8 File for Free Agency; Pirela Released

2020 Chachi Departures #4

2020 Chachi #23

2020 Chachi Departures #5

2020 Chachi Departures #6

2020 Chachi Departures #7

On Halloween, the day after the conclusion of the World Series, eight Phillies filed for free agency.  Of the eight, I could see Brad Miller returning to fill a bench role and Drew Smyly might provide some depth at Triple-A.  It would be great to see Corey Dickerson return, but it's not clear how he would fit in to an already crowded outfield.

In a paper move only, outfielder Odubel Herrera was activated from the restricted list where he has languished since mid-May due to his arrest for domestic violence.

2020 Chachi Departures #8

2020 Chachi Departures #9

2020 Chachi Departures #10

2020 Chachi Departures #11

Finally, outfielder Jose Pirela was released as he'll pursue an opportunity to play in Japan.  In 12 games for the Phillies, Pirela hit .235 (4 for 17) with a home run and two RBIs.  He leaves having appeared on zero Phillies baseball cards, making him a prime candidate for a future Phillies Missing Links custom set.

I'm showing off some of the 2020 Chachi cards I created for these departed players above.  As I've done in the past, I'll also create a variation card for each player with whatever new team they land with.  I have to say I'm enjoying working with the 1991 Topps template more than I thought I would, and I'm looking forward to spending all next season with this design.

Moving On - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Rob Brantly - c (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
• Fernando Salas - rhp (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
• Corey Dickerson - of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Tommy Hunter - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Brad Miller - inf (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Logan Morrison - 1b (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Juan Nicasio - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Sean Rodriguez - inf-of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Drew Smyly - lhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Nick Vincent - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency.
• Jose Pirela - of (11/1/19) - Released.

New Arrivals - 2019-2020 Offseason

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

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.

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.

Final Look at 2018-2019 Phillies Player Moves

2020 Chachi Preview #6

2020 Chachi Preview #8

2020 Chachi Preview #7

2020 Chachi Preview #5

2020 Chachi Preview #4

The World Series is underway, the Nationals seem to be unstoppable and the Phillies may be naming their new manager as soon as Thursday.  Before we get too far into the Phillies' offseason, here's a look at all the major league players who joined and left the organization during the past year.

The "New Arrivals - 2018-2019 Offseason" gave us cause for optimism but then things fell apart once we got to the "Arrived During the 2019 Season" section.

Moving On - 2018-2019 Offseason

• Jose Bautista - of (10/29/18) - Elected free agency.
• Asdrubal Cabrera - inf (10/29/18) - Elected free agency, signed with the Texas Rangers on 1/24/19.
• Aaron Loup - lhp (10/29/18) - Elected free agency, signed with the San Diego Padres on 2/16/19.
• Wilson Ramos - c (10/29/18) - Elected free agency, signed with the New York Mets on 12/18/18.
• Pedro Beato - rhp (11/2/18) - Elected free agency, signed with the Diablos Rojas del Mexico of the Mexican League.
• Jesmuel Valentin - inf (11/2/18) - Elected free agency, signed with the Baltimore Orioles on 4/11/19.
• Pedro Florimon - inf/of (11/3/18) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves, 11/22/18.
• Luis Avilan - lhp (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent, signed as a minor league free agent with the New York Mets on 1/10/19.
• Justin Bour - 1b (11/30/18) - Non-tendered, becoming a free agent, signed with the Los Angeles Angels on 12/15/18.
• Carlos Santana - 1b and J.P. Crawford - ss (12/3/18) - Traded to the Seattle Mariners for James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Jean Segura.
• Luis Garcia - rhp (12/6/18) - Traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Jose Alvarez.
• Jorge Alfaro - c (2/7/19) - Traded with Sixto Sanchez and Will Stewart (with cash) to the Miami Marlins for J.T. Realmuto.
• Trevor Plouffe - inf (3/21/19) - Released.

New Arrivals - 2018-2019 Offseason

• Juan Nicasio - rhp and Jean Segura - ss (12/3/18) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners with James Pazos for J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana.
• Jose Alvarez - lhp (12/6/18) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for Luis Garcia.
• Andrew McCutchen - of (12/12/18) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Yankees.
• Rob Brantly - c (12/21/18) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians organization.
• Phil Gosselin - inf (12/21/18) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves organization.
• David Robertson - rhp (1/3/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Yankees.
• J.T. Realmuto - c (2/7/19) - Acquired from the Miami Marlins for Jorge Alfaro, Sixto Sanchez, Will Stewart and cash.
• Sean Rodriguez - inf-of (2/8/19) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Bryce Harper - of (3/1/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals.

