Game 127 - Lack of Magic as Phils Exit Atlanta

2016 Topps Heritage #107

Braves 3, Phillies 2
Game 127 - Thursday Night, August 22nd in Atlanta
Record - 74-53, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach baffled the Phillies and the offense folded quietly in this 3-2 loss.

What It Means:  It could have been a lot worse, as the Phillies escape Atlanta having lost only one game in the standings.

What Happened:  Schwellenbach channeled Cy Young, holding the Phillies to three hits and a pair of runs while striking out nine.  Cristopher Sanchez took the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits.  The Phillies' offense managed a single from Bryce Harper in the first, a single by Bryson Stott in the seventh and an RBI-double from J.T. Realmuto a few batters later to score Stott.

Featured Card:  The Phillies scored just six runs in these three games against the Braves.  I found this post from Baseball Paul interesting, noting the last time the Phillies won a series in Atlanta while ahead of the Braves in the standings was back in May 2016.  Andrew Bailey was the winning pitcher and Jeanmar Gomez secured his 13th save of the season.

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 110 - Nola Can't Contain Witt and Lowly Royals

2017 Topps #660

Royals 7, Phillies 5
Game 110 - Friday Night, August 4th in Philadelphia
Record - 59-51, 2nd Place, 12 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies fell to Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals, dropping the first game of this three-game series, 7-5.

What It Means:  This was not a great start against a team 40 games under .500 at the start of this series.

What Happened:  A four-run sixth inning sunk the Phillies, as Aaron Nola yielded to Yunior Marte and the Royals ended up with a 6-4 lead.  Nola just hasn't been consistent this season, and his final line wasn't great, despite having eight strikeouts - 5 1/3 innings pitched, 8 hits, 5 runs, 2 home runs.  Witt hit his 20th home runs in the third, a two-run shot, making him the first player in MLB history to reach 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in his first two seasons.  There were only a few highlights for the Phillies, including a two-run home run from Nick Castellanos in the first, and a two-run double from Johan Rojas in the fourth.

Featured Card:  The last time the Royals played in Philadelphia was way back in July 2016.  The Phillies took two out of three from that series with Nola earning the only loss, once again.  The two winning pitchers were Jeremy Hellickson and Vince Velasquez, with Jeanmar Gomez earning his 22nd save of the season for the Phillies in the first game.

Field Report:  Doug and I took in most of this game from Section 315, our first game in almost two months.  We were excited to see some new menu options from Bull's BBQ, and the highlight of the game was standing with most of the rest of 36,000 fans in attendance to offer the struggling Trea Turner our support.  Turner went just 1 for 4 at the plate, but would have a memorable night on Saturday.

Transactions:   Rule 5 pick Noah Song (rhp) was returned to the Boston Red Sox after not being placed on the Phillies active roster.  Andrew Vasquez (lhp) was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.  In 30 games with the Phillies, all in relief, Vasquez actually did fairly well.  He was 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 39 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 34 and walking 14.  He'll likely never appear on a mainstream Phillies baseball card.

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

Tracking the Ex-Phillies

Each spring, I'll spend time reviewing every team's roster, list of non-roster invitees and their coaching staff.  There are always a few ex-Phillies that I'm surprised to see still around with Tyler Cloyd (Rays) and Cameron Perkins (Dodgers) catching my eye this year.

Here's a list of each team's Phillies alumni representation, and I've only included players, coaches and managers who actually suited up for the team.  Players who passed through the Phillies minor league system but never made the big club aren't represented here.

Special mention goes to Tommy Joseph, who signed with the LG Twins in Korea over the offseason, and Ty Kelly, who signed a minor league deal with the Angels but doesn't appear to be a non-roster invitee.

N.L. East
Atlanta Braves:  Andres Blanco - inf (NRI), Pedro Florimon - inf (NRI), Rick Kranitz - pitching coach, San Fasano - catching coach
Miami Marlins:  Jorge Alfaro - c, Brian Schneider - catching coach
New York Mets:  Wilson Ramos - c, Luis Avilan - lhp (NRI)
Washington Nationals:  Jeremy Hellickson - rhp, Howie Kendrick - of, Henderson Alvarez - rhp (NRI)

N.L. Central
Chicago Cubs:  Cole Hamels - lhp, Mike Zagurski - lhp (NRI)
Cincinnati Reds:  David Hernandez - rhp, David Bell - manager, Turner Ward - hitting coach
Milwaukee Brewers:  Erik Kratz - c
Pittsburgh Pirates:  Tom Prince - bench coach
St. Louis Cardinals:  Mike Maddux - pitching coach

