I was all ready to go off on Eisner & Co. for running their mouth about how they wanted to market to "The Kids" while at the same time doubling the price of Topps Attax packs from $.99 in 2009 to $1.99 this year. Oh, how the obscenities were about to flow.... Then I saw the price of a starter deck has been cut in half from last year from $9.99 to $4.99. Well played, Topps... Well played. Unless packs have some kind of crazy Mojo insert in them that I don't know about, if you like this set starter decks are totally the way to go. 21 cards including 2 codes, 3 foils and a Legend foil, plus you can count on getting one complete lineup (i.e. enough cards to actually play the game against someone) in the deck. I got one out of curiosity and because it was that brief time period between my Topps Code obsession and Heritage Racks hitting shelves. I might as well show off my starting lineup from the deck.
Catcher
Joe Mauer
Can't get a better catcher. You can enter the code at ToppsTown to play a game or something. I still have avoided ToppsTown for some reason.
First Base
Adam Dunn
Not gonna deny it, the Nationals are starting to scare me a little bit. They will probably still suck this year, and may very well suck the year after that, but one of these years they're gonna be good. The game is basically War with delusions of grandeur. One player throws out a pitcher, the other player plays a batter face down and the pitcher calls a pitch. The two cards are compared and the higher number for that pitch wins. That's what the colored circles mean. Strat-O-Matic it ain't.
Second Base
Clint Barmes
That black bar at the bottom indicates how good the player is. The more stars, the better the player. You're supposed to make a team out of a variety of stars to make things fair. Second basemen aren't supposed to be able to hit anyway.
Shortstop
Yunel Escobar
Shiiiiiiiiiiiny! Ithink foil cards have slightly better numbers than the base cards, that's why Yunel is on a Hot Streak. I'm just glad there was at least one Brave in the deck.
Third Base
Michael Jack
Best third baseman ever in the history of eternity no arguments case closed period. This is coming from a guy who would punch a baby if it looked at Chipper Jones crosseyed. Lookit those numbers. I got five pitchers in the deck and not one of them was even close to getting Schmiddty out. And look at that big shiny blue bootay. This card is totally a Stupid Sexy Flanders moment.
Outfield
B.J. Upton
I don't know if B.J. plays left, center or right. This game is not that complex.
Outfield
Curtis Granderson
The Yankees. The YANKEES. WHY did it have to be The YANKEES???
Outfield
I wish I had more to say about the game, but that's pretty much it. Hambone sure can crush the fastballs though.
Designated Hitter
Alex Fraudriguez
My utter distaste for this person is overcome by the fact that he's got the highest numbers of all the other not-starters in the deck. He'll still never be as good as Mike Schmidt, and did did it all without 'roids, Scott Boras or a centaur painting over his bed. This foil card has Superstar on it for some reason.
Pitcher
My lineup is a killer, but my pitching staff leaves much to be desired. Adam here is the best of the bunch. The curveball isn't too shabby, but that change up isn't getting anybody out. The cards are still on the same thin stock as last year with the matte finish, but there is spot UV coating over all the interesting bits on the card. It's not terrible as far as cheezy game cards go.
