Remember What I Was Saying About Cutting?; Oh Go No.

 This doesn't even offend me at first, due to the adequate centering of the sticker, then I realize it is a "cut signature" which it is not. then comes the part about it being from a previously-released card...from Tristar's basement...of Mark Reynolds. I mean, you can clearly see his torso there.

Then I look at the bottom of the card...Baltimore NOW?

...so it would stand to reason that if this side were "Baltimore NOW"...

 ...then the other side would logically be a third baseman from "Baltimore......

NOOOOO!!!!!

It's a previously-released base card auto!

and the original player name is partly showing, the head is mostly not!

and it's cut for shyte!

and the backing is showing!

 AND THEY DID THIS ON PURPOSE!

ludicrous.
-Peterson

No Honor in Braun; Investigation Equates to Tar On Roadway

COME ON MAN!
I mean, information is only used against you if you actually generate it!

this is bad for me and baseball...like 1994 bad....

Pulls:Rack Packs Were Good To Me; Well, everything was...

It really pays to hit the retail early before the pack-searchers get through with it. I never had better overall success than during a binge last year.

oh, and I don't have time for scanning...so deal.

 double Jordany is not to be confused with double Jeopardy. Wong, Kelly and Fernandez look to be watchable prospects, and may prove to have the meddle for the bigs some day. I hope so.

 I love will middlebrooks. Skaggs should prove to be a contender too. All aside from Will will (no typo) be on sale this summer. This was the extent of my prospecting for 2012. 7rack packs and 3 blasters. nice.

 These two are keepers. I love the proportions of the Wylie card and the colors...it speaks to me. Little Timmy is on-card and is an all-american. thank you for the guaranteed autos "leaf"

 Exceptional design from Topps. I love simplicity, and this use of minimal chrome and plenty of white make this well photoed Lipka a star at home.

 I wanted an auto of Cuthbert, but not necessarily one of him looking like a 5yr old who just crapped his pants...after telling you he didn't crap his pants. Good enough design and I got a few Richmond Flying Squirrels for the home team.

 I sort of dig this design. Never a huge fan of open-ended horizontals, especially if they don't use the whole space...Mr. Nash I'm looking in your general direction.

I am crazy about this year's Rookies and Stars. I hit this in a blaster. Great looking card with a below-avg. auto. Have you noticed how some topps products are basic and fundamental rip-off of old UD titles...that stings. I was an UD man since 89.

I yoinked this from a blaster of A&G (it REALLY pays to buy early) Currently up for sale due to the money value of the card being more than sentimental value.

 I bought the Felix last spring, and got the Markakis in a shady deal with the reclusive Beardy. I haven't gotten a chance to show them off.

If You Gotta Cut...Cut here.

i am a huge fan of how this card turned out. as some of you may know, i am not partial to re-cut photos or cards as the medium for the signature in question. this one has such an iconic stance highlighted from the knees down. combine this with the chucks and socks and we are not only  looking at classic basketball posture, but fasion as well. sheer excellence in where to cut if you have to. [oh and my shift keys are crapped out so deal.] i bought one blaster of cut signatures and landed this...

'daffy' was realted to 'dizzy' dean, and made some fame for himself as well. wouldn't you know i was strapped for cash and sold it the next day for 120.00and change. if i were a retired/deceased auto collector this would never have left my hands. it is an awesome piece but i have to get used to only keeping a photo of some of my pulls.
next up;
pulls from the fall/winter; rack packs been berry berry good to me. eff you sammy.

peterson

Massive Hiatus: explained

Short version:
I had knee surgery and got married...in short order. Don't get me wrong, there was much more, but those were the highlights. If anyone has had major surgery and gone to that dark place that pools around you when you cannot escape real pain.
But that was then, and this is now.
The light wavelengths have finally begun to lengthen (this makes such a difference in my perception, it is truly amazing.
I have spring fever already. Last baseball season was so intriguing and there is so much talent on deck for 2013...the O's and Nats have contention-ready teams and have made some (fairly) wise choices over the off-season
I can't wait to see what I do...

State of Affairs: People Have Feelings in 2012

 1. While I have avoided the PSU scandal (which it is) like the plague, I am not in any way surprised at the reports that have come out. Anyone involved should be more than ashamed (but I believe in Karma), and I apologize to PSU grads and players for all of the ignorant people that lump you together. That just sucks.

2. Kobe needs to shut the eff up. The idea that the 2012 "team" would beat the Dream Team is simply laughable. Lebron, Kobe, KD, and...dude, do you want me to run down the DT Roster again?! I don't care how good you are as an individual (which each of the above players is, without question), but that is just what you are, and what you care about. The individual. I am not saying that a few of the Dream Team didn't have egos and larger-than-life perceptions of themselves, but that was not what they were known for. They were all the very best at their positions. Unselfish, team players who weren't movie stars. They were ALL STARS.

3. Topps Update

I bought a hobby box and landed this sucker. (#661 a) Sold it for 180 the next day. this was a perfect situation for me, not being a base topps rc collector (with few exceptions after 1975, I could care less, for real)

but I knew that this was coming out in a factory set

 hmmm. Not my bag. No auto, topps flagship "SSP"s are stupid. I have an Ozzie Smith from 2011 that is the only SP I've kept and that is only because it is an exceptionally beautiful card.

#661 b and c below

Bowman Chrome AUTOS came out well, some of my favorites (bogaerts is currently prohibitively expensive, but I said that about Posey's bochro auto too...)

And finish with a great cubs fail.

Peterson

Physics Lesson: Probability Says No.

Ebay, I call nannies on this seller. This dude has four Bryce Harper Green Foil RC Autos for sale...okay. not familiar, but they look legit.
 You have a print run of #313, #314, #315 AND #316 ALL out 350 you say? Dandy...
Who the hell left the back door open at the plant?
who does this seller work for?
the seller has 3000+ positive feedback.
these are the things that keep me up during the day.


sneaking feeling they were redemptions? would Topps send out sequentially numbered autos to some Retail-nut?
Peterson

Topps Tier One :High Ends

I have been watching some of the stuff coming out of these amazingly expensive boxes with less aplomb than a box of fleer mystique. That was when I found out about the "return" of the bat knob insert. I absolutely love these pieces. They are so personal and directly experiential for the jaded relic-collector. I never understood buttons AT ALL.

This relic, I would walk a mile for...and I just had knee surgery.

Speaking of knee surgery:

Hopefully I will clean out some old posts I have been saving.

Hit me up with any requests in comments for this weekend.

Do you want me to research available Bat-Knob cards?

your call. I am trapped in my throne and have already watched baseball tonight, SC and read the news.

"Fan Favorite" indeed: Youk Traded During Game

The youkah was definitely one of my personal Boston Fan Favorites. I've watched him grind through games and have flashes of brilliance. He's a smart guy on the field, and versatile. To bad he switched sox.
The card above is one of the best autos from the set, and, in my opinion, the best photo of all of them. Heritage gold.

     Wjile I was watching Kevin's last game, he was taken out mid-seventh(?) and made a tip of the cap to the fans, then Bobby V (whom I always knew was evil) chased him down and sent him out for a curtain call. DURING the game. It was shyte. It made me feel like his bags were packed and Bobby was cottling him with his tail between his legs, "you want to get a shower before your flight Youk? "Can I get your bags?"

strike 2, Bobby.
Peterson

Morency!: Exquisite?

dammit man. you still have yet to be out (under?) done.
oi.
-peterson