Next Stop...IOWA!!!

Taking a trip to Dubuque, IA, today for a wedding.  There are a few quick errands that need to be run first, but we should get there about noon.  I am hoping that before making the trip that I can get some cards for the trip (one of my errands brings me close to a couple of stores).  Might have to do a couple of text message pack breaks if need be.

Hope all is well.  Didn't realize that I've been off the blog since the All Star break.  Guess I took a break myself.  Oh well.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

And the National League Wins Again!!!

Woohoo!!!  Yes, my Cubs may be out of it so home field advantage does not matter.  But I always root for the NL to win the All-Star Games!!!

8-0!!!  Talk about your blowout!!!

I tried to simulate the ASG (using Strategic Baseball Simulator) using the stats of the 68 players on the active roster.  In a 162 game season, the AL came out on top 114 times.  This was supposed to be a slaughter for the American League.

But that's why the game is played on the field and not on paper or on the computer.

I'm still calming down.  More to come shortly.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

And Now, Your Starting Lineups...

As announced yesterday afternoon:

For the National League:

1. Carlos Gonzalez, COL, dh
2. Melky Cabrera, SFG, cf
3. Ryan Braun, MIL, lf
4. Joey Votto, CIN, 1b
5. Carlos Beltran, STL, rf
6. Buster Posey, SFG, c
7. Pablo Sandoval, SFG, 3b
8. Dan Uggla, ATL, 2b
9. Rafael Furcal, STL, ss

And the American League:

1. Derek Jeter, NYY, ss
2. Robinson Cano, NYY, 2b
3. Josh Hamilton, TEX, lf
4. Jose Bautista, TOR, rf
5. Prince Fielder, DET, 1b
6. Adrian Beltre, TEX, 3b
7. David Ortiz, BOS, dh
8. Mike Napoli, TEX, c
9. Curtis Granderson, NYY, cf

The starting pitchers for the 80th ASG are Matt Cain of the Giants and Justin Verlander of the Tigers.

Enjoy the game everyone.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Peavy Replaces Wilson on AL ASG Roster

The Angels announced today that C. J. Wilson, who was selected to replace CC Sabathia at the All-Star Game, will pull out of the All-Star Game due to blister problems in his left middle finger.  In his stead, manager Ron Washington selected Jake Peavy of the Chicago White Sox to take his spot on the AL All-Star Team roster.

Peavy has had a comeback season of sorts in 2012.  Traded to Chicago in 2009, he had been battling injury issues and other issues that made many in the city question why he was sent here.  But this year, he is finally showing what the Sox was supposed to be getting, a power pitcher who can dominate a ball game.

Jake now joins fellow Pale Hose players Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, and Chris Sale on the All-Star Team.  With four players from the South Side, and two Northsiders going to KC, Chicago will be well represented at the ASG.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

PS:  Please note that all but one of the replacements named since Sunday's big announcement were from the Final Man Ballot (Jones, Bourn, Harper, and now Peavy).  jba

Desmond and Stanton out of the ASG, Bourn and Harper Named Replacements.

Ian Desmond has been battling an oblique strain and will not be participating at the All-Star Game.  In his place, Tony LaRussa added Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves to the 34-man roster.

This is Bourn's second All-Star Game appearance, and his first with the Braves.  He joins the team with fellow Braves teammates Dan Uggla, Chipper Jones, and Craig Kimbrell.

In the meantime, as one National has to be removed from the NL roster, another one has been tabbed to participate in the Midsummer Classic.

Giancarlo "Don't Call Me Mike" Stanton is now out of the ASG with a knee injury that will keep him out of playing for four to six weeks. So what does manager LaRussa do?

Bryce Harper...yes THAT BRYCE HARPER...was named as Giancarlo's replacement on the roster. The nineteen-year old now becomes the youngest position player ever to participate in an All-Star Game (Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller, both pitchers, were younger than Harper at the time of their selections). So now the circle is complete. Both he and fellow phenom Stephen Strasburg now make the first of (what people are hoping for anyway) many All-Star Game appearances for the Nationals. Harper will also see fellow Nat Gio Gonzalez in KC.

More roster moves to come. Sunday's starters include Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.  I heard flying rumors that the Sunday rule may no longer really be in effect.  We shall wait and see.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Holliday Replaces Molina on NL ASG Roster

On Friday, Cardinal's All-Star catcher Yadier Molina was put on the bereavement list following the passing of her wife's grandmother.  According to mlb.com, he is now in Puerto Rico, and will not be playing this weekend, and at the All-Star Game.  Our condolences go out to Molina and his family.

To take his place on the NL All-Star team roster, manager Tony LaRussa selected OF Matt Holliday of the Cardinals.  Holliday, who leads the Cardinals with a .318 average, is now a six-time All-Star and joins a slew of Redbirds on the All-Star Roster (Rafael Furcal, Carlos Beltran, Lance Lynn, and Final Man winner David Freese).

For those adding cards to your All-Star Game binder (what...you're NOT??!), Holliday's 2012 Topps card is #320, and from the retail exclusive team set, his card is #STL3.

More players will inevitably have to be replaced on these rosters, so stay tuned.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Blogroll Updating...Because It Really Needed It!!!

It's been a few months since I last did some maintenance on the Sports Card Blogroll. Between work (real), and the new blog project, I haven't had much time to keep up with the SCBR. People have been sending e-mails to add or remove sites from the blogroll, and I have finally gotten around to responding to the emails.

So here I am more than two months later, trying to keep up. Let's review.

The last time I ran the monthly blogroll post, I ended with 355 blogs. I have added a ton since then, especially days after the purge. Presently, the blogroll contains 382 active sites (a gain of 27 new blogs). Not including the five blogs that I added today, all new blogs have been announced on twitter (I will take care of announcing the new blogs after this post is done). Here are the blogs that are going to be removed from the active roster:

• For Card's Sake
• 2008 Ginter Code Champion
• Baseball Obsession-itis
• History on Cardboard
• Uncle Doc's Closet
• Big Break Sports Cards
• Dinged Corners (remaining permanently as part of the Blogroll Hall of Fame)
• Cards On Ice
• The Hockey Card Show
• Tom The Ripper's Blogosphere
• Back in Packs
• Junk Wax Gems
• 1967 Football Cards
• 1973 Topps Baseball Set Builder
• 1974 Topps Set
• Project Baseball 1976
• On Card Autos
• Cougar Cards
• Grand Cards
• Brent & Becca Breaks
• The Wax Czar's Wax Report

That's 21 blogs being removed from the active roster (some because they've been inactive for eight months). That brings us down 361 active blogs on the roster, for a two-and-a-half month net gain of +6.

If you or someone you know has a blog about the Hobby we all love, please send me an email at bdj610@hotmail.com and let me know about it. If your blog was on the big SCBR and was removed from inactivity but are planning on rejoining the big Hobby Blogging Community, let me know as well so I can put your blog back on the roster.

It's All-Star Game time people. While the rest of the sports are on their off-season hiatus, baseball is in full gear. And with the season, so are the cards. Archives was a surprise hit. Allen & Ginter season is upon us. Life is good if you collect (and have the funds to do so). And for those who can't yet (ahem...), we can live vicariously through the great blogs out there that are talking, writing, reviewing, trading, and sharing cards from their ever growing collections.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama