Top 5 2025 Bunt Base Cards

The Major League Baseball season has come to a close which means we are in the final quarter of 2025.  It is time for my annual series of Top Base Cards from Bunt, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader.  This week I will cover 5 of my favorite Bunt base cards. 

In December and January, we will take a look at the insert cards of Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare and Epic rarities.  I do not get Legendary cards in my collection.  But today, we focus on what makes a card set special...it is the base cards.  

With no further delay, here are my Top 5 Bunt Base Cards in no particular order: 

5.  Gunner Henderson 2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

Anyone who has read my past assessments of digital baseball cards knows I love cards that show action.  Action makes this card of Gunner Henderson a top card of the 2025 Base Set. 

4.  Josh Winckowski  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

This card really catches the moment.  In this case, an intense moment of Josh Winckowski looking in for the sign for his catcher.  This is a great card to play "What Happens Next."  

3.  Julio Rodriguez  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

A good base card catches the personality of a player as in this card of Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners.  Cards like this really make the game and players likeable.  

2. Alexis Diaz  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

That wind-up!  What a leg kick from Alexis Diaz!  This is what a baseball card is all about that action moment that shows us the moment something great is about to happen.  That moment when the baseball is about to be up in play.  Magnificent! 

1.  Lawrence Butler  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

The cool factor.  Lawrence Butler looks super cool in his wrap-around mirror glasses.  By the way, there is no sarcasm in that statement.  He does look really cool in this card (even with his neon green and pink mittens).  Look at the full seats in the background.  This is a great card.  It caught my eye from the release of the set.  

Veteran's Day

This is just a little note to honor our veterans.  There are only a few people in my family who have served in the US Military.  My brother-in-law (husband of my wife's sister) served in Germany for the US Navy.  My dad served in the US Army during the Korean War.  My wife's grandfather served in the Pacific theater in World War II for the US Navy.  And the man for whom I am named, Tom, served in the US Army during World War I.  I have many friends who serve and have served in the Army, National Guard, Air Force, and more. 

I am usually a stickler about Veteran's Day is for living veterans, and Memorial Day is for those who have fallen or passed.  What I think doesn't matter, we honor all.  We live in a country where we can read what we want, say what we want, share what we want all because of our service men and women.  They protected and continue to protect this union of 50 states.  I am grateful for that.  Republicans, Democrats, Independents, undecided, in-between and upside down, it shouldn't matter, because as Americans we have the right to believe what we believe.  

To our soldiers, pilots, captains, Marines, high ranking officers, medics, logistical staff, office staff, communication officers and all that are involved in keeping our land, air, space, International interests, cyberworld, space and water safe.  Thank you and Happy Veteran's Day. 

Another Fantasy Team???? Basketball!

I needed another fantasy sports team like I need a sharp rock in my shoe when running a marathon, but here I am taking the reigns of a new Fantasy Basketball franchise in the newly formed league, The Library.  Allow me to introduce the newest franchise of mine from the sport of NBA basketball: Flat Soda Bombers

Yep, you might think does this have anything to do with my library?  You bet!  This league is made up from employees in the library including myself, Benjamin the library clerk, Heidi and Ryan (league commish) from the IT department, Dan and son Mason (English Dept), Nate (World Languages), Brian (Social Studies) and someone who I think is Ryan's friend.  

Confession: since the Jordan era, I can probably name about as many players as I have fingers and toes.  I can pronounce even fewer of them, and that last item (about names), only shows my own cultural ignorance.  I have really come to lean on saying, "that guy from Milwaukee."   Anyhow, we did a live draft and I actually drafted this team shown below.  I feel like it is a good collection of players, but the first week didn't go so well.  The Bombers dropped the first week to a team named by my youngest daughter (14 yrs) for Heidi a self proclaimed team owner who only joined because we couldn't find anyone else to even the league out and has no idea who she drafted.  Yeah, the Flat Soda Bombers lost to them.  That feels real good.  Oh, their name you ask?  67 Dino Nuggets (of course!).   Anyone who has a teen in the house or works in a middle or high school can appreciate that name.  Well, here is the Flat Soda Bombers.  

