Random Topps Card of the Day: 2010 Topps #523 Phil Coke

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, April 12, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2010 Topps #523.
• Player Name, position, team: Phil Coke, pitcher, Detroit Tigers.
• Major League Debut: September 1, 2008.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2009 stats (Yankees): 72 G, 4-3, 60 IP, 44 H, 34 R, 30 ER, 20 BB, 49 SO, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 2 SV, 1.07 WHIP, 7.80 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Yankees #26th, June 2002. Traded by the Yankees to the Tigers 12/09/2000. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Tigers relievers ranked 12th in the AL in WHIP in 2009, but now they hope things will go better with Coke on board. Phil, acquired from the Yankees in the Curtis Granderson deal, held hitters to a .209 AVG last season."
• Commentary: So many puns that could be used when Phillip Douglas Coke takes the mound...and I can't think of a single one to use for this blog (maybe that's a good thing...as I crack open a can of pop before continuing to type). He has found his niche as a middle reliever and was incredibly effective for the Yankees in the 2009 playoffs as they marched to their 27th WS title. But in need of a leadoff hitter, instead of signing one via free agency, the Yankees took a chance and sent Coke to Detroit for Granderson. While Granderson found his power stroke, Coke helped shore up the Tigers' bullepen. In 2010, Coke appeared in 74 games, primarily as a set up man in the late innings (he also started the last game of the 2010 season). He went 7-5 in his decisions, with 11 holds, two saves, an ERA of 3.76, and 53 strikeouts in 64.2 innings of work. In 2011, he earned a spot into the Tigers' starting rotation. But in his 14 starts, he went 1-7 with with a 4.82 ERA, and 1.487 WHIP in 74.2 innings of work. He returned to the bullpen and performed a lot better in his usual set up role (2-2, 3.71 ERA, 32 K's). As the Tigers head into the 2013 season with a bullpen situation in flux (they let go of their ace closer Jose Valverde only to re-sign him to a minor league contract before the season started), Coke is being relied upon to share closer duties with Drew Smyly.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.15-$0.40.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 6.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1994 Topps #482. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama