Ranking the 30 MLB teams on my watch - Atlanta Braves #9 of 30

It's been impressive how they've turned out players to contribute to winning teams - but maybe they just don't have the means to get a few more impact players to get them further in a playoff run.

The Braves have me feeling a little meh - first baseman Freddie Freeman has developed into a young star at 23, but guys like Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and B.J. Upton leave something to be desired.

Some of their established veterans have moved on or may not be with the team in 2014 - Chipper Jones retired after the 2012 season, Tim Hudson got hurt in 2013 and may need to prove himself on another team for next year while catcher Brian McCann maybe someone else's big free agent signing.

2013 Bowman Platinum blaster recap

I was looking to see if I'd pull an autograph or something even though I still say I'm paying way too much [about $20 plus tax from a Target] - to pick up 32 random cards per box.

An idea for Topps is to perhaps label the backs of the cards to identify which parallel sets they are from - the base cards are shiny and maybe confused for parallels but besides that, I have to guess and look up cards I pulled if I suspect if they are more than just base cards.

Pack one
#BPP 99 Luis Sardinas
#41 Gio Gonzalez

#36 Stan Musial - Blue Sapphire insert
#53 Freddie Freeman

Pack two
#BPP 91 Michael Wacha

#4 Norichika Aoki - Ruby parallel
#84 Jackie Bradley Jr.
#BPP 25 Anthony Rendon

Pack three
#BPP 93 Richie Shaffer
#BPP 55 Adrian Beltre
#CES-JM Joe Mauer - Cutting Edge Stars insert
#BPP 42 Kyle Zimmer

Pack four
#66 Salvador Perez

#BPCP 13 Taijuan Walker - Chrome parallel
#97 Chris Sale
#BPP 23 Carlos Correa

Pack five
#BPP 43 Tyler Austin

#63 Jason Heyward - Gold parallel
#8 David Freese
#BPP 31 Albert Almora

Pack six
#BPP 5 Zack Wheeler
#BPP 72 Billy Butler
#TP-TW Taijuan Walker - Top Prospects insert
#BPP 9 Billy Hamilton

Pack seven
#BPP 62 Kyle Gibson
#2 Mike Trout - Blue Sapphire parallel
#15 Carl Crawford
#BPP 17 Danny Hultzen

Pack eight
#81 Derek Jeter

#BPCP 5 Zack Wheeler - Chrome parallel
#29 Mariano Rivera
#BPP 92 Gavin Cecchini

Fairfield blister recap from Target

I was bored and thought what I needed was another shot of 100 assorted cards to flip through for $3.99 - even though I've opened enough of these big box store repacks to realize most of the cards will probably be redundant junk wax garbage and maybe a waste of time.

