Card shop trip

Bonus babies or cameo cards

You walk into a card shop and wish you can pick up unopened packs or boxes, maybe some singles - but then some times you get 'sticker shock' and decide you'd better be thinking about picking up something else.

Broken bat shots

Besides, there used to be this great site called Ebay, where at time, you can pick up some cards, but I digress - I must be a luddite because I don't actively use my PayPal account and Ebay has mandated sellers to do paperless transactions.

You are a little unsure if it is worth it just to go through a particular baseball card shop's common boxes, but part of the pilgrimage is digging through the commons boxes - I don't feel bad about putting some money into finding and picking up cards because I believe, I'm not spending some money to pick up cards of no value to me [at the very least].

Awesome action

I went through several monster boxes of commons and was able to get through parts of five different, random years - 2008, 2007, 2006, 2001 and 1997.

I ended up spending $20 to pick up 200 assorted cards from the commons bin - to add to my various 'personal' sets.

I had typed up a 'wantlist' I'd made up for the trip, but who organizes wantlists for collecting topic cards and various base cards [?] - these are my sets however. I don't collect to complete a set, but by the randomness of finding qualities among typically common cards.

Sometimes there is confusion with individual cards you have to think about - the most obvious cards I collect are image related and a bulk of my collecting topics cards consist of such cards.

If you do see a card that fits into one of the collecting topic classifications you are looking for, you need to grab it - I don't think any card is difficult to find, but there are so many card sets released each year. How do you find the ones you don't see because they were printed 10-15 years ago? It isn't a matter of scarcity or value, but just physically finding the cards in-hand when they are probably in mothballs.

Tools of ignorance

I'm admittedly anal about picking up the right number of cards and choosing different cards - but I ended up with doubles of some cards and later found I already had some cards I had picked up. I guess I get so excited at times to pick up as many cards as I can and I'm just not sure whether I have a particular card already.

Awesome outfield action

I hear checklists may help sort things out, but for as long as I've considered myself as a collector - I still need to figure how to be a 'nerd' and use a checklist for my benefit.

Taking account of it all with some perspective

I live in Orange County, California but was about 90 miles away in El Cajon - to attend one of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn's public appearances at a car dealership on Nov. 15.

I was pretty much isolated from the fires that burned through parts of Riveride/Los Angeles County and Orange County - the Triangle Complex; Brea, Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, Corona, Diamond Bar.

I visited a baseball card shop down south to stock up on some 'goodies' from their commons bins - spending the afternoon there with a friend immersed in digging up cards the store was selling for a dime each.

I finally called back my mother, who had called me about five times intermittently during the afternoon - she said a neighborhood park burned down along with a singular house close to ours.

Going back to Orange County, there is a surreal feeling because you know there is supposedly a fire threatening your home - but life is still going on. You realize something is going on that maybe bugging you, but then it isn't affecting others at all. There is supposed to be this fire, but how can it be, that everyone is not stopping in their tracks?

I was kind of stunned on my way to Uncle's house, where it was somewhat safer [though I didn't honestly know how much] - I was seeing glimpses of the fires blazing, blowing for the first time. There were fires at several different areas and I'm thinking this wasn't just some isolated incident. I was sort of scared at the implication of these fires burning.

I tried to keep it as real as possible for me - knowing I was safe and really wasn't exposed to what I consider a tragedy. If I'd stayed the whole day at home, then go through the motions of having to be evaculated 'on the go,' I might have lost my cool.

I was worried about my inanimate, sentimental stuff however like keepsakes and collectibles - I wish my brother didn't patronize and mock me about not being able to save my 'stuff' since I didn't want to be reminded that a fire might wipe out 'stuff' I thought I cared enough about to build up.

What is the stuff I'll take a chance on burning without really crying over it [?] - I may need to have the cavalier attitude for most things, that they can either burn and/or you can replace them one way or the other [no matter how much they cost in the first place].

It doesn't mean certain things may not mean as much, but only serve as distractions - by keeping you from actually saving some one-of-a-kind items or stuff that may actually be crucial. Of course, you don't have a choice at times to even save the truly special stuff.

You amass and accumulate - but find it is a mess to realistically take all your 'stuff' where you know you aren't worrying about one more thing. It becomes a doomsday scenario, where you must decide what to grab, on the run.

What are the must grabs [?] - it really is difficult to think about; maybe my little thumb drive, since it has become sort of your storage area for journals, database information, maybe passwords, et al. You don't do a single thing on the computer, without opening a file on your thumb drive.

I was able to take refuge at my Uncle's home - good thing no one forgot the family dog.

Featured pickup: 2008 Topps Stadium Club Gary Sheffield Beam Team autograph BTA-GS

I probably didn't need this card - but I had to prove to myself I could pick up one, lousy single from a recently released product for less than the current average pack price.

I guess I'm a sucker for $10 singles and this card was something to put away in my pocket - though I am fully aware Sheffield is unpopular [and uncollectible] for a number of reasons.

The nephew of Doc Gooden, Sheffield was once young and dumb enough to say at one time - he was booting balls on purpose to somehow get traded from his Milwaukee Brewers team.

While he inches towards 500 home runs and has had an all-star career - he has never been happy anywhere and has grumbled one way or the other with how he is treated.

Sheffield called out Barry Bonds for treating him like dirt [during their off-season training sessions] and for getting him involved with BALCO - Sheffield also called out Joe Torre for basically getting in his face as opposed to other teammates with typically lighter complexions during their time with the Yankees.

