So, It's Come to This: A Blaster of 2024 Allen and Ginter

I've griped about this in so many words, but it's been a very difficult year for me to keep up as a collector. I've been in between jobs, making what I can, saving mostly, and...not buying a ton of new cardboard. And when I CAN go to Target, there's never any there. These TCDB trades have been scratching that itch, I've been catching up on a lot of more recent stuff, but the other part of getting new cardboard is the chance of getting the rookie in question. Obviously you collect the way you collect, and I collect the players I like, but if there's a chance to get a centerpiece card, that always helps. I remember starting out collecting in the late 2000s, getting a ton of 2008 Updates and Highlights, and that's how I've ended up with 2 Clayton Kershaw rookies, a gold parallel of an Evan Longoria rookie, and that Al Gore gimmick. And all are still integral parts of my collection.

In the last few years, I've missed out on finding big rookies of people like Julio Rodriguez, Luis Robert, Gunnar Henderson and more. Now, I've got enough Ohtani rookies to choke a commissioner, but I worry I'm gonna be missing out on what could be the next windfall. And right now that is Paul Skenes. It's worrying to me that I've been unable to find any Topps Update from 2024, and all the online suppliers have hiked up the price solely because of the Skenes factor. For the first time basically ever, I've resigned myself to just...not being able to find any Topps Update, a set that was once one of my favorites. 

So I was in Target today, at the very least seeing if I could find Archives or Stadium Club or something to at least fulfill that want for newer stuff. The card aisle, as it has been, was bare. Nothing going on. A hanger box of MLS cards. Some packs of stickers. A few 2024 factory sets. Nothing. And the fact that it took me hanging around the backs of the action figure aisles to check for discounts to find a completely different card endcap, with much more options and lines of Allen and Ginter blasters, says a lot. Why wouldn't they put those up in the front? Y'know, with the sports cards??

Nevertheless, I saw the shelf of A&G blasters, amidst the other sports stuff I had no interest in, and resigned myself to it. Sure. Why not? I'm not really an A&G guy, there's too many cards that don't fit in my collection, but I'm a TCDB trader now (at TallestJord, I forgot to point that out last time), and at the very least I can offload the stuff that won't fit in binder pages.

You know the drill. 8 packs, 6 cards per pack. Every pack contains a mini and a subset. SPs are seeded 1:2, so we should get 4. There's also new chrome cards seeded 1 per I think. I don't think A&G needs chrome, but since Topps thought it'd be a good idea to overhaul Stadium Club with parallels, A&G wasn't safe.

Pack 1- Yeah, this is kinda what I expect. The HOFer/legend selection is still great, I'm always down for Roy Campanella sightings. The base design is...an understandable step for A&G. I think those first 3 years were perfectly simple and they had to keep overcomplicating things. 

The Dog show subset is standard, but the 50 States mini, of Nebraska, is seeded 1:21. 

Pack 2- By several metrics, a very good pack. An Elly rookie, an A&G back rookie of Heston Kjerstad, and an SP of Pablo Lopez. Also, Jason Aldean is here for some reason. I wanna know what Topps's criteria for earning a non-sport base card in Ginter is. Didn't Mark Sanford get one right after the sex scandal? If you're gonna do Aldean, I'm kinda shocked it took you this long. Like, after 'Try That In a Small Town'? The window has passed, man. Anyway, my lasting impression of Aldean is the one Mean Tweet he read that was something like 'Jason Aldean looks like his dick got caught in his sister'. Bodied.

Sister Sister is seeded 1:5. Mildly amusing idea.

Pack 3- More non-sport guys I do not care about. A Westburg rookie, that's pretty cool. We got a gold mini, that's 1:11, of the great Edgar Martinez, and a lovely card of a bee that's seeded 1:6. 

Pack 4- A Ted Lasso supporting guy and a schnauzer. Gotta love A&G. Blackburn is an SP. He is also on the wrong team. A sobering reminder of how early the checklist cutoff for this product was. Carter looks awesome though. That Thomas black border is a 1:11 pack card, so that's pretty cool. 

Pack 5- What do these four people have in common? None of them played in an MLB game in 2024. Clemens getting pictured as a Jay is cool and all but man I do not enjoy continuing to pull his cards. I really hope Mauricio turns out to be as good as people have said he will.

I'm spotlighting the subsets and minis cause they're both great. X'Ray'd falls 1 per blaster, and this is an extremely cool, CHROME, card of what it looks like when you x-ray a cape porcupine. They even credit the zoo that took the picture, the Oregon Zoo. That's pretty cool.

The big takeaway is the Rookie Design Variation card of Wyatt Langford. These are 1 per blaster, and Langford's one of the better names to pull. Very happy with this. It ain't Skenes, but it ain't, like, nobody.

