Showing posts with label Girardi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Girardi. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Phillies at Cubs: September 27th to September 29th

2022 Chachi 2000 Topps Missing Links #10
2000 Topps Traded #T119

Tuesday and Wednesday 7:40, Thursday 2:20

Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL

At the Ballpark:  There are no giveaways or promotions planned for this late September series in September.

Phillies 83-69
3rd Place in the N.L. East, 13 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (11-7, 2.98)
Aaron Nola (10-12, 3.28)
Bailey Falter (5-4, 4.21)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Alec Bohm - .291
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 93
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 42
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 87
Stolen Bases:  J.T. Realmuto - 18

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 11
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 3.28
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 218
Saves:  Corey Knebel - 12
Cubs 67-86
3rd Place in the N.L. Central, 21 1/2 games behind the Cardinals

Cubs Probables
Marcus Stroman (4-7, 3.80)
Hayden Wesneski (2-1, 2.45)
Javier Assad (1-2, 4.28)

Cubs Leaders
Average:  Nico Hoerner - .290
Runs:  Ian Happ - 69
Home Runs:  Patrick Wisdom - 25
RBIs:  Ian Happ - 70
Stolen Bases:  Nico Hoerner - 18

Wins:  Keegan Thompson - 10
ERA:  N/A
Strikeouts:  Justin Steele - 126
Saves:  David Robertson - 14

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

2022 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards


Number of Cards:  34
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  Similar to the other photo card sets issued by the Phillies over the past decade, the front of the cards features a simple design with the focus on the photography.  All player photos, with the exception of Sam Coonrod, appear to have been taken early in the 2022 season.  Only the player's name - no uniform number and no position - is included on the front of the card, along with a simple white Phillies logo.  The horizontal card backs feature biographical information and career statistics.

How Distributed:  Single cards from the set first appeared in the wild at the Phillies game on June 3rd, as identification within grab bags containing autographed hats or baseballs sold as part of the annual ALS Night.  The entire 34-card set appeared for sale at the ballpark (for $6) on June 10th, shrink wrapped with the Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos cards visible on either side.  The cards were packaged in alphabetical order, save for the Harper and Castellanos cards.  This is the first team-issued photo card set produced by the Phillies since 2019, as no sets were issued during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season or the entire 2021 season.

Complete Standard Checklist (Unnumbered, presented here alphabetically with uniform number and position on the back of cards): 

1. Jose Alvarado (#46 - LHP)      
2. Andrew Bellatti (#64 - RHP)
3. Alec Bohm (#28 - 3B)
4. Johan Camargo (#7 - INF)
5. Nick Castellanos (#8 - OF)
6. Sam Coonrod (#54 - RHP)
7. Seranthony Dominguez (#58 - RHP)     
8. Zach Eflin (#56 - RHP)
9. Bailey Falter (#70 - LHP)
10. Jeurys Familia (#31 - RHP)
11. Kyle Gibson (#44 - RHP)
12. Didi Gregorius (#18 - INF)
13. Brad Hand (#52 - LHP)
14. Bryce Harper (#3 - RF)
15. Odubel Herrera (#37 - OF)
16. Rhys Hoskins (#17 - 1B)
17. Corey Knebel (#23 - RHP)
18. Mickey Moniak (#16 - OF)
19. Simon Muzziotti (#40 - OF)      
20. Nick Nelson (#57 - RHP)
21. Aaron Nola (#27 - RHP)
22. James Norwood (#49 - RHP)
23. Roman Quinn (#24 - OF)
24. J.T. Realmuto (#10 - C) 
25. Cristopher Sanchez (#61 - LHP)
26. Kyle Schwarber (#12 - OF)
27. Jean Segura (#2 - INF)
28. Bryson Stott (#5 - INF)
29. Garrett Stubbs (#21 - C)      
30. Ranger Suarez (#55 - LHP)
31. Rob Thomson (#59 - Interim Manager)
32. Matt Vierling (#19 - OF)
33. Zack Wheeler (#45 - RHP)
34. Phillie Phanatic

One and Only Phillies Baseball Card (1):  Norwood
First Appearance in Phillies Team Issued Set (22):  Alvarado, Bellatti, Bohm, Camargo, Castellanos, Coonrod, Falter, Familia, Gibson, Gregorius, Hand, Knebel, Moniak, Muzziotti, Nelson, Sanchez, Schwarber, Stott, Stubbs, Suarez, Vierling, Wheeler
Returning Players in Phillies Team Issued Set (9):  Dominguez, Eflin, Harper, Herrera, Hoskins, Nola, Quinn, Realmuto, Segura

The One and Done list above could get some future company, but for now I'm going to assume this is the only Phillies baseball card for reliever James Norwood, who was designated for assignment on June 13th.  I'll update this list as it grows.  Only nine Phillies players in this set were around when the Phillies last issued a photo card set back in May 2019.  This is the first appearance in a team-issued set for Ranger Suarez, who made his debut with the team in 2018.

Coonrod, currently on the 60-day injured list, is the only player in the set to have not appeared yet in a game in 2022.  Roman Quinn snuck into the set despite having been designated for assignment on June 1st.  (Quinn has since signed with the Royals' organization.)

Interim Manager (1):  Thomson
Phillie Phanatic (1):  The Phanatic is shown wearing the team's cream alternate jersey.

For the first time since the Phillies started issuing annual photo card sets back in 1970, no cards were produced for the team's coaches.  This could have something to do with the fact the team's coaching staff has ballooned from four in 1970 to ten at the start of the 2022 season.  Rob Thomson, named the team's interim manager on June 3rd following the dismissal of Joe Girardi, is identified as such on the back of his card.

Omissions:  I'm not going to complain at all about the set's checklist, given we waited two years for the return of this fan and collector's favorite.  Of the 36 players to have suited up for the Phillies in 2022 up until June 3rd, only five players are left out of the set - relievers Connor Brogdon and Damon Jones, who were both on the opening day roster, pitcher Jeff Singer, who was active for a day, pitcher Francisco Morales, who was on the roster for nine games in early May and infielder Nick Maton, who was active for three days before landing on the injured list.  It would have been nice to have cards of either Brogdon or Jones in place of Coonrod, but again beggars can't be choosers.


Variations/Rarities:
  There's only one (potential) rarity to report at this time.  As mentioned above, single cards from the set first starting appearing on June 3rd, included within grab bags sold for $30 at the ballpark to benefit the ALS Association.  My son Doug and I both received bags with Joe Girardi cards to go along with a Girardi-signed baseball and a Girardi-signed hat.  The former Phillies manager had been relieved of his duties earlier that day, which was too late for Phillies employees to try to find and remove bags containing items he had autographed.  Who knows how many of these cards made it out before the Phillies recycled them?

1. Joe Girardi (#25 - MG)

2019 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards - 2nd Edition / 2023 Philadelphia Phillies Photo Cards

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Game 47 - Are Girardi's Days Numbered?

2020 Topps Allen & Ginter
Field Generals #FG-6
Mets 8
, Phillies 2
Game 47 - Saturday Night, May 28th in Flushing
Record - 21-26, 3rd Place, 9 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies turned in another lifeless performance against the Mets, losing their seventh out of their last ten games.

What It Means:  See below from Phillies beat writer Jim Salisbury.  That's quite an opening paragraph.

What Happened:  Zach Eflin was the victim of questionable defense, some perfectly placed hits and an unrelenting Mets offense.  He allowed seven runs on eight hits over six innings as he saw his record fall to 1-4.  The Phillies offense went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.  Two of the team's bigger bats, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins, went 0 for 7 with Schwarber's average dropping to .185 and Hoskins a somewhat better .220.

Featured Card:  Manager Joe Girardi has made extremely questionable bullpen decisions and displayed an overall lack of emotion or urgency.  If he is dismissed before the end of the season, and if the Phillies don't come through with a team-issued photo card set before that happens, Girardi could have his time at the helm of the club marked with no Phillies baseball cards to his name.  I've added this card to my Phillies collection, as even though it depicts Girardi with the Yankees, it was released during his tenure as manager of the Phillies.  How long that tenure will continue remains to be seen.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Game 30 - Phils Go Quietly Into the Night

2020 Chachi #31
Mariners 5
, Phillies 4
Game 30 - Late Tuesday Night, May 11th in Seattle
Record - 13-17, Tied for 3rd Place, 7 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Mariners didn't hit the ball hard, but they scored more runs than the Phillies in this 5-4 loss in Seattle.

What It Means:  After splitting the first two games of the series, the Phillies will go for the elusive series win on Wednesday afternoon.

What Happened:  The Mariners took advantage of bloop hits, softly hit singles and four Phillies errors in this frustrating loss.  Aaron Nola didn't pitch poorly, but he did allow nine hits and five runs (four earned) in his 5 1/3 innings of work.  Bryce Harper had a pair of doubles with Nick Castellenos, Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura all hitting solo home runs.  Manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the second inning when third base umpire Bill Miller refused to review a play in which Mariners runner Adam Frazier was clearly out.

Featured Card:  Girardi, who took over as Phillies manager before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, has managed 252 Phillies game and has yet to appear on a Phillies baseball card.  Topps has stopped featuring manager cards in its flagship sets, and managers haven't appeared in recent years in their Heritage sets either.  And with the Phillies not issuing photo cards over the past two seasons, Girardi doesn't even have a team-issued card to his name.  His Phillies-less streak should hopefully end soon when the Phillies finally release a 2022 photo card set, but for now here's his first Chachi card from that 2020 season.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

2022 Chachi #29 Joe Girardi MG


#25
Joseph Elliott Girardi
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  57
Born:  October 14, 1964, Peoria, IL
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1989-1992; Colorado Rockies 1994-1995; New York Yankees 1996-1999; Chicago Cubs 2000-2002; St. Louis Cardinals 2003
As a Coach:  New York Yankees 2005
As a Manager:  Florida Marlins 2006; New York Yankees 2008-2017; Philadelphia Phillies 2020-

First Phillies Card:
  N/A
Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Allen & Ginter Field Generals #FG-6
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16):  1990-1998, 2000-2003, 2008-2010

1 - Girardi baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/7/22.

1990 Topps #12
1993 Topps #425
1997 Topps #291
2003 Topps #521
2009 Topps #555


Friday, October 1, 2021

Series Preview - Phillies at Marlins: October 1st to October 3rd

1986 Topps #420
2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #15

Friday 7:10, Saturday 6:10, Sunday 3:10

loanDepot park - Miami, FL

At the Ballpark:  On Saturday, there's postgame fireworks and on Sunday all fans will receive a 2022 Marlins schedule magnet, while the first 5,000 kids will receive a bat and ball set.  On Monday, the long offseason begins.

Phillies 81-78
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 5 1/2 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (7-5, 1.45)
TBD
Zack Wheeler (14-10, 2.78)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .305
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 99
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 34
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 82
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto - 13

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 14
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.78
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 247
Saves:  Hector Neris - 12
Marlins 65-94
Tied for 4th Place in the N.L. East, 21 1/2 games behind the Braves

Marlins Probables
Sandy Alcantara (9-14, 3.09)
Jesus Luzardo (3-5, 6.92)
Trevor Rogers (7-8, 2.64)

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Miguel Rojas - .263
Runs:  Jazz Chisolm - 69
Home Runs:  Jesus Aguilar and Adam Duvall - 22
RBIs:  Jesus Aguilar - 93
Stolen Bases:  Jazz Chisolm - 23

Wins:  Sandy Alcantara - 9
ERA:  Sandy Alcantara - 3.09
Strikeouts:  Sandy Alcantara - 195
Saves:  Yimi Garcia - 15
2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Friday, July 16, 2021

Series Preview - Marlins at Phillies: July 16th to July 18th

2021 Chachi Fan Favorites #8
1986 Topps Traded #90T

Friday Double Header 4:05, Saturday 6:05, Sunday 1:05

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  Postgame fireworks return to Citizens Bank Park following the Friday double header.  On Sunday, all kids 14 and under will receive a Phillies beach towel featuring J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, manager Joe Girardi, Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen.

Marlins 39-50
5th Place in the N.L. East, 9 games behind the Mets

Marlins Probables
Sandy Alcantara (5-8, 3.09)
TBD
TBD
TBD

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Jesus Aguilar - .268
Runs:  Starling Marte - 44
Home Runs:  Adam Duvall - 19
RBIs:  Jesus Aguilar and Adam Duvall - 62
Stolen Bases:  Starling Marte - 17

Wins:  Trevor Rogers - 7
ERA:  Trevor Rogers - 2.31
Strikeouts:  Trevor Rogers - 122
Saves:  Yimi Garcia - 13
Phillies 44-44
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 3 1/2 games behind the Mets

Phillies Probables
Matt Moore (0-1, 5.40)
Zach Eflin (4-6, 3.88)
Vince Velasquez (3-4, 5.35)
Zack Wheeler (6-5, 2.26)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .278
Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 49
Home Runs:  Rhys Hoskins - 20
RBIs:  Rhys Hoskins - 55
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper - 7

Wins:  Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler - 6
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.26
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 145
Saves:  Hector Neris - 11
2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Monday, June 7, 2021

Game 58 - One of the Weirdest Phillies Games I've Ever Seen

2021 Chachi #49

Phillies 12
, Nationals 6
Game 58 - Sunday Afternoon, June 6th in Philadelphia
Record - 28-30, 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  In a long, hot and weird game, the Phillies ultimately prevailed, 12-6, in a nearly five-hour contest that had a little bit of everything.

What It Means:  Monday is the second of seven scheduled off days in June, and then the Braves come to town for a mid-week series.  (One of those off days is already gone as the Phillies will play a make-up game against the Reds on June 28th.)

What Happened:  What didn't happen?  I don't often use bulleted lists for these game summaries, but this game merits it:
  • Home plate umpire Brian O'Nora departed in the first inning after becoming ill and the umpiring crew went with a three-man squad for the game.  This was the first of many delays in this game.
  • Nationals pitcher Austin Voth was hit in the eye with a Vince Velasquez pitch and was escorted from the field, bloodied by the beaning.
  • The Phillies plated seven runs in the fourth inning, including the 1,000th run of Andrew McCutchen's career, making him only the fifth active player to have reached that plateau.
  • Brad Miller homered in the fifth inning and debuted the new Phillies straw home run hat, apparently to be worn by a player upon returning to the dugout to celebrate his home run.
  • In the sixth inning, J.T. Realmuto hit his 100th career home run, a three-run shot, giving the Phillies a 12-6 lead.  Realmuto joyfully donned the new home run hat after rounding the bases.
  • Cristopher Sanchez made his big league debut in the eighth inning and after recording two outs, the netting behind home plate collapsed.  What followed was a 20-minute, incredible display of ingenuity as the grounds' crew rigged the net back into position with some rope and impressive knot-work.  This all transpired while the ballpark's speakers blared the William Tell Overture.
Featured Card:  All this transpired while at my Mom's house for some pool time and burgers and I felt it appropriate to create a special highlight card to mark the weirdness of the game.  This has some precedence in Chachi sets, as I created a highlight card back in 2007 to mark the time the entire Phillies roster helped the Rockies' ground crew secure their tarp during a fierce rain storm.

Transactions:  Chase Anderson (rhp) and David Hale (rhp) were placed on the Covid injured list.  Sanchez (lhp) was recalled from Lehigh Valley and Hector Neris (rhp) was activated from the paternity list.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Thursday, May 13, 2021

2021 Chachi #27 Joe Girardi MG


#25
Joseph Elliott Girardi
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  56
Born:  October 14, 1964, Peoria, IL
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1989-1992; Colorado Rockies 1994-1995; New York Yankees 1996-1999; Chicago Cubs 2000-2002; St. Louis Cardinals 2003
As a Coach:  New York Yankees 2005
As a Manager:  Florida Marlins 2006; New York Yankees 2008-2017; Philadelphia Phillies 2020-
First Phillies Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25*
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25

*Still looking for this card.  Girardi signed team issued photo cards at the Reading Fightin Phils' Baseballtown Winter Caravan event held on January 21, 2020.

Newest Card Added:  2020 Topps Allen & Ginter Field Generals #FG-6

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16):  1990-1998, 2000-2003, 2008-2010

1 - Girardi baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 5/13/21.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi #69 - New Manager HL
2020 Chachi Preseason Photo Cards #25
2020 Chachi #31
2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #24
2021 Chachi #27

Girardi will have to wait a little while longer for his first mainstream Phillies baseball card, and for now his Chachi custom cards will have to suffice.  The 55th Phillies manager made his Topps flagship debut in 1990 after his rookie cards had appeared in the 1989 Donruss Rookies, Fleer, Score Rookie & Traded and Upper Deck sets.

His most recent baseball card can be found in the 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter Field Generals insert set.  Girardi also signed cards included in the 2020 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs insert set.

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index 2021 Chachi Set Checklist

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Series Preview - Yankees at Phillies: August 5th to August 6th

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #24
2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #5
Wednesday Double Header 4:05, Thursday 6:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  The strangeness of 2020 continues.  Tuesday night's game was postponed due to Hurricane Isaias, to be made up as Game 1 of a double header at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon.  The Yankees will be the home team for Game 1, with the Phillies as the home team for Game 2.

Yankees 8-1
1st Place in the A.L. East, 3 games ahead of the Orioles

Yankees Probables
Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 1.59)
TBD
Masahiro Tanaka (0-0, 3.38)

Yankees Leaders
Average:  DJ LeMahieu - .412
Runs:  Aaron Judge - 11
Home Runs:  Aaron Judge - 6
RBIs:  Aaron Judge - 14
Stolen Bases:  Mike Tauchman - 3

Wins:  Gerrit Cole - 3
ERA:  Gerrit Cole - 2.55
Strikeouts:  Gerrit Cole - 16
Saves:  Zack Britton - 4
Phillies 1-3
4th Place in the N.L. East, 3 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.29)
Aaron Nola (0-1, 6.75)
Zach Eflin (0-0, 0.00)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Didi Gregorius - .333
Runs:  Phil Gosselin and Did Gregorius - 3
Home Runs:  Phil Gosselin and Didi Gregorius - 2
RBIs:  Three tied with - 3
Stolen Bases:  N/A

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 1
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 1.29
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 7
Saves:  N/A

Friday, July 24, 2020

2020 Chachi #31 Joe Girardi MG


#25
Joseph Elliott Girardi
Manager

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  195
Opening Day Age:  55
Born:  October 14, 1964, Peoria, IL
Contract Status:  Signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023
Major League Teams:  Chicago Cubs 1989-1992; Colorado Rockies 1994-1995; New York Yankees 1996-1999; Chicago Cubs 2000-2002; St. Louis Cardinals 2003
As a Coach:  New York Yankees 2005
As a Manager:  Florida Marlins 2006; New York Yankees 2008-2017; Philadelphia Phillies 2020
First Phillies Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25*
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 Special Edition #25

*Still looking for this card.  Girardi signed team issued photo cards at the Reading Fightin Phils' Baseballtown Winter Caravan event held on January 21, 2020.

Newest Card Added:  N/A

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16):  1990-1998, 2000-2003, 2008-2010

0 - Girardi baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/23/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi #69 - New Manager HL
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #25
2020 Chachi #31

Girardi will have to wait a little while for his first mainstream Phillies baseball card, and for now his Chachi custom cards will have to suffice.  The new Phillies manager made his Topps flagship debut in 1990 after his rookie cards had appeared in the 1989 Donruss Rookies, Fleer, Score Rookie & Traded and Upper Deck sets.

His most recent baseball card can be found in the 2020 Topps Throwback Thursday online only set in the style of the 1974 Topps set, where he's paired with Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.
2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Monday, February 10, 2020

Here We Go: New Uniform Numbers Galore

2020 Chachi Photo Cards #18
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #25
2020 Chachi Photo Cards #45
On Monday afternoon, the Phillies' roster page on their website updated with new uniform numbers for the 40-man roster, coaching staff and non-roster invitees.  With 69 players in camp, 7 officially retired numbers, 3 unofficially retired numbers, 13 members of the coaching staff and 3 numbers on hold for potentially returning players, there are only 4 numbers between 1 and 99 currently available.  Without keeping everyone in suspense, those numbers are:  93, 97, 98 and 99.  That's crazy.

Here's a look at new uniform numbers, number swaps and numbers currently on hold.

