Chase Utley is Going Back to the World Series

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to congratulate my hero (and Phillies Legend) Chase Utley for going back to the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers won the National League Championship last night (October 19th) by beating the Chicago Cubs in five games and will be going to the World Series to face the winner of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.  Good luck in the World Series, Chase....I'll be rooting for you.

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Aaron Altherr Returns from the DL

Hi everybody,

Phillies starting outfielder Aaron Altherr returned from the DL (Disabled List) in last night's (July 26th) game against the Houston Astros.  Altherr had been on the DL since July 14th with a strained right hamstring.  Welcome back, Aaron Altherr!

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Daniel Nava Placed on the DL

Hi everybody,

Phillies outfielder Daniel Nava was placed on the 10-day DL (Disabled List) with a left hamstring strain before last night's (July 26th) game against the Houston Astros.  The injury occurred during Saturday's (July 22nd) game against the Milwaukee Brewers so Nava's DL stint is retroactive to July 23rd.  Nava will be able to return by August 2nd, but it is unknown if he will be ready to play by then.

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 99: Astros (67-33) at Phillies (34-64)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Houston Astros:                               0
Philadelphia Phillies:                      9

SP:   Aaron Nola

WP:   Aaron Nola (8-6)


RBIs:

Cameron Rupp = 4 (22)
Nick Williams = 1 (19)
Maikel Franco = 2 (54)
Tommy Joseph = 2 (48)

Home Runs:

Cameron Rupp = 2 (9)
Maikel Franco = 1 (15)

Runs Scored:

Cesar Hernandez = 1 (48)
Nick Williams = 1 (11)
Aaron Altherr = 2 (42)
Maikel Franco = 1 (39)
Tommy Joseph = 2 (38)
Cameron Rupp = 2 (25)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 98: Astros (66-33) at Phillies (34-63)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Houston Astros:                               5
Philadelphia Phillies:                      0

SP:   Nick Pivetta

LP:   Nick Pivetta (3-6)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 97: Astros (65-33) at Phillies (34-62)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Houston Astros:                              13
Philadelphia Phillies:                      4

SP:   Vincent Velasquez

LP:   Vincent Velasquez (2-6)


RBIs:

Tommy Joseph = 1 (46)
Nick Williams = 3 (18)

Runs Scored:

Cesar Hernandez = 1 (47)
Odubel Herrera = 1 (42)
Andrew Knapp = 1 (24)
Cameron Perkins = 1 (5)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Alumni Weekend - Placido Polanco Retires as a Phillie

Hi everybody,

Former Phillies second and third baseman Placido Polanco retired as a Phillie before yesterday's game against the Colorado Rockies.  Polanco played for the Phils from 2002-2005 (when he was traded to allow my hero Chase Utley to start every game) and again from 2010-2012.

Polanco had many career highlights while playing in Philadelphia...including hitting his 2,000th hit (a Home Run) on May 14th, 2012 against the Houston Astros and earning his third Gold Glove (at third base) at the end of the 2011 season.  Polanco is only the second player in MLB history to win Gold Gloves at two different positions (he won his first two as a second baseman with the Detroit Tigers).  Congrats on a great career Polly and I look forward to hopefully seeing you on the Phillies Wall of Fame someday.

Throwing out the first pitch....

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Phillies Acquire Jimmy Paredes in Trade

Hi everybody,

Yesterday the Phillies acquired utility player Jimmy Paredes in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in which the Blue Jays will receive cash considerations. Paredes is able to play 2nd and 3rd base as well as both corner outfield positions.  It is hoped that Paredes will provide more pop for the struggling Phils offense.  To make room on the roster, the Phillies have designated Emmanuel Burriss for assignment.

Paredes has also previously played for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles.

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Ken Giles Traded To The Houston Astros

Hi everybody,

The Phillies traded closer Ken Giles and Minor League infielder Jonathan Arauz to the Houston Astros for pitchers Vincent Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer, Thomas Eshelman, Mark Appel and Harold Arauz earlier this week.  All five of the newly acquired starting pitchers are projected to be either on the Phils or in Triple A at the start of the 2016 season.

I want to wish Ken Giles well with the Astros.

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Jerome Williams Makes Baseball History

Hi everybody,

Phillies starting pitcher Jerome Williams made baseball history yesterday (September 20th) when he beat the Oakland Athletics for the third time this season while being on three different ball clubs.  The first win came on April 26th with the Houston Astros.  The second win happened on July 25th with the Texas Rangers. Congrats to Jerome Williams for this historic achievement.

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Roberto Hernandez Traded to the Dodgers

Hi everybody,

Phillies starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday afternoon for either two players to be named later or cash considerations. Hernandez was supposed to start last night's (August 7th) game against the Houston Astros.  He was replaced in the starting lineup by Triple A pitcher Sean O'Sullivan.  O'Sullivan is expected to remain in the starting rotation for the remainder of the season.

I wish Hernandez the best of luck with the Dodgers.  Here are Hernandez's final 2014 pitching stats with the Phillies:

Win-Loss Record:   6-8
ERA:   3.87
Games Started:   20
Game Appearances:   23
Strikeouts:   75
Walks:   55
Hits Allowed:   108
Runs Allowed:   57
Earned Runs Allowed:   52
Home Runs Allowed:   11
Walks Allowed:   55
Innings Pitches:   121.00

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 115: Astros (47-67) at Phillies (51-63)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Houston Astros:                               5
Philadelphia Phillies:                      6

SP:   Sean O'Sullivan

WP:   Mario Hollands (2-1)
SV:    Jonathan Papelbon (27)


RBIs:

Carlos Ruiz = 1 (17)
Cody Asche = 1 (36)
Ryan Howard = 4 (71)

Home Runs:

Ryan Howard = 1 (18)*

* Grand Slam in the 8th

Runs Scored:

Ben Revere = 1 (51)
Jimmy Rollins = 1 (60)
Ryan Howard = 1 (51)
Marlon Byrd = 1 (58)
Carlos Ruiz = 1 (32)
Cody Asche = 1 (26)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 114: Astros (47-66) at Phillies (50-63)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Houston Astros:                               3
Philadelphia Phillies:                     10

SP:   David Buchanan

WP:   David Buchanan (6-5)


RBIs:*

Ryan Howard = 2 (67)
Wil Nieves = 1 (5)
David Buchanan = 1 (1)
Chase Utley = 3 (59)
Marlon Byrd = 1 (64)

* Two additional runs scored due to an error

Home Runs:

Chase Utley = 1 (10)

Runs Scored:

Ben Revere = 2 (50)
Jimmy Rollins = 2 (59)
Chase Utley = 2 (57)
Ryan Howard = 1 (50)
Marlon Byrd = 1 (57)
Grady Sizemore = 1 (12)
David Buchanan = 1 (1)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 113: Astros (47-65) at Phillies (49-63)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:*

Houston Astros:                             1
Philadelphia Phillies:                     2

* Extra Innings (Game ended in the 15th)

SP:   Kyle Kendrick

WP:   Hector Neris (1-0)


RBIs:

Ryan Howard = 2 (65)

Home Runs:

Ryan Howard = 1 (17)

Runs Scored:

Ryan Howard = 1 (49)
Grady Sizemore = 1 (11)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Roy Oswalt is Retiring

Hi everybody,

Former Phillies starting pitcher Roy Oswalt announced his retirement yesterday.  Oswalt had a 13-year career that spanned four teams.  He played for 9+ seasons with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Phillies in July of 2010.  He remained with the Phils until the end of the 2011 season and was a part of the Four Aces along with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.  He spent his final two seasons with the Texas Rangers (2012) and Colorado Rockies (2013).

One of my favorite memories of Oswalt was an extra innings game in late 2010.  Due to a lack of players left available, Oswalt was forced to play left field in the top of the 15th inning. He received loud cheers and even caught a ball hit out to him.  He seemed to be enjoying himself out there as evidenced by the picture above.  Good luck in the future Roy Oswalt....I enjoyed watching you pitch in Philly!

The Four Aces

Always found this picture funny.......

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Tyler Cloyd and Raul Valdes Claimed Off Waivers

Tyler Cloyd

Hi everybody,

Phillies pitchers Tyler Cloyd and Raul Valdes were placed on waivers by the Phillies.  They were then claimed off waivers yesterday.  Cloyd was claimed by the Cleveland Indians and Valdes was claimed by the Houston Astros.

Raul Valdes

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Hunter Pence July Update

Pence's 1st Day in Philly

Hi everybody,

Welcome to the latest Hunter Pence update.  In case you want to catch up....here are the previous updates:

Hunter Pence June Update

Hunter Pence May Update

Hunter Pence April Update

Here are Hunter's stats as of the end of the day on July 28th, 2013:

Batting Average = .277
RBIs = 51
Home Runs = 14
Runs Scored = 55
Walks = 26
Stolen Bases = 14
Strike Outs = 71

Hunter has struggled a bit at the plate this past month but I still feel that he would have been an asset to the Phillies this season.

I should mention that today is the 2 year anniversary of Pence being acquired by the Phillies from the Houston Astros.  According to the MLB rumor mill, he may be on the move again.  If he is traded, it will be the third year in a row of Hunter joining a new team.  I wish the Phils would trade to get him back but I know that won't be happening.

In any event, here is the Hunter Pence Photo of the Month for July.  Hope you all enjoy it!

Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 147: Phillies (73-73) at Astros (47-99)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of today's game:

Philadelphia Phillies:              6
Houston Astros:                       7

LP:   Antonio Bastardo (2-5)

Chase Utley gets an RBI (33)
Juan Pierre gets an RBI (24)
Ryan Howard gets two RBIs (46)
Domonic Brown gets two RBIs (20)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 146: Phillies (73-72) at Astros (46-99)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Philadelphia Phillies:              0
Houston Astros:                       5 

LP:   Kyle Kendrick (9-11)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase

Game 145: Phillies (72-72) at Astros (46-98)

Hi everybody,

Here is the score of last night's game:

Philadelphia Phillies:             12
Houston Astros:                       6

WP:   Cole Hamels (15-6)

Jimmy Rollins gets an RBI (61)
Ryan Howard gets three RBIs (44)
Chase Utley gets two RBIs (32)
Domonic Brown gets two RBIs (18)
John Mayberry Jr. gets three RBIs (46)
Kevin Frandsen gets an RBI (11)

Jimmy Rollins gets an RBI (20)
Domonic Brown gets an RBI (3)


Talk to you soon,
Little Chase