TTM Tradewinds

As you have likely heard, the Yankees and White Sox engaged in a fairly large trade last night. The Yankees made their bullpen stronger by acquiring former Yankees David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle, as well as 1B/3B Todd Frazier.

In return, the Yankees sent highly rated prospects Blake Rutherford (a personal favorite), Ian Clarkin, Tito Polo, and reliever Tyler Clippard to the White Sox. Good riddance, you massive flyball pitcher, you.

While I'm bummed to lose Rutherford, the Yankees dealt from a position of strength within their organization. I also know that you need to give up something to get something. It irks me to no end when fans think their team's junk can just be shipped off to other teams for usable players. Ellsbury! Headley! Clippard! For Sonny Gray!

And it's not just a Yankees thing. All teams' (misinformed) fans do it.

Anyhow, what I found amusing about this trade was how many TTM tentacles it hit for me.

Clippard was the latest entry into my Topps Yankees Project.

David Robertson was my 2013 entry, although since replaced by Hiroki Kuroda due to the personalization.

Blake Rutherford signed this card for me not once, but twice last year.

Ian Clarkin was a fantastic TTM signer.

Tommy Kahnle was a success I posted about my first year of blogging in 2011.

In the past, Frazier had been a good TTM signer. I haven't seen many successes from him this year, but knowing how random Yankees enter into Series One (see Butler, Billy), I can't help but think this: Todd Frazier, 2018 Topps Yankees Project entry.

Zippy Zappy, you scared me.

Zippy Zappy over at Torren Up Cards scared me last week. The Zapster is one of the most generous guys out there, and I was worried we lost another one. Luckily, he was just messing around, and was referring to his string of consecutive weeks with a TTM return coming to end. But lo and behold, he got back in the W column this past week.

Well, I don’t want to contribute to him shutting down his blog (he’s not!), so just to be safe, here are some cards he sent me AGES ago that have been sitting in my scanned folder. I am really bad at posting mega packages, so to guys like Zippy Zappy and JBF, my apologies. They just kind of daunt me even though I LOVE receiving them.

First, Kenny always sends me some cool SI Yankees stuff – whether it’s newspapers or pocket schedules – and this magnetic schedule is awesome. I envy Kenny for his dedication to the SI Yanks. I would love to frequent their games, but just can’t with my little rug rats, plus they play a lot of day games.

Here’s a Bowman RC auto of Eric Jagielo, one of the Yanks first round picks in 2013. I sent Kenny a Jagielo he didn’t have, and he returns the favor with an auto. Hardly seems fair.

Sean Henn! This guy must’ve autographed thousands of cards for card companies. I feel like I have more Henn autos than any player out there.

Here’s an auto of 2015 Yankees starting shortstop Brendan Ryan.

Shiny Dellin! Oh nelly these are nice cards of the 2105 Yankees closer.

I say “2015 Yankees closer” because this guy may be ready to walk. I don’t blame the Yanks. I do want Robertson back, and quite badly, but if he’s commanding the deal he’s looking for, I’d say let him go. It’s not a loyalty thing, I really like him and he’s homegrown and has been great over the past four or five season. It’s just that those resources can be better spent elsewhere. Is Betances ready for the 9^th? I’m not sure. It’s not quite fair to use the Rivera/Wetteland example, but I’m also not going to freak out if the Yanks go into spring training with Betances or Andrew Miller as the closer. Could be a lot worse. Also, the card design on this D-Rob looks like one of those ugly graphic tee’s the players wear.

Two Rizzutos I needed!

And two Pinedas I needed!

Tyler Wade. Remember the name.

And last but not least, a Tino that wouldn’t scan well because it’s just that shiny!

 

Thanks again, Kenny! Be on the lookout for something from me.

A Night Owl Connection

I bet you didn't know Night Owl and I went to the same high school. Different years, but still. So yeah, I'm bragging about that.

Recently, he sent me a nice stack of Yanks. I owe him a cool Dodgers Fan Favorites Refractor, but I stink at sending cards when I intend to, and it's sill sitting on my desk with a bunch of other cards I need to ship out. What's wrong with me?

Since he's getting a Fan Favorites card from me, here are my favorites from the batch he sent.

First and foremost, my second 1975 Topps Mini. This time, Mr. Bobby Bonds. These cards are just plain cool, and I think I only own one other Bonds card as a Yankee. Maybe I'll chase down a mini team set one day.

Next, the current Dodgers manager on an unlicensed card. I need to count my Mattingly cards. I'm sure I have around 200 of them, which is decent for not really trying. I really need to count my Jeters, Riveras, and Canos too.

I love diecuts, even with ARod on them. I can't imagine he'll be featured in too many more insert sets after this year, but knowing Topps, they'll keep running him out there. The Yanks do.

And the heir apparent to Mo, David Roberston on a great looking blue parallel. I may be in the minority, but I'd rather have Robertson keep his 8th inning role and bring in a new closer. He lives on the edge a little too much for me. I'm sure he'll be given every chance to close, but then you have to replace two spots overall - 8th inning and closer, as opposed to just one.

Thanks, Night Owl. Hope you like the Clem Labine...whenever I send it.

TTM Success: 2013 Topps Yankees Porject edition

I haven't had a successful spring training in terms of TTM autographs. I'm at about 3 for 20. However, my fourth success came in today, and it's a big one. It completes 2013 for my Topps Yankees Project!

David Robertson signed and personalized my 2013 Topps card. The signature looks great in blue. I'll now add him to the binder, and set my sights on 2014 Topps.

TTM Success: Three in on a Monday

Last Monday, I opened my mailbox to find four little white envelopes, all addressed to me, from me. That means on thing! TTM returns! Not just any returns, but spring training returns! Ohhh yeah! Three were post-marked from Tampa, so I knew they were likely from Yankees. The other was from Arizona, so it could have been a handful of guys.

I’ll start with the big gun. Mariano Rivera returned my two cards signed. It’s just incredible that Mo still signs. Now, I did get him last year as well, but I wanted to try these two cards. It was a bit greedy, I admit. The Masterpieces card was begging for a signature, and it looks perfect with Mariano’s precise signature.Seriously, is there a nicer looking auto on a nicer looking card? The answer is no.

Mo’s possible replacement in 2013, Rafael Soriano, returned my Topps Update card signed. Quite the scribbly signature. 

My third success was a Topps Heritage Minors card signed by former Yankees first rounder Andrew Brackman, now in the Reds organization. Brackman had a disappointing career with NY, but did have a brief cup of coffee last September. I hope he is able to find more success with the Reds. His signature eluded me in the Yanks organization, so I’m happy to have this.

Finally, David Robertson returned my 2012 Topps unsigned. I was a little surprised. In the past, he was a great signer. I can think of two scenarios. One, he thought he signed it and didn’t. Or two – he does a lot of foundation work, especially for the tornado victims in Alabama. Perhaps he now requires a donation to sign. It’s a bummer, but it’s part of the hobby.

Shiny Yanks from Adam

Adam the Giants collector commented on a Pablo Sandoval 2011 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor I pulled, and we were able to work out a Yankees for Giants swap. He sent me some very shiny 2011 Yanks – a Russ Martin Topps Chrome Refractor, a Curtis Granderson Liquorfractor, and a couple of Diamond Anniversary parallels.

This Cano card is beyond hilarious. Happiest player ever.

 

Thanks Adam!

I traded Thorzul anything

I'm a dork and posting this at 11:11am. I bet I won't be the only one. I am writing this post on 11/8/11, as an FYI.

In Thorzul’s Trade Me Anything V promotion, I was able to claim two great Liquorfractors – a DJ3K and a David Robertson All Star. I sent him a stack of cards, a Robin Yount postcard, and the Ryan Braun painted sketch card.

I love the Jeter, even if it is just a checklist. It looks great with the Liquorfractor shininess, as does the Robertson. The green grass behinds him pops nicely.

Thanks for the deal, Thorzul!

Congrats to David Robertson, AL All-Star

I was excited to hear that Yankees reliever David Roberston was named to the AL All-Star team yesterday. While it seems that there are 100 All-Stars from each league because of injuries and replacements and Sunday starters who can't pitch, Robertson has been deserving from the get-go. I actually think he should have made it off the bat, and is possibly even more deserving this year than Mariano Rivera. He was a casualty of bigger names and the fact that the Yanks already had six All-Stars. Understandable.

In a season in which three key members of the Yankees' bullpen are injured (Joba, Soriano, Feliciano), Robertson has assumed the 8th inning roll and has been brilliant. He reminds me a lot of John Wetteland in the fact that he always comes in, gets himself into a jam, and Houdini's his way out of it. He has 56 Ks in just over 35 innings, good for a league-leading 14.26 K/9. He has also pitched to a 1.27 ERA.

I got these cards signed by Robertson TTM c/o spring training a few years ago.