I was probably seven years old when I bought my first pack of baseball cards from the Melrose Market in Southfield, Michigan. It would’ve been in 1977, and card collecting couldn’t really have been called a hobby back then.
We’d rip open our packs desperately looking for players we knew, then we’d sort them by team, wrap each team in a rubber band, and toss them all into a shoebox. In the five decades since then, the hobby exploded (in the 1980s), imploded (in the 90s), and enjoyed an unlikely resurgence (during the pandemic).
In the 46 years since I bought my first pack, everything has changed about the hobby. What once was simple — open the packs and collect the cards — has become an elaborate enterprise that resembles a lottery more than anything else. Collectors today don’t complete sets. In fact, most are only interested in the limited run insert cards that are randomly shuffled into the packs. The common cards are about as interesting to collectors today as the crisp pieces of gum were years ago.
I’ve got several crates of cards out in the garage, most worth nothing at all, but there are a few treasures that will bring in some money when I eventually sell them. The starting lineup of the 1961 Yankees, rookie cards of all the Hall of Famers who debuted in the 1980s, and some of Derek Jeter’s most desirable cards. It’s been twenty-five years since I was actively collecting, but every spring I’ll make a point to buy a few packs of the latest set, just to see what they look like and to get a taste of the glorious anticipation that shoots from your fingertips to your brain as you open a pack of cards. Say what you will about the hobby and the foolishness of paying actual money for small pieces of cardboard, but there’s really no feeling quite like opening a pack of baseball cards.
So when I finished my grocery shopping this morning, I turned the cart towards the back of the store to the hobby section, and I found what I was looking for — Topps 2023 Series One. A box with seven packs inside, price tag $24.99. Let’s open a pack together…
J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
It’s a nice card. Realmuto seems to have just hit a walk off, and he’s looking into the dugout and pumping his fist. And those home Phillies jerseys with the red pinstripes are definitely in the running for second-best uniforms in baseball.
Zack Thompson, Cardinals
Nothing special here. The standard mid-windup photo that most pitchers get.
Kris Bryant, Rockies
On the one hand, why in the world did the Cubs trade this guy? On the other, maybe they were right.
Tanner Rainey, Nationals
See Zack Thompson, but with a boring uniform. Why teams started using their spring training unis in actual games is completely beyond me.
Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals
The best thing about this card is the Topps All-Star Rookie trophy cup in the corner. Topps went away from logos like this for a while, but it was a nice move to bring them back. I loved these when I was a kid. Still do.
Alex Cobb, Giants
The Giants home uniform is another one of my favorites, so it’s too bad that they’ve also fallen victim to the alternate jersey disease. Here Cobb is wearing white pants with a hideous orange jersey, not the classic cream. Such a shame.
Josh Naylor, Guardians
He’s not rocking the baby, but he is celebrating like he’s just done something important. Even though he’s never really done anything important.
Matt Chapman, Blue Jays
It’s like the pack was watching the game today and is taunting me.
Rafael Devers, Red Sox
This is an insert card, but a worthless one. For some reason Topps is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the 1988 set, possibly the lowest point in the company’s history. (You could argue that 1987 is their most worthless set, but it doesn’t really matter.) Anyway, Devers is depicted here on the 1988 design, which is hardly memorable.
Ozzie Albies, Braves (Stars of MLB)
This is another insert, and it isn’t too interesting. Apparently it’s worth 75¢, which seems about right.
Shane Bieber, Guardians
When Bieber was great, he was probably the most uninteresting great pitcher we’ve seen in the past forty years. Greg Maddux was about as exciting as a metronome, but somehow he made that interesting. Bieber? Not so much. Boring pitcher, boring card.
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays.
More taunting. Here he’s depicted just after releasing the ball, with his long hair flying out from under his hat, reminiscent of the guy in the Maxell tape ad from so long ago.
Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
Probably the best pitcher that no one’s ever heard of. The last column on the back of his card is WAR. Once upon a time we got games, innings pitched, wins, losses, hits, walks, strikeouts, and saves — and that seemed like a lot of information.
