Fellow list members:

I presume everyone has had a chance to check out the new cards already.

First impressions: I'm happy with the White Sox and Indians, both of which are
keepers (especially the former, for obvious reasons). But I'm also stunned at
how mediocre the Yankees, Red Sox and Twins are, compared with their respective
teams of just the last couple of years. There's no doubt left in my mind that
the best team won the World Series last year.

Also, is it my imagination, or has stealing bases re-emerged as an important
strategy again all of a sudden? I was taken aback by all the "AA" stealers I saw
in the set this year. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but this certainly seems
to be the speediest set of ballplayers in years, at least since I started buying
the cards again with the 2002 season. "AA" stealers had been all but invisible
since then, but with the '05 season set, they're all over the place. Tampa Bay
has *two,* for crying out loud. Suddenly, having a weak-armed catchers and
pitchers who can't hold runners is a major liability again! :-)

My goal this year is to play a solitaire 40-game season with Cleveland. I tried
doing it last year, but didn't quite make it, finishing 31 games. The 2004 team,
80-82 in real life, finished a shockingly bad 8-23 in my replay, but ended on a
high note with a victory over Boston and Schilling. I expect the team to do
better in the win-loss column this year! The '05 Tribe is off to a rough start,
2-4 after six games, but three of those losses were close ones that the bullpen
blew, and two of those three were in extra innings. I expect the relievers to
perform better as the replay progresses! ;-)

If anyone else has any thoughts on the new set or how you're going to use it,
feel free to share.

-Gary

-------------------------------------------
E-mail: erie@...
Web site: http://www.kirchherr.com
ICQ No.: 4544564
Yahoo Messenger: indiansfaninpa