I'm sure that the Jays could use this guy right about now

A.J. Burnett spent three years in Toronto, the latter of which was 2008, the year he set his career high in wins with 18.

Well, the way the guy is pitching right now, 18 looks like it's going to be equaled sometime during the month of August.

A.J.'s last two starts have been incredible.  A no-hit bid in Chicago broken up with 2 outs in the 8th inning, and today a 3 hit masterpiece in which he retired 18 straight until walking 2 batters after 2 outs in the 9th.

Currently, he's 14-3 with a 3.19 ERA.  Yes, that's a 3.19 ERA which includes the May 2nd start in which he gave up 12 earned runs in 2.2 innings.  Forget that start, and his ERA is 2.42.

I was fortunate enough to find this card at the National...$4.  2007 SPx Winning Materials.  I found this among many boxes of relics/autos at the Dave & Adam's booth.  They had everything marked down in those boxes to $4, and I was fortunate enough to find 7 cards that fit my collection(s) quite well.

This is one that I jumped at, one because it features A.J. as a Blue Jay, and 2nd because he has really helped change the culture in the Pirates clubhouse.  The interview he did with the local TV crew after the Chicago start really made me a believer.  The first question to him was "what did you think of your performance tonight?"  The answer started with "We won the ballgame".  Professional.  A.J. gets it, and I think that attitude is rubbing off on the entire clubhouse, which is why the Pirates are sitting in the thick of the wild card race right now.

There's still 8 weeks left in the season, and if Clint Hurdle can keep pushing the right buttons the way he has for the Pirates over the first 107 games, the Pirates may be playing something they haven't played in 20 years.

A meaningful game in October...

I'm sure A.J. would be happy with that...

thanks for reading, Robert

My thoughts on the National

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to peruse the Baltimore Convention Center for two days, and experience the sensory overload (at least for me) that is the National.  Before I get into all of that, I must say two things about the people of the state of Maryland.

1. They probably are the friendliest group of people I've encountered in any state that I've visited so far.
2. They do not know how to drive on Interstates.  (come on people...5 MPH below the speed limit in the left hand lane....)

Aside from all the great fun I had wandering from table to table and looking at some great memorabilia, I had plenty of great conversations with both dealers and collectors alike about the show, how well organized and laid out the convention center was, and the amount of money that was changing hands.

It's also sad when you see one transaction that involved more money than I spent in the two days there.  Yep, the last table I visited today I watched a gentleman purchase two cards for $350.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that the amount of money that was exchanged was a lot, it's just sad that I wasn't part of it (lol).

Of course, there were some things that were a little tough to swallow as well.  Two days admission and parking had me in for $80 combined before I even looked at a single card.  Not much I can do about either of those factors though.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure that would bore most of you to tears, since you've probably read many other posts on other blogs about their experiences.  I will say that I picked up quite a few cards at some really great prices, and dug through a lot of boxes during my time there (a couple that were even priced better than a dime box).

I saw quite a few cards that reminded me of other bloggers as well, especially this one:

Come on, for 33 cents you didn't expect me to leave it there....did you??

I have lots more to show you over the next few days...hopefully you don't fall asleep.

Thanks for reading, Robert

Left side, Strong side!!

Oh, about 6 months ago, I wrote a post about a trip that the wife and I made to the Goodwill, and naturally part of that trip was me coming home with a bag of baseball cards.  Goodwill Hunting was the name of the post, and that post was actually the start of me collecting the '86 Topps set.

I arrived home from work last Friday to find on my chair another bag of cards, this time one that my wife had picked up on her solo "junking" effort at Goodwill.  Again, for $3 the cards couldn't be left at the store.  Mind you, the lot was pretty much a group of cards from 1990 Fleer & Topps, but still they were a fun flip through. 

A lot of them had a pattern I noticed after a couple of times through the cards, the pattern being a lot of lefties that I had a lot of memories about over the years.

Let's look back...shall we?

Jerry Reuss.  Dodgers, yes.  Pirates, yes.  Brewers?  Really?

Yea...really

I will forever remember him as a crafty lefty that was part of those great Dodgers teams of the late 70's -- early 80's.  Brewers just doesn't look right.

Somebody told me recently that this guy is still active somewhere!  Somebody needs to tell this guy that it is OK to retire. 

The Candy man obviously got around.  I had forgotten he pitched 10 games for the Expos in 89.  I looked at his stats...Mets, hardly remember him there.  Dodgers, White Sox, Twins?  Nope...sorry.

Zane Smith also.  2 seasons in Montreal?  No way.  Atlanta, sure!  Pirates, part of the early 90's teams there.  Must be that I've selectively shut out any Montreal memories....

At least these two guys are wearing uniforms that I remember them in.  Fernandez a long time Met that was part of the World Series Champs in 1986.  Teddy Higuera, who didn't pitch a game in the majors until he was 27, was arguably the most dominant lefty in the game for a 4 year period between 1985-88.  That screwball he had was a killer. 

Let's not forget the hitters:

These guys left impressions that made you remember them being on a certain team.  Griffey Sr. ...  Seattle, of course we all remember the Griffey's together.  Atlanta, New York, Cincinnati, all stops that Griffey played for that had an impact on the game.
Andy Van Slyke was as good a center fielder as there was for a 10 year period, including an awesome season in 1992 when he led the NL in hits and doubles, and finished 4th in MVP balloting.  I still remember when he was part of the Cardinals in the early part of his career. 

