Custom Card of the Day: Chen Edition

 

First of all, isn't this awesome? You could see this out of a pack of 1982 Topps.

I'm kinda tired tonight, and I really don't have much else to say. But he's a good Taiwanese pitcher, that's been pitching well for Baltimore. That's about it.

Coming Tomorrow- In his first major league at bat, on the first pitch he saw, he hit one over the wall. And if that isn't enough to put him in the spotlight, then his team is helping boost it.

The Ten Most Crucial Trade Deadline Deals

Oooh, this one's a doozy.

Remember...yesterday, when the Phillies had a reliable outfield? Oh, gosh. They picked us clean. They left us with only Juan Pierre, John Mayberry and a pair of socks. It was terrible. But...more on that later.

This was an inredibly crazy month of July, much crazier than the otherwise subtle July 2011. People were flying across the leagues left and right, and the deadline was ugly. The last trade of the deadline was the deadliest, especially for all the Yankee fans. But I'll get there later.

I'll get to the list finally. Top 10 most crucial moves of the trade deadline.

10. Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez to Detroit, Jacob Turner and prospects to Marlins. Who won- Tigers. Not only did they need a new starter in Anibal, but Omar Infante, a former Tiger who got his stardom elsewhere, is back in his old town, a better player than when he left for Atlanta.  How the Marlins benefit- Jacob Turner is one of the best young Detroit prospects, and he will be a good piece for the team.

9. Francisco Liriano to White Sox, prospects to Twins. Who won- White Sox. They needed more pitching to add to the already-strong rotation. Liriano may not be reliable every season, but when he's on, he's reall on. Hopefully he'll reclaim the magic from the 2009 and 2010 seasons. How the Twins benefit- prospects for the future will hopefully get them out of the mess they're in currently.

8. Paul Maholm to the Braves, Aroydis Vizcaino and prospects to Cubs. Who won? Braves. Maholm gives the young rotation some experience,as Maholm will be the older, wiser member to the mostly young and up and coming staff. How it helps the Cubs: The team lost alot today, and the prospects can help them gain it back. Vizcaino is a young sar who hopefully has a spot.

7. Carlos Lee to Marlins, prospects to Astros. Who won? Marlins. Carlos Lee obviously isn't what he used to be, but what he is is a nice, strong back. The Marlins need some of that in order to stay in the race. Lee will lend his bat to a growing roster. How it helps the Astros- come on, they need something. They're getting a crapload of prospects this July, and hopefully they'll do something to help.

6. Shane Victorino to Dodgers, prospects to Philly. Who won? Phillies, surprisingly. I know, they robbed an important piece of our lineup, but he wasn't hitting, and he wasn't playing like he did when we won the championship in 2008. The Dodgers can have him. What the Phils need was helpto the farm system, and this gives them just that. They need pitching and infield help for the future, and this gives them that. How it helps the Dodgers- Victorino will help in the outfield with Ethier and Kemp, I guess...

5. Ryan Dempster to Rangers, prospects to Cubs. Who won? Rangers. The strongest team in the Majors got even stronger with this one. Dempster is a great pitcher, and will aid the already strong rotation. This was a steal, because I thought the Yankees had him at the end. Sadly, the rich got richer, and the Rangers got a replacement for the struggling Roy Oswalt. How it helps the Cubs- more prospects.

4. Hanley Ramirez to Dodgers, prospects to Marlins. Who won? Dodgers. They needed a shortstop, and they need a bat. They got both in Hanley. In his last few games, Hanley has gtten a lot of RBI, and has become a reliable member of the lineup. Him and Victorino are great additions to a staff that needs some. How it helps the Marlins- An aging team needs some youth.

3. Hunter Pence to Giants, Nate Schierholtz and prospects to Phillies. Who won- Giants. This kills me, because I loved Pence as a Phillie,and it pains me to see him join the enemy. The Giants do need another outfielder, and Pence will add moreof a bat to the lineup. It's sad, but it might work. How it helps the Phillies- again, more prospects, because we need some,

2. Zack Grienke to the Angels, prospects to the Brewers. Who won- Angels. I've said before that the Angels have the best rotation in the AL, with Weaver, Haren, Santana and Wilson. This adds a strong fifth man to the hat, and it makes the team an even bigger force. The Rangers should be afraid. How it helps the Brewers- after Braun goes, the team will be in trouble. They're gonna need some young stars.

1. Ichiro to the Yankees, prospects to the Mariners. Admit it, you saw this coming. I don't have to say much about how this helps us, because he's Ichiro. He's awesome. How it helps the Mariners- more prospects.

Hopefully this is the end of the moves during the season...I don't want to screw up the already done Update set.

Custom Card of the Day: Pedroia Edition

 

Admit it, you knew this was coming.

After Kevin Youkilis thankfully emigrated from Boston, I was left with a choice: who do I hate now?

