We Shouldn't Be Here. Should We? NLCS EDITION

WOW! We shouldn't be here. Should we?

NLCS EDITION

Friday 11 October to Tuesday 15 October 2019

Sneaking into the playoffs the Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card game and went on to beat the 106 game winning Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. To be painfully honest, the Nationals should NOT be in the position they wound up in. They started off the 2019 season dismally in what looked like it was going to be another sub par season. After 50 games and some early injuries always the injuries at inopportune times, they were a measly 19-31. Hardly a team that could make it to the playoffs. Then...

They started following skipper Dave Martinez's policy of going 1-0 every game. Don't worry about last night's loss, don't anticipate tomorrow's win just concentrate on the here and now one game at a time and "Stay in the Fight" and have fun. From mid May to the end of the season (and into the Playoffs) the Nationals got RED Hot and finished the regular season 93-69 and got the number one Wild Card spot with a 4 game lead ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Nats beat the Brewers in the Wild Card game 4-3 in a very unorthodox way with a Juan Soto bases clearing single with the help of a fielding error. They then beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best of 5 NLDS 3-2. Game 5 was saved by a Howie Kendrick Grand Slam in the top of the 10th inning. Now they face the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, who beat the NL East Leading Atlanta Braves 3-2 in their NLDS (the 2 and 3 seeds). The Cardinals were 91-71 in the 2019 season 2 games worse than the Nats but in 7 regular season games they bested the Nats 5-2. Again the Nats are up against a team that had beat them not just in the regular season but in previous postseasons. The Cardinals stole the 2012 NLDS away from the Nats in a comeback game 5. The Cardinals had been down by 6 runs. In the 9th several times the Cardinals were down to their last strike and managed to gain a base, then tied it up and ended up winning 9-7.

Game 1: Friday 11 October 2019: Miles Mikolas vs Anibal Sanchez
Game one started off a bit slow, top of the first the Nats struck out swinging with a lone single by Anthony Rendon. The Cardinals strike out swinging, ground out and fly out during their half of the inning. Second Inning the Nats get things going. Howie Kendrick starts the inning off with a double, Ryan Zimmerman grounds out, Michael Taylor strikes out, Yan Gomes doubles Kendrick scores Nats on top 1-0. Anibal Sanchez grounds out. Then things settle down for a few innings. Top of 7th: Trea Turner lines out, Adam Eaton triples, Rendon intentionally walked. Two men on base. Pitching change Andrew Miller on mound Juan Soto strikes out swinging. Cardinals change pitchers again to John Brebbia, Kendrick singles Eaton scores Rendon to second. Score now 2-0 Nationals. Zimmerman walks bases are loaded. Taylor flies out. Bottom of the 8th pinch-hitter Jose Martinez gets the Cardinals their first and only hit of the game. Anibal Sanchez went 7.2 hit-less innings, Sean Doolittle came in and finished the game. Nationals win 2-0.

WIN: 2-0
SERIES: Nationals lead 1-0

Game 2: Saturday 12 October 2019: Adam Wainwright vs Max Scherzer
Game 2 an amazing Pitching match-up Adam Wianwright vs Max Scherzer. The scoring wouldn't get started until the top of the 3rd Michael A.Taylor hits a lead off homer to put the Nats on top 1-0. The game settled down to basically a pitching duel. The Nats got a couple of hits in the 5th and 6th innings but no runs. The Cardinals got their first hit bottom 7th. Then during the 8th some more action happens. With one out and men on 1st and 2nd  Adam Eaton doubles scoring Matt Adams and Trea Turner Score 3-0 Nationals.Bottom 8th Sean Doolittle comes in to pitch. Cardinals have 2 outs and a runner on first Jose Martinez hits a double scoring is Paul Delong. Score is 3-1 Nationals. Fort the 9th both teams change pitchers and get a 1,2,3 inning. Nationals win 3-1 Wow Nationals take the first two games of the series on the road.

WIN: 3-1
SERIES: Nationals lead 2-0

Game 3: Monday 14 October 2019: Stephen Strasburg vs Jack Flarhety
Series moves to DC Stephen Strasburg starts on the mound. The scoring fun starts bottom of 3rd. Victor Robles gets a lead off single, Stephen Strasburg sacrifices Robles to 2nd, Trea Turner strikes out swinging, Adam Eaton singles Robles scores 1-0 Nats. Anthony "Two Bags" Rendon doubles sending Eaton home score now 2-0. Juan Soto draws a walk, Howie Kendrick up to bat a wild pitch puts Rendon on 3rd and Soto on 2nd, Kendrick doubles Rendon and Soto score 4-0 Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to end inning. 4th inning Cardinals make some noise with back to back two out singles but next batter flies out. Bottom 4th Kurt Suzuki singles but only gets as far as 2nd base on a Strasburg sacrifice. Bottom 5th Eaton grounds out, Rendon singles, Soto flies out, Kendrick doubles Rendon Scores 5-0 Nationals. Zimmerman doubles Kendrick scores 6-0 Nationals. Suzuki pops out ends inning. Bottom 6th Robles lead off homer Nats up 7-0. Strike out, ground out and fly out ends inning. 7th inning Cardinals make a little more louder noise, 2 singles a swinging strike out, followed by another single, runners advance bases loaded Jose Martinez scores on Juan Soto throwing error. Score now 7-1 Nats. Cards strike out two more times. Bottom 7th Kendrick doubles with two outs, Zimmerman singles Kendrick scores 8-1 Nationals, a Suzuki strike out ends the inning. A quick 1,2,3 top of the 8th, only a walk in the bottom of the 8th and another 1,2,3 top of the inning (the 9th) ends it. Final score 8-1 Nationals win now lead 3-0.

WIN: 8-1
SERIES: Nationals lead 3-0

Game 4: Tuesday 15 October 2019: Patrick Corbin vs Dakota Hudson. 

First inning Cardinals top of the inning complete strike out. Bottom of the 1st Nationals: Trea Turner lead off single, Adam Eaton doubles Turner to 3rd, Anthony Rendon sack fly Turner scores 1-0 Nationals, Juan Soto doubles Eaton scores 2-0, Howie Kendrick intentionally walked, Ryan Zimmerman reaches 1st on a fielding error Soto to 3rd Kendrick to 2nd bases loaded, Victor Robles singles Soto scores, Kendrick to 3rd Zimmerman to 2nd, score 3-0, Yan Gomes singles Kendrick and Zimmerman score Robles to 2nd, score 5-0, Patrick Corbin sacrifices Robles to 3rd Gomes to 2nd, Turner singles Robles and Gomes score 7-0 Nationals, Eaton lines out ending inning. Top 4th Yadlier Molina gets two out homer score 7-1 Nats. Top of the 5th Cardinals make more noise Lead off walk from Harrison Bader, followed by a Kolten Wong single moving Bader to 3rd. Dexter Fowler walks loading the bases, Tommy Edman grounds out, Bader scores, Wong to 3rd Fowler to 2nd, Score 7-2, Jose Martinez doubles, scoring Wong and Fowler.Score now 7-4 Nats still on top. Cardinals strike out swinging two more times to end inning. Bottom of the 6th baby shark appearance Geraldo Parra pinch hits and singles, no runs scored. Nats get another hit in the 7th the Cardinals hit in the 8th. No more runs scored. Nationals win 7-4 to win and SWEEP the Series.

WIN: 7-4
SERIES: NATIONALS WIN 4-0

The NATIONALS WIN THE NLCS!

We are the NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! Nationals WIN FIRST NL PENNANT in team and franchise history! The last time a DC baseball team won a Pennant was 1933 Senators in the American League. They lost the World Series though to the New York Giants.

NLCS MVP: Howie Kendrick

So it is on to THE WORLD SERIES. Next Opponent Houston Astros.

We Shouldn't Be Here. Should We? NLDS EDITION

WOW! We shouldn't be here. Should we?

NLDS EDITION

Thursday 03 October - Wednesday 09 October 2019

Sneaking into the playoffs the Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card game and Moved on to the NLDS to face the mighty 106 game winning Los Angeles Dodgers. To be painfully honest, the Nationals should NOT be in the position they wound up in. They started off the 2019 season dismally in what looked like it was going to be another sub par season. After 50 games and some early injuries always the injuries at inopportune times, they were a measly 19-31. Hardly a team that could make it to the playoffs. Then...

They started following skipper Dave Martinez's policy of going 1-0 every game. Don't worry about last night's loss, don't anticipate tomorrow's win just concentrate on the here and now one game at a time and "Stay in the Fight" and have fun. From mid May to the end of the season (and into the Playoffs) the Nationals got RED Hot and finished the regular season 93-69 and got the number one Wild Card spot with a 4 game lead ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Nats beat the Brewers in the Wild Card game 4-3 in a very unorthodox way with a Juan Soto bases clearing single with the help of a fielding error. That moves them on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best of 5 NLDS. The Dodgers went 106-56 during the regular season. The two teams met 7 times and the Dodgers bested the Nats 4-3. Once again these two teams face each other in the playoffs in the NLDS, the last match up was in 2016 in which the Dodgers took it 3-2

Since the Nationals are the Wild Card team the action for this series began in L.A

Game 1 Thursday 03 October 2019: Buehler, Buehler.

Starting pitcher match up for game 1 Dodgers Walker Buehler vs Patrick Corbin. Bottom of the first Corbin allows the bases to get loaded and then walks Max Muncy forcing the Dodgers first run of the game in. For three innings not much happens, bottom of 5th a Howie Kendrick fielding error allows the Dodgers to lead 2-0. Bottom of the 7th the Dodgers load the bases again on reliever Fernando Rodney a single by Max Muncy (UGH there that guy is again, he was a thorn during the regular season) scores 2 more runs putting the Dodgers ahead 4-0. The Nationals allow two more homers in the bottom of the 8th increasing the Dodgers lead to 6-0. That is how this one would end with the Nats getting only two hits and dropping game 1 with the score 6 to zip.

LOSS: 0-6
SERIES: Dodgers Lead 1-0

Game 2 Friday 04 October 2019: Clayton Kershaw vs Stephen Strasburg

Kershaw vs Strasburg long boring pitching duel? No not really. Top of the first Nationals draw first blood on a Howie Kendrick single that plates Trea Turner. Nats lead 1-0 for first time in series. They add two more in the 2nd with RBIs by Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon and lead 3-0. Bottom of the 6th the Dodgers get on the board with a sac fly by Justin Turner. Score now 3-1 in favor of Nats. Bottom 7 Max Muncy (There's that Muncy guy again) Homers off of late innings reliever part-time closer Sean Doolittle shortening the Nats lead to 1 making it 3-2. Top 8 pinch hitter Asdrubal Cabrera singles driving in Ryan Zimmerman score now 4-2 Nats on top. Bottom of the 9th the Dodgers threaten to walk off on closer Daniel Hudson, they load the bases with a double by Justin Turner, Max Muncy is intentionally walked, Will Smith walks ...and then Corey Seager strikes out swinging fortunately for the Nationals they win 4-2 and tie up the series one game a piece.

WIN: 4-2
SERIES: Tied 1-1

Game 3 Sunday 06 October 2019: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs Patrick Corbin
Game three bottom of 1st starts out nicely Juan Soto Homers plating Adam Eaton Nats up 2-0. Then Top of the 5th The Evil NLDSeries Villain Max Muncy solo homers knocking the Nats lead down making the score 2-1. Top of the 6th the bottom falls out Russell Martin doubles scoring Cody Bellinger and David Freese. Dodgers pull ahead 3-2. Two batters later Kike Hernandez doubles scoring Russell Martin and Chris Taylor score is now 5-2. Oh but the scoring fun doesn't end there NO of course not. Nats killer Justin Turner homers scoring Kike Hernandez and Evil Max Muncy score is now 8-2 in favor of the Los Angeles Blue Boys. Bottom 6th Wild Pitch Anthony Rendon scores, Juan Soto to 3rd, Howie Kendrick to 2nd score now 8-3. Asdrubal Cabrera hits a sac fly Juan Soto scores, Howie Kendrick out advancing on throw score now 8-4. Top of the 9th final damage done Russell Martin Homers scoring David Freese as well final score 10-4 Dodgers ahead in series 2-1.

