Sorry Jaybarkerfan's Junk & Thank You Jaybarkerfan's Junk!

As I've said before, Wes from Jaybarkerfan's Junk is a Saint. It pains me to write that about an Alabama fan, but when the shoe fits...

And as hard as it is for me to feel bad about Alabama getting MAULED in the Sugar Bowl the other night, a tiny little part of me feels a 1% bit of sadness since I assume that Wes was not happy about the result of the game.  And the thought of Wes being unhappy makes me unhappy.   But then I think about Nick Saban being unhappy then I get happy again.  Then I think about Wes being unhappy and I get unhappy again.  Then I think about AJ McCarron's girlfriend and... wait, how did she get in here?

Anyway, I was one of the many fortunate souls to receive a surprise USPS mailer full of cards over the holidays.  And not just cards, 100% Ranger wholesomeness:

Look at that stack!

It would take a week to show all the great stuff here, so I'll stick to some of my favorites.  But first, a thank-you/get-well-after-that-beating bouquet for Wes:

Yes, that is a fragrant bouquet of Pete Incaviglia (the g is silent people) cards.  Seriously, it's supposed to look like a bouquet of flowers.

My favorite cards from the box, other than the Incaviglia's of course, were the vintage.  I don't have any old Rangers team sets, but I bet I'm now very close on the 1981 set:

I also have a nice start on the 1980 set, which by the way, is finding it's way onto my interest radar as a set to build in the future:

And there were plenty of other awesome vintage cards as well:

That's not even getting into the modern stuff, which was also awesome!

Thanks again Wes.  I'm hoping to help you out soon with your 1969 set!  And sorry about the Sugar Bowl!  (hehehehehe)

The Lost His Mind Collector

I'm interrupting my COMC Black Friday parade to show a group of cards that my good pal AJ from The Lost Collector blog sent recently.  He periodically sends great stuff out of the blue, and this package was no different.

First, the star of the PWE in my opinion:

An exfractor of the best player on the best team of all time, the 2014 Texas Rangers.  That's just my guess anyway.  My estimates conservatively predict a 140-22 Rangers record next year, with Beltre flirting with .400 and 60 home runs.  This is based on a complex algorithm-formula type thing I do in my head that I can't begin to explain to you in this forum.

Next is a neat oversize card from 1986 Donruss:

I like this card as a stunning reminder of how rough it used to be rooting for the Rangers.  Gary Ward was the "All Star" choice back then.  I'm going to pull this card our every time I get frustrated with a modest losing streak from the Jon Daniels era Rangers.

Finally, this:

 I assume AJ sent this because he thinks this is how we look and behave down here in Arkansas.  I'd take offense, except for this true story from my childhood (which took place in Texas, thank you very much):

I have an Aunt ("Genie" we'll call her) who is best described as a free spirit.  She lived about two hours from where I grew up in the panhandle of Texas.  I had no inclination that she had any interest in WWE (WWF back then) wrestling.  I did though.  Big time.  I would always try to attend WWF events whenever they made their way to Amarillo, Texas.  One year, "Hacksaw" Jim Dugan was in Amarillo, pairing with Hillbilly Jim to take on King Kong Bundy and Andre The Giant in a tag team match.

I looked out in the crowd and noticed someone holding up a sign that read:  "King Kong Is A Ding Dong!"  I grabbed my friend who was with me and was getting ready to make fun of the rube that had brought that sign.  But then I looked down at the sign holder- it was my Aunt Genie.  I slunk down in my seat the rest of the night.

Thanks for the painful childhood reminder AJ.

The Rangers Through Sepia Colored Glasses

Yeah, these scans look terrible.  But I got a couple of Sepia parallels of two of my favorite players and had to show them because I have a blog and that's what it's for.

The scans are terrible, but the cards are not.  I'm shooting for Darvish next.  And I would probably have already bought an Andrus, but Andrus wasn't included in 2013 Chrome for some reason and I am plenty steamed about it let me tell you.

Listia-ing Wins, And Some Are Not Crap!

Wow, I've only written 9 posts this month.  This will be my lightest month by far since I've started this thing.  I don't know if I have just hit a max on my bandwidth this month, or if my interest is starting to fade in keeping up this blog.  I don't think it's the latter.  I think I'm just maxed out, but bear with me while I list out what I think are the contributing factors to my slow-down for my own benefit:

• The Rangers are playing horrible baseball this month in general.  It seems likely that my boys will be on the outside looking in for the post season this year.   That kind of dampens my enthusiasm for anything baseball right now.  However the Rangers did give me at least one more thrill last night.
• We had the inside of our house painted last week and I had to move all my cards into storage temporarily.  Out of sight, out of mind, no posts.  The cards are back out now, ready to be played with.
• We are two people short at the office and at the same time we are wrapping up the fiscal year.   Lots of projects, ridiculous timelines and pressure.   DING DING DING, we have a winner!  I guess work truly has had my full attention, which explains the lack of desire to post, or do anything with cards right now.  I haven't even been to Cleve's in 3 weeks.  Now that I'm coming out of the work black hole, I'm starting to feel my interest in cards picking back up.

Something else that's been nagging at me is that I feel like my blog has become stale.  I need something new and different to do, but I don't know what that is yet.

So allow me to be stale for at least one more day and simply show my recent Listia wins, some of which are really great cards:

 

 

I need to figure out how to get my scanner to stop cropping the hell out of my cards. That way you could better view this great lot of Adrian Beltre cards I won.  The top 3 are all rookie cards that I didn't have.

This Manny Machado was the most "expensive" card I got, at around 2,000 credits I think, but I'm still happy to have it.



 These "Greats" inserts from 2013 Topps are fantastic.  I think I managed to get this Ernie Banks for only a couple hundred credits.

 

 

I also won a lot of Texas Ranger cards, but this Ian Kinsler base card was what I was after.  I realized after looking through my Kinsler album, that somehow I didn't have this base card from 2012.

Ah, that felt good.  I think I'll go to Cleve's now.

Burying The Rangers With The Lost Collector

It's official.  This country is broken, and we've lost our way as a decent society.  The Rangers have lost 6 straight and don't appear to be able to beat my son's little league team at this point.  I'm not one for exaggeration, but seriously, this Rangers collapse that is happening to me is the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone in the history of the world.

My only solace this weekend was the package of Ranger cards that my pal AJ from The Lost Collector sent me.  I was traveling on business all week- it was a LOOONNNNNGGGGG week too- and seeing the package from AJ waiting on the table for me was a nice surprise.

There was a bunch of 90s era Rangers (I won't call it junk when it has Rangers on it):

I love sorting through stuff like this, especially when I come across sets I've never seen before.

And there were some really super cards too:

I have no idea what this set is, but it's a really pretty card and numbered to #55.   But even better, AJ continued the Blalock hit parade with an auto!

I'm guessing this was one of AJ's TTM signatures.  Great card choice here with A&G. 

This one blew me away.  This dual relic Alexi Ogando card is like a bright shiny meteorite in hand.  Love it love it love it!

And last but not least is the Jim Mason auto.  This just looks like what a baseball card should look like. 

I know rationally that I should actually blame AJ for the Rangers slump, since they started this horrible losing streak probably the same day he sent this package in the mail.  But I'm going to let my emotions override logic and say that it's maybe not his fault, even though we all know it is.

Thanks for the cards AJ, and thanks for probably ruining the Rangers year even though I won't go on the record and officially put this disaster on your head.  But the whole world knows it, and god help you.

Pie Face Funded: Kinslers and Beltres

I love waking up on days when I know I'm due a padded envelope of cards in the mail that day!  That was Saturday for me, as my "Pie Face" funded purchase from COMC.com came in.  I don't at all regret my decision to purchase a bunch of smaller value cards rather than one or two big vintage cards.   Besides, I'll be able to produce at least 5 or so blog posts over this shipment, starting with some great Ian Kinsler cards:

These two Bowman's Best rookies were the main highlights of the Kinsler portion of this purchase.  I don't have either of these, and therefore my Kinsler collection was not serious.  The Green version on the left is numbered to 899.   I apologize for the cruddy scans.  We bought a new scanner and I haven't played with the settings yet.  I was thrilled with the speed of the scans- but now I see what I get with that.  Guess I need to increase the resolution next time.

For good measure, I picked up chrome and gold versions of his Bowman rookie.  Didn't have them either.

Finally, I tossed in a pair of rad die cuts.  Yes I said "rad."  These cards are rad.  If these aren't rad, I don't know what rad is. 

I added a few cards of one of my other favorite Rangers, Adrian Beltre.  I was going to do a separate post on these, but since it's only four cards, I might as well add them in:

Beltre is frequently referred to in social media as "OS!" As in "Oh Shit!" which is something he is sometimes overheard yelling when a fellow Ranger hits a home run.  Or when he hits one  himself.    I think he's yelling "Oh Shit!" on this card.  This beautiful blue refractor numbered to 250, that is.

 He's saying it on this green parallel, too.  The green isn't numbered, but it's just as pretty as the blue. Have I mentioned I love Adrian Beltre? 

I now have 3 of these green parallel Finest cards.  They're numbered to 199.  So if my math is right,  that means I have about 20% this run in my possession.   

I only have 1 of these orange cards, numbered to 99.  I can't figure out about what percent that equals.  Probably like a dozen % or something like that.

Pie Face Funded: Ranger Relics

A while back I bragged about stumbling upon a Mark Teixeira "pie in the face" variation card while digging through my boxes. 

I sold it online, and got a LOT more for it than I expected.  As soon as the buyer put his funds in my paypal account, I was ready to turn around and spend it, but I was also faced with a decision:  should I get one or two really nice cards, or should I get a bunch of little stuff and maybe knock off some of my checklist needs?  I was spying a T206 Eddie Cicotte card, as well as a 1952 Topps Bob Feller.  Either would have been great additions to my collection.

However, once I started shopping on COMC.com and sportlots.com, I came across too many cards that I "need" for my checklists and decided to go that direction.  But man, that Cicotte would have been nice...

My first pie face funded cards came in today- a group of Ranger relics, starting with 3 from 2013 Allen and Ginter:

This Ian Kinsler card is really nice.  I love the cardboard stock and the bright red swatch.    These full size Allen and Ginter Relics might be something I want to collect later on.  Super nice card.

I like the minis too, just not as much as the full size.  At first I was excited to see a stain on this Elvis Andrus card.  But couldn't that just as easily come from some doofus handling the card and rubbing dirt on it from his back yard?

Does anyone know why the frames are different colors on these?  Does it mean anything? 

Finally, I picked up my first relic card of one of my newest favorite Rangers, Martin Perez. 

Love these cards, and there is more great stuff on the way!  Still, that Cicotte would have been nice....

Prospecting and Hoping: Jorge Alfaro Auto

“It’s starting to come together – and when it gets there, it’s over.”- Rangers player development official on Jorge Alfaro

I like to think I am not easily influenced into believing hype on prospects.  I certainly LIKE to dream on prospects just like any fan, but I usually have a pretty healthy understanding that the odds are generally stacked against a prospect having success at the Major League level.  But then I read quotes like the one above and can't help drinking the kool aid.  And when I then see an affordable autograph card of the player available.... well I can't help myself.    I bought two of these Jorge Alfaro autos from 2013 Bowman Platinum, just because.   How about some more hype?

"What sort of ceiling does Alfaro have? Given the skill set Alfaro is exhibiting now -- big arm, big power, athletic, the type of catcher who should block the plate well and give you good defense, but who isn't going to walk a lot or hit for average, lots of Ks -- Lance Parrish is the comp that comes to mind for me. Parrish was an eight time All Star, six time Silver Slugger winner, three time Gold Glove winner."


"A big strong right-handed bat, the still-teenaged Alfaro looks likely to stick behind the plate, where he exhibits a cannon arm of increasing accuracy. His game-calling skills are a long way off, but if that .320/.430/.750 Sally League line from 2012 is a real indicator of his potential, the Rangers will be content to wait it out."


