Top 5 Relics/Autographs: Atlanta Braves

During my 74th and final frankenset page, I commented briefly on the Philadelphia Phillies, stating that with the new additions of Zack Wheeler, Didi Gregorius, and Joe Girardi running things, they should find themselves at the top of the NL East next season.

The keyword in that sentence is should because as we've seen, Baseball is wildly unpredictable. I mean, who genuinely thought, following the departure of Bryce Harper, that the Nationals would be World Champions this year?

The Nationals may have surprised everyone when it came to the postseason, but don't forget, the Braves captured their 2nd consecutive NL East title this season with a record of 97-65, beating out Washington by 4 games.  

Ronald Acuña Jr, though slightly overrated in my books, has established himself as one of the game's brightest stars at such a young age, and his teammate Ozzie Albies can't be discounted either. 

The talent doesn't end there; Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, and the possible return of Josh Donaldson complete this intimidating roster.

In my eyes, the Braves are a respectable starting pitcher away from becoming true championship contenders. It'll be interesting to see how Atlanta, Washington, and Philadelphia, as well as the New York Mets, fight it out to see who takes home the division title in 2020.

With all of that in mind, let's take a look at my top 5 Atlanta Braves relics/autographs.

#5 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini Framed Relics Greg Maddux

As someone who's an avid collector of Topps Allen & Ginter each year upon its release, I am in full support of eliminating all relics aside from the mini framed versions. Simply put, the standard relics do not hold a candle to cards like the Greg Maddux relic above.

Although both the design of the card as well as that of the frame differ from year to year, the central idea remains the same; the frame always incorporates some sort of tropical-esque plant whereas the design is consistently an off-white color with other distinctive features.

The A&G mini framed relics are so spectacular, especially by the dwindling number of relic cards produced nowadays, that the plain white jersey swatch doesn't bother me in the least.

#4 2007 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relics Chipper Jones

It's interesting how much a seemingly minuscule detail can break or, in this case, make the entire card. Take this Chipper Jones '07 Heritage Clubhouse Collection relic, for example. If not for Topps' decision to use a star as an outline for the jersey piece, this card would be at #5, not #4.

It also helps that I've had this card in my collection since the release of 2007 Heritage over 12 years ago, so it has more sentimental value than, say the Greg Maddux relic. Nonetheless, details like this are what I often look for when it comes to cards, and this one, in particular, helped this card big time.

#3 2003 Topps Gallery Original Bats Andruw Jones

Even if I didn't particularly like these 2003 Topps Gallery relic cards, I'd still give Topps credit for taking a risk with this outside-the-box design. However, the sheer variety of different colors as well as the stacked blocks, in my eyes, is pretty interesting. 

The result? A card that is more than worthy of this top 5 countdown. The card may be undeniably busy, but risks like this were necessary back when Topps had competition from Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck. Now, all they have to do is slightly change the design, and they can use the same kind of set every year.

#2 Topps Gallery Autographs Green Parallel Mike Soroka

Mike Soroka had a historic 2019 "rookie" season (he was also a rookie in 2018), so I'm glad I took this rookie autograph of his off eBay and held onto it myself. The card, which is numbered 46/99 on the back, is probably my greatest pull ever from this product.

Soroka's 2.68 ERA with 142 strikeouts in fewer than 175 innings pitched will cement him as Atlanta's ace going into the 2020 season. With the signing of Cole Hamels, the Braves pitching staff seems more than capable of aiding this team in their playoff push.

#1 2004 Topps Retired Signatures Orlando Cepeda

Truth be told, this countdown had far more competition than I originally expected, but even when I was debating what cards would make the top 5, I knew this Orlando Cepeda autograph would occupy the #1 spot.

The old-school uniform combined with the chrome cardstock is a crazy enough combination that it actually works. But the best element of this card has to be the way the blue sharpie pops in contrast to the black border. 

It's like Topps took the best elements of the 1960s and 2000s and combined them into 1 fabulous card. Then, by adding Cepeda's signature, this card becomes a no-brainer for the #1 spot.

They Both Finally Signed!

Over 6 months ago, I posted my predictions for the 2018-19 MLB offseason, almost all of which ended up being incorrect. 

At the time, mid-November, I believed that I was posting these forecasts on the late side, for I fully expected the 8 or so superstars whom I discussed to sign contracts soon after I made these picks.

