That's what Pirates' pitcher Jeff Karstens said after last night's game. In the 3rd inning, Karstens drilled Braun in the back with a fastball - two innings after Braun hit a solo homer off the right-hander. Later in the game, Braun would draw a walk (this time, not from a fastball in the back), and took nearly 15 seconds to make his way to 1st base. That's my boy. Of course, both sides were warned and no retribution was made during the game.
I have said before that I like the 1960 choice for Topps Heritage this year, but the orange of this card really bothers me. And not "bothers me" as in a good "bothers me", but a sort of nagging annoyance, kind of like the thumping bass of some kid's little honda down the street. You can't hear the music, but you can hear this faint, annoying bass thump. It's kind of like that. But this card is beautiful, what with the pint-sized Catcher showing his best...in a still photo. Anyhow, he's third in line to take over the catching job in Milwaukee whenever Jason Kendall decides to hang 'em up. I have a feeling this guy will be ahead of Wisconsin native Vinny Rottino, though, should he stay healthy.
Not only a great Brewers card, but also a card I can take off my Ryan Braun wantlist now. Good stuff, here. Last night he had another homer in our 10-5 victory over the Pirates. He's also the newest member of the Pawtucket Patriots fantasy baseball club. I had to trade catcher Joe Mauer to get him, but with Mauer still on the DL and my other catcher Jason Veritek at least holding his own in points, I thought it a smart move.
So, you've heard about that "player to be named later", haven't you? Well, here he is folks. Mr. Michael Brantley. In last year's trade between the Brewers and the Tribe that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee, the main player sent to Cleveland was Brewers top prospect Matt LaPorta. Also were a couple other prospects, and then in October Mike Brantley was named as the final piece of the trade. He's a hell of a ball player, and I'm sure he'll be seeing some time w/ the Tribe soon. Right now's he's up in AAA Columbus, and not on the 40-man roster for the big league club. Give it time, kiddo.
I have also gotten a hold of the starting lineup sheet for tonight's (this week's) matchup against The Red Hots. To my advantage, The Red Hots are surprisingly not starting anyone at 3rd base this week...which should help. Truth be told, last week I played the Remington Rebels (who themselves decided not to start a second baseman, and they still beat me). After that, I had to make a few roster changes. Here's tonight's lineup...
He was placed on the DL yesterday, retroactive to Saturday. Why the D-backs waited so long to do so baffles me - and pisses me off as well. In the only 9 trips he made to the plate last week (not playing because he was injured...but of course NOT on the DL) he managed 1 hit, and scored me only 3 points.
Now, the reason I need A-Rod back is not only the points he will earn, but his starting spot is 3rd base - which means I can then move Brandon Inge to Catcher (yes, he's also a catcher) and finally get Veritek on the friggin bench. My #5 overall pick of the draft was Twins C Joe Mauer - also still on the DL. Sonofa.
I'm not a member of the Blogger fantasy league, but I do like that they have uniforms and such. I think I'll work on those today, it's a slow monday at work.
Here are the modest 5 cards in the $2.99 retail pack of '09 UD Artifacts I bought.
Adam Dunn now plays for the Washington Nationals, not the D-backs. WTF, Upper Deck? These cards say "copyright (symbol) 2009" on them. Confusion, perhaps? Maybe they were printed before February 11th, when the Dunn/Nationals deal was announced to the press. My guess is Upper Deck just doesn't take the necessary effort, per the usual.
I like Dan Uggla - he helped my fantasy team to the playoffs last season, where I lost in the World Series to my sister-in-law. Yes, that's right, the woman that married my brother. I can hear your boos and hisses now. She had the best pitching staff possible, so I was sure to invite her last this year to the fantasy league to insure she'd be in the opposite division as me. I'm a schemer. Anyhow, back to the Uggla card. Like the "red" (pink) variation, I'm sure there's a better shad of "red" that UD could have found. This guy is all business, and he shows it here.
This is a card of a football team. In a pack of baseball cards. I don't collect football cards, I collect baseball cards. Therefore, I only purchase baseball cards and not football cards. I want my money back, Upper Deck.
Awesome card here. This is a curious set for me. I purchased a couple blasters of it earlier this year at a discounted price from the local K-mart. I guess sometimes my dedication to the craft is less than perfect - this is a prime example. I reallized that there are a number of different variations (blue, aqua, red, purple, charcoal, etc) and I didn't want to start collecting the Brauns until I had received one from someone. This started the ball rolling. I'm bidding on the rest on eBay right now. Help me out a bit, if you have any of the other colors, let me know! 
