Gint-a-Cuffs 9: Part 2 of 2

After the first half of the box, my score was sitting at . Let's add some points to that.

PACK 13

Mini 8 - Kevin Gausman (Black) +4

132 - Corey Seager

285 - Hunter Renfroe

14 - Robert Gsellman

4 - Babe Ruth (NYY) -1

12 - Cody Bellemore

319 - Seth Lugo (SP) +1

WAD-6 - Nolan Ryan +2

PACK TOTAL: +6

RUNNING TOTAL: 80.3

PACK 14

Mini 33 - Byron Buxton (A&G) +2

145 - A.J. Reed

98 - Stephen Piscotty

46 - Chris Archer

268 - Matt Olson

176 - Marcus Stroman

328 - Carlos Martinez (SP) +1

WAD-99 - Mark McGwire +2

PACK TOTAL: +5

RUNNING TOTAL: 85.3

Will this Matt Olson card turn into a hot commodity? Or will his A's-ness negate all the buzz?

PACK 15

Mini 54 - Rickey Henderson

95 - Dee Gordon

248 - Wilson Ramos

163 - Wesley Bryan

22 - Albert Almora

24 - Ken Griffey, Jr.

148 - Jesse Winker

WF-20 - Telephone +2

PACK TOTAL: +2

RUNNING TOTAL: 87.3

PACK 16

Mini 199 - Curtis Granderson

51 - Buster Posey (FP) +4

125 - Paul Goldschmidt

162 - Sonny Gray

203 - Carlos Gonzalez

209 - Mitch Haniger

166 - Manuel Margot

SFL-12 - Grouper & Diving Plugs +2

PACK TOTAL: +6

RUNNING TOTAL: 93.3

It's funny/not funny to see Buster here surrounded by all these Giants killers. Throw Jay Bruce in there and it'd be a GK Dream Team.

PACK 17

Mini 68 - Kenta Maeda (A&G) +2

124 - Kyle Schwarber

100 - Ty Cobb

37 - Devon Travis

91 - Nomar Mazara

297 - Troy Tulowitzki

220 - Chipper Jones

WF-11 - Space Needle +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 97.3

So did everybody get past that Schwarber panic from earlier this year?

PACK 18

Mini 26 - Matt Wieters (A&G) +2

84 - Ian Desmond

83 - Ichiro

15 - Gary Sanchez (NYY) -1

48 - Carlos Correa

327 - Steven Wright (SP) +1

9 - Ryan Schimpf

WAD-59 - Andrew Benintendi +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 101.3

PACK 19

C-2 Ursa Major +2

257 - Lou Gehrig (NYY) -1

229 - Rougned Odor

157 - Carson Fulmer

1 - Kris Bryant (FP) +2

WF-13- Solar Generator +2

MA-TB - Ty Blach (AUTO/FT) +10.5

PACK TOTAL: +15.5

RUNNING TOTAL: 116.8

Hit number 2 and it's from my favorite team. That's 3/3 on multipliers thus far. Considering all the possible autos in this year's release, I'm pretty satisfied with Ty Blach here. I don't expect him to be a Giants legend or anything, but it's nice to have a rookie auto in hand in case that does happen somewhere down the line. He has a pretty nice looking signature, too.

PACK 20

Mini 84 - Ian Desmond (Black) +4

1989-558 - Dan Pasqua (RT) +1

90 - Gavin Cecchini

258 - Jose Peraza

225 - Ian Kinsler

192 - Willson Contreras

42 - Mark Trumbo

323 - Drew Smyly (SP) +1

WAD-69 - Johnny Bench +2

PACK TOTAL: +8

RUNNING TOTAL: 124.8

PACK 21

BAM-11 - Salsa Dance +2

274 - Laurie Hernandez

184 - Jose Altuve (FP) +2

210 - Didi Gregorius (NYY) -1

26 - Matt Wieters

121 - Randall Grichuk

212 - Don Mattingly (NYY) -1

SFL-2 - Walleye & Spinner +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 128.8

PACK 22

WD-21 - Chilean Sailor Dude +2

1987-739 - Chet Lemon (RT) +1

35 - Johnny Damon

249 - Sage Steele

147 - Salvador Perez

153 - Sean Doolittle

259 - Roger Maris (NYY) -1

330 - Mark Melancon (SP) +1 (FT) +1

WAD-52 - David Dahl +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 132.4

PACK 23

Mini 223 - Lucas Giolito (A&G) +2

144 - Frank Thomas

243 - Alex Reyes

108 - Ryon Healy

282 - Christian Yelich

WF-1 - Life Savers Parachute Jump +2

FSRA-KB - Kris Bryant (FSRA/FP) +8.5

PACK TOTAL: +12.5

RUNNING TOTAL: 144.9

And here's the last hit of the box. Not only is Kris Bryant one of the better non-PC relics to pull hobby-wise, he's also on the favorite player list. Thanks, Brad!