Week 1: Flat Soda Bombers vs. 67 Dino Nuggets 5-8-1"Flat Soda is a Good Description of Week 1" (5th in League) 

Week 2: Flat Soda Bombers (5-8-1) vs. Forum Blue and Gold ( 9-4-1)  3-10  "The Bombers Forgot the Season Started"  (6th in League) 

Week 3: Flat Soda Bombers (8-18-2) vs. Mello Ballerz (6-21-1)  8-5  "Bombers Win Battle of the Bottom"  (6th in League)

Week 4:  Flat Soda Bombers (16-23-3)  vs. Less than Lucky (10-30-2)  2-11 "Bombers Banged Up...But is that the Excuse?"  (7th in League)

Week 5: Flat Soda Bombers (18-34-4) vs. D's Dominate Dunkers (34-21-1)  

Here is the line-up and roster of the Flat Soda Bombers: 

PG: Jalen Suggs (Magic)  

SG: Zach LaVine (Kings)

G:  Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

SF: Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers)

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

F: Allen Davis (Mavericks)

C: Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)

C: Myles Turner (Bucks)

UTIL: Cam Thomas (Nets)

UTIL: Tari Eason (Rockets)

Bench: 

PG/SG: Keon Ellis (Kings)

PG/SG: Jalen Green (Suns)

SF/PF: Brandon Miller (Hornets)

PG/SG: Coby White (Bulls)

PG/SG: De'Aaron Fox (Spurs)

Okay basketball fans, the Flat Soda Bombers could use some advice.  Who do I pick up and who do I drop.  Leave a comment and help the Flat Soda Bombers get a little fizz going.  

This post will update each week until further notice. 

Fantasy Football: Kamino Clone Kids Weeks 9-16

Captain Rex by maharlika
Deviant Art 25

The Kamino Clone Kids have had a  surprisingly good first half of the season!  They have had some QB problems the last couple weeks as Baker Mayfield has been struggling to command the team.  Wide Receivers have been the commanders of the Kamino Clone Kids with George Pickens, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and J. Smith-Nijgba leading the way.  Tight ends Tyler Warren (IND) and Jake Ferguson (DAL) have contributed well in the first 8 weeks as well.  Running backs Chase Brown (CIN) and Jaylen Warren (PIT) are holding their own.  

The front office picked up Trevor Lawrence to cover Mayfield's bye week, but they may stick with him if Mayfield doesn't right the ship.  Kids coaches also hope that Jonathon Cooper (DEN), Edgerrin Cooper (GB) and Budda Baker (ARI) can step it up to score extra points on defense.  

Week 9:  Kamino Clone Kids vs. Lothal Starbirds  175.70 - 127.65 "Kids Get Back to the Win Column" (2nd Light Side Div. 2nd in League)

Week 10: Kamino Clone Kids (6-3) vs. Pabu Porgs (4-5)  131.60 - 144.12  "Kids Disappointing Turnout versus the Porgs" 

Week 11:  Kamino Clone Kids (6-4) vs. Khofar Nights (6-4) 159.30 - 158.00  "Kids Survive the Night in Week 11" (1st Light Side Div. 1st in League)  

Week 12: Kamino Clone Kids (7-4) vs. Mustafar Moof (5-6) 

Weeks 1-8 recap

Here is the current Kids lineup and roster: 

QB: Baker Mayfield (TB)

RB: Chase Brown (CIN)

RB: Jaylen Warren (PIT)

WR: George Pickens (DAL)

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)

TE: Tyler Warren (IND)

W/R/T: J. Smith-Nijgba (SEA)

W/R/T: Jake Ferguson (DAL)

W/R/T: Cooper Kupp (SEA)

DL: Jonathon Cooper (DEN)

LB: Edgerrin Cooper (GB)

DB: Budda Baker (ARI

Bench: 

QB: Trevor Lawrence (JAX)

RB: Isaiah Davis (NYJ)

WR: Keon Coleman (BUF)

WR: Calvin Ridley (TEN)

TE: Jonnu Smith (PIT)

DB: Jordan Battle (CIN)

DL: Maxx Crosby (LV)

LB: Fred Warner (SF) IR

QB: Joe Burrow (CIN) IR

Fantasy Football: The Coca Cola Kids Football Club Weeks 9-16

Let's just say, this isn't a season to remember.  Unless, you like to remember horrible starts to the season.  The Kids come into Week 9 2-6, 9th place in a ten team league.  There is no consistency this season, for example, Baker Mayfield is hitting a groove then in weeks 7 and 8 he completely collapses.  Oh, there is also the matter of losing top QB, Joe Burrow, after week 2 of the season.  Every position has been disappointing, wide receivers Sutton (Den) and Jennings (SF) have yet to show up, running backs Stevenson (NE) and Henry (Bal), tight end Bowers (LV) has been out for a few weeks.  Well, the record speaks for itself.  

Let's see if this team can turn it around in the second half of the season. 