This final guy...well let's just say Blue Jay fans will remember what he did to the Jays on October 4, 1987.

A pitching duel for the ages.  The Jays started the day 1 game behind the Tigers for the AL East title. 

Tanana vs Key, two crafty left handers on the mound.

The only scoring in the game?  A 2nd inning homer by Larry Herndon.  Both pitchers throw a complete game.  Key gives up 3 hits, Tanana just 6 hits.

Tigers win 1-0.  The Jays went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. 

Humph. 

I look at all these players and see a part of the reason why lefties are always a valuable commodity.

Just ask Darren Oliver.

Thanks for reading, Robert

What's wrong with the justice system today.

Honestly people!  A 27 year old deputy allowed to be the investigative lead in a murder case.  What's wrong with this picture?


The guy has a close connection with the murder victim, he worked for him as a teenager.  How can Opie Taylor up there solve a murder case when he's too young to be wise enough to pick up on all the subtle clues that people may provide, and he's too personally involved with the victim to be objective.

What happened to the good old days when Colombo, Mannix, Ironside or any of the older investigators with years of experience were the ones chasing the perpetrators.  The guys with the savvy to ignore the egregious flirtations of a sexy blond woman who would try to distract them from the case.

Get me a guy like Fish from Barney Miller's squad.  Magnum, P.I.  Crockett and Tubbs.   At least these guys would be old enough to remember the phrase "Book 'em Dano!"

Somebody call in Barnaby Jones.   I'm sure that he would have the case solved within an hour (two hours if this is a 2 part episode). 

Oh wait, before you call in Barnaby, Quincy and Sam should get a look at the body first....

thanks for reading, Robert

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Packs 19-24

Packs 1-6 can be found here
Packs 7-12 can be found here
Packs 13-18 can be found here

Running total coming into this post:  138 points

One more round of 6 packs....here we go!!!

Pack # 19:

59.  Johnny Damon
106. Bud Norris
235. Victor Martinez

81. Jerry Bailey (Jockey, +1 point)
108. J.P. Arencibia (MY Favorite team base card, +1 point)
319. Adam Wainwright (SP, +2 points)
HTP4.  Historical Turning Points The Reformation (insert, +3 points)
MM5.  Musical Masters Franz Liszt (mini insert, +3 points)

Pack total:  10 points
Running total: 148 points

Pack #20:

91. Grady Sizemore
142. Jose Reyes
226. Jim Thome
275. Kerry Wood

78. Joe Mauer (FP list, +2 points)
223. CC Sabathia (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
196. Lou Gehrig Mini (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
WIN2 What's in a Name Carlos Gonzalez (insert +2 points)

Pack total: 2 points
Running total: 150 points


Pack #21:

52. Cameron Maybin
76. Michael Bourn

181. Joe DiMaggio (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
196. Lou Gehrig (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
WIN37  What's in a Name Jason Heyward (insert, +2 points)
318. Mike Moustakas (A&G Ad Back SP mini, +7 points)
AGR-JJK   Jackie Joyner Kersee jersey relic (Awesome to get in an Olympic year, +10 points)

Pack total: 17 points
Running total:  167 points

Pack #22:

40. Jimmy Rollins
166. Ervin Santana
190. Addison Reed
239. Liam Hendriks
241. Andrew Bailey

249. Phil Hughes (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
WIN24 What's in a Name Ian Kinsler (Insert, +2 points)
ML-16  World's Greatest Military Leaders Frederick the Great (Mini insert, +3 points)

Pack total:  4 points
Running total:  171 points

Pack #23:

31. Jackie Robinson
116. Brandon Beachy
140. Mike Trout
281. Matt Cain

60. Reggie Jackson (Damn Yankee, -1 point)
316. Adrian Gonzalez (SP, +2 points)
147. Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Black Bordered mini, +3 points)
BH-13 Baseball Highlight Sketches Matt Moore (Insert, +3 points)

Pack total:  7 points
Running total:  178 points

Pack #24 (the conclusion):  (Side note, I will be very happy if I NEVER see another Yankee again!!)

18. Kevin Youkilis
208. Martin Prado
217. Brian Wilson

16. Rulon Gardner (Mini A&G Back, +2 points)
212. Ken Griffey Jr. (FP list, +2 points)
302. Jayson Werth (SP, +2 points)
57. Michael Pineda (Damn Yankee....-1 point)
BH22 Baseball Highlight Sketches Joe DiMiaggio (Insert, +3 points, Damn Yankee -1 point, net +2 points)

Pack total:  7 points
Final Box Score:  185 points

Save for all the Damn Yankees in this box, I would have been close to 200 points.  I would have to say I'm very happy with 185 points for my first go round in Gint A Cuffs.

Overall, I am very happy with the box, 2 great autos of Gwynn and Curly Neal, and the relic of Joyner-Kersee was great to pull in an Olympic year as well.  

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mark A. for the time and effort he puts in to give me, a lowly blogger, a chance to have some fun with this contest.  Thank you Mark!!

Best of luck to all the other participants this year as well!!

thanks for reading, Robert