Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Final Score Adjustments

Hey Everyone,

I'm sure you're back for more of me falling flat on my face. Wasn't that fun.

I have a few scoring updates and the final score.

Pack 8
Card 4: Matt Kemp - 200 (+1) should be (+2), +1 overall
Card 8: David Wright - 121 (+1) should be (+2), +1 overall

Wow, how did I bootch the scoring of that pack so badly? Also, the Commish has ruled that the Greg Gumbel relic is worth +9 points.

SO. Our Running Total is adjusted to...

+167!

Yes! One hundred and sixty seven, factorial! I win! Math is fun!

Not really. What a depressing box.

- The Greg Gumbel hating Ginter Godfather

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Falling flat on my face. Loss by self-inflicted TKO?

Well Ginterites, I have really good and really bad news. The good news is I have the last 4 packs of Gint-A-Cuffs IV ready to be posted! The bad news is they were really, really bad. I think I've shifted focus from aiming for the best box humanly possible to getting the most atrocious box of Ginter for Gint-a-Cuffs. Seriously.


Thankfully we had a ruling so we're now at a running total of +141!

Pack 21:

Stephen Strausburg - 171
Phil Pfister - 198
Dee Gordon - 298
Cory "This Picture Makes Me Look Like A Girl" Luebke - 207
Gaby Sanchez - 273
Jason Bay - 191
Geovany Soto A&G Back Mini - 94 (+2)
What's In A Name? - Jemile Nykiwa Weeks (+2)

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +145

Yep. +4. Oh just you wait, it gets better.

Pack 22:

Jose Bautista - 93 (+2)
David Ortiz - 35
Brandon League - 44
Rickey Henderson - 254
Chipper Jones - 33 (+2)
Dale Webster - 283 (-1) (Again? So two Gumbels and two Websters... WTF)
Mickey Mantle Mini - 7 (-1) (Yankombies...)
What's In A Name? - James Calvin Rollins (+2)

Pack Total: +4
 Running Total: +149

Yep. ANOTHER +4 pack. This time with a second Dale Webster card. At least I LIKE minis, even if they are Yankombies.

Pack 23:

Brett Lawrie - 122
Jair Jurrjens - 22
Pablo Sandoval - 38
Johnny Bench - 6
Clay Buchholz - 50
Chris Carpenter - 112
Jacob Ellsbury Mini - 136
What's In A Name? - Justin Irvin Upton (+2)

Pack Total: +2
Running Total: +151

Yep. Just when you though +4 couldn't get any worse... +2. Seriously.

Pack 24:

Jason Motte - 263
George Brett - 137
Nick Markakis - 14
Melky Cabrera - 158
Greg Gumbel Relic - AGR-GG (+??)
World's Greatest Military Leaders - Duke of Marlborough (+3)
What's In A Name? - George Lee Anderson (+2)

... oh, and a Topp's Pennant advertisement card. Ehhh? Probably the best card in the pack!

Pack Total: +??+5
Running Total: +156+??

I've submitted for a ruling on the Gumbel relic. His base card is worth the same as a Yankee, so what is his Relic worth?  Either +5 or +10... SO!

Our total is:

+161 or +166

Wow. What a pathetic box. Three cards of Greg Gumbel. Two cards of Dale Webster. A bunch of other duplicates. The collation here is HORRIBLE! Never seen anything this bad in a box of Ginter. I guess it happens. Too bad it couldn't happen with Joe Mauers. I'd even take Bryce Harpers.

Well folks, that should just about wrap up this year's Gint-A-Cuffs for me. If there is a Gint-A-Cuffs V for 2012, I'm absolutely down, just let me know when so I can secure a box. Hopefully one that doesn't suck as bad as this one.

Oh yeah, obligatory pictures:

Have a great day!

-GG (and NO, that does not mean 'Greg Gumbel'...)

Gint-A-Cuffs IV: Going for the Gold!

With the Olympics in full swing, what would a free-for-all brawl be without some ca-ching and bling for the winner? Oh wait, there IS! Back to it! We have a double header today to make up for yesterday. Onward and upward! Current Running Total is either +81 or +84, depending on a ruling from the Commish.

Pack 13:

James Shields - 276
Tsuyoshi Wada - 252
Carlos Gonzalez - 148
Mitch Moreland - 8
Curly Neal - 85
Michael Young - 227
Adrian Gonzalez SP Mini - 316 (+3)
What's In A Name? - Hunter Andrew Pence (+2)

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +86 or +89

What a meh pack.