N.L. West
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Torey Lovullo - manager, Humberto Quintero - bullpen catcher
Colorado Rockies:  Michael Saunders - of (NRI)
Los Angeles Dodgers:  Ezequiel Carrera - of (NRI), Cameron Perkins - of (NRI)
San Diego Padres:  Aaron Loup - lhp, Rod Barajas - bench coach
San Francisco Giants:  Rick Schu - assistant hitting coach


A.L. East
Baltimore Orioles:  Jose David Flores - third base coach
Boston Red Sox:  Ron Roenicke - bench coach
New York Yankees:  J.A. Happ - lhp, Drew Hutchison - rhp (NRI)
Tampa Bay Rays:  Charlie Morton - rhp, Tyler Cloyd - rhp (NRI), Hoby Milner - lhp (NRI), Ricardo Pinto - rhp (NRI)
Toronto Blue Jays:  Clay Buchholz - rhp, Ken Giles - rhp, Freddy Galvis - inf, Mark Leiter Jr. - rhp (NRI)

A.L. Central
Chicago White Sox:  None
Cleveland Indians:  Carlos Santana - inf, Terry Francona - manager, Brad Mills - bench coach
Detroit Tigers:  Daniel Stumpf - lhp, Cameron Rupp - c (NRI, and recently traded from the Giants)
Kansas City Royals:  Jake Diekman - lhp, Ben Lively - rhp, Dale Sveum - bench coach
Minnesota Twins:  None

A.L. West
Houston Astros:  A.J. Hinch - manager
Los Angeles Angels:  Luis Garcia - rhp, JC Ramirez - rhp, Justin Bour - inf, Peter Bourjos - of (NRI), Shawn Wooten - assistant hitting coach, Andrew Bailey - bullpen coach
Oakland Athletics:  None
Seattle Mariners:  J.P. Crawford - inf
Texas Rangers:  Asdrubal Cabrera - inf, Zac Curtis - lhp (NRI), Jeanmar Gomez - rhp (NRI), Chase d'Arnaud -inf (NRI), Hunter Pence - of (NRI), Ben Revere - of (NRI)

Tracking the Ex-Phillies - Featuring Utley, Revere, Fasano, Schu and More!

One of my annual habits is to review the complete rosters of all 30 Major League teams, paying particular attention to see where former Phillies have ended up.  I'll review the 40-man rosters, the non-roster invitees and the coaches pages on each team's website.  Even though I do this every year, I don't always formalize my findings in a post, but it seemed like a good idea this year to give me an excuse to create a few custom cards.

Presented below, at least by my unofficial tally, are the former Phillies players in camp across the majors this spring.  I'm only tracking those players (or coaches/managers) who spent time with the Phillies.  So while Jesse Biddle is in camp with the Braves, he won't appear on the list below as he never played for the big club.  (And I think some of these players may have already moved on.)

N.L. East
Atlanta Braves:  Sal Fasano - catching coach
Miami Marlins:  Tylor Cloyd - rhp (NRI), Brian Schneider - catching coach
New York Mets:  Ruben Amaro Jr. - first base coach, Ty Kelly - inf (NRI)
Washington Nationals:  Joaquin Benoit - rhp, Reid Brignac - inf (NRI) , Howie Kendrick - of, Ryan Madson - rhp

N.L. Central
Chicago Cubs:  Peter Bourjos - of (NRI)
Cincinnati Reds:  Billy Hatcher - third base coach, David Hernandez - rhp, Ben Revere - of (NRI), Darnell Sweeney - of (NRI), Vance Worley - rhp (NRI)
Milwaukee Brewers:  None
Pittsburgh Pirates:  Daniel Nava - of (NRI), Tom Prince - bench coach, Kevin Siegrist - lhp (NRI)
St. Louis Cardinals:  John Mabry - hitting coach, Mike Maddux - pitching coach


N.L. West
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Antonio Bastardo - lhp (NRI), Torey Lovullo - manager, Humberto Quintero - bullpen catcher
Colorado Rockies:  None
Los Angeles Dodgers:  Chase Utley - inf, Turner Ward - hitting coach
San Diego Padres:  A.J. Ellis - c (NRI), Freddy Galvis - inf, Michael Mariot - rhp (NRI), Matt Stairs - hitting coach
San Francisco Giants:  Andres Blanco - inf (NRI), Chase d'Arnaud - inf (NRI) Hunter Pence - of, Rich Schu - assistant hitting coach

