The Opening Day Roster is (Almost) Set

2015 Chachi Almost #3

2015 Chachi New Additions #8

Phillies 6, Pirates 4
Spring Training Game 33 - Saturday Afternoon, April 4th in Philadelphia
Record - 14-17-2

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies rode six early runs and a strong pitching performance from David Buchanan to a 6-4 win over the Pirates.

What It Means:  The exhibition season is over and the 2015 regular season begins on Monday afternoon for the Phillies when they open the season against the Red Sox.

What Happened:  Buchanan pitched five shutout innings and was rewarded after the game by getting promoted to the third starter's spot, flip flopping with the struggling Jerome Williams.  Chase Utley went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and finished the spring with a .412 average.

Featured Cards/Camp Head Count:  As of this writing, late Saturday night, the camp head count stands officially at 32 - 4 = 28.  Non-roster invitees Russ Canzler, Rene Garcia and Cord Phelps were all reassigned to minor league camp while Rule 5 selection Andy Oliver was outrighted and elected free agency.  I had thought Oliver actually had a decent spring, compiling a 3.55 ERA over 12 2/3 innings while leading the entire pitching staff with 22 strikeouts.  In the end, the Phillies decided they wouldn't have a place for the southpaw on the roster all season and he was let go.

2013 Topps Update #US92

Relievers Jeanmar Gomez and Cesar Jimenez both had their contracts selected ending weeks of speculation as to who would wind up making the team's bullpen.  Jeff Francoeur and Andres Blanco are the last two non-roster invitees standing and a decision as to their fate will be made before Monday afternoon.

It also appears as if the team found another bullpen arm.  Dustin McGowan, who was released by the Dodgers on Tuesday has reportedly signed with the Phillies.  I usually don't make Chachi New Additions cards until the deal is officially announced, but I felt like whipping this one up while waiting for the Easter Bunny to stop by.  McGowan spent the first 15 years of his professional career with the Blue Jays and he signed with the Dodgers in February.  In seven spring relief appearances with the Dodgers, McGowan allowed six runs in eight innings pitched while striking out five.

His last mainstream baseball cards came within the 2010 Topps and Upper Deck sets.

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Official Phillies Arrivals and a Departure

2014 Chachi Departures #4

2014 Chachi New Additions #3

2014 Chachi New Additions #4

As I'm writing this, Jimmy Rollins is officially still a member of the Phillies . . .

Before the inevitable happens and that deal becomes official, I wanted to take a quick look at the other guys who came and went last week.  I have to admit, none of these moves are overly exciting to me but I'm hoping that the Phillies powers that be have an inkling of what they're doing and that these moves are the first steps to getting the team back to its winning ways.

Bastardo Traded to the Pirates

On Wednesday, at right around the same time the Rollins deal was going down, the Phillies traded left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates for left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez.  Bastardo had earned the ire of Phillies fans over the past few years with his inconsistent pitching and ability to come into a crucial relief situation and douse the flames with gasoline.

I only have 18 of Bastardo's cards in my collection, which is odd considering he's been bouncing around with the Phillies since 2009.  Such is the fate of a non-closing relief pitcher in today's baseball card world.

Rodriguez is 23 years old and has pitched in the Pirates system since 2009.  He pitched for Double-A Altoona last year, going 6-11 with a 4.84 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched.  It doesn't appear as if he's had any mainstream baseball cards to date.

Phillies Select Two in Rule 5 Draft

The Phillies have always been active in the annual Rule 5 draft, and this year's draft was no exception.  They first claimed infielder/outfielder Odubel Herrera from the Texas Rangers and shortly after selected pitcher Andy Oliver from the Pirates.  Both need to remain on the active roster all season, or be offered back to their former teams.

Herrera is already being mentioned as the team's starting center fielder in 2015, hopefully providing a little more offensive punch than Ben Revere did in 2014.  Based on my limited research, Herrera doesn't have any mainstream baseball cards yet.

Oliver has actually seen time in the Majors with the Tigers in 2010 and 2011 and he was traded to the Pirates in late 2012.  With Triple-A Indianapolis last season, Oliver pitched 64 innings over 48 games with a 2.53 ERA.  He had several Topps baseball cards in 2010, including appearances in Bowman Chrome and Topps Update.