Remembering what it was like to have hope

Is there a better modern rookie class than 2011 Topps Update?  2018 Update may one day overtake it with the likes of Soto, Acuna, and Otaku but for now 2011 Topps Update has the rookie card of this generation's greatest player (Mike Trout)

In addition to Trout, let's run through some of the rookie cards that can be found in the set

Mike Trout

Paul Goldschmidt

Chris Sale

Jose Altuve

Anthony Rizzo

DJ LeMahieu

Eric Hosmer

Mike Moustakas

JD Martinez

Charlie Blackmon

Brandon Crawford

Kyle Seater

Dee Gordon

Brad Hand

Eric Thames

Cutch has his own All Star Card in the 2011 Topps Update Set, but he also has a cameo on the Jay Bruce All Star Card and the Chase d'Arnaud rookie card. 

When Chase was drafted, I thought he would become a long term fixture at shortstop for the Pirates.  

I got the opportunity to see him play a lot in the minor leagues and even got a signed bat from him during his time in AA Altoona Curve.

He came up and made his debut in 2011 in an Interleague matchup versus the Boston Red Sox.  He tripled for his first base hit.  

After several injuries and the emergence of Jordy Mercer in the shortstop position for the Pirates, Chase bounced around with a few other organizations including the Phillies, Braves, Padres, and Giants. 

I was sad to see Chase leave the Pirates organization as I always viewed his ceiling to be in the Trea Turner mold.  Chase was a burner on the base paths, had some pop in the low minors, and could play all infield and outfield positions at an above average rate.  

I picked up this Hope parallel (one of the greatest looking parallels ever made for Flagship) of Chase d'Arnaud back in March.  It cost me $17 delivered, which is a bit expensive for a guy with a triple slash line of .222/.273/.316 and a -0.7WAR but I will always remember Chase for his kindness while in the minors and for giving Pirates fans HOPE (pun intended) of a brighter future

Chase wasn't part of any of the Pirates postseason rosters, but he was fun to watch play and especially run the bases.

Chase currently has a YouTube that he updates with songs (he's a guitarist and singer) and gives some insight to behind the scenes for baseball players.

You can check out Chase's YouTube channel here.

His last game played was for the Giants in 2018 after a career that spanded 7 seasons of "taxi squadding" between the majors and minors.

The Pirates are now loaded with prospects at the SS position in addition to guys like Kevin Newman, Cole Tucker, and Hoy Jun Park at the major league level.  Who is the Pirates shortstop of the future?  I'm not sure who their shortstop is now.  

Let's take it one day at a time...

What forgotten players have you bought cards of recently?    

Cardboard Cameos : The Rocker

Chase d'Arnaud may not be a household name even among baseball fans.  He has bounced around from the Pirates to Phillies to Braves to Red Sox to Padres in his utility bench player career.

When he was drafted by the Pirates he was expected to be the "shortstop of the future."  He was an above average fielder with a bit of pop and a lot of speed.

I got to see Chase win the Eastern League Championship in 2010 as a member of the Altoona Curve.  That was a year after him and the Crawdads had won the A league championship.  He felt like he would help bring winning ways to the Steel City.

Chase made his debut in 2011 and in an interleague matchup against the Red Sox in Pittsburgh, Chase laced a triple off Jon Lester for his first MLB hit.  I thought that Chase would help anchor the infield and get rid of Ronny Cedeno at shortstop.

Injuries and bad plate discipline made Jordy Mercer slide into the "shortstop of the future" and Chase has begun to follow his other dream, music.

His band may one day make him a household name.

For now, he will appear as a Cardboard Cameos for my Collecting Cutch blog.

Here's a video for his song "Sucker"