Tuesday Answers

I'm tired.  Things have been busy at the Commissioner's house.  My wife's CPAP (anti sleep-apnea / pro breathing machine) went kaput on Saturday evening.  She's getting a new one Wednesday morning.  She hasn't been sleeping well.  Hence, I haven't been sleeping well.   Then today my son called me complaining of internal pains.  A call to the doctor's office ended up with, "Go to the ER."  We did.  Bottom line, he's fine.  We're trying to head out to Chicago in the morning for a short family vacation. I've been busy.  But not too busy to answer a question or two.

Fan of Reds patiently asked: What about a Cabinet card that features a favorite player?

The Commissioner answers: Good question.  I'm sorry that I didn't answer sooner.  I'm going to rule that the bonuses apply to Cabinet cards as they do to base cards.

• +1 Your Favorite Team base card
• +4 Your Favorite Player base card
• +2 Other Favorite Player list base card

Fan of Reds also asked: Are the Bazooka minis considered hits?

The Commissioner answers: I was going to say no, but I think I'll say yes on this.  FP/FT modifiers apply, as do the Yankees' deductions as stated in the MULTIPLIERS FOR HITS section of the rules.


I'm going to bed.  I'll try to update the Leaders Scoreboard in the morning.  No promises.

Questions Asked And Answered - Sunday Edition

You might be getting tired of these images of giant octopodes.  Deal with it.  Shouldn't you be figuring out your card points?  Now on to recent questions and comments.

Beardy commented: You know those Fortunes for the Taking and Flocculence minis are like 1 per case or two, right?

The Commissioner commented back: No, I didn't.  I haven't seen any odds from Topps on them. I've seen forum boards that talk about their scarcity, but I've given my scoring ruling. They'll stay at the points I gave them.


Hiflew asked: Are the favorite player cards only applicable to base cards or do you get the bonus for Hometown Heroes as well?

The Commissioner answers: Favorite Player bonuses apply to any card they appear on. Hometown Heroes, Flocculence, Relics, Autos, and Minis to name a few.


Commishbob commented: I was wondering that as well but one more question disqualifies me I think.

The Real Commissioner commented back: Yep, you're probably right on that one.


The Leader Board page is up and running. Two participants have submitted their final score. Please do not be disheartened if your score does not match or exceed theirs. It isn't about winning. It is about sharing in the card set that is Allen & Ginter. Phooey. It is about winning and don't forget that the prize is a 2011 A&G Hobby Box supplied by the good people at Topps.

Remember, all scoring is subject to audit and correction.

More Questions Answered

from Fishes of Fancy
published in 1883

Now that the participants have had a chance to read the rules, they're having more questions.  I've got more answers.  Please check the 2011 Rules for scoring updates and clarification.  Any new changes will appear in red.  Some of the questions below have been edited for clarity.  The answers have not.


Sports Card Blog asked: Now I have a question on rip cards. Since Topps considers rip cards hits, are you considering them hits too? Right now it says no, just double checking.  And I meant for like, multiplier purposes.

The Commissioner answers: Yes, rip cards should be considered as hit cards.  Good question.  I've updated the rules.  That's what happens when the Commissioner starts formulating rules at 2 in the morning.


Commishbob asked: I pulled this out of an envelope on the top of my box. What is it? I didn't see it on the scoring matrix. Am I not reading the matrix correctly? 

The Real Commissioner answers: You're reading the matrix correctly.  It is a some sort of Boxtopper State Relic card.   I'm assigning it +20 points.


Commishbob also asked: Can I set up special pages to show my GAC hits on my blog? I ask because GAC doesn't really fit in the theme of my blog.

The Real Commissioner answers: Yes, of course.  There are specialty/focused blogs such as yours that should stay that way.  Please do show each point scoring card and the appropriate points.  Thanks for asking.

QUESTION I JUST FOUND IN MY INBOX:

Spankee asks: Say I get a #314 Nick Markakis SP Code Card.  Is it just +3 for being a code, or do I get +3 for code, +2 for SP, and +2 for FP list?

The Commissioner answers: Nope, not just a Code Card, but you get the additional points.  See, that wasn't that hard.  But for those of you who are new here, it was a very good question.

AND THAT'S THE END OF THE FRESH QUESTIONS


Now for some scoring of inserts:
+4 Fabulous Face Floccuence set
+5 Fortunes for the Taking
+15 Carnival Cuts



Not really a question but a note - Charlie is now a participant.  His Favorite Player is Jay Bruce.  Please take note and adjust your scoring as needed.  No new participants will be added to GAC3.

I think I've answered all the questions that have come in.  If not, you can always leave a comment on the newly created Q&A page.  It is really a misnomer, only questions will be there.  The answers will come as a blog post.  But just having a Q page didn't seem right.

And the first questions roll in

I've gotten a few questions, so I figured I'd answer them.

Colbey asked: Quick question o sovereign ruler of the rules. Do I add +2 points for base cards I pull of other people's favorite players? 

The Commissioner answers: First, I'm not the sovereign ruler of the rules.  That title is too long to type out.  I'm just the Commissioner.  Second, yes.  Per the rules: "+2 Other Favorite Player list base card."  Now, for a bit of clarification.  Jon Lester has been chosen as a Favorite Player by two participants.  If you pull a Jon Lester card, you only get the higher of the credit for the card.  It is either your FP or it is another participant's FP.  Not both.


Colbey asked in a private email: I think I finally have my boxed scored.  Just posted the results on my blog.  I went to the Leader Board to post my score, but the comments have been disabled (?).  Is this the case or am I missing something on how to post my score?

The Commissioner answers publicly: When I modified the Leader Board page last night either I disabled the comments or they were never turned on.  It is now fixed.  Thanks for bringing that to my attention.


Charlie asked in a private email: Is it too late to sign up for Gint-A-Cuffs?  I've been on vacation and haven't even ordered a box yet, but am going to when I get back.  Let me know - thanks!

The Commissioner answers publicly: Because I'm a generous Commissioner I will allow this late entry. But no more.  Welcome to Gint-A-Cuffs.

I'm still pondering those wacky beard cards and those another annoying cards.  Don't fear.  I asked the online Magic 8 Ball if those points would be figured out soon and the reply was: Signs point to yes.


UPDATE - I see that Colbey has scored his box.  He followed the rules.  He kept track of the pack scores in a spreadsheet, showed the hits on his blog.  What I'd like to see, though, is a pack by pack showing of the results, a la Night Owl from last year.  The format doesn't have to be exactly like the Night Owl's, but similar is good.  Now, Colbey, I'm not scolding you, just guiding you.  Each blogger will have their own voice on their blog, how they like to comment on the cards, but I do need to see all scoring cards, preferably with the scores attached.  It makes it much easier to go over 24 participants' blogs.

More Cards

It seems that I have overlooked a few inserts/subsets.  I do not know the odds on these cards and it will take a bit of time to assess their value. I hope to have a ruling by lunchtime today.

The sets I'm now aware of are:

• Fabulous Face Floccuence set
• Fortunes for the Taking
• Carnival Cuts

Darn Kraken.

The Kraken Has Been Released

The scoring rules are out.  Start ripping those packs, if you haven't already. And post your scoring cards.

To help in this project, Spankee has created The A&G Boxbreak Tool.  I hope that it useful.

I'm sure that there will be some questions on the scoring.  Ask and I'll answer the best that I can.  Remember, only the Commissioner's answers are valid.  Other participants can guide you, but don't be led astray by them.

Almost There

 

 

The scoring rules are almost done.  Almost.  I'm trying to make sure that the rules do not contradict themselves and somehow make sense.

The last day to join Gint-A-Cuffs will be Wednesday, July 20th at 11:59pm, Eastern.  I live in the east.  Eastern times will be used.

Thank you for your patience.

The Day After

In honor of Bastille Day, I'm using an image that I lifted from scifi-movies.com.  It is now the day after Topps 2011 Allen & Ginter has hit the streets.  Boxes are in hand and several Cuffites have started to post them.  That's fine.  Don't let me hold you back.

