Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The 2008 Rookies

 

...well, since blogger took away the ability to caption photos...I guess I've gotta do away with the obvious.

2008 Topps is a weird year in terms of their rookie selection, because there is personnel that appears in Upper Deck sets, premium sets, and even their hobby-exclusive Red Hot Rookie program, and yet still fails to receive a card in actual flagship. 

Alexei Ramirez is one of the biggest rookie stories of 2008, bursting onto the scene in Chicago as a compact little shortstop with a 2.5 WAR, and notching 77 RBIs and 21 home runs, both admittedly career highs, while also coming in second during Rookie of the Year voting. Topps does not give him a rookie card in Update. What they DO give him is a World Baseball Classic short-printed gimmick hidden in the set along with Yasuhiko Yabuta and the set's rookie giant Kosuke Fukudome. All three players were supposed to have regular cards in the flagship set, but were reduced to gimmicks. 

Only Fukudome got an actual Update Series base card. Ramirez did get a card in Update, but it was a World Baseball Classic insert. Meanwhile, Upper Deck was producing base rookies of him like it's nothing. It was a maddening affair that robbed a genuinely good player of an official rookie card.

Not every rookie I made for this project comes off like Ramirez'. Daniel Murphy got an official Topps rookie in 2009's flagship set, but he still appeared in 49 games in 2008, hitting .313 with 17 RBIs in 49 games, which isn't bad at all. Sadly, a lot of this production came after the cutoff, so his chance at a 2008 Topps rookie card dissipated. 

But this one looks nice. The black Mets uniforms were underrated. And it's odd to see someone affiliated with mid-2010s Mets success wearing one. Kinda like how odd it is to see Jose Altuve in 2011-era Astros uniforms. 

We go slightly more obscure for this next rookie.

Ernesto Frieri is best known for his role as the fun-loving Angels closer in 2013, and his eventual trade to Pittsburgh in 2014 for Jason Grilli. Before landing in LA, Frieri was a staple for the Padres' bullpen, and while he didn't debut until 2009, a Spring Training photo does exist from the 2008 season, and by the rules of this project, that totally counts. Topps has based rookie cards on far less. 

So Frieri gets a rookie card in 2008. Because why not?

Similarly present in 2008 Spring Training but absent for most of the actual season was future A's DH and power-hitter Brandon Moss. Moss was among the squad that played overseas for a few games in Spring 2008, as he was being primed for an infield position that would eventually go to Jed Lowrie. 

The reason he doesn't have a 2008 rookie card with Boston, apart from Topps being harebrained and not giving him one after his 2007 debut campaign, is that after 34 games in Boston, Moss was traded to Pittsburgh for Jason Bay. Bay would be an outfield asset and All-Star for Boston, while Moss would continue his utility man role in Pittsburgh, where he would get his 2008 Update rookie card. 

Ian Kennedy has a rookie card with Upper Deck in 2008. As a matter of fact, he's all over Upper Deck's third quarter releases. Perhaps Kennedy was sought as the 'token Yankee rookie' that year, despite not getting a ton of playing time.

Despite his solid 2007 numbers, Kennedy would have an 8.39 ERA in 2008, and eventually be eased out of starting, and the majors. Topps wouldn't produce a card of him in 2009 either, and his 2010 Topps release would technically be his Topps rookie card. By 2010, Kennedy had already been traded to Arizona in the Curtis Granderson deal [but really we should be calling it the Max Scherzer deal at this point], and his career was already burgeoning as an ace in Phoenix.

Unrelated, but I bet Upper Deck would have rendered this entire project meaningless if they'd kept their license after 2009. 

Which leads us back to the 2008 Red Hot Rookie series, one of the charter members of which was Jeff Samardzija, a Cubs reliever with a funky windup and a funkier name. 

Unlike Kennedy, Samardzija's inclusion in this set does not mean he didn't receive any Topps releases in 2008. Topps liked him a lot during the last quarters of 2008, and included him in Finest and Heritage High Number. Yet he did not get a card in Update Series, and would have to wait until 2009 Topps to get an official rookie card [now that I am realizing this, neither did Pablo Sandoval, whom I always assumed has a 2008 Update card I just never pulled. So I guess I have to make one of him now].

Shark's 2008 number certainly would have warranted a rookie card, though. With a 2.28 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 27.2 innings, he was clearly one of the brighter relief options of the competitive 2008 Cubs team. It just stinks that Topps' silly quotas prevented them from actually making a rookie card of him that year.

Those are the 6 newest additions to the Should Have Been series. Now I, admittedly, have to go make a Pablo Sandoval one.

Wait Until Shark

You know, for a guy with a career losing record, Jeff Samardzija is pretty tricky at the plate.

The guy's got nearly 1500 strikeouts by 35, he's coming  off his best season since 2014, and he's looking to lead the San Francisco rotation with Johnny Cueto. And damn...he seems to be in a good place career-wise. You know, I don't think I would have called Shark to have a veteran presence in 2020. He was seeming pretty damn fluke-y in 2012, and I was worried he'd just kick around as a reliever into his 30s, but...people trust Shark. People realize he still has velocity and use him to the  best of his ability.

I'm interested to see how Gabe Kapler uses him. I mean, I don't know if Kapler is too used to managing people who can actually pitch [aside from Aaron Nola], but Samardzija arguably fits more into the sabermetric-centric ball that Kapler wanted to run Philly with. Shark doesn't always win games, but he strikes people out and gets people to swing, and he's the kind  of crafty type that Kapler would really like. Dereck Rodriguez is just gonna be  his pet project, like Velazquez was, and that's not gonna go well, but with Shark and Cueto, he'll be fine.

The team itself...I'm not sure. No Posey, no Belt, no Longoria. Guys like Pablo Sandoval and Wilmer Flores are gonna  be starting. You also have Giants fans yelling because Joey Bart didn't get called up to start at catcher [they're going with Tyler Heineman]. While this isn't the dumbest thing Giants fans are yelling at this week [that would be them yelling at players kneeling for the anthem], it still sheds light on the unrest that Giants fans  have after the dynasty mellowed. They got their rings, and when they ran out, the anger began.

I don't know how much the Giants are going to accomplish this year, even with Kapler. I feel like they'll get close to .500, but...I don't even know if they'll be top-16 worthy. But...maybe?

Coming Tonight: Yeah, let's talk about my team, how they did in the opener, and why they're probably still gonna mow everybody over this year.

Shark Tank

I'm interested to see how historians interpret Jeff Samardzija. Because on one hand, he has 100 career losses, and 78 career wins, and he's been at the mercy of many of the hard-luck teams he's pitched for. On the other hand...even in dire seasons, he's still been one of the toughest pitchers to have to go against. He's 34 and he still throws hard as hell, finally having a good season in San Francisco after 2 disappointing years. And yes, he's still a bit wonky compared to Madison Bumgarner, but...think about who Bumgarner is for a sec.

MadBum, Shark and Tyler Beede are the only survivors of a rotation in turmoil. Now that Dereck Rodriguez is back, the Giants are really shoving anything they can into that last rotation spot to see if it works. Yes, they're still technically in the Wild Card race, but...after their big, mid-July come-up, they've come hurtling back to earth and are now...really just the same old disappointing NL West team they always were...just with a little more competence and a little less Panik (how bizarre is it that he went from one momentarily great team to another?).

Good news is that their bench of a thousand guest stars seems to be working, now that Alex Dickerson is healthy again. Scooter Gennett and Joey Rickard have made the most of recent plate appearances, Stephen Vogt is a wonderful backup catcher (hey, remember when they thought he'd never play again?), and Austin Slater is closing in on the open starting outfield spot. Plus, the veterans like Posey, Longoria, Crawford, Belt and Pillar are all doing modestly and keeping the team slightly invigorated.

I don't know if this team's gonna have any relevance in late September/early October, but...there's a lot more to this team than there initially was. At least I can say that.

Coming Tomorrow (?)- Man, even a comparatively down season from this guy is deadly as hell.

Shark Week

I did not plan to post a card of Jeff Samardzija on Shark Week. It just turned out that way. That's just an insane coincidence.

Right, so Samardzija. The Giants. The Giants are still terrible.

I don't know how it happened, but everything just fell apart for the Giants, a team that won a World Series only 3 years ago. The base of the team is practically the same, but a lot of the beats that made a winning team aren't really working anymore. The core's aging, the replacements aren't up to the task, and people are getting to them. Jeff Samardzija, as per usual, is throwing a ton of strikeouts, but still giving up a ton of runs.

Even worse, the Dodgers, Rockies and D-Backs are so powerful this year that everything the Giants do looks effete by comparison. Even if Buster Posey's having a nice season, it's nothing compared to what Cody Bellinger or Charlie Blackmon is doing. Plus, now the Giants are thinking of giving up some of their lighter players at the deadline, which is sad but necessary.

Not a great deal to say about the Giants. You gotta hope things get better, though.

Coming Tomorrow- Last year he was one of the best in the league. This year he's hoping a down season doesn't wreck his career.

Custom Card of the Day: Samardzija Edition

I didn't think, like, three years ago, that this guy would end up becoming one of the definitive names in pitching.

Mostly because I couldn't spell his name three years ago.

This guy worried me starting out, because his tenure as a starter back in the late 2000's was...not great. Kind of concerning. So him coming back from the bullpen around 2012, 2013 was kind of surprising, but those times were desperate for the Cubs so it kind of made sense. I did enjoy the fact that he did eventually become a strikeout machine for them, so much that he became a commodity for traders. The guy's played for four teams since 2014.

The oddest thing about Shark, as he's lovingly referred to, is that, as a starter, he's never won more games than he's lost. He's never been on a great deal of 'winning' teams, and when he has, he hasn't been the most winning part. Shark's a strikeout artist, simple as that.

Shark has got to remind Giants fans of another long-haired strikeout artist in orange and black, one that just left the team. Unlike Tim Lincecum, Shark's been pretty solid so far on the Giants, being a solid #3 to Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner. This could work out, because the Giants are almost definitely going to be a winning team in 2016, and it's just a question of how far they get. Samardzija should just enjoy the ride, because it's gotta be a great one.

Coming Tonight (?)- The hard-hitting third baseman that has all of the AL East frightened.

Two Less-Extravagant Pitching Updates

Two other things happened in terms of pitcher signings over the last 24 hours. One of them works really well. One of them doesn't.

Jeff Samardzija signed a five-year deal with the Giants today, and the first question I asked when he signed there was, simply, WHY?

The Giants already have a pretty well built rotation. Bumgarner, Lincecum, Cain, Heston, Vogey/Leake/Peavy. They really didn't need to get Samardzija, but I'm guessing it was more along the lines of a cockblock-signage, like something the Angels would have tried a few years ago.

Also, Samardzija didn't have the greatest 2015, his numbers going down in Chicago and not necessarily being the standout of the rotation (that, once again, went to Chris Sale). So why exactly do the Giants need Samardzija when they already have an ace (MadBum), and rotation depth? It's kind of mind boggling, and I don't necessarily think it was the best move to make, especially when a near-All-Star outfielder just flocked to Seattle.

Now, if you want to talk about a GOOD move...

John Lackey had a much better 2015. While the Cardinals ace, Adam Wainwright, as injured, John Lackey took over and ruled the rotation, as well as working with Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez to secure the rotation's power.

Yesterday, John Lackey, for the first time since 2009, agreed to play for a team I DON'T despise. And that would be the Chicago Cubs.

Unlike the Giants, the Cubs are a team that NEEDS pitching help, because Dan Haren's gone, and I don't think they trust Travis Wood to be the fifth man. Lackey does not have to be the #1 guy, and with the stacking in this, he'll likely be used in the #2 or #3 spot, but he will be a really strong, really reliable guy to have in any part of the rotation. If it's Arrieta-Lester-Lackey your first three days, that can be deadly. Even having Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks in the last two spots is not that bad of a deal.

Bottom line- John Lackey is likely gonna work really well for the Cubs. Samardzija...well, let's hope for a good season for the Giants at least...

Custom Card of the Day: Samardzija Edition

Yeah, be thankful it's not one of those 70's uniforms. To be honest, I'm really thankful they decided to go back to the black pinstripe ones they used to do.

I honestly never thought of Jeff Samardzija becoming a legitimate star until, well, he became one. He broke sort-of-big in 2013, when Matt Garza was on the downslope, and the Cubs didn't have a whole hell of a lot of pitching. So, he emerged from the bullpen and pitched some really nice games.

And then last year, he proceeded to nail down great teams with strikeouts, not wins, and make himself a name as a tough, tough pitcher. He got so big last year that the A's traded for him, and he was able to pitch (one game) into the postseason.

That's the thing about Samardzija. He can be legitimate, and he can be really good, but the odds need to be in his favor. This season he's on a good team, not great but good, but there's enough run support that he can get some much needed wins. Plus, the division can be tough, but I can see him striking out the Tigers a few times. It's not hard. V-Mart's especially easy to strike out.

I just think he'll have a really nice season, and the Sale-Samardzija combo is gonna kill AL Central batters.

Coming Tonight- Another guy who broke big in 2013, now the catcher for the defending AL champs.

Custom Card of the Morning: Samardzija Edition

 

The best part of Jeff Samardzija's sudden rise to the top of the MLB food chain is that I find it very easy now to spell his name correctly.

Seriously though, I'm very glad that Samardzija made it to a MLB club that wins games. And I'm very glad it's the A's, because that's the very same club that everyone keeps saying is going to win the whole damn thing. I mean, they may be a bit optimistic, not really keeping in mind the fact that the sport is more unpredictable than Christopher Walken in a children's film.

I don't know if the A's are going to win the whole thing, because let's face it, the season's not even halfway over yet. Haven't even made it to All Star break.

Speaking of the All Star game...I'm still recovering from the whole 'wisdom teeth' thing, so I don't exactly know if Samardzija's replaced Tanaka on the ASG roster, but he's at least going to replace somebody, and it won't be surprising when it happens, so if it hasn't by now, it will.

Coming Tonight: One of the starting NL Outfielders, and one of my favorite players.

Last Exit in Chicago

You know, I wasn't really expecting to post anything. I was a little burned out after my relaxing Independence Day. I figured 'I guess I could get away with not posting today'. I mean, next week might be kinda huge for the blog (not gonna give anything away, but my mystery contact may be rearing his/her ugly head again), so I figured it would all balance out in the end.

And then...I check ESPN...and the first major move of the offseason has taken place. And, as usual, it comes from Chicago.

Was I terribly surprised that Jeff Samardzija took the first plane out of Chicago? Nope. He's the best pitcher on the team, he's had a few really nice seasons, and it's killing him that he's not gonna win that much.

Was I surprised that he went to the A's? A little. I mean, when fledgling pitchers escape, usually they escape to Arlington or the Bronx. I didn't want him coming to either place, no matter how desperate our rotation situation seems. Being that the A's are doing really well, and have a rotation that is slightly injury-plagued (I say slightly meaning that it's just Parker and Milone pretty much), Samardzija would actually be a really nice addition over there.

Was I surprised that they threw in Jason Hammel? Yeah. Because...Jason Hammel? Relevant? I didn't think it possible.

Was I surprised that the A's are giving up Dan Straily? Very. Because I thought he was one of their key pieces moving forward. Uh...not anymore, I guess.

Very, very surprising. If anything, it means the Ex-Cub factor will work against the A's if they make it to the World Series. Unless, of course, they're playing the Cubs.

Custom Card of the Day: Happy 100th Wrigley Edition

I have nothing really against the Cubs. Sure, we all like to poke fun at them sometimes when they have bad seasons, but I can respect them, and I can respect their achievements. Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Andre Dawson, and Fergie Jenkins have all established Hall of Fame careers as Cubs. And now, Wrigley Field is 100 years old.

Which is why it's kind of sad that their current squad is really nothing worthy of mention.

Jeff Samardzija, on any other team, would be the fifth starter. He would be the Kyle Kendrick of any other squad, just there to sift between the heavy hitters. This year, Samardzija is the #1 starter, thanks to last season. Think about this- a guy whose first full season as a starter was last season is now the most trusted starter on the Cubs. I mean, he can pitch well some games, but if anyone had to pick between him and Felix Hernandez, or him and Clayton Kershaw, they'd pick the other one.

I still respect him, because he's on my fantasy team and I need him to do well.

The rest of the team is mostly depleted, save for a surprisingly-surging Emilio Bonifacio, and slowly-sliding-out-of-relevance Starlin Castro. There really isn't much going on. And that's kind of sad.

Think of the last 100 years of Chicago Cubs fans, and how many times they've said 'wait until next year'. And what do they get in the most recent 'next year'? A bunch of prospect that never panned out, pitchers whose contracts aren't up yet, leftovers from other rosters, and no real credibility. I thought Theo Epstein was better than this. I'm assuming the farm system is surging, or at least I hope so.

I mean...the fans are showing up, because it's the 100th season. At least give them a team that keeps them in the seats! At this point, Cubs fans go because of the heritage, because of the past Cubs teams that MADE THEM Cubs fans. Not for the current roster. And that, for the umpteenth time, is sad.

The only thing you can do at this point is hope that it gets better, which is already a routine in Chicago.

Coming Tomorrow- the speedy infielder for the team atop the NL East.

Uncustomed Heroes of Baseball: Cubs

There isn't too much to say about the 2013 Cubs, but look at that shot. It's a long-haired pitcher at the bat, even a Cubs pitcher. I think a certain blogger will find that pretty awesome.

And just a generic double play shot of Starlin Castro. Even though the Cubs were pretty unspectacular this year, these customs are far from it.

Coming Tonight- A few members of the Diamondbacks.