Championship Series' Day 9: Dragon Slayed

 

It was as if Shakespeare himself wrote it. A team that had made their name on double-digit run scoring that had been shunned from 1st by a corrupt rival eliminates the rival from competition in a double-digit win. In Houston.

This is the kind of Inigo Montoya ending I'd wanted from the Rangers all year. This was their season, and their flag to hoist, and for the Astros to creep in at the end and just claim the season as theirs despite doing half the work was kinda shitty. The Astros didn't have the team they had last year, and just came into some September/October momentum like usual. The Rangers had the mega-team, they just had some slow spots in the second half.

Last night, the Rangers used what had always worked for them, namely that powerful lineup, to silence the Astros. In a matchup that had killed the Rangers before, they got to Cristian Javier early and let Max Scherzer work amicably, only giving up a few early runs that were nothing compared to what Adolis Garcia got up to. By midway through, even if the Astros had come back from worse, it was a foregone conclusion: the Rangers were going back to the World Series for the first time since 2011.

The only thing is that after finally getting the revenge they wanted against the Astros, I worry that the Rangers don't have much left to prove this season. A ring would be nice, but it feels like everything was building to this point, and everything after is just extra. It's fittingly like Inigo Montoya at the end of that movie, not knowing what to do with himself after accomplishing what he'd always meant to.

The Rangers only needed two seasons of Bochy-ball to become a contender, and they could win the franchise's first title. They'll just need to get past either one of these streaky-ass NL teams to do so.

The 2023 Houston Astros. What else can you say? 

I mean, at least they had the decency to shut the door behind them this time. 

...oh yeah, and the D-Backs won last night too. The October magic on Aaron Nola wore off, and these guys just got past us at almost every point. Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel, Geraldo Perdomo and Alek Thomas are some pretty fine ballplayers, and they've been making it tough for us this series. Merrill Kelly was also pretty tremendous, and had the exact kind of performance his team needed.

Tonight will decide my rooting interest. I'd like to see my hometown team win it. If not, let's go Texas I suppose. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2022: Giants

 

In 2021, the San Francisco Giants won 107 games, led the NL West, and were the winningest team in the NL. In 2022, the Giants were 81-81 and did not advance to the playoffs.

What happened? My theory is that Buster Posey, the core figure that spurned the team on towards a huge year in 2021, wounded the team in retiring after a great year. Without Posey, the team attempted, as they had in the Posey-less years, to rally behind Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria, and that didn't work as well. Joey Bart was a less than stellar replacement for Posey, Luis Gonzalez' legend only lasted for a month, Yaz was hurt for a bit, and though it wasn't anyone's fault, this Giants team didn't match up to its predecessor.

2022 was the last year of Evan Longoria's Giants contract, which had defined the team for the past 5 years. Longo, as he had in previous years, put up a valiant effort at the plate but absolutely refused to stay healthy. In 89 games he hit .244 with 42 RBIs and 14 home runs. The Giants never got a full season of production from Longoria throughout the entire contract, and now division rivals like the D-Backs are reportedly looking at bringing him on.

2023 Prediction: I genuinely think 2023 is gonna be his fullest season since leaving Tampa, and that he's gonna have the sort of 'Torii Hunter in Detroit' kind of comeback that people are gonna really enjoy. Not quite sure who it'll be with at the present moment, though Phoenix is making a ton of sense.

Brandon Crawford's Hall of Fame case is gonna be weird, man. 2 World Series rings, 3 All-Star appearances, 4 gold gloves, and his best season came when he was 34. Still, Crawford's 2022 was his worst season since 2019, and though he did make 118 games, he was sidelined with an injury for a bit. 52 RBIs and 9 homers for Crawford, which, while not bad, does point to some decreased production into his late 30s.

2023 Prediction: For what very well could be Craw's last year in SF, uh...I'd say back to his better numbers, some great defensive play and some last big games for the fans.

Meanwhile, fellow veteran standout Brandon Belt also had his weakest year since 2019, though it was not helped by an injury that limited the corner infielder to 78 games. Belt still hit 8 homers and 23 RBIs in that time, but for a player whose contract was spinning its final games, it was a less than graceful way to bow out.

2023 Prediction: Will DH adequately somewhere. 

Though the Giants' rotation was pretty well set this year, the injury to Anthony DeSclafani meant that Jakob Junis, next in the depth chart and in SF after some time in Kansas City, would have to start games. Against all odds he impressed, with a 4.42 ERA and 98 Ks in 23 games, being a stronger force than even Alex Wood.

2023 Prediction: With the number of starters that may not come back, Junis' steady and slight work may come very much in handy for the rotation.

Camilo Doval made waves in 2021 as a sneaky little relief piece, but struggled in the postseason. In 2022, Doval got the ninth, and saved 27 games, striking out 80 and walking away with a 1.9 WAR. Despite the presence of Tyler Rogers, Doval could be a long-term answer for closing games in SF, and is young enough, and nasty enough, to have some eyes on him this early in his career.

2023 Prediction: 30+ saves, the legend goes on.

Though the Giants parted with a few pieces over July, including bench bat Darin Ruf, they did manage to snag utility infielder and extra piece J.D. Davis from the Mets. Davis hit .263 in 49 games in San Francisco, hitting 8 home runs and 14 RBIs along with 36 hits. And seeing as there's soon to be a vacancy at third, Davis may have found himself on the right team at the right time.

2023 Prediction: Get ready for a big year from this guy, he and Kapler are gonna get along splendidly.

Tomorrow, some rare Guardians I didn't get to during the postseason.

Take the Longo Way Home

 

It took him eight years and a team switch, but Evan Longoria is finally getting back to the postseason. However, it's been a full 13 years since a team of his had a series win in the playoffs. Yes, Longo hasn't played in a Championship Series since 2008, his rookie year. And man, looking at that 2008 Rays team now that we have a stronger, better one is...odd. So many odd pieces like Gabe Gross, Cliff Floyd, Eric Hinske and, of course, Chad Bradford. Man, Kevin Cash wouldn't know what to do with them.

Anyway, Evan Longoria's on the best team in baseball now, and that is somehow the San Francisco Giants, who were guaranteed for the playoffs roughly a month ago [I know it was a week but...I mean, come on now]. They will likely be the first team to hit 100 wins, which will be a pretty cool move for a team that hasn't hit that mark since...wait, 2003???? THEY DIDN'T HIT 100 WINS DURING THEIR EARLY-2010S RUNS??? They haven't gotten more than 94 wins since Barry Bonds was still on this damned team? Holy mackerel! Well, thank God for Gabe Kapler I suppose, and thank God he somehow managed to figure it out in San Francisco rather than just...those 2 years in Philly [which makes him the anti-Chip Kelly].

Longoria is a part of one of the most versatile, ever-changing rosters in baseball right now. The Giants have three valid choices at third base [Longoria, Bryant, Flores], three valid choices at second base [Solano, Dubon, La Stella], three valid choices at 1st base [Belt, Ruf, Flores], excellent choices at catcher and shortstop, and six excellent candidates for outfield spots [Duggar, Slater, Yaz, Ruf, Wade, Bryant]. You could get so many different renditions of this team, even over the course of a playoff formation, and they all could be insanely valid. 

And it's leading to some weird developments. On a team with Brandon Belt, Darin Ruf and Kris Bryant, last night LaMonte Wade Jr. bat cleanup for the Giants. Not the power-hitter the team thought they'd be showcasing at the beginning of this season, but Wade has become a true unsung hero to this ever-changing team. After five months of injury, Tommy La Stella jumped back into the lineup and has been a trusted upgrade at 2nd. Curt Casali is slowly approaching his Reds numbers as backup. And the core of this team is still deadly.

I worry of the propensity for an upset with how large this team has loomed all season, but I also know that they've had excellent luck recently. Whether they play the Dodgers or Cardinals [or someone else for some reason], they're definitely gonna come out guns blazing once the playoffs begin.

Coming Tonight: He was gone, and the team got into the playoff race without him. He's back, and they're not gonna leave it without a fight.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Giants (Part One)

 

Gabe Kapler came within inches of the postseason in his first season with the Giants, further than he ever got with Philadelphia. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

This was a shifting, very different Giants team that finally learned to prioritize youth, and players beyond the old guard of the World Series teams. Buster Posey was not around this year, and in his place, Mike Yastrzemski stood guard as the MVP candidate. 