Pack 6- At the time of pulling this was my favorite pack in the box. A Hall of Famer, a future Hall of Famer, one of my favorite current players, and one of the top rookies in the set. Merrill and Judge help justify the price. Jones is an SP, and a great, and timely, pull at that.

Pack 7- Another dog, an SP mini, a welcome Nolan Ryan, and our one-per-box chrome card of Corey Seager. I'll say this, I was so fixated on finally getting the chrome card that I didn't realize what was directly behind it..

So...I don't rip A&G often, but when I do, I have decent luck. Last time I got a blaster of A&G I pulled a Rafael Devers relic. This is also pretty nice. Austin Riley's a terrific infield bat, and one of the most crucial pieces of these Braves teams. It is a grey swatch, yes, and it is a full size relic, yes, but...it's a relic of a guy I've not only heard of, but is a star. Typically you get an auto or relic of a scrub from a retail blaster. This is not that, this is very good. So I was very happy with this. This is where I mention that a full size pattern B relic falls 1 in every 89 blasters. So that's fantastic. 

Pack 8- A milder finish, but still pretty cool. Pages could be something if he figures it out. There's Riley again. Johnny Bench, in an SP, clearly is picture in a uniform from the late 60s, and my second gold mini is of Daddy Yankee. Not a huge listener of his. Me gusta la gasolina thought.

That did exactly what I wanted it to. Provided me with new cards of people I collect, some decent rookies, some trade bait, and a surprise relic I can get behind. Definitely a success. Hopefully the next time I wander into a well-stocked retail shelf I'll have luck like this as well. 

My Unofficial Hall of Fame Ballot for 2025

 Doing this post every year, I've been here for booms and lulls in terms of Baseball Hall of Fame classes. The class of 2014, which brought in undeniable heroes Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas and Tom Glassine in one fell swoop, as well as the class of 2015, which inducted John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson, came on the heels of several weak HOF classes, most crucially the 2007 class, where nobody got in [mostly in protest of the steroid guys]. Lately we've been in a similar lull, with a lot of recoup years, a lot of small classes, and another nothing year in 2021. Last year was a starrier year, but we knew it was going to eventually lead to this pack coming next.

In the next three or four years, all of Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Yadier Molina, Buster Posey and Zack Greinke will all be joining HOF ballots and probably getting in. There are some big classes approaching for the BBHOF. 2025's will be the first. Because there's definitely one all-time MLB titan going in this year, and he's not going in alone.

As usual, I'll be filling out a Hall of Fame ballot as I would if I were a registered member of the writer's guild. I'm allowing myself up to 10 names, and thinking clearly about which of these players I'd seriously consider for induction in the Hall of Fame. The question I constantly ask is 'can the story of baseball be told without this player'. Not everyone asks this; Harold Baines and Jim Kaat are in after all. But with most of the people I include in these posts, they're integral to the history of the sport. 

Bobby Abreu

This is one of those where, at least for another couple years, it's really just gonna be me championing him. Right now there are enough bandwagon cases on the bracket [Andruw, Beltran, Wagner, Utley] that I don't know if Abreu will get the attention he deserves. Hell, he's not even the most deserving ex-2005 Phillie on here. I've put him on here because he was one of the best hitting outfielders of the 2000s, was a multi-tool guy for some great Phillies teams, and had that uncanny ability to get hits at all costs. The argument can be made that his peak period happened A.) for a bad team and B.) for too small an increment of time, but I still think his numbers, especially from '99 to '06, say more than people are thinking. 400 steals, nearly 2500 hits, nearly 300 homers, career .291 average? That's not something to completely ignore. It's not gonna happen this year, or next, but hopefully his case surfaces eventually. 

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 10%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 30%

Carlos Beltran

It's looking like the period of shaming Beltran for cheating is coming to an end. Because if he'd retired after the 2016 season, he'd be in already, and probably still managing the Mets [what a world that'd be..]. Helping the Astros cheat their way to a title ruined what was looking like a surefire HOF case, and thus what should have happened on the first ballot has taken two or three. But the polls so far are indicating that if it doesn't happen this year, it probably will in 2026. Beltran has a career 70 WAR, 2725 hits, 435 homers and 1587 RBIs, the most by a non-juicer on the ballot. He made the Cardinals competitive after Pujols, he made the Astros and Mets playoff teams in the 2000s, and had one last exceptional year for the Yankees in 2016. He deserves to be in. It remains to be seen if the shaming will be over this year or run for one more, but I think this is finally lifting.

Team of Induction: Kansas City Royals

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 70%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 92%

Felix Hernandez

It should be simple. From 2007 til 2015, Felix Hernandez was among the top two pitchers in the AL. Him and Verlander, with Kluber approaching late and Sabathia threatening below. In this period, Felix had a 3 ERA, 127 wins, a 45.8 WAR and 1889 strikeouts. With 23 complete games and 10 shutouts. This, for the record, represents the entirety of Felix's 20s. Like many, his appeal was dulled once he turned 30, and his velocity and punch were nowhere near peak levels. But the strength of Felix during his peak years should be enough to get him in, as Buster Posey will be facing a similar question in a few years [and probably getting in], and Roy Halladay also was inducted despite a sharp drop-off to end his career. It's gonna take two or three more years than it should to get everybody else onboard Felix's HOF case, and that's honestly criminal. Remember how I made a whole stink in 2010 that C.C. Sabathia deserved the Cy Young over Felix? He didn't. Felix was the more dominant pitcher, as he was throughout that whole era. 

Team of Induction: Seattle Mariners

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 15%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 61%

Andruw Jones

Yeah, speaking of peak years, Andruw Jones might get in before Felix does on the strength of his peak years, and I'm not entirely sure if it deserves to go in that order. I've discussed Jones' case on here before, his 20s provided some of the best defense in the game and some of the best power in the game. The turnoff is everything he did after 2006. Even with that in mind, his stuff as a bench guy in New York in Chicago and New York in the early 2010s was pretty damn good too. Clearly he wasn't 2005-era Andruw, but he was still helpful. If Helton, Piazza and Thome are in, to represent that early 2000s NL battery, then Andruw should probably be in too.

Team of Induction: Atlanta Braves

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 48%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 87%

Jimmy Rollins

Like Abreu this is mostly my Philly bias but I genuinely think J-Rol was the best shortstop in the NL during the 2000s. Rollins had that x-factor, both from a personality standpoint and a gameplay standpoint, that just lifted his stuff above the average. He was a joy to watch in the field, a brutal contact hitter, and a beloved clubhouse leader wherever he went. There's a reason why Ryan Howard, who was the starrier name during this period, is off the ballot but Rollins remains; Rollins was more consistent, more versatile, and had no disappointing cool-off period. Some may argue he wasn't 'truly great' enough, and that's fair, but I think he's one of the best representations of the 2008 Phils team, and he should eventually get in.

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 12% 

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 50%

C.C. Sabathia

C.C. Sabathia will be entering the Hall of Fame as one of the last of a dying breed of pitcher, finishing his career with 250 wins and 3000 strikeouts. Due to the expanded rotations, as well as the rise in overthrowing and conditioning, we may never get as many 300 game winners, or even 250 game winners, as we used to in the 70s. But Sabathia managed to be a truly reliable ace for two full decades, mowing down batters with Cleveland in the 2000s and becoming a rotation mainstay with the Yankees in the 2010s. I have respect for Sabathia's ability to go from a hard thrower to a trickster in his waning years. I saw him pitch in 2017, and he kept the Cardinals at bay without overexerting himself, which is the sign of a masterful, and smart, pitcher. The 3000 K thing ensured CC's enshrinement, but I think it's still clear just how good CC was throughout his career, and I think it'll be an earned induction today. 

Team of Induction: New York Yankees

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 100%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 100%

Ichiro Suzuki

There shouldn't be much question. Ichiro Suzuki is one of the greatest pure athletes to play baseball in general. Getting 18 seasons of him in the MLB feels miraculous. That he played into his 40s with the same drive, attitude and regiment that made him a star in Japan speaks to his incredible power. The man finished his career with a total of 4367 hits, split between Japan and America. He made 10 All Star teams, won 10 Gold Gloves, won an MVP and a Rookie of the Year simultaneously, retired with a .311 average, and remained in the MLB long enough to retire while spurning on the next generation of Japanese athletes in 2019. Ichiro shouldn't just be a Hall of Famer, he should have his own wing. 

Team of Induction: Seattle Mariners

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 100%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 5,000%

Chase Utley

Clearing a few of the hangers-on from the ballot is gonna do a lot for Chase Utley, undeniably the best 2nd baseman of his generation and one of the best pure hitters of the 2000s. It's looking like Utley's vote count will exceed 100 this year, meaning there's a good chance he crosses 50% and starts headed for that all-important 75. And even with another 2008 Phillie joining the ballot next year and Ian Kinsler's case making some people think this year, I do think Utley is ultimately bound for the Hall of Fame. It's just not going to be immediate. It can't be ignored, however, that from 2005 to 2010, Utley had a 45.5 WAR. Russell Martin, who got a lot of sportswriter support this winter, finished his career with a 38.8 WAR. Utley's peak is one of the most prolific peak periods of his era, and that's without even factoring in his 25 postseason RBIs and 10 postseason home runs in that period. Utley was not only good, he was the difference maker between good teams and great teams; you can directly tie the Phillies' rise to his presence on the team, and their fall to his injuries and cooling off. I think Utley deserves to be in, and hopefully it just takes another couple years of this to get other people onto this idea.

