Game 108 - Phils Waste Nola's Solid Outing

Philadelphia Phillies	0
Miami Marlins	1

2016 Choice Reading Fightin
Phils Holiday

Tuesday Night, July 28th

loanDepot park - Miami, FL
57-51, 2nd Place, 6 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  A first inning home run from the Marlins' Kyle Stowers accounted for all the offense in this game as the Phillies wasted a solid performance from Aaron Nola in this 1-0 loss.

What It Means:  With the trade deadline looming, nothing is going right for the Phillies at this point.  They have too many holes to fill with just one or two trades, but we'll wait and see what president of baseball operations Dave Dombroski has up his sleeve over the next few days.

What Happened:  Nola allowed his first inning home run and then settled in to pitch 5 2/3 innings, allowing four more hits and striking out four.  The Phillies offense had four hits and was 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.  Bryan De La Cruz had two hits, including a double, to raise his Phillies average to .636 (7 for 11).

Featured Card:  I could be wrong here, but as far as I can tell the last time the Phillies lost to the Marlins by a score of 1-0 in Miami was on September 24, 2015.  Alec Asher pitched seven strong innings in that game and was the hard luck loser.

Transaction:  Garrett Stubbs (c) was activated from the injured list and Payton Henry (c) was optioned to the IronPigs.  Henry was on the Phillies' active roster for four games and didn't appear in any of them.

2026 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2026 Season Summary Index / 2026 Chachi Set Checklist

Baltimore: Babe, Autographs and a Trumbomb

Phillies 3, Marlins 1 (12)
Game 136 - Sunday Afternoon, September 3rd in Miami
Record - 52-84, 5th place, 30 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Nick Williams singled home two runs in the 12th, supporting Jake Thompson's strong outing in this 3-1 Phillies win.

What It Means:  The Phils took three of four in Miami and they'll open a three-game series in New York against the Mets on Labor Day afternoon.

What Happened:  Adam Morgan deserves credit for this win as well, pitching three innings of scoreless relief.  Thompson allowed one run and struck out seven over six innings.

Transactions:  Cameron Perkins and Thompson were recalled from the IronPigs, bringing the number of players on the Phillies active roster to 29.

Featured Card/Field Report:  Meanwhile in Baltimore . . .

2017 Topps Orioles #BAL-13

In the morning, we toured the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum where our sons met up with the Babe.  We were at the ballpark when the gates opened, snagging two of the Orioles hats given away to the first 20,000 adults through the turnstiles.  Doug positioned himself along the first base line and was much more successful with his pre-game autographs, adding signatures from the Oriole Bird (again), Richard Bleier, Darren O'Day, former Phillie Alec Asher and Wade Miley to his ever-growing collection.  The Bird and Asher signed the Camden Yards card available in the Topps Orioles retail team set.

We also purchased a charity grab bag containing a Mike Wright autographed baseball.
But Doug's personal highlight was receiving an autograph from Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo. Trumbo signed the "Chris Davis baseball" Doug had retrieved on Saturday night and the ball is now proudly displayed in Doug's bedroom.  Using the Rookies App, Doug has started his own set of custom cards, and in the spirit of me naming my custom cards after our first dog Chachi, his cards are named after our second dog, Chewbacca.  Here, reproduced with Doug's permission, is his "Chewie Now" card featured Trumbo and his autographed baseball.

If you're hungry when you visit Camden Yards, I can highly recommend the Boog Turkey sandwich with kettle chips for your next visit.  Jenna would recommend the crab soup and we'd all recommend the O's soft pretzels.  We also found you can't go wrong with nachos, popcorn and peanuts.  (I was bummed that Boog Powell wasn't in his usual spot for either games on Saturday and Sunday.)

And they played a baseball game too!  We enjoyed the game from the shade of Section 15 as Trumbo's RBI single in the 12th provided a walk-off 5-4 win.  Before Trumbo's walk-off single, he had hit his 21st home run in the fourth.  Wellington Castillo had two home runs and All-Star Jonathan Schoop had a three-hit day.  As Baltimore was relatively easy for us to get to, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, we're already planning a return trip for next summer.

