Big Cutch, Little El Toro

I won myself an Andrew McCutchen 2013 Topps Heritage Box Topper jersey relic numbered 23/25 on ebay with a submitted best offer of $65.  I had seen these sell for up to $100 so even though $65 is a bit more than I would like for a plain grey swatch, I felt the need to get it now rather than wait.

2013 Topps Heritage Box Topper 23/25 Jersey Relic

Cutch has been struggling a lil this year, batting only .243 in the first 20 games.  However, there are some good signs though as he has 2 HR and 12 RBI which are both higher than last year's total at this time.  His slugging percentage for April 2013 is higher than it was last year too, which shows that he's driving the ball more, it's just not finding the gaps (YET).

There's no doubt in my mind that Cutch will end up the season hitting around .300 with 25+HR and 30+SB while driving in close to 100.  Will he make his 3rd consecutive All-Star game? Hopefully, but Starling Marte is looking pretty good too so the All-Star lineup might include 2 Pirates outfield substitutes after the likes of Upton and Braun leave.

2013 Topps Heritage Box Topper Back

The back of the box topper has an interesting note about how Cutch hit 2 multihomer games in a 3 game span making him just the second Pirates player in a quarter century with 2 multi homer efforts in a 3 game span.  The other was Pedro Alvarez who did it in 2010.

.......speaking of Pedro Alvarez

I was at the Pirates Phillies game on Monday and leaned over to the girl I'm dating in the 2nd inning and said, "2nd pitch this at bat El Toro is going to hit a HR." Wouldn't you know that Pedro connected for a solo shot giving the Bucs a temporary 1-0 lead.  

2013 Topps Gypsy Queen Pedro Alvarez Framed Mini Jersey Relic

I grabbed this 2013 Gypsy Queen framed mini relic of Pedro Alvarez off ebay for just over $3 shipped.