2016 Topps Scouting Report #SRA-AN Aaron Nola (rc - auto)

The Phillies Home Opener versus the San Diego Padres is today and 2nd year pitcher Aaron Nola will be the starting for the home squad.

Both the Aaron Nola Base and Autograph cards were part of the promotional material published by Cardboard Connection. I saw each card several times over the last couple of months but didn't really examine them until I took part in the Nachos Grande group break.

2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola

I am not sure how many collectors would consider Aaron Nola a good pull in a Hobby Box break of 2016 Topps, but if you have the Phillies in a Grouper it is a great pick.

When the cards from the group break arrived I quickly realized that the Nola Auto card has a different image than the base card

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola
2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola

Similar but definitely different. Notice on the base card Nola's head is angled more toward home. It also appears the index finger on his pitching hand is below the seam on the base card while it covers the seam on the auto. The angle of the non-pitching hand is different in the two shots.

Getty the Game
Both pictures were shot from the same angle and in fact were taken during the same game by the same photographer.  We discussed the base card last week and noted that the photo was this one taken by Miles Kennedy. The shot on the Auto card was also taken by Kennedy but it was taken an inning later than the base card.

During the 2nd inning of the game on July 21 2015 Aaron Nola faced four hitters yielding only one hit a single to Jake Elmore. Also during that same inning Nola recorded a strikeout of Rene Rivera.

2016 Topps Scouting Report Autograph #SRA-AN Aaron Nola (b-side)

The back of Nola's card mentions his best game of the season, a 2-0 combined shutout of the Marlins in which he got through 8 innings yielding just three hits while striking out six. The game is discussed on Nola's base card as well.

Phungo Game Cards
The picture is from a game attended by Team Phungo and will join the list of Phungo Game Cards.

Sources and Links
2016 Topps Index
2016 Topps Phillies
Getty Images
Baseball-ref

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (rc)

Aaron Nola didn't earn the Opening Day start for the rebuilding 2016 Philadelphia Phillies. That honor rightfully went to veteran Jeremy Hellickson.

Nola did earn the #2 spot in the rotation.

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola

The nice thing about getting the b-slot is that if the weather cooperates Nola will get the opportunity start the Phillies Home Opener on Monday.

The #133 card is Nola's first flagship card, and will likely be considered his rookie card - Note the mandatory RC flair in the bottom right. This likely will end up being the image my memory will permanently attach to 2016 Topps.

Flip

2016 Topps #133 Aaron Nola (b-side)

Nice blurb on the back of the card, the Text mentions that the Phillies sold 8,500 tix in the days leading up to Aaron Nola's debut - One of those tickets went to Team Phungo. The Phillies may have lost the game 1-0 but it still felt like a W, a symbolic turning of the page to a new generation of players.

Getty the Game
Now we get to the reason I love this card. The text on the back ties to the image on the front. I quickly perused the pictures on Getty Images and found this photo which was taken July 21 2015 during Nola's debut. The Getty Details are even good enough to mention that the picture was taken during the first inning, There were four batters in that inning the most prominent of which was Evan Longoria.

The Photo is credited to Miles Kennedy who has a few sports related images in the Getty library and appears to be a staff photographer with the Phillies.

Finally since this card features both a Photo on the front and text on the back that refers to a game team Phungo attended the card gets added to our favorite subset, the Phungo Games Collection.

2016 WAR
Hoping for a good sophomore year from Aaron Nola, +2.1. 

Sources and Links
Phungo Game Cards Index
2016 Topps Index
2016 Topps Phillies
Getty Images

MLB Debut on Opening Day as Phillies Centerfielder: Larry Hisle

This week Odubel Herrera became the first Phillies Centerfielder to make his Major League Debut on Opening day in over 40 years.

1970 Topps #288 Larry Hisle (rookie cup)

The last man to do it was Larry Hisle on April 10 1968. As can be seen by the Rookie Cup on his card Larry Hisle had a pretty good rookie campaign. Of course since the Cup is on a 1970T card it honors his performance during the 1969 campaign,  not the 1968 season when he debuted with the Phillies.

Larry Hisle was the first Draft Pick the Phillies ever signed - He was taken in the 2nd round of the MLB Inaugural 1965 draft. The team failed to sign first round pick Mike Adamson.

Among all outfielders drafted in 1965 Hisle ranks 2nd in career WAR(24.9) behind only Rick Monday, although at least Two players who became outfielders were drafted at other positions, Amos Otis and Hal McRae (both at SS).

It should be noted that Larry Hisle had his best seasons for the Twins after being traded away from Philadelphia. He played 300 games with just short of 1100 PAs for the Phils and racked up 1.2 WAR. His five seasons in Minnesota resulted in 17.2 WAR.


Obdubel Herrera
If  Odubel Herrera manages to have a Rookie Cup caliber season either this year or next I would be pretty happy.

Odubel Herrera in a Spring Training Game on 2015 03 06

I don't think I have a Herrera card in the phungo collection yet, so I will take this moment to put together some WAR projections for the Rule 5 Outfielder.  I see some commonalities between Herrera and 2011 Ben Revere. That is the 23 year old season for each, both had partial seasons in AA where they recorded comparable .300+ BA/.370+ OBP numbers with no pop.

In 2011 Ben Revere posted a 0.9 WAR, which would have been better if Revere wasn't such a poor fielder. I know that Herrera is new to the outfield, but I can't help but believe that he will be better fielder than Revere. I am going to go 1.3 WAR for Herrera, which was Revere's 2011 oWAR

1970 Topps
One of the things I have in the someday file is working up some postings related to the Phillies Rookie Cup winners. Don Money (shortstop) also represented the Phils on the 1970 Topps Rookie Cup Team. The other two outfielders to letter were Carlos May and Lou Piniella.   

Peanut Gallery
For some great rookie cup coverage check in with the Rockies Cards from the Quarry Blog. They appear to be on hiatus right now but they ran a nice series on on rookie cup cards that would be nice to see someone else continue.  

Sources and Links
2015 Phillies WAR Projections
SABR Bio by David E Skelton
Baseball-ref

Noteworthy: 2013 Bowman Platinum #BPP10 Javier Baez

There are dozens of disappointments in the Phillies 2014 season. The recent call by the Cubs of Javier Baez reminds us that the Phillies future looks bleak as well.

2013 Bowman Platinum #BPP10 Javier Baez 

September Call Ups are looming but the Phillies have no one near the caliber of Baez in their system.  At AAA this season the Cubs future second baseman or shortstop has knocked out 23 Homers along with 24 doubles. His BA is an ok .260 with a very respectable .510 slugging number. This is a followup to a 2013 season where Baez hit 37 Homers across 2 levels.

We don't know what the future holds for the 21 year old Javier Baez. We do know that prior to the season 3 different prospect ranking services placed Baez in the Top 10. There is no Phillies that were held in such high regard - Maikel Franco drew rankings ranging from #17 to #52, Jesse Biddle #53 - #94. Neither has had a good 2014, although Franco has played well for the last month.

As the Phillies turn the page to 2015 hopefully some prospects emerge and we can post a Bowman Card of a Phillies player next year.  

Sources
Baseball-ref

2013 Phungo #57 Zack Wheeler

The New York Mets have listed 2009 #6 overall pick Zack Wheeler as the starter for the 2nd game of Tuesday's double header against the Atlanta Braves.

2013 Phungo #57 Zack Wheeler

This is exciting news for the Mets, not so much for the Phillies. If Zack Wheeler turns out to be a first round talent, the Mets could potentially have two young aces (Matt Harvey being the other) at the top of their rotation for half a decade or longer.

Going into 2013 Zack Wheeler was listed as the #8 and #13 Prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America respectively.  His 2013 numbers in the hitter happy PCL (with Las Vegas) are 4-2 W/L with a 3.93 ERA, 1.282 WHIP, with 73Ks in 68 2/3 IPs. Those 68+ innings are spread out over 13 starts, so I would not expect a shutout or even a Gerrit Cole outing.  Wheeler has not exceeded 6 innings in his last 5 starts, and has only finished 6 or more four times this season. . 

Phungo Card
The Photo from this Phungo card was taken prior to last years AA All-Star game which was hosted by the Reading Phillies.  Unfortunatley Wheeler had pitched in the Futures Game earlier that week and did not get involved in the AA ASG.  

References
Baseball-Ref.com
MLB.com 
BaseballAmerica.com

1984 Toledo Mud Hens Jay Pettibone

Tonight Jonathan Petttibone makes his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies.  One of the happiest folks today win or lose will likely be Jay Pettibone.

1984 Toledo Mud Hens Jay Pettibone (image poached from ebay)

Jay Pettibone made 4 starts for the Minnesota Twins during a September call up in 1983. That is the the extent of his Major League career.  Pettibone's best start was probably his major league debut - He threw a Complete Game versus the Kansas City Royals. Pettibone entered the 9th inning having only given up 3 hits and 1 run - However the Twins had also only scored a single run.  Pettibone retired the first two batters in the 9th before giving up a single to Hal McRae followed by a Willie Mays Aikens dinger.  That was all the Royals needed - Dan Quisenberry came in and pitched a scoreless 9th and Pettitbone took the loss.

Jay Pettitbone got 3 more starts for the Twins and took the L in all 3 starts.  He ended his career with an 0-4 record in 4 career starts - the highlight was probably that first start v the Royals. 

Hopefully Jonathan Pettibone has a longer career then his father - regardless I hope both men have a good night this eveiing.