Brawl Breaks Out at WBC

Well, I haven't posted in a couple days.  It wasn't because I was busy or anything, but because I have been watching the World Baseball Classic which has games on pretty much all day.  Now here comes the purpose of this post.  I was watching today's game with Canada vs. Mexico when a bench clearing brawl broke out in the 9th inning.

This all happened after a Canadian player bunts for a base hit with a 9-3 lead.  The Mexican pitcher threw inside at the next batter not apreciating Canada trying to run up the score.  This was not the case though with run differential being the tie-breaker category.

Umpire's trying to stop things before they get serious issued warnings to both sides.  Next pitch, the Canadian batter gets nailed and the benches cleared.  This was not just a dust-up with several punches being thrown and multiple scrums within the brawl.

As if things could not get more out of control, fans became involved throwing things at team Canada.  A Canadian coach was hit in the head with a mostly full water bottle, and when action resumed, baseballs were thrown onto the feild.  This is certainly not what you want to see in an international tournament designed to help spread baseball internationally.  This incident could effect future tournaments with MLB clubs reluctant to send players with the fear of injuries in a fight.

One player who was heavily involved was Red Sox releif pitcher Alfredo Aceves.  Aceves came out of the fight with welts on his head and a cut on his wrist.  I would suspect that he will face some kind of disciplanairy action for his involvement in the brawl as well as several other players from both teams.  Seven players were ejected from the game.

If you didn't see this, I would certainly recomend looking it up on youtube.

I can't wait to see the rest of the WBC with the action heating up.  For the record, I am rooting for team USA.  If USA doesn't advance to the next round, I am rooting for team Italia.  Playing for Italy is a local independent ball hero Chris Colabello, who I am rooting for.  My third favorite team would be the Netherland because they have Red Sox top prospect Xander Bogarts on the roster.

USA plays Italy tonight at 9:00, and Canada tommorow at 4:00.

-20youksox

Mailday From Topps!!!

Well, I got my Golden Giveaway die cuts in today.  They came in a lot faster than I thought, seeing that I ordered them at the last possible second.  I'm also very pleased with the condition.  Many collectors have been receiving cards with the spikes damaged.

Mine have no spike damage, and are good overall.  I started off with David Price and Clayton Kershaw, so it was pretty easy to trade for some Red Sox die cuts.  I'm still sad that my PC player Kevin Youkilis wasn't part of the checklist.  I'm happy with these two players anyways.  More maildays to come, plus I broke a pack of the new 2013 Topps Series 1 Baseball.

-20youksox

The State Of Red Sox Farm System (And Ryan Westmoreland News)

The Red Sox farm system is going downhill.  I don't mean that their farm system doesn't have promising yound players.  I mean Red Sox prospects are being stupid, and in some cases jepardizing their futures and careers through careless injuries and trouble with the law.

Drake Britton

Every once in a while, you will hear about somthing stupid that a minor leager does like make a baserunning error, or say somthing offensive in an interview.  However lately, I have heard a lot of stories about stupid things Red Sox prospects have done.  Headlining them are Bryce Brentz, and Drake Britton.  Brentz shot himself in the leg trying to clean his gun.  Drake Britton was arrested for driving 111 MPH while drunk.

Bryce Brentz

The Red Sox organization ought to be embarresssed by incidents like this and as a fan, I am certainly embarrassed.  Granted the gun incident may have been a freak accident, the Red Sox may want to make more strict rules regarding the use of alcohal.  With these events happening so close together, I am really concerned that stuff like this is becoming more common, and it needs to stop.  It is also unfortunate for the Red Sox because both players have a lot of potential and now stupidity is keeping them off the feild and slowing their developement.

The Red Sox also received some news today regarding a retirement.

Ryan Westmoreland

On a sad note, former top prospect Ryan Westmoreland (pictured above) announced his retirement today.  Westmoreland has retired after two surgeries on a cavernous malforation in his brain.  Red Sox fans can only imagine what could have been if only he was healthy.  I hope that he will be able to get healthy and live a successful life outside of baseball.

-20youksox

2012 Allen and Ginter Mini Rainbow Completed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like I said last night, the black mini was in hand and I just needed to scan all the cards together.  This was a little complicated because some parellels have a different boder while others have a different back.  Being a little OCD, I spent a while trying to find an asthetically pleasing way to arrange them, and I think I did a pretty nice job.

This picture is a little small, but here is a link to a bigger scan.  This completed rainbow from left to right includes the 1/1 wood, red back /25, black border, no number /50, retail gold border, ginter back, and regular minis.  I started this rainbow in July-ish, and finished a few days ago.  Feels good to complete another rainbow!

-20youksox

NNO Mini Mailday

This is the second to last mini I needed for my 2012 Allen and Ginter Kevin Youkilis mini rainbow.  This is the no number mini which has a print run of only 50 copies.  The front is nothing special, but the back is like the "ginter backs"with the set number missing.  In past years, they were serial numbered out of 50, but this year they were just short printed out of 50.

 It is a nice card, and I did need it for my Youkilis PC.  To finish the rainbow, I need the black bordered mini which I did get in the mail.  I will post scans of them all together when I get a chance.  This is not the only rainbow I am about to finish though.  I am also working on the 2012 Topps Chrome Kevin Youkilis rainbow with the last card I need in route.  I also tried a pack of 2013 Topps that I will post.

-20youksox

Small Mailday

Just a small mailday, but a card I have been meaning to get for a long time.  It only books for $5, and isn't really rare, but it is a Kevin Youkilis card so I needed it for my PC.  This card comes from 2004 Topps, which is one of my favorite base sets of the modern set.

As you can see, this is the gold version numbered out of 2004.  One of my favorite parts of this set is that they have the little silouette in the bottom left corner.  It also helps that it was Youk's rookie year and the Red Sox won the World Series for the fist time in 86 years.  More mail is on the way.

-20youksox

HURRY: THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR GOLDEN GIVEAWAY CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the last day to get any Golden Giveaway cards shipped.  After 11:59 tonight, all of you cards will dissappear, and who wants to lose out on free cards (well, mostly free)?  I just got mine shipped, and I'll post when I recieve them.  Another heads up, many people are reporting receiving die cuts coming in with damage to the side panels.  Good luck with your Golden Giveaway winnings!

-20youksox