A.L. East
Baltimore Orioles:  Alec Asher - rhp, Roger McDowell - pitching coach, Joely Rodriguez - lhp (NRI), John Russell - bench coach
Boston Red Sox:  Ron Roenicke - bench coach
New York Yankees:  Erik Kratz - c
Tampa Bay Rays:  Dustin McGowan - rhp (NRI), Colton Murray - rhp (NRI)
Toronto Blue Jays:  Ezequiel Carrera - of, J.A. Happ - lhp


A.L. Central
Chicago White Sox:  Jeanmar Gomez - rhp (NRI)
Cleveland Indians:  Terry Francona - manager, Michael Martinez - inf (NRI), Brad Mills - bench coach
Detroit Tigers:  Daniel Stumpf - lhp
Kansas City Royals:  Cody Asche - dh (NRI). Michael Saunders - of, Dale Sveum - bench coach
Minnesota Twins:  Taylor Featherston - inf (NRI), Brock Stassi - inf (NRI)

A.L. West
Houston Astros:  Ken Giles - rhp, A.J. Hinch - manager, Charlie Morton - rhp
Los Angeles Angels:  JC Ramirez - rhp
Oakland Athletics:  Brandon Moss - dh
Seattle Mariners:  Juan Nicasio - rhp, Cameron Perkins - of
Texas Rangers:  Jake Diekman - lhp, Cole Hamels - lhp, Dan Warthen - assistant pitching coach

2017 Phillies Team Issue #58 Jeremy Hellickson

Cardinals 8, Phillies 1 (11)
Game 69 - Tuesday Night, June 20th in Philadelphia
Record - 22-47, 5th place, 20 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies and Cardinals were locked in a 1-1 tie until Casey Fien imploded in spectacular fashion in the 11th inning.

What It Means:  The Phillies website dubbed the start by Jeremy Hellickson as a "showcase," and we're about a month away from the Phillies most likely trading away some of their veterans to contending teams.

What Happened:  Hellickson had his best pitching performance in a while, limiting the Cardinals to a run on six hits over seven innings.  Edubray Ramos started the massacre in the 11th with back-to-back walks.  Fien allowed those two runs to score, along with five of his own.

2017 Topps Heritage #184

Featured Card:  Hellickson's outing was the highlight of the game, at least from a Phillies fan's perspective, so he gets the featured card.

Transactions:  The Phillies made a flurry of roster moves before the game, designating both Michael Saunders (.205 average) and Jeanmar Gomez (7.25 ERA) for assignment and placing Jerad Eickhoff on the disabled list with a back strain.  Outfielder Cameron Perkins and pitcher Hoby Milner were purchased from Lehigh Valley while Brock Stassi was recalled to take Eickhoff's spot on the roster.

Phillies Debuts:  After parts of six seasons in the minors, Perkins finally got the call on Tuesday afternoon.  He became the seventh player to make his big league debut with the Phillies this season.

15.  Cameron Perkins (of) - Pinch-hit for Pat Neshek in the bottom of the 10th and flied out to center.

2017 Chachi #25 Jeanmar Gomez

#46
Jeanmar Alejandro Gomez
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  214
Born:  February 10, 1988, Caracas, Venezuela
Home:  Caracas, Venezuela
Signed:  Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent, April 4, 2005
Teams:  Cleveland Indians 2010-2012; Pittsburgh Pirates 2013-2014; Phillies 2015-
Acquired:  Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, January 8, 2015

2010 Topps Update #US-59

2015 Phillies Team Issue #46

2015 Chachi #20

XX Hernandez Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Card:  2015 Phillies Team Issue #46
First Phillies Card:  2015 Phillies Team Issue #46
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2015 Phillies Team Issue #46
Latest Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #46

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2010 Topps Update #US-59

Click to enlarge

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #20
2016 Chachi #22
2016 Chachi #71 - Leading Firemen (with Hector Neris and Michael Mariot)
2017 Chachi Archives #12
2016 Chachi Photo Day #21
2017 Chachi #25

Card statistics through 6/2/17.

2017 Topps Gypsy Queen #104 Jeanmar Gomez

Nationals 3, Phillies 2 (10 Innings)
Game 10 - Friday Afternoon, April 14th in Washington
Record - 3-7, 5th Place, 3 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Jeanmar Gomez couldn't keep the Nationals off the board in the 10th, as the Phillies dropped their fourth game in a row.

What It Means:  It took 10 games for the Phillies to slip quietly into last place in the East.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola made it through only five innings, allowing a run on six hits while striking out six.  With the score tied at two, Gomez pitched a scoreless ninth and was brought out to try to do the same in the 10th.  He didn't.  Bryce Harper led off with a single and Daniel Murphy promptly doubled him home.

