Giants at Phillies: July 20th to July 22nd

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Friday 7:05, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 1:35

Giants 51-41, 1st Place in the N.L. West, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers
Phillies 41-52, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 13 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Giants Probables:  Tim Lincecum (3-10, 5.93), Matt Cain (10-3, 2.56), Barry Zito (8-6, 3.75)
Phillies Probables:  Vance Worley (5-5, 3.47), Cole Hamels (11-4, 3.07), Joe Blanton (8-8, 4.79)

At the Ballpark:  Tomorrow afternoon is Phillies Photo Day and fans will be permitted onto the field to take close-up pictures of the meandering Phillies players, coaches and broadcasters.  All fans will also receive a "2012 Phillies Print," which if it's anything like prior years will be a team photo.  On Sunday afternoon, kids will receive a Roy Halladay Fathead Jr. - aka a Halladay sticker you can stick to a wall.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .350

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 59

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 17

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 57

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre and Shane Victorino - 21

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 11

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.07

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 125

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 21

1979 Topps #317

1979 Topps Flashback:  When I was pairing up Phillies cards to feature within the flashback segment of my series preview posts, Jose Cardenal was the odd man out.  In his 18-year career, Cardenal played with the Giants, Angels, Indians, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Mets and Royals, yet there wasn't a natural pairing with another Phillies-related 1979 Topps card for the light-hitting outfielder.  So here he is, all by himself.

Cardenal spent all of 1978 and part of 1979 with the Phillies, appearing in 116 games and hitting .241.

2012 Chachi #35 Raul Valdes

#46

Raul Valdes

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 5'11"  Weight: 190

Born: November 27, 1977, La Habana, Cuba

Home: San Francisco de Macoris, DR

Signed: Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent, March 31, 2004

Teams: New York Mets 2010, St. Louis Cardinals 2011, New York Yankees 2011, Phillies 2012

Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the New York Yankees, October 25, 2011

Contract Status: Signed through the 2012 season

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter's #26 Hunter Pence

Phillies 3, Dodgers 2
Game 92 - Late Tuesday Night, July 17th in Los Angeles
Record - 41-51, 5th Place, 13 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Roy Halladay returned from the disabled list and Hunter Pence provided the clutch winning hit in the 3-2 Phillies win.

What It Means:  This was the Phillies fourth win in a row and it improved their record to 1-38 when trailing after seven innings.  (I'll catch up with yesterday afternoon's game summary post soon.  West Coast trips and general craziness at work are messing with my groove.)

What Went Right:  In the eighth, with the Dodgers leading 2-1, Pence hit a two-out, two-run single to center to give the Phillies the lead.  Since June 24th, he's now hitting .409 with runners in scoring position.

Halladay pitched OK in his return, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work.

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter's
Man's Best Friend #MBF-12

Featured Card:  It was only a matter of time before a 2012 Allen & Ginter's card made its debut in The Phillies Room.  I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating - my wife rocks.  Professional strife and workplace angst have reared their ugly heads recently and Jenna continues to be incredibly supportive and positive as she puts up with my nightly whining.

In a display of complete spousal awesomeness, and in an attempt to bust me out my funk, Jenna recently came home from Target with two Allen & Ginter's blasters.  I opened the packs with Doug (our five-year-old) who is definitely partial to the Mini cards.  He actually brushed aside the regular-sized cards from his packs, announcing that he preferred the smaller cards and the card featured here was his favorite.  My sister and brother-in-law have a Shih Tzu, so this card fits nicely into Doug's collection.  Now all that's needed for his new Mini collection is the Yorkshire Terrier card in honor of Chachi.

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Moonshots #MS-RH Ryan Howard

Phillies 3, Dodgers 2
Game 91 - Late Monday Night, July 16th in Los Angeles
Record - 40-51, 5th Place, 13 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Ryan Howard's first home run of the season and Joe Blanton's strong outing led to a 3-2 Phillies victory.

What It Means:  There's a one-day time delay to these game summary posts given the Phillies are playing late night baseball in L.A.  This win gave the Phillies a three-game winning streak and it was nice to see them play like the Phillies of yesteryear.  (Yesteryear being 2007-2011.)

What Went Right:  Blanton lasted eight innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out seven.  Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth and recorded his 20th save.

Jimmy Rollins and Howard both homered and Shane Victorino enjoyed a three-hit night (including his fifth triple) in the winning effort.

Featured Card:  I currently have 22 different 2012 Ryan Howard baseball cards in my collection, and unless he just gets crazy white hot, there's no way all of them will be featured in upcoming game summary posts.  So I'll have to pick and choose.

This Gypsy Queen insert card seemed appropriate given Howard's first home run of the season.  (Although it wasn't exactly a Moonshot.)

1950 Philadelphia Inquirer Fightin' Phillies - Del Ennis

I've got no additional trade rumors to report and the game summary post for last night's late game in Los Angeles will come along shortly.  What I do have this morning is this new "card" recently added to my collection, secured from a Checkoutmycards.com purchase.

I'm always on the look-out for new Del Ennis cards, as he and Dick Sisler were my Dad's two favorite players.  It's getting harder and harder to find cards of these two Whiz Kids to add to my collection, as most of their cards that I still need are out of my price range.  However, this Ennis card was reasonably priced and I pulled the trigger.

At the height of the Whiz Kids' popularity in September 1950, the Philadelphia Inquirer issued 24 cut-out baseball cards available in its Sunday papers.  The kid (or adult) who saved this particular card took great care to cut along the lines and the card itself is mounted on what appears to be thick, beige construction paper.

There's a Sisler card in the set as well, so I'll be on the look-out for it in my future collecting travels.

Phillies at Dodgers: July 16th to July 18th

Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Monday and Tuesday 10:10, Wednesday 3:10

Phillies 39-51, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 14 games behind the Nationals
Dodgers 48-42, 2nd Place in the N.L. West, 1 1/2 games behind the Giants

Phillies Probables:  Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98), Roy Halladay (4-5, 3.98), Cliff Lee (1-6, 3.92)
Dodgers Probables:  Nathan Eovaldi (1-5, 4.21), TBA, Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 2.84)

At the Ballpark:  Tomorrow night, all fans will receive a Dodgers Beach Chair, which is actually a great give-away item!

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .353

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 59

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 17

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 53

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 21

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 11

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.07

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 125

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 19

1979 Burger King Phillies #1 and 1979 Topps #290

1979 Topps Flashback:  Tonight's flashback features a few former Major Leaguers with both Dodgers and Phillies ties.

As a first baseman, Danny Ozark played 18 seasons in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system, never making it to the Majors.  Following his playing career, he joined Walter Alston's coaching staff with the big club, where he spent the 1965 through 1972 seasons.  Following the 1972 season, Ozark left the comforts of the Dodgers franchise to assume the managerial duties for the last-place Phillies.  It took him (and the club) a few years to come around, but Ozark would guide the Phils to play-off berths in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Unfortunately, the Phils fell short in each of those years and Ozark was fired on August 31, 1979 with the team two games under .500.  Ozark returned to the Dodgers as a coach on Tommy Lasorda's staff until part-way through the 1982 season.  He joined the Giants in 1983 and assumed interim manager duties in August 1984 following the firing of Frank Robinson.

Davey Lopes enjoyed a 16-year career, beginning with a decade with the Dodgers.  He's back as the Dodgers first base coach now, after having spent the 2007 through 2010 seasons on Charlie Manuel's staff.

2003 Bowman Signs of the Future #SOF-CH Cole Hamels

Phillies 5, Rockies 1
Game 90 - Sunday Afternoon, July 15th in Denver
Record - 39-51, 5th Place, 14 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Cole Hamels won his 11th game of the season, mowing through the Rockies line-up on the way to a 5-1 Phillies victory.