LOSS: 4-10
SERIES: Dodgers Lead 2-1

Game 4 Monday 07 October 2019: Max Scherzer vs Rich Hill
Top of the 1st the Dodgers draw first blood Justin Turner solo homers LA up 1-0. Bottom of the 3rd Anthony Rendon hits a sac fly Michael A. Taylor scores Nats tie it up 1-1. Bottom of the 5th Anthony Rendon singles and Trea Turner scores Nats now up 2-1. A few batters later Ryan Zimmerman Homers bringing with him Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick score is now 5-1 Nats. Bottom 6th Anthony Rendon sac flies again this time scoring Trea Turner Nats up 6-1 and that would be the final score.

WIN:  6-1
SERIES: Tied 2-2

Game 5 Wednesday 09 October 2019: Walker Buehler vs Stephen Strasburg.
Game 5 began as many of the Nats loses began during the season and even in the postseason with the opposing team scoring a 2 run homer in the 1st. Max Muncy homers taking Joc Pederson with him. Dodgers up 2-0. Bottom 2nd Kike Hernandez helps the Dodgers killing cause by homering and raising the score 3-0. Things are not going well for Natstown. Then 3 innings of pitchers duel and hopes of making it past the first playoff round are all but dashed. Top of the 6th a spark named Juan Soto  singles Anthony Rendon scores. Nats are on the board score is now 3-1. The 7th inning passes by with little action.Top of the 8th Anthony Rendon homers, followed by Juan Soto homering score now tied 3-3. A light appears at the end of the dark playoff tunnel. The 9th inning shows some promise but comes up empty. Bottom 9th Daniel Hudson holds off the Dodgers, here we go extra innings. Oh boy the Nats are not great at these extra long games. Top of the 10th: Adam Eaton works a full count and draws a walk;  Anthony Rendon hits a ground rule double runners on 2nd and 3rd; Juan Soto is intentionally walked bases loaded for Howie Kendrick. Strike one, on the second pitch Howie Kendrick smashes a grand slam; Adam Eaton scores, Anthony Rendon scores and Juan Soto scores Nats break the game open lead 7-3. Next batters: Ryan Zimmerman lines out, Yan Gomes singles, Michael A. Taylor pops out; Brian Dozier pops out. Bottom 10th Dodgers come up will the postseason doom for the Nats continue? Sean Doolittle comes out of the bullpen to hopefully hold the Dodgers down. A.J. Pollock strikes out swinging. Max Muncy (UH-OH) grounds out to first (Phew). Justin Turner flies out to center Michael A. Tayler makes a spectacular diving catch, gets up and holds the ball as if he is asking what did he just do. Once again the Nationals comeback from behind to win a postseason game and series.

WIN: 7-3 (10)
SERIES: NATIONALS WIN 3-2

Game 5 highlights

 All of Los Angeles is stunned, even super fan Alyssa Milano doesn't know what to say.

Nationals Win NLDS for first time as Washington Nationals. They move onto the NLCS for the first time as The Nationals. Next opponent St. Louis Cardinals their 2012 NLDS nemesis.

We shouldn't be here. Should we? WILD CARD EDITION

WOW! We shouldn't be here. Should we?

WILD CARD EDITION

Tuesday 01 October 2019

The Nationals sneaked into the playoffs. They may have lost the NL East Division to the mighty Braves, but they managed to get into the Wild Card game. To be painfully honest, the Nationals should NOT be in the position they wound up in. They started off the 2019 season dismally in what looked like it was going to be another sub par season, maybe even a losing season (which they haven't had since 2011 when they went 80-81 missing a rained out game that wasn't vital to any post seasons for anyone). After 50 games and some early injuries always the injuries at inopportune times, they were a measly 19-31. Hardly a team that could make it to the playoffs. Then...

