tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39921359988364791762024-03-14T19:48:37.081+08:00RGB CardsAustralia's Foremost Baseball Card Blog (since 2010)Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-76394494191153956272013-02-23T09:58:00.000+08:002013-02-23T09:58:43.095+08:00Annoyed, but notFirst, the annoyed bit. Let's get that out of the way first.<br />
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I'm going through my jumbo box of 2013 Series 1, and I've opened four packs so far. That said, pack #4 was a complete bust. Every single base card that I pulled was a duplicate of one of the cards in the first three packs, with I'd say 70% of them being from pack #3 (that is, the pack that was lying right next to it in the box). That's just really, really poor collation.<br />
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Okay, not every single base card was a duplicate. There was one (<i>one!)</i> different card, and here it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_vzHWK0nnB5xwrLL62GTrQMhnVKpc0c0abrDZW20fDND4UTRLfRXvAm5K3hx3AL-qc5pVNH_uu5cOjrmJfS72u5AdylVRw4hwiBogmdFkn6YUX5cDo6Tey9jGkFdGr0mMkDQgJbrCGI/s1600/13T_350b_Albert_Pujols_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_vzHWK0nnB5xwrLL62GTrQMhnVKpc0c0abrDZW20fDND4UTRLfRXvAm5K3hx3AL-qc5pVNH_uu5cOjrmJfS72u5AdylVRw4hwiBogmdFkn6YUX5cDo6Tey9jGkFdGr0mMkDQgJbrCGI/s320/13T_350b_Albert_Pujols_front.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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I was hoping I would get one of the Out of Bounds short prints, because now I have something to put in the glaring hole on the first page of the binder where card #7 is supposed to be. And Albert Pujols is a nice one to have. That said, he is available for trade if you have a Jay Bruce, Paul Konerko or Todd Frazier OoB short print to trade.<br />
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Now for the good part. I mentioned a big eBay purchase the other day. Well, it arrived, quicker that expected:<br />
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This is one of the printing plates for 2009 Spectrum, aka the "Four Rainbows" that I've been chasing since, well, 2009. Three years ago, I let a Lincecum printing plate slip through my fingers because I was on school camp and got my times confused (and missed the ending by an hour). I wasn't going to let Felix get away.<br />
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The goal for me is not to get all the printing plates, but at least one from each of the four rainbows. One down, three to go.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-22886047854207048652013-02-17T21:10:00.001+08:002013-02-17T21:10:31.273+08:002013 Topps - First ThoughtsI opened the first jumbo pack of Topps 2013 Series 1 this morning. Unfortunately, there were no hits and/or short prints, like there was with my first packs of 2011 and 2012. Maybe all the good stuff is yet to come. At any rate, I'm posting my initial thoughts on 2013 in this post, then I'm going to go and see what else I got.<br />
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I'm not sold on the white backgrounds at the bottom of the card that bleed into the white borders. They give the cards a kind of unfinished look. It's hard to put my finger on it, but it just seems like the cards need a defined boundary. Baseball is such a game about lines, that to see baseball cards without them is somewhat unsettling.<br />
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The "Career Chase" blurb on the back of the cards is, frankly, stupid. It's dumb because it's meaningless. Why put that "with 28 wins, Daniel Hudson is 483 away from Cy Young's record of 511." when everybody in the world knows that Hudson (or anybody) is never going to break that record. How about relatively meaningful stats like "Hudson is 72 wins away from 100 for his career" or maybe team records. Don't put that Ryan Howard needs 462 home runs to break Bonds's record - I can subtract 300 from 762 myself, and besides, Howard is not even halfway there and he's already washed up. The Career Chase is a completely useless feature that didn't have to be.<br />
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Okay, on for something I do like; specifically, for the first 60 or so cards (which the exception of Bryce Harper and card #1), Topps has assigned the card number to a person who wears that uniform number (although why they didn't give Mo Rivera card #42 is anyone's guess). That's a nice touch. Boo, however, for not issuing a Mickey Mantle card this year, while still keeping card #7 "retired", thus creating a big hole on the first page of the binder. Seriously, Topps, it's time to drop that stupid gimmick. If the Marlins can un-retire jersey #5, you can un-retire card #7. Hell, give it to a Yankee every time if you must. I can live with that.<br />
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The Three Stars of the pack:<br />
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3. Dustin Ackley batting. I'm a sucker for those shots taken a millisecond after the ball leaves the bat.<br />
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2. Adam Jones diving. As a coach, I appreciate defensive fundamentals, such as a fielder following the ball all the way into his glove.<br />
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1. Dee Gordon turning the double play. An otherwise routine defensive play made remarkable by the stunning presence of Brandon Moss's green-and-gold uniform in the foreground.<br />
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Here's Jose Reyes in an airbrushed Blue Jays uniform...<br />
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...and here's Heath Bell in an airbrushed Diamondbacks uniform<br />
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I'm not holding my breath to see Shin-Soo Choo in an airbrushed Reds uniform, but it would be nice if Topps held his card back to Series 2 so we didn't have to see him in Indians threads.<br />
<i>(Update: I just looked at the checklist. Choo is card #17 because he wears #17. Damn.)</i><br />
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No great insert cards of note. The most impressive was an Adam Jones die-cut card. Since I'm only planning on collecting four of the cards from that set, to get one that I needed straight away was a nice start. I also got a Bryce Harper insert card, which is good, I guess.<br />
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I don't plan on posting any more about Series 1 until I finish the whole box, and then I'll recap. Until that time, I'll be doing more baseball-related posts instead of card posts. I did have a major eBay purchase yesterday that I'll be sure to blog about once it arrives.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-38941298808435177812013-02-13T22:43:00.001+08:002013-02-13T22:43:34.780+08:00Wow, post #300Sorry it's not terribly worthy of a round-number milestone.<br />
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My 2013 box came today (spoiler alert: I thought it might). Unfortunately, there was no time to get stuck into it. This year, of course, I'm going to change things up a bit with my recaps. I'll post my thoughts on the first pack, of course, because it's a new set and there will be doubtless lots to say. But then I'm going to do a whole-box recap with hits, special cards, inserts and what I think were the pick of the base cards. Hopefully, with it being a jumbo box, I will get one of every base card. That's what I get the jumbos for.<br />
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However, I've been thinking about the blaster boxes. The main attractions, for me, are that you get a bunch of insert cards (good if you're collecting insert sets) and the manu-patches. Last year's retired number patches were, for me, as good as it gets. I started out just wanting to collect the teams and players in my PCs, and now I'm thinking about going for the whole collection.<br />
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However, in looking at the two types of manu-patches on offer for 2013, I can't say that I'm too impressed. This time, I really will just go for the players in my PC (not even worrying about the teams; that's how underwhelmed I am). Same with the insert sets. There really aren't that many that interest me. I'm not going to collect the '72 minis because - treason alert - I think the '72 set looks stupid. I've never liked it, not since I was 9 years old and saw the reprints in that K-Mart MVP set. I'm probably in for the Chasing History set (key word: history) and Chasing the Dream (because I always collect the rookie insert set) and that's about it.<br />
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Due to my lack of interest in the patches and inserts this year, I'm probably just going to stick to hobby boxes and pick up the few manupatches I want off of eBay. What say you all? Is this a solid plan? What are your thoughts on the blasters and this year's crop of insert sets?Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-45514251212314629392013-02-12T23:20:00.002+08:002013-02-12T23:20:46.280+08:00Pitchers and Catchers Report!And what better way to celebrate than to do some shopping? I need to clean out my closet, how do these replacements seem?<br />
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I know this really doesn't have to do with pitchers and catchers reporting, but I'm very excited that Spring Training has begun and I wanted to commemorate the event, somehow. On a card-related note, the USPS tracking information says that my 2013 Topps jumbo box is in "AUSTRALIA" so that's something, I guess.<br />
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No more detailed information, just "AUSTRALIA." How very useful. Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-91232434884953047002013-02-11T21:46:00.000+08:002013-02-11T21:46:00.769+08:00When they say snail mail......they ain't kidding. <br />
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First, some background. I made some eBay purchases in late October. My mom mailed them, along with some other stuff, in early November. Here's the postmark:<br />
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The package arrived in my mailbox...<i>today</i>.<br />
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I had pretty much given up hope. Usually, when a package takes a long time, it's because Customs and Quarantine has it, they saw something on the X-ray they didn't like, and they opened it up and inspected further. I've had that happen a couple of time (usually with food involved) and when they do that, they seal the package back up and include a little card explaining what they did and a number to call if you want to complain (not that it would do any good).<br />
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No card in this package. So who knows why it was delayed. And for so long.<br />
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I'm just glad that Australia Post (or possibly the USPS, there's no way of knowing on which side of the Pacific it got lost on) found it. Because one of the cards was the one on the top row, in the middle.<br />
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As you can see, that card completes my Griffey Spectrum rainbow. That's <a href="http://rgbcards.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/joy-of-completed-page-rainbow-edition.html">two rainbows down</a>, two more (Ichiro and Felix) to go.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-72457624092870789542013-01-31T22:41:00.001+08:002013-01-31T22:41:17.509+08:00Finished sortingJust finished going through all my '75 Topps. It's too late to do a full-blown post, but I now have 449 cards, more than two-thirds of the way through the set. I'm pleased with that result. The lot of 422 cards added approximately 300 new cards to my set, as well as quite a few for the team sets.<br />
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This weekend, I'm going to post the cards I have of players who went on to become managers.<br />
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Oh, and I did get a Brett card amongst all of them. :)Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-25795795749210617382013-01-30T21:15:00.000+08:002013-01-30T21:15:00.137+08:00A passel of '75sI love watching the show Storage Wars. One of my dreams is to win a storage locker auction and find a whole bunch of 1975 Topps cards in the locker. There's just two things wrong with that dream:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>There aren't any storage locker auctions in Australia. Here, if you don't pay your bill, the companies just open up the locker themselves, take all the good stuff and sell it, and throw the rest away. Which I suppose is fair enough.</li>
<li>Even if there were storage locker auctions here, I highly doubt any lockers would contain any 1975 Topps cards.</li>
</ol>
However, I have a new friend named Jeff. Jeff is a storage auction enthusiast who happened to come across some 1975 Topps cards in a locker he bought. 422 of them, in fact. So Jeff put the lot on eBay, where I was able to snag it for right around 42 bucks. In other words, I got all those cards for the 10-cents-a-card benchmark I think is fair.<br />
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The cards arrived yesterday, and so far I have resisted the urge to bust out all of them in a hours-long 1975 Topps cataloguing and filing orgy. I've only gone through a third instead. Here are two highlights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTNXZQDhx1wzek9RD4-S8-s2Ijvniff2k8xx5F-pBjD6jF2jWrdiXWS2QvKqGo_2MBhI_6BgcMXPeGZkH9ut8Hq28QdNLe-aCiNM68G463VnFSazEM-LNCdMf1cYJ7z4oFNWtNZEmmUA/s1600/75T_407_Herb_Washington_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTNXZQDhx1wzek9RD4-S8-s2Ijvniff2k8xx5F-pBjD6jF2jWrdiXWS2QvKqGo_2MBhI_6BgcMXPeGZkH9ut8Hq28QdNLe-aCiNM68G463VnFSazEM-LNCdMf1cYJ7z4oFNWtNZEmmUA/s320/75T_407_Herb_Washington_front.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the best card in 1975 Topps. Not Robin Yount, or George Brett, or either of the Hank Aarons. Why is this Herb Washington card the best? Check out his position.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMN6Enc4oUQnonXH4uEr0yCDnssMI9nTyQrrc_sSZSSTEMEhTJGAJIjeywDGxkzrPW5jHphb4Z1hZdTDTtSVQl_mI6OjotYADjyMxwQ3OyGkEBc6W9ZCpSPE7FOZWz2CYr3hcLKN9OOY/s1600/75T_407_Herb_Washington_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMN6Enc4oUQnonXH4uEr0yCDnssMI9nTyQrrc_sSZSSTEMEhTJGAJIjeywDGxkzrPW5jHphb4Z1hZdTDTtSVQl_mI6OjotYADjyMxwQ3OyGkEBc6W9ZCpSPE7FOZWz2CYr3hcLKN9OOY/s320/75T_407_Herb_Washington_back.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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Now check out the back. Even his stat lines are different, adjusted to reflect his unique position in baseball history.<br />
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Finally, here is a "Joy of a Completed Page" - my first completed page of '75 Topps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxJci5wUXOr1iA0jUtbMcXpyZZxnJY29HWF9Bx6DyUIcplDI_8IWPVlrr3frDxYBSXO5igbniHEzllJ3el-ipEB5FpHlghJhlwNGTjMjxLVQ5ig5aQWB5AV8tI079DBrPfpuAEutjTbY/s1600/75T_Page_45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxJci5wUXOr1iA0jUtbMcXpyZZxnJY29HWF9Bx6DyUIcplDI_8IWPVlrr3frDxYBSXO5igbniHEzllJ3el-ipEB5FpHlghJhlwNGTjMjxLVQ5ig5aQWB5AV8tI079DBrPfpuAEutjTbY/s400/75T_Page_45.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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More to come as I go through the second lot of my "Storage Wars" cards tonight.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-40955144921124756672013-01-29T21:19:00.000+08:002013-01-29T21:19:29.817+08:00The '75 Crown Jewels (Part 1 of 3)I'm going to take a break from my recap of some of the top stories of the off-season because in the mail today I received two packages from eBay. As many of you know, I'm collecting the 1975 Topps set because it's my "birth year" set. With the '75 set are three cards that I consider the crown jewels - three Hall of Famers, two in the sunrise of their careers, and one in the twilight. Of course, these are Robin Yount and George Brett's rookie cards, and the Hank Aaron Card #1 commemorating his 715th home run and the breaking of Babe Ruth's record.<br />
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It would be pretty easy to collect the other 657 cards in the set and not have to spend too much. The trick, I think, is not to overpay on Aaron, Brett and Yount. Of course, if you were in to PSA 10s and all that crap, you'd need to spend a pretty penny on the crown jewels. I'm not about that. My '75 set is in a binder, and, unlike my modern-day sets, I like this one having a bit of character. No creases, thanks, but I don't mind the rounded corner or bubble-gum stain here and there, and many of the checklists I got so far have been marked.<br />
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So with that in mind, I'm happy to reveal the first crown jewel that I have acquired - Card #223, Robin Yount:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OwxReHCzrN3pphH4WPoEM9Ho5IDGNnf_dp2DquAEe2-FDiH2xVrr600AwfhWPSgEc48_pZotdATlBRNze1UlkT4tTX5mL1bxjSDD1BklT2byBHbQu0Vkz5IvpdbxjakB4x9ycIjOyI/s1600/75T_223_Robin_Yount_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OwxReHCzrN3pphH4WPoEM9Ho5IDGNnf_dp2DquAEe2-FDiH2xVrr600AwfhWPSgEc48_pZotdATlBRNze1UlkT4tTX5mL1bxjSDD1BklT2byBHbQu0Vkz5IvpdbxjakB4x9ycIjOyI/s400/75T_223_Robin_Yount_front.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgcB8cuJRBo46PXEF8ro_DX62Bwgh_TlZEslCy9A_YTKw_mT63cWYwg3u-gmL4GHfOSoRwR_BCYBUtpaM6A1mcbAW0T6zthStG1m8W1p9PquMPdCDobm4VTF-Xji85-Da0vw-4XWFDmc/s1600/75T_223_Robin_Yount_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgcB8cuJRBo46PXEF8ro_DX62Bwgh_TlZEslCy9A_YTKw_mT63cWYwg3u-gmL4GHfOSoRwR_BCYBUtpaM6A1mcbAW0T6zthStG1m8W1p9PquMPdCDobm4VTF-Xji85-Da0vw-4XWFDmc/s400/75T_223_Robin_Yount_back.jpg" width="286" /> </a></div>
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Special shout-out to Larry Yount in the trivia question, and I love the throw-away line at the end of the blurb: "He's popular with fans." As we all know, that turned out to be quite the understatement.</div>
<br />Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-2773543343587866642013-01-28T13:05:00.002+08:002013-01-28T13:05:47.004+08:00Happy Australia Day (observed)!I was planning on doing this post on Saturday, the actual Australia Day, but I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to go to work. Then I would have done in on Sunday, when it still would have been the 26th for most of you in the States, but I got to sleep in...to 4:30 a.m.<br />
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Luckily, with January 26th falling on a Saturday this year, an everyone still entitled to a holiday, I have one more chance. Never mind that the First Fleet landed on January 26, 1788 - according to the Australian government, today is Australia Day. So here is a tribute to Australian baseball players, at least some of the ones whose cards I have.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQorGSaEbreWliCNlckLXjKQjOwcL7Tqh-OcSoLcWJvWqrCPdw05cKF_QBQyHZHg_yy0TByjGUDqIaxhphyphenhyphenIW9UU_uEKYIQRrgx885vd3SHHGM9jSsOhcmKdFrXIeT78VQ6FM6AFkats/s1600/12T_652_Grant_Balfour_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQorGSaEbreWliCNlckLXjKQjOwcL7Tqh-OcSoLcWJvWqrCPdw05cKF_QBQyHZHg_yy0TByjGUDqIaxhphyphenhyphenIW9UU_uEKYIQRrgx885vd3SHHGM9jSsOhcmKdFrXIeT78VQ6FM6AFkats/s320/12T_652_Grant_Balfour_front.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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Of course, we all know this guy, perhaps the most famous Australian-born big leaguer in the game today. Make all the jokes you want about how you wouldn't want a pitcher whose last name is "Bal(l )four" - the Sydney native is the all-time leader for strikeouts (and saves) by an Aussie in the big leagues. And next season, he's going to make $4.5 million. Which is about $4.3 million in Aussie dollars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUyfszOlyF6fhFUsJdDGEeSxS63ynZ3bzILHKiyiF7up2Ejjd4Nhulg9J98cNlpxt2TMvfYyPks9998MZaW1WxJzvCxaJ9iZfRfiW2BsPxxSWAKw6pN-dO3EkAZLdqozsc8e7UIkqtho/s1600/10T_US109_Luke_Hughes_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUyfszOlyF6fhFUsJdDGEeSxS63ynZ3bzILHKiyiF7up2Ejjd4Nhulg9J98cNlpxt2TMvfYyPks9998MZaW1WxJzvCxaJ9iZfRfiW2BsPxxSWAKw6pN-dO3EkAZLdqozsc8e7UIkqtho/s320/10T_US109_Luke_Hughes_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Luke Hughes is from Perth, and is one of a handful of people lucky enough to hit a home run in his first big-league at bat. How rare is it? While, in the history of major-league baseball, twice as many people have thrown a no-hitter than have hit a first-at bat home run. Hughes started 2012 as the Twins second baseman, but proceeded to crap the bed so much that he was designated for assignment and picked up by the Athletics, who played him at <i>third</i> base. He ended the season in Las Vegas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6xJgC2OItPAqMnjORvF30-qTsN5MqF0a5p25Qy6BSOGX6qJhX2x_Xa_Z6aovYxYxYCXRhZTKt0nGRjhC7GySLlbBjbVAoLX5I2nKphZs3XEHzQblCAM3oG8od89c8K4IORUlXeR1ExI/s1600/11T_US45_Peter_Moylan_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6xJgC2OItPAqMnjORvF30-qTsN5MqF0a5p25Qy6BSOGX6qJhX2x_Xa_Z6aovYxYxYCXRhZTKt0nGRjhC7GySLlbBjbVAoLX5I2nKphZs3XEHzQblCAM3oG8od89c8K4IORUlXeR1ExI/s320/11T_US45_Peter_Moylan_front.