2013 Quarry Unlimited - #9 Milwaukee Brewers Part 2

Saturday, 30 November 2013

This is the first, of three, color changes associated with the 2013 Quarry Unlimited set.  When I began this set, I explained that since the Brewers and Astros changed leagues, it made sense to me to swap their colors in 1977 Topps' league-based color scheme.  Last year when it was announced that the Astros were moving to the AL, I read from a lot of people that the Brewers should have been moved back instead.  I thought that at first too, but I have really come to accept the Brewers as a National League club.  When they were in the AL, they didn't really have any significant rivalries.  They were misplaced in the AL East for the majority of their existence and they were only in the AL Central for three seasons, not long enough to form a rivalry.  In the NL, the Brewers have already formed significant rivalries withe the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds.  In short, the Brewers just belong in the National League now.  Let's take at the second half of the 2013 Milwaukee Brewers.

My Top 5 Brewers Cards
1. Scooter Gennett
2. Jean Segura
3. Martin Maldonado
4. Jonathan Lucroy
5. Logan Schafer

What can you say about the Gennett card?  It is a fantastic overhead shot featuring a broken bat and an ankle that physics says should be broken.  He wasn't hurt on the play, but that sure does look painful.  The Segura is the classic "jump over the runner" middle infielder shot that almost always succeeds.  The Maldonado is a very good close up "play at the plate" card .  The best part of that shot is Maldonado's eyes fixed on the runner.  Jonathan Lucroy gives us back-to-back catcher shots with his "lookie what I found" photo.  Finally, I knew I was going to pick a throwback for #5 and had to choose between Aoki, Lohse, and Schafer.  I eliminated Lohse right away since that is a bastardized Braves uniform.  I picked Schafer over Aoki because you get a much better view of the glove logo.  I do love that logo.



Coming Monday - #10 Cleveland Indians


Thanx for reading.

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Photo de la semaine (100)

AMARTIA nous demande de choisir trois photos non publiées sur le blog, prises ces deux dernières années .... car c'est aujourd'hui la 100 ème !!!

Ce qui semblait très facile ! Mais pas tant que ça !

Voici quelques souvenirs de voyages ...

VENISE, novembre 2013

...

DAMME, mai 2013

...

POURVILLE et ses falaises, juin 2011

...

Bon week-end à vous qui passez ... 

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2013 Quarry Unlimited - #9 Milwaukee Brewers Part 1

Friday, 29 November 2013

At #9 is probably the most controversial selection on my list, the Milwaukee Brewers.  The only I say controversial is because the actions of the face of the Brewers, Ryan Braun, have caused many people to think less of the Brewers.  In my case, the Brewers are tied for the largest jump on the list at 4 spots.  The reason behind that is because I didn't start paying real attention to the Brewers in 2013 until after Braun was suspended.  What I saw was a group of young players that had a lot of talent and seemed extremely likeable.  I especially like Braun's replacement in left field, Khris Davis, despite the spelling of his name and Scooter Gennett who reminds me of David Eckstein.  While you reconsider your thoughts about the Brewers, let's take a look at some team trivia.

BREWERS TEAM TRIVIA

# of players to play in a Brewers game (1993-2013) - 436

# of those players to have a Brewers card (as of today) - 330

% of Brewers players to appear on a Brewers card - 75.7%

Big names left out - Rob Dibble, Jim Edmonds, Julio Franco

# of new Brewers in 2013 - 18

Total # of Brewers in 2013 - 40

position on last year's list --   #13    =  UP 4

Let's take a look at the first half of the 2013 Milwaukee Brewers with the team card leading the way.

I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2.

Thanx for reading.

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What is Magical Realism?

Too often I receive queries for science fiction or fantasy manuscripts because of my interest in magical realism. Magical (or magic) realism is not an umbrella term for speculative fiction. The genre is much more specific than the broad definitions of science fiction and fantasy. While elements of scifi or fantasy may be incorporated into the "magical" aspect of a magic realism story, a manuscript rooted in science fiction or fantasy traditions is not a magical realism novel.

Magical

In magical realism, the magic elements are a natural part of the world. The magic in the manuscript is often strange (it doesn't seem to fit in with the world as we know it), but it is accepted in the story. Excellent magic realism uses magic without making you think about it - the magic is seamlessly integrated with the real world.

Realism

Magical realism stories take place in a realistic setting. This usually means that the book is based in the "real world" rather than a fantasy land. Aside from the magical element, the plot is realistic and believable. The characters in magic realism stories are also very realistic and deal with everyday issues.

Magical realism is very much so an aesthetic style. There's a poetic nature to the prose. Not only is there a magical element in the plot, but there's also a magical element to the writing. The definition I like most to explain magical realism stories is: a literary genre in which realistic narrative is combined with surreal elements. This simple definition, taking into consideration the explanations of "magical" and "realism" above, are a good starting point when deciding if a story in fact belongs to this genre.

Even with this definition, everyone has his/her own opinion on what novels are considered magical realism or speculative fiction. There's a very fine line separating stories from magical realism and the realms of science fiction and fantasy. Some novels that can be considered magical realism are: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan, The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

Share your magical realism book recommendations in the comments!

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2013 Quarry Unlimited - #8 Seattle Mariners Part 2

Thursday, 28 November 2013

The main reason I sort of like the Mariners is the same reason I have always sort of liked Kentucky football, pity.  During my childhood there was one thing you count on before the baseball season started and that was the Mariners would finish the season with a losing record.  Seattle spent the first 14 seasons of their existence under .500 and never finished above 4th in their 7 team division until the 1994 strike season.  The only time that the Mariners were actually good was during my exile from the sport following that strike.  By the time I came back, the M's were back at the bottom of the standings where I always expected them to be.  Is there a team in any sport that you like (or feel sorry for) because they usually aren't good?  While you ponder, let's take a look at the second half of the 2013 Seattle Mariners.

My Top 5 Mariners Cards 
1. Henry Blanco
2. Carlos Triunfel
3. Joe Saunders
4. Kendrys Morales
5. Robert Andino

The Blanco is a really great play at the plate card enhanced by the fact that Henry Blanco is in his 40s and this is probably his last card ever (well he has one more in this set, but you get the point).  When I look at the Triunfel card the first thing I think of is a no look pass in basketball.  Here, Triunfel is perfecting the art of the no look catch.  Joe Saunders has the double threat of an AL pitcher at the plate and the throwback uniform.  It is a nice combo.  I love cards of big guys sliding into bases, but the Morales is even better with the abundance of dirt clods.  Finally for the #5 slot, I had two different double play shots to choose from.  I picked the Andino over the Ackley due to the fact that Andino is off his feet.  A much better photo.


Coming tomorrow - #9 Milwaukee Brewers

Thanx for reading.

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