Spring Training Game 25 - Costly Errors in Seventh Inning Doom Phils

Philadelphia Phillies	2
Atlanta Braves	3

2025 Topps Update 2007
Topps All-Stars #07AS-10

Spring Training Game 25

Wednesday Afternoon, March 18th

CoolToday Park - Venice, FL

Record - 9-15-1

One Sentence Summary:  Andrew Painter was stellar in his latest spring outing and Dylan Moore drove in both Phillies runs in this 3-2 loss to the Braves.

What It Means:  Have I mentioned yet that I'm ready for the regular season to begin?

What Happened:  Painter, officially named the team's fifth starter on Friday as I'm composing this post, pitched four shutout innings, allowing a hit and striking out three.  Seth Johnson followed with two more shutout innings, lowering his spring ERA to 1.86.  Reliever Tucker Davidson was the bad luck loser in this game, allowing three unearned runs in the seventh, due his own throwing error and an error by Garrett Stubbs, seeing time at third base.  Dylan Moore drove in both Phillies runs with a bases loaded walk in the first and an RBI-single in the fifth.

Featured Card:  I have to acknowledge the dramatic home run hit by Bryce Harper in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic championship game, which briefly tied the score 2-2.  It was an incredible moment, but Venezuela rallied to take the lead, eventually winning the game and the World Baseball Classic title for 2026.  I was hoping Harper would at least see a Topps Now card to celebrate his home run, but it was not to be.

Camp Head Count:  47 - 2 = 45

The surprising slugger Felix Reyes (inf) and World Baseball Classic legend Dante Nori (of) were reassigned to minor league camp prior to this game.

Hall of Fame Class of 2025: Phillies Cards

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #15

2004 Topps Pristine #7

As is usually the case each January, I let this blog go mostly dormant with the exception of posting a daily 2024 Chachi card.  Before spring training starts in earnest, I wanted to revisit something I used to do annually whenever a new class of Hall of Famers was announced.  For each new class of Hall of Fame inductees, I go through my Phillies Collection and see how many cards of each I have.  This would mean the new Hall of Famer is typically featured on a multi-player card with a Phillies player, or in the case of Dick Allen and Billy Wagner, the new Hall of Famer actually spent time with the Phillies.

This exercise is a little easier this year as I'm proud to report my entire Phillies Collection is now tracked in a massive Excel schedule, AND also available for me to browse and search on the Trading Card Database.  I started updating my collection at TCDB a few years ago, and with the Phillies and Complete Sets collections now updated, I'll turn my attention to the "Everything Else" catch-all category.

Here's a look at Cooperstown's 2025 class, and the baseball cards I have of them in my Phillies Collection.

Dick Allen - I have 55 cards of Allen in my Phillies Collection, and 65 cards of the slugger overall.  Back in December, I posted a gallery of his Topps flagship cards here, and I've also liked this 2009 Upper Deck card of his.

Dave Parker - Parker shows up twice in my Phillies Collection.  He's on a strange 1982 Fleer Stamps issue, pointing at the camera and putting his arm around a hesitant Steve Carlton.  He also shares space with Pete Rose and Bill Madlock on a 1984 Topps Active Career Leaders subset card.

CC Sabathia - Sabathia shows up twice on 2011 Topps Diamond Duos insert cards with Carlton and Cliff Lee.  My all-time favorite memory involving Sabathia can be found here.

Ichiro Suzuki - Ichiro shares a card with Richie Ashburn in the 2007 Topps Heritage Then and Now insert set, and he's on an incredibly random "Classic Combo" card with Chase Utley in the 2007 Topps Update set.

Billy Wagner - And finally, I have 40 cards of closer Wagner in my Phillies Collection, given he appeared in 120 games with the club in 2004 and 2005.  59 of Wagner's 422 career saves came while wearing a Phillies uniform, which is his third most by franchise behind the Astros and Mets.  Browsing a gallery of Wagner's Phillies cards, this 2004 Topps Pristine card is my favorite, non-team issue card of his.  His 2005 Topps flagship card is a close second.

1982 Fleer Stamps #241

2011 Topps Diamond Duos #DD-23

2007 Topps Heritage Then and Now #TN7

2007 Topps Update #UH279

Game 142 - Phils Fall to Marlins, Ending Winning Streak at Six

2007 Upper Deck #391

Marlins 9, Phillies 5
Game 142 - Saturday Afternoon, September 7th in Miami
Record - 85-57, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Aaron Nola didn't have it and Taijuan Walker didn't help as the Phillies fell to the Marlins, 9-5.

What It Means:  The loss ended a modest six-game winning streak, and the Phillies will go for the series win tomorrow afternoon behind Seth Johnson.  Johnson will be making his big league debut, and was acquired from the Orioles in July for Gregory Soto.

What Happened:  It seemed as if Nola was in constant trouble from the start.  He didn't last five innings, and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits, including a pair of home runs.  Walker pitched the final two innings and allowed the Marlins to tack on three more runs.  Only two were earned due to a costly error from Trea Turner.  Bryson Stott stayed hot with three hits.

Featured Card:  Griffin Conine, the son of Marlins' great Jeff Conine, made his major league debut with Miami on August 26th.  He was 1 for 4 in this game while playing left field, and I hope he heats up right after the Phillies leave town.  I have six cards of the elder Conine in my Phillies Collection, including this card from the 2007 Upper Deck set.

Transaction:  With J.T. Realmuto banged up, the Phillies selected the contract of Aramis Garcia (c) from Lehigh Valley and designated Nick Nelson (rhp) for assignment.  They also claimed Jose Cuas (rhp) off waivers from the Blue Jays, and placed Rodolfo Castro (inf) on the 60-day injured list.

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 53 - Covey Crushed in Loss to Braves

2007 Topps Update #UH21

Braves 11, Phillies 4
Game 53 - Sunday Night, May 28th in Atlanta
Record - 25-28, 4th Place, 7 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Seven first inning runs doomed the Phillies in this Sunday night, 11-4 loss to the Braves

What It Means:  After splitting the series against the Braves, and standing pat in the standings, the Phillies have an off-day on Memorial Day.  They'll open a three-game series against the Mets on Tuesday night.

What Happened:  Dylan Covey didn't survive the first inning, and he was charged with all seven runs, although two were unearned due to errors (on the same play) by Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.  Three of the seven runs came on home runs from Matt Olson and Austin Riley within the first minutes of the game.  Olson would add another two-run home run in the fifth inning.  The Phillies received home runs from Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the early deficit.  Schwarber would have had two home runs in this game, but he was robbed of one by Michael Harris II who leaped over the center field fence to bring the home run ball back for an impressive F8.

Featured Card:  Covey is unlikely to appear on any actual Phillies mainstream baseball cards.  Covey became the fourth Phillies pitcher to give up at least seven runs on 30 or fewer pitches, joining J.D. Durbin, Mark Leiter and Don Carman.  (H/T @paul_boye).  Durbin appeared in 18 games for the Phillies in 2007, making 10 starts.  On September 1st that season, he'd allow seven runs against the Marlins without retiring a batter.  Clay Condrey settled things down with three scoreless innings of relief, but the Phillies would still lose that game, 12-6.

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

2007 Topps Phillies Team Set

#238 Phillies Team

#251 Charlie Manuel MG

#658 Rowand & Rollins CC

#322 Ryan Howard AW

#193 Rod Barajas

#441 Pat Burrell

#217 Chris Coste

#197 Freddy Garcia

#24 Tom Gordon

#55 Cole Hamels

#108 Wes Helms

#330 Ryan Howard

#535 Jon Lieber

#406 Ryan Mason

#562 Jamie Moyer

#504 Brett Myers

#265 Jimmy Rollins

#110 Aaron Rowand

#377 Zach Segovia

#350 Chase Utley

#372 Shane Victorino

Updates & Highlights

#UH225 Chase Utley AS

#UH240 Cole Hamels AS

#UH262 Aaron Rowand AS

#UH290 Ryan Howard HRD

#UH279 Chase Utley CC

#UH281 Cole Hamels CC

#UH103 Antonio Alfonseca

#UH98 Greg Dobbs

#UH21 J.D. Durbin

#UH102 Adam Eaton

#UH302 J.A. Happ

#UH199 Yoel Hernandez

#UH23 Tadahito Iguchi

#UH186 Kyle Kendrick

#UH204 Kyle Lohse

#UH100 Abraham Nunez

#UH16 Francisco Rosario

#UH99 Carlos Ruiz

#UH101 Jayson Werth

#UH198 Mike Zagurski

2006 Topps Phillies Team Set / 2008 Topps Phillies Team Set