Irene's a Whore, but Shane is a Stud!

Happy Tuesday Bunters!

I will never, EVER complain about anything weather-related on this blog again.

If you recall, last week I wrote an article called “Reign Delay”, where I basically bitched about the Phils less-than-awesome play amongst a week of constant rain delays (see what I did there??).  Since my last submission – a mere SEVEN days ago – the City of Brotherly Love survived both a 5.9 earthquake and Hurricane Irene.

WOW.

I hope you all are safe and without much damage from one crazy week on the east coast.

Let’s talk baseball.

A weekend series against the Marlins may be counted as one casualty that occurred due to Irene; one game out of three got in before the hurricane made it up the coast, a 6-5 loss to the Fish with Roy Oswalt on the mound.  Because of Irene, the Phillies now have a 33 game stretch in their last 31 days of the regular season.

Holy shrimp. There’s only one month left in the regular season.

The Phils (84-46) are in Cincinnati (67-67) for a four game series that kicked off with a 3-2 win last night. 

Cole Hamels returned from the DL last night, throwing 76 pitches with a fastball averaging 90.1 mph – not bad for his first outing since August 12^th. Doc Halladay finally gets back to action tonight after having two games interrupted because of Mother Nature (one was due to a long rain delay in Washington if you recall).

Shane Victorino helped his bid for candidacy within the NL MVP race last night after an 8^th inning bomb that allowed 2 runs and tallied the “W” for the Phils. With only one day remaining in the month of August, it is only natural that national sports media begin its dissection of the MVP candidates. I think I speak loud and clear for the Bunts staff when I say that Shane Victorino deserves to be considered for MVP. I only say “considered” at this point because we do have a month to go and I am trying to be realistic, not biased.

On a team that centers on a filthy pitching rotation, it’s hard not to overlook Victorino as an MVP… at least at first. The most clutch offensive player on a team that offensively struggled early in the season, Victorino is a versatile player that seems to get unfairly overshadowed by his “flashier” teammates. Despite spending 27 days on the DL for two separate injuries, Victorino is having the type of season that has put him amongst the top 10 NL players in a variety of rankings. It’s hard to disregard Victorino’s credentials as an MVP candidate when he is 8^th in the league in OPS, second in triples, and first in fielding by outfielders. He is on track for having one of his best seasons of his career. Like flying under the radar in Philadelphia, overshadowed by names like Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Victorino will be amongst some of the most well known players in all of baseball (Matt Kemp, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols) vying for a shot at the NL MVP title. It may be a long shot but you never know. Stranger things have happened during the 2011 season, not to mention having 32 more games to improve his odds.

Shane may be a dark horse candidate, but he is well deserving of all the attention he is getting throughout MLB.

Housekeeping!!!!

Jamie Moyer is attempting a come back kids! After Tommy John surgery, 48 year old Moyer is rehabbing in Clearwater. If that doesn’t make me feel lazy…. I don’t know what will. Good luck Jamie!!

The Phillies will be making up their postponed games against Florida on September 15.

Since going on the DL, J Roll has gone Twitter crazy. Follow him @JimmyRollins11 (and the Bunts! @philliesbunts) for updates on his injury and his anticipated return date.

-xo

DiamondGirl215

Comments? Questions? Thoughts? Email me! DiamondGirl215@philliesbunts.com