2021 Topps Stadium Club Blaster!

It's time for another blaster! Another 2021 Stadium Club one. I know we just did one of these, but I apparently was able to grab a few at once, making more for me to open!

Let's see how this one went!

Another box.

More packs, with the exact same picture as the box.

At this point in my last box, I talked about the weird Master Photo card Topps slipped into the box. This time? I honestly forgot about it, and didn't remember the white card carefully snuck into the white box before it made it to recycling. Hope it wasn't a valuable one. Are there valuable ones?

Not a Red Sox card. But...a couple Red Sox cameos. I wonder what the end result of this picture is. Everyone seems to be looking intently...even if Vazquez seems a bit more laid back. 

Here's a Red Sox card. A nice shot of Chris Sale about to make a batter look foolish.

Another non Red Sox card with a Red Sox cameo. This one has a nice old shot featuring two future Hall of Famers. I'm going to guess Ripken is safe. Any ideas?

So, not the greatest box in the world. One Red Sox card, and two cards of people doing well against the Red Sox. That's no fun. 

How did you box do?

2021 Topps Series Two Big Blaster Break!

I'm actually assuming that these aren't called "big blasters" but I honestly don't know what else to call them. So, that's what I'm going with. The cards are the same as last time, but there's just more of them.

Let's see how it went!

Here's the box. It's apparently a Target exclusive, which is cool. I should also be on the lookout for exclusive Juan Soto cards. Good to know.

And, since the front didn't mention it, the top of the box mentions all the extra packs I'll find inside.

Just look at them all!

Chris Sale looking especially tall. 

An Arauz rookie. Great shot of number 36!

A fun throwback design of Rafael Devers. The picture captures a lot of action, but doesn't present the best face for Devers.

A nice celebration team card showing the team having a pretty good time.

A sparkly green card of some Yankee. 

A nice action shot of Matt Barnes. The horizontal format really works for this shot.

Look! It's the exclusive Juan Soto I was supposed to be looking out for. Apparently he's not kidding around. The black background is nice too. Wait, are they supposed to be black?

Or...is this a numbered variation? Well done by me!

Basic shot of Arroya batting. I think the cropping really works on this card.

Another rookie. Another crazy action photo. 

Great shot of Eovaldi staring down an opposing batter.

Michael Chavis wondering if he should take another base. I really like these "posed action" type shots. Clearly this is the middle of a play, but it's still a well composed shot.

And, then there's the opposite. As I said last time, this might be the best action shot in the set.

And we close it out with Vazquez threatening to gun down another baserunner.

So, quite the haul. Obviously, the extra packs gave extra opportunities. But, the Red Sox turnout was much appreciated, and the Soto parallel made sure it was a decent box. Very nice all-around.

Have you opened any of these?

How did it go?

Opening Day Lineup!

Today is Baseball Opening Day! And, you know what that means…

It’s the start of Fantasy Baseball!

I realized that I haven’t shared with you the results of my draft, held on Tuesday. So, for those of you waiting for it, you’ll find it below! Just as a reminder, this is a ten team 5x5 league, with 27 roster spots. You have three keepers, and they take the place of your draft pick in whatever round you originally drafted the player. (I love that detail.) I had the seventh pick in a wraparound draft, so technically I got Mike Trout with that pick. My other keepers ere Bogaerts in the fourteenth round, and Nola in the sixteenth. Got that?

C Vazquez – Red Sox

1B Santana – Phillies

2B Baez – Cubs

3B Bregman – Astros

SS Bogaerts – Red Sox

CI Devers – Red Sox

MI Villar – Brewers

OF Trout – Angels

OF Pham – Cardinals

OF Inciarte – Braves

OF Eaton – Nationals

U Carpenter – Cardinals

U Anderson – White Sox

U Arcia – Brewers

Bench Bradley, Jr – Red Sox

SP Ray – Diamondbacks

SP Castillo – Reds

SP Arrieta – Phillies

RP Kimbrel – Red Sox

RP Rivero – Pirates

P Hand – Padres

P Iglesias – Reds

P Miller – Indians

Bench Nola – Phillies

Bench Parker – Angels

Bench Pomeranz – Red Sox

Bench Kuhl – Pirates

I didn't get as many Red Sox players as I usually do. But, I think lots of that is because most of the Sox were good enough to be kept by other teams. Betts, Benintendi, Sale, and Price never saw the light of day. I was able to add Kimbrel after deciding not to "keep" him. I also picked up Devers, probably too early. Bradley, Vazquez, and Pomeranz were three of my last four picks. So, I showed a lot more restraint than I often do.

According to projections from the league, I should finish second thanks to an elite pitching staff. (Another oddity. I sometimes don't even draft a closer. This year, not only did I draft Kimbrel in the second round, but I drafter so many closers that I can't even play them all at once.)

Can't see how the season plays out!