This is prompted from learning that there is a new 99 Lars Nootbaar card today, and you guessed it, buried in a headliners pack.

Everyone knows, or should if you have been around, that I am a Cardinals fan and my main goal every year is to earn the best Cardinal players, preferably through offline play, to use in offline play (conquest, mini seasons). I realize that is just my way to play and not everyone else's.

My Cardinals theme team lineup currently has 4 Core cards and 4 S1 cards (I have not earned Ludwick yet).

93 Victor Scott (Season 1)
84 Matt Holliday (Core)
93 Nolan Gorman (Season 1)
80 Paul Goldschmidt (Core)
88 Nolan Arrenado (Season 1)
87 Matt Carpenter (Core)
93 Joe Torre (Season 1)
89 Stan Musial (Core)
74 Masyn Winn (Core)

The only 3 Cards I have above 90 are all Season 1. My theme team will get weaker in season 2 and who knows how many Cardinal cards will be released in that season.

Now lets looks at what incentives they have given me to play and earn rewards. Here are the Top 10 cards listed for the Cardinals on the web site (including Nootbaar).

99 Lars Nootbaar (Pack)
99 Ryan Helsley (Pack)
99 Ryan Ludwick (TA)
97 Lou Brock (Collection)
95 Tommy Edman (Br Program)
93 Nolan Gorman (Pack)
93 Joe Torre (TA)
90 Tink Hence (Pack)
89 Victor Scott (Pack)
89 Stan Musial (US Conquest)

Out of 10 cards

Only 3 have been able to be earned through any offline program, the two team affinity cards and Stan Musial.
1 is a collection reward that I will never reach.
1 is an online reward (probably end up needing to purchase for stubs)
5 are in packs (including an expensive rare round and a headliner)

I have 128K stubs. All I can think about is do I splurge for 99 Ryan Helsley, 99 Nootbaar and 95 Tommy Edman? I think the answer is no until I find out the Wildcard situation for Season 2.

This is the main reason my interest has waned as Season 1 has progressed.

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Dolenz_PSN