They started following skipper Dave Martinez's policy of going 1-0 every game. Don't worry about last night's loss or bask in the glory of the win the day before, don't anticipate tomorrow's win just concentrate on the here and now one game at a time and "Stay in the Fight" and have fun. From mid May to the end of the season (and into the Playoffs) the Nationals got RED Hot and finished the regular season 93-69 and got the number one Wild Card spot with a 4 game lead ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers who finished 89-73.

So they play the Brewers in the one game "win it and you're in it" Wild Card game. During the regular season the two teams met six times and the Brewers  bested the Nats 4-2. The Wild Card game would begin in a similar fashion. The Brewers scored a two run homer in the first adding another homer in the second to bring them quickly up 3-0. Bottom of the 3rd the Nats answer back with a solo homer by Trea Turner making it 3-1. The score would remain there 4 solid innings and on through the top of the 8th.

Then came the crazy bottom of the 8th. Center fielder Victor Robles strikes out swinging. Then comes in young pinch hitter Michael A. Taylor hitting for the pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Taylor gets hit by a pitch. Next batter Trea Turner strikes out swinging. One on and two out the face of the franchise Ryan Zimmerman pinch hits and gets a broken bat single, speedy Taylor reaches 3rd. Zimmerman is lifted for pinch runner Andrew Stephenson. Next batter Tony "Two Bags" Rendon draws a walk, Stephenson goes to second, bases are loaded. 20 year old Juan Soto comes to bat. On the count of 1-1 Soto hits a single. Taylor scores easily, Stephenson also scores, Rendon reaches 3rd. The Brewers fielder makes an error lets the ball get by him and boots it some, Rendon scores, Soto reaches second then gets caught in a rundown, Nats pull ahead 4-3.

Top of the 9th Brewers strike out swinging, single, foul out, and line out to end game. Nats win 4-3 and advance to the NLDS to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Highlights:
2019 NL Wild Card Game
Another YouTube Video

Senators Singles: Royal Rendon

A Royal Rendon

As the Nationals prepare to sneak into the playoffs via The Wild Card play-in game, I am casually hunting down purple parallels and other interesting inserts that strike my fancy.

This one I got from Sportlots I think for the 25¢ opening bid with some kind of shipping cost. It arrived early Sep (Turs 5th)

2012 Bowman Baseball: BP88 Anthony Rendon Nationals Purple Parallel

Expos Extra Episode 3: A Die-Cut Rock and an Unexpected Buyback

EXPOS EXTRA EPISODE 3:
A DIE-CUT ROCK AND AN UNEXPECTED BUYBACK

Been a while since I've done a dedicated Expos Extra post. I really should have been doing several per month since this is the 50th Anniversary of the franchise. It looks like at one time I was trying to keep the Expos posts as a special series so I will try to continue with the theme and try to catch up with the appropriate numbering of episodes.

Here's a story of a lovely lady couple of cards that came in a package of Expos cards that I had purchased from a fellow collector. Actually I'm not sure exactly which package of Expos cards it came from whether it was from a blogger or a collector from one of the forums, or from a blog reader. They were in a package I had gotten sometime late last year (2018). As I said I'm not sure exactly which one. I just recall that when I was doing my mail-day catch up posts at the end of last year or beginning of this year (OH Jeez I need to do one for this Year mid Jan through now UGH) I later noticed these two cards by themselves out of an envelope or box.

Normally I'm not too fond of the type of cards these are; a die-cut, and a stamped Topps Buyback. I make a big exception with these since they are Expos, although not players who ever played in DC, they retired before the move from Canada to Washington DC. When I first started this blog I wouldn't have mentioned them here. One of them is a Hall of Famer and PC player even if he never had been a part of the Expos/Nationals Franchise.

The Players Tim "Rock" Raines and Andres Galarraga both cards are of the 1989 Topps design, the Raines is a 2014 Topps mini '89 and the Galarraga is an original '89 but STAMPED "buyback".

