Re-Drafting the Orioles - 2004

2004

    For the Orioles, the draft of 2004 will always be know as the Wade Townsend draft.  It's a pretty good example of the Orioles being cheap and it really bit them in the butt... or did it?

1st Round, Pick #8: Wade Townsend, RHP, Rice University

The Orioles picked Townsend as a college junior.  He was one of the top pitchers at the collegiate level during the spring before the draft.  There were red flags for me when it came to Townsend.  One of them being that Rice University had a tendency to pitch the living dog sh*t out of its "horses".  He was a college junior he had leverage of returning to school for his senior season instead of signing a contract to become a pro.  That's exactly what he did.   He spurned the Orioles "slot value" contract and went back to Rice for his senior season.  There is a little more to the story however.
From articles I have read, it seemed like the Orioles really wanted to draft Stephen Drew (picked by the D-backs as the 15th pick).  There were rumors at the time that Drew wanted huge money.  Stephen Drew's agent was none other than Scott Boras so you can draw your own conclusions from that.  I remember really wanting Homer Bailey to drop to the Orioles but the Reds took him with the previous pick.  That would have worked out pretty good for the O's.  Instead here's my new pick for the Orioles:

New Pick: Jered Weaver, RHP, Long Beach State (picked by the Angels as the #12 pick)
I would say this would happen in the real world of 2004.  Boras is also Weaver's agent.  Scott Boras is the reason that the Draft went to the new slot value system in 2012.  The Orioles didn't pick Weaver or Stephen Drew for the simple fact that the Orioles owner Peter Angelos wasn't willing to shell out the money to sign them.  Say what you will about Weaver but he's had a good career.  He was the guy I wanted when Homer Bailey went off the board.  There were several other good options drafted right after the Orioles pick at #8 including Neil Walker (#11), Weaver (#12) Billy Butler (#14), and Drew (#15).  Farther down the list, Gio Gonzalez (#38), Yovani Gallardo (#46), Hunter Pence (#64), and Dustin Pedroia (#65) were all available.

3rd Round, Pick #79: Jeff Fiorentino, OF, Florida Atlantic University.
Jeff was a solid pick at this slot.  He was a polished college hitter and made sense at this point in the draft.  I remember watching him make his major league debut and getting a hit in his first 2 ABs.  What I'll never understand is why they pulled him all the way from High-A ball straight to the majors less than a year after being drafted.  Maybe the front office was trying to cover up the Townsend debacle by promoting its next highest draft pick saying "Hey, look at this guy, he's great, we didn't need Townsend anyways!"  In turn I think they stunted his growth as a player where they could have let him develop a year or 2 in the minors to build up some confidence.  I guess that's why I'm a blog writer and not front office personnel!

New Pick: Ian Desmond, SS, Sarasota HS, FL (picked by the EXPOS as the #84 pick)
I'm not saying Fiorentino was a terrible pick but it could have been a better pick with Desmond if you look at it from a 2014 perspective.  Desmond has gone onto become an All-Star SS for the Nationals while Fiorentino played independent ball last year after couple shots at the big leagues.

4th Round, Pick #109: Brad Bergesen, RHP, Foothills HS, Santa Ana, CA.
The Orioles luck with high school pitchers hasn't been overly great over the history of the draft.  Bergesen stands out though since he worked his way up the minor league ladder and made his major league debut in a game that I actually attended.  He will always have that soft spot in my mind just because of that fact.  2009 was his best season and he faded from the Orioles plans which led to him pitching in the Far East last year.  Ever since Billy Butler broke Brad's shin with that screaming line drive, he was never the same.  I'm keeping this pick for sentimental reasons even though Chris Iannetta was the next pick in the draft.

5th Round, Pick #139, C.J. Smith, OF, University of Florida - Gainesville
I admittedly don't know much about CJ Smith.  I have several of his cards and there are some certified autographs in various products around.  This was a period of time when I was in college full time and working full time so I didn't have a ton of time to play with baseball cards or pay close attention to the draft.  He must have been somewhat highly regarded as a prospect since Topps went to the trouble of making cards of him.  Judging from his minor league record, he never got the bat going.  I think I'm going to stick with this pick mostly because there aren't any obvious upgrades in the next 10 picks of the draft, and partly because in a parallel universe maybe his bat was a little bit better.