I never knew how incorrect I'd be. It's taken over half a year for all the players in my offseason predictions post to officially sign contracts. In the last couple of days, pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel made it official, agreeing to terms with the Braves and Cubs respectively. 

Both star pitchers will now earn less money in 2019 than the $17.9 million guaranteed dollars offered by the Red Sox and Astros following the 2018 season. 

In fact, Kimbrel and Keuchel's decision to decline those offers is what caused them not to get signed until early June; teams did not want to face a draft pick penalty by signing players who declined their qualifying offers.

That, combined with Kimbrel and, to a lesser degree, Keuchel's alleged outrageous asking price, has effectively caused these 2 All-Star pitchers to miss half a season. 

While I'm thrilled that Kimbrel will be playing for the Cubs, my 2nd favorite team, I'm equally glad that the rumors that surrounded these guys for months will finally die down.

I won't be going super in-depth, but I want to speak briefly about both of the free agent signings, starting with Keuchel's 1-year $13 million dollar deal with the Atlanta Braves.

For whatever reason, Dallas Keuchel decided to leave the 2017 World Series Champions, the Houston Astros, and take less money to join Atlanta. I'm not discrediting the successful franchise that the Braves have become, but I'm struggling to grasp exactly why Keuchel decided to leave Houston.

On paper, Houston is a much more well-rounded team than Atlanta; they have some of the games most talented hitters and one of the most feared rotations in Baseball. Keuchel was a part of that, winning the AL Cy Young award in 2015. 

I just don't understand why he'd throw all of that away and miss half of the 2019 season. Although I expect him to succeed in Atlanta, the decision is a tad baffling.

Keuchel's yet to have his press conference with his new team, but the 31-year old is expected to make a start in Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. I'm sure he, along with Kimbrel, need a few weeks to get the swing of things before they appear in an MLB game for the first time in 2019.

Because of that, I don't foresee either one of them playing for at least a week or 2. In fact, I believe that I heard Kimbrel won't appear in a game until around June 25th after signing with the Cubs a couple of days ago. 

Speaking of Craig Kimbrel, the 7-time All-Star missed out on a potential 8th selection by not agreeing to terms with a team until early June. However, after having his press conference with Chicago, all that's left to do is wait for him to make his Chicago Cubs debut as well as his return to the National League.

While his 2019 season is going to be a bit of a transition, Kimbrel's 3-year $43 million dollar contract with the Cubs ensures that he'll have a couple more seasons to regain his status as a top 2 closer in Baseball. 

He may not have earned the reported $100 million dollars that he desired, but he'll be earning reasonable money while playing for a perennial playoff contender.

I definitely expect the rest of the 2019 season to be an uphill battle for both pitchers, especially Kimbrel. Nevertheless, I have faith in Kimbrel's ability to come back strong for the Cubs in both 2020 and 2021. 

After months of uncertainty, I'm glad to finally know where Kimbrel will be playing for the next few seasons. Better yet, he'll take the field for my 2nd favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, in a number of weeks. 

Keuchel, on the other hand, basically signed a 1/2 year contract with the Braves. Pretty soon, he'll have to go through the same thing he experienced during the last offseason following the 2019 season. A return to Atlanta or Houston is probable, and I don't think anyone would be shocked to see him end up on the Yankees as well.

2019 Predictions; NL East

In 2018, the American League East was arguably the toughest division in all of Baseball, featuring 3 teams with 90 or more wins and 2 with 100+. Now, in 2019, that title will likely go to the NL East where 4 of the 5 teams are destined for success this time around.

Last season, the Atlanta Braves, much to my surprise, ran away with the NL East division, finishing 90-72 and 8 games ahead of the Washington Nationals. The Phillies ended up in 3rd place after a dismal last few weeks of the season, including a 2-8 record in their final 10 games. The Mets were not too far behind Philadelphia, and the Marlins were in a league of their own with 98 losses.

Although they lost Bryce Harper to free agency, the Nationals boosted their already-strong rotation, making it one of the best in Baseball. Besides signing Patrick Corbin to a 6-year $140 million dollar deal, Washington didn't make too many significant moves this offseason.