In 2014 Topps inserted special mini 1989 design cards to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of those cards. I'm not to thrilled about minis anymore and even worse they decided to make the minis die-cut cards. The cuts follow the border of the design so they aren't too bad, but I am just tired of these specialty cards. So here is Tim Raines 2014 mini die-cut using the 1989 design card number TM-5 (TM=Topps Mini)

2014 Topps: 1989 mini die-cut: TM-5 Tim Raines Expos

Another specialty aka gimmick that Topps has been doing lately is stamped buyback cards. These are real vintage cards that made their way back to the Topps factory and years later Topps decides to include them as inserts for newer sets but they make a special value/condition damaging stamp to let you know your buyback "vintage" card is now worthless. Except to collectors who are chasing all buybacks. Some buybacks are given special logo stamps this one is one of those trickier "Rediscover Topps" buyback stamp.

 1989 Topps: 590 Andres Galarraga Expos: Stamped "Rediscover Topps" Buyback

OK so I had to make the Raines mini image medium sized to sort of keep the size difference perspective. After making this post I am a little softer on die-cuts like this one that make sense and aren't too outrageous. I am also a little kinder to buybacks as well. However I'm still not 100% sold on either "gimmick"

Senators Singles: 2018 Topps Now Ryan Zimmerman Career Hits

2018 Topps Now Ryan Zimmerman Career Hits

For this episode of Senators Singles I have a Ryan Zimmerman 2018 Topps Now card celebrating his 1,696th career hit. The hit broke the Expos/Nationals franchise record previously held by Tim Wallach

I got the card from Ebay for $6.64 Free Shipping.

 2018 Topps Now Baseball: 535 Ryan Zimmerman

Throwback Threads: 50th Anniversary Style

THROWBACK THREADS

Franchise 50th Anniversary

I don't recall when this retro "throwback threads" trend of MLB teams wearing retro versions of vintage uniforms from the team's past began, but ever since the Montreal Expos moved to become my beloved Washington Nationals they haven't worn any Expos throwback uniforms... Until now. On Saturday 06 July 2019 The Washington Nationals are going to be wearing Montreal Expos Throwback Uniforms vs the Kansas City Royals who will also be wearing retro throwback uniforms. The Nats will specifically be wearing The Expos 1969 powder blue road unis. Huh? Road Jerseys at home? According to the Washington Post article it is because the road uniforms are more striking than the home whites. I am a little sad we won't see Bryce Harper in an Expos Uniform even though there are mockups of him in one on the internet.

So a card that was made almost 10 years ago showing Face of The Franchise Ryan Zimmerman in an Expos Uniform will turn from fantasy to reality. I just hope Ryan doesn't get back on the Injured List between now and then. The card is a 2010 Topps Chrome National Chicle card. Why they didn't have a regular version of this card I'll never know. I am bummed it is only in the Chrome version as I have a strong aversion to Chrome cards. Not as bad as my anti-relic cards stand but sometimes pretty darn close.

2010 Topps Chrome - National Chicle: CC49 

Ryan Zimmerman Nationals/Expos

553/999

So it took the 50th Anniversary of the Franchise for them to finally wear RexTros Uniforms. I plan on at least watching Saturday's game. At one point I thought about going to the park and getting a ticket. I'm not sure if the game is sold out or not. If I find the energy and a VHS tape I might record the thing. Not sure if I'll go that far or not.

Senators Singles: Robles First Career Homer

2018 TOPPS NOW: 738 VICTOR ROBLES

This month's quick and dirty blog entry to get under the wire of my self proposed posting minimum is from an Ebay purchase of a Topps Now card yadda yadda yadda. It is a rookie card the commemorates one of our young outfielder's first MLB career Home Run.

2018 Topps Now: 738 Victor Robles RC Washington Nationals

Mammoth 1st Career HR is a 427-Foot Shot

I mentioned on my regular blog that I really hate when the Topps Now card backs don't give any more info on the event being commemorated. Sometimes you need more than just a front of card headline. For instance it would have been nice for them to mention this HR was hit in Miami off of Trevor Richards.

