2008 Flashback: DP Brings Us Home

Trying not to think about one of my favorite Rays getting DFA'ed, so we're going in a different direction.

I've always enjoyed posts where the author looks at a card and tries to figure out the game, time, and place where a given picture was taken. The games usually turn out to be a random Tuesday in June, but its a fun exercise to break the frame of the card itself and consider it as a snapshot, not of a season or a particular player, but of a precise moment in time. 

If you are a Rays fan, you'll recognize this card and this moment in time immediately: 

This unflattering portrait is the moment after David Price slammed his glove to the down after getting Jed Lowrie ground into the third out of the 9th in the 2008 ALCS. 

It's a strange card insofar as the moment depicted overtakes the player represented in importance. To "get" the card you have to know it's that particular moment, that Price came on in relief in the 8th with the bases loaded and overpowered JD Drew, then in the ninth walked Jason Bay before smoking Mark Kotsay and Jason Varitek and inducing the series-clinching grounder. You have to know the Rays up until that point had pretty much stunk, and that this marked the moment they really arrived as the RAYS that everyone talks about as one of the better run franchises in the game. In a way, it bookends the cards here, where EJ runs into Cervelli and sets into motion all of the Spring Brawls that show the Rays aren't going to be pushed around any more. 

After 3 years the price on this came down enough (it's an alternate photo SP) I was able to score one without breaking the bank. It's like a little piece of Rays history.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

On the Longo/Price Flap

I'll come out with it from the start: I'm 110% behind Longo and Price.

For starters, there are a lot of great Rays fans, the "fan base," but we're a geographically dispersed group. I watched CC, Upton, Longo, Price, etc. come up through the minors. I'm not a Rays fan because I live in that area, I'm a Rays fan for REALLY different reasons. I have had to get pretty extreme to keep watching the Rays from way up here in ND, but that's life. In fact I have the Rays-Os on right now.

For me the rest of it breaks down as follows.

1) Jeff Passan over at Yahoo has a great piece on FL simply being football territory, but that's only half the story. Aside from spring training there is NO MLB tradition in the area. NONE. The Tampa area as we know it is relatively new compared to, say, New York, Boston, or Chicago, where baseball runs deep in the veins of the fans of losing teams and winning teams alike. Those people show up, win or lose, because their grandparents did likewise. It's a tradition, period. This is the same problem the Braves have had going back to the mid-90's when everyone jumped on fans down there. A significant number of folks in both Tampa and Atlanta are from somewhere else and have other loyalties. People that are fans of the game (as opposed to just a team/city) are a lot more likely to transfer loyalties or at least root, root for the home team and bring up their progeny to do likewise. Which brings me to....

2) Yep, look at the stands pretty much everywhere. Fewer and fewer kids. Baseball is hemorrhaging young fans to other sports and has been for a while. There are a lot of reasons for that, but let's face the present: if you are going to take your kids to a ball game you want that to be special. If you can only get to a game occasionally you want good/great tickets. In a lot of places that'll set you back over $200 for a family of 4 and no one has had a hotdog or bought a bobblehead yet. It becomes a lot cheaper if it's just a guys' night out with my friends. I mean, for $100 one can get a great seat and snozzled, making it cheaper to leave the kids at home. Which leads me to...

3) The economy. It stinks. In that area it's even worse. People are hurting and simply can't afford it, period.

4) The Rays were never SUPPOSED to afford it. The Rays were put in Tampa so the recently deceased G. Steinbrenner could watch the Yankees in person in FL. With the unbalanced schedule, having an extra doormat in the AL East all but assured the big boys (NY, Boston) would be right there to take up two playoff spots year in, year out. Think I'm wrong? Again, NO legitimate, sane business man or economist would recommend putting a team down there in that location in that stadium. NO ONE. And yet here we are. Only the Rays slowly built their way to respectability and are now one of the top dogs, which is bad for the big boys' revenue. When the Rays were lesser, so to speak, no one cared. Now that they are awesome all of these baseball people keep asking why no one comes. It's like asking why it doesn't rain when there are no clouds.