Week 9: Coca Cola Kids vs. Crimson Queen  168.46 - 188.36 "Kids Misery Continues" 

Week 10: Coca Cola Kids (2-7-0) vs. Foot Wedge Mafia (7-2-0) 151.12 - 147.43 "Mayfield and LA Defense Carry the Kids to a Win" 

Week 11: Coca Cola Kids vs. Roll Tide  150.55 - 205.21 "Kids Can't Keep Up with the Tide"  (9th in League) 

Week 12: Coca Cola Kids (3-8-0) vs. Ritz Boyz Blitz (1-10-0)  

Starting Line-up:  

QB: B. Mayfield TB

WR:C. Sutton DEN

WR: R. Odunze CHI

RB:  R. Stevenson NE

RB: D. Henry BAL

TE: B. Bowers LV

W/R/TE J. Dobbins DEN

Q/W/R/TE:  C.Ward TEN

K: M. Prater BUF

DEF: Los Angeles Chargers

Bench: 

WR: J. Jennings NYG

QB: G. Smith LV

TE: C Otton TB

WR: M. Golden

TE: M. Mayer LV

WR: G. Wilson NYJ

RB: K  Gainwell PIT

QB: J. Burrow CIN IR

The Kids front office is open to suggestions. Leave a comment if someone on the bench should be starting   or if there is a sleeper out there who I should pick up!  

A Sunday Morning Reflection

Bull Durham 1988
Annie Savoy and Crash Davis

I woke up on Sunday, November 2 thinking about baseball.  The 2025 World Series had wrapped up the night before less than 12 hours ago.  I can't think of any other team (maybe Milwaukee or St. Louis) who I wanted more to NOT win than the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Here we are, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the World Series Champs and not just the WS Champs but back to back WS champs.  Congrats to them and their fans.  I firmly believe that to win the World Series back-to-back is more difficult than any of the major U.S. team sports (NBA, NFL, NHL).  

When I think of baseball on a Sunday morning, I can't help but think about the Church of Baseball.  This is not my creation, the Church of Baseball.  It comes from perhaps the best baseball film of all time, Bull Durham. 

I believe in the Church of Baseball.  I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones.  And the only church that truly feeds the soul, day-in and day-out, is the Church of Baseball. 

         -Annie Savoy 

I woke up thinking about baseball and what a memorable season this has been for me.  It was an amazing first half of the season with the Cubs and Tigers leading the way in first place in their respective divisions.  Both teams giving us a peek at the future as both teams showed a youth movement as young players became team leaders.  Pete Crow Armstrong, Michael Busch, Matt Shaw, Cade Horton led by veterans Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker, James Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Seiya Suzuki were impactful players for the Cubs.  Colt Keith, Trey Sweeney, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, Dillion Dingler, Casey Mize, Will Vest, Tarik  Skubal all emerged as players who make an impact for the Detroit Tigers.  While both teams struggled in the second half of the season, both went on to make the playoffs and both advanced to the NLDS and the ALDS.  I believe happy days are ahead. 

My thoughts returned to the World Series and what an amazing series it turned out to be.  Let's review: 

• Each team gets a win in games 1 and 2.
• An 18 inning Monday night game that the Dodgers win to go 2-1 in the series.
• The Blue Jays come back with two wins to make the series 3-2. 
• The Dodgers win in Toronto in Game Six to tie it up 3-3. 
• Game 7...let's recap
• Shohei Ohtani is the starting pitcher and bats leadoff for the Dodgers.
• Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer is the oldest (41 yrs) starting pitcher in WS game seven.
• Blue Jays objected to the more than 3 minutes Ohtani took between innings to start the inning.  
• Benches cleared in a shoving match situation after Gimenez is hit by pitch, the second time the Dodgers pitchers plunked him this World Series.  
• Light hitting Miguel Rojas ties the game for the Dodgers in the ninth with the  Blue Jays two outs from a World Series title. 
• Extra innings!  
• The Dodgers never led the game until the 11th inning.  
• Previous night's Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto closes out the game

No wonder my mind was still buzzing with baseball when I woke up Sunday morning.  An amazing  baseball season replayed itself in my mind filling my soul with the Church of Baseball.  

They Love Their Jobs

I work late, but this story isn't about me.  You just need to know that to understand how I stumbled upon this moment.  Working at a school, most of the day is spent working with students and staff.  It is busy.  There is a lot to do, and it is pretty easy to become focused on oneself.  It isn't egotistical, it is just the nature of working in a school.  You focus on your kids, your space and your work.  

I host after school clubs, and I coach the speech team.  These activities find me leaving 2-3 hours after most others.  There is a new crew of workers who show up after the students, faculty, staff, and most if not all of administration are gone, the custodial staff.  The unsung heroes who put in the work to make sure the classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms are clean when everyone comes in the next day to mess it all up.  Most don't know the names or faces of those who sweep the floors, wipe off the desks, and clean the drinking fountains.  