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 34%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 76%

Billy Wagner

It took ten years, way longer than I thought, but I think it's finally time for Billy Wagner to get in this year. The way he's polling it looks extremely likely, and though there's always a chance the percentage snaps shut with the flood of open ballots, it's looking like the numbers are on his side finally. What has helped Wagner stay on the ballot, and ultimately slide towards induction, is the fact that after Rivera, Hoffman and Smith got in, there just weren't many other truly great closers up for consideration. K-Rod is still on the ballot, and statistically he probably has the numbers, but he can't do this with Wagner still here. Fernando Rodney's on the ballot this year, he's not a HOFer. The next two 'possibly' guys will be Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel, and that'll be an interesting conversation. Ultimately, Billy Wagner was a lights-out closer for 15 years, was untouchable with Houston, and is one of the most consistent relief pitchers of his era. Keeping him out means insinuating that there are better options around, and there is no evidence to this. I think it's happening this year, and if for some reason it doesn't then the Veterans Committee will probably make it happen eventually.

Team of Induction: Houston Astros

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 97%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 89%

The way it's looking right now, Ichiro, CC and Wagner are in, and Beltran could go either way. He very well may squeak in, I'm not 100% sure he will but it's possible. So that's 3 or 4 names now, and they're big names. Next year might not be as prolific, but it'll sure be interesting. 

How I Learned How to Trade Properly

 One of the things I've learned about myself is that if something scares me, or if it's something new that I don't really know how to do yet, then I'll put off doing it for as long as I can. It's just one aspect of my anxiety, where if I can't see the solution or if I fear doing something wrong the first time, the easiest way to circumvent that is to not do anything. And of course that's never the most effective solution, but in anxious states I can justify it.

I've had the blog for 15, nearly 16, years. I've stayed in my comfort zone a lot, kept making contact, writing about cards. I always knew I could be engaging more with the community, as people did trades all the time, but that scared me. The blind nature of it always worried me, like I had no idea if I'd be sending too much, or not enough, or if there'd be too much the person didn't need. And I did a couple here and there but I always worried I'd do something wrong or I'd get something wrong in shipping. So I didn't really trade much, despite constantly knowing that I needed to go outside my comfort zone. 

I had a similar approach to TDCB for a while as well. I knew it was good for logging cards, and I knew lots of people made trades through there, but it intimidated me. There was just so much, and my collection being as large as it is, I knew I'd need to spend a lot of time curating things there. And so I'd log a ton of stuff, stay away, log some more, stay away. Like I didn't want to engage too much, because I'd get the fledgling trade request and I didn't know what to do. 

About a month ago I finally decided to hear someone out about a trade. Compared to how it was in the old days, it was easy- my collection's there for these people to look at, they can see what I don't have, it can be fair right from the jump. And so it was somewhat comforting. I knew I wasn't gonna get anything I didn't need, I knew I wasn't gonna be doing anything a trade partner wouldn't want. My inexperience still worried me, and my first trade or so I did wait for the package to arrive so I could see how the sender packaged it, and I could replicate it. And when I explained that to my trade partner, he was understanding. Better than somebody half-assing it and not thinking at all. 

I've now sent a couple of dozens of these trades out. I've been spending the last week logging trade bait specifically to keep attracting trades. I'm no longer intimidated by it. And I'm actually getting some cards I can do something with, in exchange for ones I really have no use for. I say this like it's mind-blowing and not commonplace, but it is for me. 

Here are some of my recent findings after a couple months trading on TCDB:

-Set-Building Is Much More Attainable. About 10 years ago I began a quest to complete all the 90s Stadium Club sets. I later revised that to 91-96, as those were easier to come by. 92 and 91 were relatively easy, but building the mid-90s ones took a bit more work. I'd find commons on CardBarrel and such, but a ton remained nebulous. I think within a couple trades on TCDB I finished the 1995 set, and a few days ago I finished the 1994 set. The 1993 set is also within reach now, and I'm getting the last couple 1988 Donruss cards I need to knock out THAT set. It's remarkably simple when you actually get over that hump.

-I guess I am kind of a player collector. I always had people I collected and kept binder pages of, but I didn't really see myself as a specific player collector. But then on TCDB you can track your collection of a player against everyone else on the site, and...apparently I have the 26th-most Curtis Grandson cards of anybody there? And my 71 Juan Pierre card make me the 18th biggest Pierre collector there. I'm just 10 removed from Night Owl. That's wild. But it also can tell me that I have more Randy Johnson cards than Derek Jeter cards. I may be a dedicated Jeter collector, but Johnson's cards are way cheaper. 

-White whales are easy to come by. A week or so ago, just to test things out, I made a deal for a 2000 Stadium Club Harold Baines card, one of only 2 where Baines is pictured as a member of the Cleveland Indians. A day or so ago it arrived. I've also landed contemporary cards of Harmon Killebrew as a Royal, Eddie Matthews as an Astro and Dave Parker as a Blue Jay. I can just do this now.

