2021 Chachi #40 Ramon Rosso

#60
Ramon Antonio Rosso
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  255
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  June 9, 1996, Santo Domingo Centro, DR
How Obtained:  Signed as a minor league free agent, February 14, 2017
Contract Status:  Pre-arbitration eligible
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2018 Choice Lakewood BlueClaws #23
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #19

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

4 - Rosso baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/29/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi #30
2021 Chachi #40

Rosso was a somewhat surprising addition to the Phillies' Opening Day roster in 2020 but he impressed manager Joe Girardi enough that he made the team over veteran non-roster righty relievers such as Blake Parker, Robert Stock, Bud Norris or Anthony Swarzak.  Rosso made his big league debut on opening day last July and had a shaky performance, throwing a pair of wild pitches.  He's appeared in one game so far this season and was designated for assignment on May 23rd.  Rosso cleared waivers a few days later and reported to the IronPigs.

His only baseball cards to date can be found in the 2018 BlueClaws team set and in all three team sets issued in 2019 by the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Phillies at Reds: May 31st to June 2nd

1986 Topps #556

1986 Topps #342

Monday 2:10, Tuesday 7:10 and Wednesday 12:35
Great American Ball Park - Cincinnati, OH

At the Ballpark:  Pregame ceremonies this afternoon will honor military groups as part of the Reds' Military Appreciation Day.  On Wednesday, as part of Major League Baseball's new Lou Gehrig Day celebration, the Reds website lists the giveaway as a "Lou Gehrig Baseball Card."

Phillies 25-28
3rd Place in the N.L. East, 4 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Vince Velasquez (2-0, 2.95)
Aaron Nola (3-4, 3.72)
Spencer Howard (0-1, 5.56)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Rhys Hoskins - .265
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 30
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 11
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 31
Stolen Bases:  Four tied with - 4

Wins:  Three tied with - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.52
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 92
Saves:  Hector Neris - 9

Reds 23-28
5th Place in the N.L. Central, 6 games behind the Cardinals

Reds Probables
Wade Miley (4-4, 3.50)
Sonny Gray (1-3, 3.40)
Vladimir Gutierrez (0-1, 1.80)

Reds Leaders
Average:  Nick Castellanos - .359
Runs:  Jesse Winker - 37
Home Runs:  Jesse Winker - 13
RBIs:  Tyler Naquin - 33
Stolen Bases:  Tyler Naquin - 4

Wins:  Tyler Mahle and Wade Miley - 4
ERA:  Tyler Mahle - 3.42

Strikeouts:  Tyler Mahle - 64
Saves:  Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims - 3

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 53 - 1974 Topps #632 George Culver

Rays 6, Phillies 2
Game 53 - Sunday Afternoon, May 30th in St. Petersburg
Record - 25-28, 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Defensive miscues, lack of clutch hitting again doomed the Phillies in this 6-2 loss to the Rays.

What It Means:  Whether it was Alec Bohm at third completely missing a catchable foul pop up or Brad Miller in right field airmailing a throw way over the head of the cut-off man, the Phillies continued to play poor defense in their latest loss.  They're 4-10 in their last 14 games.  The team stinks.

What Happened:  Zach Eflin lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.  The Phillies crept closer with two runs in the sixth to make it 4-2, on a J.T. Realmuto sacrifice fly and a ground-rule double from Miller.  But the two Rays runs that scored in the seventh after Miller's throwing error sealed this loss.

Featured Card:  For most of the Memorial Day weekend it rained where we live, washing out our oldest son's baseball tournament and confining us to the house during the heavier downpours.  I was grateful the Phillies were playing day games both Saturday and Sunday . . . until the actual games began and I was again reminded the Phillies just aren't that good right now.  I muted the latter innings of both Saturday and Sunday's games and during the debacle of this game I crafted several posts for my 1965 Topps blog.  It was a welcome distraction.  I compose these posts in advance and then schedule their publishing for a date in the future.  One of the cards I wrote about today, for a post scheduled for early July, was the Indians Rookie Stars card featuring George Culver and Tommie Agee, card #166 in the set.

