Featured autographs - Andrew McCutchen

I got a 2011 Topps Chrome refractor and a 2013 Bowman Blue Sapphire reprint scribbled on by the Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder - it looks like McCutchen maybe a frontrunner for the National League MVP, while his Pirates squad is in a dogfight in the NL Central, looking to finish at .500 or above for the first time since 1992.

Featured card: 2011 Topps Chrome Jordan Walden Orange refractor #183

I was able to pick up this Orange refractor of the Angels closer from Brian at Play at the Plate - in exchange for a Mason Tobin X-Fractor from this pack break.

Walden was thrown into the fire in 2011 and his season went from being impressive as a rookie closer making the All-Star team - to a guy who has some things to work on after two rough outings to end the year.

Unlike the last two great Angels closers [Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez] - I don't know if Walden has had a 'mentor' to allow him to develop, like Percival did when Lee Smith was a closer for the Angels back in 1995 and like 'K-Rod' who watched Percival close out games, before taking over closing duties for the Angels in the mid 2000s.

Walden is still a young guy and perhaps the Angels can go out and sign at end of the game reliever that sort of helps Walden out - if not really as a 'mentor' type, someone who can close out games as Walden figures things out.

As much talent as Walden has, I don't want to see the Angels burn him out because they don't have any other closing options - instead of hitting his prime in his mid 20s, you might find a guy like Walden bottoming out like the seemingly sad case of Jonathan Broxton, circa 2010-2011.

2011 Topps Chrome Value Pack recap #2

2011 Topps Chrome Value Pack #2

Pack one
#71 Colby Rasmus
#VC 25 Josh Hamilton - Vintage 1996 Topps Chrome insert
#205 Chris Sale
#195 Craig Kimbrel

Pack two
#80 Joe Mauer
#89 Gaby Sanchez
#99 Kendrys Morales - refractor; with the emergence of some Angels rookie at first base, Morales has been a 'non-factor' for the Angels since the middle of the 2010 season.
#179 Marcos Mateo

Pack three
#97 Ubaldo Jimenez

#37 Mike Leake - x-fractor
#172 Brandon Belt
#164 Jered Weaver

Orange refractor pack
#49 Jonathan Papelbon
#36 Billy Butler
#199 Pedro Beato

2011 Topps Chrome Value Pack recap #1

2011 Topps Chrome value pack [$8.99 each x2 at Target] - comes with three packs of 2011 Topps Chrome and a three card pack of Orange refractors.

Pack one
#25 Adrian Gonzalez

#C152 Jay Bruce - Heritage Chrome insert / parallel, serial #'d 0946/1962
#139 Clayton Richard - Purple refractor serial #'d 266/499
#137 Chris Young

Pack two
#36 Rafael Soriano

#138 Jose Reyes - refractor
#121 Chris Carpenter
#114 Carlos Beltran
Checklist 1 of 2

Pack three
#44 David Price
#56 Gio Gonzalez

#194 Mason Tobin - x-fractor
#159 Paul Konerko

Orange refractor pack
#37 Mike Leake
#190 Ivan DeJesus Jr.
#220 Aaron Crow