Showdown Challenge #1: Gloat For Pedro

Introduction

Welcome to the first Showdown challenge, a new monthly series of challenges meant to keep the game interesting and fun. We’ve all done 5000 point matches or leagues, and while by-the-book Showdown is still as alluring as ever, we often miss out on the subtleties of the game by sticking to tried-and-true parameters. These scenarios will encourage the end user, that’s you, to think outside the box, to use the analytical skills that’s made you so good at crafting the perfect lineup of 9’s and 10’s. The segment is meant to be interactive in nature and, if successful, will enable playground-style shenanigans. So please, fight like Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon. Jab at your opponents like Trevor Bauer jabs at college girls on Twitter. Okay, maybe not that bad. But seriously, we’re a bunch of baseball fans, we should be able to engage in friendly banter with like-minded internet strangers.

Anyway, an introduction would be incomplete without inspiring a sense of direction. Suffice it to say that where this goes is up to you. It may turn into audio segments between regular contributors. It may evolve into a competition with prizes that (barely, I’m poor) exceed bragging rights. It may crash and burn like Rafael Palmeiro’s latest “comeback” attempt, or MLB Showdown itself. Too soon? Yeah, too soon.

The Challenge

Pedro Martinez may like to throw punches at old men (RIP Don Zimmer), but he also threw some incredible baseball games during his prime. The 2001 Pedro Martinez is widely regarded as the best 00-01 style Starter WotC made, and for good reason. Just look at this card.

7 innings, control 5, on at 18, no extra base hits. That’s absurd. It’s no wonder Pedro now has a successful career saying controversial things about baseball players. He had the stuff to back it up.

And so, this first challenge, “Gloat for Pedro”, involves you building your best lineup to face off against him. By best, I mean the lineup constructed to score against him, because the longer it takes to score on him, the longer he gloats. The “winner” of the challenge is thus the lineup that scores earliest against him. But there are rules. Non-negotiable rules, even with the MLB Showdown Player’s Association. They are as follows:

1. You must select 9 cards from the 2000-01 vintage, or any customs from this blog. As an extra challenge, try limiting yourself to just one year's worth of players.
2. Your lineup must fill every position, plus any DH as long as said DH complies with the rules of the challenge.
3. You may only use cards with an On-Base of 7 or less.
4. You may use expert gameplay rules. Pedro’s catcher has a +5 arm, his infield is +7, and his outfield is +4.
5. Pedro pitches until you score. He gets tired as normal.
6. When you score, you win. If Pedro gets through 9 innings without you scoring, he wins.
7. To be eligible for bragging rights, you must post your lineup, when you scored, and how said scoring went down. Posting Pedro’s stats is encouraged.
8. Expect to get feedback and push back on your lineup. Take it like Joey Votto takes pitches outside the zone.

Ninja Edit: For extra challenge, try using your lineup's defense as Pedro's defense. You didn't see anything... *waves arms*

Got it? Good. Now get to it!

Shameless Plug

A new and completely unaffiliated marketplace for trading Showdown Cards has launched. Whether you are trying to offload some cards, complete a set, or trade just because you can, www.showdownfans.com is your Showdown marketplace. If you need some more OB 7's to wreck Pedro, head over there and see what you can find!