Rangers at Phillies: May 3rd to May 4th

2000 Topps #368

2022 Chachi 2000 Topps Missing Links #34

Tuesday and Wednesday 6:45
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is another Hatfield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Night, and tomorrow night is a Star Wars theme night with the first 4,000 fans purchasing a special theme night ticket receiving a Phillies Star Wars Boba Fett beanie.

Rangers 8-14
5th Place in the A.L. West, 6 games behind the Angels

Rangers Probables
Jon Gray (0-1, 7.00)
Martin Perez (0-2, 3.00)

Rangers Leaders
Average:  Nathaniel Lowe - .313
Runs:  Adolis Garcia - 14
Home Runs:  Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager - 4
RBIs:  Adolis Garcia - 18
Stolen Bases:  Adolis Garcia - 4

Wins:  Brock Burke - 2
ERA:  Dane Dunning - 3.81
Strikeouts:  Dane Dunning - 26
Saves:  Joe Barlow and Matt Bush - 1

Phillies 11-12
3rd Place in the N.L. East, 4 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (2-0, 4.42)
Zach Wheeler (1-3, 5.79)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Nick Castellanos - .286
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 18
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 7
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 16
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto - 3

Wins:  Kyle Gibson and Ranger Suarez - 2
ERA:  Kyle Gibson - 2.93

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 34
Saves:  Corey Knebel - 4

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 58 - Wake Me Up When September Ends

Rays 6, Phillies 4
Game 58 - Friday Night, September 25th in St. Petersburg
Record - 28-30, 3rd Place, 6 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Up 4-1 in the fifth, the Phillies couldn't add on runs or hold off the Rays in this crushing 6-4 loss.

What It Means:  It means so much.  First and foremost, it means I'm looking forward to taking a break from the Phillies.  This has been a frustrating season in more ways than one, and going to bed angry at the Phillies most nights can't be great for my mental health.

The loss also guarantees the Phillies won't have a winning season.  They've not enjoyed a winning season since 2011, which is also the year of their last playoff appearance.  And if they can't win the next two games against the Rays AND the Giants win their next two games, the Phillies playoff drought will be the longest in the National League.  

It means we could be watching the final games of Didi Gregorius and more painfully J.T. Realmuto in Phillies uniforms.  Finally, it means General Manager Matt Klentak and team President Andy MacPhail should and hopefully will be out of jobs by mid-October.  It means too much.

What Happened:  Alec Bohm (RBI single) and Bryce Harper (RBI triple and single) paced the offense, but then the Phillies line-up was handcuffed by a strong Rays bullpen from the sixth inning on.  Vince Velasquez gave way to Tommy Hunter in the fifth and Hunter gave up a game-tying home run to Brett Phillips in the sixth.  In the decisive eighth inning, Adam Morgan replaced Connor Brogdon (who had struck out the side in the seventh) and Morgan promptly loaded the bases.  Hector Neris replaced Morgan, allowed a two-run single to Joey Wendle, and the Rays had the lead.

Featured Card:  Ugh.  And of all the teams that could have possibly led to the Phillies' demise this season, it's going to come down to the performance of Gabe Kapler's Giants.  Hard to believe, Harry.

Transaction:  Mickey Moniak (of) and Ramon Rosso (rhp) were optioned to Lehigh Valley.  Ranger Suarez (lhp) was recalled and Spencer Howard (rhp) was activated from the injured list.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Kapler Fired; Hunt for New Manager Begins

On Thursday morning, 11 days after the end of the regular season, Gabe Kapler was relieved of his duties as manager of the Phillies.  Kapler managed for two seasons, failing to make the postseason both years, and compiling a record of 161-163.  He lasted slightly longer than Ryne Sandberg (278 games from 2013 to 2015) but not quite as long as Nick Leyva (338 games from 1989 to 1991).  By most accounts popular with the players, Kapler never quite gelled with the Philadelphia fanbase and ultimately his lack of winning and two straight seasons of brutal September finishes were his downfalls.

