Mike Bordick, 2003 Topps Heritage #276

Instead of having an angel or a devil on his shoulder, Mike Bordick had a defensively competent - if offensively limited - shortstop whispering in his ear.

Marty Cordova, 2003 Topps Heritage #329

The background of Marty Cordova's card is blank, a washed-out slate of blue that brings to mind a solid sheet of ice. We're smack in the middle of January, and it's one of those gray, frigid winter days that makes me want to wrap myself in a cocoon of sheets and blankets. If I had my way, I might refuse to leave the house until the temperature nudges back over 50 degrees. The alarm sounded at 5:30 this morning and I desperately pushed back the curtain from the bedroom window, hoping to see snow on the ground. No such luck, and for good measure Janet rolled over and told me that she hadn't gotten any delay or closing alerts on her phone. I laid in the dark for five minutes, arguing with myself about whether I should steal another hour of sleep and warmth and comfort, or if I should suck it up and get moving. Since I work on a flex schedule, "suck it up" won out, but it was a bitter fight. There's still more than two months of winter left, and this weather is already wearing me down.
 I think bears have the right idea.

Gary Matthews, Jr., 2003 Topps Heritage #377

Aw, chin up, Gary! There's no need to be so glum! Sure, the O's are having a rough weekend down in Tampa St. Petersburg, but they're still a much better team then they were in your time. That probably has something to do with their nucleus of young stars such as Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and Manny Machado. It's nice to not have to rely on schmoes like Gary Matthews, Jr., Marty Cordova, and Tony Batista, you know? Oh, right. You wouldn't know.

Rodrigo Lopez, 2003 Topps Heritage #27

Where is Rodrigo Lopez these days, you ask? Well, I hope at least one of you really is asking. It can't just be me. After all, the righthander is the winningest Orioles pitcher of this decade, having notched 60 victories between 2002 and 2006. In addition to representing Mexico in the ongoing World Baseball Classic, he just signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies. It's a longshot attempt to get his career back on track after a couple years of arm problems. In 2007, he pitched reasonably well with the Rockies, going 5-4 with a 4.42 ERA. But he was shut down that summer with a bad elbow, and missed a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Last August he signed with the Braves, but pitched only three games in the minors and had his 2009 option declined. With Philadelphia, he doesn't even have an invite to big league camp but is expected to make the AAA Lehigh Valley staff if he's in decent shape. It's a far leap from the IronPigs to the Phillies, but stranger things have happened.