6th Round, Pick #169, Bryce Chamberlin, RHP, Washington State University
Here's an interesting story that I didn't know until I started researching him a little more.  Bryce was assaulted off-campus during the college baseball season before the draft.  He sustained a broken jaw while trying to end a conflict between 2 other people.  The injury ended his best season up to that point.  He was 6-1 with a 5.18 ERA.  The Orioles still saw some potential and drafted him.  Unfortunately, he never got it going in the minors and posted a 6.00 ERA for his career.

New Pick: Joe Koshansky, 1B, University of Virginia (Drafted by the Rockies with the 170th pick)
Again I am robbing the Rockies pick here with another player I followed pretty closely through the minors.  UVA is my favorite college baseball team and they always seem to field a competitive squad.  He destroyed minor league pitching during his career but never could put it together in the majors when he got a chance.  Getting a good shot to play First Base in Colorado during the 2000s was going to be tough since legendary Todd Helton played there.  Had Joe been given a shot to play somewhere else besides the Mile High city, he might have had better numbers.  Other players taken in the 6th round were Ben Zobrist (#184), and Cla Meredith (#185 from Virginia Commonwealth, VCU for short)

7th Round, Pick #199, Seth Johnston, 2B, University of Texas at Austin
I don't know much about this guy or remember hearing about him in the Orioles farm system.  He didn't sign a contract, returned to school and was drafted again the next year by the Padres.

The 7th round of the 2004 draft wasn't very successful in terms of players making the Big Leagues.  Only 3 players have had just brief cups of coffee.  I guess I'm just going to stick with the pick.

8th Round, Pick #229, David Haehnel, LHP, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
David Haehnel is a prime example of the Orioles ruining a prospect before they could reach their potential.  During his first 2 years in the Orioles system he was an outstading reliever racking up saves and keeping a very respectable ERA.  Then came 2006 when someone had the wonderful idea of turning him into a starter.  That's when the wheels came off.  He was hit hard the next 2 seasons and then released.  Its a shame that they didn't leave well enough alone and just let him be a reliever.

While I'm tempted to change the pick here, I'm sticking with Haehnel on account of what could have been.  I was tempted by future and short time Oriole Jim Miller (drafted with the next pick) but figured Haehnel could have been just as successful if the O's hadn't screwed up his development.


After the 8th round things became dismal for the O's.  None of the players drafted after the 4th Round made an impact for the O's.  In the 15th round they drafted Future San Diego Padre Will Venable as well as future St. Louis Cardinal Jaime Garcia in the 30th Round but neither signed and went back to school.

There were several future O's drafted later than the 8th round that year including:

Troy Patton (by the Astros, 9th Round, Pick #274)

Steve Pearce (by the Red Sox, 10th Round Pick #305, Did Not Sign)

Mark Worrell (by Cardinals, 12th Round Pick #360)

Mark Reynolds (by Diamondbacks, 16th Round Pick #476)

Zach Phillips (by Rangers, 23rd Round, Pick #681)

Jake Arrieta (by Reds, 31st Round, Pick #918, Did Not Sign)

David Hernandez (by Diamondbacks 34th Round, Pick #1016, Did Not Sign)

(sorry about the upside down scan!)

Chris "Crush" Davis (by Yankees, 50th Round Pick #1496, Did Not Sign)


So plenty of late rounders were later grabbed by the O's in trades and waiver claims.  I had no idea that Davis was drafted by the Yankees.  Late rounders like himself are usually players that have a strong college commitment and teams just take a flier on them hoping that they will take the money and not go to school.  Chris spurned the Yankees offer, went to school, increased his draft stock, and was drafted by the Rangers a few years later.


Here's a few good players that were drafted that year.  I'm sure there are more than a couple teams that wouldn't mind picking these guys as first rounders seeing how they turned out!

