8/31/08: Scranton/WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

Doubleheader today and overall an awful experience. Of course, this is the norm for a series with makeshift Yankee fans and players like Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, Shelley Duncan, etc. being down. If you've ever warn a Yankee uniform, the fans in the Syracuse area with kiss your ass hardcore. Pregame we made the bad decision of picking the far end, rather than being in the middle of everyone. This cost us chances at Shelley Duncan and Melky Cabrera. I lucked out to get Kennedy and Moeller to at least make that first hour worth something.

Between games I was able to get Kevin Melillo to sign for me. Luckily he didn't play in the first game so he had to actually come out, unlike Kevin Mench.

After the game, the barricades were up and very narrow. Unfortunately, on the other side was a tall goofy guy at the beginning of the lines. He was able to reach out and once the players signed for him, the majority went down his row. Due to him, I missed Hughes, Duncan, and a few others I needed. I lucked out that Victor Zambrano decided to make my card one of the three he signed walking out. Other than that, Nick Green turned just in time to get us, after being on the other side to start.

The worst part of it all was that after waiting for the coaches to come out, Alvaro Espinosa snubbed the few of us who wanted him. ALVARO ESPINOSA! That alone sums up your night, when a career lower .200 hitting player snubs everyone.

Cards:

Syracuse
Kevin Mellilo - 1

S/WB
Ian Kennedy - 1
Chad Moeller - 1
Nick Green - 1
Victor Zambrano - 1

Different Baseball Cards in 2008: 593

8/30/08: State College Spikes vs Auburn Doubledays

Running into my last few days of baseball, we decided to go out to Auburn since former major leaguer Sid Bream is the hitting coach of State College (Short Season A for Pittsburgh) . As per the usual, the only autographing I did was pregame. I got everything I needed.

Books:

Quincy Latimore (2008)

Cards:

Sid Bream - 2

Different Baseball Cards this year: 588

8/28/08: Toby Keith Concert

After winning two tickets in a karaoke contest earlier in the day, I went to the Toby Keith concert. After the show was over, two of the three opening acts were signing autographs. The line was about 10 people long, so we figured why not. Not wanting to spend actual money, I was able to get:

Trailer Choir: All three band members (plus some other guy) on my ticket stub.

Carters Chord: All three band members on a little promotional card that had their pictures on it.

Not a bad deal when I entered the day not thinking anything about autographs

8/24/08: Rochester Red Wings vs Syracuse Chiefs

A sad day today, as this will be my final full Chiefs game of the year. The only game I can make it to is a doubleheader next Sunday, but those aren't "full" games. This will also be the last time that things aren't insane at the stadium, as the Scranton W/B Yankees will most likely have Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, and rumors of Joba Chamberlain with them. No point in really trying in these cases, unless I was to get really lucky.

Things today went so-so, as I was only able to get Travis Snider before the game in my prospect book. After the game looked much worse, as I went to the Syracuse side and skipped over Snider to try to get newly sent down Shaun Marcum. Marcum ignored us as he walked to his car on the phone, and I missed Snider. So after getting one guy from Syracuse, I went over to the Rochester side. Phil Humber snubs us, while signing for some white trash kid and his cardboard box..... I blame the fact that they left the stupid barricades up. This reminds me of early in the Syracuse Crunch season, when barricades were put up for opposing teams. Luckily, we found ways around that. I did get Luke Hughes on a ticket stub, since I had nothing for him and never got him to sign before.

Well, after getting a whole four autographs, we leave dejected. This is where the story gets interesting. We left, end up getting turned around, as we decided to get a couple groceries, and who do we notice driving right next to us? SHAUN MARCUM! We end up going along our way and decided that we would detour and take a chance at going back to the stadium for a minute. Sure enough, Marcum shows up. It ends up being just us there, and he ends up signing all that I had with me. He was very nice, which was the total opposite of what we expected after the ignoring as he originally left. I guess sometimes going on a whim can be a good thing.

Books:

Shaun Marcum (2006)
Travis Snider (2008)

Cards:

Syracuse
Travis Snider - 1
Chris George - 1
Shaun Marcum - 4

Rochester
Bobby Kielty - 1 (2006 Oakland Heritage card..will hopefully get more in the future on it)

Misc:

Rochester's Luke Hughes on ticket Stub

2008 Baseball Cards Signed: 586

8/23/08: Buffalo Bisons vs Syracuse Chiefs

You could almost call this my Syracuse finale, as there are only four days of home games left, and I can really only make two of those. One of which is tomorrow vs Rochester, whom I have two possible guys left to get anything from, and the other is Scranton W/B, which is going to be a mob scene. Tonight, all rehabbers but Josh Barfield blew everyone off. In fact, Morgan Ensberg came out with a hat pulled over his face. Dude, there are barricades up, you don't need to hide..we see you.

