Fans vote early, often for Victorino
Center fielder among five candidates for final NL roster spot at All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino is known for his energy and nonstop hustle. But with the exception of the team's 2008 World Series run, nothing compares to the whirlwind he's experienced this week.
For the past couple of days, Victorino has been blanketing the airwaves more than local weather guru Glenn "Hurricane'' Schwartz.
Victorino is one of five National League candidates in Major League Baseball's All-Star "Final Vote'' fan initiative, which allows fans to select, through online balloting, the final roster spot for each league in Tuesday's All-Star Game, and the Phillies have been marketing the occasion to the hilt. Victorino filmed a TV commercial this week, and the Tigers and Phils have been pushing Brandon Inge and Victorino in a dual promotion they're calling "Bran Torino.''
The Phils made up sandwich signs to advance Victorino's cause, and reliever Chan Ho Park jokingly wore one to a team photo Wednesday. At the behest of the club's public relations staff, Victorino even went door to door with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter in search of Final Vote support.
"Now that I look back, I'm like, 'Did I really do that?'" Victorino said. "I had fun, though. The mayor was a very energetic person.''
Victorino's .308 batting average, 15 stolen bases, excellent defense and sunny-side-up attitude can only help his cause. But in the overall scheme of things, nothing helps more than a well-timed base hit.
Victorino's ninth-inning single off David Weathers scored Pedro Feliz to give the Phillies a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Although the hit was meaningful primarily for helping Philadelphia maintain its two-game lead over Florida in the NL East, the All-Star ramifications couldn't be ignored.
"I guess the 'Flyin' Hawaiian' wants to go to the All-Star Game, doesn't he?'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said at the start of his postgame news conference.
Critics might take issue with commissioner Bud Selig for the World Baseball Classic and the "This Time It Counts'' All-Star Game initiative, but the Final Vote has been an indisputable hit. As of Wednesday night, more than 34 million votes had been cast by fans on MLB's Web site.
Mark Reynolds fever is prominent in Arizona, where U.S. Sen. John McCain endorsed the Diamondbacks third baseman via Twitter. And Pablo Sandoval, the Giants' beloved "Kung Fu Panda,'' has been jockeying back and forth with Victorino for first place in the NL balloting.
Some Phillies fans are embracing the Victorino push more than others. Brendan Shelly, a recent graduate of Misericordia University, Ryan Leary, a student at Penn State, and Mark Natale, a senior at LaSalle, have been voting nonstop for the Flyin' Hawaiian as part of a promotion sponsored by Philadelphia radio station WIP. They arrived at Citizens Bank at noon Tuesday and will risk carpal tunnel syndrome through the end of balloting at 4 p.m. ET Thursday.
"Apparently it's not too easy to find people with laptops and half a brain who are available for three days,'' Shelly said.
By Wednesday evening, the three students had recorded 22,000 votes for Victorino and 20,000 on behalf of Inge. The participant who logs the most votes will receive four Phillies game tickets and the opportunity to take batting practice with Victorino. The runner-up gets two tickets and a signed jersey.
Groggy, bleary-eyed and fortified by Tastykakes, the sleep-deprived students hunkered down at the ballpark late Wednesday and prepared to make a final push on behalf of their man.
"We've had our bad stretches where we've forgotten each other's names,'' said Natale, who had slept only 20 minutes in two days. He referred to it as a "strategic nap.''
As it turns out, Victorino could make the All-Star team regardless of whether he wins the Final Vote. The NL is going to need a center fielder to replace the injured Carlos Beltran. And since Beltran was elected by fan vote -- and not in player balloting -- Manuel apparently is not obligated to consider player voting in picking a substitute. Victorino and the Dodgers' Matt Kemp are the two likely candidates to fill Beltran's spot.
"All five guys are deserving, so we'll see what happens tomorrow and we'll go from there,'' Victorino said.
Spoken like a true politician.
Jerry Crasnick covers baseball for ESPN.com. His book "License To Deal" was published by Rodale. Click here to order a copy. Jerry can be reached via e-mail.
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