Dexter Fowler (by Rockies, 14th Round, Pick #410)

Mark Trumbo (by Angels 18th Round, Pick #533)

David Price (by Dodgers 19th Round, Pick #568, Did Not Sign)

My Obligatory Two Cents on 2014 Topps

Now that most of the 2014 Topps series 1 hoopla has died down a bit, I think its time I do my obligatory review.  I feel that 2014 Topps has been universally been crapped on for some reason.  I don't think its that bad overall.  I agree that the design isn't as good as 2013 but they can't all be winners like the 1965, 1987, or 2009 flagship issues.  The tab in the right side of the card is unnecessary since there is a team logo on the lower left side.  The "swooshes" under the logo aren't that bad either.  I'm still waiting with baited breath to see the Night Owl post where he will "Define the Design"!

It's not for everybody but there are still plenty things to like about 2014 Topps. It's the first new release of the year (duh) and that means spring is right around the corner (yay!).  Disagree with me if you want but I'm running the show on this blog and if you don't like it, tough!

A little side note: I'm collecting the regular Topps set a little different this year.  I'm not going to build it myself.  I'm going to lie in the weeds and be a cheap-ass. I'm going to wait until the hype dies down and buy all 3 series on ebay and do it for less than 50 bucks.  Series 1, 2 and Update for less than the price of a factory set.  It can be done and it will be done.  I just don't have the resources to bust hobby boxes and jumbo boxes to build the set anymore.  I have much less time to spend on my hobbies and I have even less energy to put towards them when I do have time.  Its just going to be easier and cheaper this way.

But I do have to do some scientific research.  That is why when I got my haircut last week, I visited Target on my way home to just conduct my experiments.  Oh who am I kidding, I just wanted to rip some packs!

While I can't believe that Topps brought back those ridiculous sparkly fake twinkle cards after all the backlash they received in 2011, the postseason variations get a thumbs up from me.   Mostly, because I got one in my two rack packs but also because it just adds a little bit of fun to the cards.  At least the celebration cards actually happened in real life.  The twinkles or orbs or whatever they are called are just dumb.

I can't complain about getting a mini of a player on my favorite team.  It's one less card I have to look for when I'm building the master team set.  I like the 1989 design but I'm not sure it needed to be diecut.  Maybe Topps is cutting back on inserts and killed 2 birds with one stone here?

I've got a bit of a head cold right now and all I can think to call these is "Booger Green Borders".  These are rack pack exclusives.  I'm pretty sure we don't need anymore colored border cards.  I'm OK with Red for Target and Blue for WallyWorld.  Camo, Pink and Toys-R-Us purple.  I can't even see the Camos when I play with my cards outside in the woods, pink isn't even a real color (it's just faded Red) and Who the Hell shops at Toys-R-Us for cards?

Apparently there are hanger box "Urine Yellow" parallels too.  Too many parallels for flagship.  The regular Topps set is about the base cards.  Well at least it should be.  Topps Chrome is where all the colored borders and refractors should be.  I don't think that any one is chasing and Matt Tuiaso- I've got to many vowels in my name -popo rainbow.  Really!

MOAR parallels.  I avoided the greens last year and red just looks obnoxious this year.

Not really a big fan of the Upper Class inserts either.  The borders are distracting and TOOOO MUCH FOIL.

I don't really get these either.  It's a 30 card insert set with 13 different players spread out.  Some players get 3 cards, most get 2.  From my count there are 15 "Future Stars" in the base set.  Why not just give those 15 players a single  "The Future is Now" insert and save the other inevitable 15 Future stars from series 2 and give them a single "The Future is Now" insert?  < Is this a run on sentence? Does it make sense?   Speaking of making sense, does some of the headlines on the fronts of the cards just don't make sense.  "Jose You Can't See" (above) and "Boogya" (on one of Manny Machado's cards) are just dumb.  I think the set could work with out the headlines.

