Phillies Have Traded Centerfielder Shane Victorino to...the Cleveland Spiders?

Photo: Philliedelphia/Steve Trapani

In the end it sounds like a good old fashioned benching by the manager.  The underperforming Shane Victorino and subject of many trade rumors this season was pulled from the Phillies starting lineup within an hour of game time with no explanation, prompted many to speculate that he had been traded.  Some speculate it stemmed from Victorino being upset to be hitting in the seventh spot in the order.

Victorino is in the middle of one of his worst offensive seasons since being called up to the Phillies in 2006.   The two-time Rule 5 selection is a free agent this offseason so a trade could make sense for the Phillies who may be looking to retool.

Here were some of the possible trades Twitter speculated on:

Some of the teams reportedly interested in Victorino or other centerfielders include the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers.  At least a couple fans were not too excited at the prospect of Victorino joining their favorite teams:

Of course, Manuel could have just said it was his decision.  The trade deadline is 23 days away.  Expect much more of this.   Jason Pridie will bat seventh and play center field in Victorino's absence.

Comments

[THOMAS MILLER]

OH WELL ITS TIME 2 SHAKE THINGS UP??. MR HOWERD SHOULD BE NEXT..AS U KNOW WE CANT DEPEND ON HIM IN THE END EAVEN IF WE MAKE IT TOO THE END..

[Karen]

the only players that should be kept on the Phillies roster are Carlos Ruiz, Hunter Pence, Juan Pierre, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, Michael Schwimer, new guy Pridie, John Mayberry and Brian Schneider. The rest of them need a good kick in the rear. they're making millions and they certainly aren't living up to their end of the bargain. Maybe fines and penalties should be applied when they don't perform, If they were out in the working world they would have been fired months ago.

[Matthew Groff]

Every player goes through a stretch of poor hitting/fielding/throwing etc.. That is no reason to trade a player or to get rid of them by cutting them from the team or sending them to the minors. But yet sometimes sending a player down to the minors to get another coach's perspective on what may be the problem, could be helpful. Sometimes just a day or two off from playing can help, not a benching, but A relaxing off day doing something else besides baseball, sometimes can be all that is needed for a player to break out of a "slump".

The reason the Phillies are so far back in the standings is because:

1) Not having Utley and Howard to start the season.

2) Then losing Galvis who was playing in place of Utley, to both an injury and a suspension.

3) The having to have Halliday go on the DL with shoulder the problem. Which may have been bothering him from spring training.

4) Polanco missed some time also at third base, at different times through the season.

Now when you combine all of those above together it makes it very difficult for a team to "stay in it" for half the year until most of the players come back.

The Phillies were still "in it" until about late May early June, that is right after they lost Galvis to his injury and suspension.

Too many errors, poor pitching by both starters and Relievers, and no hitting/poor plate discipline when at bat. Yes things like this affect every team! But it is how you overcome, adspt and then push through the adversity that makes a championship team!