Pack 14:

Alex Rios - 65
Nyjer Morgan - 86
Jorge De La Rosa -253
Justin Upton - 42
Cliff Lee - 293
MIWC - Willow Cove Trainyard (+3)
Adrian Beltre SP Mini - 334 (+3)
Matt Dominguez SP - 344 (+2)

Pack Total: +8
Running Total: +94 or +97

Much better. We're back on track. For now.

Pack 15:

Aramis Ramirez - 243
Luke Hochevar - 175
Michael Cuddyer - 62 (Traitor!)
Jose Bautista - 93 (+2)
Dale Webster - 283 (-1) (He's like a Yankee... except even lazier.)
MIWC - Chase McMurphy (+3) (He looks like a Yankee...)
Dustin Ackley Mini - 28
Matt Garza SP - 347 (+2)

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +100 or +103

Whoa! We broke 100! AMAZING!

Pack 16:

Alfonso Soriano - 242
Jason Motte - 263
George Brett - 137
Nick Markakis - 14
Melky Cabrera - 158
Baseball Highlight Sketches - Roger Maris (+2) (Damn... ruined a good thing. He's even a good Yankombie!)
Dustin Pedroia Mini - 10
Zack Greinke SP - 343 (+2)

Pack Total: +4
Running Total: +104 or +107

Onto the second half of the double header...

Pack 17:

David Ortiz - 35
Brandon League - 44
Rickey Henderson - 254
Chipper Jones - 33 (+2)
Ryan Zimmerman Framed Relic (+10) (Yay, I guess?)
Wilin Rosario SP Mini - 305 (+3)
What's In A Name? - Donald Arthur Mattingly (+1)

Pack Total: +16
Running Total: +120 or +123

Well, that pack makes up for a lot. But will it be enough? Too little too late? Only time will tell! Also, over half the pack gave positive points. Awesome.

Pack 18:

Tom Milone - 188
Jordan Walden - 48
Jemile Weeks - 186
Alex Liddi - 260
C.J. Wilson - 107
World's Tallest Buildings - Petronas Towers (+3)
 Joey Votto A&G Back Mini - 206 (+2)
Matt Holliday SP - 337 (+2)

Pack Total: +7
Running Total: +127 or +130

Well, the packs seem to at least be getting better overall... though it took five cards into that pack to find a name I recognized.

Pack 19:

Ara Parseghian - 184 (-1) (Damn... off to a bad start)
Miguel Cabrera - 3
Yunel Escobar - 214
Greg Gumbel - 292 (-1) (Wait... what? Great collation here guys... why does my box have TWO of this guy!?)
Brennan Boesch - 250
World's Tallest Building - 40 Wall Street (+3)
World's Greatest Military Leaders - Julius Caesar (+3) (Et tu, Brutus?)
Billy Butler SP - 329 (+2)

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +133 or +136

How did we manage to get TWO Greg "Cabbage Patch" Gumbel in this box, and even more amazing how did we get a decent pack score with two jerk faces in it!? Amazing...

Pack 20:

Kate Upton - 232 (+1) (Helllooooo!)
Andre Ethier - 84
Edinson Volquez - 155
Josh Willingham - 138 (+1) (Aha! Getting better...)
Scott Rolen - 236
Rickie Weeks - 68
Ty Cobb Mini - 197
What's In A Name? - Justin Ernest George Morneau (+3) (Yes!)

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +138 or +141

Well... that pack was horrible point-wise, but beautiful in all other regards.

So, our pack average thus far is 6.65 or 6.8, depending on how Joseph Patrick Mauer scores. This puts us on pace for... 164 points. Wow, what an epic failure. Ginter Gods, if you can hear my prayer, let this last hit be just such a huge monstrosity so my score for this competition doesn't make me look so pathetic... ugh. And I had such high hopes for this box, too!

Here is your obligatory picture.

Until tomorrow...

-GG

Gint-a-Cuffs IV: Round 3, float like a butterfly & sting like a bee!

BAM! And we're right back to it for another rousing day of Gint-a-Cuffs IV. Today will round out the first half, here's to hoping for a strong showing...

Pack 9:

Torii Hunter -246
Coco Crisp - 209
Steve Lombardozzi - 240
Chris Young - 77
Chase Utley - 291
World's Tallest Building - Burj Khalifa (+3)
Ichiro Black Bordered Mini - 229 (+5)
Bela Karolyi Short Print - 309 (+2)

Pack Total: +10
Running Total: +70

Not too shabby right out the gate!