At least Evan Longoria stayed mostly healthy in 2020, hitting .254 in 53 games, with 49 hits and 28 RBIs. Longo seems to have moved on from his league-leading abilities, and has mellowed into simply just a strong, consistent everyday player. I do think his Giants stats are gonna hurt his HOF chances, but he's still a great player.

2021 Prediction: Back to his trend of getting injured right when things get good.

Meanwhile, a season after only coming alive for an 8-RBI game last year, Brandon Crawford went right back to being one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball, with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs, and 1.2 WAR. Dude is still one of the better perennial performers of this Giants squad, and they're lucky to still have him.

2021 Prediction: Another ASG nod, more of his power hitting, and some playoff numbers [!!]

It's not a stretch to say that the Giants haven't gotten the most out of their contract with Johnny Cueto. After a scorching 2016, Cueto was hampered by injuries for the following three seasons. Now that we finally had a full, healthy picture of Cueto again...it's clear he's not the same flamethrower he was back in the day. Cueto posted a 5.40 ERA, with 56 strikeouts in 12 games. While he's still a reliable starter, he's...not the guy the Giants signed up for after the 2015 postseason.

2021 Prediction: Cueto will spend the last year of his contract improving to a 4 ERA and restoring some of his goodwill, but thanks to Kevin Gausman, he won't be the ace of the rotation.

Speaking of Gausman, how about his comeback year? After bottoming out with Atlanta last year, Gausman returned to form after the Giants [riskily] handed him a started gig, and had a 3.62 ERA in 10 starts with 49 strikeouts, a more normal year for the former Orioles strikeout artist. Even still, the Giants picked up his qualifying offer and are sticking with him for one more year.

2021 Prediction: 15 wins, Cy Young votes, the whole shebang.

After losing second base to Donovan Solano, Mauricio Dubon instead took some time in the outfield this season and stayed sharp at the plate. Dubon hit .274 with 43 hits and 18 RBIs. Not to the caliber of his 2019 come-up, but a progressive development for the former Brewers prospect.

2021 Prediction: Fuller look at his material, more home runs, more contact work, and more of a sense that he'll be around for a while.

After a nice year as an infield bench piece for Arizona last year, Wilmer Flores played a similar role for the Giants, playing 1st and 2nd but primarily acting as the team's designated hitter. The good plate mojo continued for Flores, leading the team with 12 home runs and also notching 35 RBIs.

2021 Prediction: If the DH stays a thing in 2021, the Giants will definitely know what to do with Flores. If not, expect him to return to a bench role.

And after coming into the 2019 season like a freight train, Alex Dickerson took a small step back while still producing hits this year. Dickerson's .298 season included 10 homers and 27 RBIs, still a great deal by any means.

2021 Prediction: Slightly less of a contact year, but one that will still be helpful to what will probably become a playoff attempt for the Giants.

Tonight, the members of this Giants team that weren't in the Opening Day lineup or rotation.

Giant Feats Aside...

...Picked a hell of a day to talk about the San Francisco Giants, didn't I?

Final score of today's Rox-Giants game: NINETEEN TO TWO. Proof that there may still be some life in this rusty old Giants lineup after all. Brandon Crawford had 2 home runs, and a TEAM-RECORD-TYING 8 RBIs. There was also RBIs to be had from (clears throat) Buster Posey, Joe Panik, Kevin Pillar, Brandon Belt, Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson. And a phenomenal start from a slightly-improving Jeff Samardzija.

So...are the Giants back?

....wellllll....not really.

I mean, one good game is just one good game. Remember, the Orioles started the season in 2nd place.  The Giants, if anything, have been a scrappy team that isn't gonna win many games, but has fun when they do. Look at Stephen Vogt, who's killing it as backup catcher. Look at Mike Yastrzemski, who just seems thrilled to finally be in the bigs. Look at Pablo Sandoval having his best season in years. Even if they're not exactly reaching for the Dodgers, they're still having a ton of fun.

