Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 7 of 7

Pack 21:

251 Adam LaRoche

213 Elvis Andrus

14 LaTroy Hawkins

330 Jason Heyward

85 Kris Bryant

242 James McCann

MM-16 Leprechaun Menagerie of the Mind (+2 Insert)

317 Hunter Strickland Mini A&G Back (+5 Mini A&G Back SP)

Really not a bad pack from both a GAC and value standpoint, but I'm going to need gold at the end of this rainbow.

Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 132

Pack 22:

270 Mike Foltynewicz

234 Michael Cuddyer

157 Jose Reyes

59 Hector Rondon

321 Ben Zobrist

36 Anthony Ranaudo

SP-30 David Price  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

BUG-13 Calleta Silkmoth Caterpillar A World Beneath Our Feet (+2 Mini Insert)

At least I got a Cuddyer.

Pack Total: 4
Box Total: 136

Pack 23:

200 Jose Abreu

27 Maikel Franco

61 Domonic Brown

318 David Price

246 Andrew Cashner

229 Ivan Drago (-1 Commissioner Says So)

SP-100 Jayson Werth  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

238 Dee Gordon Mini

It pains me to lose points for the Drago card.  It's fantastic.

Pack Total: 1
Box Total: 137

Pack 24:

57 David Cross

119 Paul Scheer (-1 Commissioner Says So)

282 Adeiny Hechavarria

139 Chris Sale (+2 FP List)

327 Jeff Mauro

89 Jonathan Papelbon

AA-2 Katana Ancient Armory (+2 Insert)

142 Yasiel Puig Mini A&G Back (+2 Mini A&G Back) Why does Paul Scheer get a -1? Pack Total: 5 Box Total: 142 Well, that does it.  My final score is 142.  I'm guessing it is near the bottom of the leaderboard.  I can say with confidence that this was the worst box of my entire case...for the second straight year.  Pitiful.  I need to get better at choosing a GAC box.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 6 of 7

Pack 17:

240 Trevor May

122 Jesse Hahn

309 Gabe Kapler

49 Hisashi Iwakuma

191 John Lackey

NNO Delmon Young (2011) Buyback (+3 Full Size Buyback)

MBT-2 Cornelius Vanderbilt Magnates, Barons & Tycoons (+2 Mini Insert)

MM-5 Griffin Menagerie of the Mind (+2 Insert)

Of 24 full-size buybacks in my case, 2 were Delmon Young.

Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 107

Pack 18:

198 Albert Pujols

174 Joe Mauer

19 Charlie Blackmon

291 James Shields

SP-65 Maikel Franco  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

FMR-PA Pedro Alvarez  Framed Relic (+8 Framed Relic)

Well, there goes my chance at winning.

Pack Total: 10
Box Total: 117

Pack 19:

75 Brandon Phillips

188 Shelby Miller

96 Tim Hudson

103 Salvador Perez

304 Gary Brown

92 Michelle Beadle

AA-3 Quarterstaff Ancient Armory (+2 Insert)

216 Jake Lamb Mini

Ugh.

Pack Total: 2
Box Total: 119

Pack 20:

294 Adam Wainwright

146 Michael Morse

70 Kyle Seager

339 Clayton Kershaw

230 Keith Law

65 David Ortiz (+2 FP List)

SP-39 Clayton Kershaw  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

185 Gus Malzahn Mini A&G Back (+2 Mini A&G Back)

Kershaw hot pack, would have thought someone would have him as their FP.

