Immaculate Grid

I was filling out an Immaculate Grid game and it was killing me I couldn't think up a player who played both for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers - it was the last spot I needed filled and I was really having an existential crisis about knowing my obscure MLB players, before a 'Matt Kata' finally popped from my memory banks.

I used to be into this game a couple of years ago, where I was compelled to have a go at thinking up players that matched a 3 by 3 grid - it made me think just how little I know, where my knowledge of most MLB players start through the junk wax era and then up through the last 10-15 years.

I feel like I'm not filling out the grid with vintage / old school players before the junk era and/or filling the grid with players from recent years - especially for rank-and-file guys who came up past the pandemic.

I think I got bored filling out grids with the guys I'm familiar with and it got to be where I tried to always take screenshots and save my results - as is, when I see results posted somewhere, I'm tempted to fill out a grid, though I try not to use names I've just seen.

TTM autographs received: Jon Griffin

The former Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer signed my cards in about a month - after leaving affiliated ball, Griffin had spent the past 5 years playing in the independent leagues up through 2019.

I saw a success posted by a collector on Instagram and remembered I had some loose cards from back in the day, including at least one 2012 Topps Heritage Minor League set card - I looked up a possible address and took a chance to put together a request and send my cards off.

Featured autograph - Torey Lovullo

Over the years, there have been an endless archive of major league games posted on YouTube and for now, MLB has been sort of liberal as far as not flagging down the games not posted through their actual account - while the concept of watching archived games isn't new to me, maybe my attention span is much shorter than it was 25 years ago.

I could probably sit through a minute MLB highlight at best, rather than get lost watching significant parts of game - that has already happened and is otherwise ancient history.

At the very least, I'm thankful for what the streaming video era has brought over the past 10-15 years - to help form a better idea of players I might have only read about and/or remind me how just good certain players were, besides just glancing at Baseball Reference and checking to see who had the biggest WAR.

There is a ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast of a game posted where Lovullo, a journeyman who played in parts of 8 seasons in the majors - hit a home run off Roger Clemens as an early season highlight in what would be a 91 loss season for the Halos.

In the grand scheme of things, that home run means nothing except to Lovullo and perhaps his family - however, seeing the clip as a fan it helps me picture at least one neat thing this otherwise anonymous guy did as an Angels player.

COMC - miscellaneous certified auto cards

1999 Upper Deck SP Signature Edition Autographs Corey Koskie #CK - I pulled a Koskie autograph from 1999 Upper Deck HoloGrFX back when the product came out and I'm tempted to say it may have been one of my first autograph pulls, when there was still some allure with certified autographs.

I probably got Koskie's autograph at least a few times as a player but this autograph card replaces that previous pack-pulled card - same era, similar 'kind of messy' scribble [though this card was a more common pull out of a one autograph per pack product rather than a card inserted in every couple of boxes or so of a low-end product].

Even if Koskie didn't post year-to-year all-star numbers as a player - he was a lot steadier and productive in his 9-years in the big leagues than I gave him credit for and had overlooked the fact his career was cut short prematurely with a post-concussion syndrome.

2016 Bowman Inception Prospect Autographs Manuel Margot PA-MM - Margot is one of the best prospects in baseball [currently #26 among MLB's Top 100] and while he may not develop into a true superstar, Margot seems to be an athletic guy with the potential to be a pretty good all-around player [think Andrew McCutchen lite].

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Miguel Montero #158 - he is more of a 'scratch an itch' guy for me, a rank-and-file player whose autograph I haven't gotten otherwise.

Montero lost playing time to David Ross and rookie Willson Contreras during the regular season - but got some redemption in the postseason as a contributor in the Chicago Cubs' run towards their first World Series championship since 1908.

Montero hit a grand slam in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series - and also chipped in with had an RBI single to extend the Cubs lead in the deciding Game 7 of the World Series.

Featured autographs - junk auto sluggers

I picked up Durazo and Willingham certified autograph cards even though these are basically junk autos - while strictly rank-and-file types, both guys were relatively productive MLB hitters with pop.

I may have seen both players as ‘harder to get’ autographs in-person / TTM when they were active - so there is a little 'ownage' after the fact, even if these guys are pretty much obscured by history.

Featured autograph - Mark Grace

I've never counted how many I've gotten signed in-person / through the mail but I'm still plugging away at the 2001 Fleer Tradition set - even if it means randomly getting a card signed here and there, like this Grace I got when the Arizona Diamondbacks played the Angels.

At first I thought 2001 Fleer Tradition cards looked a little dumpy because of the drab card stock [used to mimic vintage Topps sets, just like the other retro product called Topps Heritage] - I picked up a set [mainly for the Albert Pujols, Ichiro and Mark Teixeira rookie year cards that was included as a part of a 50-card subset available only in factory sets] and started trying to get the other basic cards inked up since I had to use them for something.

2015 Donruss Yasmani Tomas Preferred

I guess I've been on sort of a Donruss kick - the base cards are bland and seem like filler, but the parallels and inserts give the product a little bit of life.

If Tomas plays, he'll have his share of cards, ones that will actually picture him in an Arizona Diamondbacks uniform - but I figured to pick one this VIP Reserved insert, serial #'d to 99, just to put away for now.

There have been rumblings that Tomas isn't going to be a particular great player especially if the Arizona Diamondbacks are insistent he stick at third base - he could have a season like fellow Cuban Jose Abreu in 2014 or might find himself with no immediate place to play, despite his immense power potential.

Jordan Pacheco

I suppose Pacheco isn't unique but it must be hard for rank-and-file MLB players like him - he has spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues, so he has had made it against whatever odds he was up against as a 9th round pick back in 2007.

Still, he seems like a fringe MLB player who could play 10 more seasons [as a utility guy] in the big leagues or can find himself washing out in the minors or overseas - besides the guys who seem to be brimming with talent from day one, it's novelty to obsess about pro ballplayers who seem like they are merely one rung above your non professional athlete and have had to work hard to get to the major leagues and stick around.

Mark Trumbo

The Angels fanbase loved him, though only times I really enjoyed his talent was when he would hit dingers - for whatever reasons, he was never a personal favorite and I was glad that he has since moved on.

I used to wonder what it was like to be a home grown talent and play for the MLB team 10-15 minutes away from where you grew up - I don't know if Trumbo was entirely comfortable with being that guy and it seemed like it was more of a burden.

I'm curious to see if Trumbo gets better and bounces back from a stress fracture in his foot - though he isn't the Angels problem anymore and general manager Jerry DiPoto may have made a shrewd move when he traded Trumbo in the offseason for couple of lefty starters [Tyler Skaggs/Hector Santiago] who look pretty decent so far.

Featured autograph - Roberto Alomar

I picked up this single-signed baseball of Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar at the end of last year through Mill Creek Sports - the ball came with a Tristar COA and a Tristar hologram was affixed to the ball.

I thought the ball was nice and clean though it's kind of disappointing to see the hologram is blemished as seen in the pictures - it doesn't affect the way I could display the ball and I didn't bothering complaining, but I always know there is something imperfect about this purchase.

Not a bad trade for the Angels

The Angels sent off Mark Trumbo in a three-way trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox - the Angels are going to miss Mark Trumbo's tremendous pop but not his streakiness with the bat.

There is a chance that Trumbo still has the ability to improve as a hitter - but the Angels were able to get a pitching prospect [though one that was originally in their system] and a serviceable pitcher for a guy whose power is constantly negated by the holes in his swing.

C.J. Cron is just about ready at 24 to figure into the Angels plans next season - the irony is he maybe a Trumbo clone who had a down year in AA in 2013, but the Angels should see what he can do at the MLB level sooner than never.

Speaking as strictly as a fan, I'm not going to miss Trumbo's occasional douchiness despite being a fan favorite - he's actually done the usual things normal ballplayers would do countless number of times such as signing autographs, taking pictures, make appearances at public events, making appearances on behalf of the team, et al.

Maybe he was just was never a warm and fuzzy guy and at times - he'd let you know in no uncertain terms that he'd rather be doing something else than signing another autograph.

Hector Santiago has actually been pretty good over the past two years as both a reliever and starting pitcher - he maybe the key that wins this trade early for the Angels because should be able to help the MLB team next season.

Santiago needs to walk less guys and hopefully he stays healthy, which is always a concern for any pitcher - but maybe it matters more for a guy that wasn't considered a top prospect and has sort of come out of nowhere to enjoy relative MLB success.

Tyler Skaggs hasn't been impressive in parts of two MLB seasons and he may not be better than a No. 3 starter - but he's young and gets to go back to the organization that drafted him 2009.

Ranking the 30 MLB teams on my watch - Arizona Diamondbacks #17 of 30

The Diamondbacks faded in the second half of the season even with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt emerging as an All-Star talent - I see how the team is built on scrappiness, toughness and playing the game the Kirk Gibson way, but it's hard to see how they are going to win with C-level talent.

Maybe the team is tweaked and better players and/or coaches are added, but no matter how they improve on paper - it maybe a daunting challenge to compete against the big money Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

Zack Greinke - Respek

While he got a broken collarbone and missed part of the season, I thought Greinke got a free pass in his bean brawl incident against Carlos Quentin earlier in the year - however I caught a glimpse of the benching clearing brawl between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday night and thought for as distant / goofy / aloof as Greinke is, he did right in plunking Miguel Montero after Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy had gone 'up and in' and beaned Yasiel Puig the inning before.

After having an explosive first week as a Major Leaguer, there was no question Puig was served up a 'welcome to the big leagues kid' message pitch - that reminded me of happened last year with Cole Hamels hitting Bryce Harper.

I'm tempted to say Ian Kennedy was sort of a punk in this whole situation - but I just watch the games and I'm not actually down on the field as a player or coach, so who am I to judge his intent?

Featured autograph - Eric Byrnes

I'm pretty sure I got this card signed in-person during the mid 2000's - Byrnes has been all over MLB Network lately as he visits MLB teams in the Cactus League for the network's 30/30 team previews for the upcoming season.

As a player Byrnes had that 'fake hustle' fans of the Oakland Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks [the two teams he spent the most time with] ate up - even though he was a terrible MLB player at times and by virtue of his reputation as a supposed grinder, turned two somewhat decent seasons into a big contract with the Diamondbacks that he failed to live up to.

Maybe I wasn't too fond of the guy when he played because he really gave bad looking autographs - not that it particularly matters, but there was something that rubbed me the wrong way about this guy.

Autograph request through the mail received: Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt - the Arizona Diamondbacks slugger signed two cards in black Sharpie; I don't do as much mailings TTM, so I have to find the exact details, but I probably sent this during the latter part of the 2012 MLB season and was received last week.

Featured autograph - Paul Goldschmidt

I picked this 2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's autograph card of Paul Goldschmidt as an impulsive purchase from a card shop for $10 - he is having a good sophomore season and I've never gotten his autograph in-person.

My autograph day - three distinguished, but random baseball guys

I decided to see what was going on with the in-person graphing scene since [as a baseball autograph collector] it's been a dry spell for me the last couple of weeks - I went to Angel Stadium and was able to get three guys before Sunday's day game, until leaving early to go to my sister's house for Father's Day lunch.

Mike Scioscia (1) - I got him to sign a 1991 Score card I probably should have gotten inked up two weeks ago; missed out on the Arizona Diamondbacks players [and some of their notable coaches like Matt Williams and Alan Trammell] while waiting for Angels to drive in.

Eric Young 1/2 - they were the same 2000 Topps card, so he maybe 'no dupes' or his limit is one.

Don Baylor (1) - I like how his autograph looked on the 1982 K-Mart card, though I wish I had an original Topps card for him to sign, even though I've gotten him at least several times in the past 10 years.

Featured card: 2010 Topps Heritage Dan Haren Clubhouse Collection jersey

I received this jersey card of the Angels No. 2 starting pitcher from Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle - in exchange for the Panini Matt Kemp 'promo card' I pulled from this pack break.

When Greg expressed interest in the Kemp card - I think the Haren was the first card that caught my eye off his trade bait page that I thought might not be too hard to trade for.

Even though the card still pictures Haren in an Arizona Diamondbacks uniform - it is a nice looking card, even if Haren sort of looks unkempt rockin' the facial hair.

Featured autograph - Tyler Skaggs

Tyler Skaggs is the former Angels first round draft pick [40th overall in 2009] - who was the key minor leaguer sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Dan Haren in 2010.

What you see in-person, read about online or assume based on how a guy 'looks' in the most superficial sense doesn't mean anything - but I think this profile story from spring training encapsulates everything that needs to be said about the way Skaggs handles his business as a young pro.

Baseball busts and disappointments - No. 12 Sean Burroughs

From Little League World Series star in the early 1990s to uber prospect for the San Diego Padres in the early 2000s, Sean Burroughs was supposed to be the real deal - he settled into the Major Leagues for a couple of years but his lack of power was apparently disappointing and his last MLB season was in 2006.

The son of 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs - I think there was more to why Sean couldn't stick in the Major Leagues, even as a guy who wasn't going to be play everyday because of the lack of power.

Sean is back in professional baseball and is currently playing for the AAA Reno Aces in the Arizona Diamondbacks system - reading this story about his comeback this season, it sort of goes into the reasons why his playing career sort of floundered.

DISAPPOINTMENT