Phillies at Nationals: October 1st to October 3rd

Nationals Park - Washington, D.C.
Monday and Tuesday 7:05, Wednesday 1:05

Phillies 80-79, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 16 games behind the Nationals
Nationals 96-63, 1st Place in the N.L. East, 3 games ahead of the Braves

Phillies Probables:  Kyle Kendrick (10-12, 4.08), B.J. Rosenberg (1-2, 6.86), Cliff Lee (6-8, 3.12)
Nationals Probables:  Chien-Ming Wang (2-3, 6.60), Gio Gonzalez (21-8, 2.89), Edwin Jackson (9-11, 4.13)

At the Ballpark:  The Nationals are paying tribute to their Teddy Roosevelt mascot with three separate give-aways.  Tonight, fans will receive Teddy Eye Black, and on Tuesday they'll receive a Teddy Bumper Sticker.  Finally, fans will receive a Teddy Lapel Pin on Wednesday afternoon.  Note that all three giveaways are limited to the first 20,000 fans.  (If the Nationals are able to draw that many.)

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .250

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 102

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 23

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz - 68

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 37

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 17

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.05

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 216

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 38

1979 Topps #673 and #628

1979 Topps Flashback:  Del Unser and Tommy Hutton, both players with Expos and Phillies connections, are the final two 1979 Topps cards featured this year in this, the last series preview post.  For a full list of what I believe are all the 1979 Topps cards with Phillies connections, please see here.

Hutton was a left-handed back-up first baseman/corner outfielder for the Phillies between 1972 and 1977.  As his Baseball Reference Bullpen page points out, Hutton had a knack of delivering against Tom Seaver throughout his career, hitting .320 off Seaver in 62 plate appearances with three home runs.

Unser and Hutton were teammates with the Phillies in 1973 and 1974 during Unser's first stint with the Phillies.  Unser came back to the Phils in 1979 following three seasons with the Expos.  I've featured Unser's cards and written about the highlights of his Phillies career here and here.

Phillies at Marlins: September 28th to September 30th

Marlins Park - Miami, FL
Friday and Saturday 7:10, Sunday 1:10

Phillies 78-78, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 17 games behind the Nationals
Marlins 66-90, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 29 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (6-8, 3.18), Roy Halladay (10-8, 4.40), Cole Hamels (16-6, 3.11)
Marlins Probables:  Mark Buehrle (13-13, 3.84), Ricky Nolasco (12-12, 4.35), Nathan Eovaldi (4-12, 4.29)

At the Ballpark:  In probably one of the lamest give-aways I've chronicled all season, the Marlins are giving away a "Marlins Kids Ice Cream Helmet Bowl" to the first 5,000 kids.  I translate this to mean that they have a surplus (roughly 5,000) of those cool helmets in which teams serve ice cream, and they're trying to unload them before the end of the season.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .248

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 98

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 23

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins - 67

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 35

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 16

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.11

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 208

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 37

Nationals at Phillies: September 25th to September 27th

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

Nationals 93-60, 1st Place in the N.L. East, 5 games ahead of the Braves
Phillies 77-76, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 16 games behind the Nationals

Nationals Probables:  John Lannan (3-0, 4.43), Ross Detwiler (10-6, 3.10), Edwin Jackson (9-10, 3.77)
Phillies Probables:  Cole Hamels (15-6, 3.05), Kyle Kendrick (10-11, 3.89), Tyler Cloyd (2-1, 3.86)

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is the Goya Latino Family Celebration and Thursday night is the annual Fan Appreciation Night.  All fans will receive a postcard pack of the team's highlights from the 2012 season.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .250

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 97

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 22

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins - 66

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 35

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 15

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.05

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 202

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 36

1979 Topps #269, #124, #468 and #581

1979 Topps Flashback:  There are only three more series left in the 2012 season, and only six more cards to feature in the flashback portion of my series preview posts.  Unfortunately, they're all Expos cards.  Today's quartet features four former pitchers with long careers and ties to both Phillies and Expos organizations.

Woodie Fryman pitched in parts of 18 seasons in the Majors, spending the bulk of his career with the Phillies (1968-1972) and Expos (1975-1976, 1978-1983).  The Phillies originally acquired him from the Pirates in December 1967 as part of the deal that sent Jim Bunning to Pittsburgh.

