MLB Briefs

• Alfonso Soriano had a big night on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with 2 HR, a 2B & 5 RBI against the Pirates. He has 12 HR & 22 RBI so far in September, his most productive month this season. Soriano's 99 Topps Traded Auto has been selling for between $95-105 through the August-September period, down from around $120 during June & July. Soriano is just 2 stolen bases away from having a 30 HR-20 SB season (he hasn't had a stolen base since August 1).
• Boston ace Josh Beckett earned his league-leading 20th W of the season on Friday against the D-Rays, out-dueling the young up-and-comer, Scott Kazmir. Beckett's 99 Ultimate Victory RC, probably his best base rookie card, has been averaging around $19 TAC this month, down from $24 in August. Collectors seem to have taken an increased interest in his 00 SPx Auto #'d 1500. It's averaging $57.50 in September, up from $35 in August, and $50 in July.
• Carlos Pena is having a slugger's dream of a season this year (see my related post on Sports Lizard) He went deep twice on Saturday to increase his season total to 42 HR (the most home runs he's had in previous seasons is 27 back in '04). Pena's 99 Topps Traded Auto was averaging around $60 TAC through the first 10 days of the September, but then strangely fell to around $20 the following week (one actually sold for $13.99 on 9/13!). Maybe collectors are being skeptical about his future prospects. I would say that if you can find one for $15-20, it's a pretty good price to buy at. Given his history, I just think that he needed to find the right team setting that would allow him to really show what he can do, and Tampa Bay just might be that team.