Another insert that I've already traded away was the All-Time Rookie Cup Team. I got the Johnny Bench but swiped this Pujols example from the interwebs.  Since it is the "Topps All Rookie Cup Team", don't you think there should be a ROOKIE CUP somewhere on the card?  Really?  Oh sure there's a manu-relic version but come on, they could have printed one on here somewhere!

So to wrap things up, 2014 Topps isn't all peaches and cream.  It does contain some head scratchers but it isn't all bad.  Topps took some chances with this year's flagship and most of the ideas have fallen on their face.  I think if Topps just went back to basics for the regular set and leave the higher thrills stuff for Chrome, Ginter, Gypsy Queen, etc. they would be better for it.

Everything pictured here except for the Davis and Pujols is for trade.

Multiple Trade Post

I've received quite a few smaller trade packages in the mail lately.  While the volume of cards received might have been small, each and everyone of them filled a hole in my collection.

First up a Nick Markakis from 2007:

This one came from Dennis of Too Many Verlanders.  This package showed up in my mailbox as an unannounced surprise.  He was digging through some boxes at a card show an though I would like the card!  Boy, was he right!  When I'm dime box digging, I always try to think of my fellow collectors too.  Nothing beats trade bait on the cheap! BTW, this is the refractor version of the insert set and it's numbered 434/500.  It's tough to see the refractory finish in the scan.

Tom from the nice blog Waiting 'til Next Year sent me this Pro Debut from this years set along with a nice stack of 2013 Bowman to help with my set.  Schoop is probably the most advanced offensive prospect the Orioles have now that LJ Hoes is now an Astro.

Next, is a spanking-new Manny Machado Insert from 2013 Topps Series 2.  I think the Chasing History set is pretty well designed, but I think the "records" that are being chased are some what coincidental.  Manny never had a multi-HR game in the minors and on his second day after getting The Call, he smacked 2 dingers in a game.  So I guess that means he'll be chasing that record now....  I dunno, just seems like they had to get the best players in an insert set so they had to think up some off-the-wall records for them to "chase".

I think I will be forever chasing the UD Documentary set from 2008.  162 cards for the team set will keep me busy for quite some time.  BTW, the Machado above and the Markakis are from a reader of the blog named Kyle.

Next is a Gold parallel from this years Bowman that was delivered from Brian of Play at the Plate.  I still don't have the base version of this card though.  I'm sure with "Crush" hitting so many dingers this year, we'll be seeing more and more of his cards in products.

This Machado comes to me from Bryan of Golden Rainbow cards.  I've seen several cards that are in this insert set and I like them a lot.  I love action shots on baseball cards more than posed shots so the Chase it Down insert set is right up my alley.  I won't be collecting the set, just picking up the Adam Jones and calling it complete.

Bryan also included this sweet Miguel Gonzalez gold parallel in a later PWE in the trade.  I'm not quite sure why Topps didn't put the rookie card logo on any of Miguel's cards this year.  As far as I can tell, he hadn't had any cards issued before this year.  If Topps isn't going to put the designation on all of the cards, then don't do it at all!

Thanks to all the great traders that sent these awesome cards!

Trade with Adam of My Cardboard Mistress

I haven't had much in the way of trade chatter recently.  Nor have I had a whole lot of energy or ambition to put up a decent post (not that I do anyways).  But I did finish a PWE trade with Adam of My Cardboard Mistress the other day.  He posted his break of 2013 Topps Series 1 packs and came up with this Chris Davis Gold border.

I had to have it so I sent him a blue refractor of Kate Justin Upton from last year's Bowman Chrome for it.

It seems like Series 1 was a long time ago.

Card Show Report: CSA October 2012

     I went to a card show this past weekend.  It's the one I normally attend at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.  It happens 3 times a year so luckily there is enough time for me to save up enough money to make going there worthwhile.  I usually go on Saturday or Friday afternoon but I had prior commitments this time that prevented me from going either of those 2 days.  I had to go on Sunday once before  and the crowd was not as large but everything seemed to be picked over.  This time was no different.  The crowd was small, dealers started packing up at noon, and everything seemed to be picked clean. I did get some good deals but I'll try my hardest to make it on Friday or Saturday next time.
     I had a plan that I formulated in the car that I was going to try to knock out a bunch of sets that were on my wantlist, pick up a bunch of Orioles cards for my team sets, and buy some much needed boxes and 9-pocket pages.  Once I walked thru the doors, I think I forgot why I was there.  I got some cards from my set wantlists, almost totally struck out on my team sets, but thankfully restocked my supply of storage boxes and binder sheets.  One and a half out of three isn't too bad.
     The show wasn't a total loss though.  I picked up a bunch of cards for sets I'm beginning to build like 2011 Allen & Ginter, 1980 and 1979 Topps.  I knocked some wantlists down to next to nothing including 2012 Topps series 2, 2012 Allen & Ginter, and 2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects.
     I also picked up a bunch of great cards out of the bargain bins including those starter sets.  I didn't see any nickel bins but there were plenty of dime bins.  Here's a few that I picked out of the dime bins:

Yeah, a 1982 Donruss Jim Palmer does not belong in the dime bin.  It belongs in my Palmer binder!  Can't beat this one for a dime!

Not minis but great rookie cards of awesome players.  Pudge and the Big Hurt will end up in Cooperstown one day and Kid K's career has been great so far.  If he keeps it up, he might soon be mentioned in the same breath as Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela, and Hershiser.  Each of these cards set me back a dime!

Whoever put this in the discount bin must have known I was coming to take a look see.  Davis has really grown on me during this past season.  He mashed 30 home runs and they all seemed to come in bunches.  Unfortunately for Birdland, he didn't hit any in the playoffs.  Instead he spent most of his time flailing at pitches in the dirt.  If he ever learns some plate discipline, he could hit over 40 bombs!  I still need a ton of Topps Chrome Orioles from 2012 including baseb card, regular refractors, Xfractors, Purple, and Orange.  Even if you have just one of them, please contact me.

Not everything came from the dime boxes but I did get great deals on these cards

I paid a buck for this sweet Nick Markakis from 2009 Topps Heritage Chrome.  I really think that if Nick wasn't out with a broken thumb (thanks a lot F.F. Sabathia), our playoff outcome could have been better.  Nick is the best pure hitter on the team and he's the most clutch out of anyone on the roster.  I'm pretty sure he could have come up with that key hit we needed.   That's baseball though, there's always next year.

There's no way I could resist this classy looking relic card of Jonesy.  It's numbered 28/35 which is pretty cool (right below his forearm).  I can't afford buying expensive boxes  like the ones that relics like this pop out of, so I let the suckers bust those boxes and capitalize buy buying the singles as they desperately try to recoup their loses.  I win every time because I only paid 6 bucks for this card.

I bought this card from the same dealer that sold me the Markakis Chrome above.  He had just traded a guy for it while I was walking up to his table so I got this card for 3 bucks.  WIN AGAIN!

I'm going to close here with another Ripken game used card.  I picked this one up for a measly 4 bucks!  I'm going to focus on the darkside of Cal's face.  I think that's the side of his face that likes the Yankees.  He sure had plenty of praise for the pinstripers during the TBS broadcasts of the ALDS and not much to say about the O's.  I understand that he's just doing his job but I think it not only broke my heart to hear him praise Arod and Jeter but it probably hurt a lot of Orioles fan's perception of him.  He probably felt he had to compensate because people that aren't normally baseball fan is a Yankee fan come playoff time (well except they don't show up to the park!) and he didn't want to sound like a "homer" .  He ended up over-compensating and .angering his fanbase instead.  It's OK to piss of the Evil Empire, Cal!  You're still my favorite all-time player though.  I'm sure he could win some of that fanbase back by doing some MASN broadcasts next year.  (GET ON IT MASN, SERIOUSLY!!!).

So, overall I had a decent time.  I think the crowd was small because football is in full swing and the O's and Nats had just lost on Friday night.  While not the best CSA show I've been to, but I still got some great cards!