What It Means:  The Phillies won their first series in almost a month.

What Went Right:  Hamels threw eight solid innings, giving up just a run on six hits.  He struck out seven.  Carlos Ruiz had a hand in the first two Phillies runs and he added another two hits to raise his average to .353.  Hunter Pence crushed a three-run home run in the fifth, providing Hamels with more than enough run support.

Featured Card:  Who knows how much longer I'll have the opportunity to feature one of Hamels' cards in a game summary post?  Scouts from the Angels, Dodgers and Rangers were in attendance yesterday afternoon to watch Hamels pitch as we're now a little over two weeks away from the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

The Phillies are apparently trying to lock up Hamels to a long-term deal.  But if something isn't worked out in the next few weeks, the 2008 N.L.C.S. and World Series MVP could be pitching for another franchise for the first time in his career.  Given the current state of the club, the team would almost have to entertain offers for Hamels' services if they're guaranteed three or four top line prospects in return.

Featured here is the earliest Hamels card in my collection.  He made an appearance in the Bowman Draft sets (regular and Chrome) in 2002, but I believe this is his first certified Bowman autograph card. Ten years ago, when Hamels was drafted, no one could have predicted what he and the franchise would go through over the coming decade.  I hope his journey with the club lasts at least another five to six years.

2012 Topps Archives #188 Vance Worley

Phillies 8, Rockies 5
Game 89 - Saturday Night, July 14th in Denver
Record - 38-51, 5th Place, 14 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Vance Worley paced the team with his arm and his bat as the Phillies survived another shaky outing from the bullpen to win, 8-5.

What It Means:  It feels good to win.  It's been a while.  The Phillies go for the series win this afternoon before heading off to Los Angeles for some late night baseball.

What Went Right:  Worley pitched into the seventh inning, allowing just two runs on eight hits.  On the mound, the highlight of his night came when he struck out Michael Cuddyer with the bases loaded in the fifth.  At the plate, Worley slugged a two-out, two-run double in the sixth to give the Phils a 6-2 lead.

Carlos Ruiz continued his career season with a three-run home run in the first.  And perhaps most promising was the fact that the top of the line-up (Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Chase Utley) went 7 for 15 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs in the win.

Featured Card:  For just the second time this season, Worley earns the featured card honors.  This is his 1984-Topps style card from the Topps Archives set, released way back in mid-May.

1992 Stadium Club #124 Braulio Castillo

Rockies 6, Phillies 2
Game 88 - Friday Night, July 13th in Denver
Record - 37-51, 5th Place, 15 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies were outmatched by a pair of Rockies rookies, pitcher Christian Friedrich and shortstop Josh Rutledge, kicking off their second half with a loss.

What It Means:  So much for getting the second half off to a good start.  If you're keeping score at home, the Phillies have lost ten of their last eleven, corresponding with Chase Utley's return.  They have yet to win with Ryan Howard in the line-up.

What Went Wrong:  Friedrich out dueled Cliff Lee, striking out seven Phillies in six innings.  Lee left after six after giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits.  He now has a 1-6 record.  Michael Schwimer failed to escape the seventh inning, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.

Featured Card:  For some inexplicable reason, Gameday Audio was on the fritz last night and we were forced to listen into the television broadcast.  Perhaps the highlight (for me) of the telecast was a segment in which the Phillies broadcasters recalled the 1992 Expansion Draft and the players the Phillies lost to the newly formed Rockies and Marlins clubs.

The Phils lost Andy Ashby, Keith Shepherd and Braulio Castillo to the Rockies.  This time last year, I published a post detailing the first ex-Phillies farmhands to join to the Marlins.

Bottom line is - when the highlight of a Phillies game is a discussion involving Braulio Castillo, you know the season isn't going so well.

Phillies at Rockies: July 13th to July 15th

Coors Field - Denver, CO
Friday 8:40, Saturday 8:10, Sunday 3:10

Phillies 37-50, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 14 games behind the Nationals
Rockies 33-52, Tied for 4th Place in the N.L. West, 13 games behind the Dodgers

Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (1-5, 3.98), Vance Worley (4-5, 3.54), Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.20)
Rockies Probables:  Christian Friedrich (4-6, 5.98), Jeremy Guthrie (3-8, 6.05), Drew Pomeranz (1-3, 3.06)

At the Ballpark:  Fans will receive a rally towel tonight, a Rafael Betancourt (?) t-shirt tomorrow night and a Juan Nicasio (??) t-shirt on Sunday afternoon.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .350

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 58

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 16

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 50

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 20

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 10

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.20

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 118

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 18

2012 Chachi #44 Carlos Ruiz AS

National League 8, American League 0
All-Star Game - Tuesday Night, July 10th in Kansas City

One Sentence Summary:  The N.L. All-Stars jumped on Justin Verlander early as 11 pitchers combined to shut-out the A.L. All-Stars in the Mid-Summer Classic.

What It Means:  I love the All-Star Game.  It really is like Christmas in July for me, and it was nice to be rooting for a team with a large lead and a decent chance to win for a change.  The N.L. won their third consecutive All-Star game, winning World Series home field advantage for the Phillies N.L. pennant winners.

What Went Right:  The N.L. offense was paced by a three-run triple in the first from Pablo Sandoval and a two-run home run from Melky Cabrera in the fourth.

Carlos Ruiz entered the game in the bottom of the sixth, assigned the task of catching knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey.  Ruiz did just fine behind the plate, catching the final four frames.  At the plate, Chooch flew out to left fielder Mike Trout* in the seventh.

Cole Hamels pitched a perfect seventh, retiring Billy Butler, Matt Weiters and Adam Jones in order.  Jonathan Papelbon was called on to record the final out of the game and he retired Wieters on a fly ball to right.  It was nice to see Ruiz and Papelbon congratulating each other after the win - a sight I hope to see more frequently in the second half.

Featured Card:  It's an annual tradition at The Phillies Room to produce Chachi All-Star cards for the chosen Phillies.  This was Chooch's first All-Star game selection, and he receives the honors for this post given his status as the clear MVP of the team's first half.

*Special congratulations to Mike Trout, who is from my hometown of Millville, NJ.  I love that our entire town has rallied around the young All-Star and all the praise heaped on him by Fox during the All-Star Game telecast is extremely well-deserved.

1984 Topps Glossy All-Stars #15 Mike Schmidt

Posting will be light over the next few days as I enjoy the All-Star break and start focusing on a strong second half performance from The Phillies Room.

Also, I'm trying to let enough time go by before I post a rant against all-star players wearing neon clown spikes during the hallowed Mid-Summer Classic.  Michael Jack wouldn't have pulled that crap back in the day.

1974 Topps #283 Mike Schmidt

I was recently enjoying a Tile Tuesday post over at Wrigley Wax when I realized I had one of the few team-issued cards missing from the storied WW Collection.  I attended two games at Wrigley Field in September 2002 and the give-away during one of those games was a special 1984 Topps-style Lee Smith card.  This just happened to be of the three cards Wrigley Wax needed, so e-mails were exchanged and the Smith card left The Phillies Room HQ yesterday in a bubblelope bound for Cubs Country.

I wasn't expecting anything in return, but WW mentioned in an e-mail that he "found some cards on [my] '74 list to send [my] way."  Some cards indeed!

I received a package today with eight 1974 Topps cards from my want list, including this awesome second year Mike Schmidt card.  Now I already have this card within my 1974 Topps set, but I greedily wanted another copy for my 1970s Phillies binder.  And thanks to Wrigley Wax, I now do!

* * *

How is it that I love the All-Star Game so much, yet completely loathe the Home Run Derby?