Shane Victorino

2012 Stats: 154 Games, .255 BA, 11 HRs, 55 RBIs, 39 SBs, .704 OPS and 72 Runs Scored

Shane Victorino spent the 2012 season between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Victorino signed this off-season with the Boston Red Sox for $39 million over 3 years. Victorino had a down year in 2012 but will look to rebound in a lineup that will include Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz & Jonny Gomes among others. Victorino will have the ability to bat in the lower part of the lineup and alleviate some of the pressure he felt in the first half of last season in Philadelphia. Victorino has been in the top five in the NL from 2008-2011 in triples and look for him to have a solid amount of triples this season as he will be playing in Fenway Park.

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1. The Icky Shuffle: MLB Free Agency 2012
2. The Icky Shuffle: This Day in Sports History - 4/20/1912
3. The Icky Shuffle: RIP Gary Carter

This Day in Sports History - 5/29/2010

Roy Halladay of the Phillies pitches a perfect game to defeat the Florida Marlins, 1-0, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. The lone run of the contest is scored in the third inning on a three-base error by Marlins CF Cameron Maybin. Halladay faces three pinch hitters in the ninth inning. Ray Lamb hits a fly ball to deep center field where Shane Victorino snags it. The final out is recorded when Ronny Paulino hits a grounder to third baseman Jaun Castro, who fires the ball across the diamond to first baseman Ryan Howard. Halladay throws 115 pitches and strikes out 11. It is the second perfect game of 2010, following the gem by Dallas Braden of the Athletics on May 9. It is the first time since 1880 that there have been two perfect games in a season.

Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for 3 years with a vesting option for a 4th year. Rollins has been an All-Star 3 times, a Gold Glove winner 3 times and won the NL MVP in 2007. Nine times in his career Rollins has been in the Top 10 in stolen bases. With 1866 hits, Rollins is 134 away from 2000, which he should attain if he can stay healthy.

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2. The Icky Shuffle: Jim Thome
3. The Icky Shuffle: Jonathan Papelbon
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5. The Icky Shuffle: Best by the Numbers - Philadelphia Edition

Happy Birthday Mike Golic

This Day in Sports History - 12/5/2004

Donovan McNabb throws five touchdown passes in the first half, four of them in the second quarter, to lead the Eagles to a 47 - 17 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Philadelphia. McNabb hits Michael Westbrook for scores of 9, 41 and 12 yards. Terrell Owens takes in a toss of 41 yards and L.J. Smith one from six yards out. The five scores give the Eagles a 35 - 0 lead. McNabb also completes his first 14 passes. Combined with completions on his last 10 attempts against the Giants the previous week, McNabb sets an NFL record for most consecutive passes completed with 24. The Eagles score 12 points in the second half on four David Akers field goals. McNabb finishes the day with 32 completions in 43 attempts for 464 yards.

Jonathan Papelbon

The Philadelphia Phillies continued their off-season moves with the signing of closer Jonathan Papelbon to a 4 year $50 million deal. Papelbon is a 4 time All-Star and has 219 career saves. The Phillies' starting pitching is formidable and with a closer like Papelbon who has a career 2.33 ERA & 1.02 WHIP the Phillies will now have a better chance to win games that they may have lost in past years with Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson closing.

Related Posts:
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2. The Icky Shuffle: This Day in Sports History - 4/4/2001
3. The Icky Shuffle: Cliff Lee

Jim Thome

The first piece of the Free Agency puzzle is Jim Thome signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for a one year $1.25 million contract. Phillies 1B Ryan Howard will be missing the beginning of the season but don't expect to see Thome at first too often. He'll primarily be used as a big bat off the bench. Thome has 604 career home-runs and is a good guy & teammate. Something to look for is that Thome is good friends with Michael Cuddyer who is also a free agent and would fit in well with the Phillies because he's a right-handed bat who can play both corner infield & outfield positions.

