Notes: Victorino not about to let up

02/24/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Shane Victorino naturally thinks of his first big-league tater -- a three-run shot that iced a September win against the Braves -- as a crowning moment to his 2005 season.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hitting coach Sal Rende sees it differently.
"The at-bat that was really good was the day before," Rende said. "Chipper Jones was playing in, and [Victorino] hit a rocket right at him. To me, that was the better swing. That was the culmination of everything we did that summer."
Though Victorino nearly grounded into a triple play on that "rocket," Rende saw it as a sign that his pupil had put what he learned in their practice time together to good use. The two spent a lot of time together during Victorino's season with the Red Barons, trying to shorten the third-year switch-hitter's swing from the left side of the plate.
"He put me where I want to be," said Victorino. "I was excited this spring that he was still around to polish up what still needs polishing."
More polished than a year ago, Victorino has put himself much closer to where he wants to be, in Spring Training with an excellent shot of making the Phillies' Opening Day roster. On a team searching for a fifth outfielder, Victorino looms as the fourth outfielder and a bench option who can provide speed and good defense.
He's shed the Rule 5 Draft tag that dogged him last spring, pressuring him into a .167 average in 54 Grapefruit League at-bats. Offered back to the Dodgers, he remained when the Phillies worked out a trade.
"That was probably the worst spring I ever had," Victorino said. "I tried to do too much, and that's where I went wrong. This year, I'll be more relaxed and comfortable to get at-bats and playing time."
This doesn't mean Victorino is taking his pending roster spot lightly, despite coming off a Triple-A season -- .310 average, 18 homers, 16 triples, 25 doubles and 70 RBIs -- in which he earned International League Most Valuable Player honors.
"It was a great experience," he said. "My whole game changed, offensively and defensively. It goes back to confidence. It's a confidence booster to be considered the fourth outfielder here, and there's one more behind me. But I'm not going say I'm a lock to make this team. I still have to prove myself."
Streaking: Jimmy Rollins' pursuit of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak -- easily the biggest story of the early season -- isn't just exciting for fans and the media. The clubhouse got quiet on Friday, when flat-screen TVs at either end of the room showed an ESPN feature on Rollins.
"It's exciting for us to be a part of it," said Ryan Howard, Rollins' houseguest during the season. "He has a chance to be part of history, and we get to watch him every day."
Crushing: If Bobby Abreu is upset by the offseason trade rumors, it hasn't shown in his batting practice swings.
Abreu regularly peppered balls over the right-field fence at the Carpenter Complex on Friday. None of his shots came close to Route 19 -- a la Jim Thome in the spring of 2003 -- but one came dangerously close to the railing.
"He looked impressive," manager Charlie Manuel said. "There was a pretty strong wind, too."
Manuel reiterated his contention that Abreu is going to have a huge year in the wake of his disappointment at being dangled to potential suitors. There was an ESPN report playing in the clubhouse Friday where it was suggested that the Phillies might "lose" Abreu mentally amid the constant reports.
"He's a lot more mentally tough than he gets credit for," Manuel said. "He's level-headed. One of the things that makes him so good is that he doesn't let a lot of things bother him. I think he'll hit about .330 this year.
"When he got hot, we were a pretty cold team. We weren't playing very good. He had game-winning hits for us when we needed them in May and June. That's what put him on the All-Star team."
Quotable: "I went cliff diving back home. You jump off a cliff into the ocean. It's fun. I probably go 45-50 feet. I'll go into 30-40 feet of water diving with my uncles." -- Victorino, on his offseason activity
Philling in: Alex S. Gonzalez hit a moving delivery truck during batting practice. ... Every available pitcher will throw in two Intrasquad games over the weekend, excluding Cole Hamels and Chris Booker. ... Manuel reiterated his desire not to use closer Tom Gordon for more than one inning, at least in April. There are two reasons -- Manuel doesn't want to wear Gordon out too early, and he doesn't want to send a negative message to setup man Arthur Rhodes.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/