My Take on Changing the Rule

I cant' take it anymore.

Anything baseball related right now can't go more than 30 seconds without the "Should the rule be changed?" thing happening. Just in case it's unclear, I'm referring to the Runners railroading Catchers thing that's been in the spotlight due to the Buster Posey injury.

Here's my (hopefully) end all take.

If you change the rule for running over catchers due to injuries then you need to change the rules and regulate how fast pitchers can throw a ball. Countless batters get hurt and suffer broken hands, wrists, etc. every year from pitched balls. And let's not forget about Marlon Byrd!!! No pitcher should be allowed to throw a ball faster than 50 MPH.

Another rule change: Too many outfielders are injured each year from running into walls as a result of chasing down balls. We must change the rules so that any ball that is within 6 feet of any wall (fair or foul) is an automatic out providing an outfielder is within 3 feet of the ball when it hits the ground.

I have about 6 or 7 more changes I can make here, but I'm hoping the point has come across. Look, I'm not saying it's not unfortunate that Posey got hurt, of course it is. But come on, is everyone really freaking out this hardcore about this? As long as it's clean, it's fair game. If the catcher is 30 feet up the 3rd base line and the ball hasn't reached the 1st cutoff man yet and the runner railroads the catcher, then yeah, not cool. But if the catcher is blocking the plate and it's a close play, then brace yourself. It's no different than a take-out slide at 2nd base.

(...Joe)

Something a Little Different pt.2

It's been almost a year since I did the initial "Different" post and my recent trip to Rhode Island inspired me to to a second installment.

Last week I went to visit my friend who lives out in RI for her birthday (also same friend who's getting married next month). I took a train out there and we didn't have any real plans that I knew of for when I got there other than anticipating being carried out of a couple bars that night. Her and her boyfriend... uhh, fiance I mean (still weird) picked me up from the station and we headed out to an IHOP down the street. As we're wating for our food she mentions that she wanted to go to a concert for her birthday but she said it with a kind of half smile.

"Oh God" I thought. "What show?"

I'm a metal guy so I like my music loud fast and screamy! She does too but she can be a little girly of course, so I'm terrified at this point that 8 hours from now I'm gonna be standing 45 minutes into a Goo Goo Dolls set.

"Bullet for my Valentine and Halestorm" she replied.

...

...

!!!

!!!

"You have to be fucking kidding me, that's awesome!!! How much are the tickets?" I asked.
"Well, we didn't get them yet. I think they're $30 though..."

Oh no

Any metal heads reading should know what's up about now, but for those unfamiliar with today's metal/hard rock scene, both Bullet and Halestorm sell out arenas on a regular basis just on their own. But both together at a venue that reaches capacity at about 250-300 people and you're not looking at very good odds. Whatever, gotta try and stay optimistic.

So the time finally comes when the doors open and day of show tickets go on sale. We're standing in line, a very LONG fucking line but we make it to the door and I buy my ticket for $30. I start walking to the side so I'm out of the way and I hear behind me "Sorry bro, cash only. No cards." I look behind me and it's my friend and her fiance. They didn't have any cash and I only had $10 left. I look out the door and there are now more people behind us then were in front of us before the doors opened...

Oh no

They run around the corner to find an ATM but even then, they've gotta get back on line and hope that there are still some left. I start thinking about a "plan B" in case the show does sell out and they can't get in. Obviously I'm not gonna say, "Well I'll call you when the shows over to come get me, hope you have fun somewhere else!" So if they get back to late, my only real option is to leave the show and try to sell my ticket to someone else and try to get my $50 back. I look at the ticket I'm holding for the first time, "May 15th, 2011 Social Distortion"

"What the fuck is this?!?! No one in their right mind would buy this off me to get in! Are you shitting me?"

Sigh. I look up still standing in the same place since I walked in and suddenly I notice I'm face to face with an ATM right inside the venue. Double sigh. Suddenly, I get a text.

"Hey, we're inside in front of the bar."

Oh thank god there's beer!!! Oh yeah, and my friends made it inside... yayyyyy.

So everything has worked out. We all got in and we got there early enough where we were able to stake claim to a comfortable spot. Finally, it's show time...

The first band comes on and they're a local band form the area, so obviously I've never heard of them before. They put on a good show and sounded great and after their last song the singer said that they would be hanging out at their merch table for the rest of the show.

Next band... Halestorm. I'm stoked. Can't wait. For those who don't know who Halestorm is, think modern day Joan Jett. The lights come on and they start playing. The singer, Lzzy Hale comes on and her voice fills up the venue like I have never heard before. I've been going to shows and still go to shows and have seen countless bands. I used to play in a band for years and we played countless shows. My local venue is roughly the same size of this place, so I was absolutely stunned when I heard the way her voice surrounded you. It was surreal.

Anyways, they put on an amazing show and I headed over to their merch table to pick up a CD. On the journey over, I passed the first bands table and saw the singer sitting there. He was a bigger dude with shaggy blonde hair and as I'm walking he looks over and makes eye contact. I do a quick head nod and shift direction to walk over to shake his hand.

I extend my arm and we shake hands.
"Hey dude, thanks. You guys put on a great showohmygod you're not him. You're not even a dude."

Oh no

I'm now left in the middle of the most awkard hand shake of my life with a very perplexed looking woman in her late 30's. I'm still shaking her hand. Quick, plan b. PLAN B! I need an escape route. Look around, are any of the other members here?
No.
Fuck.
Is anyone dieing?
No.
Shit.
Any drunk girls eying me from the bar?
No... oh, wait hold on. You looked kindda, nope. That's a dude. Dude checking me out. Still less awkward than where I am now, but not my best option.

"Well, tell them they put on a great show." I said and then I power walked the fuck outta there.

I made it to Halestorms table and bought a CD. Turns out all the CDs are autographed by the band, which is very cool, but not really how I like to get things signed by bands, ya know? Whatever, not complaining.

Bullet for My Valentine is next.
Very cool.
Very loud.
Very talented musicians.
Very British.
They put on the 2nd best show of the night, sounded great and had the entire place singing along to the songs. Overall the show was awesome and we had a great time. As we're walking out of the venue we notice a huge clusterfuck of people. We get closer and

!!!

It's Halestorm hanging out signing autographs! I instantly revert back to my 12 year old self and jump on line and can't wait to meet the band ohmygodwe'regonnameetthebandthisissocool. Again, I played for years. I've met alot of bands, but it never gets old.

We're waiting on line and of course you have your typical douche bags cutting through the line and whatnot, but like I said, I'm 12 years old again at this point so I don't care. I don't know phrases like "I hope you drive your car off a cliff" or "If you don't move to the back of the line like a normal person I'm gonna cut your tongue out and hang you with it." I'm innocent again. I'm such a dork...

We're finally next on line. Everyone's getting their pictures taken and CDs signed etc. when I suddenly realize "I don't have anything for them to sign!!!."

Oh no

I quickly look into my wallet to resort to the tried and true method of getting a dollar bill signed. I got some money out of the ATM at the show for beer so I should have something left.

"I DO!!!"
...
"SHIT!!!!!!!!"

I've only got a $10 left. Grrrrr.
K, now what?
Plan C.
Got it.
Am I really gonna ask them to sign this?
Holy crap we're next!

My friend starts talking to the drummer and I'm shaking hands with Lzzy Hale. "You guys put on an amazing show, Thank you!" I said.
"Thank you so much, we really appreciate that, honestly thank you." She replied. "Did you have anything you wanted signed?"

Here goes nothing...
"Actually, would you guys mind signing my train tickets?"
"Absolutely, we'd love to!"
Day. Made. Awesome.
"haha, Thanks! I took a 6 hour $280 train to come here tonight" I told her.
"Really?! That's crazy!" She said. "Where are you from?"
"NY. About 3 hours North of the city. But..." and I turn to my friend
"...I'm visiting her for her birthday today!"
"Oh happy birthday!!!"
Friend embarrassed. But she knows I have more ammo on her.
"And!" I say again to Hale "She's getting married next month!"
"Oh my God, congratulations! That's great!!!"
"AND!!!!" I say one last time "Tell her the best part!" This time to my friend.
"Oh boy." my friend says. At this point she's completely embarrassed. "He's my Man of Honor." and points to me laughing as I'm doing a little shuffle dance.
Hale looks at my friend and starts telling her "That's awesome! That's exactly what I want to do." referring to having a Man of Honor rather than a Maid of Honor. "All of my closest friends are guys so it's always just made more sense to me. I'm so happy for you, congratulations!"

I still have 3 other members to meet at this point and unfortunately the people behind us were not as interested in our banter as we were, so I moved on as my tickets got passed around. I shook hands with the rest of the band, told them thank you for the show and for signing when I noticed the bassist is left handed. He hands me back my tickets and I hold my hand out one last time. My left hand. He looked at me like I was a freak when I told him "I'm left handed too. This is how we should be shaking hands." He laughed, shook my hand and the three of us proceeded on with our night where I later got my picture taken with a cow.