I do, and I feel lucky for that.  I see them almost every day as they walk through the library to punch in to work.  They roll their cleaning carts to the different parts of the school to do their work.  Since I am there until 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening and sometime return later at night for one thing or another, I see this custodial staff doing what they do, and they do it really well.  I have taken time to visit with most of them over the years. I get to know them. They are really neat people.  They like to tease and give me a hard time about being there so late as much as I like to get to know them.  Never have I heard one of them complain about the work.  Never do they complain about the hours or the pay.  They work hard, seem happy to be there, and they take pride in their work.  

This is a lot of build up to what I witnessed recently that just brought a smile to my face and made me realize the happiness one can get from working with great people.  I was on my way out at about 5:30.  I hadn't seen as many of the men and women who normally pass through with their carts, but I didn't really think much about it.  I figured that I just missed them.  As I left the library into the hall, I heard their voices in jovial talk and laughter which is not all that uncommon actually.  They had all congregated in the foods lab where they normally eat dinner or take breaks.  As I was walking down the hall toward the foods lab, the owner of the cleaning company came out of the lab and said hi as she always does, but she had a bit of a hop in her step.  We smiled and passed, but I saw the reason for the extra energy.  As I walked past the lab, I saw that she had brought a catered dinner in for her employees.  

They were laughing, razzing one another, eating like kings and queens (fried chicken, green beans, and other dinner treats) and loving life at work.  I walked past and smiled to see them happy as I continued down the hallway loving that I witnessed this moment.  I couldn't help but sense the camaraderie that they have built working hard and breaking bread with one another as they have for years.  But tonight it was special.  They count on one another.  They back each other up.  They are the best darn crew who keep our school looking great.  

Tomorrow, take a look at the people with whom you work.  Think about the good times and the difficult times.  Think about the times you all had someone's back when things weren't great for them.  Think about the meals you have shared with those people.  Yeah, they are co-workers but aren't they just a bit more than that?  Don't they help you love your job just a little more?  

Dream Season Part 2

The ALCS and the NLCS are underway.  After storybook seasons, neither of my teams are in the championship series.  As you may have discovered in a post from earlier this baseball season, Dream Season, I am a lifetime fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers.  

After amazing first half of the season records for both teams, both the Tigers and Cubs stumbled into the playoffs.  The Tigers' fate came down to the last day of the regular season to confirm their playoff birth.  It was a nerve wracking finish to the regular season, but both teams made it to the Wildcard series.  The Tigers moved past the Cleveland Guardians 2 games to one, as the Cubs did the same to the San Diego Padres.  

Then, in the Division Series, the Tigers would  face the Seattle Mariners, and the Cubs went head to head with division rivals and the hottest team in baseball with the best regular season record, Milwaukee Brewers.  The Cubs scored in the first inning of each game (except game 5), but struggled to put runs on the board.  The Brewers took the first two games but the Cubs came back to take games 3 and 4.  The Cubs dropped Game 5 with a score 3-1.  It was the same result for the Tigers, but it went down quite a bit more suspenseful.  The Mariners and the Tigers each took one of each of the first two games.  Then, power surged for each team as the Mariners won 8-4 in game three, and the Tigers tied it all up 2-2 with a 9-3 win in game four.  Then came game 5.  The game sat at a score of 2 to2 as the 9th inning came to a close.  The game went past midnight in the central time zone as the home team, Mariners, scored in the 15th inning on a walk-off single.  

It is hard to see both of my teams lose in the playoffs in back-to-back nights, but in reflection, it was a great season.  I have never been so proud to be a Cubs and Tigers fan as this year with their dominant first half of the season.  It was fun to entertain the question from friends, "who do you cheer for if they both get to the World Series?"  It was nice to dream about that, but I will have to continue my wait. 

Regardless of the struggles and frustrations of the last couple months and the team power outage of both teams' bats, it has been fun.  You might even say it was almost a Dream Season.  

Reading/Viewing Stats Quarters 1-3 of 2025

The third quarter of 2025 has flown by for me.  A quick rundown: RPG Summer Camp, Gen Con, School Starting, marching band dad (pit crew and trailer driver), tennis dad, college student dad, and all the things that I normally am, librarian, husband, podcast co-host, etc.  Time moves right on by.  