Arrived During the 2019 Season

• Jay Bruce - of (6/2/19) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners with cash considerations for Jake Scheiner.
• Brad Miller - inf (6/13/19) - Purchased from the New York Yankees.
• Fernando Salas - rhp (6/13/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.
• Logan Morrison - 1b (7/15/19) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the New York Yankees organization.
• Mike Morin - rhp (7/20/19) - Acquired from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations.
• Drew Smyly - lhp (7/21/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
• Jose Pirela - of (7/27/19) - Purchased from the San Diego Padres.
• Jason Vargas - lhp (7/29/19) - Acquired with cash from the New York Mets for Austin Bossart.
• Blake Parker - rhp (7/30/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Minnesota Twins.
• Corey Dickerson - of (7/31/19) - Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later and international bonus money.
• Nick Vincent - rhp (8/10/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Francisco Giants.
• Jared Hughes - rhp (8/15/19) - Claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.

Departed During the 2019 Season

• Aaron Altherr - of (5/12/19) - Selected off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.
• Dylan Cozens - of (8/1/19) - Released and signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Rays, 8/9/19.
• Yacksel Rios - rhp (8/3/19) - Selected off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Drew Anderson - rhp (9/2/19) - Released.

1956 Topps #67 Vic Power

This a crossover post from my other blog, chronicling each card in the wonderful 1956 Topps set. Today's post features former Phillies first baseman Vic Power.  Please click on over there for all of the posts to date, including a look at all the Phillies Alumni featured in the set.

Victor Pellot Power
Kansas City Athletics
First Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  186
Born:  November 1, 1927, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Acquired:  Purchased by the New York Yankees from Drummondville (Provincial) before 1951 season
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Athletics 1954; Kansas City Athletics 1955-1958; Cleveland Indians 1958-1961; Minnesota Twins 1962-1964; Los Angeles Angels 1964; Philadelphia Phillies 1964; California Angels 1965
Died:  November 29, 2005, Bayamon, Puerto Rico (age 78)

Vic Power, who assumed that name for American baseball but used his actual name of Vic Pellot when playing in Puerto Rico, played for 12 years in the Majors, making the All-Star team in four seasons and winning seven consecutive Gold Gloves for his defense at first base.  Traded by the Yankees to the Philadelphia A's in December 1953, he was the first player of Puerto Rican descent to play for the club.  Despite the rampant racial discrimination he experienced during his early playing days, Power became a star with the A's and later the Indians, second only to Roberto Clemente (#33) in popularity back in his native Puerto Rico.

Power accumulated 126 career home runs and 658 RBIs while hitting .284, finishing in the top ten for hits in the American League in five different seasons.  Power never played in the postseason, getting closest to winning pennants with the 1959 Indians, the 1962 Twins and the 1964 Phillies, all teams that finished in second place.  He retired at the age of 37 following the 1965 season in which he hit .259 over 124 games for the Angels.

Building the Set
October 3, 1999 in Raleigh, NC - Card #183
We bought this card on October 3rd at the Raleigh Sports Card Show, and it ended up being part of a birthday present to me from my Dad.  I was still living in Raleigh in late 1999, and my parents made the trip south to visit me for my birthday.  We bought 8 cards that day (that I knew about) paying $5 for seven of the cards, including this Power card, and $2 for the Grady Hatton (#26) card.  Unbeknownst to me, my Dad also purchased the Sandy Koufax card (#79) but squirreled that one away until Christmas morning 1999.

The Card
Power appears to be out at a play at the plate, and my best guess at the catcher is Sammy White (#168) who wore #22 and was the primary catcher for the Red Sox in 1955.  The Tigers' Frank House (#32) is also a possibility as he wore #2.  The head shot of Power is the same used on his 1954 and 1955 Topps cards, and it appears as if the photo features him in a Yankees uniform with the blue pinstripes still visible.

On the back of the card, Topps skims four years off Power's age, stating he was born in 1931 while all other current sources show his birth year as 1927.

1956 Season
Power enjoyed his second All-Star season in 1956, hitting .319 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. 

Despite an impressive line-up consisting of Power, third baseman Hector Lopez (#16) and right fielder Harry Simpson (#239), the A's finished in last place in the American League with a record of 52-102.

Phillies Career
On September 9, 1964, the Phillies acquired Power from the Angels for a player to be named later and cash.  The Phillies would send pitcher Marcelino Lopez to the Angels a month later to complete the deal.  The Phillies' regular first baseman, Frank Thomas (#153), had broken his thumb and Power was seen as a right-handed hitting compliment at the position to the left-handed hitting John Herrnstein.

Power became the second player in Phillies franchise history to wear #62, as the number had been worn earlier in the season by rookie pitcher Rick Wise.  Relief pitchers Ken Roberts and Patrick Schuster wore the number for the Phillies in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Power's month with the Phillies allowed him to witness one of the worst collapses in professional sports history as the team had a 6 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals on September 20th, but ended up finishing the season in second place.  Power hit .208 (10 for 48) over 18 games with four doubles and three RBIs, starting 11 of those games at first base.  Following the season, the Phillies sold Power back to the Angels.

He has one Phillies "baseball card" to his name, having appeared within the 1964 Philadelphia Bulletin Phillies Album series.

1954 Topps #52

1957 Topps #167

1959 Topps #229

1963 Topps #40

1966 Topps #192

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1954 Topps #52
First Topps Card:  1954 Topps #52
Representative Phillies Card:  1964 Philadelphia Bulletin Phillies Album
Last Topps Card:  1966 Topps #192
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1994 Topps Archives 1954 #52

77 - Power non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/15/19.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Phillies Room
The Trading Card Database

In some cases, the first and last cards listed above are subjective and chosen by me if multiple cards were released within the same year.  Most recent mainstream card may also be subjective and does not include extremely low serial numbered cards, buybacks or cut autograph cards.

Kapler Fired; Hunt for New Manager Begins

On Thursday morning, 11 days after the end of the regular season, Gabe Kapler was relieved of his duties as manager of the Phillies.  Kapler managed for two seasons, failing to make the postseason both years, and compiling a record of 161-163.  He lasted slightly longer than Ryne Sandberg (278 games from 2013 to 2015) but not quite as long as Nick Leyva (338 games from 1989 to 1991).  By most accounts popular with the players, Kapler never quite gelled with the Philadelphia fanbase and ultimately his lack of winning and two straight seasons of brutal September finishes were his downfalls.

The Phillies could now turn to a more experienced manager with Buck Showalter, Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon and John Farrell being mentioned as potential candidates.  Other names out there are Dusty Baker and Mike Scioscia, or the Phillies could go with someone already in the system such as third base coach Dusty Wathan, bench coach Rob Thomson or the team's current player

Pitching coaches since 1970

information coordinator, Sam Fuld.  If I had to guess, I'd say either Showalter or Maddon is managing the team when pitchers and catchers report in mid-February.

Wathan, Thomson and five other Phillies coaches were all offered contracts for the 2020 season and the choice is theirs as to whether or not they return.  Pitching coach Chris Young was dismissed after one season in that position, making him the first pitching coach to last just one season . . . since Rick Kranitz the season before him.  (Jim Wright was an interim pitching coach in 1996 filling in for an ill Johnny Podres.)  Interim hitting coach Charlie Manuel returned to his senior advisor position in the front office, meaning the Phillies have to fill the roles of manager, pitching coach and hitting coach this offseason.  Hopefully the positions are filled soon so that the new skipper can help recruit free agents Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole.

Gabe Kapler - Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi #65
2018 Chachi #26
2018 Chachi Friendly Encounters #8
2019 Chachi #26
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #5

Chris Young - Complete Chachi Checklist
2018 Chachi #28 (with Dusty Wathan, Pedro Guerrero and Jim Gott)
2019 Chachi #27 (with Rob Thomson and John Mallee)

Game 162 - Fan Appreciation Day; Long Offseason Begins

Marlins 4, Phillies 3
Game 162 - Sunday Afternoon, September 29th in Philadelphia
Record - 81-81, 4th place, 16 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies missed out on their first winning season since 2011, dropping the 2019 season finale by a 4-3 score to the last place Marlins.

What It Means:  Was this manager Gabe Kapler's final Phillies game at the helm?

What Happened:  With Maikel Franco representing the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Knapp struck out swinging on a ball out of the zone to end the game and the Phillies extremely disappointing season.  Bryce Harper and Adam Haseley had a pair of hits.  The offense went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 men on base.  A bullpen game from the start, the Marlins jumped on starting pitcher Blake Parker for three runs early.

