Big Z No-Hitter Thoughts

So, yesterday I heard Skip Bayless say there should be an asterisk by Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter.  I understand where he’s coming from, even being the huge Cub fan that I am.  It really wasn’t fair to play the games in Milwaukee, and the away uniform protest by the Astros was… warranted.  The problem is this though…

While deciding to play the two games at Miller Park in Milwaukee was pretty shady on Commisioner Selig’s part, the problem is that the Houston Astros were primed to be no-hit ANYWHERE outside the state of Texas.  Their hearts were clearly not in the game, as I believe it was Hunter Pence suggested on Cold Pizza (which will NEVER be First Take to me).  They could have played in Atlanta as Dayf mentioned being under consideration.  They could have played in my idea of Kansas City, even if the Royals were at home at the time, which I don’t know for sure.  KC is about as close to right in between Chi-Town and Hous-uhh… Town, as it gets.  Hell, they could have played at Gerald Field from Hey Arnold!, but the Astros’ hearts would still be back home staring down the hurricane.  Their one hit in game two proves that.

And pretty much no matter where they went outside of Texas, the Cubs fans would still be outnumbering the Astros fans at least 60/40.  There are Cubs fans literally everywhere in this country, and I think the majority of them are legit, and not bandwagon jumpers, though I’m positive there are plenty of them too.  Regardless, no matter where the Cubs go in recent years, the crowds seem to be made up of no less than 30% Cubs fans.  No way a neutral site outside of Texas will produce a crowd with a Houston Astros bias, unless about 10,000-15,000 Astros fans are flown in for the games.

Even though the Commish (who is only an Interleague Play and World Baseball Classic above George W. on the competence scale of people in positions of power) couldn’t have chosen a worse place for the games to be played, I could still see the no-hitter happening just about anywhere.  No matter where they played, the Astros hearts never left the state of Texas, and they weren’t going to get a pro-Houston crowd regardless of where they went in this country.

As they say, it is what it is, and what it is was a no win situation that the Astros were put in.  Everything possible seemed to be working against them, including the league itself.  The Cubs just happened to be in the right place at the right time to capatalize and did so spectacularly.  It’s unfortunate, but if the Astros are strong enough mentally, they can use this whole situation as motivation for their wild card push.

Trade w/ Dinged Corners

Here is the lot I received from Dinged Corners, in it’s entirety (unless some went missing when all the cards on top of my monitor fell this afternoon), broken down into specific categories.  I’ll try and add the pics if I can ever get them transferred from my brother’s digital camera.

Along with a lot for the Nennth Inning (what I received will be my next post), and a ridiculously belated birthday present for a good friend, your lot will be sent hopefully this Friday or Saturday, ladies.  Sorry for the delay, I think I picked out a pretty decent lot, and there be plenty left for another trade on another day.

Other-

First of all, we have a note, with a small drawing of a pitcher and a Cubs logo.  If there is ever a set of sports card blogger cards made, Patricia and Lucy’s signatures can be taken from this note for an ultra rare dual cut signature card of them.  They are the biggest superstars in our blogosphere this side of the Wax Heaven, after all.  That sounds way better and less historically significant document-destroying than a cut President’s signature to me.  And it’s at least better than a monster truck “autograph” (unless it’s Grave Digger). 🙂

1991-92 (I think) Skybox Chicago Bulls logo-  I was never really a Bulls fan, but this card is from quite possibly my favorite set of cards of all-time, in any sport.

Rock, Papi, Hanley, & Vlad-

These are some of the individual players I collect, of which there was one of each.

1994 Collector’s Choice Tim Raines

2006 Fleer Ultra Home Run Kings David Ortiz

2007 Fleer Hanley Ramirez

2008 Allen & Ginter Vlad Guerrero

Ken Griffey Jr-

My Griffey Collection has been close to doubled, I do believe.

