Another TTM Success From Buck Showalter

The Mets aren't doing nearly as well as preseason pundits would have predicted but it isn't Buck Showalter's fault.  He's a great manager, and there's only so much he can do.  

Anyway, I found some of his cards and sent to him TTM again.  I finally got his 1992 Topps signed, which turned out great.

I also liked these Upper Deck cards with Buck modeling the Diamondbacks jerseys before the team came out.  They're really cool.  I also got his 2004 Topps card signed.

I mailed to Buck on February 13 via Mets Spring Training and got the cards back on February 21, for an 8-day TAT. 

Buck Showalter Auto From Jake

For a long time, my buddy, Jake, was someone I talked to pretty much every day.  I did some trades with him early in my time on Instagram, but as time went on, Jake outgrew collecting cards, then went off to college.  I've missed talking to him like we used to.  Jake messaged me out of the blue recently, and asked for my address.  He surprised me with this Buck Showalter auto inscribed to me.

I really appreciated the gesture from Jake.  It was really great that he still thought of me.  I am glad to see how he has grown and become an awesome young man.

Thanks so much, Jake.  It means a lot to me that you thought of me.

Birthday Gift From Michael

I got a package in the mail a few days ago from my buddy, Michael.  He had just sent me a package that had a bunch of IP autos that he picked up for me, but this time around, he sent me my birthday package.

In it was a signed locker nameplate of David Lough, a signed 8x10 of Mychal Givens, a signed post card of Joe Orsulak, a coupld IP autos, and a Jeremy Hazelbaker auto from 2017 Stadium Club.  The IP signed cards were Buck Showalter on a 2011 Heritage and a 2017 Topps Mariners team card signed by Andrew Albers.

Thank you so much for the birthday package, Michael!  I really appreciate it!

TTM Success - Buck Showalter

On Saturday I got a TTM success that I was really excited about.  I got four cards back from Orioles manager, Buck Showalter.  The above 2005 Topps gold parallel was the card I was the most happy to get back.  I don't know why, I guess because I have had it for so long.  You may be able to see that there is some damage on the card on the right side.  It was a victim of a common problem with mid 90s to mid 2000s Topps cards.  The over gloss on the card allows for it to stick the the other cards near it if it ever gets hot.  I was able to salvage this one out of a box of junk, and held onto it.  Now, it has been salvaged yet again as a TTM success.

I figured I would try to send a few other cards to Buck and see if I could get multiples signed.  I was lucky enough to get three Topps Heritage cards signed.  Heritage always looks good with an on-card auto.

I had gotten Buck before TTM.  That was a couple years ago on a ball.  I have since replaced that ball with an IP auto from Buck, and gave the TTM one to my friend, Frankie.

I have already inspired one young Instagram follower to send to Buck since he has seen my post about this TTM success.  I hope he can get a success like I did.

I mailed to Buck on 2/22 and got the cards back on 3/5, making them a 12-day TAT.  Not bad for a guy who is really busy right now.

Fan Fest Pickup - Oct 4, 2015 Lineup Card

The piece I was most excited about that I picked up from Fan Fest was this game used lineup card from the Oct 4, 2015 game against the New York Yankees.

If you remember, that was the final game of the 2015 season and also the game that Chris Davis hit two homers, his final ones as an Oriole.

I was at the game with my son, Chris, and my friend, Michael.  We were seen on mlb.com and also MASN after Davis hit the second homer.

I had seen the game used lineup card box at the Orioles authentics booth at Fan Fest, but I was looking through game used hats because Michael told me that there were some Reimolds in there.  I didn't find those, but while I was doing that, I asked Chris to look through the lineup cards to see if any of the October games were in there.

He told me that he didn't see any, but I decided to take a look anyway, and I found this.  I checked the box score on my phone and found that this was from the final game.  I was so excited, I bought it on the spot.

I plan on putting this up with a copy of the screenshot of me celebrating the home run (from mlb.com) and a copy of the box score.  I think it'll be a bit expensive, but will look cool when it is done.

If you look closely, you'll see that it is signed by Buck Showalter, which is an added bonus.

Thoughts on MLB Network's Interview With Buck Showalter

I just finished watching MLB Network Presents - Buck Showalter.  Man, it was a really good interview with the Orioles manager and reminded me, just how much I love having him manage the Orioles.  The O's had been through a ton of managers before Buck arrived on the scene at the end of the 2010 season, and now they have had three straight winning seasons, and two playoff berths.

The one thing that Buck is missing in his legacy as a great manager is a championship.  It seems that when Buck's contract expires at the end of the 2018 season, he will hang it up for good.  The window to bring home a ring is getting short, and I sincerely hope that he can win a World Series before all is said and done.

If you have MLB Network, I strongly suggest you check out the interview.  It was really well done.

A Gnome In The Mail

I'm not in a good mood.  A look at the box scores from this past week would indicate that the Orioles are not a very good team right now.  I sincerely believe that their hitting coach should begin to print off some resumes, because he really hasn't shown me much of anything this season, except for brief flashes here and there with a few players.

So, on a day where the Orioles make like they will never win another game, I got something in the mail that instantly cheered me up.  I got my Buck Showalter garden gnome in the mail from my friend, Michael.

The garden gnome is really cool.  I got a Rangers one a while back from my buddy, Sam, but this one is so awesome because Buck really didn't enjoy it.  He made like he didn't at least.  I think it is awesome, and will put it up once I am done writing this post.

The baseball Michael sent is a game used baseball from the Orioles 5,000th win since the franchise moved to Baltimore.  Michael found it at the Orioles memorabilia store, and immediately picked it up for me, knowing that I would want it.  I don't know if I will get it signed by anyone, but at this moment, it will be put up as well.

Thanks for the stuff, Michael.  Maybe the Showalter gnome will now bring some good luck to the club and they can start to hit their way out of a wet paper bag.

2015 Orioles Fan Fest Autograph Station 1 - De Aza, Walker, Showalter

I'm really excited right now.  As I was scanning stuff for this blog post, I found out that Nolan Reimold is back in the Orioles system, as he has signed a minor league deal, with an invitation to Spring Training.  I seriously am ready for the 2015 season to start.  Before we think too far ahead, I wanted to recap the autograph stations which I had vouchers for this past Saturday.

We got in the door just before 11:00 AM, and as we made our way inside, I passed out about 15 team bags of baseball cards to kids who were also making their way into the venue.  I wonder if any of them have checked out the blog, since I included my business card in the bags.

Once that was done, we (Mom, Christy, Mal, Chris and I) all made our way to our first signing of the day.  I had 2 vouchers each for four stations and Mom had 2 vouchers each for 2 stations with us doubling up (4 vouchers) for the first session (Buck Showalter, Alejandro De Aza and Christian Walker).  With 5 of us in our group, one of us wouldn't be able to get anything signed, so my wife took my camera and stood nearby to take pictures.

My mail goal for this year's Fan Fest was to meet Buck.  He is far and away my favorite Orioles manager (since I was too young when Earl was manager).  I always enjoy his post-game interviews, and learn a lot about life (and a lot of other things) by paying attention to them.  I got Buck's signature on my 2014 Playoffs OMLB that I picked up at Game 2 of the ALDS.

I wasn't able to exchange much more than basic pleasantries, since we were being pushed through the lines quickly.  While I wish I had more time to interact with him, I appreciated the swiftness that we were moved through the lines later on in the day.  Mom, however, was able to get Buck talking.  I'm not going to repeat what she said to him (something about how hot it had gotten in there while we were waiting in line), but she was able to get Buck talking about the weather and his morning, so it was kind of cool that she was able to chat with him for a bit.  I know Mom was really nervous before we got up to the signing table, and I think her interaction with Buck helped calm that down for the rest of the day.

De Aza was actually the first player at the station, and to conserve OMLB balls, I got his autograph on his Upper Deck rookie card.  He actually commented on the card, showing it to Christian Walker and telling him that he wasn't even 21 in the photo.

My sister, Christy, got this 2012 Topps signed for me, since she was along for the ride and wasn't too interested in taking any autographs home.  I kept telling her that she should take some home for her boyfriend, but apparently, he isn't interested in sports.  Something I might have to work on.

Each autograph subject had Orioles post cards available, as well.  They were only supposed to sign one item per voucher, but many of them handed out the post cards with whatever I wanted signed. We weren't as lucky with some of the later signers, but this first session yielded us at least one post card per person.

Since Christy wasn't interested in taking autos home with her, I ended up with two baseballs signed by Christian Walker.  Mom kept hers, and Chris got his 16 x 20 photo that I had printed for him signed.

Walker also gave me three of his signed post cards.  He is a legit prospect for the O's, and is likely to take over at first base when Chris Davis leaves to free agency.  I love Davis, but it is nice to know that we have some minor leaguers waiting in the wings, after too many years of not having sufficient backups in place.  Gone are the days where veteran players will pass through the revolving door that was the Orioles.  It is nice to have some guys coming up in the system who fans can watch develop into major leaguers.  It is especially nice for me to watch Walker, as I watched him at South Carolina while hanging out with my brother.  When we met Walker, I pointed this out, which he thought was cool.  I hope he becomes a star (and I hope Davis stays, he can always DH).

So, that was a pretty successful first session.  Stay tuned for more Fan Fest autographs.

AL East Champions

For the first time since 1997, the Orioles have clinched the AL East Championship.  They did so today by routing the Blue Jays 8-2 in front of a hot crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  I'm so excited right now, I can't sleep, hence the late evening blog post.

The last time the Orioles were AL East champions, they won wire to wire.  I was a senior in High School and I remember one of the art teachers at my school was from Baltimore, so we would chat baseball every morning.  When they won the East, she gave me a photo from the Baltimore Sun that said "Wire to Wire", which I still have.

1997 was a tough year for me.  I lost a sister and a grandfather.  I remember spending the night at my cousin's house and watching the Orioles lose in the ALCS to the Indians.  That was a great team that was done in by some terrible bullpen performances that post season.

This Orioles team seems to be very resilient.  They have dealt with the losses of Matt Wieters and Manny Machado.  Sub-par seasons by Chris Davis, Ubaldo Jimenez and to a lesser extent, J. J. Hardy.  Buck Showalter has done an excellent job in putting the right pieces in place and getting the most out of his guys.

I'm so excited to be an Orioles fan right now!

(Thanks for the post card and Showalter card, Max S.).

Lots of Mail From Drew

I got a huge package in the mail from my very good friend and long-time trading partner, Drew, the other day.  The package consisted of the stacks of cards that can be seen above.  Most of it was just Drew clearing out space on his card desk, but there were quite a few hidden gems inside as well.

First up is this 1967 Wally Bunker.  I'm warming up to '67.  I used to think it was boring (and it still kinda is) but it is a good, almost iconic set.  Stripped down, raw, and simplistic, the set does have its merits.  Add in the fact that I own the Mantle, I think I could grown to like it even more as other Hall of Famers out of this set join my collection

Here is a Chris Davis card that Drew included.  I'm pretty sure I didn't already have it, but I need to consult my Davis PC and see.  I know I had it in my set (duh) but I really don't remember buying it when I went on my COMC bender a while back.

I really like this 1961 Orioles team card.  Drew has been working on the 1961 Topps set for some time now. I really hope he finishes it because it is a good one and he is well on his way!

Look at this young buck, er I mean young Buck.  A 2005 Topps gold parallel Buck Showalter.  I actually do have a Showalter PC.  He has quickly grown into my favorite Orioles manager, since I don't remember the days of Earl Weaver.

Finally, I just thought this Score Chris Hoiles card was awesome.  I'm especially please about how it scanned.  I mean, look at it, it looks amazing!  The card really looks like it could have come out this year.

So, thanks for all of the cards, Drew!  You know you'll have some stuff coming from me shortly!

TTM Success - Buck Showalter

It has been quite a while since I got one of my mailers back from a TTM request.  Honestly, I hadn't sent any off in forever, but because some good friends kept asking me if I was going to send something to Spring Training, I figured, why not?

So, I got my 69th TTM success today from the lone request I sent to Spring Training (making me 100%!), Orioles manager, Buck Showalter.  I'm a big fan of Buck's work and was very pleased that the Orioles extended him through 2018.  I remember when the Orioles were conducting their managerial search and some folks speculated that the Orioles would get Bobby Valentine.  I'm so glad they got Buck instead.

He led the O's to a 93-69 record and a playoff berth last year.  Overall, he has a career record of 1,078-1,018 over 14 seasons.  He is a 2-time manager of the year and barely missed out in 2012 to the A's Bob Melvin.

I'm so excited about this TTM success, you have no idea!  So, I sent to Buck via the Orioles spring training home (Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL) on February 19 and got the ball back today, making it a 9-day TAT.

Orioles Extend Showalter and Duquette

The Orioles haven't made much of a splash this offseason.  I'm strangely comfortable with it (gold star for the movie reference).  There really weren't a lot of moves they would have been able to do.  Tonight they announced possibly the most important announcement they could make - They have extended Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette through 2018.  AWESOME!  I am a big fan of Buck and am very happy this deal was completed.  There was no doubt that it would get done, but it did take a while.  Now the O's can concentrate on the rest of the offseason and get ready for Spring Training, which will be here in about 3 weeks!

