Shane Victorino Calls Boston Radio Hosts "Clowns" For Taking Cole Hamels Comments Out of Context

There’s a little media storm brewing around Shane Victorino and some comments he made earlier this week about former teammate Cole Hamels, whom the rebuilding Phillies are trying their best to shop. You see, the Red Sox current rotation lacks anyone that we’d slap the oft-nebulous “ace” tag upon. Add two and two together, and it makes sense there are Hamels-to-Boston rumors.

On Tuesday in Florida the Philadelphia Daily News spoke to Victorino about Hamels and the trade rumors. Victorino said he’d love to see the lefty come to Fenway but also noted, he was “happy” with the players the Red Sox have. He also added:

“Any time you can get a No. 1, as I told these guys – not the front office, but the players – any time you can go get a guy in my opinion who is established, who has done it [you do it],” Victorino said. “And I understand you don’t want to give up this prospect or that prospect. You’re hoping this guy becomes a Cole Hamels. Hoping. Oh wait, that guy is there now. And even as a hitter. Why would you hope that guy becomes this hitter, when you have it right now? And I understand there’s a financial side. And there’s a bigger picture. But like I said, at the end of the day, it’s right here in front of you. Why are you hoping?”

Since it’s March and not that much is going on, the comments made their way to Boston. Naturally not everyone loved what Victorino said. A pair of Boston radio hosts, Felger & Mazz, took Victorino’s trade comments in the direction that he wants highly-touted prospect Mookie Betts included in the package since the 22-year-old would presumably be in line to take Victorino’s job. The much-dreaded “throwing under the bus” term was used.

From CBS Boston:

Victorino, for his part, took massive issue with this line of thinking and called out the radio guys in the Boston Herald.

My thought? Victorino is in the last year of his contract and probably not a huge part of the Red Sox future plans regardless. I’d highly doubt he’s angling to try to get any prospects shipped out of town. As he says, and as you can read for yourself, he never mentions anyone by name in the original Philly story and only comments that he’d love to see the team add a proven veteran like Hamels. Also doubtful, the decision makers in the Boston Red Sox front office read the comments from Victorino about trading for the southpaw and that was the final tipping point toward making their ultimate decision.

Situations like this help illustrate why athletes are often leery of talking to the media in open, honest terms. Victorino was asked a simple question and gave his answer. Then he had to watch his words get twisted to create an unnecessary, convoluted “controversy.”

[via HBT]