Archive for the ‘TTM’ Category

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TTM Race: Mid-Season Edition – 2nd Place

July 28, 2009

Checkered Flags

Remember the TTM Race?!
(…you’ll never guess who won second place…)

So, yesterday I made reference to a certain envelope that made its way into my pile of goodies. This certain envelope, as I had stated, made it quite clear what the main portion of the contents were. It was your job then to guess what it was. As it stands, you did not guess. Shame on you. Alas, nonetheless, heretofore, othersnootywords, I’ll give in to my blog temptations and share the big secret.

Obviously, this has to do with a few cards that I had sent out earlier this summer for a little TTM action. Everyone guessed correctly on who would send back first. Not a big surprise there. The player that responded next? Well, he didn’t even get one single vote. NOT ONE! This player’s card was sent to a minor league affiliate where he was pitching at the time. He was recalled back to Minnesota not long ago, so I figured that if I hadn’t received his card back by now, I won’t at all. I mean, he’s here in Minnesota, his card is in New York.

And, who, pray tell, is this mystery man of mystery? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s none other than…

Second Place!

Wow. Totally unexpected. When I saw the envelope, I told my wife that I thought it was going to be Michael Cuddyer. The big surprise in this is that the card was received yesterday and was sent from Rochester, New York on July 24. What’s so weird about that? He was pitching in Los Angeles that day. Hell, he was pitching in Los Angeles the day before that! There must have been a nice pile of letters in the Red Wings outgoing box, and he must have quickly gone through his fan mail just after he got recalled. What a cool surprise!

The surprise, however, kept on getting cooler. When I was slowly opening the TTM envelope in front of my wife, my eyes widened. Instead of a card, I slowly pulled out a small piece of paper, likely taken from the note that I wrote to him…

Note

Woah. Totally floored. This is the first note I’ve ever received from a Major League player and… Mikey liked it!! I wonder if this note means that he would like one for himself, or perhaps an entire stack to hand out to friends, family, and colleagues. Either way, I’m sending one directly to him c/o The Minnesota Twins. Thanks, Jesse!

Flag image provided by GoogleFlags.


I got yet another package in the mail today. Yay! It was a trade package going towards my Allen & Ginter Project. Yay yay!! I’ll post about that tomorrow night so as not to diminish the utter importance of the trade and, well, my Allen & Ginter Project! I mean, for real. It’s a big deal. That’s how I feel.

Jessical Beil.

Ahem.

That reminds me. I made reference to Dave Matthews Disco last night. I stood corrected earlier tonight. It was my wife blasting Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog. I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better. I mean, at least Matthews is an accomplished and talented musician. Neil Patrick Harris is… Horrible. (boo…)


Quick blog update. You might notice that I’ve moved some things around over to the right. I’ve added a Release Calendar that I hope will be useful to both you and myself. Seriously, I completely forgot when Upper Deck X was coming out. Now I won’t miss out!

Lastly, I’ve gotta give a little shoutout to Pat Neshek board member, Pistonsfan, who is a loyal reader of The Wax (this wax, not that other much more popular Wax), and runs his own blog called TTM Autographs. Go on and check him out!

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TTM Race: Mid-Season Edition – WINNER

July 9, 2009

Checkered Flags

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday!
(I can’t believe this only lasted one week)

After only one week, I ALREADY have a TTM back. Some of you voted on the seven cards that went out to predict which card would come back signed first. Let’s check the results.

Joe Nathan – 14
Michael Cuddyer – 6
Nick Punto – 2
Anthony Swarzak – 1
Jesse Crain – 0
Sean Henn – 0
Jose Morales – 0

Sean Henn was sent to AAA the day after I mailed out the cards, so there was no way I was getting his first. I likely won’t get his back at all. Swarzak was sent up a couple of days after I sent out his card to the AAA team he was playing for at the time, so he probably won’t see his card, if at all, until he gets sent back down. I’ve never gotten Punto TTM, and I’ve yet to get any latino player TTM. Nathan and Cuddy, however, have never failed me. But who came through this time?

Was it a surprise?

Was it out of the blue?

Was it signed?

Was it who the majority of the voters believed it would be?

Well…

…let’s find out.