And because the current day Phillies gave me little to no reason to use any of their current roster for this post's featured card, here's the final Topps flagship card appearance for Culver from the 1974 Topps set. Culver briefly pitched with the Phillies in 1973 and 1974.  He'd rejoin the team in 1981, serving as a roving minor league instructor and for the next decade-plus spending time as a coach or manager for the team's Double-A team in Reading or their Triple-A teams in Portland, Maine and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Transaction:  Roman Quinn (of) was placed on the 60-day injured list with his Achilles injury, effectively ending his season.  Travis Jankowski (of) had his contract purchased from Lehigh Valley.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #39 Bailey Falter

#70
Bailey Falter
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  205
Opening Day Age:  23
Born:  April 24, 1997, Chino Hills, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 5th round of June 2015 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  2015 Bowman Draft #3
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2016 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #9
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #4

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

8 - Falter baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/29/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi BlueClaws Signing Autographs #2

2021 Chachi #39

The Covid-related bullpen shuffle saw the Phillies promote Bailey Falter and Ramon Rosso on April 20th, with Damon Jones and Cristopher Sanchez getting sent back down.  Falter stuck around for five games, pitching two innings in his Major League debut on April 25th.  He allowed four hits and a home run to C.J. Cron in a blow-out loss to the Rockies.  He returned to Lehigh Valley on April 26th and he's currently pitching for the IronPigs.

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Game 52 - 2021 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-273 Roman Quinn

Rays 5, Phillies 3
Game 52 - Saturday Afternoon, May 29th in St. Petersburg
Record - 25-27, Tied for 2nd Place, 3 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler struck out a career-high 14 batters, but the bullpen couldn't keep the Rays from scoring late in the game and the Phillies lost, 5-3.

What It Means:  I was grateful the Phillies were playing on the road, in a domed stadium no less, as we continued to have our Memorial Day weekend completely washed out by steady rain.

What Happened:  I'm not sure why manager Joe Girardi didn't let Wheeler go back out for the eighth inning.  He was absolutely cruising, although his pitch count was up to 101.  No balls left the infield in the eighth against relievers Sam Coonrod and Jose Alvarado, but the Rays scored twice.  Between the two relievers, the Rays tallied two infield hits, a hit batter, an intentional walk and a bases-loaded walk to bring home an insurance run.  The Phillies scored their first two runs in the fifth on a double to right from Ronald Torreyes.  Matt Joyce temporarily tied the game with a home run, his first of the year, in the seventh.  The home run also broke an 0 for 28 slump for Joyce.

Featured Card:  When Torreyes doubled in the fifth, Odubel Herrera scored easily and the trail runner, Roman Quinn, appeared to stumble after rounding third.  Quinn had in fact injured his left Achilles and had to be carried off the field.  It's the latest in a long line of incredibly unfortunate injuries for the speedy outfielder and all indications are this could cost him the rest of the season.  I can't help but feel horribly for Quinn, who has consistently worked hard to come back from each injury.

Transaction:  J.T. Realmuto (c) was activated from the injured list and Rafael Marchan (c) was sent to Lehigh Valley.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #38 Gary Jones CO

#90
Gary Wayne Jones
Interim Coach

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'9"  Weight:  162
Opening Day Age:  60
Born:  November 11, 1960, Henderson, TX
Major League Teams:  N/A
As a Coach:  Oakland Athletics 1998; Chicago Cubs 2014-2017

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2018 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #31
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #28

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

2 - Jones baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/28/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #38

Gary Jones is the current manager of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a position he's held since the 2018 season.  Jones was "recalled" on April 19th when several Phillies coaches landed on the Covid-related injured list.  Jones served as the team's third base coach for four games and then moved over to first base for one last game on April 24th.  Jones had previously coached in the majors with the Athletics and Cubs.

Jones will most likely never be listed on the team's official coaching roster, but I wanted to memorialize his short stint with a Chachi card.  This isn't the first time a Chachi set has featured an interim coach card, as in 2008 the team found themselves employing four different interim coaches throughout their championship season.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Phillies at Rays: May 29th to May 30th

1986 Topps #418

2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #6

Saturday and Sunday 1:10
Tropicana Field - St. Petersburg, FL

At the Ballpark:  All fans will receive a Rays car flag on Saturday and the Rays will also be wearing their Devil Rays throwback jerseys.  On Sunday, kids 14 and under will receive a Kevin Kiermaier snapback hat.

Phillies 25-26
Tied for 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 2 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (4-2, 2.38)
Zach Eflin (2-4, 3.84)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .274
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 30
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 11
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 31
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  Three tied with - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.38
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 78
Saves:  Hector Neris - 9

Rays 32-20
1st Place in the A.L. East, 1/2 game ahead of the Red Sox

Rays Probables
Ryan Yarbrough (2-3, 4.27)
Josh Fleming (4-3, 2.88)

Rays Leaders
Average:  Joey Wendle - .303
Runs:  Randy Arozarena and Joey Wendle - 33
Home Runs:  Mike Zunino - 11
RBIs:  Austin Meadows - 33
Stolen Bases:  Brett Phillips - 7

