#230 Andre Rienzo

One more link to a rookie. Yes, I know that’s three in a row but this gimmick is running a bit thin for me. I’ll probably go back to random soon.

#230 Andre Rienzo

First impression of what’s going on: I mentioned yesterday that my expectations were a little lower for Rookies since they probably have a fewer photo opportunities compared to the veterans. And being a rookie pitcher is probably even tougher since you don’t even really have an opportunity to play every day.

With that said, and aside from the bad crop along the top, this card isn’t bad. There’s a little Free Advertising I’ll touch on a bit later and some interesting pitching mechanics. There’s been thousands of pitchers and thousands of different ways to through the ball. I’m sure there are a lot of pitchers whose upper body goes perpendicular to the ground but I don’t think it shows up on cards that often. Maybe this is the fastest part of the pitching process? Or I could be making that up. But it sounds good, right?

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 30: Starting pitcher Andre Rienzo #64 of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on July 30, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: One thing I didn’t see in the photo but is mentioned in the caption is that Andre Rienzo wears #64 as a starting pitcher. That’s a Spring Training number if I’ve ever heard one. Rookies, man. I wonder if that number is special to him for some reason or if he was just happy to get one handed to him by the clubbie.

Other than that, the caption doesn’t say much about the game, so let’s go to the BOXSCORE and see how he did.

It looks like he may have been roughed up a little in the 5^th and shouldn’t have taken the loss, even though his team did lose.

No loss for Rienzo. Holds is a category that's new to me, so I’m not sure how you can get credit for a hold and the loss. Seems shady, Donnie Veal. Reeeaaaal shady.

One more company and I’d have to give Rienzo the “Nascar Award” for advertisements. But he sneaks by with just two, the Nike swoosh on his undershirt and his Rawlings glove.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Andre’s 7-IP, 0-ER debut was a first for a White Sox hurler since 1989.

That’s cool, as that’s about a quarter century. But wait a minute… 

That’s Rienzo’s entire MLB career in one screenshot. The game pictured on the front was his MLB debut and we just talked about how he gave up three runs in the 5^th inning. All earned. And if you look at the rest of the chart, he had no other 7-IP appearances and in every appearance he gave up at least one Earned Run. Uh-oh, Topps. Busted!

It didn’t say it on the back of the card but after the talk about Brazil in the blurb, I decided to look it up. Rienzo is just the second MLB player born in Brazil. Here’s a staggering chart from Baseball-Almanac.com.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #230

Player Name: Andre Rienzo

Team: Chicago White Sox

Position: Pitcher

Game Date: July 30, 2013

Opponent: Indians

Stadium: Progressive Field

Division: American League Central

Home/Away: Away

Outcome of the game: 7-4, Indians over the White Sox, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 6/5/1988

Birthplace: Brazil

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Jason Miller

Niche collections this card could fit into: Rookie Card, Free Advertising

My Grade: I wanted to like this card. I saw Andre Rienzo when he came through and played against my local minor league team in 2011. He, and many of the other Winston Salem Dash signed autographs for my kids so I’m a little partial. The photo itself is pretty cool and it’s a rookie card. But the bad fact on the back kind of sours it for me. I remember when Error cards were “cool” to collect and some companies even issued corrected versions. But bad facts are just lazy. This card gets a C-.

#86 Wilmer Flores

Today, I’m following up a rookie with another. This time we’re going all the way back to the the east coast.

#86 Wilmer Flores

First impression of what’s going on: This is kind of a generic shot of a swinging batter but I don’t know that you can expect more than that for a rookie card. Sure, you might get lucky like we did yesterday with Michael Choice, but I think he was an outlier. There are probably only a couple dozens shots to choose from for most rookies. The crop is too tight but Flores does have a few niches at first glance.

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 08: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets in action against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on August 8, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Rockies 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

 The Reality of the Photo: Definitely too tight of a crop. I can’t believe the Rockies are making another appearance, in spirit, if not on the actual card. The caption isn’t much help in identifying a particular pitch or even at-bat so let’s go to the BOXSCORE and see what we can find out.

