Have a great weekend!

I haven't posted much lately. Same excuse as always...busy times at work plus life = not many new blog posts. I've gotten a few great packages in lately, so I have some new material to show off. It's just a matter of scanning and then finding time to actually write.

Speaking of which, I have about five trade packages I need to send out. If you are expecting something from me, I haven't forgotten...I'm just slow these days. Everything is sorted though.

Anyhow, I'm going to take the last weekend of summer to relax with with my family and hopefully watch some of the Syracuse-Penn State football game tomorrow. Hopefully next week I'll find much more time to blog and actually send out the cards I've been meaning to send.

So just to show something, here is a random sampling of cards for no reason at all. Just a bunch of cards from past posts. Hope you all are able to enjoy the weekend.

Injuries = card prices go down

With Manny Banuelos missing this season due to an injury, the prices of his cards have fallen quite a bit. I picked up my third Banuelos autograph for just $3 shipped this past week. It's from 2011 In the Game. It's a decent enough looking card.

I have faith that Manny is going to bounce back big time in 2014.

Another Pineda Pickup

I have no idea if I'm ever going to see Michael Pineda in Pinstripes. That's not stopping me from picking up his cards. I feel like I'm getting close to the rainbow for 2012 Topps Chrome. I have no idea what other colors exist, but I have have the regular, the X-Fractor, Blue Refractor, and Orange Refractor. I think I have the regular Refractor too, but I have to look.

A Night Owl Connection

I bet you didn't know Night Owl and I went to the same high school. Different years, but still. So yeah, I'm bragging about that.

Recently, he sent me a nice stack of Yanks. I owe him a cool Dodgers Fan Favorites Refractor, but I stink at sending cards when I intend to, and it's sill sitting on my desk with a bunch of other cards I need to ship out. What's wrong with me?

Since he's getting a Fan Favorites card from me, here are my favorites from the batch he sent.

First and foremost, my second 1975 Topps Mini. This time, Mr. Bobby Bonds. These cards are just plain cool, and I think I only own one other Bonds card as a Yankee. Maybe I'll chase down a mini team set one day.

Next, the current Dodgers manager on an unlicensed card. I need to count my Mattingly cards. I'm sure I have around 200 of them, which is decent for not really trying. I really need to count my Jeters, Riveras, and Canos too.

I love diecuts, even with ARod on them. I can't imagine he'll be featured in too many more insert sets after this year, but knowing Topps, they'll keep running him out there. The Yanks do.

And the heir apparent to Mo, David Roberston on a great looking blue parallel. I may be in the minority, but I'd rather have Robertson keep his 8th inning role and bring in a new closer. He lives on the edge a little too much for me. I'm sure he'll be given every chance to close, but then you have to replace two spots overall - 8th inning and closer, as opposed to just one.

Thanks, Night Owl. Hope you like the Clem Labine...whenever I send it.

O No!!! Not Another PWE! (said no one ever)

First off, I've been awful at updating my blog. Since my return to regularly blogging, I think I've done a decent job of at least posting something 4-6 times a week. It's never much, but it's something in an attempt to stay relevant and remind you guys that I'm always here to take your unwanted Yankees.

Recently, Ryan of "O No! Not Another Orioles Blog" showed off some Bowman Platinum cards, and was nice enough to set aside this Gary Sanchez for me. Sanchez is the Yanks top prospect, and has advanced to AA this year. Overall, his year hasn't been great, but he's still a decent prospect. He's only 20, and in 13 AA games he's hitting .269 with a .406 OBP.

 Sadly, this is the same photo Topps/Bowman has used in a bunch of his cards.

TTM Success: Eric Jagielo (Yankees '13 First Rounder)

The Yankees selected 3B Eric Jagielo (Notre Dame) with the 26th overall pick in this month's draft. Jagielo is a polished 3B who will hopefully move through the Yanks system quickly. He's playing just down the road in Staten Island, so I figured I'd shoot him a TTM request. He doesn't have any cards yet, so I send this Yankee Stadium card. I don't like those "Signature" cards, so felt like this was a pretty good alternative.

TTM Success: Jim Mason

Former Yankee Jim Mason signed two cards for me in about 10 days. I sent this 1975 Topps as a possible upgrade in my Topps Yankees Project. Currently, I have a beat up Ron Blomberg signed in pen. While I like Blomberg a lot more, I always cringe when I see this card in my binder.

I also sent a creased Rangers card I had laying around, and Mason signed it as well. I'll send that one to 'ol Napkin Doon.

Here is the Blomberg I was referring to: