring to head to head. By beating the Phils I meant we are going to finish ahead of them in the standings. Just a feeling I get. I was very pessimistic last year and in 2007 when the wheels were falling off the wagon.
We do handle them well head to head, but I’d rather get swept in the season series and win the division.
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Oh ok. You think we can do it with the boys we have though, and with all the injuries?
There's Always '09
6/11/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
I think since we all pushed the panic button after the sweep in Pittsburgh, they have responded pretty well. They have been in a position to win all but one of the last 5 games. That’s really all you can ask for. With Santana going out there every 5 days, I like our chances. I think Pelf is a very solid starter as well. One thing that will throw a wrench into this would be losing Maine for any extended period of time.
I think we’ll win this division by a few games. A big part of it will be because we’ll stay close and be able to win 9 of the remaining 13(?) games against these d-bags.
dirtysanchez
6/11/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
we won the battle..they won the war
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
Yes. I would give up a run to plunk these jerks.
mrose
6/11/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
I sure hope so
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
At the risk of being slammed, I have to inject another thought, and forgive me if someone else already has:
What would we all think of the Phils if they behaved like they did and finished 2nd and out of the playoffs the last two years??
mrose
6/11/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
then it would be pure jealousy and it’d be more understandable..
the fact that they have done obviously more than us two years in a row, yet still act like they do, shows that they have some sort of inferiority complex or what not with us
QnsNative718
6/11/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Calling out the Mets right after the World Series??? If that doesnt scream inferiority complex I dont know what does. Then again, a franchise with over 10,000 losses really wouldnt know how to act in that situation.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Inferiority complex, or just being thrilled to have the opportunity to continue shoving it down the throat of the Mets and their fans?
mrose
6/11/2009-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Kingman – same thing?
lol
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, you may have a point there!!
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
I think we can all agree Vicky and Rollins are jerks.
We need better name for Rollins…. Rollo? J-Poll?
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
Polly??
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Vicky and Polly?
Sounds like a couple of Philly streetwalkers….
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
J walk
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I would have the same opinion regardless. I think….
udontmesswthejohan
6/11/2009-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
This may be a bit of a stretch, but put it this way Brock. What Rollins did was akin to DWright (just imagine with me for a minute) getting up on the steps of City Hall and saying “What are the Yankee’s doing right now!!!” after winning the WS.
Now granted we don’t play in the same division or league as the Yankees, but Mets and yankee fans hate eachother and while it would feel great, it would also be incredibly stupid and a little bit sad, and that’s how I felt Rollins came off.
Enjoy your victory and savor the moment, and been a good sport about it. I for one wished they hadn’t one, but I had to give them credit, but his bringing up the Mets just showed his lack of class IMO.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I totally agree that that would be pretty cheesy, but I don’t think Wright would do that.
I mean, I am no shrinking shy violet here, and I loved the 86 Mets’ brashness, and I would have loved to see Pelf smack Utley in his damn head last night, I really would have. Utley’s leaning over the plate bugs me more than Vicky bugs some others I think; that behavior is really bush league.
I just have always had a thing with Reyes’ 2nd inning dances. I know I am in the minority, but I think he looks like an idiot when he does that early in games, and it does give the Marlins more incentive to beat us.
But damn, I just hope we make it farther than the Phils this season; that is the only way this will end.
Still, we have perhaps the very best rivalry in Met history brewing here. The last two games were about the most intense and exciting of the year.
I really hope we win tonight.
udontmesswthejohan
6/11/2009-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t happen to agree with your feelings about Reyes, but they are legit and I know a lot of Mets fans who would agree with you. I tend to view it as youthful exuberance rather than showing anyone else up. One of the thngs that I love so much about Wright and Reyes is how the play the game and seem to really enjoy playing the game rather than it being a chore. Int he end though different strokes for different folks, and who knows, if the roles were reversed and Jose was on another team I am sure I might feel differently.
I totally agree with you regarding the last two games. They have been a lot of fun. Too bad I have only one eye on the game and the other on my 10 week old puppy (named Mookie Wilson btw) that seems to think that chewing on eletrical cords is standard operating procedure.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
I totally agree that Jose’s antics are youthful enthusiasm, but the other teams might not see it that way.
And that is great, a puppy named Mookie Wilson! Good luck on keeping him away from the electrical cords…yikes!
mrose
6/11/2009-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
looks like Evan lied
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm…
mrose
6/11/2009-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
i can’t blame them for talking about being invited to watch a lingerie football league..
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
LOL Yeah I would do the same thing!
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/11/2009-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
I guess he did.
trs86
6/11/2009-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
Slow day.
Kingman 26
6/11/2009-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
That will change in about 6 hours and 15 minutes or so!
rustyjr
6/11/2009-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
so true – still wondering why my posts commenst are low
CaseStreet
6/11/2009-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
hey all, have to say the rivalry is getting better and better.
didn’t see the game last night but caught the recap, tough loss but glad the team’s fighting.
Screw the NY Post for “Chock Citi” cover, while they barely mention the Yanks 8th loss to Boston. Same for the Daily News, they like misery.
Remember, .500 ball is all we need for now. Come Aug and Sept we’re kicking ass and taking names.
rustyjr
6/11/2009-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
last night was a great game – even though we lost it ranks up there with some true nail biters
CaseStreet
6/11/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
“Choke Citi”