2017 Topps Phillies #PHI-3 Vince Velasquez

Marlins 7, Phillies 2
Game 50 - Tuesday Night, May 30th in Miami
Record - 17-33, 5th place, 14 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Vince Velasquez was forced from the game in the second inning with an elbow injury and the Phillies offense managed a pair of hits in this 7-2 loss to the Marlins.

What It Means:  The Phillies are so bad right now, they're in danger of being swept (easily) by the third worst team in baseball.

What Happened:  Velasquez will miss some time after being diagnosed with a right elbow flexor strain.  The Phillies already needed a starting pitcher with the recent demotion of Zach Eflin and now they'll need another to take Velasquez's spot in the rotation.

In terms of Phillies offense, Howie Kendrick hit a solo home run (1) in the fourth followed by an Aaron Altherr single.  That was it.  Their second run scored on an Odubel Herrera sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Featured Card:  A disappointing season so far for Velasquez got even worse with this injury.  If the pitcher has a card in Topps Series Two, it will most likely look like this card from the retail Phillies team set.

2017 Chachi #23 Pat Neshek

#17
Patrick Neshek
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Switch  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  221
Born:  September 4, 1980, Madison, WI
Home:  Vero Beach, FL
Drafted:  Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round of the June 2002 draft
Teams:  Minnesota Twins 2006-2008, 2010; San Diego Padres 2011; Oakland Athletics 2012-2013; St. Louis Cardinals 2014; Houston Astros 2015-2016; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Acquired from the Houston Astros for cash considerations, November 4, 2016

2007 Topps #29

2017 Topps #272

2017 Topps Heritage #71

4 Neshek Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2017 Topps #272
First Phillies Card:  2017 Topps Heritage #71
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #17
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #17

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2007 Topps #29

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi New Additions #1
2017 Chachi #23
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #9

Card statistics through 5/30/17.

2010 Phillies Fan Appreciation Day Postcards #3 Roy Halladay

Marlins 4, Phillies 1
Game 49 - Monday Night, May 29th in Miami
Record - 17-32, 5th place, 13 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Edinson Volquez and four Marlins relievers held the Phillies to a run on four hits in this series-opening loss.

What It Means:  I remember when I first started these game summary posts, back when the Phillies were winning more often than not, and I couldn't wait to recap each game.  That's not the case anymore.  These games are hard to watch and harder to re-live following each loss.

What Happened:  Jeremy Hellickson pitched six innings, giving up four runs on six hits.  Cesar Hernandez doubled and Howie Kendrick had a hit in four at-bats in his return to the line-up.

Featured Card:  Seven years ago on May 29, 2010, Roy Halladay pitched his perfect game against the Marlins in Miami.  I believe I have three cards in my collection specifically paying tribute to Halladay's feat, and the card featured here is my favorite of the three:

• 2010 Phillies Fan Appreciation Day Postcards #3
• 2011 Topps Heritage #312
• 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen No-Hitters #NH-RH

Transaction:  Kendrick was activated from the disabled list, taking the demoted Zach Eflin's spot on the active roster.

2017 Chachi #22 Joaquin Benoit

#53
Joaquin Antonio Benoit
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  250
Born:  July 26, 1977, Santiago, DR
Home:  Santiago, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent, May 20, 1996
Teams:  Texas Rangers 2001-2008; Tampa Bay Rays 2010; Detroit Tigers 2011-2013; San Diego Padres 2014-2015; Seattle Mariners 2016; Toronto Blue Jays 2016; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays, December 6, 2016

2011 Topps #521

2017 Phillies Team Issue #53

1 Benoit Baseball Card in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #53
First Phillies Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #53
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #53
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #53

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2011 Topps #521

I had to double check, but it's true that Benoit pitched for the Rangers for parts of eight seasons without an appearance in a Topps flagship set.  He had Topps cards showing him with the Rangers in the 2002 Topps Heritage set, along with the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Topps Total sets.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi New Additions #4
2017 Chachi #22
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #8

Card statistics through 5/29/17.

1998 Fleer Tradition #220 Midre Cummings

Reds 8, Phillies 4
Game 48 - Sunday Afternoon, May 28th in Philadelphia
Record - 17-31, 5th place, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Zach Eflin allowed four home runs as the Reds cruised to an 8-4 victory.

What It Means:  As Todd Zolecki Tweeted, the Phillies have now lost nine straight series, which is their longest series losing streak since 1997 when they lost ten straight series.

What Happened:  Eflin was chased after five having allowed seven runs on nine hits.  Andrew Knapp (3) hit a three-run home run in the second.  Aaron Altherr had another multi-hit game, raising his team-leading average to .303.

Featured Card:  This season is taking on a 1997 vibe, so here's a card of one of the contributors to that awful season, Midre Cummings.  And how have I never featured a Midre Cummings card on the blog before?

Cummings was selected off waivers from the Pirates on July 8, 1997.  In half a season with the Phillies, he'd appear in 63 games and hit a respectable .303 with a home run and 23 RBIs.  He stabilized the center field position for the club, which had tried Wendell Magee, Jr., Ricky Otero, Rex Hudler, Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Rob Butler at the position before settling on Cummings to finish out the season.  Cummings appeared on four Phillies baseball cards in 1998 - this Fleer Tradition card, along with cards in the Collector's Choice, Pacific Invincible and Upper Deck sets.

Transaction:  Eflin was optioned to Lehigh Valley following the game.

Series Preview - Phillies at Marlins: May 29th to May 31st

Monday and Tuesday 7:10, Wednesday 1:10
Marlins Park - Miami, FL

Phillies 17-31, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Marlins 18-30, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 11 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 4.28), Vince Velasquez (2-4, 5.55), Aaron Nola (2-2, 4.34)
Marlins Probables:  Edinson Volquez (0-7, 4.82), Justin Nicolino (0-1, 5.40), Dan Straily (3-3, 3.83)

At the Ballpark:  Happy Memorial Day!  The first 10,000 fans through the gates for this game will receive a Marlins Tote Bag.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Aaron Altherr - .303
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 35
Home Runs:  Aaron Altherr and Tommy Joseph - 8
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 28
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 5
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.28
Strikeouts:  Vince Velasquez - 52
Saves:  Hector Neris - 4

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Marcell Ozuna - .313
Runs:  Christian Yelich - 32
Home Runs:  Justin Bour and Giancarlo Stanton - 13
RBIs:  Marcell Ozuna - 35
Stolen Bases:  Dee Gordon - 15

Wins:  Dan Straily and Urena - 3
ERA:  Dan Straily - 3.83
Strikeouts:  Dan Straily - 54
Saves:  A.J. Ramos - 5

2017 Chachi #21 Edubray Ramos

#61
Edubray Eduar Ramos Garces
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  224
Born:  December 19, 1992, Caracas, VZ
Home:  Guacara, VZ
Signed:  Signed as an amateur free agent, November 21, 2012
Teams:  Phillies 2016-
Acquired:  Via free agency

2015 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #22

2016 Chachi #48

2017 Phillies Team Issue #61

7 Ramos Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #22
First Phillies Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue 2 Update #61
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue 2 Update #61
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #61

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #48
2016 Chachi Photo Day #33
2017 Chachi #21

Card statistics through 5/27/17.

Joseph Walks Off Again; Ben & Doug Celebrate!

2017 Chachi In Action #2

Phillies 4, Reds 3
Game 47 - Saturday Afternoon, May 27th in Philadelphia
Record - 17-30, Tied for 4th place, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Tommy Joseph enjoyed his second walk-off hit in three games as the Phils won against the Reds, 4-3.

What It Means:  This was an exciting, enjoyable game!  Imagine that!