Darick Hall, Phillies
Never heard of him before today.
And that’s it. Kind of a dud of a pack. No Yankees, no superstars. But I’ve got six more packs to go…
Ach, 7:40 pm start.
Roucco and who else?
Jeff nelson, dont mind him too much. Not a fan of rucco
[3] Thanks. The former pitcher? I don’t like Ryan’s voice for some reason.
Well this isn’t good.
[4] yeah, our former reliever. Met him once when i was a kid at a card show or something i remember him being really nice guy. I was shocked because he'd always looked so intense to me when playing. I really dont like ruccos voice, grating and i find he over enunciates in a kind of smarmy way. I prefer a soothing/more sleepy voice for baseball
I like Brito, dont feel hes pitching terribly. Needs run support, wish i had a bit more confidence in that happening.
Yeah, I think he has potential, wasn’t hit hard, just seeing eye singles.
Judge just misses.
And Gallo doesn’t.
Man... Gallo is a monster so far this year. How come we never get a player like that?
Tuning in the last few games have not been enjoyable. I think I begged for a 1987 Tops set one year. I wound up with one somehow or other. Whoops.
I bought my first cards in 1965. I put Mickey and other Yankee cards in the spokes of my bike. I also tried to chew the dried concrete slice of bubble gum.
I’m out, night all.
[13] My dad is 79. His mom threw them out when when he went to college.
[15] There goes her retirement.
I can tolerate the mediocre pitching, as our #2 and #4 are out. But this offense is lackluster at best. I usually don't criticize Cashman, but letting Benentendi go was a big mistake.
[13] I put cards in my tire spokes, too. And, of course I chewed the gum. Probably had my first set in '67 or '68.
I sold quite a number for them in the 1980s, when I was in college, for beer money. I got something like 45 bucks for the good ones.
This team is joyless.
Who are the "must-see" ABs, aside from Judge and Stanton? I guess Volpe because he's a rook, but otherwise "yawn."
This game is a slog.
[18] You could maybe catch the beginning of Hicks going on a tear.
Judge is missing some center cut pitches.
[18] They are getting unwatchable.
"Outfielder Bryan Reynolds and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on an eight-year, $106.75 million contract extension, sources told ESPN, marking the largest deal in franchise history amid Pittsburgh's scorching start."
Jeez... he must like playing in Pittsburg because based on today's pricing, $13m+/- per, is a very good deal for the Pirates
Time to be nasty, Nestor.
Two out RISP hits are acceptable
[18] Dude, be a Tottenham Hotspur fan ... this team is rainbows and unicorns pooping Skittles by comparison.
Also ... I think Volpe probably should go down to AAA when we get healthy.
IF he gets on base, he's exciting ... he's just not giving me confidence in his ability to do the former.
(at the moment)
Twins out of challenges now, right?
I guess I should doubt him more often ...
[28] Yes.
[30] Thanks, kind of stupid to risk it so early on such a close play.
These words were just used in the broadcast ... "Statcast", "Fangraphs", "nomenclature battle"
We HAVE come a long way since I grew up watching Scooter on WPIX
NASTY!
2nd error for Volpe
Sorry ... 3rd.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Grumble
[26] he must have heard you.
Volpe must have heard me in [26]
Tied!
E3. Woof.
LOL ... TIE GAME!
Tie to walk the terrorists.
I remember when Hicks would have made that catch with ease.
Ugh. At least he's hitting. /s
Poopy McPoopyhead
Poopy McPoopyhead #2
Well this is going south
The first few innings were semi-interesting I suppose.
Going?
AAAAAAAAAAARGH!
[44] Your memory is better than mine.
Blech ... we need emojis here.
[49] For me the turning point was when they had Ryan on the ropes, Hicks and Volpe had scorched hits. Judge up, one out. He swings at the first pitch and hits into a "double play" (aside from the gift error).
When Judge is pressing or guessing things are very bad...
Well, with what else we've got right now ... yes.
This team won't make the play offs, with Bader and Rodon or without.
