2013 Chachi #73 Checklist 1-73

I'm posting this year's Chachi set checklist earlier than usual, which is a definite sign of my wanting to put the 2013 season in the past and keep the focus on the future.  This year's set came in with four more cards than in the prior year, mainly due to the number of different relief pitchers used during 2013 in an effort to find someone who could effectively and consistently record a few outs.

Work has already begun in earnest on the 2014 Chachi set at the Chachi World Headquarters.  I'm looking forward to spending a season using the 1988 Topps design to create my custom Phillies cards.  There are no postseason cards in the 1988 Topps set, so I'm excited for the challenge of creating a template for the 2014 postseason cards I'll be needing in October when the Phillies make their triumphant return.

Pitchers and catchers will be reporting before you know it.

2013 Chachi #72 Leading Firemen - Jonathan Papelbon & Antonio Bastardo

This is my least favorite card of the entire 2013 Chachi set.

2013 Leaders
1.  Jonathan Papelbon - 29
2.  Antonio Bastardo - 2
3.  B.J. Rosenberg - 1

Top 5 Since 1973
2002 - Jose Mesa - 45
1993 - Mitch Williams - 43
2001 - Jose Mesa - 42
2008 - Brad Lidge - 41
1987 - Steve Bedrosian - 40

Bottom 5 Since 1973
1974 - Eddie Watt - 6
1981 - Tug McGraw - 10
1973 - Mac Scarce - 12
Four seasons with 14 saves leading the team

2013 Chachi #70 Victory Leaders - Cliff Lee & Kyle Kendrick

2013 Leaders
1.  Cliff Lee - 14
2.  Kyle Kendrick - 10
3.  Cole Hamels - 8
T4.  Jonathan Papelbon - 5
T4.  Jonathan Pettibone - 5

Top 5 Since 1973
1980 - Steve Carlton - 24
1977 - Steve Carlton - 23
1982 - Steve Carlton - 23
2010 - Roy Halladay - 21
1976 - Steve Carlton - 20

Bottom 5 Since 1973
1996 - Curt Schilling - 9
1990 - Pat Combs - 10
1995 - Paul Quantrill - 11
2000 - Randy Wolf - 11
Five seasons with 12 wins leading the team

2013 Chachi #69 ERA Leaders - Cliff Lee & Cole Hamels

2013 Leaders
1.  Cliff Lee - 2.87
2.  Cole Hamels - 3.60
3.  Kyle Kendrick - 4.70

Top 5 Since 1973
1980 - Steve Carlton - 2.34
1992 - Curt Schilling - 2.35
2011 - Roy Halladay - 2.35
1983 - John Denny - 2.37
1981 - Steve Carlton - 2.42

Bottom 5 Since 1973
2004 - Randy Wolf - 4.28
1987 - Don Carman - 4.22
1986 - Kevin Gross - 4.02
2006 - Brett Myers - 3.91
2005 - Brett Myers - 3.72

2013 Chachi #68 Stolen Base Leaders - Jimmy Rollins & Ben Revere

2013 Leaders
1T.  Ben Revere - 22
1T.  Jimmy Rollins - 22
3T.  Domonic Brown - 8
3T.  Chase Utley - 8
5.  John Mayberry, Jr. - 5

Top 5 Since 1973
1984 - Juan Samuel - 72
1985 - Juan Samuel - 53
2008 - Jimmy Rollins - 47
1987 - Milt Thompson - 46
2001 - Jimmy Rollins - 46

Bottom 5 Since 1973
1973 - Larry Bowa - 10
1995 - Lenny Dysktra and Jim Eisenreich - 10
1994 - Lenny Dysktra - 15
1997 - Mickey Morandini and Scott Rolen - 16
1981 - Lonnie Smith - 21

2013 Chachi #67 RBI Leaders - Domonic Brown & Chase Utley

2013 Leaders
1.  Domonic Brown - 83
2.  Chase Utley - 69
3.  Ryan Howard - 43
4.  Michael Young - 42
T5.  John Mayberry, Jr. - 39
T5.  Jimmy Rollins - 39