PACK 24

Mini 131 - Dan Jennings

104 - Dexter Fowler

45 - Harriet Tubman +1

118 - Cameron Maybin

40 - Dansby Swanson

21 - Eric Hosmer

300 - Max Kepler

SFL-18 - Wahoo & Plastic Skirted Lures +2

PACK TOTAL: +3

FINAL TOTAL: 147.9

And we come to end with a decent score just under 150. It looks like someone has already posted a higher score, so this won't be winning the box but I'm not complaining at all. It was nice to have a reason to go ahead and buy a box this year, which I probably wouldn't have done otherwise with wax prices being what they are this season. (Damn you, Judge, Bellinger, others.) Check in next year to see if Gint-a-Cuffs makes it to the 10-year mark or not. I know the Commissioner was on the fence about this year and I don't blame him in the least. I'll go ahead and commit myself though, just to ensure there's at least some interest.

Gint-a-Cuffs 9: Part 1 of 2

If you've been following me for a bit, you're probably familiar with my participation in the annual Gint-a-cuffs contest. I've busted a box for 5 years in a row now and it's never not fun. Here is the first of two results posts to recount my haul and formerly record this year's entry. To the pretty images!

BOXLOADER

BL-AB Alex Bregman (FP) +6.8

Just a little bit of foreshadowing here but everybody did a great job picking their favorite players ;)

PACK 1

Mini 240 - Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) -1

254 - Hunter Pence (FT) +1

260 - Jonathan Villar

143 - Paris Locks +1

44 - Anthony Rizzo (FP) +2

106 - Sean Manaea

348 - Logan Forsythe (SP) +1

WAD-36 - George Springer +2

PACK TOTAL: +6

RUNNING TOTAL: 12.8

PACK 2

Mini 148 - Jesse Winker

89 - Ken Rosenthal

278 - Trevor Story

175 - Noah Syndergaard

262 - JaCoby Jones

11 - Brandon Finnegan

68- J.D. Martinez

RB-5 - Battle of Trenton +2

PACK TOTAL: +2

RUNNING TOTAL: 14.8

PACK 3

Mini 71 - Julio Teheran (Black)+4 (FP) +3

242 - Luke Weaver

28 - Andrew McCutchen

16 - Garrett Richards

47 - Omar Vizquel

174 - Danny Duffy

31 - Carlos Santana

SFL-6 - Largemouth Bass & Soft Plastic Worm +2

PACK TOTAL: +9

RUNNING TOTAL: 23.8

PACK 4

MIni 276 - Giant Panda

314 -Dan Vogelbach (SP) +1

256 - Andy Katz

149 - Mike Piazza

226 - Ryne Sandberg

101 - Jay Bruce

94 - Justin Upton

WAD-74 - Miguel Cabrera +2

PACK TOTAL: +3

RUNNING TOTAL: 26.8

PACK 5

WD-39 - Scottish Dude +2

1988-517 - Ron Robinson (RT) +1

81 - Carlos Carrasco

23 - John Smoltz

38 - Craig Kimbrel

117 - Joe Musgrove

160 - Michael Kapral -1

310 - Brandon Crawford (SP) +1 (FT) +1

WAD-100 - Paul Goldschmidt +2

PACK TOTAL:+6

RUNNING TOTAL: 32.8

If I'm being honest, the 'World's Dudes' mini insert set is probably one of my least favorite they've done. It just seems kinda lazy.

PACK 6

MI-10 - John Nevil Maskelyne  +2

34 - Billy Hamilton

110 - Ted Williams

182 - Kyle Hendricks

50 - Bryce Harper

RB-7 - Surrender of General Burgoyne +2

FSRB-ABR - Alex Bregman (FSRA/FP) +8.5

PACK TOTAL: +12.5

RUNNING TOTAL: 45.3

Here's my first hit and, hey look, another Alex Bregman. I'm not sure who picked him as their favorite but I appreciate it!

PACK 7

Mini 266 - Greg Bird (NYY) -1

227 - Jon Gray

276 - Giant Panda

318 - Harmon Killebrew (SP) +1

6 - DJ LeMahieu

195 - Matt Kemp

99 - Teoscar Hernandez

WAD-71 - Matt Carpenter +2 (FP) +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 49.3

PACK 8

Mini 208 - Felix Hernandez (A&G) +2

1984-113 - Kelly Paris (RT) +1

223 - Lucas Giolito

57 - Jharel Cotton

169 - Antonio Senzatela

296 - Zack Greinke

135 - Josh Donaldson

329 - Jonathan Lucroy (SP) +1

WAD-81 - Addison Russell +2

PACK TOTAL: +6

RUNNING TOTAL: 55.3

PACK 9

Mini 112 - Jayson Werth

253 - Brandon Phillips

224 - U.S. National Parks Service

33 - Byron Buxton

171 - Jose Canseco

168 - Robbie Ray

194 - A.J. Pollock

WF-10 - Conical Pendulum Clock +2

PACK TOTAL: +2

RUNNING TOTAL: 57.3

PACK 10

Mini 343 - Brian McCann (SP) +3

214 - Nick Jonas -1

234 - Charlie Blackmon

325 - Danny Salazar (SP) +1

133 - Addison Russell

56 - Rick Porcello

27 - Yulieski Gurriel

WAD-8 Aledmys Diaz +2

PACK TOTAL: +5

RUNNING TOTAL: 62.3

I'm not sure what Nick Jonas did to deserve the dreaded 'non-baseball Yankee' designation but I guess I have to honor the scoring rules.

PACK 11

Mini - James Shields (NNO) +5

173 - Odubel Herrera

269 - Krazy George

156 - Daniel Murphy

66 - Kenta Maeda

74 - Cal Ripken, Jr.

307 - J.J. Hardy (SP) +1

WAD-65 Yoenis Cespedes +2

PACK TOTAL: +8

RUNNING TOTAL: 70.3

PACK 12

MI-14 - Robert Heller +2

115 - Carlos Rodon

221 - Yadier Molina

208 - Felix Hernandez

233 - Jake Lamb

161 - Ernie Banks

292 - Evan Longoria

SFL-17 - Dorado Mahi Mahi & Large Popper +2

PACK TOTAL: +4

RUNNING TOTAL: 74.3

Alright, at the halfway mark, things are respectable. There are still 2 hits waiting to be uncovered. At the time of this post, the high score is 143.5 so the top spot isn't out of the question...yet. Stay tuned.

PENNANT BOX BREAK - PACK 12

218. Matt Wisler 

124. Aaron Nola 

196. Hishasi Iwakuma 

91. Freddie Freeman 

60. Anthony Rendon 

179. Yasmani Grandal 

151. Jimmy Nelson 

112. Michael Fulmer 

243. Elvis Andrus 

TD13. Clayton Kershaw/Madison Bumgarner - Throwdown

I know it's taken a bit to get through the box, but I'll have a couple of posts to break it up as I post my entry for this year's Gint-a-Cuffs competition. Stay tuned.

2017 PENNANT BOX BREAK - PACK 11

202. Giancarlo Stanton

257. Adrian Gonzalez

221. Mike Trout

259. Archie Bradley

287. Ender Inciarte

238. Nomar Mazara

152. Paul Goldschmidt

262. Jaime Garcia

263. Adam Duvall

TI27. Evan Longoria - The Incumbents

This is a pretty solid pack as far as base cards go with three legitimate MVP candidates. Lots of red and blue, too.

2017 PENNANT BOX BREAK - PACK 10

146. Jean Segura

280. Jose Peraza

245. Ivan Nova

291. Michael Conforto

170. Gary Sanchez

39. Adeiny Hechavarria

168. Roberto Osuna

12. Eugenio Suarez

294. Tyler Chatwood

TD6A. Jose Bautista/Rougned Odor - Throwdown Dual Autograph

Our second hit of the box packs a punch for sure. I thought with an insert named Throwdown, what better combination of players to feature on the same card than Joey Bats and Rougie Stank? I’d hate to be the Spirit representative in charge of getting these signed by both guys. I can just imagine their reactions to seeing their counterpart on the same card as them.