Rookie Duo of Juan Soto

For this quick and dirty end of the month post I am showing two cards from one player. Not my normal sneaky Senator's Singles end of the month post. One of the Nats hot youngsters currently Juan Soto. Juan made his Major League debut on 20 May 2018 vs The Dodgers and unfortunately struck out. However he would start the next game knocking in a 3 run homer his first at bat bottom 2nd, and go 2 for 4 vs The Padres in a 10-2 win for the Nats

Here are the cards both are from the 2018 Topps Baseball Update Set: I got these from Sportlots one seller two auctions (Rookie Debut for 25¢ and the other for 75¢ plus $3.98 shipping for both)

2018 Topps Baseball Update: US104 Juan Soto RC Rookie Debut 20 May 2018

2018 Topps Baseball Update: US300 Juan Soto RC

Bryce Harper Gone: Eating Cheese Steaks

BRYCE HARPER SWEEPSTAKES

Photo of Bryce Harper as Phillie from Sports Illustrated dot com

And the Winner of the 2019 Bryce Harper Free Agent Sweepstakes is the ...Philadelphia Phillies! For only $330 Million over 13 years the biggest contract in MLB history and of all sports for that matter. No Opt-Out Option and a No Trade clause. He will finish out his career as a Phillie at age 39. So sadly for us Nationals fans that may mean if he does make the MLB Hall of Fame he would most likely go in as a Phillie since he would have been with them for almost twice as long as he was a Nat (13 years vs. 7)

I am very mixed on the news. As a fan of Hawper as a player I am glad he will still be playing, however he is playing for Philly which is a division rival. The closest division rival geographically.

Does the addition of Harper to Philly's line-up insure them championships? Maybe. It certainly puts them in the running to be contenders to be the National League East Division Champs. Some have said it practically insures them to get it, others say it doesn't guarantees but does increase the possibility. I agree it will help them in the long run to continue to be contenders. That is if Harper stays consistent and/or actually improves during his career. He is the all time leader in slugging percentage at their park.

I think I will get used to the situation. I won't like it but I will have to get used to it.

When I got a notice that there was a Topps Now card of Bryce in his new Phillies Uniform (The first official card of him in a Phillies Uni) I decided to jump at it. I ordered two copies of it today (Monday 04 Mar 2019) from the Ebay seller toppsnow for $5.99/each Free Shipping. I got a discount of 60¢ off so the total was $11.38 normally it would be $11.98 The estimated arrival date range is April 16-29 often times things will arrive a bit early. I hope so. Well since I was wondering what sort of Harper card I would show for this post I'll show the card images from the Ebay listing I am expecting to receive it from.

2019 Topps Now: ST-3 Bryce Harper Phillies

Related Articles:

BarStool Sports Shut Up About Bryce's Contract Nothing That Happens 13 Years From Now Matters Anyway

CBS Sports What Bryce Harper's Numbers Tell us About How He'll Perform at Phillies Citizens Bank Park

ESPN What Sealed Bryce Harper's Record Deal with the Phillies

Sports Illustrated Bryce Harper Finalizing $330 Million Deal With Phillies
Washington Times Bryce Harper And Scott Boras Twist Narrative
Washnigton Times (27 Sept 2018): Bryce Harper Had Keys To The City But Never Fully Opened The Door

Senators Singles: Another Bob

Another Bob: 1958 Topps

OK so here is the Bob card I was going to post about last month when I was looking to see if I had scanned the card in preparation to make a post about it. As with many Senators that played with the club way before I was born I don't know much in the career specifics of this player.

The player for the card of this post is Bob Malkmus who began his career with the Braves in 1957 they were still in Milwaukee then. This boy is All American being born on the 4th of July in 1931 in New Jersey. The autumn of '57 he was sent to the minors by the Braves and picked up by Washington for the Rule 5 Draft. Then at the end of the '59 season he was once again put in the Rule 5 Draft and picked up by The Phillies. His playing career ended in 1962 with Philly. He was a scout for a few clubs and also managed a few farm teams including the Expos. His career batting average is .215 with 8 Homers and 46 RBIs.

 1958 Topps Baseball: 356 Bob Malkmus

Interestingly his Minor League lifetime stats on the back of the card look a bit better than his overall Major League stats.