-There's a whole market for early 2010s Topps base parallels. I spent the better part of the week finding a whole bunch of 2010s Topps colored parallels, throwback parallels, rainbow parallels and the like. Not only do people have a lot of interest in these, but there's not a lot of images of them up on the site. That's another thing, thanks to my scanner I've been filling in all sorts of blanks in the image inventory, and that includes a TON of 2010 Topps vintage stock cards, which there doesn't seem to be any of on there. People also have a lot of interest in 90s Collector's Choice silver sigs and 2000s Topps Total border parallels. I'm glad some people have a use for 'em, cause I don't.

I might start posting trade results on here eventually, I just need to remember to and not race to thread the new cards into sets I'm building. All in all I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and did it, because this is the most invested I've been in collecting in a while. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Yankees

Well, after years of thinking the current MLB model would never let it happen again, in 2024 the Yankees made a World Series. The path there was smooth enough that it surprised me. We had little to no trouble with the Royals, and though the Guardians fought hard we had their number in the end. This was a team with insane offensive power, a great rotation, a great bullpen and so many little things clicking into place that had always evaded us. The power duo of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, as well as the insane October abilities of Giancarlo Stanton, made the first two playoff series' insanely fun to watch.

And then we showed up to meet the Dodgers and it really wasn't gonna be close.

No matter how hard we fought, and no matter what we threw at LA, the Freeman-Betts-Ohtani trio was on and hot, and Aaron Judge had cooled down significantly. The Freeman walk-off sealed our fate, but the errors in Game 5 and the eventual comeback just slapped us out the door. Soto joining the Mets was the cruel punchline. We got what we wanted, but it couldn't last.

Will we get back there in 2025? The team certainly seems to want to. We've got Max Fried in between Cole and Rodon, Devin Williams in the ninth, Bellinger in the lineup, and probably some more reinforcements on the way. It could definitely happen, but only if we learn from 2024 and not repeat it more embarrassingly. 

Oswaldo Cabrera began the season as the surprise standout of the Yankees' lineup. The usual suspects were surging, guys like Judge and Soto and Verdugo, but Cabrera was really effective. He did eventually cool down, but Ozzie was a really nice extra piece this year, ending with 8 homers and 36 RBIs despite a .247 average. I think he had less to do once Chisholm came aboard, but he still had a nice postseason double.

2025 Prediction: Even if Cashman keeps working, I reckon there will still be an infield vacancy, and I reckon it's for Ozzie to take. He'll have another strong year, and he'll be even better at the plate. 

Trent Grisham was an extra OF piece included in the Soto deal, and I'm just gonna say it, it's weird that he's lasting longer in the Bronx than Soto did. The thing with Grisham is his defense, and he was a tremendous defensive upgrade for us when utilized. His power bat also gave us 9 homers and 30 RBIs, but with a .190 average, which is the risk you run with Grisham.

2025 Prediction: Will get a bit more starting time, and be a bit more on target at the plate.

Jon Berti was a very late offseason trade, when it became clear we'd be a little wounded in the infield. Berti's known for his solid 3B play as well as his speed on the base paths. Unfortunately Berti only played in 25 regular season games for us, but hit .273 with 18 hits, 6 RBIs, a homer and 5 steals. He also had 2 postseason hits.

2025 Prediction: So much for that. Berti will find a backup role somewhere.

The Yankees' bullpen, from almost the beginning of the season, proved virtually unhittable, and despite some missed time, Ian Hamilton was one of the main reasons behind that. Since coming over, Hamilton has become one of our best bullpen arms, and this year he was equally dominant, with a 3.82 ERA in 35 appearances. He was also great during the postseason, with 3 Ks despite giving up an earned run.

2025 Prediction: Gears back up for a full season of work, impresses. With Holmes gone there'll be room for him to come into his own more.

Additionally, perennial Yankee favorite Tommy Kahnle continued his third stint with the team this year and gave us another strong campaign. In 50 games, Kahnle had a 2.11 ERA, 46 Ks and a 0.8 WAR. In the postseason he had a 2.08 ERA with 7 Ks in 9 appearances. I'm very thankful that Kahnle's always been excellent with us, no matter what incarnation of the team he's a part of.

2025 Prediction: I wanna believe we re-sign him, but something tells me the Phillies or somebody like that will make a move.

The Yankees operated an essential six man rotation this year, made possible by Luis Gil covering for Gerrit Cole and, later, Clarke Schmidt. Yet on one or two occasions the rotation needed a seventh man, either for doubleheaders or for fill-ins for somebody missing a start. That doesn't usually speak to a high quality, and the second half seventh man, Will Warren, got his ass handed to him on a regular basis til Schmidt came back. But during the first half, we turned to former Marlins prospect and frequent IL resident Cody Poteet, who was lighting 'em up in Scranton. Poteet only got 5 appearances this year, thanks to both overflow and more injuries, and he was excellent. He had a 3-0 record, a 2.22 ERA, 16 Ks and a 1.068 WHIP. The true unsung hero of this team, and the reason why we didn't completely crumble under some rotation injuries.

