LA Dodger Report: State of the Dodgers

Aloha, everybody, 

News, update and commentary on the State of the Dodgers, May 8, 2019

Here's my First (and probabbly only) Blaster of 2018 Topps

Aloha, everybody, 

Everyone was showing off their brand new Topps 2018 cards and I just couldn't resist. I bolted out the door and went right over to my local Target. 

Topps hadn't been up 48 hours, and just as Dimebox Nick reported, the early bird pack searchers had already struck. Several hanger boxes were ripped open and jumbo packs showed signs of being "massaged". Ugh! 

I grabbed a blaster box and headed home. We'll start off the highlights of the box with the Dodgers I pulled...

With his ROY award, young Cody will be stuffed into a lot of packs, and I'm glad I pulled one in my first foray. 

Here's an awkward pull. While I liked finding this Alex Verdugo RC, Zippy Zappy already had one waiting for me, so it was raining Verdugos. 

A great shot of Justin Turner. I presume he's watching one of his dingers fly outta the park. Cody watches as well from the on-deck circle. 

Here's a nice shiny shiny League Leader. Boy, I wish that Turner card was one of these...

Four Dodgers isn't bad for my ten packs. It could have been five if the Dodgers hadn't traded away my favorite prospect in the quest for the Tipping Boy, Yu Darvish. The Rangers made out well with this trade...

Each blaster comes with one of these Weekend MLB patches. I got Wil Meyers. 

Gavin from Breakdown cards jumped on this one, so at least if I didn't get a Dodger, it was a card for one of my friends. That'll work. 

Next up are the inserts. As you all know, everything here is trade bait, so just give a shout if you are chasing any of these subsets or players. 

A.J., the Lost Collector set aside a couple of Bellingers for me from his 2018 pulls. Do you want either of these Yankees? (There's another Judge in the upcoming subsets)

Anybody for any of these? 

There you have it. Not a great blaster, but not really a disappointment either. One last note, the collation was excellent. I caught only one double, CC Sabathia, in an unflattering photo showing quite the tummy. lol 

Now all I need to complete the weekend is for the Cheatin' Pats to go down in flames. 

Aloha! 

G(reat) C(ardboard) R(ocks) L(ike) Nothing Else

Aloha, everybody, 

Have you ever had one of those posts that you start, and restart, and then restart yet again? You're reading one of those now. 

It doesn't have anything to do with writer's block, or not being inspired. It's nothing like that. In fact, I'm plenty inspired by the cards that I'll be showing off here. It's things outside of our hobby that are zooming around my brain and distracting me from the clarity that cardboard brings.

That's why I'm writing tonight. I'm seeking that which our hobby (almost) always delivers - serenity, order, enjoyment, and escape. So let's get to it. 

In the previous post, I showed off the cards that GCRL Jim sent to me, that chipped away at my vintage Dodgers wish lists. Tonight, we'll check out the modern cardboard that rounded out the goodies.

I'm a sucker for the "baseball" texture that they add to these Ovation sets, but this Raul Mondesi card leaves me wanting more. By more, I'm thinking, a photo that doesn't make Raul look like he's stepping into a mystery hole, and he's frustrated because he can't bring his bat along with him.

 This red-haired chia pet is one of the hottest Dodgers right now. He was in a horrendous slump through the first two months of the season, but he's been gangbusters for the past couple of weeks. So it was a real treat to get this one. 

A few posts back, I wrote a post about the legendary Duke of Flatbush. I showed off some of my favorite cards from the Duke, and then along came this baby. This one just joined that stack of faves. Who can resist those baby Dodger blue eyes? 

 If there's one thing I'm pretty sure Jim has, and I don't - it's a whole lotta Steve Garvey cards. This one mentions Garvey and the 1981 WS. So long ago the Dodgers used to semi-regularly be in the Fall Classic, and it sure doesn't look like they'll make it this year either. 

Here we go. A beautiful tribute card to Number 42, with a bonus lurking skipper, Walter Alston.

Believe it or not, these are my first American Pie cards. A very nice surprise. 

This group of four comes from the Greats of the Game set. I've got a few more of these in the Dodgers shoebox. It's time to put them all together and see where I stand on completion of the Dodgers. 

Here's another Raaaaaauuuuuuuuuul card with Mondesi blasting another monster home run. He's a member of the Power Players, but I'm not so sure how powerful that chalk art background is. Powerful backdrops or not, Raul Mondesi cardboard is always awesome. 

 I've been picking up these Cooperstown Collection cards here and there, and Jim dropped a great new addition on me here. 

Finally - the man. Mr. Koufax, on a tribute card that's right up my alley...

This card commemorates the 1965 World Series win over the Minnesota Twins. The series went seven games. Koufax pitched two shutouts and struck out ten to win Game 7.

These are all great additions to my collection. Thanks again, Jim. It's time for me to start putting together a pile for you, my friend. 

Aloha! 






 

Gettin' Zippy Zapped is Always a Good Thang (Part 2)

Aloha, everybody, 

Happy Sunday morning to y'all. We're waking up here in LA, still tasting the bitter ashes of last night's walk-off defeat at the hands of the hated Giants. 

The Dodgers will send their new teenage arm to the mound, and it should be a good one. Until then, let's look at some more of that cardboard goodness that ZZ sent my way...

I'm a big fan of the southpaw, Ryu, but unfortunately, he's been on the DL all year. He's on a rehab stint this week, so I hope he'll do well and bolster the Dodgers' shaky starting rotation. 

I haven't completed the team cards from this year's Topps vape set, so this one was needed.  
 

  
Speaking of pitchers coming off the DL, young De Leon just returned and hurled three perfect innings, with six strike outs. That was a big "Whew!" to those of us who were worried about his return. 

Look for this guy to be coming up soon (?) to the big club. 

 Raffi was a big favorite in my house back in his playing days; we even felt a little sad here when he recently retired from baseball. 

I've been trying, but can't recall why the Dodgers wore those red caps.

 Pitching prospect Richy was part of the trade with Philadelphia for Chase Utley. He's on their AA squad, with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 6. Thanks Richy, for helping to bring Utley to LA. 

Here come two more team cards to help me fill out my 2016 Dodgers set...

 JT has been fighting a season-long slump, and the worst part of it was manager Dave Roberts' insistence on batting Turner in the 2 or 3 spot, despite his being a rally killer. 

It got to the point where I named him the Red Albatross over on the Dodgers site I write for. Maybe it was a good thing, because the day after I wrote the Red Albatross story, he hit a game-winning home run, and has been breaking out of his slump against the Giants.

 Coming up is my first card from...
 

 Thompson here is showing some great promise, and quickly went from bench player to starter - mostly on the power of a big bat. I'm digging this kid very much, and very happy to have his card. 

That's Part 2 of the ZZ package, but stay tuned, because the final installment will contain the Dodger Blue vintage he sent my way. 

Aloha!