Diamond Dynasty - Takashi Okazaki Pack, Ratings Update

With the Takashi Okazaki choice pack today, we get five new cards with delightful card art. They are Takashi Okazaki Alfonso Soriano, Bob Feller, Ozzie Smith, Eric Gagne, and Ivan Rodriguez. The pack is tiered with Soriano and Feller being in the good round and the other three in the consolation round. We also got Topps Now Week 3, a Milwaukee Brewers Home City Connect Program, and Headliners Set 25 Postseason Jimmie Foxx.

Takashi Okazaki Legends Pack

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I want to love this Soriano card because I’ve mashed with him in the past, but I was brutal with his first diamond earlier this year. I still will give this card a try either way. Bob Feller has usually been spotty due to command issues and relying on his fastball, but I’ve usually still been a fan. He has a sinker to maybe make things tolerable. Ozzie Smith has more power than usual at least from one side of the plate, so this card might be more viable than usual for him. Eric Gagne is usually a monster in this game, so I would suspect he’ll be in plenty of bullpens. He has his usual super slow curve and Vulcan change to go with a fastball/slider/splitter. Lastly, we have Pudge who has been maligned for his swing path in the past. My guess is he will have to earn the trust of some to be used.

June 24 Roster Update

Going 90+

• Byron Buxton
• Yordan Alvarez
• Bryce Harper

New Diamonds

• Edwin Diaz
• Carlos Rodon
• Raisel Iglesias
• Rafael Devers

Leaving Diamond

• Kevin Gausman
• Juan Soto

Yes, it’s funny that Rodon and Iglesias go back to being diamonds right away, and yes it’s also funny that Trout usurps Judge atop the rankings again one update later. Alvarez and Buxton have been on absolute tears, so it’s not surprising to see them join the 90+ club.

Milwaukee Brewers Nike City Connect

I know some traditionalists haven’t loved some of the Connect uniforms this year, but overall I’ve really enjoyed them. They’ve also added a nice little bit of program flavor to MLB The Show. This Brewers variant probably isn’t going to make my favorites list, but we also get a Topps Now Freddy Peralta card in the program.

I have used the Live Series Freddy Peralta here and there, and it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I don’t think this card is good or anything, just not dumpster levels bad either most likely.

Rewards

• 10 points – The Show pack
• 20 points – Universal profile icon
• 30 points – 1,000 stubs, Topps Now Freddy Peralta
• 35 points – Headliners Set 17 pack
• 40 points – Bat skin, 500 stubs
• 45 points – The Show pack (x5)
• 50 points – 1,000 stubs, Milwaukee Brewers jerseys

Moments

First moment is worth 5 points, the others are worth 4 points each

• Brewers Bring The Heat
  • Difficulty: Rookie
  • Tally 2 hits
• Welcome To Wisconsin
  • Difficulty: Rookie
  • Tally 8 total bases
• A Performance Fit For A King
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Hit 1 home run
• Christian Leads The Crew
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 2 hits
  • Tally 1 XBH
• Brewing Up History
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Tally 3 hits
• Fantastic Freddy
  • Difficulty: Veteran
  • Strike out 5 batters
  • Do not give up 2 hits

PxP Missions

• 500 PxP with Topps Now Freddy Peralta (10 points)
• 250 PxP with Brewers (2 points)
• 500 PxP with Brewers (3 points)
• 1,000 PxP with Brewers (5 points)
• 1,500 PxP with Brewers (7 points)

Exchanges

• Exchange Brewers (3 points)
• Exchange NL Central players (6 points)

Headliners Set 25 Postseason Jimmie Foxx

And here is ol’ reliable Jimmie Foxx making his catcher appearance. I have always hit like total butt with Foxx, but he’s always one of the offense-first catcher options you can roll out there if you want. This card seems even more versatile as usual (albeit bad no matter where he plays), and I will be passing on him either way.

The odds on Headliners packs to pull a diamond are 1:10 (as always), albeit that diamond might not be Postseason Jimmie Foxx. In addition, this year you can buy one pack of the Headliners choice pack, which gives you 1:3 odds of pulling a 90+ overall diamond (and of course costs more stubs).