The Mets, on the other hand, did the exact opposite as the Nationals by completing a blockbuster trade with the Mariners. After acquiring Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano from Seattle, the Mets are clearly ready to contend in the NL East. 

Even though they've established themselves as a legitimate threat, just wonder if the Mets have what it takes to contend with the Braves and Phillies.

In what has been the toughest division to predict thus far, the NL East's top teams proved challenging to rank. I'm definitely expecting a shake-up in this division in 2019, and I'm hoping to be more accurate than I was with the NL East last year.

1st Place; Philadelphia Phillies

Although they fell off the map towards the end of 2018, I have extremely high hopes for the Phillies in 2019. In addition to signing marquee free agent Bryce Harper to a mega contract worth $330 million dollars, the Phillies have all the pieces for a World Series run.

Beyond the stats he puts up, Harper's going to leave a significant impact on this Phillies team. I can definitely see him aiding in the development of Rhys Hoskins who struggled with his batting average in 2018. Jean Segura will also provide a veteran presence as one of the most underrated players in Baseball.

As far as the pitching goes, they have a former Cy Young award winner in Jake Arrieta and a young stud in Aaron Nola. They don't have the strongest pitching beyond those 2 starters, so hopefully, the new guys like Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto can help out.

Simply put, if this top-tier roster performs to the best of its abilities, the Phillies will make their way to the top of the NL East division.

2nd Place; Atlanta Braves

Rookie phenom Ronald Acuña Jr was unbelievable in 2018, earning the NL Rookie of the Year award and MVP votes. Up until the 2nd half, Ozzie Albies was also fantastic. However, will this young Braves team remain consistent after exceeding expectations in 2018?

Only time will tell, but resigning All-Star Nick Markakis was a huge step in the right direction for Atlanta. They have the foundation for a strong rotation that includes Julio Teheran and Sean Newcomb. They finished 8th in Baseball last season with a 3.75 ERA, so they definitely have a well-rounded team overall.

In a weaker division, I could see the Braves finishing 1st with over 90 wins. Although they have a strong chance of finishing 2019 with a higher win total than last season, I don't believe it's enough to beat out the Phillies.

3rd Place; New York Mets

Despite a historic performance that included a 1.70 ERA and 269 strikeouts, 2018 NL Cy Young award winner, Jacob DeGrom, managed just 10 wins in 2018. This was thanks to a Mets lineup that failed to provide even 3 runs for DeGrom most times that he pitched.

In an attempt to rectify that and provide a stronger closer to maintain DeGrom's win, the Mets completed the previously-mentioned blockbuster trade with the Mariners to acquire Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. 

Although Diaz is only 25 years of age, Cano is 36 years old, and that's something that worries me. Even though they have a few young hitters in place, New York can't depend on a 36-year old Cano as their primary means of offensive production. 

Alas, if that's their plan in 2019, they won't be able to contend with the Phillies and Braves for the top spot in this division.

4th Place; Washington Nationals

The Nationals may have one of the strongest rotations in Baseball, including Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin, but the departure of Bryce Harper is going to leave a void that's going to take time to fill. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Nationals and the Mets switched spots in the division if Juan Soto continues to develop as one of Baseball's best hitters. His unbelievable performance in 2018 established him as the building block for Washington's future. 

Along with Trea Turner, the Nationals have the young pieces necessary to manage without Bryce Harper. However, I don't see this team returning to the postseason as is, especially in the toughest division in Baseball

5th Place; Miami Marlins

Is this decision even debatable? I seriously doubt that any of the 4 talented teams in the NL East are going to finish below the Miami Marlins, a team that traded away their last star player, J.T. Realmuto, to the Phillies over the offseason.

Besides Starlin Castro, this team has virtually no experience, and it's going to be a few years before all the prospects they traded for are finally MLB-ready. Until then, it's going to be a series of difficult seasons for Miami, all while lacking a true franchise player.

For Derek Jeter's sake, I pray that the prospects Miami traded for develop the way their supposed to or better. Because, if not, all these years of mediocrity will have been for nothing.

Top 5 Cards; Craig Kimbrel

Slowly but surely, players have begun to sign or be traded to new teams in what has already been an eventful offseason despite being just over a month into it. 

With the Nationals' signing of Patrick Corbin to a 6-year deal yesterday, one of the major free agents is off the market. In addition to Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel is one of the top pitchers remaining up for grabs, certainly the best relief pitcher after Edwin Diaz was traded to the Mets.