New Players (Non-Prospect Division)
There's a bunch here, so rather than go into any kind of detailed analysis, I'll list the number, the player and the person to have worn that number for the Phillies in 2019:
  • #7 Josh Harrison (inf) - Maikel Franco
  • #12 Neil Walker (inf) - Juan Nicasio
  • #13 Logan Forsythe (inf) - Sean Rodriguez
  • #16 Mikie Mahtook (of) - Cesar Hernandez
  • #18 Didi Gregorius (ss) - Drew Smyly
  • #23 Matt Szczur (of) - Jay Bruce (see below)
  • #28 Bud Norris (rhp) - Mike Morin
  • #29 Drew Storen (rhp) - Nick Vincent
  • #31 Nick Martini (of) - Corey Dickerson
  • #39 Anthony Swarzak (rhp) - Coach Bobby Dickerson
  • #44 Christian Bethancourt (c) - Jason Vargas
  • #45 Zack Wheeler (rhp) - Coach Chris Young
  • #48 Francisco Liriano (lhp) - Jerad Eickhoff
  • #57 Deolis Guerra (rhp) - Coach David Lundquist (see below)
  • #60 Reggie McClain (rhp) - Coach Pedro Guerrero (see below)
  • #61 Cristopher Sanchez (lhp) - Edubray Ramos
  • #89 Robert Stock (rhp) - Never worn before
New Manager/Coaches
It looks as if the coaches mostly decided to take or were assigned numbers in the 90s, given the shortage of available numbers.  Along with new coaches Castro and Meacham, two other coaches swapped out to new numbers as listed below.
  • #19 Bryan Price (pitching coach) - Manager Gabe Kapler
  • #25 Joe Girardi (manager) - Jared Hughes
  • #33 Joe Dillon (hitting coach) - Brad Miller
  • #81 Greg Brodzinski (catching coach) - Coach Craig Driver
  • #91 Juan Castro (infield coach) - Never worn before
  • #92 Bobby Meacham (coaching assistant) - Never worn before
Number Swaps
Jay Bruce switches from #23 to #9, with Phil Gosselin switching from #9 to #8.  Edgar Garcia had worn #41 last season until Charlie Manuel was hired as the hitting coach, and then Garcia switched to #66.  He'll take back #41 for 2020.
  • #8 Phil Gosselin (inf) - Logan Morrison
  • #9 Jay Bruce (of) - Phil Gosselin
  • #41 Edgar Garcia (rhp) - Coach Charlie Manuel
  • #94 David Lundquist (assistant pitching coach) - Dalier Hinojosa in 2016
  • #95 Pedro Guerrero (assistant hitting coach) - Player information coordinator Sam Fuld
Numbers on Hold
  • #37 Odubel Herrera (of) - In minor league camp
  • #65 JD Hammer (rhp) - Designated for assignment last week
  • #96 Tommy Hunter (rhp) - Reportedly signed to a minor or major league deal
Other than the 4 numbers mentioned at the top (93, 97, 98 and 99) the Phillies have unofficially retired #6, #11 and #26 for Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, respectively.

Memory Lane
2013 New Numbers
2014 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2015 New Numbers
2016 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2017 New Numbers
2018 New Numbers
2019 New Numbers - Part OnePart Two and Part Three
2020 New Numbers

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Phils Name Joe Girardi as New Manager

2019 Chachi #69
On Thursday, October 24th, the news broke that the Phillies would be hiring Joe Girardi to manage the team in 2020.  He's the 55th manager in franchise history and he was signed to a three-year contract with a club option for 2023.  He's the fifth manager for the Phillies in the 6 years and 3 months since Charlie Manuel was dismissed in August 2013.  Phillies fans will best remember Girardi for leading the 2009 Yankees to a World Series victory againsts Manuel's club who were looking to repeat.  I found it interesting that the last time the Phillies hired a manager who had already won a World Series was 1952 when they brought in Steve O'Neill.  O'Neill managed the Tigers in 1945 when they won it all.

1991 Topps Archives 1953 #307
Wearing #25, which means reliever Jared Hughes will need a new number if he returns, Girardi said all the right things during his introductory press conference on Monday afternoon.  He's here to win now and to provide more structure in the clubhouse than his predecessor Gabe Kapler was able to provide.  His first order of business will be to find a hitting coach and a pitching coach, and then the club will turn their attention to luring one (or two or three) high profile free agents.

During his half-hour press conference, Girardi name dropped Larry Bowa, Gary Matthews, John Vukovich, Charlie Manuel, John Kruk and The Phillies Room favorite Bob Dernier.  Dernier was Girardi's first victim in the caught stealing department when the speedy outfielder tried to steal second in the 1989 season opener at Wrigley Field.

Looking at Girardi's baseball card history, his rookie cards can be found in the 1989 Donruss Rookies, Fleer, Score Rookie & Traded and Upper Deck sets.  His first Topps card can be found in the 1990 set, and he'd go on to appear in most every Topps flagship set until 2003 with the Cubs, Rockies, Yankees, Cubs again and Cardinals.  (He was omitted from the 1999 set.)  He's appeared on manager cards in sets since 2008 with his most recent mainstream card found in the 2016 Topps Heritage set.

Personally, I'm a big fan of this hiring and I feel way more optimistic than I did following Kapler's hiring in November 2017.  Girardi has a proven track record and he brings instant credibility to the job.  Hopefully he'll also bring a few more World Series trophies along the way as well.

Pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in 107 days.