Shane Victorino Says He Wanted to Come Back to the Phillies

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Kyle Scott - January 7, 2013

Photo: Philadelphia Boys & Girls Clubs

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but Shane Victorino wanted to return to the Phillies this winter. Of course, the feelings weren’t mutual because paying Victorino $39 million over the next 36 months – something the Red Sox signed up for – at this stage of his career is ridiculous. But despite Victo’s sometimes annoying Twitter and all that Slappiness, for me, the Phils trading Victo signaled the end of an era. Not the end of success, (because the Phils still have plenty of players remaining from the 2008 team and will contend for the next few years)… just the end of a short, magnificent era of Phillies baseball.

Victorino was in (Not-So) Nicetown* on Friday for the one-year anniversary of his Boys & Girls Club. Here’s what he told Matt Gelb of Philly.com about wanting to come back to the Phillies:

"Oh yeah, absolutely," Victorino said. "I focused on that. I wanted to come back. We kept in touch and informed them on what was going on and the opportunities I was getting. We gave them every last shot to give me an opportunity to come back. This was the place I wanted to be. But unfortunately it didn't work out."

…

"I look at all the memories I've left here and I will always have here," Victorino said. "You never say never. Will I never be a Phillie again? Who knows? But right now I'm a Red Sox and I'm focused on that opportunity. Every time I come back to this city, the memories rekindle.”

…

Phillies fans will have a chance to formally show their gratitude for Victorino's service May 29-30, when the Red Sox play a two-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. "To be a visiting player in my home park," he said, "it's going to be fun."

The folks in Boston may take issue with Victorino calling CBP his “home park.” But I’m just fine with it.

*He was joined by his old boss, Phillies president David Montgomery.

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Aloha! Shane Victorino Will be a Postseason Analyst on TBS

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Kyle Scott - October 8, 2012

Aloha!!!! Thanks to TBS, the Turner family, the city of Atlanta and the month of October for having me #TrulyThankful #AndBlessed. I can’t wait to talk about the Major League Baseball Postseason featuring some of the best teams from around the Americas, no questions asked. Neither of my two teams this season the Phillies and Dodgers will be playing in the playoffs but that won’t stop me from rooting the teams on because I love the game so much and I’m blessed to have played in just one Postseason let alone five. #08NeverForget #Love #SwingAndAMissStruckHimOut #Hashtag I love the guys on the Cardinals and Jayson Werth my former outfield mate plays for the Nationals and I think I once hooked up with a chick from Oakland and I mean Derek Jeter is a legend! So I can’t wait to break it all down I’m truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity and this is why I mean it when I say live each day to the fullest, no questions asked, you know? Look for this Flyin’ Hawaiian tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday on TBS where I’ll join Matt Winer, David Wells (yo @Boom! WHAT up?!) and Dennis Eckersley. Can’t wait!!!! Aloha!!!!!!!!

Jimmy Rollins, of course, is working as a studio analyst, too, for the MLB Network.

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Shane Victorino and His Foundation Thank Fans with Billboard

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Kyle Scott - August 10, 2012

Pic via Shane Victorino Foundation

Following up his full-page ads in the Inquirer and Daily News, Shane Victorino (more likely, his foundation) purchased some billboard space to thank fans. Not sure where it is.

Nice.

If you remember, last year, David Akers did something similar.

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Shane Victorino and His Wife Aren’t Quite on the Same Page, it Seems

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Kyle Scott - August 8, 2012

Doh. We’re not going to make a joke about Shane Victorino and his wife not always being in tune (we’ll leave that to the commenters), but their plans for the future – next year – may differ. Slightly.

Because he looooves speaking to the media, Shane Victorino told ESPN Los Angeles that after spending, like, six days in LA (and seeing the hard bodies at the US Open of Surfing), he wants to remain on the Left Coast forever. For. Ev. Er.

[ESPN.com]

"I don't want to just be a two-month or three-month rental," Victorino said. "I want to be here."

"Don't get me wrong. I still miss Philly and I still miss everything about that place, but now that this chapter has come into play, there are a lot of other things I look at," Victorino said. "I'd love to stay here for the next however many years and win one here."

