tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79899918002602393642024-03-12T22:37:57.772-07:00The Ginter GodfatherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-35723940480055137122018-09-30T18:55:00.002-07:002018-09-30T18:55:30.494-07:00GAC X Part 6 - The ReckoningThe end is in sight... Also, our last two lousy hits are in here somewhere! I bet they're Yankees.<br />
<br />
Running Box Total: +85<br />
<br />
Pack 21:<br />
<br />
Dallas Keuchel<br />
Brian Dozier - +5 (+4 MY Favorite Player, +1 MY Favorite Team... at least at the time of printing)<br />
Lucas Giolito<br />
Ozzie Albies<br />
Fantasy Gold - Mariano Rivera - +1 (+2 FG, -1 Friggin' Yankee)<br />
Full Sized Relic - Josh Donaldson - +5 (+5 Full Sized Relic)<br />
Mini - Phil Coyne A&G Back - +2 (+2 A&G Back)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +13<br />
Running Box Total: +98<br />
<br />
Whoa, what a pack! Dozier's base card is... worth the same as a hit!? Ugh. Worthless hit.<br />
<br />
Pack 22:<br />
<br />
Byron Buxton - +1 (+1 Favorite Team)<br />
Masahiro Tanaka - +-1 (-1 Yankee...)<br />
Brandon Crawford<br />
Kyle Schwarber<br />
Fantasy Gold - Ichiro - +2 (+2 FG)<br />
Framed Mini Auto - Jackson Stephens - +7 (+7 Framed Mini Autograph)<br />
Mini - Adrian Beltre<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +9<br />
Running Box Total: +107<br />
<br />
Whelp, we broke 100! Hooray! And our hits are gone! Hooray! How does no one like Jackson Stephens enough to have him as their Favorite Player!? SERIOUSLY!<br />
<br />
Pack 23:<br />
<br />
Carlos Gonzalez<br />
Anthony Banda<br />
Corey Kluber<br />
Jordan Montgomery - +-1 (-1 Yankee... Grr)<br />
Justin Upton<br />
Sean Doolittle<br />
World Talent - Javier Baez - +2 (+2 WT)<br />
Mini - Hanley Ramirez A&G Back Mini - +2 (+2 A&G Back Mini)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Box Total: +110<br />
<br />
OK, we're getting there... not really. I'm sure Spankee has already posted a score of like +398. Which I'm sure is totally possible.<br />
<br />
Pack 24:<br />
<br />
John Smoltz<br />
Felix Hernandez<br />
Samesong Park<br />
Kevin Kiermaier<br />
Jon Lester<br />
Jose Berrios - +1 (+1 Favorite Team!)<br />
Baseball Equipment of the Ages - Vintage Glove - +2 (+2 BEA)<br />
Mini - Jay Bruce SP - +3 (+3 Mini SP)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Final Box Total: +116<br />
<br />
So we weren't that far off of our projected total of 120. Not terrible. I still am missing my Cut Signature Dual DNA Relic of George Washington and Pee Wee Herman.<br />
<br />
One final picture for proof and we're done! Thanks for reading folks!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG2pAISlGalVN3uwqk3v1BhCUnECqBoZlKitgsQcxswPPun-FvG5RNKCfoUvSBWH6oZMFkT5aadLGMDW9a_fF7O4QmEwk5TrzamkrYbgl32wZW0jVQDlwz2moIglA-q1mfcmClN9xpBr5/s1600/pack21thru24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1600" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG2pAISlGalVN3uwqk3v1BhCUnECqBoZlKitgsQcxswPPun-FvG5RNKCfoUvSBWH6oZMFkT5aadLGMDW9a_fF7O4QmEwk5TrzamkrYbgl32wZW0jVQDlwz2moIglA-q1mfcmClN9xpBr5/s320/pack21thru24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-46005885256423115162018-09-30T18:55:00.001-07:002018-09-30T18:55:19.037-07:00GAC X Part 5Phew, furiously scoring and picture taking now...<br />
<br />
Running Box Total: +77<br />
<br />
Pack 17:<br />
<br />
Jackie Robinson<br />
Franklin Barreto<br />
Ryan Sickler<br />
Aaron Nola<br />
Dominic Smith<br />
Johnny Bench<br />
Fantasy Gold - Frank Thomas - +2 (+2 FG)<br />
Mini - Ozzie Albies<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Box Total: +79<br />
<br />
Well that pack was... underwhelming.<br />
<br />
Pack 18:<br />
<br />
Tyler Mahle<br />
Babe Ruth - +-1 (-1 For Being A Stinkin' Yankee)<br />
CC Sabathia - +-1 (-1 For Also Being A Stinkin' Yankee)<br />
Rickey Henderson - +-1 (-1 For ALSO Being A Stinkin' Yankee)<br />
Greg Bird -+-1 (-1 For... SERIOUSLY?!)<br />
Jose Ramirez<br />
Baseball Equipment of the Ages - Modern Cleats - +2 (+2 BEA)<br />
Mini - Baseball Superstitions - Baseball Cards - +3 (+3 BS)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
Running Box Total: +80<br />
<br />
At least we... got into the green? 4 consecutive Yankees. That was a bad, bad pack.<br />
<br />
Pack 19:<br />
<br />
Cody Bellinger<br />
Wade Boggs<br />
Buster Posey<br />
Matt Kemp<br />
Hideki Matsui - +-1 (-1 For ANOTHER Yankee)<br />
Roger "DIRTBAG" Clemens - Seriously, I want to give myself -108734 for this card because he's a scumbag<br />
World's Greatest Beaches - Bay of Angels - +2 (WGB's)<br />
Mini - The World's Hottest Peppers - Carolina Reaper - +3 (+3 TWHP)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Box Total: +84<br />
<br />
Pack 20:<br />
<br />
Chris Davis<br />
Garrett Cooper<br />
Jackie Bradley Jr.<br />
Andrew McCutchen<br />
Pat Neshek<br />
Roger Maris - +-1 (-1 For Yet Another Yankee)<br />
World Talent - Felix Hernandez - +2 (+2 WT)<br />
Mini - Christopher McDonald<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
Running Box Total: +85<br />
<br />
Well, that was a much more straightforward route to +1 than say Pack 18!<br />
<br />
Here is a picture full of Yankees. Yuck.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_eyAHH9NHeRWPnAD3hnhbCEiNAb88ySceD7McLh3NBKjLjbNpFxbZ0FhimcmDSFLVV6TbIoVAkdAnl3fGburf6laR6shWrXhALYgZ3ctMPw3g3kXNw-93mzljcRugnY_QwXTGUIKOcpf/s1600/pack17thru20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_eyAHH9NHeRWPnAD3hnhbCEiNAb88ySceD7McLh3NBKjLjbNpFxbZ0FhimcmDSFLVV6TbIoVAkdAnl3fGburf6laR6shWrXhALYgZ3ctMPw3g3kXNw-93mzljcRugnY_QwXTGUIKOcpf/s320/pack17thru20.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-1592072446786505862018-09-30T18:55:00.000-07:002018-09-30T18:55:08.137-07:00GAC X Part 4And we're back for our mad dash to the deadline. On to the start of the last half!<br />
<br />
Running Box Total: +58<br />
<br />
Pack 13:<br />
<br />
Josh Donaldson<br />
Kris Bryant - +2 (+2 Any Favorite Player)<br />
Mookie Betts<br />
H. Jon Benjamin<br />
Walker Buehler<br />
Reggie Jackson - +-1 (-1 For Being A Yankee)<br />
Fantasy Goldmine - Lou Brock - +2 (+2 FG)<br />
Mini - Ted Williams<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Box Total: +61<br />
<br />
Yankee's rear their ugly head. Yuck.<br />
<br />
Pack 14:<br />
<br />
Cryptocurrency<br />
Luis Castillo<br />
Carlos Martinez<br />
Paige Spiranac<br />
Sandy Koufax<br />
Robinson Cano<br />
Baseball Equipment of the Ages - Vintage Catcher's Mitt - +2 (+2 BEA)<br />
Mini - Black Bordered Gio Gonzalez - +4 (+4 BB Mini)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Running Box Total: +67<br />
<br />
Pack 15:<br />
<br />
Mark McGwire<br />
Scott Blumstein<br />
Tyler Glasnow<br />
Sonny Frederickson<br />
Yuli Gurriel<br />
Lance McCullers<br />
Magnificent Moons - Io - +2 (+2 MM)<br />
Mini - Lindsey Vonn A&G Back - +3 (+3 A&G Back Mini)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
Running Box Total: +72<br />
<br />
Boy, I'm probably messing this up big time. Ah well, ONWARD!<br />
<br />
Pack 16:<br />
<br />
Yonder Alonso<br />
Zach Davies<br />
George Springer<br />
Randal Grichuk<br />
Adam Jones<br />
Gerrit Cole<br />
World's Greatest Beaches - Cozumel - +2 (+2 WGB's)<br />
Mini - Jackie Robinson A&G Back - +3 (+3 A&G Back Mini)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
Running Box Total: +77<br />
<br />
Well. I had to go back and correct a mistake. At least I caught it now. ONWARD!<br />
<br />
Oh, and proof:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2ucyLJFZGmRbmrxqXlmkxjOsyNoCEZSd_eER7z5o2HHbkTwRyxB8wW5hsKE-SLXxRAzWV6A_e_N-iPKnyLFMAVh-QeBJYce9HKZFw_WaDKHWP3IHl4-kpUu5-qYkJTsWlWtQrxisVYES/s1600/pack13thru16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1553" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2ucyLJFZGmRbmrxqXlmkxjOsyNoCEZSd_eER7z5o2HHbkTwRyxB8wW5hsKE-SLXxRAzWV6A_e_N-iPKnyLFMAVh-QeBJYce9HKZFw_WaDKHWP3IHl4-kpUu5-qYkJTsWlWtQrxisVYES/s320/pack13thru16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-7073252449873488602018-09-30T18:54:00.003-07:002018-09-30T18:54:57.035-07:00GAC X Part 3Running Box Total: +40<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And we're back. As it turns out, this is going to be a giant numbers dump because I waited to the last second. Again. But with time winding down, we're GOING to put it all together. No more slacking for this Ginter Godfather!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pack 9:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mike Zunino</div>
<div>
Lucas Sims</div>
<div>
Kyle Seager</div>
<div>
Cal Ripken Jr.</div>
<div>
Glyber Torres - +-1 (-1 Yankee)<br />
Chipper Jones<br />
World Talent - Max Kepler - +3 (+2 WT, +1 Favorite Team)<br />
Mini - Jose Berrios - +1 (+1 Mini Favorite Team)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Box Total: +43<br />
<br />
Two Twins? That's the number Twins ought to come in, you know.<br />
<br />
Pack 10:<br />
<br />
Manny Machado<br />
Paul DeJong<br />
Greg Maddux<br />
Jesse Winker<br />
Albert Pujols<br />
Chris Taylor<br />
World Talent - Manny Machado - +2 (+2 WT)<br />
Mini - Sonny Frederickson<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Box Total: +45<br />
<br />
More "Twins" if you will... couldn't he have been someone's favorite player? Help a guy out!<br />
<br />
Pack 11:<br />
<br />
Frank Thomas<br />
Marcell Ozuna<br />
Brandon Crawford<br />
Joe Panik<br />
Max Kepler - +1 (+1 Favorite Team)<br />
Cameron Maybin<br />
World's Greatest Beaches - Bondi Beach - +2 (+2 WGB's)<br />
Mini - Black Bordered Joey Gallo - +7 (+4 BB Mini, +3 Any Favorite Player)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +9<br />
Running Box Total: +54<br />
<br />
I mean, black bordered minis are great... I guess.<br />
<br />
Pack 12:<br />
<br />
Brain McCann<br />
Willie McCovey<br />
Sean Manaea<br />
Justin Verlander<br />
Rougned Odor<br />
Ted Willliams<br />
World Talent - Brycer Harper - +4 (+2 WT, +2 Favorite Player List)<br />
Mini - Khris Davis<br />
<br />
Pack Total : +4<br />
Running Box Total: +58<br />
<br />
Well, we're halfway through the box. Revised projection is down to +110. If we break a hundred, I'll be amazed.<br />
<br />
As required by the rules since I suck at bribes and haven't been excluded from them yet, here's proof, sans the pudding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY9_R8WQ8ixJQW06MIPfaebK7QQinuSXTLug9wvqGxvDQvvj0L9OOvcNxYN5w04D2q_-SvYTncPRKcTtoizN7HGY2S3_kq5nJGmQWki9Dnc48TTKY3OeEH8Yb2-2ShWWP8vwJHWM1KeTy/s1600/pack9thru12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY9_R8WQ8ixJQW06MIPfaebK7QQinuSXTLug9wvqGxvDQvvj0L9OOvcNxYN5w04D2q_-SvYTncPRKcTtoizN7HGY2S3_kq5nJGmQWki9Dnc48TTKY3OeEH8Yb2-2ShWWP8vwJHWM1KeTy/s320/pack9thru12.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-1230237234017730302018-09-30T18:54:00.001-07:002018-09-30T18:54:18.964-07:00GAC X Part 2We're back with more GAC X. Breaking it up into bite-sized posts should help. Who knows. Maybe we can slow roll it. Only time... will tell...<br />
<br />
Running Box Total: +26<br />
<br />
Pack 5:<br />
<br />
Jake Lamb<br />
Paul Blackburn<br />
Ichiro<br />
Austin Rogers<br />
Aaron Judge - +-1 (-1 Yankee)<br />
World Talent - Freddie Freeman - +2 WT, Eh?<br />
Home Run Hero - Manny Machado - +1 Home Run Challenge<br />
Mini - Andrew Stevenson<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Box Total: +28<br />
<br />
Canada, eh?<br />
<br />
Pack 6:<br />
<br />
Jay Bruce<br />
Micky Delmonico<br />
J.D. Martinez<br />
Jackson Stephens<br />
Biz Markie<br />
Fernando Rodney - +1 Favorite Team<br />
Magnificent Moons - Enceladus - +2 MM's<br />
Mini - Folio of Fears - Claustrophobia - +3 FoF<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Running Box Total: +34<br />
<br />
I swear, I didn't think these packs were remotely this decent. But if they're decent for me, they're more decent for other contestants.<br />
<br />
Pack 7:<br />
<br />
Mike Moustakas<br />
Ryne Sandberg<br />
Phil Coyne<br />
Taijuan Walker<br />
Yadier Molina<br />
Dexter Fowler<br />
Fantasy Gold - Don Mattingly - +1 (-1 Yankee, +2 FG)<br />
Mini - Luiz Gohara A&G Back - +2 A&G Back<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Box Total: +37<br />
<br />
That's more like it... Yankees!<br />
<br />
Pack 8:<br />
<br />
Trey Mancini<br />
A.J. Pollock<br />
Method Man<br />
Gregory Polanco<br />
Todd Frazier - +-1 (-1 Yankee)<br />
Michael Rappaport<br />
Magnificient Moons - Ganymede - +2 MM's<br />
Mini - Carlos Martinez - +2 SP Mini<br />
<br />
So. Funny story about Michael Rappaport. When I was in 5th or 6th grade, I was an extra in a movie starring him called The Naked Man. It's about a wrestler who's schtick is he wears a body suit that has no skin, hence the naked part. He was sick and shared his peanut M&M's with me. And my picture was taken and was in the paper. True story. I did not get the sickness from the M&M's though. Fun times.<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Box Total: +40<br />
<br />
We're what, 1/3rd of the way through an at +40? Projecting out a total of +120!? That'as amaaaazing!<br />
<br />
Here's the proof, which is allegedly in the pudding?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwZ6KQrQ-33QFrYqB0UnVwVuhEXNwlmc9jI_Rw3h0F3SkGe421df9RoByaKoBH_XaYpJq3szD0R2Wtzj-wk4gmYMOL6AJliQQIhWRg6dvux6CNboWkyIl9rdWU4eI-Ba7kIffqnjmfCR/s1600/pack5thru8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwZ6KQrQ-33QFrYqB0UnVwVuhEXNwlmc9jI_Rw3h0F3SkGe421df9RoByaKoBH_XaYpJq3szD0R2Wtzj-wk4gmYMOL6AJliQQIhWRg6dvux6CNboWkyIl9rdWU4eI-Ba7kIffqnjmfCR/s320/pack5thru8.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-46347383052991053192018-09-30T18:53:00.003-07:002018-09-30T18:53:51.385-07:00Oh the futility... GAC X!Once upon a time, there was a box of 2018 Ginter. It was awful. The end.<br />
<br />
If only it were that easy. After utterly failing to score the entirety of my box LAST year, I did vow to actually score it this year. Despite it being awful. I'm not even kidding how awful it is. I may be going to a new GAC record for lowest score ever. Yankees seemed plentiful, hits seems... not good. On the plus side, I am fairly proficient in the art of diagnostic x-ray generation and stuff. Yay for residency! To quote the major motion picture The Martian with a slight adaptation, "We're going to <math> the <explitive> out of this." Onward to failure!<br />
<br />
So, this year we selected Brian Dozier as our favorite player. Literally as he was traded. I had already selected Brian Dozier as my favorite player but didn't post it, then he got traded, and I just opted to stick to my guns. Then the Twins sucked horribly this year. Welcome to professional sports in Minnesota not named the Lynx! That summarizes our choices at the start of GAC X. Lets get to the scoring!<br />
<br />
Boxloader:<br />
<br />
BL-12 - Mark "I didn't use PEDs, I swear!" McGwuire - +4 pts<br />
<br />
"Pack" Total: +4<br />
Running Box Total: +4<br />
<br />
Well, I can think of literally one box loader that could be worse. You may be thinking, "NO WAY JOSE!" and you'd be very literally correct. Jose would be worse. At least McGwuire isn't a jerkwad.<br />
<br />
Pack 1:<br />
<br />
Will Myers<br />
Joey Votto<br />
Christian Yelich<br />
FSRA-RO - Full Sized Relic - Rougned Odor - +5<br />
Fantasy Goldmine - Hideki Matsui - +1 (+2 FG, -1 Yankee)<br />
Honus Wagner<br />
Mini - Wil Meyer<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Running Box Total: +10<br />
<br />
Eh. One hit down, two to go. First Yankee. This is an omen.<br />
<br />
Pack 2:<br />
<br />
Josh Bell<br />
Mariano Riveria - +-1 (-1 Yankee)<br />
Justin Blackmon<br />
Magnificient Moons - Miranda - +2 MM's<br />
Michael Brantley<br />
Trevor Story<br />
Nomar Mazara<br />
Mini - BB John Smoltz - +4 BB Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
Running Box Total: +15<br />
<br />
Eh. More Yankees. It's like my box is mooning me. Taunting, isn't that a personal foul? 15 yards? Maybe +15 points? Automatic first place? Nah? Ah well.<br />
<br />
Pack 3:<br />
<br />
Jose Abreu<br />
Ameo Rosario<br />
Bill James<br />
Dansby Swanson<br />
Lorenzo Cain<br />
Andrew Stevenson<br />
World's Greatest Beaches - Trunk Bay - +2 WGB<br />
Mini - Gregory Polanco - +2 SP Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Box Total: +19<br />
<br />
Pack 4:<br />
<br />
Addison Russell<br />
Marcus Stroman<br />
Claire Smith - +1 Commish's Awesomeness<br />
Ender Inciarte<br />
Raisel Iglesias<br />
Eddie Rosario - +1 Favorite Team<br />
BEA-30 - Vintage Uniform - +2 BEA<br />
Mini - Flags of Lost Nations - Ottoman Empire - +3 FLN<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +7<br />
Running Box Total: +26<br />
<br />
Wow, a pack better than one with a hit. What the heck? And no Yankees...<br />
<br />
Time for a picture! To save on taking pictures because my photographer is expensive...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdOU2QBZNgw_MfUaQUmDeiUFtfrX5PhFYeMLe1ekthaGYSQ7Mq-p0HzZWeWAdA8wqD_EW8AxXqreL2iYiAK4qDRy5h7dSFXoFkd7bKKZWFM2YaLO2UN-0M9Jh-hWJzFnzNXcqp-Ncidhs/s1600/boxloader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="929" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdOU2QBZNgw_MfUaQUmDeiUFtfrX5PhFYeMLe1ekthaGYSQ7Mq-p0HzZWeWAdA8wqD_EW8AxXqreL2iYiAK4qDRy5h7dSFXoFkd7bKKZWFM2YaLO2UN-0M9Jh-hWJzFnzNXcqp-Ncidhs/s320/boxloader.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3OjB4fbeWwBgxu-_-Gyy_tS_6f87QeW1rTimTpcz9SWAKsBUNpq7g0XJXDRnO73BEIa3sNN5klrnziJXfOGJvwW5Dm9bdkEfLSe437AIoLpqfMM4NzCvGr5QXkAgHHPVQ4XbRRrfmPdk/s1600/Pack1thru4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1570" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3OjB4fbeWwBgxu-_-Gyy_tS_6f87QeW1rTimTpcz9SWAKsBUNpq7g0XJXDRnO73BEIa3sNN5klrnziJXfOGJvwW5Dm9bdkEfLSe437AIoLpqfMM4NzCvGr5QXkAgHHPVQ4XbRRrfmPdk/s320/Pack1thru4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-87556687143486501282017-09-21T13:25:00.000-07:002017-09-25T15:38:23.192-07:00Time to Engineer a W...So, there are a few simple joys in life. Coffee. Being a parent. Making up African countries. Engineering. And you know who is the biggest, baddest, most awesome engineer of the present day? This guy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEZ__OrCfeuxYe2ZinPP36zQIc_r9eIKC_D9myHkG4juPXOD6qncdlcbGjHHq4lCr5yxv7ZjVeq0l7F7JrKSPozxCIe88DbXs0GlTVGrbYa7JudV1GSVuyWQtaHnUX5g0en5JD5txp-L_/s1600/suh-stomp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="610" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEZ__OrCfeuxYe2ZinPP36zQIc_r9eIKC_D9myHkG4juPXOD6qncdlcbGjHHq4lCr5yxv7ZjVeq0l7F7JrKSPozxCIe88DbXs0GlTVGrbYa7JudV1GSVuyWQtaHnUX5g0en5JD5txp-L_/s320/suh-stomp2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Number 90! Yes, Mr. Suh is a mechanical engineer, and his son, Ndamukong, holds a degree in construction management. I know, it isn't "technically" engineering, but look, construction and engineering go hand in hand. So he's an engineer in my book. He knows how to stomp the competition.<br />
<br />
All jokes aside, I legitimately admire Suh and while disappointed he left the Lions, and very much feel he got a bad reputation that is entirely unwarranted.<br />
<br />
On to the shenanigans! By my calculations, I have about 9 days to actually score my GAC 9 box and all that jazz. So, I shall do just that. But a quick life update, I PASSED PART 1 OF THE BOARD EXAMS I TOOK UPON MY LAST POST! WOO HOO!<br />
<br />
Alright, celebration aside, lets get to work. Due to the Great Hobby Priceout of 2017, we opted to get only a single box of Ginter this year (our only hobby box this year...) and my lovely wife opened 12 packs and I opened 12 packs. It'll score as one box, but we'll have a Spousal Subscore to see who "wins" this year. (Hint: Me.)<br />
<br />
On to the packs!<br />
<br />
Pack 1 (wife's):<br />
Ben Zorbist<br />
Jorge Soler<br />
Xander Boegarts<br />
Chad Pinder<br />
WAD - Derek Jeter (+2 WAD, -1 Yankee?)<br />
Mini - Randy Johnson<br />
Stephen Vogt (+1 SP)<br />
Ken Griffey Jr.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JQ3IKbd1GmODwFd0WE7cpmgpltGF2eZTjesDITb1-V-HhFAMmqKsW4LAORylrfVFYG027sZWVp92188Fy-QSqUUxFT4I687r8A-lazMqB_ttEE5IDRSIks88_4_CTpY8E02hW1aDeqt5/s1600/IMG_20170921_150811039_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JQ3IKbd1GmODwFd0WE7cpmgpltGF2eZTjesDITb1-V-HhFAMmqKsW4LAORylrfVFYG027sZWVp92188Fy-QSqUUxFT4I687r8A-lazMqB_ttEE5IDRSIks88_4_CTpY8E02hW1aDeqt5/s320/IMG_20170921_150811039_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now, I'm no GAC Lawyer, but it would almost read as though the Yankee's Bane Modifier applies to base cards, minis, and hit cards only!? Hmmm... that can't be right. I must dock points anyways. Sorry wife.<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Wife Running Sub Total: +2<br />
My Running Sub Total: +0<br />
Box Running Total: +2<br />
<br />
Pack 2 (Mine):<br />
<br />
Rediscover Topps 1988 Pete O'Brien (+1 UCG)<br />
Alex Reyes<br />
Hunter Pence<br />
Jacoby Jones<br />
Willie Stargell (+1 SP)<br />
Andy Katz<br />
Troy Tulowitz<br />
WAD - Buster Posey (+2 WAD, +2 Other Favorite Player)<br />
Mini - World's Dudes - Newsboy Dude (+2 WD)<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now we're talkin'...<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +8<br />
WRST: +2<br />
MRST: +8<br />
Box Running Total: +10<br />
<br />
Pack 3 (Wife's):<br />
<br />
Garrett McNamara<br />
Juan Segura<br />
Hank Aaron<br />
Matt Olson<br />
Jesse Winker<br />
Ardolis Chapman (-1 Yankee Scum)<br />
Revolutionary Battles - Battle of Lexington (+2 RB)<br />
Mini - Didi 'Freaking' Gregorious (-1 Yankee Dirtbag)<br />
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<br />
Well, she's batting 100% on opening a Yankee in each pack... so there's that?<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +0<br />
WRST: +2<br />
MRST: +8<br />
Box Running Total: +10<br />
<br />
Pack 4 (Mine):<br />
<br />
Johnny Damon<br />
Salvador Perez<br />
Noah Snydergaard<br />
Daniel Murphy<br />
Luke Weaver<br />
Garrett Richards<br />
World's Fair - Monorail (+2 WF)<br />
Mini - Magicians & Illusionists Harry Kellar (+2 M&I's)<br />
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Pack Total: +4<br />
WRST: +2<br />
MRST: +12<br />
Box Running Total: +14<br />
<br />
So, 4 packs in and we're at 14. That's an alright start, I suppose. No Marlins yet. I think our favorite team this year is the Marlins. I random'd it after removing the Yankees. Like you do. Going to go build with some Legos I think now. Until tomorrow, I hope!<br />
<br />
-GG<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-24366588340647021742017-08-10T12:10:00.001-07:002017-08-10T12:10:34.059-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs 9...Well well well, it would appear that everything has changed... because nothing has changed. The same empty promises of blogging more often, the same false hope and the eventual lack of follow through. Isn't that just my lot in life.<br />
<br />
A quick life-update, I'm entering the final year of grad school (hopefully?) and JUST finished my first board certification exam (Part 1 of 3... yay, lets hope I pass!) on Monday. So that's where I've been. I still have a ton of work to do, but you know what they say about work. Yep. Work. And all that jazz.<br />
<br />
BUT! I have ordered my Gint-A-Cuffs 9 box today, despite prices rising in conjunction with the tensions with North Korea. I think in both scenarios, it's going to be a blow out. Get it? I'm going to get blown up and they're going to... yeah. I think you get it.<br />
<br />
But for realsies, the wife and I are going to tag-team it this year, where we'll compete against one another each with 1/2 of the box and the combined total will obviously be my total score. Nothing in the rules prohibits this, except the "running pack total" or something, but I'm sure we can come up with a work around. Indeed.<br />
<br />
So you can take these promises to the bank. It's on like Ndamukong!<br />
<br />
-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-36749728538838848492016-10-24T20:52:00.001-07:002016-10-24T20:52:08.339-07:00Monday Night Magic (MNM) - October 24thHello all!<br />
<br />
Since this is a blog about pieces of cardboard, I figured it would be apt to post about my Magic: The Gathering (MTG) hobby.<br />
<br />
One thing I like about MTG is that you get to play with the cardboard. So you get the thrill and joy of opening wax associated with baseball cards and a fun and complex game that is challenging that you can play with friends. It's a lot harder to 1) find other people in my area that collect baseball cards and 2) do anything other than look at and sort and admire. And trade, I suppose, but MTG has that too!<br />
<br />
Anyways, I also feel like you get more bang for your buck with MTG. So with my limited funds I can play in sealed events, have fun for the cost of a movie and potentially have it cost me nothing. That is, if I end up with a somewhat valuable card that I can then trade in or sell for the cost of the event, I essentially played for free.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to my next point, I only play sealed events. So the two formats are Sealed and Booster Drafts. In Sealed, everyone gets 6 booster packs, and they build a deck of 40 cards (basic lands included) and duke it out to be the best. In a Booster Draft, everyone has 3 packs that you open one at a time, take a card, and pass it to the next person (and receive the pack from the person on the other side of you, sans the one card they took) for all 15 cards in the pack. Then the pod opens the next pack and passes the opposite direction, with the third pack going the original direction. This adds a great deal of strategy as to HOW to draft a competitive deck while being fun and unique with each iteration.<br />
<br />
And if you win, typically you get prizes in the form of more booster packs. Yay.<br />
<br />
Anyways, I'll probably start blogging about some of my MTG events so this blog isn't so darn empty (except with Gint-A-Cuffs...). In other words, I'm going to try and be a legitimate, bonafide blogger. Yikes.<br />
<br />
So I found out a local place has Monday Night Magic drafts, which is perfect since the typical days (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) work very, very poorly for me. Mondays, however, usually nothing going on. Tuesdays in the morning... also equally not so much. And my generous, loving, benevolent wife recognizes my need to go away and do things occasionally and is willing to handle bed time, alone, once in awhile. Bless her. A lot.<br />
<br />
In theory there are a few of us that occasionally play board games that would meet up there and play together, thus making it even more fun. But I sort of made some new... uh, acquaintances tonight that were perfectly amiable and pleasant to converse with. And it was great.<br />
<br />
My deck wasn't particularly great. It was alright. Both of my matches had one game where I just got hosed on land (once being flooded and the other being short) and it was costly, but it was surprisingly competitive when it had mana. My mana curve was a little higher than I wanted, being mostly 4 cost with a handful of 3 cost and a whopping two 2 cost creatures. But I had a decent amount of removal (3x Welding Sparks, anyone?) with the following rares seen/acquired:<br />
<br />
First Pack (but not a first pick... yuck): <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Midnight+Oil">Midnight Oil</a>. It's... an interesting card. But I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole unless I was committed to black and really wanted that draw advantage late in a game. I took a Welding Sparks instead, I believe.<br />
<br />
Also in that round was <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417661">Lost Legacy</a> (taken roughly round 8) because hey, why not. It's an OK sideboard card but I was getting pretty heavy into Red/White as that was the signals I was reading.<br />
<br />
Second Pack (first pick!) <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417588">Fumigate</a>. Who doesn't like mass removal with life gain? Taken with the seventh pick was <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417818">Concealed Courtyard</a>. I was still possibly going to splash black at this point, so it both made sense from a deck perspective and financially the fast lands are more valuable than your average run-of-the-mill rares. So I was happy with it.<br />
<br />
Third Pack (first pick!) <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417703">Skyship Stalker</a>. Um, yes please. This card is an absolute monster in sealed events. 3/3 flyer for 4 mana with fire breathing, possibly first strike and possibly haste? Yes, yes, yes, and I'll take as many as I open and get passed. Since I was already committed to red, this was the kind of bomb-ish card that my deck was needing. Mid-pack I picked up an <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417820">Inventor's Fair</a> because... why not. It would have been more useful if I had gotten any artifacts. But I didn't. So I took it. Because the rest of the cards were garbage. And as the final card I got passed and had no choice but to take was <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=417695">Madcap Experiment</a>. I would have passed on it a second time, but it was the last card. So I couldn't. Still, I'll be moderately happy with six drafted rares , two of which were definitely playable!<br />
<br />
As for my matches, I go stomped pretty good. I did get a game with at least one of the losses in each match being a very close game. So they were good games to say the least! But sometimes winning just isn't in the cards. Tonight was no exception.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the read, let me know if there's anything you'd like me to extol upon in future blog posts or if you like the rundown of events! Disagree with my draft with what little information I offered? Flame away! Until next time, keep it in the family!<br />
<br />
-GG<br />
<br />
(PS: Still waiting on my wife to finish opening the consolation box of Ginter... but I suspect it'll be about on par if not possibly worse than my Gint-A-Cuffs box. There was definitely a -3 point pack I opened. Are there more Yankees in this set than usual, or are they just being more plentiful for me than normal? Seriously.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-57124251186913388322016-10-19T13:29:00.001-07:002016-10-19T13:29:53.510-07:00Goodness gracious me!So that atrocious excuse for a box of Ginter landed me in dead last by 5 points. That's a whole lot of points, especially in this year's Gint-A-Cuffs. As I alluded, I knew the box was a doozie and hence why I put off the pain for so long. Then like a band-aid, I ripped it off and it stung. Ouch.<br />
<br />
If any of the GAC VIII folks are interested in anything from the box, let me know and we can probably work out a trade or something.<br /><br />As for the loser's box, I'll post the contents on here once it arrives and probably do some sort of giveaway depending. You may need to wait until after November 9th though for it, as I have a very large deadline due then. Speaking of deadlines, need to get back to it!<br />
<br />
Keep it in the family,<br />
<br />
-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-68959815535715794022016-09-29T20:40:00.001-07:002016-09-29T20:40:09.573-07:00Better Late Than Never... Gint-A-Cuffs VIII Packs 1-24<div dir="ltr">
Well, just the other day I was slaving away at determining how practical using a Hankel singular value decomposition on an under suppressed water two-dimensional chemical shift imaging in the body at ultra high fields would be and I went, "Holy cats! Gint-A-Cuffs' deadline is practically tomorrow!" I then promptly forgot about it until my wife reminded me that it was, in fact, due tomorrow. So here I am, the night before the deadline going to take it all in one fell swoop.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
To be honest, I've been more or less intentionally putting off scoring my box. I legitimately don't think I'm going to break 100 points. My box is -that- bad. Oh yeah. A real winner. Besides, when you have multiple abstract deadlines that loom followed by posters and all these other things on top of two small children (and lets not forget the dog... or my wife... HAH!) you can see how things might just have gotten away from me. But here we are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So my box may be the worst, but can I do this in the fastest time? Lets find out. I'm starting this at 2040 local time. I bet I can do it in an hour without losing too much quality. You'll have to forgive me for my lack of high quality pictures that rival Spankee and his awesomeness, but desperate times call for low quality pictures. Alas. Here we go.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Box Loader:</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYS-COqZd6VOKUp27el1a1OyuU-1oj6PGxMV0WpvtMTszIm70N_cfWInSeyhnnDhN_sm8xu2Si2OjoSIB6ijeX2Z1hppvvKFBF4cv786SNPRO43-3A1J2UH-XGnGocTgAGPOtkbnyxy70/s1600/1475199325348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYS-COqZd6VOKUp27el1a1OyuU-1oj6PGxMV0WpvtMTszIm70N_cfWInSeyhnnDhN_sm8xu2Si2OjoSIB6ijeX2Z1hppvvKFBF4cv786SNPRO43-3A1J2UH-XGnGocTgAGPOtkbnyxy70/s640/1475199325348.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Mike Trout (BL-MT) : +4 pts (Bacon, Lettuce, MoreBacon, Tomato sandwich?)</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Total: +4<br />
Projected Total: +???</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
If you think it is going to get better... it doesn't.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Pack 1:</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNuYMpkXNPFZm6kdjg5ag17g0Mtv9wGtaX2QcupNYHY-hvFDI1LskFbsGuVh-amlIuD9E8MS5w1nbxGbBYu5-pCXEDttzvEIm8buyFSoXFxhf_sQyhhR2oX-XyhSUEIaIglv9JYVxvREi/s640/1475199822313.jpg" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
#51 A.J. Ramos</div>
<div dir="ltr">
#220 Matt Duffy</div>
<div dir="ltr">
#121 Corey Seager</div>
<div dir="ltr">
#31 Brad Ziegler</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Numbers Game - Matt Harvey: +2 NG</div>
<div dir="ltr">
#5 Mini - Kyle Waldrop</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Framed Mini Relic - Felix Hernandez: +8</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Pack Total: +10</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Running Total: +14</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Projected Total: +244 (See what I did there? Put the best possible pack out front to give you the illusion of hope? Yeah...)<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 2:</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVtSTqbLVxK-TuoefdCDItdbWbrO0XB1vo4s7n9Vaxx9286fhvwNviOzhTGR4ad7s8TYrlXKQUxqOYPJJs5OQ4mL7hlBN1uZYTtjfZ123yhOzPE4RnKRZFCdgxWKN4A_RFIMgdk6gUOx0/s640/1475200025530.jpg" /><br />
<br />
#327 Raul Mondesi<br />
#33 Ender Inciarte<br />
#170 Max Scherzer<br />
#205 Carlos Santana<br />
#213 Heidi Watney<br />
#190 Jon Gray<br />
Natural Wonders - Dead Sea: +2 NW<br />
#281 Mini - Jose Bautista<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Total: +16<br />
Projected Total: +196<br />
<br />
This pack is dead-er than the Dead Sea... which is ironic.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 3:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIsl3zpwrEBu5ziU0J1mLZvn-_PcOf6yJ2cb0PXQ_qffAHLe3bJFiovOuv984dHXraiqWCpBsFuzOpJlpyBwnC-NSTfgR30OO-22fKes4Bp6F63ZiLxpbvgojwle6-slNspvhEsoMDVRn/s640/1475200337567.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>#236 Brad Boxberger (I like this guy's name... Boxberger... it's like Hamburger Helper...)<br />
#82 Gerardo Parra (Gerardo... a good strong name)<br />
#66 Miguel Sano : +1 Favorite Team (HOLY COW I'M IN THE GREEN)<br />
#7 John Lamb<br />
#1 Jorge Soler<br />
#254 Bryce Harper<br />
Number Game - Robinson Cano : +2 NG (He SHOULD be a Yankee, dirty sellout...)<br />
#152 Mini Gary Sanchez : -1 Yankee<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Total: +18<br />
Projected Total: ((+18)/(3))*24+4 = +148 (Yay for showing your work!)<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 4: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PumKQDKeGn-33c_8xN3hED3PJSNJVQlBy0PjGvPChBS2yFWmd3eiVZ3hsjI3Hk8c6LQu5wRez4T5fvqCV5_dTf-hcR5QNjjvmFhRU4Z-Zc9pbrHAIZRway4h_2oagQ6rxI7MXt7xdntT/s640/1475200607352.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#169 Adrian Beltre<br />
#234 Glen Perkins : +1 Favorite Team<br />
#278 Madison Bumgarner<br />
#225 Brandon Drury : +4 Favorite Player (Insert white-guy dance)<br />
#83 David Wright : +2 FP List<br />
#298 Jacoby Ellsbury : -1 Yankee<br />
Numbers Game - Nomar Garciaparra : +2 NG<br />
US Mayors Mini - Tomas Regalado : +2 USM Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +10 (Uhhh, wat?)<br />
Running Total: +28<br />
Projected Total: +172<br />
<br />
I promise this pack is a fluke.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 5: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobUzzqy6jjURU3GNHdIT2_UOb8mvnxd8J0BgHLc2_Zr0d5cflveU4ppUUw9OOoKU9RzX__-jbI-om0mzKIPXOVbABdhEuCddxz-VTXi8o1XQC8ZmkR5tzwrkdpjibWwb3po4RfpLTo3O0/s640/1475200839881.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#184 Mookie Betts<br />
#28 Elvis Andrus<br />
#272 Troy Tulowitzki<br />
#293 Jonathan Papelbon<br />
#89 Dallas Keuchel : +2 FP List<br />
Baseball Legends - Al Kaline : +2 BL<br />
Numbers Game - Ozzie Smith : +2 NG<br />
#252 Mini Cole Hamels : +3 FP List Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +9 (Huh?)<br />
Running Total: +37<br />
Projected Total: +181.6<br />
<br />
Yeah, I must be losing my mind. I know there are a dozen negative packs in here somewhere...<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 6: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaebptXpLt__VZVP_6S8vgxdAc0beNAoekBHUmd6espkeI_WZLjTZ1Vuj1EMTbhzaGkpMxm29OolzMglLx7Znswvgv7lS-yjgldEyx07ieNlxL5CGoTP1FAoXmtvrW-G80HRi2NMawYVKJ/s640/1475201066127.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#332 Yan Gomes<br />
#159 Brett Gardner : -1 Yankee<br />
#300 Trea Turner<br />
#76 Colin McHugh<br />
#226 Luke Jackson<br />
#244 Gravitational Waves (Groovy)<br />
#88 Jose Fernandez<br />
#236 Mini Brad Hamburger Helper<br />
<br />
Pack Total: -1<br />
Running Total: +36<br />
Projected Total: +148<br />
<br />
Toldja.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 7:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR6HdLzpvgidph1UGQTSMg9KD9sPvG6boLcOjG76mR7Mqqv7TZcp_3zt4iWapVKFY7udHr69uFYXABOFFD-Lrd-NOaMSFfPb7gfpwc1_qB4D0Q_iJPEn6oIogLWnCUHYIlHgX6qvJgIoR/s640/1475206752383.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#335 Shawn Tolleson<br />
#85 Prince Fielder<br />
#148 Kole Calhoun<br />
#59 Billy Hamilton<br />
#230 Jessica Mendoza<br />
#97 Kyle Schwarber : +2 FP List<br />
Baseball Legends - Willy Mays : +2 BL<br />
Ferocious Felines Mini - Siberian Tiger : +2 FFM<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Running Total: +42<br />
Projected Total: +148<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 8:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSlk0TSpKTOPFUx2sRhse5MUMWQYMAynUWHp5u5EdIk_V0avDGXXgeoDbGAVTL8uMd6BJwmqasVFxVrA4pklZdSY6DB2w2CgbuXmi9XNB0kC96pPLqdIagOjRoPEADwM_NaYVcMVnne_2/s640/1475201401621.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#281 Jose Bautista<br />
#14 Kendrys Morales<br />
#116 Jose Reyes<br />
#287 Andre Dawson<br />
#228 Colin Cowherd : -1 Because The Commish Said So (BTCSS)<br />
Baseball Legends - Jim Palmer : +2 BL<br />
Numbers Game - Jon Lester : +2 NG<br />
US Mayors Mini - Greg Stanton : +2 USM Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
Running Total: +47<br />
Projected Total: +145<br />
<br />
Eh. I seem to be hanging in there. I'll tank it here in a moment I'm sure..<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 9:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
#311 Welington Castillo<br />
#175 Jonathan Schoop<br />
#229 Mitch Moreland<br />
#290 Andrew Faulkner<br />
#119 Gennady Golovkin<br />
#110 Michele Steele<br />
#299 Clayton Kershaw : +2 FP List<br />
#294 A&G Back Mini - Carlos Rodon : +2 A&G Back Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Total: +51<br />
Projected Total: +140<br />
<br />
Apparently the A&G Back Minis are tougher to hit in hobby boxes this year? I read it on Twitter, so it must be true.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 10:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC6TSRbT0RcUBdG08LDNlxkCaGugdHoDHaPEDKkPmM6on6Fquvu5h8FTKBXck0vUs_zmkYQI31XRBrupOd4gSw2nduedEVwY9E1IpHGfxbTFVI8ePPyb8qQ1NhNPcjiye-QiBmSkcS0V-/s640/1475201780147.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#341 Richie Shaffer<br />
#157 Gerrit Cole<br />
#231 Kaleb Cowart<br />
#93 Mike Piazza<br />
#41 Drew Smyly<br />
#113 Alcides Escobar<br />
#166 Morgan Spurlock<br />
#178 Black Bordered Mini - David Robertson : +3 BB Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Total: +54<br />
Projected Total: +133.6<br />
<br />
Well, at least I got a black bordered mini?<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 11:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_uR6DYbjx_s74EcHpHwwXm7aN6TXUmTnRvjjN75tnnhqc_oQ6aOu3UPnmo4D5VhcbxVrETBBpjUdDVfyGzJIGGRnmxe6I3AfF5ts8gYjGjd9mNEbNMcBKRJgRpxjiI8ftGKAI0pUCBiI/s640/1475201997368.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#45 Laurence Leavy (How is this guy not worth negative points? Seriously.)<br />
#112 Kris Bryant<br />
#237 Dustin Pedroia<br />
#180 Ryne Sandberg<br />
#274 Chris Sale<br />
Numbers Game - Robin Yount : +2 NG<br />
Natural Wonders - Devils Tower : +2 NW<br />
#348 Mini Trevor Plouffe : +3 SP Mini, +1 Favorite Team (+4 Total)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +8<br />
Running Total: +62<br />
Projected Total: +139.27272727272727<br />
<br />
I mean, that Trevor Plouffe Mini... Best card in my box? Probably.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 12:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIdyWV5C56p1BBW6joc_08_4mX8ZyBCfLjZGAgnH9zpG4dqpRBHg53V8HWB8vF8AYPUFNWRwoS7Q5JHU38HsT3MRMgq1XC67vdfxTPZ-4UyKBB_UOaksMgO7vZ70v1yAVNFN2OAwZK382/s640/1475202165103.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#321 Nick Castellanos<br />
#118 Evan Gattis<br />
#46 Ben Revere<br />
#151 David Ortiz<br />
#2 Ryan 'Gimme Da Roids' Braun<br />
