Another Random Pickup Post

Let's just dive into this.  No introduction is really necessary, these are just some more random additions to the collection.

This is the Magenta Refractor from 2023 Topps Chrome Update.  This is one of those cards that just kind of slipped my mind for a long time.  But, being the world's foremost Connor Wong collector, I had to circle back and grab it.

1.  Jason Bay.  One of these days I should do a post of the best deadline pickups.  Jason Bay would be very high on that list.  He did a fantastic job of making up for the lost offensive production of Manny Ramirez, who he was traded for.  Bay hit .293/.370/.527 with nine homers and 37 RBIs.  He was an All Star and won the Silver Slugger the next season.

2.  Jackie Bradley Jr.  JBJ was probably the greatest defensive center fielder the Red Sox have had during my fandom.  He really should have won more than one Gold Glove.  I still love looking at video compilations of his defense.  Too bad he wasn't a better hitter.

3.  Brandon Workman.  Workman had a strange career.  He made his Major League debut in 2013 and was decent enough to pitch seven games in the postseason, including three in the World Series in which he was 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA (hard to do).  He even had three at-bats.  The next season, he was 1-10 with a 5.17 ERA.  Then, injuries and ineffectiveness kept him out of the Majors until 2017 when he re-emerged as a quality bullpen arm.  Then, in 2019 he put together one of the greatest relief seasons in Red Sox history, going 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 71.2 innings pitched with 16 saves.  That didn't last though and he was traded to the Phillies in 2020 for Nick Pivetta before returning in 2021.

4.  Mookie Betts.  I still think Mookie's best seasons have come with Boston.  It seems unlikely he will surpass those great seasons in LA, but at the end of his career he will have likely played more with the Dodgers.

5.  Triston Casas.  We will have to wait until 2025 for that Casas breakout season.  He will still be just 25.  Injuries have taken their toll on him this season.

6.  Andrew Benintendi.  Benintendi has gotten some power back this season (16 home runs), but is hitting just .222 right now.  His decline is mystifying.

7.  Wade Boggs.  Boggs was the second player I saw with the Red Sox to make the Hall of Fame (Dennis Eckersley was first), and the first to wear a Red Sox cap n his plaque.  He was an absolutely amazing hitter, and even though he did not have much home run power (other than 1987), he hit more than 40 doubles eight times which gave him decent slugging percentage rates.

8.  Pedro Martinez.  Martinez was the fourth Red Sox player to make it to the Hall of Fame (and second to wear a Red Sox cap on his plaque) that I got to watch.  Rickey Henderson was the third.

9.  Alex Verdugo.  Nice to see a lesser player shown in a City Connect jersey on a card.  The players Boston got in the Verdugo trade have shown some promise.  Greg Weissert has been a reasonably reliable bullpen arm and Richard Fitts made his ML debut on Sunday with 5.1 innings.

10.  Matt Strahm.  Speaking of lesser players shown in City Connect jerseys.  I wanted Strahm to re-sign with Boston after his impressive 2022 season.  He was an All Star this year with the Phillies.  Boston could have used him.  

This is the regular Bowman Chrome Rookie Autograph card.  Oddly, this was a redemption only card.  I bought the redemption card a year ago and it took a LONG time to get this in.  

That's it for today.  More to come.