Zapped...before Christmas

Over the past few months, I have received two very generous card packages that I've been slow to properly show. They are sort of daunting to scan, which admittedly is the main reason. Each were incredible, but honestly it's just easier sometimes to show off the smaller ones.

One of these was from Zippy Zappy, who for some reason, kept telling me sorry it was taking him so long for a proper zapping. I always thought this was silly, as he owed me nothing.

While I was away for Christmas, a large flat rate box arrived. I figured it likely had one of his repacked hobby boxes, which are always fun. But I was wrong. Here's what was inside.

Yes, there were some of his famous repacks, but not in a box. Instead he sent a full on binder, and some other odds and ends, including a Yankees CD from 1998, which looks to have a collection of Stadium songs and game calls, as well as an Ultra Pro ball case. I have a few signed baseballs that are unprotected, so this will go to good use.

The packs were mostly minor league team sets, which should create some good TTM folder.

On to the binder, which had a custom Luis Torrens taped onto the front, and an Eric Jagielo glass autograph taped onto the inside. Side note - Zippy and I probably spent a lot of money on Jagielo cards, who was one of three Yankees first rounders with Ian Clarkin and Aaron Judge. If we had only funneled all the money into Judge early on...

So I took a pretty easy way out and snapped a bunch of photos to really help show the assortment. It was a really fun binder to flip through, and I've actually still got it intact.

There was a page of almost all relics and autographs, and here are a few. Crazy to see Wilkerman Garcia as a "throw in", as he got SUPER expensive at one point after 2015, but has had a couple of uninspiring seasons since.

This is a new Tino to my collection! If I want to get up over 1,000 Tinos, I should just focus on Topps Tek. That would get me there with all the variations and patterns.

Here's a different assortment of cards I particularly enjoyed as well.

ZZ, this post didn't really do you generosity justice, but thank you for thinking of me.

Chistmas in July from Jolly Johnny

You guys make me wonder sometimes.

Where on earth do you get all of your cards?

Guys like Wes and Johnny have a seemingly endless supply of what I collect. I know that can’t be true, but there are definitely some bloggers out there who swirl in a sea of cardboard mystery.

John of Johnny’s Trading Spot hits me up about once a month these days…definitely faster than I can return packages to him. This one was labeled “Christmas in July” in a note he included. Indeed it was!

The first half of the package was nothing but Tinos. Like I mentioned, where does one stumble upon so many cards of the guy I collect? There were some neat ones too, like some old school Fleer Ultra inserts.

The second half of the team bag – prospects!

These ones made me a little sad. I didn’t load up on Blake Rutherford cards yet, so his trade to the White Sox didn’t break my heart from a collecting standpoint. Still, I liked him a lot, but do think it was a fair trade.

Chance Adams is a guy I don’t understand what the Yankees have planned for him. He’s really good, and comes in at #63 on MLB.com’s top prospects. Yet, the Yankees keeps saying he needs more development time. I get it. They know a lot more about baseball and their prospects than I ever coyld. But from afar, I don’t understand why they are running our Caleb Smith or Luis Cessa every fifth day. Surely a still-developing Adams is better than those guys. I suppose they want to set him up for success down the road, but it’s hard for me to accept that he can’t give a better effort than the current #5 starters.

Wilkerman! I’m officially going to stop sending him TTM requests. I think I’m 0 for 3 on him. Time to just sit on cards of his now instead of sending them into the abyss.

 

Zippy Zappy favorite Thairo Estrada! He’s so overlooked, but just keeps producing. He’s hitting .308 as a 21-year-old in AA. He’s got a shot.

Nick Solak is a solid prospect too. He produced in college at Louisville and has carried it right into the pro’s. It feels like he should be ticketed for Trenton at some point, although there is a bit of a log jam there.

Lastly, new cards of Gleyber and Frazier! I didn’t have either of these.  Frazier is a lot of fun to watch every night. Jokes were made about his “legendary bat speed”, but he seriously does have impressive bat skills, even to my untrained eye. And it’s crazy to think of the trickle-down effect that Gleyber’s injury had on the Yankees. If everything went according to plan, there is a very real chance he would be the Yankees starting 3B right now. But things never go according to plan, especially with prospects.

Johnny, thanks for the early Christmas present!

Is Napkin Doon making a comeback?

A lot of you remember Napkin Doon. Some of you never had the privilege, but if you're curious, check out the archives: The Adventures of Napkin Doon.

Napkin Doon just dropped some big hints about a possible return to the "blogosphere." First off, he sent me a big 'ol batch of Yankees cards. It sounds to me like he's clearing out some space of a flux of incoming trades. Am I reading that right, Nap?

Second, there was this Twitter exchange with JBF/Willinghammer:

Sure sounds like the comeback is in the works, doesn't it?

Ahh yes, I did mention some cards, didn't I? Nap sent me the goods - Yankees prospects and Tinos. What more could I want? Unsurprisingly, I don't see many Gary Sanchez cards come my way anymore, so I always appreciate when they do. Here's my newest Sanchez cards, along with the rest of the loot. Nap, don't hate me too much for fueling the fire, here. It's only because we miss you.

 

 

Also, Nap, this is Gaby, not Gary. I won't lie, I've won a few cards on eBay because of the Gaby/Gary thing.

Scantastic

I only have three cards in my "scanned" folder right now, so let's clean it out, shall we?!

I am never this low on scans, and I guess I attribute it to moving and getting very few packages/TTMs lately...which is fine by me for now while I get settled. I actually have a box of 2016 Topps Bunt due at my house today. While I'm not necessarily a fan of the digital product, I was able to score a full hobby box for $25. Ripping 36 packs for a little more than a blaster? That was too good to pass up.

Anyhow, all three cards in my scanned folder happen to be Bowman autos of some solid Yankees prospects.

Here are just two of the glutton of shortstops the Yankees have in the minors. Kyle Holder is a whiz with the glove and was selected by the Yankees in the first round of last year's draft. While he didn't hit much last year, he's holding his own in low-A, hitting at a .275-ish clip. With his D, if he can hit .260-.280, he'll be an everyday SS in the Bigs.

Wilkerman Garcia was very hyped up heading into the season, ready to follow Jorge Mateo as the next big Yankees SS prospect. He had a great year as a 17-year-old in the GCL. He was aggressively pushed up to Pulaski as an 18-year-old this season, and has struggled a bit, hitting below .200. Still, he's just 18 and getting regular at bats, so the results aren't super important right now. He still projects well and is rated 12th in the Yankees system by MLB.com, which is impressive after their trade deadline haul.

Domingo Acevedo is one of the better pitchers in the system, and he's had an impressive year. He's a large kid - 6'7", but has shown very good control, striking out 102 while walking just 22 in 92 innings between Charleston and Tampa. I'd expect him to head to Trenton soon, as he's just getting back from the DL. It'll be fun when 6'7" Acedveo pitches eight strong innings then hands a lead over to 6'8" Dellin Betances.

Ok, the scanned folder is officially empty, but I know it won't stay that way for long!