The Phillies could now turn to a more experienced manager with Buck Showalter, Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon and John Farrell being mentioned as potential candidates.  Other names out there are Dusty Baker and Mike Scioscia, or the Phillies could go with someone already in the system such as third base coach Dusty Wathan, bench coach Rob Thomson or the team's current player

Pitching coaches since 1970

information coordinator, Sam Fuld.  If I had to guess, I'd say either Showalter or Maddon is managing the team when pitchers and catchers report in mid-February.

Wathan, Thomson and five other Phillies coaches were all offered contracts for the 2020 season and the choice is theirs as to whether or not they return.  Pitching coach Chris Young was dismissed after one season in that position, making him the first pitching coach to last just one season . . . since Rick Kranitz the season before him.  (Jim Wright was an interim pitching coach in 1996 filling in for an ill Johnny Podres.)  Interim hitting coach Charlie Manuel returned to his senior advisor position in the front office, meaning the Phillies have to fill the roles of manager, pitching coach and hitting coach this offseason.  Hopefully the positions are filled soon so that the new skipper can help recruit free agents Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole.

Gabe Kapler - Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #65
2018 Chachi #26
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8
2019 Chachi #26
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5

Chris Young - Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi #28 (with Dusty Wathan, Pedro Guerrero and Jim Gott)
2019 Chachi #27 (with Rob Thomson and John Mallee)

Game 76 - 2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #19 Gabe Kapler MG

Marlins 5, Phillies 3
Game 76 - Saturday Night, June 22nd in Philadelphia
Record - 39-37, 2nd place, 5 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The bullpen squandered another lead and the offense stayed quiet in this latest loss to the Marlins.

What It Means:  As a lifelong Phillies fan, I'm used to these periods of absolutely horrendous play from the team.  The fact that I'm used to it by now still doesn't make it any easier once we're in the midst of one of these runs.  I find myself telling people that I "need a break" from the Phillies and fortunately with a scheduled vacation coming up, I'll get that break.

In three weeks, the Phillies went from having a two game lead on the Braves in the division to being 5 1/2 games back.  That's a lot of bad baseball to endure.

What Happened:  Bryce Harper (13) and Rhys Hoskins (16) hit back-to-back home runs in the third and Harper singled home another run in the fifth to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.  The Marlins scored four unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth off relievers Adam Morgan and JD Hammer.

Featured Card:  In the fourth inning, Gabe Kapler was ejected for the first time in his managerial career, arguing a checked swing third strike by Scott Kingery.  F bombs were dropped, dirt was kicked, but it still didn't energize an all but lifeless team.  Kapler was in a much better mood when he signed this card for me at the recent Phillies Phestival.

Highlights from the 2019 Phillies Phestival (Part 1) #StrikeOutALS

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #1

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #19

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #16

On Thursday afternoon, we attended the annual Phillies Phestival, which raises money in the fight against ALS.  One of my collecting regrets (and a regret as a lifelong Phillies fan) is that we never even considered going to this event until three years ago.  As rookies in 2017, we meandered through the ballpark using our pre-assigned autograph tickets and paying cash for autographs when the lines died down.  In 2018, I attended the event on behalf of my employer, which unbeknownst to me, had been a long-time sponsor of the Phestival.  I became involved with the Philadelphia ALS Chapter over the past few years partly in tribute to our friend Bob who passed away in January 2019 after a courageous battle with the disease.  I'm looking forward to continuing (and increasing) my involvement in the coming years.

This year, we again attended as sponsors and it's the first year we were fully prepared to collect autographs as efficiently as possible while still having fun.  Sponsors are given a button to wear, which allows us to stand in any autograph line.  Within the sponsors packet were explicit instructions informing us we couldn't go to the front of any line, which makes complete sense, and that we couldn't go to the Bryce Harper photo booth.

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #2

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #7

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #8

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #14

Similar to the past two years, I created a special set of Chachi cards to commemorate our day and the autographs we hunted down.  Here's a summary of what and how we did:

• The sponsors assemble in the Diamond Club and my company's name was called around 2:45.  We made our way down to the field to meet with Phil Gosselin and Jay Bruce who would be signing autographs at our designated station.  I let Bruce know it was great not to boo him this season, and my son Doug talked to Gosselin about their mutual history with the All-Star Baseball Academy.  Gosselin is an alumni and Doug is currently on one of their travel teams.