Anyway, I can understand Price and Longo's frustration. In short guys there just aren't that many folks down there who are fans, and even some of us fans can't afford it. That said, we ARE with you. I'm watching you kick ass all the way up here near the Canadian border like I was watching you when I was living in Mexico. Now clinch the playoff berth, assure the division and home-field advantage, and let's get back to the Series!

What a Game: 1-0 in 11, Rays take over 1st

The word is EPIC.

Price was as advertised. Sabathia was as advertised. Former Durham Bull Reid Brignac came up HUGE. Congrats gents, great game.

Notes:

• Dear MLB Network: would it be too much to have the HOME broadcast for these games. The homerism of the YES network crew is understandable but for a game on a non-Yankee network is a bit much. And leads me to....
• Tom Hallion ejecting CC in the 9th. The YES guys couldn't believe CC got himself tossed. Most reasonable human beings would have noticed the strike zone was a little shaky at times. There were moments when Price was outright squeezed. The second strike to CC was a ball for most of the night and the third strike was on-again, off-again. Too close to take? Sure. Unquestionably as strike? Ummm, no. Should CC have been barking? Maybe not. Which leads me to...
• Tom Hallion, remember that a good umpire is like great wallpaper. He's a good background piece and the game doesn't come together without him, but if you know the ump's name at the end of the night he's did something along the lines of purple stripes on green. And I now know your name. The strike zone last night was TERRIBLE. Don't believe me? Green is a ball, red is a strike. 'Nuff said. (I got this at DRays Bay who got it from www.brooksbaseball.net)Which leads me to....
• Joe Maddon. Love you. Your AS LF just got kicked out of the game over a questionable call from an ump with a wandering, widening strike zone. Go out there and tell that gentleman all the unspeakable things they say to each other in the parking lots at Phillies games. Do it, if only for the children.

Looking forward to more tonight! Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

David Wright is Pitching for the AL?

Did the pregame announcer just actually say that?

Dear Fox, if you don't have anyone in house that actually follows the game at least find someone who cares about doing a good job. Any number of folks in the blogothing could get the job done quite well I imagine. David Wright!? Pitching for the AL?! AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

Trading Post: Saints of the Cheap Seats

#1 Card Received from Saints of the Cheap Seats: 2010 David Price Gold
Seeing as how I completely whiffed on parallels last year I am STOKED to have gotten this one early. Strange, but in this photo that motion doesn't look nearly as smooth and easy. Hoping Price has a BIG year this year for the Rays. Otherwise CC will mostly likely be a Yanki or Red Sox by mid-season.

Thanks for the trade Dan!

First of the 2010s: Thanks to Nachos Grande and Chris

I've seen this card making the rounds on ebay and the 'sphere, and knew I'd get it eventually. Eventually, fortunately, has been the past few days.

The gold on the bottom is courtesy of Nachos Grande. I'd sent him a Larkin relic a while back, and when I saw he'd pulled the gold version of the 2010 CC he was cool to send it along.

The card on top comes from reader Chris. We'd been going back and forth and I kept dropping the email ball due to work-related stress (several MAJOR projects underway), and so I finally shipped off the Yaz relic to him for the 2010 CC base and the David Price base. In the land where you can't drop into the shop and pick those up for 25 cents a piece you do what you have to do, and I am stoked to get these.

The CC is a TREMENDOUS photo, and I really hope the photographer responsible gets some kind of raise. GREAT shot.

The Price is also really nice, though admittedly overshadowed by the CC.

He has a really easy motion, and hopefully things will come together for him this year!

Thanks again for the trades! Have a good one and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

The David Price Collection: The Jerseys

One of the things I wanted to do before leaving NC was get a Durham Bulls jersey. I actually got this one the year before we left, but when leaving was already and inevitability and compa and I were making active preparations for me to find a job and, well, leave. Sniff, sniff.