#21 Ben Zobrist<br />
Natural Wonders - Aurora Borealis : +2 NW<br />
#95 A&G Back Mini - Jimmy Nelson : +2 A&G Back Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Total: +66<br />
Projected Total: +136<br />
<br />
Half-way there and we're livin' on a prayer to break a hundred points...<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 13:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vnEHdbR7HpSQhYLSAwE29sxa__zvVkHiY1O-gQnODTxPz976t1gpdQlD9uDsHFTEgxCa9FY1-8hg27bTZVmEyVbqShMKehL3unUJPcUAA2QEvJNdZU16Msv9wBqo92WEYXolIMyOu5eV/s640/1475202612040.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#221 Brian McCann : -1 Yankee<br />
#283 Michael Wacha<br />
#109 Eduardo Rodriguez<br />
#247 Papal Visit (This should have been my favorite player...)<br />
Numbers Game - Roberto Clemente : +2 NG<br />
#231 Mini Kaleb Cowart<br />
Full Sized Relic A - Corey Kluber : +5 FSRA<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
Running Total: +72<br />
Projected Total: +136.923 (I don't think I'm calculating this correctly, to be honest... whatever.)<br />
<br />
Hit #2 down... trust me, Hit #3 is awful.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 14:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOHehFo577K1T87LTNuy8OW-8Z3Qw8NDYqM1dmUq9LVxAexANf3Pi5fjJGCvg8ir0uLSVE4LXLv1yR2OFQAg39CIFJa9P3G-9XSKRB6_ryW5_zvwvItajeiLepEEFzOrbfHsBQ_s8ST_Q/s640/1475202844932.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#126 Greg Bird : -1 Yankee<br />
#138 Cord McCoy<br />
#276 Matt Harvey<br />
#140 Caleb Cotham<br />
#268 Frank Thomas<br />
Baseball Legends - Duke Snider : +2 BL<br />
Numbers Game - Andy Pettitte : +2 NG, -1 Yankee (+1 Total)<br />
#120 Mini Kenta Maeda : +3 FP List Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
Running Total: +77<br />
Projected Total: +129.14 (This is the correct way... ([77-4]/14)*24+4)<br />
<br />
Eh. Yankees. What can you do.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 15:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEIMyO5DBBy4nky3RIi4MJZSNP1ldJ0CYZZNLk9tZm7VN5DQhwJuH8ACz4ktLuxqiMPct0RKUqS3w9ZUgOniPxB5XCF-Gr3Wby33v8TS2vdRsYWJOL98KX7c3b21WgVK0LGwLYCAOWat-/s640/1475203142580.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#301 Tyson Ross<br />
#68 Dexter Fowler<br />
#256 Starling Marte<br />
#143 Adrian Gonzalez<br />
#242 DJ LeMahieu<br />
#49 Ketel Marte<br />
#206 Bob Gibson<br />
#45 Mini Laurence Leavy (Serious, eff this guy. I was fine with the Texting Champion from 2014, but this guy just irritates me...)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +0<br />
Running Total: +77<br />
Projected Total: +120.8<br />
<br />
Yep. Zero. Nice. No picture = A picture of a bribe. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 16:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQykJsWCgCYi6SENGnAdLe9PD2Qr81iyj6rQTOTl3V_gaqlTzufkQBI5dSMQ7-GNNZaTsluDVO3kqPzrBT726AeW3ndvgcVaxOP8FuldtQ_awduF7hHD5tfErRZ7lUwVvyu903TliMd20M/s640/1475203336622.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#129 Zack Greinke<br />
#44 Miguel Castro<br />
#146 Evan Longoria<br />
#80 Edwin Encarnacion<br />
#70 Chase Headley : -1 Yankee<br />
Numbers Game - Jose Altuve : +2 NG<br />
Natural Wonders - Mount Everest : +2 NW<br />
#102 Mini Aaron Nola<br />
<br />
Pack Totals: +3<br />
Running Total: +80<br />
Projected Total: +118<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 17:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAW0uFoDYbT5GXq1C2gZ-9gUZAp_dMIE5YLw0bjRfi05SyuYDg_2Um7LR5rfp6v9YMmpe-xHV-nrFaFfGFIZ59vCXXpX-0w6ZeWfZxjDbmtjiw3I4fqBxL_EB7HR7Zh8MnAk1uq5v1tIb/s640/1475203494148.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#308 Andy Pettitte : -1 Yankees<br />
#295 Jose Altuve<br />
#186 Alex Gordon<br />
#114 Randy Sklar<br />
#122 Andrew Heaney<br />
#35 Jayson Werth(less)<br />
#103 Carlos Martinez<br />
Subways & Streetcars - Metromover : +2 SS Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
Running Total: +81<br />
Projected Total: +112.7<br />
<br />
At least it is positive?<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 18:</b><br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMB-sTGUYPRPKKnBuQHzPTZbD4XCs3geK2nHCX2li3kTXmCg81BhXci_bTaeLqXQuM_XxXU3Ds5KQXzSn0lIPUla0nRD5FoXHg0Uv1grHSUOBhFkFYseuR_JgWXIXG63MweZtH5HXtugw/s640/1475203668889.jpg" /><br />
<br />
#318 Pedro Severino<br />
#34 Rick Klein (Political Analyst? Analyze THIS Election, guy...) : -1<br />
#142 Jake Arrieta<br />
#271 A.J. Pollock<br />
#48 J.T. Realmuto<br />
#238 Tyler White<br />
#165 Nelson Cruz<br />
#149 Black Bordered Mini Michael Brantley : +3 BB Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
Running Total: +83<br />
Projected Total: +110.6667<br />
<br />
Getting there... 6 packs, 17 points? Need more than 2 points per pack here folks... and no, my hit is SERIOUSLY not going to help.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 19:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxIyU2YhEoM-rdzvrBHuD_WuZTjOZjEZ8U5W933eiFe7fM4WSJocongLzD-3hy0D_q8vd-EiESiC1i_jNxyn1cPSbAKZli_1OmwzmjEprExTfyo-yViVBmRPVzJxbmNj3KBFr5N0CNi2d/s640/1475203855292.jpg" /><b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
#94 Todd Frazier<br />
#73 James Shields<br />
#156 Jason Heyward<br />
#162 Josh Harrison<br />
#199 Carlton Fisk<br />
#106 Steve Spurrier : -1 BTCSS<br />
Numbers Game - Adam Wainwright : +2 NG<br />
#82 Mini Gerardo Parra<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
Running Total: +84<br />
Projected Total: +106.32<br />
<br />
Heh. Yep. Uphill battle.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 20:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfDM6GXqawhrvB4xKVHRBDBgzlCmqVUah9Dr-w9XYtrfJB75E70QS6927SlmX6U7wwVtam_B5hSTKjOA0FfUeAnfmn8253pZTyxNDToQrdKbXTcdzl1gSN6AVjzNnW_eJq3BGiEZ4mekW/s640/1475204087579.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#100 Rob Refsnyder : -1 Yankee<br />
#312 Carlos Beltran : -1 Yankee<br />
#64 Steve Schirrpa : +1 BTCSS<br />
Baseball Legends - Rod Carew : +2 BL, +1 Favorite Team (+3 Total)<br />
#289 Jose Quintana<br />
#90 George Lopez : -1 BTCSS<br />
#67 Melky Cabrera<br />
#116 A&G Back Mini Jose Reyes : +2 A&G Back Mini<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
Running Total: +87<br />
Projected Total: +104.8<br />
<br />
That is a VERY long way to +3...Ugh.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 21:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGh24b7130D0lH_y3rHqoBthT3MJi1O0DE8RTC-MUa3UHHqbcVbJnH60VRUf-3mTF-dz16WAeTFtAD3oYLEDxaZLa6O7Zf_Pp9XwESnPlaEjDtgSN0sSgNT8tLo5pjpRWjk1FJcWdBz4E/s640/1475204295322.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#23 Addison Russell<br />
#241 Orlando Jones<br />
#270 David Price<br />
#29 Jay Bruce<br />
Numbers Game - Ryan 'Juice Me Up Bro' Braun : +2 NG<br />
#317 Mini Yordano Ventura : +3 SP Mini<br />
Full Sized Relic B - Brian McCann : +5 FSRB, Divide By 2 For Yankee (+2.5 Total)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +7.5<br />
Running Total: +94.5<br />
Projected Total: +108.57<br />
<br />
OK, so the SP Mini helped a lot. Notice the hit... did not. Stupid Yankees.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 22: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoShKRzLh2tbxsxgIn2fKw4KS4jywrP8tK_E3zEzEuXGUWwHqsXVo4KiPSgQyZ7Yrb4FZ0JDVMa8WPwpCRPcGhQ-p3iC9ai4hRnafN4MfuiZXWQ4bOFMbVb_YmG3_5UQdWB4gYuBRamY1/s640/1475204501944.jpg" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
#177 Mark Teixeira : -1 Yankee<br />
#197 George Springer<br />
#176 Neil Walker<br />
#32 Falcon 9 Rocket : +1 BTCSS<br />
#210 Michael Breed<br />
Natural Wonders - Marble Caves : +2 NW<br />
Numbers Game - George Springer : +2 NG<br />
#183 Mini Andrew McCutchen<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
Running Total: +98.5<br />
Projected Total: +108.18<br />
<br />
OK, I need a half a point. 0.5 is all I need... here we go, two packs...<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 23:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4l6lRxIk1OBkuExsS6F-Km6PrRpodXCuDcB3L4mkGHt7oaIiGki1zZL_9OWtHbC1GIGWaQGvoVKF6Dj_5E3sM1_TityHZyYTqaR7qmOYIDQwOon224CQiOihQ3jLQIgS1XnWxksRjZIU/s640/1475204705040.jpg" /><br />
<br />
#336 Tom 'The Mountain' Murphy (Bonus points if you get the reference!)<br />
#191 Anthony Anderson<br />
#182 Nolan Arenado<br />
#145 Mike Greenberg<br />
#61 Miguel Cabrera<br />
#258 Kenley Jansen<br />
#201 Byung 'Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!' Park : +1 Favorite Team!!!<br />
#14 Mini Kendrys Morales<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
Running Total: +99.5<br />
Projected Total: +103.6<br />
<br />
I should make it! Assuming I find a measly single point!<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 24:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
#344 Ryan Zimmerman<br />
#75 Mike Moustakas<br />
#202 Missy Franklin<br />
#40 Jordan Zimmermann<br />
#57 Jim Rice<br />
#153 Jung Ho Kang<br />
#243 Jay Oakerson<br />
#217 Mini Julio Tehran<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +0<br />
Running Total: +99.5<br />
<br />
Final Total: +99.5<br />
<br />
... nope. So close, yet so far.<br />
<br />
So here's a picture of another bribe?<br />
<br />
I'll look into that Game of Thrones picture thing to put me over the edge, but honestly... I don't think I deserve it after that box. I knew there was a reason I was prolonging the pain. I haven't read the books, I haven't watched the show...<br />
<br />
Aaaaaand stop @ 2222! (Nice!) Just over an hour and a half.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-77991598072326554302016-07-22T12:17:00.001-07:002016-07-22T12:17:59.559-07:00Happy Ginter Day 2016!Ah-HA!<br />
<br />
I bet you thought, "Boy, that Ginter Godfather guy really dropped the ball. Again. What else is new, besides no new posts from him in 3 weeks?" Well duh, but I managed to get a post in now before the end of the month. That counts as a success, or at least my therapist would say to count it as a success!<br />
<br />
In reality though, between losing power for three days sandwiched in between both boys running actual fevers (one on one side of the power outage, the other after power restored... naturally the one that consumes digital media, i.e. power, got sick right before and during so good luck getting a sick kid to rest quietly on the couch when he's used to being able to watch his favorite show and learn about some nifty creature!) and a host of other fun life-esque events, July kind of vanished. That's OK, because today is...<br />
<br />
GINTER DAY! Happy Ginter Release Day!<br />
<br />
Whoever thought it would be a good idea to release Ginter on a Friday is an idiot.<br />
<br />
If UPS is late in delivery, no Ginter until Monday. Nice. Way to go. Gold star for you! Or not.<br />
<br />
Also, retail is going to be a week out from that too, so not even a blaster to tide me over. Oh well.<br />
<br />
The box breaks thus far have looked OK. I do feel the need to warn people that a disturbing trend of hits being distributed along the horizontal axis (i.e. in a single row of packs across the box... so one guy had all three hits be the top three packs... the top pack in each of the three columns? I hope you get the idea...) could lead to unscrupulous card shop owners swiping the packs or unscrupulous customers swiping the hits and leaving a hit-less box for someone else to finish off. I mean, I love Ginter enough that the product is good enough without hits, but I know some people are hits-driven, so be forewarned! I would strong recommend just opening sealed boxes on this one!<br />
<br />
Also, Gint-A-Cuffs VIII has opened for sign-ups and begins August 1st! Head on over to Mr. Aubrey's blog to sign up! It's free to enter (albeit you provide your own box... but you're opening one anyways... so blog about it!) and you could win a prize. #WINNING!<br />
<br />
Alright. I did want to drop the customary Happy Ginter Day post and let people I'm not dead. I'll have a more robust posting later. Cheerio!<br />
<br />
-GG<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-172640138315122802016-06-30T11:03:00.002-07:002016-06-30T11:03:21.302-07:00End of June Status ReportJune has come and gone, and with it the first half of the year.<br />
<br />
If I had made it a new years resolution to get back into collecting, this might make a great mid-point review. As it is, it's just the passing of another month. Still, it provides an excellent opportunity to assess where we are and where we hope to be. Well, since we don't actually have any specific aims, where we hope to be is a bit of a misnomer.<br />
<br />
Freebies:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.listia.com/signup/4739228">Listia</a> - The Free Stuff Site. If you don't know what Listia is, check it out. You obtain credits through various means, though the "easiest" way is to "give" stuff away. People bid their credits for your "free" stuff and then you mail it to them. Or e-mail. Or whatever. There's a fairly decent population of cards that can be found on Listia, and it makes for a great little site to pick up some "free" inserts and the occasionaly cheap AU/GU. My biggest score was last year scoring a patch card of my sister, Megan Kalmoe, from 2015 A&G. Unfortunately it was poorly shipped and ended up getting slightly bent. VERY frustrating.<br />
<br />
Starting Balance: Low. Very low. Sad numbers.<br />
Acquisitions This Month: None<br />
Ending Balance: 121,347 credits.<br />
<br />
Now, if you figure the "buying rate" for credits is about 11k/$, we're sitting on a pretty $11 or so, which is nice. Enough to get... not a whole lot, but something. Going to keep saving and doing free offers to build my reserve and hopefully nab some nice things when 2016 Ginter rolls out in July.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/SWOWannabe">Swagbucks</a> - My favorite so-called 'beer money' site. Collect points for doing whatever you normally do, turn it into PayPal. Easy day. Basically one Swagbuck is a penny. Need 2500 to turn into PayPal, but it's worth it. Usually takes me a few months to very casually get there. But a few free blasters each year is worth it, right?<br />
<br />
Starting Balance: Also low. Very low. Sad numbers.<br />
Acquisitions This Month: None<br />
Ending Balance: 285 SBs.<br />
<br />
I haven't been paying a lot of attention to SB. Shame on me. I'll probably try and pick back up with my daily searches at least to get some stuff flowing in.<br />
<br />
Others:<br />
<br />
Nothing more to report. Getting back into the swing of things so we're trying out a few other things. An app or two here that I'll hopefully get a post/review up on and whether they'll be able to help in getting free stuff in the future!<br />
<br />
So the only real success we can report is the Listia credits. Inflation has been terrible for Listia Credits, AU/GU's used to go for 3-4k, now people are demanding 10x that much, easily. Which is hilarious. On the flip side, people are also listing boxes of cards, like this box of 2014 Elite Extra Edition for 888,888 credits. I'm a bit shy, obviously, but how sweet would it be to score a free box of cards?<br />
<br />
I look forward to July, and not just because Ginter is coming...<br />
<br />
Keep it in the family,<br />
<br />
-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-23892477799161037112016-06-27T10:27:00.000-07:002016-06-27T10:27:39.850-07:00It's aliiiive! It's aliiiiiiiiiive!Would you look at that. More than a two posts in a time span of less than 6 days, let alone 6 months. What. Is. Happening. Could it be there is some sort of re-kindled interest in blogging and love for collecting? Lets be honest, the flame never really died out. So re-kindled is the perfect word for it. Yes, that and I could just be looking to procrastinate from doing work currently. Either way, it means more posts!<br />
<br />
I've decided that rules themselves aren't very fun. So we'll go with guidelines, which are more flexible and less rule-ish. It is a rule I must have coffee everyday. A guideline for coffee is that it should be great coffee, but good coffee will suffice in a pinch. Get my drift?<br />
<br />
So, my new Guidelines for Collecting:<br />
<br />
1) Only disposable income earned through random means should be used for purchasing things. When possible, acquire things for free (or some mild amount of effort for contests and the like).<br />
<br />
2) The only sets I will be actually collecting going forward shall be Topps Allen and Ginter. If there is a new set that is released that is set-building worthy, I might add it, but for now I don't see being able to really build more than one set, and only on the most basic of terms at that.<br />
<br />
3) I shall also only be collecting Twins players in Twins uniforms (past and present) from here on out. I don't care about the Blue Jays or the Cubs.<br />
<br />
4) Cool or otherwise rare cards not fitting the above description are worth putting into my PC of nifty things, as long as I pulled them myself (Or the missus, or the mini-me's...). Example: Larry Bird auto. I have no reason to like basketball, but Larry Bird is cool enough and the auto is on-card. Sharp. Worth holding onto.<br />
<br />
5) Have fun. <---- This is actually a rule now, not a guideline. If it isn't fun, cease and desist immediately.<br />
<br />
Four guidelines and a rule. Should be pretty straightforward, yes?<br />
<br />
Current Projects to start me off:<br />
<br />
1) Organize. My. Desk. It is a damn mess and has been sitting like that for months with stacks of inserts, autos, and GU's just piled up with no purpose or organization. First I need to sort them by sport, then by product/year. Liquidate all uncool football and basketball. Make room. Be more zen. All that fun stuff. I may even need to enlist the help of the missus to use or Organization-Fu to make things happen.<br />
<br />
2) Come up with a list of needed base and inserts for Ginter Sets years 2011-present.<br />
<br />
3) Come up with a list of needed minis for Ginter Sets years 2011-present.<br />
<br />
4) Have fun.<br />
<br />
I'm really bent on having fun, can't you tell?<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-75756539858253654852016-06-24T09:01:00.002-07:002016-06-24T09:01:28.023-07:00The Adventure Continues...Hi everyone!<br />
<br />
Long time, no post. Right? Have been taking a bit of a hiatus from the hobby to focus on family and school, to be honest. But with June/July comes Allen and Ginter Season, which means Gint-A-Cuffs. And that also seems like a pretty good time to get back into the hobby in a leaner, cleaner sense.<br />
<br />
I'll be hopefully posting a bit more frequently with opinions, reviews, breaks, etc. Expect a post in the near future with some more thoughts and rules for my new collecting hobby!<br />
<br />
As always, keep it in the family.<br />
<br />
-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-16927344553666315662015-09-29T13:09:00.001-07:002015-10-02T09:39:33.564-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII: Episode 6 (The Yankees Strike Out)HI FAMILY OF GINTER!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc0HZWEWRFCsFM4epoLUfn2R5Qp0IgNVQeM7birMg0Yd20j7udkgc21R6XS0TfKo0X-JTIEZsxRAaBTlaZab_y2KVeP1L7QVo77miDXjrR_OEOPbeGiGnqvRujBFxY9ehZYpd4DmEYfIr/s1600/doomed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc0HZWEWRFCsFM4epoLUfn2R5Qp0IgNVQeM7birMg0Yd20j7udkgc21R6XS0TfKo0X-JTIEZsxRAaBTlaZab_y2KVeP1L7QVo77miDXjrR_OEOPbeGiGnqvRujBFxY9ehZYpd4DmEYfIr/s400/doomed.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Alright, you can tell that several straight hours (or so it seems... I've been tearing through these pretty fast and probably have missed a couple of FPs and the like... will have to double check) have been getting to me as per this greetings. Love that Mario Andretti hit, too bad the Commish doesn't think it's worth more than +20 points given it is rarer than a red ink auto and can't be modified by favorite team/player unless you picked someone only in that set (Hulk Hogan comes to mind as the only really feasible one...)<br />
<br />
Anyways! MOVING ON!<br />
<br />
Previous Running Total: +131<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 21: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/jbDLOKLOFEQaYW1bJveTvuMnlnADpVBeR4I7freogS_z-Cclf-DVHrko5tDHP7a0cDSA7-AxpW-Q=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/jbDLOKLOFEQaYW1bJveTvuMnlnADpVBeR4I7freogS_z-Cclf-DVHrko5tDHP7a0cDSA7-AxpW-Q=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Huston Street #219<br />
Curtis Granderson #10<br />
Mini Kelia Moniz #93<br />
Ancient Armory War Hammer (+2 AA)<br />
Full Sized Relic Jorge Soler (+6 Full Sized Relic)<br />
Angel Pagan #343<br />
Hisashi Iwakuma #49<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +8<br />
Running Total: +139<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 22:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/5o61j0ceY2qnSDJ6eCtK08RxDrIMe0MLl7gB5Fx65W2USKj69rxLujcLaOKqMp_HETqlXw=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/5o61j0ceY2qnSDJ6eCtK08RxDrIMe0MLl7gB5Fx65W2USKj69rxLujcLaOKqMp_HETqlXw=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
Matt Adams #120<br />
Dee Gordon #238<br />
Adeiny Hechavarria #282<br />
Chris Sale #139 (+2 ANY FP)<br />
Starting Point Cole Hamels (+2 SP, +2 ANY FP)<br />
First Ladies Mini Rosalynn Carter (+2 FL)<br />
John Lackey #191<br />
Albert Pujols #198<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +10<br />
<br />
Running Total: +149<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 23</b>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/827S4kN-02seAYWBk3se7SXNvV29NsC7ux55wYd7OVk_Mv29Z-YR5Owm0DeZZpcwsK1WxzFHMx46=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/827S4kN-02seAYWBk3se7SXNvV29NsC7ux55wYd7OVk_Mv29Z-YR5Owm0DeZZpcwsK1WxzFHMx46=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Jimbo Fisher #268<br />
Jose Bautista #248 (+2 ANY FP)<br />
Steven Moya #255<br />
Starting Points David Ortiz (+2 SP, +2 ANY FP, +1 Favorite Team)<br />
Mini Dalton Pompey #82<br />
Gary Brown #304<br />
Jason Kipnis #244 (+2 ANY FP)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +9<br />
<br />
Running Total: +158<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 24:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/cq08o5RTwp3rJ8rUBdCk37a_HLUNu5ltHTbh45wRZJj0mLHQxBss8r1lOJC_EG7nrrAzrns-MSP_=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/cq08o5RTwp3rJ8rUBdCk37a_HLUNu5ltHTbh45wRZJj0mLHQxBss8r1lOJC_EG7nrrAzrns-MSP_=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
Javier Baez #54<br />
Frank Caliendo #31<br />
Jorge Soler #151<br />
Buck Farmer #81<br />
What Once Would Be: Vacuum Tube Trains (+2 WOWB)<br />
A&G Back Mini Zack Cozart #194 (+2 A&G Back Mini)<br />
Gabe Kapler #309<br />
Gregory Polanco #222<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
<br />
Running Total: +162<br />
<br />
Adjustments for bribes: +0<br />
<br />
<b>FINAL TOTAL: +162</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well, that was a bit anticlimactic. So I lose. Again. Ah well. At least I have these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/zTFN7nv9uJpTD8vHrjBW5HAlFvnN78pLU8O9sisunYsFloMNS9QyFx78slM5Zpnz3ZUxHv_XcC-Z=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/zTFN7nv9uJpTD8vHrjBW5HAlFvnN78pLU8O9sisunYsFloMNS9QyFx78slM5Zpnz3ZUxHv_XcC-Z=s400" width="225" /></a></div>
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I'm still missing several cards for my Megan Kalmoe Master Collection... sad panda.</div>
<br />
'Til next time, keep it in the family!<br />
<br />
-GG<br />
<br />
(Also, as in next time, I plan on blogging more continuously throughout the year. I've gotten more into the digital card collecting scene, Topps Bunt, Topps Huddle, Topps Kick, and Topps Star Wars Card Collector... because they're free. I'm a dirt poor graduate student and these let me rip wax without the cleanup, storage problems, or the satisfaction of actually ripping real wax! Er... wait...)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-21340688260924892722015-09-29T13:07:00.000-07:002015-09-29T13:07:05.512-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII: Episode 5 (A New Hope)Hi Ginter Family,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTICRAVYkyCLYKgNx5GBCGT8w6a0dPTQ9YJhQUdoFx7flIgbwv0fj4yL6LmfqjSA2oKWVeDYK_hGZeHZ-b5PMqOxP3fL2jC51aT2sf91HCM-Drof9UNqME2VHwpoIlUDWJ2z04jWjC9aH/s1600/god_throne2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTICRAVYkyCLYKgNx5GBCGT8w6a0dPTQ9YJhQUdoFx7flIgbwv0fj4yL6LmfqjSA2oKWVeDYK_hGZeHZ-b5PMqOxP3fL2jC51aT2sf91HCM-Drof9UNqME2VHwpoIlUDWJ2z04jWjC9aH/s320/god_throne2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Just a couple more packs to go... hoping for some big things here. Hence the name of the post. A New Hope. Aptly named.<br />
<br />
Previous Running Total: +96<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 17:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/A6MFUzKn62ip9-pWBjy-kmWcxctVNbFFgPgbVbcE9i2Gz9zYIggb1tCVHnW9F46jcfPTZA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/A6MFUzKn62ip9-pWBjy-kmWcxctVNbFFgPgbVbcE9i2Gz9zYIggb1tCVHnW9F46jcfPTZA=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Johnny Cueto #23<br />
Philae Probe #293 (+1 for being awesome)<br />
Daniel Norris #105<br />
Matt Kemp #264<br />
Starting Points Felix Hernandez (+2 SP)<br />
Mini Appomattox Court House #24<br />
Hunter Strickland #314<br />
Manny Machado #179<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +3<br />
<br />
Running Total: +99<br />
<br />
Not the start I was... hoping for.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 18:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/4onSeqetr7HjQfVY0t6I4zILWbITf6VWzE0mbGQckcUE1vszZhtADtIwxQ0c11UH6_QCxg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/4onSeqetr7HjQfVY0t6I4zILWbITf6VWzE0mbGQckcUE1vszZhtADtIwxQ0c11UH6_QCxg=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Yasiel Puig #142<br />
Jake Arrieta #76<br />
Craig Kimbrel #5 (+2 ANY Favorite Player)<br />
Starting Point David Wright (+2 SP, +2 ANY Favorite Player)<br />
Brian Dozier Mini (+1 Favorite Team Mini)<br />
Alcides Escobar #331<br />
Andrew Cashner #246<br />
Ivan Drago #229 (-1 Drago KO)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +7<br />
<br />
Running Total: +105<br />
<br />
That little humdinger gives me some... hope!<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 19:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/9EtJTxf6UEmi1X_OZE2yIZvbfg6Bu3rGx0O0dyPzpEy_JHrMz0cvHdI35NyXacNmcFNfzw=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/9EtJTxf6UEmi1X_OZE2yIZvbfg6Bu3rGx0O0dyPzpEy_JHrMz0cvHdI35NyXacNmcFNfzw=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Chase Headley #204 (-1 Yankee)<br />
Matt Barnes #68<br />
Rubby De La Rosa #298<br />
Jung Ho Kang #265<br />
Starting Points Matt Holliday (+2 SP)<br />
Mini Ichiro #285<br />
Edwin Escobar #63<br />
Andrew Heaney #149<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +1<br />
<br />
Running Total: +106<br />
<br />
I... hope... the next pack is WAY better than that. At least 25 times better.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 20:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/5Io8UPpbSNRtB7l10kf2oPP98JDjvH6xOEs7do_J10s6FLvRIJsX_1zbl1OjA6lzP3PHRA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/5Io8UPpbSNRtB7l10kf2oPP98JDjvH6xOEs7do_J10s6FLvRIJsX_1zbl1OjA6lzP3PHRA=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Doug Fister #221<br />
Jayson Werth #28<br />
Addison Reed #286<br />
Ancient Armory Chu Ko Nu (+2 AA)<br />
BB Mini John Lackey (+3 BB Mini)<br />
10th Anniversary Issue Framed Mini Auto Mario Andretti (+20 10th Anniversary Auto)<br />
Jon Singleton #39<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +25<br />
<br />
Running Total: +131<br />
<br />
Boom! Mario Andretti auto! I will claim this is the best hit from my case. Which means my case was all around pretty terrible. But oh well. Next year will be better I... hope. :-DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-18171506480207819232015-09-29T12:50:00.002-07:002015-09-29T16:20:11.546-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII: Episode 4 (Revenge of the Yankees)Guten Tag, Ginter Family!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do not speak German. I'm just trying to spice things up. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs83388H6CDtYnH5jb2Vvj9R7rqlAEvUKgmnA1x5jDvXacVR55he6uDyEO89L_9pw_NupXNAAD3lw9kp7vnaXzkudlEOnz3wjQmo07pJ180WYjZ-gBr8hItKjghXunwmgZZeftX773_x5/s1600/raw4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs83388H6CDtYnH5jb2Vvj9R7rqlAEvUKgmnA1x5jDvXacVR55he6uDyEO89L_9pw_NupXNAAD3lw9kp7vnaXzkudlEOnz3wjQmo07pJ180WYjZ-gBr8hItKjghXunwmgZZeftX773_x5/s400/raw4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ehhh? See what I did there? Cake in the last picture, a cupcake here? What can I say, E-3PO loves cake. But what little toddler-droid-thing doesn't. Back to Gint-A-Cuffs...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Previous Running Total: +79</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Pack 13:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/dJbxLi7au0piWWpk1otDeYDHF197cvmydcrMKGg06CGEDSZR-e74m_CyhIFj8pB1T9YEf8z9mc9K=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/dJbxLi7au0piWWpk1otDeYDHF197cvmydcrMKGg06CGEDSZR-e74m_CyhIFj8pB1T9YEf8z9mc9K=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Mike Zunino #143 (I met this guy once. In Wichita of all places...)</div>
<div>
Xander Bogaerts #94</div>
<div>
Starting Points Hunter Pence (+2 SP)</div>
<div>
Framed Mini Buyback Machiavelli (+4 Framed Mini Buyback)</div>
<div>
Mini Jimmy Rollins #250</div>
<div>
Howie Kendrick #91</div>
<div>
Mike Napoli #338</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pack Total: +6</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Running Total: +85</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, not terrible. Could be better. Broke that Yankees streak, so that's good! Also, I could have made BANK if the Red Sox were my favorite team... there are like four of them in there. Maybe only three. But still.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Pack 14:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/MMJD_Dp-QAXQ2GaXwBUwxyEtyCyKPHGQ3tt7gV3nvEwcGipF0Oa8z8ftD5ndIRFkSqFoTYzZMjEF=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/MMJD_Dp-QAXQ2GaXwBUwxyEtyCyKPHGQ3tt7gV3nvEwcGipF0Oa8z8ftD5ndIRFkSqFoTYzZMjEF=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Drew Hutchinson #181</div>
<div>
Gus Malzahn #185</div>
<div>
Chris Davis #170</div>
<div>
Starting Points Coco Crisp (+2 SP of... cereal)</div>
<div>
A&G Back Mini Joe Buck (+2 A&G Back, -1 Joe Buck-ness)</div>
<div>
Jhonny Peralta #313</div>
<div>
Ryan Zimmerman #290</div>
<div>
Ichiro #285</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pack Total: +3</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Running Total: +88</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well that pack was less than stellar. Oh well. What's wrong with Joe Buck, anyways? Who is Joe Buck? The world may never know...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Pack 15:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/JWqtBSA_xgCYGaHij5BnINyyx9IYUBrpQZrv9J3jUBF1tD0J7J8sfio30TkMtUpfg70uVdQCmw9k=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/JWqtBSA_xgCYGaHij5BnINyyx9IYUBrpQZrv9J3jUBF1tD0J7J8sfio30TkMtUpfg70uVdQCmw9k=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Carlos Gomez #166</div>
<div>
Appomattox Court House #24</div>
<div>
Mike Mills #37</div>
<div>
Great Scott! X-Ray Diffraction (+2 Great Scott!)</div>
<div>
First Ladies Mini Louisa Adams (+2 FL)</div>
<div>
Clayton Kershaw #339</div>
<div>
Nori Aoki #125</div>
<div>
Wilmer Flores #4</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pack Total: +4</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Running Total: +92</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, did you know that the reference to 1895 on the back of the X-Ray Diffraction card refers to the use of x-rays to find the fragments of a knife lodged in the spine of a sailor who got stabbed during a fight? Trufax. This is what an incredibly expensive education will teach you, folks. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Pack 16:</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/wFxkdSUG14Gr8KKQ_U2GF71cZ2znUVp66-M5MYMZ9RIFy7L05E-c9TSNVfwyiXYKmlp_Kw=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/wFxkdSUG14Gr8KKQ_U2GF71cZ2znUVp66-M5MYMZ9RIFy7L05E-c9TSNVfwyiXYKmlp_Kw=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Max Scherzer #42</div>
<div>
Casey McGhee #74</div>
<div>
Carlos Beltran #253 (-1 Yankee)</div>
<div>
Kenley Jansen #296</div>
<div>
Ancient Armory Flanged Mace (+2 for smashing a Yankee's skull in... I mean, AA)</div>
<div>
BB Mini Jordan Zimmerman #290 (+3 BB mini)</div>
<div>
Chris Carter #305</div>
<div>
Buster Posey #173</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pack Total: +4</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Running Total: +96</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So. Didn't break a hundred through 16 packs. This is not looking good to make up 80 points here in eight packs. That's an average of OVER 10 points per pack. YOWZAHS. Damn Yankees.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-54754692041764738822015-09-29T10:24:00.004-07:002015-09-29T16:20:22.285-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII : Episode 3 (The Card Wars)Hola Ginter Familia,<br />
<br />
Who doesn't love a good Pack Wars? By far one of my favorite things in Des Moines was the monthly Pack Wars. Lots of fun with a lot of good people. Alas, now I live in Minnesota. Closer to the Twins at least.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja90GZNK3j37UFNM_qQxq3PrXekT1AY3BQUntpiHv3546SZggfvcNAeDhE5Zq91jF-PFGoFMhAIIUgQ6-Nf4jLsQoTNtamfrsXtvkG0YpwPyIzG6pbnJXdkSf4LRE7382klRP0XHAwYAfj/s1600/raw3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja90GZNK3j37UFNM_qQxq3PrXekT1AY3BQUntpiHv3546SZggfvcNAeDhE5Zq91jF-PFGoFMhAIIUgQ6-Nf4jLsQoTNtamfrsXtvkG0YpwPyIzG6pbnJXdkSf4LRE7382klRP0XHAwYAfj/s400/raw3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And who doesn't love more Gint-A-Cuffs. This is what I get for being busy and not getting this done right away. Here comes four posts in one day! (I don't count the previous post, because it was actually done minus the pictures on the same day as the first post...)<br />
<br />
Previous Running Total: +55<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 9:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/LeWSJDU2LsHkFUmDkX3sA5tsRaGGdNJUE_AdBRzPoyQ8kSXd8yl-9n-fyhQcXrf1Hs-6AgV3DIM-=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/LeWSJDU2LsHkFUmDkX3sA5tsRaGGdNJUE_AdBRzPoyQ8kSXd8yl-9n-fyhQcXrf1Hs-6AgV3DIM-=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Felix Hernandez #16<br />
Jon Jay #279<br />
Brandon Finnegan #41<br />
What Once Was Believed: Rain Follows The Plow (+2)<br />
Mini Mikael Franco #27<br />
Collin Cowgill #335<br />
Grant Miller #79 (Did I miss the Ginter Code this year? Meh.)<br />
Brian Quinn #299<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +2<br />
<br />
Running Total: +57<br />
<br />
Right. So. Two points. It's like we're in the NFL, and I just tackled someone in their own end zone. Yay me.<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 10:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/VPb4TmWlv2xvx8_aLgejtleRioATM2yYJHtIav6Q9gcKvAf-MI5fIhEC36-Q1qj-0keMCfMQHouK=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/VPb4TmWlv2xvx8_aLgejtleRioATM2yYJHtIav6Q9gcKvAf-MI5fIhEC36-Q1qj-0keMCfMQHouK=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Edinson Volquez #224<br />
Ian Kinsler #196<br />
Jon Lester #287<br />
Incredibeard #223 (+1 for having an incredible beard)<br />
Starting Points: Kennys Vargas (+2 SP, +1 Favorite Team)<br />
A World Beneath Our Feet Mini: Borneo Walking Stick (+2 AWBOF)<br />
Stephen Drew #306 (-1, Yankee Jerkwad)<br />
Kelia Moniz #93<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
<br />
Running Total: +62<br />
<br />
So, not awful. It would be better if that Yankee hadn't reared his ugly head. Don't I have clone troopers to shoot his ugly mug or something?<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 11: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/dD3jwj4oBM-41slOBebCQ5kXohONUg8-3M1fFQ9V4eWb4Hkn588SH_09-99yFifVU6CLDKfoh5xn=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/dD3jwj4oBM-41slOBebCQ5kXohONUg8-3M1fFQ9V4eWb4Hkn588SH_09-99yFifVU6CLDKfoh5xn=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Adam Eaton #18<br />
Yimi Garcia #98<br />
10th Anniversary Full Sized Parallel 2011 Rafael Furcal (+3 Full Sized Buyback)<br />
Starting Point Josh Reddick (+2 SP)<br />
Mini A&G Back Brandon Belt (+2 A&G Back, +2 ANY Favorite Player)<br />
Michael Brantley #311<br />
Jeremy Roenick #269<br />
Jacoby Ellsbury #152 (-1 Yankee Traitor)<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +8<br />
<br />
Running Total: +70<br />
<br />
Alright, we ALMOST had a 10 point pack without a hit, and then that traitor Jacoby Ellsbury ruined it. BURN THE YANKEES!<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 12:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/wWcFgVgV7sqJ3qVq4Us3SP_AaUbz1_ZAclbGKAlxcGGGpprQs0NxsvtRYnGKlw7QcXvTui8m22HR=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/wWcFgVgV7sqJ3qVq4Us3SP_AaUbz1_ZAclbGKAlxcGGGpprQs0NxsvtRYnGKlw7QcXvTui8m22HR=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
Brian McCann(ot be a Yankee anymore please) #114 (-1 Yankee)<br />
Paul Goldschmidt #35<br />
Buster (RIP I had a cat named Buster that died recently) Olney #34<br />
Menagerie of the Mind: Hydra (+2 MOTM)<br />
A&G Back Dustin Pedroia (+2 A&G Back)<br />
Rusney Castillo Full Sized Relic (+6 Full Sized Relic)<br />
Corey Kluber #117<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +9<br />
<br />
Running Total: +79<br />
<br />
Oh look. Another nearly +10 point pack, spoiled by a damn Yankee. That's 3 consecutive packs with a Yankee. There is a mission in Borderlands 2 called "Eff Yo Couch". You complete it by jumping on all of the couches in a gang's hideout. I want to go jump on all of the Yankee's couches right now.<br />
<br />
At least we got our first hit. Sort of. Half way through our box, and our project total is still hovering around that +160 mark. Yikes.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-73413504316248195862015-09-29T09:49:00.003-07:002015-09-29T11:47:25.628-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII Episode 2: (The Yankee Menace)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL7c-xJvv9XxUFWAk6fav3OzBSE5nsao0nei0rWvHzunH_T8eid2bFz1OYeqf2UKzuitHcoStAjcZ7EpSblvAnznuUSXaM6GzSzI1DkusSiPkpr66fgiq6wUU9Aa0Xk3Mh_t7rGeApWUI/s1600/raw2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL7c-xJvv9XxUFWAk6fav3OzBSE5nsao0nei0rWvHzunH_T8eid2bFz1OYeqf2UKzuitHcoStAjcZ7EpSblvAnznuUSXaM6GzSzI1DkusSiPkpr66fgiq6wUU9Aa0Xk3Mh_t7rGeApWUI/s320/raw2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, it's only been... a month and 26 days since our last post. It's more like a sprint, than a marathon, really. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've got all the excuses covered. Massive home improvements, large research projects, weddings, school starting, football starting, blah blah blah blah. Well enough of that. This pack has actually been scored for one month and 25 days, I've just been too lazy to take pictures. So NYAAAH! I'm still pretty lazy and need to figure out a better way to take pictures, to be honest.<br />
<br />
Previous Running Total: +37<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 5:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/PAmXvR33u39d8_oQd5GrrGZOr_XbkPTyav4P9xOPSoK7UgpV8kSrvOtrmbbNlhc5BEyIG2-oaBNp=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/PAmXvR33u39d8_oQd5GrrGZOr_XbkPTyav4P9xOPSoK7UgpV8kSrvOtrmbbNlhc5BEyIG2-oaBNp=s400" width="320" /></a></div>
(image)<br />
<br />
Kennys Vargas #189 (+1 MY favorite team)<br />
Miguel Cabrera #187<br />
Malcolm Gladwell #67<br />
Mini Madison Bumgarner (+2 for ANY FP mini)<br />
What Once Would Be Jetpacks (+2 WOWB Insert)<br />
Ian Desmond #314<br />
Rusney Castillo #154<br />
Appollo Creed #56<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +6<br />
<br />
Well, six isn't bad. The 'ole Bumenstein there really saved the pack, so that's good, and you can't complain when a bad boy like Kennys Vargas shows up. I mean, the Twins are pretty decent this year, right? Right!?<br />
<br />
Running Total: +42<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 6: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/0dc1FmsFwr2qypiB1kJTGiggVoyJR0bkrWn1gA9IpMd2i0kDD5OoqG0S3Yfw7fanLsEWKYlIkpnj=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/0dc1FmsFwr2qypiB1kJTGiggVoyJR0bkrWn1gA9IpMd2i0kDD5OoqG0S3Yfw7fanLsEWKYlIkpnj=s400" width="320" /></a></div>
(image)<br />
<br />
Zack Greinke #199<br />
Yadier Molina #17 (+2 ANY FP base card)<br />
Joe Gatto #80<br />
Mini Derek Norris #207<br />
What Once Was Believed The Four Classical Elements (+2 WOWB Insert and longest name...)<br />
Ben Zorbrist #321<br />
Yasmany Tomas #148<br />
Kolten Wong #21<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
<br />
Aaaand we're going backwards in this pack. Not literally backwards, our total is still moving forward which is great. But four is a pretty weak score. I was hoping each pack would have a bajillion points. Seriously.<br />
<br />
Running Total: +46<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 7:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/HyM1TLGqj2BmESJg2nL2UZWwTZBVO6eyLhN1UgMxPLCgP_43LEXX5k5FWPvEcRww8CFe43GQTqb5=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/HyM1TLGqj2BmESJg2nL2UZWwTZBVO6eyLhN1UgMxPLCgP_43LEXX5k5FWPvEcRww8CFe43GQTqb5=s400" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Juan Lagares #130<br />
Lakey Peterson #124<br />
Marcell Ozuna #184<br />
Marlon Byrd #137<br />
Menagerie of the Mind Elf (+2 MotM Insert)<br />
Mini Jon Singleton #39 A&G Back (+2 A&G Back mini)<br />
Dallas Keuchel #320<br />
Jonathan Papelbon #89<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +4<br />
<br />
You know what the best part of the Harry Potter series was? When Doby died. Oh dear, is that a spoiler? Well the little annoying bugger gets what he deserves. If you haven't read it by now, you weren't going to anyways. TL;DR - There is a house elf in Harry Potter that is annoying and he dies which is the highlight of the series.<br />
<br />
Running Total: +50<br />
<br />
<b>Pack 8:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/d4JF6TyagwjBHsDB1d7wgruC8AoD4l8GBTmnXF1TnZQLiJNeb_uDFNOBbEcK2T2d9dMd2blc7Iab=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/d4JF6TyagwjBHsDB1d7wgruC8AoD4l8GBTmnXF1TnZQLiJNeb_uDFNOBbEcK2T2d9dMd2blc7Iab=s400" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Clay Buchholz #168<br />
Sonny Gray #256<br />
Troy Tulowitzki #109<br />
Ancient Armory Trident (+2 AA Insert)<br />
Mini A World Beneath Our Feet Pennsylvania Firefly (+2 AWBOF Mini Insert)<br />
Val Kilmer #328<br />
Brian "The Friggin' MAN" Dozier (+1 MY Favorite Team and all-around general AWESOMENESS)<br />
Eric Hosmer #7<br />
<br />
Pack Total: +5<br />
<br />
You know who should have been an All-Star Game Starter? Brian Dozier. You know who was also in this pack? Brian Dozier. The world needs more Brian Dozier.<br />
<br />
Running Total: +55<br />
<br />
Projected Total: +158 (YOWCH...)<br />
<br />
Well, 7 points per pack isn't bad, considering we had a horrible box topper. Here's looking to the last two thirds of the box to boost the score!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-9900159643945617622015-08-01T20:28:00.001-07:002015-08-11T12:52:43.543-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs VII: Episode 1 (The Cards Awaken)And so the greatest saga in card collecting history commences... again... for the 7th time.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What makes this year so special? Well, if you've read anything in my blog, you already know. But more importantly, the theme selected by the Commish this year is exceptional. We're in for a real treat. I said I was toying with the idea of filming the break. I have decided against it for two reasons. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First - I hate watching breaks. While I could probably make it fun and interesting, I'd rather just list things the way people are used to and they don't have to try and pick the right spot where I pull the Select Picks Relic (at 12:07, FYI).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Second - I don't have the equipment. Filming on my web cam on my computer inverts things like a mirror. Eff that. Filming on my smart phone seems... cheesy. I'd rather do it with some quality. I'll look into actually getting a legit camera to do the shoot with and setting an awesome stage up in my basement. It'll be great. For next time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As for this year... LET THE RIPPING COMMENCE! I stayed up until 0001 to commence the ripping, despite the rules being posted early. Gotta love some self-control.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, you noticed the comment about a Select Picks Relic? Well, I don't want to spoil anything, but here is a teaser...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuDyIa3wsKHPYCxhU2ECrOomF72O3aWA5CFb7wqLQxF-Zk7iGmN07Gmz95FsRyTzhM4kbzz2D0ZQer9ag2U7sVhxVpXxNNcobUgPZfoK02EWER7OJogHJP-gV7TG2Gc8s10cVyUiuJ3ye/s1600/theodds.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuDyIa3wsKHPYCxhU2ECrOomF72O3aWA5CFb7wqLQxF-Zk7iGmN07Gmz95FsRyTzhM4kbzz2D0ZQer9ag2U7sVhxVpXxNNcobUgPZfoK02EWER7OJogHJP-gV7TG2Gc8s10cVyUiuJ3ye/s400/theodds.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Onward to Episode 1: The Cards Awaken! (Or is it Episode 7: Act 1? Whatever... I like Episodes better)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Box Topper:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n515/swowannabe/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150801_214153536_HDR_zps59wb0fdl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n515/swowannabe/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150801_214153536_HDR_zps59wb0fdl.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oversized Cabinet Card of #339 - Clayton Kershaw (+8 points)</div>
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Well, we KNEW this was not going to be of my favorite player. No surprises there. But how does no one have Clayton Kershaw as their favorite player? He is THE most dominate pitcher in all of baseball. He can even hit home runs. This is cray-cray. I tell you what, getting a FP/YOUR FP as a box topper basically is going to win you Gint-A-Cuffs this year. Points are EXTREMELY hard to come by.</div>
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At least we're in the green.</div>
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Running Total: +8 points</div>
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<b>Pack 1:</b></div>
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Megan Kalmoe #30 (MY FP +4)</div>
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Bernie Williams #177 (one of The Commish's Fav Four +1)</div>
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Carl Crawford #88</div>
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Ancient Armory Tomahawk (Full-sized insert +2)<i><b><span style="color: red;">(?)</span></b></i></div>
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Mini First Ladies Ellen Wilson (+2 mini insert)</div>
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Masahiro Tanaka #350 (-1 Stormtrooperrr.... I mean Yankee.)</div>
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Mookie Betts #274</div>
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CC Sabathia #241 (-1 Battle Droid.... I mean Yankee!)</div>
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Pack Total: +7</div>
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WOW. Right. Off. The. Bat. 1st card. I see my sister smiling and waving at me holding the 'MURICAN flag! That has GOT to be a sign. And a good one at that! Also, poor Carl and Mookie, they have got to feel left out being the only two non-scoring cards in the entire pack. Though a little heavy on the Yankees for my taste. I don't exactly know HOW Bernie Williams is worth positive points when HE WAS A YANKEE FOR 16 SEASONS but hey, who am I to argue with points from the Commish? Also, Tanaka and Sabathia... seriously? That is a lot of Yankees. And to be fair, they are a lot like Stormtroopers and Battle Droids. Neither can hit anything and are kind of mindless automatons that are only popular because they're with the evil people. Nyyyah!</div>
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Also, I have tentatively scored the Ancient Armory insert card as +2 points. They are technically not listed on the scoring page, but the retail-only full-sized insert Keys to the City are. I suspect this is purely oversight and have raised the question. I will correct later if I am wrong!</div>
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Still, hell of a first pack.</div>
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Running Total: +15</div>
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<b>Pack 2: </b></div>
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Danny Santana #160 (+1 MY favorite team)</div>
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Mark Trumbo #25</div>
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Zach Lowe #163</div>
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Starting Points Nelson Cruz (+2 Starting Points)</div>
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Jenrry Mejia No-Number Mini (+6 NNO Mini!)</div>
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Mark Melancon #322</div>
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Michael Taylor #235</div>
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Kendall Graveman #97</div>
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Pack Total: +9</div>
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KABOOM! Right off the stack AGAIN we hit a point card. Instead of "I've got a bad feeling about this" how about we use our Gint-a-Jedi senses and say "I've got a good feeling about this!" We hit a solid mini to boot that nets us as many points as a relic hit! A VERY solid second pack. And best of all - NO YANKEES!</div>
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Running Total: +24</div>
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<b>Pack 3: </b></div>
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Brandon Moss #153</div>
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Robb Wolf #228</div>
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Andrew McCutchen #46</div>
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2013 John Axford #187 (+3 Full-Sized buyback)</div>
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Starting Points Jorge Soler (+2 Starting Points)</div>
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Mini Johnny Peralta #313 (+3 SP Mini)</div>
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Jason Heyward #330</div>
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Grant Balfour #292</div>
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Pack Total: +8</div>
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JEEZE. These packs. I tell you! Now, I'm all-but-guaranteed to get two full-sized buybacks, so this isn't entirely unexpected. But these packs are starting out STRONG. SP Mini on top of that? Yowzahs. We've had three EXTREMELY good non-hit packs. Onwards!</div>
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Running Total: +32</div>
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<b>Pack 4:</b></div>
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Hanley Ramirez #209</div>
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Johnathan Schoop #259</div>
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Evan Longoria #38</div>
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Starting Points Jimmy Rollins (+2 Starting Points)</div>
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Mini Mark Melancon #322 (+3 SP Mini)</div>
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Justin Morneau #301</div>
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Travis d'Arnaud #178</div>
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Billy Hamilton #275</div>
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Pack Total: +5</div>
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Right. So not QUITE as strong, but still. Another SP mini to keep the pack average pretty high! If you figure you need to average 8.33333 pts per pack to break 200 (which is high enough with the reduced scoring this year that it is possible! Though the increased participation and thus more favorite players will help balance that out, I suppose...) we're currently averaging 9.25 (with the box topper points... otherwise we're at 7.25 without any hits!) If only good 'ole Justin Morneau was still with the Twins... we could have had it all. Alas.</div>
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Running Total: +37</div>
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Recap: So, a very strong performance in Episode 1. We haven't exhausted any of the hits so far! I can't reiterate just how important that is! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-22247745697322998602015-07-27T18:32:00.001-07:002015-07-27T18:32:32.220-07:00A Pack Review - 2015 GinterRight. So. All of this talk about 2015 Topps Allen & Ginter but we have yet to actually give any examples of what the product looks like. Lets take a peek shall we? I've set aside this single pack from those remaining in my non-Gint-a-Cuffs boxes for this purpose as part of an on-going contest over at <a href="http://bubbasbanginbatchofbaseballbits.blogspot.com/">Bubba's Blog</a> <br />
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The "goods"</div>
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Yep. A fairly standard pack. Mr. Trout's face was the first to greet me, which is always nice to be greeted by a smile. Nothing gets me more than a baseball card with a guy who is frowning or something on it. YOU PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR A LIVING! YOU SHOULD BE SMILING! Unless it is an action shot of exertion, it's hard to smile when you're exerting yourself. But otherwise, smile.</div>
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Next up is Darren Rovell, a sports writer. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2000, but he's from New York. So he's basically a Yankee. You know how Yankees are treated on this blog.</div>
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How about that Bartolo Colon? The guy hit like doubles in back to back games. What would have been a triple for most guys and an in-the-park HR for the likes of Billy Hamilton, he got to 2nd base. But he didn't have to slide. What a guy. And he's smiling!</div>
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David Price was next sporting his schnazzy Detroit Tigers uniform. Good for him. Exertion shot, so he's excuse from smiling. A note on the design, it is very similar from last year. I would have preferred a bit more to differentiate the two. Heaven forbid I should accidentally mix a stack of the two years together. They'll never get sorted out. Also, in past years David would be a SP. Unfortunately, we cut out SP's this year to... save money!? I don't know. Moving on.</div>
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Right! A little birdie told me Chris Tillman is up next. Get it? He plays for the Orioles? Birdie told me? Yeah. Getting cheesy here. </div>
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Didi Gregorious plays for the Yankees. No comment except BOOOOOOOOOOO.</div>
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I don't even get to boast about my mini, because it's another damn Yankee. Friggin' Jacoby Ellsbury. A traitor from Boston. A turncoat! Throwing tea in the harbor then joining the enemy. What gives man?</div>
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Last but not least we have Nelson Cruz Starting Points. As a Brewer. I really do enjoy these 100-card insert sets each year. They provide a solid chase to put together the set and are usually loaded with good names and decent artwork. Like, Nelson Cruz.</div>