Before the game, I lucked out and was let in before the end of BP, which let me get my Jeff Weavers out of the way. Aside from that, things went relatively ok after the game, with the exception of Josh Barfield. He finally decides to sign near the bus. I bring my 2006 prospect book over with my pen... Of course, with the fun I've had trying to get Barfield this whole year, I'm sure I could have predicted what happened next. That would be him taking the same sharpie he signed the last thing with and he signed my book with it. Yup, 169 players follow procedure of using a damn pen, but Barfield can't do that. Luckily, he didn't sign too hard and I am not very anal about the book (last year I felt I should get the same color for each, etc..but I have lightened up). It just sucks, as I think sharpie looks awful on it. Anyways...

Books:

Aaron Laffey (2008)
Josh Barfield (2006)

Cards:

John Halama - 2
Aaron Laffey - 1
Tom Mastny - 2
Todd Linden - 2
Tony Graffanino - 3
Brian Slocum - 1
Jeff Weaver - 3
Jonathan Meloan - 1

Total Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 579

8/22/08: Buffalo Bisons vs Syracuse Chiefs

I got stuck working until 10pm, so I figured to not have a shot at getting anything after the game, since it was a 7pm start. Low and behold, I get out of work and the game is only in the 8th inning, so I was able to try to get the Bisons after the game. Unfortunately, things were not meant for me and the three rehabbing players (Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, and Josh Barfield). Barfield and Martinez signed for a few (the same few actually..who consist of a dealer and his kids...) and Hafner blew everyone off. I was able to get a couple, although it wasn't a great night.

Books:

John Meloan (2008)

Cards:

Torey Lovullo (Manager) - 2
Jeff Weaver - 3
Jeff Harris - 2
Jorge Velandia - 1

Baseball cards this year: 564

Errors

I was looking over some of my earlier blogs this year and found that I did not include 7 cards into my totals early on for this year. That means every 100th-500th signed card I noted was wrong, and that my total as of the New Hampshire/Binghamton game is 556 not 549. Apparently I cannot add.

8/19/08: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs Binghamton Mets

It was a beautiful day for what looks to be my Binghamton finale for the year. Tonight they took on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double A for Toronto). I made it there before BP even began, so I was able to snag a couple Binghamton players, although, as usual I was much more successful with the visiting team. New Hampshire was great, as I even had a couple players approach me while I was having a teammate sign. I thought that was pretty cool, even though I didn't need one of the guys (David Smith). I got him while he was with Syracuse, so I kind of felt bad not having anything for him to sign! Also for the Binghamton Mets, Luis Castillo was rehabbing. I was happy to have him sign the one card he did for me, although it seemed like others were getting two, which sucks. But I am not a dealer, so I'll get over it, lol! I was going to do the Mets pregame, but with all of the dealers looking for Castillo, I filled up on the rest of New Hampshire that I missed, excluding Brad Mills who was starting. I have to laugh at all the fuss over Castillo, I mean, he isn't exactly that great of a player in the first place, but I digress.

Books:

Jared Gothreaux (2006)
Robert Ray (2006)
Jacob Butler (2006)
Brian Dopirak (2006)
Andrew Pinckney (2006)
Ryan Patterson (Both)
Zach Dials (2008)
J.P. Arencibia (2008)

Cards:

Binghamton
Mike Carp - 1
Edgar Alfonzo - 1
Salvador Paniagua - 1
Luis Natera (Hitting Coach) - 1
Luis Castillo - 1
Eric Brown - 2

New Hampshire
Jared Gothreaux - 1
Eric Nielsen - 1
Marty McLeary - 2
J. P. Arencibia - 1

Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 549

8/18/08: Syracuse University Orangefest

My goal for this open football practice was to purchase a media guide and have players sign in it, as I see no point in using the provided schedule poster to get loads of autographs in. Unfortunately, I saw no booths selling merchandise, so I didn't bother. What I did luck out on was bringing my Chris Gedney cards on a whim. I ran into him and was able to get him to sign what I had, which was only two different cards. Still, better than nothing.