Awesome Mail From Pete

Pete from 'Dropped Third Strike' was one of the two guys who got me started with this blog.  I haven't seen him recently, since the card shop closed almost 2 years ago, but we have still kept in touch.  His collection has stalled a bit, but he has still been 'in the game', so to speak.  He did find his 'holy grail' recently, the 1990 Donruss Aqueous Test Don Mattingly.  I was really happy yesterday to find a large bubble mailer in my mailbox from Pete.  Here is a little bit of what was inside:

This 2008 Topps Triple Threads 3pc jersey/auto Troy Patton is really nice.  Patton emerged last year as one of the Orioles' best relievers, and this was especially evident when he went down with an ankle injury late in the season.  J. C. Romero was picked up and proved ineffective, so Brian Matusz was moved into the bullpen.  Patton would come back and help the O's to the playoffs, but you have to wonder, had he not been hurt, would we have seen Matusz flourish in the bullpen?

Here is an advertising panel from 2011 Topps Heritage featuring the Orioles manager, Buck Showalter.  Showalter has been a great addition to the Orioles.  I liked Dave Trembley as a person, but Showalter's preparedness and attention to detail has been phenomenal.  I think he should have won the AL Manager of the Year Award, but you can't really argue with the job Bob Melvin did either.  Oh well, there's always next year.

Here is a 2011 Topps commemorative patch of Brian Roberts.  A lot of people don't like the manufactured patches, but I actually enjoy them.  I have a few, so I was happy to add this Roberts to my PC.  I didn't have any of him, so this was really nice to see in my box.  I sure hope Roberts can come back and reclaim his starting spot at second base and not continue in his role as the Orioles' Grady Sizemore.

Finally, here is a 2011 Topps Chrome Orange Parallel Adam Jones.  I always enjoy the Chrome parallels, and since the Orioles' primary color is orange, these really pop for me.  Jones had a great year and even finished in 6th for the AL MVP award.  Not bad!

So, thanks for the package, Pete.  I hope we can catch up at one of the upcoming card shows really soon!

Showalter Is a Finalist for the AL Manager of the Year Award

In a surprise to no one, Orioles' manager Buck Showalter was named as one of three finalists for the AL Manager of the Year Award.

The other finalists for the award that will be given out next Tuesday are Bob melvin of the Oakland A's and Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox.  I anticipate Showalter bringing the award back to Baltimore for the first time since Davey Johnson won it in 1997.  If Buck wins, it will be the third time he has won the award, winning in 1994 with the Yankees and 2004 with the Rangers.

Publications Are Starting to Notice The Orioles

When I went to Baltimore last week, I was happy to carry along with me a copy of the USA Today Sports Weekly to give to my good friend Ryan.  My wife had told me about the issue and how Buck Showalter was on the cover.  Well, that wasn't the only publication that the Orioles graced the cover of recently.

Sports Illustrated featured Orioles Outfielders Endy Chavez, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis on their cover in their most recent issue.  I picked up a copy on the way back to Ryan's Saturday night after the game.  I can't remember the last time I saw the Orioles on the cover of SI.  The cool thing is, I actually have 2 copies of this issue now because Monday when I got to work, my friend Rae had a copy waiting for me.

I'm certain that the Orioles' recent surge has assisted the Baltimore Sun in selling a few more copies.  Most newspapers are struggling at the moment.  Again, I can't remember the last newspaper I purchased for anything other than coupons, so when I saw this front page, I had to get a copy.

Finally, here is the USA Today Sports Weekly featuring Buck on the cover.  I bought 3 copies of this and gave one to Ryan.  I plan on giving the other copy to one of our subcontractors who always talks to me about the Orioles.

It feels really good that the Orioles are starting to get some attention.  The certain 4-letter network still probably can't believe their beloved Red Sox aren't in the playoffs and still sell the Orioles short.  On XM on Friday, the commentators were giving the Orioles 'no chance' to advance past the Rangers in the playoffs and were calling Buck's decision to start Joe Saunders last night a bad decision.  I'm so happy they are proving people wrong.  I hope all of this continues and the Orioles keep getting the ink.

O, to be an Oriole fan right now....

So, the Orioles have given national writers another reason to laugh at them lately...  They were apparently denied by Toronto Blue Jays' Assistant GM Tony LaCava when he was offered the O's GM job.  National writers jumped all over the story as yet another shining example of how poorly the organization is run.  Blame Peter Angelos for all things that go wrong in Charm City.  National reporters swear up and down that Angelos' meddling is the reason LaCava turned down the O's job offer.

Orioles fans know all too well that Peter Angelos is probably one of the worst owners in baseball (after Frank McCourt and Jeffrey Loria).  It seemed that Angelos smartened up when he seemingly gave Andy MacPhail full control when he took over President of Baseball Operations duties in 2007.  MacPhail did what he could to straighten up the O's barren farm system.  He made some really good trades.  He made some really questionable free agent signings.  I, personally, think MacPhail did a decent job and didn't want him to leave.  Now, it seems that the new GM will have a better focus on scouting and player development (which is sorely needed in this organization).

