Featured autograph - Josh Hamilton

The 25 guys on the Angels 2015 roster grinding it out are the ones who want to be there and the one who didn't is now a Texas Ranger - it's kind of just sad how Hamilton's Angels career imploded but I'm kind of just over it.

Hamilton has shown no contrition for his relapse and I'm glad as hell the Angels took a stand and got rid of the guy - even though the national media have killed the Angels and owner Arte Moreno for apparent lack of tact in handling this delicate flower.

Maybe if Hamilton was putting up numbers the Angels would have taken more care help the guy out, but I think the fact that he struggled was just one part of the equation - I get people like Hamilton's story, people are still going to bat for him and his supposed disease as if he was one of them, but does anyone really know what is going on with him at any given moment?

Just to play around sometimes, I still want to imagine being Hamilton, the guy with the bravado, the guy with ability to swing for the fences willy-nilly and actually do so - maybe he makes a comeback, maybe he gives the finger to the Angels and this idea of being accountable at points in one's life, but he is someone else's problem now.

Random mail day - Josh Hamilton

Picking up anything picturing him is kind of a downer because he's not the same player he was as a Texas Ranger - it's kind of like picking up a Vernon Wells card when he was stinking it up as Angel.

Still, I picked up this 2014 Topps Museum Collection card for $5 since the jumbo jersey swatch caught my eye - the card might look pretty good if I can get the swatch area scribbled on by Hamilton.

As is, Hamilton still has his fans despite the injuries and the general malaise that has infected his ability to produce as an Angel - since the Angels are saddled with the guy for the next three years [at $25-$32 million a year, dang!], I'm going to have to be 'all in' on rooting for the guy until he isn't an Angel anymore.

Josh Hamilton

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Hamilton are the three 'money guys' in the Angels' lineup but at least Trout and Pujols have put up some numbers - take it how you will but this post has finally come to fruition.

I don't think Hamilton has been a very good baseball player with the Angels and with him, you never know what is going on in his head - his first year, it was supposedly losing weight that deflated his numbers.

This past year he gained back the weight and was off to a good start, but then he got injured sliding into first base and was never the same - as is, the Angels were stupid enough to pay him $25 million a year and as a fan, I just have to go along with the roller coaster ride.

What bothers me the idea there are still fans out there who think he is great and think you are spitting on his face - when the guy is just a professional baseball player who hasn't lived up to the hype of a big contract.

While I'm down on this guy because he hasn't performed, no I'm not rooting him to fail - fans who are mesmorized by his journey as a man and his faith seem to think otherwise.

2013 Panini Pinnacle three pack break

Maybe the lack of a MLB license make the cards sort of monotonous and a little boring - small sample size and all, but maybe the cards just don't pop except for the insert of Josh Hamilton I pulled, which is actually pretty nice.

Pack one
#86 Troy Tulowitzki
#44 Rickey Henderson
#6 Mike Napoli
#64 Carl Crawford

#T9 Jarrod Parker - Team 2020 insert
#117 Mariano Rivera
#136 Andrew McCutchen
#168 Rob Scahill

Pack two 
#73 Justin Upton
#30 Giancarlo Stanton
#53 Jarrod Parker
#11 David Price

#T3 Bryce Harper - Team 2020 insert
#144 Buster Posey
#118 Alex Rodriguez
#200 Tyler Cloyd

Pack three
#2 Jesus Montero
#60 Craig Kimbrel
#22 Clayton Kershaw
#43 Michael Morse - Museum parallel
#CV 13 Josh Hamilton - Clear Vision parallel / Double
#107 Pedro Alvarez

The Angels have me wondering why I even bother

As an Angels fan, at times I feel like I'm made to suffer through lackluster performances as the team limps towards the end of April with a sub-.500 record - the Angels roster construction is rigid and while fans were happy when owner Arte Moreno throws money around in the off-season on supposed franchise players, the results are not there when those main big money guys struggle so far during the regular season.

The Josh Hamilton signing has been an early albatross - the Angels could have used the money spent on him on a good starting pitcher or two and instead of going cheap on has-beens like Joe Blanton and Tommy Hanson.

More imagination should have been used to patch up faults of the team in the past several years - the corpses of Albert Pujols and Hamilton aren't hitting the ball with authority and maybe both will round into form though Pujols' plantar fasciitis and his general well-being in particular scares the crap out of me.

A bright spot may actually be Mark Trumbo, who is off to good start - after his second half crash in 2012, I didn't expect him to recover but it looks like he's actually a better hitter so far.

Can it be possible that Trumbo is really becoming more of a guy who can hit the ball to all parts of the field - he's going to hit share of  home runs but I'm sort of excited by the fact that maybe he's aiming to be a better all-around hitter instead of a one-dimensional, all-or-nothing power guy.

Torii Hunter aging like fine wine

The former Angel ballhawk just got his 2,000th hit with the Detroit Tigers - call me crazy but he might outperform the guy who replaced him in Anaheim for much less cost and years.

As I see it, Hunter has to only play as good as Josh Hamilton does when it matters - which is the next two years, when the Angels and Tigers are looking to contend for the playoffs while depending on Hamilton and Hunter respectively as a cog.

It might not be fair to Hamilton and it might be early - but Hunter actually has a better chance to fulfill his two-year deal just because the guy is always ready to play and doesn't embarass himself on the field.

After the next two years, comparing the two won't matter as Hunter will likely be retired and the mercurial Hamilton will likely slide into a decline phase as most older players do - perhaps accelerated by the abuse his body suffered in his 20's.

Longshots make their debut with Angels

Josh Hamilton, Sean Burnett, J.B. Shuck, Brendan Harris and Mark Lowe made their Angels debut during the team's 13-inning 3-1 Opening Day win against the Cincinnati Reds - I have all but Shuck's autograph somewhere to account for and will try and get his autograph in-person.

It's a long season, but hopefully Shuck, Harris and Lowe can contribute to the Angels over the course of the year - not just be players who end up getting sent down or cut sooner than later, never to be heard from again.

2013 Topps Turkey Red - two pack break recap

2013 Topps Turkey Red mini boxes [$19.99 each plus $9 s/h at Topps.com]

Pack one

#83 Craig Kimbrel
#10 Adam Jones
#33 Edwin Encarnacion
#82 Chris Sale
#17 Jose Reyes

#TRA-AC Andrew Carignan - sticker auto serial #'d 568/620
#94 Colby Rasmus

#59 Josh Hamilton
#42 Aroldis Chapman
#67 Mat Latos
#24 Joe Mauer

Pack two
#62 Ian Kinsler
#27 Yonder Alonso
#100 Stephen Strasburg
#87 Giancarlo Stanton
#43 Justin Upton

#TRA-SC Steve Cishek - sticker auto serial #'d 192/689; didn't I spell out the autographs I was going to pull with these breaks?
#34 Yasmani Grandal
#77 Anthony Rizzo
#92 Justin Verlander

#51 C.J. Wilson
#44 Joey Votto

Josh Hamilton Baseball America 1999 Draft Preview issue

One of the last things I'd expect to find while digging around my house was an issue of Baseball America with Josh Hamilton on the cover from 1999 - I skimmed through the inside of the magazine and the main story is about the three prospective players [Hamilton, Josh Beckett or Eric Munson] the Tampa Bay [Devil] Rays were going to take with the No. 1 pick [Hamilton would be their choice].

The magazine was probably a part of a two or three issue 'trial subscription' I signed up for back in the day - as an autograph collector who likes to collect my share of prospect autographs, I wouldn't pick up a BA issue since it's printed on newsprint and I feel like it's a less durable item to be autographed.

The magazine is oversized, so it's a hassle to carry around in a bag - the magazine feels flimsy for autographing and it seems like it's going to get worn down faster compared to an 8x10 photo or a magazine.

With Hamilton being an Angel - I'll probably make an exception and see if I could get it signed some time in 2013.

Featured autographs - Josh Hamilton and David Murphy

The sneaky signing of Josh Hamilton by the Angels might represent the feast or famine acquisition that defines Jerry DiPoto's legacy as a general manager in Anaheim - more than signing Albert Pujols or C.J. Wilson last off-season.

I have some reservations about Hamilton's focus during different points in a Major League Baseball season, but it's hard to argue that when he's on his best behavior - he is a superstar talent who adds meat and complements Albert Pujols in the middle of the Angels' lineup.

Hopefully it just doesn't become one of those situations where Hamilton forgets to play baseball and becomes an enigma and/or an outright free agent bust - since the Angels are going to be paying the man $25 million through the next five seasons to be a superstar.

Featured autograph - Josh Hamilton

I got Hamilton to sign my 8x10 Photofile composite photo when the Rangers played the Angels this past weekend in Anaheim - even though he plays for a division rival, when the Rangers are in town, Hamilton is the guy to get since his stature in the game is larger than just your average superstar player.

He is treated as baseball royalty and actually getting his autograph in-person can be tough - with the number of people just wanting to reach out to him for a signature, shake his hand, take a photo op or tell him he is a role model.

Featured autograph - Ryan Braun, if he did it

The Man likes Ryan Braun, as do I, but for guys who find themselves in the news in dubious ways - I can't think of two other athletes in Major League Baseball who have been handled with such kid gloves like Braun and the one-time crackhead in Texas who had some sort of alcohol relapse Josh Hamilton.

What I really want to say is it pisses me off the media and fans are so fickle - they build up a Braun and a Hamilton, so even when they mess up, fans aren't as eager to turn on them, like they do with certain types of professional athletes.

Along the lines of how I see things, this author at this Texas Rangers SB Nation fan Web site talks about how Braun's case played out in the court of public opinion - the perception totally would be different if it was one of the 'black eyes' in the sport having successfully appealed his failed PED test on the grounds the sample wasn't handled correctly after it was secured.

Actually, that's not quite true. Braun is someone who is well-liked and well-regarded around the game, someone the mainstream media seemed more than willing to believe when he professed his innocence.

Could you imagine how different the reaction would be if this were, say, Manny Ramirez, who had gotten out of a suspension by challenging the test on chain-of-custody grounds? Or Alex Rodriguez? Or Hanley Ramirez? Or (when he was playing) Barry Bonds? Or some other player who is seen as a phony, or doesn't treat the press right, or is a jerk in the clubhouse, or doesn't play the right way, or otherwise doesn't fit the mold of what the mainstream baseball media believes a good and proper baseball player should be?

So yeah, it could be worse.

For better or for worse, Braun will probably get a standing ovation in his first at-bat in Miller Park this season - I guess I can't really hold anything against him except I think he did cheat, he was caught, got off on a technicality and now doesn't have to explain anything to anybody.

Autograph requests through the mail received: Willie Aikens and Josh Hamilton

Willie Aikens c/o home - signed my three cards in blue Sharpie in about a week. He also returned my letter with a note saying his book is coming out next year and it will answer the questions I had for him in my letter.

Josh Hamilton c/o Texas Rangers [spring training] - signed one card in black Sharpie; I thought I was glad to get this one back but I chose a card with too dark of a background and only the streaky part of the autograph is sort of visible.

2010 World Series preview - Texas Rangers

I have no rooting interest in this World Series, though I'll say what has been said countless times recently - I'm glad the Philadelphia Phillies and/or the New York Yankees are not one of the representatives to chase after a World Series title.

The New York Yankees can spend $125 million on Cliff Lee this upcoming off-season and might as well be in the World Series again in 2011 - while the Philadelphia Phillies were supposed to steam roll the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series.

However the Phillies were outhustled by the upstarts from the Bay Area - perhaps there is less luster associated with a team that was supposed to be a juggernaut.

It will take a big effort from mashers like Nelson Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton to lead the Rangers to a World Series title - the most important qualities to their team is the ability to pitch, play defense and run the bases.

I think the narrative fits, where it took Nolan Ryan's vision to make pitching more of a priority with the Rangers - however the pitching was only part of the equation, where Ron Washington's vision was to make sure the Rangers played 'small ball' the right way.

The man-love for Hamilton would elevate him to iconic status if the Texas Rangers won the World Series - if he has a monster series [think Barry Bonds circa 2002], then he can do whatever, wherever he wants with everyone on their knees to service him.

It seems like the Rangers have the perfect mix of talent - that they should walk over the Giants regardless of any obstacles and win their first World Series in franchise history.

Featured card: 2009 Topps T-206 Josh Hamilton #266

Instead of trying to mess around with loose packs and blasters, not even being able to complete a set in process and ending up with doubles, triples, et al - I picked up a hand-collated complete set of 2009 Topps T-206 for the price of around two blaster boxes, probably a few bucks more.

As I go through the cards to talk about [like others here and there] - there was no way this Hamilton card was going to escape my notice.

A quick story I remember is I'm in Surprise Arizona this past year, trying to get Texas Rangers' autographs in spring training - Hamilton was signing autographs for fans and as he was moving from one section of the railing to the other, I think he actually chipped his tooth trying to hold up a soda can.

That is my Hamilton in-person story for the year - it is fitting Topps gets a picture of Hamilton balancing a bat with his teeth, because it seems to capture who he is.

Featured player: Rocco Baldelli
2008 Upper Deck #667 - this was a card I forgot to list in my debut pack break on A Pack a Day.

For Baldelli, it has been a long road to get to where he is at this moment - Baldelli has been working his way back to the Major Leagues all season long [after being out with mitochondrial disorder] and he made his 2008 debut on Sunday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI in a 11-3 Tampa Bay Rays victory against the Seattle Mariners.

The 'feel-good' Rays of 2008 are hoping to reach new heights - while Baldelli [much like another elite outfield prospect who once played in the Tampa Bay organization] is just hoping to stay on the field wearing a Major League uniform after being out for a prolonged period of time. For Baldelli, what better time to join the ride, than now?

Featured player: Josh Hamilton
I was napping for the start of the Home Run Derby, it gets boring and long winded in-between the players actually hitting some home runs.

However, I slowly rose from my slumber as this Josh Hamilton guy woke me up - with prodigious, monumental blasts launched at Yankee Stadium with an easy, effortless stroke.

He might not have won the Home Run Derby - but his 28 home runs in Round 1 provided all the fireworks. It was an exhibition for the ages.

Everyone in New York was in awe and wanted to be part of the action - the crowd was electrified, on the their heels, seeing how far Hamilton would hit his next home run. Hanley Ramirez was mimicking Hamilton's stance. Hamilton's teammate Milton Bradley was taking photo ops with Hamilton and taking in the fun.

This is what America wants. This is what they crave.

Their self-fulfilling prophecy about the great hope redeemed is realized and from phenom to crackhead - the sky is the limit for Hamilton.

Josh Hamilton is mom, apple pie and tattoos.

PS: Some other guy won the Home Run Derby. I think he may have been Canadian or something, so it doesn't count. I keed, I keed Justin Morneau fans.

The scowl isn't going away anytime soon

Featured player: Milton Bradley
2001 Fleer Platinum #121 - Bradley is fighting in every single at-bat fighting in each at-bat and one of the constants in his Major League career is he's bound to go postal on any umpire whom Bradley feels is squeezing him behind home plate.

He's the living, breathing emotional outburst and while he's always been able to hit with some pop and get on-base to boot, he comes with a lot of baggage - he is sort of hard to figure out, hard to root for as a far and easier to pick apart. Most of the time he isn't going to get the benefit of the doubt from the fans, the umpires and maybe people in the game who thinks most of what he does is 'Bush league.'

Time will tell if Bradley can have his best season as a professional ballplayer - but in the shadow of the meteoric season Josh Hamilton is put together for the Texas Rangers, Bradley has been doing his part to at least keep the team close to .500.

After ending the 2007 with a season ending injury, Bradley's bounced back through 54 games in 2008 - he has hit 13 home runs and driven in 41 RBIs in 193 at-bats. His slugging percentage is sitting at .627 with his on-base percentage sitting at .449.