Sheffield also called out the establishment of Major League Baseball and lamented its practices in finding young talent in South America - compared to finding talent in the inner cities of the United States.

Sheffield also called out super agent Scott Boras - because Boras has claimed he had a hand in negotiating Sheffield's contract with the New York Yankees and wants his due bonus.

Sheffield always speaks his truth, which may not be how others see it - because the media often portrays athletes of his ilk a certain way, many of the things he has said are often mocked.

Trying to keep things in play

I'm organizing card images of collecting topics cards - either scanned or collected online. I figure I have a better idea of why I want a particular card, when I know what it looks like.

I am also trying to create an informal wantlist of collecting topic cards - so I have something in-hand when I'm hunting down cards at a more organized venue i.e. a 'baseball card shop' as opposed to a card show, where different booths may have different cards scattered about.

There are no misconception about the value of these cards - most collecting topics cards are found in the commons bin. I pick them up for my amusement, so I get involved as a card collector, when there is really no consideration for anything but value these days.

There are probably lots of cards I still need from various mass-produced sets from 1987-1993 - instead of looking for individual cards, what I may do is buy complete sets [probably $10 or less] of products like 1987 Topps, 1991-1993Upper Deck, 1992 Donruss, et al.

As I look to add more cards from these sets - I realize it isn't worth picking up individual cards if all of them are worth 1/2 a nickel each. However nostalgia kicks in and part of me wants to have complete sets of cards from my formative collecting days.

On the other hand, picking up junk sets and looking for those commons to fill holes as far as collecting topics cards are concerned seems pointless - unless I literally stumble into particular cards from various 1987-1993 sets.

Congratulations to the Phillie Phanatic

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Philly Phanatic will be doing a lot of partying the next week or so, after the Phanatic's team captured the first World Series title for Philadelphia Phillies since 1980.

Collecting topics cards

Infamous - a tragic figure perhaps

Awesome action - The Human Vacuum Cleaner

Awesome action - making a Web Gem

Inking it up - obliging the fans

Awesome action - dirt is the name of the game

Cards like these is what makes up a bulk of my 'active thinking' collection - cards picked up here and there, not worth much at all, but are always guaranteed to make me smile and/or think a little deeper.

I've been getting back into collecting topics and database work - maybe it is the most cost-effective, yet interesting way to collect sports cards [though baseball is still the only one I actively collect] if you are on the sidelines as far as busting new product or picking up new singles.

I sort these cards out pack-war style - using unique collecting topics classifications, which may not be original, but ones I've adopted them for my own collecting use. I only store these cards in boxes, but it is a moral victory to see cards featuring the same theme, coming to life.

I look through the diversity, the numbers and enjoy rank-and-file cards and what they now represent - besides just the thousands of base cards I have no use for.

Any card maybe a collecting topic card and the idea almost no card is a common in my eyes is something challenging - but also encourages me to collect something, without resorting to having to pick up something like 7th Inning Stench repack boxes at my local retail store.

2008 World Series

You hear all the chatter and the hype with top prospects like - 'call-up Evan Longoria already, he is going to be a difference maker, he's going to be better than so-and-so [insert name of established veteran here] right now' or 'David Price is going to be up sooner than later.'

You tend to casually dismiss them, because they can't possibly fulfill their potential - or at least show why they were legitimate their No. 1 picks [Price No. 1 overall in 2007] in such a relatively short period of time.

You also dismiss the chatter when it comes to predicting the franchise fortunes of once lowly-teams getting high picks in the amateur draft - it is then exciting, but surprising when it is players like Longoria and Price thriving in October, right now and not five years down the line [or never].

The only sad thing is when you realize those are someone else's dreams realized, some other fans' or others who have a stake in these young players.

While the ratings may not show it - the 2008 World Series looks to be a showcase for baseball's brightest young talents and established veterans.

Can't say much about the Phillies except wouldn't it be just great if they won the World Series already [?] - it just brings some closure to the hunger pangs rabid fans have had since 1980 and a World Series Championship is kind of a final nail to the coffin to their rivalry with the New York Mets over the last several years.

Here is a position-by-position look at both teams -

First baseman Ryan Howard has been more consistent and prolific through his Major League career but side-by-side he and Carlos Pena are similar players [Howard may have 70-75 pounds on Pena of course] - the Rays may have the edge, if Howard is in a power slump. Pena seems to be a little more athletic and maybe able to do a little more defensively, if he is shut down with the bat.

Second baseman Chase Utley's power has come and gone, but the fact he can pop a home run at any time, makes him a more imminent threat - the Rays' Akinori Iwamura will have his moments and he is type of complimentary player who contributes to championship teams.

Third baseman Evan Longoria maybe the most important player in this series - as he goes, so do the Rays. Each year there seems to be a breakout player and Longoria is the guy in 2008. For the Phillies, Pedro Feliz is a hacker who may be a surprising performer with his ability to 'grind out' at-bats and hit for power.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been a league MVP and while he had a down year, there is no contest as to who is the better shortstop in this upcoming World Series - the Rays' Jason Bartlett is more Chris Gomez than anything else and may not hit enough.

Left fielder Carl Crawford has a little more athletic ability to cover ground in outfield - while the Phillies' Pat Burrell is more proficient at the plate, with patient and powerful presence.

Center fielder B.J. Upton has powered the Rays, but then Shane Victorino has lit the fire for the Phillies - it maybe a 'push,' if each player plays like they have in recent weeks.

Right fielder Jayson Werth offers the stability - the two headed platoon of Gabe Gross and Rocco Baldelli may not offer.

Catcher Dioner Navarro has proven to be no afterthought - after bouncing from the New York Yankees to the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Rays' No. 1 catcher in their first World Series.

Designated hitter [Rays] - they can trot out some lefty sticks like Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs, but the Rays have their pick Cliff Floyd, Rocco Baldelli and Willy Aybar.

Starting pitching [Rays] - It is hard to argue with Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields and Andy Sonnanstine, but Cole Hamels can shut any team down and I hear Brett Myers has turned into quite the hitter [besides his boxing exploits and hitting his wife of course]. Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton are bookends to the Phillies' rotation.

Relief pitching [Rays] - the Rays trot out a gutty group of guys, but they've been exposed in the American League Championship Series. If they can somehow regroup and not be required to pitch as much as they did in the ALCS, they will be in much better shape with David Price suddenly being their No. 1 equalizer.

For the Phillies, Brad Lidge has been automatic - and he really has no reason not to continue his season long excellence, though it seems he has shown he does have the potential to be another Mitch Williams.

Final thoughts - the Philadelphia Phillies will take the first championship since 1980 if Howard, Utley and Burrell hit their expected share of home runs. If they don't hit, then it will be tough for them to score runs.

If the Rays' starting pitching can shut the Phillies' middle-of-the-lineup down, then the Rays have the ability to push the series to the limit and actually win - the key for the Rays is to get on the board early, so the starting pitchers have the confidence to go deep into games, and ultimately not have to rely on their relievers to pitch multiple innings game-by-game.

The series may come down to who makes more athletics plays i.e ability to run the bases [advance] - as well as on defense [catching the ball, not making mental mistakes].

Featured card: Joe Maddon 2007 Topps #266

Joe Maddon doesn't have the perception of a conventional manager - but doesn't come off as a goofy, say-anything guy either. It seems like he has the ability to manage his team without the complications many sophisticated fans these days grumble about.

The back of his 2007 Topps card seems to succintly describe his professional career in baseball - though leading his 2008 Rays team to the World Series may mean another line [or paragraph] to his bio.

Cardboard meanderings

Sorting cards late at night - this is essentially what I did in the early through late 1990s, when I was getting a grasp of consciously collecting, whether or not what I collected was crap. I would be in my room, alone, just trying to sort cards here and there [circa 1992].

I guess the 'dynamics' of what actually happened is a little fuzzy because there always 'blind spots' when it comes your memories of something - I might have the radio on, listening to some mid 1980s - early 1990s pop playing on the local radio station.

Maybe I'd be sorting random cards, trying to put together enough to rival my collecting peers - even though it seemed like I could only compete in little bits and pieces.

Instead of having a comprehensive collection of all the good cards [then] - there was always a feeling of knowing better [I always read the Beckett cover-to-cover, every month] and seeing the cards as the end-all, be-all of any hobbies I'd concentrated on before [and after].

I've never really taken time away from collecting and over the last 10 years, I've paginated cards together and there is a sentiment to keep things together - I bought plastic sheets [in various ways], acquired cards [through various ways] and arranged them by player [and typically some other classifications] in at least 10-15 binders.

Now, when I do a little housekeeping and designate a set of players' cards to go somewhere else [maybe even discard certain cards] - I see what I've 'built' up and it seems like I'm breaking a link to a part of trading card history I inadvertedly created for myself.

On the flip side, I worry I won't be able to keep track of everything I've picked up. It is pitiful, when I lose random things, like two jersey cards of little quality - one card was a Tristar Brandon Wood jersey card [worth about $2], that I definitely don't have anymore, since I lost it trying to get him to sign something in-person.

Another card is a Hank Blalock jumbo jersey card, worth about $2 as well - it is ironic I blogged about these cards as part of group purchase, from the same seller. I don't know where the Blalock is and I might have misplaced it, playing around with the card holder it was in.

Top five things on my mind
1.) No definitive personal collection - at times it is so hard to figure out where you want to go. You want a little bit of everything, but then cards seem like a finite endeavor when you aren't planning on spending a lot. I have to be more creative, getting the cards I want, but with new pickups, where do themes [maybe player, team, card type, for a long-term or short-term collection, et al] fit in?

2.) It is one thing to buy a box of cards - but another thing to have to spend $$$ when you aren't guaranteed anything for your personal collection. It is so hard to figure out, which box to pick-up. I'd like to pick up some 'older' boxes and sets [within the last two years] like 2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Edition, 2007 Upper Deck Masterpieces, 2007 Topps factory set, Tristar minor league product, et al. On the other hand, the idea of breaking boxes flops, when you realize every box you want is junk you can't afford, with regards to trying to do other things with your collecting endeavors.

3.) My personal junk wax solution is to pick up rookie card singles - everyone may have these cards and you can probably customize your own list, but in an 'old-school' way, basic rookie cards still mean something; 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn $6, 1992 Bowman Mike Piazza $10-$15, 1992 Bowman Mariano Rivera, 1992 Bowman Carlos Delgado $10, 1992 Topps Traded Nomar Garciaparra $10 and 1993 Bowman Derek Jeter $10.

4.) For multisport collectors, these cards add instant credibility to your collection - for around the price of a hobby box of cards.

1975 Topps George Brett
1980 Topps Rickey Henderson
1981 Topps Joe Montana
1984 Topps John Elway

5.) Certified autograph / low-end memorabilia cards - patch and multiple material cards of superstars and Hall of Famers; certified autographs of young top prospects, stars, all-stars and select superstars/Hall of Famers and HOF icons.

Card show purchases #3

Spent $14 on an assorted number of common cards - this was Part III of my purchase, but didn't get to post it. Out of the three purchases posted, this cost the most [$10], though it was more about quantity than quality [it would seem].

At the show I go to, there is a booth with bins filled with random cards bundled up with rubber bands - maybe six or seven years ago, it was 'top heavy' with scrap commons [poor-fair-good] going back from at least the 1960s through whatever there was in the last 30 years or so.

There is still a random mix here and there, but probably less 'vintage' cards - sometimes I've seen 'newer' brands of cards [within the last couple of years] put together.

It is typically 10-15 cards of the same brand, featuring base cards/commons. I took a chance picking up 10 random stacks of cards [$10] - I thought I might find a card you might be able to get autographed randomly [my bread and butter] in-person or through the mail.

2006 Topps '52 - could have done without these. No matter how you flip through them, they all feel like repacked 1987 Topps to me, with lots of cards of guys I could care less about.

#246 Dan Uggla
#62 Ruddy Lugo
#25 Chris Roberson
#73 Cody Ross
#165 Joel Guzman
#37 Jeff Karstens
#109 Jason Kubel
#238 Bartolome Fortunato
#226 Bernie Castro
#202 Franklin Gutierrez

2006 Topps '52 - I'm doubting this purchase
#257 Zach Jackson
#90 Tyler Johnson
#245 Tom Gorzelanny
#234 Scott Dunn
#244 Alexis Gomez
#258 Charlton Jimerson
#105 Chris Resop
#267 Paul McAnulty
#247 Jeremy Guthrie

2006 Topps '52 - no one really good
#139 Carlos Ruiz
#159 Colter Bean
#189 Kevin Barry
#161 Kevin Reese
#97 Macay McBride
#131 Matt Albers
#147 Martin Prado
#123 Davis Romero - look about 40 on his card
#273 Ronny Paulino
#229 Roy Corcoran

2006 Topps '52 - no one really good
#173 Taylor Tankersley
#249 Brendan Harris
#145 Jason Bergmann
#25 Chris Roberson
#208 John Hattig
#80 Joe Nelson
#152 Joe Inglett
#243 Justin Germano
#228 Doug Clark
#219 Ron Flores

2006 Topps '52 - no one really good / these were pretty much drecks
#15 Norris Hopper
#27 Kevin Frandsen
#3 Chuck James
#37 Jeff Karstens
#109 Jason Kubel
#145 Jason Bergmann
#80 Joe Nelson
#85 Yurendell De Caster
#260 Mitch Jones
#232 Rajai Davis

2006 Bowman Heritage - it seems like the guy bundled up 20-25 cards instead of 10-15.
#189 Jorge Cantu
3 of 3 Checklist
#187 Jose Castillo
#184 Juan Encarnacion
#179 Kevin Youkilis
#171 Coco Crisp
#166 CC Sabathia
#163 David DeJesus
#159 Jose Lopez
#135 Curtis Granderson
#125 Derrek Lee
#124 Erik Bedard
#121 Joe Crede
#118 Eric Byrnes
#113 Chad Cordero
#112 Bronson Arroyo
#104 Juan Uribe
#98 Bengie Molina
#95 Robinson Cano
#78 Adam LaRoche
#76 A.J. Pierzynski x2
#62 Gary Matthews Jr.
#57 Ty Wigginton
#49 Mark Kotsay
#39 Eric Chavez
#34 Doug Davis
#22 Dan Haren
#279 Jered Weaver
#18 Mark Mulder
#14 Michael Cuddyer

2006 Bowman Heritage
#6 Jake Peavy
2 of 3 Checklist
BHP 95 Chad Huffman
BHP 94 Brad Furnish
BHP 93 Brooks Brown
BHP 88 Billy Rowell - he is supposed to be some sort of top prospect, but I have heard nothing really positive about his development as a professional.
BHP 85 Clayton Kershaw - now, here is a nice $2-$3 first-year card.
BHP 81 Chad Tracy
BHP 80 Dustin Evans
BHP 75 Kyle McCulloch
BHP 68 Jose Campusano
BHP 65 Adam Coe
BHP 68 Dale Thayer
BHP 57 Brian Horwitz
BHP 54 Steve Kelly
BHP 53 Andrew Kown

2006 Bowman Heritage - I was thinking of buying a box of this stuff, but I see why I probably shouldn't.
BHP 49 Landon Jacobsen
2 of 3 Checklist
BHP 35 John Bannister
BHP 59 Diory Hernandez
BHP 31 Brandon Moss
BHP 29 Welinson Baez
BHP 28 Chris Dickerson
BHP 25 Brent Dlugach
BHP 22 Radhamez Liz
BHP 16 Nate Gold
BHP 9 Yung-Chi Chen
BHP 8 Nick Adenhart
BHP 7 Ben Copeland
BHP 5 Garrett Mock
#46 Carlos Zambrano
BHP 4 Cameron Maybin - another nice first-year card, though probably only worht about $1.50.
#247 Jeremy Hermida
#246 John Lester
#228 Kevin Thompson
#221 Craig Hansen
#213 Hanley Ramirez
#203 Matt Kemp
#194 Mark Buehrle
#192 Adrian Gonzalez

2007 Topps Allen and Ginter
#106 CC Sabathia
#324 Ian Kinsler
#305 Jeremy Bonderman
#216 Rickie Weeks
#151 Bob Wickman
#70 Jermaine Dye
#347 Anibal Sanchez
#268 Washington Monument#176 Bronson Arroyo - needed
#222 Rocco Baldelli - needed

2007 Topps Allen and Ginter
#347 Anibal Sanchez
#63 Bengie Molina
#247 Dave Roberts
#342 Chad Cordero
#190 Scott Kazmir
#341 Adrian Gonzalez
#264 Aaron Rowand
#203 Justin Verlander - needed
#81 Mike Sweeney

It is all about the possibilities

With the Angels' out of it, I'm not emotionally attached to any of the teams playing in the American League Championship Series - the Tampa Bay Rays have been getting too much hype and too much love since their break out season and maybe they need to be knocked off their pedestal.

On the other hand, compared to the Boston Red Sox, they are still the plucky underdogs - a trip to the World Series [and or even winning the whole thing] would just shake Major League Baseball up.

If the Red Sox advance and win another World Series - they officially become the model Major League team of the 21st century, leapfrogging over the New York Yankees in status.

In the National League Championship Series - I like the Los Angeles Dodgers to win against the Philadelphia Phillies because I've never had any compelling feelings for the Phillies, while the Dodgers are led by Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez.

How interesting can things get when Torre is four wins away from reaching the World Series - after seemingly hearing he had lost his touch in New York? Maybe there were random grumblings [from the media, from Gary Sheffield] about Torre not being difference maker, except managing the best players money can buy in New York.

Now, he is working some of his mojo and it seems ironic he is where he is - while the Yankees failed to make the playoffs in 2008.

I guess I can jump on the Dodgers bandwagon when convenient - I can't root for them to win the World Series because I'm an Angels fan and it doesn't feel right to see another 'local' team besides the Halos win it all.

For full disclosure - it isn't the worst thing in the world if they advance and actually win the whole thing. On the other hand, they will be so tough to approach for random autograph signings in-person in the next year. Perhaps I want them to fall just short.

Imagine the scenarios if Manny being Manny's team advances to face his former team in the World Series - who unceremoniously dumped him, kicked him out the door, threw him infront of the bus, locked the doors out on him. Wouldn't it be sweet revenge to see him lead his Los Angeles Dodgers' against the Boston Red Sox?

The season is over for the Angels

One run could have given the Angels the chance to win - despite another 'shut down' outing by Boston's Jon Lester in Game 4.

The Angels lost, 3-2, to the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the American League Division Series - it means no prolonged in-person autograph opportunities for me and it is time to really get focused on sorting cards for fun and for my autograph endeavors next season.

Angels' hitters were getting hits left and right during the series - with a runner at third base and one-out in the ninth inning, a 'lousy single' would have scored the go-ahead run and these stumbling, bumbling, sloppy Angels may have escaped with a win.

All game long, I kept waiting for the Angels to come through and when Torii Hunter got his game-tying hit top of the eighth inning - I had a temporary reprieve, feeling there was no way he'd let me down, with the dire situation the Angels were in.

In the ninth inning, Kendry Morales doubled, was pinch-run for by Reggie Willits and Howie Kendrick laid down a sacrifice bunt - advance Willits to third base.

I'll echo the sentiments of many and with a runner on third base and one out - you let your batter hit the ball and take two shots to get the potential game-winning run home. It kind of defeated the purpose, watching Erick Aybar botch the bunt on a squeeze and to see Willits get caught off third base.

Now the year is done and it is back to the drawing board - the Angels' franchise has never been more healthier in its 48 year history, but then all the franchise success, the season success doesn't matter, if you aren't the last team standing at the end of October.

Willits - maybe depended on this guy too much, but wasn't a good late-inning defensive replacement and it was kind of sad the Angels were forced to trot this guy out since Gary Matthews Jr. is a just a bum.

PS: Jed Lowrie - seemed like he was hitting rockets and a guy who made adjustments when he needed to.

Card show purchases #2

Spent $14 on an assorted number of common cards - I actually found a stack of random Projections Tristar minor league cards [I am sure these cards are from their 'high series']. They were in a box listed as '6 for $1' and I jumped at a chance to pick about 18 cards up, after not being able to find any during a card shop trip.

Projections seems like a comphrensive minor-league card product but they remind me of 1991 Classic Minor League and/or 1992 Upper Deck Minor League - mass produced minor league cards released through packs [as opposed to perhaps minor league cards released through team sets] where you seemed to have an endless number of names [including guys were never going to make a 40-man roster].

Tristar is a niche product for casual collectors who thinks the company can offer something a little different - on the other hand, while the cards are not bad looking at all, one thing annoying me is the birthdates listed in the bio on the back of the cards. They are at least three to four years off and I wonder if a team of monkeys proof read the back of these cards.

#221 Jake Arrieta - Baltimore Orioles organization
#242 Sean Rodriguez - Angels



#272 Adam Olbrychowski - New York Yankees organization
#287 Barry Enright - Arizona Diamondbacks organization
#291 Jeffrey Locke - Atlanta Braves organization
#295 Jeremy Haynes - Angels organization
#298 Tommy Hunter - Texas Rangers
#307 Andrew Romine - Angels organization
#311 James Simmons - Oakland Athletics organization
#326 Mason Tobin - Angels organization
#331 Brett Anderson - Oakland Athletics organization
#332 Chris Carter - Oakland Athletics organization
#378 Eric Hurley - Texas Rangers
#396 Dexter Fowler - Colorado Rockies' organization
#397 Matt Harrison - Texas Rangers
#399 Desmond Jennings - Tampa Bay Rays organization

#327 Jordan Walden Reflective - Angels organization
#385 Chris Carter Reflective - Boston Red Sox organization

Card show purchases #1

Spent $14 on an assorted number of common cards - it seems like I'm scraping at the bottom of the barrel, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet, digging around a dime box [and only spending $1 because 'you only like the cheap stuff'] to find some overlooked, scrap cards.

1994 Pinnacle
#165 Brady Anderson Museum Collection - it is a parallel of sweet common card featuring the athletic Anderson leaping to try and make the grab.

2005 Topps Update and Highlights - I don't care for these guys' cards, but if I see them, I'll approach them to sign.

UH 232 Humberto Sanchez
UH 242 Cody Haerther
UH 268 Ryan Feierabend
UH 285 Vinny Rottino
UH 303 Manny Parra

2007 Topps Allen and Ginter
#220 Ryan Zimmerman - hopefully I need this card.



2007 Upper Deck Masterpieces - I can't get enough of these cards, though I don't know how to start collecting them and/or really find a reason to besides liking the way they look.

#63 Stephen Drew - he has become an all-star performer in 2008, though his on-base percentage needs to go up.
#67 Ryan Zimmerman
#90 Curt Schilling - the card's image tells you everything.

It is what it is

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are down 2-0 in the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox and while I hold out hope - I'm already counting the reasons why they've lost the series and the opportunity to move on.

The Angels' pitchers have just been good enough - but not great enough really overcome uneven hitting by the Angels' lineup. You see guys like Garret Anderson, Mark Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter string along hits. You see Chone Figgins finally be able to do a little of his thing here-and-there.

Then you have a guy like Howie Kendrick, who maybe the best hitter the Angels' have as far as being able to make contact - he's not going good right now, so he is not putting the bat to the ball. He seems to be swinging at the junk he otherwise make good contact with, if he isn't in this slump. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem the plate discipline to lay-off pitches, so he has to swing for his life.

The best at-bat in the Angels' past two games against the Red Sox - maybe catcher Mike Napoli's bases loaded walk in the seventh inning in the Angels' 7-5 Game 2 defeat. It allowed the Angels to get within one run of the Red Sox [5-4] and ultimately allowed the Angels to tie the game in the eighth inning.

I wish the Angels had more hitters like Napoli [and Teixeira] who have an idea of what their doing at the plate - instead of guys who are 'hack-first' guys, who despite their successes, are prone to give away at-bats [GA, Vladimir Guerrero] from time-to-time.

Maicer Izturis - with his season-ending injury, there has been no viable options to give Kendrick and/or shortstop Erick Aybar a breather.

Francisco Rodriguez - he's always 'the man,' in my book, but he imploded in Game 2 and doesn't end on a particularly high note [if Friday night was his last appearance as a Halo]. Couldn't the Angels have ridden Scot Shields a few more innings during Game 2? It seemed like Angels' manager Mike Scioscia pulled too quickly, just to find a reason to get K-Rod in the game.

Jason Bay - how was this guy ever going to replace Manny? This guy has starred for a second division team and now he is supposed to be a key part of a championship contender? I think that was one of the complaints I either read or heard. I wasn't particularly impressed or enamored by the guy, but except for his atrocious 2007 season, he does two very important things right [get on-base and hit for a lot of power].

J.D. Drew - for me, he is a easy guy to hate and pile on, but he is kind of this silent assassin these days. He seems to be a guy that will beg out of the lineup for time-to-time and is merely a Major League Baseball player because he is very good at it. On the other hand, between last year's postseason, this year's all-star game and now with his game winning home run in Game 2 - Drew has really put together an impressive resume within the last year.

Jonathan Papelbon - he's an ass in the biggest way, but he is probably branded as confident and also a character. You come up with some positive code words to describe a cocky prima donna with an ego like Papelbon because he seems like he comes from Anytown, USA.

Not to take away anything from Papelbon - it is disheartening for opposing batters and opposing team's fans, but it seems like when he comes into a game, it is pretty much 'lights out.'

Award winners

Award winners [National and American League]
NL Cy Young - CC Sabathia; Brandon Webb probably deserves much consideration, with Tim Lincecum probably having a better overall season in the National League.

On the other hand, Sabathia handed the Milwaukee Brewers their first playoff trip since 1982 - could a banged-up Ben Sheets, Dave Bush, Manny Parra done the same without Sabathia?

AL Cy Young - Francisco Rodriguez; give Cliff Lee the Pitcher of the Year Award, but K-Rod had a historical season for a closer. Say what you want about short-relievers, but ask the Mets if someone like K-Rod would have saved their season.

Lee will probably win - both the American League Cy Young and the Pitcher of the Year Award, but K-Rod had a historical season himself.

NL Most Valuable Player - Ryan Howard; he came through when the Philadelphia Phillies needed him the most. Not Pat Burrell, not Jimmy Rollins, not even Chase Utley had as much impact as Howard did in leading his team to their second National League East Crown. Talk about strikeouts all you want and his low batting average, but last I checked he didn't hold the single-season record for strikeouts by a hitter.

AL Most Valuable Player - Josh Hamilton; Dustin Pedroia maybe the people's choice and maybe Hamilton isn't all he is cracked up to be.

As we know his story and journey he took - he fought through slumps and the ups-and-downs of a Major League Baseball season to have an impressive season.

NL Rookie of the Year - Geovany Soto

AL Rookie of the Year - Alexei Ramirez; the White Sox' wunderking had the same impact Evan Longoria has had in Tampa Bay, though Ramirez started off slow and while his plate discipline leaves much to be desired, he is a hacker in the Vladimir Guerrero and/or Alfonso Soriano 'can hit it any time out' mold.

NL Manager of the Year - Jerry Manuel; the Mets choked for the second year in a row but they were a sinking ship when Willie Randolph got fired. It wasn't his fault his bullpen imploded. It seemed like he had a calming influence with just enough 'gansta' in him to bring some levity into the clubhouse which had its series of implosions.

AL Manager of the Year - Joe Maddon; maybe the Tampa Bay Rays really had enough talent to leap frog a team like the Toronto Blue Jays or even the once-playoff guaranteed New York Yankees for second or third place, but Maddon won the American League East.

Minor matters and picking up random cards

Sometimes you feel you are in your own world - I went to a sports card shop, looking for some minor league product.

You always have your usual Major League cards, but sometimes you are looking for something a little different - I was looking for the 'mass produced' cards by Tristar.

"It's not really [something that is] in demand," the man I spoke to said. "We only carry mainstream [product] like Topps and Upper Deck."

Well I guess I'd better stick with official MLB licensed and/or MLBPA licensed baseball cards - I usually try to get my rank-and-file cards autographed in-person and through the mail and perhaps if I'm looking to find a minor league card of a particular player [probably a young prospect], he probably has a first-year Bowman/Bowman Chrome card.

With the MLBPA rookie card rules - Topps and Upper Deck are probably printing cards of particular players as they make their MLB debuts.

Why bother with minor league cards?

At the shop, I found 20 random cards [$0.10 each] from the commons boxes - I'm not really enamored by cards right now, so they were not a priority.

I feel like more cards = more work I'm not willing to do when it comes to sorting - I don't care about my collecting topics as much at this point.

I did find several minor league cards- 2008 Just [unlicensed; meaning the cards can't display team logos, even of minor league teams] of Logan Morrison, Chris Davis, Bobby Parnell, Andrew McCutchen and Jordan Bachanov [Angels draft pick in 2007 who had Tommy John surgery].

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes - these cards are styled after the Baseball Heroes inserts of the 1990s. Upper Deck has rolled out the Baseball Heroes graphics more than a few times.

#46 Corey Hart - a rising semistar who I probably had a chance to get, but didn't have any cards for during spring training.



#79 Alex Gordon - he hasn't made the leap from highly touted elite prospect to all-star performer [or better].
#168 Luke Scott

2008 Topps Baseball Series I and II - you need Topps, but there is an expectation these cards are very basic and boring.

#132 Ramon Vazquez - a decent utility guy

#428 Jair Jurrjens - was he really the Atlanta Braves No. 1 pitcher in 2008?
#487 Corey Patterson - breaking his bat

#489 Joakim Soria - I try pick-up cards of such players because you are more inclined to do your homework on new faces.
#607 Ryan Spilborghs - Spilborghs is making a nice attempt to grab the ball.
#618 Pat Neshek - didn't really need this one, but he is a fan favorite.
#644 Reggie Willits - a fan favorite even though he barely played in 2008.

2008 Upper Deck II - I like these cards, but they are very boring. There isn't anything grabbing at you.

#534 Reggie Willits
#645 Yuniesky Betancourt
#647 Ramon Vazquez

2008 Upper Deck A piece of History

#43 Hunter Pence
#68 Phil Hughes

Featured pickup: 2008 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols Quad Swatch Memorabilia card #237

Don Mattingly - October 4, 2005
3-for-6 RBI with a walk in Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS

Derek Jeter - September 21, 2008
0-for-5 - despite going hitless in the last game at Yankee Stadium, he is the all-time hit leader, surpassing Lou Gehrig.

Manny Ramirez - July 6, 2008
0-for-1 - struck out by Mariano Rivera on three straight pitches in what may have been the deciding game for Boston Red Sox management and their players to come together and say 'we have to trade Manny now.'

David Ortiz - August 24, 2008
0-for-2 with two walks

This was an appropriate card to note the last game played at Yankee Stadium Sunday night - I dug around to look for the featured players' last appearance at Yankee Stadium and to see how they did.

I don't know if the price I paid for the card was a good deal or not - but my standard saying is it is worth the price is what I paid for it, no more and maybe less. My cap is probably $10 on picking-up any 'midlevel' or strictly 'low-end' singles.

I'll look for a 'topper' to my collection - like a card or something once in a while when I have the chance and when I feel like I'm not breaking the bank.

The card is probably more common than I can imagine [it is listed as part of the base set and not an insert] - but features jersey pieces [game-used cards are oversaturated to the point of pissing off collectors looking for something worth more] from Don Mattingly [pinstripe], Derek Jeter [pinstripe], Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

I wanted to find an 'acceptable' player combination featuring Jeter and figured two of the most prominent players [Manny and Big Papi] from the No. 1 rivals would be suitable - I don't see where Mattingly immediately fits in and can see where someone who played in the last five years being a more ideal subject for the quad card.

On the other hand, Donnie Baseball kept the Yankees relevant - through a World Series dry spell in the 1980s and is considered a franchise legend, probably more beloved [particularly by New York Yankees' fans] than many Hall of Famers enshrined in Cooperstown.

Featured cards: Various 1970s Topps cards

These cards are part of a 20-card find of 1970-mid 1980s cards from a 'scrap' common's bin - I didn't pick them up because the cards looked pretty or because the players pictured will get another opportunity to suit up in a Major League game.

Many of the players pictured look a little different the present day [circa 2008] players - I don't think you can argue with the aesthetics [because 'it was the style then'] of the period even if the players' images looked so dated.

You can only make fun of them I suppose - it seems like the 1970s, you had shaggy and gruff looking ballplayers who didn't particularly care what they looked like.

Just like it is today, anyone pictured on a 'gum card' were pretty good at some point [in their baseball lives] - it just seems like once they got to the Major Leagues, their grooming habits were lax.

Doug DeCinces has a nice handle bar mustache going - it almost looks like a rolled up cigar or something. It isn't as fancy as Rollie Fingers' but it sure looks a lot more odd.

There are more accomplished sites that do this retrospective sort of thing - but it is fun actually looking at some of these cards in-person and picking them up.

Keeping his team from choking

Carlos Beltran homered from both sides of the plate and the New York Mets held on to defeat the Washington Nationals 9-7 Wednesday night - Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado also hit home runs for a team in the thick of the playoff push.

The Mets are going to have to fight through - a shoddy bullpen and have lost key reserves Fernando Tatis [for the rest of the season] and Damion Easley.

Featured card: 1984 Donruss Ned Yost # 271

I was wondering, having been at Milwaukee Brewers' spring training the past two seasons - how a team goes from coming together during the spring, working out in Maryvale [bullpen sessions, pitcher's fielding practice, batting practice, position players actually taking infield] and having a regimented plan, to the part of the season, where the team is out of it.

The past few years the Brewers have steadily gotten better - players like Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, J.J. Hardy, Cory Hart, Bill Hall [to a certain extent] started to blossom and a renewed sense of purpose was realized.

Under this guy's leadership, the Brewers were supposed to be in the playoffs in 2008 - now, he has been fired and my five-cent investment on this card I picked up on Sunday is kaput. I was hoping to see him during next year's spring training and possibly get his autograph. Maybe he'll be an analyst for TBS or ESPN during the playoffs during this postseason.

Thank you K-Rod

As a California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels' fan, I hear and read the sentiment bantered about closer Francisco Rodriguez - he is considered one of the best in the game or terribly overrated.

There is a 'common-sense' sentiment against those who frankly do not want him in a Halos uniform past 2008 - that a closer who pitches 60 innings a year is just not worth $15 million a year. Tell that to guys like Joe Nathan or Mariano Rivera...

I like him just the way he is and it maybe sacriligious, but I think he is worth $15 million a year for the next four years to a team like the Angels - who are likely pennant contenders each year.

If you are a second division team, who cares if you have scrap heap guys closing for you - his record setting 58th save in a 5-2 over the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 13 punctuated his Angels' career as one of the greatest in the history of the franchise.

Derided for his post game celebratory antics and his 'shaky' 2008 season - K-Rod is an elite talent whose career achievements in a Halos uniform will not easily be duplicated.

Player reflections: Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre making a cameo as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, on a 2001 Fleer Ultra Fernando Vina card.

I'm wondering if Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre has either been bust or a sore disappointment - his 2004 season [.334 average, 48 home runs, 121 RBIs] was an anomaly which gives some credence to the term 'contract year' in professional sports.

He's not a superstar or even an all-star performer, but as a compiler - his body of work hasn't been as bad.

There are still some games to play in the 2008 season but by the time he is 30 - he will have at least 1578 hits, 242 home runs, 859 RBIs.

Beltre is more of a lunchpail-type player whom I can identify with because even though he's been consistently unspectacular - he does plays everyday.

He is a superstar on defense but a guy who tends to be streaky at the plate - you see him going through ups-and-downs but you can still pencil him in for 20-25 home runs, 80-90s RBIs and a batting average he seems to be constantly battling to keep up around the .270 mark.

Still, after signing a five-year, $64 million contract with the now decayed Seattle Mariners team expected to right itself in the past few years - his numbers lack the impact.

However, by the time he signs his second big contract, he may become a better player - in his 30s than his 20s.

Bandwagon jumping time

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were the first Major League team to clinch a playoff berth in 2008 - with a 4-2 win against the New York Yankees on Wednesday afternoon.

Hopefully they can use the rest of the regular season to heal up and deliver on a promise lacking [despite winning the American League West four times in the last six seasons and being in the playoffs] - Francisco 'K-Rod' Rodriguez is so close to the saves record of 57 and hopefully he can do something about tying [and breaking the record] before the upcoming weekend is over.

Besides watching K-Rod go for the saves record, I'm intent watching Brandon Wood, who at 23 is still evolving as a Major League Baseball player - right now, he is playing different roles from being a 5 o'Clock hitter, a windmill during games and a jumbo sized shortstop who maybe turning a corner as far as building upon his immense power potential.

It is going to be a festive time for Angels' baseball fans [whether you are a 2002 fan, 1986 fan, 1982 fan, 1979 fan or a 'somewhere in-between' fan] - as long as the team finds itself the only team standing during the postseason.