2017 Spring Training Roster - Where They Went

2016 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Playoff #28

2016 Topps Heritage High Numbers #667

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League Blue Border #190

2017 Topps Gypsy Queen #4

This is the sixth year I've taken a look back at the players who broke camp with the Phillies in February and charted where they all ended up.  This year, the Phillies started with 62 players (40 on the 40-man roster and 22 non-roster invitees) and they added two more players along the way.  25 of the 64 players started the season with the big club in Cincinnati.

Here's a look at where the other 39 players ended up.

Disabled List (1):  Zach Eflin

Released (4):  Sean Burnett, Chris Coghlan, Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday

Coghlan signed with the Blue Jays, Hanigan with the Rockies and Holaday with the Tigers.

Traded (2):  Alec Asher and Tyler Goeddel

In his first start for the Orioles on April 15th, Asher allowed one run and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings.

AAA - Lehigh Valley IronPigs (25):  Jorge Alfaro, Mark Appel, Pedro Beato, Dylan Cozens, J.P. Crawford, Taylor Featherston, Pedro Florimon, Luis Garcia, Hector Gomez, Dalier Hinojosa, Rhys Hoskins, Ben Lively, Michael Mariot, Hoby Milner, Logan Moore, Colton Murray, Cam Perkins, Ricardo Pinto, Nick Pivetta, Roman Quinn, Cesar Ramos, Jake Thompson, Jesmuel Valentin, Pat Venditte and Nick Williams

Hinojosa and Murray began the season on the IronPigs' 7-day disabled list.

AA - Reading Fightin Phils (6):  Drew Anderson, Victor Arano, Elniery Garcia, Scott Kingery, Chace Numata, Andrew Pullin

Arano is on Reading's disabled list and shortly after the season began Garcia was suspended 80 games for PEDs.

A - Clearwater Threshers (1):  Alberto Tirado

Memory Lane

2012:  The Spring Training 57 (+1): Where They Went
2013:  The Spring Training 62: Where They Went
2014:  The Spring Training 58 (+2): Where They Went
2015:  The Spring Training 58 (+2): Where They Went
2016:  The Spring Training 66 (+1): Where They Went
2017:  The Spring Training 62 (+2): Where They Went

Asher Dealt to Orioles; Coghlan Released

2017 Chachi Departures #17

2016 Chachi Almost #6

Blue Jays 10, Phillies 4
Spring Training Game 32 - Tuesday Night, March 28th in Clearwater
Record - 12-16-4

One Sentence Summary:  Aaron Nola was hit hard in his final spring training game and the Phils dropped this game to the Blue Jays, 10-4.

What It Means:  Nola had a rough spring.  He finished the exhibition season with an 8.38 ERA after allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings in this game.

What Happened:  Daniel Nava, fighting for one of the final roster spots, had two hits.  Howie Kendrick went 2 for 3 and drove in three runs.

Featured Cards/Camp Head Count:  35 -2 = 33.  First, in somewhat of a surprising move, the Phillies released outfielder Chris Coghlan.  Coghlan had seemed all but guaranteed a bench spot on the Phillies roster, but this move signals they like their chances with Daniel Nava and/or Brock Stassi better.  In 19 games this spring, Coghlan played fine defensively and but hit just .231 (9 for 39), while Nava (.361) and Stassi (.320, 5 home runs) have been much more impressive at the plate.

Then, the Phillies traded pitcher Alec Asher to the Orioles for a player to be named later or cash.  The move was needed to open up a much-needed spot on the 40-man roster for either Nava or Stassi. Asher came to the Phillies as one of the six players acquired from the Rangers in the July 2015 Cole Hamels deal.  In 12 starts with the club in 2015 and 2016, Asher went 2-7 with a 5.88 ERA.

Alec Asher Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #62
2016 Chachi #61
2017 Chachi Departures #17

Finally, non-roster invitees Pedro Florimon, Hoby Milner, Colton Murray, Cesar Ramos and Pat Venditte were all informed on Tuesday they wouldn't be making the team but they'll stick around camp through Friday.