1990 Fleer- Ah, the original.  This card is of Ken Griffey Sr, aka Ken Classic.  The rest are of The Kid.

1992 Fleer

1994 Score- Oh my, this… is so epic.  This card features Griffey… laying down a bunt.  How awesome is that?

2000 Upper Deck Opening Day 2K- An insert.  Post-2K has not been kind to our guy.

2006 Upper Deck National Baseball Card Day

2007 Topps Opening Day

2007 Topps Heritage

2008 Topps

Cubs-

The ’80s-

1981 Topps Mike Tyson (Going by the back the back of the card, he had much more power in the ring. ;P) & Mike Vail

1986 Topps Jim Frey & Steve Lake

1987 Topps Leon “Bull” Durham

1988 Fleer (Update?) Vance Law

1988 Topps Lee Smith

1988 Topps American Baseball Rick Sutcliff- I need cards 68 73 75 80 82 and 86 for the other six Strike factors.  Gotta catch ’em all.  For more on these lil buggers, see this.

1989 Fleer SuperStar Specials Will Clark/Rafael Palmeiro

1989 Score Darrin Jackson

1989 Topps Pat Perry & Scott Sanderson

The 90s-

1990 Score Paul Kilguss (Green) & Pat Perry (Red)

1990 Topps Pat Perry

1990 Topps K-Mart Jerome Walton- I had a giant 3ft tall bear when I was little, that was named after Jerome Walton.  They need to make glossy cards like this nowadays.

1991 Leaf Heath(cliff) Slocumb

1991 Score Rck Sutcliffe

1993 Fleer Doug Dascenzo- I always thought his nose was ginormous when I was little.

1993 Topps Mike Morgan- In 11 major league seasons starting in 1978, Mike had already played for the A’s, Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles and Dodgers before making it to the Cubs and having a huge year in ’92 (16-8 2.55).

1994 Collector’s Choice Kevin Roberson

1995 Collector’s Choice Special Edition Randy Myers- One of the many great closers to play for the Cubs.

1998 Skybox Thunder Lance Johnson

The 21st Century!1111-

Mark Prior- 2003 Flair (beautiful card), 2003 Upper Deck First Pitch, 2005 Fleer, 2006 Fleer

Derrek Lee- 2004 MLB Showdown, 2006 Fleer Tradition, 2007 Fleer Ultra, 2008 Upper Deck

2008 Upper Deck- Jason Marquis, Jacque Jones, the aforementioned D-Lee, Matt Murton (x2), and Jon Lieber

Other- 2007 Fleer Juan Pierre, 2008 Bowman Felix Pie, 2008 Topps Sean Marshall

Inserts-

2000 Upper Deck Opening Day 2K Sammy Sosa

2007 Upper Deck First Edition Juan Pierre Gold Parallel and Leading Off

2005 Donruss Zenith Positions Randy Johnson/Mark Prior/Roger Clemens- Uhh, one of these things is not like the others.  Oh well, at least the dufex is pretty shiny.

Ryno-

1987 Topps

1989 Topps All-Star

1995 Collector’s Choice Silver Signature

Hawk-

1988 Donruss MVP

1991 Fleer w/ Ryno

First Year/Prospects/Rookies/Draft Picks-

1994 Topps John Ratliff 1993 Draft Pick

2005 Topps Updates & Highlights Buck Coats First Year

2007 Bowman Heritage Prospects Alfred George “J.R.” (wait, what?) Mathes, Walter Ryan Norwood, and Samuel Babson Fuld

2008 TriSt*r Projections Larry Suarez- Huh, what’s this?  Holy s***!  He’s only 14?!?!?!?!  It says “Born: 12/21/93″… that’s gotta be a typo right?  No wonder he struggled to a 1-4 record in nine starts with the AZL Cubs in 2007, dude was freakin’ 13!!  I think it’s pretty impressive a kid that hasn’t likely even reached puberty yet got one in the win column at all, to be honest.  Holy Rookie of the Year!

Wow, on that note, I’m outta here.  More cards straight out my mailbox to come tomorrow.