He Wanted it More: Shane Victorino's an All-Star

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Shane Victorino was not the All-Star on that list.

A simple comparison of the stats is going to show you that out of the five, he was the least likely to be voted in.

According to the stats.

Two years ago, I sat in the stands at Citizens Bank Park, while the Phillies were embarrassing themselves in that way they sometimes do, or “Lidge-ing” it, as we’re calling it these days. Having just lost the lead late in the game, someone behind me yelled, “Remember this! Remember this in September when we’re a game or two out!”

This was followed by a hurricane of garbage being chucked from the outfield stands onto the grass below, while the Phillies were still on the field.

I peaked over the fence and looked down from the 400 level. There was Shane Victorino, kicking trash off the field, looking up and shaking his head, asking us, “Why?”

Another year, another game, and Shane hit the walk-off home run on a day they were handing out bobble heads with his likeness. I was carried out of my section by screaming fans simply because I was wearing a Victorino jersey.

Guess what, San Fran, L.A., Arizona, and, uh … Washington. You can put up a hissy-fit about how he doesn’t deserve it; how his batting average was the lowest and the whole “Bran Torino” thing was cheap.

Here’s the difference: Shane just wanted it more.

Who else of the five prospective All-Stars went door-to-door with the Mayor of their city, asking nicely for a simple click of the mouse next to his name? Who else smacked a game-winning base hit to prove their worth?

The guy’s got heart, talent, and an attitude that doesn’t make you want to throw up.  He’s fast, he’s clean, and when he isn’t throwing out Gregor Blanco at home to end the game, he’s shoving pies into a teammate’s face during an interview.

OK, yeah, Pablo Sandoval had that grand slam. Whatever.

Shane could have been elected president today if he wanted to. It’s just a matter of finding the city with most jobless, open-scheduled, OCD baseball fans.

Well, here we are.

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