Colorado Springs Graphing

[dscards]

I just relocated to Colorado Springs for the summer. Excited to be within striking distance of a minor league stadium for the first time in my life.

Went to my first Colorado Springs Sky Sox game tonight. Although I didn't have any items at all for their opponent, the Iowa Cubs, I decided to wait on their side hoping to score Kris Bryant on an OMLB. Wish I would have had the forethought to find some cards of the Cubs players, because I think it would be easier to list the players that didn't sign than the ones that did. Great signing team.


I came away with the Kris Bryant I wanted. It's a little off-center, but I don't mind. Bryant signed up a storm, including doing multiples, and also took a picture with me. Seems like a genuinely great guy. If you haven't seen his stats, he's hitting .354 with 27 HR between AA and AAA this season. Recent mid-season lists have him as the #2 prospect in baseball behind Buxton.



Guys who signed that I had nothing for include: Marcus Hatley, Zac Rosscup, Tsuyoshi Wada, Rafael Lopez, Eli Whiteside, Logan Watkins, Ryan Kalish, Matt Szczur, Josh Vitters.


Manny Ramirez did not sign today. I heard he did yesterday. Side paneled everything in sharpie and signed the back of baseball cards.

Probably going to go tomorrow and graph the Sky Sox side.

[RyanH]

Nice Bryant. Arenado is rehabbing and you may be able to catch him. Good luck.

[dscards]

Cubs @ Sky Sox

Hung around pregame on the Cubs side just in case Manny became a different person overnight. He didn't.
Then headed over to the Sky Sox. Got:
Brett Tomko 2/2 cards
Kyle Parker 1/2 program (he's on the cover)
A few other guys signed who I didn't have things for, but overall, they didn't seem like a great signing team. Nolan Arenado did sign for a few minutes pregame but skipped around and I didn't get him.


After the game, I tagged along with some graphers I had been chatting with to the visitors exit just to see what it was like for future reference. Wish I had time to pack some Cubs stuff before I left for CO because a lot of guys signed again. Got a handful on a game program because, why not?
Arismendy Alcantara
Carlos Pimentel
Brian Harper (manager)
Brett Jackson
Matt Szczur
Chris Valaika
Kris Bryant-ticket

I think Javy Baez and Manny were the only players of consequence who didn't sign sometime today.

[dscards]

I made a big order of cards on JustCommons.com a week ago for this series, and they still haven't arrived. Pretty bummed about that. I only grabbed one random box of base when I moved out here, and thankfully was able to dig some cards out of it before the game. Left with everything I brought signed, save for one Jesus Flores card who was released today it sounds like.


Jimmy Paredes 1/1
Clayton Mortensen 1/1
Justin Maxwell 1/1
Joe Saunders 1/1 (didn't know Saunders was traveling, as they just signed him. Another grapher was kind enough to give me a card, which I got done postgame)
Pedro Ciriaco 1/1
Francisco Pena 1/1 (ticket stub-hit his 18th homerun tonight and is having a great year, so I wanted him on something)







Also got Carlos Peguero for an older gentleman who, as he told it, has 3 other old man friends who like to get autographs living in different parts of the country, and they always get 4 cards of each player signed and then send one to each friend. Peguero was 1-per.


John Lamb, probably the best prospect on the team, was easily one of the nicest players I've come across. When he finished signing for the two other guys graphing tonight (my cards of him haven't arrived, grr), he just stood around and talked for a solid five minutes.

[dscards]

My cards didn't arrive today either. Boo. Thankfully, Omaha comes back next month, so I'll have some stockpiled for that.


Did the Sky Sox parking lot pregame.
Juan Nicasio 4/4
Manny Corpas 1/1


While Corpas was signing, there was some pretty solid thunder and lightning. He let out some rapid fire Spanish (which I won't repeat), grabbed my arm, and hid behind me. Said he was afraid of thunder. Really funny guy, spends most of the games wandering up and down the first baseline talking to fans.


Started to absolutely pour after Nicasio and Corpas signed, to the point that I got a flash flood warning text on my phone. Killed the graphing.


After a while, a very high end car pulled in and parked awkwardly outside the Sky Sox player lot. After a few minutes, John Lamb emerged. We caught up with him wandering outside the stadium, and after signing, told us that he had driven himself instead of taking the team bus and had no idea how to get inside. Was pretty funny giving a top prospect directions on how to get into the park.


Also pulled Francisco Pena's HR ball from last night out of the little creek beyond the left field fence. If I can get it to dry out by tomorrow, I'll have him sign it.

[dscards]

One of my highest quantity days graphing.


My cards from JustCommons didn't arrive, so I printed a team sheet for each team and filled 'em up. Had a couple random cards left which I got done.


Cards from Sky Sox:
Rob Scahill (2)
Angelys Nina (1)
Kyle Parker (1)


Omaha:
Jonny Giavotella (1)
Carlos Peguero (1)
Tim Collins (1)


Francisco Pena (1)-HR Ball from Friday night





John Lamb 8x10, (2) 4x6
We thanked Lamb for being so nice all weekend. He said "No problem, if someone wants my autograph, I'm going to give it to them". Real good guy.





