Jameson Taillon Debut Patch

I've been waiting almost 6 years for this day to come.  I remember sitting in my small apartment on my busted up chair using my PC to watch the 2010 MLB Draft as the Pirates had the number 2 overall pick.  The 3 big names of the draft were all prep athletes.  Two of them have already become All-Stars (Bryce Harper and Manny Machado).  The third was the hard throwing highschool pitcher Jameson Taillon.  Man am I excited to see Jamo finally pitch in the big leagues.  I've had this card since August of 2013 patiently awaiting for his big debut to debut it.

This beauty was had for under $20!!!!!

2013 Pro Debut Patch 1/5

It features a large patch of the Jolly Roger from his 2012 All-Star Future's Game sleeve.  From the box score, Taillon didn't have a good outing.  He pitched 1 inning and gave up 2 hits (both doubles), allowing 1 run.  He didn't walk anyone, nor did he strike anyone out.  However he did throw 12 of his 17 pitches for strikes.  I remember watching the game and thinking damn, this kid is gonna be awesome in a few years.  He did an amazing job mixing up his speeds on his 4 pitch arsenal.

The back of the card has the normal small print text about not being from a specific season, blah blah blah.

Triple Auto: Jamo, Thor, Archie Bradley graded 9.5

Archie Bradley is set to make his MLB debut today against the LA Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw.  Talk about a tough matchup for your MLB debut.  I grabbed this graded 9.5 triple autograph of Jameson Taillon, Noah "Thor" Syndergaard, and Archie Bradley a few months back for $100. The card is numbered to only 10 copies and a few that I have seen raw sell on eBay often aren't as nice as this one.

It is very likely that barring unforseen injuries all 3 of these young men will make their MLB debuts this season.

Black is the new Black: It's happening...it's really happening Gregory Polanco Black AUTO

Gregory Polanco will be making his much anticipated MLB debut tonight.  After posting video game like numbers in AAA for the early part of the season, the Pirates will be calling on the left handed right fielder to jumpstart their lineup as they try to push for another post season run.

One of my 2014 collecting goals was to get autographed gold parallels from Bowman of the Pirates top prospects each year.  After a few days of thinking about it, I quickly changed my thoughts and goals to the Bowman black autographs with silver ink.  These just look so much nicer to me and I already have shown off the Bowman Blacks for Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole, and Starling Marte.  I am hoping to be adding Reese McGuire, Austin Meadows, and Alen Hanson by the year.

2013 Bowman Black 5/25

The above Bowman Black ran me $125 which is significantly cheaper than what some of them were going for at the start of the season ($300 plus range)

MLB Debut: Jordy Mercer & LET'S GO BUCS WINNER

I started watching the rain delayed game yesterday between the Reds and Bucs.  Once it became 4-1 and Charile Morton was yanked, I said forget it and turned off the game.  Hot hitting prospect Jordy Mercer was promoted yesterday as utility fielder Yamaico Navarro was optioned to AAA.  He managed  to get one at bat as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning to get his feet wet and grounded out to shortstop.

Today, Jordy had his first MLB start batting in the 2 hole and playing shortstop for the offensively struggling Clint Barmes.  I said before the season started that I thought the Barmes signing was a bad idea and that the team should have seen what they had in Chase D'arnaud, Jordy Mercer, Jeremy Farrel, and Josh Harrison.  I've seen Jordy play several times since his time with the AA Altoona Curve and he's a phenomenal defender with some pop in his bat.  He lead the Pirates minor league system in homeruns last season.

Jordy went 1 for 4 today getting a hard hit single in his first at bat in the first inning.  He made some nice above average plays at short and deserves to continue to start until he proves he is no better than Barmes.

Since the Pirates held onto win another 1 run ball game today, the Pirates took the series from the first place Reds and improved their record again to .500. 
Fun fact: The Pirates have not lost a game yet where they are winning after the 7th inning.  That shows how good the Pirates backend of the bullpen is.  
Joel Hanrahan and Jason Grilli both struck out two batters a piece.  Grilli now has an impressive 35 strikeouts in only 20 innings pitched, while the Hammer has 24 Ks in 19. 

Since the Bucs won, let's see whose getting some Reds swag.
drumroll please...

 Three game series so I have to randomize it 3 times

 Sorry Greg, but you came close twice...

But the winner is The Diamond King!
Diamond King is a first time winner of the Let's Go Bucs contest.

The Bucs have an off day tomorrow, but will head into Miller Park to face the Brewers on Friday.  I hate the Brewers!  Absolutely despise that team.  I'll have to come up with something good for this series. 

Maybe a Paul Molitor rookie or a top prospect Taylor Jungmann auto?
I'll let the winner decide. 

Remember to cheer for the Bucs by leaving a comment prior to the start of the series saying Let's Go Bucs! Beat the Brew Crew!!!!  If you're the Brewers are your favorite team, let me know so that you can be entered twice. 

LET'S GO BUCS!!!!

MLB Debut: Gorkys Hernandez

Last night, Gorkys Hernandez made his MLB debut when he pinched hit for Erik Bedard in the 5th inning.  Gorkys struck out in his first MLB plate appearance.

Earlier in the year I did a prospect profile on Gorkys which you can read here.

MLB Debut: Matt Hague

This year, I will feature a card of each Pirates prospect to make their MLB debut.  Last year there were 9 players to make their MLB debut for the Bucs (Watson, Moskos, Hughes, Locke, Thompson, Fryer, D'arnaud, Harrison, and Crotta).  I doubt that this year will have numbers comparable to that, but on the second day of the 2012 season, the Pirates awarded 2008 9th rounder Matt Hague with his first start in the majors.

Hague was expected to be a September call-up last season after hitting .309 with 12 HR in AAA Indy.  However, due to wanting to resign Derrek Lee the Pirates awarded all playing time at 1B to Lee.

Hague had  a very hot spring training batting .400 with 7HR and 14 RBI and an OPS of 1.200

I have had a chance to meet Matt a few times before he cracked the 2012 Opening Day roster and he is one of the nicest ball players I've ever met.

Finally Aaron Thompson makes MLB Debut

FINALLY AARON THOMPSON WILL MAKE HIS MLB DEBUT!

Ok, I understand that this isn't going to impress a lot of people or get national coverage like Stephen Strasburg's debut, but I am VERY excited for this.  Aaron was a 1st round pick of the Florida Marlins out of high school in 2005.  When I was younger, I really liked the Marlins a lot mostly due to Gary Sheffield.  My brother is a Marlins fan so I've been keeping up with the team and their prospects over the years.

During the offseason this past year, the Nationals released Aaron Thompson and the Pirates picked him up.  He pitched the very first inning of spring training for the Pirates and struck out all 3 batters he faced.  Granted it was an exhibition game against a college and the Pirates mostly sent out non roster invitees to the game, but Aaron and the Pirates won that game by a ridiculous amount of 21-1.

Fast forward a couple months and Aaron is in AA pitching for the Altoona Curve.  I went to every Curve game played against the Trenton Thunder this year and I think the players started to recognize me.
Starling Marte, the Pirates top positional player, saw me in the first row behind the dugout and said "Hey man, you want a bat?"
"Are you serious?" I asked
"Yeah, but it's cracked. You want it?"
"Hells yeah" I said rather excitedly
"Come after the game and I'll get him to sign it for you" Starling said as he slid the bat up over the dugout.

I was slightly confused by that comment as I thought I was getting his bat, but when he handed it to me I saw that it had said Aaron Thompson  Pittsburgh Pirates.  Aaron had just pitched the night before and the bat still had fresh sticky pine tar all over it.  There were only 2 other Pirates/Curve fans at the game and all night long, one of them was offering everything from his popcorn and peanuts to a Dave Parker autographed baseball he had at home when he saw that Starling had given me the bat.  That bat wasn't going anywhere.

After the game was over, Matt Curry had made the last out and as is typical he tossed the ball to the fans.  That fan happened to me.  So all in all it was a good haul that night.  An Aaron Thompson bat and a game used Eastern League AA Minor League ball.

I didn't get a chance to meet Aaron after the game by the buses because I was running late for work, but I did manage to buy an autographed photo off ebay for $12 shipped.

All in all, I wish Aaron the best of luck today against the hottest team in baseball.  I'm rooting for you.  LET'S GO BUCS!!!!