Well, things can change ... it's too soon to know things.
Anyways ... onwards and upwards ... hopefully.
Nothing like waking up from a nap to a 5-1 lead.
Oh, more runs while walking the terrorists.
Double digits!
Just catching up ... pleasant surprise!
Wait ... we can bunt against pitchers with a bum leg?
That's only about 19 years too late to realize ...
[63] Too soon.
Trust me, watching this game today made me feel 2004 rage all over again.
Volpe finally breaks the .700 OPS line.
Thief!
Ballgame!
Crickets?
In to see Volpe Rip a rbi single.
And a horrible strike 3 call on Rizzo. Hopefully Boone has been tossed during the commercial break. Oi!
[70] 135 OPS+ since moving to the lead off spot.
And I think that doesn't include tonight.
Judge is going to miss games.
What the hell happened to Judge?
I'm in Texas, so I'm following on Gameday
Ruh roh, got an alert Judge is out.
This is the apocalypse.
It's nice to see us lighting ourselves on fire at the *start* of the season this time ...
Cole is not getting paid for his defense.
Boone use to look much looser in the dugout. He's reflecting much less fun vibes this year.
[80]
Well, he's probably watching the season go down before his eyes before Memorial Day.
Judge’s hip, hmmm, not a wrist injury.
Oh, joy ... *even* better!
Jose!
Good guys win. Cheers, y'all!
Rumors flying that Judge could be headed to the IL; Jake Bauers apparently on his way to the big club. (When I got the alert about Bauers, I'll admit to having a small heart attack when my brain confused him with a former Dodger starting pitcher with a similar last name.) Now I'm just having a small heart attack about watching this team without 99 in the lineup.
Right now it's just Bauers to the "taxi squad" ... depends on the results of Judge's MRI.
Either way, I think we've gotten all we can out of Franchy and Weird Willie
FANTASTIC ... Weird Willie Calhoun is batting clean-up tonight!!!
Oh, that’s right, deGrom is in Texas now, with a depleted Yankees lineup.
This is TOTALLY has the feel of a, why waste our bullets against DeGrom ... let's rest Trevino and Volpe and try again tomorrow, lineup
Sigh, ballgame.
Sigh, sigh, ballgame, ballgame
Just cut Franchy now, OK?
Over/under on how many hits the Yankees get tonight. 2.5
I’m going under.
Sadly, I won't take the over bet action against you ...
Yeesh.
I really feel like this season is going to get late, early.
Yeah Cult, with the Rays hot start, Yankees are playing for a WC slot.
HITS MAY BE BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS!
Well ... a hit at least.
Wait, Yankees got a hit? I had to walk the terrorists.
AND DeGrom is gone.
Of course, we've still got "Jack" Schmidt on the mound, so ...
2 HITS!!
A RUN!!!!
A third hit and a run. It helps taking deGromout.
And a second run.
TWO RUNS!
Heluva catch there, Oswaldo.
Greetings. OUCH! Do we know what happened to Judge? Our cleanup hitter, over 5+/- years, has a career 84 OPS+ and a cummulative NEGATIVE 2 WAR. One Outfielder, over 5+/- years, has a career 82 OPS+ and a cummulative NEGATIVE 0.5 WAR. Our other 2 Outfielders together, have a cummulative 94 OPS. Possibly the worst Outfield/DH combo in history?
And Cashman passed on Benintendi?
Painful. Today's lineup in impossible to watch.
Doesn’t look good: “ Judge has MRI on hip: 'Hopefully we don't lose him for long'”
So, All-Star game?
Probably
Or, he'll go full Black Knight on us ... I'LL BITE YER LEG OFF!!!
[108] The only reason rbj were wrong on the O/U for hits is that DeGrom pulled a DeGrom and got hurt.
"And Cashman passed on Benintendi?"
More like Hank passed on spending more money.
Well, preordained loss, really.
Blargh, went as expected. The terrorists missed their long walk due to the rain, have to take them out in the morning
Well, at least we 'pounded out' 5 hits and 2 runs.