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Peter Moylan, what happened to you? Never fully recovered from his rotator cuff injury, the Perth native is going to try and make it back to the big leagues with the Dodgers this season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9J7eqYmRZwNUo3muGl_Xu7tsQnoTyTp-JnqYoK1kCs4tI7AG-_C3dHL_oPxuBZElq6gDa1H9I7V-yaFs0hJN4HRgnKieXcJYy-6pRuzgnhyphenhyphenW8zWISqzx4n8s3cmzu7iCID2jGM08C1E/s1600/11T_US286_Rich_Thompson_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9J7eqYmRZwNUo3muGl_Xu7tsQnoTyTp-JnqYoK1kCs4tI7AG-_C3dHL_oPxuBZElq6gDa1H9I7V-yaFs0hJN4HRgnKieXcJYy-6pRuzgnhyphenhyphenW8zWISqzx4n8s3cmzu7iCID2jGM08C1E/s320/11T_US286_Rich_Thompson_front.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Rich Thompson is from Sydney. You may remember him from the <a href="http://rgbcards.blogspot.com/2011/01/uniform-back-cards-part-3-in-series.html">post I did of his first Upper Deck card</a>, where you couldn't even see his face. Thankfully, his cards have improved, even if his pitching hasn't. He also spent some time in Oakland this year. It seems Billy Beane was collecting Australians the way most of us collect baseball cards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwyBxwim6wsexukNgrW12x-RSY-_kpEfigprjZOPNqYyQeA7M_0YK0kGxNNgcvBmbHE4riPlwDRAkYF2d8Vo3QrL5iGz4My7Ao_r9cQ980PGcr3bCy9YodLLmmyglhXGkHx1LwFtATcE/s1600/05D_C_396_Travis_Blackley_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwyBxwim6wsexukNgrW12x-RSY-_kpEfigprjZOPNqYyQeA7M_0YK0kGxNNgcvBmbHE4riPlwDRAkYF2d8Vo3QrL5iGz4My7Ao_r9cQ980PGcr3bCy9YodLLmmyglhXGkHx1LwFtATcE/s320/05D_C_396_Travis_Blackley_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Travis Blackley, born in Melbourne, did not play for the Athletics this season. Oh wait, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2012-roster.shtml">yes he did</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbLxqG6H2weiHR5CrpyK9zg1x7bmrz4FkCrNxcvilerCUjDbrPRQE4B1W_I-jKU8IOqK6eE85o5BFUbu46J4f0QWplCQEHoGv_wEUIHzvV3C3-l8PVH-tDjD_sUlqo2kLjQMunPynmGM/s1600/Graeme_Lloyd_Perth_Heat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbLxqG6H2weiHR5CrpyK9zg1x7bmrz4FkCrNxcvilerCUjDbrPRQE4B1W_I-jKU8IOqK6eE85o5BFUbu46J4f0QWplCQEHoGv_wEUIHzvV3C3-l8PVH-tDjD_sUlqo2kLjQMunPynmGM/s320/Graeme_Lloyd_Perth_Heat.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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I wish I had a Graeme Lloyd card to scan and show you. After all, Lloyd is the only Australian pitcher to pitch ten seasons in the big leagues. At least, until Balfour hits the milestone this season. Nowadays, you'll find Lloyd in Perth, as the pitching coach for the two-time (soon to be three) ABL champion Perth Heat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeQpJqZgQhjvytbxRSA2oyzUg_wijW_z56ga9e9HfEppNYv4OAzJiBZytPFZMQfTO-xtFwKZoFZXW-75fIcrqkeDECwezD5z8uO7TUkVfbaTHtkTjAJA0YEPRYgb2p3jrIfyfRF_uCjc/s1600/Dave_Nilsson_Starting_Lineup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeQpJqZgQhjvytbxRSA2oyzUg_wijW_z56ga9e9HfEppNYv4OAzJiBZytPFZMQfTO-xtFwKZoFZXW-75fIcrqkeDECwezD5z8uO7TUkVfbaTHtkTjAJA0YEPRYgb2p3jrIfyfRF_uCjc/s1600/Dave_Nilsson_Starting_Lineup.jpg" /></a></div>
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How will you remember Dave Nilsson? As the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Australia_born.shtml">greatest Australian hitter in MLB history</a>, or as the man who <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baseball_League_of_Australia">pulled an Isiah Thomas on the Australian Baseball League</a>?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmV29M9QLGfzoXvPfNSPuqF_9Q_XFbFszFW7iMbwDjeZrbNDu-KCBbVRt6TA1fxJ_Da4lVIroTfqSjbLDxhouqM7kwy9iAmv19Rl8N7nzD8xM-szqGAsYJhsJqqWeS-TlBUUITnGAdj4/s1600/Kyrie_Irving_Uncle_Drew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmV29M9QLGfzoXvPfNSPuqF_9Q_XFbFszFW7iMbwDjeZrbNDu-KCBbVRt6TA1fxJ_Da4lVIroTfqSjbLDxhouqM7kwy9iAmv19Rl8N7nzD8xM-szqGAsYJhsJqqWeS-TlBUUITnGAdj4/s320/Kyrie_Irving_Uncle_Drew.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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Kyrie Irving? Whaaaa? Well, he was actually <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrie_Irving">born in Melbourne</a>, has dual citizenship, and has expressed an interest in playing for the Boomers if USA Basketball doesn't come calling soon. So there you go.<br />
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Happy Australia Day!Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-33309592862193417512013-01-22T02:07:00.001+08:002013-01-22T02:10:27.828+08:00Offseason Stories: Kevin Towers's DreamlandI'll start off with a disclosure: I've never thought that Kevin Towers is a very good GM. I wasn't impressed with him in San Diego and his time in Arizona has done nothing to disabuse me of that position.<br />
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Which brings me to this offseason. Apparently, Towers's plan is to stockpile outfielders and shortstops like so many trading cards. Collecting outfielders is okay, since you need to play three at the same time, but shortstops? And these particular shortstops? For what he gave up?<br />
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Cliff Pennington finally wore out his welcome in Oakland, so Towers acquired him for Chris Young (Is that Chris B. Young? I've lost track). The move finally appeared to open up a spot for the talented yet marginalised Gerardo Parra, but as Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend. But more on that later.<br />
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Then, in December, Towers traded away one of the most touted and skilled pitching prospects, Trevor Bauer, to Cleveland for Lars Anderson (bench guy at best, expected to start in AAA) and Didi Gregorius, who the Indians had just acquired from Cincinnati in the Shin-Soo Choo deal. Apparently, Bauer was traded because he's too outspoken, too cocky, and has his own way of warming up and long tossing. Well, since he's never had any history of arm trouble, I say let him keep doing what he's doing, because it works. But that's not the Kevin Towers way. Some 21-year-old kid thinks he knows better? Well screw him. And even though he's the biggest prospect in the organization, let's punish him for an outburst by not calling him up in September. It's not like we need him - we just went from worst to first to back to worst.<br />
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But Towers <i>loves</i> Didi Gregorius. He even went so far as to call him, and I'm not making this up, "a young Derek Jeter." Unfortunately, Kevin Towers is the only person to think this. As a bonus, if you Google "Didi Gregorius Derek Jeter Kevin Towers idiot" you get 4,600 hits. Including a gem where Towers says "I expect (Gregorius) to compete for the starting shortstop job this year. If he doesn't, then I'm an idiot."<br />
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Umm, Kevin, how do you think that makes Cliff Pennington feel? You traded for him to be the starting shortstop, then, fifty days later, you trade for his replacement. Before he's even swung a bat in anger for the Snakes. Way to build confidence!<br />
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Then there's the sad, sorry Justin Upton saga. Remember when I talked about the Chris Young trade? The logjam in the Arizona outfield was finally cleared - and then Towers went and signed Cody Ross. Back to the bench, Gerardo!<br />
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Unless, of course, the Snakes could trade Upton or Jason Kubel. Of the two, Upton would yield the most in return. He had a no-trade clause, but it was very small, only four teams. So there's still 25 teams Towers could make a deal with. And in fact, he made quite a good deal with the Mariners - four prospects for Upton.<br />
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Only - and here's where I was well and truly baffled - Seattle was one of the four teams on Upton's no-trade list! Not surprisingly, he blocked the trade. Then, the news comes down that Towers is negotiating a deal with the Cubs for Upton. Yep - you guessed it. The Cubs are also on Upton's list.<br />
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So let me get this straight: There are 25 teams that Kevin Towers could make a deal to trade Justin Upton, and Upton would have no say in the matter. There are a mere four teams that he could block a deal with, and Towers talks with not one, but two of them?<br />
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W<br />
T<br />
F<br />
?!?!?!?<br />
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I don't care what reason Towers could give, there's really no excuse for that. Either he has no idea what's in his players' contracts, or he has the hubris that he could trade one of his star players and that player <i>wouldn't</i> use his very limited no trade clause), or he's just an idiot. But I guess we have to wait and see if Didi Gregorius battles for the starting shortstop job to figure that last one out.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-53168310145821320052013-01-20T21:30:00.000+08:002013-01-20T21:30:00.522+08:00Offseason Stories: The Reds' RotationQuick - name the only team who had their Opening Day five-man rotation start 161 games last season, the most in the majors?<br />
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If you guessed the Cincinnati Reds, you either really know your box scores, or you surmised it from the headline at the top of the page.<br />
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Yes, the Reds were the most hardy rotation in the big leagues last season. And the good news for Cincinnati fans is that everybody returns; well, sort of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAglPp14ikjilT-8fh0IT-vRZSQPudkPifBU5kMsTmqTe6H4qgfeqG43zsq0EfeEo3tnP3VeSCScc3zlACiWg1gm5eRCyX8GcRmURV9JKKKY1t760xts-dCZvckeHsmL5aIr05H0cqnec/s1600/12T_135_Johnny_Cueto_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAglPp14ikjilT-8fh0IT-vRZSQPudkPifBU5kMsTmqTe6H4qgfeqG43zsq0EfeEo3tnP3VeSCScc3zlACiWg1gm5eRCyX8GcRmURV9JKKKY1t760xts-dCZvckeHsmL5aIr05H0cqnec/s320/12T_135_Johnny_Cueto_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last year, the rotation was Johnny Cueto/Mat Latos/Bronson Arroyo/Homer Bailey/Mike Leake. And all five are still with the Reds. But Leake will be shifting to the bullpen. That's because a spot in middle relief opened up when Jonathan Broxton was anointed the club's new closer. And that's because the moment Reds fans have been waiting for these past three years has finally arrived:<br />