By his standards, 2018 was a down year for 7-time All-Star closer, Craig Kimbrel. Granted, his 2.74 ERA was nothing to sneeze at, but when compared to his 1.43 ERA in 2018, it highlights his slight dip in performance. 

He still managed 96 strikeouts and 42 saves, but the rise of the previously mentioned Edwin Diaz caused Kimbrel to be outshined.

According to MLB, he's seeking a 6-year deal, keeping the 2011 NL Rookie of the Year under contract until the end of his age 37-season. Given how inconsistent relief pitchers can be, the length of the contract is very unlikely to happen. 

If anything, I could see him coming back to Boston on a 1-year deal similar to what Mike Moustakas did last year with a salary similar to that of the qualifying offer of $17.9 million. Or, he could shock us all and get the 6-year deal he's asking for from some team ready to make a World Series push.

Even if he goes elsewhere, Kimbrel's 3 seasons in Boston were what helped him become one of my favorite players, and his 2017 season in which he struck out nearly 50% of the batters he faced was nothing short of legendary. 

It's a big reason why I began to collect him more seriously given that his player collection is currently at 117 cards. Out of all the options, I chose 5 that I thought were above all the rest.

#5 2013 Topps Chrome 1972 Design

I would much rather have seen a 45-year anniversary set for 1972 Topps in 2017 instead of the monstrosity of wood-border '87 cards that we got, but I'll settle for 2013 instead which commemorated the set in Topps Archives, Flagship with minis, and an insert set in Topps Chrome which is where the Kimbrel card comes in. 

The red border works incredibly well with the crisp looking Atlanta Braves home uniform, and I must say that '72 Topps looks way better on chrome cardstock than I would've thought. It makes me super excited for 2021 Topps Heritage when we'll finally get to see my favorite set of all-time in a 500-card checklist.

#4 2015 Topps Heritage Chrome Purple Refractor

While I'm on the topic of Heritage, one of my favorite parts of the brand year after year is the Heritage Chrome cards, though they've seemingly become increasingly rare over the last couple of years. From the base chrome to refractors and the purple refractors above, it's always fun to pull one of these out of Heritage retail or hobby packs, and it's especially thrilling to hit a purple refractor hot box like I did out of 2018 Topps Heritage back in March.

#3 2016 Topps Museum

If Topps wants to come close to creating a Topps Flagship set as exciting as 2015 Topps, they're gonna have to experiment and find an excellent design that incorporates black borders. Though it will prove challenging, it's something that collectors have been asking for; an upgraded 2007 Topps, so to speak.

Kimbrel's 2016 Topps Museum card highlights all the things I love about the product aside from the fact that many of the cards were miss-cut. Black and silver is a classic combination that has never truly failed to work. All Topps has to do is create a modern set with those 2 colors and given that it's the job of multitudes of people, someone should be able to figure it out.

#2 2013 Topps Heritage Retail Red Parallel

If Topps was still rolling out these retail-exclusive red parallels 3 years later when Kimbrel was on the Red Sox, one of those cards would undoubtedly make it to the #1 spot on the list. The possible combination of the red border with an alternate home Red Sox jersey is too good to ignore. 

With that being said, I also can't ignore how fantastic the red borders of the 2013 Topps Heritage set look. As one of the many cards I picked up from The National, I was able to discover a new parallel that I had never known existed beforehand. To do that and add to the Kimbrel Collection is a win-win for sure.

#1 2018 Topps 1983 Design Black Parallel

Like I said before, Topps is missing out on major opportunities by not producing a Flagship set with black borders. The color of the border helps to enhance this insert from 2018 Topps Series 1 more than nearly any other color, not to mention how good of a job Topps did with recreating the iconic '83 set.

The chosen image is yet another detail of this card that was executed well. Though I wouldn't initially think of choosing an image with the red jersey, showing Kimbrel jogging from the bullpen, I quickly realized how well it works with the rest of the card.

Somewhere in the world, there are 10 of these cards with red borders, obviously making them quite rare. I can only imagine how fantastic this card would look with a red border along with the red uniform and 1983 Topps design. Someday, I hope to track one of those down. 

That'll be step #1. Step #2 will be being willing to pay the price that the card ends up costing.