Featured autograph - Andrew Lorraine

I waited out the current High Desert Mavericks [Seattle Mariners Cal League affiliate] pitching coach after a minor league game and got him to sign my card - Lorraine fits the description of the obscure former Angels player who may have only played in five games or less [four games for Lorraine] with the Halos before moving on.

He was a fourth round Angels draft pick in 1993, who made his MLB debut the next year - it maybe obvious, but maybe Lorraine didn't have the top flight stuff as pitcher to stick around at the highest level, so he ended up a vagabond journeyman who pitched for a bunch of teams.

Maybe in alternate universe, Lorraine turns out to have a much more significant MLB career - maybe another Mark Buehrle or Barry Zito [the good, early version of Zito I suppose] if things had worked out a little better for the lefty.

Featured autograph - Darryl Scott

I'm working on my all-time Angels autograph collection though I'm not exactly banging down doors to see if I can add new autographs - I'd like to account for active players who become an Angel within a particular season, someone who earns a roster spot and plays in a game, players who gets called up from the minors or someone acquired from another team, etc.

For retired players, I'd like to stumble upon former Angels if they are coaching somewhere - Scott was a pitching coach for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League team in 2013 and is currently the Tulsa Drillers' [Colorado Rockies AA affiliate] pitching coach.

As far as any progress towards the all-time autograph collection, I'd like to complete a run from the 1990 through present - I figure I have a good number of players' autographs from the last 25 years and it might be easier to account for the players autographs I still need.

As focused as I maybe in tracking down players from the last three decades - I'll fill in the blanks 'as is' with former Angels that I still need from the 1980's and before.

As much as I'd like to have a complete collection, it might be one of those situations where it's not realistic and I'm not some rich collector - I'm probably not going to end up with the 'hard to find' former Angels i.e. ones who might have passed prematurely, ones that might be notorious recluse types who don't sign or ones that may be on the run for whatever reason.

Featured autograph - Bobby Abreu

Even with Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter out, the Los Angeles Angels' offense has been rolling because guys like - Chone Figgins, Mike Napoli, Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera, Erick Aybar and even Maicer Izturis have each put together pretty good offensive numbers.

It looks like the spring training offense when you can put up five or more runs on a consistent basis and come back - against opposing teams who have jumped ahead early in the games.

Bobby Abreu has been in the middle of the Angels' offensive attack and one wonders, where to begin with the praises for this savvy veteran - who signed with the Angels with about two weeks left to go in spring training.

Even though the $5 million Abreu is being paid is still a lot of money to the average folk - it was a bargain for the type of player he has been and the type of season he is having now.

Abreu has given the Angels a different type of pure hitter - with Abreu's ability to recognize pitches, adapt to situations and patience [61 walks/an on-base percentage over .400], he can either set the table, but also be a middle-of-the-order presence.

He hasn't reached double digit home runs yet, but he is closing in on another 100 RBI season - while the RBI stat maybe more of a function of the guys getting on-base infront of him, give Abreu some credit for being an RBI machine.

As a batter, he might guess here and there - but even at 35, it doesn't look like he really has lost any bat speed with a batting average currently over .300.

Abreu has been dogged for maybe not being adept defensively and also for not being the best baserunner - but it seems like there maybe an emphasis to be a little more conscientious with the Angels. As a baserunner, he has been opportunistic, stealing 21 bases and only being caught five times.

At this point, it looks like he is going to finish up with another strong season - hopefully Angels fans have enjoyed watching him perform, watch him finish strong and see how much he might want in order to come back next year [or the next couple of years].

Featured autograph - Sean O' Sullivan

I was there for Sean O'Sullivan's first career start at Angel Stadium[second overall in the bigs] - he was pitched a solid game, but was looking for a point where he would kind of crack.

Former Long Beach State star Troy Tulowitzki hit two home runs off O' Sullivan and overall - O'Sullivan he gave up three earned runs in five innings pitched, allowing six hits, while walking three and striking out three.

Fiddling with camera [batteries were dying] as key moments were happening - the crowd got electric when the Angels were mounting a comeback Tuesday night.

Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was dominant for most of the game [seems like a young, athletic horse out there] - the Angels broke through and Bobby Abreu had a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie and give the Angels the lead.

Thankfully former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes was able to come in an close the game out - as the Angels won 3-2.

This 2008 Donruss Threads was signed in-person during spring training - O'Sullivan and Freddy Sandoval signed autographs at a card show last off-season, but I didn't think too much of him, then.

Featured autograph - Andy Hassler

I've known collectors who strictly collect autographs of a particular team [like the Los Angeles Dodgers] - I have also read up on some autograph forums and collecting blogs about collectors trying to collect as many autographs from their teams as possible.

While not quite an original idea, I'm looking to join the herd and start a team collection - I'm looking to add about 100 new Angels' autographs in 2009 with a goal of being able to count out at least 300 different by the end of the year.

Andy Hassler signed three cards I sent to him through the mail - he represents the first Angels' autograph I've gotten in 2009 and hopefully I can add 99 more.

My bread and butter is the uncertified in-person or through the mail autograph - though I'll probably be looking for certified autograph cards of Angels' players I've never gotten before or uncertified autograph cards of former Angels' players who have fallen through the cracks.

I guess the emphasis is on signed cards - but I'm open to picking up anything bearing an authentic, hand-signed autograph of an Angels' player.

A distinction I want to make is to separate signed cards - by players wearing an Angels' uniform and by players not wearing an Angels' uniform.

While it maybe nice in an ideal world, I don't think my goal is completion - but to build on a theme and at the very least, be able to say I have a certain number of autographs from my favorite Major League team.