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #3

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #4

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #6

• We had a plan.  Doug and I took the left side of the ballpark while Jenna and Ben took the right side.  Doug and I started in the Hall of Fame Club, where the lines were very short to start and some of the tables had no lines.  We walked right into the suite where Gabe Kapler was signing and had two people in front of us.  Kapler's a fascinating guy.  Very intense, very polite, very engaging and he made his hat work.

• Jenna and Ben made Aaron Nola their first target, so they had a longer wait to get started.  Doug and I had cleared four tables by the time they were getting Nola's autographs.

• All the players were engaging and friendly, and even though there was a loose "no posed photographs" policy in place this year, pretty much everyone stopped to look and smile while we were taking pictures.  Rhys Hoskins said he remembered being in our Christmas card, although he may have just been being polite.

• Ben's highlight was getting Maikel Franco to sign the back of his favorite Franco t-shirt.  He also talked to the broadcast team for awhile.  When he asked why they didn't have any cards to sign, Scott Franzke said it was because the Phillies couldn't get them all together at the same time.  He was then invited by Ben Davis to sign their table cloth, and he obliged.

• Larry Andersen had run out of photo cards by the time we got to his station (with John Kruk and Mickey Morandini) so he offered Doug a cookie instead of an autograph.  Doug took him up on the offer.

• I was bummed that none of the newer Phillies players had any photo cards produced for them to sign.  I had come prepared with a list of potential exclusive photo cards - Bruce, Edgar Garcia, JD Hammer, Adam Haseley and Ranger Suarez - but there were no new cards to be had.  Bruce and Gosselin had what looked like regular paper at their station with their names printed at the top.

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #9

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #10

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #11

• When the autograph session time expired, we had visited all but three tables - J.T. Realmuto (by choice since we had already received his autographs in May), Charlie Manual (since we forgot to bring anything for him to sign) and Pat Neshek/Jim Gott.  The Neshek/Gott omission was a symptom of simply running out of time.  The only table we doubled up on was Scott Kingery's as we both had time to visit with him as the clock was ticking down.

• We met up with fellow collector Steve and his son in time to stand in line for our mystery grab bags.  Our five bag haul was decent, with baseballs signed by Roman Quinn (two), Nick Pivetta, and Hector Neris.  We received a pair of Raul Ibanez bobble heads, three solar Liberty Bells, a Jimmy Rollins World Series ring and Jenna got her Mother's Day fleece she had wanted from the May giveaway.

We had a blast, the Phillies raised over $768,000 to aid in the fight against ALS, and we're already making our plans for next year's Phestival!  I've share Part 2 with the rest of the cards from the event in a post coming soon.

The almost completed checklist

Our grab bag haul

Phillies Phestival Memory Lane

2017 Part 1 and Part 2

2018 Part 1 and Part 2
2019 Part 1 and Part 2

2019 Phillies Team Issue - 2nd Edition

Number of Cards:  45
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The second series of team-issued photo cards features a blue border along the bottom with the player's name and a script Phillies logo.  The player's uniform number appears in the upper right-hand corner against a striped design, and there is no position listed on the front of the cards.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed:  The set went on sale for at Citizens Bank Park beginning on Tuesday, May 28th for $5.  Earlier that day, it was announced Odubel Herrera had been arrested in Atlantic City for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.  The team made the decision to pull the Herrera cards from every set and it's fairly obvious each set has been unsealed, with the Herrera card removed and then resealed.  The team has either already disposed of the undistributed Herrera cards or they're sitting in a box somewhere to be re-inserted into the sets at a future date.  (See update below.)

Team set packaging has been opened and then re-sealed

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.  The set comes in clear packaging with Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins facing up on either side, and with the cards originally packaged in alphabetical order.