It was a tough one, since I loathed a lot of people on that team. It couldn't be Ortiz. The one rule is that I don't hate Papi, because I think he's one of the best DHs in the game right now. He's a good hitter too. It also couldn't be Cody Ross. I hate him, but I'm never making a custom of the man.

Who does that leave? Dustin Pedroia of course. Why do I hate him? Well...he's an infuriating player because he always hits against the Yankees, tries to contend against Cano for AS spots, and is just...a really loatheable player.

So...here are the Top 10 jokes I can make about Pedroia.

10. As a second baseman, he gets a good view of Josh Beckett's ass on a regular basis.

9. Doesn't even have facial hair, just remnants of fur, desperately trying to escape the end of the chin.

8. When he started playing, his shortstop in crime was Alex Cora. He was never the same since.

7. He won the rookie of the year the same season where Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsusaka and Hideki Okajima debuted. Which means, if anything, that voters were looking really hard.

6. Spent half of 2010 on the DL. The other half was spent on shelves as Series 2's poster girl- I mean boy.

5. The other New England star flaunts his long locks. He can't do that.

4. Someow won MVP in 2008. How? Experts are still trying to determine this.

3. Him being on the Red Sox this season is embarassing, but don't worry...if the Sox ever try to trade him, the team he's on will crash and burn.

2. Only in Boston can the town's main baseball star be a "qweeeah"

1. Nice hair. Did Bradshaw give you some tips?

I'm done. At least for a while.

Coming Tomorrow- Remember how I keep saying that Chien Ming Wang is the greatest Taiwanese baseball player. This guy might be #2. And it ain't Hong-Chi Kuo. 

Custom Card of the Day: Ethier Edition

 

Back in May I spoke of the Dodgers' rise. Then, in June, I spoke of the Dodgers' fall. The good news is that the current series with the San Francisco Poseys might rocket them back into first. If they do, it will be thanks in part to this man.

Yeah, I know. "BUT THAAAAT ISN'T MATT KEMP"

I realize that Matt Kemp is the lord and savior over there, but when he's not having a big game, Andre Ethier probably is. Remember him? Was big in 2010? Ring a bell?

Anyhow, Ethier's been having a great season, and he's been keeping his team out of last (and third in that matter) for most of the season. Kemp has been doing his part, oh sure, but Ethier's been red-hot for longer, and he's the real fuel.

Kemp is the golden boy, and Ethier's the silver secret.

By the way, this custom (or the idea to do an Ethier) was requested by The Fan, Chris. Hope it's everything you asked for.

Coming Tomorrow- Youk is gone. So now who's my least favorite Red Sock? This guy.

Custom Card of the Day: Cabrera Edition

 

I consider myself a shallow fan of the Indians. One of my best friends is an Indians fan, and I've grown to respect the team. I know they plastered my Yanks in the 2007 ALDS, but I'm blaming the flies.

This guy has been a nice, solid 2nd baseman for 5 years. He started his career with a triple play, and worked from there. He's become one of the more reliable 2nd basemen in the league, and he usually does his part, hits up a storm and gets an All Star nod, which is all the fans really want from him.

For my friend Josh's sake, I really want the Indians to get to the playoffs.

Coming Tomorrow- A Dodger who's been having a pretty nice season, and his name is not Matt Kemp.

Another Bombshell, this one from Anaheim

 

Well, we knew he was going somewhere, just not where.

I feel like the Angels have been the one team that swoops in at the last second and gets the biggest stars to add to the already expanding roster. That rotation is awesome enough, with Weaver, Haren, Santana and Wilson, but now the fifth man is thrown into the hat, and the rotation turns into the AL's answer to the Phillie Four. 

This kinda gives a bit more power to the AL, but everyone's already been saying it's off balance, so who cares.

In exchange, the Brewers received Jean Segura, the Angels' top position player prospect. This could do them some good in the future, and who knows if head-case Greinke will stay full focused in LA.

Amazing stuff, and the deadline hasn't even hit yet.

Custom Card of the Day: Ichiro Edition

 

Yeah, I know I said today's would be Asdrubal Cabrera, but today's my 900th post, a milestone that took me 4 years to get to, and isn't nearly as good as my 1000th, which might be later this year. I figured I'd commemorate it with a Yankee, and a good one at that.

Ichiro...somehow has always been a perennial favorite of mine, maybe because he's such a fun player to watch. Now that he's a Yankee, he's a bit more fun. I know he's 38, and the end of his playing time is coming, but even if he doesn't hit, it'll be great to see him play for the Yanks. Sorta like seeing Jim Thome as a Phillie again, or as an Oriole. He's not gonna have a massive home run season (Leave that to Raul), but he's gonna do a great job, and he's gonna make the fans love him, cause he's Ichiro.

Of course, now everybody else hates him. But would you rather him as a Yankee or Pujols? 

Coming Tomorrow- Now I'll get you that Asdrubal Cabrera...