Fantasy Draft Update

There is an update to the 2011 Fantasy Baseball League. Due to the fact that I don't have 10 paid teams yet I am rescheduling the draft to allow another week for the teams to be filled.

I have moved the draft date and time to Sunday March, 27, 2011 at 10:15pm EST.

I know a few people said they couldn't participate because of draft conflicts with other leagues so if you can join now, please let me know. I have 3 technical openings, but one person volunteered to fill a spot if we don't have 3.

I can always change the draft to another day during the week if that works better for people. I don't mind, I just can't do Tuesday or Wednesday because I have two exams this week BUT.... if need be we can do Wednesday night.

11:56 pm Update.... one team has just been paid for leaving 1-2 spots left.

Sunday Question

Only two weeks left to the start of the greatest season in sports! Well, it's the greatest for me. I honestly haven't been watching that much of the spring training games because I find them hard to get into when they are meaningless and only half the team is playing at a given time.

So what is it that you are most looking forward to about baseball season starting in two weeks?

For me it is definitely getting out to the games and being able to be outside hanging out (where there is no snow to be shoveled). I'm eagerly awaiting Opening Day and have every intention of ditching my Chemistry lab that day to be there.

P.S. Still have 1-2 spots left in our Fantasy League, draft is tomorrow night e-mail me for the details or payment info. ($20, H2H)

2011 Fantasy Baseball League

Who wants to join?!

Right now we have 3 open teams for the league this season. Our draft is scheduled for this Monday March 21, 2011 at 9:15pm EST.

I need ALL teams PAID prior to entering the draft. I had a horrible time chasing people for money last season and I refuse to do it again.

Please leave a comment and let me know. First comments get the teams, and I need you to e-mail me so that I can send you the invite for the league and payment information.

2011 Topps Series 2 Jumbo Case

It's baaaaaaaaacccccckkk... 2011 Topps Series 2 Jumbo case is the next break. I feel like the guy who had the Padres in Series 1 should be all over this one. (Lay-toes)

I know this may seem a little early but I can lock in the price of the case now if we can get people on board. The release date is June 9, 2011 and you can view the checklist http://www.blowoutcards.com/images/baseball/checklist/2011toppsser2BB.pdf.

After the way the Series 1 Jumbo's price went nuts, I think locking in early is key.

The teams will cost $24 per team with the Royals and Pirates not factoring into the break. Teams awarded on a first come, first pay basis. Payment to cardbandits AT gmail DOT com.

The following teams are spoken for:

Yankees
Cardinals
Red Sox
Rockies
Phillies
Blue Jays
Cubs
Giants
Astros
Braves
Tigers
Mets
Brewers
Rangers
Angels
Rays
Orioles

There is a Cano/Pedroia dual auto so if the person who wants the Sox will concede that up front (odds are 1/32738478957389289), that team will be $15.

P.S. I am also running (or going to try to) a case break for Facebook friends ONLY on Facebook. So if you are friends with us on there and miss your team here you can fly over there and follow the instructions for that break.

2011 Heritage Blaster

How many of us ran out to Target the last few days hoping to get their hands on a Heritageblaster to open? Yup, me too. I got mine 2 days ago and was saving it for a rainy day. It just rained in my head so I opened it.

I won't lie, I debated on returning it because I was kind of disappointed in the hobby packs I opened and lost most of my interest. But then the pack ripping junkie in my head said, "MarieBay, you already bought it, it will use gas to drive there and return it so you should complete the stupidity cycle and open it." So, I caved.

I bet you were expecting to read allllllllll about the cards in the box and see scans. You lose. Well, actually I lose because the box blew. I got a crapload of base cards which would be great if I cared to build a set. I got 4 SP's, one of which I pulled 2 days ago from some loose packs.


That sums up a Heritage blaster, 4 lousy cards. Ohhh wait, I did get a C.C. Sabathia base card...... Yes, that must make it worth it...

I have read plenty of blogs and talked to plenty of people about how much the blasters sucked. If anyone out there is debating what to buy of this product, buy a hobby packs or loose retail. You really can't to any worse.

Anyone pull an auto out of a blaster yet? I pulled an auto once from a Heritage blaster and it was Mat Gamel. Once in a while you can hit a good card in a blaster but it would be nice for some people to share something good from this years blasters.