Pack 10:

Mark Reynolds - 271
Brandon Belt - 280
Brooks Robinson - 80
Tommy Hanson - 201
Carlos Quentin - 282
Roger Maris - 225 (-1) (UGH!)
Don Mattingly Regular Mini - 170 (-1) (DOUBLE UGH!)
What's In A Name? - Larry Wayne Jones (+2)

Pack Total: +0
Running Total: +70

Well that pack was a bust. Freaking YANKOMBIE APOCALYPSE!!! Get my shotgun...

Pack 11:

Greg Gumbel - 292 (-1) (Eff.)
Brennan Boesch - 250
Stephen Strausburg - 171
Phil Pfister - 198
Dee Gordon - 298
Cory Lubke - 207
Derek Jeter A&G Back Mini - (+1... at least it's not negative)
What's In A Name? - JOSEPH PATRICK MAUER (Not sure how to score this... At least +3 [+2 for WIN, +1 for favorite team] but could it be +6? [+2 for WIN, +4 for favorite player])

Pack Total: +3 or +6
Running Total: +73 or +76

Excellent... my buddy Joe and his epic sideburns have made their appearance. I'll be looking out for his base card now, too... and dare I say, an AUTOGRAPH!?!?!? I think that's asking too much.

Pack 12:

Stan "The Man" Musial - 88
Tim Hudson - 139
Madison Bumgarner - 130
Roberto Clemente - 300
Trevor Cahill - 156
Historical Turning Point - Invention of the Printing Press (+3)
Joe Benson A&G Back Mini - 144 (+3) (MONEY!)
Swin Cash Short Print - 339 (+2)

Pack Total: +8
Running Total: +81 or +84

Well... today hasn't been a total bust. We're starting to see some Twins pop up, and with the exception of those three Yankee's... we didn't see any Yankee scum. But I guess that goes without saying, doesn't it?

I don't even want to do the math on this one. We'll 1) wait for the Commish to make a call on the Joseph Patrick Mauer What's In An AWESOME NAME Card... and 2) shoot some of the Yankombies that keep popping up in here... even in a best case scenario, our average is going to drop to about +6.4ish per pack... man, that predicted total is dropping like the Yankombies are going to near my house in the upcoming Apocalypse.

-GG

Gint-A-Cuffs IV - Dodge, weave, duck, bob!

Greetings Gint-a-Cuffs Gang!

Ginter Godfather here with another exciting 4 packs of the highly anticipated Gint-a-Cuffs IV Ginter Box! Without further ado, LETS GET TO IT!

Pack 5:

Hank Haney - 245
Jay Bruce - 173
Desmond Jennings - 67
Wei-Yin Chen - 178
John Danks - 218
World's Tallest Building -Taipei 101 (+3)
Michael Buffer A&G Back Short Print Mini - 314 (+7)
Ian Nova Short Print - 303 (+1, more Yankombie Apocalypse minions...)

Pack Total: +11
Running Total: +44

Very solid pack, even if it had a Yankee in it.

Pack 6:

Gaby Sanchez - 273
Jason Bay - 191
Aramis Ramirez - 243
Luke Hochevar - 175
Michael Cuddyer - 62 (So close! Why did you have to go to the Rockies, Cuddy!?)
Baseball Highlight Sketches - Tom Seaver (+3)
Stephen Drew Regular Mini - 177
Kyle Farnsworth Short Print - 304 (+2)

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +49

No comment. I have nothing witty, inspirational, intimidating, or otherwise worthwhile to say.

Pack 7:

Bud Norris - 106
Johnny Damon - 59
Rulon Gardner - 16 (BEAST MODE!)
James Loney - 101
Jerry Bailey - 81 (+1)
Historical Turning Points - Battle of Waterloo (+3)
Cole Hamels Regular Mini - 179
Jason Heyward Short Print - 317 (+2)

Pack Total: +6
Running Total: +55

Well, I guess we're improving. Improvement is something.

Pack 8:

Yonder Alonso - 9
Yovani Gallardo - 222
Dayan Viciedo - 255
Matt Kemp - 200 (+1)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka - 147 (+1)
David Wright - 121 (+1)
Ichiro Base Mini - 229 (Thank GOODNESS they don't have him in pinstripes here...)
What's In A Name? - Joshua Patrick Beckett (+2)

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +60

Well, two other favorite players and a favorite team player that hasn't played a single game all year... I guess we could have done worse here.

We have a day average of +6.75 and a box average of +6.875 per pack. We're losing ground overall, but we still have 2 of our 3 hits still out there. I've got a feeling one of them is a doosy. Or, that might be indigestion and they're both going to be really crappy Yankees.

That's it for today, we're 1/3rd of the way through this box and there's plenty of excitement left.

-GG

Gint-a-Cuffs - Right, left, uppercut, hook!

Heyo Gint-a-Cuffs IV participants and onlookers! This Ginter Godfather has stepped into the fray... without any further ado...

Lets get r-r-ready to R-R-R-R-R-R-RUM-BLLLLE!

Box Topper: N43 Ernie Banks (+5) Eh. I guess it could have been a Yankee?

Running Total: +5

Pack 1:

Stan Musial - 88
Tim Hudson - 139
Madison Bumgarner - 130
Roberto Clemente - 300
Trevor Cahill - 156
Andrew McCutchen - 128
Johann Sebastian Bach - MM1 (+3)
What's In A Name? - Edwin Donald Snider (+2)

Pack Total: +5
Running Total: +10

Well, at least we're consistent here...

Pack 2:

Jed Lowrie - 248
Mark Teixeira - 169 (-1 BOO HISS)
Darwin Barney - 183
Mat Latos - 64
Ben Zorbist - 32
Hisashi Iwakuma - 53
David Freese Regular Mini - 134
What's In A Name? - Carsten Charles Sabathia (+1 UGGGH!)

Pack Total: +0
Running Total: +10

Let the Yankombie Apocalypse begin!

Pack 3:

Ardolis Chapman - 70
Matt Joyce - 83
Al Unser, Sr. - 237
Jose Valverde - 151
Brandon Morrow - 256
Historical Turning Point - The Fall of the Roman Empire... to Yankombie Apocalypse. (+3)
David Freese Black Bordered Mini - 134 (+7)
Howie Kendrick - 350 (+2)

Pack Total: +12
Running Total: +22

Probably the last time we can double the running total in a single pack!

Pack 4:

Willie Mays - 210
Starlin Castro - 185 (No Castro Lovers? Must be the lack of beard...)
Jaime Garcia - 202
Tony Gwynn - 205
Geovany Soto Framed Relic - AGR-GS (+10)
Yogi Berra Regular Mini - 23 (-1 Ahhhh! They're multiplying, and getting smaller to crawl up my nose!)
What's In A Name? - James Howard Thome (+2)

Pack Total: +11
Running Total: +33

*To the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas*

"Four Ginter packs, three damn Yankees, two David Freese minis, and a partridge in a chair tree..."

So, we came out swinging and feel like we've hit a brick wall with our fist. We're averaging +7 points per pack, which puts us on pace for a +173 point box. Something tells me that is VERY optimistic. My personal prediction? +142. Maybe. Whatever it is, the total is going to end in +...42.

-GG

Greetings Ginter Gnafia,

With the imminent release of 2012 Allen and Ginter just days away and the retail release even closer, I thought I would come to you with an appeal.

Bring me your minis.

The Ginter Godfather's favor will be bestowed upon anyone who executes a trade with the Ginter Godfather.

Now that we've taken care of business, be on the lookout for a review as soon as I can get my hands on some product, as well as several product breaks just so you can get a good feel for what is coming out of this year's product. I'll also be doing a few small giveaways to test the waters as to what we have for followers as we get into the product.

And just a reminder, Gint-A-Cuffs is coming, and the Ginter Godfather will be making his Gint-A-Cuffs debut in record-setting style.

Gint-A-Cuffs is Coming!

Greetings Ginter Gnafia, I just wanted to post a heads up that Gint-A-Cuffs is coming and the Ginter Godfather WILL be participating. To all of those whom are my opponents... I'll make you an offer you can't refuse. Give up now and I won't have to put you on ice... refractors in the next set of Bowman. -The Ginter Godfather

The Long Awaited Update

Greetings Ginter Lovers!

I just wanted to post a quick update! Recent life changes have caused some major changes in my living situation, but they are largely resolved and we're back! And not a moment too soon with the release of Allen and Ginter 2012 just around the corner!

Many more blog posts are coming soon, so stay tuned!