Top 5 Since 1973
2006 - Ryan Howard - 149
2008 - Ryan Howard - 146
2009 - Ryan Howard - 141
2007 - Ryan Howard - 136
2003 - Jim Thome - 131

Bottom 5 Since 1973
1994 - Darren Daulton - 56
1988 - Juan Samuel - 67
2012 - Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz - 68
1990 - Von Hayes - 73
1989 - Von Hayes - 78

2013 Chachi #66 Home Run Leaders - Domonic Brown & Chase Utley

2013 Leaders
1.  Domonic Brown - 27
2.  Chase Utley - 18
3.  Darin Ruf - 14
4T.  Ryan Howard - 11
4T.  John Mayberry, Jr. - 11

Top 5 Since 1973
2006 - Ryan Howard - 58
2008 - Ryan Howard - 48
1980 - Mike Schmidt - 48
2007 - Ryan Howard - 47
2003 - Jim Thome - 47

Bottom 5 Since 1973
1995 - Charlie Hayes, Gregg Jefferies and Mark Whiten - 11
1994 - Darren Daulton - 15
1990 - Von Hayes - 17
1988 - Chris James - 19
1991 - John Kruk - 21
1997 - Scott Rolen - 21

2013 Chachi #65 Batting Leaders - Chase Utley & Michael Young

I already have my sights set on the 2014 season, but I want to post these 2013 team leaders cards before the hot stove season kicks into high gear.  I'm going to keep the narrative to a minimum and for each statistical category I'll list the top five from 2013 and then the top and bottom five from the past 40 years.

Given the team's poor performance during 2013, I thought looking at the leaders in the bottom five since 1973 would give me some perspective on just how bad the team actually performed when viewed in a historical context.

2013 Leaders
1.  Chase Utley - .284
2.  Michael Young - .276
3.  Domonic Brown - .272
4.  Jimmy Rollins - .252

Top 5 Since 1973
1996 - Jim Eisenreich - .361
1999 - Bobby Abreu - .335
2007 - Chase Utley - .332
1979 - Pete Rose - .331
1976 - Garry Maddox - .330

Bottom 5 Since 1973
2012 - Jimmy Rollins - .250
1983 - Gary Matthews - .258
2011 - Shane Victorino - .279
1985 - Mike Schmidt - .277
1989 - Tommy Herr - .287

2013 Chachi Almost #5 Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

For ten teams, the postseason began last night.  (And it will continue for nine teams.)  For the Phillies, the offseason began when Cesar Hernandez flew out to Braves left fielder Justin Upton to end Game 162 and begin the long countdown to the day when pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater.

This post will serve as a look back at the in-season transactions made by the Phillies.  The only move below with serious ramifications for 2014 is the signing of Cuban defector and right-handed pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.  Various reports I've read have him either slated as the team's third starter or as a back-end of the bullpen guy.  Either way, here's hoping the $12 million, three year contact the Phils gave to the pitcher pays off.

Arrived During the Season
Ezequiel Carrera (4/2/13) - Selected off waivers from the Cleveland Indians.
John McDonald (6/27/13) - Traded by the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later or cash.
Casper Wells (8/13/13) - Selected off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
Roger Bernadina (8/21/13) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez (8/30/13) - Signed as a free agent.

Departed  During the Season
Ender Inciarte (4/2/13) - Designated for assignment and returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ezequiel Carrera (5/2/13) - Selected off waivers by the Cleveland Indians.
Chad Durbin (5/31/13) - Released.
Humberto Quintero (7/24/13) - Designated for assignment.  Signed with the Seattle Mariners, 7/26/13.
Laynce Nix (8/6/13) - Designated for assignment.
Delmon Young (8/9/13) - Designated for assignment.  Signed with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, 8/22/13.
John McDonald (8/31/13) - Traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Nefi Ogando.
Michael Young (8/31/13) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Rob Rasmussen.

Memory Lane
2012 In-Season Transactions

2013 Chachi #71 Strikeout Leaders - Cliff Lee & Cole Hamels

Braves 1, Phillies 0
Game 160 - Friday Night, September 27th in Atlanta
Record - 72-88, 4th Place, 23 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  With the exception of the home run allowed to Chris Johnson in the eighth, Cliff Lee pitched a phenomenal ballgame in a 1-0 loss to the Braves.

What It Means:  It was Lee's final start of the season, and he finished with a 14-8 record and a 2.87 ERA.  Lee struck out 222 in 222 2/3 innings while walking only 32.  He finished the month of September with 54 strikeouts to just one walk, making him the first pitcher in baseball history to strikeout 50 or more and walk one or less in any given month.  That's pretty impressive.

What Went Wrong:  The offense managed two hits off Kris Medlen, and they've now scored five runs in their last five games.  They have not hit a home run in nine consecutive games, which is the longest homerless drought since 1989.

Featured Card:  I'm breaking out the first Chachi team leader card with two games left in the season only because both Lee and Cole Hamels have pitched in their last games this year.  For the second season in a row, the duo recorded over 200 strikeouts a piece, making it the fifth time in overall franchise history that's happened.

1965 - Jim Bunning (268) and Chris Short (237)
2010 - Roy Halladay (219) and Hamels (211)
2011 - Lee (238) and Halladay (220)
2012 - Hamels (216) and Lee (207)
2013 - Lee (222) and Hamels (202)

2013 Chachi #62 Mauricio Robles

#67

Mauricio Antonio Robles

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 5'10"  Weight: 215

Born: March 5, 1989, Valencia, Venezuela

Home: Valencia, Venezuela

Signed: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent, April 1, 2006

Teams: Phillies 2013

Acquired: Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners, December 14, 2012

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2013 Chachi #63 Cameron Rupp

#29

Cameron Arthur Rupp

Catcher

Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'2"  Weight: 230

Born: September 28, 1988, Dallas, TX

Home: Plano, TX

Drafted: Selected by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the June 2010 draft

Teams: Phillies 2013

Acquired: Via draft

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2013 Chachi #64 Ryne Sandberg HL

Mets 4, Phillies 3
Game 155 - Sunday Afternoon, September 22nd in Philadelphia
Record - 71-84, Tied for 3rd Place, 21 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  On the day Ryne Sandberg signed a three-year contract to manage the Phillies, his team lost 4-3, getting swept by the Mets in their final home series of 2013.

What It Means:  The game was secondary to the big news that Sandberg would officially be at the helm through the 2016 season with a team option for 2017.  His next task will be assembling a coaching staff for 2014, as it appears as if he'll go with his own guys instead of sticking with the staff cobbled together by former manager Charlie Manuel.

I'd love to see Larry Bowa back in a Phillies uniform, and I read yesterday that my all-time favorite player, Bob Dernier, could be a fit as a coach as well:

Ex-Phillie Bob Dernier along with former big leaguer, Doug Dascenzo, could be a candidate for a coaching position, too. Dernier, another former teammate of Sandberg in the Phillies’ minor-league system and with the Cubs, was Chicago’s first base coach in 2011.

What Went Wrong:  In the game itself, the Mets took the lead when Domonic Brown overran a ball in left field in the seventh inning.  Cliff Lee pitched well again, allowing three runs (two earned) in his seven innings of work, but the offense could only come up with three runs to support his effort.

Featured Card:  This will be Sandberg's third card in the 2013 Chachi set.  He first appeared as a coach on an early season card, then as an interim manager, and I thought his official appointment merited a season highlight card as well.

2013 Chachi #59 Ryne Sandberg MG

Phillies 6, Cubs 5
Game 135 - Friday Afternoon, August 30th in Chicago
Record - 62-73, Tied for 3rd Place, 20 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Interim manager Ryne Sandberg made his triumphant return to Wrigley Field yesterday afternoon and his team was kind enough to deliver a come-from-behind, 6-5 victory.

What It Means:  I heard this cool fact on the post-game show while driving home from work today.  The Phillies have won seven of their last ten, and they had to come from behind for all seven of those wins.  Glass half full - that's encouraging.  Glass half empty - the Phillies sure have been losing in a lot of ballgames lately.