Cards:

Chris Gedney - 2

8/17/08: Rochester Red Wings vs Syracuse Chiefs

I was unhappy to not be able to show up for photo/autograph day for the Chiefs, but I was able to try to get autographs after the game, which turned out pretty successful. A shocker overall was that Philip Humber even cracked a smile, too.

Books:

Philip Humber (2008)

Cards:

Syracuse
Kevin Melillo - 1
Al LeBoeuf (Hitting Coach) - 1
Bill Murphy - 1

Rochester
Danny Graves - 2
Bobby Kielty - 1
Stu Cliburn (Pitching Coach) - 1
Sergio Santos - 1
Alejandro Machado - 1
Howie Clark - 1
Jason Pridie - 1
Kevin Mulvey - 1
Tom Shearn - 1

Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 537

8/16/08: Rochester Red Wings vs Syracuse Chiefs

Part two of today brings us to the after game attempts at autographs in Syracuse. This was the main event with anti-autograph pitcher Philip Humber being the guy I wanted to get. Well, for the first time in Syracuse, Humber picked up a pen. However, he only signed three or four things. Luckily, as I walk with him after his "my ride is waiting for me" excuse, he signed for me. (This excuse is lame, as he was driving himself and his wife or girlfriend). Biggest suckhole tonight was Kevin Mulvey. I grabbed what I had for him, as I didn't have time to look and see what I had. Turns out I had both of the cards that Mulvey signed. This is a good thing, as his signature looks like the number three on the ones he gave me. Apparently he was in a hurry...but I would think instead of three squiggles that look nothing like a signature, that he'd just say he'd get me tomorrow. Oh well.

Books:

Trevor Plouffe (Both)
Philip Humber (2006)

Cards:

Trevor Plouffe - 1
Tim Lahey - 1
Ricky Barrett - 1
Danny Graves - 2
Bobby Kielty - 1
Matt Macri - 1

8/16/08: Batavia Muckdogs vs Auburn Doubledays

This is the first stop of a double day (no pun intended) of baseball games. I started off going to Auburn, since it was baseball card night. The way Auburn sets it up is that you get a free team set when you enter, then the players sign at tables for about 25 minutes. They are in alphabetical order, but it can be a bit of a rush since there is no real "line" even though the majority start at the coaches and the beginning of the alphabet and try to get straight ahead until the end. I am happy to say I was able to get everyone to sign, including the trainer. That being said, I do not think I will include the trainer towards my numbers..no offense, lol. After that, I was able to get the only Batavia (short single A for the St Louis Cardinals) Muckdog that I needed. Overall a good deal!

Cards:

Batavia
Thomas Eager - 1

Auburn
Dennis Holmberg (Manager) - 1
Antonio Caceres (Pitching Coach) - 1
Charles Poe (Hitting Coach) - 1
Adam Amar - 1
Bobby Bell - 1
Joel Carreno - 1
Joel Collins - 1
Evan Crawford - 1
Justin Cryer - 1
Matthew Daly - 1
Jon Del Campo - 1
Chris Demons - 1
Danny Farquhar - 1
Chris Hopkins - 1
Chris House - 1
Charles Huggins - 1
Bryan Kervin - 1 (500th different autographed baseball card in 2008!!!)
Andrew Liebel - 1
Michael McDade - 1
Jay Monti - 1
Hunter Moody - 1
Bartolo Nicolas - 1
Castillo Perez - 1
Luis Rivera - 1
Jason Roenicke - 1
Mark Sobolewski - 1
Leance Soto - 1
Karim Turkamani - 1
Brian Van Kirk - 1
Carlos Vasquez - 1
Marcus Walden - 1
Josh Wells - 1
Matthew Wright - 1

Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 517

8/15/08: Pawtucket Red Sox vs Syracuse Chiefs

To say that today was the most surprising autograph day for me would be a huge understatement. Coming into today, with former Cy Young award winner Bartolo Colon rehabbing with Pawtucket, I was hopeful of getting Colon to sign one card for me. I figured that he would probably sneak out or not care to sign. Even up until the 6th or so inning I felt this way. I was not even close. After Colon pitched the 1st inning, he was pulled. Around the 4th or 5th inning I headed outside in hopes of catching Colon if he left early. At least three times the few of us outside saw him walk into the gated area only to turn around. Finally he walked out, but said "later" as he walked to his car. We assumed he was going to leave then, but a few autographers followed him to his car three parking spots in and stared at him. After about 30 minutes or so, we see movement as a couple of the guys went to his window, which had been rolled down. As we all start to make way we realize that Colon was actually signing from his car. I was thinking, "Awesome I'm going to get my one!" I was wrong. He signed everything handed to him! I had my original page of 8 different cards, which he signed. Then I realized I still had 7 other cards (5 different) in my bag, and seeing as how he had signed for others a few times (dealers included) I went back over and got those signed. In all I got 15/15, with 13 being different! (I gave one of the others to my girlfriend, while giving the other repeat to a nice autograph person we talk to who didn't happen to get outside when Colon was out). It amazes me that an ex-Cy Young Award winner can sign everything in front of him, but guys like Lance Broadway, Philip Humber, and John Van Benschoten can piss and moan about signing one per person.

Seeing how Bartolo and Jeff Weaver treated fans this year has been amazing, and it definitely helps wipe out the frustrations of the other jerks and reminds me of why I enjoy this hobby!

Cards:

Bartolo Colon - 13
George Kottaras - 1
Kyle Snyder - 1
Joe Thurston - 1
Hunter Jones - 1
Eric Hull - 1
Devern Hansack - 1
Jon Switzer - 2
Keith Ginter - 3

Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 483

8/14/08: Pawtucket Red Sox vs Syracuse Chiefs

Rehab was the word of the day for this game. Supposed to be around were Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet for Toronto and Bartolo Colon for Boston. Colon was no where to be seen, but as is always great at the stadium, the barricades were in place. Apparently, with the problems that occurred with Buchholz was here, management assumed that the same would occur for the many Pawtucket players who in normal situations would barely get told hi. So, the majority including me, went to the Syracuse side after the game. This was my only autograph attempts, as I didn't bother going to the game until midway through. I was happy to get the Pawtucket Bowden who was charting, while missing Edgar Martinez for the probably 10th time since I started trying to get him. I will say, Jeremy Accardo was the best rehab signer I have seen or even heard stories about. He signed everything I had, which was 7 cards and my prospect book! Insane. Rumor has it Colon may be pitching tomorrow, so I am sure the Pawtucket side will be mobbed...

Books:

Pawtucket
Michael Bowden (Both)
Syracuse
Jeremy Accardo (2006)

Cards:

Syracuse
Brian Tallet - 2
Jeremy Accardo - 7
Travis Snider - 2
Russ Adams - 1
Brett Cecil - 1
Pawtucket
David Pauley - 1

8/13/08: Brooklyn Cyclones vs Auburn Doubledays

Not too bad of a day to grab some autographs. Brooklyn is the Short Season Single A affiliate of the New York Mets and had two first round draft picks from this year's draft. Unfortunately, I was only able to get one of the two, as Reese Havens was decently accessible, while Ike Davis wasn't. Surprisingly, I had heard the opposite, with Davis being a supposed much better signer than Havens. Of course, as we learn, it all depends on the day and luck to get guys. I only tried pregame, with the exception of getting one guy from the stands after the game. I was happy to see one of the few pitchers to come down to the dugout for the game was Steven Clyne, who was the only player I needed to get from my book.

Books:

Steven Clyne (2008)

Misc:

Index Card
Reese Havens - Inscribed "2008 1st Rd Pick"

Brooklyn Logo Page (16)
Coaches (1)
Hector Berrios

Pitchers (4)
Bradley Holt
Jeffrey Kaplan
Christopher Schwinden
Tim Stronach

Catchers (2)
Jordan Abruzzo
Cesar Cordido

Infield (7)
Eric Campbell
Reese Havens
Jose Jimenez
Joshua Satin
Matt Smith
Seth Williams
J.R. Voyles

Outfield (2)
Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Sean Ratliff

8/7/08: Charlotte Knights vs Syracuse Chiefs

After an hour and half rain delay, this game finally occurred. I had given up on even going to the game, but the weather seemed like it would hold off, so I showed up late. Lance Broadway blew everyone off again, which was not shocking. He definitely moves into the top 5 pieces of work we have seen this year. Besides him, I had very little and probably should have gone to the Syracuse side, since Travis Snider joined the team...but I figure he will be here the rest of the year. Go figure, the next day (as I am writing this pretty much 24 hours later, since I didn't feel like doing this when we got home at midnight), Shannon Stewart and Vernon Wells joined Syracuse on rehab assignments. By the time Syracuse comes home in 5 days, I doubt either will still be rehabbing. Not a shocker..