Moving On - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Cedric Hunter - of (10/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• James Russell - lhp (10/3/16) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Cleveland Indians, 2/13/17.
• Emmanuel Burriss - inf (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Washington Nationals, 12/13/16.
• Frank Herrmann - rhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Jimmy Paredes - of (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines (Japan), 1/15/17.
• Patrick Schuster - lhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 11/5/16.
• Ryan Howard - 1b (11/3/16) - Team option declined and elected free agency.
• Charlie Morton - rhp (11/3/16) - Team option declined, elected free agency and signed with the Houston Astros, 11/16/16.
• Peter Bourjos - of (11/3/16) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Chicago White Sox, 1/27/17.
• A.J. Ellis - c (11/3/16) - Elected free agency and signed with the Miami Marlins, 12/12/16.
• David Hernandez - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the San Francisco Giants, 2/14/17.
• Darin Ruf - 1b-of and Darnell Sweeney - inf-of (11/11/16) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Howie Kendrick.
• Elvis Araujo - rhp (11/18/16) - Claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.
• David Buchanan - rhp (11/23/16) - Released and signed with the Yakult Swallows (Japan), 12/20/16.
• Cody Asche - of (12/2/16) - Designated for assignment, non-tendered and signed as a minor league free agent with the Chicago White Sox, 1/6/17.
• Phil Klein - rhp (12/14/16) - Released and signed with the Yokohama BayStars (Japan), 12/20/16.
• Severino Gonzalez - rhp (1/19/17) - Designated for assignment and traded to the Miami Marlins for a player to be named later or cash considerations, 1/24/17.
• Alec Asher - rhp (3/28/17) - Traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Coming Back

• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency, accepted team's qualifying offer, 11/14/16.
• Andres Blanco - inf (11/3/16) - Elected free agency, resigned by the Phillies to a one-year contract, 12/14/16.

New Additions - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Pat Neshek - rhp (11/4/16) - Acquired from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
• Howie Kendrick - lf (11/11/16) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.
• Joaquin Benoit - rhp (12/6/16) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Clay Buchholz - rhp (12/20/16) - Acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Josh Tobias.
• Michael Saunders - of (1/19/17) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Already Gone - 2016-2017 Offseason

• David Rollins - lhp (12/2/16) - Claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers.  Designated for assignment, 12/14/16.
• Richie Shaffer - 3b (12/14/16) - Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.  Designated for assignment, 12/20/16.

2016 Topps #27 Alec Asher

Phillies 4, Nationals 1
Game 140 - Thursday Night, September 8th in Washington
Record - 63-77, 4th place, 19 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Alec Asher pitched six scoreless innings in his 2016 debut and Ryan Howard hit a three-run home run as the Phillies downed the first place Nationals, 4-1.

What It Means:  The Phillies nine-game losing streak to the Nationals is over.

What Happened:  Returning from injury and an 80-game PED suspension, Asher assumed Vince Velasquez's spot in the rotation and pitched the best game of his young Major League career.  Asher allowed just two hits in his six innings of work and strangely enough didn't strike out a batter.  All the offense came in the third when Peter Bourjos hit a solo home run (5) and Howard followed that up with his three-run shot (21).

Featured Card:  Despeite going 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in September of last season, Asher found himself with a card in Topps Series One this past spring.  Also of note is that the three young pitchers acquired from the Rangers last year in the Cole Hamels trade will start the first three games of this Nationals series - Asher, Jake Thompson and Jared Eickhoff.

Transaction:  Asher was recalled from Double-A Reading prior to the game.

As discussed in this post, I'm taking a poll on how collectors track baseball card collections. 

Please vote in the poll on the sidebar if you haven't already.  Thanks!

2016 Chachi #61 Alec Asher

#49
Alec Edward Asher
Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  230

Born:  October 4, 1991, Lakeland, FL

Home:  Auburndale, FL

Drafted:  Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the June 2012 draft

Teams:  Phillies 2015

Acquired:  Acquired with Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson and Jared Eickhoff from the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman and cash considerations, July 31, 2015

2015 Chachi #62

2016 Topps #27

3 Asher Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  2016 Topps #27
First Phillies Card:  2016 Topps #27
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2016 Topps #27
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2016 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #2

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #62
2016 Chachi #61

Card statistics through 9/8/16.

2015 Chachi #62 Alec Asher

#49

Alec Edward Asher

Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  230

Born:  October 4, 1991, Lakeland, FL

Drafted:  Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the June 2012 draft

Teams:  Phillies 2015

Acquired:  Acquired with Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson and Jared Eickhoff from the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman and cash considerations, July 31, 2015

0 Asher Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Topps Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Chachi Base Card:  2015 Chachi #62

Asher Games I've Attended per Hardball Passport

N/A

Cards and game statistics through 8/30/15.

Where Can You Find Baseball Cards for the Newest Phillies/Ex-Rangers?

2014 Topps #536

2014 Topps Pro Debut #123

2014 Choice Frisco RoughRiders #8

Cole Hamels (and Jake Diekman) are now officially members of the Texas Rangers and the Phillies have six new players in their organization that I've honestly never heard of before.  No offense meant here, but if Matt Harrison, who was an A.L. All-Star in 2012, bumped into me on the streets of Philadelphia I'd have no idea he was the newest Phillies starting pitcher.

The best way for me to get acclimated with these new guys is to summarize their baseball card careers to date.  I won't attempt to provide scouting reports on these players as I'm just purely interested in getting to know them through their baseball cards for now.  If you want something a little more in-depth, I thought this article was a good read.

New Phillies
Matt Harrison (LHP) - Harrison came up with the Rangers in 2008 and was an 18 game winner in 2012.  He's been limited to just nine starts over the past three seasons due to back injuries and the lefty underwent spinal fusion surgery in June 2014.  He's been appearing in Topps sets since 2009 and his most recent mainstream release is from Series Two of the 2014 Topps set.  He was also in the 2014 Topps Heritage set.

Alec Asher (RHP - AAA) - Asher has split this season between AA and AAA compiling a record of 4-10 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 starts.  Asher's only mainstream baseball card to date can be found in the 2014 Topps Pro Debut set.

Jerad Eickhoff (RHP - AAA) - Eickhoff has been in the Rangers organization since 2011 and he's appeared in 18 games this season (17 starts) for the AAA Round Rock Express.  It doesn't appear as if Eickhoff has any mainstream baseball cards to date, although he has appeared in a number of Rangers minor league team sets.

2015 Topps Pro Debut #172

2014 Bowman Draft Top Prospects #TP66

2015 Topps Pro Debut #191

Based on everything I've read, it seems as if these next three prospects are the key to this deal.

Jorge Alfaro (C - AA) - Alfaro was ranked the third best prospect in the Rangers system in Baseball America's pre-season rankings.  He's going to miss the rest of the 2015 season as he's been out of action since mid-June with a left ankle injury.  It seems as if Alfaro has more baseball cards available than any other player acquired in this deal (with the exception of Harrison) and he's had cards in Topps Heritage Minors, Bowman Chrome and Topps Pro Debut sets since 2012.  Alfaro also has a card in the 2015 Topps Pro Debut set.

Jake Thompson (RHP - AA) - Thompson was ranked the second best prospect in the Rangers system in Baseball America's pre-season rankings.  In 17 starts with the Frisco RoughRiders this season, he's 6-6 with a 4.72 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings.  Thompson has been featured in multiple Topps Heritage Minors and Topps Pro Debut sets since 2010, and his most recent mainstream card was in the 2015 Bowman Inception set.

Nick Williams (OF - AA) - Williams was ranked the fifth best prospect in the Rangers system in Baseball America's pre-season rankings.  In 97 games this season with Frisco, he's hitting .299 with 13 home runs and he's split time between center and right field.  Williams started appearing in Bowman releases in 2012 and his most release mainstream baseball cards can be found in the 2015 Bowman Prospects insert set and the 2015 Topps Pro Debut set.

All images have been taken from completed or ongoing eBay auctions.