Even with all of that, I still find time to enrich my life with content like reading, listening, and watching.  I have added a (+) note next to categories so we can see what I added this quarter.  Not so much this year in quarter 3.  I also wanted to note that it is pretty cool to include in my book reading a book published by a student who was a Dungeon Master in my game club and a student I coached in speech team.  Her book, Meirlich and Oga's Children's Home (pictured), is definitely worth checking out!    So, here are my 2025 quarters 1-3 stats: 

Movies Watched: 16 +5

Rewatch: 8

First Time: 8

In Theater: 4

T.V. Shows Streamed: 94 +1

First Time: 78

Rewatch: 14

Podcast Episodes: 30 +2

Time Listened: 1742

Books Read: 12 +4

Fiction 8

Nonfiction 4

Pages Read: 3,033

Audiobooks: 0

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Books Abandoned:

Fiction 2

nonfiction 0

Pages Read:

Short Stories Read: 0

Fiction:

Nonficiton:

Comic Books Read: 153 +27

Print: 65

Digital: 88

Book Titles:  

Void Rivals: Vol. 1 More than Meets the Eye by Robert Kirkman Art by Lorenzo de Felicia (Graphic Novel)

The Salt Thief: Ghandi's Heroic March to Freedom by Neil Bascomb

The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano and Leonard Chemineau, art by Christopher Bouchard (Graphic Novel)

Phandel we and Below: The Shattered Obelisk 

The Davenports (abandoned)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetya

Dungeons and Dragons: Worlds and Realms by Adam Lee

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Meirlich and Oga's Children's Home by Annabelle Hiel

Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole

Operatic by Kyo Maclear art by Byron Eggenschwiler (Graphic Novel)

X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle by Peter Milligan Art Salvador Larroca

Starfinder: Era of the Eclipse by Tim Pratt

Movies Watched:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Wicked

Captain America: Brave New World (Theater)

Inside Out  2

Rogue One

Star Wars: A New Hope (theater)

Elemental 

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Thunderbolts (theater)

Hamilton

Avengers: Infinity War

Superman (theater)

Ferris Buehler's Day Off

Back to the Future

 

T.V. Series Watched: 

Skeleton Crew

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 

Music By John Williams

Andor season 1

Fur Babies

Disney Treasure

Light and Magic season 1

Andor Season 2

Star Wars Rebels

Dance Moms Season 2

Dead to Me season 1

Dead to Me season 2

Dead to Me season 3

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

Pepsi, Where's my Jet?

Podcasts:

Rebel Base card Podcast (3)

60 Songs that Explain the 90's (2)

The Colbycast (4)

Teachers in the Dungeon (1)

Lost Ballparks (13)

Classic Baseball Radio (5)

Coffee with Kenobi (2)

MLB Team's Games listened: (min 5 innings)

Chicago Cubs (30)

Detroit Tigers (24)

San Francisco Giants (5)

Seattle Mariners (4)

New York Yankees (2)

Texas Rangers (2)

New York Mets (2) 

Kansas City Royals

Washington Nationals

Pittsburg Pirates (2)

San Diego Padres 

Miami Marlins

Milwaukee Brewers 

Boston Red Sox (2)

Philadelphia Phillies 

New York Mets

Tampa Bay Rays

Second Quarter 2025 Post

First Quarter 2025 Post

2024 Final Stats

Fantasy Football: Kamino Clone Kids Weeks 1-8

Captain Rex by maharlika
Deviant Art 25

Just like in Fantasy Baseball, I can't help myself and just have one fantasy team.  I like to double my chances at maintaining middle-of-the-road teams that aren't terrible, but definitely aren't winners either.  

This is the second season of the Jedi Knights Fantasy Football League.  The Kamino Clone Kids actually fared well in the inaugural season with a record of 11-5 and finishing third in the league of 10 teams.  We wiped the slates clean except for choosing draft order, and started fresh with the 2025/2026 season teams.  

Be sure to check back here each week of the season for updates through Week 8 of the season. 

Week 1: Kamino Clone Kids vs. Pabu Porgs 141.45 - 175.70 

"Kids Get Steamrolled by Allen and Henry"

(5th Place Light Side Division)

Week 2: Kamino Clone Kids (0-1) vs. Khofar Nights (1-0)  189.60 - 174.05 

"Kids Lose Burrows in Win, but St. Brown Carries the Club to 1-1" 

(4th in Light Side Division)

Week 3: Kamino Clone Kids (1-1) vs. Mustafar Moof (1-1)  148.85 - 169.10  

"The Kids Find Subpar Play in Week Three and Fall to the Mustafar Moof" 

(4th in Light Side Division) 

Week 4: Kamino Clone Kids (1-2) vs. Naboo Gungans (1-2)  184.15 - 141.64 "Kids Bring Balanced Attack led by George Pickens"  (4th in Light Side Division)

Week 5: Kamino Clone Kids (2-2) vs. Crait Vulptex (2-2) 205.67 - 170.00  "Kids Air Attack Dominates Week 5" (2nd in Light Side Division 4th in League) 

Week 6: Kamino Clone Kids (3-2) vs. Kessel Revolutionaries (4-1) 210.70 - 165.05  "Pickens, Smith-Njigba Carry the Kids to Victory"  (2nd in Light Side Division, 2nd in League)

Week 7:  Kamino Clone Kids (4-2) vs. Ferrix Rebels (3-4)  181.80 - 175.40 "Kid's Air It Out versus the Rebels to move to 5-2"  (2nd in Light Side Division, 2nd in League)

Week 8: Kamino Clone Kids (5-2) vs. Dathomir Rancors (1-6) 126.24 - 174.50 "Kids Underperform as Key Players Sit on Bye Week: Look to Bounce Back Week 9"  (2nd in Light Side Division, 3rd in League) 

See Weeks 9-16 

Presenting the Kamino Clone Kids Football Club: 

QB: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (IR)

RB: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

RB: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

WR: J. Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

TE: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

WRT: George Pickens WR, Dallas Cowboys

WRT: Calvin Ridley WR, Tennessee Titans

WRT: Cooper Kupp, WR, Seattle Seahawks

DL: Maxx Crosby, Los Vegas Raiders

LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers

DB: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

Bench: 

QB: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (starter week 3)

QB: Russell Wilson, New York Giants

RB: Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys

RB: RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

TE: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers

TE: Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

LB: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

DB: Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks

Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club makes the Playoffs

Semifinal (lower bracket):

Coca Cola Kids vs. Trot's Cardinals  10-5 "Kids Move Past Trot's Cardinals to make it to the Fifth Place Finals Matchup with Gourmet by Gorman" 

Finals (5th Place Match-up)

Coca Cola Kids vs. Gourmet by Gorman  7-8 "Kids Can't Hold the Lead and Drop the Final Contest to Gourmet by Gorman"  

6th Place finish

The Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club missed the top bracket of the playoffs with three games back.  It is disappointing as they spent the majority of the season in the top three spots of the league.  But, if you go back to the Week One opening back in April, you'd find that the Kids excel at mediocrity.  

If the Kids round out the bottom of the bracket with two wins and a fifth place finish, that is, well, right in the middle of this 10 team league.  Kinda feels, mediocre.  

Well, here is the line-up for the 2025 playoffs for the Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club: 

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

1B: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

2B: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

3B: Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Jose Pena, Houston Astros

OF: Siya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs

OF:  Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

OF: Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox

Util: Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Bench: Kyle Tucker, Chicago  Cubs

SP: Nick Pivetta, San Diego Padres

SP: Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

SP: Bryan Woo Seattle Mariners

RP: Ryan Helsley New York Mets

RP: Fernando Cruz, New York Yankees

RP: Luke Weaver, New York Yankees

BN: Jesus Luzardo Philadelphia Phillies

BN: Jason DeGrom Texas Rangers

BN: Carlos Vargas Seattle Mariners

IL: Kyle Stowers OF Miami Marlins

IL: Daniel Palencia, Chicago Cubs

Fantasy Football: The Coca Cola Kids Football Club Weeks 1-8

Every year it kills me to have to think about football before the baseball season is even over.  Don't get me wrong, I love football, but baseball is king in my kingdom.  Nevertheless, we are two weeks into the season, so time to address the fantasy team and how the first two weeks have gone. 

This post will update weekly through week 8 of the season, so be sure to check back in to see how things are proceeding.  Also, you can check out my second team "The Kamino Clone Kids" right here next week.  

Weekly Results: 

Week 1: Kids vs. Foot Wedge Mafia 182.46 to 209.71 "Kids Can't Top Big Week 1 Performances by the Mafia's QB's"  (6th in League)  

Week 2: Kids (0-1-0) vs. Roll Tide (0-1-0) 146.81 - 188.30 "Kids Lose Burrows in Week 2 Loss to Roll Tide"  (10th in League)

Week 3: Kids (0-2-0) vs. Ritz Boyz Blitz (1-1-0) 155.02 - 141.23 "Kids Receivers Dominate in Week 3"  (8th in League) 

Week 4: Kids (1-2-0) vs. LukeIAmYourFather (1-2-0) 126.86 - 158.84 "Kids Struggle to Get Any Traction in 2025" (9th in League)

Week 5: Kids (1-3) vs. Peoria Powells ((3-1) 179.21 - 147.99 "Kids Clutch in Starting Spencer Rattler" (8th in League) 

Week 6: Kids (2-3) vs. Blood Sweat and Beers (2-3) 122.36 -173.28 "Power Outage in the Air as the Kids Drop One in Week 6" (9th in League)

Week 7: Kids (2-4) vs. The Watergirl (4-2)  99.74 - 173.35 "The Kids Fall Flat and to 2-4"  (9th in League) 

Week 8: Kids (2-5) vs. All Pink No Mercy (3-4)  117.46 - 144.32 "Kid's QBs Fail Miserably" 

Presenting the Coca-Cola Kids Fantasy Football Club: 

QB: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati

WR: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

WR: Courtland Sutton, Denver

RB: Derrick Henry, Tennessee 

RB: JK Dobbins, Denver

TE: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas

W/R/T: Rome Odunze, Chicago

Q/W/R/T: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay

K: Evan McPherson, Cincinnati

DEF: Baltimore

Bench: Cam Ward, Tennessee

Bench: Tre' Harris, Los Angeles

Bench: Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee

Bench: Jaydon Blue, Dallas

Bench: Matthew Golden, Green Bay

Bench: Christian Kirk, Houston

Bench: Rhamondre Stevenson

I went with a new strategy in drafting this year.  I did my best to take the top pick in each category available at the time I decided to draft.  Then, when it came to the bench, I went with as many top rated rookies at each level.  So far it hasn't really worked out for me as none of the rookies have come out hot, and my starters didn't carry the team with any big scorers the first week.  

We shall see how the season fleshes out.  I am hoping that some of the young players on the bench will get some opportunities and catch fire.  

Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Baseball Club makes the Fantasy Playoffs

It was a season to remember for the Coca Cola Kids as they dominated the first half of the season.  Players that contributed to the historic first half are Cal Raleigh, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Josh Naylor, Katel Marte, Elly de la Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Matthew Boyd, Jason Adams, Freddie Peralta and Shota Imanaga.  The Kids blew out teams week after week mid-July.  

July and August was a different story for the Kids.  As players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Elly de la Cruz, and the starting pitching went cold and players like Spencer Torkelson, and Bryson Stott cooled off the Kids' dominance ended.  They lost the last six weeks of the regular season, and their first place in the league.  

Some roster changes heading into the playoffs include bringing in Blaze Alexander 3B (Arizona), Mike Yastrzemski OF (Kansas City), Zach Gelof 2B (Las Vegas), Will Vest RP (Detroit) to help fill or back up some spots that have shown weakness in the last several weeks.  

The Kids did manage to hold onto, by a thread, the second spot in the playoffs, earning a first week bye.  This post will update the results of the playoffs for the Kids, so stay tuned. 

Until then, here are the regular season leaders for the Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Baseball Club: 

Team Leaders after 18 Weeks:

Runs: 94 - Elly De La Cruz

1B: 95 - Julio Rodriguez

2B: 34 - Pete Crow-Armstrong

3B: 6 - Elly De La Cruz

HR:  50 - Cal Raleigh

RBI: 107 - Cal Raleigh

SB:  32 - Elly De La Cruz

BB:  81 - Cal Raleigh

K's: 160 - Cal Raleigh

Ave:  .291 - Ketel Marte

IP: 164.1 - Framber Valdez

W:  16 - Freddie Peralta

L: 13 - MacKenzie Gore

SV: 20 - Will Vest

Hits: 142 - MacKenzie Gore

BB: 58 - Freddie Peralta

K: 173 - MacKenzie Gore

HLD:  29 - Jason Adam

SP ERA:  2.58 - Freddie Peralta

RP ERA:  1.81 - Jason Adam

QS:  18 - Framber Valdez

Putting Away the Family Legos

At the beginning of the summer, my youngest daughter and I pulled a bag of our family Legos out of my office.  I wanted to open up some space and clean out the clutter, so this seemed like an easy start.  

Years ago, when my girls were young, we introduced them to Legos through the Duplo line.  Those
were fun; they loved the idea of building and breaking apart and building again.  Good times.  A few years later, I bought my oldest daughter her first set of Legos with the Lego Friends line.  This was a fun theme of Legos as it was girl focused in marketing and product.  Over the years we purchased several, well okay, lots of these sets from small ones like the dog training set, to the large sets like the Lego Friends house.  I loved to help them build the sets and play when they were built.  I have no doubt that these Lego friends toys were the most played with toys in the house.  I liked to build my space sets from the 1980's and have space invasions of the Lego Friends town.  They didn't always like that.  Hehehe...

Flash forward to this summer when both of my girls graduated.  One graduated from high school heading to college and the other graduated from 8th grade heading to high school.  They are growing up.  Something I haven't been very supportive of, but there is no stopping it, I suppose.  Anyhow, the youngest and I were cleaning up a tote bag of partially build or broken sets with random pieces spread across the bottom of the bag.  The goal was to figure out what pieces went to which set and deconstruct what was left of the partially build sets.  Lets just say, there was a lot of organizing to do.  As we got started, my daughter decided the best way to get the lose pieces organized with the sets was to just rebuild the sets.  She told me what she needed from the lose pieces and we hunted for them together.  We spent several hours rebuilding about 5 sets that were in the bag.  We hunted, built, talked, shared memories with the sets (I didn't mention the alien invasions), and had a good old time.  It was a nice way to start the summer.  

