Custom Card of the Day: Bumgarner Edition

Yep. Still here. Still breathing. Just forgot to post for a couple days. Big whoop.

Now, onto the basis of this post, which, sadly, is not Madison Bumgarner, even if he is one of the best pitchers in the NL right now.

I'm currently, writing this post from my cabin in Lake George, New York, where I'll be for the next week. I go here every summer, so longtime fans should be used to this crap by now. Thankfully we have wifi this year.

As I mentioned last year, there are no card shops here anymore, as my dear Adironpacks have left. However, I do plan on hitting a local Target, and possibly getting some newer wax/Topps Football from this year.

Yet that is not my only card-related plan this week. One day this week, myself, my dad, my cousin Kyle, my unidentified relative Pete, and probably one other guy, will be headed to Cooperstown.

Yeah, there are no inductions or anything to worry about, we're just going to go. Kyle's never been, and I've been three times already. Also, I plan on taking advantage of the many, many card shops in the area. Because they are that good.

So that's this week. Local wax, Baseball Hall of Fame, boats, flies, the beach, and some regular posting. I hope it's worth your while.

Coming Tomorrow: The most underrated pitcher in baseball. Just don't tell him what he can't do.

Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

The Rays...are just kinda there.

In the AL East, when the Red Sox win games, people notice. When the Yankees bomb, people notice. When Baltimore reclaims the lead, people notice. When the Jays collapse under pressure, people notice. But the Rays...they're not necessarily the center of attention.

And it's not their fault. You're dealing with three legendary teams, and an overhyped one. People are gonna wanna know about those other four teams. But the Rays, because they're newer, and because they've had the life sucked out of them since 2008 (sorta like the team that beat them), not too many people care about the Rays.

The irony (or the ironeeee as my girlfriend says) is that while nobody talks about the Rays, as they sorta bob between 2nd and 3rd, people are juuuuuuuust beginning to talk about their star pitcher again.

And I don't blame them. David Price is one of the best pitchers in an AL that's stacked with Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia, all of whom will probably be enshrined one day. Price stole the show last year, and he snuck past Verlander for a Cy Young. And right when he was activated, Price started pounding down batters once again, knocking down any doubt.

While it's not looking like he'll repeat as Cy Young winner (that'll probably go to somebody like Max Scherzer, or Felix Hernandez), he's still keeping the Rays in the conversation.

Okay, him and Wil Myers. But that's it.

...

Okay, him, Wil Myers, and maaaybe Evan Longoria. But that's it.

Coming Tomorrow- Back in 2010, there were three names that Giants fans cared about in the rotation. Lincecum. Cain. Zito. However, that very same season, a fourth man was brought up, and he's been rocking the mound ever since.

Custom Card of the Day: Peavy Edition

Right now the White Sox are crushing my Yankees. I have no idea why, or how, but somehow the man above has nothing to do with it. You see, he's wearing different socks now.

Back in 2007, when Jake Peavy was one of the best pitchers in the NL, I would have been a lot more scared if he joined the Red Sox. Back then, he was the sole booster of those shoddy mediocre Padres teams, and he certainly dominated on the mound. It was indeed odd when Peavy left the Padres to join the White Sox, but he didn't pack the same punch, with the exception of half of last season.

I think the Sox picked a good time to jeopardize on Peavy's impending contract, as they were slowly falling off the top of the AL east. It appears that he's been helping the team get back to the top, as his first start was impressive for a recently-inconsistent pitcher.

If he keeps this up, I should fear for my Yankees, as they may have to meet with him once or twice in order to get back to the top.

Coming Tomorrow- Meanwhile, in Tampa, a recent Cy Young winner fights to return to the top.

Welcome Back, Curtis

Hopefully you'll stick around a bit longer this time. Hopefully.

(I made this custom right before he went on the DL for the second time. Finally posting it.)

Custom Card of the Day: Kipnis Edition

I really don't have too much to say tonight, other than the fact that this card is awesome. Probably one of the year's best.

I wish I had more to say tonight, but I'll have more to say in the coming weeks.

Coming Tomorrow- A cheating star pitcher for the A's.

Custom Card of the Day: Desperate Custom Plea Edition

I'm going to make a desperate plea here. A really desperate more. More desperate than the producers of American Idol right now.

Next week, I'll be away, on the road in North Jersey, for five days. Then, I'll come home, and promptly leave for Lake George, New York for a week. Bottom line here, I'll be on the road for two weeks, with only one break.

So, tonight would, normally, be my custom-cramming night, where I'd be back from vacation, and just make a nice bunch of customs before I'd leave again Sunday. But, you see, doing that now is very hard, for two reasons.

1. None of the photos from the recently traded stars were out tonight, and there weren't too many I can customize cause it was such a weak deadline. So really, the players I was looking to customize tonight weren't there.
2. And this is the big one. We're about 2/3rds through the season, and all the big players, all the ones I usually space out through the year, are all already there. Everyone that's been big this season, or anyone I would have customized, has one already this season. And I'm at a loss, because I'm going through all these files, thinking 'oh that's a nice shot, but he already has one.'

So really, I need help. Back last year, and the years before, I'd ask for requests, but at late I haven't done that, partially because I've been so consistent with customs. But now, that I'll need a surplus of customs for the next two weeks, I need more players to customize, and I need requests.

So please, if there's anyone you want to see a Mint Condition custom of, please drop me a custom, and help me out a little bit. It can be rookies I haven't done. It can be players I've never done, all five years. It can be a bit player that needs some coverage. Anyone. I'll even do Cody Ross if you desperately want me to.

So...that'd be great, I guess.

Coming Tomorrow- I have to check. I have one prepared, I think it's another Cleveland Indian.

Custom Card of the Day: Ryu Edition

And just like that, we're through with July. I know, it barely even feels like August, but July is still over and done with, and that means it's crunch time in the majors.

Because this is another Month in Review post, I'll list the five things I predicted last month, and see if they came true.

1. An All Star game with ALL STARS.  For the most part, the teams delivered, though a lot of deserved All Stars basically dropped out the day before, due to that same BS Sunday rule.
2. The Pirates to remain one of the best teams in baseball. Correct. They are still in the race, competing with the Cardinals for the head of the NL Central.
3. The Yankees to make an attempt to return to the top of the AL East. An unsuccessful one, yes.
4. Toward the end of the deadline, the Phillies/Yankees to NOT unload any of their star players. Well, yeah. The big ones stayed put.
5. Toward the end of the deadline, the Phillies/Yankees to RECIEVE star players from other teams, in exchange for ONLY prospects. Yeah, this one was true too. Man, I did pretty well this month.

Now, here are five things that surprised me during the month of July.

1. First place Dodgers. This was a surprising one, as the Dodgers slowly crept up to the top this month, after a few months of being the low team on the totem pole. It's nice to see a team like that finally do well. I don't know how long it's gonna last, but I'm liking this.
2. Last place Giants. It's not everyday that the team that went to the World Series lands in last the very next year. Poor guys.
3. The Phillies didn't make any huge moves this trade deadline. Usually they're dealing a big star. This is a shocking one indeed.
4. Somebody actually signed Brian Wilson! Somebody actually listened to me!
5. The Jake Peavy deal. I really didn't see this one coming until it happened, and it was a big one. Not only did Peavy end up on the Red Sox, but the Red Sox actually traded their best rookie star, and shortstop, to the Tigers. This was a shocker.

Now, five things that didn't surprise me at all last month.

1. The Cubs unloaded their big stars at the deadline. Happens every year.
2. The Astros unloaded the two guys that were sorta kinda about to become big stars. Meh. Seen it before.
3. A-Rod and Braun's suspensions. We saw this coming a mile away.
4. The Cardinals crept back up and battled with the Pirates for the lead in the NL Central. This is actually an event in July.
5. No speeches at Hall of Fame induction day. Okay, I kid, that needs to change.

And finally, five things I want to happen in August.

1. The Yankees to finally reclaim their stuff and get right back in the race.'
2. The Cardinals to cool down and let the Pirates stay at the top for a while.
3. No random waiver deals that screw up the Update set.
4. The Dodgers to keep playing really well.
5. Yoenis Cespedes to keep hitting a decent amount of homers.

Well, that was a pretty nice month. Bring on August.

Coming Tomorrow- A nice, young player for the Cubs.