Introducing 2016 Phungo Cards

We here at Phungo HQ are very excited to announce the release the newest iteration of Phungo Cards.

2016 Phungo #1 Maikel Franco

Card #1 goes to Maikel Franco.

The departures of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Cole Hamels coupled with the decline of Ryan Howard have left the once mighty Phillies with a dearth of talent. Maikel Franco is one of the few bright spots remaining.


2016 Phungo
I have wanted to do a wood grain based card for a while. We are now 29 years removed from the 1987 Topps Set. This means we have put more distance between 1987T and today then the space between that set and the original Topps woody in 1962.

In today's climate I don't see Topps going back to the wood grain set anytime soon. There is already a glut of retro sets and I see flagship going more contemporary with Stadium Club style designs.

The 2016 Phungo design is inspired/stolen from a Canadian issue 1912 Imperial Tobacco. It is a set that is pretty scarce and basically beyond my price point. The second best way to get myself some of these century old cards was to create my own which is what I did. 

In the coming weeks we will be showing off the 2016 Phungo cards, hope you enjoy them.

Sources and Links
2016 Phungo Checker
Baseball-ref

2016 Phungo Checklist

2016 Phungo #1 Maikel Franco

This is a checklist of the 2016 Phungo Set. The Names in Green can be clicked to see a column related to the card.

1	Maikel Franco
2	Grant Fuhr (31)
3	Dave Roberts
4	Nick Williams
5	Corey Seager
6	Ryan Howard
7	-Ivan Rodriguez
8	Pat Burrell Phanatic
9	Adam Morgan
10	Ron Cey
11	Jimmy Rollins
12	Todd Frazier (21)
13	Freddy Galvis
14	Ernie Banks mem
15	AJ Pierzynski
16	Bo Jackson
17	Shelby Miller
18	Mike Mills (Clemente)
19	Vai Sikahema
20	Odubel Herrera (37)
21	Carlos Correa (PR - RoY)
22	Chris Archer
23	Danny Duffy (41)
24	Rick Ankiel/ Ozzie Smith
25	Yoenis Cespedes (GG) (52)
26	Chase Utley
27	Mike Trout MVP
28	Daniel Murphy LCS MVP
29	Cameron Rupp
30	Bobby Shantz
31	Max Scherzer 31/37/39
32	Janene Garofalo
33	Matt Harvey
34	Bryce Harper MVP 2015 0412 2880
35	Cole Hamels
36	Edinson Volquez (36)
37	Masanori Murakami
38	Aaron Nola
39	Kevin Kiermaier
40	Eric Hosmer WS GG
41	Matt Szczur
42	Ernie Westfield
43	Julio Teheran (43)
44	Anthony Rizzo
45	Pete Rose
46	Jorge Alfaro (any)
47	Johnny Cueto (47)
48
49
50
51	Carlos Ruiz

Sources and Links
Phungo Card Checklists

Game Report 2015 0516: DiamondBacks @ Phillies

An hour-plus rain delay could not spoil the fun for team Phungo as we got to see a 7-5 victory for the good guys who ran their win streak to four games.

This may not have been a great game for a bunch of reasons but there was a lot of offense.

 

Jeff Francoeur 2015 05 16

The Phillies had Francoeur in Right and Grady Sizemore in left. Ryne Sandberg had not paired those corners with Odubel Herrera in the outfield prior to Saturday night, The way things worked out it may happen more often in the future. Frenchy had a home run and Sizemore had his first four hit game since 2008

In the above photo that is former Reading Phillies farmhand Tuffy Gosewisch wearing the tools of ignorance.

Jerome Williams 2015 05 16

I wanted to get a decent shot of Williams and the pink glove that he wears to honor his mother and her battle with cancer. 

Archie Bradley 2015 05 16

I had been checking the probables in anticipation of a potential start by Archie Bradley. Aside from seeing a Phils W my game priorities are seeing opposition stars and buzz worthy prospects.

Saturday night was Archie Bradley's first start since being struck by a line drive on April 28th.

During the rain delay a bunch of fans wearing Bradley jerseys took shelter near my spot on the rail. I got involved in a short conversation with Archie's uncle. About a dozen family and friends had made the journey out from Bradley's native Oklahoma to see his return. They all seemed very nice and enjoyed the trip despite the young pitchers tough outing.

Yasmany Tomas 2015 0516

The Diamondback Cuban rookie Yasmany Tomas had a good game which included his first career Home Run.  However at the eye test level I felt as if he was a bit of a free-swinger. I am not sure if he is going to make it by swinging at the first pitch in every AB. He also appeared to have an issue communicating on the bases - At some point early in the game when Tomas was on 2nd base it was obvious he was having communication issues with a coach on the bench.  

2015 05 16 Maikel Franco

The D-Backs were not the only team sending out prospects on Saturday Night. Phillies Rookie Maikel Franco, who got  a look last September, made his 2nd start of 2014 and collected his first hit.

VittlesPop

Jim Cramer acknowledges crowd prior to ceremonial first pitch 2015 0516

Philadelphia native and host of Mad Money Jim Cramer threw out the first pitch for the game. Perhaps he was trying to get a card in the Topps First Pitch Insert.
 

2015 0516 Citizens Bank Park

While it is tough putting up with a rain delay, it can still be fun to watch at a stadium. Most folks don't have this type of view of rainstorm at their disposal and Saturday night's rainfall was pretty epic. It is hard to see it in a picture, but in the shot above I did try to capture the sheets of rain migrating across the field.

Observations
I never played baseball above Little League, therefore I am no authority but IMO the D-backs looked AWFUL on their cutoff formations. At least twice I thought they would have had a play at second had they had a player covering.

Jerome Williams was able to resume pitching after the rain delay which was officially listed as 1 hour and 17 minutes.

Freddy Galvis can foul off a pitch. Not sure if he will hit .340+ all year but the fact that he can battle with 2 strikes is a nice asset to have.

Apparently AZ reliever Brad Ziegler was drafted by the Phillies. This is something I either never knew or had forgotten

We have noted this before but it is worth reiterating - No matter how bad the Phils team is there will be a solid tailgate crowd. 

Source and Links
Beckett
baseball-ref
ESPN LA
MLB
Chase's Calendar of Events
 

2015 Phillies WAR Projections Maikel Franco Phungo #7

Now that we have  almost reached the 15th of May Maikel Franco can start his rookie year.

2015 Phungo #7 Maikel Franco

Do to MLBs weird rules involving rookie status and free agency Franco will soon join a group that includes Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Austin Hedges, AJ Cole, Carlos Rodon and others. They are all making their Major League debuts this season or being held up an extra few weeks because they debuted in September of 2014.

After a hot start The Phillies opening day 3rd baseman, Cody Asche has gone cold. It appears Franco will become the everyday player and Asche will join the sketchy group of Phillies outfielders. 

2015 WAR 
Maikel Franco has been hitting well at AAA this season but he struggled in 58 plate appearances last year. When he does get called up he will be one of the 10 youngest players in the NL. I am thinking Franco will get enough playing time to get a glimpse at who he will be as a major leaguer and I think he will make positive contributions. Mark him down to +1.5 WAR in 2015.

Sources and Links
2015+ Phillies WAR Projections  
2015 Phungo Cards

Baseball-ref