Plus...they're only 4.5 games out of the wild card spot. Like...that NL WC race is tight as hell. All these teams you'd think would be out of it, like the Pirates, D-Backs, Rockies and Reds, are all gunning for it just like San Fran, so...stranger things have happened. The Giants still have a lot of talent around, and the question does remain whether they're gonna give the brunt of it away in two weeks or not.

Still...the wins, like today's, have got to be welcome there.

Coming Tomorrow- One of the many nobodies trying to make it in Baltimore.

Save Them, San Francisco

(Music Pun #4. Very lowbrow, I know, but I was very close to doing the Mowgli's and titling the post 'I Left My ACL in San Francisco, but, like, 2 people would have gotten it, so we go with Train).

The Giants' season was supposed to really begin with the return of Madison Bumgarner from the disabled list. Unfortunately, his return may have put them back further than they were than before he came up.

Suddenly, Bumgarner's not pitching like himself. He's not throwing as many strikeouts, he's not winning games, and he's certainly not the ace the Giants were hoping would return and save the team. He's just jelled into the rest of the mediocrity.

Which...is alright enough, but...the Giants are still without an ace. Bumgarner could improve, but he's not especially the rotation's anchor right now. Neither are Jeff Samardzija or Johnny Cueto, as both are injured right now. The closer, Hunter Strickland, just broke his hand punching a door. Heck, even the lineup is without Evan Longoria, and...for the moment Brandon Crawford. The injuries this team has been piling up aren't plentiful, but the guys that are getting injured are a lot of the larger pieces in San Francisco.

Thankfully, there are still a number of people playing well that haven't been injured yet, like the team's rock, Buster Posey, the team's top hitter, Brandon Belt, and the team's most fun player, Andrew McCutchen (narrowly edging out Hunter Pence, I think). Even guys like Pablo Sandoval, Alen Hanson and Nick Hundley are doing well off the bench, with an emphasis on the switch-hitting Hanson.

This team isn't exactly bad, there's just not a lot going on in terms of pitching, which is a far cry from the infamous Lincecum-Zito-Cain-Bumgarner foursome. And that's sinking the team, sadly, in addition to a few inexperienced position players here and there. This team isn't perfect, and it's somehow staying ahead of the Rockies in the standings right now. They may improve as they earn Cueto and Shark back, but...it's too soon to tell.

Coming Tomorrow- The single most overexposed player in baseball. Boy, it'd be a shame if he wasn't playing beautifully right now, right?

Spring Training Trip Part #2: Phillies vs. Rays 3/19/17

The middle portion of the trip was...well, that. Middling.

The Rays' Spring Training stadium is nice, but nowhere near as nice as the Twins'. It felt like a minor league field (and it was one in the offseason), and even if the Twins stadium was as well, the Twins' stadium felt a bit larger, with more going on. The Rays' was marketing to smaller part of the state, in Fort Charlotte. Additionally, there weren't any backfields or practice fields that were open to the public, like in the Twins' field, so there weren't any autographs to be had.

However, the one thing that made this game sort-of worth it, at least initially:

...those Fightin' Phils were the visiting team, and they got to use the field for BP, so as we walked around the stadium, we saw some Phils players warming up. The biggest takeaway was Pat Venditte, world famous switch-pitcher, warming up with both arms. I nudged my dad and mentioned that he'd probably be getting some hours today.

Today, the schedule decided to lie to us: Evan Longoria did NOT play in today's game, sadly- Daniel Robertson did an admirable job playing 3rd today. The Phils were without their two major draws, Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco, but they at least brought Hernandez, Galvis, Cameron Rupp and Aaron Altherr to make things a little better.

The pitching matchup between Justin Marks and Jerad Eickhoff...was exactly that, a pretty apt matchup. Marks only lasted a few innings, but the Rays bullpen helped him out a bit, as through eight innings the Rays were COMPLETELY dominating the Phillies, with perfection going for a while. My uncle was rooting for a perfect game, and I was rooting against seeing my Phillies humiliated.

My dad, on the other hand, had other rooting interests- he'd recently picked up the Phils' center fielder Roman Quinn in his local strat-o-matic league, and was rooting for him at every chance he got, with every insane catch in center and every hit that looked gone but ended up in someone's glove. Dad just kept singing the theme from 'The Mighty Quinn' the entire night. We all wanted to slap him by the end.

It was pretty painful to see the Phillies lineup so effete, so ineffective, to see Aaron Altherr, Cesar Hernandez and Cameron Rupp get blanked. Jerad Eickhoff was pitching well, but he was giving up runs, including a crucial home run to Corey Dickerson. Plus, our seats weren't as good as yesterday's, and while the game was indeed flying, it didn't have as many great moments as yesterday's.

Now, Philadelphia DID eventually get a hit, from personal favorite Tommy Joseph in the 8th, and we did get to see Pat Venditte fan some batters using both hands, but the Rays kept pounding, especially in the later innings when the starters were leaving.

Even though it was a nice day, and a pretty good pitching battle, it didn't feel as fulfilling as yesterday's on a number of levels. I did end up getting a pin from the gift shop, because I do that, but I don't have that much else to take away from this one.

Tomorrow, a much more exciting finale, at a stadium I never thought I'd attend, featuring a team I've already (reluctantly) rooted for on this trip, and one I root for willingly, duking it out.

Is Evan Longoria The Best Player Nobody Talks About?

Okay, now that I've got your attention, let me clarify.

In 2008, Evan Longoria made his debut, and everybody talked about him. His presence in the Rays' starting lineup almost singlehandledly brought the team to the World Series- he was on, and so was everybody else. For the next two or three seasons, Evan Longoria was one of THE figures in the MLB. He was on the cover of 2010 Topps Series 2, I believe.

Then...he had a couple of 'okay' seasons, a few seasons on the DL, and people...just stopped talking about him. He was still a great player, had some great seasons, but he wasn't really being listed with Baseball's Elite anymore. He was just Evan Longoria. Plus, the Rays weren't as good as they were in the late 2000's, and it got to the point where Longo was the sole powerful figure on the team for a while.

This season, however, I think it's time for everyone to pay attention to Evan Longoria again.

Look, the Rays are in last. I get it. You don't wanna look that low. Fine. Just see what Longo's doing. The guy's having one of his few slugging-heavy seasons- only happens once in a blue moon. He's got a nice batting average, he's still young enough to play coherent defensive ball, and he's one of the main offensive producers on the team.

I don't expect the guy to get a starting All Star spot, at least not initially, but I am expecting him to get on the squad, because the Rays need a nod, and it can't just be someone who won't play for very long like Alex Colome or Logan Forsythe or something. I'm just surprised that Evan Longoria can be this impressive, NOW, and still not get a ton of attention about it. It's kind of sad the way it worked out.

Still, for once I'm hoping for this to keep going for Evan Longoria- I've given him crap for having to play him a ton, but he's pretty impressive, especially this season.

Coming Tonight: He's back to his old tricks in Miami, but he might not be in Miami for much longer at this rate.

We're Not Dead Yet!

"BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!"
Kevin Cash, offering up the Rays: "Here's some."
The Rays: "WE'RE NOT DEAD YET!"
"What was that?"
Cash: "Nothing"
"They said they're not dead."
Cash: "Yes they are."
Rays: "WE'RE NOT!"
Cash: "Well, they're the Rays. They will be soon. They've got a shit roster this year."
Rays: "WE'RE GETTING BETTER!"
Cash: "No you're not, you're in fourth place!"
"Well, look, I can't end the season like that! It's against regulations!"
Cash: "Well, can you at least hang around another few games? They won't be long!"
"Look, I've promised the Reds I'd be over there. That team is dead as a doornail."
Rays: "WE'RE GONNA BEAT THE ORIOLES AGAIN!"
Cash: "You're not fooling anyone, you know! Look...isn't there anything you can do?"
Rays: "WE FEEL HAPPY! WE FEEL HAPPY!"
(The dead collector throws something at the Rays, putting Evan Longoria back on the DL. The team sinks to fifth.)
Cash: "Ah. Thank you very much." (sees if the Padres are hiring.)

SCENE

Coming Tonight: A player from an actual good team, in this case the once-again Miraculous Mets.

