This Made Me Laugh So Hard...

The card in today's post was one of a slew of good cards I scored in a trade with all the way to the backstop. It's a 2010 Topps National Chicle Diamond Stars, No. 49. I really like it; it looks like something I'd draw- especially the background.

Every now and then I'll check the stats in the guts of the site on how many people looked at what and so forth. Earlier today I was looking at the list of things people searched that led them here. Well, I'll just let this picture save me a thousand words: What made it even funnier to me was when I realized that not only is there someone out there googling "poems about adrian gonzalez", there's someone out there who wrote a poem about Adrian Gonzalez and I'm that person. It wasn't too flattering and probably not what they were looking for but still... it just cracks me up that that's something people are in search of. Oh, and while I've got you here, I might as well make you look at this. I took it when I was getting out the card for this post:
Her so preeeecious. Yes her is!

Trade Post: All The Way To The Backstop

I haven't really felt like posting anything the last couple of days so, well, I haven't. The other night I was reading all the way to the backstop and saw my zip code among those he sent packages out to. I already had his cards packaged up but I hadn't made it to the Post Office yet. Yesterday as I was heading out to mail his cards and another batch for Dime Boxes, I checked the mailbox and the cards from Backstop were already here; that was quick! I chose the two cards for the top photo because they happen to be two cards I also sent him- hey, that's a pretty good success rate! There were a few cards I already have but most were new to me and will be finding their way here for some time to come.

At the top of the stack were six Joey Cora cards. Now here's a guy who's been paying attention! There was one of him with the Padres, one with the Mariners and four as a White Sock.

The cards spanned from 1987 until present and included both stars and unheard of players along with an array of fan favorites and historical footnotes. A great number of manufacturers were represented as were two languages (English and French). There were a few Benitos, a couple Adrians and one of each Alomar.

One of my favorite things about trading through the mail is the handwritten note. It's such a juxtaposition to everything you know about fellow bloggers; all I've seen before is the typed word and written words lend an extra element of humanity. His was no disappointment, complete with nifty lettering, an awesome illustration and words of encouragement all Padres fans must heed.

This was a blind trade so I had no idea what to expect. I'm very happy with what I got and hope he's as stoked when he gets his. I have a feeling he'll be pretty pleased.

Haikuesday: A Birthday Poem For Adrian Gonzalez

 Oh, look at the date

Happy birthday, Adrian

I liked Edgar more

All Of The 23s (Happy Birthday, jodes!)

Today is San Diego sports superfan jodes's birthday. I recall it being a big deal that she could legally purchase adult refreshment two Opening Days ago so, according to my math, I think that means she's 23 now. I could be wrong. So, with no further ado or what-have-you, here are all of the guys who have worn 23 for the Friars:
Al Santorini '69-'71
Mike Caldwell '71-'73
Rod Gaspar '74
Bernie Williams '74
Tito Fuentes '75-'76
Nobody '77-'86, '89-'90
Shane Mack '87-'88
Paul Faries '91-'92
Guillermo Velazquez '93
Eddie Williams '94-'95
John Flaherty '96-'97
Greg Vaughn '98
Phil Nevin 1999-2005
Adrian Gonzalez '06-'10
Blake Tekotte '11
Yonder Alonso ...in about sixteen hours.

The FoC 200th Post Celebratory Review & Cardstravaganza

This is the 200th Friars on Cardboard post. In case you missed it (I know, I know, "I wouldn't say I missed it, Bob."), here's The FoC 100th Post Celebratory Review & Beardstravaganza. This one will be along the same lines, only with less emphasis on beards since it isn't May- just a mess of cards and randomness. I hope you enjoy.
First things first (i.e. while I'm still thinking about it), in a continuation of what I was blathering on about yesterday regarding the Gaslamp Ball Sisterhood Of The Traveling Jersey jersey, another thought I had was to take a bunch of game-used jersey cards, gut them and sew all the little swatches along a hem or in another out-of-the way area. I only have two at the moment (the other being a David Wells I already profiled on here) because I never really got into the craze but I could stock up on a bunch by the time I get it (which reminds me for the 842nd time, I need to email jbox my address and preferred dates; I'm the world's worst when it comes to dealing with email- I can't explain it). They're only a couple bucks a pop and I think it would be neat.
The second hundred has taken a bit longer than the first hundred, with large chunks of time vacant altogether. It's been more consistent recently but, as we've seen before, that is subject to change without notice at any given point. In the second hundred, the blog began to find an identity of its own, possibly for the worst, with ongoing gimmicks such as Mustache Monday and using the initials TTG to mean just about whatever. Oh, yeah, and the haikus. Nothing says phoning it in quite like some good old 5/7/5. Including the ten cards in this post, the last hundred have pictured 187 cards which, combined with the 138 from the first hundred gives us a grand total of 345. That's one of those numbers that seems like a lot but isn't. Or, at best, is relative. I wonder how tall a stack of 345 cards is. I don't wonder enough to count that many out just to find out, though.
There haven't been as many cards of Tony and Trevor this hundred. Not that I've ran out of cards, just that I've ran out of things to say. I mean, there's a world of information out there about both of them but that's the thing. They're both such big deals that they've already been dissected and broadcast to the nth degree. As fans, we already know all there is to know about both of them, whereas it's fun for me to discover new things digging around trying to figure out what to say about the Dave Cashes and Dennis Rasmussens of the world. Not to say Gwynn and Hoffman won't be showing up on here, just that it requires a different approach. Man, I'm rambling. Talk about watching sausage being made...
There was only one guest post in the second half of the blog's existence, as opposed to the three in the first hundred, but it was a great one. The offer's still on the table, people. If there's a card or a player you'd like to write about here, just let me know. I need to bug Sam about getting that report on Austin Hedges onto my desk; he pulled the card last month but couldn't do it then because Hedges is a cracker and February ain't havin' none of that. Other stuff on the table for the next hundred include, this, that and more of the same. Mustaches on Monday and whenever I post a Tony, it will continue to usually be on a Tuesday or Thursday so I can TTG the title because I'm like that. If I happen to post a Tony on any of the other five days of the week, I will continue to use the cop-out "Today's Tony Gwynn" because I'm like that. Also, there will eventually be the inevitable Dave Staton post later this summer along with the results of a bunch of destroyed game-used jersey cards. Like how I brought it back around to that? That's some writing right there. Thanks for reading it; stick around for the next hundred!

Aid's 8th

Boom. It didn't take long for a not-so-naked-faced Adrian to put the Pads on the board tonight, mashing an 0-2 pitch from that jackass Matt Cain 400 feet to dead center for his eighth bomb of the year. That swing would equal San Francisco's entire scoring output for the game as Clay Dick rolled to his third win and the aforementioned jackass picked up his third loss. For those who lost count, that's our seventh win in a row against the Giants. That's right.

A 'n' G Lies

First off, thanks to TC, who doesn't even read this blog, for today's card. It's the first Allen & Ginter's I've owned despite the fact that I've always thought they're pretty rad cards. I love the washed-out photography and the lack of what Jim Bouton would call "technicolor gingerbread". It seems like, for the longest time, card manufacturers were in a race to see who could cram the most stupid shid on the front of a card, so it was refreshing when these came along and stripped away all the BS and got down to the essence. Kinda like when Guns 'N' Roses put out G 'n' R Lies.

I'm pretty sick of hearing about Adrian trade speculation and he could be too for all I know. I don't know though since everything that comes out of the guy's mouth is so infuriatingly Crash Davis-like vanilla. I suppose maybe that makes me a hypocrite for wishing he'd say more and Jake Peavy would say less but oh well, I'm not losing any sleep at night over it. I just don't see why everybody's flipping out about how he's gonna get traded and he's gonna get traded now. I really like Adrian and I really like him being a Padre, but if Jedi Hoyer can get a ridiculous return for him that bumps the club to the next level, it'd be foolish not to. What I do know is that there is absolutely no reason to rush into something now just because. Something better than what the White Sox may or may not be offering will come along- all we need is just a little patience.

Shut Up, Peavy

So, lately noted womanizer Jake Peavy has been spouting off about wanting Adrian to come join him in Chicago which, eh, it's not really for him to say but I'll let it slide. He goes on to talk about the Padres as a lost cause cesspool franchise like we're the god-forsaken Pirates or something. This irks me because we were only crappy for a season and a half coming off of two seasons in which we were division champions and another where it took us a 163rd game to miss out on a playoff spot. Nevermind that we were one of the hottest teams in baseball the last few months of last season- a stretch where he and his divisive attitude were not around- nope, we suck, always sucked and always will suck. Pssssh.

But what really grinds my gears with Cy Young, Dumb and Full of Cum's remarks is his insistence that Adrian wants out of his home-effin-town. I don't know if this is true; I kinda doubt it and certainly hope it isn't- but even if it is, who the hell appointed Jackass Jake as Aid's personal press secretary?

'08 UD Adrian

Speaking of Team Mexico and guys named Gonzalez, here's a card I've had sitting around for awhile of the Gold Glover himself. I know that a lot of people don't like the camo but I dig it. I think it's kinda weak that other teams who do not hail from America's Official Military City have taken it upon themselves to bite our style. We did it first; eff you Cincy and eff you White Sox. Also, I find it interesting that they went all out with green helmets, belts and socks but he's rockin' the standard blue sleeves. Paging Dr. Paul Lukas!

Here it is...

Recently, I got my old baseball cards back from my mother's house and simultaneously picked the habit back up. Most of the cards I have are from the late eighties through the mid nineties with a few seventies and last-few-years entries scattered in. Good friend, brother-in-law and brand new beard farmer imissbip will be submitting his and I'll put yours up too if you scan and send 'em... My first choice for the name of this blog was "Padres Cards" but I thought that might conjure up negative memories... Blah, blah, blah; enough with the introduction- let's get on with business, shall we?

Where better to start than our lone bright spot of '08:

The first of many All-Star appearances. I love Aid and Ed for the same reason I loved Briles- no matter what, they'd rather be a Padre than anything else.

From the same pack I also pulled another 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" commemorating Aid's Yankee Stadium vacation, albeit with '07 wrecker Matt Holliday in tow:

Doesn't Holliday look straight out of Ray Kinsella's cornfield?