2025 Prediction: The Cubs had to have liked Poteet to trade for him over a prospect. I say he makes the Opening Day rotation [thanks a lot Hayden Wesneski for leaving a spot open] and has a surprise full year as a rotation favorite. 

Jasson Dominguez's Yankee career continues to vex me. He was injured for half the season, then once he got healthy he was absolutely ripping it up in Triple-A, all while Alex Verdugo struggled. In response to cries to activate him, Aaron Boone brought Dominguez up for one game, the Little League Classic, where he was listless in one at-bat, as if to say 'see?', and sent him back down. He got 17 more games at the end of the year, where he hit .179 with 4 RBIs and 2 homers, then was used as a roster option during the postseason but didn't make any plate appearances. Boone is giving this guy what I refer to as 'the Paul Reed treatment', where literally everybody knows he should be getting games in the bigs, but the people who are in position to play are the correct people to be in that position, even if, like Alex Verdugo did in August, they suck shit. If Soto stuck around there was gonna be more of this. But next year there's at least one OF spot open, and Dominguez is being primed for it.

2025 Prediction: You're not ready. None of you are ready. Once this guy gets his mojo, and I doubt it'll take him very long in 2025, we're not gonna be missing Soto for much longer.

So that was 2024. Very wild year. Never would have thought the baseball events of the year would go like this. I didn't collect a great deal this year, and I hope to collect more next year. I have been doing more trades on TCDB, so that's filled a void, but I hope some more permanent employment will allow me to pursue card-collecting like I used to. 

I'll probably post sporadically in January and February, and then around Spring Training we'll start this madness up again. Hopefully it's a little less heartbreaking for the guys in pinstripes. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: White Sox

 

I only have two of these for the White Sox. Just two. Literally everyone else that was worthy of being talked about was done during the season. And, like, others as well. I made a Chris Flexen custom during the season. He went 3-15. Usually that's grounds for, like, not making a custom but I didn't have many options. 

The Chicago White Sox lost 121 games this year, and had one of the worst finishes by a team in years. Even if there were good players on this team, like Luis Robert, Garrett Crochet and Erick Fedde, so many people were either inexperienced, past their peak or just pure replacement level. The management wanted to throw in the towel, and so they did in one of the most depressing ways possible. The fanbase was infuriated, the players were crushed, and the MLB world was astonished. 2025 will be a step above only if you see at least some signs of life, which you could barely see in 2024.

Yoan Moncada, who was brought in as the future star in exchange for Chris Sale, had his final contracted season in Chicago this year. Since 2022 he's been missing more and more games, and this year he only appeared in 12. Yes, he hit .275 with 11 hits [despite no RBIs], but all that production squeezed into such a small sample size felt like such a slap in the face. Moncada will be 30 next year, and will be suiting up for another team.

2025 Prediction: Whoever signs him is gonna get his most appearances since 2021, and his best plate numbers. 

Andrew Benintendi was disappointing in his first season for the Sox, and his second year, of five for the record, wasn't much better. To his credit, the veteran slugger did lead the team in home runs. It was with only 20, though. In 135 games, Benintendi hit .229 with 64 RBIs and 109 hits. Despite some late swells and some big days, it was nowhere near the consistency of his Sox or Royals numbers.

2025 Prediction: Somebody needs to step up, and I reckon it might actually be him. This will be something close to a good year from him.

Coming Tomorrow- Members of the Yankee crew that did the unthinkable...and then the unexplainable. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Twins

I think it's as simple as this. The Minnesota Twins had the team this year. They were on track to make the playoffs with a month and a half left to go in the season. If Correa, Buxton, Kepler, Miranda, Lewis and Ryan stay healthy, they get there. Those six players are the heart of this team, and even in partial seasons accomplished so much. But for large swaths of the season, the majority of this group was hurt. Miranda and Lewis came back, Buxton and Correa would try and jump back in, but it was enough of a gap that the Royals and Tigers caught up and reduced them to fourth, just a year after finishing in 1st and winning a playoff series.

The injuries in Arlington and Atlanta may have gotten more publicity, but the injuries in Minneapolis turned a wild card favorite into a surprise onlooker. And it's very funny that Rocco Baldelli is showing the same 'never the same quality in consecutive seasons' tactic he had as a player. 

Trevor Larnach, barring the first couple weeks of the year, was a rare Twin that stayed healthy this year, and provided needed power assistance as the go-to DH this year. In 112 games, Larnach hit .259 with 52 RBIs and 15 home runs, and had a .771 OPS. Larnach has become a pretty reliable member of the young pack of hitters, and this year was another nice leveling up at the plate.

