Showing posts with label Mahtook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mahtook. Show all posts

Monday, October 5, 2020

Look Away if You've Already Moved on from the 2020 Phillies

2020 Chachi Almost #13
2020 Chachi Almost #15
2020 Chachi Almost #20
2020 Chachi Almost #16

In an effort to put the 2020 Phillies season behind me as quickly as possible, I wanted to get this post out of the way.  Every year, I create my custom Chachi cards during the offseason and the early stages of spring training, which means I end up with several "Almost" cards of players who didn't get the call to the big club during the season.  Those cards are presented here.

Victor Arano, Seranthony Dominguez and David Robertson spent the season either injured, recovering from an injury or getting surgery to repair an injury.  Arano and Dominguez should return, while Robertson will not.  Despite the bullpen's woes, JD Hammer never got the call to join the team and Odubel Herrera remains exiled following his arrest for domestic violence last year.  Christian Bethancourt was a non-roster invitee to spring training and then disappeared, with no sign of any transaction (that I can find) to tell us where he ended up.  Finally, veterans Mikie Mahtook and Nick Martini were also non-roster invitees who later joined the taxi squad in Allentown as part of the team's 60-player pool.  Neither got the call to leave Lehigh Valley and travel to Philadelphia.

2020 Chachi Almost #18
2020 Chachi Almost #19
2020 Chachi Almost #14
2020 Chachi Almost #17

Also presented below is a final look at the team's 2019-2020 offseason moves and other player additions and deletions during the pandemic-shortened season.  For some reason, I failed to post my Departures cards of Fernando Salas and Mitch Walding when they originally left the team and solely for the sake of completeness, they're presented here.

Moving On - 2019-2020 Offseason
  • Rob Brantly - c (9/30/19) - Elected free agency, signed the San Francisco Giants (1/18/20).
  • Fernando Salas - rhp (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
  • Corey Dickerson - of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins (1/7/20).
  • Brad Miller - inf (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals (2/12/20).
  • Logan Morrison - 1b (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers (1/9/20).
  • Juan Nicasio - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Texas Rangers (1/22/20).
  • Sean Rodriguez - inf-of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins (2/15/20).
  • Drew Smyly - lhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the San Francisco Giants (1/16/20).
  • Nick Vincent - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the San Francisco Giants (2/9/20).
  • Jose Pirela - of (11/1/19) - Released, signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan) (11/2/19).
  • Jared Hughes - rhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency, signed with the Houston Astros (2/17/20).
  • Pat Neshek - rhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
  • Jason Vargas - lhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
  • Jerad Eickhoff - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the San Diego Padres (12/27/19).
  • Mike Morin - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers (1/31/20).
  • Edubray Ramos - rhp - (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1/8/20).
  • Mitch Walding - 3b (11/4/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays (2/2/20).
  • Maikel Franco - 3b (12/2/19) - Non-tendered, elected free agency, signed with the Kansas City Royals (12/27/19).
  • Cesar Hernandez - 2b (12/2/19) - Non-tendered, elected free agency, signed with the Cleveland Indians (12/29/19).
2020 Chachi Departures #2
2020 Chachi Departures #3

Coming Back - 2019-2020 Offseason
  • Phil Gosselin - inf (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (12/20/19).
  • Blake Parker - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (2/5/20).
  • Tommy Hunter - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (2/12/20).
New Arrivals - 2019-2020 Offseason
  • Trevor Kelley - rhp (12/2/19) - Claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox.
  • Zack Wheeler - rhp (12/9/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets.
  • Didi Gregorius - ss (12/13/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Yankees.
  • Ronald Torreyes - inf (1/2/20) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Minnesota Twins.
  • Neil Walker - inf (1/22/20) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Miami Marlins.
  • Reggie McClain - rhp (1/31/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
  • Deolis Guerra - rhp (2/5/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Kyle Garlick - of (2/15/20) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tyler Gilbert.
Arrived During the 2020 Season
  • David Hale (rhp) - 8/21/20, Acquired from the New York Yankees for Addison Russ (rhp).
  • Brandon Workman (rhp) and Heath Hembree (rhp) - 8/21/20, Acquired from the Boston Red Sox with cash and a player to be named later for Nick Pivetta (rhp) and Connor Seabold (rhp).
  • David Phelps (rhp) - 8/31/20, Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for three players to be named later.
Departed During the 2020 Season 
  • Nick Williams (of) - 8/15/20, Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. 
  • Edgar Garcia (rhp) - 8/18/20, Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later.
  • Nick Pivetta (rhp) - 8/21/20, Traded to the Boston Red Sox with Connor Seabold (rhp) for Brandon Workman (rhp), Heath Hembree (rhp), a player to be named later and cash.
  • Austin Davis (lhp) - 8/26/20, Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later and  cash.
  • Deivy Grullon (c) - 9/3/20, Selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.
  • Neil Walker (inf) - 9/15/20, Cleared waivers and elected free agency.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Grapefruit Game 3 - 2018 Topps Heritage #68 Mikie Mahtook

Phillies 8Orioles 7
Spring Training Game 3 - Monday Afternoon, February 24th in Clearwater
Record - 2-0-1

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies held on to beat the Orioles on a walk-off error from a ground ball hit by Luke Williams that scored Ali Castillo.