Tommy Joseph hit his first home run of the season.

Featured Card:  With the exception of the Brad Lidge collapse between 2008 and 2009, I don't recall ever watching a former dominant closer crash and burn as quickly as Gomez.  His September was a nightmare in which he went 0-3 with two blown saves and a 19.13 ERA (17 earned runs in 8 innings).  That has unfortunately carried over to 2017 as he's already blown a save, lost his closer's role and owns a 11.81 ERA (7 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings).

Gomez has been featured in the Topps Heritage and Topps Gypsy Queen sets so far this year.

2016 Chachi #71 Leading Firemen - Gomez, Neris, Mariot

Perhaps the hardest thing to watch during the latter part of the Phillies season was the complete implosion of Jeanmar Gomez as the team's closer.  Unofficially removed from the closer's roll during the final weeks of September, Gomez tallied a 19.13 ERA (17 earned runs in 8 innings) over his final 12 games.  The emergence (and dominance) of Hector Neris as an extremely effective late inning reliever means that he's probably one of the few pitchers guaranteed a spot in the team's 2017 bullpen.

Memory Lane - Chachi Leading Firemen Cards
2005 - Billy Wagner, 38
2006 - Tom Gordon, 34
2007 - Brett Myers, 21
2008 - Brad Lidge, 41
2009 - Brad Lidge, 31
2010 - Brad Lidge, 27
2011 - Ryan Madson, 32
2012 - Jonathan Papelbon, 38
2013 - Jonathan Papelbon, 29
2014 - Jonathan Papelbon, 39
2015 - Jonathan Papelbon, 17 (no card created)
2016 - Jeanmar Gomez, 37

2005 Chachi #59

2006 Chachi #68

2007 Chachi #66

2008 Chachi #62

2017 Chachi Preview #2 Jeanmar Gomez

Braves 5, Phillies 2
Game 159 - Thursday Night, September 29th in Atlanta
Record - 70-89, 4th place, 23 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Jeremy Hellickson left his final Phillies start with a knee injury, Jeanmar Gomez continued his second half implosion and the last-place Braves completed their series sweep of the Phillies, with a 5-2 win.

What It Means:  As pointed out by Jim Salisbury, the Phillies have allowed 63 runs in their last six games, the most in any six-game stretch since 1937.

What Happened:  Hellickson left in the fourth with the injury, and it's likely this could have been his final appearance with the Phillies.  He'll seek a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason.

Featured Card:  Gomez entered the eighth inning trying to preserve a 1-1 tie.  He retired one batter and allowed four runs on three hits and two walks.  His September ERA was 19.13 (17 earned runs in 8 innings pitched).

Want to revisit every game of the 2016 season?  My handy game summary index can be found here.

Fun at the @Phillies Photo Day! (Part One)

2016 Chachi Photo Day #35

2016 Chachi Photo Day #25

2016 Chachi Photo Day #21

Phillies 4, Mets 2
Game 92 - Saturday Night, July 16th in Philadelphia
Record - 43-49, 4th place, 13 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Ryan Howard homered and Maikel Franco drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh as the Phillies defeated the Mets, 4-2, on Photo Day.

What It Means:  Our family - siblings, kids, cousins, parents and friends - occupied 17 seats in Section 421 for this game and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in spite of the occasional rain shower.

What Happened:  Howard hit a solo shot (13) in the second inning and Franco broke a 2-2 tie with his hit.  Carlos Ruiz scored in the eighth on a wild pitch to add an insurance run.  Jared Eickhoff pitched six strong innings (two runs on five hits) and Jeanmar Gomez earned his 25th save.

Featured Cards/Field Report:  We made our way down to the field at around 5:10 to take our place in the outfield for the team's annual Photo Day.  After a six (or seven?) year absence from the event, it was great to be back and both our sons had an absolute blast.  The majority of the players were extremely gracious and most of the them took the time to small talk with our sons.  I was going to pick one or two of my favorite photos for a few custom cards, but then I thought . . . why not just make a whole set of cards?

So that's what I did.  Here's part one of the set, and I'll feature parts two and three in future posts.

Be sure to check out the 2016 Season Summary page with game results and links to game summary posts.

2016 Chachi Photo Day #1

2016 Chachi Photo Day #2

2016 Chachi Photo Day #3

2016 Chachi Photo Day #4

2016 Chachi Photo Day #5

2016 Chachi Photo Day #6

2016 Chachi Photo Day #8

2016 Chachi Photo Day #10

2016 Chachi Photo Day #7

2016 Chachi Photo Day #9