what a difference not quite a year makes

before 2013 topps update gets here, i guess i should get last year's update cards out of the purgatory that is my scanned folder.  i have shown a few of the dodger cards that i picked up out of last year's release, but never got around to showcasing these for some reason.  hopefully in a couple of weeks i will have cards of yasiel puig, michael young, ricky nolasco, and maybe even a non-ssp nick punto to show.  but first, 2012 takes the stage.

here's hanley

and his 'blockbusters' insert

hanley was the biggest dodger acquisition in the set that wasn't a ridiculous super short print.  i still don't have any of those, nor do i expect to ever have any.  those four cards are the only holes in my dodger topps flagship/update team sets from 1956 to date.  stupid shenanigans, topps.

there was another blockbuster involving a guy named ramirez, too

and then there were the all-star game cards - clayton kershaw

and matt kemp

plus kemp's home run derby card

this year, only kershaw will be featured.  assuming topps continues to make all-star cards a part of the update set.

on to the 'traded' or at least the more traditional part of update - here's jamey wright

wright joined the dodgers as a free agent and left as a free agent after the season ended.  he's currently in tampa bay where he put together a pretty decent season for the rays.

shane victorino

in victorino's third term with the dodger organization, he actually appeared in the majors wearing dodger blue for the first time.  for 53 games of the flyin' hawaiian, the dodgers gave up ethan martin and josh lindblom, plus a minor leaguer.  these days, victorino is in the postseason with the red sox.

matt treanor

became a free agent after the season ended and did not sign with another team.

matt guerrier

was sent to the cubs this year for carlos marmol.  guerrier pitched in 15 games for chicago, and had a 2-1 record with a 2.13 era in those appearances.  he's a free agent now (or will be once the postseason is done) and i hope he lands somewhere.

scott elbert

topps gave us a flagship card of elbert in 2009, but since then we have only seen him in 2012 update.  i would assume that he shows up again this year, as he pitched for the dodgers in 43 games, but we will have to wait and see.

elian herrera

herrera won't be back in update, as he only appeared in 4 games for the dodgers in 2013.

brandon league

was included in the flagship set this year.  he's got two more years, plus an option for 2016, on his contract with the dodgers.

aj ellis, et al.

that's a fun card.  here's the gold parallel

and the other parallel

lastly, here's the jackie robinson 1987 mini

perhaps topps will once again give us update minis this year.  i am actually looking forward to the release of update.  i might even buy a box for the first time in years.