Sox Or No Sox: 1-12-08

Let's play America's newest game, Sox Or No Sox.

The rules are simple. We take one unopened pack of baseball cards that was randomly selected by yours truly. We then go through the pack card by card looking for those elusive White Sox cards.

Along the way, there are two tricky and abundant traps to look out for. The first trap is the Cubs card. While hailing from Chicago, it is definitely not a Chicago White Sox card. The second trap is the Red Sox card. While technically a Sox card, it is vastly different than a White Sox card. Both traps are not necessarily bad things, but they get in the way of the games true goal: to find White Sox cards.

1/2 point is awarded for each card in the pack. 1 point is deducted from the score for each trap card. 1/2 point is taken away for each pointless mirror card. 2 points are awarded for each relic or autographed card (only 1 point awarded for a relic or autographed trap card). 2 points are given for each White Sox card.

Truth be told, this is just a fun way to incorporate a pack opening on this site and still be about the White Sox.

Our player in tonight's game is a Target edition 2007 Topps Updates & Highlights retail pack. The pack contains 12 cards (10 if there is a relic card) and features a Yankee on the front and is claiming another Yankee as a possible insert. Two Yankee players on the front does not provide good tidings for the White Sox hunt. Let's begin.

#1: Pete Orr – Card #114 – Atlanta Braves
A Canadian Olympic player who is said to be a hard worker.

#2: Marlon Byrd – Card #131 – Texas Rangers
He tripled three times in a four game stretch!

#3: Joe Kennedy – Card #125 – Arizona Diamondbacks
I had Joe pegged for the White Sox bullpen this year. RIP Joe.

#4: Randy Messenger – Card #53 – San Francisco Giants
He used to play for Kane County, which is not too far away from me.

#5: Brad Hennessey – Card #24 – San Francisco Giants
Brad seems to be bouncing from role to role in the bullpen.

#6: Scott Hairston – Card #47 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Scott used to play for South Bend, which is also not that far away from me.

Halfway through the pack, it seems very national league and west coast heavy. No White Sox players yet, but a few players who played minor league baseball close to Chicago. Close doesn't count in this game. The odds are not good for finding a White Sox card. Six cards left to go. This pack does not contain a big relic card, since we would have hit it by now. Let's see if the elusive White Sox cards await discovery in the second half!

#7: Chris Schroder – Card #317 – Washington Nationals
He played for New Orleans in 2005 and 2006. That must have been interesting.

#8: Jason Phillips – Card #120 – Toronto Blue Jays
A Blue Jay backup catcher.

#9: Josh Barfield (Generation Now) – Card #GN575 – San Diego Padres
His 25th double out of 32 came in the first inning of a game at Coors Field.

#10: Joakim Soria – Card #180 – Kansas City Royals
A rookie card coming out of the Mexican League. He looks like he has some potential and I like the name for some reason.

#11: Derrek Lee AS – Card #253 – Chicago Cubs
Aaargghhh!! A Cubs card! One of the traps. At least it's a good Cubs player. And an All-Star card.

#12: J. J. Putz AS – Card #233 – Seattle Mariners
A closer who's reputation is better than he actually is. I keep wanting to say his name one way, but I know that's not how you pronounce it. Guess what, he's an All-Star.

OK, our pack opening is complete. It wasn't the worst pack in the world, but not the best. There was a large penalty for hitting a Cubs card. 1/2 point for each card in the pack, -1 point for hitting the Cubs card and -1/2 point for hitting a mirrored insert.

Final score: 4 1/2 points

No White Sox cards in this game, but there's always next time on Sox Or No Sox.