2 - Jean Segura 3 - Bryce Harper 4 - Scott Kingery 5 - Nick Williams 7 - Maikel Franco 8 - John Mallee CO 9 - Phil Gosselin 10 - J.T. Realmuto 12 - Juan Nicasio 13 - Sean Rodriguez 15 - Andrew Knapp 16 - Cesar Hernandez 17 - Rhys Hoskins 19 - Gabe Kapler MG 21 - Vince Velasquez 22 - Andrew McCutchen 24 - Roman Quinn 27 - Aaron Nola 30 - David Robertson 35 - Jim Gott CO 38 - Paco Figueroa CO 39 - Bobby Dickerson CO 43 - Nick Pivetta

45 - Chris Young CO 46 - Adam Morgan 48 - Jerad Eickhoff 49 - Jake Arrieta 50 - Hector Neris 51 - Enyel De Los Santos 52 - Jose Alvarez 56 - Zach Eflin 57 - Dave Lundquist CO 58 - Seranthony Dominguez 59 - Rob Thomson CO 60 - Pedro Guerrero CO 61 - Edubray Ramos 62 - Dusty Wathan CO 64 - Victor Arano 81 - Craig Driver CO 82 - Bob Stumpo CO 87 - Sam Fuld 93 - Pat Neshek 95 - Mike Calitri 96 - Tommy Hunter Phillie Phanatic

One and Done (0)
First Appearances (2):  De Los Santos, Gosselin
Returning Players (28):  Alvarez, Arano, Arrieta, Dominguez, Eflin, Eickhoff, Franco, Harper, Hernandez, Hoskins, Hunter, Kingery, Knapp, McCutchen, Morgan, Neris, Neshek, Nicasio, Nola, Pivetta, Ramos, Realmuto, Robertson, Rodriguez, Quinn, Segura, Velasquez, Williams

I commended the first series checklist for being "wonderfully comprehensive," and unfortunately the pattern didn't continue with the second series.  The set only adds cards for De Los Santos and Gosselin, while dropping cards for Altherr, Butera, Cozens, Herrera, Pazos and Rios.  Altherr, Butera and Pazos are no longer in the Phillies organization, but a case could have been made for keeping in cards for Cozens and Rios.

Also deserving consideration for the set but omitted are Drew Anderson, Austin Davis, Edgar Garcia, Cole Irvin and even Mitch Walding.  I understand the omission of JD Hammer as he was recalled the weekend before the set's release and I'm assuming the cards had already been printed and packaged by then.

No offense to the team's ML Player Information Coordinator, Fuld, or their Manager for Advanced Scouting, Calitri, but I'd rather have cards for any of the omitted pitchers than repeats for them again.  A David Montgomery tribute card also would have been fitting and appropriate.  (One of these days, I'm hoping the Phillies put me in charge of crafting the checklist for these sets!)

There has not been a broadcasters card since the 2017 first edition team photo card set.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set. These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Kapler

Coaches (11):  Dickerson, Driver, Figueroa, Guerrero, Lundquist, Gott, Mallee, Stumpo, Thomson, Wathan, Young
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (0)
Other Cards (2):  Calitri, Fuld

Rarities:  Updated 7/12/19 - For being a group leader this season, and purchasing at least 100 tickets, the Phillies sent me a "Publication Package" recently that included a 2019 Yearbook, Media Guide, program and photo card set.  Much to my surprise, I realized the photo card set still had a clean seal, unlike the sets currently available at the ballpark from which the Herrera cards had been pulled.  The set sent to me by the Phillies contained not only the missing Herrera card but an Aaron Altherr card.

Altherr was selected off waivers by the Giants on May 11th, over two weeks before these sets went on sale at the ballpark on May 28th.  These two cards should be considered rarities from this issuance and not part of the regular set.

• 23 - Aaron Altherr
• 37 - Odubel Herrera

Update (1/25/20):  Fellow collector Rick was sent a photo from Joe Girardi's appearance at the Reading Fightin Phils' Baseballtown Winter Caravan held on January 21st.  Girardi is shown signing photo cards in the style of this set.

• 25 - Joe Girardi MG

2019 Chachi #26 Gabe Kapler MG

#19
Gabriel Stefan Kapler
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  205
Opening Day Age:  43
Born:  July 31, 1975, Hollywood, CA
Teams - As Player:  Detroit Tigers 1998-1999; Texas Rangers 2000-2002; Colorado Rockies 2003; Boston Red Sox 2003-2004, 2005-2006; Milwaukee Brewers 2008; Tampa Bay Rays 2009-2010
Teams - As Manager:  Phillies 2018-
Contract Status:  Signed a three-year contract, October 30, 2017, taking him through 2020

1999 Topps #205

2017 Chachi #65

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  1999 Topps #205
First Topps Phillies Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue #22
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue #22
Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #19

2018 Phillies Team Issue #22

5 - Kapler baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/1/19.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #65
2018 Chachi #26
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8
2019 Chachi #26

2019 Chachi Set Checklist
Virtual Phillies Wall - Featuring Current Active Roster

Game 158 - 2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #22 Gabe Kapler MG

Rockies 14, Phillies 0
Game 158 - Wednesday Night, September 26th in Denver
Record - 78-80, 3rd place, 11 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Nick Pivetta got hit hard and the Phillies offense took the night off in this 14-0 demoralizing loss to the surging Rockies.

What It Means:  This is a family-friendly blog, but I feel it's important to pass along manager Gabe Kapler's assessment of this game, "Just a sh*tty performance all the way around."  Post game analyst Ben Davis stated the obvious following the loss, saying, "I think you're looking at a team that has quit."  Finally, Matt Gelb Tweeted that the last time the Phillies had allowed 10+ runs in three consecutive games was June 1-4, 1958.

What Happened:  Pivetta allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings, while relievers Victor Arano (0 innings, 3 runs) and Yacksel Rios (1 2/3 innings, 4 runs) struggled as well.  The Phillies had four hits, with their biggest hit (?) coming on a pinch-double from Pedro Florimon.

Featured Card:  This is a less than ideal way for the Phillies to finish up Kapler's first year as the skipper.

Game 146 - Sign for Doug, Hit a Homer

2018 Topps Living Set #4

2018 Topps Now #340

2018 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24

2018 Topps Living Set #40

Phillies 14, Marlins 2
Game 146 - Friday Night, September 14th in Philadelphia
Record - 75-71, 2nd place, 7 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  It all came together for one night as the offense exploded and Zach Eflin delivered a quality start in this 14-2 whomping of the Marlins.

What It Means:  With the postseason all but out of reach, perhaps the team has relaxed a little.  I'm still a little bitter and frustrated, but Doug and I spent a few innings of this game going through our proposed 2019 line-up, which includes both Manny Machado AND Bryce Harper.

What Happened:  Aaron Altherr had a big night, hitting two home runs (8), driving in five runs and executing a great slide at home to score from second on a fielder's choice ground-out that Roman Quinn beat out in the 4th.  Rhys Hoskins (31), Quinn (2) and Mitch Walding (1) also homered with Walding's being the first hit of his career.  Carlos Santana went 3 for 3 and scored three runs while Jose Bautista added two doubles.  Hoskins started his third game of the season back at first base, which could be a preview of things to come next season.

Eflin improved to 10-7 by allowing just a run in his 6 1/3 innings.  Drew Anderson threw the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits.

Featured Cards/Field Report:  Doug and I attended this game with a few simple goals - obtain an autograph or two for Doug's collection and enjoy some ballpark food.  We accomplished those two goals and also witnessed one of the more enjoyable Phillies games in recent memory.

Doug stationed himself at the corner of the Phillies dugout and had the most successful autograph gathering night of the season.  Hoskins, Scott Kingery, Quinn, Altherr, manager Gabe Kapler and coach Rick Kranitz all signed for him, some of them signing multiple items for his collection.  Doug was happy to help a few of the younger autograph seekers call over players.  I found him this morning admiring his new treasures and he allowed me to photograph and scan them for this post.