A win is a win, whether you score two or twelve. Let’s see if the rookie had a hand in it.

No hits, but Flores did draw a walk and drive in a run. Fielder’s choice? Or maybe his walk was of the bases loaded variety?

He drew his walk in the bottom of the second, but nothing came of it.

In the fourth he did come up with the bases loaded but as I said, his walk already happened. This time, it sounds like he hit a dribbler to shortstop and the only play was for Flores at first, but allowing Daniel Murphy to score from third.

I wonder if, with no outs and the bases loaded, the infield was playing back for double play depth or in, for a play at the plate. My guess would be, that early in the game, play for the double play, sacrificing a run but putting a damper on an even bigger inning. If they were playing back, that could be the reason why the only play was at first on the dribbler.

This run tied the game at 1 apiece, which was followed by the game winning sacrifice fly by former Cub Anthony Recker. Had Flores grounded into a double play, the sac fly would have been an inning ending out.

The Mets were wearing their home alternates that day, as the regular home uniform involves pinstripes.

Looking a little closer, we can see the All-Star patch because the Mets hosted the game in 2013.

Better View 

And a little more subtle than that, we get a glimpse of an Under Armour logo from Flores’ undershirt on his elbow, for some Free Advertising.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Wilmer tied a Mets record with 9 RBI in his first six MLB games.

First, I want to go off on a tangent about the plurality of Runs Batted In. I think they are commonly referred to as RBIs even though that would translate to Runs Batted Ins. Maybe they should be RsBI, but that sounds ridiculous. So even though RBI, as used by Topps in the Rookie Fact, seems odd, it is technically correct. Weird.

Back to the fact at hand. Among Flores’ 9 RBI, he had a pair of 3 RBI games and one in at least five of the six games. Not to mention that the Mets as a team went 5-1 in that stretch. Good way to start a career.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #86

Player Name: Wilmer Flores

Team: New York Mets

Position: Shortstop

Game Date: August 8, 2013

Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Stadium: Citi Field

Division: National League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 2-1, Mets over Rockies, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: Yes, alternate

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 8/6/1991

Birthplace: Venezuela

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Jim McIsaac

Niche collections this card could fit into: Alternate Jersey, Free Advertising, Patch, Rookie Card

My Grade: This one hits a lot of the same niches as yesterday’s A+ rookie, but somehow it still falls a little flat. Maybe if the crop wasn’t so tight or if Flores had a bigger day at the plate. I’m still going to give this card a B though.

Usually I save the “what could have been” photos for cards with failing grades, but when looking for the source photo, I saw two photos that would have put Flores into “no doubter” A+ status. Both are perfectly timed photos that shine a good light on Flores and they’re both from the same game on September 15, 2013. Maybe that was a little too late in the season to get these made on time.

Lesson learned for the Marlins. Don't try to get to third if Flores is guarding it!

#27 Michael Choice

#27 Michael Choice

First impression of what’s going on: I don’t know if the Topps photo selector is from Oakland or what, but it’s going to be hard to argue that the A’s don’t have the best cards in the set this year. Even something as simple as running the bases looks pretty cool in those bright yellow jerseys. This card might not crack the top three from Oakland’s team set but could still beat several of the best cards from other teams.

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Michael Choice #35 of the Oakland Athletics runs the bases against the Texas Rangers at O.co Coliseum on September 2, 2013 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: The crop on this one is pretty good. Choice’s entire upper body is in the fram eand Topps made a good choice on where to crop along the bottom. The expression isn't one of exertion so I wonder if this is a home run trot? He is leaning but I don’t know if that means he is running hard or if he’s just about to round third. Let’s go to the BOXSCORE.

An A’s victory is a good sign for Choice. Let’s see how he did at the plate and on the base paths.

Interesting. How often do you see the the DH batting last in the lineup? And batting .000 in a game in September? I know the card says he’s a rookie but I wonder how far into his career this is?

In the bottom of the third, Choice walked but didn't make it past first base.

Choice led off the bottom of the fifth by beating out a ground ball and errant throw from the third baseman. Coco Crisp followed that up with a home run, with Choice being the eventual game winning run. Nice! I’m guessing this is what the photo shows. So I was half right. It was a home run trot, just not Choice’s home run. He would line out in his final at bat.

I already mentioned the A’s bright yellow jerseys, but here is where I confirm they are in fact alternates.

Choice will also get credit for a little Free Advertising by showing off his Mizuno batting gloves and wrist band.

Another niche we haven’t seen in a while that will probably become more prevalent are Tattoos.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Michael was one of 7 UT-Arlington alums to play in the Majors in ’13.

I don’t know what the record would be, but that sounds like a lot. I found an all-time list on Baseball-Reference.com and sorted it by the last year played and came up with 18 players somewhere in pro-ball that came from UT-Arlington. The bolded players below are the seven that played in the Majors.

And then we get to the blurb where it confirms that this September 2, 2013 game featured on the front was indeed his MLB debut, in front of his friends and family. So to recap, in his MLB debut, he walked, hustled on a ground ball which might have caused a hurried, errant throw and would score the game winning run. Not a bad day at the office on any day, let alone a debut.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #27

Player Name: Michael Choice

Team: Oakland A’s

Position: Outfield

Game Date: September 2, 2013

Opponent: Texas Rangers

Stadium: O.co Coliseum

Division: American League West

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 4-2, A’s over the Rangers, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: Yes, alternate

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 11/10/1989

Birthplace: Texas

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Thearon W. Henderson

Niche collections this card could fit into: Former 1^st Round Draft Pick, Alternate Jersey, Free Advertising, Tattoos, MLB Debut, Rookie Card

My Grade: Usually I reserve my A+ grade for “no doubters” where you instantly look at a card and know it’s awesome. For me, this one was an A at first glance. The crop is good, the alternate jersey is cool. The running “pose” is one that isn't quite overdone yet.  I even said it would be the best card on another team. But learning more about it made me like it even more and there’s only one grade higher, an A+.

#45 Jake Marisnick

Yesterday I had cards representing the defending National and American League champions. Today I’m going to the other end of the spectrum and find the defending cellar dwellers. The worst record in the National League belonged the 62-100 Miami Marlins. Since I went rookie with the Astros earlier, I've got a rookie from the Marlins to match.

#45 Jake Marisnick

First impression of what’s going on: Oh good, another shot like this. One I've already seen on CharlieBlackmon and Matt Carpenter. Unfortunately, I don’t see any patches or tattoos or crazy hair or free advertising to set this card apart from the others that are similar. I wish the dugout guys were a little more in focus for a cameo. I will give Topps credit for one of their best crops so far though.

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 02: Jake Marisnick #23 of the Miami Marlins bats during a MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at Marlins Park on August 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: Nothing any more exciting about the full size photo. So let’s take a look at the BOXSCORE to see if anything exciting happened for Marisnick and the Marlins.

Alright. Marlins blowout. Maybe Marisnick did some damage at the plate too.

Three-for-five at the plate with an RBI, a double and a stolen base. Nice day at the plate! Here's his run scored:

And his RBI in the Marlins' 5-run 8th:

I’m so confused right now. This morning we had an above average photo in a lowlight kind of game. This evening we have a fairly boring photo taken during the middle of a thus far, career game.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Jake connected for his first Major League homer on July 31, 2013.

To be honest, these are the kind of facts I half expected when I first heard of the Rookie Fact concept. First hit was this day. First this, first that. I think I was spoiled by the earlier few that I've already written about so this one fell a bit flat. I guess not every first home run can come in your first at bat or be a walk off.

The blurb is a little more interesting, mentioning the time he hit grand slams in consecutive innings while in Double A earlier in the 2013 season. That could explain why he skipped Triple A and jumped right to the Majors.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #45

Player Name: Jake Marisnick

Team: Miami Marlins

Position: Outfield

Game Date: August 2, 2013

Opponent: Cleveland Indians

Stadium: Marlins Park

Division: National League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 10-0, Marlins over the Indians, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 3/30/1991

Birthplace: California

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Ronald C. Modra

Niche collections this card could fit into: Rookie

My Grade: After a feel good story of a career day for a young rookie, I really wanted to like this card. But the photo is average, the blurb was average and rookie fact was average. It couldn’t even manage any niche collections aside from the Rookie Card designation. Flat out C.

For fun, I looked to see if there were any more exciting photos from the game. There were a few post-swing-starting-to-run-to-first shots, but nothing real exciting there either. There was this diving attempt on defense:

And only super nerds like me that research this kind of stuff would know that he missed it:

Oh well.

#55 Chia-Jen Lo

Yesterday I had a card from the defending National and American League champions. Today let’s go to the other end of the spectrum and find the defending cellar dwellers. Bringing up the rear for all of baseball with a 51-111 record were the Houston Astros of the American League Central. Representing them is rookie pitcher, Chia-Jen Lo.

#55 Chia-Jen Lo

First impression of what’s going on: Ah, the dreaded mound conference. What makes for a pretty cool photo with a cameo from another player, the mound conference is not a sign of things going well in the game. Maybe the caption will give us some more information on what’s going on because “Mound Conferences” aren’t a trackable statistic on Baseball-Reference.

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 25: Cody Clark #39 of the Houston Astros speaks with pitcher Chia-Jen Lo #63 in the ninth inning during a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 25, 2013 in Houston, Texas. Toronto won the game 2-1. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: Wow, that photo is much darker with Lo's face in the shadows. There must have been some touch up work there. The caption gives the name of the catcher, Cody Clark and the time frame of the game, the ninth inning. It also mentions the Blue Jays won 2-1, but there’s no reference as to whether either of the Toronto runs were given up by Lo. I’ll have to go to the BOXSCORE to see if there was trouble brewing.

Oops, looks like the Blue Jays scored their two runs in the 9^th.

And they were both charged to Lo along with his second blown save after he walked three and allowed a hit during 1/3 of an inning. That’s a tough game to commemorate on a baseball card, but to be fair, Getty Images only had about 80 images to work with. And I’d rather something unique like a mound conference (despite the negative connotation) that another generic throwing shot.

The Astros are wearing one of their alternate jerseys for the game, so Lo has that going for him too. Pictured below, it's the one on the far right.

 While scouring the card for niche collections, I saw two things on his glove.

I’ve never heard of Zett, but apparently they are a Japanese company that manufactures gloves. That qualifies the card for the Free Advertising niche.

The second logo is the Taiwanese flag. With the amount of American flags shown on jerseys and hats, its interesting to see other nationalities depicted as well. For that, I’ll award the Patriotic niche and keep an eye out for other flags, including American.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Chia-Jen became the first Taiwanese player to suit up for the Astros.

That’s kind of neat. I found a Wikipedia link showing all of the MLB players from Taiwan. Lo is the tenth overall and most recent.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #55

Player Name: Chia-Jen Lo

Team: Houston Astros

Position: Pitcher

Game Date: August 25, 2013

Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays

Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Division: American League West

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 2-1, Blue Jays over the Astros, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: Yes

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 11/26/1985

Birthplace: Taiwan

Cameos by: Cody Clark (catcher)

Photographer: Stacy Revere

Niche collections this card could fit into: Alternate Jersey, Cameo, Patriotic, Free Advertising, Rookie

My Grade: This is another card I wanted to like as you may have seen by my attempt to create a new niche. I don’t encourage bone headed plays depicted on cards but I do like the uniqueness of the mound conference. Without knowing the back story of the photo, I would have probably given this card an A, A-. But after the research, I’m going to say that Topps did not do Chia-Jen Lo a solid, and drop it down to a B.