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Happy Birthday Joe Carter

Cliff Lee

Perhaps the biggest fish in the Free-Agent pond was Cliff Lee. Lee signed a 5 year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth $120 million. Lee was a member of the Phillies when they made it to the World Series in 2009 and was then traded to the Mariners in the deal that landed the Phillies Roy Halladay. Lee was then traded mid-season to the Texas Rangers and promptly led them to the World Series. The Phillies now have an amazing starting rotation with Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

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Jayson Werth

The big deal of the Winter Meetings so far has been Jayson Werth signing with the Washington Nationals on a 7 year deal worth 126 million dollars. Werth is 31 years old but has only played 775 career games. Werth is a career .272 hitter with 120 homeruns and 406 RBIs. The Nationals have some good talent in Ryan Zimmerman, Nyjer Morgan, John Lannan and Drew Storen, of course they also have former number one picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. The Nationals have also been linked to players like Cliff Lee and Adam LaRoche.

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Happy Birthday Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt is one of my All-Time favorite baseball players. In honor of today being his birthday I'm posting this video clip from when he retired.

Best by the Numbers - Philadelphia Edition

1. Richie Ahburn
2. David Akers
3. Allen Iverson
4. Chris Webber
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Julius Erving
7. Ron Jaworski - "The Polish Rifle" now does Monday Night Football for ESPN
8. Shane Victorino
9. Andre Iguadalo
10. Darren Daulton
11. Jimmy Rollins
12. Randall Cunningham
13. Wilt Chamberlain
14. Pete Rose - The All-Time Hits leader played 4 seasons with the Phillies
15. Hal Greer
16. Bob Clarke
17. Harold Charmical
18. Ken Linseman
19. Greg Luzinski
20. Mike Schmidt - Schmidt played his entire career with the Phillies winning 10 Gold Gloves, 3 NL MVPs and the 1980 World Series MVP
21. Eric Allen
22. Rick Tocchet
23. Troy Vincent
24. Mike Lieberthal
25. Keith Primeau
26. Chase Utley
27. Ron Hextall
28. Kjell Samuelsson
29. John Kruk - Was a 3-time All Star as a Phillie
30. Johan Backland
31. Wilbert Montgomery
32. Steve Carlton
33. Aaron Rowand
34. Kevin Millwood
35. Cole Hamels
36. Brian Westbrook
37. Eric Desjardins
38. Curt Schilling - Has a blog at www.38pitches.com
39. Quintin Demps
40. Tyrone Hill
41. Keith Byars
42. Jerry Stackhouse
43. Martin Biron
44. Derrick Coleman
45. Tug McGraw - Father of singer Tim McGraw
46. Herman Edwards - Edwards is best known as the player who recovered the fumble in "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" in 1978
47. Larry Anderson
48. Daniel Briere
49. Dan Klecko - Son of Joe Klecko
50. Mark Simoneau
51. Heathcliff Slocumb
52. Matt Geiger
53. Bobby Abreu
54. Brad Lidge
55. Dikembe Mutombo
56. Derrick Burgess
57. Chris Gocong
58. Trent Cole
59. Seth Joyner - The Spring Valley native played for the Eagles from 1986 - 1993
60. Chuck Bednarik - Bednarik got an NCAA award named after him which is given to the best Defensive Player
61. Bill Dunstan
62. Max Jean-Giles
63. Hank Fraley
64. Ed George
65. Charlie Johnson
66. Trey Darilek
67. Gerry Feehery
68. Steve Sciullo
69. Jon Runyan - Runyan is currently running for New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District as a Republican nominee
70. Al Wistert
71. Jason Peters
72. Tra Thomas
73. Shawn Andrews
74. John Niland
75. Stan Walters
76. Shawn Bradley
77. Artis Hicks
78. Brodrick Bunkley
79. Ian Allen
80. Kevin Curtis
81. Terrell Owens
82. L.J. Smith
83. Vince Papale - Was the inspiration for the Disney Movie "Invincible"
84. Hank Baskett
85. Jeff Thomason
86. Fred Barnett
87. Brent Celek
88. Eric Lindros
89. Chad Lewis
90. Mike Golic - Currently co-hosts "Mike & Mike in the Morning" with Mike Greenberg
91. Sam Rayburn
92. Reggie White - White died in 2004 at the age of 43
93. Jevon Kearse
94. N.D. Kalu
95. Jerome McDougle
96. Paul Grasmanis
97. Jeremy Roenick
98. Mike Patterson
99. Mitch Williams

The Real Descision '08