Happy New Year!

2017 Chachi #66

What a weird year . . .

I've never watched, read or paid attention to the news as much as I did this year.  Yet I feel more confused and negative than other years, when I paid much less attention.

Here's to a hopeful 2018.  The checklist for 2017 is complete and a new, blank checklist is ready to go for 2018.  As you're checking off the boxes on your 2018 checklist, I hope you're healthy and happy.  Stay positive, keep helping others and be kind.

* * *

And here's a bonus final card from the 2017 Chachi set.  I was planning on a final 2017 Phillies year in review post, but I'd rather look forward than backward at this point.  Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in about 45 days.  Go Phils!

2017 Chachi #64

Kapler Named New Phillies Manager

2017 Chachi #65

On Thursday, following the conclusion of the 2017 World Series the night before, the Phillies introduced Gabe Kapler as the 54th manager in franchise history.  Kapler, along with GM Matt Klentak, will now get to work shaping the Phillies roster for 2018 and hiring a coaching staff.  He's the first manager for the Phillies to have no prior connection to the team since Terry Francona took over in 1997.  Kapler has never managed professionally.

I was disappointed when Pete Mackanin was let go and I was hoping Dusty Wathan would be the team's new manager going into the 2018 season.  Wathan knows the younger players, having managed in the Phillies minor league system (and won) since 2008.  Kapler is an interesting choice, and watching his press conference on Thursday afternoon he didn't do a whole lot to convince me that he's the right person for the job.  To be fair, I remember feeling the same way prior to the 2005 season when Charlie Manuel was introduced by then GM Ed Wade as the team's next manager.

We shall see . . .

2005 Topps #38

Kapler will wear #22 with the Phillies, a number previously occupied by pitching coach Bob McClure, and a number Kapler curiously did not wear at all throughout his big league playing career.  Between 1998 and 2010, Kapler appeared in 1,104 games for the Tigers (1998-1999), Rangers (2000-2002), Rockies (2002-2003), Red Sox (2003-2006), Brewers (2008) and Rays (2009-2010).  He won a World Championship with the Red Sox in 2004.

From a baseball card perspective, Kapler first started appearing on mainstream baseball cards in 1998 with the Tigers.  Oddly enough, and I'm sure others have noticed this before I did, he appeared on two different multi-player Prospects cards within the 1999 Topps flagship set.  His final card as an active player shows up in the 2010 Topps Update set.

2017 Chachi #63 Henderson Alvarez

#58
Henderson Javier Alvarez
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  205
Born:  April 18, 1990, Valencia, Valenzuela
Signed:  Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent, October 17, 2006.
Teams:  Toronto Blue Jays 2011-2012; Miami Marlins 2013-2015; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the Long Island Ducks (Independent), August 25, 2017.

2012 Topps #562

0 Alvarez Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2012 Topps #562

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #63

Card statistics through 9/18/17.

2017 Chachi #61 Zac Curtis

#52
Zachary Aaron Curtis
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  5'9"  Weight:  190
Born:  July 4, 1992, Panama City Beach, FL
Drafted:  Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 6th round of the June 2014 draft
Teams:  Arizona Diamondbacks 2016; Seattle Mariners 2017; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Selected off waivers from the Seattle Mariners, September 11, 2017.

0 Curtis Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #61

Card statistics through 9/16/17.

2017 Chachi #62 Victor Arano

#64
Victor Teodoro Arano
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  196
Born:  February 7, 1995, Veracruz, Mexico
Home:  Mexico City, Mexico
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the June 2011 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers with Jesmuel Valentin for Roberto Hernandez, August 28, 2014

2015 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #1

2015 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #BCAP-VA

7 Arano Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #1
First Phillies Card:  2015 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #BCAP-VA
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils Update #31

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #62

Card statistics through 9/13/17.

2017 Chachi #60 J.P. Crawford

#2
John P. Crawford
Infield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  180
Born:  January 11, 1995, Long Beach, CA
Home:  Lakewood, CA
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 1st round of the June 2013 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Via draft

2013 Bowman Draft
Prospects #BDPP32

54 Crawford Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2013 Bowman Draft Prospects #BDPP32
First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Draft Prospects #BDPP32
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #3

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #60

Card statistics through 9/6/17.

2017 Chachi #59 Kevin Siegrist

#54
Kevin Ryan Siegrist
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'5"  Weight:  230
Born:  July 20, 1989, Buffalo, NY
Drafted:  Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 41st round of the June 2008 draft.
Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 2013-2017; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Selected off waiver from the St. Louis Cardinals, September 2, 2017.

2014 Topps #344

0 Siegrist Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2014 Topps #344

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #59

Card statistics through 9/4/17.

2017 Chachi #58 Juan Nicasio

#58
Juan Ramon Nicasio
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  252
Born:  August 31, 1986, San Francisco de Macoris, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Colorado Rockies as an amateur free agent, August 21, 2006.
Teams:  Colorado Rockies 2011-2014; Los Angeles Dodgers 2015; Pittsburgh Pirates 2016-2017; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Selected off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, August 31, 2017.

2011 Topps Update #US203

0 Nicasio Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2011 Topps Update #US203

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #58

Card statistics through 9/3/17.

2017 Chachi #57 Rhys Hoskins HL

Phillies 6, Cubs 3
Game 129 - Sunday Afternoon, August 27th in Philadelphia
Record - 48-81, 5th place

One Sentence Summary:  Nick Williams broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, while Rhys Hoskins started a triple play in the top of the inning and later hit his 11th home run of the season.

What It Means:  This Hoskins guy is pretty exciting.

What Happened:  With the Cubs up 3-0 and threatening in the fifth, Hoskins started a triple play when he made a shoestring catch.  He threw to Cesar Hernandez at second who stepped on the bag for the second out and Hernandez threw to Tommy Joseph at first to record the third out.  In the bottom of the inning, Freddy Galvis tied the game with a two-run single and Williams followed that up with his 8th home run of the season.

Featured Card:  For the second time this weekend, Hoskins earned a 2017 Chachi Highlight card (aka Chachi Now) for his feats on the field.  The triple play was already impressive enough, but his home run in the eighth off Koji Uehara broke the Phillies rookie home run record for a month set by Ryan Howard in September 2005.

He also became the fifth player in Phillies franchise history to hit a home run in five consecutive games, joining Chase Utley (who did it twice), Bobby Abreu, Mike Schmidt and Dick Allen.

Transaction:  Nick Pivetta was recalled to make the start and reliever Drew Anderson was sent back down to Triple-A.

2017 Chachi #55 Yacksel Rios

#53
Yacksel Rios
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  185
Born:  June 27, 1993, Caguas, PR
Home:  Carolina, PR
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the June 2011 draft.
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Via draft

2013 Choice Williamsport
Crosscutters #26

5 Rios Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2013 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #26
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #23

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #55

Card statistics through 8/26/17.

2017 Chachi #56 Rhys Hoskins HL

Phillies 7, Cubs 1
Game 127 - Friday Night, August 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 47-80, 5th place, 30 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Rhys Hoskins homered again and Cesar Hernandez added a three-run triple as the Phillies downed the first place Cubs, 7-1.

What It Means:  This was the first game in the three-game Players' Weekend series against the Cubs. Both teams (along with the other 28 Major League teams) wore youth baseball-inspired jerseys featuring bright colors, secondary or new logos on the hats and nicknames on the backs.  Given the chaos and confusion in our country these days, it's hard for me to get too worked up about these uniforms and my initial reaction has been - sure, why not?

What Happened:  The Phils scored six runs in the first two frames off Cubs starting pitcher Jose Quintana.  Jerad Eickhoff battled through five innings and the recently reliable Adam Morgan pitched two innings of scoreless relief.

Featured Card:  Hoskins earns the rare 2017 Chachi Highlight card for hitting his 9th home run in just 54 at-bats, becoming the quickest player since 1900 to have that many home runs in that few at-bats.  He's also the first player since at least 1913 to have nine home runs in his first 16 games.

On a baseball card related note, Hoskins has been granted three different Topps Now cards this week.

Transaction:  After his start on Thursday, Jake Thompson was sent down to the IronPigs and Daniel Nava was activated from the disabled list.

2017 Chachi #54 Pedro Florimon

#18
Pedro Alexander Florimon, Jr.
Infield-Outfield

Bats:  Switch  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  185
Born:  December 10, 1986, La Romana, DR
Home:  La Romana, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent, June 18, 2004
Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 2011; Minnesota Twins 2012-2014; Pittsburgh Piratees 2015-2016; Phillies 2016
Acquired:  Signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, December 9, 2016

2013 Topps #451

2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #12

1 Florimon Baseball Card in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #12
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #12

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2013 Topps #451

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #54

Card statistics through 8/17/17.

2017 Chachi #53 Rhys Hoskins

#17
Rhys Dean Hoskins
First Base-Left Field

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  225
Born:  March 17, 1993, Sacramento, CA
Home:  Sacramento, CA
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 5th round of the June 2014 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Via draft

2014 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #14

2014 Bowman Draft Picks #DP122

21 Hoskins Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2014 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #14
First Phillies Card:  2014 Bowman Draft Picks #DP122
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #1

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #53

Card statistics through 8/11/17.

2017 Chachi #51 Drew Anderson

#63
Andrew James Anderson
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  185
Born:  March 22, 1994, Reno, NV
Home:  Reno, NV
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 21st round of the June 2012 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Via draft

2013 Choice
Williamsport Crosscutters #1

5 Anderson Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2013 Choice Williamsport Crosscutters #1
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #28

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #51

Card statistics through 8/7/17.

