Farewell: 2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

On Monday we go the news that Chad Durbin retired. Durbin may have only been a middle reliever for the Phillies, but he performed that job for the 2008 World Champions. That season was among Chad’s best,  He had a 2.87 ERA (152 ERA+) in 87+ innings for the Champs. He was a member of three of the Phillies recent postseason teams (2008-2010) prior to moving on to Cleveland and Atlanta then returning to the Phillies for one last stretch this past season.


2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

This will always be one of my favorite Phungo Cards and I have featured it a number of times. Partially because I like the card, and partially because there really aren't many Chad Durbin cards.

The photo was taken looking down into the Phillies Bullpen following the clinching W in the 2008 World Series. I met Chad Durbin at a card show in 2011 and told him about the picture, he mentioned that he remembered being in the bullpen celebrating. He said it was like being in a movie with all the bright lights shining down and people cheering.

By an account I have ever read Durbin is a really decent guy and seems to understand how lucky he has been. He also seems to be prepared for life after baseball. I read via twitter yesterday that he is working with a bat company and if I remember correctly even during his playing days he had an online project that helped connect prospects with scouts. I hope Durbin finds a post playing career with the Phillies or another organization. He's a good guy for the game to have around.

2008 World Series Champs

With the Durbin retirement announcement it felt like a good time to Where are they Now the 08 Champs:

Carlos Ruiz - With Phillies, Just signed to stay on through 2015.
Ryan Howard – With Phillies contracted forever for lots o $$
Chase Utley – Resigned with Phillies during 2013 through 2016ish
Pedro Feliz - Out of MLB appears to have last played with Camden Riversharks in 2012.
Jimmy Rollins - contracted with Phillies thru 2014 and possibly 2015
Pat Burrell – Retired after winning another World Series with the 2010 San Francisco Giants. Currently scouting with the Giants.
Shane Victorino – RF for the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Selling his beard for charity.
Jayson Werth – playing RF for megabucks with division rival Washington Nationals

Cole Hamels – Phillies current Ace.
Jamie Moyer – Retired in 2012 at age of 49.
Brett Myers – pitched as reliever for Indians in 2013, Released on 8/29 and is currently a Free Agent.
Joe Blanton – was 2-14 for the 2013 Angels.
Kyle Kendrick – was in Phillies organization in 2013, but may be a free agent this winter.


Chris Coste – Retired, last played MLB in 2009. Has done pre-/post- on Phils Broadcasts.
Eric Bruntlett – Retired last MLB appearance 2009
Greg Dobbs – with the Marlins in 2013.
Geoff Jenkins – Game 5 of the 2008 World Series was Jenkins last MLB game ever.
Matt Stairs – Retired, last played MLB with 2011 Nats.
So Taguchi – Returned to play in Japan, retired in 2012.


JC Romero – Pitched in Indians and Nationals Minor League system in 2013
Scott Eyre – Retired after 2009 Season with the Phillies
Brad Lidge – Retired as a Philie in 2013. Last pitched in 2012 with Nationals
Ryan Madson – Has not pitched in the Majors since left Philadelphia as FA in 2011. He is currently a FA was last seen in the Angels org.
Clay Condrey - Last pitched in the Twins organization in 2010.
Chad Durbin – See Above

Sources
Baseball-ref.com 

Updates
2013 11 27 - added Jimmy Rollins and Clay Condrey 

G-BUM 2013 01 29

This is our second edition of Good, Bad, Ugly, Meh or G-BUM which I see as a snapshot of what is happening on Planet Phungo.

Ugly

    

The Ugly always seems more interesting then the good - we will start there this week: 

 

- 2013 Philly Bike Race Cancelled - every year in early June there is a major bike race that runs through town including a legendar climb up the "Manayunk Wall".  At this time this 2013 race has been cancelled. Phungo 2 Cents sez the race is a lot bigger event then biking - and biking the sport is bigger then any single individual. I am sure there is a lot of reasons for corporations pulling sponsorships from the race, but to base it off of the fate of a single individual is short-sighted.  The Philly Bike Race existed long before most of us heard of Lance Armstrong and will be here long after him. -5  

 

- In Semi-related news - more PEDs in MLB - just in time for opening day. hooray.  -1.

 

2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin


Good

 

-Downton Abbey/Girls combo on Sunday night - Yes I am a man and I wind down my wild weekends by watching ChicksterTV +1

 

-Phillies Welcome back Chad Durbin - ok he is really a blah middle reliever, but anybody from the 2008 World Championship squad is a plus for team Phungo, +1

 

-Great Philadelphia Restaurant Week dinner at Zahav +2    

 

Bad

 

-Flyers 2-4 start -1

 

-FICA tax - of course my father retired last year, so I figure I am just throwing $$ in his pocket.  Push.

 

Meh

    

-"Life of Pi" ran a little long for me.  I agree it is visually mind blowing and the story is good - but I stop short of great.  push. 

 

-@KeithOlbernann rips 2013 Topps cards on Twitter - Gets SSPs and Cool Inserts He is Topps1%. My 3 Packs will likely include blah inserts and no Phillies -1 

 

 

Phungo Scorecard:

This Week -4 

2013 to date: -7

 

 

Last Card Show of the Year

I know I have been blasting Card Show posts repeatedly over the last month and a half, but other then a possible recap next week, this should be the last one of the year. 

On Saturday Team Phungo plans on hitting a new show - This is only in the interest of professional resarch - it isn't because we have a bad card habit or something like that. 

This is a show sponsored by Poppel.com at the Bucks Co Technical Institute in Bristol Twp PA.  I have only ever been to one previous Poppel show at the Granite Run Mall - which may  have had a dozen tables.  From what I understand the shows hosted at Bucks Technical are their bigger shows. 

2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

There are a bunch of low-level autograph guests scheduled for the show including former Phils Chad Durbin, Greg Dobbs, Wes Chamberlain, and Ben Riviera.  Flyers Great Ed Van Impe and Phils Broadcaster Chris Wheeler are other notable guests. 

The Show runs 9:30-3:30 and admission is $3.  Autos are $10 and up.  for more information clikc here and then hit the Bucks Co Technical School Tab. 

On the Hunt

What will Team Phungo be looking for? 

1) My first priority will be completing my 1959 Topps set.  After a banner day at the Valley Forge Show last week and picking up a couple of cards on the Bay this week, I am down to the final 11 cards in this set.  Part of me thinks I am in the zone, the other part of me thinks the hot streak has got to be coming to an end.

2) Phillies Vintage.  I have been pretty busy working on getting my Phils vintage want list into a more user friendly form.  This will get it's dry run at the Poppel show. 

3) At each show, I try and add something to my Type Collection.  Last week I picked up my first 1963 Fleer Card. 

4) Would like to add to list of Hall of Famer's whom I have cards from their playing career collection.  I have been looking at Kiner, Rizzuto and Bobby Doerr cards recently, but haven't found anything suitable in my $$ range. 

5) knocking out a few checkers from my various want lists of recently issued sets.

Phungo Cards - Chad Durbin

2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin

Last night Chad Durbin earned his 2nd save of the season by pitching a scoreless 12th inning versus the Cubs. It was a pretty intresting game involving 2 reigning division champs who are both potential playoff teams in 2009.

Cubs starter Rich Harden was perfect through 5 1/3 with a 2-0 lead when things just went awry for him. He gave up a walk to the 8 hitter (Carlos Ruiz) losing the perfect game. Later that inning he lost the no-hitter and shutout when he gave up a game tying homer to Jimmy Rollins.

The Cubs bullpen let them down in the eighth when Carlos Marmol walked in the go-ahead run after walking/HBP the bases loaded.

In the 9th Brad Lidge came on to get the save but could not convert when he walked the leadoff batter (Fukudome) who scored on a Milton Bradley single.

Finally in the 12th, newest Phillie, Ben Francisco hit a homer off Cubs closer Kevin Gregg to give the Phils the lead. Following that Chad Durbin shut down the Cubs and got the save.

It was only Durbin's 4th career save, 2 of which were of the 3 inning variety.

This is one of my favorite Phungo Cards. The photo was taken during the post game celebration of the 2008 World Series. I was standing in an area behind the centerfield bleachers above the bullpens. Durbin and Scott Eyre were out there gathering up dirt as souveniers and signing autographs - generally enjoying themselves. Someone called down to Chad as he was leaving the area - he looked up and waved and I got the shot.

I framed the shot to show that Chad is enjoying an adult bevarage. I think it is humourous that this guy just won the World Series and here he is drinking a light beer FROM A CAN. I am sure that it was all provided by a sponser but I still find it very funny.