Shane Victorino Spring Training Dispatch: Week 2
Throughout spring training this year, Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino has graciously volunteered to provide weekly dispatches about his thoughts on various topics and, most important, keep the fans updated on the Phils’ progress.
Victorino, popular on the field and in the clubhouse for his gregarious nature and hustle, comes into this season as much more than just a novelty role-player nicknamed the “Flying Hawaiian” — this year he becomes a vital component in the team’s quest to get back to the playoffs. Last week, Shane attempted to answer our questions even though he was completely distracted by playing miniature golf with two teammates. This week, he completely flaked on our scheduled interview time again, because he was eating. He must be still on Hawaiian time.
Daily Examiner: Are you all relaxed everything? Done eating?
Shane Victorino: Yeah, yeah. I’m good, man. Just got finished eating.
You’re always eating. How’d the game go yesterday?
It went all right. I don’t feel like I succeeded, though — I struck out once and grounded out to short, but hey, it was the first game, and we were victorious. Today … I don’t know … did we win today? Do you know?
I don’t know …
I left early.
That’s good. I’ll check it out for you.
Yeah, lemme know. Please.
So, who won the mini-golf tournament last week?
Mini-golf winner was Geoff Jenkins. He was the night’s winner.
Did you even see the interview from last week?
Naw, I haven’t seen it!
You were a big hit.
I was?
Well, Gregg Dobbs was a big hit.
Of course …
So, how about that Travis Blackley kid — think he’ll make the team?
Ummm … I think he’s got a good opportunity. I think he’s got a chance. Based on how he did last year in Tacoma with the Mariners, he had some good stuff there. I think he had a good outing today when I watched. But you know, it’s still early in camp, things happen, people get injured — that’s how some guys make the team.
So, I’m assuming you left in around the third inning today?
No, I left in the fifth …
When you were losing 6-5?
I left after we were done hitting.
Well, you lost 11-6.
Damn! I guess we did lose. That’s all right.
Is it weird being around teammates at this time of year — you know, the ones who will probably get cut from the team?
No, not at all. I’ve gone through it. I know what it’s like. Obviously you want to learn from all your experiences, but it’s definitely not uncomfortable. Some are more long shots to make the team — I’ve been in that situation — and it’s not uncomfortable for me. They’re in the camp for a reason.
So, back to Blackley. He’s Australian. Does he have the weird accent?
Yeah. There are actually three of them in camp. [Outfielder Chris] Snelling, Blackley, and [infielder Brad] Harman. All Australian.
Are they tough guys? They’re supposed to be fighters.
I don’t know. I don’t bother to know or find out.
Do they talk about alligators and stuff like that?
No, no, no. You know, I was asking them about that guy Steve Irwin that passed away. I was asking them if it was as big in Australia. They said it wasn’t as big as they made it out to be.
So, they don’t hate stingrays or anything?
No, no, no.
Were you shaken up by the Steve Irwin death or something?
Well, I just thought it was weird. I mean, he’s been around so much worse.
Stupid stingray!
Yeah, you know? But I know those things are deadly too. Any kind of creature, you get into their habitat.
Yeah, in Hawaii, those things are the size of spaceships, right?
You know what’s funny? When Jimmy [Rollins] and I went diving this off-season we saw about an eight-foot manta ray. It was kind of weird because we saw it off to the side, but it was pretty neat to see those things up close in the water.
Did you crap yourself?
Aw, no, no crapping myself. I’ve been in the water before. I’ve seen some big things … no sharks yet.
That’s good. They’re all over the place in Florida right now.
Yeah, how about that guy getting his leg bitten …
They’re swarming in West Palm, right?
Yeah, I don’t want to play with all that … I don’t want to know about all that.
Why? Does it freak you out?
Yeah! Wouldn’t it freak you out?
Speaking of crapping yourself, you ever had Hawaiian butterfish?
Naw. I don’t like fish too much. Cooked fish I don’t like. I like it raw. I like sushi and stuff, but never had butterfish.
It has a nasty side effect, I don’t know if you’re aware of it or not …
No? Does it?
Yeah, it’s terrible.
What is it?
And I’m not trying to gross you out or anything …
No, I don’t eat it, so I don’t care.
Well, okay, it sometimes gives you anal leakage.
[Three-second pause] Oh, that’s disgusting.
Yeah, it happened to me in the middle of Target.
So you had a bad experience.
Lots of people have!
Maybe they didn’t make it the right way? Did they make it the Hawaiian way? Because I’ve never heard of anybody from Hawaii who’s had butterfish ever say something like that …
Really.
Without question. You can’t be saying “Hawaiian” butterfish, though. It’s just butterfish.
That’s what it was. Hawaiian butte—
Nevvvvver heard anybody from Hawaii say anything about that.
All right, but …
NEVER. We’re going to get into an argument here …
That’s fine. That’s what I had! Don’t make me go all Sam Carchidi on you …
Whatever. You have to have somebody from Hawaii make it for you and see if it happens. You would never eat it again probably, though …
No, that’s the thing, it’s such a delicious fish that I would probably put myself through it.
Naw! Naw! That’s horrible. I’ve heard it’s a good fish though.
It’s fantastic. So, everything else is good?
Yeah, I saw [Brad] Lidge throwing today. So that was nice to see. He was out there with the trainer. He wasn’t putting a lot of pressure on the knee or anything, but it was a good sign.
It is a very good sign. You don’t want Tom Gordon out there — he’s 59 years old, for Christ’s sake …
I’ve hit off him [Gordon] in BP, and lemme tell you, he’s still got some good stuff.
Well, maybe he should lift his hat up more? He wears his hat so low, maybe he can’t see the strike zone?
I have no idea about that. That’s probably something he always did. It’s probably his ritual. I’m not going to question what he does, he’s had 20-plus years in the league …
Hey, I’m not saying he’s not good. He had a Stephen King book named after him.
Yeah, that was pretty neat. I saw that book last year.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Naw. Just a pre-game shower. Everybody gets on me about it, saying, “Oh, what do you want to go out there and smell good?”
Who doesn’t? Have you seen your fantasy baseball projections yet this year?
Naw. What’d they say?
They’ve got you penciled in at 30-plus steals again.
I had 37 last year. People told me last year I was a sleeper.
Yeah you were. So, where should I draft you?
I dunno. Not too high. Just plug me in where I’m needed.
Do you think you can repeat the stolen base production?
I hope so. I’m not guaranteeing anything. There are only a couple of guarantees in life: being born and death.
Right. Hopefully not by a stingray.
No, that wouldn’t be nice.
All right. So do I have to call you at 7:30 next week? So you can finish eating?
Yeah, do that.
All right. Don’t be late this time.
Why, you don’t like staying at work until 9 o’clock at night?
No. No I don’t.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
So you hung out till 9, AJ, to talk about getting the runs in Target? Much better than happy hour, I am sure!
February 29th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
The Flying Hawaiian is truly a wellspring of information. You should sign him up for a whole season of dispatches.