Wins:  Andrew Kittredge - 5
ERA:  Tyler Glasnow - 2.57

Strikeouts:  Tyler Glasnow - 98
Saves:  Diego Castillo - 8

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #37 Cristopher Sanchez

#61
Cristopher Alexis Sanchez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'5"  Weight:  190
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  December 12, 1996, La Romana, Dominican Republic
How Obtained:  Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for Curtis Mead, November 20, 2019
Major League Teams:  N/A

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  N/A

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

0 - Sanchez baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/28/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi New Additions #5

2021 Chachi #37

Lefty Cristopher Sanchez was acquired in late 2019 and spent all last season training with the taxi squad in Lehigh Valley.  On April 19th, Sanchez, Damon Jones, Nick Maton and IronPigs' manager Gary Jones all got the call to the big leagues when several players and a few coaches landed on the Covid-protocol injured list.  Sanchez didn't get the call from the bullpen and he was sent back to Lehigh Valley with Damon Jones following the game.  He was recalled again for the game on May 3rd but again saw no game action and was sent back down the following day.  I'm anxious to add a card for him to my collection whenever the IronPigs team set is released.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 51 - 2020 Topps Finest The Man #FTM-13 Rhys Hoskins

Phillies 3, Marlins 2
Game 51 - Thursday Afternoon, May 27th in Miami
Record - 25-26, Tied for 2nd Place, 2 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Rhys Hoskins hit a key two-run home run with the Spencer Howard / Ranger Suarez combination pitching an effective seven innings in this 3-2 win over the Marlins.

What It Means:  The Phillies have a rare (and strange?) off-day on Friday before a short two-game series with the Rays begins on Saturday afternoon.

What Happened:  Howard went four innings and allowed a run with Suarez following with three scoreless innings.  The Marlins tied the game against the wild Jose Alvarado who walked three and gave up an RBI-single to Garrett Cooper.  The Phillies took the lead in the ninth when Ronald Torreyes beat out a throw to first, allowing Odubel Herrera to score with the eventual winning run.  Hector Neris locked down the ninth, earning his ninth save.

Featured Card:  Hoskins has found his swing and he increased his team lead in home runs with his 11th off Marlins' pitcher Pablo Lopez in the fourth.  Lopez had knocked down Hoskins earlier in the at-bat with a ball that buzzed Hoskins' noggin.  The version of Hoskins that hits a home run after almost getting drilled is my favorite version of Hoskins, as he was clearly fired up after his blast.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 50 - 2021 Topps Now #108 Andrew Knapp

Marlins 4, Phillies 2
Game 50 - Wednesday Night, May 26th in Miami
Record - 24-26, 4th Place, 2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  A three-run eighth inning from the Marlins doomed the Phillies in this 4-2 loss.

What It Means:  Aaron Nola's final line (6 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts) doesn't tell the full story as he was seemingly in trouble every inning.  He battled through six innings, leaving the game with his team holding a slim 2-1 lead.

What Happened:  The Phillies offense continues to sputter along, with their two runs scored on a bases loaded walk to Brad Miller and a  Rhys Hoskins sacrifice fly.  The Phillies went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.  It could have been worse for Nola, but center fielder Odubel Herrera leapt over the fence in the sixth to take away a home run from Isan Diaz.

The bottom of the eighth had a whole host of problems for the Phillies.  Brad Miller made a bad throw to Jean Segura on a potential double play ball, reliever Sam Coonrod walked Diaz to put runners on first and second, Andrew Knapp allowed a passed ball to move those runners up and then Jon Berti singled to right to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs.

Featured Card:  Knapp has had an unfortunate run of late, the least of which being his costly passed ball and his 0 for 4 at the plate to drop his season average to .145.  He's been hit two games in a row in an extremely sensitive area, leading to lengthy game delays and questions as to how he's even able to walk at this point.  His only card so far from 2021 is his Topps Now card celebrating his walk-off single from April 21st.

Transaction:  Scott Kingery was moved from the seven-day concussion-related injured list to the regular 10-day list.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 49 - 2021 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-285 Vince Velasquez

Phillies 2, Marlins 0
Game 49 - Tuesday Night, May 25th in Miami
Record - 24-25, 3rd Place, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Vince Velasquez turned in yet another solid performance as the Phillies won with only two hits, 2-0.

What It Means:  To the surprise of everyone but himself, Velasquez has been a reliable starting pitcher for the past month.  In his last four starts he's gone at least five innings and allowed one run or less each time.  That's pretty good.

