Game 21 - Five Mets Pitchers Combine to No-Hit Phils

2017 Chachi #20

Mets 3, Phillies 0
Game 21 - Friday Night, April 29th in Flushing
Record - 10-11, Tied for 3rd Place, 5 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Tylor Megill and a quartet of Mets relievers no-hit the Phillies in this 3-0 loss.

What It Means:  It was the 20th time in franchise history the Phillies had been no-hit, the first no-hitter thrown against them since the Dodgers' Josh Beckett did it in 2014, and the first time the Phillies had been on the receiving end of a combined no-hitter.  It only counts as one loss, and the Phillies will try to start a new winning streak tonight.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out nine.  We liked the Phillies' chances of getting a hit in the ninth, as they had Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto coming up.  All three were struck out swinging by Edwin Diaz.

Featured Card:  Megill pitched the first five innings, with Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, Seth Lugo and Diaz preserving the no-hit bid.  This is inexplicably the second time this month Rodriguez is the unlikely featured card in a game summary post, as I featured a minor league card of his following an early season loss to the Mets.  This is Rodriguez's 2017 Chachi card.

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 6 - Phils Can't Find Rhythm in Latest Loss

2016 Grandstand Reading
Fightin Phils #27

Mets 9, Phillies 6
Game 6 - Wednesday Afternoon, April 13th in Philadelphia
Record - 3-3, 2nd Place, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies fell behind early and couldn't complete the comeback against the Mets, losing this game, 9-6.

What It Means:  After losing the series to the Mets, the team flew to Miami where they'll open a four-game series against the Marlins on Thursday night.

What Happened:  The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the first inning against a wild Max Scherzer, but couldn't bring a run home.  They'd chip away at the Mets lead throughout the game, with Nick Castellanos, Johan Camargo and Bryson Stott all tallying multi-hit days.  Stott had a pair of RBIs and Castellanos had two doubles.  Bryce Harper hit a solo home run in the ninth, his first of the season.

Aaron Nola's struggles continued as he lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits.  He also hit two Mets batters before exiting the game.  Relievers Damon Jones and Connor Brogdon combined to allow four more runs in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Jean Segura departed the game in the sixth after being hit by a pitch.

Featured Card:  Former Phillies pitcher Joely Rodriguez worked a pair of games in this series, pitching an inning and allowing four runs on two hits, including a key home run by J.T. Realmuto in the series opener.  Rodriguez was acquired by the Phillies in December 2014 from the Pirates for Antonio Bastardo.  He appeared in 38 games with the club in 2016 and 2017, going 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA, and his one and only Phillies baseball card can be found in the 2017 team-issued photo card set..  Rodriguez had a solid 2021 season, appearing in 52 games for the Rangers and Yankees.  

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

Phillies Comings & Goings - Mid-Season Update

2017 Chachi Almost #8

2017 Chachi Almost #9

2017 Chachi Almost #10

2017 Chachi Almost #11

With the symbolic half-way point of the season approaching, I wanted to take the opportunity to refresh the Phillies comings and goings listing and clear out some of the custom cards from my draft folder.

The four Chachi Almost cards at the top of the post are for players who won't be suiting up for the Phillies in 2017.  Jesmuel Valentin had his season cut short with surgery to repair his separated shoulder.  Pitchers Dalier Hinojosa and Mario Hollands were released from their minor league contracts while Taylor Featherston was traded to the Rays.  I also wanted to pay a final Phillies Room tribute to Joely Rodriguez who was the first (of many?) casualties from the 2017 Phillies bullpen as the lefty was designated for assignment and ultimately traded to the Rangers.

2017 Phillies Team Issue #63

Dalier Hinojosa Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #55
2016 Chachi Preview #4
2016 Chachi #25
2017 Chachi Almost #8

Mario Hollands Complete Chachi Checklist
2014 Chachi #19
2015 Chachi Almost #4
2016 Chachi Almost #18
2017 Chachi Almost #9

Taylor Featherston Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi New Additions #13
2016 Chachi #50
2017 Chachi Almost #11

Joely Rodriguez Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi New Additions #2
2016 Chachi #62
2017 Chachi #20
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5 (with Zach Eflin)

2017 Chachi Departures #6

2017 Chachi Departures #20

Joining the Departures insert set are Frank Herrmann and Cedric Hunter.  Herrmann, who pitched briefly for the Phillies last season is now in Japan while Hunter signed with the Reds.  Hunter, last year's opening day left fielder, was suspended in November for testing positive for amphetamine.

Frank Herrmann Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #57
2017 Chachi Departures #6

Cedric Hunter Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #6
2017 Chachi Departures #20

Finally, I'll have an upcoming post dedicated to Ryan Howard who briefly signed with the Braves organization before being released in early May.

Moving On - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Cedric Hunter - of (10/3/16) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Cincinnati Reds, 4/4/17.
• 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, elected free agency and signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles (Japan).
• 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, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves, 4/6/17.
• 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.

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.
• Daniel Nava - of (12/12/16) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Kansas City Royals.
• 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.

Departed During the 2017 Season

• Tyler Goeddel - of (4/5/17) - Claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.
• Dalier Hinojosa - rhp (5/16/17) - Released.
• Mario Hollands - lhp (5/23/17) - Released.
• Taylor Featherston - inf (6/9/17) - Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.
• Joely Rodriguez - lhp (6/13/17) - Traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash.
• Jeanmar Gomez - rhp (6/20/17) - Designated for assignment.
• Michael Saunders - of (6/20/17) - Designated for assignment.

Arrived During the 2017 Season

• Ty Kelly - inf (4/22/17) - Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash.
• Casey Fien - rhp (5/9/17) - Purchased from the Seattle Mariners.

2017 Chachi #20 Joely Rodriguez

#63
Joely Rodriguez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  214
Born:  November 14, 1991, Santo Domingo, DR
Home:  Santo Domingo, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent, March 25, 2009
Teams:  Phillies 2016-
Acquired:  Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo, December 10, 2014

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24

2016 Chachi #62

2017 Phillies Team Issue #63

6 Rodriguez Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24
First Phillies Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63
Latest Card:  2017 Phillies Team Issue #63

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi New Additions #2
2016 Chachi #62
2017 Chachi #20
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5 (with Zach Eflin)

Card statistics through 5/26/17.

Highlights from the 2017 Phillies Phestival (Part 1) #StrikeOutALS

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #10

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #4

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #1

On Thursday afternoon, we attended our first Phillies Phestival at Citizens Bank Park.  This annual event, which the Phillies have held every year since 1984, features games, giveaways, photo opportunities and autograph tables with all proceeds benefitting research into striking out ALS.  The Phillies raised $656,600 at the Phestival, adding to their $17 million total raised since 1984.

Before we entered the left field gate right before 4pm and again as we were leaving right after 6pm, my wife Jenna summed up my exact thoughts by saying, "I can't believe you've never done that before."

Armed with nine autograph tickets, we split into two groups with Jenna and Ben in search of a Maikel Franco autograph (Ben's favorite player) and Doug and me in search of as many autographs as possible.  Doug came away with over 20 autographs, Ben ultimately got to meet Franco and I came away with a lot of great memories and some terrific pictures.  I made a limited edition Chachi card set to commemorate the day, and I'll split the set into two separate posts starting with this one.

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #2

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #3

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #6

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #7

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #8

2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #9

Some highlights and random thoughts:

• When Ben met John Kruk he informed Kruk he'd rather be getting an autograph from Franco, his favorite player.  Kruk actually tried to get a ticket for Ben, was unsuccessful, and told him to stop back later . . .

• . . . Which Ben did, securing an autograph and a picture with his favorite player!

• The newly acquired Ty Kelly had nothing for anyone to sign.  Paired up with Larry Bowa, Kelly signed a Phillies team card for Doug.

• Doug informed Bowa he'd be making the big leagues one day to which Bowa responded with a fist pump and told him to "Get it."  Bowa was happy to hear that Doug's best position was third base.

• Jerad Eickhoff seemed a little punchy, photobombing our picture with Andres Blanco.

• Mickey Morandini and Tommy Joseph both told Doug they really liked his hair.

• Daniel Nava was very impressed when Doug referred to him as Mr. Nava.  "First kid to do that all day," he mentioned.

2017 Topps Now #23

• Doug's favorite new autographed card is the dual signature Topps Now card of Howie Kendrick and Joseph.  Honestly, the kid can't stop looking at it and remarking, "This is so cool."

• We bought a number of $20 grab bags and the boys scored autographed hats from Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens, Vince Velasquez and Jeremy Hellickson.  We also received two of the special edition Greg Luzinski bobble heads.

• Special photo cards were created for Zach Eflin, Mark Leiter, Jr., and Nick Pivetta, given that those pitchers were omitted from the first series team issued set.  I grabbed a Leiter, Jr. card but totally missed out on the Eflin and Pivetta cards.  Rookie mistake!  Next year, I'll look closer at the tables of those players not in the photo card set.  (Thanks to Rick and Steve for confirming the existence of these extra cards.)

• Team president Andy MacPhail was walking around personally thanking each of the players for their time at this event.  We had the chance to meet MacPhail towards the end of the event. He was extremely gracious and struck up a small conversation with Doug about his Little League season.

What a fantastic event and we'll be back next year!

2016 Chachi #62 Joely Rodriguez

#63
Joely Rodriguez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  200
Born:  November 14, 1991, Santo Domingo, DR
Home:  Santo Domingo, DR
Signed:  Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent, March 25, 2009
Teams:  Phillies 2016
Acquired:  Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo, December 10, 2014

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #24

4 Rodriguez Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #24
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2016 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #27

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi New Additions #2
2016 Chachi #62

Card statistics through 9/12/16.

