Discipline pt.2

Almost a month ago I wrote a post called Discipline in which I recounted the pickup of some '73 Topps cards at the recent card show.  I also told of a problem that I have with cards; things that are new and fascinating to me (whether or not they are new to the world in general) tend to turn my head and lead me on a path of undisciplined behavior.

Needless to say, with my recent foray into the wonderful world of Update (& Highlights for those that are particular...and you know who you are...), I've now started building another set, something that I really shouldn't be doing. 

With so many sets on the go (I've truly lost count), there is really no need for me to start building more sets.  And yes, you've heard this mantra a hundred times before on this blog...I know, I know.

Pack ripping is a weakness of mine, and it is a difficult habit to break.  The only cure might be to ban myself from Wal-Mart/Target/any big box store that has the dreaded "card aisle".

Easier said than done.

If I was smart, I would learn from the one success I had recently on eBay and be disciplined enough to find the SPs I am seeking to complete the 2011 Heritage set.  I was fortunate to win an auction of 13 SPs for a little over $1/card, which at the rate they've been selling, is a pretty damn good price. 

All 13 were not on the need list, but I figured at that price, I could use the rest as traders for someone else who may be looking for them.  Here are the 5 that are duplicates:

Collecting by the numbers?  Gonzalez is #437, Marcum is #438, De La Rosa is #441, Marmol is #446 and Ramirez is #469.  If you happen to need any of these, post a comment or send me an email....

By the way, here are the 8 that I needed:

And then there was 32

I wonder how long I'll be able to last without ripping open a pack of cards?  Maybe someone out there could start a pool.

I wouldn't even know what number to pick for myself, because as a pack addict, I could break at any time.

Besides, I do have a birthday coming up...what ever would I do without a pack to open on that day?

Thanks for reading, Robert

Black Thursday

This term was coined by Pierre LeBrun on Twitter today.  The NHL regular season was supposed to start today, and yet here we are with nothing but dark arenas around North America.

The NHL had me last summer, they had one of the cheapest people around when it comes to buying TV programming ready to spend a bunch of money to buy their center ice package.

Guess that just means I'll have more money to buy one of these at the Sport Card Expo next month...

Lucky me!!

Thanks for reading, Robert

A post so bad a catchy title couldn't save it.

You ever have a day where you just sit at the monitor and can't put two sentences together??

Feel so bad that whatever you write just seems worthless??

Have absolutely no idea what to write about...essentially feeling like a lot of pitchers do with a bat in their hands??

So far this week, I just don't feel like I have it.  Don't have the normal mojo.  Don't feel like I could play all 9 positions in the same game....

I don't have my normal sunny disposition while writing:

So, I sat down and had myself a couple of pops...

Took a look at a few masterpieces ....

Rangers helmet...Braves team name...Masterpieces...

and finally came to the realization that after watching 6+ months of the "boys of summer", that my natural progression wasn't occurring and the "boys of winter" weren't going to be playing anytime soon (at least on my TV)

Maybe my problem is that I'm longing for the days where there was no collective bargaining, no helmets, and a man could be nicknamed "Bunny" and not be ridiculed.

Someday Dave, I will write a full post on these cards...

It's been so bad that I feel compelled to show you this card again....

this is from Topps Updates "& Highlights"...hey thanks Anonymous!!!

Now that you've ready my drivel, head on out there and read some real posts from some real writers!!

Maybe tomorrow I'll have my mojo back.

Thanks for reading, Robert

I don't think I've ever done this before

After searching for what seemed like an eternity this evening, I was dismayed to find no inspiration in the cards that I own.  Mondays are normally reserved for a Blue Jays post, but I felt that I had played that hand quite a few times over the past week with trade posts, etc.

Rummaging through an endless supply of monster boxes did me no good, and I pretty much resigned myself to a fate of settling for a Blue Jays post.  Inspiration then struck, from a little 12 card pile to the right of me on my desk.

The burgeoning Jim Thome pile.

After announcing my intention to collect Jim Thome as my 2nd player collection, I really haven't been actively searching for his cards on either the trade front, or the eBay front.  After some thought, I remembered an image on an eBay auction that I had spied a few days before.

So, I've decided to do something that I don't think I've done before....write about a card I don't own.

When I saw the image, it struck me as one that would define Jim Thome for me.  I don't throw this word around, but when I looked up the definition, I'm more confident about using the word for this card.

Iconic--Adj.  Depicting a victorious athlete in a conventional style.

You definitely could say that I'm stretching the use of the word iconic.  It is after all a baseball card, right?

What is the "iconic" image?  This card.

2008 A&G #76

While not the greatest image off the web, you get the idea.  How many times over his 22 year career have I seen that pose; Thome waiting for the pitcher by holding his bat with just his right hand. 

612 different times pitchers have seen that pose and then watched as a ball flew into the outfield stands behind them. 

In 2008, I was only buying a pack here and there, definitely had never seen anything the likes of A&G in the stores.  If only I knew then what I know now. 

Jim's back is to you, and you can barely see his face, but I'm already looking forward to owning this card.  I'm sure that when I do finally receive the card, it will be a long time before I put it down. 

It's not too often that a single card has this kind of an effect on me.  That's good, because I can get in trouble for using a word such as iconic...the baseball card police just might come and get me.

thanks for reading, Robert

Sakic Sunday: A different kind of Triple Crown

While perusing through my Joe Sakic collection to try and get some inspiration for this post, I came across these 3 cards and thought another toast for Miguel Cabrera's triple crown would be in order.

While these 3 crowns aren't made for wearing, they are nice enough to show off in tribute:

97/98, 98/99 & 99/00 Crown Royale

While not the greatest scan job I've ever completed, you get the idea.  This is the one design that I have to be careful about when I go to shows, because they always catch my eye and I wonder if I actually own the card.  One day when I get around to compiling a checklist of cards I need for the Sakic PC (which I realized even more today that I am woefully behind on), I should be able to figure out which of these Crown Royale cards I actually am missing.

I hadn't had these cards out of the pages in years, and when I put them one on top of the other after scanning them, I realized that the die cuts are identical for all 3 cards.  I never would have thought that would be the case, but then again it only makes sense....why spend more money on a new die when the previous one worked so well, right?

I hope to have in hand next week a couple of pretty special items that a blog reader is sending me in a trade, something a little out of the norm when it comes to the blog, but still will be a special part of the Joe Sakic collection.

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