2025 Prediction: Another step further, hitting .276 with 25+ homers.

Because the Rays wait until the exact moment you're not expecting them to move you to move you, Manuel Margot was dealt to the Dodgers at the very beginning of the offseason [in the Tyler Glasgow deal], then moved over to Minnesota right at the end of camp. Margot had a chance to win a ring this year, but fate had other ideas. And so, Margot, now in a crucial OF role with the Twins, had his weakest season to date. In 129 games, Margot hit .238 with 31 RBIs and only 4 stolen bases. Three season after his defensive peak with Tampa, Margot was below average defensively and struggled at the plate. For the first time in his career, Margot will be facing free agency this year.

2025 Prediction: I honestly think the Rays'll bring him back. And he'll do better.

 

Kyle Farmer had his best statistical season to date last year, thanks to some excellent defense and strong contact numbers. This season, with an injury to recover from and other infield options getting play, Farmer's appeal was significantly lessened. In 107 games he hit .214 with 25 RBIs and 5 homers. Both defensively and offensively he was below average this year. 

2025 Prediction: Has something of a rebound year with Denver, though I doubt he'll be starting all year. Then again, if they trade McMahon he certainly might..

Matt Wallner was ushered into the young hitting group last year, as he took advantage of a late call-up and became one of the most refreshing hitters in the lineup. This year was very similar: he wasn't with the team initially, but once he got there he was a very helpful fill-in and helped the OF depth tremendously. In 75 games he had 37 RBIs and 13 home runs. And an .894 OPS, which is pretty fantastic.

2025 Prediction: Kepler's likely gone, Margot's gone, Larnach's primarily a DH...I think Matt Wallner's got a starting OF spot next year, and I think he's gonna be a serious ASG candidate. 

Chris Paddack came over in a trade in 2022, and considering that the Padres received Brent Rooker and Taylor Rogers in the trade, it's kinda wild that Paddack's lasted longer. Ultimately, 2024 was the Sheriff's most prolific year in Minneapolis, though still injury-shortened. In 17 games he went 5-3 with a 4.99 ERA and 79 Ks. At least a little closer to his 2019 breakthrough. 

2025 Prediction: Well, it's his last year before free agency, so watch him go absolutely wild out there.

Not only was Griffin Jax the Twins' best reliever of the season, he was one of their best players period. In 72 appearances, Jax had a 2.03 ERA, 95 Ks, a 2.8 WAR and 10 saves. Jax had a higher WAR than Pablo Lopez this year, which I would not have called. For a guy who didn't work as a starter in Minneapolis, I'm glad he's found a real niche for these guys.

2025 Prediction: I don't think the follow up will be as prolific but he'll have some great relief appearances. Perhaps less of them.

It was handy to have a consistent guy like Griffin Jax around because the closing option, Jhoan Duran, was less consistent this year. He finished the season with a  6-9 record, a ton of blown saves and only 23 saves. Duran can still throw as hard, but I think he just wasn't as unhittable as he's been in prior years.

2025 Prediction: Either he rights himself and becomes a great closer again or he blows his arm out and misses time.

Austin Martin was the other piece of the return for Jose Berrios, aside from Simeon Woods-Richardson, who was very useful this year. Martin got plugged into numerous roles this year, as he plays both the outfield and some infield positions. Unfortunately he doesn't play them very well. His very unpolished defense at least distracted from his passable offense, but while he hit .253, he only had 16 RBIs and 1 homer in 93 games. 

2025 Prediction: Honestly, I think he gets cut at some point.

So, Carlos Correa got hurt, then Royce Lewis got hurt, and there was a vacancy at short. So...in comes Brooks Lee, the Twins' top infield prospect, to get a taste of the majors. Unfortunately the 23 year old couldn't get much done at the MLB level, hitting .221 with 3 homers and 27 RBIs in 50 games. With both those guys back in 2025, I'm not sure what kind of role Lee will play with this team.

2025 Prediction: If the Twins get good enough that they need to make a big deadline deal, Lee will be the top piece going to a competitor. And THERE he'll blossom into something.

Towards the end of the year, the Twins called up two pretty well-regarded pitching prospects to start some games. Paddack and Ryan were hurt, there was room, let's get the kids up. Zebby Matthews had a really rough go of it, but David Festa, who was around for 14 games, did decently, with a 4.90 ERA and 77 Ks.

2025 Prediction: Will make camp with the team, but he's gonna have to be used in long-relief for a bit.

Coming Tomorrow- Mercifully, not very many White Sox. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Tigers

 

On June 29th, the Detroit Tigers were 37-46, fourth place in the AL Central, completely out of the conversation. Within a month they would trade Jack Flaherty, Andrew Chafin, Carson Kelly and Mark Canha to competitors. Of the four, only one would make the playoffs, and would ultimately win a World Series. 