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Aroldis Chapman, the possessor of the fastest pitch in the history of Major League Baseball, is now a member of the Reds' rotation.<br />
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I'll admit, I am a member of the group of Reds fans that have been calling for this since the Cuban Missile was signed back in 2010. I didn't understand what was taking so long. If you want to ease him into big-league life, then sure, keep him in the bullpen during his September 2010 call up. But why did you spend all that money and a huge signing bonus on a set-up man (which is what Chapman was in 2011, and the start of 2012).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrumV_9kJejRLaqhrq8vkGybcVM52ISh_ocdOwL-u9oG8xmKkVtYgHppiOipwxjfaeuRYMZgopB4YfDjE4GCNByXP3JOVmPlJSv3lcQWGgJfoVInFRghTDL_PVdBaVJ_f377ZZ9d_KQWM/s1600/12T_265_Aroldis_Chapman_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrumV_9kJejRLaqhrq8vkGybcVM52ISh_ocdOwL-u9oG8xmKkVtYgHppiOipwxjfaeuRYMZgopB4YfDjE4GCNByXP3JOVmPlJSv3lcQWGgJfoVInFRghTDL_PVdBaVJ_f377ZZ9d_KQWM/s320/12T_265_Aroldis_Chapman_front.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
Another thing - Chapman always seemed like the type of pitcher who needed to get going. Not from a velocity standpoint, obviously, but from a control standpoint. When he was pitching out of the bullpen, it seemed like his modus operandi was to get himself into a jam, then pitch out of it (the "Francisco Cordero method" if you will). However, as the inning wore on, and if he were called on to pitch a second inning, he got much more dominant. For this reason, as late as May 2012, I was still advocating Chapman's entry into the rotation, given Leake's early-season struggles and my general distrust of Bailey.<br />
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Of course, Dusty Baker and Bryan Price had more faith in Bailey and Leake than I did. And, as it turns out, less faith in Sean Marshall. Thus, Aroldis the Closer was born.<br />
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It was, of course, the right move. The Reds rotation proved both dominating and hardy. Chapman thrived as a closer, and Marshall was much more comfortable in his previous role as a situational lefty. He'll stay in that role this year.<br />
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However, let's play "What if?" What if, for whatever reason, Broxton flames out as the closer? Well, my money is on Chapman, not Marshall, taking over the spot, with Leake reclaiming his place in the rotation. The thinking, of course, is that the pitching staff was so good last season, why not recreate it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfpRbkT9y6UlsRKKlkN9kTIGvW_5zqQ-w2EeD1FF2jkrSg6oCZo0lotxkHrhk4jBREUs6tuDT04NOa1UJfyBm_4MpInLKJSjeimM9ssnmWgrIgFo19AkJs8N54aNL7lGlDjxoSWwgWLs/s1600/12T_308_Mike_Leake_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfpRbkT9y6UlsRKKlkN9kTIGvW_5zqQ-w2EeD1FF2jkrSg6oCZo0lotxkHrhk4jBREUs6tuDT04NOa1UJfyBm_4MpInLKJSjeimM9ssnmWgrIgFo19AkJs8N54aNL7lGlDjxoSWwgWLs/s320/12T_308_Mike_Leake_front.jpg" width="320" /></a>The answer of course, is that you can't. And the Reds know this, or else they wouldn't have moved Chapman to the rotation in the first place. 2012 was a very good year for the Reds in general and the pitching staff in particular, but it's already gone. I hope we see a full year of Chapman in the rotation, and that he lives up to all the expectations. I hope he breaks his 105.1 mph record at some point. I hope Johnny Cueto wins 20 games, Mat Latos surpasses him as the Reds' ace, and Bronson Arroyo has one last great season. And I hope that Homer Bailey doesn't do anything that pisses me off. The past five seasons in Cincinnati have been leading up to this. Now is the time.<br />
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How strange it is, then, that the most intriguing member of the rotation, the most durable and reliable in the majors, is the one who has exactly zero big-league starts to his name.<br />
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By the way, the reason the Reds' rotation only started 161 games instead of 162 wasn't because of injury, or incompetence, or general suckitude. It was because of a double-header that necessitated a pitcher called up from Triple-A for one start. If you can name that sixth starter for the Reds last year, I'll give you a prize. Please be honest - it'd be easy to look it up, but as we all know, the internet and smart phones are the bane of trivia contests everywhere. Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-18225864157141958292013-01-20T17:50:00.000+08:002013-01-20T17:52:41.800+08:00In Memoriam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYfrJqK6GHGS7Xo10B5DD6uy4VrOQP7B0fWmQtkGoUnR5ZcbdAtw1SxhzWLapBCUXozh5UPpBQQP5IEbbr0a3zojrJ-RVXuIKvby7mGQI0p_mrMV2Vo9XaboUfLcXOR0szaUwReidFew/s1600/86T_321_Earl_Weaver_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYfrJqK6GHGS7Xo10B5DD6uy4VrOQP7B0fWmQtkGoUnR5ZcbdAtw1SxhzWLapBCUXozh5UPpBQQP5IEbbr0a3zojrJ-RVXuIKvby7mGQI0p_mrMV2Vo9XaboUfLcXOR0szaUwReidFew/s400/86T_321_Earl_Weaver_front.jpg" width="281" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWW4kaGWl_LcCt2mBVtCtzm9GMXEb-GqDIRcRIDdkNu6Kv0G8ZkqpGdpDf6cN5JEpUYGk_FdzNqkFRERGICxzTREF-Y1QnMjh0W1viCJ9OELwxgGzpRKaw5soxkZ37jLu1j5RAxKqFYw/s1600/12T_ACA-12_Stan_Musial_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWW4kaGWl_LcCt2mBVtCtzm9GMXEb-GqDIRcRIDdkNu6Kv0G8ZkqpGdpDf6cN5JEpUYGk_FdzNqkFRERGICxzTREF-Y1QnMjh0W1viCJ9OELwxgGzpRKaw5soxkZ37jLu1j5RAxKqFYw/s400/12T_ACA-12_Stan_Musial_front.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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What a sad day for baseball. Two of the all-time greats at what they did. They will be missed.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-54286435891559476552013-01-19T21:30:00.000+08:002013-01-19T21:30:02.513+08:00Offseason Stories: Toronto Blue Jays<i>Ed. Note: With the start of Spring Training a month away, and most free agents signed up, it's time to look at the biggest stories and trends of the Hot Stove League as we prepare for the 2013 season. These are the teams and players expected to have an impact next season. First up - the team across the border, the Toronto Blue Jays.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfTcePBC3Z3tObY77-EouWhzfMKnSaf3yabWH9-qN1XrlBiYAym1Rg9kd_cznt86IIGIQOaxcBPmmUMUo1-uwfzFiL_zbCVJ8C9WQ60qpOZ6HDJ6EIxUKUpjWOoaJ1FhZgadxB08mVV8/s1600/12T_332_Jose_Reyes_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfTcePBC3Z3tObY77-EouWhzfMKnSaf3yabWH9-qN1XrlBiYAym1Rg9kd_cznt86IIGIQOaxcBPmmUMUo1-uwfzFiL_zbCVJ8C9WQ60qpOZ6HDJ6EIxUKUpjWOoaJ1FhZgadxB08mVV8/s320/12T_332_Jose_Reyes_front.jpg" width="227" /></a>Perhaps Alex Anthopoulos smelled blood in the water. Or perhaps he was sick of being upstaged.<br />
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Amazingly, in the division widely considered to be the least competitively balanced in all of baseball, four out of the five teams made the playoffs in the past four years. The only AL East team that didn't? The Blue Jays, of course.<br />
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(By the way, the 80% mark is equalled only by the National League West, home of famous yo-yo teams the Rockies and Diamondbacks.)<br />
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With the Red Sox in the toilet, and Yankees in self-imposed fiscal responsibility mode, the Rays perpetually so, and the Orioles ready for some serious regression to the mean, this represents Toronto's best chance of a playoff appearance since - wait for it - 1993!<br />
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Yeah, the year <a href="http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEQQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmlb.mlb.com%2Fvideo%2Fplay.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D3251266&ei=bYX5UOzsJs6ZiAew0oDoCQ&usg=AFQjCNGASb1kYW8r9zWhvCzhfsjZybZzLg&sig2=jtcyFNHz2c3w__vKeQHEqg&bvm=bv.41248874,d.aGc&cad=rja">this happened</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfqAelzvKlojPtyCEXtedAzUYZbwuJ7NP5YIGpvJ5G4EMvBdHWYmLDm4qRGB5eZbQXIll7pLjUN-3IKCzadLmR6yaYei8f77MgnVE-nTAo31pSllLz4yS_VOsTzgrQTz3mUL1iIpDAFY/s1600/12T_279_R.A._Dickey_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfqAelzvKlojPtyCEXtedAzUYZbwuJ7NP5YIGpvJ5G4EMvBdHWYmLDm4qRGB5eZbQXIll7pLjUN-3IKCzadLmR6yaYei8f77MgnVE-nTAo31pSllLz4yS_VOsTzgrQTz3mUL1iIpDAFY/s320/12T_279_R.A._Dickey_front.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
So Anthopoulos went to his boss, Paul Beeston, who went to his bosses at Rogers Communications, and got permission to take on approximately half the Marlins payroll and all of their good player (at least, the ones who didn't change their names halfway through Spring Training). Then, if a remaking their rotation by adding an ERA champ and the owner of a perfecto wasn't enough, Anthopoulos flat-out stole the reigning NL Cy Young winner, a knuckleballer who might possibly pitch until he's 50 and who you don't have to worry about blowing out his elbow, because he doesn't even have a UCL.<br />
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And, just because you can never have enough catching, the Jays adding approximately 28 catchers to their roster this year. But that's okay, <a href="http://www.mlbdepthcharts.com/2012/10/toronto-blue-jays-2012-13-offseason_30.html#.UPmIjcVyD3A">because they've already traded away or released 23 of them</a>.<br />
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So what does this all mean? Well, for starters, be wary of teams that are anointed champions during Spring Training, or before. Exhibit A: the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2012.shtml">2012 Miami Marlins</a>. This is especially problematic when you consider how many of those Marlins now have key roles on the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays. However, Toronto's off-season acquisitions all seemed to have a purpose and fit in as part of a greater plan. With the Marlins, the feeling was more a case of "we've got this shiny new stadium, we better fill it with stars."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoDYRyGs3wx_NbOmW2jtbOMxwluZseyio-GYpAVeAM25cRGDAdUIQ3uMSq9i9JAsxFJ9NKsVObcZ90i2AfPSK3WtvPuqls3zPUPaVpxFHXa1w5sw8tReoXRaSbwGULle_dxctymEOxMY/s1600/12T_100_Jose_Bautista_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoDYRyGs3wx_NbOmW2jtbOMxwluZseyio-GYpAVeAM25cRGDAdUIQ3uMSq9i9JAsxFJ9NKsVObcZ90i2AfPSK3WtvPuqls3zPUPaVpxFHXa1w5sw8tReoXRaSbwGULle_dxctymEOxMY/s320/12T_100_Jose_Bautista_front.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
"Oh crap, we didn't get Pujols? Better sign another Latin star."<br />
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"We whiffed on C.J. Wilson? Who's the best available starter? Buehrle? Well, Buehrle it is, then."<br />
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(By the way, the Angels are another cautionary tale about Spring Training favorites. But at least they doubled down with Josh Hamilton, instead of punting after one season like the Marlins)<br />
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Anthopoulos came into the off-season with a plan, and he was fortunate enough to have bosses that endorsed and supported the plan. MLBDepthCharts listed the Blue Jays five biggest off-season needs as "Starter/Starter/2B/Left Field/Reliever." Mission accomplished:<br />
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Starter - Josh Johnson<br />
Starter - R.A. Dickey<br />
2B - Emilio Bonafacio/Macier Izturis<br />
LF - Melky Cabrera<br />
Reliever - Esmil Rogers<br />
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All that, plus another front-line starter (Buehrle), a massive upgrade at shortstop (Reyes) and the aforementioned catching surplus. True, they effectively swapped Travis d'Arnaud for Josh Thole, thus cementing J.P. Arencebia behind the plate, but all in all, the Blue Jays have built a lineup and pitching staff that should contend for the AL East crown. <br />
<br />Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-91744489788010106142012-08-22T20:00:00.000+08:002012-08-22T20:00:20.412+08:00Want Lists updatedI have finished opening my Series 1 and Series 2 boxes, and I'm pleased to say that I have completed both sets. That's not to say that I don't need cards - I am completing the Gold Futures and 1987 mini insert sets, and need some cards for both. Plus, there's another project I'm working on that requires more base cards, but more on that in another post.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-18746473630906974382012-08-16T23:40:00.000+08:002012-08-16T23:40:27.316+08:00The King of PerfectionIn honor of King Felix and his perfecto last night, here's a selection of cards from my private collection. After all, it's not every day that one of your favorite players pitches a perfect game:
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MtfkgJ600I/Th25k8JjetI/AAAAAAAABYM/o8aYmL0tCqo/s320/05T_Baz_186_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MtfkgJ600I/Th25k8JjetI/AAAAAAAABYM/o8aYmL0tCqo/s320/05T_Baz_186_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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From 2005 - one of his first cards as a Mariner, although teenage Felix is wearing his All-Star Futures Game uniform<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9adaK_E5e9M/Th2570eg4dI/AAAAAAAABYQ/z_69zyfMTb0/s320/06UD_404_Felix_Hernadez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9adaK_E5e9M/Th2570eg4dI/AAAAAAAABYQ/z_69zyfMTb0/s320/06UD_404_Felix_Hernadez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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Look at that fro peeking out of the back of his cap!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owNOopp6ZNQ/Th28K3PxUbI/AAAAAAAABYc/UPQz67P7amI/s320/07T_C_178wr_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owNOopp6ZNQ/Th28K3PxUbI/AAAAAAAABYc/UPQz67P7amI/s320/07T_C_178wr_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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My oldest chrome Felix. He's still got a baby face. Let's be honest - it's 2012, and he's still got a baby face.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g24_8k0pM8E/Th2-ZC9ZRvI/AAAAAAAABYo/oyvXebkIkbM/s320/08T_TCH75_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g24_8k0pM8E/Th2-ZC9ZRvI/AAAAAAAABYo/oyvXebkIkbM/s320/08T_TCH75_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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Probably my favorite Felix card. King Felix (born 1986) in the style of 1986 Topps. I, personally, loved 1986 Topps, although I realise I am in the distinct minority.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_mgy0Uc7jtxmKrfQl1PJGOrV25Cn57JRfMy6pBXRUhkX8Vsycu0HNNn7GarFxbSH7VWlqCuEUX4S79qY6_joi3KYbmdm3YgRZyvO3ZqPCZfQn1mZQUXAgO_i8IMbk4FZ3iYL-HsviY/s320/09B_50_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT_mgy0Uc7jtxmKrfQl1PJGOrV25Cn57JRfMy6pBXRUhkX8Vsycu0HNNn7GarFxbSH7VWlqCuEUX4S79qY6_joi3KYbmdm3YgRZyvO3ZqPCZfQn1mZQUXAgO_i8IMbk4FZ3iYL-HsviY/s320/09B_50_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love Felix's signature, the way he circles his own name. It has the feel of someone who knew he was going to be a big star and decided he needed to come up with a signature to match.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_AlHwOa6lhaDW9KPr-RUOekAcljmHb0KJ1N0ZvKpzrCGWwOJTonV9oWAInDzI22XvVbwgAPAn6o_DUW2r6CoDCnZiZII6Y_Cu9d_qG2Uduj7BBQWR1oHIh_owL18HYTxhkCN9nmKtvY/s320/10T_PP-56_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_AlHwOa6lhaDW9KPr-RUOekAcljmHb0KJ1N0ZvKpzrCGWwOJTonV9oWAInDzI22XvVbwgAPAn6o_DUW2r6CoDCnZiZII6Y_Cu9d_qG2Uduj7BBQWR1oHIh_owL18HYTxhkCN9nmKtvY/s320/10T_PP-56_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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"Hernandez's Season Sets Seattle Standard" - and that was before he won the Cy Young! This 2010 card is from that Cy Young season...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsMo17e_itydJQKHprvp2a7UnpEySDJnCrB1bYgyE7EYau5zAGjKLKjYVHWXnYXXXY3AwwsN28tWDouIRFcg_MXbN6KPu3MOoYddB6eJD8ogp7yojEfItjWc-WForv_e9qn7T0aEdzMk/s320/11T_168_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsMo17e_itydJQKHprvp2a7UnpEySDJnCrB1bYgyE7EYau5zAGjKLKjYVHWXnYXXXY3AwwsN28tWDouIRFcg_MXbN6KPu3MOoYddB6eJD8ogp7yojEfItjWc-WForv_e9qn7T0aEdzMk/s320/11T_168_Felix_Hernandez_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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...and this is the card that commemorates said season.<br />
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Finally, one more card. This one isn't in my possession yet, because I just bought it from eBay literally 90 minutes ago. Someone just happened to put up this #/99 Spectrum card I needed for my Felix rainbow, and at a reasonable price. I didn't dither around, I snapped it up straight away, before anyone else could:<br />
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<a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Felix-Hernandez-Gu-SP-99-Spectrum-Swatches-2009-ss-fh-/00/s/OTk5WDk5OQ==/$T2eC16hHJGIE9nnWsyjzBQLC47wCfQ%7E%7E60_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Felix-Hernandez-Gu-SP-99-Spectrum-Swatches-2009-ss-fh-/00/s/OTk5WDk5OQ==/$T2eC16hHJGIE9nnWsyjzBQLC47wCfQ%7E%7E60_12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Congratulations, King Felix. You are one of the best pitchers in baseball, and now you have that immortal moment to prove it.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-55352726647874739182012-08-10T22:52:00.002+08:002012-08-10T22:52:58.921+08:00So what were the odds on those celebration SPs......in Topps Series 1?<br />
<br />
Because I just pulled my second in as many boxes. I now have a Howie Kendrick to go with my <a href="http://rgbcards.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/im-opening-jumbo-box.html#comments">Eric Hosmer</a>.<br />
<br />
Both are available, preferably in exchange for a short print I actually care about.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-79992381527967406052012-07-31T22:28:00.003+08:002012-07-31T22:30:59.718+08:00Trade Bait! (2012 Topps Blaster patches, Part 2)In case you missed <a href="http://rgbcards.blogspot.com/2012/07/mail-call.html">Part One</a>, I displayed the 2012 Topps Retired Number and Historical Stitches manu-patches that I purchased on eBay last week. Part Two is all about the patches I actually pulled myself, from the five blasters of Series 1 and Series 2 that I bought online. Of the five, there's only one that I want to keep. And that's just because Hank Aaron is badass:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZUh5xZ5eS2FH4ZwlU2jSNUnweVTbhY48KpHfIQBr9ZcZX1FC4QvFF142ql06nM7cQHBGxqtP_khPaXLrLBPLIv24C3YHUkVg5VN7bxr1HcX8tjYIBn9RJuk0V67K4OLmMDjuhyphenhyphenQB80/s1600/12T_RN-HA_Hank_Aaron_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZUh5xZ5eS2FH4ZwlU2jSNUnweVTbhY48KpHfIQBr9ZcZX1FC4QvFF142ql06nM7cQHBGxqtP_khPaXLrLBPLIv24C3YHUkVg5VN7bxr1HcX8tjYIBn9RJuk0V67K4OLmMDjuhyphenhyphenQB80/s320/12T_RN-HA_Hank_Aaron_front.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<br />
Hank's Brewers years are largely forgotten, and for good reason. It was like Willie Mays returning to New York for the Mets, or Babe Ruth playing for the Boston Braves. Going back to the town where you started your big league career sounds good in theory, but it rarely works out. Right, Junior?<br />
<br />
Still, the Hammer played for the Brewers for effectively a season and a half, and they still retired his number. Respect.<br />
<br />
Now for the ones that I am looking to move. The list of Retired Number cards I'm collecting is at the bottom of these lovely pictures. I am entertaining all offers. Yankees, Twins and Blue Jays fans especially, I'm looking at you:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkAVDNwRSF2ClccxMMzUnnJfimWUgrU87wLpQyyWQBUgHQA-a8tjTBUKZJF2Gls5PBqqAoxpA9Z5bmGj90svOPHKnDHaCt7GazlvkzZ6ALiqWzm5_LY73-7AtqSN55phuK_Wn16xAK6c/s1600/12T_HS-DM_Don_Mattingly_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkAVDNwRSF2ClccxMMzUnnJfimWUgrU87wLpQyyWQBUgHQA-a8tjTBUKZJF2Gls5PBqqAoxpA9Z5bmGj90svOPHKnDHaCt7GazlvkzZ6ALiqWzm5_LY73-7AtqSN55phuK_Wn16xAK6c/s320/12T_HS-DM_Don_Mattingly_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ipncYEfDEA-l6M4FZrb1zhytadpSAgY3YOcFL3PdCGnGf8oJkUhZeDCli9VHPJxRjGMl3DSvQiqHKKQB7iIo8Uqv_D_Idk61zU7_xf3VN_1BHXiz1wEQok5xoC5ckzSCml82P7cILXI/s1600/12T_RN-RC_Rod_Carew_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ipncYEfDEA-l6M4FZrb1zhytadpSAgY3YOcFL3PdCGnGf8oJkUhZeDCli9VHPJxRjGMl3DSvQiqHKKQB7iIo8Uqv_D_Idk61zU7_xf3VN_1BHXiz1wEQok5xoC5ckzSCml82P7cILXI/s320/12T_RN-RC_Rod_Carew_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Now, here are the ones I want to collect, and the ones I already have:<br />
<br />
<b>Reds</b><br />
Sparky Anderson<br />
<strike>Joe Morgan</strike> GOT!<br />
Johnny Bench<br />
<br />
Orioles<br />
<strike>Frank Robinson</strike> GOT!<br />
<strike>Brooks Robinson</strike> GOT!<br />
<strike>Jim Palmer</strike> GOT!<br />
Cal Ripken Jr.<br />
<br />
<b>White Sox</b><br />
Frank Thomas<br />
Carlton Fisk<br />
<br />
Athletics<br />
<strike>Reggie Jackson</strike> GOT!<br />
Rickey Henderson<br />
Catfish Hunter <br />
<br />
Indians<br />
Lou Boudreau<br />
Bob Feller<br />
<br />
<b>Pirates</b><br />
Roberto Clemente<br />
Willie Stargell<br />
<br />
<b>Number 8s</b><br />
<strike>Yogi Berra</strike> GOT!<br />
Gary Carter<br />
<br />
(I must say, I'm a bit annoyed, because the only other retired #8 in baseball is Carl Yastrzemski, and Topps didn't do a patch for him, just one of the Historical Stitches. Y U H8 ME TOPPS?!?)<br />
<br />
<b>Historical Stitches (sigh)</b><br />
Sandy Koufax<br />
Ichiro Suzuki<br />
Ken Griffey Jr.<br />
<br />
Yes, I need these three Historical Stitches cards for my PCs.<b> </b>My preference, of course is for retired number cards, but if you have one of these cards and want to trade it for the Mattingly or Molitor, I'm up for it.<br />
<br />
<br />Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-31334131596150496542012-07-30T21:11:00.000+08:002012-07-31T22:28:59.459+08:00Mail Call! (2012 Topps Blaster patches, Part 1)This is a special two-part post. Part one is the fun part - I found an eBay seller, based in Australia, who sells singles of patch cards, relics and such. He had a absolute ton of stuff up last week, including some of the manu-patches from the 2012 Topps blasters. I bought out all the stuff from that series that he had, and I wanted. They arrived today.<br />
<br />
First up, the Historical Stitches. I got two - Luis Aparicio and the patron saint of RGB Cards, Frank Robinson:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WcCp5IvxCDQmaJ0n-ELzf4e6gxeJWC2gOPs-g0HwL1RJY7RHG-NBFR_9xhD7w9okLowYMvVKVoU6mune44ClOu320QaRwcre4jByZvJ7ObQhnAPi9LvFeDKY41N2WEMKe4hXAk-QQQc/s1600/12T_HS-FR_Frank_Robinson_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WcCp5IvxCDQmaJ0n-ELzf4e6gxeJWC2gOPs-g0HwL1RJY7RHG-NBFR_9xhD7w9okLowYMvVKVoU6mune44ClOu320QaRwcre4jByZvJ7ObQhnAPi9LvFeDKY41N2WEMKe4hXAk-QQQc/s320/12T_HS-FR_Frank_Robinson_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The thing I love about the Robinson card is that it portrays him as a Red. Frank Robinson's Cincinnati career is often forgotten, but he was absolutely amazing at Crosley Field. You know that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinfr02.shtml">he was MVP in 1961</a>, right? The whole "only person to be MVP of the American League and National League" thing? Yeah, it doesn't happen without the Reds. Believe it or not, Robby played more games in a Reds uniform than any other. He was with the team for ten seasons!<br />
<br />
However, now that I have these two cards in my position, it confirms what I thought all along; the Historical Stitches set is stupid. It's manu-patches at their worst, because there's no real historical context or events that they're based on. "Featuring stitching designed to replicate his vintage jersey"? What does that even mean?<br />
<br />
However, as bad as Topps whiffed on the Historical Stitches, the retired number patches are just that many kinds of awesome. I've always been fascinated with uniform numbers - which ones people choose, how they select them, what new number a person gets when <a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1123803.1343474838%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/mccaron28s-3-web.jpg">he changes teams and can't get his old number</a>, and yes, which numbers are retired. That's why this set is so awesome. But what do you expect from someone with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Now-Batting-Number-Superstition-Baseballs/dp/1579125751">this book</a> in his personal library?<br />
<br />
I got three - a Reds patch, an Orioles patch, and an Athletics patch. And there's that man Robinson again:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTBvgXep3CkMigZhPagGO7Bvcy3jCzT2_vHTXCJlRarx95iHcZTeYCMwWp0tqhpCUfAmNvkGRFqjn3HvUmtwqaHbq7DUWu5vwqHvAtomvxyrbgV3nkSF7TVsD8RwEy_teRM4PmlxlDQg/s1600/12T_RN-FR_Frank_Robinson_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTBvgXep3CkMigZhPagGO7Bvcy3jCzT2_vHTXCJlRarx95iHcZTeYCMwWp0tqhpCUfAmNvkGRFqjn3HvUmtwqaHbq7DUWu5vwqHvAtomvxyrbgV3nkSF7TVsD8RwEy_teRM4PmlxlDQg/s320/12T_RN-FR_Frank_Robinson_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhNkdqlL4AhVU9MM2IS1oACtw11KfTMLKIaw1tPJHuR-XrAZ5oMYi4CU3rwstvigLi9p-OXtisK38Kmh00v0AThqU5nPgPRsH2OaZiqbpCEon7Rzyemey-Hr3_YpDuKJZ88jbuECbQH4/s1600/12T_RN-RJ_Reggie_Jackson_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhNkdqlL4AhVU9MM2IS1oACtw11KfTMLKIaw1tPJHuR-XrAZ5oMYi4CU3rwstvigLi9p-OXtisK38Kmh00v0AThqU5nPgPRsH2OaZiqbpCEon7Rzyemey-Hr3_YpDuKJZ88jbuECbQH4/s320/12T_RN-RJ_Reggie_Jackson_front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've decided to collect all the Reds, Orioles, Athletics and White Sox patches, along with Sandy Koufax (duh) and all the number 8 cards. Yes, this means I am actively seeking a Yankees patch card, but I'm cool with it because it's Yogi Berra and he's awesome.<br />
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By the way, I already bought the Koufax, but the seller doesn't ship to Australia so it's at my parents' house. Along with what seems like half my collection.<br />
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Tomorrow, I'll be posting the manu-patch cards I actually pulled from my blasters. With one exception, I am looking to flip these cards for ones I actually want. Yankees collectors will definitely want to check back tomorrow.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-1756616468470353132012-07-26T22:47:00.000+08:002012-07-26T23:43:13.957+08:00Can you help me solve a mystery?Last night I was opening a blaster of 2012 Series 2 when I came across something unusual. One of the cards was #395, Rod Barajas. When I got to the page in the binder where #395 goes, in the space I saw...Jonathan Lucroy.<br />
<br />
Wha?<br />
<br />
Even more, I saw another Rod Barajas card, only it had #391 on it. And, furthermore, the back was printed upside down.<br />
<br />
Now this, to me, is where it gets really confusing. The Barajas-395 was printed perfectly. If that was the mis-numbered card, then shouldn't it be the one that's misprinted, too? You can't have two #395 cards. If Barajas is really 395, then what number is Lucroy supposed to be? And if Barajas is 391, then why was my card printed upside down? Is it possible I have <i>two</i> Barajas error cards; one with the right number printed the wrong way, and one printed the right way, but with the wrong number?<br />
<br />
The more I think about it, there isn't any way I don't have two error cards. One of those 395 cards is right, and the other is wrong. And there's no disputing that the 391 is printed upside down.<br />
<br />
Has anyone heard anything about numbering shenanigans with Topps Series 2? Or have I stumbled on a one-off? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-1606586271992151512012-07-24T21:45:00.000+08:002012-07-24T21:45:35.675+08:00Thoughts on IchiroI woke up today to the news that Ichiro Suzuki had be traded. There is was, in blue and white, as a message on my iPhone: "Yankees Acquire Ichiro Suzuki". I re-read it again. And again. And it still didn't really sink in. Not only did Ichiro get traded, but it was to the Yankees? Was I still asleep?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNQSwNpHyj7F1edY8qEBLATtPVeLRHt8O9ufu0HsNk1WjvytY4Z1Neb0lpLlUyIrWHjkf9PDAMJxu_1LrXE-4Mcw3U0zq5mnbNzo5C7FJ_B8axqtfJl-UbV9auBK2kLiofel2-XzxzDI/s1600/02T_718_Ichiro_Suzuki_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNQSwNpHyj7F1edY8qEBLATtPVeLRHt8O9ufu0HsNk1WjvytY4Z1Neb0lpLlUyIrWHjkf9PDAMJxu_1LrXE-4Mcw3U0zq5mnbNzo5C7FJ_B8axqtfJl-UbV9auBK2kLiofel2-XzxzDI/s200/02T_718_Ichiro_Suzuki_front.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>I must admit, the first thought that ran through my head was that I'd have to stop collecting his cards. But after I got out of bed and started making breakfast five minutes later, I realised that was silly. Of course I'll keep collecting his cards, no matter the uniform. Besides, I get so damn many unwanted Yankees cards, it's time for a few I actually do want.<br />
<br />
I read an article this weekend on the <a href="http://www.ussmariner.com/">USS Mariner</a> web site about how it was <a href="http://www.ussmariner.com/2012/07/18/ichiro-3/">time for the Mariners to cut their ties with Ichiro</a> at the end of the season. I didn't want to entertain that notion. I had this idea that Ichiro would get his 3,000th major league hit, his 4,193rd professional hit, and maybe even win a World Series (or at least a playoff series), all while wearing a Mariners uniform. Now, not even a week later, the M's didn't wait - they traded him to the team that just happened to be in town for a three-game series. Contrary to what the ESPN website seems to think, Ichiro did <b>not</b> help his new team beat his old team last night, unless you count going 1-for-4 and getting stranded at third base in a 4-1 game "helping"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadADfne8rL26YyucMR_tQo5Rqn6Ffa0P1DN6zP9PgDhUHSJx94c7hpd4yiaDnTRLp55-ziHFy5RICDKcDxDUqqTwr0KuxmYybIzPWYnpd-IkWx5q-AL77Pe_bkT8_T24kOmL3VtabE8I/s1600/10T_515_Seattle_Mariners_Franchise_History_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadADfne8rL26YyucMR_tQo5Rqn6Ffa0P1DN6zP9PgDhUHSJx94c7hpd4yiaDnTRLp55-ziHFy5RICDKcDxDUqqTwr0KuxmYybIzPWYnpd-IkWx5q-AL77Pe_bkT8_T24kOmL3VtabE8I/s200/10T_515_Seattle_Mariners_Franchise_History_front.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>I guess I should be happy for Ichiro. He's going from the league leader in losses to the league leader in wins, and he has a very real chance of going far in the post season. He's left the Mariners without a lot of the bad taste that <i>Junior Griffey part deux</i> put in everyone's mouth, and, like Griffey (and not like Alex Rodriguez), no matter what else he does in his career, he'll always be associated with the Mariners first and foremost. Five years after he retires, he'll become the second Mariner in the Hall of Fame (or third, if the Hall gets their act together on Edgar Martinez, or fourth, depending on what Randy Johnson decides).<br />
<br />