What Happened:  Solo home runs from Cesar Hernandez (5), Michael Saunders (6) and Joseph (8) accounted for the first three Phillies runs.  With the score tied in the ninth, Aaron Altherr singled and went to second on a wild pitch.  Joseph singled him home to start the on-field celebration.

Featured Cards:  Joseph earns an In Action card and Tommy Greene (see below) joins the Fan Favorites set.

Field Report:  And we were there!  We enjoyed the game from Section 115, Row 8, which is prime pre-game autograph territory.  Here are the highlights from our day:

Jim Bunning Wall of Fame plaque

The patient autograph seeker

Ben celebrates the win

• Doug staked out a spot at the corner of the Phillies dugout and scored autographs from Mickey Morandini, Brock Stassi and Vince Velasquez.  
• Ben and Jenna walked around the ballpark prior to the game and got to talk to Greene (again) up on the rooftop deck.
• This seemed like a quickly paced game and it was generally a high-energy crowd.
• Following the game, we waited in line for about 20 minutes so that both our boys could run the bases.

2017 Chachi Fan Favorites #14

1965 Topps #20 Jim Bunning

Reds 5, Phillies 2
Game 46 - Friday Night, May 26th in Philadelphia
Record - 16-30, 5th place, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Reds starting pitcher Tim Adleman completely befuddled the Phillies line-up, as the Reds easily overcame the Phillies, 5-2.

What It Means:  Pete Mackanin held a team meeting after this latest loss. The Phillies have lost 21 out of their last 26 games.  Over their past six games, they've scored a total of nine runs and been held to no more than three hits four times.  (H/T Jim Salisbury via Twitter.)

What Happened:  Adleman allowed one first inning hit in his eight innings of work.  The Phils plated a pair in the ninth but it wasn't enough.  Aaron Nola dropped to 2-2 after allowing five runs in his six innings of work.  Mark Leiter, Jr. pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

Featured Card:  We learned on Saturday that Jim Bunning had passed away on Friday night at the age of 85.  Bunning was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1984, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996, and had his #14 retired by the Phillies in 2001.  A nine-time All-Star, Bunning threw a perfect game on Father's Day 1964 and started and won the first game in Veterans Stadium history on April 10, 1971.  The Phillies paid tribute to Bunning with a moment of silence prior to Saturday's game.

You can read Bunning's full obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

2017 Chachi #20 Joely Rodriguez

#63
Joely Rodriguez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  214
Born:  November 14, 1991, Santo Domingo, DR
Home:  Santo Domingo, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent, March 25, 2009
Teams:  Phillies 2016-
Acquired:  Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo, December 10, 2014

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24

2016 Chachi #62

2017 Phillies Team Issue #63

6 Rodriguez Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24
First Phillies Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi New Additions #2
2016 Chachi #62
2017 Chachi #20
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5 (with Zach Eflin)

Card statistics through 5/26/17.

Series Preview - Reds at Phillies: May 26th to May 28th

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

Reds 22-24, 4th Place in the N.L. Central, 3 games behind the Cubs
Phillies 16-29, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 11 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Reds Probables:  Tim Adleman (2-2, 6.19), Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 6.75), Scott Feldman (3-4, 3.99)
Phillies Probables:  Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.52), Jerad Eickhoff (0-5, 4.70), Zach Eflin (0-2, 5.36)

At the Ballpark:  After the game on Saturday, kids will be able to run the bases.  Sunday is Melanoma Awareness Day, with Mike Schmidt, who had melanoma, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Reds Leaders
Average:  Zack Cozart - .340
Runs:  Joey Votto - 35
Home Runs:  Scott Schebler - 13
RBIs:  Joey Votto - 38
Stolen Bases:  Billy Hamilton - 23

Wins:  Four tied with - 3
ERA:  Scott Feldman - 3.99
Strikeouts:  Scott Feldman - 47
Saves:  Raisel Iglesias - 8

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Aaron Altherr - .295
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 34
Home Runs:  Aaron Altherr - 8
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 28
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 5
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.28
Strikeouts:  Vince Velasquez - 52
Saves:  Hector Neris - 4

1982 Topps Traded #41T

1982 Topps #53

1982 Topps Appreciation:  Greg Harris and Greg Gross were teammates on the 1988 Phillies team that lost 96 games and finished in the basement of the N.L. East.