And, the winner is…

…drum roll…

Nathan

Flag image provided by GoogleFlags.

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TTM Race: Mid-Season Edition

June 30, 2009

Checkered Flags

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday!
(trust me, you’ll need a little more than the edge for this one)

Before my computer took a nose-dive into PC oblivion, I had a bunch of GameDay Graphers prepared for a handful of Twins to sign at the recent Twins Autograph Party. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to every player that I wanted or needed, so now it’s time to try my luck at getting these guys inked up through the mail (TTM–not to be confused with A2M).

Graphers

I’m not wasting my time on guys that I know won’t sign for free, especially through the mail (like Morneau and Young). Instead, I’m focusing on guys who are proven TTMers, rookies, AAA guys that made appearances this year, and lower-level pro-ball journeymen.

Joe Nathan
Michael Cuddyer
Nick Punto
Sean Henn
Jose Morales
Jesse Crain
Anthony Swarzak

Nathan and Cuddy are excellent TTMers, and Punto is alright, although I’m still waiting on a card I sent out to him well over a year ago. Henn is a newcomer, and Morales is a young 3rd-string catcher. Jesse Crain was recently sent down to AAA, and Swarzak was called up earlier this year to make some spot starts for a then-injured Glen Perkins, but was sent back down when Perk returned.

The question is, though… whose card will I get first? Whose will I get last? Will I get them all back? Should I have my wife write out the letters so they don’t think some middle-aged graph hound is out to score a quick buck? Will Jose Morales understand English? These are all excellent questions, but we’ll just focus on one tonight… answers to the other questions along with any other comments are more than welcome.

Flag image provided by GoogleFlags.

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My First GameDay Grapher TTM Success

March 24, 2009

Calendar
It Only Took 34 Days
(that’s pretty fast for me, even if he is no Neshek)

A little more than a month ago, I mailed out my first GameDay Graphers for some Twins TTM autos. I gotta be honest with ya, I don’t have much luck with TTM autos, even with the Twins who are typically great graphers. I’m sure I’ve got that autograph hound stigma from being a bearded 30ish year old guy who wants autographs of his favorite players. Am I of the few who collect these graphs for the sole purpose of actually, ya know, COLLECTING them? Stupid Joe Hounds ruining all of my fun.

That won’t stop me, however, from showing off and celebrating my very first GameDay Grapher TTM success. It was sent out on 2/17/09, sent back on 3/19/09, and received on 3/23/09. Ladies and gentlemen, Matt Tolbert…

Tolbert Success

Oddly enough, this is also the first GameDay Grapher I have signed in black ink. As you can see, however, the black Sharpie didn’t smudge, smear, or bubble. There is slight streaking within the signature, but it’s hardly a glaring defect. I typically try to use Staedtler Lumocolor blue pens on these bad boys, but, as you can see, black Sharpies work just as well.

Now I’m just going to sit and wait for my Gardy to get back. I’m not actually expecting it back until next season–if at all. Getting Tolbert today gives me hope. I guess this means that I have to send my autograph back to Matty now. FOR FREE!

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Let the Countdown Begin

February 17, 2009

Calendar
Spring Training Can Mean Only One Thing
(time to ship out some TTMs)

In light of a recent surprise success in scoring a TTM AU, and since it’s the beginning of Spring Training, I think it’s high time to test the early season autographing waters. Being that this is the inaugural season of my GameDay Graphers, I figured I would start my TTM season with a couple of Twins from whom I have yet to receive an autograph.

Gardy Grapher

Tolbert Grapher

If I can get these guys back, I’ll definitely consider sending out some more. If not, I might just have to reserve my GameDays for in person opportunities like TwinsFest. I have heard that Gardy is a great TTMer, but sometimes will hold the cards until the offseason. As of last August, Tolbert has a 64% TTM success rate with zero failures. I sincerely hope neither card fails to return.

So, off to the mailbox they go. Today is Day One in the countdown to their return to my grubby little Twins cards collecting hands. Who do you think will sign first? How long do you think it will take to get each card back–if at all? C’mon, Gardy and Tolbert. Let’s make a race out of it! First one back gets my autograph! FOR FREE!!