MLB Showdown Cards

            After being reminded one of our pros switched a pick two weeks ago after his player sat out we have our first shot of the year. Just like last year Dr. Juice @markrom3 gets the first home run of the year with Justin Upton. We hope everyone else hops on the train and puts in some predictions for which player they think will homer in this Friday’s games. Just remember to tweet in using our hashtag #Shotsfriday.

            We always have some creative options when we make our cards. Players have always asked for Hall of Fame players or historic years. We do not make those cards in our base sets. Our base sets are the 2000 and 2001 cards and their Pennant Run sets as well as the 2009, 2010,2011 and 2012 card sets. When people purchase sets with us this year we are offering an addition 10 cards made however they want. This provides us with some incredible options. Often people choose cards from our other sets which were not in the set they made. We also allow them to get cards from years when Showdown cards were not made (or made in the 02-05 style). I would like to share with you what some in our own community have chosen to add to Showdown world.

            @TweeterLeGrand added two great cards from the 2008. I think we all remember the great season CC Sabathia put up after going to the Brewers in 2008. He would win the 2007 Cy Young award. After posting a 3.83 ERA the first half of the year with the Indians he would go to the National League and post a 1.65 ERA with the Brewers with 7 complete games and 3 shut outs. For his memorable second half we gave him a 5, 8 IP, 18-20 1B, 17 BB, 12-16 FB, 10-11 GB, 3-9 K for 650 points. He is an absolute tank. He was made and pointed as we would have made him if we made a 2008 set so I deem him legal in unrestricted leagues. My favorite part about this is it give CC a dominant card that he deserves for being such a great pitcher for so many year. CC the last 4 years has translated fairly to Showdown in my estimation. Maybe the easiest pitcher to visualize as a Showdown card of any I can think of actually. He is going to have a high control and big innings pitch as he has the last 4 years. He will have a slightly above average fast ball. He is a horse who will save bullpens. This card can be his grown jewel as a dominant ace version of those cards.

            The second card we had made was Cliff Lee. He came off a 2007 where he had an ERA of 6.29 and some were wondering if he was losing it. His response? A league leading 2.54 ERA for a .500 Indians team where he posted 22 wins to only 3 loses. Cliff is tougher to visualize as a Showdown card than CC. I admit “seeing” a pitcher as a Showdown card is a lot harder than batters. I think Cliff Lee has great control and is obviously that consistent grinder that warrants a high control. The problem is high control guys leave fewer options to how you can distribute stuff so they get close to accurate results. For that reason we decided on a 4, 7 IP, 19-20 1B, 18 BB (to help his ERA not because he actually earned it with his stats of 34 walks), 14-17 FB, 7-13 GB, 3-6 K all for 610. He is going to be tough to beat. Not easy to get on base against him and he can double people off. He was also made the way we would have made a 2008 version of him and pointed the same. He would also be legal in an unrestricted league if I were commissioner.  

For information on how to get your own 2009-2012 MLB Showdown set E-mail Redsoxman2011@gmail.com for information. 

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