Working Through My Computer Pains

The Snorting Bull is computerless.  For the last few years I have sat down at my trusty IMac and shared my cards with everyone and anyone who was willing to stop by and read what I had to say.  This weekend, after an upgrade to OS Mavericks, the IMac was a little snarky.  As the week has progressed it has become worse and worse.  Now, it does not even boot it smart mode.  Sure, I could blame OS Mavericks (and I do), but instead I am going to make due for a few days until I get a new computer.  I can still come on here and talk baseball cards.  I'll just use another computer, but you will have to look at pictures instead of scans.  That's just the way it is......

 In happier news, I picked up three new cards from long-time card trader/seller on Facebook.  If you are ever looking to unload a cool Brewers card or are looking for some nice cards to buy Ryan Marcus King Dee is one of the best around.  I originally had asked him about a post he made feature a printing plate of former Rays prospect, now a National, Felipe Rivero.

I really liked Felipe and I am not quite sure why the Rays swapped him out with Jose Lobaton for Nate Karns.  Don't get me wrong, I like Nate Karns, but I am not sure that he's that much better than Rivero.  Although Felipe Rivero is having a rough start to his first season with the Nationals, and in Double A, he is still projected by most to be a possible middle of the rotation starter.  He's also a pretty cool follow on Twitter.  Never had a huge Felipe Rivero collection, but I still like his cards and I loved the 1964 Topps design that was used for the Heritage brand cards for last year.  Could not pass by the chance for a cool  printing plate. 

 I also snagged two other nice autographed cards from Ryan.  The first is a Joe Kelly Bowman autograph.  Pretty self-explanatory pick-up.  Cardinals player.  Autograph.  That simple.  Kelly actually has several autographs and I have been good about adding new ones as they are released, but still have some holes in some of the old certified autographs.  I think this might actually catch me up.  Maybe.  

Last card is more of a college baseball player than what he has done in the Majors, second baseman Derek Dietrich.  I was excited that the Rays drafted him out of Georgia Tech in 2011 with their second round pick, but they traded him to the Marlins in exchange for their current starting shortstop Yunel Escobar.  Dietrich was a good player at Georgia Tech, but was not super flashy or an all-conference player.  He just had a good all around game and was always a fun player to keep an eye on. 

Two More Bowman Inception Rays Autographs

I am working closer and closer to completing my Rays autograph set from Bowman Inception.  This week I was fortunate enough to add two more cool autographs to my set which puts me a Richie Shaffer away from having one autograph from all of the Rays in the set.  I might double back and try to pick up a few of the variations, but the Ascension Relics, which feature a jersey swatch from the players minor league stops, are pretty difficult to find.  I will at least give it a good effort.

2013 Bowman Inception Hak Ju Lee Jersey/Autograph

First up is another autograph of the Rays shortstop of the future Hak Ju Lee.  I have been able to add several Hak Ju Lee cards to my collection this season and am still counting him as a Durham Bull even though he is currently out for the season with torn ligaments in his knee.  Lee started his season by hitting better than .400 for the Bulls before his injuries landed him on the DL.  I am happy to see Topps finally put out a certified autograph of the slick fielding shortstop.

2013 Bowman Inception Felipe Rivero 

A new name for my Rays autograph collection: Felipe Rivero.  Currently, Rivero is pitching in the Florida State League, which is High A, for the Charlotte Stone Crabs.  Rivero is already in his fifth minor league season, but signed as a 16 year old international free agent.  He is only rated as the 17th best prospect in the Rays system, but the hard throwing left-hander made an appearance in last year's Futures Game and is viewed by many scouts as having "stuff", but apparently he needs a little bit of polish.  He actually appeared in both Bowman and Leaf products last year, so there are quite a few of his autographs floating around.  Most are under $5.