At Long Last We Have Completion

Hey, whoa! Where did the time go?  Has it really been that long since I posted?  I’m really getting too old to let two weeks slip by almost unnoticed.  I guess I should wrap up this whole “drag out a box break” series and move on to more interesting topics like the Lightning playoff chances (excuse me while I go cry in a corner now).  Three more packs to go, let’s go get them!

Or, because I am lazy let’s not.

I’ll boil it down to one card. 

Hey there leader of Birdland!  Good ol’ Buck Showalter looking all managerial and serious. Which is exactly how managers not named Joe Maddon should look.  The O’s are lingering around .500 this season. Luckily in the AL East that still has them in contention.

There wasn’t much else lurking in the last three packs of the box.  I did get a Venezuelan variation of a pitching leaders card.  If you haven’t seen them, well they’re just like the normal cards except with a black border around the back of the card.

My thoughts on the 2013 Topps Heritage product – a definitive “meeehhh”.

Of all the Topps products on the market, Heritage really is the simplest to get a grip on.  Take a vintage design and airbrush a bunch of current players on the front and ship it out.  I like that they mimic  the inserts and foibles of the original years to keep a bit of continuity, that makes for a nice touch.  The problem is, if you’re not a fan of the base card design it’s really hard to talk yourself into investing the time and money to put a complete set together (thanks short prints!)

I will be trading away, or at least attempting to trade away, most of the cards that I pulled from this box. I’m off to a decent start having set aside the Braves for Captain Canuck and the Pirates for Staff Sergeant Real DFG.  About a week ago I pulled off a 2013-for-2012-Heritage swap on Zistle that cleaned out  about another 20 cards.

So if you are looking to put this set together or need some team needs, check out my trade list on Zistle on get in touch with me. In the meantime I think I might be looking for some Gypsy Queen cards.  I’m really digging the Dealing Aces insert set, might put that one together. After all I already got the best one out of the way.

The Next To Last Heritage Post - We're almost there!

Here we go.  The first of two posts where I knock out the rest of the Heritage box that bought seemingly 3 months ago.  I’m not done opening packs and I’ve already managed to trade about 20 cards through Zistle.  I’m sure once I’m done and can focus I can get most of this set traded away.  Then I can start thinking about buying a box of Gypsy Queen.  For some reason I’m more intrigued by that set this year then I have been in the past.

Pack I

Carlos Ruiz – “Chooch” to Phillies fans.  Not a bad nickname.  Definitely better than A-Rod or S-Rod or anything like that. I’m pretty sure that “photo” was taken at the Phillies spring training stadium in Clearwater. For my money it’s the best place to watch a game in the Tampa area.

Luis Ayala – Part of a very strong bullpen for the Orioles last year that led to a 29-9 record in one-run games last season.  Critics and sabreologists scoffed at the record and decried it as “UNSUSTAINABLE!” I guess they might be right, the O’s are 0-1 in one-run games this season.

Howie Kendrick- Kendrick is a doubles machine – 195 in only 7 seasons.  Maybe the O’s can pick him up to replace their oft-injured doubles hitter Brian Roberts.

Jacoby Ellsbury – Speaking of oft-injured

Wellington Castro – I’m not going to lie, Wellington is a strong, strong first name.

Heath Bell – No Flat Breezy for Mr. Bell.  That’s an old-school grab the hat and bend it as hard as you can in the middle brim.

Jake Peavy – Anytime you can invest $29 million in a pitcher whose arm may fall off his body at anytime you gotta do it!

AL Bombers – Is Cano that short or Rodriguez that tall.  They look like Marty and Vinny celebrating a goal.

James McDonald – This is his third full year as a starter in the National League. If he was surrounded by better talent I’d say he was on the verge of a breakout season.

Best Card – Ayala – Go O’s!

Worst Card – The Yankees.

Pack II

Pat Neshek – He’s probably the best TTM signer in the league and after a couple of years dealing with arm injuries it looks like he found a place in Oakland. Good for him

Garrett Jones – I wonder how often his name will pop up in trade rumors this season.

Chris Perez – They couldn’t have memorialized Perez getting sick on the field? Who knows, maybe there is a super short print variation of that awesome moment!