2017 Chachi #52 Jorge Alfaro

#38
Jorge Mario Alfaro Buelvas
Catcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  236
Born:  June 11, 1993, Sincelejo, Colombia
Home:  Sincelejo, Colombia
Signed:  Signed by the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent, January 19, 2010
Teams:  Phillies 2016-
Acquired:  Acquired with Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jerad Eickhoff, Jake Thompson and Alec Asher from the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman and cash considerations, July 31, 2015

2015 Topps Pro Debut #172

2015 Bowman Draft Bowman Scouts' Fantasy Impact #BSI-JA

2016 Chachi #58

2017 Topps #569

31 Alfaro Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Topps Pro Debut #172
First Phillies Card:  2015 Bowman Draft Bowman Scouts Fantasy Impact #BSI-JA
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2017 Topps #569
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Topps Allen & Ginter #288

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #58
2017 Chachi #52

Card statistics through 8/8/17.

2017 Chachi #50 Hyun Soo Kim

#31
Hyun Soo Kim
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  210
Born:  January 12, 1988, Seoul, South Korea
Signed:  Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent formerly with the Doosan Bears (Korea), December 23, 2015.
Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 2016-2017; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Acquired with Garrett Cleavinger and future considerations from the Baltimore Orioles for Jeremy Hellickson and cash, July 28, 2017

2016 Topps Update #US182

0 Kim Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2016 Topps Update #US182

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #50

Card statistics through 8/5/17.

2017 Chachi #49 Pedro Beato

#47
Pedro Beato
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'6"  Weight:  230
Born:  October 27, 1986, Santo Domingo, DR
Home:  Mulberry, FL
Drafted:  Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round of the June 2006 draft
Teams:  New York Mets 2011-2012; Boston Red Sox 2012-203; Atlanta Braves 2014; Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles organization, December 21, 2016

2011 Topps #639

2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10

1 Baseball Card in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2011 Topps #639

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #49

Card statistics through 8/3/17.

2017 Chachi #48 Jesen Therrien

#46
Jesen Therrien
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  200
Born:  March 18, 1993, Montreal, Canada
Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 17th round of the June 2011 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Via draft

2014 Brandt Lakewood
BlueClaws #23

7 Therrien Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2014 Brandt Lakewood BlueClaws #23
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #29

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #48

Card statistics through 8/2/17.

2017 Chachi #47 Pat Neshek AS

American League 2, National League 1 (10)
All-Star Game - Tuesday Night, July 11th in Miami

One Sentence Summary:  Robinson Cano homered in the top of the 10th inning off Wade Davis to break a 1-1 tie and send the American League to the eventual win in Miami.

What It Means:  Don't get me wrong, I still love the All-Star Game, but the boring game coupled with Fox's ridiculous in-game stunts left me a little jaded.  Alex Rodriguez patrolled the infield before an inning, interviewing All-Stars attempting to warm up.  Players were mic'd up and interviewed in the field during live at-bats.  I wanted to watch a baseball game.

But the thing that really upset me this year is that I completely missed the pre-game team introductions.  This has always been my favorite part of the game, and it traditionally starts no sooner than 8pm.  Switching over to Fox right at 8pm, the teams were already on the field and the National Anthem was about to begin.  I completely missed all introductions.  Bummed.

What Happened:  The low-scoring affair highlighted the top pitching talent from both leagues.  The A.L. scored first on a Miguel Sano RBI single in the fifth.  Yadier Molina homered in the sixth to tie it up and Cano broke the tie in the 10th with his blast.

Featured Card:  Once again, the Phillies had only one All-Star, sending reliever Pat Neshek to the game.  Neshek entered in the second inning after starting pitching Max Scherzer threw just one frame.  He allowed a hit to Justin Smoak in between retiring Carlos Correa, Corey Dickerson and Salvador Perez.

Memory Lane

From 1996 - Attending the All-Star Game at The Vet
From 2009 - All-Star Game memories
2010 All-Star Game - N.L. 3, A.L. 1 in Anaheim
2011 All-Star Game - N.L. 5, A.L. 1 in Phoenix
2012 All-Star Game - N.L. 8, A.L. 0 in Kansas City
2013 All-Star Game - A.L. 3, N.L. 0 in Flushing
2014 All-Star Game - A.L. 5, N.L. 3 in Minneapolis

2015 All-Star Game - A.L. 6, N.L. 3 in Cincinnati
2016 All-Star Game - A.L. 4, N.L. 2 in San Diego

2017 Chachi #46 Nick Williams

#5
Billy Nicholas Williams
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  195
Born:  September 8, 1993, Galveston, TX
Home:  La Marque, TX
Drafted:  Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2nd round of the June 2012 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2017
Acquired:  Acquired with Jerad Eickhoff, Matt Harrison, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson and Alec Asher from the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman and cash considerations, July 31, 2015

2015 Topps Pro Debut #191

2016 Bowman Prospects #BP105

14 Williams Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Topps Pro Debut #191
First Phillies Card:  2016 Bowman Prospects #BP105
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2017 Topps Pro Debut #182

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi Almost #25
2016 Chachi IronPigs Signing Autographs #4
2017 Chachi #46

Card statistics through 7/6/17.