Commissioner's Ponderings

There's much to think about these days.

It appears that the Creator of Gint-A-Cuffs didn't spell some things out and confusion has ensued.

Specifically, the N43 Box Toppers.

The scoring rules state:

HITS

+8 Relic
+12 Short Printed Relic (usually non-baseball)

+15 Autograph
+18 Silk
+20 Printing Plate
+25 Group A Autograph
+25 Rip Card

+100 Cut Signature
+200 DNA Relic
+5 N43 Box Topper
+8 Cabinet Card Box Topper
+10 N43 of player from "favorite players" list
+20 N43 of your favorite player
+20 N43 Relics
+30 N43 Autographs
+50 N43 Autograph Relic
+75 Michael Phelps Autograph Boxloader

MULTIPLIERS FOR "HITS"
x2 If any of those pulls are of a player from your favorite team

x5 If any hits are of players on the "favorite players" list (see above)

x10 If it's YOUR favorite player

-5 points if we pull a hit of ........Corey Patterson (Relic), Eric Gagne (Relic), Jered Weaver (Relic)

DIVIDE BY 2 FOR ALL YANKEES HITS, INCLUDING "FAVORITE PLAYERS LIST",

blah, blah, blah

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This could be interpreted in several different ways.

An N43 Box Topper/Loader gets +5.

If the N43 is on the "Favorite Players" list it is +10, bringing it to +15.

Later on, because the N43 Box Topper/Loader is listed under the HITS heading, there could be multipliers for it (x2, x5, x10). Which would bring it to 25. Or 75. It has to be one final, not a buffet where you get to choose.

I'm not blaming Beardy for this. He assembled the rules based on the information that he had (which was sketchy at best, but so is Beardy), presented it to the blogsphere for comment and approval, then I stuck my nose in it and volunteered to be the Commissioner. It is my problem now.

So, I'm left to ponder what the original intent of the scoring was. Any way that I rule, it will affect some contestants' scores.

Since I don't want to leak the commissioner's rulings out a drip or drop at a time, I will stay up the rest of the night looking into this and the other questions that have arisen, namely:

• say I pulled a Josh Hamilton Sketch card, is there a multiplier for him being my favorite player? All I see is the X10 for 'Hits' but I don't know if the sketch insert is a hit.
• World's Biggest Hoaxes are listed at +5pts. I've landed 2 of the mini variety. Is there a bonus for this?
• What if someone pulls a no number mini card that is also technically a short print? Isn't it already being considered a short print for being a no number? If it isn't numbered 301-350 (since there's no number at all) does that count?
• National Heroes are listed at +5pts. Same question as before, I've landed 2 of the mini variety. Is there a bonus for this?
• Nextly. Negro League Stars are now worth +2 points for base cards. What about mini Negro League Stars?
• Over to the sketch cards, I've landed a player from the favorite player list. Is there a bonus or is it still just +5? I know there is still a Yankees penalty here.

Answers are forthcoming. I must now go and ponder.

Ponder why only one contestant is trying to bribe me. It sounds like they've got some decent stash to send my way, but I'm at a disadvantage. I have no leverage with them. I can't say, "Well, Contestant X just offered these cards, can you up him (or her)?" Nothing. All I can say is, "Thanks, we'll see what that can get you in my rulings." Step it up, people.

Again, a big shout out to Topps for their sponsorship. I told them that they would get visibility and frequent mentioning. I've posted their logo to the right and I gave them a whole post. Now this mention. Maybe I should start a Topps shout-out counter.

Nah, it would look like I'm pandering to them. I'm not. I'm pandering to the contestants. Who still haven't picked up on that.