Tyler Pastornicky – Chalk up another name I have no idea of who it is. Into the pile for Captain Canuck it goes!

Jeremy Hellickson – With James Shields off to Kansas City it is time for Hellickson to step up his game a bit. He won’t be the ace, but needs to be a strong number two.

Jay Bruce – He seems to be the pure slugger compared to Joey Votto’s more cerebral approach.

David Ortiz Memorable Moments – Whatever.  I really don’t care.  Just retire already.

James Loney – Tampa Bay might have another reclamation project on their hands. 

Mike Leake – He’s 28-22 in his career while giving up over 4 runs a game.  Should be in line for a $75 million contract.

Best Card – Pat Neshek

Worst Card – Ortiz

Pack III

A.J. Pierzynski – A royal portrait for a royal asshole

Brendan Ryan – Shortstop or crazed meth addict biker?

Tommy Milone – Proof that you don’t have to be a flamethrower to be successful.  I have a theory that the next undervalued market are pitchers who throw strikes but don’t light up the radar gun.  Even the new age scouts seem to be enamored with hard throwers.

Daniel Nava – After 7 at bats this year Nava is hitting .429 – could be the next superstar!

Pitching Leaders AL – Good for them.

Darwin Barney – The Cubs are quietly putting together a decent infield with Barney, Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and eventually Javier Baez.  Who knows, maybe Theo Epstein will put a winner on the field eventually.

Koufax and Kershaw – Another awesome card in this set. At some point I will own a Koufax card (you know one from when he actually played). 

Royals/Rays Prospects – This would have been an all Royals prospects card if Andrew Friedman didn’t get Odorizzi included in the James Shields trade.  That’s why Friedman is one of the best in the business.

Daniel Hudson – He’s not happy about this card.

Best Card – Koufax and Kershaw

Worst Card - Hudson

Time To Speed This Break Up

Alright.  I’ve obviously lost count of what pack I’m busting right now.  That was bound to happen, because I’m really bad at numbers.  That’s why I’m not an accountant, or good at gambling. This project is dragging on a lot longer than I wanted it to so from here on out we’re busting multiple packs at a time. Today there will be two and the next two days will have three packs.  Frankly there is more I want to write about (thems creative juices be flowin’ again), kind of like the post about the Lightning.

Yes, it defeats the original idea of the project – opening a box one pack, one day at a time.  Well, there was actually another reason behind it.  That was to get me in a place where I can write every day, or at least almost every day.  I think I’m in that place right now so I’m taking the training wheels off and going for it.

Without further adieu today’s packs:

Andrelton Simmons – “Yo baby, why don’t you drop that zero and get with a hero?”

Joel Hanrahan – “I was told there would be chicken and beer.”

Victor Martinez – “My knee looks like what?”

Ryan Cook – “I’m totally Vadaring this ball”.

Frank Francisco – “You said look serious”

Alfonso Soriano – “I swear I will waive my no-trade this year, please trade me”

Albert Pujols (action variation) – “Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.”

Alex Presley – “If one more person mentions Elvis I will crush their head with this bat.”

Matt Cain/Buster Posey – “So my guy was saying I need to diversify my portfolio.  I don’t know what that means but I did buy a lot of gold and bury it in my back yard.”

Best Card – Simmons

Worst Card – Francisco

Pack Two!

Rockies Future Stars – Ortega hit .500 in spring training this year with an OPS of 1.405.  Not too shabby. Topps might be onto something.

NL Pitching Leaders – Of everyone pictured here I think only Johnny Cueto makes it back.

Matt Moore – Those are some thick eyebrows you got there, Matty Moore.

Justin Smoak – In the land of failed prospects, he shall be their king.

Omar Infante – Ummm.. I got nothing.

Don Mattingly – The Hit Man. One of the great “What ifs” of the modern era. As in, “What if his back had actually held up for his entire career.”

Chris Sale Chrome – Love the herky-jerky windup.  There are too many cookie cutter windups in the league these days.  Nice to see something different (especially since I don’t have to hit against it).

Andy Pettitte – “You Mad Bro?”

Hitting Area – Who would have though Bryce Harper wouldn’t be the asshole in this picture?

Best Card – Pettitte

Worst Card –Infante, just cause I couldn’t come up with anything remotely clever.

Fifteen Packs? That Means Less Than Ten To Go

As I listened to the Orioles game today (pitching and the long ball – Earl Weaver was smilin’ in heaven today) it struck me that they’re pretty much rolling out the same team they did last year.  Which, in today’s game is really, really odd.  Thanks to free agency, salary “caps” and rapid change in management it seems like players are almost always on the move. 

To put this thought to test let us take a look at my most recent Heritage pack and see if there are any players who are still with the team that drafted them.

Tyler Colvin – Nope. He was a Cub.

Mitch Moreland – Drafted by the Rangers. Still with the Rangers. Thanks for screwing this up so early, Mitch.

Nathan Eovaldi – Was in the Dodgers organization and came over in the Hanley Ramirez deal.

Justin Ruggiano – Former Ray

Gavin Floyd – Former Phillie

Brandon Phillips – Drafted by the Expos (remember them?) debuted with the Indians

The Beatles – Former Quarrymen

Jose Bautista – Who didn’t he play for?

Tommy Hanson – Former Brave

So, seven out of eight players in this pack have changed organizations. Seems about right.  Even a team like the Rays who are notorious for developing their own talent are dipping into the free agent pool more and more. In one of those jaw dropping stats, Roberto Hernandez (you may remember him as Fausto Carmona) will start for the Rays on Thursday. While his comeback is story enough, he will also become the first free agent pitcher to start for the Rays since Hideo Nomo in 2005; that’s a streak of 1,207 games. Amazing.

Best Card – The Beatles.  After the Bunchado card this was the card I really wanted the most. Love the Beatles.

Worst Card – Tommy Hanson.  He should have been a Brave for life.

One Card, One Card Only

BUN-CHADO Acquired!

Happy True Opening Day.

Cubs up 2-0 early, local residents planning victory parade routes.

O’s start tomorrow – I will be at a bar begging someone to turn it on.

That is all.

Fourteen Packs = Too Many Yankees

Just found out that “Justified” is streaming for free on Amazon Prime.  Well, free if you’ve paid for Prime.  Seeing how it has been getting raves for about three years I figure it’s time to start watching. So that’s what is playing in the background while I write up this quick review.

Not only is it Easter, it’s also technically Opening Day since the Astros are taking on the Rangers tonight. Luckily I have a few days off this week so I’m sure to catch an O’s game or three. Heck with three days off in a row there is a 36% chance I’ll fly down to Tampa to watch the opening series. Let’s take a look at some flights…….$487 one way? OK, looks like I’ll be watching the game on TV. Stupid spring breakers.

Now the cards:

Justin Maxwell – One of these days I’m going to start a fantasy team with nothing but Justin’s.  I’m guessing Mr. Verlander would have to be my top pick.  I’m pretty sure Mr. Maxwell will be available later in the draft.

Gerardo Parra – Yup, don’t know him. Gotta work on my National League players this year.

Carlos Gomez – He kind of looks like a hobbit or something here.  Almost Yoda-esque.

Jon Jay – his twitter handle is @jonjayU.  Feel free to follow. There is also a twitter handle @JonJaysButt Good for him (and his posterior).

Robinson Cano – He so happy! He is also one of three Yankees I don’t despise.  He’s a free agent next year.  Who throws the money at him and do the Yankees match or beat it?

Eduardo Nunez – Ladies and Gentlemen – your opening day starter for the New York Yankees!  Good luck with that.

New Age Performers Cano – It’s a Cano Hot Pack.  Seriously, six Yankee cards in the last two packs.  What have I done to deserve this?

Clint Barmes – BARM-es or Bahrmms?  Anyone?

Alcides Escobar – Escobar is part of the young core of players in Kansas City that have some Midwest fans hoping for the future.  Will it pan out? It’ll all depend on their pitching.  It always depends on pitching.

Best Card – Cano base.  Can’t beat a good smile.

Worst Card – Barmes. Just because I don’t know how to say his last name.