Back in 1982, Harris was just getting started on his 15-year major league career.  In February, he was traded from the Mets with Jim Kern and Alex Trevino for slugger George Foster.  He'd appear in 34 games with the Reds (10 starts), compiling a 4.83 ERA and a 2-6 record.  Harris bounced around quite a bit during his career, appearing in 110 games with the Phillies during the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

Gross had another productive season in 1982 for the Phillies, hitting .299 and appearing in 119 games at all three outfield positions.

2017 Topps Bunt #162 Tommy Joseph

Phillies 2, Rockies 1 (11)
Game 45 - Thursday Afternoon, May 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 16-29, Tied for 4th place, 11 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  It was the Tommy Joseph show as the surging slugger tied the game in the seventh with a solo home run and won the game in the 11th with a walk-off single.

What It Means:  The Phillies managed to avoid the four-game sweep by the Rockies, and the Reds now come to town for a three-game weekend series.

What Happened:  Vince Velasquez and six Phillies relievers held the Rockies offense to a run on 10 scattered hits through 11 innings of work.  Pat Neshek made an incredible diving catch of a popped-up bunt and quickly threw to first for a double play to escape the seventh inning.  Tommy Joseph continues to swing a hot bat, and he's leading the team in average (.329), slugging percentage (.671) and OPS (1.071) in the month of May.

Featured Card:  Here's a look at the new "physical" Topps Bunt product, not to be confused with the existing "virtual" Topps Bunt product available via the Topps Bunt app.  In my opinion, the design of these cards is way better than the design Topps went with for the flagship set this year.  Get rid of the diagonally watermarked stripey-things running the length of the card, and this is a card design asking for a 792-card complete set.

Transaction:  Reliever Jeanmar Gomez was activated from the disabled list before the game and Adam Morgan was sent back down to Lehigh Valley.

2017 Phillies Team Issue #39 Adam Morgan

Rockies 7, Phillies 2
Game 44 - Wednesday Night, May 24th in Philadelphia
Record - 15-29, 5th place, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Jeremy Hellickson got hit hard again in this 7-2 loss to the Rockies.

What It Means:  Each loss at this point represents a new low-water mark for the 2017 season.

What Happened:  Hellickson allowed all seven Rockies runs during his five innings of work.  The offense managed three hits, including an eighth inning two-run home run from Michael Saunders, his fifth of the season.

Featured Card:  The only remotely bright spot in this game was the three scoreless innings of relief thrown by Adam Morgan.  The strong effort dropped his season ERA from 10.50 to 7.00.

2017 Chachi #19 Adam Morgan

#39

Adam Christopher Morgan

Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  204

Born:  February 27, 1990, Tampa, FL

Home:  Marietta, GA

Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the June 2011 draft

Teams:  Phillies 2015-

Acquired:  Via draft

2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23

2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop #CC-PP5

2015 Chachi #45

2016 Topps #610

15 Morgan Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23
First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop Mini Refractors #CC-PP5
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2016 Topps #610
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #39
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue 2 #39

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #45
2015 Chachi Special Edition #12
2016 Chachi #39
2017 Chachi #19

Card statistics through 5/24/17.

1991 Medford Phillies Update #49 Tommy Greene

Rockies 8, Phillies 2
Game 43 - Tuesday Night, May 23rd in Philadelphia
Record - 15-28, 5th place, 11 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The surging Rockies continued to punish the hapless Phillies, winning this game easily, 8-2.

What It Means:  The loss dropped the Phillies into sole possession of last place in the division.  The paid attendance of 17,109 was also a season low.

