1974 Topps #149 Mac Scarce

It's been a while since I've done one of these off-season player tracking posts, as things have been quiet on the Phillies transaction front since before Christmas.  Yesterday, we learned the team had released outfielder John Bowker to allow him to pursue an opportunity in Japan.  (He's been linked to the Yomiuri Giants, so he could be a teammate of Scott Mathieson again soon.)  I really liked David Hale's post over on his Philled In blog which informs us that Bowker's career offensive stats as a Phillie (0 for 13 with 7 strikeouts) puts him in dubious company.

In terms of Phillies position players, Bowker's 0-fer is second only to Fred Tauby who went 0 for 20 with the 1937 Phillies.  If you include pitchers, Bowker is sixth on the list, behind such notables as pitcher Mac Scarce (0 for 18 between 1972 and 1974) and pitcher Kent Bottenfield (0 for 17 in 2000).  For all these players, you could say that hits were . . . scarce.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent (Signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers)

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey
John Bowker (11) 1/10/12 - Released

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

Laynce Nix 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds