2009 Chachi #61 RBI Leaders - Ryan Howard & Jayson Werth

My hope for tomorrow night's game (A guy can dream): Undaunted by the cold, the Phillies score early and often, running away with an easy victory. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth lead the scoring barrage, just as they have all season. Chase Utley, who was 4 for 19 against the Rockies in Postseason play coming into the game, gets the scoring started with a 3-run home run in the 1st. Lefty J.A. Happ (now starting Game 3 instead of Pedro Martinez) pitches into the 8th inning and then turns the game over to Kyle Kendrick who pitches an uneventful final two innings.

Team RBI Leaders: For the fourth year a row, Ryan Howard led the team in runs batted in and Jayson Werth came within one RBI of his first 100-RBI season. Ryan's 141 RBI tied him for the NL lead with the Brewers' Prince Fielder. The rest of the team's Top 10 after Ryan and Jayson: Raul Ibañez (93), Chase Utley (93), Pedro Feliz (82), Jimmy Rollins (77), Shane Victorino (62), Carlos Ruiz (43), Greg Dobbs (20), Matt Stairs (17).

1994 Upper Deck #6 Ricky Bottalico

With snow on the ground in Denver and temperatures in the 20's, NLDS Game 3 has been officially postponed until tomorrow night. Game 4 will now be played Monday night. Game 5, which shouldn't be necessary once the Phils wrap things up Monday night, would be played Tuesday in Philadelphia.

I believe this is the only Phillies baseball card in my collection featuring snow. I'd love to know the story behind Upper Deck's decision to have Ricky Bottalico, in full uniform, pose in a snow drift.

Phillies at Rockies: October 10th through October 11th

NLDS Games 3 & 4

Saturday 9:37 & Sunday 10:07

The Situation: The best-of-five series is tied at a game a piece.

The Start Times: Ridiculous.

Game Time Weather Forecast: 25 degrees, 30% chance of snow.

Updated Prediction: Phillies in 4.

Phillies Probables: Pedro Martinez, TBA

Rockies Probables: Jason Hammel, TBA

2009 Chachi #65 ERA Leaders - J.A. Happ & Joe Blanton

Pedro Martinez will start tomorrow night's pivotal NLDS Game 3 against the Rockies. The two gentlemen who led the team in ERA for the year will sit and wait until manager Charlie Manuel announces his starter for Sunday night's Game 4.

I'm a little surprised at this decision. It's no secret the Rockies struggle against left-handed pitching and the cold weather would seem to be more advantageous for a power pitcher. Compelling arguments could be made for either J.A. Happ or Joe Blanton to start this game. In the end, it comes down to Charlie's gut and for the moment, Pedro is "his guy."

This will be Pedro's first Postseason appearance since Game 3 of the 2004 World Series. He won that game against the Cardinals, pitching seven strong innings and allowing only three hits while striking out six. He threw 98 pitches that night, which is in line with the 85 to 100 pitches Charlie is hoping to get from him tomorrow night. Go Phils!

Team ERA Leaders: To qualify for the ERA title, a pitcher needs to have pitched at least 162 innings. The only Phillies to reach this mark for the year were J.A. Happ (2.93 ERA), Joe Blanton (4.05), Cole Hamels (4.32) and Jamie Moyer (4.94).

2009 Topps Heritage #451 Shane Victorino

Other thoughts from Game 2 . . .

Section 138: We sat in the back of Section 138 along the third base line for yesterday's NLDS Game 2. While this section would be ideal during rain delays (it's under cover), you can't see the scoreboard from the seats. Scoreboard or no scoreboard, I was thrilled to be there, and we had a blast despite the game's outcome. One thing I've noticed about Postseason crowds at Phillies games - they're there to watch the game. During regular season games, some fans may go the game just to mull about or sample the adult beverages and eating establishments of Ashburn Alley. During a Postseason game, the fans are in their seats, watching the game until the bitter end. Very few people from our section actually got up and left the game early. The majority of us stood and waved our rally towels until Shane Victorino lined out to end the game.

Rockies Fans?: Attending games at Citizens Bank Park over the last few years, I've seen my share of the visiting team's fans. Some are pleasant and some are not so pleasant. Night Owl recently raised the question on his blog, "Do the Rockies even have any fans?" I made it a point to look around the park yesterday and I saw only one, one Rockies hat, and that was on our walk into the game. Scientific proof the Rockies have just one fan in the entire world.

And one more thing: Chickie's and Pete's crab fries are delicious.

2009 Chachi #68 NLDS Game 2/Jayson Werth

NLDS Game 2 - October 8, 2009
Rockies 5, Phillies 4

I honestly thought they were going to pull it off today. I thought for sure there would be late inning heroics from Ben Francisco or Miguel Cairo or (most likely) Matt Stairs. I was hoping to have a card celebrating Jimmy Rollins scoring the winning run after pinch-runner Cliff Lee had come around to tie the game on Shane Victorino's double to the gap. But it was not to be.

Three hours and forty-one minutes after Cole Hamels threw his first pitch, the Rockies finally defeated the Phillies this afternoon, 5-4. The NLDS is now knotted at a game a piece and the series shifts to Denver for two games.

Hamels struggled today. He lasted just five innings and was succeeded by six different relief pitchers out of the bullpen, including Saturday night probables Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. Scott Eyre, Antonio Bastardo and Ryan Madson were the most effective of the bunch. Bastardo was especially impressive in striking out pinch-hitter Jason Giambi with the bases loaded and two outs in the 8th.

The offense was there today, just not in the right order at crucial times. Ryan Howard contributed an RBI-double in the 6th, followed by a two-run single from Raul Ibañez. Jayson Werth hit his fifth career Postseason home run in the 8th to get the Phils to within a run of tying it up. Even though the Phils outhit the Rockies today 11-9, it was not to be.

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #43 Cole Hamels

All eyes will be on Cole Hamels at 2:30 (or thereabouts) this afternoon as he tries to give the Phils a 2-0 advantage over the Rockies before both teams head to Denver for the weekend. Other Game 1 thoughts . . .

He does it all: Cliff Lee's stolen base in the 2nd inning yesterday was the first time a Phillies pitcher had ever stolen a base in the Postseason. In fact, he joins only three other pitchers who have ever stolen a base in the Postseason - Wild Bill Donovan (1908), Billy Loes (1952) and John Smoltz (1991, 1992 and 1995).

Rauuuuul: Before his two hits yesterday, the last (and only) time Raul Ibañez had a hit in the Postseason was during the 2000 ALDS as a member of the Seattle Mariners.

I saw it on the radio: Heavy winds sent tree branches and leaves flying around our neighborhood on Wednesday morning. I had deftly maneuvered my schedule to allow myself to work from home yesterday, which almost completely backfired. A tree a half mile from our house was apparently toppled by the winds, taking a telephone poll with it and wiping out electricity for most of the morning. I made an emergency trip to purchase eight D batteries in order to power up my college boom box just in case the good people from Atlantic City Electric weren't able to restore power in time for Game 1. Fortunately, electricity came back around 1:30 and cable returned right before 2. The batteries still came in handy as we lost electricity again for close to forty minutes in the late innings of the game.

2009 Chachi #67 NLDS Game 1/Cliff Lee

NLDS Game 1 - October 7, 2009
Phillies 5, Rockies 1

Cliff Lee played the role of staff ace superbly this afternoon, coming within one out of pitching a shutout in his first career Postseason game. Cliff allowed just a 9th inning run as the Phillies took Game 1 of the NLDS from the Rockies, 5-1. He allowed three hits to the first six Rockies' batters to start the game. However, between allowing a lead-off double to Yorvit Torrealba in the 2nd and a 2-out double to Garrett Atkins in the 7th, Cliff Lee was perfect.

Rockies' starter Ubaldo Jiminez (aka Ubaldez to Phillies announcer Larry Andersen), matched Cliff Lee's performance until the bottom of the 5th. Raul Ibañez started the scoring by doubling in Jayson Werth, who had walked to start the inning. An RBI-single from Carlos Ruiz plated Raul a few batters later.

The Phils added three in the 6th on the following sequence - Chase Utley singles, Ryan Howard doubles to score Chase, Jayson Werth triples to score Ryan, Raul Ibañez singles to score Jayson. Charlie Manuel had J.A. Happ and Ryan Madson warming in the bullpen in the 9th, but they weren't needed as Garrett Atkins swung and missed Cliff Lee's 113th pitch of the game - a 94mph fastball.

Rockies at Phillies: October 7th through October 8th

NLDS Games 1 & 2

Wednesday & Thursday 2:37

How they got here: Rockies, NL Wild Card; Phillies, NL East Champion

Rockies Postseason Appearances: 1995, 2007, 2009

Phillies Postseason Appearances: 1915, 1950, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2007, 2008, 2009

First Pitches: Dick Allen and Geoff Jenkins on Wednesday, John Kruk on Thursday

Prediction: Phillies in 3. Yes, I'm a homer.

Rockies Probables: Ubaldo Jimenez & Aaron Cook

Phillies Probables: Cliff Lee & Cole Hamels

2009 Upper Deck Goudey 4-in-1 #35-47 Phillies

The Phillies set their NLDS roster this afternoon with Miguel Cairo, Kyle Kendrick and lefty Antonio Bastardo making the squad. Sitting out this round are Eric Bruntlett, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker. Kendrick was the hard-luck omission last year, as the team opted to go with J.A. Happ to fill the final 25-man roster spot throughout the 2008 Postseason. Bastardo was a surprise addition, but the Colorado Rockies are notoriously bad against left-handed pitching.

Perfect Attendance: Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Greg Dobbs, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Carlos Ruiz are the only nine Phillies to be included on the Postseason rosters in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Twins in 12: Congratulations to Nick Punto and the Minnesota Twins - the 2009 AL Central Champions!

2007 Chachi #69 NLDS Game 3/Jamie Moyer

NLDS Game 3 - October 6, 2007
Rockies 2, Phillies 1

From the Phillies.com game summary: The Phillies mustered just three hits, but one of those, Shane Victorino's clutch homer, had them deadlocked after seven innings. Philadelphia's bullpen struggles continued, though, as J.C. Romero surrendered the season-ending run in the eighth.

Jamie Moyer: "It's unfortunate. I thought this team had a chance to do some special things in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way."

Aaron Rowand: "We just didn't hit. The pitching wasn't too bad. The bottom line is we just didn't hit. There's a reason they're here. They've got a good pitching staff. They're a good hitting team.
They're hot. We just didn't hit."

Ryan Howard: "The experience didn't turn out the way we wanted. But you get in and get your feet wet. Now, we know what it feels like. We'll go into next year and want to go further."

Greg Dobbs: "It's a bitter taste, but we know what we're capable of. I think this will make us hungrier."

2007 Chachi #68 NLDS Game 2/Jimmy Rollins

NLDS Game 2 - October 4, 2007
Rockies 10, Phillies 5

From the Phillies.com game summary: Jimmy Rollins clubbed a lead-off homer in the first and later added three more RBI, but Phillies pitchers gave up a pair of four-run innings. [We attended this game, and we were less than pleased.]

Kyle Kendrick: "Today was the biggest game of my life, and for our team, and I wish I could have given more than I did today."

Charlie Manuel, who removed Kendrick to bring in Kyle Lohse to pitch to Kaz Matsui: "I don't think it was a mistake. I did it. I liked Lohse against Matsui because of his stuff. It was the second time I got him up and when I put him in, he was going to go to the sixth."

Kyle Lohse: "That's the wrong guy to throw a down-and-in fastball to. I wanted a fastball up and in. It ended up coming back down. It was on the inside corner, but it needed to be up about two feet. Bad pitch."

Jimmy Rollins: "No one is panicking, no one is down. No one is frowning, either. That's something we don't do. After we get that one, and find out how to win again, I think we'll get to two and three."

2007 Chachi #67 NLDS Game 1/Aaron Rowand

The 2009 Phillies are a completely different team than the 2007 Phillies. The 2009 Phillies are the defending World Champions while the 2007 Phillies were just thrilled to have made the Postseason after a 14-year dry spell. Before the NLDS begins tomorrow, it's worth looking back to the Phils' quick exit from the 2007 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies. Mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and the 2007 experience served the team well during its 2008 championship run. Bring it on.

NLDS Game 1 - October 3, 2007
Rockies 4, Phillies 2

From the Phillies.com game summary: Cole Hamels nearly matched his Colorado counterpart, giving up just three hits over 6 2/3 innings, but those hits all came in the decisive second inning, when Hamels surrendered three runs. The Phillies' only offense came on back-to-back homers from Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell.

Cole Hamels, who removed a long-sleeved red shirt after the first inning: "You know, I don't want to use that as an excuse. It's something where it was definitely hot out."

Chase Utley, who struck out 4 times: "[Jeff Francis] was throwing strikes with all his pitches, keeping the ball down. There's been plenty of times when we've struggled, but we've always fought through it. Tomorrow, we're going to come out and be ready to go."

Ryan Howard, who struck out 3 times: "I don't know why anybody is panicking. I'm not panicking."

2007 Chachi #58 Phils Clinch East HL

I don't remember with much clarity the Phillies in the Postseason throughout the '70s, or in 1980 or in 1983. I remember hearing stories of my Mom not being able to watch the 1980 NLCS against the Houston Astros and how she listened to the games from the next room over.

I clearly remember the Phillies clinching the NL East division title in 1993. I was 500 miles away in college and my Dad held up the phone to the TV back home so I could hear Harry Kalas call the last few outs of the clinching game against the Pirates. My parents videotaped the game and mailed it to me, so I got to watch the postgame celebration in my dorm room a week after the fact.

I was there when the Phils clinched in 2007. (I'm the better looking guy on the right, next to my brother-in-law, Andy.) Jenna's Uncle Tim had two extra tickets, so we gladly accepted them. Before the team even took the field that day, the Marlins scored seven runs against the Mets' Tom Glavine and the crowd grew more and more frenzied as each Marlins' run went up on the out-of-town scoreboard. A Mets loss and a Phillies win and the Philadelphia Phillies were the 2007 NL East champions.

With two outs in the top of the 9th, the Nationals' Wily Mo Pena watched as a Brett Myers' curve ball went by for a called third strike and the place went completely bonkers. Little did we know it would be the first of three consecutive division titles.

2009 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10 Paul Hoover

Phillies 7, Marlins 6 (10)

And so ends the 2009 regular season. The Phillies topped their 2008 regular season win total by one game, finishing with a record of 93-69, six games ahead of the second place Florida Marlins.

With most of the regulars (except Jayson Werth) getting the day off, it was the seldom-used bench players who starred in today's victory. Miguel Cairo, John Mayberry, Jr. and Eric Bruntlett each had two hits in the game. Cairo's two hits were a triple and a home run, his first since 2005. Back-up-back-up catcher Paul Hoover singled in the winning run with two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning. Hoover's facial expressions revealed a baseball player in a state of pure bliss as he was mobbed by his teammates on the field. I love when stuff like that happens.

The Phils will have an off day tomorrow and a work-out day Tuesday before the start of the 2009 NLDS on Wednesday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies.

2009 O-Pee-Chee #528 Phillies Checklist/Citizens Bank Park

Marlins 4, Phillies 3

Not a great day for the Phillies, but we sure had fun at the ballpark.  It turned out to be a gorgeous day, and Doug brought along his Rally Towel, just in case they weren't handing out new ones at the gate.  (They weren't.)  We spent more time walking around than sitting in our actual seats, which is bound to happen when attending a game with an excited toddler.  Doug got within a few feet of the Phanatic and had the Phanatic wave to him, so the day was deemed a success.

On the field, the only highlights were home runs from Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth, and a perfect 9th inning from Brad Lidge.

Home Field:  The Cardinals' loss today guaranteed home field advantage for the Phillies in the NLDS.  If the Phillies face the Cardinals in the NLCS, they'll have home field advantage for that series.  If the Phillies face the Dodgers in the NLCS, the first two games will be played in Los Angeles.

2010 Chachi Set Poll

2010: A Chachi Odyssey, Conclusion
In which a poll appears

1971 Topps #233 Larry Bowa
1974 Topps #214 Billy Grabarkewitz
1982 Topps #480 Steve Carlton
1983 Topps #780 Gary Matthews

So there you have it. The 2010 Chachi Set Planning Committee narrowed the choices for next year's Chachi set down to the 1971, 1974 and 1983 Topps sets. (The 1982 Topps set is also in the final four, but the chairperson of the committee has realized the error of his ways.) We think we've picked our favorite, but we're interested in the input from the readers of this blog. Therefore, I've added a poll (look left) which will remain open until the end of the World Series. I must stress however, the poll's outcome will not be the deciding factor in choosing the final 2010 Chachi set design. It will be a big factor, but not the deciding factor.

I'd also appreciate reader's comments as to why they chose a certain set over another set. Why did you vote the way you did? Do you have any special memories of collecting these sets? Is anyone as upset as Doug is about 1982 Topps beating out 1987 Topps? The Committee thanks you in advance for your comments and feedback.

2010 Chachi Prototype #SV Shane Victorino

2010: A Chachi Odyssey, Part 16
In which the final candidate is revealed

The 2010 Chachi Set Planning Committee members were tired and ready to adjourn. I had left them in a state of befuddlement with the inclusion of the 1982 Topps design as a final four candidate. There was one final set to consider - the 1983 Topps set.

Pros: Two pictures! A clean design and a color scheme that does not offend the eyes. There could be an interesting 2010 Chachi insert set using the "Super Veteran" subset from the '83 Topps set. The set featured Record Breakers and Team Leaders and League Leaders and All-Star cards. Is this it? Is this the design of the 2010 Chachi set?

Cons: Again, I'm drawing a blank.

The Committee members are torn. We like the 1971, 1974 and 1983 designs the best out of the final four contenders.

Next: A poll appears.

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions #112 Robin Roberts

Friday night - Marlins 7, Phillies 2

The Phillies phoned in another flat game last night. The only Phillie showing any life was Ryan Howard who went 3 for 4 with a 2-run home run in the 1st. It was Ryan's 44th home run of the season and the 2 RBI gave him the league lead again with 140. The Dodgers also lost, so the Phils remain one game behind in the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Injured and Out: 2009 is over for Jamie Moyer (left groin surgery) and J.C. Romero (left elbow) and Chan Ho Park (right hamstring) will miss the NLDS. With the bullpen in shambles, the door has opened for Sergio Escalona and Kyle Kendrick to make the Postseason roster. The bullpen is obviously the biggest concern for the team as they head into the Postseason.

#36: I haven't had the chance to post any Upper Deck Goodwin Champion cards yet, so I thought I'd take the opportunity today to share my favorite Phillies card from the set. No Phillie has worn the number 36 in my lifetime, as the team unofficially retired Robin Roberts' number upon his sale to the Yankees prior to the 1962 season.

2010 Chachi Prototype #JB Joe Blanton

2010: A Chachi Odyssey, Part 15
In which mistakes may have been made

Committee members stared at me with puzzlement as I presented the 3rd candidate for the 2010 Chachi set. Upon reflection, I now realize the pink and orange of the 1982 Topps design does not go so well with the bright red of the current Phillies uniforms. Doug, still upset at the removal of 1987 Topps from consideration, actually threw a Wonder Pet at me this time. It was probably justified.

Pros: The In Action cards? Moving on . . .

Cons: Pink, orange and red together on a baseball card.