The Ball Whisperer

**This is my Round 2 Entry in Nachos Grande's Blogger Bracket Challenge**

You've heard of the Horse Whisperer.

A young Scarlett Johansson and her horse overcome a major trauma with the help of Robert Redford, the Horse Whisperer.

Thankfully, young Scarlett would overcome the trauma and go on to great things.   A couple of great things in fact.  Really amazing, wonderful things.

Next was the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel.

Cesar Millan helped problem plagued pooches overcome everything from overbarking to stalking Scarlett.

Now, MLB Network presents an all new program, The Ball Whisperer starring Jose Offerman.

Join Jose in the premier episode as he helps a ball overcome it's fear of being rubbed down with mud by umpires.

Here is the before and after picture showing a successful session with Jose.   The first segment ends with the ball soaring out of the stadium after a 'roided up slugger (face blurred out to protect his identity) gets a grooved fastball from a rookie pitcher.  You've never seen a bigger smile on a ball's sweet spot.

The episode ends on a high (no pun intended) note as Jose successfully helps an angst ridden ball who fears being involved in a rundown.

Here we see Jose working with the ball to get it more comfortable being handled by so many people on one play.  Early in this game the ball showed just how effective Jose's therapy was when it was involved in a 5-6-4-1-6-2-5-4-6-1-2 rundown of John Kruk.  Yes, that John Kruk.

Please join MLB Network this Thursday at 7 PM for must see TV, as we premier The Ball Whisperer starring Jose Offerman!  

You should all get my mom to buy your blasters

My mother is a semi-frequent reader of this blog.  She doesn't know diddly about cards other than her over-grown child still likes the things.  She told me one time that she saw me mention my mother-in-law quite a bit and wanted to get in on the action.  I told her all she had to do was buy me a blaster of cards and she'd get a mention.  Of course, I had to tell her what I meant by "blaster of cards."

Well, mom went a little overboard and bought me a blaster of Topps Chrome and TWO Topps Mega Boxes.  Thanks mom.

Now for the critique.  For the few of you who haven't seen them yet, the 2013 Topps "Mega" Box is not accurately named.  Maybe it's just me, but 5 packs of regular Update and 2 packs of Chrome Update don't quite add up to "Mega".  The Chrome Update packs are supposedly only available in these Mega Boxes, but I still think the term is misused here.  Ok, enough critiquing.

I have to say, my mom did a pretty good job of picking out boxes.

Mega Box number one didn't have anything too noteworthy in the regular Update packs, but one of the two Chrome Update packs delivered quite well.

The 4 card pack had a perennial All-Star, two Rookie phenoms (ok, one phenom) and a gold refractor.

Anyone think Justin will be back to his normal self next year?  I do.

Alright, one less Ranger to chase down.

Some guy from Cuba.

Ok, I have an issue with the gold refractors.  If you're going to have gold refractors in the same product, the numbering should be the same.  If this was a regular Topps Chrome gold refractor it would #/50.  Since it's an Update gold refractor, it's #213/250.  Still, not a bad pack.

Mega Box number 2 was a little better, at least from a Rangers perspective.

I got two nice (and by nice, I mean more popular than your average card) cards in each Chrome Update pack.

Ok, the eye black is gone, but that hair...I guess I'm getting old.

I want to hate Trout since he plays for the hated division rival Angels, but he's so dang good.  I don't know when his contract is up but I hope the Rangers throw a HEAP of cash his way.  I know it's not going to happen, but a boy can dream.

Pack two yielded yet another, albeit different, Harper.  That's good since I'll be trying to collect the entire 55 card Chrome Update set.

How about two Mega Boxes, 4 Chrome Update packs and 2 Gold Refractors.  These are supposed to fall 1:11 packs so I beat the odds, even if it is a Yankee.  Maybe I can pretend it's a Derek Jeter card.

One of the regular Update packs yielded something I wanted, but wasn't going to pay a premium for so...

it's nice to check this Yu Darvish SP Variation off my imaginary checklist.

Ok, I'm not going to show off everything from the Topps Chrome Blaster my mom bought, but it took about two seconds to realize it wasn't your ordinary blaster.

It was one of those purple refractor hot boxes.  Every pack had nothing but purple refractors like Joe, Ryan and Adrian, with a couple of regular refractors like Dustin mixed in just to throw me off.

I didn't pull a single Ranger in that blaster, but I did pull some of your favorite teams so I'll be offering/posting them to see if you guys are interested in any.

Alright Mom, you did good.  Who knows, maybe I'll write another post about you in the near future.

If I'm lucky.

Last is first, the November Contest results

Let's just say it's never, ever too late.

The last person to enter the November Contest came up first after three randomizations.

Congrats to Sarah!

Sarah, I need your address so I can get a package out to you.  I'll be headed over to find some cards on Monday!

Thanks to everyone for participating.

Did ya miss the contest post?

My last post was the November contest post.  I'm heading to work at 5 pm today and I'll randomize a winner at that time.

It's really simple this time so don't miss out. Sorry I can't link it using my phone.  Just click on older post.

Good luck.

Simple November Contest

First thing first, head over to Nachos Grande to vote for the Blogger Bracket Challenge.  You can vote for me, but more importantly, just go vote for someone!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

I'm headed back to the home of my former LCS owner either Saturday or Monday, depending on his schedule.  He has three rooms loaded with cards from his old shop.

I've made four trips so far and he gives me free reign to search boxes for whatever I want and then charges ridiculously low prices.

For him, I think he just enjoys the company of someone who enjoys cards as much as he does.

I know, I know, get to the contest already.

All you have to do is leave a comment with the name of your favorite team and a player or two.  I'll randomize the entries and try to get 25-50 cards of the winner's favorite team.  I can't make any promises, but I'll also do my best to find cards of the players you list as well.  Even if they are from a different team.

That's it.  Simple enough for you?

Good.  Welcome to November.

Three balls and you're out

*This is my entry in round 1 of Nachos Grande's Blogger Bracket Challenge.*

"Kids, I'm Ken Caminiti and I'm here to talk to you about the dangers of steroid use.  Forget about all the stuff you've heard about how it can help you hit the ball farther, heal faster or win 1996 N.L. MVP Awards.  There's a dangerous side to steroid use.

That's right, I'm talking about growing a third testicle.  Some people get lucky and it grows down there with the other two, but some people, like me, have to live with their third testicle right out in the open where everyone can see it.

Unfortunately, my extra testicle, my ball three if you will, grew right there on the inside of my elbow.  It's tough to swing the bat or throw the ball now.  Hell, I've even been tossed out of games by umpires who thingkI'm playing the old hidden ball trick!  Like this ball is hidden or something!

So kids, take it from me, Three Ball Ken, stay off steroids and stay in school."

The preceding has been a public service announcement and may or may not reflect the opinons of this blogger.

The Rangers are in the World Series!

In a manner of speaking.

Koji Uehara is some kind of 38 year old phenom for the Red Sox.  He was pretty good here in Texas, but he didn't want to be here.

Mike Napoli, aka Yukon Cornelius, has been a force for the Red Sox. I liked him while he was here.  He was blue collar and I hated to see him go.



                                             

See, Yukon and present day Napoli look just alike.


Matt from Once a Cub sent these over after the end of the Fantasy Baseball Season.  I finished 5th so I'm happy to receive this "Ranger dump" as he called it.

I'm showing this card for one reason and one reason only. In all likelihood, Geno Petralli's 1989 Donruss card has NEVER been shown on the internet.

I've mentioned many times how much I like Flair cards.  This Ken Hill doesn't look as good scanned as it does in person.  Trust me.

Mini Kinsler time.  Mini Kinsler.  Mini Kinsler.  I can't say it three times and I couldn't type it either.

You'd think a blog that celebrates plays at the plate would be run by someone who knows if he has all these awesome Gypsy Queen Collisions at the Plate cards. Well, I don't. I shall try to rectify that. 

I'm willing to bet this is the WORST Ian Kinsler card ever.  Care to guess why?

I picked this card up and instantly got 7% stronger due to PED contamination.   Hey, I'm just kidding Sammy!

Matt, thanks for running the league.  I'll try to win the whole thing next year!