I have not totally brought myself around to checking how badly stuff was damaged from the water yet. It doesn't appear that anything is a complete and total loss, but there are a number of cards that are severely damaged and many that will probably never be able to be removed from the binders. But on to happier things, an attempt to get caught up on my recent additions. This post will be a number of packages, including some Wong cards.
1. Rafael Devers. Devers has been playing with a hurt shoulder for much of this season. Despite this, he is currently hitting .279/.355/.544 with 28 home runs and 81 RBIs. Devers is a beast on offense.
2. Blaze Jordan. Jordan has stumbled a bit in Double-A, but he continues to hit home runs. It is tough to say if he will make the Majors or not, he has tumbled down the prospect list a bit.
3. Trevor Story. As I am writing this post, Story has made it back from a serious shoulder injury. I don't know what to expect from him going forward, but his leadership was definitely missed.
4. J.D. Martinez. Martinez is currently 69 home runs shy of 400 for his career. He has hit just 16 this season. I kind of doubt he will be able to stick around long enough to make that number, especially since he is 36 now. I would guess he has maybe two more seasons in him at this point.
This is the White Disco Prizm card from Panini Prizm. It is serial-numbered to just five. Wong has cooled off considerably the second half of the season and has struggled on defense. I think he will go into next season as the starting catcher, but then possibly become more of a utility player/backup catcher after top prospect Kyle Teel makes the Majors. He has played first base, second base and left field in recent weeks. He can still be a valuable player that way and as long as he stays in Boston, I will still collect him. I have some big stuff coming up to show off.
1. Bobby Dalbec. Somehow Dalbec remains on the 40-man roster. I think it's a time for a change of scenery for him. He has continued to hit well in the minors, but at 29 years of age, it is fair to ask if he will ever be able to remain in the Majors.
2. Pedro Martinez. From 1999 to 2003, Martinez was the best pitcher I have ever seen. If he gave up a run, it was surprising. He was incredible and I am so glad I was able to see him pitch.
3. Gilberto Jimenez. Jimenez made some noise as a prospect for a few years but just kind of fell apart at a certain point. Missing out on the 2020 season due to the COVID season definitely did not help. I think a number of prospects seriously suffered from not being able to play that year (Jeter Downs is one that comes to mind).
4. Mo Vaughn. Vaughn remains one of my favorite players of all time. I still think he may have ended up in the Hall of Fame had he stayed in Boston. In eight seasons with Boston, he was hitting .304/.394/.542 with 230 home runs. Those are HUGE numbers.
5. Chris Sale. It is nice to see Sale return to his dominant form this season, it is just a shame it was not in Boston. Still, it would be nice to see him get back on track to a Hall of Fame form.
6. Enmanuel Valdez. This is pretty cool. This is one of those Golden Mirror SSP cards. Valdez is probably running out of time to make an impact in Boston. He can hit, but his fielding is so suspect that it is hard to put him anywhere.
7. Adam Duvall. Duvall is an upcoming One-Year Wonder post. Had he stayed healthy in 2022, he could have put up some big numbers. He still hit 21 home runs in 92 games.
8. Roger Clemens. This is another one of those MVP cards just like in the 1975 set.
Here is the 2022 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary Gold Autograph card serial-numbered to 50.
1. Ian Bladergroen. Bladergroen was a prospect who was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Doug Mientkiewicz, surely the most letters in one trade that involved just two players. Bladergroen never made it to the Majors and actually never even made it to Double-A.
2. Bobby Dalbec.
3. Bobby Dalbec.
4. J.D. Martinez.
5. Bobby Dalbec. As you can see, I get a lot of Dalbec cards from people in TCDB trades, because no one wants them.
6. Rafael Devers.
7. Famous Rivals card. This goes down as a Fenway Park card.
8. David Hamilton. Hamilton was acquired in the trade that sent Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers for Jackie Bradley Jr. and a couple prospects. Hamilton was one of those. I have really gotten to like Hamilton. He recently went down with an injury and his season could be over, but he was hitting .248/.303/.395 with eight homers and 28 RBIs, and most impressively, 33 stolen bases. Speed is his game. He has also improved defensively.
9. Ceddanne Rafaela. Rafaela is probably my favorite rookie this season. He should be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. He strikes out too much, but plays great defense at both shortstop and center field and has some big power. He also has 17 stolen bases with 15 home runs, giving him a shot at 20/20 in his rookie season.
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