Happy Birthday Doug!

2012 Chachi Special Edition #2

My oldest son Doug turns six today, and I'd like to wish him the happiest of birthdays.

I may be biased, but he's the coolest six-year-old I know and I constantly marvel at how truly amazing he is.  I'm so proud of him and everything he does.

Happy birthday, Doug!  Your Dad is very, very proud of you and he loves you very much.

2012 Chachi Transactions #14 Ross Gload

With the long off-season a little over a week away, I wanted to take a look back at the personnel movement the Phillies had during their 2012 season.  While putting together that post (to be featured soon), I decided I needed to go back one last time and re-visit the 2011-2012 offseason now that we know where all the former Phillies ended up . . . with the exception of Ross Gload.  I can't find any indication that Gload played professional baseball in 2012, so my best guess is that his bad hip finally forced him to retire.

This list was last updated way back on February 22nd, upon Raul Ibanez signing with the Yankees.  At the time, we had no idea that Dontrelle Willis and Chad Qualls would be complete busts and that Jim Thome would finish out the year in Baltimore.

The starred players weren't featured on my list of transactions back on February 22nd, as there was no indication at the time these players were actually in the Phillies' 2012 plans.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles)

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Washington Nationals)

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Texas Rangers)

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the New York Yankees)

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the Cincinnati Reds)

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent (Signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers)

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey

John Bowker (11) 1/10/12 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Wilson Valdez (10-11) 1/25/12 - Traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Jeremy Horst.

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11- ) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

*Raul Valdes (12) 10/25/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the New York Yankees

Jim Thome (03-05; 12) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon (12) 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton (12) 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

*Brian Sanches (06-07; 12) 11/28/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Florida Marlins

Laynce Nix (12) 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

*Steven Lerud (12) 12/12/11 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles' organization

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds

*Hector Luna (12) 1/2/12 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox organization

*Jeremy Horst (12) 1/25/12 - Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Wilson Valdez

*Juan Pierre (12) 1/27/12 - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Chicago White Sox

Chad Qualls (12) 1/31/12 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres

2012 Chachi Transactions #13 Roy Oswalt

Mets 6, Phillies 3
Game 51 - Tuesday Night, May 29th in Flushing
Record - 26-25, 5th Place, 4 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Joe Blanton got hammered again and the Phillies offense couldn't compensate, as the Mets won, 6-3.

What It Means:  Blanton continues to struggle, just when the Phillies needed him most.  Here's the hard, cold facts from a Todd Zolecki tweet: "Joe Blanton had a 2.81 ERA in his first seven starts.  He has a 12.51 ERA in his last three."

What Went Wrong:  Blanton gave up two home runs, including a solo shot to Mets starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner.  It was Hefner's first big league hit.

Featured Card:  The Phillies news came quickly on Tuesday afternoon.  First, we learned that Roy Halladay would miss 6 to 8 weeks with a strained muscle in his right shoulder.  The good news is that it's not structural, so Doc won't need to go under the knife.  The bad news is that the Phillies will be without Halladay's services until the beginning of August at the earliest.  The word is he's going to be shut down completely for next three weeks.  (Ironically enough, the dire news was delivered exactly two years to the day after this happened.)

Second, Roy Oswalt is officially out of the running to replace Halladay in the rotation as the semi-retired righty signed with the Texas Rangers.  Oswalt returns to the Lone Star state after his brief sojourn in Philly.  On a positive note, at least now Topps will stop including Oswalt Phillies cards in its 2012 releases.  Oswalt had his team option declined way back on October 24th, but that hasn't stopped Topps from including him as a Phillie in their Series One, Opening Day, Heritage, Gypsy Queen and Bowman sets.

Presented here is Oswalt's first unofficial Rangers card and the latest addition to the Chachi Transactions insert set.

2012 Chachi Almost #4 Scott Podsednik

Padres 2, Phillies 1
Game 34 - Saturday Night, May 12th in Philadelphia
Record - 15-19, 5th Place, 6 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Happy Mother's Day!

One Sentence Summary:  The offense couldn't string together enough consecutive hits to support Roy Halladay's strong outing as the Phillies lost to the lowly Padres, 2-1.

What It Means:  Halladay was 3-0 after his first three starts this season, and he's gone 0-2 with three no decisions in his five starts since.  Halladay pitched seven strong innings, scattering seven hits and striking out ten.  The Phils will try to win the series this afternoon.

What Went Wrong:  The Phils left 12 runners on base and were collectively 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.  The offense's futility was at its low point when the Phillies had runners at second in third in the seventh with no outs, yet they couldn't manage to push a run across the plate.

Featured Card:  Another game, another featured card that has nothing to do with the actual game.  Such is the case when the Phillies don't give me any reason to post a card of anyone on their current 25-man roster.  At least the Phillies have good company in the "What the crap is going on this year" department.  Case in point, the Boston Red Sox are now 14-19 and in the cellar in the A.L. East.

Spring Training stand-out Scott Podsednik was recently traded to the Sox for cash considerations, ending his hopes of playing for the Phillies.  Podsednik signed a minor league deal with the Phils last May, and in 36 games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs he hit just .220.  The Phillies jumped the gun by including Podsednik in their team issued postcard set, but the outfielder merits only a Chachi Almost card from The Phillies Room.  Maybe Podsednik will help cure some of the Sox' woes.

Field Report:  I attended this game with my five-year-old son, Doug, in what was his first ever Phillies night game.  Once he got over the initial shock that he'd be up (and out) way past his bedtime, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself.  I don't think it mattered too much that there was a baseball game being played as his favorite things from the evening were the Phanatic's performances, the nachos we shared after the first inning and the cherry Italian water ice he scarfed down between the fifth and sixth innings.

He did ask repeatedly if the Phillies were winning, and he at least seemed a little disappointed when I answered that no, they weren't winning yet.  It was nothing a little cherry Italian water ice couldn't cure however.  The Phillies are now 1-3 in games I've attended this year.

2012 Chachi Almost #3 Lou Montanez

Mets 5, Phillies 2
Game 30 - Monday Night, May 7th in Philadelphia
Record - 14-16, 5th Place, 5 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Mets stunned the Phillies and Jonathan Papelbon when Jordany Valdespin hit a three-run, ninth inning home run - in his first Major League at-bat - leading the Mets to a 5-2 victory.

What It Means:  Radio announcer Larry Andersen summed it up best when he said, "I have no idea what is happening," following Valdespin's improbable shot.  The Phils are in last place in the division.  This is either the fifth or sixth brutal loss suffered by the team so far this season, which I would presume doubles the amount of brutal losses suffered through all of last season.

What Went Wrong:  Papelbon has appeared in just two games this season in which the Phillies were behind or tied.  In both appearances, including last night, he surrendered home runs.  The Phils had a 2-0 lead heading into the sixth, but starting pitcher Roy Halladay surrendered a two-run double to David Wright to tie up the game.

The Phils loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, but Hunter Pence grounded into a double play to end the rally.  They had runners on second and third in the eighth with no outs, yet failed to plate either runner.

1998 Upper Deck #572

Featured Cards:  Coming up with a card to feature after a gruesome loss is sometimes a difficult task.  So why is there a Chachi card of non-Phillie Lou Montanez featured with this post?

After Valdespin’s ridiculous home run last night, I went searching for a list of all players to have hit a home run in their first Major League at-bat.  According to this page over at the Baseball Almanac, there have now been 110 players to have accomplished this feat.  Lou Montanez is on the list, having hit a homer in his first Major League at-bat with the Orioles back on August 6, 2008.  Montanez got off to a great start in Spring Training this year, only to falter as the month of March progressed.  He was recently released from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, after hitting only .136 in 17 games.  He at least earned a Chachi Almost card for his efforts.

And in case you don’t feel like clicking on the Baseball Almanac link, there are five Phillies on the list:

1. Bill Duggleby – April 21, 1898
2. Heinie Mueller – April 19, 1938
3. Ed Sanicki – September 14, 1949
4. Ricky Jordan – July 17, 1988
5. Marlon Anderson – September 8, 1998

Happy Birthday Ben!

2012 Chachi Special Edition #1

Today is all about my youngest son Ben.

It's his second birthday today and it's mind boggling to me how fast these two years have flown by and how much he's grown.

Your Dad loves you and he's proud of you, Ben.  Happy birthday!

2007 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #8 Freddy Galvis

Phillies 4, Tigers 3
Spring Training Game 19 - Monday Afternoon, March 19th in Clearwater
Record - 8-9-2

One Sentence Summary:  On the day he was named the team's probable opening day second baseman, Freddy Galvis paced the offense with a two-run triple, leading the Phils over the Tigers, 4-3.

What It Means:  This was a nice little come from behind win for the Phils.  They needed the pick-me-up given the bad news on Chase Utley's knees (see below), and Galvis delivered on queue.

What Went Right:  After starter Scott Elarton was roughed up in his start, allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings, the leftys in the bullpen shut down the Tigers over the next six innings.  Particularly impressive were the performances of Raul Valdes (two strikeouts, while lowering his ERA to 1.35) and Jake Diekman.  Diekman, who has an outside shot of making the team, has yet to allow a run over four appearances.

2012 Chachi Almost #2

Featured Cards:  The news was grim out of Clearwater yesterday as it was announced that Utley had left camp to meet with a knee specialist.  Utley has yet to see any time on the field, in game action or otherwise, so far this year.  GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. admitted that it's "doubtful" Utley will be ready by opening day.  This means that Galvis, an infield prospect who has never played professionally at second base, is most likely the team's opening day second baseman unless Amaro can swing a deal between now and then.  This is the oldest Galvis card in my collection, featuring the Venezuelan infielder as an 18-year-old in his first year of professional baseball.

My biggest fear with Utley?  What if he can't come back at all?  What if his damaged knees have had enough and he can never return to the All-Star form he displayed from 2005 through 2010?  And what if I have to include Utley in the 2012 Chachi Almost insert set as a result of him missing the entire season?

The Chachi Almost set added its second member yesterday when the team announced the release of pitcher Joel Pineiro.  Pineiro made it into three games this spring, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in six innings pitched.  He didn't pitch poorly, but with little chance of making the Opening Day roster, the team released him to allow him time to try to catch on elsewhere.

Camp Headcount:  45

2012 Chachi Almost #1 Dontrelle Willis

Pirates 3, Phillies 2
Spring Training Game 16 - Friday Afternoon, March 16th in Bradenton
Record - 6-8-2

One Sentence Summary:  Cliff Lee surrendered two home runs and the Phillies bats were quiet (again) as the Bucs downed the Phils, 3-2.

What It Means:  We've reached that point in the spring where I start to worry a little.  Happens every year.

What Went Wrong:  The Phillies offense, still without Ryan Howard (for a while yet) and Chase Utley (for who knows how much longer) managed just two hits through the first six innings.

Lee got hit around a little (5 hits, 3 runs in 4 2/3 innings), but Kyle Kendrick pitched 3 1/3 innings of no-run, no-hit ball while striking out five.

Featured Card:  The Phillies released left-handed reliever Dontrelle Willis yesterday.  I didn't see it coming, but in retrospect it's not really shocking.  Willis appeared in three spring games with the Phillies, allowing 9 of the 16 batters he faced to reach base.  His ERA after only 2 2/3 innings was 16.87, and he missed a week of action with arm fatigue.

2012 Topps #89

This leaves me with a collecting dilemma.  One of my collecting quirks is that I collect cards of Phillies players for the years they play with the Phillies, whether or not they actually appear as Phillies on their cards.  (Got that?)  In Willis' case, his 2012 Topps card, featuring him with the Reds, was already reserved a space in my 2012 Phillies binder.  So what should I do?  My collecting logic dictates that this card should not appear within the binder, since Willis will not be a member of the 2012 Phillies.  But I've never actually  pulled a card from its spot before.  I shall have to ponder this further.

In any event, Willis becomes the first card in the returning Chachi Almost insert set, which pays tribute to those players who got close to becoming official Phillies during the year, but they didn't quite get there.

Camp Headcount:  46

Lost in the news of Willis' release was the announcement that catcher Steven Lerud was reassigned to minor league camp.  Also, watching highlights of Thursday's game, I realized that Freddy Galvis has switched his uniform number from #71 to the more big-leagueish #13.

2012 Chachi Transactions #12 Raul Ibanez

According to the rumors, if the Yankees had preferred to have Bobby Abreu as their designated hitter in 2012 instead of Raul Ibanez, A.J. Burnett would be in Clearwater right now in red pinstripes and Joe Blanton would be getting to know his new teammate, Albert Pujols.  As further proof that General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. is constantly working the angles, the proposed deal would have shipped Blanton to the Angels for Abreu and then Abreu would have been spun-off to the Yankees for Burnett.  The rationale for the deal is that Burnett would have been cheaper over two years ($13 million) than Blanton over one ($10.5 million).

Instead, Ibanez officially signed with the Yankees yesterday and everyone here in The Phillies Room wishes him nothing but the best.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles)

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Washington Nationals)

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the New York Yankees)

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the Cincinnati Reds)

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent (Signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers)

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey

John Bowker (11) 1/10/12 - Released

Wilson Valdez (10-11) 1/25/12 - Traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Jeremy Horst.

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

Laynce Nix 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds

Chad Qualls 1/31/12 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres

2012 Chachi Transactions #11 Chad Qualls

The Phillies signed reliever Chad Qualls to a one-year deal on Tuesday, as they continue to tinker with the make-up of their 2012 bullpen.  The team's official press release cites concerns about Jose Contreras' health as one of the main reasons the Phillies inked the righty Qualls to a contract.  In 77 games with the San Diego Padres in 2011, Qualls was 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA.  There's concern that his numbers were positively skewed due to his pitcher-friendly home ballpark, Petco Park.

In a completely irrelevant aside, Qualls is hoping to become the sixth man in history with a surname starting with the letter Q to play for the Phillies.  He'd join Tom Qualters, Paul Quantrill, Tom Quinlan, John Quinn and, one of my all-time favorites, Rafael Quirico.

Also, let the official uniform number records show that non-roster invitee Joel Pineiro was assigned the number 50 for less than two weeks before Qualls pulled rank and nabbed it from him.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined (Signed with the Washington Nationals)

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency (Signed with the Cincinnati Reds)

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent (Signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers)

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released (Signed with the Yomiuri Giants)

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey

John Bowker (11) 1/10/12 - Released

Wilson Valdez (10-11) 1/25/12 - Traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Jeremy Horst.

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

Laynce Nix 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds

Chad Qualls 1/31/12 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres