Monday, June 28, 2010

The Ginter Code



I'll be honest, my fantasy baseball team and my card collecting has me depressed of late. I can't seem to get anything scanned (lack of time, not motivation) and my baseball team keeps getting more and more decimated by injuries.

Quick rundown shows I tried to do something about it though. Traded Uggla and Thornton for Rollins and Wagner this week - which looks lopsided but I can't keep either player next year and the other guy can keep both . . . details.

VMart (if he plays, really don't want to call up wonder boy Carlos Santana), Berkman (wait? I thought you stopped playing him???), Weeks (he'll be hurt in 20 minutes), Jeter & Longoria (these guys did NOT hit in June), Byrd (jebus, really?), Crawford (will he log more than 7 ABs this week? hope so!), Magglio, and newly acquired Jimmy Rollins. What will I do with 3 shortstops in August when Tulo comes back? No idea.

Back to what's important, the Ginter Code. Last year's co-champ, Nick Jacoby, already has a headstart on this years code. Thanks Nick for letting me steal that Code advert from your site!

From what I've been able to assess based on early ebay listings (no code cards), the wrapper Nick posted on his site (no code parallels listed), and from my gut feeling based on how quickly it was solved last year by Mike and Nick, I have a feeling that the code itself won't be as obvious this year. Meaning, you probably need to actually investigate each card or maybe some of the subsets/short prints to "see what you can see".

Although, for now, until cases, boxes, and packs show up, only Nick Jacoby (and any other early busters) know for sure.

Monday, June 21, 2010

It's Been A While



This is a smaller version of a post I've been meaning to write for a while.

As I've said in the past, I have been digging through the tens of thousands of cards I've been slowing bringing back to my house from my parents basement.

This card caught my eye the other day. It doesn't scan well, so my apologies for that, but it's a 1992 Rookie Sensation card of Darren Lewis. For starters I was unaware that Darren played for 13 seasons. I was aware that he was a speed guy with little to no power. I think even Craig Counsell's career OPS puts him to shame.

Anyway, I was struck by the blue card. I remember I was chasing someone's rookie sensation card from this set, but I can't remember who. I do remember really liking the blue cards and it might explain my infatuation with the 2003 Topps set. Anyone else have any memory of this subset?

On a side note, my fantasy baseball team is in a state of disarray. It's like I'm in a game of No Limit Hold 'Em and I can't survive the swings, they're killing me.

Tulowitzki's yearly broken bone and subsequent 2 month absence is really going to put a dent in my championship plans. I'm pondering dealing him for a Ryan Howard/Prince Fielder type guy with a closer tossed in to round out my rotation that's apparently now rounding into shape.

Jake Peavy's dead arm may finally be a thing of the past, but I fear that it's too late for him (and Verlander) to help me make up the distance in the K category. I was counting on those two guys for ~500 Ks. I might get 400. That's going to cost me 6-7 roto points. Darn you two.

As for the offense. Sadly, Nick Swisher is all I have to go on at first base and since he's still batting over .280, I'm going to be taking the plunge when his average dies, total bases dry up and RBIs go away. He'll probably still walk a bunch and score runs if they let him bat second enough.

Victor Martinez, Kid Swish, Uggla, Jeter, and Longoria will round out the infield for now. Crawford, Magglio (gosh, wish I didn't have to sit him last week due to injury concerns), and Marlon Byrd make up the outfield, and this is how dire things are. I'm starting Rickie Weeks at DH. Yup, Rickie Weeks. It's bad. I can't even bring myself to look at Berkman or Jose Bautista.

The pitching staff seems okay, but I really wish I had Brett Anderson healthy. Peavy and Verlander are joined by Kennedy (tough luck guy lately, pitches great, can't win), and Jeff Niemann. 5th starter d'jour continues to be Kris Medlen until he makes me think otherwise. Marmol and shaky shaky Heath Bell are the two savers.

I really do have a backlog of post ideas I need to get out here, I've been stuck on a side project for a while now, and I don't envision it getting any better anytime soon with the Ginter Code dropping this week. Take care. Until next time!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

2009 Topps U&H SP



Somewhat recently I had purchased 3 packs of 2009 Topps Updates & Highlights. These were being used as rewards for completing long runs in coordination with training for my summer 10K event.

At some point as I got busy during May, I'd completely forgotten I purchased the packs and they sat unopened on my desk. Last night I came across the stack and decided to rip one open, and look who was there to greet me. Nolan Ryan.

This is the first Topps short print I've pulled. Mr. No-Hitter. You can't do much better than that. It seemed particularly fitting on a night where Aramando Galaragga threw a perfect game. That's right, I'm choosing to pretend that is what happened.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

News & Notes

Last week I officially pre-ordered my box of Allen & Ginter. I'm very excited for the release even though I don't necessarily dig the cards themselves that much. There are, however, a couple of reasons to be excited.

#1 - GINT-A-CUFFS. I made a decent showing last year and I'm hoping to pull off a win.

#2 - The Ginter Code. One half of last year's championship duo is already talking repeat. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out this link.

One quick note about fantasy baseball. My team has started to roll, even if Derek Holland blew out his rotator cuff the same week I dropped a pile of money in his lap.

Lance Berkman has finally been given the heave ho at first base. Nick Swisher is in the lineup in his stead. Once he goes cold it's anyone's guess who we plug in there. VMart, Kid Swish, Weeks (Uggla is cold as heck), Tulo, Longoria, Crawford, Magglio, JD Drew, and Derek Jeter round out the potent offense.

On the pitching side of things, Ben Sheets takes Derek Hollands place, this only after I lost out in the bidding for John Ely. Sheets, Blue Steel, Bell, Marmol, Kennedy, and Niemann join Brett Anderson this week. That's right, finally got Brett back. Hope he sticks around. Jake Peavy has joined Lance Berkman in the pariah club. Welcome to the bench Jake.