What Happened:  The slumping Maikel Franco, Michael Saunders and Cameron Rupp were all given the night off.  The offense went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  Aaron Altherr had a pair of hits and Andrew Knapp (2) hit a solo home run in the ninth off Chad Qualls.  Zach Eflin allowed all eight runs in his six innings of work.

Featured Card:  The 2017 Phillies aren't giving me much to write about, so here's a look back at this day in Phillies history.  On May 23, 1991, Tommy Greene no-hit the Expos in Montreal.  Phungo ran a few posts last year showing three of the baseball cards to commemorate this event, and in my recent checklisting activities I came across a fourth card shown here.  This card was released with the Medford Phillies Update set available for sale at Veterans Stadium late in the 1991 season.

To recap, I believe this is your master checklist for collecting baseball cards celebrating Greene's no-hitter.

• 1991 Medford Phillies Update #49
• 1991 Topps Stadium Club Members Only #3
• 1992 Donruss #94
• 1992 Score #426

Transaction:  The Phillies placed Daniel Nava on the ten-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and Adam Morgan was once again recalled from the IronPigs.

2017 Chachi #18 Vince Velasquez

#28
Vincent John Velasquez
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Switch  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  215
Born:  June 7, 1992, Montclair, CA
Home:  Pomona, CA
Drafted:  Selected by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round of the June 2010 draft
Teams:  Houston Astros 2015; Phillies 2016-
Acquired:  Acquired with Mark Appel, Brett Oberholtzer, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz from the Houston Astros for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz, December 12, 2015

2015 Topps Update #US258

2016 Phillies Team Issue #28

2016 Chachi #18

10 Velasquez Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #28
First Phillies Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #28
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #28
Latest Card:  2017 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-284

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2015 Topps Update #US258

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi New Additions #10
2016 Chachi #18
2016 Chachi #35 HL
2016 Chachi #69 Pitching Leaders (with Jeremy Hellickson and Jerad Eickhoff)
2016 Chachi #70 Strikeout Leaders (with Jerad Eickhoff and Jeremy Hellickson)
2016 Chachi Archives #8
2016 Chachi Photo Day #18
2017 Chachi #18

Card statistics through 5/23/17.

1995 Pinnacle #79 Charlie Hayes

Rockies 8, Phillies 1
Game 42 - Monday Night, May 22nd in Philadelphia
Record - 15-27, 4th place, 10 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Rockies offense punished Jerad Eickhoff as the floundering Phils lost, 8-1

What It Means:  The Phillies are not a fun team to watch right now. They've lost 18 of their last 22 and if not for the even worse Marlins (15-28) and Padres (16-30) they'd be the worst team in baseball right now.

What Happened:  Eickhoff allowed four runs on nine hits in his six innings. Tommy Joseph had a big error in the ninth allowing two (meaningless) unearned runs to score.  The Phillies offense managed only three hits, two of which were doubles by Aaron Altherr.

Featured Card:  Did you know the first ex-Phillies player to join the Rockies was Charlie Hayes? Hayes was taken as the third overall pick in the 1992 expansion draft by the Rockies, and he'd spend the 1993 and 1994 seasons as their starting third baseman before returning to the Phillies for the 1995 season.  Hayes is now the bench coach for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

2017 Chachi #17 Clay Buchholz

#21
Clay Daniel Buchholz
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  190
Born:  August 14, 1984, Nederland, TX
Home:  Austin, TX
Drafted:  Selected by the Boston Red Sox as a supplemental pick in the 1st round of the June 2005 draft
Teams:  Boston Red Sox 2007-2016; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Josh Tobias, December 20, 2016

2008 Topps #232

2017 Topps #267

2017 Topps Heritage #148

5 Buccholz Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2017 Topps #267
First Phillies Card:  2017 Topps Heritage #148
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #21
Latest Card:  2017 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-281

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2008 Topps #232

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi New Additions #6
2017 Chachi #17

Card statistics through 5/22/17.