This is the jersey I got. It's a leftover from one from a charity game where they wear special jerseys that the players then sign and the team auctions off. This one was a couple of years old when I bought it because, well, the non-autoed, non-standard leftovers just don't sell. And I got it for about $25. For another $20 I got it personalized. I didn't get CC because I never caught him as a Bull. Instead, since compa and I had schlepped to Durham to catch his AAA debut (which, coincidentally, was also his first pro-loss), I elected to get David Price.

His number is 14 but when he got to the Bulls Calvin Medlock had that one wrapped up. So, Price went with 41. Oddly enough, later that year comp and I had a "dissertation escape day" when we went to Baltimore to see a Rays/O's day-night double header (best day ever!!!!!), and that's when I got Price's attention before the game and he signed it for me. The pic is bad, but he even put his old Bulls uni number, 41, below the auto. Really nice guy.

Than my in-laws (non-Daddy D category) gave me a Rays jersey for Christmas that year because I had been so stoked about the Bulls auto and, although I followed the Rays, HAD NO JERSEY. They got me Price instead of CC, which was cool because I'm a fan of both. Then Price started the year at Durham and, just as I was about to leave for my current job in ND, I had a mission: get the second jersey signed. 

It was a cold, rainy day in April at the Bulls Fan Fest, and I sat quietly there for about an hour while players exercised. Price was throwing on the side for a while (literally right next to the fans at the DBAP), and the hounds were out in force. He kept telling them to let him do his job, then he'd sign, but that didn't stop them from asking over and over. After being told to wait individual hounds would then retreat, seeking out a player who was willing to sign right then. I mean, I'm a Bulls fans and I'd love to score a million autos or something, but if the choice is between getting an auto of a guy I'm a big fan of on a jersey and peppering the rest of the team, I'll just take the one I'm a big fan of and be done with it.

So, after all the waiting, I was right there when Price walked over. There was an immediate crush (initially of kids, the older adults) but since I'd been waiting right there for forever I was right at the front. Dude hooked me up and moved on.

I'd also taken a 2009 Topps Heritage for him to sign, just in case the weather kept a lot of folks away (it did, but not enough), so I kept that in my pocket. On the way out I ran into a kid I'd been talking to about Price who had also gotten his signature (well before me). He was pretty stoked, looking forward to the season, etc. and since I had a spare I gave him the Price Heritage. He was dumbstruck a stranger would just give away such a valuable card (haha) but that was that. Gotta keep paying the little things forward.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

The David Price Collection

Thanks to two amazing trades I've got a number of Prices. Thanks Relapse and Wicked!

As of 3/7 26 cards.

2005
UD USA Baseball auto, /475

2007
Bowman Sterling auto, w/ Luke Hochevar, /275
Tristar, #1 (thx Baseball Dad!)
UD USA Baseball, jersey auto, /295

2009
Allen and Ginter, #225
Allen and Ginter sketch card, #AGHS21
Bowman, #213
Bowman gold, #213
Goodwin Champions, #148
Goudey, #183
Topps 206, #181 (thx Baseball Dad!)
Topps, #35
Topps classic combos w/ Kazmir, #321
Topps black, #35
Topps Wal Mart, #35
Topps Heritage, #73
Topps Heritage future stars, #399
Topps Heritage Chrome, #C12, /1960 (thx Wicked!)
Topps Heritage Chrome refractor, /560
Topps Heritage Chrome black refractor, /60
Topps Turkey Red, TR102
UD, #401
UD first edition, #280
UD Piece of History, #101
UD SP Legendary Cuts, #14
USA Baseball, #28

2010
Topps, #225 (thx Chris!)
Topps National Chicle, #131
Topps Opening Day, #99

David Price Highlights: 2006 UD Minors

Don't forget about the Nelson Reimold jersey relic trade bait I've got up if you are interested.

This is one of those cards that a lot of people feel doesn't count because it goes back to a time before Price had played in the Majors. Whatever, it's a great card.

