Boston Vs. Tampa Bay (RSW/GBFB Cash/Can Drive) 7/29/13

Last night was the first time I went to a Red Sox game at Fenway park in 6 or 7 years. My friends had an extra ticket, and while I knew it wouldn't really be an ideal 'graphing night, I figured I would give it a shot.

The game last night was the one rescheduled from last week due to rain, which also happened to be night 2 of the Red Sox wives/ Greater Boston Food Bank cash/can drive. This event gives fans the opportunity to donate $10, and receive an autographed photo of a Red Sox player. David Ortiz did not participate this year, and they were out of Pedroia and Ellsbury from the other day, but I was able to get the always pleasant(LOL), Shane Victorino, and Mike Napoli. I was happy to get these two because they are solid players, and were not in my collection before.

I did try to do the Rays side before the game, but after BP it started to rain, pretty much up until the first pitch.

Game wise, David Price pitched like the ace he is, and the game was blown by the home plate umpire in the bottom of the 8th.

The two autographs will not be added to my '2013 Total' because they were not obtained in person.

Pawtucket Vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies) 7/28/13

Another Sunday, another 'graphing day in Pawtucket. A very hot day actually, and one that had some high and low spots.

One of the bigger high spots was meeting former White Sox great, and World Series Champion, Jose Contreras. The Red Sox recently signed him to a minor league deal.

He was also nice enough to take a photo with me, which I had to crop badly because New England's favorite security guard HAD to photo bomb me. I was honestly fuming for a good ten minutes. And he knew it. I told him I really appreciated him ruining the picture.

Another high spot of the day was meeting one of my favorite players, Will Middlebrooks again. He is always so nice, and I was able to get 2 more photos signed. If the Red Sox make a trade in the next few days, this may become the last time I met him.

I was also able to meet former Red Sox (2003), Brandon Lyon. I didn't have anything so I put him on a photo sheet, but my friend hooked me up with a photo which was nice:

I also met Red Sox #4 Prospect, Rubby De La Rosa again:

The always interesting, Alfredo Aceves:

Some of the other regulars signed as well.

Mitch Maier:

Ryan Rowland-Smith:

Chris Carpenter:

I was able to get Alex Hassan on 2 cards for someone that sent them to me to finish:

I then went inside and was able to get Red Sox #5 Prospect, Allen Webster who has pitched a few games for the Red Sox this season:

Clayton Mortensen, who has been really tough outside compared to last year. Just kind of arrogant really. Smirking when people ask and he says, "Sorry guys." Every single time.

Phillies:

Phillippe Aumont:

Mike MacDougal(Outisde Post-Game)

I also did a team ball with a ball I got inside:

Cody Asche:

Tyler Cloyd

Zach Miner

Adam Morgan

Mike MacDougal

Tyson Gillies

Phillippe Aumont

Justin Friend

Freddy Galvis:

Xander Bogaerts only signed a few, and was avoiding photos. Jackie Bradley completely denied.

I'll be at Fenway tomorrow night. I'll be sure to post if I get lucky and end up with something!

Total Autographs for 2013: 717

7/24/13 Part 2: CT Tigers Vs. Staten Island (Yankees)

After I left New Britain yesterday, I went home to pick up my dad, and immediately went down to Norwich to catch my second game of the day. We got there when the gates were opening, and I saw that the team sets were out so I picked up one of those.

Joe Flattery was signing in the team store, so I got him on a team sheet since he was not included in the set. He was very nice, and seemed shy. That isn't very uncommon in this league, since a lot of the kids are experiencing their first weeks in professional baseball. Going on with this note, it was such a huge difference even in my experience yesterday, although it has already become a very obvious thing, that the player interactions differ greatly from Short-season A ball to AA, and AAA.

The main target for the day was the Yankees' first round pick, Eric Jagielo. He was a really nice kid, and was drafted in June out of Notre Dame.

I got a few random Yankees on a team sheet, but other than Jagielo, I didn't have a ton of interest in that side.

Andury Acevedo

Giovanny Gallegos

Kale Sumner

Yeicok Calderon

As always, I added a few Jonathon Crawford autos to the collection. If you are new to the blog, Crawford was the Tigers' 2013 1st round pick.

He was charting, which made things easy:

Before the game, I was able to put a dent in the team set. I probably would have gotten more, but Miss USA who apparently is from Connecticut was there, and the players were all hanging out with her.