What Happened:  Velasquez went six innings in this game, allowing three hits while striking out five.  The bullpen locked down the shutout with Hector Neris recording his eighth save.  The Phillies only runs came in the fourth when Rhys Hoskins battled through a tough at-bat against Sandy Alcantara and ultimately hit a two-run home run to left.

Featured Card:  This is the only card released in 2021 (so far) for Velasquez.

Transactions:  The Phillies finally place Bryce Harper (of) on the injured list with a left wrist bruise and Roman Quinn (of) was activated.  The club also announced the signing of minor league free agent Jorge Bonifacio (of).

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #36 Damon Jones

#68
Damon Jones
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'5"  Weight:  233
Opening Day Age:  26
Born:  September 30, 1994, Twin Falls, ID
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 18th round of June 2017 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  N/A

First Phillies Card:  2020 Bowman Prospects #BP-65
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #14
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Bowman Talent Pipeline #TP-PHI

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

8 - Jones baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/24/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi BlueClaws Harry Potter Night #11 - with Spencer Howard

2021 Chachi #36

Damon Jones, Cristopher Sanchez and Nick Maton (along with IronPigs' manager Gary Jones) all got the call to the big leagues on April 19th in a flurry of moves necessitated by the league's Covid protocols.  Jones and Sanchez didn't see any game action, but their additions to the active roster at least gives them the benefit of a Chachi card.  Both pitchers were sent back to the Lehigh Valley following their one night in the big leagues.

Jones has appeared in Phillies minor league team sets since 2017, and we met him briefly at the BlueClaws' Harry Potter theme night back in 2018. His first Phillies cards can be found in the 2020 Bowman set.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 48 - 2013 Topps Update #US224 Brad Miller

Marlins 9, Phillies 6
Game 48 - Monday Night, May 24th in Miami
Record - 23-25, 4th Place, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  This game was never as close as the final score makes it seem as the Phillies were outplayed by the Marlins, 9-6.

What It Means:  The Phillies continue to play truly uninspired baseball.  With Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius all currently lost to injury and anyone not named Zack Wheeler struggling in the starting pitching rotation, it's hard to feel any kind of excitement about the club right now.

What Happened:  A four-run ninth inning gave this game a respectable final score, but in actuality the Phillies were out of it after the Marlins plated two in the sixth off Zach Eflin and four more in the seventh off Brandon Kintzler.  On the bright side, Jean Segura, Rhys Hoskins, Brad Miller and Ronald Torreyes all had multi-hit nights.  Hoskins hit a ground-run double in the third that temporarily gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

Featured Card:  Miller hit his 100th career home run in the ninth off Marlins' reliever Shawn Morimando, who was making his first appearance in the majors since 2016.  I believe the only Phillies baseball card featuring Miller is from the 2019 Topps Total set, but the nine-year veteran has had his share of Topps flagship cards dating back to 2013.  Here's his rookie card from the 2013 Topps Update set, and his first home run came back on July 19, 2013 against Bud Norris and the Astros.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #35 Nick Maton

#29
Nicholas Maton
Shortstop-Second Base

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  178
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  February 18, 1997, Chatham, IL
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 7th round of June 2017 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  2021 Bowman Prospects #BP-5
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #16
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Bowman Talent Pipeline #TP-PHI

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

7 - Maton baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/22/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2021 Chachi #35

Nick Maton had a standout spring training and earned a promotion on April 19th when Ronald Torreyes landed on the Covid-protocol injured list.  He's been more than a pleasant surprise, making key starts at second base and shortstop while filling in for Jean Segura and Didi Gregorius who have both had their share of injuries so far in 2021.

Maton's baseball card appearances have been sparse to date.  By my tally, he appeared in four minor league team sets between 2017 and 2019, and had no baseball cards during the lost 2020 season.  He made his mainstream baseball card debut in the recently released 2021 Bowman set and I was disappointed when his two home run game against the Blue Jays on May 16th didn't result in a Topps Now card.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Phillies at Marlins: May 24th to May 27th

2021 Chachi 1986 Topps Missing Links #5

2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #5

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 6:40, Thursday 12:10
loanDepot park - Miami, FL

At the Ballpark:  There aren't any giveaways scheduled for this four-game series, and I'm bummed the Marlins won't be wearing their City Connect uniforms which are far superior to their regular bland uniforms in my opinion.  Here's an article with more information on the uniforms.