Featured Card:  Brad Miller hit two more home runs (13) and went 4 for 5 overall with three RBIs.  Matt Breen Tweeted Miller is the first player in Phillies history with three multi-home run games in a nine-game span and Corey Seidman added Miller's 12 home runs and 16 extra-base hits were both the most by any Phillies player ever with 130 or fewer plate appearances in a  season.

Field Report:  My family arrived to the ballpark early, as we've now made it a tradition to attend the final game of the year and enjoy Fan Appreciation Day.  While Jenna, Ben and I decided to eat first (Jenna and Ben at Pass and Stow and me at Bull's BBQ), Doug took off as soon as the gates opened for a prime spot down the first base line to hopefully add a few last autographs to his collection.  Fellow collector Rick kept him company and both were featured in the Phillies' Instagram story of the day.

Doug added autographs from Miller, Jared Eickhoff, Zach Eflin and Scott Kingery and Rick passed along a Phil Gosselin Chachi Photo Card he had signed for us.  Doug was bummed Bryce Harper didn't make his way over to the waiting crowd to sign any autographs.  In between eating his pizza, Ben and I got pictures with Jared Hughes and Edgar Garcia, and we caught part of the broadcast team - Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke, Ben Davis and Gregg Murphy as they were leaving the Diamond Club entrance lobby.

Once at our seats, we noticed Aaron Nola talking to a small group of people and the ace of the staff posed for a quick picture with Ben.  We didn't come away with any prizes or other souvenirs, but we had a great day and we're already anxious for Opening Day 2020.

Memory Lane - Game 162
This is my 11th season of posting on this blog and I truly enjoy and appreciate the outlet this has provided for me to share my love of baseball, baseball cards and (occasionally) the Phillies.  Unlike some of the Phillies current coaching staff, I'll be back in 2020 and I sincerely thank you for following along, commenting and sharing your Phillies stories.

October 4, 2009 - Catcher Paul Hoover singled in the winning run in the 10th in a 7-6 win over the Marlins.
October 3, 2010 - The Phillies lost 8-7 to the Braves in their final tune-up before facing the Reds in the NLDS.
September 28, 2011 - The Phillies closed out the 2011 regular season with a 13-inning victory against the Braves, setting a franchise record with their 102nd regular season win.
October 3, 2012 - The Phillies closed out their 2012 season with a lethargic 5-1 loss to the N.L. East Champion Nationals.
September 29, 2013 - Zach Miner got the ball for the Phillies and lasted 2 1/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Braves.
September 28, 2014 - Cole Hamels pitched another fine game and suffered through another outing with minimal run support.
October 4, 2015 - Phillies avoid 100 losses and Ichiro makes his pitching debut in a 7-2 victory.
October 2, 2016 - Phillies bid an emotional farewell to franchise icon Ryan Howard.
October 1, 2017 - Phils clobber Mets in Pete Mackanin's final game as manager.
September 30, 2018 - Lame duck Phillies win season finale in Gabe Kapler's frustrating debut season.
September 29, 2019 - Phillies miss postseason for 8th year in a row, Brad Miller finishes the season red hot.

Want to revisit every game of the 2019 season?  My handy game summary index can be found here.

Game 161 - 2019 Phillies Team Issue 2 #56 Zach Eflin

Phillies 9, Marlins 3
Game 161 - Saturday Night, September 28th in Philadelphia
Record - 81-80, 4th place, 16 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Zach Eflin closed out his season with a terrific start and the offense showed signs of life in this 9-3 win.

What It Means:  The Phillies will not have a losing season for the first time since 2012, when they finished 81-81, and if they're able to win Sunday they'll have a winning record for the first time since 2011.  Not exactly the ending we were hoping for, but it's a very small consolation prize.

What Happened:  Eflin went 7 2/3 innings and exited the game after allowing a two-run home run to Neil Walker.  Before that, he had allowed a run on five hits while striking out six.  Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run in the sixth, his 35th of the year.  Cesar Hernandez (14) and Maikel Franco (17) also homered.  Adam Haseley had three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Deivy Grullon collected his first big league hit - an RBI double in the third.

Featured Card:  I'm hoping Eflin can find more consistency in 2020, as he's nearly unhittable when he's got his good stuff working for him.  He signed this photo card for me at this season's ALS Phestival.

Transactions:  In need of a fresh arm, Enyel De Los Santos was recalled and joined the bullpen, giving the Phillies 36 players on their active roster.  De Los Santos had been keeping warm down in Clearwater.

Game 160 - 2019 Topps Now #220 Cole Irvin

Phillies 5, Marlins 4 (15)
Game 160 - Friday Night, September 27th in Philadelphia
Record - 80-80, 4th place, 17 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies outlasted the Marlins, winning 5-4 in 15 innings on a walk-off ground ball from Adam Haseley booted by shortstop Miguel Rojas to allow the winning run to score.

What It Means:  The Phillies need to win their final two games of the season to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011.

What Happened:  RBIs from Bryce Harper (first inning triple, fifth inning sacrifice fly), Rhys Hoskins (first inning sacrifice fly) and Adam Haseley (fourth inning single) led to a 4-4 tie from the 5th through the 15th innings.  Haseley grounded out to Rojas in the 15th with the bases loaded, but Rojas was unable to handle the ball as Hoskins scored the winning run.

Featured Card:  Cole Irvin and Ranger Suarez combined for six innings of scoreless relief, with Suarez ultimately picking up the win.  Irvin earned a Topps Now card following his strong outing in his big league debut back on Mother's Day.  Since his September call-up, Irvin has appeared in eight games and he owns a 0.73 ERA.  In 12 1/3 innings this month, he's struck out seven and allowed only one earned run.

Field Report:  And we were there!  Granted, we didn't make it through all 15 innings, but we still lasted fairly late into the night.  Ben and I arrived early and enjoyed the views from our seats in the Diamond Club with a few hundred other loyal fans.  Doug and Jenna arrived following Doug's baseball practice.  It was a gorgeous night for baseball, and our final night game until the 2020 season.

Game 159 - 1980 Phillies Photocards Dickie Noles

Nationals 6, Phillies 3
Game 159 - Thursday Afternoon, September 26th in Washington
Record - 79-80, 4th place, 18 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The late season swoon continued for the Phillies, as they lost their final road game of the year, 6-3, and the Nationals completed the five-game series sweep.

What It Means:  After a weekend series at home against the last place Marlins, the Phillies head into the 2019-2020 offseason with a lot of questions and lingering disappointment.

What Happened:  Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 Phillies in his six innings of work.  All Phillies runs came from long balls - Cesar Hernandez (13) with a solo shot in the fourth and Andrew Knapp (2) with a two-run home run in the eighth.  Jason Vargas closed out his season by getting chased in the fifth inning, having allowed five runs on six hits and three walks.

Featured Card:  Todd Zolecki Tweeted the last time the Phillies were swept in a five-game series was back in August 1979 against the Pirates.  Dickie Noles took the loss for the Phillies in the final game of that series sweep on August 5, 1979.

Game 158 - 2019 Panini Chronicles Score #14 Bryce Harper

Nationals 5, Phillies 2
Game 158 - Wednesday Night, September 25th in Washington
Record - 79-79, 4th place, 17 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Nationals scored four late runs to win this ballgame, 5-2.

What It Means:  The Phillies have lost five in a row and they'll need to finish the season with three wins in their remaining four games to secure a winning record.  For the second season in a row under manager Gabe Kapler, the team is limping into a long offseason with more questions than answers.

What Happened:  Drew Smyly pitched one of his best games of the year, allowing a pair of runs on four hits while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings.  Mike Morin and Jose Alvarez couldn't keep the Nationals off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth.  Rhys Hoskins singled in the fourth to break an 0 for 26 streak, scoring Bryce Harper who had hustled his way to a double.  Brad Miller homered again (11) in the seventh.

Featured Card:  Despite having an "off" season, Harper has reached a career high in RBIs with 109 and he's hit 34 home runs heading into the final weekend of the season.  He was taunted relentlessly by the Nationals fans in right field during this game, leading his postgame comments in which he said he couldn't wait to get back to Philly.  So at least we have that going for us.

Transactions:  Not an official transaction, but the Phillies announced that J.T. Realmuto's season was over as he'll have a procedure on Friday to clean up his right knee.

Series Preview - Marlins at Phillies: September 27th to September 29th

2019 Chachi Fan Favorites #20

2012 Topps Archives #51

Friday 7:05, Saturday 6:05 and Sunday 3:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Marlins 56-103, 5th place in the N.L. East, 41 games behind the Braves
Phillies 79-80, 4th place in the N.L. East, 18 games behind the Braves

Marlins Probables:  Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.76), Zach Eflin (9-13, 4.16), TBA
Phillies Probables:  Pablo Lopez (5-8, 4.96), Caleb Smith (10-10, 4.31), Sandy Alcantara (5-14, 3.95)

At the Ballpark:  Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day with all fans receiving a 2020 schedule Fathead and a few months of rest.

Marlins Leaders
Average:  Miguel Rojas - .279
Runs:  Starlin Castro - 66
Home Runs:  Starlin Castro - 21
RBIs:  Starlin Castro - 83
Stolen Bases:  Jon Berti - 16

Wins:  Caleb Smith - 10
ERA:  Sandy Alcantara - 3.95
Strikeouts:  Caleb Smith - 167
Saves:  Sergio Romo - 17

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .280
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 96
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 34
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 109
Stolen Bases:  Scott Kingery - 15

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 12
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 3.87

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 229
Saves:  Hector Neris - 28

Game 157 - 2019 Topps #620 Jared Hughes

Nationals 6, Phillies 5 (Game 2)
Game 157 - Tuesday Night, September 24th in Washington
Record - 79-78, 4th place, 17 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  A sixth inning grand slam from Trea Turner ultimately sent the Nationals to a 6-5 win and the N.L. Wild Card.

What It Means:  Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto were all out of the line-up in this game that didn't matter, spelled by Logan Morrison, Adam Haseley and Andrew Knapp.

What Happened:  A questionable ball four call from the home plate umpire in the sixth to Howie Kendrick loaded the bases and ended Aaron Nola's season.  Jared Hughes sprinted to the mound next and on the second pitch he threw to Turner, the Nationals took a 6-4 lead.  Brad Miller had another two-homer game (9 and 10) while Bryce Harper homered in the seventh (34).  The ball hit by Harper went 442 feet with an exit velocity of 116.4 mph, the hardest hit ball by a Phillies player this season.  (Per Jim Salisbury Tweet.)

Nola, who most likely will not pitch again in 2019, finished the season having started 34 games and thrown 202 1/3 innings.  He earned a record of 12-7 with a 3.87 ERA.

Featured Card:  Having featured cards this past week of Nick Vincent and Blake Parker, I thought it fitting that Hughes should get into the act as well.  Hughes has been somewhat of a workhorse during his time with the Phillies since mid-August, appearing in 23 games.  He appears with the Reds in the 2019 Topps Heritage and Topps flagship sets.

Game 156 - 2019 Topps Total #74 Blake Parker

Nationals 4, Phillies 1 (Game 1)
Game 156 - Tuesday Afternoon, September 24th in Washington
Record - 79-77, 4th place, 16 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Facing elimination, manager Gabe Kapler opted to go with a bullpen game, and while the bullpen pitched respectively well, the Phillies still lost, 4-1.

What It Means:  This is the loss that officially knocked the Phillies out of the postseason hunt for the eighth season in a row.  We had no idea how good we had it between 2007 and 2011.

What Happened:  The Phillies scored a first inning run when Jean Segura singled home Cesar Hernandez, but then the offense shut it down for the rest of the game.  Nick Vincent took the loss, giving up a pair of runs in the sixth.

Featured Card:  Blake Parker got the start and pitched two perfect innings, striking out two.  Parker, who started the season as the closer for the Twins, has yet to appear on a Phillies baseball card and he may be one of the many Phillies players this season to be the subject of Missing Links custom cards.

Transactions:  Juan Nicasio was activated from the injured list, giving the Phillies 35 players on their active roster.

Game 155 - 2018 Topps Update #US116 Asdrubal Cabrera

Nationals 7, Phillies 2
Game 155 - Monday Night, September 23rd in Washington
Record - 79-76, 4th place, 16 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Zach Eflin surrendered three home runs and Patrick Corbin easily handled the Phillies offense in this 7-2 loss.

What It Means:  This latest loss put the Phillies on the brink of play-off elimination with their magic number to elimination down to one.

What Happened:  Eflin has been inconsistent all season, and in this outing he gave up eight hits and four walks while allowing five runs.  The Phillies didn't have a chance against Corbin, and the offense went 0 for 9 on the night with runners in scoring position.

Featured Card:  Short-term Phillie Asdrubal Cabrera was signed by the Nationals in early August after being released by the Rangers.  He's currently hitting .305 with five home runs in 35 games so far with the Nationals, and he'll head into the postseason with the team.

Field Report:  I attended the Diamondbacks-Cardinals game on Monday night, and it was refreshing to take a break from the Phillies.  In the photo below, you can see the out of town scoreboard in the upper left-hand corner, showing the Phillies on their way to another loss.

Game 154 - 2019 Topps 1984 Topps Baseball #T84-6 Carlos Santana

Indians 10, Phillies 1
Game 154 - Sunday Night, September 22nd in Cleveland
Record - 79-75, 4th place, 15 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  A nightmare seventh inning and a quiet Phillies offense resulted in a 10-1 loss to the Indians.

What It Means:  Following this loss, the Phillies headed to Washington for what was deemed at the time to be a crucial series for their dwindling play-off hopes.  It didn't go well.

What Happened:  Back-to-back errors in the fifth by Jean Segura and Vince Velasquez followed by a three-run home run from Oscar Mercado, put the Indians up 4-1 with three of the four runs unearned.  In the seventh, Mike Morin, Cole Irvin and Edubray Ramos combined to allow six runs on a single, a pair of doubles, a walk, a hit batter and a two-run home run from Franmil Reyes.

Featured Card:  Carlos Santana is having a career year after his one-year stint with the Phillies in 2018.  He's set or tied career highs in RBIs (93) and home runs (34) and he's on pace to eclipse his career high in walks (113), all while hitting .284 for an Indians team still in the Wild Card hunt.  A few Phillies cards for him snuck into some 2019 Topps releases, including the card shown here.

Game 153 - 2019 Topps Total #477 Brad Miller

Phillies 9, Indians 4
Game 153 - Saturday Night, September 21st in Cleveland
Record - 79-74, 4th place, 15 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Home runs from Bryce Harper and Jay Bruce along with a pair of home runs from Brad Miller led to this 9-4 win over the Indians.

What It Means:  I was in Phoenix for a work conference for most of this past week, and as I'm writing this (on Thursday) this is the last game the Phillies have won.  They've since been eliminated from the postseason and dropped five in a row to fall to .500 on the season.

What Happened:  Jason Vargas had a decent outing, pitching 6 2/3 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out eight.  Harper had a four-RBI game with his three-run home run (33) in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Featured Card:  Brad Miller has been pushed into starting duties at the end of this season, and he's done fairly well with the bat.  In September, and through Wednesday night's game against the Nationals, he's hitting .273 (12 for 44) with two doubles, six home runs and eight RBIs.  To date, this is his only Phillies baseball card, released in limited quantities in the Topps Total set, available only for purchase online.  And is that departed hitting coach John Mallee making a blurry cameo appearance in the background?

Series Preview - Phillies at Nationals: September 23rd to September 26th

2019 Chachi 1971 Topps Missing Links #5

1971 Topps #94

Monday 7:05, Tuesday 1:05 and 7:05, Wednesday 7:05 and Thursday 4:05
Nationals Park - Washington, DC

Phillies 79-75, 4th place in the N.L. East, 15 1/2 games behind the Braves
Nationals 85-69, 2nd place in the N.L. East, 9 1/2 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables:  Zach Eflin (9-12, 4.00), TBA, Aaron Nola (12-6, 3.75), Drew Smyly (3-2, 4.63), Jason Vargas (1-3, 5.12)
Nationals Probables:  Patrick Corbin (13-7, 3.10), TBA, Max Scherzer (10-7, 2.81), Anibal Sanchez (10-8, 3.91), Stephen Strasburg (17-6, 3.37)

At the Ballpark:  The Nationals have a bunch of special themed tickets available for this series, but no general give-aways.  The double header on Tuesday is a result of the game rained out back on June 18th.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .282
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 93
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 33
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 108
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper - 14

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 12
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 3.75

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 220
Saves:  Hector Neris - 28

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Anthony Rendon - .325
Runs:  Anthony Rendon - 114
Home Runs:  Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto - 34
RBIs:  Anthony Rendon - 120
Stolen Bases:  Trea Turner - 34

Wins:  Stephen Strasburg - 17
ERA:  Max Scherzer - 2.81
Strikeouts:  Stephen Strasburg - 241
Saves:  Sean Doolittle - 28

Game 152 - 2019 Topps Total #270 Nick Vincent

Indians 5, Phillies 2
Game 152 - Friday Night, September 20th in Cleveland
Record - 78-74, 4th place, 15 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies couldn't solve Shane Bieber and the Tribe won, 5-2.

What It Means:  I'm getting tired of these game summary posts following a Phillies loss and I could use a break.  It's still mathematically possible for the Phillies to win a Wild Card spot, but the probability of that happening is fading quickly.

