Bamboo Brad Returns; Flurry of Ex-Phils Sign Elsewhere

2021 Chachi New Additions #10

2021 Chachi Departures #3

2021 Chachi Departures #4

2021 Chachi Departures #5

2021 Chachi Departures #6

On Wednesday, the official first day of spring training, the Phillies announced the return of popular super utility player Brad Miller, who had spent last season with the Cardinals.  Miller's introduction of a lucky bamboo plant to the Phillies clubhouse during the summer of 2019 sparked a mini winning streak, and led to an increase in bamboo sales across the local area.  To make room for Miller on the 40-man roster, reliever Seranthony Dominguez was placed on the 60-day IL as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

At this point, most of the ex-Phillies that made up the rogue's gallery of the 2020 team have found new homes, with the exceptions of relievers Jose Alvarez and David Robertson.  The day will come when we no longer have to reflect back on the pain caused by the team's 2020 bullpen.  Of the players listed below, I'm saddest to see the departure of Phil Gosselin and I hope The Phillies Room Favorite finds himself a steady job on the Angels' roster.

Departures - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Deolis Guerra - rhp (10/14/20) - Elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics (2/2/21).
• Trevor Kelley - rhp (10/14/20) - Elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs (12/14/20).
• Jose Alvarez - lhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Jake Arrieta - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency, signed with the Chicago Cubs (2/17/21).
• Jay Bruce - of (10/28/20) - Elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees (2/12/21).
• Tommy Hunter - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets (2/14/21).
• Brandon Workman - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Phil Gosselin - inf (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels (2/11/21).
• Heath Hembree - rhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency, singed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians (2/5/21).
• Adam Morgan - lhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs (2/12/21).
• Blake Parker - rhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency, signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians (2/16/21).
• David Phelps - rhp (10/30/20) - Club option declined, elected free agency, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays (2/11/21).
• David Robertson - rhp (10/30/20) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
• Reggie McClain - rhp (12/10/20) - Selected by the Yankees in the minor league portion of the annual rule 5 draft.
• Garrett Cleavinger - lhp (12/29/20) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with the Phillies receiving Jose Alvarado in exchange from the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Kyle Garlick - of (1/22/21) - Claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.
• Victor Arano - rhp (1/22/21) - Claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.
• Cole Irvin - lhp (1/30/21) - Traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations.

2021 Chachi Departures #7

2021 Chachi Departures #8

2021 Chachi Departures #9

2021 Chachi Departures #10

2021 Chachi Departures #11

Coming Back - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Ronald Torreyes - inf (10/15/20) - Elected free agency, re-signed with the Phillies as a minor league free agent (1/4/21).
• J.T. Realmuto - c (10/28/20) - Elected free agency, re-signed with the Phillies (1/29/21).
• Didi Gregorius - ss (10/28/20) - Elected free agency, re-signed with the Phillies (2/10/21).

New Additions - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Johan Quezada - rhp (10/30/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
• Ian Hamilton - rhp (12/7/20) Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
• Kyle Holder - inf (12/10/20) - Selected from the Yankees in the annual rule 5 draft.
• Jose Alvarado - lhp (12/29/20) - Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays with the Dodgers receiving Garrett Cleavinger in exchange.
• Sam Coonrod - rhp (1/9/21) - Acquired from the San Francisco Giants for Carson Ragsdale.
• Archie Bradley - rhp (1/18/21) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds.
• C.J. Chatham - inf (1/18/21) - Acquired from the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later.
• Matt Moore -lhp (2/3/21) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.
• Chase Anderson - rhp (2/8/21) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Brad Miller - inf (2/17/21) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Already Gone - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Kyle Holder - inf (1/30/21) - Traded to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations.
• Ian Hamilton - rhp (2/5/21) - Claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.
• Johan Quezada - rhp (2/10/21) - Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations.