Phillies 23-24
Tied for 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zach Eflin (2-3, 3.77)
Vince Velasquez (1-0, 3.52)
Aaron Nola (3-4, 3.94)
Spencer Howard (0-1, 7.36)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .274
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 28
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 9
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 26
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  Connor Brogdon and Zack Wheeler - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.38
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 78
Saves:  Hector Neris - 7

Marlins 22-24
4th Place in the N.L. East, 2 games behind the Mets

Marlins Probables
Trevor Rogers (6-2, 1.74)
Sandy Alcantara (2-3, 3.63)
TBA
Pablo Lopez (1-3, 2.73)

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Miguel Rojas - .280
Runs:  Miguel Rojas - 30
Home Runs:  Jesus Aguilar - 9
RBIs:  Jesus Aguilar - 33
Stolen Bases:  Jazz Chisolm, Jr. - 8

Wins:  Trevor Rogers - 6
ERA:  Trevor Rogers - 1.74
Strikeouts:  Trevor Rogers - 65
Saves:  Yimi Garcia - 8

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Game 47 - 2021 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-279 Zack Wheeler

Phillies 6, Red Sox 2
Game 47 - Sunday Afternoon, May 23rd in Philadelphia
Record - 23-24, Tied for 2nd Place, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler was absolutely dominant in his outing and Brad Miller hit a three-run home run in the first inning in this 6-2 win over the Red Sox.

What It Means:  The Phillies avoided a sweep from the Red Sox and they'll head next to Miami for a four-game series against the Marlins.

What Happened:  Wheeler allowed three hits, including a long solo home run to Franchy Cordero in the eighth, and struck out 12.  The Phillies scored four in the first inning, capped by Miller's home run.  Miller was filling in for Bryce Harper who is either hurt or just in need of a day off.  They added a few insurance runs in the eighth on an Andrew McCutchen sacrifice fly and an Odubel Herrera double.

Featured Card:  It's got to be Wheeler again, for his performance and because I don't have any other cards for Miller.  And I'm close to running out of cards for Wheeler . . .

Transaction:  During this game, the Phillies announced they had claimed Brady Lail (rhp) off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and designated Ramon Rosso (rhp) for assignment.  Lail has appeared in 11 major league games with the Yankees, White Sox and Mariners dating back to 2019.  He's made two appearances so far this season for the Mariners and had a 13.50 ERA over two innings pitched.

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Game 46 - Hoskins Blasts 100th Homer; Phils Lose Again

2021 Chachi #46

Red Sox 4, Phillies 3
Game 46 - Saturday Night, May 22nd in Philadelphia
Record - 22-24, Tied for 2nd Place, 2 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The offensive struggles continued and Spencer Howard pitched only two strong innings in his first start of '21, as the Sox downed the Phils, 4-3.

What It Means:  The Phillies will try to avoid the three-game sweep this afternoon behind Zack Wheeler.

What Happened:  Howard was fantastic for two innings, but then the wheels came off in the third as his velocity and control went alarmingly south.  The usually reliable Sam Coonrod allowed back-to-back home runs to Xander Bogaerts and Danny Santana in the sixth, giving the Red Sox a 4-1 lead.  The Phillies had their chances, but both Bryce Harper and Brad Miller struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh.  They had the go-ahead run on second base in the ninth, but Harper grounded out to first and Rhys Hoskins struck out to end the game.  Harper, either hurt, mired in a deep slump or both, went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.  The offense as a whole struck out 13 times.

Featured Card:  Hoskins connected for his 100th career home run in the sixth off Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.  Playing in his 450th game, he became the third fastest Phillies player to reach that milestone, behind Ryan Howard, who holds the MLB record with 325 games, and Chuck Klein, who hit his 100th home run in his 390th game.  Given my wife Jenna and our sons were at the game where Hoskins hit his first Citizens Bank Park home run, I wanted to celebrate that we were also all there for his 100th.

Field Report:  And we witnessed this debacle.  The Phillies relaxed their mask policy in accordance with the new CDC guidelines, and it was a bit jarring to be around that many people unmasked.  As more and more people get vaccinated, this is going to take a little getting used to.  We watched the game from Section 105, directly behind Harper, and I enjoyed seeing the game from the outfield.  I've traditionally sat along the baselines or behind/above home plate, but watching the game from the outfield was great too.

Transaction:  Howard was recalled from Lehigh Valley and Matt Moore (lhp) was placed on the injured list with back spasms.

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2021 Chachi #34 Mickey Moniak

#16
McKenzie Matthew Moniak
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  22
Born:  May 13, 1998, Encinitas, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 1st round (1st overall) of June 2016 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:  2016 Topps Now #165
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Phillies Minor League Top 30 Prospects #18
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Topps Now #107

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

33 - Moniak baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/22/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi Almost #9 - Draft Pick
2017 Chachi BlueClaws Signing Autographs #7
2020 Chachi #52
2021 Chachi #34

The Phillies #1 draft pick from 2016, and the draft's overall top pick that year, Mickey Moniak was recalled in mid-September last season to take the place of the injured Kyle Garlick on the active roster.  He was recalled on April 14th this season and the hope was he could stabilize the team's center field position.  Active for only 10 games, he went 3 for 25 (.120) before being sent back down. 

Not surprisingly, and since he's been one of the team's top prospects for almost five years, I have quite a few Moniak baseball cards already in my collection. He's been a regular in the Bowman releases since 2016 and he's also featured in a number of Phillies minor league team sets since then too.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 45 - 2005 Topps Heritage #180 Brett Myers

Red Sox 11, Phillies 3
Game 45 - Friday Night, May 21st in Philadelphia
Record - 22-23, 2nd Place, 2 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Poor defense, questionable pitching and a lack of offense contributed to this 11-3 drubbing by the Red Sox in the series opener.

What It Means:  The Phillies are a bad team right now.  They've lost six of their last eight and are now below .500 for the first time since they were 14-15 back on May 3rd.

What Happened:  There were three errors in the box score, including two from third baseman Alec Bohm to give him the league lead with seven overall.  In the ninth, Bryce Harper let a fly ball to the wall drop in for a bases-clearing double for Christian Vazquez.  Jean Segura had three hits, including his third home run of the year, but contributed to the circus play in the fifth when he dove for a wide throw from Bohm and then proceeded to lay on the ground while the play continued.  When asked postgame why Segura was laying on the ground there, manager Joe Girardi responded, "Yeah, I'm not sure."

Featured Card:  Aaron Nola also needs to right his ship, after another shaky and short outing.  Nola went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits.  He did strike out nine, and his 987th career strikeout in this game gave him ninth place on the Phillies all-time list, passing Brett Myers.  Curt Simmons is next up on the list with 1,052 strikeouts.

Transaction:  The Phillies finally gave in and placed J.T. Realmuto (c) on the injured list with his wrist injury.  He last appeared in a game on May 15th, but the Phillies are only permitted to backdate his injured list start by three days.  Matt Joyce (of) was activated to take his place on the roster.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #33 Spencer Howard

#48
Spencer Lee Howard
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  210
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  July 28, 1996, San Luis Obispo, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by Phillies in 2nd round of June 2017 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:  2017 Bowman Draft Recommended Viewing #RV-PHI
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #13
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2021 Bowman #16

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

32 - Howard baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/21/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi BlueClaws Harry Potter Night #11 - with Damon Jones
2020 Chachi #37
2021 Chachi #33

As of this writing, Spencer Howard has been up with the Phillies in 2021 for two short stints, and has been on the active roster for six games.  After using him in relief in three games, the Phillies reversed course and sent him back to Lehigh Valley to stretch him out again as a starting pitcher.

We first met Howard at a BlueClaws' Harry Potter theme night in 2018, as Howard and fellow pitching prospect Damon Jones were stationed at a table pre-game signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.  Admittedly, we had no idea who Howard or Jones were at the time and I think the duo helped us find their cards in our newly purchased BlueClaws team sets.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Red Sox at Phillies: May 21st to May 23rd

1986 Topps #477

2021 Chachi 1986 Topps Missing Links #2

Friday 7:05, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  There are no giveaways scheduled for this series.  Earlier today, the Phillies announced they would be following recently enacted Philadelphia guidelines and relaxing their mask policies.  Fans will no longer be required to wear masks while seated or in any outside areas of Citizens Bank Park.

Red Sox 27-18
1st Place in the A.L. East, 1 game ahead of the Rays

Red Sox Probables
Martin Perez (1-2, 3.40)
Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.50)
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 4.70)

Red Sox Leaders
Average:  Xander Bogaerts - .344
Runs:  J.D. Martinez - 35
Home Runs:  J.D. Martinez - 12
RBIs:  J.D. Martinez - 37
Stolen Bases:  Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez - 4

Wins:  Nick Pivetta and Eduardo Rodriguez - 5
ERA:  Nick Pivetta - 3.59
Strikeouts:  Nick Pivetta - 50
Saves:  Matt Barnes - 10

Phillies 22-22
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (3-3, 3.64)
Spencer Howard (0-0, 8.31)
Zack Wheeler (3-2, 2.52)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .294
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 26
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 8
RBIs:  Alec Bohm and Rhys Hoskins - 23
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  Connor Brogdon - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.52
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 66
Saves:  Hector Neris - 7

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 44 - 2001 Pacific #317 Pat Burrell

Marlins 6, Phillies 0
Game 44 - Thursday Night, May 20th in Philadelphia
Record - 22-22, 2nd Place, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  In an incredibly unenjoyable game to watch, the Phillies folded easily against the Marlins, losing 6-0 and dropping the series in the process.

