#15 Paul Goldschmidt

#15 Paul Goldschmidt

First impression of what’s going on: It looks like Paul Goldschmidt definitely just hit a bomb, but it’s hard to tell from his reaction whether it cleared the fence or is going to end up in the outfielder's glove. It may look like a simple follow through, but I agree with whoever collects the cards with nameplates and/or the jersey number from the player’s back. This one is pretty cool looking. And not to mention, it is a heck of an accomplishment by the photographer to capture it mid-action when you have a long name like Goldschmidt.

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 03: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks plays during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 3, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: Hmmm, another game at Petco Park. Between the Padres and Rockies, they seem to be involved in a lot of the cards I’ve featured so far. But before you think the Padres are what link yesterday's card to today's, I had no idea the Padres were the opponent when I selected it. So stayed tuned for the connection.

You know what? I was so impressed with the nameplate thing, I didn’t even really notice the tight cropping on the photo for the card. I don’t even mind that the right arm is missing as much as I could have used a little bit more space to the left of the bat. Nitpicky, I know. Especially when I’ve already praised the photo used.

There’s no clarification as to whether this was a home run or even the outcome of the game, so let’s go to the BOXSCORE.

Looks like the Padres held off a late rally by the Diamondbacks. Let’s see if Goldschmidt tried to play the one man hero like Everth Cabrera did yesterday.

Eh. No RBI’s or runs, so this photo wasn’t of a home run like I originally thought. So it’s either his “regular” hit or his out, as its unlikely with his eye line that it’s a foul ball during one of his walks.

He walked in the first, stole second base but was stranded there.

Ouch. In third, he hit a bloop to right field that was caught and then Martin Prado was doubled off first. That doesn’t look like the eye line of a bloop. Or to right field. Hope that’s not it.

He walked again in the fifth only to get caught in an inning ending double play by the next batter.

Finally in the 8^th inning, Goldschmidt singled with a line drive to center field. It is still doesn’t look like the eye line of a single, but it definitely looks like a center field shot. Guess it wasn’t definitely a bomb like I declared earlier.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Paul’s late tie-breaking triple on 9/23/11 clinched the NL West Division.

On one hand, that’s kind of cool, especially for a rookie. There was probably some champagne flowing the locker room and everybody was having a good time. On the other, here are the standings before the game:

The Diamondbacks had a 6 game lead so it’s not like they clinched on the last day of the season or against the second place Giants. And the hit wasn’t a walk-off or anything. Maybe that’s just the jaded Cubs fan in me, because I would certainly celebrate any time the Cubs clinched. I mean, it's not like the Giants were the defending World Series champions and future 2012 world champs.....oh....

And Goldschmidt only played 48 games in 2011, so maybe that was the highlight of his rookie season.

As opposed to 2013. Finally we get to the connection to yesterday’s card, the red font reading League Leader in Italics, ◊.

Not only was Goldschmidt an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner for 1^st Base, he led the NL in RBIs, Slugging and OPS, while tying for Home Runs. And he got exactly 0 first place MVP votes. What?!?

Sure, he ended up in second place (behind Andrew McCutchen), but not a single 1^st place vote? It’s not like McCutchen was a unanimous selection. Yadier Molina got two first place votes and ended up in third place. I live in Virginia, but even I’m shouting East Coast Bias on this one. The Diamondbacks must have been worse as a team than I remembered last year.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #15

Player Name: Paul Goldschmidt

Team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Position: First Base

Game Date: May 3, 2013

Opponent: San Diego Padres

Stadium: Petco Park

Division: National League West

Home/Away: Away

Outcome of the game: 7-6, Padres over the Diamondbacks, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 9/10/1987

Birthplace: Delaware

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Denis Poroy

Niche collections this card could fit into: Nameplate, League Leader in Italics

My Grade: There aren't a lot of niches for this card but I’m still impressed by the nameplate thing. Maybe I feel a little bad for him because he missed out on some MVP voting too, because I going to give this card a B+.

#280 Everth Cabrera

Yesterday, I mentioned how much I appreciate a dirty jersey. Playing hard and sacrificing the body to get the job done. I scrolled through the file folder of 2014 Topps cards until I came upon this gem.

#280 Everth Cabrera

First impression of what’s going on: Everth Cabrera has just slid into, I’m pretty sure, third base. He’s either arguing the call and telling the umpire how safe he was or he is caught mid celebratory clap. It could be a stolen base or a triple or maybe just a close play. The cropping is pretty good. Any tighter and we wouldn't have been able to see the base and for all we know, it would have just been Cabrera telling us how big the fish was he caught.

SAN DIEGO, CA-APRIL13: Everth Cabrera #2 of the San Diego Padres claps after sliding into third base with a triple against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 13, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Andy Hayt/SanDiego Padres/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: We have another early season photo, this one in mid-April. The photographer didn't leave Topps much room to super crop, so the photo isn't much different than the card. Like I tell my barber, just a little off the sides and top. The caption confirms a triple but nothing of the score so let's head over to the BOXSCORE.

Looks like the Padres suffered a few rough innings early and ran short of outs to catch up. But not for lack of trying on Cabrera part.

Four hits, two runs and two RBIs.

He led off the bottom of the first the pictured triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

In the third, he had an RBI single. Too bad he ended the inning by being caught stealing. Third base. I swear my theory on him explaining to the umpire how far he was safe came before I looked at the boxscore. I pretty much write these as I research them and always do my “first impression” by just looking at the card. Luckily the caption already clarified that this was after his triple or else we’d have a dilemma on our hands.

After a ground out in the fifth, Cabrera bounced back with a solo home run in the 7^th. C’mon, teammates! He can only knock in those of you who get on base! I guess I just been J. Baker because Venable already cleared the bases himself.

And finally, in the 9^th, he tried to start another rally with a one out single before Chirs Denorfia ended the game with a double play. For those of you keeping track, that’s a double short of the cycle for Cabrera, something no Padre has ever done. How much did you miss it by, Everth?

That much.

If I knew Petco Park a little better, I could probably tell you what the sign behind Cabrera said. Fortunately for the Free Advertising collectors, Cabrera is sporting a Nike swoosh on his undershirt.

And since we’re in Petco Park, and Cabrera is not wearing the typical white colored jersey of the home team, this must be an alternate jersey, correct?

Correct. This is one of two alternate uniform the Padres sported in 2013, along with their Sunday camo jerseys.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Everth was the first Padres rookie to hit a walk-off grand slam.

Just about every young ballplayer has pretended at one point or another to be at the plate in the bottom of the 9^th, two outs, down by three and hitting a walk-off grand slam. On August 7, 2009, Everth Cabrera almost lived that dream. His Padres weren't down by three and there weren't any outs but it's still pretty awesome to come up that big, especially as a rookie.

As to the aforementioned “dream” feat (walk-off situation, two outs, down by three), that has only happened fifteen times in the hundreds of thousands of games in MLB history. It has happened twelve other times with either one or zero outs for a total of twenty seven walk-off grand slams with the team down by three. Source: Baseball Almanac

Knowing that every team gets at least one player onto the All-Star team, the first part of the last sentence in the blurb makes you think he was the token Padre. But the second half lets you know he deserved it. Those are some impressive half season stats.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #280

Player Name: Everth Cabrera

Team: San Diego Padres

Position: Shortstop

Game Date: April 13, 2013

Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Stadium: Petco Park

Division: National League West

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 9-5, Rockies over Padres, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: Yes, alternate

Bats/Throws: Both/Right

Birthdate: 11/17/1986

Birthplace: Nicaragua

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Andy Hayt

Niche collections this card could fit into: League Leader in Italics, Switch Hitter, Dirty Jersey, Alternate Jersey, Free Advertising, Celebration

My Grade: No doubter, A+. Good photography, catching a great moment. Good crop. Lots of niches. The player had a great game. The rookie fact was interesting. And I didn't even go into the red text on the back touting his League Leader status. Nice job all around.

#35 Trevor Cahill

#35 Trevor Cahill

First impression of what’s going on: Not a surprise? Another pitcher pitching. An actual surprise? Great cropping! No missing appendages. Well done, Topps! (How's that for positive reinforcement?) We even get a little perceived “oomph” with Cahill’s expression. After some mediocre cards, this one is off to a good start.

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 14: Trevor Cahill #35 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 14, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: There isn't much to go on with the full picture but the caption limits this photo to the first inning at least. This caption doesn't even give the outcome of the game so let's go to the BOXSCORE.

Wow, a pitcher’s duel. The sixth inning could go to the starter or the bullpen, let’s take a closer look.

Cahill ran into trouble in the sixth and got stuck with the loss. Usually only allowing two runs should get you the win.

As for the first inning, Cahill did allow a pair of base runners but struck out three to escaped unscathed.

You can blame your offense for lack of support (they only managed two hits) but when you start off an inning with a walk and a hit by pitch, it can come back to haunt you. On this day, Cahill paid the price with his 8^th loss of the season.

The good folks at Rawlings wanted to make sure in case you saw Cahill's glove, you knew they were the manufacturer. They have three separate logos in plain sight.

And speaking of logos, can I just say that the sleeve patch logo where the lower case “d” and “b” form a snake head is one of my favorites.  It’s simple yet clever!

It reminds me of the old Brewers logo with the “M” and the “B” that form a ball and glove.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Trevor was the 1^st Athletics rookie since 1983 to take a no-hitter to the 7^th.

Take that, Todd Van Poppel! Sorry, that’s the extent of my A’s rookie pitcher knowledge. I probably just dated myself too. Cahill's feat came in just his second career appearance on April 12, 2009 against the Seattle Mariners. Unfortunately, it was another case of lack of run support as Cahill took the 1-0 loss after allowing a single and double in the 7^th inning. Each team had three hits, but only the Mariners managed to convert.

I didn't go year by year so I can’t vouch that Cahill was the first to do it since 1983. But to rub a little salt in the wound for him, I did find a rookie pitcher for the Athletics that got into the7th inning with a no-hitter in 1983 and that guy finished it out. On September 29, 1983 (almost five years before Cahill was born), Mike Warren of the middle-of-the-AL West- pack Oakland A’s no-hit Tony La Russa’s first place Chicago White Sox.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #35

Player Name: Trevor Cahill

Team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Position: Pitcher

Game Date: June 14, 2013

Opponent: San Diego Padres

Stadium: Petco Park

Division: National League West

Home/Away: Away

Outcome of the game: 2-1, Padres over the Diamondbacks, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 3/1/1988

Birthplace: California

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Denis Poroy

Niche collections this card could fit into: Free Advertising,

My Grade: This card didn't fit a lot of niches and tells not one, but two stories of lousy run support. But I really, really, really want to reward this card for having one of the best crops to date. And since this is my blog, I shall. It gets a B.

#67 Yasmani Grandal

More randomness today from teams we haven’t seen yet.

#67 Yasmani Grandal

First impression of what’s going on: Growing up, catcher was the one position I didn’t play. I’m a lefty and there was never a catcher’s mitt for me to use. But catchers always get my respect despite wearing the so-called tools of ignorance. This is a great shot of Yasmani Grandal, presumably fielding a bunt or maybe a dropped third strike. But why oh why oh why oh why, did Topps crop his throwing arm?!? I’m a week into this blog and I’m feel like a broken record on this. I understand his face is centered, but why not zoom out a few more pixels?

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 25: Yasmati Grandal #12 of the San Diego Padres fields a bunt and throws to first base against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park on June 25, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Andy Hayt/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: You may not have noticed, but if you look closely at the caption copied and pasted from Getty, you’ll see Grandal’s name spelled wrong. His first name is spelled with a “t” instead of an “n” which made this picture a little more difficult to find. As I guessed, Grandal is fielding a bunt.

The caption doesn't give me a batter or inning so I’m going to have to dig a little deeper into the BOXSCORE to see what’s going on.

Looks like the Phillies pulled this one out from the host Padres. Did the small ball have any effect?

This sacrifice bunt by Ben Revere moved John Mayberry to second but didn’t end up inflicting any damage to the Padres. The only other bunt in the game came from the Padres offense, so it’s a pretty safe bet I’ve found the play.

Grandal really didn’t want Revere on base that day because after Revere walked in his next at bat, Grandal threw him out trying to steal second.

Grandal also had a decent day at the plate in the losing effort, going 2-4 and scoring a run.

His double in the second was one of the top five plays of the game.

Based on context clues, I’m going to say the Phillie behind Grandal on the right side of the card is on deck batter, Carlos Ruiz. He followed Revere’s sac bunt with strikeout.

Thanks to the giant Under Armour logo on the chest protector, this card also qualifies for Free Advertising credit.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Yasmani’s first two hits were switch hit home runs in the same game.

What!? Now that is a pretty good rookie fact. Grandal made his first start on June 30, 2012 and went deep in his third and fourth career at bats, but I can't tell which was as a righty and which was as a lefty. His first home run came ff Christian Friedrich, a lefty and the second off of Jeremy Guthrie, a righty. Switch hitting in itself seems like an incredible feat to me. To have home run power from both sides of the plate and be able to use it during the same game is just ridiculous.

Despite playing 60 games in 2012, Grandal only played 28 in 2013. I don’t know if he was injured, or if starting catcher Nick Hundley was the better option. The blurb on the card seems to think Grandal is ready to step in and take over.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #67

Player Name: Yasmani Grandal

Team: San Diego Padres

Position: Catcher

Game Date: June 25, 2013

Opponent: Philadelphia Phillies

Stadium: Petco Park

Division: National League West

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 6-3, Phillies over Padres, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Both/Right

Birthdate: 11/8/88

Birthplace: Cuba

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Andy Hayt

Niche collections this card could fit into: Former First Round Draft Pick, Free Advertising, Cameo

My Grade: I’ll give this card a B. While there’s nothing particularly impressive about the play, catchers in action are much better than the standard batting pose. Grandal had a pretty decent game and the rookie fact was above average. If the crop was better, and another niche or two was met, I could see this card getting a B+/A-.