I couldn't bring myself to tear down the sets we had just built, so we took them to the basement to display and look at for a while.  Our mission was accomplished as we found a home for all of the lose Legos from the bottom of the tote bag.  

Now, school has started.  One daughter off to college and the other navigating the landscape of high school.  It was time to change out the display of Lego Friends in the basement.  I took them down one-by-one and started taking them apart and organizing them in their own Ziploc bags with the directions.  In this process, I was struck.  I will probably never build Legos with them ever again.  I let it sink in.  I will never build Legos with them ever again.  

Of course, the hope is some day when the grandkids come to visit, we will pull those "old" Legos out of the basement.  I don't know what that will be like, but I don't imagine it will be the same as building them with my daughters.  Maybe it will be more wonderful.  I don't know.  Nevertheless, the family Legos are now put away.   

I guess it is just me now as building Legos isn't really my wife's thing, so I pulled out my Star Wars Legos that I have gathered over the years.  I started rebuilding those.  Even though I am building those on my own, I have the memories of all the hours of fun I had with my daughters as children building the Family Legos.  

Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club Weeks 19-23

Week 19:  

Kids (162-123-39) vs. All Choked Up (174-119-31)  5-10 "Kids All Choked Up with 4 Weeks Before Playoffs" 

(5th League)  

Week 20: 

Kids (167-133-42) vs. Underdawgs (78-227-37)  9-5  "Kids Offense Comes Alive in Week 20" 

(4th League) 

Week 21: 

Kids (176-138-46) vs. Release the Kimbrel (179-141-40)  6-6  "Kids and Kimbrel Even Steven"

(4th League)

Week 22: 

Kids (182-144-52) vs. Trot's Cardinals (166-157-55) 8-7  "Kids Pull One Out Against Trot's" 

(4th League)

Week 23: 

Kids vs. Acuna Matada  7-10 "Kids Finish Regular Season with a Loss Heading into the Playoffs"

(5th League) 

B Team Weeks 13 - 18

B Team Weeks 7-12

B Team Weeks 1-6

As Week 19 begins, the Kids find themselves in a respectable 3rd place, which is the lowest they have found themselves this season.  Hitting has been up and down.  Power hasn't been a problem, but consistent singles and extra base hits have been lacking. Pitching has just been holding its own, but definitely needs to improve if the Kids are to be serious contenders in the playoffs.

Cal Raliegh continues to be the MVP of the year leading the team in home runs and runs batted in.  Kyle Schwarber could arguably be an MVP candidate as he leads the team in runs, walks and OPS.  From the mound, Jacob DeGrom definitely makes an impact, but our top pitcher is Bryan Woo from Seattle as he leads the team in innings pitched, WHIP and quality starts.     

Team Leaders after 18 Weeks:

Runs: 80 - Kyle Schwarber

1B:  92 - Steven Kwan

2B:  28 - Matt Olson

3B: 4 - Kyle Tucker

HR:  45 - Cal Raleigh

RBI: 98 - Cal Raleigh

SB:  24 - Kyle Tucker

BB:  78 - Kyle Schwarber

OPS: .957 - Kyle Schwarber

IP: 146.0 - Bryan Woo

W:   11 - tie Jesus Luzardo / Nick Pivetta

CG: 0

SV: 21 - Ryan Helsley

K:  151 - Jesus Luzardo

HLD:  14 - Carlos Vargas

SP ERA:  2.86 - Jacob DeGrom

RP ERA:  1.73 - Daniel Palencia

SP WHIP: 0.95 - tie Jacob DeGrom / Bryan Woo

RP WHIP:  0.83 - Luke Weaver

QS:  17 - Bryan Woo

Here is the team roster as of the beginning of Week 19: 

C: Cal Raleigh Mariners

1B: Matt Olson, Braves

2B: Mookie Betts, Dodgers

3B: Willi Castro, Cubs

SS: Jeremy Pena, Astros

OF: Kyle Schwarber, Phllies

OF: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

OF: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox

Utility: Kyle Stowers, Marlins

Bench: Steven Kwan, Guardians

Bench: Kyle Tucker, Cubs

SP: Shota Imanaga, Cubs

SP: Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

SP: Jacob DeGrom, Rangers

RP: Ryan Helsley, Cardinals

RP: Daniel Palencia, Cubs

P: Carlos Vargas, Mariners

P  Luke Weaver, Yankees

P: Nick Pivetta, Padres

Bullpen: Bryan Woo, Mariners

Bullpen: Lucas Giolito, Red Sox

Bullpen: Jesus Luzardo, Phillies

IL: Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves

Players Added Weeks 7-12

Kyle Stowers, OF Marlins

Luke Weaver, RP Yankees

Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox

This post will be updated at the beginning of each week through Week 23.