Now, I'm ready to admit that I love this card for reasons that might only be relevant to me and a few others. First, it's at the DBAP, home to the Durham Bulls and USA Baseball, Price's team when this shot  was taken. If you are ever in Durham, NC during baseball season you have to go to a game. The park is beautiful. Compa and I have gone to several games when the gates opened (about two hours before game time) just to sit and drink beer in an empty park and be alone watching the players warm up. It's a great space to watch baseball.

Second, it brings to the fore a DBAP tradition: sumo wrestling. It's one of the promos the Bulls do in between innings to keeps casual fans and folks with families interested and in the game. I'll admit, these sorts of things wore on me over time. We had a ticket package with some friends and went to a lot of games, and we went for the games, not this junk. Well, I went to a few Charleston Riverdogs games when I was homes last summer. Let me tell you, the promotions there are so over the top I'll never again complain about the ones in Durham. So yes, I get sentimental about the sumos now and then.

Third, I think it captures the camaraderie of non-big league ball. This is a canned moment but Price and Arbencina are hamming it up for the camera, even enjoying themselves a bit. It's a nice, goofy moment, the kind of thing I wish I could see with a beer and the compa from up in the empty stands.

Stay good in the New Year and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Trading Post: Many Thanks to Wax Pack Relapse

I came across Wax Pack Relapse while surfing Troll's Blog one day. Dude's pretty organized with what he has to trade, and I had my eye on some cards in his extensive spreadsheets when he mentioned he had a few David Prices he could send my way. In fact, 8 total. I'm planning a post on my Price cards in the near future, but if there's one thing that's certain it's that Prices on the 'bay command value based more on hype than performance. I know, he's a big prospect, but still...it means folks that just want to collect his cards get priced out of the market pretty quick.

Long story short, it was AWESOME to get these in the mail:

I'm really digging these. I like the photo in general (BIG comeback year for Topps in that category) and will also cop to preferring the old school paper stock of the Target Exclusive on the left. Just something for the old schooler in me.

Then: Price as a collectible postage stamp:

Nice card, captures his intimidating mound presence. It's also pretty weird, given the United Peoples of Baseball-type feel to it. Almost like I could use it in lieu of international postage or something.

And these:

The card on the left is just plain goofy. He's waiting on a throw back to the mound, I get it, but it's the only card I can think of that depicts the pitcher waiting on a throw. Wild stuff.

But that's not all he sent. I also scored this Delmon Young:

That's another really great shot. You have the OF wall, the foul line, lots of color, the drama of the pick-off move...just a really well-put together picture. Moreover the design of the 2008 Stadium Club gives the photography plenty of room to just be itself. Nice card.

And then, this gem of The Legend, Jonny Gomes:

Being a Gomes fan, this card represents a lot of what I really dig about him. Dude is listed at 6'1'', 225 lbs., but he's one of those guys who, when you see him in person, has a looming presence. He's massive. That's only increased by the fact he seems to prefer outsizes jerseys, as seen in this photo. The crop makes him seem even bigger and again, the design stays out of the ways and cedes ground to the great photo. And he plays all-out, all the time. Jonny Gomes: Elmer Valo for the new millennium.

Finally, Kevin Slowey.

Slowey was the winning pitcher in the game the compa and I went to for our anniversary this year, he laid a great sig (with anniversary wishes!) on a card for us at the Twins auto day, and he went to the same school as my Moms, Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC. He's also a heck of a pitcher whose year this year was sidelined by injury. Next year with Slowey back healthy the Twins should be that much better!

Thanks for the cards Wax Pack Relapse!

Have a great one everybody, and good night Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Trading Post: Nachos Grande

I'm behind the times. I know, you know it, it's just the nature of the beast. This year I've bought zero Ginter, zero Champions, zero Obak, zero Goudey. Like Blanche DuBois, I gotta depend on the kindness of others to get the cards I need. Well, Nachos needed some '85s and could hook me up with some much needed cards in return.

