Jason Isringhausen

I want to say I remember a 'fond' memory of Jason Isringhausen - who has survived the cut and will likely be in the Angels bullpen on 2012 Opening Day.

When he was with the A's in the early 2000's, he was leaving the stadium - not that he was any sort of big star [then or now] that he'd avoid people intentionally, but he was probably about to make a clean get away, past people who were waiting for autographs and other fans after the game.

I spotted him and got his autograph - I don't know if I felt bad for him or thought it was funny, when he had to stop for about five or 10 minutes more than he had to, because he was ambushed by everyone else.

2012 Topps Tribute pack break

I hit the casino card shop I go to and while most of the time I'm the guy looking to make 'dinky' purchases out of the quarter box - I was looking to make see if the shop still had a certain baseball card product [2011 Playoff Contenders] and when the shop apparently didn't, I impulsively picked up a pack of 2012 Topps Tribute.

I could get all philosophical about me picking up this $50 pack - but it is what it is and in a 20 second pack rip, this is what I got.

#55 Derek Jeter
#72 C.C. Sabathia
#51 Joe Mauer
#17 Duke Snider - parallel serial #'d 009/199; front is scratched up a little so I'll send this for a replacement.

#RR-AK Al Kaline - Retired Remants relic card serial #'d 50/50; I like the fact Kaline is a Hall of Fame legend, though I feel like the card is a glorified version of the one per blaster patch cards out of 2012 Topps.

I actually read and finished a book - Out of My League by Dirk Hayhurst

It was about a week ago I bought Out of My League by Dirk Hayhurst for $11.99 on iTunes - since I'm sort of a luddite, so I need to continue to use my ancient iPad [the very first one] on a regular basis, before I even start thinking of getting the latest version.

I used to read Hayhurst's minor league exploits in a Baseball America blog, though I didn't get his first book - I was excited at the idea of downloading an entire book as an impulse buy since I still had about $13 left in my account that I hadn't spent in about a year.

I want to say the parts where Hayhurst reaches the Major Leagues is where Out of My League starts picking up the pace - in the Major Leagues, Hayhurst is in charge of the beer bag [during travel days] and the candy bag during games.

It's more than a little fascinating reading about the entirety of what Hayhurst has to stock and care for in the bag – to keep for his bullpen mates.

He goes into detail about how the guys are able to get an edge with what's provided and I can see where he probably got some resistance from teammates - once they found out he was writing a book.

After six years in the minors, Hayhurst realizes how lucky he was to make good with a call up to the Major Leagues - as is though, he also realizes he isn't a top prospect, so it hits him hard when he feels like he needs to perform and can't coax himself to find the success he did in Triple-A.

Hayhurst is utterly frustrated over the unwritten rules for rookies and finds he doesn't know how to act with veterans seemingly watching his every move - he seems to think his pitching coach was a dick to him and even his Triple-A teammates now in the bigs on the 2008 San Diego Padres team he sort of chronicles don't seem to be the same guys he played with just several months before.

In the last part of the book, Hayhurst goes finally goes a little batty, chewing up and spitting out his supportive but perhaps naive girlfriend along the way for trying to help him - as opposed to probably just letting him vent over the relative hardship of suddenly having much to prove but not having enough time or opportunity to do so.

The book ends with the 2008 season finally ending, Hayhurst finally getting married to his girl and being notified [on a honeymoon road trip] about being removed from the San Diego Padres 40-man roster - Hayhurst manages to wrap the book up with a new opportunity to pitch for a new organization the following season.

Welcome back Kendrys Morales

I don't think the comeback of Kendrys Morales has been entirely fascinating for me - I think it's just another guy who caught the unluckiest of breaks and has been stuck in limbo for the last two years.

Now he's actually played in a game [a spring training one] for the first time in a while, it maybe time to welcome him back from his long journey - I keep thinking whether or not he can still do some good things as a player for the Angels and if his time in Anaheim has sort of run out.

I still like Morales' power potential from both sides of the plate but I just haven't been counting on him to contribute - he looked relatively healthy in his 2012 debut, though he will probably always be considered 'day-to-day' and maybe any expectations for him to be an every day player should be scaled down.

While he is only 28, is he ever going to be able build upon his once promising Major League career and also stick with the Angels - hopefully he is still at a point of his career where there is some upside.

2012 Topps Heritage retail jumbo pack recaps

2012 Topps Heritage 16-card jumbo pack [$5.29 each x2 at Target] - I'm tempted to look for Heritage when it first comes out because it's popular with collectors as a [set-building baseball card product] and I don't want to miss out [even though I'm not likely to build the set].

In most years, Topps Heritage just doesn't do it for me and I'm not inclined to pick up anymore of it after securing a jumbo pack or two, maybe a blaster or two or three - maybe I'll try to look for the young players [maybe less than two years MLB experience] and 'recent rookies' within the set, guys who don't have have a run of multiple base Heritage cards [like veteran players] over the years.

First pack

Top section
#386 2012 Rookie Stars - featuring Jesus Montero, Andrew Brackman, Austin Romine and Dellin Betances.
#295 Cory Luebke
#409 Jair Jurrjens
#320 Zack Greinke
#346 Santiago Casilla
#15 Darwin Barney

#335 Bobby Abreu - I assume the cartoon on the back was sacrificed to put Abreu's entire MLB career stats.
#172 Yadier Molina
#218 Tigers Twirlers - featuring Jose Valverde and Justin Verlander.

Bottom section
#265 2012 Rookie Stars - featuring Adron Chambers, Steve Lombardozzi, Tim Federowicz and Brad Peacock.
#281 Jason Marquis
#51 Alex Gordon
#90 Joey Votto
#26 Scott Baker

#480 Carlos Gonzalez - SP
#23 Ned Yost

Second pack

Top section
#181 Brent Morel

#392 Tribe Thumpers - featuring the backside of Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana.
#215 B.J. Upton
#418 Johnny Damon - I assume the cartoon on the back was sacrificed to put Damon's entire MLB career stats.
#341 Ryan Madson

#BF-SK Sandy Koufax - Baseball Flashbacks insert
#270 Nate Schierholtz
#321 2012 Rookie Stars - featuring Nate Spears, Corey Brown, Drew Pomeranz and Adron Chambers.

#247 Jarrod Parker

Bottom section
#146 Mike Napoli
#319 Adam Jones
#232 Kevin Youkilis

#290 Albert Pujols
#399 Mike Minor

#43 James Shields - Stick-Ons insert
#13 Philadelphia Phillies Team card

Anticipating Pujols' impact for the upcoming season

I'm not in a card collecting funk but 'fatigue' for whatever reason may set in and it's evident by my lack of posts - 2012 Topps seems kind of 'meh' to me, I don't think I like the idea of a non MLB licensed, prospect heavy product like 2011 Playoff Contenders being $135 a box and I'm certainly not touching any of the new 2012 Topps Tribute.

I've guess I've got more important things to look forward to besides running out and picking up any of the latest 2012 baseball card offerings - I've been intermittently paying attention to Angels spring training games on TV and I've seen Albert Pujols signing autographs along the rail at Tempe Diablo on his way to the clubhouse after he's pulled from games.

It has me a little jealous since I can't get out there this year - hopefully Pujols will have a routine to sign autographs before games during the regular season, even though I'm sure his presence alone will drastically change the ballpark experience at Angel Stadium as far as trying to get stuff signed.

I can't wait to watch The Machine ply his craft for my home team during the regular season - the guy looks like he's ready to play and there is really no reason not to watch any Angel game as long as he is penciled in the lineup.

Freebies through the mail!

2001 Topps Archives Bobby Grich #172

I was reading through a trade 'report' at All Trade Bait, All The Time and correctly answered the question about a tribute patch the Dodgers wore in honor of Tim Crews - I sent 'Stealing Home' my address and he sent the following freebies...thanks!

2009 SP Authentic Vladimir Guerrero #27

1983 Donruss Reggie Jackson #115

2010 Topps Update Jered Weaver #PP-110 - Peak Performers insert
2010 Topps Update Torii Hunter #US-73
2010 Topps Update Brian Stokes #US-272

2010 Topps Update Hideki Matsui #TR-101 - Turkey Red insert
2010 Topps Update Dan Haren #US-306
2010 Topps Attax Hideki Matsui

2011 Topps Torii Hunter #74
2011 Topps Alberto Callaspo #474
2011 Topps Vernon Wells #525

2012 Topps Series I blaster recap

I picked a blaster of 2012 Topps Series I from Target though I keep saying to myself - 'even though I've 'sworn off' eBay during the last several months, I can probably pick up different assortments of 2012 Topps cards [complete sets, complete insert sets, team sets, lots, etc] for about the same price as this lone blaster.'

Commemorative Patch pack
#HS-DM Don Mattingly

Pack one
#141 Brandon Belt
#195 Ben Zobrist
#GM-26 Paul O'Neill - Golden Moments insert
#GF-20 Mike Moustakas - Gold Futures insert
#175 Jared Hughes
#80 David Price
#255 Scott Rolen
#243 Justin De Fratus

Pack two
#174 Yadier Molina
#18 Jose Altuve
#GG-13 Willie Mays - Golden Greats insert
#98 Domonic Brown
#213 Alex Avila
#244 Sergio Santos
#109 Mariano Rivera - All-Time Saves Leader
#156 2011 NL Wins Leaders - featuring Ian Kennedy / Clayton Kershaw and Roy Halladay

Pack three
#7 Mickey Mantle
#84 Brian Matusz
#111 Kevin Slowey
#TM-37 C.C. Sabathia -1987 Topps mini insert
#GGC-5 Matt Kemp - Golden Giveaway code card / unlocked a Roy Halladay virtual coin
#42 Drew Pomeranz
#199 Adam Dunn
#113 Craig Kimbrell - checklist

Pack four
#38 Felipe Paulino
#25 Neil Walker
#296 Brayan Pena - Golden Moments parallel
#TT-15 Bob Gibson / Roy Halladay - Timeless Talents insert
#221 Luke Gregerson
#12 Wilson Ramos
#269 Jason Vargas
#128 Lucas Duda

Pack five
#236 Jose Tabata
#CW-5 Jay Bruce - Classic Walkoffs insert
#GM-10 Prince Fielder - Golden Moments insert
#205 Justin Masterson
#56 Geovany Soto
#143 George Kottaras
#231 Dexter Fowler
#170 Jacoby Ellsbury

Pack six
#256 Mat Latos
#145 Billy Butler
#116 A.J. Pierzynski
#GG-5 Lou Gehrig - Golden Greats insert
#GS-9 Willie McCovey - Gold Standard insert
#24 Ike Davis
#104 Brett Anderson
#53 St. Louis Cardinals - 2011 World Series Game #7 featuring Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman

Pack seven
#200 Miguel Cabrera
#246 Bud Norris
#TM-23 Dustin Pedroia - 1987 Topps mini insert
#GF-10 Craig Kimbrel - Gold Futures insert
#222 Chris Coghlan
#110 Mark Teixeira
#48 Wade Davis
#91 Active AL Home Run Leaders - featuring A-Rod, Jim Thome and Jason Giambi

Pack eight
#85 Jason Heyward
#144 Marlon Byrd
#31 Brent Morel - Golden Moments parallel
#50 Adrian Gonzalez
#318 Erik Bedard
#68 Jason Hammel
#29 Active NL Wins Leaders - featuring Livan Hernandez, Roy Oswalt and Randy Wolf
#90 Adron Chambers

Pack nine
#163 Justin Turner
#307 Vance Worley
#203 Jeff Niemann
#GM-3 Derek Jeter - Golden Moments insert
#192 Active NL Home Run Leaders - featuring Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols and Andruw Jones
#282 Ryan Raburn
#105 Paul Konerko
#292 Ben Revere

Pack 10
#140 Troy Tulowitzki
#GG-55 Hank Aaron - Golden Greats insert
#GGC-6 Albert Pujols - Golden Giveaway code card / unlocked a Stan Musial virtual coin
#108 Albert Pujols
#237 Russell Martin
#40 Tom Milone
#23 Cory Luebke
#208 Mike Leake

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.

The most random card show pick ups

I don't know if I'd set out to go out to look for something specific in mind when I finally got a chance to go to a card show where they sometimes still sell cards - this one vintage dealer with a booth uncharacteristically has some assorted nickel and dime junk to rummage through, so I dug out the following cards from the quarter box.

1967 Topps Wayne Causey #286

1975 Topps Al Hrabosky #122

1975 Topps Gary Gentry #393
1986 Donruss The Rookies Bo Jackson #38

1990 Leaf Rickey Henderson #160

1994 Bowman's Best Tony Clark #62 - it's probably how the technology in making these cards have aged, but there seems to be some discoloring issues with the foil / refractor surfaces.
1997 Bowman's Best Jamey Wright #181 - as a baseball fan, I find it kind of fascinating how journeymen [85-121, 4.93 ERA] like Wright latch onto MLB jobs towards their mid 30's and possibly through their early 40s.
2000 Topps Traded Chrome Brian Sanches #T64 - he was signed this past offseason to see if he can make the Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day roster.

COMC mail day Part 4 of 4 - 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Mark Canha

2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Mark Canha certified auto [$2] - this random pick up quietly finishes off the first group of cards I've purchased and shipped from Check Out My Cards.

I picked this card because it was cheap and I saw he hit 25 home runs in the minors in 2011 - maybe if given the opportunity to get to the major leagues, Canha can be the next 'one month wonder' like Chris Shelton or Jake Fox at worst or possibly be another Josh Willingham at best.

COMC mail day Part 3 of 4 - adding to the Angels regional collection

2003 Topps Pristine Garret Anderson Gold refractor [$4] - a shiny, numbered card of a former Angels star whose name is listed prominently among the top of the team's all-time offensive categories.

2011 Topps Hope parallel of Torii Hunter #'d to 60 [$4.95] - I'm trying to ramp up my regional collection bit by bit, though I probably won't try and track every Angel card down unless it pictures my 'favorites.'

2011 Topps 60th Anniversary Black Diamond wrapper redemption Torii Hunter and Jered Weaver [about $0.69 each] - I was vaguely aware of the early 2011 Topps Series I promotion, though never bothered to look into it because it was hobby exclusive.

2003 40-Man Darin Erstad Rainbow parallel #'d to 40 [$2] - I figured I'd better just grab the card sooner [rather than never] and not worry whether or not it was worth picking up.

1996 Studio Tim Salmon Hit Parade insert #'d to 5,000 [$1.15] - can I really do any extensive digging through a card shop or a card show [these days] to find a forgotten insert like this?

2006 Upper Deck F/X Tim Salmon Red #'d to 40 [$1] - this parallel is from was printed the same year Salmon finished up his playing career. The card itself has a nice, shiny finish and it's numbered too.

2002 Upper Deck 40-Man Tim Salmon Rainbow parallel #'d to 40 [$5] - I've never been aware of these parallels from Upper Deck's answer to the 'comprehensive' Topps Total sets from the early 2000s.

2004 Leaf Limited Tim Salmon Spotlight parallel #'d [$1] - it is shiny and numbered.

1996 Bowman's Best Preview Tim Salmon Atomic refractor [$1] - not a bad looking parallel of an insert card.

COMC mail day Part 2 of 4 - 1998 Donruss Tim Salmon Crusade insert

My third ever purchase on COMC was a Salmon 1998 Donruss Crusade insert #'d to 250 for $14.50 - I probably overpaid for this card, but the retired Salmon is my favorite Angel and at times I'm tempted to go pick up random cards of his for my personal collection.

While I dutifully collected trading cards through the 1990's, I honestly seem to be in the dark about shiny, seemingly harder to find / find insert cards - it maybe refreshing to discover cards that I've never actually or have only been vaguely aware of during the last 15 years.

1998 Donruss Crusade Green #1 Tim Salmon #41/250 Item: 4292006 $25.00 $14.50 1/21/2012 11:50:44 AM

COMC mail day Part 1 of 4 - my first two purchases

My first Check Out My Cards shipment arrived in a little more than a week - eyeballing the 14 cards I had shipped through their bulk shipping option, there were no obvious problems with any imperfections that may have been caused by shipping.

The cards I had shipped were placed [no penny sleeves] into a team set bag sandwiched by two top loaders and placed into a bigger team set bag - my package was shipped in a bubble mailer and came with a print out of the invoice sent to me through e-mail.

I'm giving myself a 'four post window' to sort of talk about the cards I got from COMC - my first ever COMC purchases were a couple of Kevin Youkilis certified autograph cards for $10 each.

The only time I got Youkilis' autograph in-person was on my 'autograph book' all the way back when he was a rookie in 2004 - so I wanted to have a couple of certified autograph cards of his for my A-Z singles collection.

'Youk' is not a Hall of Fame bound player but has put in his time in the Major Leagues as a 'regional star' and his certified autographs will always have some value - even if it's only the $20 I paid for the two cards I picked up.

2005 Leaf Certified Materials Mirror Autograph Red #156 Kevin Youkilis/50 #31/50 Item: 6078651 $12.00 $10.00 1/21/2012 11:47:55 AM

2006 Flair Showcase Fresh Ink #KY Kevin Youkilis Item: 5789220 $15.00 $10.00 1/21/2012 11:48:39 AM

2012 Topps Casey Kotchman #289

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

My first 2012 Topps Golden Giveaway code card - a Wade Boggs digital coin

I picked up a 72-card box of 2012 Topps and this was what I redeemed with my one per box Golden Giveaway code card - hopefully I'll be able to redeem a future code card for an actual card I can have delivered.

Autograph request through the mail received: Sean Casey

Sean Casey c/o MLB Network - signed my cards in blue Sharpie in about a month or so.

I have set cards put aside for the Casey, but ended up sending random cards, I could afford to lose in the mail - I think I have a Mitch Williams request I sent c/o MLB Network that I haven't gotten back, so I wasn't sure if the address worked.

Casey didn't for a lot of power as a Major League first baseman - but he was a pretty good hitter and seems like a very personable guy otherwise.

Featured autograph - Gary Carter

I don't have recollections of Gary Carter as an active player except from highlights of the 1986 World Series replayed from time to time and maybe through random baseball cards I've had through the last 20 years - I was fortunate to get his autograph in-person several times through golf tournaments, when he managed an independent league team in his hometown of Fullerton, California and the last time at the 2010 All-Star Fan Fest.

Pictured is an 8x10 sheet of paper with the 2010 All-Star Game logo - he wouldn't sign anything else at the 2010 All-Star Fan Fest and this was sore topic for one obnoxious dude with a video camera and a YouTube account.

However to Carter's credit, he also signed a tract card with his personal testimony as well as taking a picture with me - after his signing session ended, he held an impromptu signing session for those willing to pay him $25 'under the table.'

A story I'll probably always remember is trying to get autographs at a particular golf tournament down in Rancho Santa Fe California one year - it was raining and wasn't ideal weather for scoring autographs.

However, since my friend was driving and we were not local to the area, we kind of hung out for a while - we were barely able to stop Carter and his driver in a golf cart; he signed a baseball for me, but smirked and tossed the ball nonchalantly up in the air.

I had to grab the ball real fast and do a little balancing act with my feet - so the ball wouldn't fall into the wet ground.

R.I.P. Mr. Carter 1954-2012

Autograph request through the mail received: Julian Javier

Very intermittent and inconsistent WiFi and access to Internet cafes during a three week vacation to the Philippines had sort of allowed me be updated on baseball card stuff like 2012 Topps having come out - though without the ability to go to a store to see what the cards look like themselves.

During some down time abroad, I started to list my personal collection cards - I worked on initial lists of Top 30 PC cards, Top 30 Alternate PC cards and a Top 50 'Fun' PC, to sort of see how many I can name without having the cards in-hand.

After signing up and adding $65 to my account, I was also 'playing' with Check Out My Cards - I purchased about 15 cards through the last three weeks and through the folly of their s/h handling charges, had all but one shipped to me under their bulk shipping option.

While I was hoping, I wasn't really counting on getting the cards when I got back to California Wednesday afternoon - the only thing of note I found in the stacks of mail at home was a success from former Major Leaguer Julian Javier.

I mailed this request with two $0.64 stamps, hoping it reached Javier - the man is 75 years old and living in the Dominican Republic, where mail delivery has a supposedly sketchy reputation.

I sent $3 with my request about a month ago, hoping it would be enough - my card was actually returned signed in blue ink and I was pretty happy with how it came out.

I think I sent the equivalent of 116 Dominican pesos - so I assume it was much more than enough to buy postage [which according to Google was only about $0.52] to send my card back.

Last 2011 Topps Update Value Box recap

Bought one at Target for $14.99 and it was devoid of anything - since the Topps site was down, I had to enter my code cards on vacation and I ended up with 1987 Topps cards of Don Sutton and an Ozzie Smith All-Star subset card.