Ouch. That was like reading a transcript of an ex-girlfriend's nooner with Ryan Lochte– ohhh, ahhh, ohhhmagodyesyesyesforgetkyleyouresogreat… always letting the other person finish first.

Back to our story.

On the opposite coast, Melissa Victorino attended a luncheon at the Borgata. Our friend Dan Gross relays what was said: [Philly.com]

Victorino was emotional as she spoke with her friends about moving to Los Angeles, where her husband now plays for the Dodgers. She pledged that the Shane Victorino Foundation would continue its charitable doings in the Philly area.

Victorino added that "Shane will be a free agent after the season, and you never know what Ruben [Amaro Jr.] has up his sleeve. We might be back here."

Now, we wouldn’t expect either party to say otherwise. Shane is trying to win over local fans and is part of an organization in a good location, with a good team, and with GOBS of money. Of course he wants to stay in LA (plus, you know, surfing people).

Melissa, on the other hand, was speaking to local friends and supporters, and, as we’ve learned with Kristen Lee, wives taken longer to move on since they have more time to establish ties in the community, do charity work… and eat at the Capital Grille.

Whatever the case, there’s about a .02% chance the Phillies even entertain the idea of bringing Victorino back. They’ve turned the page. Moved on. Are retooling (though there’s a fuzzy and sometimes indistinguishable line between retooling and rebuilding).

Anyway, Victo may want to call his wife, maybe.

H/T to (@JBer89)

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Video: MLB Fan Cave’s Creepy Gotye Parody About Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence

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Kyle Scott - August 6, 2012

Not that any parody of a Gotye song wouldn’t be creepy, but this one, performed by MLB Fan Cave dweller Gordon Mack, sets the bar.

I can’t decide if I like it or hate it. Admittedly, I looked like this guy for most of the day last Tuesday, but Hunter Pence’s contributions and tenure with the Phillies were much less than Shane Victorino’s.

The Victo trade hit me a lot harder as it symbolized the end of an era. The Pence trade was just pointless– he was a under team control next season, in the prime of his career, and could realistically be counted on for 25 home runs and 90 RBIs. Now we're stuck with Dom Brown, some other slop, and and some extra room under the luxary tax threshold. Cool, guys.

Once again, thanks to our friends at (@SportsTalkPhila) for discovering our video entertainment for the afternoon.

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Shane Victorino is Already Doing Interviews from the US Open of Surfing

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Kyle Scott - August 2, 2012

The Shane Victorino left coast Tweets have started, admittedly sooner than we expected.

Shane Victorino is tweeting today from the US Open of Surfing (yeah, yeah– that exists), where he was interviewed during the event’s live web feed. Incredibly, reader Chris was one of two people in the whole world watching it, and he sent along this screen grab:

Aloha, Shane. Nice to see the left coast is treating you well. Say hello to Richie for me.

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Shane Victorino Takes Out Full-Page Ad in Inquirer and Daily News to Thank Phillies Fans

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Kyle Scott - August 2, 2012

Shane Victorino and his wife, Melissa, took out this full-page ad today's Daily News and Inquirer.

Based on the Inquirer and Daily News' rate card, and assuming the Philadelphia Media Network folks gave an aggressive rate usually reserved for large advertisers, the two full-page ads, with color, probably cost Victo (or his foundation…) somewhere around $35,000. To which I say: What the hell, Shane? This slappy would have given you a site-takeover ad for, like, $1,000… for the week. Let's talk.

Oh wells, classy move either way.

via Bob Vetrone Jr., of the Daily News

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It’s Going to be Difficult to Keep Following Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence on Twitter

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Kyle Scott - August 1, 2012

Gah! I told you this was going to happen. Shane Victorino tweeting LA freeway pictures? Hunter Pence tweeting videos of his coffee cup? GAH!

God, a year ago, we would have eaten this stuff up. Now I’m searching for the “unfollow” button. At least Shane has a Phillies plush toy in his locker.

…

Other news: The Dodgers designated Bobby Abreu for assignment to make room for Shane Victorino. My, how this world turns.

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