Uncustomed Heroes of Baseball: Dodgers (Part Two)

Andre Ethier had a decent enough season in 2014, but I feel like either injuries or the prevalence of the other two Dodger outfielders held him back a bit. Either way, hopefully he'll have a better season in 2015.

AJ Ellis had another nice, if serviceable, season behind the plate for the Dodgers. He'll have to contend with Yasmani Grandal for starter rights for next season, but I imagine he'll be fine.

This was the season that Carl Crawford finally started hitting like a champ for the first time since his days with the Tampa Bay Rays. He had a stellar end to the season, and reclaimed a lot of the fans that hoped he'd do well with the Sox a few years ago. Hopefully this means the rebound just keeps coming.

But come on, now. I can't talk about the Dodgers without talking about the greatest Dodger pitcher since Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw. This was his THIRD Cy Young award, and his first MVP, which means if he has more seasons like his 2014, sans the injury, he'll be a lock for Cooperstown eventually.

Tomorrow- The last few Giants from their World Series win.

Uncustomed Heroes of Baseball: Dodgers

I knew I needed to shell out a few for the Dodgers, since they kinda came close to winning the NL East, and by all means should have. So, I chose three players, three stars, that I never got to customize this year, and really should have. Carl Crawford is one of them. He used to be one of the biggest stars in baseball, and now he's just laying low, on the Dodgers.

Michael Young spent the last half of the season with the Dodgers, and I spent the last half of the season trying to get a good photo of him with the Dodgers. I at least found one by the end.

Once again, I get in a really nice Andre Ethier custom, for possibly the second year in a row. While it comes nowhere close to last year's awesome 1974 custom (the best of 2012!), it's still pretty damn good, and will definitely be in consideration for the Best Of.

Coming Tomorrow- A few members of the underwhelming San Francisco Giants.

In which Boston falls, LA rises, and Topps facepalms

Twenty Four hours ago, the Boston Red Sox were feeling beaten. In more ways than one.

They had lost several games in a row to division rivals, and were feeling sore from it. Also, their star outfielder Carl Crawford was going on the DL to fix his lack of power since 2010. And everything that had made the team great five years ago was either traded, injured, or slowly decaying.

This was a team in a major bind. 24 hours later, they are in even deeper doo-doo.

It took an entire day, but Los Angeles has extracted the core of the Red Sox power. A star first baseman, a veteran pitcher, an injured outfielder, and Nick Punto. Nobody cares about Nick Punto. All four of those men will be donning Dodger blue tonight. And it couldn't come at a better time for LA. The Giants had been shoving the 1st place lead in everyone's face, and the Dodgers needed to reclaim the mojo they had in June.

The Dodgers, in exchange for the last bit of life from a dying crater, managed to sacrifice something Boston lacked- youth.

James Loney, Jerry Sands, Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan DeJesus Jr., and Allen Webster have been chosen to fill in the holes left by the Boston stars. Good luck to them all, for it will not be an easy task.

Sure, Loney is a star, and Sands will be great in a number of years, but Boston needs to be great NOW. They need to snap into a streak and catch Baltimore for the Wild Card. They don't need a future. They need a present. And while these players are very good, they won't be enough to airlift them out of last.

Meanwhile, Beckett and Gonzalez alone will do a lot to help the Dodgers. They needed pitching, and they needed a new first baseman. This will not only make the team stronger, it will give the Giants a huge force to contend with come September, when the playoff spot is crucial.

Still, this trade is probably the biggest of the year. It's too bad Topps won't be able to document it, because it's too &^&^%ing late to get it in the Update set.

Custom Card of the Day: Crawford Edition

In honor of my stay in New Hampshire, smack dab in the middle of Red Sox country, I figured I'd post a Red Sock. A year ago today, if you told me that Carl Crawford had joined Boston, I would be afraid of the Yankees chances. Of course, I would be overreacting a little bit. It is a known fact tha Crawford hasn't lived up to Boston's expectations. In his time on and off the DL, he has established himself as a waste of perfectly good prospects, and a could-have-been Hall of Fame career tarnished by a crappy season. The truth is that he hasn't been playing like Carl Crawford this year, and it's a shame.

So thanks, Boston.

Also, we still need 14 spots for the 1993 Stadium Club contest. I might be getting other packs, or another box to sweeten the deal. And before you ask, I don't think it will be more Stadium Club.

Coming Tomorrow- 3 years ago he was the best closer in the AL. Now, he's struggling to compete for Milwaukee

Year By Year Customs Finale: Expantionists on Parade

Well, folks, here they are. The last customs of 2010. These were teams that couldn't be put on vintage card designs, so I had to photoshop them into the 1993 and 2001 designs, both designs I can easily customize. Hope you enjoy, and Customs will return once the Spring Training shots come in.

Tomorrow- I'm probably gonna get some Stocking Stuffers that may or may not be cards. If I get cards, you know where they're going. Right here on the blog.

Why, Carl?

Mama always said if you don't got anything nice to say, don't say it at all.

I have no comment whatsoever on any Carl Crawford, or the Boston Red Sox at this time.

Just This- They better stay the hell away from Cliff Lee.