What It Means:  The Phillies returned to .500 for the first time since May 4th when they were 15-15.  If not for a lousy N.L. East, they'd be much further down in the standings than second place.

What Happened:  Vince Velasquez came down with finger numbness right before the start of this game, meaning David Hale was needed to make an emergency start.  Hale did fine (one run in three innings), but the two relievers who followed him, Matt Moore and Archie Bradley, allowed five runs in their 3 2/3 innings of work.  One of Bradley's runs was unearned due to another error at third, his fifth, from Alec Bohm.  The Phillies offense managed three hits against Marlins' starter Sandy Alcantara and three Marlins relievers, striking out 15 times.

Featured Card:  With nothing to celebrate from this game, let's turn back the clock to 20 years ago.  On May 20, 2001, the Phillies gave away their first bobble-head featuring an actual player with slugger Pat Burrell getting the honor.  Burrell went 2 for 4 that Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals as the Phillies lost, 3-1.  J.D. Drew played right field for the Cardinals and my memories from that game are getting my Burrell bobble-head and booing Drew along with the other 31,391 fans in attendance.  Do you still have your Burrell bobble-head?

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 43 - 2021 Topps Heritage #240 Andrew McCutchen IA

Marlins 3, Phillies 1
Game 43 - Wednesday Night, May 19th in Philadelphia
Record - 22-21, 2nd Place, 1 game behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Andrew Knapp ended this game on what was nearly a three-run, walk-off home run but it was not to be as the Phillies fell, 3-1.

What It Means:  They'll go for the series win tonight and then open up a home weekend series against the first place Red Sox.

What Happened:  Zach Eflin allowed only two runs in his six innings of work, but that was too high an amount for the Phillies offense to overcome.  Playing once again with a short bench, the Phillies went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and grounded into three double plays.  Rhys Hoskins and Ronald Torreyes both had multi-hit games.

In the bottom of the ninth, with two runners on and two outs, Knapp flew out to the warning track in what might have been a huge game-winning home run.

Featured Card:  Andrew McCutchen hit his seventh home run of the season in the sixth off Marlins' pitcher Trevor Rogers, and it was also the 250th of his career.  He joins only Mike Trout as one of two active players with at least 250 home runs and 150 stolen bases.  (H/t to schmenkman.)

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 42 - 2017 Topps Update #US54 Ronald Torreyes

Phillies 8, Marlins 3
Game 42 - Tuesday Night, May 18th in Philadelphia
Record - 22-20, 2nd Place, 1 game behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies offense unloaded for seven runs in the eighth inning, turning a nail-biter into a laugher with this 8-3 victory.

What It Means:  The offense banged out seven hits and two walks in the big inning.

What Happened:  In quick succession:  Rhys Hoskins singled, Alec Bohm doubled Hoskins home, Odubel Herrera reached on an infield single, Andrew Knapp walked, Nick Maton singled to score Bohm and tie the game at 3-3.  Pinch-hitter Ronald Torreyes doubled home Herrera and Knapp as the Phillies took the lead, Andrew McCutchen walked, Jean Segura reached on another infield chopper with Maton scoring, Bruce Harper singled home two more.  It was a good inning.

Zack Wheeler allowed one unearned run and struck out ten in his impressive seven innings of work.  Archie Bradley was the beneficiary of his first Phillies win.

Featured Card:  A long-time favorite of manager Joe Girardi, Torreyes delivered the eventual game-winning hit in this game, coming off the bench in a key spot.  I'm hoping he finds himself into either 2021 Topps Update or Topps Heritage High Numbers in a Phillies uniform.

Transactions:  As expected, there were quite a few roster moves prior to the game.  Bradley (rhp) and Torreyes (inf) were both activated from the injured list.  Didi Gregorius (ss) and Scott Kingery (inf) took their places, with Gregorius suffering from a right elbow injury and Kingery out because of concussion protocols.  In the worst news, it was announced JoJo Romero (lhp) was moved to the 60-day injured list and he'll undergo Tommy John surgery.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Series Preview - Marlins at Phillies: May 18th to May 20th

2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #4

2021 Chachi 1986 Topps Missing Links #1

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  No giveaways are scheduled for this series, but there are several theme nights happening.  Tonight celebrates Citizens Weather Education Week, Wednesday night is Margaritaville Night and Thursday is the annual youth baseball and softball celebration.

Marlins 18-22
4th Place in the N.L. East, 3 1/2 games behind the Mets

Marlins Probables
Cody Poteet (1-0, 3.60)
Trevor Rogers (5-2, 1.84)
Sandy Alcantara (1-3, 4.06)

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Miguel Rojas - .291
Runs:  Miguel Rojas - 27
Home Runs:  Jesus Aguilar - 9
RBIs:  Jesus Aguilar - 32
Stolen Bases:  Jazz Chisolm, Jr. - 8

Wins:  Trevor Rogers - 5
ERA:  Trevor Rogers - 1.84
Strikeouts:  Trevor Rogers - 57
Saves:  Yimi Garcia - 7

Phillies 21-20
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 game behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (3-2, 2.85)
Zach Eflin (2-2, 3.86)
Vince Velasquez (1-0, 3.68)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .307
Runs:  Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins - 25
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 8
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 23
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn - 4

Wins:  Connor Brogdon - 4
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.85
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 61
Saves:  Hector Neris - 7

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #32 JoJo Romero

#79
Joseph Abel Romero
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  200
Opening Day Age:  24
Born:  September 9, 1996, Camarillo, CA
How Obtained:  Selected by the Phillies in the 4th round of the June 2016 amateur player draft
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:  2018 Bowman Prospects #BP111
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2016 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #30
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Bowman Heritage #53P-122

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

19 - Romero baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2020 Chachi New Additions #4
2020 Chachi #41
2021 Chachi #32

One of the last pitchers cut during spring training this year, JoJo Romero was the first pitcher recalled when Archie Bradley went down with his oblique injury on April 11th.  Romero appeared in 11 games, pitching nine innings and allowing eight runs on 12 hits for a 7.00 ERA before he was placed on the injured list with an elbow injury on May 6th.  There's no current timetable for his return.

He's the second recent Phillies pitcher to wear #79 with Justin De Fratus (2012-2013) wearing the high number before him.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

2021 Chachi #30 Lundquist / Brudzinski / Stumpo / Calitri

#94
David Bruce Lundquist, Jr.
Bullpen Coach

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  240
Opening Day Age:  47
Born:  June 4, 1973, Beverly, MA
Major League Teams:  Chicago White Sox 1999; San Diego Padres 2001-2002
As a Coach:  Philadelphia Phillies 2019-

First Phillies Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #57
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2008 Multi-Ad Lakewood BlueClaws #30
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #57

Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #57

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

14 - Lundquist baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist - Lundquist
2019 Chachi #29
2020 Chachi #34
2021 Chachi #30

* * *

#81
Gregory Matthew Brodzinski
Bullpen Catcher/Catching Coach

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  205
Opening Day Age:  29
Born:  July 23, 1991, Pittsburgh, PA
Major League Teams:  N/A
As a Coach:  Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #22
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A

Newest Card Added:  2019 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #37

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

4 - Brodzinski baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist - Brodzinski
2020 Chachi #35
2021 Chachi #30

#82
Robert Joseph Stumpo
Bullpen Catcher/Catching Coach

Bats:  Switch  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  230
Opening Day Age:  33
Born:  July 17, 1987, Philadelphia, PA
Major League Teams:  N/A
As a Coach:  Philadelphia Phillies 2018-

First Phillies Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #82
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2011 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #15
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #82

Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #82

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

6 - Stumpo baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist - Stumpo
2020 Chachi #35
2021 Chachi #30

* * *

Michael Hennessey Calitri
Quality Assurance Coach

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  210
Opening Day Age:  43
Born:  March 14, 1978, Brockton, MA
Major League Teams:  N/A
As a Coach:  Philadelphia Phillies 2021

First Phillies Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue Special Edition #95
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue Special Edition #95

Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #95

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

2 - Calitri baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/16/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist - Calitri
2021 Chachi #30

I wasn't originally going to include Mike Calitri on a coach's card in this year's Chachi set, but every team publication and the Phillies website considers Calitri to now be a full-fledged coach despite the fact he wasn't issued a uniform number.  I'll admit I'm not quite sure what a Quality Assurance Coach does.

When I created my first Chachi set, back in 2005, the coaching assignments were much more limited - bench, hitting, pitching, 1st base, 3rd base, bullpen, bullpen catcher.  Manager Charlie Manuel and his seven coaches all fit on two cards.  Now with the Phillies nearly doubling that number with 12 coaches, I had to get creative this year and I assume this will be the pattern going forward.  And the Phillies aren't alone in this exercise as most (if not all) teams now employ upwards of 10 or more coaches, some with position names as nebulous as Quality Assurance Coach.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist