Topps Gypsy Queen Group Case Break today!!!

So today is the day I have been waiting for, for a long time. The release of 2011 Topps Gyspsy Queen. The other day I grabbed a spot on A Cardboard Problem's Case break as the White Sox team! This means that whatever card that gets pulled in those cases that are of a White Sox player are all mine. Topps earlier released a statement saying that they are having a problem with the hits in the boxes. There are supposed to be two autos and two relics, but apparently, since its been live that hasn't been the case. Hopefully this won't effect our case break that much, and I dont think it will put too much of a damper on things at all. I am really excited about this, I haven't been apart of a group break before! The break is tonight at 9pm, I assume, on their UStream. I will be wearing my lucky Braves hat in hopes that I get some good pulls! I wish good luck to all of those who are a part of the break and I will hopefully be picking up a retail blaster of this stuff sometime this week when my Target puts it on the shelves. Head over to ACardboardProblem's (link above) site to get updates on the break and most likely a link to their UStream for tonight's break if you are interested in seeing the product. Wish me luck!!

On a side note, I will not be posting too much in the next couple of weeks because it is crunch time here at school with finals and such. That is why I havent been posting too frequently yet but when things calm down I will be back and better than ever!

Twins' Capps becomes closer after Nathan struggles

Joe Nathan missed all last season with Tommy John Surgery on his throwing elbow. Since his return, Nathan has had an era at 8.44 in six games. He converted his first three attempts to start the season, but last week he blew two straight against the Rays and decided to step down as closer. Nathan decided after these two blown saves to give up his role to fellow teammate Matt Capps. Nathan said "I don't want to put this team at any risk and cost them ballgames right now...I just thought it was the right thing to do for the ballclub and myself. Give myself a chance to get out there and still pitch on a consistent basis. Obviously that's what I need to do. Getting away from where every pitch could cost us a game." I commend Nathan for doing that for the team, and I respect him a lot more for stepping up and acting like that. It's hard to come off an injury and face the reality that things are going to take time to get back to normal. Wanting to stay a closer but not being able to is something that I am sure he is struggling with, but I love how he handled it. He thinks about the team and gives his spot up to his fellow teammate Matt Capps, who is very capable as a closer. Now Nathan can use his time to build up consistency with his pitching and not risk the ballclub games. Getting back to his closing role will now be motivation instead of an uncomfortable situation as he recovers. I hope for the best for Joe Nathan and I hope he gets his closing role back soon! I feel like there aren't enough good stories in baseball nowadays, so I thought it was a good opportunity to talk about someone who is doing a good act. The injured Twins will be a force to be reckon with once Nathan and the others get their legs back under their feet (pun not intended, but completely intended) and Maurer, Nathan and the rest of the Twins will quickly move out of the bottom of the division and make a run for the top of the AL Central.

Hamilton Breaks Arm on a Tag Up Play and Throws Third Base Coach Under the Bus

So a couple of days ago Texas Rangers reigning MVP Josh Hamilton broke his arm on a tag up play against the Detroit Tigers. Let me start by saying that it was a tough call to make on whether he should have gone or not... not for any safety reason, because no one could have predicted that, but because I thought that he had a legitimate shot at tagging up and scoring. I am completely on the third base coach's side. I love aggressive baseball and the pitcher was definitely sleeping on the play. I would have had confidence too that Hamilton could have had a shot at beating Inge and Martinez back to the plate. If Inge and Martinez had hesitated or not noticed for a split second, the outcome could have been completely different. What really had me up in arms was Hamilton's response, "I listened to my third-base coach. That's a little too aggressive. The whole time I was watching the play I was listening. 'Nobody's at home, nobody's at home.' I was like, 'Dude, I don't want to do this. Something's going to happen.' But I listened to my coach... It was a stupid play." Really Hamilton? Are you really going to go there? You are going to throw your third base coach under the bus for doing his job and doing what he (and I) think was right? Do you think he wanted you to break your arm? I am sure if he knew that you were going to get hurt he would have held you. I think what he said was really dumb and I know it was out of frustration, but as a leader in his clubhouse he shouldn't speak like that. He is the reigning AL MVP of the reigning AL champions who made it to the playoffs and World Series because the team was aggressive on the base-paths. He can be frustrated but as a professional he shouldn't feed that to the public. It isn't good for team chemistry and unity.. What's next for you Hamilton, you going to blame the bartenders and the drug dealers for all your other mistakes? I don't really mean that but jeez I am really upset that he went to this level. Everyone knows that in the game of baseball it is ulitmately your decision to go or not, and if you realize that you dont have a legitamite chance of getting there you don't go or you head back. I dont believe that Hamilton was like "I dont want to do this blah blah blah". I lost some respect for Hamilton when I heard but about this, but only a little bit because I do realize that it was post game frustration and I am not going to lie Id be frustrated too if I just broke my arm.

