Cutch: Ode to a Hero

To see a hero in his days of youth
Then see said hero grow into a star
Solidifies the hope, to tell the truth,
that said hero's reign will last quite far.
The accolades and merits shower through
The hope of a once-dead franchise returns
But when the new breed enters in there, too
The hero doesn't scorch the earth- he burns.
The fan base starts to think the legend's spent
As other heroes burst into the fold
As several wonder where the hero went
The others conclude simply-- 'he got old'.
But hope still holds--in Pittsburgh, very much--
For one last charge from their dear hero, Cutch.

2017 could be a big year for Andrew McCutchen, and as a fan from the beginning, I hope he comes back in a big way.

Coming Tomorrow- Another one of my favorite players, this one having suited up for one of my least-favorite teams.

Kerplunk (An Ode to the 2016 Royals)

The whole darn country watches on in awe.
Rob Manfred pops his Orville, grabs a sweet
And all of baseball figures it's a law:
The Kansas City Royals must repeat!
But anxious glances quickly turned to shock.
When Moose and Gordon wound up sitting out.
'Why NO!', fans cried, 'they can't just give us SHLOCK!
These underdogs are what baseball's about!'
Yes, rags to riches tales are mighty grand;
The story flips in favor of the meek.
But Yost's boys didn't pull the greatest hand:
With 30 left, KC looked tired and weak.
Not cause there was no greatness left to earn,
But because it was someone else's turn.


Coming Tomorrow- When your 4th starter has one of the best ERAs in baseball, you're doing a pretty damned great job.

Custom Card of the Day: Rizzo Edition

(I can't really think of anything funny, so here's a sonnet)

When one thinks of the many teams that suck
Without putting much effort toward their games,
They mainly see the North Side run amok
When every Cubs season ends up the same.
Sure, different stars will come and go at ease
And win some batting titles here and there.
They'll all remember Sosa's, Dawson's, Lee's,
And all want to forget Bryan LaHair.
Yet in the long run, the team is sub-par
Unable to perform and, yes, compete.
Anthony Rizzo's great, but can't go far
'Less backed up by a roster that's complete.
So Chicago, with nothing else to do
Fixates their eyes on Jose Abreu.

Coming Tomorrow- The Athletics' secret weapon, a guy who basically everyone counted out after the 2010 season.

Custom Card of the Day: Colon Edition

When one is greying gradually these days
We all assume he's clearly passed his prime.
Yet Barty's found a hundred million ways
To make his pitching arm go back in time.
Exterior: A seventeen year vet
Who won a Cy before reaching for juice.
He hasn't shown his age in pitching yet.
His arm's but thirty-five, one can deduce.
Of course, this never comes without a price
Bud's saying he'll suspend him for a while.
And being he spared Quentin (awfully nice),
Colon'll probably leave this with a smile.
But still, this blogger every day gives thanks.
That Bart never got caught while with the Yanks.

Coming Tomorrow- FOURTEEN RBIs IN THREE GAMES. REALLY. That calls for a nice custom.

Custom Card of the Day: Quentin Edition

I can't think of anything to say about Carlos Quentin, so here's a sonnet.

In sport, one finds it very hard indeed
To keep one's anger totally in check
Or else the other roster tends to bleed
And one's own career winds up in a wreck
Are Selig's actions here so justified
To rob one player of only a few
When other players tell the world they've lied
And miss but fifty still- this can't be true
If Carlos wounds Greinke, it's barely seen
But still physical violence, tried by law
Yet when stars stuff syringes far between
It's THEY who get the blame, which we all saw
If violence, to Bud, gets nary a 'wow'
I'd love to see him meet with Pacquiao.

Coming Tomorrow- Another person who I don't like right now, only this guy's the closer for the Tigers.

The Autumn Wind Changes (A tribute to Steve Sabol)

The Autumn wind was a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He knocked you 'round and upside down
And laughed when he'd conquered and won.

The times have changed since his era
With age, the Raider's grown grey
He used to run from the rich for fun
Now he lets all his foes get away.

The Buc, like the wind, has grown colder
And he lacks the great spirit he had
All his rivals, yes all, run away with his ball
If anything else, it is sad.

The Autumn wind was a Raider
His age was an time long ago
When he'd steal all three rings, for the joy of these things
And parade about in the snow.

Now the pirate can't keep down his rivals
As they scamper away with the win
And the Raider will sigh, and just wonder why
He's reached these dark ages again.

But every wind needs a successor
To keep the sun and the moon still at bay
To shout when the victories evolve into history.
A new wind blows in Green Bay

The Autumn Wind's now a Packer
Who breezes through triumph with style
He'll beat you hard, and take full charge
...And he'll do it all with a smile.

I know this is belated, but thank you Steve Sabol, for everything you've done for the game of football, and for sports television. And for taking a chance hiring my dad all those years ago.

You will be missed by all football fans everywhere, those who glance upon football fields to enjoy, embody and embrace their own pastime, all amidst the autumn wind.

Custom Card of the Day: Phillips Edition

I can't think of anything for a post, so here's a sonnet.

To play second it takes a certain speed,
A strength not found in those on first and third,
A glove, two cleats- that's about all one needs
This man's among the best; haven't you heard?
A long-tenured anchor of a young club
Who'll grace thy fields with much speed and finesse
And though Uggla and Weeks may cause his snub
He'll make the All Star Team, at least I guess
As for the youth I mentioned early on?
They lie in every spot but the infield
In, oh, five years, these four may be long gone
Imagine the problems this fact must yield.
So, though his salad days are seen as dead
A brighter road comes soon for this strong Red

Well, now I know how to solve my writer's block.

Coming Tomorrow- Despite my hatred for him, I've never made a custom of him. Until now, that is. Hell, you might as well call him "The Greek God of Awesome Photos", cause I had a hard time choosing.

Good Riddance, or So long Youk

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Bobby grabs you by the cheeks, commands you where to go
So make the worst of this trade, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a request, and we must try

It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life.

So take the broken bats, and goatees in your mind
Hang it on a shelf with injuries and no time
Tattoos of memories and 2 World Series rings
And maybe of New York fans yelling countless things

It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life.




So get your suitcase packed and head to Comiskey
And get prepared for being managed by Robin V
But just remember all the great times that you've passed
Look on the brighter side- you could still be in last.


It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life

Thanks for all the memories, Youk. Though we won't miss the countless times you've paraded the basepaths after a home run, we will miss flat out despising you. Enjoy Chicago, and dread whenever you have to play the Yankees.

(Please don't sue, Billie Joe Armstrong)

Custom Card of the Day: Posey Edition

There is a thing that most fans can't negate
Regarding one position's downward cruise
It's that those working days behind the plate
Succumb to every blister, bump and bruise
Most spend their rookie year proclaimed as champs
High accolades and garments- all is well
Until a summer's achievements turn damp
And sophomore year is spent on the DL
The cycle has been going on for years
With catchers getting hit and missing out
Mauer, Posey, McCann- all jumpstart fears
Of a return to glory there is doubt
The sad thing is that many catchers find
After their summer, winter right behind

I really hope Buster Posey returns to his 2010 numbers, and I really hope that rules are changes so that catchers such as Posey and Mauer can keep playing catcher for a while.

Coming Tomorrow- Something much less poetic. A long tenured pitcher going into the final stretch of his career with Cincinnati.

(By the way, I might FINALLY be getting some cards tomorrow or Sunday. Archives and Series 2 have been screaming at me. And besides, in two weeks is the Philly Show.)