Cheese and Beer

Cheese and Beer version 2.0

2011-12-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

The new Cheese and Beer is on the way. More sports. More opinions. More discussion. Less cards, but still some cards. A new banner. More life coverage. Cheese and Beer, version 2.0 - arriving early 2012.

2009-12-02T05:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

2009-11-26T03:22:00.000-08:00

Here's to everyone in the card blogosphere - wishing you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your turkey (or duck, or chicken, or Turducken if you're brave enough), your green been casserole, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and rolls. Enjoy your cold adult beverages, the company of your family and friends, as well as both games the NFL is giving you this year (especially the first one...GO PACK GO!).

Amidst all these things, though, be sure to take the time to say "Thank You" to the One who provided all these things for you. Your home, your health, your family and friends, and all of the blessings in your life come from somewhere. Take a moment to say thanks.

So what am I thankful for? Well, besides all those things I just listed, I'm thankful for 270 pounds of muscle, bone, and fat - well, mostly fat - that has a nack for hitting homers.

Relic Contest? Yes!

2009-11-23T19:07:00.000-08:00

How about this as a relic contest for all of you who are home for more days off during the holidays? Sounds like a great deal, and I'll bet it is. Check it out!

Joe Mauer, AL MVP

2009-11-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Minnesota Twins' catcher Joe Mauer, who won the American League MVP award for his efforts during the 2009 campaign. Mauer won in a nearly unanimous voting this year, the only other first place vote going to Miguel Cabrerra of the Tigers. That vote was from a voter out of the Seattle market. Not sure about that one...

Joe Mauer, in this writer's humble opinion, is the best catcher since Johnny Bench, and a player who will surely see his bronze likeness immortalized in Cooperstown following the end of his career.

Mauer is up for free agency after this next season, but I don't see him leaving his friends and family in Minnesota. He is an old school sort of guy, a player of the same caliber as George Brett (entire career played in Kansas City) and the one and only Rockin' Robin Yount (entire career played in Milwaukee). You just don't see guys like that anymore, and I just can't see Mauer leaving Minnesota.

I bring this up because I am connected to Joe Mauer in a loose way. My youth, I suppose, shall show itself in the following lines (that's right folks, this writer is a mere 27 years old).

In 1997, while a sophomore at Saint Agnes High School in St. Paul, MN (I commuted every morning from God's country of Wisconsin, folks) I had the pleasure of playing against young Mr. Mauer in a basketball tournament one weekend. His Raiders of Cretin-Derham Hall defeated my Aggies in a not-so-close contest, but history was set in motion. I went on to a wonderful college career of studying, later joining the Navy in defense of this great nation, finally ending up as a maintenace technician for the #1 steel producing company in the United States. Joe Mauer, however, followed a different path. He decided to use his athletic abilities and pursue a career in baseball. That decision has turned out okay.

A couple years ago, my best friend called me up and filled me in on some more information regarding Mr. Mauer. It turns out, our high school prep Alma Mater was in dire need of financial consideration, forced with the decision of possibly closing its doors. The school needed some $3 million to stay in operation. A wealthy alum (who financed this writer's entire senior year's worth of tuition through a student-athlete scholarship) donated nearly half of that sum out of his generosity. The remaining $1 million + was still up in the air. A quick phone call ended that problem.

It turns out, Joe Mauer's father attended my high school back in the day. A short phone call to his son, explaining the circumstances, was all the school needed. A few days later, the school recieved a personal check from Joe Mauer allowing it to stay in operation.

So again, congrats to Joe Mauer for winning the 2009 American League MVP Award. And thank you, again, for helping my alma mater provide a great education to young people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Go Aggies!

It really ties the room together...

2009-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

In response to the Good Dentist's comment regarding our new home and the possible presence of a certain "rug", I write thus.

We were just about complete. New furniture, a beautiful oak armoire, lavish wooden tables, even matching oak bookshelves to display photos of family members as well as our many texts from college ("The Basic Works of Aristotle", anyone?).

The brutal truth was present, however. That nagging feeling that keeps you up at night while you lie in bed trying to fall asleep. Like the gay cousin at a family reunion who brings home his new "friend" from college. Something needed to be addressed.

The "elephant in the room" was something that wasn't in the room at all. It was something, however, that needed to be in the room. Hardwood floors need to be covered, something I'm sure the liberal left has convinced all Americans as being true. Well - Glenn Beck's personal feelings aside, WE (the royal 'we', the editorial 'we') felt something was truly missing from our living room. After much thought and debate, WE (my wife) realized exactly what was missing.

A rug. To tie the room together.

One of my wife's jobs affords us the opportunity to purchase high-end home furnishings at an extremely disgusting discount (40% off) which sits extremely well with this frugal writer. Having scoured the website of said employer for roughly an hour, a decision was made, and a rug purchased.

And it really does tie the room together.

Offseason Report #1

2009-11-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Hello again! It's been quite a long hiatus (this time, a few months) and much has been going on during the interim. Hopefully, this will mark the official return of regular posting as my work schedule (that's right, a new career folks) is now on a regular rotation and other things are - well, I'll just get to the updates.

First, and most importantly, we have news out of the Milwaukee Brewers camp. Last week Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy was dealt to the Minnesota Twins for centerfielder Carlos Gomez. As some of you know, Hardy had a terrible season at the plate for the Crew, and was sent down to AAA Nashville - quite a demotion for a guy who was an All-Star in 2007. Hardy spent a short time in Nashville, but the perfect amount in the eyes of Milwaukee brass. The club was able to push off free agency for Hardy until 2011 by doing this, making him a much more attractive trade. Hardy would spend the remainder of the season mostly on the bench, with the promotion of phenom SS Alcides Escobar to the big league club.

With CF Mike Cameron looking to land quite a large salary for next year, the Brewers needed to free up some cash to aid them in their search of MUCH NEEDED starting pitching (worst ERA in the NL for the 2009 campaign). Gomez was a perfect match. A young kid with lots of speed, and as Brewers GM Doug Melvin describes, an "underachieving bat". That can be said of a lot of guys who don't hit too well. With regular starts in 2010 (something he didn't see in Minnesota with the success found by Denard Span), Gomez should do quite well in CF for the Brewers in 2010. If nothing else, he'll add some much-needed speed.

Hardy was a fan favorite in Milwaukee, and will surely be missed. Baseball is a business, though, and a small market club like the Brewers can't afford to be sentimental when it comes to chasing a pennant.

Milwaukee is also in the running for starting pitcher John Lackey, who most analysts dub as the best free-agent starter for the offseason. We'll see how serious the club is about being a contender next year. Hopefully the will be putting their money where their mouth is.

My few readers and "online friends" may remember that in May I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy. My wife and I moved back to her hometown of Charleston, SC, and the job search began. I was able to land a great job with Nucor Steel, the #1 steel producer in the world, and a company that hires a lot of former Navy Nuclear technicians. The job has proven to be a great fit. I received my first promotion last month, and have found myself truly blessed with a great company.

Last month, my wife and I closed on our first house - and have settled in nicely. Being a homeowner is such a welcome, fresh change to life. We are glad to be in our own place - and not paying month-to-month rent, fighting over parking spots, or banging on walls to get the neighbors to "keep it down".

After a lot of painting, furniture buying, and yard work, our home is really coming together. We are almost ready for Thanksgiving, when we'll be hosting the family party (about 30 people) and watching the Packers on TV in inches upon inches of beautiful HD.

As far as my card collecting goes, things are quite slow. With the new house, budgeting for cards hasn't been allocated quite yet. We're just about done with home upgrades and such, and I'm sure it'll just be a little bit of time before I'm back into the card "swing of things". I would like to pass along a HUGE "thank you" to the gals at Dinged Corners for sending me the Star Trek collector glass I won in a contest hosted on their site. I would also like to thank Mark from "Stats on the Back" for the box of Brewers cards he sent this summer. I will get around to a thank you packages when time permits.

Great to be back, and I look forward to getting back in touch with a lot of you in the cardosphere!

Back in Chucktown

2009-06-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings once again! It's been a long hiatus - a few weeks, from my estimation, and just a little update from the South. My wife and I have arrived at our destination in Charleston, SC and are settling in nicely. Job interviews are going on, one quite promising, as I have been notified that they want me back for a second interview. I'll post any updates on that front as soon as I find out more.

We left Seattle on the 19th of May, and stayed in Wisconsin to visit my family for about a week. While there, I was able to get together all the cards I'd collected as a youngster, and now have a couple more containers full of cards ready to be sorted. I even found my treasured "binder" - you know the one. Full of all the "best" cards from packs and trades as a kid. Those will be posting sometime in the future, from time to time, as time allows. There sure is a lot to go through.

We arrived here in Charleston last Thursday, and tonight we finally have the opportunity to go to a Charleston Riverdogs game. They are a minor league affiliate of the Yankees (booooo) but have the southern charm and sort of "Bull Durham"-esque air about them. From the stadium, to the fans, to the players, it's definitely a club that has very little to do with their Bronx parents.

Tonight's game is against the Rome Braves, and it should be a blast. When I was stationed down here from 2003-2007 I attended quite a few games, and am looking forward to continuing that wonderful tradition.

Farewell, Sweet Prince - ALL TRIBE style

2009-05-18T06:03:00.001-07:00

Nope, no reference to anyone dieing. No reference to Fatty McFatterson, who happens to play first base for my FIRST PLACE Milwaukee Brewers. I am bidding my farewell to the world of card blogging. For now, of course.

Today is my final day in the Navy. Tonight we are loading up the truck. Tomorrow my wife and I will depart on our 3,036 mile road trip to our new home in Charleston, SC. We will be spending a week in Wisconsin over Memorial Day weekend, spending the weekend cheering on the Brewers as they take on the Twins in interleague play.

I received a package last week from Jack over at All Tribe Baseball that included not only the wonderful CD of baseball-related tunes (including the original "Who's on First" from Abbot & Costello which confused the crap outta the wife) but also had a number of Brewers cards tossed in as well. A nice smattering of years and clubs. Thanks so much, Jack, for the great cards and the CD that will be getting some spin time in the truck this week.

On that note, in no particular order, here are the cards from the "Baseball Dad".

2003 Donruss Estrellas (#47 Ben Sheets, #48 Richie Sexson)

These cards are in spanish. SPANISH!! I've never seen baseball cards in Spanish. French, yes. Gotta love our friends north of the border who enjoy their OPC cards. But Spanish? Awesome. Donruss Estrellas. That's Not-English for "stars". Sheets is a "Lanzador", which is a very formal way of saying "not pitching for anyone this year". Funny, neither is Richie. Bummer, man.

2003 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion (#139 Ben Sheets, #125 Jose Hernandez)

These cards are your standard cardboard. See that little cutout on the top and bottom? Genius. You wanted it, and Skybox delivered. Get those kids back on the wagon, we need more non-standard cards. Well, not really but they are pretty neat. Sheets still isn't pitching for anyone this year. You know, the Brewers never did announce whether or not they have had to pick up the tab on his surgery. It'd be interesting to find out.

1992 Topps Gold Teddy Higuera, 1999 Skybox Premium Jim Abbott

Teddy Higuera, arguably the greatest pitcher to don the Brewers uniform. Jim Abbott, arguably the greatest pitcher to have ONE HAND. One hand!!! As a child this always amazed me. The guy only had one hand and he managed to do everything better than me. He'd throw, pull the glove off his...handless arm, put the glove on his hand, field the ball, and throw the whole damn thing, glove and ball together, over to the first baseman. That's some Pitcher's Fielding Practice that's tough to teach, folks. That guy was a true hero to all para-athletes out there to be sure. And he played for the Crew, awesome.

2006 Fleer Ultra Rickie Weeks, 1991 Upper Deck Julio Machado

Rickie is leading the Brewers in HRs this year. That's right, the guy who hit just over the Mendoza line last year and has plagued the infield with errors for years, has perhaps finally found his swing and his glove, the same items that made him the ranchise prospect and future all these years. Then came Ryan Braun. But before that, Weeks was going to be the next Robin Yount for the Brew Crew. Well, to nobody's surprise, he's in a contract year and thriving. Isn't that odd when that happens? As I always say, you can't spell Rickie Weeks without 3 E's and 2 K's. Chew on that, kids.

Machado is a badass. Look at him.

Here's a neat scratchoff game from '94 that was included. I'd never seen this before. It features the Brewers "Notre Dame" logo that I never was a huge fan of, but that's alright too. Here's the back...

I think I'll leave this until the Brewers make it to the World Series. It may be a while, but man, it'll be worth it. I'll do this scratchoff and it'll predict the winner of game 1 - Milwaukee.

Well, that's it for a while folks. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel. We'll take some photos and I'll share those when we arrive in Charleston. Go Brewers!!

Shame on you, Mr. Manuel

2009-05-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight Mets manager Jerry Manuel kept pitcher Mike Pelfrey in the game through six innings...after he had given up 3 balks.

Whatever the reason for Pelfrey's frustration, be it the obvious scouting by the Giants' staff, the unfortunate strike zone called by the home plate umpire, or the poor framing by Mets catcher Omir Santos, Pelfrey has been in a world of hurt tonight. Three balks in six innings.

THANKS for the visit to the mound, Jerry. Thanks for leaving poor Mike in their to commit three balks. The guy needs to hit the clubhouse, clear his head. You left him in there, to protect your struggling bullpen.

You are a horrible manager.

Cards from GCRL...Round 2

2009-05-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Back in March I got a package from Jim over at GCRL, and the contents were overwhelming - hundreds and hundreds of Brewers cards, old, not-so-old, and friggin new. Lots of em. Too many for one post. I set aside another posts' worth of cards at that time for a second post - one that would come after I said thanks to a few others for gifts they sent.

We are in the middle of packing up our apartment as we prepare to move 3,000 miles away to sunny Charleston, SC a week from now. Underneath some books and papers was a small stack of cards...the very cards I set aside for the "Thanks GCRL 2 of 2" post. Here they are, folks! And once again, Jim, thanks for the cards.

I have two baseballs from major league baseball games. The first was the one that Paul Molitor threw to me and my father during warmups before a Brewers vs. Twins game in Minneapolis back in '87. I've told the story before as my entry for the Fifth Blog Bat Around...you can read it here. The second one was hit right to me during batting practice, at the same Metrodome in Minneapolis, once again before a Brewers vs. Twins game. Except this time, it came from a slightly more portly player on the Brewers team, Mr. Ron Belliard. I don't know if I still have that one.

I will never complain about an oddball card. There can be nothing wrong with them, because there is no "bar" set. They cannot disappoint. This one is no exception. And the Vuckovich card is from another generation. It's a bit harder to find a leg kick like this anymore...or a mustache like this. I still can't see a picture of him without thinking of nemesis of Rick Vaughn, Yankees slugger "Haywood". On a brief sidenote, it was revealed during the fifth inning of a Brewers/Astros game a few weeks ago that my wife had never seen "Major League". MLB Extra Innings was carrying the Astros broadcast of the game that night, and they had a guest in the booth...Mr. Bob Uecker. I went nuts. He was nothing short of genius, and I was laughing the whole time. I commented on how funny he was in "Major League". I was met by a blank stare on my wife's face. After the game, we watched the movie.

The Jenkins/Burnitz high five was a common site for a few years in Brew Town. This cards scores a couple runs because it's taken from a distance, which gives us two ballplayers frozen in time, with a sea of faceless fans behind them. I love it.

No matter what happened to Matt Childers, he could always brag to his children and grandchildren that he had two of the coolest baseball cards ever. I love these cards. Maybe it's the patriot in me, maybe I just like bright, shiny objects, but they work for me. Matt only made 11 major league appearances earlier in the decade. Last year he pitched for the Phillies AAA club, and this year he's pitching in Japan. Glad he's still in the game.

Add to the list of guys who become sluggers with the Brewers, leave, and then disappear. Maybe it's just him on this list, but for some reason I want to throw in Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee - although both of their situations are entirely different. Last season I went to about a dozen Mariners games here in Seattle. It didn't take the fans too long to start booing him last year.

One question, though. Future World Series Hero? What a crappy set. Did they mean that he would soon leave the Brewers for a larger market and hopefully more successful ballclub, or did they mean the Brewers would soon make it to the World Series? Either way, they lost. Dumb, dumb Upper Deck.

Finally, a minor league card. I know nothing about Leon Glenn, Jr, but I do know that he played for the one time A-affiliate Beloit Brewers. By the time I came into my "baseball adulthood", they were already the Beloit Snappers (easier to put a turtle suit on some guy than try to sell the whole "beer" thing to youngsters). The Milwaukee Brewers still own the rights to this logo, though, and as I've said before, I sure hope it'll find it's way onto the Brewers uniforms, at least as a sleeve patch. It shows Wisconsin pride. I like that.

News...and Notes

2009-05-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

First of all, the important stuff. I was notified by the Navy that my day of separation will be in two weeks - so, I have essentially 2 weeks to find a job in Charleston, SC (which is over 3,000 miles away) tie up all my loose ends with the Navy, work with my wife to sell whatever furniture we can on Craigslist, pack up the place, and done. The sofa I am sitting on right now will be gone tomorrow - so it's two weeks of sitting on dining room chairs in the living room. I love it.

We've decided to move to Charleston, SC instead of my hometown in Wisconsin for a couple of reasons, mostly relating to the job market and the economy. This will once again put me far away from the land of Cheese and Beer, but just for now. I still have MLB Extra Innings to fill me with my daily need for Brewers baseball.

Which brings me to last night's game...and Ryan Braun. The Crew is facing the MUCH hated Baby Bears from Chicago. I don't care what Cubbies fans say, this is a huge freakin rivalry and we hate them. This weekend is a 3-game series against Chicago, and the series opened with a bang last night. In the bottom half of the 8th last night, trailing the Cubs 2-1, Ryan Braun took a pitch to the bleachers in right center field, plating two runs and giving the Brewers the lead to cement a game 1 victory over the Cubs. 10 minutes later, "Hells Bells" rang true once again in Milwaukee, as closer Trevor Hoffman came in once again and earned his fifth save of the year.

The guys on Sportscenter this morning (actually, I think it was Neal Everett) made the same comment I made last night when he hit the homer. It was something to the effect of "last week he was on the bench with a sore back, and this week he's tearing it up". Actually, my story of last night's game is a bit better than that.

As I said, we're selling a lot of furniture and home furnishing stuff on Craigslist right now, and from about 1pm-8:30 last night I had people coming by to look at items and pick items up. This was during the Brewers/Cubs game last night, but I didn't let it stop me. A woman, her friend, and her child were standing in my living room inspecting the antique dresser they'd come to pick up (turns out, she was a Brewers fan and originally from West Allis, Wisconsin...small world) and I didn't let them stop me from watching the game. I answered questions while staring at the screen. As soon as Brauny hit the 2-run jack in the 8th inning, I channelled Howard Dean and started yelling something fierce...to which the woman turned, smiled, and decided she'd take the dresser and it'd be a good time to leave. At least she bought the damn thing, and for helping load it/secure it in her truck, she through in an extra $10 on top of the price.

Thanks Brauny!

By the way, this is the 2009 Topps World Baseball Classic Ryan Braun card. This card is summer baseball. The sun, the smile, the sky, and the glisten in the eye that smacks of another summer filled with homers like the one we saw last night.

Cinco de Mayo!

2009-05-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 3rd: After being scratched from the lineup for two games, Ryan Braun stays in Milwaukee while the Brewers hit the road for a quick four game road trip in Pittsburgh and Cincy.

Monday, May 4th: MRI on Braun's back turns out negative, Braun boards a plane to join the Crew for their first game in Pittsburgh. At the 7:05pm game time, Braun is still flying en route to Pittsburgh, Bill Hall starts the game in Left Field.

Ryan Braun arrives in the dugout for the 2nd inning.

In the 8th inning with the bases load, Ryan Braun is brought into the game as a pinch hitter.

Braun swings at a 0-2 fastball, and hits a seeing-eye DOUBLE to right field to tie the game at 3-3.

Later, Rickie Weeks would homer to ensure the Brewers' 16th straight victory over the Pirates.

Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo: Tonight, Brauny is starting in left field. Happy Cinco de Mayo, ya'll!

Farewell to Foreign Shores...

2009-05-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the day has come. It seems even the Department of the Navy is not recession proof.

I was just informed today by my chain of command that my rating conversion was denied by the Navy due to manning issues. In effect, I'm not being "retained" because too many people are staying in. Electrician's Mate Second Class at the plate, Honorable Discharge on deck, and Looking for a Job is in the hole.