2011 Topps Heritage Baster Box Recap/Highlights

So today I finished the Blaster Box I got from Target last week. I still have yet to get any serious "mojo" from these blasters but I guess that is expected considering it is retail and there aren't any guaranteed hits in these blasters. This blaster was probably the best that I have opened out of the three, considering the amount of inserts that I received (3). Alright let's get into it...

These are base cards from the blaster that I thought were cool/different from the common base. Look at the Elvin Andrus and Ian Kinsler.. the picture is sideways, what is up with that? error? I have no idea but I think it looks bad.

Here are the three short prints which I received, the sporting news Longoria is nice/ I really like.

Here are the three inserts that I got. I personally am not a fan of the News Flashback insert, I just don't think they have a spot in baseball cards. I do however like the Mantle insert that I pulled, cool card in my opinion

So thats it folks, the finale of the three blasters that I have broken so far. Out of the 216 cards from the three blasters I received 15 doubles which is about 6%, not bad.. Almost all of the doubles came in the last blaster I broke and if I remember correctly I only received 1 double opening the first two. The next thing I will be breaking is a Hobby Box of 2008 Topps Heritage. I dont think I will be breaking any 2011 any time soon because once I finish breaking this box 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen should be out and I will be breaking that for you guys.

Sunday Night Baseball 4/10/11 Recap

The Red Sox came into this game in desperate need of a W. They stumbled off to a 1-7 start and then put the ball in Beckett's hand to put a stop to the bleeding Sunday against their arch rivals, The New York Yankees. It seems like Josh Beckett did'nt get the memo of what type of pressure was on his shoulder's because he pitched absolutely lights out. Beckett pitched 8 shutout innings striking out 10 players and only allowing 2 hits. All of his pitches were working last night and I believe his most impressive pitch of the night was definitely his curve ball. When he snapped that off, man did it have crazy movement! It looks like he silenced all the critics that say he doesnt have an out pitch and can't finish a batter off. If that stuff he had last night or the ten he sent to the dugout didn't prove it, I dont know what will. Jonathan Papelbon came in in the ninth to finish the night off striking out 2 of 3 in a no save situation. The Red Sox scored 4 runs total on Sunday in their 4-0 win against the Yankees, scoring 1 against CC Sabathia and the rest to the relief staff. The Red Sox scored 1 early in the third inning but they had another run taken away after a baserunning "error" on Kevin Youkilis. I have never seen a call like that made in my life. Youkilis was on first base with the bases loaded and no outs in the inning. Ortiz hit a ground ball with the shift on and the Yankees tried to turn a double play. Youk slid to the outside part of the bag to try and break up the double play and was called for an obstruction. He and Ortiz were called out and the run that was scored as well as the runner who advanced to third were called back to second and third base, nulling the run scored on the play. Granted, Youk did not make contact with the bag on the slide, but he was fairly close to it. The play that Youk made is done so many times in baseball and I have never ever seen it called. I was furious at the moment but luckily the call didn't make a difference in the outcome of the game. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who disagreed with the call. The announcer's on Sunday Night's baseball game had the same ideas I did about the call. Overall though, it was a great Sunday Night Baseball game.

2011 Topps Heritage 2 Blaster Box review/summary

Hi everyone!! The past couple of weeks I have been breaking two blasters of 2011 Topps Heritage. I would love to get my hands on a hobby box of these cards but the prices right now are just too ridiculous for me (around 90 bucks last time I checked.) So I have been going over to my local Target the past couple of weeks and getting these blasters to break. I am currently breaking a third and I'll probably post the hits (pending I get any) later on. I break a pack a day, just for a nice change of pace and something to look forward to each day. Alright lets get into the cards!!

These are a couple of base cards that I like. As you probably know the Heritage line are the "throwback" cards as of sorts. Each year they mimic a set of vintage cards that Topps made a many years ago with current players on them. This year they are doing the 1962 Topps set which I like a lot.

These are another couple of base cards in the set. Fear the Beard!!

These are also a couple of base cards that I got but I think they are awesome!! They make me laugh kind of look at the Pujols face cut out, classic!

These are Babe Ruth Special cards, they are also a part of the base set. I believe this is consider a sub-set but don't quote me on that one. There are ten of these cards and they commemorate the career and life of Babe Ruth. There is also a variation of these cards that is of Jackie Robinson which are in 1:50 packs.

These are called Baseball with the Sporting News newspaper-looking base cards. As stated, these are a part of the base set and are nice looking cards. The Carl Crawford card pictured above is a high numbered shortprint.

These are all of the high number short prints which i got out of the two blasters, in addition to the Crawford in the group of cards pictured above this. I really like the old school rookie parade cards, those face cards are my favorite.

These cards are the big mojo hits of the blaster coming up (I guess).. these cards shown are in 1:12 packs and are now and then insert cards. Look at Kuan Marichal's huge glove!!

These are the other two big mojo hits: the baseball flash back insert cards. These are also in 1:12 packs. Both of these insert sets have 10 cards in them. I am glad I got the baseball flashbacks, but I do not like the news flashback cards in a baseball cards set.. who wants that?

So overall I think these cards are a great set to collect and I really like them. There are a bunch of gimmic and tint variation cards that I have not pulled yet but if you are curious about them you can look them up on Ebay. For those of you who dont know, this is a 500 card set and numbers 426-500 are SP's. There are four insert sets, two of which are shown above. There are stamp sets numbered to 62 that can be pulled as well. There are also auto's and relics in the set, one per hobby box, as well as chrome cards and chrome refractors that are numbered. I believe the chrome are numbered to 1962 and the chrome refractors are numbered to 562. This set of cards has the classic old school cardboard feel on the back of the cards. However, unlike the previous years there is no gum in these packs and the high numbered SP's are not on a lighter cardboard. I have already started on my third blaster box and the first pack I pulled had an insert in it. If I get anything worthwhile I'll post it another post. If you have any questions about the set leave your questions in the comments section and I'll be more than happy to answer them.

MLB first week thoughts

So we are now a week into the season and we have seen some crazy things so far. I think the biggest surprise, unanimously, is the Red Sox but I am going to save that rant... But how bout them rangers? Cliff who?! They remain undefeated at 6-0 and are red hot. Players like Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler are pounding the ball. I am not surprised they are doing well, considering they are the defending AL champions but to sweep the Sox and start 6-0 is shockingly impressive. Staying with the AL lets talk about the East. Baltimore wow, all I can say is wow. I have to say I was a big doubter of Buck Schowalter when he took over the team at the end of the season and turned the team around. I remember my ignorant self saying "Showalter has nothing to do with that fluke going on down in baltimore. Next year they will be off to a terrible start, he will be in hot water and be ousted faster than when he was manager in Texas." Shoot! Prove me wrong. Right with them was Toronto, who, I have to be honest, I haven't really been following because it seems to me like every season they start off red hot and quickly burn out and drop to the bottom of the East. But jeez the bottom of the East is incredible.. Yankees 3-2, Tamba Bay 0-5 Boston 0-5... Wow. These teams, which I usually consider part of the strongest division year after year, are starting off shockingly bad. I mean the Tampa and Boston concerns speak for themselves with their record, but the Yankees should be just as concerned that Phil Hughes can't throw a fastball anymore on top of that already shaky rotation. Another team that has me going wow is Kansas City. I havent seen highlights of them so much in Sports Center ever in my life. I like how hard they have been battling with their extra inning wins and their much deserved shared spot of first in the West. But the team I'm in love with right now is Chicago. Not for their shared spot on first place but because of two players on their roster: Gordan Beckham and Carlos Quentin. These two guys are having absolute monster starts and they are both on my fantasy team! (thankfully I have these guys or my week would be way uglier than it already is.)

I don't have too much to say on the National league as I have not been able to watch many of their games but I do like a couple of things. I rushed home to see the last two innings of the Phillies home opener, and man it was exciting! It gets to the bottom of the ninth and you could just feel the magic happening. Phillies came back from 2 runs down to get a walk-off win in their first game, couldnt ask for anything better (except for maybe Ibanez hitting the walk-off homer, boosting my fantasy score sky high, instead of causing the only out of the 9th) but I digress.. How bout them Reds?! They are run scoring machines!! Well deserved 5-0 start, glad to see they are doing well.. I've always like the Reds. I guess I can talk about the defending World Series champions even though they are on the bottom of their division... I guess we can say its just off to a slow start. On a positive note Lincecum stuck out 13 tonight.

I have to say I have really enjoyed this first week of baseball, despite my Red Sox being off to the worst start possible in the first 5 games. I sat and watched them lose game after game at the end of the pre season games saying to myself, its OK they will be fine once the season starts and they get the blood flowing. Right now they have absolutely no pulse.. Come on Guys!! Wake Up!! I'm not too worried about it, just kind of dusting off the protective cover on the panic button. It's fine the bleeding stops TOMORROW (hopefully)

EDIT: This was posted earlier this week on I believe Wednesday but I edited this post to include some tags