Spiraling out of control...upwards.

After a career of minor league team sets and "prospect" cards, Boof's big break last year landed him on the checklists of a number of premium and high-end baseball card sets. A Boof card can now set you back as much as $50 (if you don't count the Boof Bonser/Francisco Liriano/Justin Verlander/Jered Weaver/Jon Papelbon autograph card - someone wanted $350). For a treat, then, here is Boof's first autograph card, a 2001 Upper Deck Minor League Centennial autograph, which yours truly, Voltaire, bought for $4 in 2002, which is now worth...$10, I guess.

Finally!

With spring training a mere five weeks away, the marvel of Boof's standing within the Twins organization has begun to sink in. Depending on whose reports you read, Boof will begin the season as either the #2 or #3 starter in the Twins' rotation. This from a pitcher called up in mid-season last year, with sadly mediocre numbers in the minors the past few seasons.

The situation may say more about the Twins' depth than Boof's ability, but Bonser has finally established himself in the majors. If Lohse and Silva hadn't had career-worst years and Liriano hadn't ruined his elbow in '06, Boof was beginning to look like a minor-league lifer.

Instead, he got to start Game 2 of the ALDS (which the Twins lost through no fault of Boof's - 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 K's). Now he gets to start 34 Game 2's in 2007. Boof finally got his break.