Living Set and Turn Back the Clock

Unfortunately, with cards being hard to find on shelves in stores, the online sets are the best source of cards these days.  The problem with them is the price.  Cards are cheaper on Ebay, but still probably more expensive than they should be.  Nevertheless, I pick them up when the mood grabs me.

As the team's highest profile rookie, it is not surprising to see Bobby Dalbec all over the place, including in Living Set.  I still do not know how players are selected for this.  Seemingly at random, though there have been a few occasions this year where a Red Sox player got a card that felt inevitable.  This was one of those.  Dalbec made his Major League debut in 2020, playing in 23 games and hitting .263/.359/.600 with eight home runs.  He struggled early in 2021, but eventually came around to hit .240/.298/.494 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs.  Unfortunately, strikeouts are a big part of his game.  He fanned 156 times in 453 plate appearances and walked just 28 times.  If he is going to be successful in the Majors he either needs to increase his walk rate, decrease his strikeouts, or both.  Otherwise, he is basically another version of Will Middlebrooks.  Prodigious power, but unable to stick around because he just does not hit enough.  And he does not have much time either, Olympian Triston Casas is waiting in the wings.  I said some time ago that I thought Dalbec's most likely future is with another team.  I still believe that.  It would be great to be wrong.  We will see.

This is the enduring image I have of David Ortiz.  His speech in the game after the Boston Marathon bombing still gives me chills.  I am not even a Bostonian.  Ortiz meant so much to this team for so long.  It is hard to believe it has been five years since he last wore a Red Sox uniform.  Ortiz absolutely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.