More than that, without Ichiro's manifold success, players like Shin-Soo Choo, Hideki Matsui, and even to an extent pitchers like Hiroki Kuroda and Yu Darvish wouldn't have the big league careers they enjoy. It's hard to think now, but in 2001 there was a real feeling that while Japanese pitchers might be okay, position players wouldn't hold up to the "rigors" of a 162-game season. It seems like a ridiculous notion now. Hideo Nomo might have pried open the door, but Ichiro Suzuki kicked it down.<br />
<br />
Besides, maybe he'll leave the Yankees after the season and play somewhere else. Oakland's got a nice big outfield...Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-32139957375739442052012-07-21T22:53:00.003+08:002012-07-21T22:55:38.053+08:00Baseball 35It's not like I haven't been doing anything with myself lately. Sure, things have been a lot busier with my boy around, but I've been able to make the most of the time when he's sleeping, especially now that he's sleeping a bit better.<br />
<br />
One of the things I've done is create a long-term baseball sim. Baseball 35 is a "what if?" world that asks the question - what if the Pacific Coast League was able to become a Major League in 1935? And, for good measure, it took the International League along with it. Four major leagues, 32 major league teams in 1935. A couple of things, as I see it:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>American and National League teams wouldn't have moved West. Not if there were already major-league caliber teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco.</li>
<li>West-coast born major leaguers would have been more likely to stay on the West Coast. For example, Joe DiMaggio started out as a San Francisco Seal, but the Seals were a AAA team. What if they were a Major League team, and they didn't have to sell him to the Yankees?</li>
<li>The International League had teams in Toronto and Montreal, and by the 1950s, they even had a team in Havana. International baseball in the 1930s? Major League baseball in Cuba by 1955? It's fun to imagine.</li>
</ul>
The league in is the 1936 season (i.e., its second) and just had its first Hall of Fame inductions. I'm blogging about it over at the <a href="http://baseball35sim.blogspot.com/">Baseball 35 blog</a>. I'm not going to bombard you with cross-posts; this is a baseball card blog, and that's a baseball history simulation blog (and a work in progress to boot!). I will keep a link for Baseball 35 on the right-hand side, and if you're a fan of baseball history, or alternative history, or baseball on the West Coast, or computer games...well, you get the picture. I encourage you to check it out, bookmark it and comment.<br />
<br />
I try to update it when I can, but as you can imagine, it takes more time doing the write-ups than it does actually simulating the games!Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-34281766690529695022012-07-20T21:34:00.000+08:002012-07-20T21:34:00.950+08:00Pack Wars! Battle Blaster 1 (Part 2)Welcome back to the final three battles of Pack Wars! Battle Blaster I. Just a reminder, I am certainly willing to accept sponsorship for this feature. It's time to get into it, because we've get three battles to get to today.<br />
<br />
<b>Battle 3</b><br />
<b>Albert V vs. Albert VI</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lDW48FT0Phf0ThtRLzk6R5gJw0rbay3cY9BAQtEclsr-_GrAOY6SVLusEHwDRPdZIs_oe9qstNvrODRDnkelHS9uMrXxhUsJKFmvNXULCLfjqrMDi-S61CLfqp4dpFANbiwK8XQK_oQ/s1600/12T_509_Travis_Snider_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lDW48FT0Phf0ThtRLzk6R5gJw0rbay3cY9BAQtEclsr-_GrAOY6SVLusEHwDRPdZIs_oe9qstNvrODRDnkelHS9uMrXxhUsJKFmvNXULCLfjqrMDi-S61CLfqp4dpFANbiwK8XQK_oQ/s200/12T_509_Travis_Snider_front.jpg" width="143" /></a><u>Albert V</u><br />
Ramon Hernandez<br />
Carlos Santana (+1 for following the ball with his eyes)<br />
Ryan Sweeney<br />
Eric Sogard (+1) (Athletics)<br />
Hanley Ramirez Cut Above insert<br />
James Shields<br />
<b>Travis Snider (+1 for sporting a Gerald McRaney moustache)</b><br />
Alfonso Soriano<br />
<br />
Total Score: 3<br />
<br />
I bet you think I should give that die-cut HanRam card at least a point, right? Well, I'll refer you to the official scoring "+2 Any other insert card<i> that's worth keeping</i>" (italics mine). Frankly, I don't get the die-cut craze. If it's a player I collect, I'd keep it. Otherwise, nil points.<br />
<br />
A Gerald McRaney moustache, on the other hand, is worth celebrating and rewarding.<br />
<br />
<u>Albert VI</u><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyVJa_EkdEutway_F8gurxzpE1IFwF-Ehi9t2QnSfT4jdlrW9PW61MF8u3QETAAk8VcrccwO-teGG1IteqF4se-_GY8mzUkptfVfKrdHG1BxS3hOrjqyXJpoy9Pqrh1-Zg7-nfAh0sqI/s1600/12T_405_Nathan_Eovaldi_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyVJa_EkdEutway_F8gurxzpE1IFwF-Ehi9t2QnSfT4jdlrW9PW61MF8u3QETAAk8VcrccwO-teGG1IteqF4se-_GY8mzUkptfVfKrdHG1BxS3hOrjqyXJpoy9Pqrh1-Zg7-nfAh0sqI/s200/12T_405_Nathan_Eovaldi_front.jpg" width="144" /></a>Matt Thornton (+1) (White Sox)<br />
Tommy Hunter (+1) (Orioles)<br />
Chris Volstad<br />
Chase Headley (+1) (Gold)<br />
Golden Giveaway (0 - I unlocked Lou Gehrig, who I immediately traded for Roberto Clemente)<br />
Elvis Andrus<br />
<b>Nathan Eovaldi (+1 for having the very rare "EO" combination in front of his name)</b><br />
John Mayberry<br />
<br />
Total Score: 4<br />
<br />
Now, before you start complaining that my random point for Nathan Eovaldi having two vowels at the front of his name broke the tie, handing the win to Albert VI, I would like to point out that I gave a point to Travis Snider <i>for a freakin' moustache</i>! Albert VI was going to win, anyway.<br />
<br />
See, it's not completely random.<br />
<br />
<b>Battle 4</b><br />
<b>Albert VII vs. Albert VIII</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ym4cHVvznhI6NLcA29H6Y0Pj5YT4K1Uu2ddayG29o0duYrxRktaMYND-Ys6FGWygBD1mZR7oDPfC8LjjPO57EoV3UW0YgJDr-w0QWy6wOgtrBrwtwuHg0Kuga62GpkSb0cVoJktp2FU/s1600/12T_TM-83_Joe_Mauer_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ym4cHVvznhI6NLcA29H6Y0Pj5YT4K1Uu2ddayG29o0duYrxRktaMYND-Ys6FGWygBD1mZR7oDPfC8LjjPO57EoV3UW0YgJDr-w0QWy6wOgtrBrwtwuHg0Kuga62GpkSb0cVoJktp2FU/s200/12T_TM-83_Joe_Mauer_front.jpg" width="145" /></a><u>Albert VII </u><br />
Willie Bloomquist (-1 for wearing a "Los Dbacks" jersey - c'mon, that's not even real Spanish!)<br />
Carlos Gonzalez<br />
Scott Hairston<br />
Josh Hamilton Career Day insert (+1 for being from Raleigh)<br />
<b>Joe Mauer '87 mini (+2)</b><br />
Ricky Romero<br />
Tsuyoshi Nishioka<br />
Daniel Murphy<br />
<br />
Total Score: 2<br />
<br />
What a stinker. If it wasn't for the inserts, the pack would have finished in double digits. And before you ask, any Brewers that appeared in "Cervezeros" jerseys would indeed get bonus points. Because "Cervezeros" is just plain cool. And proper Spanish.<br />
<br />
<u>Albert VIII</u><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbWrU5k0QTwNL9Kd2n35y0bjENiDumUL9vAhH_X6XTq-4cAoJ8D1L8SS8lCvIuACB3xLnGrsvYT0KEdmB8e2-VJBJ0LY5bg4oVqFcfSQ6PQWftNhTAnjNmd05HUREAIqcLsV59FGdo5A/s1600/12T_GM-27_Jim_Palmer_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbWrU5k0QTwNL9Kd2n35y0bjENiDumUL9vAhH_X6XTq-4cAoJ8D1L8SS8lCvIuACB3xLnGrsvYT0KEdmB8e2-VJBJ0LY5bg4oVqFcfSQ6PQWftNhTAnjNmd05HUREAIqcLsV59FGdo5A/s200/12T_GM-27_Jim_Palmer_front.jpg" width="200" /></a>Carlos Zambrano (-1 for being a clubhouse cancer)<br />
Alex Rodriguez (-5)<br />
Alex Presley (+1 for being the second straight Alex in the pack)<br />
Vladimir Guerrero checklist (+1) (Orioles)<br />
<b>Jim Palmer Golden Moments insert (+3) </b><br />
<b>(Orioles +1, insert card I'm keeping +2)</b><br />
Josh Collmenter<br />
Kenley Jansen<br />
Andy Dirks<br />
<br />
Total Score: -1<br />
<br />
I thought it was going to be much worse. I kinda felt bad docking Albert VIII a point for Zambrano when A-Fraud came up straight away, but to protect the integrity of Pack Wars I have to go with my first instinct when it comes to bonus points. Besides, I docked Albert VII a point for a totally capricious reason, too. Albert VII wins the battle. But really, we're all losers in this one.<br />
<br />
<b>Battle 5</b><br />
<b>Albert IX vs. Albert X</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtKR9IkHsSyePvzOQZx6O8NLdkAxIu02gAKvqAFvfE85D85UIjD0_vL2iT02bWBwc8usZTlehll3aJt4Rb2LZ2oeF-CeI3mSqi7SpMiBK_vMzq5kdJb2eIZiJstoRmhhKkR7P_mX0-A/s1600/12T_574_Kerry_Wood_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtKR9IkHsSyePvzOQZx6O8NLdkAxIu02gAKvqAFvfE85D85UIjD0_vL2iT02bWBwc8usZTlehll3aJt4Rb2LZ2oeF-CeI3mSqi7SpMiBK_vMzq5kdJb2eIZiJstoRmhhKkR7P_mX0-A/s200/12T_574_Kerry_Wood_front.jpg" width="141" /></a><u>Albert IX</u><br />
Andrew McCutchen<br />
Chien-Ming Wang (+1 for "Heh-heh...you said 'Wang'")<br />
Zach McAllister<br />
Jim Palmer Mound Dominance insert (+3) (Orioles +1, insert card I'm keeping +2)<br />
Nolan Ryan Gold Standard insert<br />
Ian Kinsler (+1 for solid fundamentals)<br />
Lonnie Chisenhall<br />
<b>Kerry Wood (+1 for retiring on his own terms)</b><br />
<br />
Total Score: 6<br />
<br />
Fun fact - both Jim Palmer insert cards referred to the same game - his start in the 1966 World Series at the tender age of 21. I almost thought of docking this card a point for that duplication, but decided to just not feature it instead.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pCAEcyptZC86HBWJiKuqewJm9QKtoU1rzxp-WWHuj4ukJS50mtO37TSbusApZARTXjQSfH9acvArg8gVFOWGpKmWcECAnKmbAEbn9PuyAbZUytoq0csNRc57eQkuAF2ybNwyDMP1D7c/s1600/12T_537g_Ichiro_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pCAEcyptZC86HBWJiKuqewJm9QKtoU1rzxp-WWHuj4ukJS50mtO37TSbusApZARTXjQSfH9acvArg8gVFOWGpKmWcECAnKmbAEbn9PuyAbZUytoq0csNRc57eQkuAF2ybNwyDMP1D7c/s200/12T_537g_Ichiro_front.jpg" width="142" /></a><u>Albert X</u><br />
Nelson Cruz<br />
Brandon Beachey<br />
Luis Marte<br />
<b>Ichiro Suzuki Gold (+8) (+5 Gold parallel for my PC, +1 Mariner, +2 Ichiro)</b><br />
Carlos Santana Gold Futures (+1)<br />
Darwin Barney (+1 for diving/sliding headfirst)<br />
Jason Kubel<br />
Lance Berkman<br />
<br />
Total Score: 10<br />
<br />
What a way to end the first Pack Wars with a double-digit pack. True, it benefited from the points multiplier, but when you think about it, there are 660 cards in the set, and each has gold parallels. So the odds that I'm going to get one of the 3 gold cards I actually care about are...well, they're 1 in 220, actually...but that's good enough for a bunch of points, in my opinion.<br />
<br />
Albert X takes out not only the final battle, but also posts the highest score of the whole blaster. Congratulations Albert X. You win...nothing.<br />
<br />
