The 2017 Update Checklist is Out... And it Sucks Ass Hard

The much-anticipated 2017 Topps Update checklist was released today and I’m dreadfully disappointed in the Brewers sliver of it. The base set itself seems to be kind of mess… very, VERY heavy on rookies and All-Stars with little room for much else. Like last year’s update set, it comes in at 300 cards, down from 400 as recently as 2015. The Brewers have seven cards in the base set. The obvious one was the Corey Knabel All-Star card. Yeah, that’s fine, I guess. I used to like the idea of Topps giving EVERY All-Star a card in the Update, but it’s getting kind of old. Maybe this could be an insert set or something.

Three of the Brewers set are rookies: Brett Phillips, Josh Hader, and Lewis Brinson. These are all solid. All are top prospects and all debuted this year and Hader and Phillips actually played pretty awesome down the stretch. Good on you for these, Topps.

The fifth is also a “rookie,” a Rookie Debut card of Orlando Arcia. Honestly, I hate these debut cards. Who cares? It’s just an excuse to double up on parallels for eBay-hot players. And Arcia didn’t even debut this year… it was 2016. I’m a big Arcia fan, but this means nothing to me.

Card six is something called “PARTNERS IN POP,” one of their gimmick cards with an utterly pointless checklist on the backside. I like gimmick cards, if they are done right. But I have think sinking feeling that this will just be a rehash of the “Brewers Bombers” card from Heritage High Numbers.  

And speaking of rehashing High Numbers… card number seven is Jett Bandy. Yes, Jett Bandy who hit .207 this year. Jett Bandy who got sent to the minors at the end of June (FUCKING JUNE). Jett Bandy who already had a card in High Numbers. Not Eric Sogard, who quickly became a fan fav after being called up in mid-May. Not Stephen Vogt, a two-time All Star who joined the team in June. Not Brent Suter, who is without a solo Brewers card. Not deadline pickup Anthony Swarzack. And certainly not Manny Pina, who was the Brewers most regular catcher and posted a 2.6 WAR and might get Rookie of the Year votes and DOESN’T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE MLB CARD.

No. We’ll get another Jett Bandy. And nothing against Jett. I’m glad that a card of him as a Brewer exists… but he wasn’t even in the majors when this set was being finalized! My god, Topps, can you at least TRY to pay attention to teams that aren’t the New York Judge-havers?

*Sigh*

Anyway, I’m still gonna collect this set, because I’m degenerate cardboard addict. And I am looking forward to the Eric Thames 1987 autographed card. And, hopefully, we’ll get some Vogt/Sogard/Pina/andtherest in the 2018 base set. Like, maybe one of them will be the background of an Aaron Judge card or something.

What's Brewing for 2017 Update?

Recently, the checklist for Topps Heritage High Numbers was released. I haven't actively collected Heritage in years, so my only interest was in the Brewers on the list... specifically Brewers that have not yet appeared as Brewers on cardboard before. If you read this blog even casually, you know that my big project is my All-Time Brewers collection, and I'm already scouting out which Brewers who debuted in 2017 might eventually get Brewers cards. My immediate hope for these is via the Heritage Highs or Topps Update. 

The Brewers will be surprisingly well-represented in the set, with ten base cards. Of these, three are making their Milwaukee cardboard debut. Jared Hughes is an SP, but a nice nod to a middle reliever having a pretty good year. Jett Bandy started out hot, but was sent down months ago. And Neftali Feliz... woo boy... Feliz is a former Rookie of the Year and hotshit closer, a "name," if you will. But he bottomed out with the Brewers and was released in early June. Why Topps couldn't put the breaks on this card - with THREE months between his release and the set's release - I have not idea. Normally, something like this would upset me. But as the only other card Feliz has as a Brewers is the very-short printed Spring Training Topps Now card (selling for about $12 on eBay), I'm glad to have a cheap alternative. 

But it also makes me fear for Topps Update. 

Last year's update set was just six cards. It had the RC of Junior Guerra, which was nice. And had an All-Star card of Jonathan Lucroy, who had already been traded to the Rangers. But it also had a Keon Broxton, of who I am a fan, but who had ALREADY appeared in the base set. As well as a Chris Capuano, who had hurt himself in late May and never pitched again. Why would they put together a set in late July and include Capuano? (and why would they also include him in 2017's base set?)

So, using Topps' baffling methods of player selection, I'm going to try to handicap the chances of each new Brewers appearing in the update set. 

Manny Pina - God, I hope I can get a Pina card. He's been one of the NL's top rookies this year and looks like he could hold down the backstop spot for a few years. I say the chances are good, he opened the season with the team and they've already given Bandy a card. 

Eric Sogard - Another one I'd really like. Like Pina, I think he has a very good chance to be in the '18 flagship, but I want one NOW. I also think there's a good chance to see a Sogard Update. He joined the team in May and got hot right away. 

Nick Franklin - Got 80 ABs before being released. I highly doubt we'll see him.

Stephen Vogt - Possibly. He is a multiple-time All Star and a moderate name. If not now, probably in 2018. Another guy I'd love to get in blue. 

Neil Walker - No chance. A post-waiver wire guy. We'll get his Brewer card next year, after he's already signed with another team.

Lewis Brinson - Had just a handful of games, but will probably appear as a 'rookie debut' guy. He's got a handful of Bowman cards as a Brewer, but I'm hoping for an update card to try and get him TTM next spring. 

Brett Phillips - Same deal as Brinson, also a decent TTM guy.

Andrew Susac - A well-regarded rookie who debuted last year, I'm not sure if his seven at bats are enough to draw attention. Hopefully I can get him next year, probably in Bowman. 

Quintin Berry - A lock for a Brewer-without-a-card. He was just called up and will be used primary as a pinch-runner. 

Brandon Woodruff - A top-five Brewers prospect, he is sure to get a card sometime, probably next year in flagship. 

Paolo Espino - Made a pair of starts, but is already off the team. Knowing Topps, we'll probably get him in update for some inexplicable reason. 

Carlos Torres - Second-year Brewers with no cardboard. His 4.46 ERA indicates we won't see any soon.

Jacob Barnes - Debuted last year as a gas-throwing rookie mid-reliever. Another guy who just feels like he'll get a card for some reason. 

Oliver Drake - Early-season pick-up from the Orioles. In the same boat as Torres. 

Josh Hader - Big deal rookie lefty. Will get a card eventually. I'd bet on 2018. 

Tommy Milone - If Capuano got a card last year, anything can happen. But I'd get against him. 

Anthony Swarzak - The Brewers "big" deadline trade pickup. Doubtful, but possible.

Tyler Webb - Threw two innings before being demoted. No chance. 

Taylor Williams - A surprise 40-man addition, too late for update and probably too obscure for 2018. 

MY PREDICTION:

Corey Knebel AS
Manny Pina
Eric Sogard
Lewis Brinson RC
Brett Phillips RC
Jared Hughes 
Jacob Barnes RC
Brent Suter RC
Chris Capuano (SP Career Retrospective)