Holiday Card Gifts Sent Today

I just wanted to inform everyone who took a card from my holiday gift post earlier in the week that they were sent out today.  Of course because of the holiday season it may take much longer than usual.  I just wanted to let you all know so you aren't wondering where it is.  Thanks again for everyone who reads, trades, and will be participating in my first group break next week.  Happy Holidays!

20 packs for 20 Bucks - Value Box

My wife picked up a 20 pack repack value box for $20.  The retail value of the packs inside were nearly $34, with a total savings of $14.  I didn't get any hits, but I got two pretty low number cards.  Lets see if there was "value" in this box!

 SCORE: Purple Refractor Rockies Angelys Nina 126/199, a Gold Howard and a Cespedes RC

 Chrome Refractor Madison Bumgarner 232/563

 Trout Heritage and good opening day pack

 Good mix of Archives with a Robinson/Kemp insert and a McCovey SP

 Sweet '51 Blue Back Campanella, and Sisler great

Not bad for $20, I did get some inserts that I didn't have and got a Rockies #ed prospect!

Colorado Rockies Winter Moves - As Of 12/21/12

Maybe the Colorado Rockies were thinking the world WAS going to end on 12/21/12 because their lack of life during the off season.  But now the Rockies are in the OH CRAP the world is still here and we still have NO pitching!  We have seen whole teams move from Florida to Canada, and seen teams like the Dodgers get stacked.  Then you have the "other" teams like Houston, Padres, and the Rockies who don't seem to have much of a pulse.  I can judge a teams recent actions by just going to their team pages, teams like the Dodgers have at least two or three new headlines a day.  The Colorado Rockies tops headlines are Weiss as new manager, which happened two months ago, and the signing of Jeff Francis.  Hitting and fielding the Rockies can put up with runs with just about any other team, but still the pitching lacks depth.  I agree there isn't much out there for pitching but there are two or three free agents that could make for great middle relief.  Then what happens if DeLaRosa doesn't come back strong from two years injured. 

Matt Lindstrom

Matt Lindstrom is still left, why not bring him back to Colorado?  He has pitched 326 career innings and only has given up 18 home runs!  That is one home run every 18 innings.  What more do you want from a relief pitcher than to keep the ball in the ballpark and not to walk many.  He has a 2:1 strike out to walk rate.  He pitched for the Rockies in 2011 and pitched in 54 innings and only gave up 3 home runs all year, 2 at Coors.  What more can you ask from a pitcher at Coors field, no free passes and no home runs. 

Here was Lindstrom's Home/Road splits:

Lindstrom's home record is a little higher due to having a bad series with the L.A. Dodgers in which his ERA was 14.54.  If you look at all the other teams with winning records he pitched near lights out.  He was traded with Jason Hammel to Baltimore and pitched very well.  If he is healthy, I think this would help the middle relief. 

Other than that, the rest of the pitchers are old and past their prime.  Hope they can bring Matt back!

Faces of Baseball Cards - Barry Bonds

We collectors are quick to point out errors, oddities, or just something unusual.  Sometimes it is bad hair, big mustache, or a player posing with an oversized bat like Kirby Puckett.  Then there is that moment in time a card captures a player in action in an unflattering way such as Barry Bond's 1993 Score Select #1.

Here we go...Faces of Baseball Cards, Barry Bonds Style!

You can just feel the pain in his face from this card.

Up Coming Break - Break Date Released: 12/28 9P CT

First I want to remind you of the upcoming break.  I am expecting to break LIVE on December 28th at 9 PM CT.  Even if you can't pay till the 28th, please put in your claim before the 28th.  This months group link is listed above on the quick links tab.  Again there will be 13 boxes (15 autos plus 1 other hit), and there will be a prize to one of the people in the group break during each break. $18, three teams!  See the rules and teams again on the break page tab above. 

LIVE BROADCASTS of each break on UStream!

I suggest if you want to be able to see the card breaks live to subscribe to my UStream Page, it is linked on the top of the page or right here: JOEAVGUStreamPage

Since I would love to have real time chat and interactions with you all, I made this page password protected to keep the UStream trolls from coming on during live breaks with those stupid "I'm a 16 year old rapper, please visit my youtube page!".  I tried to keep it very easy for you all to remember or you can always email me if you forgot.

Pass: baseball

Once you are following a email will be sent out with event details such as when the breaks will go live and links.  Once you are logged in to the breaks live you will see me and my wife.  I want to make this an entertaining thing.  Instead of boring card audio, we can ask you all questions and you all can respond.  The break will also be recorded so if you do miss it, and for want to see it, it will be posted on my page within 24 hours.  When boxes arrive I will also do recorded videos just showing the boxes if we have some openings and if by showing the boxes on video could cause someone to get in on the fun.

If you all have any issues with logging into the page, please let me know!

Each month I will be doing a theme: This month will be heavy on the Minor League/Prospect Autos

Some of you maybe prospect collectors, some may not be.  But I figure if I can each month do something different I should be able to keep all my fellow collectors happy with what they get. 

Three Tier Use!

Also, as you may see I'm only doing 9 available spots, and each spot 3 teams.  By doing three tiers keeps one person from getting Dodgers, Yankees, and Red Sox in one pick.  I think this is the most fair way to do it, each person gets a team with a storied past, a past, and a newer team. 

Doubles Randomized to Others!


Doubles of the same card (not parallels  will be put in a pile for randomizing at the end of the break.  For your money I would rather have everyone with about the same number of cards.  There is no reason why one person would want 15 of one player (unless you say you want to keep your doubles, but you lose out getting other doubles). Group buyers will also get doubles from teams that are NOT purchased, such as if no one purchased the Cardinals and three Chris Carpenter cards are pulled, 2 Chris Carpenter cards will be placed in the pile.

This will be the first live break, there maybe a few bugs, but we will work it out together!  Every month I will throw in a special card (can be an auto, relic, or vintage).  I will randomize it from the maximum 9 collectors. I WILL NOT tell you what the special card is until the live video.  I will tell you this months card is vintage, very well known player, on one of the best designs of all time!  These monthly cards is a special gift to you all from me for being a part of my wife Tonya and I's special breaks. 

Again, follow the links above for the current break info and make sure to follow my UStream page!