Archive for the ‘Custom Card of the Day’ Category
Kila Ka’aihue was traded to the Oakland Athletics today. He will join David Dejesus and Coco Crisp who were Royals as recently as 2009. Ka’aihue was esentially given the boot by the new face of the Royals, Eric Hosmer. Ka’aihue didn’t produce at the major league level despite killing it in AAA Omaha for about 3 years and Hosmer’s emergence sealed his fate with Billy Butler already in place as Kansas City’s DH.
What did the Royals get in return? It doesn’t matter. For the record it was a pitcher named Ethan Hollingsworth. The Royals basically needed him gone because there was nowhere for him to go (barring an injury) and the Kansas City fans had pretty much turned on him already. The question with Kila is; Did he get a fair chance in KC? He only played 26 games in 2011 for KC before getting sent down. 2011 brought his career total for games with the Royals to 87; hardy a great look for a prospect that tore up AAA. The clock was ticking on Kila however and he had his window; it was small but he had it. Good luck in Oakland Kila.
This is a card I have wanted to do for a while now. I actually had a really difficult time finding a picture of Francoeur throwing. He has been a consistent threat to throw baserunners out from right field all year and it made me think back to this ugly 1991 subset from score. It is a horrible design. First of all; I hate cards that cut out the background for no reason. It is just a cheesy looking card. Like many retro cards they were so ugly they are kind of cool in a ridiculous way; I’m looking at you 1991 Fleer. So I wanted to give this card a whirl and it turned out alright. The green stripes in the background are off but it is at least close enough that anyone who knows the set will recognize it. Of course Alex Gordon has more assists than Francoeur so I’d like to do one of him as well. Even Melky Cabrera has been in the top 10 in outfield assists much of this year so if I can find appropriate pictures I might do one of all of them.
Normally I don’t do this; My stuff usually looks nothing like this but I wanted to make an “icon” for Hosmer’s campaign for Rookie of the Year. I wanted to have an off-kilter americana looking poster. This is really my first “art card.” Goose Joak has been doing great stuff like this for a while over at his site. The way Eric Hosmer has played in the last month I think he has a real shot at the Jackie Robinson award. Before that I really didn’t think he was worthy. I had him at about 5th in the AL ROY voting but now he is looking like a serious candidate.
Luis Mendoza pitched a great game tonight for the Royals. This the only storyline September baseball has had in Kansas City for a while but it is interesting still. Mendoza is a guy who has pitched in the big leagues before but never to any level of success. This year he was the pitcher of the year for AAA Omaha Storm Chasers and earned the opportunity to get this start and he delivered. His line was 7 I innings, 1 earned run and 6 hits. He got a big win too. It will be interesting to see his second and last start for Kansas City; it could have a lot to do with Mendoza’s off-season.
Michael Young once again is closing in on 200 hits. He hasn’t reached that milestone since 2007, his fifth straight year at the time. In spring training this year the Rangers were trying to trade Young because they really didn’t have a spot for him. Come opening day he was in the lineup and the Rangers should be endlessly glad he was.
He has had what may be the best year of his already impressive career. He is currently just one RBI short of his career high and is tied for his career high in average at .331. His .331 is currently a couple points behind Adrian Gonzalez for the American League lead. He is an essential part of the team going to the playoffs. He has played three different positions on the team as well. He has been a DH about half the time this year and spent about the rest of his time at first, second and third base.
He is a cornerstone of the Rangers franchise and hopefully he can lead his team to a World Series title in 2011.
Justin Verlander is just awesome. He pitched 8 shutout innings today on his way to his 24th win. He only gave up 3 hits and lowered his season ERA to 2.29. He is a lock for the Cy Young award already. It will be interesting to see him in the playoffs this year.
According to @PaddyKC on twitter; Mike Moustakas is batting .378 over his last 30 games, if that isn’t worthy of a custom card today I don’t know what is. Over the last few games he has re-discovered his power as well.
On August 18th Moustakas was batting .195; On September 18th he is batting .252.
Last night the Royals won their 7th straight game by beating the White Sox 10-3. Mike Moustakas went 3-4 with a home run, 2 RBI and 3 runs. This is the 3rd straight game that Moustakas has pounded out 3 hits and 2 RBI! Over his last four games he is 10-16 with 3 HR, 7 RBI and 6 runs scored.
Its great to see Moustakas hitting well after struggling so much in the middle of the season. The power is good to see too but I was never worried about his power. Mike Moustakas has power, if he isn’t hitting home runs it doesn’t mean that power is gone. If he hits well the power numbers will come. I was concerned about his average hanging around the Mendoza line but I was never concerned about his one homer in his first about 275 at bats.
I did another 1971 Topps rookie stars card of a couple of the Royals guys here. This card is for the Mariners fans who are having a tough year. These two guys have been bright spots. Michael Pineda might even be the Rookie of the Year in the American League. It is tough this year but Pineda was dominant for much of the year.
In honor of the beginning of the NFL season I’ll post a card of what the NFL doesn’t have; the perennial MVP Peyton Manning. The Colts are obviously missing him today.
Kila Ka’aihue was traded to the Oakland Athletics today. He will join David Dejesus and Coco Crisp who were Royals as recently as 2009. Ka’aihue was esentially given the boot by the new face of the Royals, Eric Hosmer. Ka’aihue didn’t produce at the major league level despite killing it in AAA Omaha for about 3 years and Hosmer’s emergence sealed his fate with Billy Butler already in place as Kansas City’s DH.
A Hair Off Square 