Shane Victorino is an All-Star. And he continues to play like one.

Victorino won that goofy Internet fan voting sham run by Major League Baseball to select the final member of the NL and AL All-Star squads.
But there’s nothing Mickey Mouse about the way the Phils centerfielder is playing.

Last night Victorino had a key hit to drive in two runs as the Phils won a wild one over the Reds, 9-6.

Victorino was joined in the offensive outburst by fellow All-Star Chase Utley, who crushed a ball off the wall in the deepest part of center-field, then circled the bases when the ball caromed into right-center field.

Then there’s Jayson Werth. He’s not an All-Star. Yet. But he’s certainly playing like one. Werth is making a push for the spot that has opened up with the injury to Carlos Beltran. Last night Werth crushed his 20th homer of the season. Werth has now gone yard in four straight games.
That gives him seven dingers in the last 12 games. The Phils now have four players who have hit 20 homers, all before the All-Star break.

And just to cap things off, the Phils are toying with the idea of adding a former All-Star to the roster. Reports are the team are very close to signing former star pitcher Pedro Martinez. The three-time Cy Young winner with the Red Sox and Mets will pitch another simulated game for Phils’ scouts today in the Dominican Republic.

The Phils now have a weekend set with the Pirates before heading for the All-Star Break.

St. Louis will look like Philly west, with Victorino, Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez all going prime time under the direction of Manager Charlie Manuel.

Charlie could put the icing on the cake by selecting Werth to take that open spot.