What Happened:  Starter Drew Smyly was chased in the third inning and the hodge podge Phillies bullpen did a great job of not letting the game get out of hand.  The only two runs for the Phillies scored on Maikel Franco's RBI double in the fifth.

Featured Card:  Cast-off by other teams, Nick Vincent, Blake Parker, Mike Morin and Jared Hughes have at least given the Phillies a fighting chance when their starting pitchers can't go more than a few innings.  Vincent threw two scoreless innings in this game.  Since he was on the mound for back-to-back walk-off losses in early September, he's made six appearances and thrown eight scoreless innings with one walk, four hits and 13 strikeouts.

Despite pitching in the Majors for eight seasons, Vincent finally received his first mainstream baseball card release this year in the Topps Total set.  Vincent was a member of the Giants' bullpen until early August when he was released and then signed by the Phillies a week later.

Game 151 - 2019 Topps Big League #232 Cesar Hernandez

Braves 5, Phillies 4
Game 151 - Thursday Afternoon, September 19th in Atlanta
Record - 78-73, 4th place, 14 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies battled, but they couldn't overcome another shaky outing from Aaron Nola in this 5-4 loss to the Braves.

What It Means:  The Phillies have lost all six of Nola's last six starts.  In a playoff race, with every game crucial, they should be winning these games with their ace on the mound.  Instead, Nola has a 4.84 ERA over this stretch and the Phillies are 0-6.

What Happened:  Nola went five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, including two home runs.  The offense did go 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position with Adam Haseley (RBI double in the fifth) and Jean Segura (RBI single in the sixth) adding clutch hits, but it wasn't enough.

Featured Card:  Cesar Hernandez, who could be playing in his final week with the Phillies, continues to hit.  He had three hits in this game to raise his team-leading average to .285.  Hernandez is the longest tenured current Phillies player, having made his debut on May 29, 2013.  Kyle Kendrick, Antonio Bastardo, Mike Adams and Jonathan Papelbon were the pitchers that day for the Phillies and Domonic Brown hit two home runs.

Game 150 - 2019 Topps Total #381 Zach Eflin

Phillies 4, Braves 1
Game 150 - Wednesday Night, September 18th in Atlanta
Record - 78-72, Tied for 3rd place, 13 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Zach Eflin pitched one of the best games of his season as the Phillies defeated the Braves, 4-1.

What It Means:  The win meant the Braves wouldn't be able to clinch the N.L. division pennant while the Phillies looked on from the visiting dugout.  (The Braves would eventually clinch on Friday night.)

What Happened:  Bryce Harper put the Phillies ahead for good with a two-run home run (32) in the fourth.  Cesar Hernandez added a solo home run (12) in the sixth and Jean Segura walked with the bases loaded to plate the Phillies' final run.

Featured Card:  Eflin threw seven innings of five-hit ball, striking out four.  Arguably the team's most reliable relievers this season, Jose Alvarez and Hector Neris, pitched the final two scoreless innings.  This is Eflin's most recent card, from the resurrected, and now online-only release of Topps Total.

Series Preview - Phillies at Indians: September 20th to September 22nd

2019 Chachi 1971 Topps Missing Links #4

1971 Topps #397

Friday and Saturday 7:10, Sunday 6:37
Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH

Phillies 78-73, 4th place in the N.L. East, 14 1/2 games behind the Braves
Indians 90-63, 2nd place in the A.L. Central, 4 games behind the Twins

Phillies Probables:  Drew Smyly (3-1, 4.14), Jason Vargas (0-3, 5.48), Vince Velasquez (7-7, 4.89)
Indians Probables:  Shane Bieber (14-7, 3.26), Zach Plesac (8-6, 3.64), Adam Plutko (7-4, 4.34)

At the Ballpark:  Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night at the field formerly known as Jacobs and all fans will receive a 2020 Indians schedule poster.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .285
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 92
Home Runs:  Bryce Harper - 32
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 104
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper - 14

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 12
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 3.75

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 220
Saves:  Hector Neris - 28

Indians Leaders
Average:  Francisco Lindor - .292
Runs:  Carlos Santana - 106
Home Runs:  Carlos Santana - 34
RBIs:  Carlos Santana - 91
Stolen Bases:  Jose Ramirez - 24

Wins:  Shane Bieber - 14
ERA:  Shane Bieber - 3.26

Strikeouts:  Shane Bieber - 245
Saves:  Brad Hand - 34