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That's all I've got for now. Sorry there were no hits. The box was pretty much dead so I wasn't expecting much. But, at least I've given you a glimpse at what Ginter looks like... for us normal people who don't hit five booklet cards in one pack. </div>
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On a final note, I'd be starting out in the red if this were a Gint-a-Cuffs pack. Maybe things are looking up for this contestant since I didn't get stuck with this dud of a pack?</div>
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You never know...</div>
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Until next time, keep it in the family.</div>
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-GG</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-8069638717435436192015-07-27T10:28:00.002-07:002015-07-27T10:28:46.893-07:002015 Ginter and Gint-A-CuffsRight, so having let the dust settle I figured it would be worth a post prior to the Gint-A-Cuffs Shenanigans. I should be able to get this year's break filmed, but as I stated previously I'll post the video at the END (or the middle... something. Not sure quite yet) as though not to spoil the fun. Maybe I'll do it in segments. Some fancy editing? We'll see.<br />
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SO! 2015 Ginter. How does it look. I think it looks great. Very similar design to last year. It can be a little confusing with 2014 buybacks (are they even really buybacks? I mean, they probably didn't even have to buy them back... just grab some from the stock room). I really like the framed mini buybacks that fall 1 per box. Those little plastic frames are just so <i>sharp</i> and having a neat little mini that could be literally anything is just fun. It's like an extra hit!<br />
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The Ginter Wife over at <a href="http://timeforsorrowandjoy.blogspot.com/">A Time for Sorrow and a Time for Joy</a>, has signed up for Gint-a-Cuffs once more this year, since we had a case that we've (mostly) ripped together. It wasn't too had to have the Ginter Toddler pick out two boxes before we started ripping and have them set aside for Gint-a-Cuffs purposes. Based on what the rest of the case had, I think he is trying to have me finish in dead last again. I only say that because I suspect one of the two boxes set aside for Gint-a-Cuffing are going to be short a hit. That's an automatic 10 points down. A significant handicap to say the least! But I'm going to remain optimistic. At least that it is in the Ginter Wife's box and not mine. Hah!<br />
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That being said, if anyone is interested in trading, I will have endless dupes of full-sized inserts and endless dupes of base cards available. In particular I'll be looking for minis and Base Card #30. If you want to trade relics and autos, I'll gladly take them off your hands in exchange for dupe hits from previous years or other autos/relics from baseball/football/basketball that I have.<br />
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That's all I have for now. Oh, I'll have a special warm-up box break of Panini Clear Vision football to share (I think?) in about a week or so. I say I think because I'm under the impression I won a contest over at <a href="https://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/">The Knight's Lance</a> from about a week ago. There could be another person who used the exact same first name and last initial as I did to sign their post. But I don't think so. I know it isn't Ginter (le gasp! GG, you don't exclusively collect Ginter? Nope, sorry my friends... a wise Easter Bunny does not put all his eggs in one basket for he may trip over a toddler's toys and crack them all!) but I do encourage people to broaden their collecting horizons.<br />
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Anyways, that's all for now. As always, keep it in the family.<br />
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-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-51212821434176222122015-07-11T20:13:00.002-07:002015-07-11T20:13:32.659-07:00Ginter 2015: I can hardly contain my excitement... oh wait, yes I can. Because I don't have a checklist and we're just shy of 10 days from release. What else is new though, right?<br />
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I would like to take a few moments to give my thoughts on this year's Ginter, prior to release. That is, based on the sell-sheet alone. Because that's all we have.<br />
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1) First and foremost, production is going to be up. Like, waaaay up. As in, I expect it to make mini insert sets from 2011 look super-short printed. I have almost no basis on which to justify these crazy claims, mind you, but I just have that feeling that Topps is going to swing for the fences here with all the rookie star power that is on the table this year. Bryant, Pederson, Buxton, Sano, Correra, some other guys... You get the picture. While I'm skeptical that Buxton or Sano are going to be in the set except perhaps as a SSP (like Strausburg in 2010?) there is going to be demand for rookie cards. There always is. And Ginter has some of the nicest rookie cards, in my opinion. So, it is a logical leap to think that production is going to be way up. Plus, last year, it would appear as though production was way down, which is why it was such an incredible product last year. Which is a shame. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.<br />
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2) It's going to be like an observatory with all the star power. The aforementioned names, Ichiro, Abreu, Puig... I mean, you'd think that there wouldn't be a single so-called scrub auto in the lot. But there probably will be. I suspect baseball autos are going to be more common than last year. Personally, I'm hoping that Brian Dozier gets an auto, or is even a subject in the set. Poor guy hasn't had an auto since Finest 2012. He's having one heck of a season and let's face it, if it weren't for Royals fans being mad their team couldn't win the World Series last year and having to flex their e-peen by hacking voting and stuffing the ballot, he'd be in the All Star Game.<br />
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As an aside, if you're a Royals fan, I feel sorry for you. Because either you're part of the ballot stuffing crowd, or you're getting lumped with them. If there's one thing that I've learned from baseball, it's the key to success rests in cheating. I need to use PEDs, gamble on baseball, use foreign substances, and blah blah blah and then I'm a Hall of Famer or people still love me. Or both. Whatever. The Twins are doing pretty well given the highest anyone would rank them pre-season was finishing 2nd to last, and even that was a long-shot.<br />
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3) I don't think I've actually stayed on topic during this entire blog post. That is awesome.<br />
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4) People have already claimed that the product is going to suck. (I'm looking at YOU, Blowout Forums...) I'll admit, the sell-sheet was very heavy on parallels for filler and really nothing new or unique that we've come to expect from Ginter. But, one thing I don't think we should discount is the fact that Ginter <i>always</i> has something up its sleeve. Unannounced inserts, crazy hits, whatever. Honestly, unless they plan for it to be the last year of the brand (at least for a bit...) and they want it to end on a crap note, it better be good.<br />
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I don't know how I feel exactly about all of these "Ginter Buybacks". I mean, the cards are between 7-10 years old, right? Not exactly revving my engine. Granted you have some pretty awesome subjects in those early products, Danica Patrick, Mia Hamm, and Dennis Rodman come to mind. Of course, we have the return of Hulk Hogan, who could forget that... Anyways, long story short, I don't think I like the stamped buybacks, I especially hated them in Topps Series 1/2 from last year so I don't know why I would like them in Ginter, aside from the fact they are Ginter.<br />
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5) I still haven't actually completed any of my mini sets that I've been working on. I'm quite literally a failure at collecting. Though I have boxes upon boxes of minis, which is rather astonishing to me...<br />
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Anyways. To conclude, I'd like to say that I have an inkling that I'm due for something... significant. I don't know what, if it's just a big-name SP auto, or an auto'd patch booklet or whatever. But there will be some odds-defying going on when I rip my first-ever case. And I'm not referring to my "guaranteed" RIP card. Though I have not technically pulled one of those myself yet. Maybe a nice wood mini of Kris Bryant. That would be alright, I think.<br />
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Anyways. As always, keep it in the family.<br />
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-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7989991800260239364.post-85900732857708820152015-07-06T14:24:00.001-07:002015-07-06T14:24:35.906-07:00Gint-A-Cuffs V RecapSo, yeah... I meant to post this approximately 10 months ago. My bad. I also meant to post, oh, I don't know, ANYTHING between last Gint-A-Cuffs and now. I even thought that I did. I'm clearly losing my mind. Not that there is much left TO lose... but hey.<br />
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SO! Since the news is *technically* out of the bag... or the cat is, but the cat is a metaphor for news... Or something like that? I don't know. ANYWAYS. It has been revealed. I have known about a 2015 Ginter Subject since about December that Topps themselves haven't even announced. Though they sort of did.<br />
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<a href="http://www.megankalmoe.com/">Megan Kalmoe</a>. 'Who the heck is Megan Kalmoe?' Well, unless you're a fan of US Women's Rowing (or any rowing, really, since most of the races happen on the same day in the same spot for both Men and Women's teams) you probably have never heard of her. But then again, I'd never heard of Amelia Boone or approximately 80% of the non-baseball subjects in Ginter every year. And therein lies a bit of the charm of the brand, don't you think?<br />
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Anyways, to answer your question, Megan is a member of the US Women's National team and has represented the US in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and was part of the Quad Sculls that nabbed the <i>first ever</i> medal in the event for the United States. No boat had managed to medal in that event for the United States since 1976 when they removed the coxswain from the boats. She also has (in my opinion) a fairly impressive list of accolades and some serious hardware to display in her tiny little house somewhere in Princeton, NJ.<br />
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How do <i>I</i> know who Megan is, you ask? Easy! I've known her for the last 29 years, 4 months and 18 days. Or, if you don't like years and months and prefer your time in 24-hour increments, thats 10,730 days. This length of time corresponds to the length of time that Megan has been a big sister to yours truly!<br />
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I've been trying to nominate her for Ginter for several years now, and finally succeeded! I know she's had fun with it, going to Topps to sign her cards recently and submitting what I believe is a hat she wore during one of the Olympic races. So take that for some sweet memorabilia action on a card. A hat. With cool logo potential and REAL sweat! Ewww, on second though, I hope she washed it.<br />
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So! When I realized Megan was going to be in Ginter, I knew instantly that she had to be my favorite player. So much, in fact, that I've already declared her as my favorite player for Gint-A-Cuffs VI. So take that, you slackers and your reliance on a checklist to pick a favorite player and team. The Ginter Godfather lives up to his name and is already got a substantial lead over everyone.<br />
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Now, I also realize that since I know Megan's print run on her auto's and that a hat is her relic item, that I'm at a pretty substantial disadvantage for bonus points as the odds of me pulling one are pretty slim. But, they're about as equal as any one of you, and I have the power of DNA on my side. Mwuahahaha!<br />
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In other news, 2015 Ginter will represent the first time I ever will have purchased a factory-sealed case of cards for any product or spot. To me, it's akin to buying your first full box. Except times twelve, in this case. It's a step towards the 'I'm kind of serious about this hobby' direction. Which is hilarious, because I'm about as far from being serious about this hobby as you can be. I haven't bought much in the way of cards this year since I quit my job and became a graduate student. And before you think I'm being financially irresponsible buying a whole, it turns out that when you don't buy any baseball cards at all, you have quite a bit of money saved over the course of almost a year. It's nuts.<br />
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I'd also like to film my Gint-A-Cuffs break this year. I think it adds a little bit of fun to it. But if I do, I'll post like I normally do with 3-4 packs at a time over the course of 6-8 posts to make it exciting for scoring purposes. Or I might be too lazy and not film it at all. Who knows. A lot remains to be seen.<br />
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'Til next post, keep it in the family. Like, super-literally now. Because I'm that good.<br />
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-GGUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3