2020 Chachi #27 Adam Morgan

#46
Adam Christopher Morgan
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  200
Opening Day Age:  30
Born:  February 27, 1990, Tampa, FL
How Obtained:  Selected by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the June 2011 amateur player draft
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible in 2021, free agency eligible in 2022
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2015-

First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop Mini Refractors #CC-PP5
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #39

Newest Card Added:  2019 Topps Total #15

Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1):  2016

22 - Morgan baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 8/11/20.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #45
2015 Chachi Special Edition #12
2016 Chachi #39
2017 Chachi #19
2017 Chachi Photo Night #26
2018 Chachi #19
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #15 - with Vince Velasquez
2019 Chachi #20
2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #17 - with Andrew Knapp
2020 Chachi #27

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

Highlights from the 2019 Phillies Phestival (Part 2) #StrikeOutALS

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #20

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #24

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #25

Yesterday, I include a summary of our time at this year's Phillies Phestival benefitting the ALS Association.  The first half of the cards I created to commemorate our day were included in that post, and this post gathers the remaining cards.

We're already anxiously awaiting next year's event!

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #12

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #13

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #15

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #17

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #18

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #21

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #22

2019 Chachi Phillies Phestival #23

Phillies Phestival Memory Lane

2017 Part 1 and Part 2

2018 Part 1 and Part 2

2019 Part 1 and Part 2

Game 31 - 2019 Phillies Team Issue #46 Adam Morgan

Phillies 4, Nationals 2
Game 31 - Friday Night, May 3rd in Philadelphia
Record - 18-13, 1st place, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  A three-run home run from Rhys Hoskins in the sixth was the difference in this game as the Phils defeated the Nationals, 4-2.

What It Means:  The Phillies hold a 2 1/2 game lead in the East, their largest lead of the season so far.

What Happened:  Jerad Eickhoff battled through five innings, allowing a run on three hits while striking out seven.  Jean Segura homered (2) in the first inning to get the Phillies on the board and Hoskins hit his blast (10) in the sixth off Nationals reliever Dan Jennings.  Hector Neris pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his fifth save.

Featured Card:  Adam Morgan didn't allow a run in the seventh, marking his 16th appearance so far this season pitching shutout baseball.  He broke the Phillies record previously held by three relievers of 15 scoreless appearances to start the season.  As is the fate of most middle relievers, Morgan doesn't receive many baseball card appearances and his last mainstream baseball card can be found in the 2016 Topps set.

2019 Chachi #20 Adam Morgan

#46
Adam Christopher Morgan
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  208
Opening Day Age:  29
Born:  February 27, 1990, Tampa, FL
Drafted:  Drafted by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the June 2011 draft
Teams:  Phillies 2015-
Acquired:  Via draft
Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible in 2020, free agency eligible in 2022

2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23

2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop #CC-PP5

2015 Chachi #45

2015 Chachi Special Edition #12

2016 Topps #610

First Phillies Minor League Card:  2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23
First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop Mini Refractors #CC-PP5
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #39
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2016 Topps #610
Newest Card Added:  2019 Phillies Team Issue #46

2016 Phillies Team Issue #39

19 - Morgan baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 4/26/19.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #45
2015 Chachi Special Edition #12
2016 Chachi #39
2017 Chachi #19
2017 Chachi Photo Night #26
2018 Chachi #19
2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #15 (with Vince Velasquez)
2019 Chachi #20

2019 Chachi Set Checklist
Virtual Phillies Wall - Featuring Current Active Roster

Highlights from the 2018 Phillies Phestival (Part 2) #StrikeOutALS

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #13

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #17

Presented here are the remaining cards from the limited edition Chachi insert set I created to commemorate our amazing time at this year's Phillies Phestival benefiting the ALS Association.  Part 1 can be found here along with some of my memories from the event.

If you plan to go to the event in 2019, we'll see you there!

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #10

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #9

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #11

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #12

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #14

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #15

Phillies Phestival Memory Lane

2017 Part 1 and Part 2

2018 Part 1 and Part 2

2018 Chachi Phillies Phestival #16

2018 Chachi #19 Adam Morgan

#46

Adam Christopher Morgan

Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  208
Opening Day Age:  28

Born:  February 27, 1990, Tampa, FL

Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the June 2011 draft

Teams:  Phillies 2015-

Acquired:  Via draft

2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23

2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop #CC-PP5

2015 Chachi #45

2016 Topps #610

18 Morgan Baseball Cards in My Collection per The Phillies Room Checklist
First Phillies Minor League Card:  2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #23
First Phillies Card:  2013 Bowman Chrome Cream of the Crop Mini Refractors #CC-PP5
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  2016 Phillies Team Issue #39
First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2016 Topps #610
Newest Card:  2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #46