2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks Prospects #BDPP17 Andrew Knapp

Phillies 6, Yankees 5
Spring Training Game 7 - Sunday Afternoon, March 6th in Clearwater
Record - 3-3-1

One Sentence Summary:  The offense exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, capped by Andrew Knapp's three-run home run.

What It Means:  This was the first full game I was able to sit and enjoy on TV.

What Happened:  Charlie Morton pitched into the third inning, allowing a run on one hit while striking out two.  He retired the first six batters he faced.

Featured Card:  Knapp's blast raised his spring average to .571 (4 for 7) and I have to imagine he'll play with the Phillies at some point this season.  This is the first mainstream card of Knapp's in my collection, from the 2013 Bowman Draft Picks set.

Camp Head Count:  66 - We're still at 66, although it's worth noting the 9 players who have yet to see game action this spring.  Pitcher Matt Harrison isn't even in Florida as he continues to be plagued by back issues.  Cody Asche and Andres Blanco have been hampered by nagging injuries although neither is expected to miss significant time.  Other pitchers who have yet to appear in any games are:  Jimmy Cordero, Jerad Eickhoff (broke his thumb in a bunting drill), Frank Herrmann, Mario Hollands, Michael Mariot and Yoervis Medina.

Uniform Number Update:  Outfielder Aaron Altherr headed back to Philadelphia yesterday to have his ailing wrist checked by a hand specialist. Apparently, Altherr has changed his uniform number again and he's now wearing #9.  (He has been #40 last season and had worn #23 for the first few weeks of spring training.)  Coach John McLaren, who had been wearing #9, will need a new number.  (Perhaps #23?)

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #24

The Phillies also added 13 more players to their roster, going so far as to add these players to their website's roster page along with numbers in the 80s and 90s.  Ken Roberts is the only player listed below to have previously played for the Phillies.  I guess these guys are non-non-roster players?  And how confusing is it that there are three different players walking around with #89?

#86 Nick Fanti - lhp
#88 Andrew Amaro - inf
#88 Andrew Pullin - of
#89 Yacksel Rios - rhp
#89 Joely Rodriguz - lhp
#89 Jesmuel Valentin - 2b
#90 Ken Roberts - lhp
#91 Brendon Hayden - inf
#92 Edgar Cabral - c
#92 Ryan O'Sullivan - rhp
#92 Tom Windle - lhp
#95 Tommy Joseph - 1b
#95 Ben Lively - rhp

Danks and Rodriguez Round Out 40-Man Roster

2015 Chachi New Additions #6

2015 Chachi New Additions #2

It's been a busy time for me at work, and I haven't had much time to update my recent team issue set posts for comments left by Steve and Rick.  I'll hopefully get to that this weekend, and I'd also like to wrap up the series of posts as I'm down to just the 2013 and 2014 team issued sets.  Finally, I'd like to take a look at the baseball cards in my Phillies collection featuring the new Hall of Fame class.

Before those posts though, I wanted to feature a quick post on the newest member of the club and a possible candidate for the team's fourth outfielder in 2015.  On Friday, the team claimed outfielder Jordan Danks off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.  Danks appeared in 51 games with the White Sox last season, hitting .222 with two home runs.  He's on card #649 in the 2014 Topps set.

The press release announcing the Danks move indicated that the Phillies 40-man roster was now full, which surprised me since I had the tally at 39.  Recently the Phillies added pitcher Joely Rodriguez to the roster meaning he's also earned a Chachi New Additions card.  Rodriguez had been acquired from the Pirates back in December for Antonio Bastardo, but he didn't appear on the team website's 40-man roster until this past week.

Moving On
Reid Brignac (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Miami Marlins organization 11/19/14)
Jeremy Horst (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.
Jeff Manship (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Cleveland Indians organization 12/24/14)
Tony Gwynn, Jr. (10/10/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.
Mike Adams (10/30/14) - Team option declined, making him a free agent.
Kyle Kendrick (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.
Wil Nieves (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.
A.J. Burnett (11/3/14) - Declined option for 2015, elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates 11/14/14)
Brad Lincoln (11/4/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization 11/18/14)
Antonio Bastardo (12/10/14) - Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joely Rodriguez.
Jimmy Rollins (12/19/14) - Traded with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tom Windle and Zach Eflin.
Marlon Byrd (12/31/14) - Traded with cash to the Cincinnati Reds for Ben Lively.

Coming Back
Andres Blanco (11/13/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Koyie Hill (11/20/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Sean O'Sullivan (12/16/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.

New Additions
Elvis Araujo (11/13/14) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians organization.
Joely Rodriguez (12/10/14) - Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo.
Odubel Herrera (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Texas Rangers.
Andy Oliver (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Aaron Harang (1/5/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves.
Jordan Danks (1/16/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.