this is my last post of 2012, I swear

Sadly, because of the crappy shift I worked today, and the level of tiredness that I'm experiencing at this moment, I really don't have anything prepped that would be worthy of an "end of the year" post.  I do have a couple of things that I really want to say before the year ends....very shortly.

1. For the first time this evening, I watched the video for "Gangnam Style".   I have only one thing to say about the "craze".....what is the world coming to?????????
2. I will say this for my wife, she did give it a good effort this Christmas when buying baseball cards for me.  I received a blaster and a rack pack of Update, and she was rather proud of herself because she took a picture on her iPhone of an old pack I had lying around and used it to make sure she was buying the "right kind".    Dear, you did just fine...

Sadly, not a batting practice cap logo....

Not sure how much of a blockbuster the deal was at the time, Smoltz was picked up by the Braves from the Tigers for Doyle Alexander.  The Tigers were sure happy with Doyle's pitching the rest of the way.  9-0 in 11 starts with a 1.53 ERA.   Detroit wound up losing the ALCS in 5 games to the Twins. 

Finally, to all the great people out there in blog land, I hope that you and your family have a safe, prosperous, and fun 2013. 

thanks for reading, Robert

For what it's worth, my 2 cents on Update

If I could write this post with my hand on my heart to swear that I'm telling the truth, I would.  You can't type fast with one hand on your heart though.  I really want to buy the new stuff and say that I whole heartedly enjoy it.  I can't quite do that with update.

Now there are things that I really do like in the update boxes I purchased.  Yes, I said boxes.  With no card show this weekend (bummer), I had to drown my sorrows in something, so two retail blasters from the wonderful world of Wal-Mart was my therapy.

I know what you all are saying already....."Robert needs a new doctor".

Anyhow....here goes nothing...

The serial numbered gold parallels are back!  You knew I had to start with that.....

This may be my favorite card so far this year...Buck looks bad ass getting ready to chase down Jemile Weeks.  What does he get for his troubles?  A bat headed in his direction.  For me, this is a great picture.  Even better was the serial number is one that I need....

More stuff that I like....things that should be in an update set...such as RCs

Players in their new uniforms...or uniforms you don't see on cards too often, such as the Padres Sunday camouflage.

These are what an update set should be about

Now with a beef (or two).  All-Star cards, I can live with them, and I can live without them.  If you're going to add All-Star cards, picture the player in the AS jersey, such as these two...

Love the powder blues....you don't see these every day on a card, so include them.  But if I am going to open a pack of cards and see these next 5 cards back to back to back to back to back, you're going to hear an audible "what the @!$$%#"

I know these guys are all stars, I've also seen them in their standard uniforms many times.   What is the Update here?    Sorry Topps, but this is a miss from where I stand...

The '87 minis are back, makes sense to carry these over from the other 2 products.  They will likely be traded though....The Gold Standard and Golden Greats are also back as well...I didn't bother scanning those, but I will be perusing peoples trade lists to get these cards into the hands of people that want them.

Blockbusters is a new insert for the Update series.  Featuring blockbuster signings and trades that occurred in the past.  For the blaster boxes Topps also incorporated these blockbuster cards as well...

I'm 50-50 on these...not sure if I like the fact that the photo covers up part of the hat relic...I'll definitely trade for the Jose Bautista relic if anybody out there pulls it.

Yes, there is also the Wal-Mart blue parallel, and the Gold sparkly parallels that were featured in series 1 & 2.  But the final thing I'm going to show you just annoyed me....

NO.  NO.  NO.   NO.  NO.  NO.  NO.  NO.  NO.  NO.

Not because it is Mitt Romney.  Why in the hell do I want a presidential predictor?  Come on Topps.  I want baseball cards please, not predictor cards of this years presidential race.   Give me a predictor of something I really want to follow!!  Try something like these:

1. Print 10 Josh Hamilton cards photoshopping him in uniforms of teams that he's already rumored to be signing with.  Make the 11th card  "the field"
2. How about a 10 card predictor set of when the next time someone will win the Triple Crown.  Make all the cards expire at the end of 2013 just to piss everyone off.
3. Try a predictor set of the potential team that Bobby Valentine gets hired to manage. (ouch)

OK, now that I've had my fun, in all honesty the update set is OK for me...yes I will complete it...but like many of you out in the blogosphere, there are things that I would like to see change.

One day, maybe....

Thanks for reading, Robert