2016 Phillies Team Issue #39

First Mention on The Phillies Room:  January 29, 2013 - 2013 Non-Roster Invitees - 7 More Added . . . A sure sign that we're getting closer to pitchers and catchers reporting is that the official number of non-roster invitees now stands at 19.  Last week, the Phillies added five of their top prospects to the list of players who will wear numbers in the 60s and 70s while hoping to impress Charlie Manuel and the rest of the coaching staff.  They also added outfielder Joe Mather, who spent 2012 with the Cubs, and infielder Yuniesky Betancourt, who had a rough year last year with the Royals before earning his release in August.

For me, the most intriguing names on the list are Cody Asche and Tommy Joseph.  Asche is the heir apparent at third base for the Phillies and if all goes according to plan, he'll be manning the hot corner in 2014.  With Clearwater and Reading last season, he hit .324 with 12 home runs and 72 RBIs. Joseph was acquired from the Giants in the Hunter Pence deal and MLB.com named him the organization's top position player.

13.  Cody Asche (3b) - Phillies - 2012 Topps Heritage Minors #115 (Phillies)

14.  Justin Friend (rhp) - Phillies - 2012 Topps Heritage Minors #153 (Phillies)

15.  Tommy Joseph (c) - Giants/Phillies - 2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP100 (Giants)

16.  Joe Mather (of) - Cubs - 2012 Topps Update #US25 (Cubs)

17.  Adam Morgan (lhp) - Phillies - 2012 Topps Heritage Minors #128 (Phillies)

18.  Kyle Simon (rhp) - Orioles/Phillies - 2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP56 (Orioles)
19.  Yuniesky Betancourt (inf) - Royals - 2012 Topps Update #US47 (Royals)

Complete Chachi Checklist
2015 Chachi #45
2015 Chachi Special Edition #12
2016 Chachi #39
2017 Chachi #19
2017 Chachi Photo Night #26
2018 Chachi #19

Card statistics through 5/27/18.

Game 48 - 2018 Phillies Team Issue #46 Adam Morgan

Blue Jays 6, Phillies 5
Game 48 - Friday Night, May 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 28-20, 2nd place, 1/2 game behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies nearly pulled off a fantastic come-from-behind win, but a 9th inning rally fizzled and the Blue Jays emerged victorious.

What It Means:  The Braves also loss, so the Phillies remain just a half game behind them in the division.

What Happened:  With the bases loaded in the ninth, Rhys Hoskins struck out looking and Odubel Herrera grounded weekly to second to end the game.  Zach Eflin hit his first career home run, but he allowed three first inning runs and pulled from the game in the fifth.  Carlos Santana hit a two-run home run (9) in the sixth.

Featured Card:  Adam Morgan pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and lowering his ERA to 1.98.

Field Report:  Doug and I watched this game from our "normal" seats in Section 315.  It was Bark in the Park night and we were amazed at the number of dogs walking around in the upper concourse.  What a fantastic event!  The Pennsylvania SPCA was on hand soliciting donations, and Doug and I both bought a mystery bag containing an autographed baseball.  Doug made out better than I did with his bag as he got a Santana autograph while my baseball was signed by Morgan.

Photo Night Highlights! (Part Three)

2017 Chachi Photo Night #23

2017 Chachi Photo Night #29

2017 Chachi Photo Night #24

With all the trades happening recently, I had completely forgotten to post the final set of extremely limited edition Chachi insert cards from the team's recent Photo Night.  Here are the final nine cards and you can look back at Part One and Part Two of this series of posts for the other cards in the set.

We didn't recognize Clay Buchholz at first, but that's only because he hadn't pitched with the team since very early in the season.  Kudos to him for coming out for the event.

2017 Chachi Photo Night #25

2017 Chachi Photo Night #26

2017 Chachi Photo Night #28

2017 Chachi Photo Night #27

2017 Chachi Photo Night #30

2017 Chachi Photo Night #31