Victorino Placed Back on the DL After Being Voted Into All-Star Game
By: Mike Reisman
It's been an eventful week for Shane Victorino, experiencing some of the best, and worst parts of Major League Baseball. The week started with a pre-Independence Day game with the Blue Jays, where Victorino injured his thumb
when falling awkwardly to make a catch. Next, the centerfielder learned that he wouldn't be on the NL All-Star team, however, he would be on the final vote ballot. Just yesterday, Victorino found out that he would indeed be on the team, and now, to top it all off, Victorino will land on the DL with a 1st degree ligament sprain.
Victorino hasn't played since the 4th, and the move will be retroactive to then, allowing him to come back on July 19th, however until then infielder Pete Orr will replace him. Orr batted .230 in 26 games with the Phillies this year, driving in three runs. However, in 35 games with Lehigh Valley he is batting .261 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
Orr was likely brought up to give the Phillies options at third base with Victorino's All-Star teammate suffering through back pain. If Polanco continues to feel pain, and possibly go on the DL with Victorino, Orr could be a solid replacement. With Orr the Phillies will also be able to give Chase Utley a day off if the team still wants to be conservative with his knee.
However, even with this new depth in the infield, Victorino will be dearly missed. The All-Star is on pace for a career high batting average, and he is also on pace to come very close to career highs in home runs, RBIs, and runs. The Phillies will also have to find a new five hole hitter, a problem that Victorino looked like he was beginning to fix before his injury.