From the Singles Boxes to the Binders

About a week into 2013, I have been staying the course.  The course of refraining from buying too many packs and digging through singles boxes to buy some cards.  I am still going to buy some packs this year but, only from select packs.  I did well with this plan in 2012 and will keep it going again in 2013.

Singles from newer sets are usually pretty cheap.  I still have a lot of gaps in my collection from 2012 cards because I didn't open packs of some products.  My local card shop has some boxes of 2012 singles for a dime or a quarter.

In 2012, Topps released a set of minis that are just like their 2012 Series 1 and Series 2 products.  The photos are the same, I believe.  At least most of the images are the same from the base sets.

I remember hobby boxes of 2012 Topps Minis going for a lot more cash than hobby boxes of Series 1 or Series 2.  I also remember packs of these being hard to find and a little pricey for a set of cards that I have seen before.

I was just waiting until I could pluck some singles from this set for under a quarter.  That day came yesterday and I was able to purchase a good stack of these little cards.

Skip Schumaker is a new addition to the Dodgers.  The Cardinals traded him to the Dodgers for minor league prospect Jake Lemmerman.  This trade is kind of old news since it happened a few weeks ago.

To my knowledge, this is my only Skip Schumaker card.  I may have several more but, don't feel it is worth digging around for a Schumaker card.

So, this was a good cheap pick-up for me.  This is the Schumaker card that I will keep until he has a Dodger card released.  One of my very, very minor goals of 2013 is to have Schumaker sign this card for me.  It will probably happen.

 
Earlier this morning, I watched an FA Cup soccer match between Liverpool and Mansfield Town.  It was a very exciting game and big boy Liverpool almost lost to the little guy, Mansfield Town.

I won't get to into this game because I will probably bore most of my tens of readers.  If any more sentences are typed about soccer at the Platter, I will probably receive some angry emails and a trade package filled with Juan Uribe awfulness.

I am now watching an NFL playoff game.  The game is the Colts versus the Ravens.  I actually can't explain why I am watching this game.  Because of Andrew Luck in his first playoff game?  Maybe for Ray Lewis' possible final game?

I think the real reason is because no baseball is on right now.  I am stuck getting more sporting fix from the FA Cup and an NFL match-up that may put me to sleep.  Any NFL playoff match-up that doesn't include the Raiders, may put me to sleep.

I would even watch a Yanks/Sox game on ESPN featuring Joe Morgan's return to the booth, with Hiroki Kuroda dominating for the Yanks, and Shane Victorino hitting a walk-off homer to give the Sox a 1-0 victory if it was on television right now.

I need baseball.

Bounce Back Year

The Dodgers always have at least one player for me to never trust.  A player that can't perform at a high level on a consistent basis.  I usually get most frustrated at the type of player that has great talent and shows it on occasion, only to falter during his next game.

Chad Billingsley is that type of player.  He has had some really good seasons in the past.  Billingsley had an ERA+ of 135 in 147 innings during the 2007 season.  He was only 22 at the time.  In 2008, Billingsley was able to strike out a batter per inning over his first and only 200 inning season.

Billingsley even had a really solid year in 2010.  He posted the lowest WHIP of his career at 1.27.  The he faltered in 2011.  A lot of Billingsley's numbers turned bad.  His ERA was 4.21, his WHIP was an ugly 1.45 and his K/9 was a middling 7.3

He can't put up his 2011 numbers again this season.  The Dodgers would have no chance at the postseason.

I have officially stopped making fun of Billingsley.  I have berated him for much of his career due to his playoff failures, his inconsistencies, and the "one bad inning" that he seems to have every game.

All Dodger fans know about the "one bad inning" he puts up in his starts.  Billingsley may be cruising through 5 innings of work then will start walking guys in the 6th and giving up hits to weak hitting shortstops.

This is the year where Billingsley bounces back and reclaims the form he had in 2008 or 2010.  The 2011 Billingsley will not return.  He is going to pitch well and I hope my new found encouragement for him will help.

I am currently stocking up on his baseball cards right now. Especially focusing on his autos and game used cards.  The price is low on Chad Billingsley because even some Dodger fans think he's a stiff and not worth collecting. His prices will begin to go up when he starts blowing away hitters this season.

Billingsley is a stiff no more.