Are we saying Judge will be out for 2 months ?!?!?!?
If so, I don't know if we even crawl into the PS as the 10th team.
Mild hip strain for Judge, might not need a DL stint at this point.
Heck of a catch Bauers.
Um, please get up
These season seems doomed.
oh great it's Hicks. :(
Ugh, Bauers out. Hopefully just a precaution.
I didn't realize Eovaldi was pitching until just now. Ugh.
[121] What the hell happened? Bauers made a great catch and injured himself???
Phew, second and third and no outs, but no runs.
That's two near collisions. Hicks didn't drop it though so all is well.
[123] yep. Slid into the wall after making the catch.
I like the straight on view of from Centerfield. Yikes. That could have been another shit show.
[123] Yeah, he crashed into the wall and was down for a while. Right leg with a slight limp.
Adventurous outfield today.
IKF wouldn't have caught that ball. Check the video
[129] Our outfield has the health expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer ...
Good one, Cult.
It's pathetic to think a sac bunt was probably the right call there.
I want some Oatly. Wonder why...
I want some runs.
I guess that’s a wrap for Burrito.
I want a frontal lobotomy or a bottle in front of me ...
Eovaldi is shutting us down... big time.
How come we never get pitchers like him?
[136] Why not leave him in... maybe on a short leash?
I guess because Burrito’s last two outings were bad, so two runs in 5 innings is something to build on?
I wonder what the recent Yankees record is against their former starters?
I love how the Yankees turn Eovaldi into "insert hall of fame pitcher here."
Rats, gave the terrorists their last walk of the day and no dice.
Well, that's that ... ain't it.
Might be a looooooooong year.
Grumble. Off for a bourbon.
I keep hearing in my head a variation on Who's on First's "third base, third base" - "last place, last place"
Yuck. Had to walk the terrorists, and a four spot?
Now a nap any it’s 8-1?
Rock bottom
Just got here. Looks like we are Texas's bitch. Et tu Nestor?
When do we play the Rays?
Because if *this* is the team we field against them, it's going to be like letting a chainsaw-wielding psycho killer loose against a room of 1st graders.
Blech.
[149] What's below rock bottom?
If this team ends up with one of the worst records in say the last 30+ years, going back to the early 90s, do ya'll think anything at the top will change?
I don't.
We are looking at a few games over .500 as a best case scenario right now.
I'm getting 1965 vibes. It's one thing when you're 14, another when you're 70.
[153] Just to cheer you up ... Judge went on the 10 day IL
[153] That was my first year as a Yankees fan, after, in the winter of '65, my friend told me we had the best team in baseball. What a bummer.
[154] Judge out until Monday next.
[154] I’m so shocked you could knock me over with a 16 ton weight.
[151] On Thursday, we are visiting Tampa Bay.
[158] Well, I hope the Rays oil their chain ... first graders can foul the bits and it, well, gets messy.
A HIT!
Well, at least we won't get no hit tonight.
Aaaaaaaand Johnny Lasagna is going under the knife.
LOUIE T!!!
Yay Trevvy!
OONTZ!!!
A two out RISP hit? Are the Yankees allowed to do that?
Sssssssh ... not so loud ... they'll hear you!
Fast paced game.
Wow! If we could pitch a shutout, we would have a 75% chance of winning!
ZE GERMAN!
3 more outs!
That’s one
Dammit. A hit.
I've seen 2 complete Yankee games this year and both have been absolute gems by German. This one is even better than the perfect game bid.
[Actually, I'll be holding my breath until they get the 2nd and 3rd outs.
I have a dark feeling right now…
Getting darker.
JAY-sus Christ, it's never easy.
Very dark.
Unbelievable.
Your 2023 New York Yankees.
Fuckity fuck fuck.
Poor Domingo. He should be talking to Meredith right now.
Mutha F*cka!
They are so bad now, it seems like they can't help shitting on brilliance.
Why do I bother/
There was part of me that wanted Boone to leave Germán in, but I admit it was probably the right decision. I mean, if you can’t trust your closer with a two-run lead…
So even if they hold the lead, does anyone have faith that they will score another run?
