The Imaginary 1994 NL West: A blaster battle

From 1969 to 1993, the Braves and the Reds were both part of the NL West. 1994 brought realignment, new divisional foes to both teams, and a player’s strike to disrupt the whole season.

But what if things hadn’t changed? What if the Reds and the Braves had remained divisional foes? The Braves in 1994 stood at 68-46, six games behind the powerhouse Expos when the strike started. The Reds sat atop the newly created NL central with a 66-48 record. The teams, unmoved, would have been vying for first place in the NL West, probably until the end of the year while leaving the rest of the division in the dust.

But who would have prevailed? Who would be the NL West champ? Computer simulations only go so far to solve this puzzle, but I think the best way to end this horribly convoluted construction is simple:

BLASTER BATTLE!!!11!!!1!!

Who: Me and Cardboard Junkie
When: Tonight
Where: Here and there
What: 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Blaster Boxes
Why: For the coveted imaginary 1994 NL West pre-realignment, and more!

Rules and first pitch are around 9 ET over at Cardboard Junkie. So grab some peanuts and break out your rally caps!

UPDATED Stakes, raised:

That’s right, root on the Braves and get swag. The two winners (if there are any) get 25 cards from the team or set of their choice and an insert/rookie card from their favorite team or player. Here’s the deal

dayf gets the crowd on his side? Oh yeah, well I’ll see his 25 cards, plus the insert/rookie, and provided I’ll win you’ll get to choose from my winnings of jersey cards, unless one’s Brandon Phillips, in which case you’ll get to choose the other one. So that’s a bonus relic for you! Because even though the Reds may lose, they still want you to have fun.

So guess the number of Reds and the relic I’ll pull, too and if I win, you win. And if I lose, I blame disloyal fans who left the club when it had too many losing seasons and revenue dropped.

My box breaks after his, so get in on the fun now.

Challenge extended, challenge accepted: Blasters at noon with dayf. Or 6pm. Whenever.

Cardboard Junkie‘s on his way to the store to look for a Stadium Club blaster. I hope he enjoys some success there because 1) it gives me the knowledge they are there and 2) I really want to get one, so that knowledge will help me sleep.

I came up empty handed on my search, returning home with an Updates and Highlights blaster instead. I’m not sure exactly why I picked it up, and as I was about to rip it, I saw this post declaring that the Junkie’s next rip would also be a U & H box. The fates tapped me on the shoulder and explained to me their reasons.

I extended a challenge: a battle of U & H blasters, to make things interesting. Last night, a reply on his blog:

dayf said…

If that is your challenge, I accept. All bets are off if I find a Stadium Club box. (assuming they exist)

So am I confident in this totally random and unskilled war that’s about to take place? Heck yeahs! And what will we be playing for but  … the SOUL OF ERNIE LOMBARDI!

Just kidding. I’m not sure what we are playing for yet. But oh so much more to come…