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2007 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Adam LaRoche Bat Auto /5
I've been wanting to show some of my mid 2000's Pirate cards. This is a nice Adam LaRoche bat variation from UD Sweet Spot. Pirate fans were very excited when LaRoche was obtained from the Braves. He was just entering his prime and coming off a productive season. While LaRoche put up stellar counting stats with the Bucs he just never developed into the star the Pirates were hoping. He was a notoriously slow starter who did most of his damage late in the season when the Pirates were out of it. The Pirates ended up cutting ties with LaRoche while his value was low, so we didn't even get a quality player in return. LaRoche has reestablished his value with the Nationals and is now a key part of their lineup.
LaRoche is a strange player. He's very good, but every team he has been on has looked actively for an upgrade over him literally every off season.
ReplyDeleteAnd his dad had the most awesome eephus pitch I ever saw -- the LaRoche La Lob.
You are exactly right. He is a serviceable first baseman, but his skill set always leaves you wanting more.
DeleteThat's a pretty card.
ReplyDeleteNice find, especially considering how rare those are.
ReplyDeleteIt's the only one I've seen of LaRoche on eBay.
Deletegreat googly moogly... that's the one sweet spot I don't have yet. And you do.
ReplyDeleteI have the black glove, the brown glove, the black baseball, the white baseball with red seams, the white baseball with silver seams, the white baseball with red and blue seams, and the maple bat.
I have never seen the black bat.
It is glorious.
If you ever want to swap it for other Piratish stuff, please keep me in mind.
I'm not going to say no to a possible trade, but this one is pretty entrenched in my Pirate collection. What kind of Pirate stuff do you have?
Deletesend me your email addy and I'll send over some scans...
Deletemaybe I have something you'll like.
mattscott82@gmail.com
DeleteNice LaRoche.
ReplyDeleteYeah he is one of those frustrating slow starters. This season he started out OK, but it didn't help that he had been out on the DL when the rest of the Nats original opening-day starting lineup was also on the DL. Fortunately for the Nationals it didn't take him log to get back into the "swing of things".
That crazy good season he had a few years ago is what the Pirates thought they were going to get. Instead they a guy who would do most of his damage past the trade deadline. Really it is a perfect situation for the Nats as they can continue to give him short little deals until something better comes along or if they move Zimmerman to first.
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