Pack Total: 6
Box Total: 125

Well, with 4 packs and no guaranteed hits remaining, I'm on pace for 148.  I would be shocked if I get there.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 5 of 7

Pack 13:

2 Nick Markakis

45 Chris Owings

281 Cory Spangenberg

322 Mark Melancon

145 Santiago Casilla

NNO Francisco Rodriguez (2007) Buyback (+3 Full-Size Buyback)

WAS-1 Flat Earth What Once Was Believed (+2 Insert)

329 Brett Gardner Mini (+3 Mini SP, -1 Yankee)

2007 Cards look good as buybacks since they have plenty of space for the stamp.

Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 83

Pack 14:

33 Michael Wacha

106 Yunel Escobar (+1 Nationals)

257 Pablo Sandoval

314 Ian Desmond (+1 Nationals)

171 Anthony Rendon (+1 Nationals)

193 Aramis Ramirez

SP-60 CC Sabathia  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

136 Tyson Ross Mini A&G Back (+2 Mini A&G Back)

Wow, that's a great pack to get if you're a Nats fan. Hey, I am.  Woohoo!  No, I don't want your Nationals cards.

Pack Total: 7
Box Total: 90

Pack 15:

220 Yasmani Grandal

9 Jeff Samardzija

101 Stephen Strasburg (+1 Nationals)

50 Francisco Rodriguez

276 Alex Rodriguez (-1 Yankees)

158 Kurt Suzuki

WOULD-4 Automated Kitchen What Once Would Be (+2 Insert)

278 Cliff Lee Mini

I have an automated kitchen...it's called a wife! JustkiddingMywifeisawonderfulhumanbeingwhomIloveverymuchSorrysweetieIdidntmeanitIloveyou.

Pack Total: 2
Box Total: 92

Pack 16:

273 Cole Hamels

127 Nick Castellanos

313 Jhonny Peralta

284 Jay Bruce

FSRB-CBL Charlie Blackmon  Full-Size Relic (+6 Full Size Relic)

SP-21 Aroldis Chapman  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

291 James Shields Mini

Ouch.  I had never heard of this guy until I saw this card.  That's usually not good.

Pack Total: 8
Box Total: 100


So, after 2/3 of my box, I'm sitting at an even 100 with a 145 pace.  My last hit needs to be a doozy.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 4 of 7

Pack 9:

180 Scott Kazmir

140 Jose Altuve

183 Edwin Encarnacion

51 Matt Garza

84 Josh Harrison

207 Derek Norris

WAS-9 California Island What Once Was Believed (+2 Insert)

58 Jacob deGrom Mini A&G Back (+2 Mini A&G Back)

deGrom AKA Samardzija 2.0

Pack Total: 4
Box Total: 57

Pack 10:

64 Austin Jackson

262 Alex Cobb

190 Michael Bourn

203 David Wright (+4 Favorite Player)

305 Chris Carter

110 Victor Martinez

SP-13 Hanley Ramirez  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

159 Devin Mesoraco Mini

Always good to beat the 1:3ish box odds and get your favorite player's base card.

Pack Total: 6
Box Total: 63

Pack 11:

20 Leonys Martin

266 Drew Storen (+1 Nationals)

295 Joe Nathan

338 Mike Napoli

72 Joe Panik

172 Matt Carpenter

GS-10 Dolly the Sheep Great Scott! (+2 Insert)

BP-4 Burrowing Owl Birds of Prey (+2 Mini Insert) Topps really blew it here.  Every Dolly the Sheep card should have an identical one right behind it.  At least they put owls in the set.

Pack Total: 5
Box Total: 68

Pack 12:

15 Justin Verlander

239 Zach Britton

147 Yoenis Cespedes

328 Val Kilmer

29 Nick Swisher

289 Wil Myers

SP-5 Freddie Freeman  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

108 Prince Fielder Mini Black Border (+3 Mini Black Border, +3 FP List)

A black mini Prince Fielder is both redundant and oxymoronic.

Pack Total: 8
Box Total: 76

So I've increased to a 142-point pace at the halfway mark.  I need some help.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 3 of 7

Pack 5:

167 Julie Foudy

13 Koji Uehara

48 Coco Crisp

301 Justin Morneau

247 George Springer

192 Fernando Rodney

SP-99 Stephen Strasburg  Starting Points (+2 Insert, +1 Nationals)

131 Josh Reddick Mini Black Border (+3 Mini Black Border) That Coco Crisp card is just amazing. Pack Total: 6 Box Total: 39

Pack 6:

115 Dustin Pedroia

175 DJ LeMahieu

306 Stephen Drew (-1 Yankee)

300 Bryce Brentz

216 Jake Lamb

288 Robinson Cano

Would-7 Easy-clean furniture What Once Would Be (+2 Insert)

261 Yu Darvish Mini

I have two cats and a toddler...our furniture is too destroyed to clean. This pack isn't helping my case for victory.

Pack Total: 1
Box Total: 40

Pack 7:

237 Hyun-Jin Ryu

217 Wade Miley

297 Magna Carta (+1 Commissioner Says So)

44 Sal Vulcano

335 Collin Cowgill

135 Mark Teixeira (-1 Yankee)

SP-73 Brandon Belt  Starting Points (+2 Insert, +2 FP List)

FIRST-21 Caroline Harrison First Ladies (+2 Mini Insert) Love Impractical Jokers.  I was so excited when I found out there were in this set.  My Sal card keeps falling on the ground, though. Pack Total: 6 Box Total: 46

Pack 8: 83 Matt Harvey

112 Buck 65

311 Michael Brantley

102 James "Clubber" Lang

NNO Aaron Rowand (2009) Mini Buyback (+4 Mini Buyback)

297 Magna Carta Mini (+1 Commissioner Says So)

MM-13 Cyclops Menagerie of the Mind (+2 Insert) I love the Rocky inclusions even more than the Impractical Jokers. Finally getting some decent pack scores. Pack Total: 7 Box Total: 53 Well, for hitless packs, these weren't terrible, but now I'm only on a 139-point pace.  Not looking good.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 2 of 7

Pack 1:

52 Jake Marisnick

121 Wei-Yin Chen

12 Nelson Cruz

317 Hunter Strickland

243 Jean Segura

162 Anthony Rizzo (+2 FP List)

SP-77 Robinson Cano  Starting Points (+2 Insert, -1 Yankee)

288 Robinson Cano Mini  Cano hot pack.  Too bad he's nobody's favorite player.  And too bad that one card is a Yankee. Pack Total: 3 Box Total: 13

Pack 2:

254 Alex Gordon

69 Christian Bethancourt

208 Jose Fernandez

271 Dexter Fowler

131 Josh Reddick

138 Michael Pineda (-1 Yankee)

AA-18 Dory Spear Ancient Armory (+2 Insert)

296 Kenley Jansen Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back) That Dory Spear card makes me want to play with my old Legos. Pack Total: 3 Box Total: 16

Pack 3:

206 Erick Aybar

116 Freddie Freeman

6 Lucas Duda

99 Yan Gomes

SP-93 Edwin Encarnacion  Starting Points (+2 Insert)

FSRA-JF Jose Fernandez  Full-Size Relic (+6 Full Size Relic)

FIRST-13 Jane Pierce First Ladies (+2 Mini Insert) Well, that's just not a very exciting relic at all.  Even Jose doesn't want to make eye contact with me on that one. Pack Total: 10 Box Total: 26

Pack 4:

252 Mike Trout (+2 FP List)

90 Darren Rovell

231 Henderson Alvarez

350 Masahiro Tanaka (-1 Yankee)

87 Francisco Liriano

136 Tyson Ross

MM-4 Phoenix Menagerie of the Mind (+2 Insert)

BODY-4 Gymnasticon A Healthy Body (+4 Unannounced Mini Insert) Darren Rovell is one of the best follows on Twitter.  The Healthy Body mini was a pleasant surprise.  I actually ended up with 2 from my case (as well as one Healthy Mind insert).

Pack Total: 7

Box Total: 33

Well, at this point, I'm on pace for 148.  That's not going to cut it.

Gint-A-Cuffs VII - Part 1 of 7

Boxloader:
B-1 Mike Trout  Box Loader (+8, Box Loader, +2 FP List)

Pack Total: 10

Box Total: 10

Well, it's about as good a boxloader as you're going to get without hitting a relic, auto, or red mini pack.