Book 1, Page 28.

So, Tom Hicks feels betrayed by Alex Rodriguez. Guess he can join the long list of fans who have already felt betrayed by him. Should have plenty of company.

Still no solid word on the Marlins and Pudge. No telling what could happen there. Let's see what we have up for Ivan today.
1995 SP Championship #192
1995 SP Championship Die Cuts #192
Empty Pocket
1995 Sportflix #33
Empty Pocket
1995 Stadium Club #197
1995 Stadium Club First Day Issue #197
1995 Stadium Club Member's Only #197
Empty Pocket

The empty pockets are reserved for the 1995 SP Silver #198, 1995 Sportflix Artist's Proofs #33, and the 1995 Stadium Club Super Team World Series #197. Of the cards in the page I must admit that I like the Sportflix one the best. I am, and always have been, a sucker for Sportflix. Although I am not a set builder I have been on and off working on several Sportflix sets for years.

Well, Andruw Jones has a new home, we just don't know where yet. Possibly with the Rangers, more likely in AAA if he can't get his game on. Seems that Texas has signed a lot of guys this year to minor league deals. Is this a sound strategy? The reasoning seems to be that if they make good, the team scores. If they fail, little loss. What do you think? Is this the poor man's free agent lottery? Is it a valid strategy that could yield results?

Talk to the hand...

Apparently when the picture was taken for card number 206 of the 2003 Donruss set Alex Rodriguez suspected that his failed steroid tests would come out in the wash. He appears to be telegraphing his response to the news; talk to the hand, I ain't listening.

As much as I have always considered A-Rod to be overpriced and somewhat arrogant, I am saddened by the news. Alex had the chance to break Bonds' home run record and be considered clean while doing so. Not anymore. Now A-Fraud or A-Roid seem to be appropriate nicknames. Guess it all goes to show that when you lie it will come out eventually.

Of course this will lead to the inevitable Hall of Fame discussions as well. Rodriguez was considered a first ballot inductee. Is he still? In my mind he is not. In fact I don't think he should be in at all. Why? Well, my reasons really have little to do with steroids and more to do with consistency. Mark McGwire never failed a steroid test and has never been credibly implicated in steroid use, yet he is denied entrance to The Hall. If Big Mac can be denied based on his failure to prove a negative then A-Rod should be denied based on his failure that proved a positive.

Minor signing.

Jason Jennings, seen here on card number 680 of Upper Deck's 2008 set, didn't pitch much for the Rangers last year. he spent most of the year on the disabled list. After that horrible experience, I doubted that the club would re-sign Jennings. They did though. Today Texas announced that Jason had signed a minor league deal with them good for one year. The deal includes an invite to Spring Training but no guaranteed spot on the roster. That brings some small relief to my mind. If Jennings gets back on the ball the team can use him, if not they are out only a little.

With pitchers and catchers due to report in less than a week, the first Pudge report in some time has surfaced. Apparently the Marlins are interested in possibly signing Ivan. He would have to understand that he would not be the everyday catcher but at least he would still be in the game. It will be interesting to see how that turns out.

Can pitch, will travel.

Well, it is looking like the Rangers have some serious doubts about Ben Sheets. Perhaps his medical issues are more than first realized. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

Looking at the Hot Stove Tracker on MLB.com one can see that Sheets isn't alone. There is still a lot of starting pitching out there that hasn't been signed. Some of it is like Kenny Rogers, seen here on his 2005 Topps U&H All-Star Stitches card. Kenny and a few other pitchers are possibly on the cusp of retirement due to age. Others may be looking at medical induced retirement or possibly minor league contracts.

One thing is for sure, if some serious inking doesn't get done in the next week, there may be a few millionaires filing for unemployment.

Reunion.

Texas signed two relief pitchers yesterday in a day that seems like a class reunion. They inked Bryan Corey to a minor league contract. Eddie Guardado will start the season in the bullpen, if everything works out. Both have pitched for the Rangers before.

Corey pitched for the Rangers in 2006. "Ready Eddie" seen here on card number 675 of Upper Deck's 2008 set, was a bullpen workhorse for the team in 2008. In August the Rangers dealt him to Minnesota but apparently missed him badly enough to resign him this year.

Seems like a good move to me. Eddie has experience and can mentor the younger relievers. He is also a real Energizer Bunny-type pitcher who can shoulder a big load in relief. No way to argue with those credentials.

Hearing the beat.

Yesterday I got a bubble envelope from John at Johngy's Beat. I opened it to find that I needed every card that he had sent.

John sent all of the 1981 Topps Traded cards that I needed to complete my team set. He also sent four 1972 Topps cards that knocked off a big part of the remaining portion of my team set from that year. The last card in the envelope was this 1973 Topps, number 601. I was thrilled to receive this addition to my collection.

Sometime back I had asked if anyone had any Rangers cards they would like to see me post. John was gracious enough to reply and stated that he would like to see a card of Rick Stelmaszek. Sadly, I had no cards of Rick in my collection and was ashamed to admit that I hadn't heard of him.

In addition to being married to John's third grade teacher and being a great neighbor, Rick was a catcher for several years in the majors. He actually debuted two years before this card was issued, playing in six games for the senators. In 1973 he played in seven games for Texas before being traded to the Angels. At the end of the 1973 season he was traded to the Cubs. He spent 1974 in Chicago before ending his MLB career. Thanks Johngy, both for the cards and the great history lesson!

Book 1, Page 27.

Not much going on in baseball today. Still no Pudge signing to report. Here is what we have for today:
1995 Score Contest Redemption #AD2
1995 Score Gold Rush #367
1995 Score Hall of Gold #HG74
Empty pocket
1995 Select #63
Empty pocket
1995 Select Certified #77
Empty pocket
1995 SP #198

The empty pockets are left for the 1995 Score Platinum Team Sets #367, 1995 Select Artist's Proofs #63, and 1995 Select Certified Mirror Gold #77.

Probably my favorite from this bunch is the Score Contest Redemption. Nice shot of Ivan holding the ball and glaring a runner back to the bag as the dust settles from the previous play. The inscription on the card of "Guaranteed Right, Guaranteed Scarce" is also kind of interesting. I can understand the "scarce" part, the company would know that from their print run. What about the "right" part? Does that refer to the write-up on the back? To the fact that Pudge is right-handed? Interesting indeed.