(...Joe)

Group Break Question

K, so I wanna do a group break soon but I'm having a dilemma trying to decide which box to break. I want to open up 2 of the same product to help put overall odds in our favor and I want to get them from my local card shop since I haven't gotten anything from there in awhile.

So these are the 3 I'm torn between...
2009 Ticket to Stardom
2007 Goudey
2010 Bowman Chrome

I'm pretty sure I can do the Ticket and the Goudey for about $8 per team and the Bowman for $7. Let me know which one you'd be interested in breaking and we can get the ball rolling!

(...Joe)

So This is What the End of the World is Like

...

I'm strangely comfortable.

(...Joe)

Anyone Need Some Rings?

No, random generic Cubs fan who just clicked my link, not those kind of rings...

So I just remembered that I haven't checked my Diamond Giveaway page in awhile. I only have about 5 or 6 cards and rings but I managed to get a couple '70's cards so I figured I'd check it out just in case someone was offering a vintage Met I needed.

Nope.

Same stupid offers of a '90 Topps no-name for a '74 Topps no-name. Sigh.

Next I checked the rings just cause... well it was a button to click.

...

???

269 offers all for one ring. The fuck man? It's a Babe Ruth ring and I remember reading a post on Play at the Plates page about his Mantle ring being an SP so is this the same deal for the Ruth?

I haven't really been playing along at all so if it is, then you guys have dibs on trading me for it. I've also got a Braves, A's, Expos, Blue Jays, Jackie Robinson and an Ozzie Smith ring if any of you need one or all of those. Let me know and their all yours!

(...Joe)

Verlander Trade Bait

Today I've got a Justin Verlander auto I want to try and move. This is one of the first cards I bought off ebay when I got back into collecting. It's a TTM auto on his 2005 Bowman RC and again, it was an ebay buy so I didn't send it personally, but from the research I've done the auto looks legit.

And a closer look at the auto...


I'm not asking the world for this card, though I would like a little in return, so leave a comment or email if you're interested!

(...Joe)

Attention to Detail

One thing I am continuously impressed by on everyone's blog is the attention to detail on cards. Now, I like baseball cards, not gonna lie. When I get new ones, I study them for a bit, take in the picture then flip it over to the back, check out the same Piazza and/or Wright stats that I've already memorized and then back to the front again. I look each card over but I never seem to acquire that same level of detail that most of you guys do. I mean, I study and analyze canine body language but I can't even tell when a uniform is airbrushed for fucks sake!

One thing I did notice today however,was this...

Notice anything strange? If not, how about now...

That is a metal bat right?

I realize this is most of you noticed this when you were about, 9 or so but I'm having a moment here. And just in case you were wondering, no, apparently it didn't help him any. He only hit 4 HR in '78.

(...Joe)

Tradewinds

I've been putting some dents into my '64 Topps Coins set lately, but that's not why we're here today. No, today we're back to prove that the internet is capable of more than just using Google for spell check or free porn. That's right, it's a trade post mo'fucka.

First up, a couple cards that came some time ago from Thoughts and Sox. After I claimed the Reyes refractor he posted, these 2 cards showed up on his page the within the next day or two.

So I, of course, put a claim on them and BOOM! now I have them. I'm halfway to the team set of 2010 Finest Refracs thanks solely to Adam so the search is on for the last 3.

Next is a neato little package from My Past Time... I sent him some Mantles in response to his post requesting them for his friend. I'm not talking about actual, original vintage Mantles here either, just any Mantles including the shit that Topps still thinks we like. For whatever reason, this guy wanted them but hey, that's what trading's about! In return (among others) I found

and

The Milladge is #/50 and I must say, any Ultimate Collection card I've seen looks slick. I need to start looking at more singles of that stuff on ebay.

Lastly, we have some cards that came just today. A Gypsy Queen team set courtesy of Clear Cut Cards.
Editors' note: rather than subject the reader to any more pictures of Gypsy Queen, the author has decided instead to show images of dogs in mid-shake. Thank you.








(...Joe)

Philisophical Fridays

"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball."

Bill Veeck

I Know Who Really Killed Bin Laden

Veritas
Aequitas

Don't Fuck.

(...Joe)

Best. Quote. Ever

"During the game you heard the chants, and didn't know exactly what was going on but found out an inning or two later. It was pretty cool. I don't like to give Philadelphia fans too much credit, but they got this one right, and it's a proud moment to stand out there when you have 45,000 or 50,000 people chanting. That was pretty special."

David Wright, May 2nd 2011

You had me at "I don't like Philly fans"!

(...Joe)