Boat, you’re being dramatic. I’m sure this team will score another run. It just might not be tonight. Or this series. But they’ll score again.
Well the first 8 innings were nice.
That's it. I'm done.
This team has bad ju-ju.
More and more unbelievable.
YOU'RE DOIN' A HECK OF A JOB, BOONEY!
[186] Ha!
Utterly pathetic.
Imagine if they get two runs here in the ninth. I’d still argue it would be a bad win. Just awful to waste a start like this.
Fucking AWFUL
Horrific.
Fucking brutal.
EAT A SATCHEL OF RICHARDS, BOONEY!
Boo! Shitty loss.
UN FUCKIN' BELIEVABLE!
It’s easy to hang this on Boone; but I think there’s a difference between trusting Cole at 110 pitches and trusting and unproven kid, even with only 88 pitches. At worst, you can say he made the safe call. But on the other hand — think about the long term benefit of having Germán work his way through the ninth, even after that hit. But maybe baseball doesn’t work that way anymore. Pitchers don’t need to learn how to navigate the ninth inning because even the best pitchers so rarely witness the ninth inning except from the dugout.
I'd rather have seen Germán give up 2 or 3 run homer in the 9th than that mess.
Last thought — if Boone was gonna use Holmes at all, he should’ve pulled Getmán after eight. That’s my final answer. If Germán starts the ninth, let him finish it.
Well, I think I'd go with ... let him give up 2 hits/baserunners
Clay Holmes has no business being a closer. They used a small sample size and decided he was their guy. At best he’s a set up guy and personally I don’t think he’s even good enough for that role.
Ba-Boone should have given German at least another batter at 88 pitches but the embarrassing problem is that his GM has given him an inferior roster. How Cashman is still running this circus is beyond me. With all the resources he has he’s never crafted a Championship caliber team and this one is destined to be fighting with the Redsox for last place all season.
Darth Bader returns tonight, at least.
Hopefully this means the end for Franchy and Weird Willie
Franchy is already sent down.
In other news:
"Former New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sánchez was released by the SF Giants on Monday. Sánchez signed a minor-league deal with the Giants in early April, and there was an expectation that he could quickly find his way to the MLB roster. However, he struggled mightily at Triple-A, hitting .164/.319/.182 with 19 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances. While he was cut by the organization, Andrew Baggarly and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that he exercised the May 1st opt-out in his contract."
Fangraphs has the Yanks at 4.8% to win WS. Which would be highly insulting if it wasn't, sadly, accurate
I find it encouraging ... I'd give a 0.0% chance at winning the World Series.
Nice, Cole.
Bats need hats.
Game over?
Ruh roh, I step out to use the bathroom and there’s a hot mess?
Guuuuuuuuuuuuh.
[209] I'd rather know our odds of a Top 10(or higher) draft pick next year ...
[214] So ... should we just set the O/U on Yankees hits at 2.5 from here until the forseeable future?
Automated balls and strikes ABS in the International League tonight, tomorrow, and Thursday.
VOLPE!
Volpe! So no shut out. A moral victory.
I hate moral victories.
Tied up!
[218] Coming soon: ChatGPT managers.
Weird Willy!
Shoot, I had to take the terrorists for their final walk of the day. I knew Willie had a home run in him.
LEMMY!
It's a Yankees slugfest!
UGH
Hell, a win!
A WIN!
Beats the Hell out of last night, for sure.
Oh goody, crappy defense.
Yeah, just what we need with Clarke Schidt on the mound
What a dumpster fire of an inning.
I missed Gleyber's fuck-up. I keep seeing 3-2 meatballs from Schmidt. Oi!
Kay is so stupid. The left fielder took away an extra base hit? You mean he caught a line drive. Yeesh.
You can’t stop Calhoun
And now Bauers
Stepped away ... Weird Willie and Bauers!
It looks like Ian Hamilton might be a nice surprise.