Dan Schatzeder had two separate stints with the Expos (1977-1979, 1982-1986) and one stint with the Phils (1986-1987).  Although he was a decent pitcher with the Phils (6-4, 3.76 ERA in 51 games), I remember him more as an occasional pinch-hitter.  Schatzeder was a career .240 hitter, although he went just 3 for 17 (.176) in his two years with the Phils.

Stan Bahnsen wrapped up his 16-year career with 8 games with the 1982 Phillies.  Once I get around to continuing my Missing Links series, Bahnsen will be one of the featured players as he has no Phillies baseball cards to his name.

Darold Knowles relieved in 69 games for the 1966 Phillies, going 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA.  Following his playing career, he served as the Phillies pitching coach in 1989 and 1990 under manager Nick Leyva.  He was let go after the 1990 season and replaced by Johnny Podres.

Braves at Phillies: September 21st to September 23rd

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

Braves 86-64, 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 5 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Phillies 76-74, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 15 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Braves Probables:  Tommy Hanson (12-8, 4.33), Mike Minor (9-10, 4.31),  Tim Hudson (15-6, 3.77)
Phillies Probables:  Kyle Kendrick (9-11, 3.95), Roy Halladay (10-7, 4.03), Cliff Lee (6-7, 3.27)

At the Ballpark:  Saturday is the annual German Heritage Celebration.  On Sunday, all kids will receive a Cole Hamels "action figurine."  Just don't call it a doll.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .254

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 96

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 22

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins - 66

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 35

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 15

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.05

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 202

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 36

Phillies at Mets: September 17th to September 19th

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:10
Citi Field - Flushing, NY

Phillies 73-74, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 16 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Mets 66-80, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 23 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (5-7, 3.36), Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 4.95), Cole Hamels (15-6, 3.06)
Mets Probables:  R.A. Dickey (18-5, 2.68), Collin McHugh (0-2, 4.02), Matt Harvey (3-5, 2.92)

At the Ballpark:  Wednesday night is Breast Cancer Awareness Night with the first 10,000 fans receiving pink Mets compact mirrors.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .252

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 90

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 20

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins - 61

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 35

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 15

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.06

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 192

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 34

1979 Topps #382

1979 Topps Flashback:  As we get closer to the end of the season, we're also getting closer to the end of the line for cards from the 1979 Topps set having a connection to each series' participants.

Jerry Martin came up with the Phillies in 1974 after spending parts of four seasons climbing through the Phils' minor league system.  In parts of five seasons with the club, Martin never fully reached his potential, hitting .254 in 444 games while hitting just 19 home runs.  He was part of the massive, eight-player Manny Trillo/Greg Gross deal with the Cubs and he'd find more success in Chicago in 1979 and 1980.  He hit a career high 23 home runs in '80 with the Cubbies.  Martin played for three seasons with the Giants and Royals before finishing out his 11-year career with 51 games with the Mets in 1984.

Martin coached in the Phillies system from 1990 through 2009, and he was actually an interim first base coach with the 2008 Phillies during their championship season.

Phillies at Astros: September 13th to September 16th

Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX
Thursday and Friday 8:05, Saturday 7:05, Sunday 2:05

Phillies 72-71, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 17 games behind the Nationals
Astros 45-98, 5th Place in the N.L. Central, 41 1/2 games behind the Reds

Phillies Probables:  Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 4.24), Cole Hamels (14-6, 3.03), Kyle Kendrick (9-10, 3.83), Roy Halladay (10-7, 4.01)
Astros Probables:  Lucas Harrell (10-9, 3.83), Bud Norris (5-12, 4.93), Edgar Gonzalez (2-0, 1.74), Dallas Keuchel (1-7, 5.35)

At the Ballpark:  There's actually way too much going on at Minute Maid this weekend to completely list everything out, so here are the highlights.  The first 10,000 fans will receive an Astros fleece blanket on Friday night and the first 10,000 fans will receive a Los Astros t-shirt on Saturday night.  Sunday is dog day at the park, which I'm assuming means that man's best friend will be allowed to roam the grandstands.

And it's weird to think this is the last time the Phillies and Astros will face off in a pure National League contest.  The Astros will be moving to the American League next year, and the 2013 schedule doesn't have these two teams meeting up at all.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Jimmy Rollins - .249

Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 86

Home Runs:  Jimmy Rollins - 19

RBIs:  Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz - 60

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 34

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 14

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.03

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 184

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 34