What It Means:  It's still way early, but 13 hits from the Phillies offense is a good sign as are the two scoreless innings from Vince Velasquez.

What Happened:  In his spring debut, Velasquez allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in his efficient outing.  Pitching prospects Ramon Rosso and Zach Warren were impressive in their scoreless innings of work.  Warren struck out the side in a perfect ninth.

Mikie Mahtook, Luke Williams, Logan Forsythe and Nick Maton all homered for the Phillies. 

Featured Card:  Mahtook's three-run home run in the fourth marked the first long ball of the spring for the Phils.  Probably a long-shot to make the club, he'll most likely serve as outfield depth this season with the Triple-A IronPigs. 

Camp Head Count:  70

Saturday, December 21, 2019

First Four Non-Roster Invitees Announced

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #2
2019 Topps Heritage #552
2019 Topps #477
2018 Topps Heritage #528
For the second year in a row, the Phillies used the Friday before Christmas to announce their first round of non-roster invitees.  I'll add to this list as more names are officially announced.

Phil Gosselin and Josh Harrison are the two most intriguing names on the list for me.  Gosselin will be a non-roster invitee for the second year in a row, while Harrison has the inside track for a bench position with the Phillies given his versatility.  Gosselin led the team in pinch-hits last season, despite spending significant time with the IronPigs.  He's also a member of the exclusive Phillies Room Favorites Club.

Player (position) - 2019 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Phil Gosselin (inf) - Phillies - 2017 Topps Heritage #135 (Diamondbacks)
2.  Josh Harrison (inf) - Tigers - 2019 Topps Heritage #552 (Tigers)
3.  Mikie Mahtook (of) - Tigers - 2019 Topps #477 (Tigers)
4.  Matt Szczur (of) - Diamondbacks - 2018 Topps Heritage #528 (Padres)

And here's a look at the final list of 2019 non-roster invitees.  Of the 22 players in camp last year, 6 made it to the big club with both Adam Haseley and Sean Rodriguez playing significant roles.  Haseley is slated to be the Phillies' opening day center fielder in 2020.  The ** on the list below indicates those players who got the call to the Phillies in 2019.

Player (position) - 2018 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Jeremy Bleich (lhp) - Athletics - 2010 Topps Pro Debut #35 (Yankees)
**2.  Rob Brantly (c) - Braves/Indians - 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen #33 (Marlins)
**3.  Phil Gosselin (inf) - Reds/Braves - 2017 Topps Heritage #135 (Diamondbacks)
4.  Josh Martin (rhp) - Indians - 2012 Bowman Draft Picks #BDPP160 (Indians)
5.  Matt McBride (c-1b) - Phillies - 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #MM (Indians)
6.  Gregorio Petit (inf) - Twins - 2015 Topps Heritage #667 (Yankees)
7.  Shane Robinson (of) - Yankees - 2014 Topps #483 (Cardinals)
8.  Gift Ngoepe (inf) - Blue Jays - 2018 Topps Heritage #579 (Blue Jays)
9.  Edward Paredes (lhp) - Dodgers - N/A
10.  Andrew Romine (inf) - Mariners - 2018 Topps Heritage #641 (Mariners)
11.  Malquin Canelo (inf) - Phillies - N/A
12.  Tyler Gilbert (lhp) - Phillies - N/A
**13.  Deivi Grullon (c) - Phillies - 2013 Bowman Chrome #BCP128 (Phillies)
**14.  Adam Haseley (of) - Phillies - 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League #131 (Phillies)
**15.  Cole Irvin (lhp) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft Chrome #BDC-4 (Phillies)
16.  Austin Listi (inf-of) - Phillies - N/A
17.  Mickey Moniak (of) - Phillies - 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League #261 (Phillies)
18.  JoJo Romero (lhp) - Phillies - 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League #92 (Phillies)
19.  Lane Adams (of) - Cubs/Braves - 2018 Topps Now Road to Opening Day #OD-241 (Braves)
20.  Drew Butera (c) - Royals/Rockies - 2018 Topps Royals #KR7 (Royals)
**21.  Sean Rodriguez (inf) - Pirates - 2018 Topps Update #US108 (Pirates)
22.  Trevor Plouffe (inf) - Phillies - 2018 Topps Now #499 (Phillies)