"That means that Alfaro could turn into a...5-tool catcher? He is still light years away from making good on all of the potential, but the end product could be something quite frightening if it all comes together. Because replacement level at catcher is so low, both in terms of real baseball and in fantasy, Jorge Alfaro is one of the highest ceiling players in all of the Minor Leagues."

At Some Point A-Rod Will Go So Far Ridiculous That He'll Be Collectible Again

There's got to be a point where A-Rod becomes such a train wreck that his cards will once again be in demand.  Right?  I kind of feel like that is happening with Jose Canseco.  His cards are still pretty much worthless, but won't we be talking about him 20 years from now?  Won't that make his cards collectible again?  I caught myself looking up prices on some of his '86 Rookies after I read a few of his thoughts on Twitter.  I highly encourage you to follow Canseco if you have a Twitter account.  He's either the world's biggest idiot, or an absolute genius. 

I can see that happening with A-Rod.  You know there is plenty more bizarre/crazy in the well in that guy.  And the moment someone writes a comprehensive biography on him, I'm plunking down my money for it without hesitation.

That's why I was happy to get a few more A-Rod cards from Sam at the Daily Dimwit.

  Please, please, please don't take this as an invite to dump your A-Rod cards on me. 

But you can dump your Rangers on me, and Sam did just that:

There was a lot more in the pack, but these were some of my favorites.  Love the Buckel Topps 100 card, and had been wanting one since the set came out. 

Thanks again for the trade Sam!

My Favorite Martin Redux

The Rangers have been red hot lately, and a contributing factor has been the stellar pitching of Leonys Martin Perez.  Perez  Martin has long been heralded as a top pitching hitting prospect, but seemed to regress last year and fell off a lot of people's radars.  Good thing the Rangers didn't give up on him, or trade him away because he's been a revelation this summer.

I decided I should get some cards of him for my Rangers album:

This Bowman Sterling card is numbered to 199 and is amazing in hand.  I got it for a buck on sportlots.com.  I'd like 8 more of these and make a whole page of them.

This is pretty much all I have of Martin, so if you have anything cool of his and are willing trade, let me know!

Finally, just to show that I do read the comments, let me humor The Lost Collector so that he isn't once again totally duped and disappointed by the title of this post:

My Favorite Martin

The Rangers have been red hot lately, and a contributing factor has been the stellar pitching or Martin Perez.  Perez has long been heralded as a top pitching prospect, but seemed to regress last year and fell off a lot of people's radars.  Good thing the Rangers didn't give up on him, or trade him away because he's been a revelation this summer. 

I decided I should get some cards of him for my Rangers album:

There aren't a whole lot of cards available of Perez.  In fact, I don't think there is a 2013 card of him yet in any set.  I guess that will change quickly if he keeps pitching like he has been.

Taking Crap From The Lost Collector

So A.J. from The Lost Collector finds me "unpalatable" eh?  I'm a "Jerk" am I?  Well, this is what my fellow Razorback Cliff Lee thinks about these insidious, and downright hurtful jabs at my expense:

Cliff would probably crack a bit of a smile if he knew that A.J. also played "good cop" in the mail to his "bad cop" online.  I mean, a guy would have to have a bit of a heart to send cool stuff like this:

I think, or at least hope, that someday we will look back on Derek Holland as one of the characters of the game.  He's turning into a stud pitcher, but he's also colorful and has a great sense of humor.  Did anyone see his "Dumb and Dumber" bit for the MLB fan cave?

I apologize for the strange scan, but that was the best I could do with this Will Clark UC3 card.  I'd never seen one of these before, and it's a neat card in hand.

Finally, I think this was meant to be a throw in, but it actually inspired me a little.  I've never put much though into collecting Rangers team cards, but I liked the looks of this and dug around to see what other Ranger team cards I have.  Turns out, I have a decent collection already and I put them all in a page in my Rangers binder.  It looks pretty cool, and I'm going to start looking out for more.

So, thanks I guess.