This Yount is one of only 3 Younts that I don't have (in the base set 1975-1994 Yount binder) so first of all, KICK ASS! Now I just need the '93 Flair Yount, and of course, the big Kahuna, 1975 Topps Yount RC. I have been waiting to buy his rookie card because it will be a big celebration for me, completing the "major sets base card Yount set". Of course, all the oddballs like the '94 Tombstone Pizza card or the '76 Hostess panel will keep me working at this forever, not to mention all the posthumous Yount cards that Upper Deck and SP feel the need to make year after year.
1988 Fleer #171 Dan Plesac, 2004 Topps Cracker Jack #162 Wes Helms
What can I say that hasn't been said about Plesac already? It's all been said. I think for some reason, people fail to look past his semi-respectable career stats and into the hearts of Brewers fans - which, thanks to Dan, are still scarred from the games he absolutely boned. In my home growing up, his name was the ONLY name that was never uttered without the preamble of "Dammit!!". Does that make sense? "Dammit, Plesac!". Okay. But seriously, this is a neat card because it's in the category of "American League pitchers holding a bat" cards, which I always enjoy coming across. Those oh-so-clever photogs, man.
The Helms card is my first Brewers Cracker Jack card. Never was a big Wes Helms fan, of course it's hard to cheer for a guy who gives himself a major knee injury during a rain delay. No kidding.
1987 Donruss #486 Bill Schroeder
Aside from San Diego's Mark Grant, "Rock" is possibly the best color commentary guy in baseball. His years of actually usefull experience in the game really add to it, as he not only shares funny stories, but the ins, the outs, and the what have you's of dugout and clubhouse life. The Brewers FSN broadcast each game has a segment called "Tavern of the Game", which of course is sponsored by the Tavern League of Wisconsin. If they are selected during the broadcast, they have until the following morning (because when you're drinking at a bar during a Brewers game, nobody remembers to call in that night) to call in and claim their 30 or 40 free Brewers tickets. Anyhow, Rock seems to have been to every one of the bars that win this contest. A couple days ago the winning bar was "UpChucks" in Arcadia, WI. Good stuff. Rock had fun with that one.
Another former Brewers player that is part of the television broadcast team now. "Auggie" takes the place that Jeff Cirillo had in the studio last year. Even though I live about 1,750 miles from where I grew up, I always feel like I'm at home whenever they put Auggie on the screen. The guys sounds just like everyone I grew up around. I'll attempt to give you an example, bear with me. Here's what it sounds like : "So da Brewers should have da win tanite if dey can close er out wit Coffey an dem." Here's what that means in English: "So, the Brewers should have the win tonight they can close out the ballgame with Coffey and the rest of the bullpen". I love that this guy is on primetime television.
I didn't have this card either, so that's the first plus. The second thing I like about this card is how it ties together two different generations of Brewers, in TWO different ways! Stay with me now as I try to explain. You see, Jim Gantner played for Milwaukee for the entirety of his 12 year career. He now manages the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League (an NCAA summer league) in Wausau, Wisconsin. That's the first part. The second "tie" in this card is the first baseman - Cecil Fielder. He of course is the father of current Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. Nice. I showed this card to my wife, asking her what was so special about it. She said "Oh wow, that's Fatty's dad playing first base!". Yes sweetheart, it is in fact Fatty's dad.
1979 Topps #596 Jim Wohlford
Jim only played for Milwaukee for 3 seasons, and was never what you would call an "All-Star", but he had a great glove - so I'm told. I don't remember him, too young you see. What I do know about him, and what most people don't know about him, is he came up with one of the most famous baseball one-liners of all time - one that is often attributed to Yogi Berra. He was the one who originally said "Ninety percent of this game is half-mental". Sounds just like something Yogi would say, so I understand the confusion. Nice card. 
There's a guy who plays for San Francisco right now, Eugenio Valez, who looks just like Riles. I swear, the first time I saw him (last year during a Giants/Brewers game) I thought it WAS Riles. Valez is 6'1'', and only runs about 160 lbs. That's probably when he's soaking wet, with rocks in his pockets. Ernie Riles suffered way too many injuries, but in '85 he finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Ozzie Guillen and Teddy Higuera. That's heavy company man. 
He even looked like a douchebag in 1982.
1993 Upper Deck Teammates #43 - Paul Molitor, Pat Listach, Robin Yount
Finally, I want to close this "Thank You" post with a tribute to Motherscratcher, and his appreciation for the Subhelmet Hat Alliance. I give you Mr. Dion James.
Amidst the Brewers struggles at the mound, Bush showed Brewers fans once again why he is in the starting rotation. He'd had a pretty rough couple of outings before today's start, but finally receiving some run support (six runs) from his teammates seems to make the difference for Bushy. He finally gets his first decision, a 7 2/3 effort that yielded only one run.
1979 Topps #577 Brewers Checklist
Also, a sophomore player named Paul Molitor. What a cutie. And what County Stadium team photo would be complete without the 'ol Chalet and Keg...
Well, just the keg portion. I love how this is centered in the photo, on purpose. Jim also sent me the team card from the following year of 1980 - and once again, the "Go Brewers" on the former 'largest keg in the united states' shown visibly for all to see, right smack dab in the middle of the card. For those of you not familiar w/ the new politically correct Miller Park and its "Bernie's Dugout" instead of the suds-producing chalet and keg slide, you'll be happy to know that efforts have been underway to restore the once proud chalet, keg and mug to it's rightful home - in left center field of Milwaukee's baseball park. Whatever scandal they are trying to keep the little kids from witnessing by seeing a cartoon costumed guy slide down into a mug of beer, is inevitably going to be committed by nothing more than the very team's name - the Brewers. Come on, folks. Who are we kidding? It's a drinking state with a baseball problem, and we all know it. While we're at it, bring back the keg mascot as well. 
Two cards of the former face of the franchise - wow, that was two too many 'f' words there. I think the kids call it "alliteration", not sure though. EM stands for "electrician's mate", not "english major", as a few of my Nuke School instructors were kind enough to remind me whenever I'd try to correct someone's grammar. This coming from a guy who rarely proofreads his blog posts before clicking "publish".
For some of you, these are two guys you may not have even known played for Milwaukee. Of course, these years were in the middle of 13-consecutive losing seasons enjoyed by the Brewers and their fans, during which time many MANY faces came and went in some attempt to win ballgames. Grissom came to Milwaukee in '98 mostly because the Tribe resigned Kenny Lofton and couldn't afford to keep both guys, but his 3 years as Brewers lent nothing but frustration to his career. In this card, you can see that the Brewers, in an attempt to bring in more fans after the failed "dime beer night" fiasco, started implementing a dance routine during the seventh inning stretch. 
Along with Yount, Molitor, Gantner and Sveum, B.J. Surhoff was a staple for the Brewers during my formative baseball years. This '87 Fleer Update is obviously a product of the intelligent folks at Fleer actually taking time to do their job - something the current Topps and UD employees seem to have, uh, forgotten. The colors match perfectly with the lovely late 80's Brewers threads, and nothing says "Baseball Energy and Excitement" like a guy who is taking bp somewhere at the end of a long road trip, tired from jump flights and crappy hotel beds. At least Donruss got him to smile. Must have been a woman photographer I suspect. These are two awesome cards.
Two current Brewers players, Bill Hall and "CV" as we call Villanueva. Since the original Studio concept came out as a limited "preview" release with the '91 Donruss factory sets (the one and only factory set I've ever reveived as a Christmas gift) I've always been a fan of the cards. This year, along w/ the '93 Studio set, are my two favorites. I am a fan of vibrant color when it comes to baseball cards, and Studio did it without charging an arm and a leg. Bill Hall - well, what's to say about Bill Hall. We owe him for carrying our team for a couple very slow years. I'm not sure if losing record/not making the playoffs qualifies as "carrying" a team, but we'll go with it.
Oh ya...then-interim manager Dale Sveum (in my opinion, the man who should be their friggin full time manager THIS YEAR, not the hitting coach) doing his best to liven the Wild Card-clinching Brewers' locker room mood that night. So, like I said. We're still hungover from last September.
Diggin the throwback to the old Bowman cards - and a fitting tribute for a guy who TRULY was the face of the franchise for a good number or years in recent Brewers history. I was sad to see him replaced during the season in 2006 by the young newcomer Corey Hart, but that has worked out well for the Brewers. A bad combination of high salary and offensive slumping sent Jenks to the bench, and later to free agency. That worked out well for him, though, as 2008 had him signed with the Phillies as their right fielder, where he would win himself a World Series.
I only share these cards with you because they are TOTALLY BADASS!!!! I had never seen this series before I opened the box of cards from Jim, but I'm in love! Are they really in a studio? Did they just get done doing some volunteer commercial painting work? Is there airbrushing involved here? You can tell by their foot placements (fake shadows be damned) that these are doctored pictures, but I don't care. I want to invite them over for dinner, pour them a couple tall glasses of wine, and see where it takes us. Simply beautiful.
I'll finish up the Round 1 gcrl trade appreciation post with two of my favorite players in the game today - Corey "I bought my local Chuck-E-Cheese restaurant so my kids can still go there instead of them closing their doors" Hart and J.J "my wife would leave me for him" Hardy. Corey is batting .279 so far this year, crediting a new approach at the plate thanks to Dale Sveum for his early success this year. J.J., on the other hand, is struggling out of the gate. After a great Spring Training, he's batting only .114 right now, with 10 strikeouts. It's early, though, and the kinks will get worked out.
Thanks again for the cards, Jim. Like I said, I'll have at least two more posts to cover the rest of the cards you sent.
Brewers take on the Phillies today, first time seeing them since the 2008 NLDS in which we stole 1 game from them before losing the series. Hopefully we can win a game 1 or game 2 during a 3-game road series unlike the last two attempts. It's 0-2 Manny Parra against Jamie Moyer, who was a #5 starting pitcher when Moses was still pitching. Geez.
Yes, we are only 8 games into the season. Yes, I have watched all 8 games and I know that the rust is still there, guys are still getting the kinks out. But last year I made excuses for the team that in all rights never should have made the playoffs - we "earned" the Wild Card spot because the Mets, once again, were unable to close out the season. The season is still very young, though, and who knows what will happen. I guess my lone comfort is knowing just that - it's a young season. The Seattle Mariners are are in 1st place in the AL West, the team that last year was the first team in MLB history to lose over 100 games with a payroll of over $100 million. So I guess anything can happen, and one team's early struggles in no way defines how the season will turn out.
Listen to me, I sound like an Indians fan.
Not a member of my binder -and so this card immediately found a new 3-ring home within a matter of seconds. Just look at that spry, young third baseman. You can tell he's not wasting his time, dreaming of days when his Brewers would be playing the only "Opening Day" game scheduled after opening day. Geez.
This one was also on my list of "not-yet-purchased" Yount cards, so I gave this one too a welcome home in a binder. By this time in his career, he was already a seasoned veteran. But he still had 10 years to play, yet, and a 3,000 hits milestone to reach. As my father would say "You know Phil, they just don't make 'em like him anymore". Indeed.
Coop was a Milwaukee fan's staple, meat-and-potatoes player for many years. Maybe I like him because he began losing his hair around the same age I did. Or maybe it's because he's a great man.
Here we see "Stormin Gorman" doing his best Charles Manson impression. I never knew that he was from Charleston, SC - my wife's hometown. Perhaps, also, the birthplace of Helter Skelter. This card totally creeps me out.
Yes, THE Bobby Brown. Not of Whitney and Bobby fame, though, but of San Diego Padres fame.
Yes, THE Bucky Dent. And yes, THE Brian Giles. I love the Rangers cards from this set - this was before my card-colleting days, so the old "TR" Rangers logo was something I'd never seen before. I like it! Let's get back to that, folks! Better than the "T" logo, and better than the star logo. And I bet you didn't know Giles has been in the league as long as he has, did you?! He now calls San Diego home, but he can still crush the ball - you hangie, he bangie.
I don't know what I like better about the Trout card: his hair, his glasses, or his name. I could get behind a guy named Trout, for sure! "Come on, Trout! Hit it outta here!" or "Give 'em hell, Trout!". The hair. The glasses. The poly. Man, who says the 80's weren't about excess.
I still don't understand this card set, to be truly honest with you. I mean, I have a whole bunch, I remember them being something or a rarity when I was a kid collecting cards, but really? Did he help subsidize this project, or did Pacific Trading bring it to him? Kinda weird to me. Nothing weird about this card, though. This card SCREAMS "Badassness". I mean, come on people! You don't mess with Texas! When I hear that, I always think of Will Ferrel's impression of President Bush, saying that. That's all I got.
