My Favorite Teixeira

It's been so hectic for me as of late. With work, gym, spending time with family and friends, I haven't had the time to devote to this blog. I've been wanting to post, but other obligations have kept me away.

Tonight, I decided I wasn't going to watch WWE Raw (quit laughing, I bet some of you still watch WWE). I was going to finally scan some cards using the scanner/copier/printer I got for my birthday a few weeks back. I scanned all of my Mark Teixeira game used and certified autographed cards. I really didn't realize it was going to be a few hours for me to scan all those cards, but I finally did. Finished at 12:30 AM, eastern time.

I guess I'll show off some of my favorites:

From 2010 Topps, I have this Topps Peak Performance game used jersey. Yankee jerseys really don't have much to offer other than a piece of the interlocking NY on the chest or number off the back, so I really prefer my Yankee gamers to have the pinstripe on the jersey. This one has a real nice pinstripe, so that makes me a happy camper

I love patch cards, a lot. This Teixeira card from 2009 Upper deck SPx has a sweet piece of patch from one of Tex's Rangers jerseys. I got a sweet deal on it off ebay. Too bad I can't afford a Yankee patch.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sweet Spot has the best autographed cards. I really love this one from 2005 Sweet Spot. I actually had this card once before. I wanted to put together this set and bought this card for 7.00 at a card show. I later realized that alot of the autos in this set were going to be a bit pricey so I gave up on it and traded this card for one that escapes my mind. When I started collecting Teixeira, I had to rebuy this card. The second time around, it cost me 25.00, plus shipping. Morale of this story, when that voice in the back of your head is screaming, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!, maybe you ought to listen to it. Unlike me.

Another beautiful autograph card. This one comes from 2005 Ultimate. I, like most of you, can't afford the high end cards, so I have to scour the secondary market for the ones I need. And besides, I'm not paying 300 bucks to pull a Josh Tole autograph and a Kyle Davies game used jersey. So, I am more than happy to pay 10.00 for this beauty.

And finally, I have this card. It combines my two loves: Autographs and patches, all in one card. To get this 2005 Reflections Dual Patch Auto of Teixeira and Hank Blaylock, I had to trade some hockey autos, but its well worth it. This card has a prominent spot in my Teixeira collection.

If you guys want to see more of the collection, I'll post the links to the buckets here:http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/maniabeatle01/Mark%20Teixiera%20Collection/Autograph/

and here:http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/maniabeatle01/Mark%20Teixiera%20Collection/Game%20Used/

Let me know what you guys think.

I still have to upload all of the base and inserts. I'm not looking forward to that. Just thinking about uploading those, as well as my Yankees, Tino Martinez and Martin Brodeur collections hurts my tummy.

Well, I didn't See This One Coming...

Wow...

I'm still kinda stunned by this. When I received a tweet on twitter informing all that Cliff Lee had indeed spurned the Yankees, the years and mucho dinero to resign with the Phillies, I was wondering how this happened. I, like all of you, had heard there was a "mystery team" that was lurking. I had also heard that this (Dr. Evil hand gestures quotaions) "mystery team" was far behind the pack and that it would ultimately come down to New York and Texas for his services. I honestly felt that he would sign with the Yankees, even though the contract they were offering was crazy.

Little did I know that he would take his talents to the City of Brotherly Love.

Honestly, the longer this took, the less confident I felt Lee was coming to NY, especially after that whole spitting incident with his wife by a couple of drunken yahoos. Normally, if a player wants to be here, it's usually done at the winter meetings. But when Lee took his time in answering and then entertaining the Rangers for a third visit, I felt that's where he was staying.

Then again, who knew he had called the Phillies himself and asked what it would take to get back there. Who knew how long had this been going on and just been kept secret? Ultimaely, he took less money and less years to go back to Philly, where he helped lead them to the World Series in 2009. I will say this much, that's quite a starting four they are going to have in Philidelphia. Halladay, Lee, Hammels and Oswalt is as imposing as any rotaion in recent memory. Maybe as imposing as the one the Yankees had with Clemens, Pettitte, Mussina and Hernandez. Obviously, this makes the Phillies one of the favorites, if not THE favorite, to win the World Series. But then again, that's why they play the game, right?

What now for the Yankees? First off, I seriously doubt that Zack Grenke is coming to the Bronx as anything other than a visiting player. The Yankees are on his list of teams he wouldn't accept a trade to. Secondly, his well documented history with social anxiety disorder & depression would not help him in the demanding city that is New York City. what happens when he allows 5 runs in 3 and 1/3rd to Boston? The papers, and most fans, would be all over him. I don't really believe this is the place for him to thrive. And even if he does decide to come, what of Andy Pettitte? He still hasn't said if he is retiring and he is taking an awful long time (there is that time thing again!) to inform the Yankees if he will be at Spring Training or home in Deer Park, TX. The Yankees, as of now, have 2 spots to fill before Feburary. The signing of Russell Martin today pretty much tells me that Jesus Monetro is now trade bait for a pitcher. Martin will be a one year catcher until Austin Romine is ready. Now begs the question of who do the Yankees go after with Montero as the tasty morsel being dangled. Josh Johnson? Clay Kershaw? The Yankees are going to have to get creative and fast, otherwise those dreaded Crimson Sox of Boston will beat them as if they owed them money. With that lineup, it may not be pretty.

Here is where Brian Cashman earns his money. The two players he targeted, Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, both signed elsewhere. Andy Pettitte may not be back. What do you do Brian, What do you do? If I get a tweet that the Yankees sign Carl Pavano to a three year deal, the sounds of pain you will hear from New York, will be from me, screaming and pulling my hair out. Please Brian, I don't want to be bald.

6/3/2010 Mail and The Countdown To 200 Continues..

Yesterday, the God's of cardboard saw fit to visit my mailbox. I got two ebay wins and a TTM.

Blair Thomas signed this custom card for me, sent to his home address. Thomas is a former first round pick (second overall), who played running back for the Jets, Patriots, Cowboys and Panthers. He led all AFC rookies in total yards and yards per carry in his rookie year, but really didn't pan out as hoped. He co-owns a chain of bars in Pennsylvania called KoKoMos.

My first ebay win was this 2 card auction for a Panni Threads Walt "Clyde' Frazier autographed card and this triple autographed card of Ernie Vandewege (Yes, Kiki's dad played for the Knicks), Eddy Curry and Spencer Heywood from SP Authentic. I was able to win both cards for under 15.00 dlvd. Sorry abouth the picture. For some reason, it came out small. You would think I would have invested in a scanner by now.

My other ebay win was this In The Zone insert from 2007 Fleer Baseball of Mark Teixiera. It is my 192nd diffrent card of his and I am inching closer to my goal of 200 before the end of July. I would like to have 400 by the end of the calender year, but we all can't get what we want.