2014 Quarry Unlimited - #12 Houston Astros Part 2

YELLOW

RED

ORANGE

ROOKIE PROSPECTS

My Top 5 Astros Cards
1. L.J. Hoes (red)
2. Carlos Corporan (yellow)
3. Jonathan Villar (yellow)
4. Jose Altuve (purple)
5. Jake Buchanan (rookie prospects)

The Astros had a very strong set of photos this year including my overall favorite so far.  Both the timing and the location of the L.J. Hoes is absolutely perfect.  It really looks like the Athletics van is running him down.  It's just so much fun.  It is not only in the running for Best Card of the Set, it is one of my favorite customs that I have ever done.  The Corporan is a really odd angle for a play at the plate.  I don't know the actual outcome of that play, but I would guess that blocking the plate would have to be called, especially since the runner's head is in his lap.  The Villar showcases one of favorite throwbacks, the rainbow jerseys from the 1970s.  Some people have issues with them such as the number placement on the crotch and the ugliness factor, but I disagree.  Those uniforms are fun and they have character which I will take over safe and boring any day.  The Altuve is a really good double play card.  Jose Altuve really doesn't take a bad picture.  I think it is because his height means that images don't have to be shrunk as much and they retain the full value of the image.  I went back and forth several times on #5 between the Buchanan and the Domingo Santana.  I really like the scoreboard numbers on the Santana, but in the end I chose the more interesting (to me) Buchanan bullpen shot.  I wonder what will be landing?


Coming Monday - #13 Detroit Tigers

Thanx for reading.

2014 Quarry Unlimited - #12 Houston Astros Part 1

Up next is a team that is one of the biggest risers on the countdown over the past two years, the Houston Astros.  They are proving a theory that I have about my fandom.  No matter how much I dislike a team, if they are bad long enough I will eventually start to like them.  It happened with the Royals, who were close to my least favorite team in the Saberhagen era.  It happened with the Pirates, who I despised in the Bonds-Bonilla years.  Only the Cubs have escaped this theory, but they might be the exception that proves the rule.

Once again the Astros were near the bottom of the league, but it was there off the field activities that made the most headlines.  The Astros failed to sign the overall #1 pick Brady Aiken before the signing deadline which means he is now eligible to be drafted again next year.  This was the first time the overall #1 pick was not signed since the Twins missed out on Tim Belcher in 1983.  Although I am sure some Padres fans wish Matt Bush was on that list as well (sorry Marcus).  The Astros just blundered this draft away and still might have some sanctions coming. 

The Astros are also the first team on the countdown that fired their manager during the 2014 season.  I feel bad for Bo Porter because he was never given a chance to win with the team that the Astros put out over his 1+ seasons.  He might never get another shot at a top job because of the Houston owner's penny pinching.  I also feel bad for the interim manager Tom Lawless.  Over the last month of the season, Lawless took one of the worst teams in the league and got nearly a .500 record out of them.  His reward for that was being passed over in favor of a guy that stunk with the Diamondbacks.  Well I guess the one positive out of this situation is that if A.J. Hinch can get a second chance managing a team, then Bo Porter might get another shot as well.

ASTROS TEAM TRIVIA

Total # of Astros in 2014 - 48

# of new Astros in 2014 - 22

Best score in 2014 - June 8 at Twins 14-5

Worst score in 2014 - July 24 at Athletics 13-1

Border color that worked best with this team - Yellow

Border color that worked least with this team - Green

Position on last year's list - #16 = UP 4

Let's take a look at the first half of the 2014 Houston Astros with the two manager cards leading the way.

PURPLE

GREEN

BLUE

I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2.  As usual, your thoughts are always welcome and encouraged.

Thanx for reading.

2014 Quarry Unlimited - #11 Atlanta Braves Part 2

YELLOW

RED

ORANGE

ROOKIE PROSPECTS

My Top 5 Braves Cards
1. Freddie Freeman (blue)
2. Christian Bethancourt (purple)
3. Andrelton Simmons (yellow)
4. B.J. Upton (red)
5. Craig Kimbrel (green)

The Braves have the fewest cards in this set, but they still came up with some good ones.  I don't think I have ever seen a photo taken at the angle as on the Freddie Freeman card.  It almost looks like the third base coach took the picture himself.  The Bethancourt is really nothing special other than the great mix of colors and of course the catcher's gear.  I still like it though.  I love that Simmons seems to be ducking under the white inner border on the card.  I am taking credit for a good crop on that photo.  The B.J. Upton is sort of amusing in that it epitomizes the fumbling and bumbling that has gone along with his Atlanta career.  The similarities of the Upton brothers cards is honestly just a weird coincidence, but don't they look nice together.  I would like to start a petition that every single Craig Kimbrel card from now until the end of his career must show that bent over pose.  It really is hard to think of a single pose that is more associated with a player.  Well maybe not every single one, but at least most of them.



Coming tomorrow - #12 Houston Astros

Thanx for reading.