P.S.- NINE HOURS LEFT IN THE FOOTBALL POLL! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD VOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! I AM SICK OF EXTENDING THE POLL!

Custom Card of the Day: Longoria Edition

Yeah, this is probably gonna be one of the best customs I make this year.

The photo is from a pre-game memorial for Don Zimmer. It's smooth enough to almost make me like Longoria, six seasons into his career.

Still, an awesome looking custom.

Coming Tomorrow- The A's are playing really well, and here's their veteran outfielder.

Spring Training Custom of the Day: Myers Edition

Sorry about all that dead space back there. Life got in the way. I've had a very busy week. Being a senior in high school is very tough, but equally rewarding. I've been dealing with the perks. All this week, I'll be lucky if I can get any posts in at all.

So here's one of my consistently-awesome customs.

Wil Myers will be lucky if he sticks around for a while. Enough Devil Rays/Rays have had rookie acclaim only to just fall off the face of the earth. Jeremy Hellickson, Delmon Young, Elijah Dukes, Josh Hamilton (bad example), Jeff Niemann, Akinori Iwamura. The list goes on. Only Evan Longoria's really survived rookie acclaim in Tampa and told his tale.

If Wil Myers wants to stay relevant, and not just relevant, but ever-presently relevant (unlike Evan Longoria), he needs to have some really big seasons. This season, he needs to dominate. And by dominate, I mean Sports Illustrated cover domination. Not one, but multiple. He needs some postseason staying time. He needs an All Star appearance. He needs Miguel Cabrera to get injured so he can have a MVP-caliber season.

Will all this happen? I have no idea. He could turn out to be the next Bob Hamelin for all we know. But the great part about baseball is that it's unwritten.

I think.

Coming Tomorrow (?)- One of the best pitchers in baseball, hoping to continue his awesome consistency.

Wild Card, Round 2

The Rays are winning as I write this post. As much as I respect Tampa, I really would like the Indians to snap back into it. There's still time.

I mean, do something! Get Giambi to do his Raul Ibanez impression again, or something. I don't care. I'd really like to see the Indians sneak into the playoffs. It would be awesome. But, that's just me.

Custom Card of the Day: Longoria Edition

Five years ago, around this point, not too many people knew about Bryce Harper. Not too many people knew about Mike Trout, or Starlin Castro, or even David Price. Worst of all, not too many people knew about the Rays' up-and-coming third baseman Evan Longoria. Weird times, huh?

In the years since his knockout rookie year, in which he dominated the charts, helped his team get to the World Series, and gave rookie collectors a scare, Longoria has settled into his role as one of the many 'pretty good' third basemen of the AL. True, he's not the best third baseman out there, but he's probably going to land in the top ten third basemen in terms of fantasy rankings.

It's sad because, just as Tampa hasn't made an impact since 2008, neither has Longoria. Okay, maybe I exaggerate, as he's had some pretty nice seasons, but none that really made him headline news, or made him as big as he was in 2008. Still, in the last five years Evan has seen the whole team (Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Matt Garza, Carlos Pena) all leave, and a new batch of rookies spring up.

Will 2013 be the year for the Rays? It's too early to tell. As of right now, the AL East is pretty open, as the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Rays all have gotten some nice wins in the last few games. That doesn't mean anything for the long run, but it means that the division's going to be a tight race. I have no idea who's going to win it; even my Yankees aren't a lock for the division champs. And that's scary.

Still, if it happens, the Rays will do well with it. And hopefully Longoria will make an impact as large as the one he made in 2008.

Coming Tomorrow- The Reds' closer- no wait, starter- no wait, he's the closer again. Thankfully.

Custom Card of the Day: Rays Experiment Edition

Remember back in April, when I did that Josh Johnson custom in a 73 design, and a lot of you loved it (I hope)? Well, I made an even better Evan Longoria in an 81 design. And it's no wonder- Longoria's playing like a veteran. If he was in any other division, then maybe he'd get another chance at the World Series. Unfortunately, he's in the AL East. But still, who cares about standings. Just look at that custom. Okay, maybe I'm being a little overconfident, but I think it's cool.

Coming Tomorrow- Used to be an expansionist, now he's in Atlanta.

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.