Jonathon Crawford

Brett Harrison

Javier Azcona

Scott Sitz

Raph Rhymes

Ben Verlander

Tyler Gibson

Hunter Scantling

Patrick Leyland

Mark Johnson

Mike Rabelo

Tanner Bailey

I had a bunch of Mike Rabelo cards left over from last season, so I had him finish those up. Mike had a big league career with a number of teams, and is now the hitting coach for the Tigers:

Total Autographs at this game: 30

Total Autographs on 7/24: 82

Total Autographs for 2013: 684

7/24/13 Part 1: New Britain (Twins) Vs. Portland (Red Sox) (Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Miguel Sano, Garin Cecchini)

After a long near 2 weeks of not 'graphing, I ended my hiatus by going to 2 games today. The first was New Britain Vs. Portland, the 3rd time I have 'graphed this match up this season.

There have been a lot of changes since I last hit New Britain such as the call up of the Twins #1 Prospect, Miguel Sano. For Portland, there were new faces such as Garin Cecchini (whom I last met before this blog was created), and Noe Ramirez.

I got to the stadium at about 8:00 a.m. for the 12:00 game and I was the first 'grapher there. For pre-game outside, I would later be joined by a friend of mine, who I was able to 50/50 stuff for throughout the day, which was nice because I didn't have cards for a few guys.

New Britain Pre-Game outside:

Miguel Sano was one of the first players I got. I considered talking to him in Spanish because he doesn't know much English it seems, but there were no issues, and he signed my photo with no problem.

When my buddy showed up he let me know that Paul Molitor had been in for the series, so I was hoping that he would show up again today. He did, which was really cool. I've met him a number of times now, but it is always cool to meet one of the best baseball players ever.

I  asked him if he would mind putting his Hall of Fame Inscription and he said, "Yeah actually I would mind a little bit." That seemed a bit unnecessary, but I won't complain.

I was pretty much shut out by Portland outside. I say pretty much because there were a few cabs that came in that I didn't run over for because I was on the New Britain side. Matt Barnes completely ignored the two of us off of the bus, as did Anthony Ranaudo, however he was the starting pitcher so that was no surprise.

After that, I went inside and was able to get a number of players.

New Britain:

D.J. Baxendale:

Trevor May did 5/9:

By changing my hat and shirt I was able to get Paul Molitor again! I was kind of surprised he didn't call me out, but 2 of him made for a great day!

The same thing worked to get Miguel Sano again as well:

Portland:

I was able to get the Red Sox #3 Prospect, Garin Cecchini coming in from the batting cage. He did 2/2:

Noe Ramirez:

Eric Niesen did 3/something like 8. 2 are pictured because the other went to someone else:

Keith Couch did 3. I kept 1:

Travis Shaw:

During pre-game stretching, I saw Garin Cecchini signing again, and luckily I was able to get him on 2 cards for a 50/50 for the same guy I mentioned earlier. Here is the one I kept:

After stretching was over, I went over to the club house to try again for Matt Barnes who would be charting, and yet again he denied me. Right after the game finished, I went over to him coming up from the stands, and I can confidently say that the only reason he signed was that he had family/friends in attendance. Nonetheless, I got 1/2 cards done.

Trevor May was also charting, so I got him on the new Rock Cats program:

I then went outside to do Portland leaving the clubhouse. 

I was able to get a bunch more items signed, most notably, finally getting an Anthony Ranaudo photo done. He was being super cool after the game which is SHOCKING for him. I even got to take a picture with him!

Garin Cecchini, yet again on 2 more photos:

Somehow, I got Matt Barnes again. he signed a lot coming outside:

Kolbrin Vitek on 3 cards. 2  are mine:

Noe Ramirez on 3 more:

Terry Doyle on my Pawtucket set card:

Portland team sheet from throughout the day:

-Michael Almanzar

-Jeremy Kehrt

-Tony Thomas

-Mike McCarthy

-Bobby Lanigan

-Travis Shaw

-Christian Vasquez

-Matt Maloney

-Ronald Bermudez

-Derrik Gibson

New Britain team sheet from throughout the day:

-Kyle Davies

-Jordan Parrazz

-Evan Bigley

-Pat Dean

-B.J. Hermsen

-Blake Martin

-Virgil Vasquez

-Nate Hanson

Total Autographs at this game:52

Total Autographs for 2013: 654