<br />Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-29551246167609823472012-07-19T21:23:00.000+08:002012-07-19T21:23:11.155+08:00Pack Wars! - Battle Blaster 1Here we go - the first installment of Pack Wars! Come to think of it, I kinda like the title "Battle Blaster" better. And Rule 1 of <strike>Pack Wars</strike> Battle Blasters is that capriciousness and whims are the order of the day. On with the show...<br />
<br />
<b>Battle #1</b><br />
<b>Pack 1 vs. Pack 2</b><br />
<br />
I liked in better back in 2009, when Topps would put different players on the front of packs. This time, we just have ten Albert Pujolses battling each other. Here we have Albert I vs. Albert II<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DXfR1Zsw8BnsYwF4oeFQYtNL3cXodx2oww33aEn6rx0dCBvzh3EzmSbo8tB1-Hy5mbdfCLAaCLmfYQAN25roXi8u_NT2nPpHv6P5uW1FX3XJnCZ1ZSgHjig6nxv1lLAUp-T5eq8vxNg/s1600/12T_652_Grant_Balfour_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DXfR1Zsw8BnsYwF4oeFQYtNL3cXodx2oww33aEn6rx0dCBvzh3EzmSbo8tB1-Hy5mbdfCLAaCLmfYQAN25roXi8u_NT2nPpHv6P5uW1FX3XJnCZ1ZSgHjig6nxv1lLAUp-T5eq8vxNg/s200/12T_652_Grant_Balfour_front.jpg" width="143" /></a><u>Albert I</u><br />
J.J. Hardy (+1) (Orioles)<br />
Dan Haren<br />
<b>Grant Balfour (+3)</b><br />
Phil Niekro Mound Dominance insert<br />
Albert Pujols Career Day insert<br />
Chase Utley (+1 for sliding/diving headfirst - a.k.a. the Pete Rose bonus)<br />
Alex Gonzalez<br />
Chris Johnson (-1) (Astros)<br />
<br />
Total score: 4<br />
<br />
One pack in, and I've already shown my capriciousness. I've decided to award Grant Balfour an extra point for wearing the gold A's jersey, and another point for being an Aussie. I can't believe I didn't include that as a category. It is so forever enshrined, and I'll be updating the official scoring system<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv2ZsRtZ4wSfEkBAw-gR5MVPYD1fb2wyi5nFRDSiLLZQyQBavX7ycIIVnZYZmHzsGTrMKAB_vLODjegoYQ2CSQY41WwlKNFi425nBfBB8iFMCqTOXbbUSpUNnQ-XWwp-NK6ydhG9V7_I/s1600/12T_557_Zack_Cozart_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv2ZsRtZ4wSfEkBAw-gR5MVPYD1fb2wyi5nFRDSiLLZQyQBavX7ycIIVnZYZmHzsGTrMKAB_vLODjegoYQ2CSQY41WwlKNFi425nBfBB8iFMCqTOXbbUSpUNnQ-XWwp-NK6ydhG9V7_I/s200/12T_557_Zack_Cozart_front.jpg" width="142" /></a><u>Albert II</u><br />
Gaby Sanchez<br />
Brett Gardner (-1) (Yankees)<br />
Wade Miley<br />
Andruw Jones (+1) (Gold) (-1) Yankees = A big, fat zero<br />
Cliff Lee<br />
<b>Zack Cozart (+2)</b><br />
Robert Andino (+1) (Orioles)<br />
Gerardo Parra<br />
<br />
Total score: 3<br />
<br />
Zack Cozart gets one point for being a Red, and a bonus point for being one of my favorite Reds. As the cliche goes, "he plays the game the right way." Still, it's not enough - Battle #1 goes to Albert I! It's the leader in the clubhouse, but something tells me 4 points isn't going to hold up. Shall we have another battle? Sounds good!<br />
<br />
<b>Battle #2</b><br />
<b>Albert III vs. Albert IV</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIekqcJDtNbXT2ylk3g-lvoPVKh_vx4P6CWAnx4qKRKn7uCICG8Oi1r5HffaKKtBYm11z3nB_jBzo6URcRM5giZ8UgW7j3ih_fCWzrCwskNtgk3ekVvnc7Wcq2Ovad6mgkmOzR5PH8kDo/s1600/12T_TM-97_Ken_Griffey_Jr_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIekqcJDtNbXT2ylk3g-lvoPVKh_vx4P6CWAnx4qKRKn7uCICG8Oi1r5HffaKKtBYm11z3nB_jBzo6URcRM5giZ8UgW7j3ih_fCWzrCwskNtgk3ekVvnc7Wcq2Ovad6mgkmOzR5PH8kDo/s200/12T_TM-97_Ken_Griffey_Jr_front.jpg" width="143" /></a><u>Albert III</u><br />
Nick Swisher (-1) (Yankees)<br />
Buster Posey (+1) (Orange uniform)<br />
Dan Uggla - not even the base card, the checklist<br />
Ty Cobb Gold Standard insert (-1 for being a horrible human being)<br />
<b>Ken Griffey Jr. 1987 mini (+8)</b><br />
Carlos Quentin (+1 for the smirk on his face)<br />
Mark Ellis<br />
Frank Francisco (+1 for having the same first and last name)<br />
<br />
Total score: 9<br />
<br />
Not even having both a smug Yankee outfielder <i>and </i>an unrepentant racist can hold this pack down! Not when there's the coolest insert card in the set! To be honest, I had no idea that Series 2 '87 mini cards featured retired players. And when I was creating the scoring system, I had forgotten that Junior and Topps had kissed and made up, and that he was now featured in 2012 Topps. Since my other PCs get two points, I figure Griffey is worth double because he's retired. Along those same lines, I doubled the '87 mini bonus, too. That's how I got 8 points. See, it's not completely random.<br />
<br />
The bonus points for Carlos Quentin and Frank Francisco, well, yeah, that is pretty random.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9mtUi2ib-ryel9nkLhjXrglUs8P9nsJFfYHlQaL_D2zZNGeJb-WJFTEpzbSZXKsHvPCXypVsYhh7XY4_00l8zl-qxMnPN_fHsmTfI_D9EB_mKUnjdP7C7WFMXGCF9MIeCd8JMKK0dEc/s1600/12T_349_Tim_Lincecum_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9mtUi2ib-ryel9nkLhjXrglUs8P9nsJFfYHlQaL_D2zZNGeJb-WJFTEpzbSZXKsHvPCXypVsYhh7XY4_00l8zl-qxMnPN_fHsmTfI_D9EB_mKUnjdP7C7WFMXGCF9MIeCd8JMKK0dEc/s200/12T_349_Tim_Lincecum_front.jpg" width="142" /></a><u>Albert IV</u><br />
Rafael Furcal<br />
Gio Gonzalez (+1 for being a part of the Nationals all-conquering rotation)<br />
Charlie Furbush (+1) (Mariners)<br />
Ozzie Smith Golden Moments insert<br />
Domonic Brown Gold Futures insert (+1)<br />
Chris Carpenter<br />
<b>Tim Lincecum (+2)</b><br />
Carlos Pena<br />
<br />
Total Score: 5<br />
<br />
Who packed this pack, Tony LaRussa? The last time I saw this many Cardinals in one place was the NL All-Star team. That reminds me - fair warning: if I see LaRussa's mug pop up I'm going to give him -10 points for the way he treated Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips. I resisted the urge to give Charlie Furbush a bonus point for his vaguely obscene last name. That kind of stuff shouldn't be celebrated.<br />
<br />
Poor Albert IV. That score would have won Battle #1, but it had the bad luck to go up against Mini Griffey. Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. A strong score by Albert III, will it hold up against six more packs? All will be revealed...tomorrow!Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-70481469028033133022012-07-18T22:29:00.000+08:002012-07-19T21:24:08.886+08:00Pack Wars!A silly idea I "came up" with while driving up to Perth today...<br />
<br />
I bought a few blaster packs of Series 2, and rather than just open them up and post the contents, I wondered how I could have some fun with them. Why not have the packs "battle" against each other for the title of most badass pack in the blaster? Of course, some sort of points or ratings system would need to be devised in order to determine the winner.<br />
<br />
Going on the idea that the best (or at least funniest) point systems are completely random (see <i>Whose Line is it Anyway?</i> or <i>RockWiz</i>), here's some ideas. I've got three blasters, so the points system could change completely from one blaster to the next. I will, however, keep it consistent between all packs in a blaster, or else my fake competition won't be fair to the inanimate competitors. And we can't have that, can we?<br />
<br />
<b>Provisional point system</b>:<br />
+1 Reds, Orioles, White Sox, Mariners or Athletics<br />
+1 Gold Futures (one of two insert series I'm actually collecting)<br />
+1 Gold card<br />
+1 for wearing a throwback jersey<br />
+1 for being Australian<br />
+1 for being from Raleigh, N.C. <br />
+2 Ichiro, King Felix and The Freak <br />
+2 1987 Mini (the other insert, and one that's twice as cool as Gold Futures)<br />
+2 Any other insert card that's worth keeping, not trading away <br />
+2 Golden Giveaway card (but only if it unlocks something cool)<br />
+3 Short Print <br />
+3 Gold card I actually give a damn about<br />
+5 Gold card for my PC<br />
+5 Gold card that's an SP (Gatorade or otherwise)<br />
+8 Relic or auto (in a blaster?!?) <br />
+10 Any card that prominently features <a href="http://rgbcards.blogspot.com/2012/05/manu-hit-madness.html">seagulls chasing ballplayers</a><br />
<br />
-1 Yankees, Astros<br />
-3 Any card that has already been pulled in that blaster (this may disadvantage later packs, but honestly, duplicates in a blaster is inexcusable)<br />
-5 Alex Rodriguez<br />
-100 Alex Rodriguez relic or auto (seriously, what a waste) <br />
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Points are cumulative, so an Alex Rodriguez card would actually be worth -6, unless he's wearing a Rangers jersey for some reason, then it would be -5. You get the picture.<br />
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I reserve the right to add or subtract points for unforseen circumstances, or just because I really like or dislike a particular card.<br />
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I'll start the competition with my first blaster, and go from there. There's ten packs, numbered from 1 to 10 (duh!) in the order that I pulled them out of the blaster (double duh!). Pack 1 will battle Pack 2, Pack 3 vs. Pack 4, and so on. This doesn't exactly lend itself to a bracket, since all the information will be out there following the first round. I've already opened the manu-patch, and it's a retired number card of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeC8nTYEwQQ">Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew</a>.<br />
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Any predictions on which pack (1 through 10) will be the winner? Results to come tomorrow.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992135998836479176.post-18797313840200512032012-06-14T21:26:00.000+08:002012-06-14T21:26:05.568+08:00Bonehead of the Week: Angel HernandezThis week's Bonehead of the Week? Angel Hernandez. Because he cost the Reds that Sunday night game against the Tigers.<br />
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He had a bug up his ass about Ryan Ludwick and called two balls as strikes, including one that was egregious.<br />
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He called Devin Mesoraco out on a bogus interference call and sent the baserunner back to first base. Never mind that second was stolen no matter how good Gerald Laird's throw was.<br />
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In the spirit of impartiality, he even screwed the Tigers over on a fan interference call.<br />
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He sucks. He is the worst umpire in baseball, and that's saying something, because Joe West is apparently still alive.<br />
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We should just re-name the award the Angel Hernandez Bonehead of the Week. Or just the Angel Hernandez of the Week.Jonathan @ RGB Cardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10562168578305733245noreply@blogger.com0