The Non-Blaster

Isaac is always checking out the card aisle at the big box store. If they don’t have any new packs or packs he needs to finish off sets he invariably focuses on blaster boxes. Specifically, the blasters that guarantee a relic card. I try to tell him a blaster for cards he doesn’t want (except for the random relic) just aren’t worth the trouble – its just $20 of junk he’s going to put straight into the trade or hospital boxes. That $20 would be better spent buying singles he actually wants or needs.

So… I decided to put my $20 where my mouth is and hit ebay to see what I could get for $20. I decided to only buy cards from a single seller to minimize shipping and handling which ended up being another $4.

I ended up with a good mix of Cardinals and Ike’s favorite players: 7 relics and one auto.
First, the favorite player – Grady Sizemore. 2004 UD USA Baseball Jersey numbered to 850, 2008 Sweet Spot Jersey, 2009 Topps Unique Jersey numbered to 275.


And now the Cardinals:
1999 Fleer Bob Forsch Auto, 2005 UD Origins Scott Rolen Jersey, 2007 Allen Ginter Scott Rolen Jersey, 2008 Donruss Ozzie Smith Jersey numbered to 99, 2010 Chicle Colby Rasmus Jersey

St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm Up 2010 - Day Two

Day Two was just as crazy as the first. If anything the lines were even longer from the start. We only had one pay auto so we started off with the youngsters.


Lance Lynn is yet another 4th or 5th starter type at Memphis. But to his credit, Lynn moved quickly up the ranks last year and while not spectacular, he apparently has great control and manages to get people out. Shane Robinson follows in the Mighty Mite footsteps of Aaron Miles... plus he wears cool socks. How great is that pic on the Springfield Cardinals card (below)?

Mitch Boggs has been wearing out I-55 the last couple of years but did a nice job over an extended stay last summer. He's in the hunt for the 5th starter slot this year. Super nice guy and Isaac was excited to get a chrome card auto'd.

P.J. Walters, like Lynn and Boggs, is another back-end starter type. Josh Kinney was a key piece in the 2006 playoff & World Series bullpen who's been trying to make a comeback. We wish him well. We close this page with one from *my* younger years, Ken Dayley. Dayley was lights out in the 1985 bullpen by committee. One of the few second guesses in Whitey Herzog's career might be pulling Dayley early agains the Royals in the World Series.

We had a chance to get Colby Rasmus' autograph for free during last summer's All Star festivities but Isaac sister had had enough that day. We had to pay for it this time, but it was still reasonable (and goes to charity). Seconds after pulling this Chrome X-Fractor last fall, Isaac declared he would get it autographed. And he did. Isaac knows Andy Benes as Fredbird's sidekick on the Cardinals weekly kids program. Now he thinks he makes cool B's on his autograph.

Descalso may well become another in the long line of cheap, cost controlled middle infielders who field well and tasked not to hurt the team at the plate. With Skip's two year deal done and with Tyler Greene ahead of him on the depth charts, Descalso may be an injury plug-in at best this year. Scherer is a career AAA-er in his late 20's. Not sure he's ever been to the show.

And we end with Tyler Norrick. I really like the Springfield Cardinals set. They even had an "insert" set of Rehabbing Cardinals from the big club (Lohse, Glaus, etc...).

That's it until next year. I promised Isaac I'd take the Monday off in 2011 and make it a three day weekend.