So this broadcast on my iPad is 8 seconds ahead of it on my tv
Your iPad is from the future!
Celebrate!
Shoot, I give the terrorists one last walk, perfect time for me to miss some run scoring, and nothing.
I'm just surprised that I'm watching both
I HATE THE CONTACT PLAY SO SO MUCH!
Fully agree
Bad move taking out Marinaccio. We'll see.
Fuck. You. Boone.
Boone is trying to manage himself out of a job.
What a horrible season.
And now Bader is coming out of the game. Excellent.
Un-fucking-real
Booth ignoring the Fire Boone chants.
Scrolling through the thread, I completely agree that the contact play is awful. I suppose you get a slight advantage if the ball is hit slightly to the side of an infielder, but it doesn’t seem to add much. I wonder what the numbers say.
[253] In ANY case, I bet a runner on 3rd with 2 outs has a higher run expectancy than a runner on 1st with 2 outs.
Well, I have no idea why I tuned it, but clearly it was a mistake.
Having IKF in the outfield in a tight game is part of this. He looks lost out there.
But what are the options?
I hesitate to imagine what happened to Bader. Concussion? Neck vertebrae?
[sigh]
Un-fucking-real
Again
Yup.
Holy smokes. Who’s left on the bench? Are we gonna see a pitcher pinch run?
Now Peraza. This team is like the Keystone Kops.
Contact play coming up.
An unbelievably lucky hit for Cleveland, but that sometimes happen when you put the bat on the ball (as opposed to striking out).
As far as I knew, 'Indian' was not a derogatory term. I wonder if they polled American Indians to see how they felt. I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but this PC shit has gone to far.
C'mon Weird Willie!
This is my first good look at Calhoun. Is he twelve?
Yay?
[263] It's why I call him Weird Willie ... he has a 12 year old's head on a 45 year old beer softball league player's body.
Indian is not a derogatory term, but cultures should not be used as mascots. Tune in to a Braves game and you’ll see why.
Players get injured LESS doing a popup slide as opposed to slowing down and hitting the base standing up.
P.S. What the fuck is Boone doing playing IKF in LF? I will refrain from bashing Cashman for letting Benintendi go.
[261] Google "Chief Wahoo". It doesn't get more offensive than that.
I would like a WIN here, k thks
Fuckin' Rizzo is the BEST Cashman pickup in many years.
[268] Oh, I bet a little bit of research could top that ... you underestimate our capacity for being horribly racist ...
LOUIE T!!!!!!
Yay, a win!
Noice! Exciting ending.
Hey, José is actually doing a great post-game interview. I don't think I've ever seen him talk.
Well, hopefully this isn't a pyrrhic victory ... but, yay!
Update: We took Bader back into the locker room, but there, unfortunately, his spleen exploded and he and everyone around him was burned to death ...
By signing Rodon, Brian Cashman finally replaced Carl Pavano.
Oh goody “chronic back problem” for Rondon.
[279] See [277]
Is there a chiropractor in the house? Worked wonders for me.
[278] Sounds like we just replaced the legend Britt Burns!
Once again ... O/U on hits ... 2.5 ... who's taking the over?
I’m going under, cult
Welp, game over.
You could have said that after the 1st ...
Cabrera probably needs to go down when Judge comes back ... I don't think he could hit water if he fell out of a boat right now.
Oh, Weird Willie
DARTH!
Wait, what?
I couldn't be the only one thinking, "Sure would be nice if Bader homered."
Nice!
[281] You have to wonder if the Yankees have hired a full time chiropractor. If they don't, THEY SHOULD!
Oswaldo has a .488 OPS! Why not bring up one of OF kids? How much worse can they be?
Run, Volpe, run!
[293] Like ... who?
https://www.pinstripealley.com/2023/5/2/23707575/yankees-losing-injuries-minors-prospects-elijah-dunham-randy-vasquez-jasson-dominguez-warren-beeter
Rat poop
Uh ... that's ONE way to get the out.
Sheeeeeesh.
FUCK
Dammit ... overturned.