Cards:

Jason Tyner - 2
Jerry Owens - 2

Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 445

8/6/08: Charlotte Knights vs Syracuse Chiefs

Another game that was pretty pointless to show up to pregame. I went to the Syracuse side and only got the easily accessible Jesse Litsch. After the game, I went to the Syracuse side for awhile. I went to the Charlotte side to find out that the guys I needed had left, with the exception of Sauerbeck and Broadway. As we stand their, Broadway comes from the same place as yesterday and rushes to the van. What a piece of work. That being said, at least he isn't a total prick about it (ie Van Benschoten), but still...what would it hurt to just do one per person...even personalizing. I purchased a few cards before the game, and unfortunately a few were Jason Tyner, who seems less willing to sign with this team (I believe his third different he has come to Syracuse with this year).

Books:

Syracuse-
Ricky Romero (2008) - My 100th signature in the book!

Cards:

Charlotte-
Scott Sauerbeck - 1

Syracuse-
Chris George - 2
Brian Wolfe - 1
Ricky Romero - 2
Jesse Litsch - 2

8/5/08: Charlotte Knights vs Syracuse Chiefs

Not a whole lot of great developments today. The only thing we realized is that Lance Broadway will find any means necessary to sneak into the transport van without having to sign an autograph. This time, he came from what I like to call the Mientkiewicz Way. That would be leaving from the Chiefs office area next to the main entrance to the stadium. What a joke. Got shutout before the game on the Charlotte side. Went to the Syracuse side a bit after the game, then finished up on the Charlotte side. I was able to get ex-Syracuse Chief and current Toronto pitching rover Dane Johnson to sign after the game, as he was in the stands. Fun to get that 1996 Syracuse Chiefs card I found in my room signed..lol

Books:

Charlotte-
Clayton Richard (2006)

Syracuse-
Ricky Romero (2006)

Cards:

Charlotte-
Mike MacDougal - 3
Jerry Owens - 1
Fernando Cortez - 1

Syracuse-
Dane Johnson (Toronto Roving Pitching Instructor) - 1
Curtis Thigpen - 1

8/4/08: Charlotte Knights vs Syracuse Chiefs

Our last "new" team comes to Syracuse, as the Chicago White Sox's affiliate Charlotte Knights are here. The rest of the season will be teams that we have seen this year. It looked exciting for a bit, as both Joe Crede and Jose Contreras are on rehab assignments, but both players are MIA. Things went decent before the game and pretty good after, with the exception being the end. No one saw Lance Broadway leave and as of the time I left, there were still a few people (ie. a dealer and his "kids") waiting. I will be interested to find out what happened tomorrow. I'm not sure how much I can get tomorrow (Tuesday) as I have to work at 11pm, meaning not much I can do after. Also was a bit mad as I realized I never grabbed a few of the cards (a bunch of Mike MacDougals) that I wanted to bring with me. MacDougal was decent signing tonight, so I am sure I could have taken care of them... Also, former NFL player Chris Gedney was signing autographs at the game. I got him on an SU schedule poster, but did not realize he was going to be there, so I did not get my two cards of him signed :(

Books:

Charlie Haeger (Both)
Carlos Torres (2006)
Chris Getz (Both)
Jack Egbert (2008)

Cards:

Charlie Haeger - 1
Scott Sauerbeck - 1
Jerry Owens - 1
Tomo Ohka - 2
Mike MacDougal - 1
Jason Tyner - 1
Jason Childers - 1
Jesse Litsch - 1
Paul Phillips - 1
Brad Eldred - 2
Richard Dotson (Pitching Coach) - 1

Misc:
SU football poster signed by Chris Gedney

7/31/08: S/WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

Not a bad game for autographs, with it being by far the lowest turnout for a Yankees game this season. It was nice to get a few pregame without a huge feeling of being shoved from behind...although it was still crowded. After the game was decent, as it was only one deep along the guardrails (still think this is stupid..no other team needs this). I was happy to get Ian Kennedy to sweet spot a game used International League ball after the game, as he was charting. Overall, not bad game.

Books:

Mark Melancon (2008)

Cards:

Juan Miranda - 1
Brian Bruney - 1
Ben Broussard - 1
Bernie Castro - 2
Chris Stewart - 1
Cody Ransom - 1
J.D. Closser - 1

Misc:

International League Ball
Ian Kennedy SS


Different Baseball Cards Signed This Year: 413