Since there are several new participants this year, I'll take a moment to give an overview of how this train wreck happens.  But instead of me yammering on and on and on, I'll let the originator of Gint-A-Cuffs do that for me.  Beardy created this monster in 2009.  Here's how he described it in a comment on Colbey's blog:

Basically, there is an arbitrary list of rules created by the commish. Certain cards are worth more points. Usually, they are either somewhat rare, or at least tougher to pull than a base card. Each participant gets awarded points for pulling a card of their favorite team, and for pulling a card of their favorite player, or a favorite player of any participant. Both favorite player and favorite team must be selected prior to the start of the competition. You can also lose points for pulling cards of any player on a list that is predetermined by the commish prior to the start of play. Scores are tabulated by pack, and then added up at the end to come up with your grand total. Whomever scores the highest, is the champion. It was invented by me in 2009 and the reins were handed over to Mark's Ephemera last year. He is the only Commish in the history of Gint-A-Cuffs, and his rulings are not to be taken lightly.

Beardy is right.  The Commissioner's rulings are not to be taken lightly.

This year I've decided to wait a week or so to release the scoring rules.  The last few years the scoring rules were released before it was really known what cards were in the set.  Sure, there will probably be something that the R&D department at the Gint-A-Cuffs headquarters hasn't foreseen, but we do our best.

So, I'll try to answer some questions that you might have.

Q: When does this start?  And when does it end?
A: Gee, I don't know.  I hope to have the scoring rules completed in just a few days.  The scoring rules will be posted on the 2011 Rules page.  The 2010 Rules will go away.  The contest will end in about a month.  End of August.  If there is need, it might end around Labor Day.

Q: Can I open my box?  Can I start busting packs?  Can I post them on my blog?
A: Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  They're your cards.  Open them and enjoy.  Share them with the rest of the world.

Q: If I post them, is there a format that I should follow?
A: A few comments here.  You'll have to post at least the point scoring cards on your blog.  You can post them now and after the scoring rules have been revealed you can just copy and paste with the card points.  As far as how to post, I'm a fan of the manner that Night Owl uses.  Here's one of his recent posts. Clean and clear.  With just a touch of smarm.  Smarm is not required.  Remember, this is a family contest, so please, no wagering and keep the potty mouths closed.  Also, please tag or label your Gint-A-Cuffs posts with GAC3.

Q: I'm going to have a lot of questions.  Can I have your cell phone number so I can call you anytime to get a scoring ruling?
A: Nope.  I'm sure that there will be questions.  And as Commissioner I'll answer them as quickly as I can.  Sometimes research needs to be done.  Sometimes I just won't be available.  The last few days of July I'll be on vacation with the family, attending a wedding in the western suburbs of Chicago.  Although I will have access to comments on this blog, I'm not going to be hanging around the computer for extended periods of time.

Q: You've joked before about accepting bribes.  Were you being serious?
A: Of course not.  Or maybe I was.  No.

Q: Community Gum said that they have boxes available and that they've lifted the one box per participant rule.  What's up with that?
A: I haven't spoken with Jon and Andy, but I'm guessing that they didn't sell out their case and are sharing the excess with anyone that wants in.  Contact them for details.  And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank them again for making the boxes available and being our Dealer Sponsor.

Q: Wait, I've got two or three boxes.  Why can't I just post all the good scoring cards on my blog, get a fantastic score and walk away with the prize from Topps?
A: Because you are all good people and this contest is based on trust and decency.  Deal with it.  But you don't get to post a box score then get a new box to try to beat it.  The first one you break and show is the one you're stuck with.

Q: How do I know if I'm doing things right?
A: You probably don't.  I don't either.  Go with it.  This is supposed to be fun.

Okay, I finished writing this at just after midnight.  It is now officially July 15th, which makes the whole Bastille Day thing moot.  I'm just going to back date post this thing and be done with it.

Help Needed

Okay, Cuffites, the cards have hit the streets.  Maybe you've already picked up your box from your local card shop or the drivers at UPS have been working overtime and you've already got your box from Community Gum.

I would like some kind soul to take the checklist that is included in their hobby box and put up some hi-res scans.

If you could also scan the pull odds, probably from the side of the box, that would be great.

I hope to have the scoring rules out very shortly.