2011 Heritage Baseball Bucks

I have to post this because I don't understand what these are supposed to be or why they currently exist. Has anyone pulled one of these Baseball Bucks from a 2011 Topps Heritage hobby box?

I only learned of these 5 minutes ago through a search on eBay for Heritage stuff. I opened a couple of hobby packs at the shop today.... They were so bad I can't even be bothered to scan them.

I do have a top secret blaster of 2011 Topps Heritage right next to me, but I can't decide what to do with it. Part of me doesn't even want it anymore, and the other part of me wants to open it because there aren't any more at Target.

What to do... what to do...

Hank Aaron 2011 Heritage auto hits eBay

Well, the first Hank Aaron auto has hit eBay in the form of a one day auction. Smart on the sellers part because he can get the most action before there are too many (if that's even possible) listed.

I'm going to watch it to see where it ends, should be interesting.

2011 Topps Heritage Pack Rip

I had to go to Target today to pick up some pictures I had printed and I had to force myself to go look and see if the 2011 Topps Heritage cards had arrived yet. By force, I mean practically ran to the aisle that I refer to warmly as my office. Sweet glorious loose packs, gravity feeder, and 3 blasters were there. No, I didn't buy all of it and I wasn't even tempted after the hulabaloo I have been hearing about retail sucking.

I grabbed a few loose packs (for the sake of the blog, of course). I did pretty good considering I expected nothing from the packs. By the way, if you didn't already know the Target credit card gives you 5% off every purchase.... Anyway, here are the highlights.

Teix and Joba base cards



These may have been the only two I loved out of the packs I got. I love the action shot of Jeter, and the Jeter and Cano card is just awesome.

Sabathia insert, Matt Holliday Sporting News

Ichiro and Mauer inserts

Rookie Parade, which is an SP



Ramon Hernandez Chrome, /1962

Victor Martinez game used bat card



This is for the Woodman.

EDIT: There were two total short prints, the Rookie card and an Alexei Ramirez Sporting News.

So between my starting to type this and me finishing it, I ended up at Target again with Sooz but I didn't buy anything. I did take notice that there were no more blasters left, but a box of rack packs showed up. Perhaps Sooz will share her tale of rack pack blues later.

I like Heritage just about every year, and this year doesn't seem to be any different. I don't really like or hate the design, but I do think we are in trouble once Heritage goes up to (God forbid) 1987.

Let us know if you opened any or if you posted it on your blog so we can be nosy and see how you did.

Flash at Dropped Third Strike opened a bunch of Heritage retail if you want to check out what he got.

An interesting eBay scam

It appears that sellers have found a new way to avoid paying eBay. Apparently this guy refuses to pay eBay's final value fees and would rather try and scam the system.

Let me show you what he does:

-Don Mattingly auto BIN for $4.23

-Don Mattingly auto #2 BIN for $4.23

-Mickey Mantle autographed plaque $17.99

Now, if you looked at those you can see what I am talking about. How the %$# does eBay allow this to go on? I will not say if me or someone I know has reported this days ago, but even still, don't they have someone who is assigned to each category to monitor things when red flags come up?

The funny thing is, the dude picks and chooses what he will play by the rules with and what he won't. Take a look at some of the other items he has for sale. Some have normal shipping, and then there is a CD that costs $20 to ship.

Not for nothing, I have sold plenty of things on eBay in my day and I sure as hell didn't want to pay the final value fees but you know what? That's life.

Has anyone else come across sellers like this? Do you think it's important to report them or would you just (obviously) avoid purchasing items from someone doing this?

2011 Heritage stamp cards (and stuff)

You know I had to go back to eBay so look around some more. I'm trying to fuel the rage. Actually, I'm just bored but it's probably more entertaining to think I'm at my computer foaming at the mouth, and ready to rumble (ready to go to Target).

I did my usual search on eBay, and to my (not) surprise, look who is on the dual stamp card with Robinson Cano... Go figure.

Why stop there, Marie? OK, so I kept looking. I also found this Pujols relic cardwhich I have no interest in buying. I will try and trade for that if someone out there pulls it.

Last but not least.... Topps took pity on this poor guy and included him in the set, however they went and made him a short print... Really? I expect that with Pujols because he's, uhh... good?

The one odd thing about milling around looking at these cards is that I didn't get a single card to come up when I searched for auto's. The only thing that came up were "hot packs" claiming to have an auto or relic inside. Over 1,000 items-no auto's... Yay, retail.