Happy Trails, Kyle Kendrick

2015 Chachi Departures #10

This past Wednesday, the Colorado Rockies signed pitcher Kyle Kendrick to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with additional incentives available if he reaches certain inning plateaus.  The articles I've read on the signing indicate that the Rockies hope Kendrick can be a back-of-the-rotation innings eater.

In parts of eight seasons with the Phillies between 2007 and 2014, Kendrick appeared in 226 games, going 74-68 with a 4.42 ERA.  He was frustratingly inconsistent, showing signs of brilliance in one start only to follow that up with a completely crappy performance in his next outing.  Kendrick only made one postseason appearance with the Phillies, getting lit up by the Rockies in Game 2 of the N.L.D.S.  Kendrick lasted just 3 2/3 innings before giving way to Kyle Lohse.  That was the first Phillies postseason game I ever attended, and I honestly think I'm still a little bitter about it.

I have 51 different Kendrick baseball cards in my Phillies collection, ranging from his 2004 Batavia Muckdogs card to his final Phillies card (as of right now) in the 2014 team issued second series.  One of my favorite Kendrick cards appeared in the 2008 Chachi set, documenting Kendrick's "trade" to Japan.

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2015 Chachi Departures #9

2015 Chachi Departures #11

Also heading west is back-up catcher Wil Nieves who signed a minor league deal with the Padres.  Nieves hit .254 over 36 games in his one season with the Phillies, earning Phillies baseball cards in both team issued sets and the 2014 Topps Update set.

Finally, reliever B.J. Rosenberg becomes the third ex-Phillie to join the Dodgers this offseason, following Jimmy Rollins and Jeremy Horst.  Rosenberg appeared in 57 games for the Phillies between 2012 and 2014, going 4-2 with a 5.72 ERA.  His only two Phillies baseball cards can be found in the 2012 second edition team issued set and the 2014 first edition team issued set.

Moving On
Reid Brignac (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Miami Marlins organization 11/19/14)
Jeremy Horst (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization 1/27/15)
Jeff Manship (10/2/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Cleveland Indians organization 12/24/14)
Tony Gwynn, Jr. (10/10/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.
B.J. Rosenberg (10/27/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.  (Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization 2/7/15)
Mike Adams (10/30/14) - Team option declined, making him a free agent.
Kyle Kendrick (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Colorado Rockies 2/4/15)
Wil Nieves (10/30/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the San Diego Padres organization 2/3/15)
A.J. Burnett (11/3/14) - Declined option for 2015, elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates 11/14/14)
Brad Lincoln (11/4/14) - Elected free agency.  (Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization 11/18/14)
Antonio Bastardo (12/10/14) - Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joely Rodriguez.
Jimmy Rollins (12/19/14) - Traded with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tom Windle and Zach Eflin.
Marlon Byrd (12/31/14) - Traded with cash to the Cincinnati Reds for Ben Lively.

Coming Back
Andres Blanco (11/13/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Koyie Hill (11/20/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
Sean O'Sullivan (12/16/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.

New Additions
Elvis Araujo (11/13/14) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians organization.
Joely Rodriguez (12/10/14) - Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo.
Odubel Herrera (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Texas Rangers.
Andy Oliver (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Aaron Harang (1/5/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves.
Jordan Danks (1/16/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
Chad Billingsley (1/29/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2014 Chachi #20 B.J. Rosenberg

#39

Brian James Rosenberg

Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  220

Born:  September 17, 1985, Newport News, VA

Home:  Carmel, IN

Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies in the 13th round of the June 2008 draft

Teams:  Phillies 2012-

Acquired: Via draft

Phillies Cards in My Collection:

#1 - 2012 Phillies Team Issue 2 #53

#2 - 2014 Phillies Team Issue #39

In addition to the two Phillies cards listed above, I have eight minor league cards of Rosenberg's in my collection.

First Chachi Card:  2012 Chachi #38

2013 Topps Museum Collection #40 Cole Hamels

Phillies 3, Braves 2
Game 143 - Sunday Afternoon, September 8th in Philadelphia
Record - 66-77, 3rd Place, 19 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Darin Ruf salvaged the well-deserved win for Cole Hamels with a solo home run in the eighth, giving the Phils a 3-2 win over the Braves.

What It Means:  It means that the lowly Phillies have swept the first place Braves.  The win improved Ryne Sandberg's managerial record to 13-10.

What Went Right:  Hamels was spectacular yet again, with his only blemishes coming in the form of two monster home runs allowed to Braves left fielder Evan Gattis.  Hamels struck out nine on the way to his seventh win of the season.  Chase Utley started the scoring in the first with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Ruf.

2013 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs Update #20

Featured Cards:  I absolutely had to feature a Hamels card to honor his gem in this game.  But I couldn't miss another opportunity to continue the Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update Team Set Appreciation Week at The Phillies Room.  B.J. Rosenberg earned his first career save in this game, as a result of regular closer Jonathan Papelbon needing the day off.
 
According to my non-scientific records, Rosenberg's sole Phillies card to date can be found in the team's 2.1 postcard set from last year.  His only cards in 2013 can be found in the IronPigs' team sets.

2013 Chachi #38 B.J. Rosenberg

#53

Brian James Rosenberg

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'3"  Weight: 220

Born: September 17, 1985, Newport News, VA

Home: Carmel, IN

Drafted: Selected by Phillies in 13th round of June 2008 draft

Teams: Phillies 2012-

Acquired: Via draft

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2012 Chachi #38 B.J. Rosenberg

#53

Brian James Rosenberg

Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 6'3"  Weight: 220

Born: September 17, 1985, Newport News, VA

Home: Carmel, IN

Drafted: Selected by Phillies in 13th round of June 2008 draft

Teams: Phillies 2012

Acquired: Via draft

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2012 Phillies - The Missing Links (So Far)

2012 Topps #658, 2012 Topps Giants #SF7, 2012 Topps #154 and #465

With the half-way point of the 2012 season quickly approaching, and with almost a dozen different Topps offerings on the market, I wanted to take a look at which 2012 Phillies players have yet to appear on any Phillies baseball cards.  Given the recent trend of Topps not including the fringe guys (back-up catchers, bench players, middle relievers) in their sets, the hope of adding a Phillies baseball card of one of these guys to my collection diminishes with each passing month.  If and when the Phillies issue a second edition of the postcard-sized set available at the ballpark, some of these guys just might get the Phillies cardboard appreciation they deserve.

As of this writing, 35 different players have suited up for the 2012 Phillies.  (Game data below through June 17th.)

3 or More Cards
23 Players

Brian Sanches hasn't had a Phillies card since 2007, from his first stint with the club, but his Phillies cards from 2006 and 2007 earn him entrance into the "3 or More" club above.

2 Cards
Juan Pierre (58 games in 2012) - 2012 Phillies Team Issue #10 and 2012 Topps #658
Michael Schwimer (12 games in 2011 and 12 games in 2012) - 2012 Phillies Team Issue #44 and 2012 Topps #465

1 Card
Pete Orr (46 games in 2011 and 23 games in 2012) - 2011 Phillies Team Issue 2 #5
Ty Wigginton (61 games in 2012) - 2012 Phillies Team Issue #24
Chad Qualls (29 games in 2012) - 2012 Phillies Team Issue #50

Laynce Nix (22 games in 2012) - 2012 Phillies Team Issue #19

These four players are still waiting for their first standard size Phillies card.  I'm actually a little surprised that Wigginton didn't make it into Topps Series 2.  (I would have swapped out the card of Jose Contreras for a Wigginton card.)

2012 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #26, #15, #14 and #21

0 Cards
Mike Fontenot (25 games in 2012)
Hector Luna (16 games in 2012)
Erik Kratz (2 games in 2011 and 5 games in 2012)
Jake Diekman (13 games in 2012)
Raul Valdes (11 games in 2012)
B.J. Rosenberg (2 games in 2012)

I would think that pitching prospects Diekman and Rosenberg will eventually find themselves with Phillies cards.  And if Fontenot's playing time dramatically increases with the injury to Freddy Galvis, he could be a good candidate for the Topps Update series.  But honestly, the only hope for the other three guys (Luna, Kratz and Valdes) is inclusion within the aforementioned second edition of the Phillies Team Issue set.

Two More Non-Roster Invitees

2011 Multi-Ad Reading Phillies #15 and #22

The Phillies recently invited two more right-handed pitchers to Spring Training, bringing the non-roster tally to 15.  Barring any other additions, the Phils will send 55 players to Clearwater in mid-February in an attempt to whittle down to the best 25.  All that is left to do is to assign the non-roster guys uniform numbers in the 60's and 70's and then load up the equipment truck.

Both Austin Hyatt and B.J. Rosenberg, the 14th and 15th non-roster invitees respectively, spent their 2011 seasons with Double-A Reading.

Player (position) - 2011 Organization - Last Major Cardboard Appearance
14.  Austin Hyatt (rhp) - Phillies - 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP63 (Phillies)
15.  B.J. Rosenberg (rhp) - Phillies - Only minor league cards so far