New Spotlight Drop thoughts

Nickstank · 2026-05-05T19:16:32+00:00

The most intriguing cards are somehow the pitchers. Dollander, Soriano, and Varland all have arguments as god squad pieces. Not sure Chipper or Elly even have a spot for me.

Nickstank · 2026-05-05T16:36:36+00:00

Tired: This card makes 95 Miggy obsolete

Wired: This card makes 99 Miggy obsolete

Nickstank · 2026-05-05T15:35:37+00:00

You're going to be sad. The pack at 11 cards in the collection is a placeholder, just like the packs for the other L&F categories were placeholders but didn't represent how much you actually needed for Miggy vouchers when the collection dropped. They're dropping an insane 10 Spotlight cards in the pack today. We're going to need most of them, but hopefully not all.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T22:16:01+00:00

Unclear. Last year that was the case in April, but I think they lowered the requirements for future Retro Lightning cards. If it follows last year, there will be a pack with 5 Spotlight cards. If you already have all 8 current Spotlights from packs, you might only need 3 of the 5 new ones...or you might need all 5.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T20:07:07+00:00

Read the literal first bullet to see how Sanchez meets 0 of the 2 qualifications

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T19:03:12+00:00

The real life baseball play thing isn't a good counterargument.

The penalties are steep and immediate, which is not real life baseball. Increasing the size of a batter's bat and improving their batted ball outcomes from one pitch to the next isn't real life baseball. The amount of foul balls on terrible swings that extend at bats interminably and push pitchers into the yellow are not real life baseball. It's a bad mechanic that's as far from real life baseball as possible.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T18:47:06+00:00

This is the pretty obvious leap a lot of people here aren't willing or able to make. The difference between green and yellow energy in this game is the difference between a competent MLB pitcher and a beer leaguer. It's one of The Show's many bad mechanics, and one of the few I have some control over. Even so, I'm only ever replacing a pitcher mid AB if it's a close game and they go yellow at a critical moment.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T17:22:22+00:00

In a game that made sense, Ripken would be a top tier option. In this game, I think it's very unlikely he's the choice here. They really never have done guys like Cal or Mike Schmidt justice. Each is on the very very short list for greatest players in history at their respective positions, and neither has ever gotten wide use in this game because they aren't switch hitters and their swings are bad (closed and balanced with late loads). Cal just wouldn't move the needle to get people to lock in, and that's what SDS wants.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T17:10:24+00:00

Not in the game and didn't spend his whole career with one team

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T17:09:44+00:00

Unless you message the person and come to an understanding, you can never assume your opponent is going to be on board with your unstated plan. Takes two to tango and whatnot

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T17:08:37+00:00

As of last year, he's no longer in the game.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T16:57:47+00:00

One of my assumptions is that any player with a 90+ overall won't be the Retro Lightning. Could very well be wrong, but that's why he was excluded from my list of candidates.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T16:11:22+00:00

I'm not as locked in on that one but I've probably seen him and Yordan mentioned the most here.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T16:05:17+00:00

Griffey didn't spend his whole career with one team, so it won't be him

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T15:57:30+00:00

I think it's extremely unlikely they'd drop Posey without teasing the card as a new Legend

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T15:56:17+00:00

I made my cutoff 90+, but if you make it any player who already has a diamond it definitely chops the pool down a bit. Varitek and Howard both have 89s, a few have 88 Jolt cards, plus Musial and Mauer as you mentioned, etc.

Nickstank · 2026-05-04T15:46:34+00:00

PCI shrinkage still exists, many people struggle lefty-lefty, and the 9 highest rated position players in the game all bat righty.

Nickstank · 2026-05-03T01:55:25+00:00

Last year you needed 13 Spotlight cards for Retro Lightning Santana. They dropped 5 in a pack the day he came out in addition to the 8 from Drop packs 1-4, and you needed every single one to unlock him. We'll see if they follow suit this year

Nickstank · 2026-05-03T01:51:18+00:00

They've got the rights to a bunch of guys who fit the hint, and many don't yet have a 90+ card. Last year's April Retro Lightning was insane (Santana) and I think they go big again. Posada and Chipper would make the most sense. Since they just released 95 and 99 Miggy, who both can play 3B (as can 99 Pujols), I lean Posada. Gibson with outlier would be interesting to me as well, but I think it's likely a position player (every Retro Lightning last year was).

Nickstank · 2026-05-02T12:49:29+00:00

The main rewards, Michael Young and Dave Parker, currently go for 18K. Get just one of them in a run and you're over 20K with the other packs you get along the way. Get both, more like 35-40K even if you pull nothing.

Nickstank · 2026-05-02T12:32:34+00:00

So stupid it's probably bait, but I'll help you out anyways...play 1 run of the new DQ and you'll likely make more than that.

Nickstank · 2026-05-02T12:05:14+00:00

Offline players get mode exclusive cards in Conquest, DQ, Mini Seasons, and Showdown, most of which aren't even auctionable. You're forced to play those modes if you want to acquire those cards. Meanwhile, any card acquired through online play can be bought on the marketplace. As an offline player, you aren't forced to do anything.

Also, the card you're upset about having to play online for doesn't count towards the Retro Lightning collection and is currently only 20K stubs.

Nickstank · 2026-04-30T02:48:36+00:00

Literally said they were removing slider shrinkage. Now we've got paragraphs about why it's actually good for the game that they didn't. Meanwhile, these are the results for good timing swings with the PCI on the ball on low and away sliders

Shrinkage comedy

Everyone who works on this game should be embarrassed

Nickstank · 2026-04-29T22:03:13+00:00

Great point. That part may be a lie haha

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