I Still Type

It feels like it has been an awful, long time since my last blog post.  In my head, it feels like months have passed since the last time words have been typed at the Platter.  Only a couple week have elapsed since my last write-up.  It really feels a lot more time as passed since then, maybe I am just aging at a more rapid pace than the rest of the world.

One of my fears of taking some days off from the Platter, is that I will forget how to type a blog style post.  The fear being that I would get so wrapped up in the way college teaches you to write, that the randomness and seemingly carefree style of writing that the Platter fans are used to would be gone forever.

On a blog post, I don't have to worry about format, or "rules for writers," and themes or even grammar may take a backseat.  The Platter gives me an opportunity to have my own style and set of writing parameters without the overlooking eye of an intellectual English teacher.

I missed this little blog posting thing while I took a little break.  I am sure that some of the Platter super fans have missed seeing Nomo's Sushi Platter appear on their blogroll.

I have had a stack of Dodger cards that were rubber banded together for me and handed to me at Dodgers Fan Fest while standing in the longest line ever.  Oscar from the blog, All Trade Bait, All the Time, gave me a bunch of excellent Dodger cards while I was waiting for an autograph in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.  Since, he handed these over to me, I have been waiting to have a chance to post about some of the gems that he included in this trade stack.

One of the few things that I miss about Juan Pierre being on the Dodgers, is some of the quality baseball cards that he popped up on.  This Pierre is new to me and the black border and darkened background, highlight the spectacular catch Pierre is making.

I am also pretty sure that Pierre makes this catch, hops up on his feet and fires the ball to second base to double up an overaggressive base runner.  That happened, right?

 
Don Newcombe was a really solid hitter as well as a pitcher.  In 1955, Newcombe hit 9 doubles, mashed 7 home runs and even stole a base, all in only 117 at-bats.  Newcome slugged an astounding .632 during the Dodgers '55 championship season.

Pitchers should never take at-bats off.  Some pitchers just stand there, waiting for the opposition to throw 3 straight strikes.  Starting pitchers make a lot of money, even the bad or mediocre ones sign big deals, they should at least attempt to get a base hit.  Clayton Kershaw gives great at-bats and gets some hits and know how to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

I am looking forward to watching Hyun Jin Ryu getting some swings in this year.  Ryu is the Dodgers latest pitching import from Korea and the dude is a mammoth.  He has the waistline of Babe Ruth and could hopefully pitch like David Wells.

The Platter doesn't have many requirements or standards.  One of the rules that I try to self impose is showing a variety of card sets.  I try not to have a post with only cards from one particular set because that may bore a person that is just scanning through the photos of a post.

I do try to show off a piece of cardboard from the Ted Williams sets of the 90s.  The cards from the Ted Williams sets stand the test of time and look as glorious now as they did back in '93.  The double photo idea, with what appears to be Maury Wills peering at himself in amazement at how fast he could glide on the base paths, was a genius concept.

This is photography gold right here.  Mike Marshall sliding safely onto a base during the famed 1988 World Series.  Did the photographer dart onto the field for this picture?  How did they get such a close-up?

The Dodgers need to make another World Series soon.  Seeing a card like this one makes me both happy and sad.  So, they balance each other out and I am just left feeling numb.  I dream of 2014 Topps including a Dodger World Series card with Nick Punto diving safely into first base.

Yes, I do dream about the World Series, baseball cards and Nick Punto.  All the doctors that I have spoken with said that there is no cure for such dreams, I am just stuck with these thoughts as some sort of a curse.

Sorry for the delay on writing up this trade post, Oscar.  Since, you have already typed up about a hundred posts since the Dodgers Fan Fest.

The Past Beats The Present

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti was at it again at the trade deadline.  Colletti seems to enjoy hurting the team by poor trades and awful free agent signings.  Owner Frank McCourt isn't smart enough to fire this guy.  The Dodgers are thin at the catching position in there minor league system.  So, the genius that Colletti is trades Trayvon Robinson, who is one of the Dodgers top prospects, for minor league depth.  Colletti got three mid level minor league players named Tim Fedorowicz, Stephen Fife, and Juan Rodriguez.