Blister window #1

2005 Donruss Studio Stars Vladimir Guerrero #S-4

1987 Topps Toby Harrah #152

1987 Topps Chuck Tanner #593

1987 Topps Steve Lyons #511

1987 Topps Bill Swift #67

1989 Topps Darryl Boston #633

1989 Topps Mark Thurmond #152

1989 Topps Rafael Santana #792

1989 Topps Julio Franco #398

1989 Topps Mark Davidson #451

1989 Topps Brian Horton #368

1987 Fleer Update Lance Parrish #U-96

1987 Fleer Update Tom Nieto #U-88

1988 Fleer Star Stickers Pete Incaviglia #65

1987 Fleer Update Randy Ready #U-100

1988 Fleer Star Stickers Von Hayes #108

1986 Topps Dave Smith #408

1987 Fleer Update Joe Niekro #U-87

1988 Fleer Star Stickers Tony Gwynn #123

1986 Topps Pete Rose #3

1987 Fleer Update Jim Sundberg #U-114

1987 Topps Max Venable #226

1986 Donruss Highlights Joe Cowley #44

1987 Topps Henry Cotto #174

1987 Topps Dave Parker #691

1989 Score Rookie and Traded Gary Wayne #91T

1990 Starline Long John Silver Darryl Strawberry #37 of 40

1983 Fleer Bob Welch #225

1991 Score Bob Welch #568

1989 Fleer Pete O' Brien #529 x2

1991 Fleer Ultra Pete O' Brien #342

1990 Starline Long John Silver Bobby Bonilla #5 of 40

1989 Topps Roger McDowell #735

1985 Topps Bob Welch #291

1990 Starline Long John Silver Glenn Davis #15 of 40

1990 Starline Long John Silver Bobby Bonilla #31 of 40

1988 Donruss Alex Trevino #376

1988 Donruss Baseball's Best Dwight Gooden #96

1990 Starline Long John Silver Bobby Bonilla #5 of 40

1990 Starline Long John Silver Glenn Davis #30 of 40

1988 Topps Glossy All-Stars Rickey Henderson #7 of 22 x2

1988 Topps Glossy All-Stars Terry Kennedy #9 of 22

1988 Topps Glossy All-Stars Gary Carter #20 of 22 x2

1990 Fleer Rickey Henderson #11 of 12 - 1989 World Series insert
1990 Fleer Ken Hill #251

1990 Fleer Curt Ford #557

1990 Fleer Johnny Ray #143

1990 Fleer Greg Cadaret #440

2011 Topps Chrome Jason Heyward #16 - orange refractor

Blister window #2

2003 Donruss Team Heroes Vladimir Guerrero #316

1991 Topps Glossy Rookies Kevin Appier #2 of 33

1990 Upper Deck Willie Randolph #704 x2

1991 Upper Deck Julio Franco #227

1991 Upper Deck Joe Carter #226

1991 Upper Deck Julio Franco #227

1991 Upper Deck Alan Mills #222

1990 Upper Deck Glenn Braggs #714

1992 Fleer Darren Lewis #639

1992 Topps Kevin Elster #251

1992 Topps Jeff Innis #139

1992 Topps Dennis Martinez #15

1990 Leaf Storm Davis #362

1992 Upper Deck Bryan Harvey #434

1990 Leaf John Moses #433

1990 Leaf Willie Wilson #336

1992 Upper Deck Kevin Appier #159

1990 Leaf Edgar Martinez #299

1990 Leaf Ted Higuera #506

1989 Score Rick Horton #145

1989 Score Eric Show #254

1989 Score Joaquin Andujar #472

1989 Score Lou Whitaker #230

1989 Score Tom Brookens #269

1993 Topps Tim Fortugno #320

2001 Topps Cal Eldred #475

1993 Topps Kurt Stillwell #84

1993 Topps Mark Wohlers #8

2005 Topps Dmitri Young #185

1992 Donruss Jose Tolentino #589

1991 Topps Carl Everett #113

1991 Upper Deck David Cone #366

1992 Donruss Manny Lee #499

1992 Bowman Greg Vaughn #496

1999 Skybox Premium Jeff Shaw #99

1987 Topps Joe Carter #220

1990 Upper Deck Jody Reed #321

1997 Leaf Ernie Young #67

1991 Topps Erik Hanson #655

1989 Topps Al Newman #503

1989 Topps Frank Viola #406

1989 Topps Calvin Schiraldi #337

1987 Topps Terry Forster #652

1988 Donruss Gene Larkin #564

1988 Donruss Rafael Ramirez #448

1988 Donruss Joel Skinner #474

1988 Donruss Curt Wilkerson #592

1988 Donruss Marty Barrett #276

2007 Upper Deck B.J.Upton #206

2010 National League Division Series preview

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves
The Giants should be poised to stick around in the playoffs - a starting trio of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez looks pretty impressive while the Giants' smorgasborg of castoff hitters may just give the lineup enough offense.

It has been no surprise, but catcher Buster Posey has been pretty impressive since taking over the No. 1 catching position for the Giants - he seems like a young guy who can explode with the bat, particularly in a short series.

The Braves made the playoffs despite pretty much some smoke and mirrors - Chipper Jones is hurt, Martin Prado is hurt, Nate McLouth had a terrible year and whipping boy Melky Cabrera is still penciled in as a guy who is going to play a lot, even though admittedly his bat falls short.

Braves rookie Jason Heyward has been a phenom and may give the Braves the sort of inspiring performance to boost them to the National League Championship Series - while Heyward seemed banged up for parts of the season, the 21-year old picked up 91 walks and had a .393 on-base percentage overall in 2010.

There is a story about 2010 being Bobby Cox's last hurrah in Atlanta - not to be a buzzkill, but it wouldn't bother me either way, if his Braves get dusted by the Giants in the Division Series, just to upset the 'feel good' narrative of beloved old-timey, fuddy-duddy skipper leading his team to one last shot of glory under his helm.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds
The Phillies go one-two-three in the NLDS with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels - general manager Ruben Amaro has been derided for trading off Cliff Lee, but his Phillies are the best team in the National League, with the best pitching staff and a balanced lineup with Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino, et al.



While the Reds don't seem as good on paper as the Phillies - they have Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips among the cast of characters that make for a solid lineup.

Their bench strength should be great with Laynce Nix, Miguel Cairo, Chris Heisey, etc - look for one of these guys to contribute.

A key for the Reds is getting away from staying with a starting pitcher too long, finally making a move in haste to bring in a reliever and watching the reliever implode - the Reds have Aroldis Chapman, a 105 MPH throwing 'big gun' in the bullpen.

Dusty Baker and his coaching staff cannot stick with a starting pitcher who is going to be laboring into the late innings - basically they have to make deft moves and have to think outside the box, even if it means ruffling some feathers with some guys and their presumed roles i.e. Francisco Cordero.

It doesn't seem like the Reds will be able to stay with the Phillies - the Reds' chances of upsetting the Phillies in the NLDS however will depend less on talent, but whether or not Baker micromanages too much, particularly under duress.

Featured autograph - Jason Heyward

I had an idea of who Jason Heyward was before he exploded onto the Major League Baseball scene this season - I'm hoping he follows in the footsteps of this guy as far as a baseball phenom who took the league by storm and as far as anybody can tell, hasn't ever looked back.

I got the 2009 Tristar Obak card signed in-person last year in the Arizona Fall League - which is the place to go to watch baseball's next star performers.