When the Orioles interviewed LaCava, I saw that he was over Toronto's scouting and player development.  Nice.  They are a good franchise that is coming back into prominence, so I didn't mind giving him a look.

MLBtraderumors posted quotes from LaCava himself last night about why he turned the Orioles down.  In a nutshell, he said that he decided that he loved his job in Toronto and was very close 'like brothers' to Toronto GM Alex Anthopolous.  Don't believe me?  Here's the link. 

So, what's wrong with a guy liking his job and not wanting to rock the boat.  He wants to see things through in Toronto, fair enough.  I don't blame him.  I think national reporters like to spread conflict (hell, it sells papers), so of course Baltimore is going to be painted as a center for dysfunction.  The problem, now, is that Peter Angelos needs to recognize the perception he has around baseball and make a conscious effort to improve his image.  The easiest way to do that is to let his baseball men make the baseball decisions and go sit in a corner and count his MASN money.  Buck Showalter is a solid baseball mind and I'm certain he wouldn't have signed on in Baltimore if he didn't believe that things could be corrected there.

My wish is that a solid GM is hired; one who can work well with Buck, because we all know that Buck will have more authority on personnel moves than other managers in the league.  Get a real scouting and player development staff in there (start by stealing a certain scout from the Padres) and start drafting better.

Ok, I'm climbing off the soapbox now.  Thanks for reading.

What's Next for Showalter and the Orioles??

It appears that over the next few days, the front office of the Orioles will have a different look for the 2012 season.  Andy MacPhail is expected to step down from his position as President of Baseball Operations and either leave the organization or take a lesser role.

Rumors are mounting that current manager, Buck Showalter, is weighing whether or not to accept a role as General Manager of the team, or to remain in the dugout.  It appears that Buck wants more of a decision making role in the organization, one who can control 40-man roster acquisitions, scouting, player development, etc.  Buck seems to be trying to figure out whether he can have more impact on the organization as manager or general manager.

If Buck remains manager, he will want to have an equal voice in the acquisition of players, etc, so I'm not certain an established GM would be willing to share duties with the field manager.  One GM option in this role could be Matt Klentak, who has served as assistant GM under MacPhail.  Klentak could accept a promotion to GM with the understanding that he will share duties with Buck while he learns the ins and outs as GM.  I'm not sure if this would be a good arrangement, the two-headed GM experiment didn't work all that well under the reigns of Mike Flanagan-Jim beattie or Mike Flanagan-Jim Duquette.  Buck is really close to former Rangers GM Jon Hart, so he could be an option.  Yes, the same Jon Hart who signed A-Roid to his ridiculous contract...  Hey, maybe he could offer the same deal to Pujols or Fielder this offseason?  Yeah, I know, only kidding.

If Buck does, in fact, decide to take a front office job, then who will manage the team?  Two former managers (Willie Randolph and John Russell) served as coaches this year.  I'm not sold on either of those guys.  Buck is close to former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.  The same manager who many feel was the reason Ken Griffey, Jr. was unceremoniously ran out of Seattle.  I wasn't there, so I don't know what went down.  From everything I've read, he might be a decent choice to lead the Orioles under the watchful eye of Buck.

If I had any input (and clearly, I don't), I would see if a former Oriole with a well known last name would be willing to join the staff next season.  He was a gritty player who was brought up in a baseball family that bleeds (still to this day) Oriole Orange.  His dad managed the Orioles in 1987-1988 and served as a coach for a really really really long time.  I don't think his dad got a fair shake as O's manager (0-21 start notwithstanding), but he epitomised the old school "Oriole Way."  

Of course, I'm talking Ripken here.  No, I don't think Cal would be a good choice at this moment to be a manager or coach on the Orioles.  He would be much better suited as GM or (fingers crossed!) Owner one day.  No, I sincerely think...

...that BILL Ripken would be a solid choice to come in and have some input on the club.  Either as a coach or field manager.  Bill currently works as an analyst for MLB Network and hosts a weekly radio show with Cal on Sirius/XM.  Bill clearly has a wealth of baseball knowledge.  Many former and current managers didn't have hall of fame playing careers.  Usually, the players who had to fight and claw to stay on 40-man rosters are the ones who make the best coaches.  Bill was a hard-nosed, no-nonsense type player who I think would have a positive impact on the team.  It's about time the Orioles bring him in (if he is even interested).