Fedorowicz is the prize that Colletti was after.  He is a defensive minded catcher that may not hit well enough at the big league level to warrant a trade of a prospect of Trayvon Robinson's skill level.  All the scouting reports that I read state Fedorowicz is a projected back up big league catcher or a starter on a second division major league team.  I guess that Dodgers are a second division team now.  Thanks, Colletti!

Colletti has been making more moves that hurts the team in the present and the future.  I can't believe someone that has as much power within a big league club can be that dumb.  When Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier leave after the 2012 season, won't the Dodgers need a cheap outfield alternative?  Getting a mid level catching prospect seems easy to find.  Big league clubs are littered with catchers that play solid defense and can't hit.  The Dodgers currently have two of those on there big league club.  This move of trading a solid outfield prospect when there will be a need on the team in the near future just doesn't make sense to me. 

When a new owner comes in to take the team from the claws of Frank McCourt, Ned Colletti should be fired immediately.  There is no reason that he has a job.  McCourt and Colletti have done more harm than good.  Colletti seems to make moves with the intent on hurting the Dodgers.  He may be hurting the team presently and the team's future but, he can't hurt the past.  Right?

Maury Wills is a big time Doyer that stole a ton of bases in the 60s.  Wills helps out Dodger players during spring training by showing them bunting and base running skills.  Wills should have Colletti stand on second base and come in cleats high.  Give him a good cleating to the groin.  This drill will teach Dodger players how to break up a double play and how to prevent a GM from procreating.

This is my first Maury Wills autograph and it's on card.  This card is also serial numbered out of 320.  I think I am going to pick up some more of his autos because they are cheap and he was a really good player.

Ned Colletti won't be able to take away the performance of Johnny Podres in the 1955 World Series.  I am sure that Colletti has tried to erase the 1955 championship from Dodger lore because he loves to bring down the team.  But, nothing will ever erase the beast pitching show that Podres laid on the Yankees.  Podres pitched a Game 7 shut out against the Yankees in 1955 to give the Dodgers the title.  I always mention this whenever I pick up a Podres card.  I feel that the Dodgers won't have a World Series hero like this anytime soon.  So, Dodger fans must cling to the past and enjoy what some of our icons have done for us.

I have been trying to load up on cards of Podres recently and have been fairly successful.  I found this one on Ebay on the cheap.  I am looking for some of his vintage cards though.  If anyone has any for trade, please let me know.

John Roseboro is a Doyer bad ass.  He was a catcher on some of the great Dodger teams of the 60s.  This is my first card of his and it is a cool vintage card.  This card is in pretty good shape also.  When I purchase a vintage card off of Ebay, I always just cross my fingers and hope the card is in decent shape.  The corners are a little worn but, that's okay.

Ned Colletti can't take Don Newcombe's 1956 MVP award from him.  Colletti has tried to trade Newcombe's MVP award for a player to be named later.  Luckily, MLB told him that you can't trade an award for a player.  This was news to Colletti.

Don Newcombe still works for the Dodgers.  He shows up at games every now and then wearing a nice suit and cool hat.  He looks like a stud.  One day, Newcombe will throw a fastball right through Frank McCourt's face.  Newcombe still looks like he can bring the heat.

Ned Colletti made a statement about the lack of catching depth in the Dodgers system.  It was a hole that he created by trading Carlos Santana and not addressing the issue through the draft or with an international signing.  Idiot!

I picked up this card at a card shop called Valley Baseball Cards located in Tarzana,CA.  Tarzana is best known as the birth place of me!  It is also known for this great card shop.  This card shop was recommended to me by Dodgerbobble.  If you are in the area be sure to check it out.  The staff is super nice and they have a good selection of singles.

I didn't know that Carlos Santana had a Dodger card.  I am glad to add this one to my collection.