Game 3 - 2020 Topps Road to Opening Day #OD-282 Adam Haseley

Marlins 11, Phillies 6
Game 3 - Sunday Afternoon, July 26th in Philadelphia
Record - 1-2, Tied for 3rd Place, 1 game behind the Braves and Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies lost in ugly fashion to the Marlins, 11-6.

What It Means:  Not great.  Needing to get off to a fast start, dropping the opening series to the Marlins isn't going to help.  The Marlins were even playing without several key players too, as reportedly at least four of their everyday starters are now out with COVID-related issues.  And it won't get easier as the Phillies now face off against the Yankees for their next four games.

What Happened:  Vince Velasquez, who looked great at times throughout spring training/summer camp, looked awful in his first start of 2020.  He departed with a line of 3 innings pitched, 4 runs on 3 hits including a pair of home runs.  Cole Irvin didn't fare much better getting tagged for 4 runs on 5 hits in his inning of work.  Reggie McClain allowed a three-run home run to Brett Anderson and Nick Pivetta gave up a solo home run (a bomb) to former Phillie Corey Dickerson for good measure.

2020 Chachi Almost #9

The Phillies offense managed to leave the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings, going 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  On a positive note, Bryce Harper hit his first home run of the season in the first.

Featured Card:  Another positive note is the four-hit game turned in by Adam Haseley, the first of his career.  In his first start of the season, Haseley led off and went 4 for 6.

Transaction:  Robert Stock, designated for assignment when his roster spot was needed prior to the start of the season, was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.  The Phillies had claimed him off waivers in October and at one point he seemed a lock for the Phillies' bullpen.

2020 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2020 Season Summary Index / 2020 Chachi Set Checklist

Price Hired as Pitching Coach; First Offseason Moves

2015 Topps Heritage #269

2020 Chachi New Additions #1

2020 Chachi Departures #1

2019 Topps Total #530

The Phillies wasted no time in naming their new pitching coach, officially hiring Bryan Price the morning following the conclusion of the World Series.  Price replaces Chris Young, who lasted just one season in that position.  Price pitched in the Angels and Mariners systems between 1984 and 1989, and then served as the pitching coach for the Mariners (2000-2006), Diamondbacks (2007-2009) and Reds (2010-2013).  He managed the Reds for three full seasons beginning in 2014, and was fired in 2018 after his team got off to a 3-15 start.  In his three-plus seasons managing the Reds, his teams finished with a record of 279-387.

In player news, reliever Robert Stock became the first new addition to the 40-man roster when he was claimed off waivers from the Padres on Wednesday.  Stock appeared in only 10 games for the Padres in 2019 and finished the season on the 60-day injured list with a biceps ailment.  A former catcher, Stock's most recent baseball card can be found in the 2019 Topps Series Two offering.

Finally, the first two names were added to what is sure to be a long list of departing players this offseason.  Reliever Fernando Salas and catcher Rob Brantly, two of the shortest tenured members of the 2019 Phillies, became minor league free agents the day after the regular season ended on September 30th.  Remarkably, Salas earned a Phillies baseball card in the Topps Total set, despite appearing in only 3 games and pitching 2 2/3 innings.  Brantly's time in red pinstripes was limited to one pinch-hit at-bat (he struck out) in July.  My son Doug captured Brantly's short time in the Phillies dugout with a pre-game selfie.

Moving On - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Rob Brantly - c (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
• Fernando Salas - rhp (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.

New Arrivals - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Robert Stock - rhp (10/30/19) - Claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres.