Pham seems to have a little bit of a ‘bite’ to him and maybe because of injuries, it took a while before he reached and established himself as a big leaguer - the window for him to be an outright star has never quite opened, but when healthy, he has put up numbers.
Against all odds, Venters made it back to the majors leagues in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays - regardless of what happens, the occasional comeback story of an individual player is something to get sentimental about.
As is, the one-time Angels minor leaguer was traded for lefty Cesar Ramos and is now Tampa Bay Rays property - it's kind of peculiar that he was traded during the fall league [not in the off-season or even during the regular MiLB season perhaps].
While a player like Sappington is a pro and it's probably not as awkward as it might seem to the casual fan - I'm curious how it goes down where someone has to pull you aside and say you are part of a new organization, particularly when you are a player who might be trying to catch up after a disappointing year.
It seems like ever since his rookie year, Longoria has been involved in every Rays postseason run - the guy is a money player.
On the mound the Rays have gotten lucky with the pitchers that have come up through their system - but I don't know if Matt Moore or Jeremy Hellickson are ace quality types if David Price is traded, though they have other guys like Alex Cobb and Chris Archer looking to step up.
Getting his autograph in-person at the Arizona Fall League back in 2011 - I couldn't help but stare at how huge his hands were.
I like a little flair myself and it looks like the rookie pimps his home runs, which would raise eyebrows among the unwritten rules crowd - but since Myers might the next great hope, so he gets a pass for now, unlike Yasiel Puig perhaps.
Unfortunately homeboy was most allergic to most Sharpie pens and made like he couldn't hear when the Tampa Bay Rays played the Angels three weeks ago - I was shocked he was rather oblivious and made no real time to sign at any point inside the park.
If Torres does stick around next season, maybe the Tampa Bay Rays will try and stretch him out as a starting pitcher - especially when the former Angels farmhand has been a starter for much of his professional career in the minors.
As far as the autograph, I made my mind up to have to Torres sign it on the material part since it looks cool like that - unfortunately the material is dark and all I had to get the card inked up with, was an ancient silver Sharpie from 2010.
Obviously the results were not good - I was out of luck as far as getting a nice, bold autograph.
I got Torres to sign the card a second time [originally where he was going to sign it] - he did a double take, saying it was already signed.
I got two autographs on one card, which is sort of unique but silly at the same time - even though it's just a fish story, I'll just say the faint autograph on the material piece was on there when Topps cut up the swatch for the card.
I want to make a joke that I've lost track of where former Angel phenom Casey Kotchman is going to be playing in 2012 - it looks like he'll be playing for the Cleveland Indians after a 'bounce back' season last year.
I like the 2012 Topps card because it features Derek Jeter as a 'Bonus Baby' - a search on Getty Images confirms Jeter's cameo appearance on Kotchman's card.
The actual image used used for the card
Related image that confirms the Yankee baserunner's identity
Related image
So Craig Kimbrel and Jeremy Hellickson were named Rookies of the Year in their respective leagues - I think my autographed in-person Hellickson card is already in a toploader somewhere and I had to go hunt down my autographed in-person Kimbrel card in my '2010 rookies' box.
I have no real problem with Kimbrel being ROY since it seems like he blew everyone away until the end of the season - when he showed some wear and tear.
I think in the American League, Mark Trumbo should have won even though I'd conceded - his .290 on-base percentage was simply too much of a black mark on the 25-year old.
Looking at it objectively, maybe Eric Hosmer was the best rookie position player in the American League and if he'd come up just a bit earlier in the season - would have been the guy going neck-and-neck against Hellickson for the award.
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
I was rummaging through the stands after a Chicago Cubs spring training game at HoHoKam Park back in 2009 - lingering around just before being kicked out of the stands and looking for a souvenir cup or something I can clean up and take home.
I think I found some trail mix that was still sealed in the bag and also found a discarded program, with a couple of autographs - the program was no good to me because the cover was bent out of shape.
However there were a couple of autographs on it and I think I got one more random player to sign it when he came out of the locker room - one of the two autographs that were already signed on the program is apparently Sam Fuld's, who has gotten some early season love as the next gritty, scrappy, tiny player to seemingly come out of nowhere and become David Eckstein...or maybe Reggie Willits.
I think I was disappointed to hear about Manny Ramirez' abrupt retirement due to possibly failing another drug test - he was one of those most dominant sluggers of his time and was probably the most entertaining as far as cheap laughs were concerned.
However I think there comes a time, when the most irreverent of professional athletes lose their relevance - you know these guys are done when they are suddenly past their mid 30s, it takes longer and longer for them to produce like they have in their prime if they are still playing and it isn't fun watching when these players don't have the same impact on the games they play.
I want to turn the clock back five or 10 years when a guy like Manny would be hitting 35-40 home runs a year - but as much as you want to see one shot of glory from this flake of a superstar baseball player, the juice is gone and maybe it is time for an athlete like him to go out.
Casey Kotchman c/o home address - signed my 2009 Topps Allen and Ginter card in blue ink along with two other cards.
This autograph request took about two weeks or so - Kotchman's status as an Angels' top prospect in the minors seems a long time ago and even the early comparisons to 'slick hitting,' but power challenged first basemen like Keith Hernandez and Mark Grace doesn't apply to Kotchman these days.
Having signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays recently - perhaps Kotchman can revive his Major League career, though it seems like he has a lot of hurdles to overcome.
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Twins will be facing a tough task in trying to upended the Yankees - a banged up Joe Mauer is going to need to come up big, especially with Twins first baseman Justin Morneau out and when Mauer is viewed as the Twins' franchise guy.
The Yankees' lineup will be too much for the Twins to overcome - the Yankees have Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada, some guy named A-Rod, et al to make up for some of the pitching deficiences the Yankees might have past C.C. Sabathia.
The Yankees outclassed the Twins last year and it will be much of the same this year - the Yankees are not invincible, but their hitters are so much better, even when Derek Jeter suffers through an off-year.
Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are solid all-around and they've had some playoff experience - Rays manager Joe Maddon maybe the key as far as making sure the Rays players maintain a one game at a time focus instead of playing ahead of themselves.
Star third baseman Evan Longoria's health may prevent him from having a big series - but the team is solid all-around.
If Vladdy, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and the rest of the Rangers' hitters are up to the task - the pitching should come on strong.
Starter Cliff Lee basically legitimizes the Rangers' starting pitching staff and gives them a chance in the series - if Lee bests the Rays No. 1 starter David Price.
The Rays won the American League East outright -it will be a massive disappointment to show any let down, now they are in the playoffs. Under Maddon, a choke job isn't going to happen.
Congratulations to Andre Dawson and his election to the Hall of Fame - for us fans and baseball experts who debate whether or not a player of his caliber is worthy of induction, it doesn't matter because Dawson is in the Hall of Fame.
On the other hand, there are talented players who don't have one-third a career Dawson has enjoyed - it is kind of fun to poke around and see the once highly touted players coming up the professional ranks, only to hit a wall at the Major League level.
My original definition of a bust is a player who fails to reach the Major Leagues after having some sort of hype thrown at his direction - if a particular player reaches the Major Leagues, then the player should be considered a professional success. On the other hand, if he did little once he got to the Majors, then he has to have the label of a 'bust.'
However, if the player never really fulfilled any sort of expectations after reaching the Major Leagues - I'd like to believe the player is still a bust.
However, there are certain players who didn't live up to expectations after being hyped up as top prospects - being labeled a disappointment isn't the worst thing if a player has had at least a useful three or four year Major League career and has survived to play in the Major Leagues for a period of time.
Here is my retrospective on 10 busts and disappointments over the last 10 years - I've got a small stack of their cards filed away just to remind me not to believe the hype, whenever a hotshot baseball prospect [Stephen Strasburg in the pros or in the amateur ranks, Bryce Harper] is being bandied about as the next all-star or superstar.
10.) Dallas McPherson - as Angels fan, McPherson leaves a bitter taste because of the injuries ravished his career. He a 'country strong' hitting prospect, who tore through the minors and was supposed to be Troy Glaus' replacement. On the other hand, even though he was a crown jewel of the Angels' system, he was sort of an 'older prospect' who had holes in his swing. Regardless, if healthy, I thought he could hammer any flaws out and don't see him as a complete flop.
DISAPPOINTMENT
9.) Adam Johnson - the second overall pick in the 2000 draft, the Cal State Fullerton product's lone cup of coffee in the Major Leagues in 2001 included allowing 23 earned runs in 25 innings. I remember Phil Nevin and Mark Kotsay as the most highly decorated and touted CSUF baseball players in the last 20 years, but I don't know if I actually followed Johnson at CSUF to even consider him in the same class with the two.
8.) Kenny Kelly - a two-sport star, his athleticism never translated into something decent as a pro baseball player and he never got a prolonged opportunity to stick in the Major Leagues after making his MLB debut with Tampa. I remember trying to pick up a couple of his cards on eBay, thinking he might actually some kind of good player.