This means in about 2 months, I will once again be a civilian for the first time in six years. And a long with that, comes the joy of searching for a job. With my transition just ahead, I will have to direct my baseball card budget to more important (gasp!) things - namely, savings account. Rainy day fund. Whatever you call the money saved up for when you lose your job.

I'll keep the posting up, because it's free. But it'll mostly be on Brewers baseball (also free) and odd kinds of themes I can come up with while parousing my stacks and rows and boxes of cards.
This also means the last 3 packages are being mailed out today - Matt F, Padrographs, and a little something for the ladies of Dinged Corners - and that'll be it for quite a while. The inbox will remain open, though, if anyone has to get rid of some cards of the Brewers persuasion.

At least Ryan Braun is healthy, right? Wait a second...

My foray into the world of...guest columnist?

2009-05-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited by Matt F from Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius to be a contributor for his new project, A Pack To Be Named Later. The gist is to bust a pack of wax and share the cards - pretty simple. The goal is to cover everything and anything put on cardboard.

Here's my debut contribution...

Padrographs Delivers the Goods...More Brewers!

2009-05-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

About a month and a half ago I received an email out of the blue from Rod over at Padrographs, asking for my mailing address as he'd recently put together some Brewers to send my way. I emailed him back from my work account (which ends in @navy.mil) which started up a nice exchange. Turns out, the heart and soul of Padrographs is himself a Navy veteran as well. Thanks for your service to our country,Rod, and thanks for the Brewers!

2008 Topps Heritage Chrome #C228 Manny Parra (#1340/1959)
My favorite Brewers pitcher, Manny is off to a rough start this year. He's off to an 0-4 start, and his ERA is at 5.33 Not exactly the start he was looking for, but he is still a young guy. His problem (besides hanging up way too many curveballs) is the total lack of run support the Brewers are offering him. In his 5 starts this year, the Crew have only managed to plate 10 runs for him. That's 2 runs/game, and few pitchers in the league would have a winning record with that kind of offense behind them. His most recent 2 starts have given the Brewers a good sign, as he's allowed only 2 earned runs over 11 innings. The second factor is his 0-4 record? The Milwaukee bullpen. Some games they are on, and some they're off. Keep your chin up, Manny. It'll come around.

1992 Donruss Studio (#198 Greg Vaughn, #196 Franklin Stubbs)
These are great cards, and two Brewers featuring my all-time favorite Brewers uniforms - those from the early 90's, right before we switched to the crappy navy blue/green/gold Notre Dame logo and colors. Nothing against Notre Dame, but it's a rough switch for folks used to the whole blue and yellow thing for years. Some day I pray we'll go back to these jerseys. Not even the ones the Crew wear nowadays for Retro Fridays, but this one. It's the best.

By the way, take a gook at Vaughn's hair. Lovin it, Arsenio style.

Mat Gamel (2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects #BDPP83, 2008 Donruss Threads #98)

Now that Matt LaPorta is playing for the Cleveland Indians, Mat Gamel is the face of the Brewers future. He's a hard-hitting third baseman, and if he came up to the big league club he'd either be converted to an outfield position, or moved to 1B following a Prince Fielder trade (I'd prefer the later). I'm looking forward to seeing this kid play. Lolve the Threads card, according to which "...Gamel absolutely abused Southern League pitching." Ouch.

1994 Extra Bases #98 Ricky Bones
These came out right after I stopped collecting baseball cards in my youth - during the strike-ruined season of 1994. Ricky Bones was a great pitcher that year, making his only All-Star team. He came to Milwaukee with a couple other guys in the trade that sent long-time Brewers farm system product Gary Sheffield to the Padres. He was known most famously for his great hair.

Why any card company would produce a non-standard sized card just baffles me. It's like a new kid coming to your school - he looks kind of like you, but just a bit odd. You don't know if he's good at kickball or not, so you don't pick him. These cards were doomed from the start. Nice hair, though.

Prince Fielder ('09 UD #215, '09 Topps Attax Code Card, '08 UD Timeline #19)

Three words: On Base Percentage. So far this season, Fielder's OBP is at .405! He is among league leaders in walks with 21 free passes, and is on pace to become the first player in Milwaukee Brewers franchise history to draw 100 walks in a single season. I'm not complaining about his lack of power, because he's getting on base. The guy just never seems to get a hit when there are men on base. Solo homers are his thing so far this year, but I guess that's alright too. I'm just glad to see him walking a while lot more instead of striking out like a bastard.

If anyone wants to see if the code on this Topps Attax card is still good, and wants to use it, feel free.

Paul Molitor (1985 Topps #522, 1991 Donruss Studio #73)

Love me some Molitor. It must have been a huge kick in the pants for Twins fans when the Brewers drafted him. He grew up in St. Paul, MN, just like current Twins hometown favorite Joe Mauer, and they both actually hail from the same prep school, Cretin Derham Hall. It'd be as if the Brewers had drafted Joe Mauer instead of the Twins. Man, that'd have pissed them off! Glad he played for us, although he would have really helped out the Twinkies during their championships in '87 and '91. Turns out they were just fine without him.

1997 Donrus Signature Kevin Wickander, 1994 UD Prospect #173 Kelly Wunsch
This is a no-kidding autograph card of Kevin Wickander. I haven't heard his name in quite a while, not since he was sentenced to 4 years in prison for a combination of petty theft, and other things related to Meth possession, burglary, and other crimes. Yes, Meth. Turns out that was Kevin's favorite "beverage of choice". You've heard Rick James on the Chappelle show, right? Talking about the white stuff? Well here's Wickander's take on Meth: "I ain't gonna bullsh*t you, man, it's an awesome drug." Well alright, Kevin. That stuff is scary, and it ruined a great career of one of the games most lights-out situational guys. Take a lesson from Kevin's book, kids. Just say no to drugs.

The Wunsch card is here only because it's a sky shot...man, there's nothing better than a minor ball player with nothing but a sky full of blue behind him. Beautiful photograph. It also includes the old "Beloit Brewers" logo. Beloit was the former single-A affiliate for the Brewers. They still own the logo, although the team is now a Twins farm club. I say they bring back the Wisconsin/Ball-and-glove logo as a sleeve patch for the Brewers. That'd be great.

1996 Topps #279 Steve Sparks RC
Three different elements make this an outstanding baseball card. First of all, it's another sky shot. You can't lose with a sky shot. Secondly, it's a wide-angle shot. Those always win, whether or not there are fans present. Finally, it features old Milwaukee County Stadium. I'm a fan. In fact, here's another card that Rod sent me featuring the old place, .

Finally, a card featuring "The Kid".

2002 UD Piece of History #51 Robin Yount

The baseball cards weren't even the best part of this package from Portland, Oregon. The little extras really made it a great package to come home to that day. Greeting me inside was a postcard featuring the not-so-well-known "Wild Mountain Boys" of the now defunct Fonotone Records. Perhaps there's some connection here that I'm missing...or else it's just a postcard he had handy. In any event, I listened to some of their stuff online, and it's not half bad. I recommended it to my father.

Along with a stick of the new generation of baseball card bubble gum, I found this little dandy that immediately became my favorite pen. That's right, a baseball bat pen. Word.

Thanks again Rod for the great cards, and the thoughtful gifts. Whenever work quiets down, I should finally be able to get this huge stack of Friars cards in the mail.

Leinenkugel's!

2009-05-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

The worst part about living away from Wisconsin (apart from Brewers baseball) is the lack of Leinenkugel's Beer. It's a small, craft beer brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (or as my wife says, "Chippa Waffles") and they continue to put out some of the best beer around. It wasn't until recently, maybe 2 years ago, that they began to sell beer outside of the Wisconsin/Minnesota area. In fact, we had it at our wedding down in Charleston, SC last fall.

Well, here in the Seattle area they have finally began to carry one variety of a time of the Leinie's. And the newest member of the family, Leinenkugel's Classic Amber, was immediately shipped to the left coast. For us, of course. Ah, bask in the beauty.

Off my chest...

2009-05-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

There have been a few recent stories in professional sports that have stirred up some feelings inside me (or maybe it's this early Saturday morning coffee). I have to get a few things off my chest.

1. NO INSTANT REPLAY IN BASEBALL. I repeat, NO instant replay in baseball. In case you missed it (and if you're like last night's 3rd base umpire Brian Gorman, you DID miss it) the Brewers lost to the struggling D-backs 5-2 last night. The game was tied 2-2 in the 8th inning when a foul-ball-called-fair turned into a 2-run double giving the Arizona the lead, a lead they'd hold onto for the win. A couple of things - first of all, that call didn't cause the Brewers to lose. Their inability to score through the first 6 innings caused the Brewers to lose. Also their inability to score any runs after the 7th inning caused them to lose. Catch my drift? That call just gave the D-backs two extra runs. And it only takes 1 run to win a game, that run they'd get in an entirely different inning.

Aside from last night's game, though, I think Jason Kendall puts it best. When asked about instant replay in baseball, he said "That's the beauty of baseball. And the pain." YES! Billy Idol gets it, come on people! Baseball is still a pure sport because we haven't taken the human element of JUDGEMENT out of it. It's the mistakes that make this game human, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even for home run calls. No instant replay in baseball.

2. KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF SPORTS. You have probably heard about the Texas congressman who is trying to get a bill passed through congress that would in effect ELIMINATE the BCS from college football, instead forcing a government-backed playoff system. The BCS is of course against this because this would all but destroy the "bowl game" that has been a part of NCAA seasons for generations. Not to mention, the amount of sales, merchandise, and advertising revenue that would no longer pad the pockets of so many of those NCAA football brass and bowl organizers.

I don't like the BCS. I would prefer a playoff system. Of course, I wouldn't lose any money on the switch, so it's easy for me to say. A playoff system (like EVERY OTHER SPORT IN THE COUNTRY USES) determines a clear, definitive, and deserving champion each and every time. No "Co-National Champions" in the playoff system. Who wants that on their car's license plate frame? If you made the playoff field large enough (say, 32 teams) the revenue would still be there, and the Champion wouldn't have to play too many more games. Solution? Only have 2 season opening non-conference games to allow for the longer "post-season".

Back to the point, though. BCS or playoff, the United States Government should have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. Socialism anyone? I'm sure you've heard the critics of our president calling him a "socialist" or a "marxist", but doesn't this college football issue smack of just that? The government has no business telling college football what to do, how to do, or when to do their business. Nor does it matter what the hell Obama says about "BCS or playoff". Why should that matter?

Along with this matter, I don't want the Mitchell Report, I don't want Senate subcommitties interviewing current or former baseball players on whether or not they used steroids. I don't agree with steroids, but neither do I think the government should tell us who should or should not be in the hall of fame. And they aren't "saying" that, but they are. Named, and you're doomed. Please tell me what baseball has to do with Congressional Subcommities.

3. GROW UP, A-ROD! I am sure you don't want to hear yet another person's take on the whole A-Roid thing, but bear with me. The first time he got caught, he said it wasn't true. Then he came on national TV with a major network interview, and said he did. But just for a couple years. That's it.

Then more information surfaces, supporting that perhaps he wasn't being entirely truthful. Get outta here, really? It would be kind of odd, for a baseball player to just up and start using performance enhancing drugs, and then just up and drop them all together. Or maybe it's just me. For anyone to believe that he stopped taking them when he was traded to the Yankees is ridiculous. Not only was the city bigger, but his payroll was the biggest. EVER. Also, he was moving to the largest city in the country, with the most fans, and largest media market. No pressure, there. I'm sure he didn't feel that pressure, either. Give me a freakin break. I don't even want to talk about the rest of the new information.

My solution? Well, after he comes on national TV AGAIN to appologize to the fans, and his teammates for lieing AGAIN, Bud Selig should ban him from baseball. End of story. That way, we won't have to worry about the A-Rod Hall of Fame debate which is sure to ensue the moment he announces his retirement sometime down the road. It also sets a precident for all other current and future ballplayers. Use drugs, you're out. Pete Rose, in his entire playing or managerial career, NEVER CHEATED AT THE GAME. And yet he may never step foot in Cooperstown, New York. I don't want it to be an asterisk record book, I don't want it to be something "we just don't discuss at the dinner table", I want it cut and dry. Get this sh*t over with.

Allelujiah, where's the Tylenol.

2006 Tristar Prospect Plus #81 Ryan Braun

2009-05-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

Oh no, not again!

Nope, not again. One quick look at the back of this card will reveal a hidden gem. A diamond in a pile of coal.

I hope the person that did this didn't lose their job. Well, at least two people saw this before it hit the shelves - the designer and the editor, and I'm sure more were in the line of people who see a baseball card before it gets the "good-to-go" stamp of approval.

The problem with this beauty, is I really don't know whose card this is, Ryan Z. Braun or Ryan J. Braun? Z's picture is on the front, as well as his team's logo on the back. But my Brew Crew Braun is pictured on the back, not to mention his stats are the ones listed as well.

So which is it, Z or J?

Fill my eyes...there's no disguise...

2009-04-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Why is it that whenever I purchase some retail packs (remind me again, why'd I put myself through this once more?) I always meet the same doom.

Doubles.

And I'm not talking one pair of doubles, I'm talking multiple pairs. It's almost as if the card companies think that I build one set for myself, and another to sell everytime I buy cards. The bastardos.

2009 Upper Deck First Edition

I bought two packs (total of 20 cards) for a grand total of $1.98 + tax at the local Target. Here are the spoils:

DAMN DAMN YOU YOU UPPER UPPER DECK DECK!!

It was an accident!

2009-04-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

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.

The fun part about all of this doesn't occur until tonight during Brewers batting practice before game 2 of the Pittsburgh series in Milwaukee. I guess Braun still hadn't seen a replay of the hit-by-pitch until this afternoon, and as mad as he sounded last night after the game, didn't compare to this afternoon. Though he knew last night's beaning was intentional, today he sounded convinced that it wasn't Karstens, but Pittsburgh manager John Russell's idea to hit the left fielder on his first at bat following the first-inning homer. The fact that Karstens wouldn't even look at Brauny after it happened, kind of backs up this idea. Interesting...

Unfortunately, Braun also made a mistake of his own tonight - sending a sort of "message" to the MLB Commissioner's office. From Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricort...

"Issuing a not-so-wise warning to the commissioner’s office, Braun added, “We play them about 17 more times (actually 13). Tell Mr. Selig, we’ll see what happens. It’s going to be interesting.”

Nice, Brauny. Now you have the Pirates and the league office pissed at you.

Generosity of Dinged Corners

2009-04-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Our favorite desert baseball flowers from Dinged Corners were kind enough to think of me when they came across some Brewers cards in a recent '09 Topps Heritage purchase they made. Well, the first one I kind of asked for - but along with that, they included three other cards of beautiful wonderment. Thanks to Patricia and Lucy for these!

2009 Topps Heritage #121 Angel Salome RC
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.

2009 Topps Heritage #NAP10 Ryan Braun
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.

2008 Bowman Chrome First #BCP38 Mike Brantley

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.

1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier #131 Robin Yount

In the Yount binder already, but what a great card. In 1991 (photo most likely from 1990) Yount had already been in the majors for 16 seasons, but look at that quick first step...he had that until he played his final game. God blessed him with great health, and he worked hard to stay in shape (enter enhibit A, his forearms). And everyone enjoys a great Canadian card every once in a while. Haha, Yount is a voltigeur.

Thanks again for the fine cards, gals.

Fantasy Baseball: Pawtucket Patriots

2009-04-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

My 2009 Fantasy Baseball team is the "Pawtucket Patriots", lovingly named of course after the fictional beer in the show "Family Guy". I hate the real Patriots, and most things New England, but I thought this was my most clever name for a fantasy team yet.

Anyhow, as the league manager it of course makes all the sense in the world that the lottery for the draft day position would deliver me the #8 of 8 teams. Glorious. My team isn't too bad, though.

Here are the inaugural season uniforms of the Pawtucket Patriots, with home, road, and home alternate uniforms included.

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...

Tonight's game is brought to you in part by Pawtucket Patriot Ale.

Stephen Drew...Fantasy Nightmare

2009-04-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

A-Rod is still not healthy, and occupying a nice spot on my DL. My #1 overall pick of the draft hasn't played a game yet. Rather than spend 2 early picks on the left side of my infield, I waited until later to get a SS/3B that would fill the roster until A-Rod returned. That pick was the 84th overall selection...Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew.

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.

2009 Upper Deck Artifacts

2009-04-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine had sent me the link on facebook for the new "music video" from The Lonely Island (oddball brainchild musical group of Saturday Night Live favorite Andy Samberg) entitled "I'm On A Boat" featuring hip-hop artist T-Pain. If you've not seen their work, I encourage you to watch this and this. I'll wait, trust me it's worth it. WARNING: ADULT CONTENT - EXPLICIT LYRICS AND SUGGESTIVE CONTENT.

Also, if you haven't seen the movie "Hot Rod", I recommend that as well. It's from the same guys, except on the big screen and plus Danny McBride - who is badassly funny.

So - what does all of this have to do with BASEBALL??? Well, after watching the music video for "I'm on a Boat", i had to go to the store to pick up their debut CD, which has all of these songs, plus a lot of Adam Sandler-esque comedy skits on it. While I was there, I thought I'd take the opportunity to check out their baseball cards, as I haven't purchased any new cards in quite a while, probably a couple months.

I picked up a few packs of 2009 Upper Deck First Edition, which still confuses me as the most poorly named annual baseball card series, because it comes out AFTER Series 1 does. I don't get it. I'll post those in a couple days. I also picked up a pack of 2009 Upper Deck Artifacts, at $2.99 it was just a retail pack. I wanted to get the blaster, but figured if I just got a taste of it, and a few packs of the First Edition, I could also treat the wife to lunch at our favorite Mexican place for the same price as 1 blaster of the stuff. Turns out, I was right and the Tacos Tijuana I ordered were just amazing. Carne Asada, good stuff.

Here are the modest 5 cards in the $2.99 retail pack of '09 UD Artifacts I bought.

#4 Adam Dunn

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.

#37 Dan Uggla (red variation)

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.

#193 "Voyager 2 Records Neptune" Historical Moments

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I think Heritage does enough for the card collecting public in the areas of History and Nostalgia. Dumb card, and apparently worth $0.60 according to the price of the pack. I could have a soda at work tomorrow for that price. Instead I'm stuck with a "baseball" card of a satellite.

#904 UD 20th Anniversary Retrospective "Dallas Cowboys"

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.

The fifth card was #20 Rich Harden, but he plays for the team that shall not be named nor pictured in this blog.

All in all, I'd say this 5-card offering from Upper Deck Artifacts was quite weak, but it's just a small cross section of the set that I'm not afforded enough of an experience to come up with an offical decision. I like the cards, The look is very regal and official, and forced me to order the Ryan Braun card on eBay already. I like this set a lot, just bummed about the pack I came away with. That $2.99 could have paid for the 3 beers I had today while watching the Brewers lose to the Astros - the 3 beers that helped me come even closer to trading Rickie Weeks myself, saving the Brewers organization the embarassment of having wasted so many years on a horrible second baseman.

Dental Hot Dam(n)!

2009-04-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

I of course am referring to our resident dental expert, Motherscratcher from Achiever Card Blog. I am also making a reference to the movie "Knocked Up", when Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl (mmmm) are talking about how she could have become pregnant...hilarious. Anyways, I'll try to keep this at least PG-13. If you don't know what I'm talking about, ask your parents.

Motherscratcher and myself have a bit of a love-hate relationship. I love Craig Counsell, and he hates all things Counsell. He is absolutely justified in his feelings - however misdirected they may be. I told him to hate Edgar Renteria instead, Counsell was merely the winning run, not the walk-off hitter. Oh well. So you see, it's love hate.

I recently read his post that addressed why one should post an "appreciation" write-up immediately after receiving a brick of cards from someone, not a couple months later. I chose the later, posting this nearly 2 months after receiving his cards. See man, I do appreciate it! Thanks again Motherscratcher, D.D.S. - man, that's a great title for an early 90's sitcom. Screw NPH, I want Kramer!

Ryan Braun, 2008 UD Heroes #97 (307/399)

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!

'98 Score Select #22 Robin Yount, #42 Paul Molitor

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.

1983 Topps #424 Jerry Augustine

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.

1992 Topps Stadium Club #502 Jim Gantner

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.

Ernie Riles (1988 Fleer #172, 1988 Donruss #478)

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.

Ned Yost (2006 Upper Deck #1113, 1982 Topps #542)

He even looked like a douchebag in 1982.

1993 Upper Deck Teammates #43 - Paul Molitor, Pat Listach, Robin Yount

Ah, yes. Brew Crew. This card will always be one of my all-time favorite Brewers cards. It is the old guard, and what was at one time the promising new guard - in Pat Listach. He won the '92 AL Rookie of the Year, but only played for 6 seasons in baseball. Last year he managed AAA-Iowa for the f*ckin baby bears organization, but I am pleased to say that this year he is the third base coach for the Washington Nationals. Hells ya, welcome back Pat.

Check out the folks at the game who are forever immortalized in cardboard...

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.

Almost a No-No for Bush

2009-04-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

I didn't plan on doing back-to-back Dave Bush posts, but things just kinda worked out that way.

Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the 8th inning today as the Brewers battled the Phillies during their rubber match in Philly. With one out, pinch-hitting Matt Stairs (a former Brewer) saw a 3-1 pitch that he liked, and the rest is history. Solo shot.

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.

This was the second time Dave Bush had taken a no-hitter into the 8th inning. The last time was June 19th of last season against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The hit that broke up that no-no came off the bat of Lyle Overbay. Another former Brewer. Talk about no love for your former mates.

TTM Dave Bush

2009-04-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

As of late, I find myself being reminded by fellow bloggers (Motherscratcher, and Patricia & Lucy) that the season is young. Some players just have slow starts, that's all. Perhaps these souls are correct, and things will turn around for the Brew Crew. A 4-9 start isn't what I had in mind, but then again, how a season starts most often has no bearing on how it will finish. At this point in the season in 1987, Milwaukee had just been handed it's first loss. Their record on Earth Day that year was 13-1. Two weeks later, they would begin a streak of 12 straight losses. They failed to make the playoffs that year.

Words of encouragement seem to mean a lot more coming from a Cleveland Indians fan, for surely they would know about patience and such. I know of a dentist in Ohio who must be the most patient of baseball fans.

As bad as the Brewers are playing right now, one thing hasn't changed about my outlook on the game: the cards. In fact, even though Milwaukee can't pitch their way out of a wet paper bag, new cards continue to come out, which means more Ryan Braun cards for me to get my hands on. And this I like.

I also like it when CURRENT PLAYERS send back the cards I sent them at the beginning of Spring Training. Today's TTM auto is from Brewers pitcher Dave Bush, whose slow start this season just means that he's wearing a Brewers uniform. Bushy has been Milwaukee's most consistent pitcher over the last 3 seasons, averaging 12 wins per. Of course these stats should mean very little to someone whose team doesn't call the smallest media market in all of baseball home, but to a Brewers fan this means a lot.

Now, if only I had sent a note with the letter I DID send with the card, reminding Bushy to allow the ink to dry before placing the card back in the sleeve. Dammit.

Go Crew.

****ing Amateurs...

2009-04-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight the pain hurts...too much. I was looking forward to tonight's Brewers v. Phillies game for a few reasons. First of all, the wife and I went camping this past weekend up in Olympic National Forest, and missed all but 3 innings of the Brewers/Mets series. Second of all, 4 days (during the season) without baseball is too much for me to handle. Also, the wife worked during the day today, so our joint trip to the gym was split up into two trips, and her gym fun is right now (during the current Brewers cluster**** that is game 1 vs. Philadelphia)...which means nothing but me, the Brew Crew, and a couple cold ones...

...however, thanks to the Phillies' INSANE lineup (who was Pat Burrell?) and Milwaukee's inability to field a pitcher who can actually perform his duties, the Phil's lead is 11-3 in the 7th inning. We're losing to a guy who is 45 years old. We have brought in our backup catcher. Our second baseman tonight is a current Cubs' castoff. Our shortstop is batting around .100 . Man, this is not fun.

This, however, is the only ray of sunshine on this rainy night in Philly...

Cards from GCRL...Round 1

2009-04-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago (geez, i'm getting lazy) Jim over at gcrl was kind enough to send me a shit load of cards. And they were the best kind of cards as well - the free ones! Sometimes I'll feel like a mooch when it comes to others' generous gifts of bricks and bricks of cards - but just as a Cubs card (or hundreds of them) has no place of welcome in my home, I'm sure others are just as easily separated from their Brewers cards.

I cannot possibly thank Jim enough for all the cards he sent. And it's not as if he threw in three different '92 Fleer brewers team sets just because he had the duplicates. Out of all the cards he sent, the only dupes were 3 of the same Dan Plesac card. And so to give him the proper thanks and credit for this most magnanimous gift, I'll have to do at least 3 posts to share all the highlights. Here we go with Round 1 ...

1979 Topps #577 Brewers Checklist

I have always liked the team photo. Maybe it was the old Packer's team photo/wooden plaque I remember seeing at the American Legion as a kid during the friday fish frys that sealed the deal for me, guess you just can't go wrong with them. This one has some fresh faces in it, too -

A young Robin Yount, sans handlebars of course. Too early to bust those out just yet.

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.

Jeff Cirillo - 1999 UD Encore #50, 1999 Fleer Ultra #143

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".

So back to the Cirillo cards. The first one is probably my favorite card of all the ones in the box. It says it all, doesn't it? At least everything from a Brewers fan anywhere in between 1983 and 2007. Caption? Hmm..."Crew let another one go". "Bullpen hands game over again". "Cirillo's bat not enough in Milwaukee". Same old story, year after year. Cirillo looks like it's all finally hitting him - that perhaps his career might just die here. The frustration, the doubt, the sadness. Captured forever in a photograph.

The second card is a great shot - certainly one that could give the inaugural effort from Stadium Club's "high definition photography" a run for its money. You can see the dirt in mid-air, falling away from his arm as he brushes off after a successful run and slide into second base - or, judging from the look on his face - an unsuccessful stolen base attempt. Hang in there, Jeff - the Brewers will never be good during you're stay in Milwaukee. Sorry bro.

Marquis Grissom ('00 Stadium Club #149), Charlie Hayes ('01 Pacific #230)

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.

Charlie Hayes was a late-spring free agent signing in 2000, a season which brought in future Brewers "slugger" Richie Sexson from the Tribe as well. Hayes split time between 1B and 3B that year, batting just over .250 for the season. At the end of the summer, he was released and signed w/ Houston in 2001 to play his final 1/2 season in the game. This beautiful shot of Charlie shows his proud belly, the sole reason my father liked him as a ballplayer - he was the Brewers' everyman of 2001.

B.J. Surhoff Rookie Cards - '87 Fleer #U-115, '87 Donruss #28

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.

Bill Hall RC ('02 Studio #121), Carlos Villanueva ('08 Topps Update #UH38)

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.

CV is off to a rough start so far during the 2009 campaign, but that can be said of nearly everyone on the team. Maybe they are still hungover from all the Miller Lite that was consumed during the post-game festivities following the September 28, 2008 game last season. If you've seen any of the locker room photographs, I'm sure you'd agree with me. Here's my favorite:

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.

Geoff Jenkings (2000 Bowman Chrome #138)

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.

1999 Skybox Thunder (Jeff Cirillo and Rafael Roque)

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.

Corey Hart (2008 Upper Deck X #58), J.J. Hardy (2006 Topps Heritage #87)

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.

It's Been a Week...

2009-04-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

Back from the brief yet celebratory hiatus from the world of blogosphere. Easter has come and gone, along with it my Mother (visiting my wife and I for the first time) and the 13+ hours spent at church during the Easter weekend. Ah, the joys of being Catholic.

Maybe I'm been avoiding this world of blogging, too. Yep. I'm pretty sure I have. You see, I heavily associate my blog with baseball. Rightly so, I think - I write mostly about cards, the Brewers, and the occasional rock-throwing session down at the lanes (which reminds me, this Dude threw a 179 on Saturday, a personal best!). Which also reminds me of something I thought of while researching my TBL card fest entries...The Dude is never shown actually bowling during the entire movie. Sure, when he is revealing the Walter and Donnie the atrocities brought upon him by the rug pissers, he is standing someone close to the ball return, and throughout the movie he is shown carrying a bag which I assume contains a bowling ball, I don't recall him physically hurling one down the lane. Perhaps this has been a well known fact about the movie, and I just never took notice. I tend to do that at times. I just found out yesterday my wife has brown hair.

Anyhow, back to baseball and my avoidance of the blog. I have come to a realization recently, and last night's disgustingly pitiful 6-1 Brewers loss at the hands of the Cincy Reds have only cemented this feeling in my heart: the Brewers aren't nearly as good as I thought they were. I am quite sure a lot of you have been saying this, or thinking this, over the past offseason. Here is how I have come to said conclusion.

We made the playoffs last year largely due to the efforts of a one CC Sabathia. In half a season he garnered just 2 less wins than the team leader, Ben Sheets - who pitched nearly the whole season.
The offseason tends to become a pair of "beer goggles", and the more beer you have (the longer the winter goes on) the better she (the team) looks. And that's a no dog shitter.
I thought Yovani Gallardo was going to dominate now that he's healthy. Wrong. Two outings, 11.2 innings pitched, 9 earned runs, 6 walks, 2 HRs. ERA: 6.94
Jeff Suppan is still bad. The Brewers call it "aiming" pitches, I call it going to Italian Chef culinary school in the offseason: serves up nothing but meatballs, now.
Prince Fielder still can't hit with men on base. Empty bases? He'll hit 50 homers again.
Our shortstop and catcher have a combined .251 average. Combined.
Our most consistent pitcher over the past 3 years (12 wins/year)? Dave Bush. FML.

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.

Holy Week...Holy Cards!!...Opening Day (v2.0)

2009-04-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, today is Tuesday in what the Christian world refers to as "Holy Week" - the week-long period of time from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday. As Christians we're called to be especially meditative this week, spending more time in prayer and contemplation over what historically occurred "this week" nearly 2,000 years ago - chiefly, the suffering and death of Jesus. I know, I know - "Get down from the pulpit, Dubbs!"; or, "Dammit! Here goes another crazy Jesus freak talkin about some crap I don't care about. Who does he think he is? What with baseball season just opening, so many spring goings on, and this guy wants to talk about Church? Bosh!"

Well, I share this in hopes that most (if not both) of the readers of this blog understand it's rather "thin" showing as of late. It's just that time of year for me, and this year especially brings with it an added challenge and joy. My wife is converting to Catholicism, and at Easter Vigil Mass (the rather lengthy one the night before Easter) she'll be confirmed. To mark and celebrate the occasion, my mother is flying out here from Wisconsin to Seattle to share the moment, as it were - and to share bathroom for a week as well. And the sofa. And the computer. I am quite sure though, that my Paul Molitor binder is in order, many additions to said binder since my mother last visited. And she is a huge Paul Molitor fan. Well, the Milwaukee years, anyhow. I think she still does does that Italian "spit" thing whenever you mention the Blue Jays. I tried explaining to her that the Brewers pretty much let him walk, that it wasn't Toronto's fault. Oh well.

So her flight arrives in just over 6 hours, and I find myself wide awake at 2:30am. On a week - wait, what day is this? Anyhow, in cleaning up the house for the upcoming visit, I was forced to sit down and catalogue a couple of recent trades that my way came, namely from nightowlcards at present, and a couple others who, in hopes that should I not mention their names, perhaps will permit me to postpone yet even more appreciation posts for the time being, shall remain nameless.

It's in this light that I share some cards with you that the gracious and, perhaps, "time-to-kill" friendly neighborhood late-night card junkie over at Night Owl Cards. A while ago, his wife had tipped him off to some bags of old baseball cards at the dollar store - his booty was about 10 bags of early to mid 80's fleer cards, some basketball, like, and such as. I sent him a check for 10 bags of my own, and some change to cover shipping (which I'm sure he foot the bill for, and so the Dodger pile has already started growing again) and a few weeks later in two installments, I myself became the proud owner of roughly 450 or so early and mid 80's fleer, some pesky '91 Nolan Ryan pacific cards, as well as some carefully inserted hoops cards from the era when white guys could jump. Here are some of the highlights from the lot.

1985 Fleer #588 Paul Molitor
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.

1985 Topps Glossy All-Star #5 Robin Yount
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.

Cecil Cooper - 1983, 1984, 1985 Fleer
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.

1983 Fleer #48 Gorman Thomas
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.

1985 Fleer #28 Bobby Brown, #16 Aurelio Lopez
Yes, THE Bobby Brown. Not of Whitney and Bobby fame, though, but of San Diego Padres fame.

As for the Lopez card. Here's how I approached this one. Imagine yourself staring through the glass at a police lineup of say, 10 people. I ask you to pick out the one who is NOT a baseball player. I don't care if there are 10, or 5, hell even 2 guys standing in the lineup. Aurelio is the one you're going to pick every time. What about this guy says baseball to you?

1983 Fleer #566 Bucky Dent, #544 Brian Giles
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.

1985 Fleer #70 Steve Trout, #44 Eric Show
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 know you've heard of the Randy Johnson Marlboro card, but what about the Eric Show Marlboro card? Now you have!

1991 Pacific Nolan Ryan #200 "Don't Mess With Texas"
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.

Hope you enjoyed these cards, I sure did. It's always nice to dive into the early 80's cards, and for me, it was fun. I never had any of these older fleer cards when I was a kid, it was strictly Topps and Donruss for us (and the occasional Score pack). So thanks to our late night friend in New York for these great cards, and for going through the trouble of picking them up and shipping them out to me.

Last but not least, Opening Day. Or Opening Day Part Two. Before yesteday's PPD games in Chicago and Boston, my Brewers' opening day game in San Francisco was to be the only game (except for Sunday's Braves/Phils game) NOT to be played on Opening Day. WTF? I looked into it a little bit. Aparently, the fine folks in San Fran wanted to play the game not on the league-scheduled day (Monday), but on Tuesday, to allow for the Giants to play one more exhibition game at AT&T before the season started. So, the Brewers and Giants waste a beautiful, sunny Monday afternoon. Today's San Francisco weather forecast instead? Rain. You know folks, the league schedules Monday as opening day to create a built-in makeup day. Tuesday. Just in case of rain or cold. So way to go, guys at the league office. Forcing the Brewers to work out for two days, after a 36-game spring, just to stay busy before the opener. Then it's 3 games against the Giants, a 3am flight back to Milwaukee (5am CDT) for a Friday night home opener in Milwaukee. I hope we destroy the crap outta Lincecum today. Opening Day!

That's about it for me, folks. I should be back after Easter some time, so see you in a week! Go Crew, and welcome back baseball!

Chicken Runs at Midnight

2009-04-03T08:10:00.001-07:00

I first heard the story of "Chicken Runs at Midnight" from two folks at Church one night. My wife and I go to a class on Thursday nights at church, and one week I wore my "Brewers" batting practice jacket - I think it must have been around the start of Spring Training. One older couple in the room said "Milwaukee, huh? Well, we lived in Arizona for a time and became fans of the Diamondbacks, and especially of Craig Counsell". I said "Sure, I love Craigers. He plays for the Brew Crew now, what a great ballplayer". The older woman asked me "So, have you heard the story of him, and 'Chicken Runs at Midnight?'"

No sooner had we arrived at home after class that night was I online looking up the story. Here's the best account I can find of it. Go ahead and read it, then come back. You'll thank me.

This is only the second "current-Brewer" card to come back from Spring Training this year - the first one being pitcher Manny Parra. I love this card, probably my favorite of all the '09 Topps base set Brewers cards - Mike Cameron's card is pretty cool, too. Not the "Braun" card though...quite possibly, the laziest card in baseball. Anyways, the Brewers broke camp yesterday, playing their final home game before two more road games against the Dodgers. Then it's off to San Francisco for the season opener next Wednesday.

Most of the ballplayers sign all the TTM autograph requests sent to them at once, and at the very end of Spring Training. The coaches usually send them back to you a bit earlier in the Spring. I haven't heard anything back from the Brewers' minor league camp, though, including AAA and AA guys who worked out w/ the big league club this spring but actually have 2009 baseball cards.

So Craig Counsell - I think of him, and I think of clutch hitting. Not necessarily Manny or Big Papi power clutch hitting, but a guy who can get the nod from the manager in the bottom of the ninth, take the plate with the bases juiced and 2 outs, and plate a run or two. This year, he's abandoned his trademark "hands so high in the air holding the bat" batting stance. His batting average this spring, as a result, has gone up. He will be playing, however, with some pain in his knee, as he recently turned down the option for surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. Here's hoping he stays healthy, and can be the go-to guy for 3B or SS backup once again this season.

That's Some Kinda Hilarious...and some Wiki-fun

2009-04-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

My workday yesterday was (to say the least) not as productive as it could have been, and I have the MLB Network to blame. I discovered shortly after reporting to work yesterday morning that the Brewers game was going to be broadcast live on the Network, for only the second time this spring. After work, gym, dinner, and some blog reading, I turned on the TV only to discover that I would not be watching and listening to my familiar FSN Wisconsin personalities, Brian Andersen and Bill "Rock" Schroeder, but the less familiar SD4 Padres broadcasters.

After the first half inning, though, I got over my initial frustration. The color commentator was hilarious! Perhaps it was his random movie quoting (which he does ALL THE TIME), or more specifically, the fact that he quoted Caddyshack. "There's no gambling at Bushwood, sir!" was his cry between outs in one of the innings of the 6-5 Padres victory. Are you serious??? Who quotes that movie but me and the guys at work?!?!

The man's name is Mark "Mud" Grant, and if you've never heard a Padres tv broadcast, you are certainly missing out on one of the greatest voices - and greatest personalities - in the business. He doesn't have the experience, or years in the game, as say Bob Uecker, and so his stories don't span hearly 50 years of professional baseball, but this guy is pretty damn funny.

Brewers starter Braden Looper left a slider a bit too high in one at bat, and it was absolutely crushed over the left field fence by the Padres' Brian Giles. On the replay, Grant exclaimed "You hangie, we bangie!" And bangie Giles did. Looper was absolutely attacked last night, giving up 7 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), and 2 HRs over 4 innings. They sure had his number last night.

But anyways, back to this Mark Grant guy. I remember him as a player when I was a kid, I know for a fact that I used to have some of his baseball cards. I'll have to find some more, and send them off for some TTM lovin this season. His major league career wasn't anything to write home about, but a good pitcher none the less. He played for 7 different teams over 10 seasons, but never found a permanent home. After a break from baseball to do some broadcasting, he pitched for the Cubs AAA Iowa team, and even found a home in China during the '96 season when he pitched for the Uni-President Lions.

Interestingly enough (or if you're me, very interesting) our Wikipedia trail takes us to that CPBL team, the Uni-President Lions, who last year changed their name to the "Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions". I shit you not. Apparently the Uni-President Corporation owns 7-Eleven in Taiwan, and this helps with advertising I suppose. For all the 3,000 fans that attend the games, on average. Nice away uniforms, right?

In following the rabbit even further down the Wiki-hole, I discovered that this 4-team (once 9-team) professional baseball league in Taiwan was hurt in 1997 by what has become known as the "Black Eagle Scandal". Ooooooooooh, sounds scary! Well, I guess it all came down to game-fixing, "Black-Sox" style. It all started in 1996, during the "August 3rd Incident", when a number of Brother Elephant players (CPBL team from Taipei) were held at gunpoint at their hotel, threatened with death if they did not cooperate with some gang members in a game-fixing gambling scheme. The following year, investigations were conducted and all but 2 players from the China Times Eagles ballclub were kicked out of baseball over game-fixing. The other teams in the league were forced to lend players to the Eagles in order to finish out the season. During the next two years, two other franchises were involved, players expelled, and attendance dropped so drastically the two franchises were forced to shut down.

Several more game-fixing scandals have occurred since then, including one in 2008, known as the "Dmedia Incident". Members of the Dmedia T-Rex were prosecuted for game-fixing, including the GM, team spokesman, coaches, and three players. The team was expelled from the league. One of the players involved was Cory Bailey, whose charges were dropped after he paid back the money he was given to "throw" the games. Cory Bailey, hmm...this wiki-rabbit hole keeps going...

Cory Bailey (shown here in his 1994 Topps card) pitched for a few years in the majors. During a spring training game in 1993 he came out of the bullpen in relief, and combined with Frank Viola to pich a no-hitter against the Phillies. He pitched in 172 MLB games, went 9-10 with a 3.96 ERA. In 2007 he pitched with AAA Iowa (finally, the wiki-trail comes full circle. Mark Grant pitched for the Iowa Cubs, too!) and moved over to Japan, and later China for the '08 season. This is when he was involved w/ the rest of the DMedia T-rex team. After returning the money he made from being paid off, he was banned for life from playing in Taiwan's CPBL.

So there we go - the "six degrees" if you will of Mark Grant, completed in 2 turns. I guess baseball is a small world, though.

Trade with Johnny

2009-03-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

As promised, I am finally getting caught up with the recent trades I've received - and generous ones, to say the least. What the cards lack in monetary value, they more than make up for in sentimental value - not to mention, quantity! I have 4 bricks of cards that need to be addressed.

Today I give you the cards I got from Johnny in Kentucky. As far as I know, he doesn't have a card blog of his own, but did stumble across mine at some point in time and needed to unload not only some Brewers cards, but some cards from my '87 Topps set wantlist. In fact, he graciously imparted upon me 189 of his '87 Topps doubles, singlehandedly putting me quite near completion on that set.

The Brewers cards he sent, though, take the cake. I now have all the '86 Topps team, as well as the rest of the '82 Fleer team sets. He sent some '85 Topps too, and I'll share with you the highlights of his generousity.

Robin Yount - '82 Fleer (#155), '85 Topps (#340) and '86 Topps (#780)

It's a well-known fact that Yount is my favorite Milwaukee player ever, and though I have these cards already they will always be worth sharing with others who may not look at them nearly as often as I do. The '82 Fleer is great, what the long flowing locks, and powder blue clothing. Look at his arms, though. Seriously, take a look! Though he'd never gain weight over his career (as we like to say in Wisconsin, "Prince oneself up") he never was as muscular as when he was a young player, here shown in already his 8th season in the bigs. I like the card design, too. Very simple, giving all the credit of the card (deserving or not) to the photo of the player. Honestly, the photos in this set aren't very good, but the simplicity I think is why I like them.

I love the '85 Topps set - but it can kiss my butt, only because they are more or less the first year (going back) where collecting a set starts to get expensive. Up until that set (including the preceeding '86) it's very easy to finance your own hand-collated set, or buy up loose lots on th'bay (to steal a phrase from a fellow blogger, you know, in the parlence of our times). After I finish the 5 or 6 sets I'm currently building, I will devote all of my time (and card funds) to said project. They will be mine - oh yes, they will be mine.

1982 Fleer Jamie Easterly (#139), Rickey Keeton (#146), and Jim Slaton (#153)

I think I've paid the '82 Fleer set its dues, so I'll focus on something even more important - how ugly the ballplayers used to be. And in particular, the change from players of that era to the players of today. This is especially evident when it comes to pitchers, which is why I chose these three cards to talk about. Look at them. Lean and trim, certainly. Huge bodies of muscle, perhaps. But handsome? I'm not sure that's a word that I'd use to describe these three men.

I guess it's the age we're in now, pop culture being what it is, and a baseball player becoming more than a player, becoming a pop icon or (unfortunately, in the case of current Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy and my wife) a sex symbol. Back then, it wasn't like that. They let their hair down (all of it), grew copious amounts of facial hair, and didn't care that nobody in human history has, does, or ever will look good in a Mizuno warmup jacket. Maybe I'm just jealous because I haven't had any hair to speak of in a few years now, but wouldn't that get hot in the late August day games, all that hair? Geez. And the poly uniforms that don't breath. Nice marmot, Jim.

1986 Topps Rick Waits (#614), '85 Topps Tom Tellman (#112), '86 Topps Pete Ladd (#163)

Here we have another three men who have more hair than they know what to do with. Especially Pete Ladd, whose story is a dandy. Here shown without his beard, the beard is most likely where he derived much of the power that, in 1982, led him to a second-place finish in the ALCS MVP voting. In '83 he saved 25 games for the Crew as he replaced the injured Rollie Fingers. In '84 he didn't fare as well, building up a 5.24 ERA, and in '85 he split time between Milwaukee and AAA. 1986 found him as a member of the Seattle Mariners, and that's it. A relatively short career, for the big guy. Still, a very powerful pitcher in his day.

The same goes for Tom Tellmann, who had an even shorter career. After pitching two years hin San Diego between '79-'80, he played in Milwaukee from '83-84 and performed as a great middle releiver, posting ERAs of 2.80 and 2.78. For some reason he was sent to Oakland the following hear, appeared in only 11 games. He posted a 5.06 ERA that summer in 11 appearances, maybe he was sent down from there and decided to part ways with baseball. Don't know, sorry. Limited info on him available on the interwebs.

Charlie Moore, 1982 Fleer (#150), 1986 Topps Brewers Leaders (#426)

Before Robin Yount was known as the workhorse of the organization, it was Mr. Charlie Moore. From 1973 to 1986 he played in 1,283 games for the Brewers, serving as catcher as well as a utility OF player and sometime DH - that's right, we used to be in the American League. Stupid sallies and their DH. The key to his longevity as a major league ballplayer? The hair.

Charlie Moore's best stat, by far, was his performance on October 1st, 1980, when he became only the second player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. Not only did he hit for the cycle, but he did so while batting ninth in the lineup. It would be another 8 years until a Brewers player hit for the cycle again, and that would be a one Robin Yount.

1985 Topps Don Sutton (#10), 1982 Fleer Marshall Edwards (#140)

I don't think too many people see Don Sutton as a pitcher for the Brewers, but he did play in Milwaukee for just over 2 seasons, acquired from the Astros late in the '82 campaign as we were preparing for a post season run, and through the '83 and '84 seasons. In fact, Sutton's pitching in the final game of the '82 season (8 IP, 2 ER) sealed a victory over the Orioles and a division title for Milwaukee.

This card is great because it ties into my last post, "On Baseball and History", in which I mentioned the inaugural Hall of Fame class member Walter Johnson. In 1984, Don sutton became only the second player to pass Johnson's mark of consecutive 100-strikeout seasons, at 19.

And finally, I give you Marshall Edwards who, bearing a striking resemblance to current Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks, puts in his bid for admittance to the Subhelmet Hat Alliance.

Thanks again to Johnny from Kentucky for these awesome, classic Brewers cards. They now occupy a cozy place in my Brewers collection, many of them needed to complete a couple team sets. Thanks again!

On Baseball and History

2009-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

Being the offseason fanatics that we are, my wife and I have been delving into the nostalgic realm of Ken Burns' rather lengthy and thorough documentary "Baseball", which came out about 15 years ago on PBS. Devoting nearly 2 hours to each decade of the game, from the 1860's until modern-day play, it comments on the heroes, villains, changes, and impact of the game upon the people, and nation as a whole, throughout its history. If you haven't seen it, or parts of it, do give it a try. It puts FSN's "Baseball's Golden Age" to shame, just blows it out of the water.

During the first episode they talk about how A.G. Spalding went from being a pitcher, to club owner, to sporting goods magnate over the course of a decade and a half, and about the "Spalding's Guide to Baseball" that young boys and old men alike would read religiously during the formative years of the game. The 1895 edition of this publication was of special note, and I did a little digging and easily found it, in unabridged digital format thanks to Project Gutenberg, for my own reading.

To say the least, the entire human thought process was different in the late 19th century. Outlook on life, man's relation to fellow man, the love of language, and exhibiting professionalism in all aspects of one's life, set them apart from the relative cretins that prowl the earth today. This is transparently evident in the 1895 Spalding Guide to Baseball, and I wanted to share a few passages - for not only their writing, but their subject - are something that we just don't have anymore. The game was very different, and very dynamic during its early years, and although the "problems" don't translate to today's game, I'm sure you can appreciate the passages.

Some years ago, the swiftpitching--which had then about reached the highest point of speed--proved to be so costly in its wear and fear upon the catchers that clubs had to engage a corps of reserve catchers, in order to go through a season's campaign with any degree of success.

They go on to describe how the new invention of a catcher's "mitt" would help in limiting the "wear and tear" on the hands of the catchers. There was a pitcher by the name of Walter Johnson who pitched for the Washington Senators/Nationals, won 417 games from 1907-1927, and had it not been for the team's perrenial offensive struggles, most likely would have been a 30 game winner every year - for 20 years. So apparently this guy pitched faster than anyone else in history - literally, the only person who could hit the guy was Ty Cobb. His all-time strikeout record stood until 1983, when Nolan Ryan passed him. Anyhow, once an umpire as asked how he called balls and strikes for a guy nobody could see. The umpire said that it didn't bother him if the batters argued the calls (which didn't happen), because both he AND the batters had their eyes closed when Johnson was on the mound.

Then again they were told that "another very effective point instrategic pitching, is a thoroughly disguised change of pace indelivery.

Ah, yes. Enter the changeup. In a game dominated by tempers more than skill, the changeup was something a pitcher would be wise to add to his repertoire, were he a man wrought with enough temperance. But don't get too hasty, pitchers with a cool wit...

This is difficult of attainment, and as a general rule it canonly be played with effect on the careless class of batsmen.

Not all the batsmen you will face are subject to the trickery the changeup affords a hurler. Oh no, only those of the careless class.

But hitting, too, plays a large in a teams' ability to win more than they lose. Let's see what the folks at Spalding, and the National League office, say about the offensive side of things.

In fact, competent managers and captains of teams have learned in recent years, by costly experiment, that one of the most potent factors in winning pennants is the method of handling the ash known as good team-work at the bat - the very essence of which is devoting all the batsmen's efforts to forwarding runners by base hits, and not by each player's going to the bat simply to build up a high record of base hits without regard to forwarding runners on bases.

I guess small ball played a large role in the days of old, as it does today. Of course, it took these men to do the dirty work of "costly experimenting" for us, that we may reap the benefits of their labors. For surely, had they not found the most potent of ways to handle the ash, who knows how many decades would have passed before a team discovered small ball, or more precisely, was able to plate more runners than they put on base? They go on to caution against this...

Time and again were batsmen, last season, left on third base after opening the innings with a three-bagger, owing to the stupid work of the succeeding batsmen in trying to "line 'em out for a homer," instead of doing real team-work at the bat.

Remember kids, it's all about real team-work at the bat. Of course, different approaches were taken to the game back then, as things were still up in the air. Different schools of baseball thought were in play during the sport's childhood years, as we see here -

A great deal of bosh has been written--mostly by the admirers of "fungo"hitting--about sacrifice hitting being something that should not be in the game, just as these fungo-hitting-advocates try to write down"bunt hitting" the most difficult place hit known to the game.

The graceful art of bunt hitting was the brainchild of those who would write bosh of "sacrifice hitters", clearly. Who would write such bosh? Clearly, as a later example points out, the pennant-winning team in years past was most often the team who used more team work at the bat, vice the team who dealt mostly in homeruns, who would often find themselves near the bottom of the league standings.

Baserunning, too, plays a vital role in a team's success - as pointed out in the guide.

Any soft-brained heavy-weight can occasionally hit a ball for a home run, but it requires a shrewd, intelligent player, with his wits about him, to make a successful base runner.

Keep that in mind, all you soft-brained heavy-weights. Just you keep that in mind! So, who would make a good baserunner? What qualities would this man among boys have?

Presence of mind, prompt action on the spur of the moment;quickness of perception, and coolness and nerve are among the requisites of a successful base runner.

Good to know, eh? Ricky Hendersen surely was quick of perception, and cool of nerve, wasn't he? I think he was pretty fast, too. "Fleet of foot" as the saying goes. Speaking of which, what the hell is "footspeed"? Can anyone tell me that? How is that different from good old fashioned "speed"? Why do sports commentators feel the need to modify the term, or, perhaps designate it as it's own category? Just a question.

Back to this "catcher's mitt" you speak of. So, how has this affected the game? Well, fielding percentages, for one, have gone up. Thus batting averages have gone down, albeit marginally.

One reason for this was the introduction of the catcher's "big mitt" in the infield work--something that should not have been allowed. It was due to this fact that the batting scores were not larger the past season than they were in 1893, the big mitt on the hands of infielders enabling them to stop hard hit "bounders" and "daisy cutters" which, but for the use of the mitts, would have been clean earned base hits.

Yes, those daisy cutters surely had met their doom upon the introduction of the catcher's mitt, what with it's width and bredth and overall what have you.

My favorite part of the guide has to be it's dealing with "The Umpiring of 1894". Something we perhaps take for granted today, was more of a luxury back then. And by that I mean, safe, unbiased, and worry-free umpiring. Take a look.

There was one instance shown of the folly of condoning the offence of drinking, which should not have been allowed; a drunken umpire is worse than a drunken player, for no one will respect his decisions.

Surely, truer words have never been spoken. I don't trust a drunken police officer any more than I trust a drunken driver. Nor should you.

Also required of an umpire should be the quality of good character - so no one attached to prize-fighting should be allowed an umpiring position.

When it becomes anecessity to have to engage pugilists as umpires to control hoodlumplayers, then will professional ball playing cease to be worthy ofpublic patronage.

Baseball, during it's early ears, was exceptionally violent in nature. Players on the field, as well as unruly fans, not to mention players fighting with those unruly fans. Just ugly, really. Nothing like Pedro Martinez vs. Don Zimmer, but still pretty bad.

Being an umpire in late 19th century baseball was a dangerous gig, one I'm not too sure I'd volunteer for.

...from the time the umpire takes up his position behind the bat, from the beginning to the end of a game, he finds both the contesting teams regarding him as a common enemy, the losing side invariably blaming him as the primary cause of their losing the game.

Even today we aren't best friends with the umps, but he's no enemy. Nor, on the majority of ball game results today, would we find the Umpire as the reason for one team's winning or losing the game. I guess they really hated the man in the mask - a mask, might I add, the Umpires loudly called for to protect themselves, as it was not originally part of the man's uniform. But who else would wish the umpire harm?

Then, too, in addition to the contesting teams as his foes, there are the majority of the crowd of spectators to be added to the list, the rougher element of the assemblage, the latter of whom regard the umpire as an especial target for abuse in every instance in which the home team is defeated.

So you're telling me that the ump would get booed in New York if the Sox won the game? Well, maybe we've lost something in baseball, but surely this is not only a fan's right, but a fan's obligation? To boo and heckle the man behind the plate? Today, sure. But not back then. I wouldn't trust any of my loved ones in the company of the unruly mob lovingly referred to back then as "fans".

Any more enemies of the umpire?

Last on the list of the umpire's opponents are the betting class of reporters, who take delight in pitching into him whenever his decisions--no matter how impartially he acts--go against their pet club or the one they bet on.

Remember, this was back when there was no small brick wall topped by a 50-foot screen seperating the press and fans from homeplate and it's inhabitants. Reports were usually no more than 20 feet behind or to the side of the batsman, catcher, and umpire. And cursing them, spitting on them, and threatening them the whole time.

Come on now, folks. Let's give them a little slack. After all, it's a tough job calling games! Show a little sympathy, eh?

[they] never give a moment's thought to the ifficulties of the position he occupies, or to the arduous nature of he work he is called upon to perform. There he stands, close behind the atcher and batsman, where he is required to judge whether the wiftly-thrown ball from the pitcher, with its erratic "curves and shoots," darts in over the home base, or within the legal range of thebat.

Calling all bleeding-heart baseball spectators. Have a heart, would ya? It's a tough job, and somebody has to do it.

The startling fact is never considered that several umpires have been killed outright while occupying this dangerous position.

I ask again: surely, isn't there some other job you'd rather have? Shipright? Blacksmith? Farmer? Honestly, you don't have a trade? I even hear that the guy selling score cards at the ball game makes it home safely to his wife and kids.

In fact, the umpire stands there as he one defenseless man against thousands of pitiless foes. The wonderis that half the umpires in the arena are as successful in the discharge f their arduous duties as they are, and the still greater wonder isthat any self-respecting man can be induced to occupy a position whichis becoming year after year more objectionable.

Thank you! Even the league magnates understand this. What kind of man would be an umpire? Perhaps a criminal. Or perhaps a modern-day Cubs fan - they are used to self-inflicted pain and humiliation.

The Big Lebowski Set...last one for a while, I promise

2009-03-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have a fever...and the only prescription, is more PAINT!

2009 Topps Heritage Black Mayo #15 Tony the Limo Driver

Ironic as life is, the guy who played Tony the Limo Driver (Dom Irrera) was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and later convicted, back in September of last year. The fine law enforcement officers that brought him in? You guessed it...the North Hollywood PD.

So I guess that's two counts of irony...pardon my pun...

The Big Lebowski Set (my 3rd submission, man)

2009-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

These days at work I find myself with a bit more time to waste, and an even bigger bit of time to waste on, as I explain to my coworkers, "Making fake Big Lebowski baseball cards from real baseball cards". "But 'Lebowski' was a movie, what does that have to do with baseball?"

Exactly. Here's round three of my cards.

1988 Topps #01 "Turn Back the Clock" Fawn Knudson

I think I have 20 of the Jim Rice cards like this, but the colors for the Nolan Ryan card were better to use. Here we see Fawn - aka Bunny Lebowski, aka Bunny Lajoya - as a cheerleader in her hometown of Moorehead, MN. Her parents have hired a private investigator to help track her down. She owes money all of over town, apparently...

1990 Topps #02 Malibu Police Chief

The police chief in the quiet beach community of Malibu, CA doesn't want The Dude suckin around or bothering the local citizens. Nor does he want his jerk-off face or behavior around his parts. Jerk off.

2008 Upper Deck Timelines #01 Autobahn Movie-used LP relic

Not only is this relic card of the actual LP from the movie, but it has a little bit of of the label sticker on it too, making it exremely rare. Translated from German to English, the album title means "Nail Bed", or more closely from the Swedish, "Nail Bite". Uli Kunkel's mucical career never really took off.

The Century Mark...and a Blog Bat Around

2009-03-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Today marks an occasion that many have seen come and go, but for me something I didn't acually see myself reaching - this is Cheese & Beer's 100th post! And to mark the occasion, I'm going to throw my hat into the ring for the Fifth Blog Bat Around. This time around, we're asked to share a story about how we came to possess our favorite or most memorable card or piece of memorabilia. And so I give to you, folks - the story of how I came to own a baseball once belonging to Paul Molitor.

In the summer of 1987 I was just a young lad - coming into my own as a baseball fan. Of course, I had some guidance and following in my father's footsteps, I was to become a Milwaukee Brewers fan - like my father, and his father before - wait, before that they were Milwaukee Braves' fans. So I guess that doesn't work so well. Moving on...

So, it was the summer of 1987 and my father took took me to my first baseball game. I still remember the day, thanks to the lone photograph from that event. It's a picture of me with one of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome security bubbas - yep, something about kids and their affinity toward Police Officers and Firemen. I was no different, and so took my picture with him. As I recall (from memory, not from the photo in hand, it's buried in a box somewhere in my parent's basement in Wisconsin) this police officer had quite a substantial mustache - perhaps this is what I saw in the man, after all.

I remember walking up the stairs to the field level, the place was like the Roman Colliseum: pillars, throngs of people, wide open walkways. Here was the place I would urinate, for the first time, in a trough. Imagine that! Now my mind was opened like never before. Miles and miles of "Dome Dog" stands, and walls of neon Miller Lite signs - truly, a paradise, a "garden of eden" if ever there was one. Nothing would prepare me for the sight of the baseball field, though - complete with artificial turf and everything. The huge wide open space was what caught my breath, here the boys of summer made their magic. How truly blessed I was to be a part of that.

We sat about halfway up, on the third base side of the dome. We watched batting practice, and watched the guys play catch. Robin Yount. Jim Gantner. Dale Sveum. And the one and only, Paul Molitor. He was playing catch right down below us, we could read the letters on his uniform, see his stubble we were so close.

And then fate stepped in. With a loud, booming call of his voice, my father yelled "Hey, Paulie!" Immediately Molitor looked up, and saw my father and I waving to him. He reached into his glove, took the ball into his hand, and in one smooth motion sent that artifact toward two fans. My father caught the ball, looked at it, looked back down at the field toward Molitor, and yelled "Thanks! Thanks alot, Paulie!". Never in my life did I hold onto anything as tightly as I did that ball. For 2 1/2 hours, it was as if a growth had developed between my hands the shape of a baseball, complete with threads and all.

I don't remember how the game ended up, who won, how badly they beat the other guys, or how long the drive back home was. I couldn't wait to get home to tell my mom and my brother the events that had transpired that day. The ball would always occupy a place on (or in) my father's dresser - and the story became more and more grand each time it was told. It's quite possible the events that happened that fateful day in 1987 didn't go anything like I just explained. I do know, however, that I have a baseball that Paul Molitor threw to me and my dad.

You've seen the movie "The Sandlot", and how the main character himself met fate - in the form of a huge St. Bernard and a baseball that some old lady had signed for HIS father (father in law, but who's keeping track). Well, we too played games upon games of baseball as kids, and almost identical to the movie, we didn't hold jobs until high school and had no way of paying for new baseballs once they'd been hit too deep into the field behind our house. The only baseball we knew up in our house was the Molitor ball, and on more than one occasion it was used to decide epic battles out back between my brother and myself. It always found it's way back, though, my Dad's dresser before he got home from work. God forbid something should happen. I'm sure it wouldn't have been that big of a deal to him, Paul Molitor certainly was no Babe Ruth. Nor was it autographed by him. But to us, that thing was an idol. A small, quiet relic that belonged in a cathedral, let alone our house.

1987 and the Paul Molitor ball. It's still in my father's dresser I think. For safe keeping.

Bar's over there!

2009-03-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Turns out, if you want a Caucasian, you have to fix it yourself.

That goes for blog posts, too. If you want to share your thoughts on baseball and the world, you have to sit down, research a post (or form some sort of stream-of-consciousness in your mind) and actually write away.

A certain "The Big Lebowski Card Fest" has gotten the best of my attention recently, along with a combination of college basketball, dinner parties with other couples "of like interest", and the return of Nascar after a week off. You can actually see the fruits of my only recent labors here, my most recent submissions for the Big Lebowski card set.

I promise, tomorrow I shall take some time and get back to postin' again. I have received gracious trades (literally, bricks of cards) from Johnny, Nightowlcards, and the one and only Motherscratcher (he's a good man, and thorough). I will be playing catchup for a while, but will get around to thanking everyone in a proper way by getting up some trade appreciation posts soon. For now, I'll leave you with a former member of the Brew Crew, a one Ray Searage. Perhaps he has a permit to carry a marmot on his face, perhaps not. At any rate, nice marmot.

S-V-E-U-M, spoken "Swaim"

2009-03-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Last year he came up huge for Milwaukee. Not only was he the most agressive 3rd base coach in the entire National League (I'm sure that's not a defendable stat, but I think he was) but he also filled in as "interim manager" to finish out the season after Milwaukee management FINALLY fired Ned Yost.

This year Dale is still coaching with the Brewers, but taking on a different role. Instead of doing the "roundhouse" with his left arm (perhaps being the ONLY person alive who can get Prince Fielder to home plate all the way from first base) he'll be showing the Brewers players a more efficient way of hitting. Last year they collectively hit .253 as a team. I'm thinking, one can most likely only go up from there. And just in case you had no idea how poorly they hit last year, I'll indulge you a bit more - a total of 1,203 strikeouts as a team. That's nearly 7.5 strikouts per nine innings. Yuck.

Anyhow, hopefully Dale can help us turn that around. Thanks for the autos!

The Big Lebowski Set (my second submission)

2009-03-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

"Dude, I finally got the venue I wanted, I uh, I'm performing my dance quintet - you know, my cycle? - at Crane Jackson's Fountain Street Theater on Thursday night, and uh...I'd love it if you came and gave me notes."

"I'll be there, man."

"Uh, Dude, Uh - tomorrow's already the 10th."

"Far out."

"..."

"Oh, oh, alright. Okay."

"Just, uh, slip the rent under my door."

Wow. This is getting addictive, folks.

You know, the Video Artist

2009-03-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

It started here.

Then it went here.

The third stop was here.

At the request of Motherscratcher, Here's my first entry. I guess I can't fight the temptation, either...

Get a Job, Sir!

2009-03-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Motherscratcher, this one's for you.

"Get a Job, Sir!" That's what a young, 16-year old's parents told him to do one fateful winter day in 1958. And so he did. He went out, worked hard, and finally got the job he had been yearning for. A starting spot on the Cleveland Indians roster.

Most people haven't heard of this guy. That's because he never broke any records. He never led the league in any statistical category. He never made the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, either. He just got up, went to work, and did his job. For 18 years.

Aftab Thurgood McGoo, or "Tabby" as he'd become to the younger players who sought his tutelage, had humble beginnings in major league baseball. Being a native of Ohio, he wanted to play for his childhood heroes, the Indians. Their farm system in the late 1950's and early 60's was a tough egg to crack, as he'd come to learn. For 5 long years he'd bounce around from club to club, playing mouth harp and running card games at bars just to pay bus fare. His glove was a hand-me-down from his great grandfather, Percival McGoo, who was in his own right a fair ballplayer for the Cincinatti Outlaw Reds of the old Union Association back in the late 19th century. His cleats were merely regular shoes - winnings from a card game between he and some horse jockeys from Dayton. But his bat was hand-carved from a tree growing in the front yard of his childhood home. Sound familiar? Well, this is the story the bat YOU'RE thinking of came from. That's right.

Back to the story. So 5 years passed, and Tabby still wasn't on a major league roster. But finally, on May 13th, 1963, the right person saw Aftab McGoo take a swing - that swing was all he needed. After the game (in which the now-folded Akron Bellymashers lost 16-0) a scout from the Indians big league club asked McGoo if he'd like to play 3rd base for the Indians - to which Tabby said "Boy, would I!" The rest is history.

McGoo would go on to play may years for the Indians, and would eventually end his major league career there in 1981. In 1982 and 1983, he played for a couple teams over in Japan, and went on to manage for 7 more years after that. He's now a sports writer for a newspaper in Hiroshima, performing the duties as beat writer for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. If you're over there, look him up. He'd love to spin yarns about his days playing for the Cleveland Indians.

I went digging through my boxes, and was able to come up with a few of his baseball cards from back during his early playing days. If you think some of the photos resemble cards of other Indians players from that same era, you're wrong. Absolutely wrong. Any resemlance to other 1960's baseball cards is likely a product of the card company's error, and nothing more. Yes, his appearance did change over the years, but show me a ball player whose face doesn't. What with years and years of summer sunshine, chewing tobacco, and sweat. But hey, that was Aftab McGoo.

If at this point you are totally lost, this post is in response to Motherscratcher's comment left on this post from earlier in the week. Aw, it all makes sense now.

*Editor's Note: You can see the very rare (more rare than a T206 Wagner) 60T Aftab McGoo rookie card here, compliments of punkrockpaint.

Calling All Readers!

2009-03-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

I need your help! I've got a great idea for a new thread on the blog, but I need YOUR help. Here's the deal. I need some folks (I think 5 would do) to dig through their cards, or just find pictures online, of their 10 FAVORITE BASEBALL CARDS. These are your ALL-TIME favorites. Not necessarily the team or the player on the card, but the design, photo, writing, etc.

Step 1: Comment on this post, letting me know you're in!
Step 2: Pick out your 10 favorite cards
Step 3: Email me at eodnatfrat@hotmail.com with the list (including year, brand, player and #)
Step 4: Include photos for all ten cards (try to make them all the same size, about 250x350)

That's it! I think I keep in regular contact with with at least 5 folks off hand, so please get on blogger today, read this, and submit your list to me today. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. The sooner I get the entries in, the sooner I can get this new thread going. I might be slightly naive in saying this, but the first 5 entries will be used in the contest (assuming 5 people want to participate).

"Always Read the Fine Print"

2009-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

This school of thought applies to many aspects of life. Whether one is purchasing a new car, signing the paperwork for a new house, or even reading through their new life insurance policy. I now have first-hand knowledge that it applies, too, to baseball cards.

Sometimes (usually around payday) I give myself a little bit of leeway and try to take care of some more Robin Yount or Ryan Braun cards from my list via the wonderful world of eBay. Yes, the internet has truly made baseball card collecting much easier. I always think of the line from Cable Guy - "...or play Mortal Kombat with a friend from Vietnam."

So back to the point - a few weeks ago I was picking out some more Ryan Braun cards to add to my collection, when I saw a listing for "2007 SP Rookie Edition #115 Ryan Braun". Sweet! With its $0.99 Buy-it-Now price, and free shipping, this card would be mine! Having already done about 10 or 12 purchases that session, my mind was just looking for pictures of cards that weren't in my binder, and I was clicking ont he purchase button.

This, my friends, is why one must always read the fine print...

I am now the PROUD owner of THREE 2007 SP Rookie Edition #115 Ryan Z. Braun cards. That's right - Ryan Z. Braun.

Apparently, there are two MLB players of the same name, so the pitcher for the Royals, the one nobody knows about was forced to use his middle initial. This method of self distinguishment never commands much respect. John Q. Adams was nothing like his father, John Adams. George W. Bush was nothing like his father, George Bush. Likely, none of George Foreman's children will be as much of a prize fighter as their father. And Ryan Z. Braun is nothing like THE Ryan Braun, 2007 Rookie of the Year and 2008 All-Star. Oh well.

Needless to say, I still need the 2007 SP Rookie Edition Ryan Braun card, #153, though, not #115. That pesky fine print.

Anybody want to trade for these beauties?

2009 Topps Heritage

2009-03-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of searching all the usual outlets around town that provide me my fix (gotta chase the dragon, you know?) I finally was able to get my hands on 5 packs of some '09 Heritage cards. To celebrate the occasion (and my day off of work) here are all 65 cards from the five packs (minus the two Cubs cards, because nobody wants to see those. In case you care, they were Ryan Theriot, and the Team Checklist).

PACK 1

PACK 2

PACK 3

PACK 4

PACK 5

I am pretty pleased with the outcome of this 5-pack "Snatch-and-run". The Hardy and Parra cards went directly into my Brewers binder, the Mayo Pujols card should claim a bit of cash on the eBay, perhaps along with the Chrome K-Rod card. Perhaps the profits from those two cards will help subsidize my addiction to Yount and Braun cards.

Time to go, now -Big Ten Conference Tourney on ESPN...GO BADGERS!

Cards from Grandma #2

2009-03-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Once again I dive into the full 9-card pages sent to me from my wife's grandmother - and I once again wonder at the wide variety of cards in this lot. They are 98% baseball, with a couple football, baseketball, or hockey cards here or there. They are also divided up into teams for the most part (i.e. page of Brewers followed by a page of Mariners).

I also think about whose cards these once were. What young lad put the time into collecting these, organizing them so, and holding onto them. He was clearly a fan of Nolan Ryan, as well as a fan of foil parallels and random "oddball" cards - much like the Robin Yount ones that make up nearly half on my Yount binder (i.e. '92 Tombstone Pizza). Anyways, let's dig in. And once again, thank you Grandma.

1992 O-Pee-Chee #621 Dan Gakeler - Of all the years of card collecting, and for having grown up so close to Canada, I didn't see an OPC card until last year. This '92 version of the Gakeler card stood out right away because of its Topps-ness. It now joins my 1979 OPC Paul Molitor as my only OPC cards.
1987 Fleer #528 Ted Simmons - This is right after he was traded from the Brewers to Atlanta. Simba had quite a scowel last year in the dugout for the Brewers as Ned Yost's bench coach. You could tell the guy was all business, and during every single game last year Brewers TV broadcaster Bill Schroeder (also former Brewers player) would comment on how "old Simba" was all business, nothing could make him smile. I'll bet those hideous jerseys in ATL made him smile. Fleer tells us on the back of the card that he is a "Dead Pull Hitter". Good to know.

1993 UD Grand Slam #25 Cecil Fielder - Before he was squandering all of his son's signing bonus, Cecil was busy hitting grand slams. Up to the '93 season, he had hit a total of 5 grand slams. Who does that? I've had a few grand slams myself, but mine came with a coffee at Denny's. Including this year on my birthday, when Denny's did the free grand slam breakfast for everyone in America. Remember that Super Bowl commercial? Well, the Mrs. thought it'd be a great idea to wait in line for couple hours for a free meal. Ended up being lunch, but hell it was free.
1992 Donruss #614 Danny Cox - The only reason this card is here is beacause of the huge marmot he's wearing on his face. Danny Bradford Cox went to Troy St. And he likes a good mustache.

1994 Topps Finest #224 Fred McGriff - Really cool card, I don't feel that the scan does it justice. It's got brilliant colors, an action photo, three coats of glossy enamel, and a really cheesy mugshot on the back.
1991 Pacific Ryan Inserts #210 - I must have 25 of these Nolan Ryan cards. I didn't have any when I was a kid, but now I have plenty. I scanned this one because it's so straight-forward. "Nolan's Fast Ball Is Just a Blur". On the back, they have a wee testimonial from a one Dale Murphy. "Nolan's the only pitcher you start thinking about two days before the game you face him. He's the bionic man - he's throwing the way he was when I first saw him". Well, his stats certainly do attest to this. In 1991, his 25th season in Major League Baseball, he threw a No-Hitter. Truly one of a kind, this guy.

1993 Score Select #304 Jim Thome - I threw this one in because I know a couple readers (Motherscratcher and Dan) love the Tribe and some Jim Thome action. On the back, a pro scout describes him as having "...what looks like extraordinary instincts". What LOOKS like? How could you not be sure about a player's instincts. It's not like speed, which is truly subjective. Or power, another stat that is subjective. Or how about on base percentage, that is truly subjective, is it not? I guess it's the best testimonial they could come up with for a player nobody knew about. Hell, they also say he was "penciled in as the Indians' regular third baseman before the '92 season. This was before he became "Jim Thome" and no longer fit into a size 32 pant. I love Thome, and truly believe he is one of the true children of the game - no PED's included. I sure hope not.
1991 Post #21 Barry Bonds - Speaking of PEDs, here we have Barry "gonna get off the hook for perjury" Bonds. I'm glad this card is in the condition you see it in. Had it not arrived in this condition, I'd have had some fun with it. These oddball cards really threw me off as a child. I had no concept of trademarks or copyrights, or owning the rights to logos and team names, etc. I had seen the Yount ones and always wondered why they took a picture of him with a blank, blue hat.

1993 Topps #200 Kirby Puckett - I think it's pretty obvious why I included this card of all the ones that were sent to me. Look at those cool socks! They have the Twins logo on it. And not the cool "TC" one, it's the 90's "M" logo that sucked. Also, he's clearly at some ballpark down in Florida during the spring. He looks so happy to have those spiffy socks on, doesn't he? This set is cool because the info on the back doesn't use words like "a" or "the". It's fun to read them with a middle-eastern accent. "Kirby Puckett belted Grand Slam in 15-6 win against Tigers". Ah, thanks Topps. Foreshadowing of their current shitiness.

HOLY CRAP! There's a giant bat in this picture!

Saints of the GENEROUS Seats!

2009-03-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I did a trade with Dan over at Saints of the Cheap Seats, sending him a modest amount of the Jim Thome, Grady Sizemore, and Omar Vizquel cards in my collection (along with the lone Denard Span card I had). Apparently his son collects himself some Denard Span, but alas, the only one I had was from the '08 Topps set. Regardless, his father is doing him one of the solidest solids a father could do for his son - not only teaching him to love the greatest game of all, but planting a seed from the plant of baseball card collecting. One day, this little seed will grow into a full-fledged addiction that short of a twelve-step program, will certainly force this boy into a world of ridicule, isolation, and interweb blogosphere. Good luck, young lad.

To fulfill his end of the trade, Dan send me a flat rate BOX, postal service style, inside housing two boxes packed full of cards. All totalled, he sent me more than 460 cards, all of which were ideally suited to my needs. Dan took the liberty of sending me, as he originally put it in his email, a "bunch of cards from your wantlists". You sir, are a man among men. Keep up the great job you're doing in sharing baseball with your son. You are truly doing the Lord's work.

Here are some of the cards Dan sent me...a smattering, if you will, of the cardboard goodness.

1987 Topps#472 Bill Doran - I don't remember this guy from my childhood (yes, my childhood. I may not have any hair left on my head, but I was still a child during the late 80's). I do, however, vividly recall the third baseman from the fictional Cleveland Indians' team that won the ALCS and went on to the World Series in the movie "Major League"...Roger Dorn. For some reason, every time I see a Doran card, I think of Dorn. And his hot wife. Mmmm....
#558 Greg Gagne - I grew up in Wisconsin, but unfortunately my hometown was in the Minneapolis/St. Paul media market. As a result, the only games we were able to watch on TV were the Twins games. That's right - thanks Dad for not giving us the gift of Cable TV. My cousins with a huge 20-ft dish in their backyard were able to watch the Brewers games. The hidden gift, though, was that it gave my father a reason to take us to the Metrodome more often, every time the Brewers were in town. At any rate, Gagne was a player I was quite familiar with as a child. Added bonus? My 3rd grade penpal was from our sister city of Somerset, Mass...hometown of Greg Gagne. See, if you're patient enough, it comes back full circle folks. Like a freakin merry-go-round.

1988 Topps
From the 150 or so '88 Topps cards that Dan sent me, these are a couple of the best. I love this set - great colors (which actually match the teams' colors), bold text, and a solid and simple presentation. Here we see two great baseball dads - Ken Griffey, and Cal Ripken. This was the year before Junior came onto the secene, so you see no suffix included on his card. He looks more like Jr in this photo, though, than he did back on the '76 Topps card of his. Weird.

Aww, the art of airbrushing. Perhaps a lost art, thanks to the great folks at Adobe and their demon of a product, PhotoShop. Gone are the days of cards that in no way looked like a photo, with the exception of the middle of their face. Dave and Tito here represent the two best airbrushed cards in the '88 Topps set. Note to you: check out the wantlist and help me finish! And say hi to your brother Tito for me...

I now officially make my entry into Motherscratcher's Subhelmet Hat Alliance. Here are two fine examples, in Danny Tartabull and Al Newman. Danny shows us the subhelmet in action, whereas Al is showing us how it can keep you warm during Spring Training, while still being functional and fashionable. I hope these two make it onto the list. Those f*cks down at the league office better be reading this...

1990 Fleer
#244 Alex Cole - I swear I've written about an Alex Cole card before. Or maybe I read someone else talk about him and so I subconsiously was looking for one of his cards. Well, here it is. The guy, never an All-Star or MVP ballot topper, sure had a way with the ladies. It was probably the fact that he was a lefty. Those southpaws never quite throwing it down. Or maybe it was those glasses. Probably the southpaw action.
#510 Keith Comstock - Keith also had a way with the ladies, but it wasn't because of his glasses. I'll give you two guesses. The first guess doesn't count, and the second guess answers this question: Who wants a mustache ride??? Not to mention the fact that the Comstock Lode had absolutely NOTHING to do with silver ore. Thanks, Dan, for helping me feed my addiction to horribly ugly baseball card sets.

1993 Upper Deck

Now we're talking. This is, officially, by far, in no uncertain terms, ad nauseum, pro bono, E pluribus unum, my favorite baseball card set of all time. At times, it's professional. At others, it's fun. It shows you both sides of the game - the serious, diving for a could-be fair ball over third base side of baseball, as well as the fun behind the scenes side of baseball. Goofing around in the dugout. Shooting scenes from spring training with your handheld camcorder. Putting a pie in somebody's face while they are doing an interview. The "TWIB" side of baseball. That's the stuff I love to see, that side that only the players know about, and few share with the rest of us civilians. Anyhow, I'll let you decide for yourself. Dan sent me a ton of cards from this set, so I'll share a few with you.

#222 Gary Sheffield
I love this card, I love the photo on the back too. It shows an Arsenio Hall-esque flatop with a line cut into it at an angle. You know the type. Then we come back to the front again, and Sheff still isn't done diving for this grounder toward the bag. Best part is, this isn't the only card like this in the set. Oh Joy!

#123 Ivan Rodriquez, #575 Darryl Strawberry
Here we see the serious, photo-conscious side of this set. I haven't seen two better photos on baseball cards since the last time I pulled out this set - well, I guess the cards speak for themselves. Absolutely great pictures, along with a not-quite-so-widespread-just-yet glossy finish. What a bitchin set of cards. Please forgive my great mood, the Christmas episode of Family Guy is on TBS right now. Friggin sweet.

#538 Alex Cole, #224 Jay Buhner
Back again we come to the lighter side of sports. We meet our friend Alex Cole, again, and he is talking to the ladies. So maybe it was the glasses after all. Note to self: go to TJ Maxx and buy some Alex Cole glasses. Next we see Jay Buhner, disrupting a photo shoot or interview that Ken Griffey Jr is involved in. Ken's face, though, is kinda giving this "joke" away. Looks staged to me. Junior's got his "Fresh Prince" hat going on as well. Ah, the early 90's.

Thanks again to Dan for the absolutely great cards. If you haven't taken the time yet to check out his blog, give it a read. It's well worth the stop.

Liquidation Greatness

2009-03-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

A lesson for Target and Walmart to learn from their long-struggling counterpart K-mart: in order to move old product, reduce the price. After reading of lonestarr's success in finding reduced price blasters at his local K-mart, I myself ventured into the blue-light special unknown in search of goods. What I found was this:

That's right - a blaster of 2008 UD Heroes for only $7.49. I snatched up two of them, and headed home for some crazy rippin fun. Here's the first of 2 blasters.

Pack 1

#33 Carl Yastrzemski (black parallel)

#184 Bob Gibson/Jake Peavy

#14 Nick Markakis

#30 Dustin Pedroia

#54 Travis Hafner

Pack 2

#9 Mark Teixeira (black parallel)

#YSL-4178 Yankee Stadium Legacy Ron Guidry
#132 Daric Barton RC
#65 Justin Verlander
#77 Hunter Pence

Pack 3

#149 Tim Lincecum

#27 Josh Beckett
#129 Bill Hall
#196 Jeter/Griffey Jr/Ripken Jr/Ichiro (black parallel) #181 Eddie Murray/Prince Fielder

Pack 4

#58 Garrett Atkins (black parallel)
#181 Eddie Murray/Prince Fielder
#115 Alex Rodriguez
#48 Adam Dunn
#72 Josh Willingham

Pack 5

#65 Justin Verlander (green parallel #'d 241/499)

#71 Andrew Miller (black parallel)
#95 Kelly Johnson
#192 Joe Maur/Hanley Ramirez/Troy Tulowitzki
#143 Roberto Clemente

Pack 6

#174 Lastings Milledge (black parallel)

#65 Justin Verlander

#184 Bob Gibson/Jake Peavy

#105 Jose Reyes

#168 Luke Scott

Pack 7 * I hate the Yankees...what the f? Why couldn't I pull a Brewers pack like this?

#125 Don Mattingly (black parallel)
#YSL-132 Yankee Stadium Legacy Herb Pennock
#114 Alex Rodriguez
#2 Dan Haren
#114 Derek Jeter

Pack 8

#126 Dave Winfield (black parallel)
#95 Kelly Johnson
#113 Phil Hughes
#165 Carl Crawford
#130 Freddy Sanchez

Pack 9

#107 David Wright (black parallel)

#38 Derrek Lee
#132 Daric Barton RC
#69 Edinson Volquez
#45 Nick Swisher

Legendary Handlebars

2009-03-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

My current occupation doesn't afford me the opportunity that most men take for granted - the growing of lots and lots of facial hair. Well, I would be a beard man. In my younger days I was a goatee man - college kid, cargo shorts and polo shirt, and of course a Brewers hat to match the shirt. And my lovable, trusty goatee.

Today I would consider myself a beard man. Yes, I do have a huge appreciation for all matter of face fur - the "fu manchu", the biker, the hitler, the chin strap, the chops, the super chops, the horseshoe, etc. My favorite though is the traditional, full beard. Whenever I have a large amount of leave to use up, I always take the opportunity to grow one

Without further ado, perhaps the greatest handlebar grower in the history of the game...well, I am a bit biased.

2007 SP Legendary Cuts Legendary Materials #LM-RY2 Robin Yount (#'d 17/199)

And now, a picture of one of those famous facial growths of his...

2007 SP Legendary Cuts Masterful Materials #MM-RY

Classic Yount. Diggin on the 80's baby blue away jersey patch, too.

Five Year Plan - 2005 Edition

2009-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

In 2005, where did you see yourself in five short years? Did you have any resolutions, any huge plans, any thing you wanted to change about your life? How about a house? Did you buy one, sell one, or lose one? Are you driving the same vehicle you were driving back in 2005? Have you gotten married, had any kids, or adopted any babies from some country whose name you cannot pronounce?

In 2005 I had just picked up a new position as an instructor, and hadn't even met the woman who I now call my wife. That was two vehicles, one paygrade, two cats, roughly 30 or so viewing of The Big Lebowski, and one Major League Baseball postseason appearance ago.

Of course this brings me to the 2005 Milwaukee Brewers. A team that was coming off a 94-loss season, and a dead last finish in the division. That's right, even the Pirates finished better than we did. After the 2004 season, even the Brewers had a five-year plan in place. And part of this plan was a young kid from southern California named Ryan Braun.

2005 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH313 Ryan Braun

I don't think a whole lot needs to be said about "Brauny". 2007 NL Rookie of the Year. 2008 NL All-Star. Back in 2005, he was only playing rookie and single-A ball for the Brewers, but is now a vital part of the Brewers' five-year plan, to say the least.

Kenny Durost - Kenny had a great 2008. Playing for the KANSAS CITY T-BONES. What? Ya, his dreams of making it big in the big leagues never really panned out. That's not to say they still couldn't come to fruition, but after going 1-9 in 2005 for Brewers A-club Brevard County, his contract was purchases by the Oakland A's, and he did 2 years for them in Kane County and Stockton (former Brewers 'A' club). In 2007 he had to fend for himself, playing for the Schaumberg Flyers of the Northern League, going 3-1 over 7 starts. Finally, he was sent over to the T-Bones for a couple other guys who also have to work at Home Depot during the offseason.

Dana Eveland - Eveland has had a slightly better past few years. After having a great season in 2005 going 10-4 for AA Huntsville, he was optioned to AAA Nashville for the 2006 season. He was acquired by the D-backs and played some more AAA ball for them, but spent most of 2007 on the disabled list. Last year he was sent to Oakland as part of the trade sending Dan Haren to Arizona. He went 9-9 for Oakland last year, and is going to play a vital role in their rotation for 2009. His much needed success should help the A's content for a division title this year.

Hernan Iribarren - Hernan has played for every level of the Brewers' organization - from rookie ball all the way up to Milwaukee. His extended stay in the Brewers system reflects two things. He has the stuff, just not enough to keep him up. Secondly, he's at a roadblock with the Brewers current roster. An infielder by trade, he is currently roadblocked by Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy. Hardy isn't going anywhere for a while, but Rickie could be going somewhere should he have the season he's anticipated to have. Iribarren will again be a late-season call up for the extended roster, and will be the first call up should something happen to either Hardy or Weeks.

Vinny Rottino - If you've been reading my blog at all, you've read this great Wisconsin native's story as well, so I won't repeat myself too much. He's a tough match for the 40-man roster, again because of roadblocks, but should once again enjoy a fruitfull year in AAA Nashville, after enjoying himself playing for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Mark Rogers - Rogers was the Brewers first pick for the 2004 draft, an honor that would be bestowed on Ryan Braun a year later. So why haven't you heard of this guy? First there was this bit about an entire mechanical overhaul of his pitching. Then it was a season and a half missed due to shoulder surgery and recovery. In 2006, after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, he would sit the bench and the same in 2007. 2008 saw him under the knife again to remove scar tissue. Now, in spring training 2009, he has pitched for the first time since 2006, will try to get back to prospect form. Current Brewers starting pitcher Manny Parra traveled nearly the exact same road as Rogers, so he's confident that he's got it in him.

Kennard Bibbs - Bibbs was drafted by the Brewers in 2002, making his way up to AA Huntsville by 2006, where he'd find a nice home. The guy has amazing speed, reminding one of Juan Pierre as a center fielder who can steal 50 bases for you. He played AAA ball in 2006, but had a knee injury followed by off-season surgery, which would drop him from the Brewers system. He missed all of 2007, and signed last year to a deal with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association. No news yet for him in 2009.

Manny Parra - Not a whole lot to say about Manny. He is the man. After getting bitch slapped by Prince Fielder last summer in the dugout, he'll be back to kick some ass and take some names. He's my favorite hurler on the Brewers roster, and I sure hope he has another successful campaign in 2009. Also, he was the first player to send me back a TTM autograph. Hells ya.

Nelson Cruz - Cruz finally has a starting roster spot in the big leagues. On April 6th, he will be playing right field on opening day for the Texas Rangers. Milwaukee had him for a while as a farm hand, then traded him along w/ Carlos Lee in 2006 to bring Laynce Nix (not a Brewer), Kevin Mench (not a Brewers) and Francisco "CoCo" Cordero (money grubbing closer for the Reds who left Milwaukee for $4 million more than we offered him, that is $5,000 for every run his team gave up last year. Sucker.)This spring he (Nelson Cruz) is playing for the Dominican Roiders...sorry, Dominican Republic alongside A-Rod in the World Baseball Classic. This is one of the few guys who actually made it (though not in our system, a rarity for the Brewers, who tend to hold onto their best prospects, ala Matt LaPorta).

I'll finish up with two of the current Brewers starters, 2B Rickie "can't play defense" Weeks and SS J.J. "my wife would leave me for him" Hardy. I'm serious about the Hardy thing, I think he's on my wife's list, if you know what I mean. At least her heart's in the right place. Anyways, back to baseball. Hardy is going to have another awesome season, and Weeks will injure his knee in April so the Brewers can finally bring up some real defensive talent, and a leadoff hitter who thinks that .234 should be his body fat percentage, not his batting average. That is EXACTLY what is going to happen. Knock on wood.

"COOOOOOOOP!"

2009-03-03T15:12:00.001-08:00

Yesterday's mail run yielded wonderful results - and if you read my "Top 30" post yesterday in which I ranked the Major League Baseball teams in order of my preference - you can now see why I moved the Houston Astros from their #15 ranking in 2008 up to #11...two beautiful, personalized autographs from their skipper, a one Cecil Cooper.

1984 Topps #420 Cecil Cooper

2004 UD Legends Timeless Teams #208 Cecil Cooper

"Phil - Best Wishes, Cecil Cooper". I suppose personalizing an autograph request performs two functions. On one hand, it sends the fan a much more special autographed card that they will surely hold on to for life. On the other hand, it assures the player that the card will most likely not be sold on eBay for a sick profit.

I could care less about the reason these two cards have both my name and Cecil Cooper's name on them - to me, they are a kind gesture by one of the greatest players to wear a Brewers uniform, and will surely be a part of mine, and my future childrens' baseball card collection for years to come. Thanks so much, Coop.

30 Teams

2009-03-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

After reading Night Owl's post on his ranking (in order of preference) of all 30 Major League Baseball teams, I decided to join him in the sort of blog-around. It's always interesting to see where your favorite team makes it on the list of someone else's ranking, and to see the reasoning behind how they ranked the teams on the list. You may not agree, but at least you'll be entertained. And if you're a Cubs fan, just leave now.

1. Milwaukee Brewers

I suppose it goes without saying that Milwaukee is and always will be my favorite baseball team. Not only was I raised a Brewers fan, spoon fed full helpings of Bratwurst and Bob Uecker every summer, but my first baseball game was a Brewers game. My first autograph was from a Brewers player. My first t-ball uniform had the name "Molitor" in iron-on letters on the back. As an adult, it is only the icing on the top that their mascot is a guy who used to slide down into a barrel of suds every time they hit a home run.

2. Minnesota Twins

I grew up about an hour from the Metrodome (on Wisconsin soil, though, no worries) and as a child I saw the vast majority of my ballgames there at the dome. I will always watch them when the Brewers aren't on TV. Also, a few years ago catcher Joe Mauer donated $1.7 million to save the high school I graduated from. I'll be glad when that stupid dome is down and they have real baseball there again.

3. Atlanta Braves

Mostly because they USED to be the Milwaukee Braves, and also during my childhood (the peak card collection years) the Braves were awesome to watch - Dave Justice, Ron Gant, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Mark Lemke, SID BREAM! I was on the big screen at Turner Field on July 4th, 2004 when the Braves played the Red Sox wearing my dress white uniform. So I got that going for me. Which is nice.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

That's "Devil Rays" if you don't mind being fined. I like these guys because they are young, Joe Maddon is an awesome manager who truly knows the game of baseball inside and out, and they literally went from worst to first. In one year. Not because they signed a bunch of expensive free agents, but because they stuck with their system and it finally paid off. It's a shame they didn't win the Series, but the Phils are okay too.

5. Texas Rangers

Nolan Ryan. The greatest pitcher the game has ever seen. Red, White and Blue. Don't Mess With Texas. And last but not least? George Bush. Kenny Rogers will always occupy a special place in my heart. I've always had a good time in Texas whenever I've visited family down there, so here ya go folks.

6. Cleveland Indians

To me, the good ol days of baseball are the days portrayed in the movie "Major League": High socks with stirrups, huge guys with a mouth full of chaw, crazy fans w/ 80's haircuts and t-shirts, and drunken broadcasters. The modern-day Tribe has alot to offer. I'll give you 5 names, and you tell me 5 guys from a single team better than them (the Brewers don't count): Sizemore, Hafner, Garko (when he's hot), Peralta, and DeRosa. Perhaps the most under-achieving lineup in baseball. Hopefully this year is better for the Tribe.

7. Baltimore Orioles

Brooks Robinson was possibly the greatest 3rd baseman ever, and combined with Cal Ripken, Jr, watching the O's as a kid planted them firmly in my all-time Top 10 of favorite teams (or, rather, teams I "wouldn't mind seeing win a game or two here and there").

8. Pittsburgh Pirates

Before the Brewers moved back to the National League, the Pirates were always a non-threat, and had the coolest uniforms ever (aside from the 80's Astros garb) complete with the Abe Lincoln hat and plenty of yellow. Yellow is a great color, regardless the circumstance. I want the Brewers to bring back the early 90's uniforms (ball and glove logo) with the script Milwaukee or Brewers on the chest, because that yellow just pops so great.

Now that the Brewrs are back in the National League, well, the Bucs are still a non-threat. Thanks for taking our place at the bottom of the division, guys.

9. Philadelphia Phillies

I love Chase Utley, he's a scrappy player who will go a long way if he stays healthy. Jimmy Rollins has the funniest commercial on TV right now...check it out...

Aside from that, they represent the Northeast in a great way, perhaps the way all the other teams from that part of the country should do business.

10.Kansas City Royals

I'm not going to say pity, because that's not the word. But I do feel something for these guys. Also a non-threat to the Brewers, they pad the schedule for the Twins so that's a big factor on my list. Before the Angels of Anaheim from Los Angeles in California no longer owned by Disney built their new house, the Royals had the only outfield flowing water structure in the league. It's still the best, too.

11. Houston Astros

If for no other reason than their old uniforms (and Nolan Ryan) the Astros reside in the top 15 of my list. It's always nice, too, when the Brewers travel down to Minute Maid Park and hit homers over that toy train in left field. Tomorrow's main post will reveal to you another reason why the Astros were able to climb nearly 4 spots to #11 for the 2009 season. Let's just say, I did a little happy dance after I checked the mail today. Good things, good things.

12. Oakland A's

Who else in all of professional sports wears a picture of an animal not at all associated with their current city or mascot as a logo on their uniform? Combine that with a city that barely realizes that they still have a baseball team, an organization that could give Jason Giambi a second contract, and a guy named Bobby Crosby, you have #12 on my list.

13. San Diego Padres

After visiting San Diego and Petco Park back in '07, the Padres climbed up my list. I love the old brown and yellow unis (again, the theme of yellow). I also love Tony Gywnn (Sr, not Jr) and his "large body but high voice" syndrom. He's one of the guys I could listen to talking about baseball all day.

In closing, three words: San Diego Chicken.

14. Washington Nationals

How anybody could root against a team who will not be a threat to their favorite team for at least 10 years, I'll never know. Let's here it for getting baseball out of Canada not a moment too soon. The poor Expos finally had a good season in 1994, only to see the season end early due to strike. Did the folks of Montreal even know? Nope, they were looking forward to the opening of hockey season. Now the team is back in the US, with an outdoor stadium that kicks ass, and aside from their CLEAR and BLATANT knockoff big-head people racing thing (the orignal Sausage Race in Milwaukee will always be the best) they are okay in my book.

15. Cincinnatti Reds

I grew up on stories of the Big Red Machine (my mother's favorite baseball team) and the doctrine that Johnny Bench was the greatest catcher of all time, and that "Geronimo!" was a call that only should be heard at a baseball game. Add to this that the Reds, season after season, make Bill Hill look like the greatest slugger in baseball, they round out my top 15.

I believe the dividing line for baseball fans is whether or not they think Pete Rose should be allowed into the hall of fame. I firmly believe that the greatest tragedy in baseball (aside from the All-Star game tie in 2002) is the fact that Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. It's about drawing a line in the sand, and across this line - YOU DO NOT...

16. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

I have absolutely nothing against the Angels organization aside from the fact that they have the worst team name in all of baseball. I'm not talking mascot, either. I'm a God-fearing Christian and love me some Angels. But until they decide on either A) California, B) Los Angeles, or C) Anaheim, they must reside in the bottom half of the league. And don't get me started on that stupid rally monkey. Oh, man.

17. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers ran the risk of turning into the Yankees of the Midwest a few years ago, but after last years dismal performance (relative to the high expectations, that is) we have no worry of that happening any time soon. I guess the Tigers at #17 are my turning point of the list. I have nothing against them, but there's nothing for them either. After Detroit, however, it all goes downhill. And fast. Just wait until you see who occupies the 7th Cirle of Hell...

18. Colorado Rockies

If I were to become the commissioner of a professional sports league of some sort, I would have a few rules when it came to the naming of mascots.

Mascot must be something easily representable in costume form.
Mascot name must be easily pluralized
Mascot must not be a theme, concept, or anything besides an animal, person, or local figure.
If the team has relocated from another city or region, the name of the mascot must be changed to reflect its parent organizations current city or region (there are no lakes in LA, there is no Jazz in Utah).

Unfortunately for the "Rockies", they don't meet requirements 1 or 2. And aside from this, I don't like expansion teams either. The reason for the Wild Card is because the talent pool has been diluted due to expansion. Do we need 30 teams? No. We end up having 5 or 6 really good teams, and the rest are mediocre. We pick 2 of them to make the Wild Card so we can have an even 8 team playoff grid. For me, hockey is worse in this respect, but the current conversation deals only with baseball. And before you ask, the Brewers were not an expansion team, they moved from Seattle in 1970.

19. Florida Marlins

The Marlins also fall into the "expansion team" category. Even worse to me is their hideous color scheme. When they came into the league in '93 they wore those horribly vibrant teal uniforms. Then they went ahead and won the World Series in 1997. Free agency has ruined professional sports, but I'm not getting into that. I just don't think they shoul have a baseball team in Miami. Their average attendance last season? Dead last. Only 16,688 people attended their home games. Most of them were retired folks from New Jersey who go because it's better than crossword puzzles and Judge Judy every day. But, I guess Miami really needed a baseball team. Their great fans won't even approve a referendum to publicly fund a new stadium for them. Some fans. Milwaukee, the SMALLEST media market in the country, was #9 on the attendance list. For a team who hadn't made the playoffs in 26 years. THOSE are some fans.

20. Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs also fall into the expansion team category. At least they've changed their colors to something that people will wear in a different time period than the early 1990's.

21. Los Angeles Dodgers

I don't like big city teams, and this whole recent thing with Manny Ramirez has just worsened it for me. Throw in bringing Joe Torre in as the manager, and you've got a great media maelstrom that is just perfect for those wackos out in California. If you're a Dodgers fan because they used to be in Brooklyn, then I'm alright with you and I'm sorry your team has been ruined by Major League Baseball and the craziness that is California.

22. Toronto Blue Jays

Aside from the fact that there shouldn't be a Major League Baseball team in Canada, the Blue Jays reside on the bottom of my list for a couple reasons. First of all, they stole Paul Molitor from me. I know it was free agency, and what actually happened was Milwaukee allowing Pauly to walk away, but still. To Canada? Okay, so they are in Canada, and they play baseball indoors. Two no-no's for me.

23. San Francisco Giants

Where do I start. It was worse in the Bay than it was in St. Louis during McGwire's heyday. Big Mac Land is one thing, that was just a big plastic sign hung from the 2nd level in left field. But building an entire ball park around one player, making it not only easier for him to break the all-time home run record but do it while turning a blind eye to the cheating that was going on? Come on. The San Francisco Giants are as much to blame for the steriod mess as MLB is. They apparently were able to make money before the cash cow of Barry Bonds arrived, but instead of following that same business model after his arrival they used steroids and instant gratification to expand their profit margin and pad the pockets of the ownership.

24. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have two strikes against them from the gate. Firstly, they are located in Chicago, which is a shithole. Trust me, I've lived there. Thanks to the Cubs, I hate all things Chicago. Secondly, the 1919 Chicago Black Sox. It's one thing to steal signs, rub a little vaseline on your palm, or allow some pine tar to creep up your bat. But to intentionally throw the World Series for some lousy money, that is another thing entirely. Call me sentimental, or the product of a childhood filled with "Field of Dreams", but I believe it's their fault Pete Rose is not in the hall of fame. He will forever be compared to them, and in my book, unfairly. What he did was very different from what they did, and unfortunately, Bart Giamatti has screwed Charlie Hustle for life.

25. Seattle Mariners

I've lived here in Seattle for the past two years, and the most disappointing part of it is going to a Mariners game at Safeco Field. Tickets are nearly 50% higher than tickets for a Brewers or Twins game, a beer is $8, bratwurst and chips is $9, and don't even plan on parking at the game. The team sucks, the ownership is too cheap to care about their team (and actually put some decent money into it...after all, it takes money to make money) and should Ichiro decide that when his contract is up he wants to leave Seattle, they have no plan in place to carry the franchise on from that point in time. They truly rely so heavily upon Japanese-Amarican fans that if he leaves the team, they are screwed. True Mariners fans (i.e., the old guys I buy cards from at their little shops) tell me the only reason catcher Kenji Yohjima is on the roster is to prepare for that day. He is absolutely horrible (.227 avg, including .207 vs lefties) so why else would he still be their opening day catcher? Hmm...

26. New York Mets

Too much money, Shea Stadium sucked, and they are from New York. I think that sums it up. Not to mention no other team has let their fans down over the past 3 years more than the Mets.

27. St. Louis Cardinals

I was barely able to speak when it happened, but they took away the only opportunity for my Brewers to win a World Series title back in 1982. Their fans are annoying, they think they are God's gift to professional sports, and they think they are part of the Midwest. They are also divisional opponents for the Brewers, so that is another strike against them. If it wasn't for the next two teams, they would join the Cubs at the very bottom of the list.

28. Boston Red Sox

I have a huge problem with bandwagon fans. A friend of mine (who is from Ohio - home to two MLB teams, by the way) claims he has been a "life-long Sox fan" but didn't wear anything Sox related until 2004. He is not even close to being the only person I know like this. I'll admit, I was cheering for them against the Yanks in the 2004 ALCS. Only because I hated to see their fans go so long without winning. But then it turned into a monster. Not only were the Patriots great, but now the Red Sox were on top, and then after they won it again in 2007, they had the Pats, Sox, and Celts atop their prospective leagues. It became a golem to fans of any team in any league, something unavoidable and always in your face. And the folks to bring it to us? Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. I love them as commentators, but I'm sure they were sleeping with the entire Boston infield for most of 2007.

29. New York Yankees

I'm sure they rank near the bottom of every list made by fans from Boston or anywhere else in the US besides New York/New Jersey. They forever changed the game of baseball. Well, not the game, but the game behind the game. They made it impossible for teams like Milwaukee, Kansas City, or Tampa Bay to compete at the same level year after year. Sure, the Brewers made the playoffs last year, and maybe the next 2 years we'll have a chance, but after that it may be another 25 year drought again. Thanks to the guys that can afford to pay the huge salaries that the great free-agent players command. That leaves small market teams no option but to once again turn to their farm system, bring those guys up, just to lose them again to free agency. It's a vicious cycle, and only a salary cap can bring an end to it.

I hate their arrogance, I hate their loud mouths, I hate their steroids and their fans and their beloved "Cathedral of Baseball". I've been to Yankee Stadium: everything was expensive, the fans were crude, and our car was broken into. Screw the Yankees. The Bronx sucks.

30. Chicago Cubs

Of course no Brewers fan in their right mind would rank the Cubs anywhere else but at the bottom of the list at #30. As my brother puts it, "I'd rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother who is a Cubs fan". Well said, my friend. Well said. Maybe it's the fact that they come up to Milwaukee with their deep dish pizza and crappy Old Style beer, take over our parking lot and declare it "Wrigley Field North". When we try to return the favor, they steal our Pabst, eat all our Bratwurst, and leave NO PARKING WHATSOEVER at Wrigley for us to even attempt the claiming of that craphole they call a stadium. I hope they go another 100 years without a World Series title. In the meantime, I'll continue keeping a goat as a pet and naming all my children "Bartman". Well, maybe just the goat thing for now.

Updates...

2009-03-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy weekend, so I haven't had any time to sit down and write, er, blog. I spent some time with the wife doing some churchy stuff, spent a few hours and a gallon or two of gas checking all the Target, Walmart, and card stores within a 20 mile radius searching for any sign of 2009 Topps Heritage (no luck), and this entire afternoon was devoted to sorting my huge ass box of 1990 Fleer and 1992 Topps cards preparing for a trade, and catching up on sorting that needed some doing.

I did receive a sweet looking J.J. Hardy card from Bat Ray North West over at Weekly Box Break (he also does a Reds card blog). He sent it without any request for a trade in return, so to him I say thank you. Check out his box breaks, he takes the time to do all the individual scans and that's always better than the lazy 9-card full page scan. And send him any of the newer cards you come across, he has to deal with the censorship of the great state of Utah, which probably limits his access to the new releases by a good 4-5 months. Damn his Reds and their causing of the Prince Fielder/Manny Parra nastiness from last season...well, we still have Bill Hall and as the Brewers' broadcast crew puts it, he's a "Reds Slayer".

In other news, as promised (and a bit delayed) the trades for Night Owl, Johnny, and Saints of the Cheap Seats will be on their way tomorrow.

By the way, I think I have over 3,000 1990 Fleer cards. How the hell did THAT happen?????

TTM Brewers!

2009-02-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I officially broke into the world of current player TTM auto requests! That's right, a letter postmarked from Phoenix, AZ (ahem, that would be home of Brewers camp) was waiting for me. And inside, a lovely new auto.

2007 Topps '52 #185 Manny Parra RC

At the time I sent this, it was the only card of Manny that I had - but looking back on it, a few cards later, I am so glad that I send him this one! It came out really well, and knowing his own signature, was good enough to NOT use a sharpie, but rather use a felt pen to show the intricacies of his awesome, awesome signature.

Hopefully Manny comes into his own this year as a vital part of the Brewers rotation. He only had 10 wins last year, but he has so much more in him than that. Yesterday in preseason action, he was the starting pitcher in a Brewers 8-5 win over Oakland, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 batter over 2.0 innings. A great sign for him to do well in his spring debut.

You may recall the dugout altercation between Prince Fielder and Manny Parra last summer. Long story short, Fielder attacked Parra when he was taken out of the game after giving up 6 runs in 6 innings to the Reds. I felt really bad for Manny that day, he looked hurt - not physically, but emotionally, after being attacked by his own teammate for giving up runs and merely turning to go to the clubhouse for a quick second. Bad fatty, bad.

I'm sure Manny doesn't receive a whole bunch of auto requests, but he's my favorite Brewers pitcher and I'm stoked that he took the time to return my card.

The Boys of Summer Check In

2009-02-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Well, the opening of Spring Training has come and gone, and our favorite players have shown us once again why they make the money they do, playing a child's game. I figured I'd chime in with my two cents on Brewers camp, but more than anything I'm just posting on spring camp because I have finally found photos of the Brewers down in Phoenix. Thanks for nothing, MLB.com. Spring Training has been going on for two weeks now, and you still haven't posted a photo from Brewers facilities? Really? Maybe if Milwaukee changed their name to the "Devil Brewers", and then changed the name back to just "Brewers", people will all of a sudden care about us again and the league will show us enough attention to throw up a few pictures on their damn website. Freakin Selig and his jagoffs.

So this guy named CC has come and gone, like a phantom in the night, leaving only the faint smell of October Baseball in Milwaukee and a larger-than-life void in the pitching rotation. In his place as the ace? Yovani "you haven't seen nothin yet" Gallardo.

Well, maybe it's Yovanni with two "n's", I have baseball cards with both spellings so who knows. What, never heard of him? Just stand by. Stand the f by. He's very photogenic, by the way. Ah, photo day.

Prince Fielder showed up to camp a little "lighter in his cleats", admittedly smaller in weight but not by a specific number. I guess what's important is the number of home runs he hits this year. I'm thinking of a number bigger than 34, which would be the number he hit last year after his 50-homer season in 2007. Let's shoot for the stars, fatty.

Milwaukee fans will once again witness in 2009 that the chicken does indeed run at midnight. Craig "chicken lips" Counsell is back for another dose of hometown baseball. He figures if he's going to live in Milwaukee from now on, he may as well get paid some money to spend his evenings at Miller Park.

At the helm this year is lifelong baseball student Ken Macha, most recently spending his days occupying various dugouts throughout the American League West in an A's uniform. He seems to be "all business" thus far, but takes some time to tell campfire stories to the boys.

Baseball can be fun, as well as educational. Here Mike Cameron is showing J.J. Hardy how to properly operate a press pass. Point and click, baby. Thanks Cammie for taking the Crew up on that offer of a second season, we're gonna love having you in centerfield again. Tough luck for Tony Gwynn Jr, however, who was hoping Cameron would pack his bags following the '08 campaign so he could perhaps slide into CF this season. Well, that shoulder injury is back for more and Gwynn is benching it up some more. He'll spend most of the year riding busses to games.

Recently "contract upgraded" Corey Hart shows off his skills for the fans whose wives DIDN'T mind they spend some savings and fly down to Arizona to take pictures, watch games, and perhaps meet some of his favorite baseball players. I'm not mentioning any names here, but let's just say I know of one woman (her name rhymes with "My Wife") who thought a plane ticket, rental car, and lodging in Phoenix for a week was "not in our budget this spring". Whatever. Corey has some new ink, and that makes me happy. More ink and more Jesus will hopefully add up to more hits later in the season. Hint Hint.

Speaking of great photographs, this one ranks up there with the Goose Joak card of Alex Rios. Seriously, some men just have a gift. A gift for glowing in the dark. Or projecting a sort of "Emperor sitting in the throneroom waiting for Skywalker" look. I heart J.J. Hardy. Show me a better defensive shortstop in the National League, and I'll call you a liar. Then I'll say I don't care, I like Hardy better. Suck it, Ramirez and Reyes.

Also back for more in '09 is left fielder Ryan Braun, who shows that no matter how many athletes bear the nickname "Hebrew Hammer", there's always room for one more. After all, there are six points to the star of David, and only four corners to a baseball diamond. Write that down.

Longtime Brewers bullpen coach Bill Castro finally makes his way into the dugout and can truly watch a baseball game for once as the new Pitching Coach. Previous pitching coach Mike Maddux has left for greener pastures in Texas, so the Crew promoted from in-house. After all, any guy who can convince the entire bullpen that "Don't worry, Sabathia is starting tonight - why don't you guys just go ahead and head to the bar, I'll meet you there in a few innings" is good in my book.

Quite possibly Milwaukee's best free agent signing in the past 10 years, Jason Kendall. No catcher in the league can call a better game than this guy, and he gives Mike Rivera another excuse to put "backup catcher" on his resume for another season. Let's not forget the 149 starts he made as the Brewers backstop last year. That's some durability.

Nobody thought it was possible, but the Milwaukee Brewers have convinced Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader to go back to being a starting pitcher in hopes of shoring up a less-than-stellar starting rotation. Just kidding. He's going to be our closer, which hurt the feelings of Seth "Big Country" McClung a little bit, until he found out that he's going to fulfill even more roles out of the bullpen than he did last season, including opening the outfield wall to make way for the relievers. And restocking the seed buckets.

Somebody might want to tell Yovani that here in the Chew Ess Ayy we use a small, spherical ball with a winding thread pattern to play baseball. Those crazy ballplayers, those crazy boys of summer.

Cards from Grandma #1

2009-02-26T14:29:00.001-08:00

It was recently mentioned by my wife, in speaking with her grandparents, that I collect baseball cards and write a little blog about them and other ramblings regarding the Brewers and baseball. Well, it just so happens that her grandmother came across a whole mess of cards...a "gaggle", if I may quote her directly. So, she sent some of them my way (over 3,000 miles across the country) and I wanted to share some with you.

Folks that aren't very familiar with baseball cards can't really tell you a lot about the ones they have - teams, brands, even years are tough to get out of them. But free cards are free cards, and so even though they aren't as "vintage" as I had hoped (why she had a bunch of early 90's cards I'll never know) they will make for some good trade material and add to the collection.

1994 Fleer Pro-Visions #6 Juan Gonzalez

I was watching the Nolan Ryan No-Hitter #7 game on MLB Network a few days ago, and a young 21-year old slugger named Juan Gonzalez was blowing the Rangers fans away with his active bat and feel for the game. What Juan Gonzalez and the "Yellow Brick Road" have in common, I'll never know. Maybe I'm missing something here. I get the cattle brand, I get the guys on horses crossing the small fir-covered plains, but the Wizard of Oz reference is over my head.

1984 Ralston Purina #1 Eddie Murray

Now, the 1860's Conan O'Brian mustache I can appreciate. I love it, and just told my brother to shave his "greater chin area" so as to leave the "Casey Jones", as I like to call it. This photo shoot was a bit impromtu, I'm sure.

Eddie Murray: Shoot, brotha. That practice was rough, doesn't he know this is spring training? This Miami heat is getting to me.

Floyd "Honey Bear" Rayford: Dig this - I know this hot spot on the beach we can suck down some cold ones and watch the ladies.

Murray: I can dig that. Let's go - hold up. We'll take my DeVille.

Honey Bear: You got a DeVille? Dang, that just came out! How'd you get one?

Murray: Shoot, I'm Eddie muthaf****** Murray. They just SENT me one.

(enter photographer)

Photographer: Excuse me, um, Mr. Murray? Do you have time for a photo? It's for a baseball card.

Murray: What company? Topps? Man, so many damn companies. I thought I already done the Topps and Donruss shoot.

Photographer: Well, it's for the new Ralston Purina cards.

Honey Bear: Like the dog food? Shoot, since when dogs start collecting cards? My damn dog just sit there licking his self. He don't know sh*t bout cards.

Murray: I can dig that. But you late - I already showered myself, we bout to jet downtown and watch some beautiful ladies on the beach. Sorry brotha.

Photographer: Well, I have this jersey here, and here, take this cap. Just throw it on real quick and we'll be done.

Murray: On top of my shirt? Man, that ain't cool brotha.

Honey Bear: Come on man, let's do this sh*t, I'm gettin thirsty. Damn.

Murray: Alright, give me the damn jersey. Hold up, take it from the right. Get my good side. Sh*t.

1993 Score #324 Brewers Checklist

Good 'ol County Stadium. Or is it Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I get confused sometimes. Let's focus on the important thing though: the wholesome, family-oriented midwest folks that filled the seats here at County Stadium wanted their advertising to be wholesome, just like them. Marlboro and Miller Lite. It doesn't get much more classic than that.

1993 Leaf Studio #110 Bo Jackson

Bo knows baseball. Bo knows football. And according to the back of the card, he also knows fishing, hunting, and flying. He would have been an F-15 pilot had he not been an athlete. And his pet peeve? Racism.

1986 Topps Glossy Send-In #11 Darryl Strawberry

He played semi-pro ball in St. Paul, MN for the "St Paul Saints". We played our high school football games at the same stadium the Saints called home. Good story, Dubbs. Thanks for sharing. Oh ya? Well, at least I didn't make a cocaine joke. That's just not called for.

1994 Topps #80 Jose Canseco

I can go a number of different ways with this one. Maybe it's the fact that he looks moody and angry. Maybe it's the fact that he's sitting alone. Maybe he was able to see what the '94 Topps cards were going to look like before they were released. Absolutely ridiculous. I hate this set, even more than the '91 Topps. Or, maybe he's wishing his...um...manhood even slightly resembled this piece of lumber. Ah, the joys of steroids.

I've Entered the Realm of TTM

2009-02-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I sent off roughly 25 or so TTM autograph requests to various players who either currently or previously called Milwaukee or one of its affiliate cities home. The previous Brewers went out first - now they range from retired civilian to minor league manager, major league manager, or even a farmer. Today, I recieved a self-addressed (and stamped) envelope back from said farmer. He currently calls upstate South Carolina home, and operates a well-sized farm. In his free time, he coaches a bit of baseabll. His name is Billy Spiers.

1991 Upper Deck #268

1993 Upper Deck #325

1994 Score #105

Gosh, I love that 1993 Upper Deck set. This is one of my all-time favorite cards, it's such a great action shot. Thanks Billy for sending these cards back to me. I received these cards only 11 days after I mailed them. I know he's not involved in spring training like most of the other TTM requests I sent out, but pretty cool he took the time to get these right back into the mail to some Brewers fan marooned somewhere in Washington State.

Justice At Last!

2009-02-23T16:59:00.001-08:00

I came home today to find an envelope from Duryea, PA, and I immediately knew it was from the "fine" folks at Topps.

Inside I found a letter, and two small manilla envelopes. This had to be the response to my recent 2009 Topps Series 1 debacle. I must admit, I was very suprised to hear from them this quickly. They told me it'd be between 2-4 business weeks, which translates roughly to "around the all-star break". Thankfully, it was sooner than that.

Here's the letter...

Immediately I was filled with confusion. Why have you gone through the trouble of sending me a package with delivery confirmation, and what I'm assuming are my relic card and my WBC redemption card (in the small manilla envelopes) if the letter opens up with "...we are unable to comply with your request due to insufficient proof of purchase". Really? I guess at some point, the decision was made to not comply with my request. However, the little attached piece of paper that reads "Replaced as a one time courtesy" which was obviously not part of the original letter, suggests someone at that horrible company had a change of heart, and decided that hosing over someone who contributes quite nicely to their annual profit margin would indeed not be the prudent or just course of action. Instead, they sent me my two cards, and once again all is right in the world of Cheese & Beer.

Before I reveal the relic card they sent me, I'll share a thought that crossed my mind between sending off my letter and now. If they are merely responding to someone that just didn't happen to the cards they should have (after all, it's 1 per box "on average") wouldn't they just send me the crappiest one, or if nothing else, the first one they picked on the stack and threw into an envelope? And if this is the case, how can I possibly get an unbiased and random selection in the process? I came to the conclusion that I was going to get screwed over, regardless the card they sent me in return.

And so I give to you the "1 per box (on average) relic or autograph card" that should have been sent to me in the first place...

2009 Topps #CBR-RB Ryan Braun Career Best game-worn jersey

Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Immediately, I had my wife verify what my eyes were certainly telling me was a blatant lie. Turns out, what I saw in front of me was indeed a Ryan Braun jersey card, the exact card that I had hoped to pull from my hobby box in the first place! How could this be? I then checked the letter that I wrote to the folks at Topps and nothing on the envelope or in the letter would tell them that I was a Brewers fan, let alone a huge Ryan Braun fan and collector. This indeed, was the Divine Hand in action. I have no other explanation, and I refuse to label this as "just a random coincidence".

I'm the guy who never wins a contest, be it a radio call-in contest, or a drawing for the new car at the mall. I always get picked last for random lottery selections (i.e. when we went to see Metallica back in 2000, they handed out tickets and then called a random number, and that would be the starting place for the line. My number was the one before the one they called). Regardless, I am now the proud owner of a Ryan Braun game-worn jersey card.

In addition, I also recieved my World Baseball Classic redemption card...

Around roughly the time my third child will be born (we still haven't met child #1, by the way) my WBC redemption card should arrive. I am the proud future-owner of Redemption Card #4...so whenever they announce who that one is, I can start using that as a bartering chip in trading.

Indeed, justice has been served. Thank you Topps, for "redeeming" yourselves.

Nothing "Topps" Raceday

2009-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

...except for baseball. And since there isn't any baseball until Wednesday, I once again find myself watching the prerace coverage on Speed channel. While I do this, I'll share with you the two packs of 2007 Topps that I was given yesterday by the card shop owner "just for stopping by". No Brewers, but I already have those so no worries.

#488 Fernando Rodney, #649 Brian Barden

#572 Alex Escobar, #345 Joe Borowski

Apparently the folks at Topps could care less about Mr. Borowski. Of all 22 cards in these two packs, his is the ONLY one without a writeup complementing the stats. Nothing at all to say about him. So, I'll do their job for them. "Joe Borowski grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey and attended Rutgers University. Bayonne, New Jersey is also the hometown of Jeff Sciscilo, college friend of Dubbs, author of the blog Cheese & Beer." See, how hard was that?? I guess he had a worse 2008 than Eric Gagne, and was DFA by the Tribe on July 4th, and released six days later. Any more info on his whereabouts, Motherscratcher?

#653 Classic Combos Sean Casey & Placido Polanco, #502 Brian Roberts

After 10 seasons with the O's, Roberts just signed a 4-year, $40 Million extension to ensure he keeps playing his home games at Camden Yards. I have been in my current position for almost 6 years now, and should I re-enlist for an additional 4 years, my gross pay cannot top about .4% of that amount...geez, I'm in the wrong line of work.

#MHR386 Mickey Mantle HR 386

I know the guy was a great ballplayer, but at what point did we canonize him as a saint? Many other ballplayers are more deserving than Mantle of the years and years of subsets and inserts devoted to a single person, so let's put a little money into the R&D departments at Topps and Upper Deck and find out who else was playing baseball in this country prior to the 1970's.

#413 Coco Crisp, #474 Michael Young

The worst name in baseball, followed by one of the most underrated players in baseball. But back to Crisp. What were his parents smoking when they named him? I'm not even talking about his nickname that has replaced his "christian" name. His birth name is Covelli Loyce Crisp. Really? Covelli Loyce? Last I checked, neither of those words are actually names. I wish I could just make shit up and call it a name. Maybe I'll name my kids Shipoopi and Homosayswhat. Ya, I like those names.

#604 San Diego Padres

Petco Park. If you ever have the opportunity to visit southern California and make it to San Diego, there are three spots you HAVE to visit:

Fumari Hookah Bar (330 G. Street, San Diego). By far, the coolest thing you can do with a hookah legally. They have many homemade tobacco blends, any of them will make you pleased with your selection. I recommend the White Peach. Mmm...
The Yard House (1023 4th Avenue, San Diego). With over 160 beers on tap, this place will make any visit worth it. Make sure you enjoy yourself a "yard of beer". Beware, though, if you should wander downstairs to the restroom. You are forced to pass their full-view keg room, a view of which has sent many to the emergency room.
Petco Park (100 Park Blvd, San Diego). One of the greatest ballparks in the country. The San Diego weather surely aids to it, but the downtown setting, beautiful architecture, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap, and outfield lawn that allows for dog owners to watch the game for FREE make it one of the league's best.

#GN245 Ryan Zimmerman Generation Now

He sure started off hot last year, showing that he's a guy who will likely be the face of the Nationals franchise for a while. They look to sign him to a multi-year deal before the season opener, so we'll see.

Pack 2 - I'm running out of time before the race starts (go #48!) so I'm just going to throw this 2nd pack at you, no offense to you fans of any of these players and/or teams.

#354 Chris Ianetta, #MMS21 Mickey Mantle Story 21

#519 Alex Rios, #619 Bud Black

# 534 Terrmel Sledge, #492 Michael Barrett

#498 Jarrod Washburn, Series 2 Checklist 3 of 3

#TS14 Lance Berkman, #443 Mike Cameron

Random Prince Sighting

2009-02-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

After hours of shopping and walking through antique mall after antique mall (only 1 having any baseball cards whatsoever, all high-end 1950's cards) with the wife on a beautiful saturday afternoon, we stopped by a small card shop that put an ad on craigslist trying to get some foot traffic. I went through their top loader bin, and came up with these two beauties. I offered him $8.00 for the pair, and took them home (with 2 free packs of '07 Topps Series 2 cards just for stopping by).

2002 Upper Deck Draft Day Gems #237 Prince Fielder

2002 Upper Deck Minor League Baseball #41 Prince Fielder

Here, the card shows the Beloit Snappers (former class-A affiliate of the Brewers) logo, but the wording and picture show him with the Ogden Raptors (rookie ball). That's how quickly he progressed through the system.

Nice cards here, bought them for $8.00 together, and on ebay right now I can buy them for $30.00 together. Graded, I can get $90.00 for the pair. Nice! Glad I came across them, and proud of the random find today.

Trade with I Heart Halos

2009-02-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

What started out as a simple "my guys for your guys" trade turned into quite a score. Not only did Ryan send me a nice lot of Brewers cards, he also was kind enough to send me a stack of cards from my '87 Topps wantlist, and he did so unannounced and unsolicited. Thanks, Ryan.

Here are some of the Brewers cards he sent me. I must say, also, that of all the cards he sent me, only 3 were already in my collection. Sweet!

2007 Topps Finest #144 Vinny Rottino RC (#'d 189/399)

Some guys catch all the breaks (Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder) showing nothing but potential and producing results in a farm system, immediately catching the attention of the front office, and are able to fill spots in the big league club's lineup right away. Other guys, like Vinny Rottino, unfortunately find themselves in a tough spot: all the skill, talent, and ability in the world, but his position is quite amply filled on the big league roster. He and Tony Gwynn Jr. are in the same boat. Only CF will open up AFTER this season is over, because Ryan Braun and Corey Hart are here for a while, and are doing quite well. After the Brewers signed Trevor Hoffman in the offseason, Vinny was DFA and accepted a AAA assignment in Nashville. I just sent Vinny a couple cards at Spring Training, I just wish this had been one of them!

2007 SP Authentic Speed #AS-41 Rickie Weeks

I always love me some Rickie Weeks cards. Of all the current Brewers, for whatever reason, I have the most of his cards. I like him, just wish he performed better. Hopefully this year he will.

Milwaukee has been a franchise lost in mediocrity (and more often than not, just bad baseball) amid the sea of huge media markets and even larger team payrolls. Over the years, though, the Brewers have always had a way of milking their farm system for all its worth. And, as a result, have enjoyed those 1 or 2 "marquee" players who have helped the franchise weather the storm. Enter Greg Vaughn, who played through the club's minor league system, broke through into The Show, blasted a bunch of home runs, and just this past couple months found himself for the first time on the Hall of Fame ballot. Next, we have Jeff Cirillo, who found his MLB legs in a Brewers uniform, played for a couple other clubs, came back to Milwaukee, played for a couple more clubs, and was last seen as a broadcaster on FSN-Wisconsin's coverage of the Brewers games. Nothing spectacular, but better than Harold Reynolds. Oh, don't get me started....ok. Finally, we have Geoff Jenkins. During the most recent dark ages of Brewers baseball, Jenkins carried the franchise. He always put up good numbers, became the face of Milwaukee baseball, and found his way to #2 on the Brewers all-time HR list, behind the one and only Robin Yount. I'm glad for him that he finally got to the World Series, and has a ring with the Phillies. You're welcome, Cliff.

2006 Upper Deck #1106 Laynce Nix

Nix is a great ballplayer, who didn't do enough with the opportunity in The Show that was given to him. Injuries don't help either, and unfortunatly for him he's been the victim of a few in his career. He signed a AAA contract w/ the Reds this offseason. He and Gabe Kapler were guys last year that were the serious physical specimens in the dugout. The guy is jacked.

2005 Topps Rookie Cup #68 Gary Sheffield

The nephew of former big-league pitcher Doc Gooden, Sheffield is a true product of the farm system, playing for all the minor league levels in the Milwaukee organization prior to hitting the big league. At one time, he accused the Milwaukee brass of racism because although he was always a formidable hitter, his defensive placement was always a challenge for the Brewers who had lots of talent on the field. Sadly, I won't be surprised when his name is listed in the annals of baseball lore as a juicer. It's a shame though, because the guy had some killer raw talent back in the day.

Last, but certainly not least, I'll finish up with a trio of Prince Fielder cards he sent me. Thanks again, Ryan.

By the way, if you're the one who keeps outbidding me EVERY SINGLE TIME I try to buy the Ryan Braun Lucky 13 card on eBay, please STOP!!!! Thank you.

One tree at a time...

2009-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Just want to send a little shoutout and thanks to Ryan at I Heart Halos, as well as steveisjewish. Together they've helped me take a 57-card chunk out of my expansive '87 Topps wantlist. And, according to Steve, after he's settled in and unpacked from his recent move, he'll be taking me within 50 or so cards of completing the set. The man is a monster, and he's moving to a town in New York where several of my friends from college are originally from. I know this story is interesting, but not as interesting as the kids at his new local SUNY campus!

Card Show Results

2009-02-18T08:12:00.000-08:00

Found my way down to the card show at the South Tacoma Antique Mall. I guess my only experiences of card shows were from when I was about 9 or 10 years old, Beckett used to print the card show schedule listed by states in the back of the baseball price guide, so my father would take my brother and me to those every once in a while. We would go to the one at the "Hudson House Inn" in Hudson, WI. A big banquet hall sort of room with probably 50 or so tables.

Well, this one had 12 tables, and although the prices of these cards has gone up a bit, it was still fun, and I only exceeded my budget by $4.00, so I was happy with that. Here's what I found...

2002 Flair Greats Bat Rack Classics Mathews/Molitor/Yount #'d (186/300)

2008 Upper Deck #99-JH J.J. Hardy jersey

2004 Leaf Century Collection #119 Robin Yount (#'d 246/250)

2005 UD Legendary Cuts #LE-PM Paul Molitor

2005 UD Classic Materials #MA-RY Robin Yount

And the pride and joy of this trip, the one that made the 1 hour drive, $4 Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll, and dangerous yet exciting excursion to the "South Side" of Tacoma well worth it...

2001 Donruss Elite Back 2 Back Jacks #BB-36 Yount/Molitor dual-bat (#'d 25/50)

Brewers, Hart get it done

2009-02-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

All is well in the land of Cheese & Beer.

Today, the Milwaukee Brewers and rightfielder Corey Hart came to agreement on compensation for the young player's services. The day before the scheduled arbitration hearing, both sides met in the middle on a 1-year, $3.25 million deal.

In 2008, Hart earned roughly $440,000 and it's not a moment too soon that he and the club came together on a number. A guy like Hart doesn't come around every day. His numbers are not going to crack the record books. Last year, he batted .268, driving in nearly 100 runs while recording 23 stolen bases. As I've expressed before, he is the first and only player in franchise history to record back-to-back 20/20 seasons.

But like I said, he's not going to set any records offensively. It's his attitude, his demeanor, the way he carries himself. He's a country boy from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He's a 26-year old father of three. He understands exactly what it's all about. He's paid a lot of money to play a boys' game. The interview he gave this morning from Brewers camp said it all - he would just assume play his entire career in a Brewers uniform. That is something you don't see or hear anymore in baseball.

This is the guy who bought out the lease on his local Chuck E. Cheese restaurant because his kids love to eat there so much. They were being forced to close their doors, and he paid off the loan so they didn't have to close their doors.

I want this guy in Milwaukee until he retires. As long as he doesn't go cold like he did last September, I'm good with him. Thanks for being a great guy, Corey, and lets get down to business for the 2009 season.

2009 Topps Hobby Box Break #4

2009-02-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

PACKs 5-6

#240 Ryan Braun

I heart Ryan Braun. I'm pretty sure if I was a girl, I would have already sent a few pairs of panties to him. I don't suppose it's an official "Bromance", because in a bromance both parties share a mutual affection for eachother. Perhaps, then, we can call it a "mancrush". Yep, let's go with that. And if my wife asks you where my missing boxer briefs are, your response will be "sorry, no idea".

#160 Evan Longoria, #TR2 Longoria Turkey Red

Love me some Longoria. Besides Joey Mauer, he's probably my favorite ball player that doesn't wear a Brewers uniform.

#50 David Ortiz

In a 3-year period this guy had 424 RBIs. If we expand that out a year on each end, he had 642 RBIs. I wish the Brewers could count that high. I really hope, for Red Sox Nation's sake, that he isn't one of the 102 remaining un-named players on the list. I still have some sort of hope that real men (like Braun, Longoria) do exist, and can still play the game of baseball to an amazing level without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

#141 Mark Teahen

#183 Jason Michaels

#321 Scott Kazmir & David Price Classic Combos

#163 Ross Gload (what? 2 Royals in the same pack? Topps, you've outdone yourselves.)

#133 Brandon Jones

#6 Raul Ibanez

I'm glad that he's no longer playing for the M's. In the event that we are still stationed here when the baseball season starts, I must continue to get my life juice from either Safeco Field here in Seattle, or at the Tacoma Rainiers games (the Mariners' AAA affiliate). It's really annoying at the M's games because they only cheer for Felix (if he's pitching), Ichiro (if he's batting) or Raul Ibanez. And it's not a fun sort of cheer, like when the Cowboys used to have Daryl Johnston as their fullback and everyone used to yell "Moooooooooose", causing all the women (no offense) in attendance to turn to their husbands and ask "Why are they booing him? He's on their team!". Yep, been there. Instead, the thundering "Rauuuuuuuuuuuuuuul" echoes up and out of Safeco and out on to Puget Sound. Good times.

#30 Ken Griffey Jr.

Speaking of the Mariners, how about this story? They really need to bring Griffey back, even if it's only for a year or two. Richie Sexson turned out to be a failure, there are talks of trading Ichiro mid-season, and they lost Raul Ibanez in the off-season. Unless they are able to beat out the Braves for Jr's services, Seattle will once again finish, undoubtedly, at the bottom of the AL West. I'm sure they are going to finish there anyway, but they at least could stand to pack a few more butts in seats in the process, and Griffey will help them do that. Or, at least finally sell out the right field porch seats. Not the dumb bleachers in left, but the sun-in-your-eyes-can't-see-the-game seats in right field that Griffey would be hitting balls into. Haha, I said balls.

#TR10 Jackie Robinson Turkey Red

I'm a fan of the Turkey Red cards, but not a fan of the Turkey Red cards featuring old time players. Isn't the point of these cards to make current players look old timey? So, doesn't it defeat the purpose of putting old timey guys on these cards?

#155 Roy Halladay

#122 Joe Mather

#131 Joe Torre (sans booksigning photo)

#76 Marcus "The River" Thames

#84 Rod Barajas

#112 Hideki Okajima

On the Docket: Dubbs vs Topps (continued)

2009-02-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

I spoke with my card shop dealer, Pete Brown, yesterday regarding my situation with Topps. I explained how my hobby box contained neither a relic/auto OR a WBC redemption card. He explained to me that he's heard JUST the OPPOSITE. Apparently, Topps short printed this set (let's say, about 75% production from what they originally planned) so the odds of pulling relics and the like are skewed in the COLLECTOR'S favor. They made the same number of relic and auto cards, but less base cards. So he has heard from guys pulling 2, 3, or even 4 relic cards from a single hobby box. And I got zero.

Topps has received my letter, the saga continues...

Friday the 13th indeed...

2009-02-13T20:51:00.000-08:00

Brewers 3rd baseman Bill Hall sidelined 4-6 weeks with a partial calf tear.

Apparently he heard a "pop" in his calf while he was doing some pre-camp workouts. That's right, Spring Training hasn't even started for Billy yet. It won't start until this weekend. Well, kinda. He won't be playing or running too much with the fellas.

So, I guess the re-signing of Craig Counsel was a great idea. As was the signing of free agent Mike Lamb (thank you Minnesota) both lefties. Then of course is my boy, prospect Mat Gamel who will most likely not be the day-to-day guy in BillHall's place, he's going to spend some more time in AAA Nashville.

So I guess today couldn't have gone too much worse. I mean, it's almost midnight Central time, so unless something happens in the next hour the Brewers made it through Friday the 13th with relatively minor damage.

Recap:

Plane ticket to spring training in Phoenix: $217.00

Tickets to the Brewers spring training opener against Oakland: $21.00

Underachieving third baseman in 3rd year of big contract: $6.8 million

Losing your starting 3rd baseman before spring training even starts: priceless

Brewers report today, so I report on some Brewers...

2009-02-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

...cards, that is! Today pitchers and catchers report to Marvale Park baseball complex down in Phoenix, AZ for Brewers spring training. Tomorrow is weigh-ins and eye checks, and Sunday is their first official workout with new head coach Ken Macha.

Last week Spiff over at Texas Rangers Cards sent me a tightly-packed box full of Brew Crew players. He wisely did NOT include an Eric Gagne card, but did include several Molitor cards I didn't have, and even a Yount card not yet found in my collection. Thanks much, Spiff. Your cards went out in the mail this afternoon. Of the many cards he sent, I had a hard time narrowing down the field to the lucky few I'd share with you. Here are the winners...

2008 UD Goudey #109 Yovanni Gallardo, #106 J.J. Hardy

I officially have some competition now. For as long as my wife has known me, she has known how much of a baseball geek I am. Before we were married she was in college down in Charleston, SC and I was stationed out here in Seattle and she'd hear me speak all about how Corey, Brauny, J.J. and Cammy did in the previous game, never really asking too much about the team. Finally, as I was going through this box from Spiff she stopped at the J.J. Hardy card above and said, "Who is THAT?" Damn. Now I have to compete with J.J. Hardy? The guy is a stud. If you caught the article in Sports Illustrated last February when they followed the Brewers around at Spring Training, they showed a picture of him and Corey Hart playing ping pong down in the Arizona sun, w/ Bob Uecker in some short shorts watching the action (and likely calling the play-by-play with the bartender over a couple tall, cool Miller Lites). At any rate, he's quite "sculpted", a bit moreso than myself.

Yovanni is finally healthy again, and should he stay that way he can easily be a 20-game winner for the Crew. We're going to need it this year.

2005 Fleer #316 'Trio Prospects' Ben Hendrickson, Corey Hart, Dave Krynzel

The fine right fielder in the middle is the object of my sister-in-law's affection. I myself can't for the life of me figure out what she finds so appealing about Corey (besides his ridiculous speed). I hope the Brewers figure out what they are doing with him, and soon. They need to lock him into a long-term deal this spring or they are going to lose an amazing baseball player.

2005 Fleer #71 Ben Sheets

2004 Upper Deck Power Up #82 Ben Sheets

Sheets had surgery on his right elbow Tuesday, and hopes to be ready following the All-Star break. As you know, he's not under contract with ANYONE right now, so time will tell what happens with him. Brewers management says nothing is under discussion right now with Sheets' agent. At over $11 million last year for only 12 wins, not worth it. On the other hand, without him and CC we never would have made the playoffs. Milwaukee fans have a lot to thank Ben for, he was with us for many years, but I think we need to move on. I wish him luck, and really hope he's able to sign with somebody this year.

1984 Fleer #204 Pete Ladd, #203 Roy Howell, #212 Ed Romero, #194 Jerry Augustine

Spiff sent me a number of these cards from '84 Fleer (almost the whole team set) but I picked these four due to the large mammals that seem to be sitting on their faces, resting neatly just above the lip. You can't tell due to the color, but Howell is sporting some very respectable handlebar action. Wisconsin native Jerry Augustine, however, was busy keeping the book. He only pitched 6 innings in '84, as you can see he made himself pretty comfortable in the meantime. He played his entire 10-year career for his hometown Brewers, and later would coach the UW-Milwaukee mens baseball team, to much success.

2008 UD Goudey SP #268 Ryan Braun

I love Brauny, and to me he is THE "Hebrew Hammer". No disrespect for Gabe Kapler, he had a helluva season last year with the Crew. But Brauny is my boy. If you haven't seen his interview on Jim Rome's show "Rome is Burning", check it out on YouTube. Adam Carolla is the guest host, and he and Brauny put on a great show. Great card here.

1992 Donruss Triple Play #254 Paul Molitor

1992 Bowman #375 Paul Molitor

Love me some Molitor cards, truly do. It was a sad day when he left Milwaukee for Toronto and the money (and the World Series hardware), but I guess he was smart enough to leave "The Good Land" before the uniforms went to shit in the mid 90's.

1990 Best Cards Stockton Ports #61 Cal Eldred

Back when the Brewers had a minor league team in California (now an Oakland A's affiliate) they saw a number of soon-t0-be big names pass through their gates, including Gary Sheffield, Dan Plesac, Ben Sheets, Geoff Jenkins, Jeff Cirillo, and a one Cal Eldred. This is my new favorite Cal Eldred card, and currently in the mail for some sharpie action.

1993 Score #485 Pat Listach ROTY

1992 Leaf Phenoms #BC-7 Pat Listach

In '92, Listach (also a former Stockton Ports player) beat out Kenny Lofton to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, the first Brewer to do so (until Ryan Braun in '07). His '92 UD card is my favorite, I had that baby in a hard plastic case when I was a kid, 4-screws and all. That case was previously occupied by the 1991 Studio David Justice card, and before that the '88 Topps Jose Canseco 40/40 card. Quite a throne of achievement.

2006 UD All-Time Legends #ATL-12 Robin Yount

No Brewers lot would be complete without a Robin Yount card, and this time it's a nice one. Thanks again, Spiff.

I'll Show you what $10 can get you...

2009-02-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

I stopped by the card shop after work today to pick up some boxes, and decided to browse through the $2 and $4 card binders before I left. I also thought ahead and made sure I had some cash in my wallet. That pesky $10 minimum check card purchase rule has gotten the better of me on more than a handful of occasions...not this time. I need to save my monthly card budget for the card show I'm going to on Saturday down in Tacoma. I think it's only 20 tables, but it'll be the first one I've been to in probably 15 years, so I want to maximize my buying power. That sounds ridiculous.

Well, I found the boxes I needed and on the way to the register I found these...these three cards totalled $10. Sweet!

2004 SP Legendary Cuts Significant Swatches #PM Paul Molitor

My first game-used bat card. I never have luck finding Brewers relic cards in blasters, so I'm forced to buy them at shops. I'm not complaining, though. This card is awesome.

2004 Leaf Certified Cuts #233 Robin Yount

Not in your exclusive club really, not a relic card but it IS numbered...

2005 UD Hall of Fame Cooperstown Calling #CO-RY2 Robin Yount

Yes, this one is numbered too! And not out of 599, either...

All said and done, $10 and three awesome cards to add to the collection. And to make matters even better, I came home to find out that Milwaukee signed righty Braden Looper to a one year, $4.75 million contract with a mutual option for a 2010 extension. Half the cost of Gagne last year, and even with 14 losses he almost tied our previous ace Ben Sheets in wins at 12. One could almost say, any pitching addition is a good pitching addition for the 2009 Brewers.