Drew Gilbert in 200 Words

     Drew Gilbert was born on September 27th, 2000 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He played baseball at the University of Tennessee and was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2022 June Amateur Draft. Gilbert has a reputation as a goofball, which showed itself when he made his MLB debut with the Giants last season. In fact, he nicknamed himself "Chilly Goo Bear," which I find is one of the more interesting MLB nicknames in recent memory. His goofiness is combined with an energy on the field that makes him a fun young player to watch. I hope his teammates feel the same way....The outfielder showed potential in the minor leagues, and was the #53 prospect coming into the 2024 season, according to MLB. And while his short debut season of 2025 was underwhelming, he impressed enough in Triple-A early this season to merit another chance in the big leagues, reunited with his coach from Tennessee, Tony Vitello. Gilbert hit his first home run of the season yesterday against the Nationals. I hope he can contribute both offensively and in the field for a struggling Giants team and be an effective and fun addition to the lineup.

Anybody up for a challenge?

     By a challenge I mean another bracket challenge. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tomorrow at 2:00 PM CT, and I'll be doing another contest-like bracket such as the football bracket Fuji won a few months ago. 

    Unfortunately, my LCS didn't stock packs of hockey cards this year, so I have no choice but to offer a pack of 2026 Topps baseball to the winner of this one. I dunno, maybe that'll be more appreciated.

    Sadly, my San Jose Sharks will not be participating in the playoffs. But don't you worry, we'll be there next year. It stinks, I was fully ready to predict them winning it all 🤣

    Anyway, you can click here to join: ESPN Playoff Hockey Challenge

    The password to enter is: GoSharks
    (haha, now you have to say it)
    
    Again, I don't have very creative names for my brackets lol

    Also, I apologize if any other bloggers do this for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I promise I'm not trying to steal your idea!!

    Thanks for checking out the blog today, have a great rest of the week (one more day until the weekend!!), and happy collecting!

Rescued from THE BOX - Ep. 5

     THE BOX had been quiet for some time now. I was beginning to fear that the rest of the cards it held captive would never be feared. But THE BOX proved me wrong when it showed its ugly face again.

    By the looks of that Dean Palmer card THE BOX had trapped in a prison of packaging tape, I knew something needed to be done.

    I sprung into action. Being a human, my body is much more capable of taking hits than a cardboard box. I'm surprised THE BOX hasn't figured this out yet. Every time we have a showdown, it puts up less and less of a fight. I escaped this one with little more than a few scratches.

    Unfortunately for Dean Palmer, I was unable to free him from THE BOX's evil clutches. However, I was able to liberate one of his friends in......

    2004 Fleer Platinum Jose Vidro!

    I kinda like this card design. It's nice and simple, and the colors go well with Vidro's Expos. This is quite possibly the newest set that THE BOX contained. Interestingly, this was the last year of the Montreal Expos; they became the Washington Nationals for the 2005 season.

    By the looks of the picture, Jose Vidro is about to do something pretty cool on the field. The second baseman had a very successful playing career which spanned from 1997-2008. During that time he acquired 1524 hits, 128 home runs, and 720 runs while batting .298 in 1418 games. Vidro was a three-time all star in 2000, 2002 and 2003. 

    After his retirement, Vidro has not been publicly active in the sport of baseball. In fact, I couldn't find much else about him aside from his playing career. If anybody knows anything about him, feel free to share.

    Though I don't know too much about Jose Vidro, I enjoyed freeing his card from THE BOX. It was cool to learn about his playing career; I had never heard of him before finding this card, and he was quite a talented player. It just goes to show what you can find out when you free some cards you haven't seen in a long time.

    Thanks for checking out the blog today, have a great rest of the week, and happy collecting!

Not Quite Electrocuted + More Late Night Thinking

    It's been longer than anticipated since my last post. Alas, my PC (not personal collection lol) threw a little fit last week and would not work. For a little bit I thought I would need to get a new computer, which I wasn't looking forward to.

    I finally got my computer up and running again a few days ago. I hope to post again with some cards within the week. Fingers crossed my computer keeps working - I've only had it for a couple years.

    And now for the second part of this post. Last night I had the wonderful idea to start a new blogging project. I know what you must (probably not) be thinking: "If this guy doesn't post too often on his main blog, what on earth is he doing making side projects?"

    To that I offer this answer: I don't know. 

    Anyhoo, I've added a new blog for a different card-related idea that I thought would make more sense than adding to Don Cardwell. This blog will still get priority of course; in fact, I'm only planning on posting like a half dozen times a year on the other one.

    As I read back what my brain has drooled onto my keyboard, I'm beginning to think maybe this wasn't such a good idea.....but I already made it, so no going back. This'll be fun.

    Click this link to see the new blog

     Anyway, I'm glad to get something up here for the first time in almost two weeks now. Thanks for stopping by, have a great week, and happy collecting!

April Fool's!

     Today is a wondrous day where all the jokesters of the world get to act as jovial as they please without need to take responsibility, unless they commit a crime.

    Perhaps the worst statement I've ever made on the blog....don't listen to my advice.

    Aaaaanyway....

    Pranks are something I hold dear to my heart - especially when I was the pranker or got to witness one.

    I remember one prank I pulled when I was a kid. I reckon the only reason I still remember it is because my victim has mentioned it many times over the years.

    I offered to get a glass of milk for my younger brother. Unbeknownst to him, the milk was accompanied by a large amount of mayonnaise which I mixed into his drink. When he took a sip........I GOT 'EM!

    Man, those were good times.

    Being the pranker is usually more fun than the victim. I've been the target of many a chair pulled away over the years. Right before you hit the ground you wonder what went wrong in your life. It's a little bit humbling. 

    

    A quick google search of 'best pranks in mlb history' revealed a great article from MLB on some of the league's best prankers.

    One that especially caught my attention occurred in 2008, when the Phillies convinced pitcher Kyle Kendrick that he was traded to a team in Japan. Even Kendrick's agent was in on it!

    That may be not only the greatest prank in MLB history, but perhaps the greatest prank I've ever heard of. 

    

    Have y'all played a really good prank (or been the victim of one) that you would like to share?

    Thanks for checking out the blog, make sure to have a great rest of the week, and APRIL FOOL'S!!!

Final Draft Results!

     Last night was my third and final fantasy baseball draft. This league contains various friends of mine, and is the largest I'm playing in, at 14 guys. 

    I'll keep this as brief as I can, only mentioning the guys I drafted and adding little commentary. I don't want to take up any more of y'all's Sunday than I need to. 

    My team in this league is called The Select Travel Ball Team (pretty clever, right?), and I was lucky enough to get the third overall pick.

    The categories are a little bit different, as they include the following stats:

OFFENSE:
Runs
Hits
Home Runs
RBI
Stolen Bases
Total Bases
Errors Committed
Batting Average
OBP
Slugging Percentage
Extra Base Hits
Double Plays Turned

PITCHING:
Wins
Saves
Walks
Strikeouts
Wild Pitches
ERA
WHIP
K/BB
OBP Against
Winning Percentage
Save Percentage
Quality Starts

    There are 24 rounds to this draft, so without further ado, let's get down to who I picked.

    Round 1 (3rd Overall): Bobby Witt, Jr. (SS, KC)

    Round 2 (26th Overall): Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (1B, TOR)

    Round 3 (31st Overall): Ketel Marte (2B, ARI)

    Round 4 (54th Overall): Riley Greene (OF, DET)

    Round 5 (59th Overall): Austin Riley (3B, ATL)

    Round 6 (82nd Overall): Joe Ryan (SP, MIN)

    Round 7 (87th Overall): Andres Munoz (RP, SEA)

    Round 8 (110th Overall): Oneil Cruz (OF, PIT)

    Round 9 (115th Overall): Devin Williams (RP, NYM)

    Round 10 (138th Overall): Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)

    Round 11 (143rd Overall): Michael King (SP, SD)

    Round 12 (166th Overall): Cade Horton (SP, CHC)

