There's Gold in Them Hills

Well I'm still waiting on 2015 Bowman Draft to show up in Target, I thought I had read online that it was going to  be retail this year but oh well. I signed up for a box break on Instagram for the Braves and a couple of other teams so I'll just wait to see what I got out of that before ordering any more cards because in the mean time..

I got my first Dansby Swanson card in the mail the other day. I ordered this almost immediately after news broke that the Braves had acquired the 2015 1st Overall pick in a blockbuster trade with Arizona.

Chrome too! As I have said on this blog before Dansby is from the same town - Marietta - as me. The last time the Braves had a #1 overall pick on their team he was also a young shortstop from the south named Chipper Jones. Hopefully Dansby can come even close to the player Chipper was. The Braves just hired Chipper yesterday to be a special assistant to the GM. 

I've got a couple more Swanson cards on the way but it looks like I'm going to have to wait a while for an auto as prices are a little high ---- EBAY

Sticking to first round picks and the Diamondbacks here's a Distinguished Debut of Touki Toussaint from 2015 Pro Debut. Touki was the Diamondbacks #1 pick just last year and the Braves basically traded cash for him. Looking forward to seeing what the South Florida boy has as he supposedly has a verrrry high ceiling.

Is this a Diamondbacks blog? No the Braves have just ransacked the Diamondbacks system over the last year or so. Here's a 2015 Inception Auto of 2013 First Round Pick Aaron Blair who could debut for the Braves this year.

2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Scouts Breakout Die-Cut Refractors #BSBAB Aaron Blair

Die-cut refractor from last year's Bowman Draft will have to do. I never type out the full name of cards but check out how long this one is...

Here's my first Chrome card of new Brave Ender Inciarte. He should be the Braves everyday CF next year and a huge upgrade over Cameron Maybin. 2015 War - Maybin 1.0, Inciarte 3.3

This here is my first 1951 Bowman, crease and all I love it especially the little hut in the background. The Earl of Snohomish hit .292 with 24 homers and 92 RBI in '51 and got a few MVP votes but somehow Jim Konstanty beat out Stan the Man to take the title.

I have other '71s but this is my new favorite. Would be cool to have a copy of this card unsigned just to get it really signed if that makes any sense. This card is pretty much perfect I'd say.

Getting close to having all the flagship Sutton's with this one, I still need his rookie card and one or two more now.

The 2016 Braves will probably not be good. Maybe I will be wrong and they have some 1991 miracle season but I don't see Terry Pendleton and Steve Avery on the roster but I could be wrong. All three of these guys could make their debut next year and we'll find out.

What can I say? I like Heritage Minors. Everybody's excited for Christmas and I'm excited about pitchers and catchers reporting in 2 months! 2016 MLB Spring Training Countdown

I need to buy a blaster of this stuff. Glad Panini brought Contenders back to baseball. 

Albies is 18, Allard is 19. Whole bunch of baby Braves in this post, hopefully this card foreshadows great things.

Like this, can't believe I had missed this one from Stadium Club last year. Though I'd like to forget the '96 World Series.

This is my new favorite Deion card, there are others like it but this one is mine. Plus it's a Members Choice parallel, now I just need the base to go with it.

Saw that Deion basketball card on Tim's blog not long ago and was stoked to add it to my cart for 50 cents or so. The Clear Vision is a perfect example of why I like buying singles online. I would never bust a whole box of that stuff but it's a really cool acetate card for less than a buck it's a really cool addition to my Primetime PC.

Let's Make A Deal I

  The Braves have made a lot of trades over the last 12+ months. Since firing Frank Wren and having John Hart take over the front office with assistant and now GM John Coppolella they've completely flipped the roster. As a fan this has been tough seeing homegrown guys like Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Gattis and now Andrelton Simmons traded away most recently. As a collector however it's been pretty fun constantly having new guys to collect/chase.

 Sean Newcomb was the 15th overall selection in the 2014 draft and instantly became the Braves number one prospect once we acquired him. A college pitcher out of Hartford the kid is a big lefty with a plus fastball with sinking action and a curve and slider in his repertoire as well. He has been compared to Jon Lester as his ceiling and Scott Kazmir as his floor and his stat line of 2.38 ERA in 27 starts over 3 levels in 2015 reflects that. I've read he has troubles with walking batters but he also struck out 168 batters over 136 innings with 76 walks. He reached AA late in the season last year and should start this year at AAA Gwinnett with a call up possible but I doubt it comes before September unless he absolutely blows the competition away in AAA.  

  

Here's looking at you kid, you only cost us the best defensive player in the game... and a minor league catcher Jose Briceno (farewell Jose!)

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

 The Angels also sent over Erick Aybar (I don't have any of his cards but I think you all know who he is and what he is as a player) and another pitching prospect in the deal.

 Chris Ellis is another college pitcher selected in the 2014 Draft in the 3rd round out of Ole Miss. Ellis is another big kid with a solid fastball and 2 offspeed offerings in a curve and changeup. He is currently a starter but the jury is still out on if he ends up in the bullpen, in 2015 he had a 3.90 ERA over 140.2 innings in high A and AA. I could see him starting in AA Mississippi for the time being with the Braves system being so clogged with young pitching prospects.

Eight days later the Braves traded another starter from the 2015 season away in Cameron Maybin for you guessed it.. more pitching. 

Image courtesy of google.com (sorry/thanks internet)

Well this trade was more of a money dump/too many outfielders trade because while I understand the upside in the Simmons trade I don't really see what the Braves see in Krol besides the fact he throws left handed. He has career 4.91 ERA over 88 IP in 3 years out of the bullpen. We need a left hander that can get outs so good luck Ian.

Another lefty bullpen type, Gabe Speier was drafted by the Red Sox in 2013 and at 20 years old just finished his first season in A ball last season for the Tigers.  

  

Hey look Maybin is going back home and Mr. Krol doesn't look too odd in the curly A hat. Anyways thanks for reading my caveman like prospect evaluations and like it or not I'm probably going to break down all the trades the new Braves regime has made until they start winning games.