Team sheets:
Sky Sox:
Brett Tomko
Greg Burke
Evan Frey
Jason Pridie
Rob Scahill
Dustin Garneau
Yohan Flande
Christian Friedrich
Tim Smalling
Rafael Ynoa
Chris Martin
Brian Burres
Dan Houston
Juan Nicasio
Ryan Wheeler
Pedro Hernandez
Angelys Nina





Omaha:
Tim Collins
Brian Bocock
Sugar Ray Marimon
Aaron Brooks
Clayton Mortenson
Casey Coleman
Wilking Rodriguez
Christian Colon
Buddy Baumann
Spencer Patton
Matt Fields
Michael Mariot
Justin Maxwell
Ryan Verdugo





42 autographs in total. Can't beat that.


In the parking lot postgame, two pretty young kids (5 or 6) were getting their hats and gloves signed. Jason Pridie signed for them, headed back into the clubhouse, and returned with a bat for each kid. Was a really cool gesture.

[dscards]

4/15


Fun opening night in CO Springs. Saturday/Sunday got snowed out, so I didn't get a chance to finish my team items. No complaints though.
Rolled in way too early (10:30 AM) for a night game to do the parking lot and every players car was already there. Figured the day was going to be a bust, but around noon the team bus pulled in and dropped the team off. Players went from the bus, into the stadium, back out with luggage to their cars, then went home, and came back to the stadium...meaning, I had multiple chances at each guy, which was great.


Orlando Arcia-denied me first time in, but signed an 11x14 when he came out with luggage and an OMLB when he arrived back at the stadium.




Former Twins Josmil Pinto and Alex Presley were both great.



Eric Young Jr.



Will Middlebrooks was carrying multiple boxes of bats, but was kind enough to set it all down to sign for me. Love this shot.



Worked on a team sheet for both teams (Memphis inside pregame)



Also nabbed Carlos Peguero, Sam Tuivalala, Deck McGuire, and Sky Sox manager Rick Sweet on cards beyond the ones pictured.

[dscards]

High quantity day at the ballpark due to a day-day doubleheader.


Pre-game (parking lot):
24 players, manager Rick Sweet on Sky Sox team ball. Need to figure out who the one player I missed was!
Orlando Arcia 8x10
Garin Cecchini 8x10
Will Middlebrooks 2 cards
Rick Sweet program


In the stadium:
19 Nashville Sounds (AAA-Oakland) on team 8x10




Cards:
Jesse Hahn (4)
Bryan Anderson
Max Muncy
Sean Manea
Tyler Ladendorf (2)
Dillon Overton (2)
Rangel Ravelo
Renato Nunez (2)
Chad Pinder
Steve Scarsone (2)
Matt Olson (2)
Jorge Lopez


Sean Manea SS foul ball
Joey Wendle SS HR ball
Orlando Arcia SS OMLB-Wasn't going to bother him for another signature, but he hit a 3-run walkoff to end game one and I couldn't resist. He always seems to sign balls lightly.

[mberger718]

Some really nice hits on some big name! Sorry your Just Commons order didn't arrive, I've ordered from them twice and I think it took only about 4 or 5 days each time before I got the cards.

[dscards]

Fun day at the ballpark.


Drove down to watch Julio Urias, one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball pitch against Jorge Lopez, the Brewers' top pitching prospect. Neither disappointed, with Urias going 6 shutout, and Lopez giving up just 2 hits through 5.


Got there way too early (to avoid Denver rush hour traffic). Garin Cecchini, also there too early, stood and chatted with me for a solid 15 minutes about baseball and teaching. He graciously offered to leave me tickets to the game.


Sky Sox autographs:
Garin Cecchini card
Josmil Pinto 8x10, game used foul ball from Target Field
Taylor Jungmann 8x10
Rick Sweet-program
Jorge Lopez 2 8x10s
Keon Broxton 8x10
Will Middlebrooks 8x10, card
Orlando Arcia 8x10, 2 cards, ball (hadn't planned to get him a 4th time, but I picked up a foul ball on my way to say goodbye to a few graphers in the parking lot and Arcia happened to be standing there signing when I arrived)
Tim Dillard 4x6, ball
Eric Young Jr. ball


The Young/Dillard ball is one of my favorite silly items. I interviewed Dillard last week for my website about his hilarious Twitter account (@dimtillard). He remakes popular movie scenes with his teammates in the clubhouse and ballpark--worth checking out. I recommended he do the Black Hammer/White Lightning scene from Major League II and he did not disappoint.
https://t.co/e5eE0G0uEs









OK Dodgers
Wasn't planning to try for them besides Urias, but I picked up a batting practice ball on my way in and figured why not.
Put 15ish guys on it.
Julio Urias 11x14-he was very tough all series, I hear. Glad to get him, as he'll be headed up soon.