Uncustomed Heroes of 2015: Giants

This season was not about the San Francisco Giants. I mean, next year's an even year, so it might next year, but 2015 was not their year. Hunter Pence knows it even there. The guy was on and off the DL this year, and even if he was really good when he was healthy, the team didn't do the greatest job this year.

Jake Peavy had a nice full season as a San Francisco Giant, having some solid numbers and looking like he did back in the late 2000's. I'm not sure if he's sticking around or not, but judging by the Jeff Samardzija deal, he might not be.

Alejandro de Aza was a late-season trade, via the Red Sox, who had some nice numbers with the Giants, and made the best of his month or so with the team.

Chris Heston had a pretty nice rookie year, especially coming off that no-hitter in June. He made himself a pretty reliable part of the rotation, even after Lincecum's absence.

Santiago Casilla had another year as the Giants' closer, this year a bit more productive than last, as he had his job the whole time and notched in 30+ saves, thanks to some sheer power.

This is a pretty important one, as Tim Hudson has retired, and his last few seasons with the Giants were a good indicator of how durable and powerful he could be, even out of his prime. I don't think he has enough numbers for Cooperstown, but he was a pretty great pitcher, and that says a lot in itself.

Coming Tomorrow- Some highlights from a Cleveland Indians team that ALMOST made it.

Custom Card of the Day: Hudson Edition

Tim over here was one of the first really big free agent signings of the 2014 season. He spent close to a decade playing for Atlanta, and then suddenly he decided that it would be a great idea to go back to the Bay Area. Only he missed and landed in San Francisco. (Before my geography experts start commenting, please, it's just a joke. He was on the A's once.)

So, now he's basically taken Barry Zito's place in the youth-oriented rotation, featuring a surprisingly okay Tim Lincecum, a surprisingly not-very-okay Matt Cain, an unsurprisingly awesome Madison Bumgarner, and now Jake Peavy. For the most part, he's holding his own, though he's far from perfect, and far from where he was in his prime.

He's 39 years old, pitching 9-9 with a 3.00 ERA, and he's not the top starter in the rotation. It's a bit obvious that he's aged a bit, and may be on the last legs of his career, but still, he's doing what he can for the Giants, who are still careful contenders for the NL Wild Card (and the Braves and Cardinals aren't being too generous there).

Still, it's nice to see he's still pitching, and still performing at a major league level at this age.

Coming Tomorrow- One of the many Washington Nationals that are absolutely killing it right now.

First Big Move of the Offseason

After being a staple of the Braves' rotation for the better part of a decade, Tim Hudson has decided to return to the West Coast, where it all began. Today, he signed a deal to pitch for the Giants next year, not too far from where he made his big break in Oakland.

I always thought of Hudson as a Brave, because when I got in collecting, he was just starting out with them, and as all these other Braves pitchers (Jair Jurrjens, Mike Hampton, Tommy Hanson, Billy Wagner) all left the "current roster pitchers" binder, Hudson stayed. And now, after a good 5 years of securing the primary spot in the Braves section of the binder, I'll have to move him to near the middle of Braves section of the "current player in old uniform" binder. Because that's how my collection works.

Even though he never played for my team, I know what Hudson meant to Braves fans, and I know for a fact that he'll be missed.

Year by Year Customs: 1981

 

Sort of a slow day in comparison to yesterday's lineup. Still, I love this design, and I used a few teams I hadn't before for it.

 

I feel like he's done the best out of the Oakland Three from back in the day, with Barry Zito coming close behind. 

 

Now a member of the Royals.

 

Coming Tomorrow- Another great 1980's design.

Year by Year Customs: 1986

A nice batch of 1986 cards, featuring younger players, and a hot rookie. Not much else to say.

Tomorrow- The first set I ever completed, 1987.