Having played with my 2000-01 Showdown cards exclusively until this year, I am finding that there are some cards in this year's set that just seem to fit the standard set by their team's cards from those earlier years. They have charts that are almost exact replicas of their earlier team mates, or their position was strong or weak then and continues with the 2013 set. This weeks card of the week fits more than any other card in this year's set.
If you look back to the 2000 Pirates (Base set and Pennant Run), you will find two players who played 3B: Ed Sprague and Aramis Ramirez. Both players were speed B, and both players were 3B +0. So in that respect, the 2013 Pedro Alvarez fits in perfectly.
But the similarities to earlier Pirates cards doesn't stop there. In the 2000 set, the Pirates also had two players who were OB 5 with unbelievable charts: Brant Brown (220 pts) and Chad Hermansen (210 pts).
Yeah, both players had better charts, Hermansen was speed A, but if you are looking for a player in that mold who can mash when they have the advantage from the 2013 set, Alvarez is the player for you.
I love the look of the card! Although I wish Pedro could muster a better OBP in real life (I am a Pirates fan after all), he is a fun option in Showdown, particularly in a team league or league with a point limit. Half his chart is extra base hits. Get the advantage and have fun!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of the Pirates 2000 on base 5's though was Mike Benjamin. He was always my shortstop: OB5, but got on base with a 3 to make up for it, and was SPEED A SS+5 for only 110pts. After Omar Vizquel and the foils (which I never seemed to get anyway), shortstop was pretty barren anyway in 2000. Might as well get defense and speed for cheap
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