What Went Right:  In the top of the ninth, Michael Young knocked in the winning run with a line drive single to right, his fourth hit of the game.  Kevin Frandsen had tied the game at 5-5 with a solo home run in the seventh.

The Phillies had to battle back from a 5-0 deficit as a result of a very shaky outing from Roy Halladay.  Halladay left after five innings having surrendered five runs on seven hits.  He also hit two batters and uncorked a wild pitch.

Featured Card:  This is the first time since I started the Chachi series of cards (back in 2005) that I've had to create two manager cards in the same year.  I could have gone with the same standard 1973 Topps manager card, featuring four of the coaches, but I already did that with Charlie Manuel's card.  So Sandberg gets a solo card, and l specifically had to make it a horizontal pose since "Interim Manager" looked really smooshed on a vertically oriented card.

2013 Chachi #61 Pete Orr

#12

Peterson Thomas Gordon Orr

Infield - Outfield

Bats: Left  Throws: Right  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 195

Born: June 8, 1979, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Home: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Signed: Signed as an amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves, July 3, 1999

Teams: Atlanta Braves 2005-2007, Washington Nationals 2008-2009, Phillies 2011-

Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent, formerly with the Washington Nationals' organization, November 11, 2010

Contract Status: Signed through the 2013 season

2013 Chachi #55 Zach Miner

#45

Zachary Charles Miner

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'4"  Weight: 225

Born: March 12, 1982, St. Louis, MO

Home: Jupiter, FL

Drafted: Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 4th round of the June 2000 draft

Teams: Detroit Tigers 2006-2009, Phillies 2013

Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Detroit Tigers organization, December 1, 2012

Contract Status: Signed through the 2013 season

2013 Chachi #60 Roger Bernadina

#3

Rogearvin Angelo Bernadina

Outfield

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 6'2"  Weight: 200

Born: June 12, 1984, Willemstad, Curacao

Signed: Signed as an amateur free agent by the Montreal Expos, November 3, 2001

Teams: Washington Nationals 2008-2013, Phillies 2013

Acquired: Signed as free agent, formerly with the Washington Nationals, August 21, 2013

Contract Status: Arbitration eligible following the 2013 season

2013 Chachi #57 Casper Wells

#22

Casper Charles Wells

Outfield-Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'2"  Weight: 220

Born: November 23, 1984, Grand Rapids, MI

Drafted: Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 14th round of June 2005 draft

Teams: Detroit Tigers 2010-2011, Seattle Mariners 2011-2012, Oakland Athletics 2013, Chicago White Sox 2013, Phillies 2013

Acquired: Selected off waivers from the Chicago White Sox, August 8, 2013

Contract Status: Arbitration eligible following the 2013 season

2013 Chachi #56 Cesar Jimenez

#56

Cesar Enrique Jimenez

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 5'11"  Weight: 220

Born: November 12, 1984, Cumana, Venezuela

Home: Cumana, Venezuela

Signed: Signed by the Seattle Mariners as an amateur free agent, July 2, 2001

Teams: Seattle Mariners 2006, 2008, 2011; Phillies 2013

Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Seattle Mariners organization, December 5, 2012

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2013 Chachi #52 Steve Susdorf

#43

Stephen James Susdorf

Outfield

Bats: Left  Throws: Left  Height: 6'1"  Weight: 190

Born: March 28, 1986, Valencia, CA

Home: Valencia, CA

Drafted: Selected by the Phillies in the 19th round of the June 2008 draft

Teams: Phillies 2013

Acquired: Via draft

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

I am not pleased at all with the photo I used for this card.

Susdorf had his contract selected from Lehigh Valley when Domonic Brown went on the seven-day concussion disabled list on July 25th.  He appeared in three games with the Phillies, going 1 for 7 and infamously dropping a fly ball in a particularly painful 12-4 loss to the Tigers on July 28th.  He was designated for assignment on July 30th, cleared waivers, and was outrighted back to Lehigh Valley.

His only Phillies game-action image available on the interwebs pictures Susdorf's error, and I wasn't about to use that shot for the guy's Chachi card debut.  So we have the hatless portrait here, which could be replaced if and when a better Susdorf photo surfaces.