After getting somewhat hot before the ASG break, the Tigers were 52-59 on August 2nd. And then the inevitable happened. Not only did this team start winning, but this team outlasted all but one division rival in playoff competition. The Tigers lapped the Twins and kept the series tighter than the Royals did. The Guardians would ultimately end the Tigers' season, but they would do so a month and a half later than anyone thought. With some rookie reinforcements, a Cy Young candidate, a stellar bullpen and some seasons that got going at the exact right time, the Detroit Tigers were competitors for the first time in about a decade, and they finally had something they could build on.

It's important to note that this ALDS-qualifying season from the Tigers came with no help from former MVP Candidate Javier Baez, who once again seemed to want nothing more than to take the contract and run. In 80 injury-limited games, Baez hit .184 with 6 homers and 37 RBIs. It's becoming so much clearer how Baez's 2018-2019 run was his peak, and how he's failed to recapture any of the magic from it.

2025 Prediction: Something closer to his 2022 premier year with the Tigers, but nothing team-lifting.

Also only a minor figure in the story of this competitive Tigers team, former #1 overall pick Casey Mize. Mize has long been thought to be the savior of this organization, and was on pace to be an ace for them til his 2022 injury. 2024 was thought to be a comeback year for the 27-year-old, but Mize could only muster so much, appearing in 22 games and leaving with a 4.49 ERA, a 2-6 record and 78 Ks.

2025 Prediction: I think since the pressure is officially off of him, and on people like Tarik Skubal, he'll be able to deliver a better season. Unfortunately I think 2024 killed any chance of him being THE GUY for the Tigers going forward. 

Jason Foley has remained a primary choice for closing options for the Tigers, and because this bullpen is so good he's just a great all-around reliever who occasionally can get the big game saves. Foley notched 28 saves this year, and had a 3.15 ERA despite a 3-6 record. Obviously a bit shakier [hence more opportunities for Tyler Holton later on], but I think Foley's still well respected in this 'pen.

2025 Prediction: Doesn't hold the ninth all year but still has another excellent full season of relief work.

Zach McKinstry didn't have as many starry moments as his surprise spike in usage during 2023, but he remained a handy, versatile infield bat for these guys. McKinstry hit .215 in 118 games, with 4 homers, 23 RBIs and a team-leading 16 steals. He even had himself a big postseason home run this year.

2025 Prediction: I think Colt Keith and Trey Sweeney are gonna ensure he doesn't start, but he'll be a valuable utility piece for the Tigers.

Wenceel Perez used some outfield vacancies and some brief injuries to work his way into a starting outfield spot as a rookie, and it honestly went pretty well for him. In 112 games he hit .242 with 9 home runs and 37 RBIs. He was also very handy in the postseason, with 5 hits and an RBI. 

2025 Prediction: Starts in right and becomes the underrated third to Meadows and Greene in that outfield.

Similarly, rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy got some starting time at both OF and DH this year, and he made the most of the opportunity. Malloy came over from Atlanta in exchange for Joe Jimenez, and while Jimenez has been excellent with the Braves, the Tigers may have something with Malloy as a power bat. In 71 games, Malloy had 8 homers and 21 RBIs, and was starting at DH everyday pretty much by the end of the year. He also went 5 for 8 in postseason at-bats with a double and run.

2025 Prediction: 30 homers. The pieces are beginning to come together, people.

Another intriguing piece of this team's future that debuted this year? Starter Keider Montero, who took advantage of the many open rotation spots during the last two months to make 16 starts. He'd finish the season with a 4.76 ERA, 6 wins and 77 Ks. He's 23, sturdy, came just short of 100 innings as a rookie, and looks like a great building block for this team.

2025 Prediction: Makes the rotation out of camp and holds down a 3.50 ERA all year.

And very late in the season, the Tigers brought up two different organizational prospect pieces, and even got to use them in October. Jackson Jobe was picked 3rd overall back in 2021, and smoked through Erie in 2024 to wind up in the bigs by September. He was merely there as a depth pitching option, and was scoreless in 4 innings during the regular season. In the postseason, the 21-year-old was facing some of the most powerful hitters in the bigs, and gave up 3 runs in 1.2 innings. Welcome to the bigs, kid. Meanwhile, 3rd base prospect Jace Jung, brother of Texas' corner infielder Josh Jung, was a 2022 first-rounder that was also powering through the minors at a nice pace. Jung was brought up around Trey Sweeney's call-up, and Sweeney was a bit more MLB-ready. Jung hit .241 in 34 games with 19 hits and 3 RBIs, and was hitless in 2 postseason at-bats.

2025 Prediction: At the current moment there seems to be more space for Jobe than for Jung. Jobe could very easily hang out in the bullpen and wait for a rotation opening to emerge [assuming he doesn't make the rotation out of camp]. Jung, meanwhile, is blocked by both Trey Sweeney and Zach McKinstry depth-wise, and will need surer MLB stats to stand a chance, which may not happen til midyear next year.

Coming Tomorrow- The Twins definitely thought they had something this year, which made it all the more heartbreaking when the rug got swept out from beneath them.