First up:

David Price Ginter sketch card: very nice. It's about his dominating the Sox in the playoffs last year. Now, I know that the shine has come off his star a bit for the casual fan because he didn't strikeout 300 batters and cure cancer this season. However, I like Price. He's still the man (as long as he gets the walks down!)

The CC was a total surprise. Artifacts?!? I'd never even heard of that series. It's got the old school D-Rays jersey, so I'm down. Next:

Goudeys are cool. I think it's one of the better done neo-vintage sets. And that Peña is not cut off--I have a ancient scanner powered by a hamster on a wheel. G-D hamster gave out and the scan got cropped. I still don't have the 2009 Goudey CC is anyone has an extra to spare!

And finally:

This card of Boss Man, Jr. is straight up boss. The catcher, the fans, the crazy leg that makes it look like BJ just came out of a horrible accident to take the field anyway....great card, and another total surprise.

Thanks, Nachos!

Have a good one.

Vintage versus Neo-Vintage, Who Wins?

I'm sure you've seen the great post over at Bad Wax on the future of Neo-vintage sets like Goudey, Heritage, A & G, etc. Like I said in the comments, at first I really loved these offerings but got ambivalent real quick for a variety of reasons, the last straw being that I can get off-grade vintage for cheaper than new neo-vintage. 

I don't know who collects what out there, but compare the cards below and tell me which you like best. Admittedly, you know David Price and have no idea who Johnny Vergez is, and the two Goudeys are "different years," but let's give this a shot. 

I love the Price, and I am a big Price fan, but the Vergez is really cool.  I wanted an original Goudey just to have one and got the Vergez for around $10. From the card stock to the weight of the card to the shadows suggesting the grandstands off to the right this card is also really sweet.

What do you think?

David Price Will Walk You

Which might be troubling if you are a Rays fan. He fanned 3, only gave up 2 (!) hit in 5 and two-thirds, but the five walks is not good. The Yankees were obviously out to make him work (per the Yankees' announcers) and you can't argue with the overall result, but this start falls somewhere in between "David Price Destroys Minnesota" and "David Price Makes Cleveland Look Like It's 1996 Again." He's a supreme talent, so I'm sure as time goes on he'll iron out the kinks. He had to adjust to college when he first got there, so he has the make-up to adjust at this level, too.

As an aside he's also a really cool guy, and he's signed D. Price jerseys for me in Baltimore last year and in Durham this year. Being an old guy I don't usually ask for autos, but in Baltimore I had a D-Bulls Price jersey that I held up as he went by and he came over.  Really, really cool. At the Bulls' Fanfest this year I sat next to the bullpen while the pitchers threw a few for Xavier Hernandez, the pitching coach, and when he was done he signed a Price Rays jersey for me. Dude is HUGE, and dude throws HARD. 

Why I am here

Of course, another blog, etc. 

There are a ton of really great baseball card blogs out there, and I aspire to be one of the middling, semi-mediocre ones. In other words, I want to play Mark Lemke to the Glavines and Smoltzs represented by folks at places like Wax Heaven, Sportcards Uncensored, Punk Rock Paint, Fielder's Choice, and Dinged Corners. I spend my days reading things way too closely, so the blog will be a space where grammar, common sense, and orthography go to die.

Topics will be mostly baseball, baseball cards, and politics. I followed the Braves as a kid. In recent years I've been following the Rays, mostly because their farms clubs were in two town I frequented (Charleston, SC and Durham, NC) and I got to watch a lot of their players develop from A to AAA. Seeing them get their due now in the big leagues is pretty sweet.

The two players I am interested in/collect with regards to baseball cards are Carl Crawford and David Price. I have a nice sized Crawford Collection that I'll be posting eventually. I also have a few Prices, but the prospectors have inflated his card values to the point I've bowed out of chasing down his cardboards. 

Finally, and just for fun, I'll occasionally go all political, because political discourse in this country has been swirling down the toilet since before I was born and I can't possibly imagine things could get any worse. Only then they do get worse, and this causes me no small degree of angst. 

All are welcome, so enjoy!