A Couple Rafaelas and Some Minis

Last Friday night reminded me why the Platinum Glove is probably the most irrelevant award in the sport.  And yes, I am mostly pissed because Ceddanne Rafaela did not win it.  But what makes it irrelevant is that it is purportedly an award for the best defensive player in the game, but it is determined entirely by a fan vote among the Gold Glove winners.  The Red Sox this year had THREE Gold Glove winners, including Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu and Caleb Durbin.  I said to someone on Twitter (or X or whatever) after the Gold Glove winners were announced that Red Sox fans needed to coordinate and pick a player or the votes would get split and something stupid like Cody Bellinger winning it would happen.  Guess who won?  Yep, Bellinger.  Now, Bellinger had a great year, but he plays a less-demanding position than Rafaela and his numbers are still not as good.  But Rafaela probably lost a lot of votes to teammate Abreu.  Whatever.  They need to overhaul that award if they want people to take it seriously. 

Here is the man himself on a couple of cards.  I keep getting the wrong card whenever I order the one on the left.  I got it right this time.  I expect him to get a lot more cards made next year because he had a great season, even at the plate, and was an All Star.  Boston needs to hold on to Rafaela.  I think even Abreu could be enticing in a trade package, though I am not anxious to move him, but I would much rather the Red Sox move him than Rafaela.  Besides, Rafaela just turned 26, he could be entering his prime.  He just needs to learn to be more selective at the plate, and during the summer he was doing really well at that.  

Up next is a trade that was four minis from A&G for four minis from A&G:

1.  Ceddanne Rafaela.  This wasn't originally in the trade offer.  It was originally a Marcelo Mayer card, but since he is no longer with the team and the other party had this Rafaela that I needed, it was a pretty easy decision to make a move on my part.

2.  David Ortiz.  This is the chrome parallel.  I sent a chrome George Brett, so HOFer for HOFer is a pretty good exchange.

3.  David Ortiz.

4.  Wade Boggs.  My current favorite player and my first favorite player came in the same package.  Pretty cool synchronicity.