    Round 13 (171st Overall): Adley Rutschman (C, BAL)

    Round 14 (194th Overall): Trevor Megill (RP, MIL)

    Round 15 (199th Overall): Sal Stewart (1B, CIN)

    Round 16 (222nd Overall): Daylen Lile (OF, WSH)

    Round 17 (227th Overall): Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL)

    Round 18 (250th Overall): Connelly Early (SP, BOS)

    Round 19 (255th Overall): Seranthony Dominguez (RP, CWS)

    Round 20 (278th Overall): Sal Frelick (OF, MIL)

    Round 21 (283rd Overall): Matt Shaw (3B, CHC)

    Round 22 (306th Overall): Chad Patrick (SP, MIL)

    Round 23 (311th Overall): Will Warren (SP, NYY)

    Round 24 (334th Overall): Brandon Sproat (SP, MIL)

OFFENSE:
C: Adley Rutschman
1B: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
2B: Ketel Marte
3B: Austin Riley
SS: Bobby Witt, Jr.
OF: Riley Greene 
OF: Oneil Cruz
OF: Daylen Lile
UTIL: Sal Stewart
BN: Ezequiel Tovar
BN: Matt Shaw
BN: Sal Frelick

GRADE: B+

What I like: Once again my infield is very strong. Getting Sal Frelick was big too because Cruz is often benched against southpaws. Tovar can play utility if Sal Stewart is less than he was hyped up to be. For a 14-team league I think I drafted very well. 

What I dislike: I kind of neglected my outfield again, though this time I don't find it necessarily a liability. Oneil Cruz is a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy. His steals are a plus, but I hope he can hit like he did in 2024.

ROTATION:
SP: Joe Ryan
SP: Brandon Woodruff
SP: Michael King
SP: Cade Horton
SP: Connelly Early
SP: Chad Patrick
SP: Will Warren
SP: Brandon Sproat

Grade: B

What I like: My top four is very solid, and my bottom four is going to be just fine. I drafted well considering the fact that I focused on batters in the early rounds.

What I dislike: Not much to dislike here. It's not a powerhouse staff (one of thee guys in this league stacked up on pitchers), but it's solid for sure. My main worry is injuries and perhaps a minor-league assignment.

BULLPEN:
RP: Andres Munoz
RP: Devin Williams
RP: Trevor Megill
RP: Seranthony Dominguez

Grade: A+

What I like: This isn't a holds league, and with 14 teams, four good closers will win me almost every week

What I dislike: Nothing to dislike here

OVERALL GRADE: B+

    This is a good team. Once again, my final draft of the year is my best one. This is a team that's going to have a good shot at winning the championship, barring any significant injuries. 

    Thanks for checking out the blog! I'll have cards next time. Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and happy collecting!

Ranger Recap - Opening Day

This recap is coming a little bit later than I would have liked, but I was out all day today 

    Yesterday the Rangers began their season against the Phillies of Philadelphia. Facing Christopher Sanchez, it was going to be a tough game.

    Nathan Eovaldi, Big Game Nate, took the hill for Texas, and though he didn't fair as poorly as Paul Skenes, he still got a bit roughed up, allowing five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking zero. Home runs by Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm did Nate in, and rookie outfielder Justin Crawford had an impressive debut as well, scoring up a couple of hits and a run.

    The Ranger offense struggled just as much as they did all of last season, as they failed to get any runs on the board until the ninth inning, when a monster Jake Burger home run put the score to 5-2. Danny Jansen, our new catcher, would also single to bring the score to 5-3, but that's the best the team could do as they were ultimately defeated by the Phils. 

    Evan Carter was not in the starting nine, but he pinch-hit for Sam Haggerty. Carter went 0-for-2, but did not strike out, which I suppose is good. Hopefully he'll be in the starting lineup for Texas's next matchup.

    So we've fallen to 0-1 just like we did last year. There are still 161 games to go, but every game is important. I hope they can make it back into the playoffs this year and potentially make a run.

    Thanks for checking out the blog. Have a great weekend, and happy collecting!