Phillies' all-stars bask in the limelight

ST. LOUIS - Shane Victorino was beaming, surprised to have learned moments before that he would be starting in the All-Star Game. Jayson Werth was moved by his manager's gesture. Ryan Howard was home. Raul Ibanez was thinking about his son, and Chase Utley actually permitted himself to savor the moment.

The all-star festivities serve as a two-day advertisement for Major League Baseball and its sponsors, and the setting for yesterday's media day was hardly intimate: Players sat at individual podiums, answering questions from reporters and cameramen who rushed around the room. But even in that setting, the five Phillies in attendance felt and expressed seemingly genuine emotions provoked by their inclusion in the game.

Earlier in the morning, manager Charlie Manuel had announced his starting lineup, which included Victorino. The centerfielder's cell phone immediately began buzzing with text messages.

"He hasn't even told me yet," Victorino said, his smile even broader than usual. "I got a couple of texts saying, 'Congrats for the start,' and I'm like, 'Start meaning what?' So it definitely came by surprise."

Victorino assumed that, because he was selected by a special fan vote and was not a member of the original roster, another player would start in place of injured Met Carlos Beltran. "That definitely came by surprise, being the final guy voted in and then getting the nod to be the starter," he said, adding that Manuel gave him no indication he would be in the lineup. "Nothing. Nada. Not even a 'Hey, you know, Shane, I think we might be starting you.'

"I'm very thankful to have the manager on my side. It's one of those things - I guess he takes care of his guys, so it's nice to win the World Series and have your manager as the all-star manager."

Werth expressed an even deeper appreciation toward Manuel for choosing him as a roster replacement once Beltran announced he could not play. Manuel has often called the 2009 season a test for Werth, one that would show whether the 30-year-old could be an effective everyday player. Werth was injured many times in the early part of his career and struggled to find opportunities to play. When Manuel selected him last week, it felt to Werth like an endorsement.

"He said, 'You're my guy,' " Werth said. "When you've been through everything I've been through, and taken the road I've taken, to get looked in your eye by your manager and he tells you, 'I'm taking you because you're my guy,' that kind of hits home and it means a lot. I've played for three different big-league teams, and I've gotten along with my managers everywhere I've been. But to have Charlie tell me that I'm his guy and he's taking me with him, that's a pretty big moment for me."

Meanwhile, Utley and Ibanez - two players known for their intense routines and reluctance to talk about themselves - both found reasons to enjoy the event. "I think you have to stop and enjoy stuff like this," Utley said. "The success that we've had over the past few years benefits us all, in terms of being here. The coaching staff is here, we have five players here, which is a pretty high number."

Ibanez, making his first all-star appearance at 37, was most excited about bringing his son R.J. onto the field. "I'm really looking forward to that," Ibanez said. "All the guys he plays with on his video game, he'll meet them and be around them."

Howard, a St. Louis native, looked forward to competing in the Home Run Derby, with his high school summer coach Deron Spink pitching to him. "He knows me better than anybody, so it's great to share this moment with him," Howard said.