TTMCast Preview
On the show this week, Clemente Lisi joins us to talk hockey and his time at Fanatics Fest, while Drew and Troy cover the latest hobby news and, as you’re about to see, an unfortunately light week at the mailbox. Also, final call for any items that you want Les Wolff to appraise: get your info and images to us by September 14.
You can listen to this week’s show here.
TTM Successes
Well… This is awkward.
I don’t often have a week of nothing in the mailbox, but this is one of the few. I suppose that means it’s time to put pen to paper again and mail out another batch. My personal record for most autographs obtained in a year is 1,585. After this weekend I am at 1,292 for 2024. If I really make a late season push, I might set a new record: so, there’s some motivation for me to get on it.
On the positive side, I picked up a few items for my Cory Snyder collection, and bought several sets for my Spring Training expedition in February. I’m looking to pick up complete sets of Bowman Draft and Prospects, as well as Topps base, Update, and Pro Debut from the past few seasons so I can maximize the number of players I’ll have items for. Six of those sets arrived during the week so while it was a swing and a miss on the autograph front for now, it was at least a solid double down the line for autograph prep. I have three more sets coming in on Monday and two others later in the week.
Even more positive: as I finish writing this, Informed Delivery says there’s a TTM success incoming. So at least this section won’t be blank next week.
In-Person Report
Living close to a minor league affiliate that’s close to its major league parent organization is both a blessing and a curse. Often the less scrupulous elements of the hobby will stick to seeking out hotels, restaurants, and flights, and leave the minor league squad to the rest of us.
It also means we get players on injury rehab assignments. And with Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob DeGrom coming off of Tommy John surgery, those worlds collided in Frisco over the weekend.
Saturday brought DeGrom’s third rehab start: he made one in Frisco a couple weeks ago, then one in Round Rock, and now one more in Frisco to be followed likely by one more Round Rock start before making his way potentially back to the bump in Arlington. From what I heard from a few others, DeGrom signed two-per-person for the whole ten graphers that showed up early for his arrival to the first Frisco start. So I figured even if there were maybe 50 of us, he might sign one each on his way in, so I arrived at Frisco at 2 pm.
There were about 15 already there– mostly the Frisco graphers that I know well, but at least a couple dealers, one of whom shoved several people out of the way in trying to get Pedro Martinez at the All-Star Game. Over the next hour, it grew to about 30 of us: a big group, but manageable enough that we figured deGrom could come over, sign one-per, and go on in.
Instead we got a “Not today guys,” upon arrival. Last start there were news cameras watching. This time there weren’t. You’d be surprised how much having an eye on them changes a player’s perspective.
On the positive side, while we waited a few Wichita players walked to the ballpark from their hotel and signed. Notably, Aaron Sabato signed all the cards I had of him, so despite getting nothing from deGrom, I was still starting off the day nicely.
After the DeGrom disappointment, several of us went over to the batting cage where Frisco was hitting. My Frisco needs are pretty limited by this point in the season so I took a break until Wichita hit the cages. When their first group finished up, Jorel Ortega signed the lone card I had of him, while Kala’i Rosario signed two– nice guy, but he’ll only do two at a time so be prepared for that. We also caught Abimelec Ortiz of the Roughriders going out to his car and on his way back in he signed the lone card I had of him.
Inside went just as well: Christian MacLeod signed everything I had, as did pitching coach Carlos Hernandez. Please note that this is the former Astros’ pitcher Carlos Hernandez: not to be confused with the former infielder who was an Astro a year or two before this one, the former catcher who now is a Padres broadcaster, or the current Royals reliever.
Marco Raya was another two-per signer, and Rosario inked my last two cards I had of him.
The lone semi-disappointment is infielder Tanner Schobel, whose favorite phrase is “I’ll get you guys after.” He kept his word and did sign after the game, but was only a one-per signer after making us wait.
I stuck around for the Roughriders just because a few friends were, and I had a few Texas Autograph Card sweet spot cards to use up. And once again, I’m glad I did: Signing one card per-person were Emiliano Teodo, Maximo Acosta, Aaron Zavala, and Dane Acker. Acker typically signs more but the one card was all I had left.
On the sweet spot cards, I added Bryan Magdaleno, Daniel Mateo, Alejandro Rosario, Theo Hardy, Ryan Lobus, Cody Freeman, and the hero of the night Alejandro Osuna, whose leadoff home run was the only run of the night for either team.
By the way, deGrom went four innings, striking out five. The only hit he allowed was a double that his left fielder completely misjudged. Several of us ducked outside to try to get him as he left; I gave up and went back inside when he didn’t come out by the end of the 8th. I was told I didn’t anything more than a gigantic mess: he came outside about 45 seconds after I left, didn’t sign, and several people ran after him toward his truck before security blocked them off. They then went to try to stop him by the parking lot exit, so deGrom turned his truck and hightailed it out through the nearby parking garage.
People like that are going to be what kills this hobby. If he doesn’t want to sign, let him not sign. While the cliche is that “persistence pays off,” in this case doing it just makes you look like a jerk and will end up with everyone getting punished for your transgressions. It wasn’t just this either: another collector had a heated confrontation with catcher Cooper Johnson earlier in the week. Frisco graphers already have a terrible reputation in the Texas League and things like don’t help it.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the health of the hobby is more important than the size of your collection.
If you have any graphing questions, you can reach Drew via email at [email protected]
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