The Phils need for speed

Last season the Phillies stole 92 bases placing them in the middle of the Major League pack. This season the Phillies want to improve on that number. It’s not a question of talent or raw velocity. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino both have blazing quickness. Despite having a nice set of wheels neither Rollins nor Victorino are living up to their base stealing potential.

Pat Gillick recognizing the Phillies need for speed hired first base coach Davey Lopes in the off-season to help out the Phillies. Lopes knows what he is preaching because of the 557 stolen bases he swiped in his 16 year Major League career. Lopes is focusing on the mental aspects of stealing, trying to build up the confidence of the Phils base stealers. Speaking about his base pilfering philosophy Lopes commented, “You can't have fear. You have fear, you're dead."

Shane Victorino who twice stole forty bases in a season during his time in the minors thinks he’s lost his base-stealing strut. Victorino who may be the fastest Phillie on the 25 man roster theorized, “It's confidence, I think, that I've lost," Victorino said. "Getting me back to that swagger where I say, 'I'm going. Right here.' There are a lot of big expectations for me this year. I'm going to get it back, right here, in spring training." With Lopes’ help the top of the Phillies lineup will be ready set fire to the base pads in the 2007.

Sources:
Phillies Lopes’ lead on how to steal bases
By Marcus Hayes / Philadelphia Inquirer

Picture of Shane Victorino from sportillustrated.com