Blogger generosity puts a smile on my face

I've spoken on this topic a few times before.  Sometimes there is nothing better than coming home from work and finding a totally unexpected envelope waiting for you.  Today was one of those days.

A totally unexpected surprise arrived from across the pond, in the form of an envelope from Martyn at the Arbitrary Crap blog.  Across the blue from out of the blue you could say.

Martyn has followed my progress on the insanity set project, and sent me a few more cards to put another dent into the wantlist.  There was one card, however, that really put a smile on my face.

Now I'm sure you all think that I've gone off the deep end here.  You're probably thinking why a Blue Jays fan would be ecstatic about a Red Sox card.  Check out the back:

The serial number is in the lower left.  #5!!!  I've been trying to find a #5 serial numbered card for quite a while now, and here it lands right in my lap.  What does this mean you ask?

Page 1 is finally done.  I now have all the single numbered serial #'s, and can finally show off a binder page towards the set.

It's funny, because I thought the lower serial #'s were going to be the most difficult to pick up, and here I finally complete a page towards the set and it's the single digits.   Great stuff.  ( I love the Torrealba card at #9 in the lower right by the way)

In the envelope there were other cards as well, 7 more as a matter of fact.  Martyn took the time to hit some teams that were starting to lag behind the others in terms of card count (Rockies and Twins to name 2).

Martyn, thank you again for the cards!  Rest assured they really did put a smile on my face.


thanks for reading, Robert

Upon further review: 2012 Topps Series 2

I saw a post a few days back, from Brian over at the Play at the Plate blog, wonderfully titled "Topps Gives Collectors the Finger".  In that post, Brian laments the fact that Topps has decided in their series 2 blasters to not give collectors the chance to pull an auto or relic.

Brian, I must say thank you (politeness...yes it is a requirement...lol) for doing what I failed to do, which is reading for comprehension.  I had decided to start buying blasters for series 2 after not buying any of them while completing Series 1.  Had Brian not posted this on Sunday, I probably would have busted a couple of more blasters in the process of completing the series 2 set, all the while likely not being aware that the possibility of a 'hit' was nil.

I took this to mind while traveling last night for work.  I decided to hit a Wal-Mart not too far from the hotel I was staying in, and grabbed 3 rack packs of series 2.  I'm forever obsessed with my luck changing when I visit different towns, hoping that I'll pull that card of cards that I can never get locally.

Well, let's just say I got kicked in the teeth this time, and I think I've learned my lesson.....

Finally.

I know that there are a couple of math majors out there that will tell me that this is possible, but it is still damn depressing when you buy 3 rack packs, and in 2 of the packs you see the exact same 2 cards back to back...

Damn Yankees

Plus, the sequence of the inserts was the same in the packs as well:

1 Golden Giveaway (I now have 7 of these bad boys collecting dust)
1 '87 Topps Mini
1 Gold Parallel
1 Other insert (Mound dominance, A Cut above, Golden Moments, etc.)

I wouldn't say the feeling that I have is fed up, I can't say that I'm that far gone yet. 

I think I'm somewhere between disappointed and disgusted.  The word that will best describe my feelings will come to me in a couple of days after I've had time to think about it.

What few Topps base sets I've put together over the years, I've enjoyed.  Maybe the collation this year is similar to what it was in years past, and I've never noticed until now.

Whatever it is, it may be time for me to let the base set go.  2012 may be the last year that I put together the base set, because I just don't get the thrill from the packs like I used to.


I've got plans for the 2012 set that I build, but I will not reveal them until I finish the set.  But after the three ugly rack packs I bought in Duncansville, PA on Monday night, I'm going back to the blasters.  I may not have a chance for a relic or auto (not that those are the determining factors for me anyhow...), but at least it was fun pulling a manupatch...hey, I'm weird, leave me be...where else can you pull something off the wall like this?

Hey Tommy

I actually got more of a kick this week seeing these cards in the mail...

Thanks Greg!

Upon further review, 2012 Topps Series 2 is not a bad set on the whole. However, the gold theme is still overdone, and outside of a couple of new inserts that I liked there is nothing that makes me scream WOW!


That word will come to me yet....

Thanks for reading, Robert

Broken Wings

The old saying holds true for my Blue Jays this week:  "You can never have enough pitching"

Three starters went down this week, including maybe their most effective starter Brandon Morrow who strained his oblique.  (Has anyone noticed that this oblique strain is becoming a common injury nowadays?)

The Jays are going to have to rely more on these two guys now to pick up the ball every fifth day and get a win for them..

Even though Romero is 7-1 so far this season, statistically this is his worst season in terms of ERA, K/BB ratio and HR/9 innings.  Alvarez is following up his incredible 10 start run last year with a decent second season, although I would like to see him strike a few more batters than the measly 24 he has fanned in his first 13 starts.

The biggest potential loss however is this guy:

Drabek is going to Dr. Andrews this week for a 2nd opinion, but it appears that his torn UCL in his elbow is going to require Tommy John surgery.  Although his numbers don't really show it, he has made some strides this year towards becoming the pitcher the Jays hoped he would be when they acquired him in the Roy Halladay deal a couple years ago. 

Unbelievably, if he does require the surgery, it will be his 2nd Tommy John ligament replacement procedure.  I don't think that I can recall anyone who has ever had that surgery twice.  If this is indeed the case, it will be interesting to see if he can come back a 2nd time and be effective.  I'm sure that something such as this happening twice to the same person has to have a devastating mental effect.  (NOTE: Jason Frasor, who pitches with the Jays, has had 2 TJ surgeries, the 2nd being in 2002 and has gone on to a solid big league career)

With all these injuries, Brett Cecil is getting another chance to show what he can do in the bigs, and everyone involved with the Jays is hoping he finally realizes his potential as a supplemental first round pick in the 2006 draft.

Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading, Robert

the Kings are finally the Kings

I may be a few days late with the post, but I have to pay homage to one of the greatest Stanley Cup runs, well yea I gotta say it, in the history of the NHL.

Led by guys like Drew Doughty, the Kings lost a grand total of 4 games in the 4 rounds they played.

I still love this card, great photo

They wiped out all 3 division winners in the western conference in just 14 games, 12-2!  Yes, they did let their guard down in games 4 and 5 in the final, but when they had the chance in game 6 with the 5 minute major, they grabbed the series by the throat and scored 3 power play goals, and you could see the Devils were just deflated after that.

What I really like about this win?  This group of Kings did something that these two guys couldn't do in the late 80's early 90's....

The closest that these two came was reaching the finals in the 92-93 season, only to bow out in 5 games to the Montreal Canadiens.

Finally, for anyone who cares about my ramblings, there is an interesting pattern developing for Stanley Cup champs.  Over the past 4 seasons, the winners look like this.

11-12  Los Angeles Kings  West Conference    Pacific Division
10-11  Boston Bruins          East Conference    North East Division
09-10 Chicago Black Hawks West Conference Central Division
08-09  Pittsburgh Penguins  East Conference     Atlantic Division

The pattern is alternating conferences winning the cup, with a different division being represented.  If the pattern were to hold true in 12-13, the next cup winner would come from the South East division.

Washington, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Winnipeg, Florida...hmm  any takers here?  I wonder if any hockey fans out there think that any of these 5 have a chance next year (if there is hockey....more on that later)

Thanks for reading, Robert