2018 Chachi #26 Gabe Kapler MG

#22
Gabriel Stefan Kapler
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  205
Opening Day Age:  42
Born:  July 31, 1975, Hollywood, CA
Teams - As Player:  Detroit Tigers 1998-1999; Texas Rangers 2000-2002; Colorado Rockies 2003; Boston Red Sox 2003-2004, 2005-2006; Milwaukee Brewers 2008; Tampa Bay Rays 2009-2010
Teams - As Manager:  Phillies 2018

1999 Topps #205

2017 Chachi #65

2 Kapler Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  1999 Topps #205
First Phillies Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue #22
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue #22
Newest Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #22

2018 Phillies Team Issue #22

First Mention on The Phillies Room:  November 3, 2017 - Kapler Named New Phillies Manager . . . On Thursday, following the conclusion of the 2017 World Series the night before, the Phillies introduced Gabe Kapler as the 54th manager in franchise history.  Kapler, along with GM Matt Klentak, will now get to work shaping the Phillies roster for 2018 and hiring a coaching staff.  He's the first manager for the Phillies to have no prior connection to the team since Terry Francona took over in 1997.

I was disappointed when Pete Mackanin was let go and I was hoping Dusty Wathan would be the team's new manager going into the 2018 season.  Wathan knows the younger players, having managed in the Phillies minor league system (and won) since 2008.  Kapler is an interesting choice, and watching his press conference on Thursday afternoon he didn't do a whole lot to convince me that he's the right person for the job.  To be fair, I remember feeling the same way prior to the 2005 season when Charlie Manuel was introduced by then GM Ed Wade as the team's next manager.

We shall see . . .

Kapler will wear #22 with the Phillies, a number previously occupied by pitching coach Bob McClure, and a number Kapler curiously did not wear at all throughout his big league playing career.  Between 1998 and 2010, Kapler appeared in 1,104 games for the Tigers (1998-1999), Rangers (2000-2002), Rockies (2002-2003), Red Sox (2003-2006), Brewers (2008) and Rays (2009-2010).  He won a World Championship with the Red Sox in 2004.

From a baseball card perspective, Kapler first started appearing on mainstream baseball cards in 1998 with the Tigers.  Oddly enough, and I'm sure others have noticed this before I did, he appeared on two different multi-player Prospects cards within the 1999 Topps flagship set.  His final card as an active player shows up in the 2010 Topps Update set.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #65
2018 Chachi #26
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8

Card statistics through 6/2/18.

Game 47 - On the Field for Batting Practice #StrikeOutALS

Phillies 4, Braves 0
Game 47 - Wednesday Night, May 23rd in Philadelphia
Record - 28-19, 2nd place, 1/2 game behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Jake Arrieta dealt against the Braves, helping secure the series win.

What It Means:  The Phillies are a half game behind the Braves in the division as they open up a Memorial Day weekend series at home against the Blue Jays.

What Happened:  Arrieta struck out 7 in his 6 2/3 innings of work.  Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris took care of the final 7 outs.  Carlos Santana and Cesar Hernandez contributed RBI singles while Maikel Franco and Nick Williams added RBI doubles.

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #4

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #3

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #5

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #6

Featured Cards/Field Report:  Back in November, my wife Jenna and I attended the 40th Anniversary Gala of the Philadelphia ALS Association.  A close family friend of ours is battling ALS and the work of the Association is invaluable to the ALS patients and families in our community.

Jenna bid on and won a Phillies VIP Package that included a signed baseball from Rhys Hoskins, a signed bat from Nick Williams and a signed catcher's mitt from Cameron Rupp.  The package also included the opportunity to watch the Phillies take batting practice before a game and a behind the scenes tour of Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies contacted Jenna in April and we picked this game against the Braves for our "VIP" experience, partly because it was also Star Wars Night.  The experience did not disappoint.

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #7

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #9

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8

2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #10

The highlight of course was getting to watch the Phillies take batting practice from right behind home plate.  We were told not to call over to the players, but several of them wandered over to us anyway.  Thanks to Scott Kingery, Carlos Santana, Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams and Jesmuel Valentin for taking time to sign some autographs and pose for pictures.  Santana offered Ben a hug, and Ben managed to avoid touching the pine tar already accumulating on Santana's right shoulder.  Broadcasters Tom McCarthy and Gregg Murphy also obliged with autographs and pictures.

After the players had all batted, manager Gabe Kapler made his way over to us and asked to see Doug's stack of Phillies baseball cards.  He looked at each one, pausing for comments, and then was impressed to see a Williams card in the style of the original 1983 Topps set.  It's something we and our sons will never forget.  Thanks again to the Phillies for a truly memorable experience!