Oh, look Bauers CAN catch.
Oh, great Weird Willie
I'm not sure K-K-Kyle is an improvement
OMG!!!
Christ ... this team
I can't stand it!
Grumble. Walking he terrorists did not produce the result I wanted.
After this game is over, shortly, I'm going to go to Youtube and finish watching THIS video: Crucifixion: The Process and the Monstrous Logic Behind It
It seems appropriate.
Well, that was that.
Blech
You guys are the bold and the brave. Hat's off.
I was watching the Mets. (don't hate me) I can't stomach this sweep that gonna happen.
Glad Bader's OK, though.
LET'S GET READY TO GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUMBLE!
Oh, joy it's our trash-ass lineup
Calhoun
Bauers
Falafel
Hicks
Higgy
Hitting 5-9
O/U on hits tonight is 3.5
I’m taking the under again.
And ballgame.
There is no fuckng end to the dreadfullnes of this season. DJ just got smoked. Bollocks.
Calhoun, Bauers,IKF, Hix? Murder me row.
Oh, look, Hicks still sucks.
Here everybody ... watch this in between innings ... this guy is legit oodles of noodles ... I can't EVEN imagine how much time this took to build, wire and program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCCXRerqaJI
I really wasn't sure throughout that video if the point was the machines were making the music or the end would show some other end result. I am not the target audience. Lol....
Yeah, it's using computer hardware and software to produce music, or reproduce music ... like the Stars Wars theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KS02q0BUnY
I might watch it again next time Hix is to bat.
But here ... I'll try another tack ... these guys make some of the funniest music videos I've stumbled across in a long time: Nanowar of Steel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9WWz95ripA
Lord knows we all could use a laugh watching this futility ...
HIT #2
It's not entirely my cup of tea. I made it 4 minutes. I can find humor in Valhallalujah. That's clever. They could probably create a long rock opera and go on tour.
Sadly, I cannot find the humor in Aaron Hicks.
Gah ... not enough to overturn
Why bother challenging that play? Dumb.
Great thinking Boone, now you’ve lost the challenge.
Bad challenge, but that's rather par for this team.
I am losing all faith that this team has any clue what they are doing.
A double? You have got to be kidding me.
Train wreck of a team.
[320] I don't know. Methinks this guy has WAY too much time on his hands.
[336] Technically, so do we if we're watching *this* team ...
A rally ... maybe.
Oh, who was I kidding?
Let's Go, Hix. Ferfuck's sake!
O/U on the Yanks scoring here. Hicks up.
Last chance, Hicks
Of that. What a surprise.
Right down the fuckin' middle!
These guys are shitty.
As far as I know, Rays management panhandles on freeway off ramps for change to pay their players and they EASILY run laps around Cashman and company.
THEY MADE THE OVER!
OONTZ!
A run!
C'mon Weird Willy!
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
DARTH!!!
A lead!
TAMPA ... I AM YOUR FATHER!
I think someone spiked my beer.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's back to Hicks.
Again.
Back to normal again.
Hicks is a vortex of suck.
Methinks they should have sent Bader. 2 outs with Hicks up?
Shit! Hicks can't even last long enough me to type this post.
Oh, lord, it's Clay Holmes.
Oh, Booney, will you EVER learn?
Phew
WHY ARE YOU NOT PINCH RUNNING, BOONEY??????
Honestly, how slow IS Boone?
It will take 2 hits to score Higgy
Phew, one down.
Shades of Mike Piazza
Two down
(holding my breath)
Grumble grumble.
(still holding my breath. Getting a little dizzy)
Chase one. Chase one. Chase one.
Well, THAT felt good!
See you tomorrow for the rubber match!
At least I bet on the Yanks to win by 1
EXHALE!
Phew, three down. And just in time for the Kentucky Derby.
Oh, and happy 92nd, Willie
I’ll take that strikeout. Cheapie, but still an out.
Hicks is just PAINFUL to watch.
Hix keeps getting at bats with risp. And failing.
But not even promising failing ... like hard hit outs ... just terrible at bats producing at best, weak ground balls.
Uh ... oops.
Should have taken the out at 1st.
RATSO!
Rizzo!
Bader joins the party
DARTH BADER BASEBALL VIOLATOR!
Damn. That was a helluva pea by Cabrera. I didn't know he had that kind of arm.
Damn, nice play Cabrera, just a step too late.
[386] I wish we'd just play him at 3rd rather than bouncing him everywhere ... I think it's affecting his hitting.
REJOICE!!!!
FINALLY!
Finally, Hicks.
Bader!
Sweet triple.
Gotta pick that Cabrera
Um, don’t shit the bed, guys.
Love Kay calling that K ... a walk.
Cole picked it up.
Uh oh.
Shit
Welcome to the suck, Cole.
Un-fucking-real ... again
Yuck.
Christ on a cracker.
Retied
Barely, but I'll take.
Perhaps Holmes is getting his groove back
AAAAAAARGH ... missed it by *that* much
Just tuned in. SB in the 9th. Did Cole really give up. 6-0 lead?
Yankees REALLY need to be more aggressive like this on the bases.
Cabrera should have tagged
Great fucking job, Cabrera should be on 3rd.
[410] LITERALLY the pitch after I made the point that they should be more aggressive.
Of course, Hicks when we need a hit.
I guess since it would have been the 3rd out, OK ... but still.
[413] Hey ... assuming we make it to the 10th ... Volpe starts on 2nd
Of course. Let him go, eat the $$$
Making it to the 10th is….. problematic
Thanks blue
[417] I trust King more than anyone else in the bullpen.
Ooops, I was wrong ... Hicks is the automatic runner.
Wish Arozarina was in pinstripes
I can't believe the game is still going. I just logged on to check the score.
And if we get to 19, Hicks will be caught stealing
10
3 ks. Think we have a new closer
What happened to Cole? 6-0 lead and it disappeared over 2 innings. I guess at least it is tied up now.
Meanwhile, taking muscle relaxers and vodka, hoping to play tomorrow in my 70+ league.
Productive out. It’s glebor timr
If John Flaherty can spot what Volpe's consistently doing wrong at the plate .. why can't the Yankees' hitting coach.
STAY UP THE MIDDLE, DON'T OVERSWING, DON'T OPEN UP YOUR FRONT HALF EARLY.
And bad base running.
Pathetic, utterly fucking pathetic ALL around.
Never so that, Susan
Hix could've scored. MOTHER#R$@$#@$#@ what a stupid play.
[430] Nope ... that's on Boone-y with the stupid RUN ON CONTACT PLAY ... again!
WTF was that.
Just DFA this guy. Geez.
But a LEGIT TERRIBLE at bat from Torres.
That's gotta be it for Hicks. Just kneels there like a fucking mope
Ump never made the call, Hicks didn't realize the ball was dropped ... not blaming Hicks for that shit show.
Or, at least blame goes ... Boone-y/Torres >>>>>>> Hicks
Yeah, but you have to play until the call is made.
That was like the guy taking a kickoff deep in his own end zone and running it back 105 yards while the kicking team is jogging off the field.
Yeah, but there was contact made ... and it's not like baseball plays until the whistle.
Hicks WAS tagged ... it just came out ... plus ... it wasn't HIS fault he got sent on contact, that's on Boone-y
I've got plenty of scorn for Hicks, I'm just not going to slag him for a knee-jerk managerial decision AND a terrible at bat.
Blergh.
Well, by-the-book brain dead managerial decision, rather than knee-jerk
Crapola
There's always next year.
Dammit ... I was 20 seconds behind ... what a knee to the balls this game was.
Total collapse.
Well. That sucked.
[447] What's going to change between now and then?
Both the Rays and the Astros are better run, better drafting organizations, I don't see **that** changing.
So at this point the Yankees are fighting for third wild card?
Reminds me of my Packers, a healthy Aaron will cover up a lot of mistakes, but won't necessarily be enough to get you to the promised land again without some help. When they had a very good defense, they won it all.