We're nearing the end of another Major League Baseball season, with September lurking around the corner. Diamond Dynasty is still churning out monthly content with the 7th Inning XP Program launching today.
7th Inning Program Breakdown
There's nothing too exciting in the path itself, as it's the usual mix of packs and Stubs in addition to the player cards.
The first reward card in the path is 99 OVR Brian Dozier. I enjoy Dozier cards, and a free Prime card is huge for collection hunters at this point.
The "third boss" this inning is Milestone C.C. Sabathia. This slot has been reserved for what SDS considered the third option for the Boss pack, simply available in the path to everyone. This Sabathia is disgusting attribute-wise, carried to the #3 Meta Overall spot by elite numbers across the board. C.C. does not come with Outlier, but his 4-Seamer will still hit 100 MPH with a hard sinker and cutter offset by a nasty slurve and circle change.
I love C.C. and am always happy to give his cards a shot, and I'm stoked to get him in the path and not have to burn a Boss choice on him.
7th Inning Boss Choice Pack
7th Inning XP Program Boss Choice Pack
This Boss pack rules. David Wright and Manny Ramirez are two of the best players of their generation, and both receive absolutely amazing cards. David Wright is the five-tool, all-around hero that truly becomes "endgame" with Diamond Power mods tacked on. Manny Ramirez gets a thunderous offensive Milestone card, celebrating his 555 career home run milestone. This card comes with respectable defense as far as Manny Ramirez goes, and won't be a complete black hole in left field. I might still prefer him as a DH with so many elite outfield options available, and defense mattering more than ever.
Who's the Pick?
This is probably the first time I don't have a clear answer. Both of these guys start on my squad, and I'm absolutely going to try both. However, Manny is Manny, and I feel like the offensive juice on this card is just too good. I loved Manny's 99 OVR Awards card last year, and this card looks disgusting. The fact that I just got Chase Adrian Beltre for free recently also complicates the Wright-side of the equation, though I still intend on buying Wright if he's not absurdly expensive in the coming weeks.
Weekend Classic
The next Weekend Classic also launches today, with a trio of premium legends topping the rewards this month.
Weekend Classic Choice Pack
Pedro is one of the best starting pitchers in MLB history, but his cards haven't exactly translated in Diamond Dynasty. This Milestone Pedro rockets to the top of Meta Overall's starting pitcher rankings, so we'll see how this card performs versus the past versions we've seen.
Eddie Murray was for many moons my favorite Diamond Dynasty first baseman. The switch-hitter brings above-average to elite defense at first base, with elite contact and vision attributes and middling power for a first baseman. The upside with Diamond power mods exists as for all cards, and makes Murray even more competitive at the top end of his respective position.
I'm not sure if I'll have time to play Weekend Classic to try and earn the pack myself, but I'd probably take Pedro if I scooped it. I'm pretty ok with the combination of Miguel Cabrera/Victor Martinez at the position for now. I still don't have Albert Pujols, and he's looming as an option there as well. I'll always take top-tier starting pitching, and at a minimum, this Pedro will be a ton of fun to use in offline grinding even if he doesn't play well online.
Leaderboard Reward - 99 OVR Prime Jimmy Rollins
Those grinding in the tougher divisions of Weekend Classic have a chance to earn Prime Jimmy Rollins with elite leaderboard placement.
Rollins is one of the top Diamond Dynasty cards yearly, it seems, with the elite 5-tool speedster having pretty much everything you could want in a card. The offensive attributes are already insane for a shortstop, but another prime candidate for Diamond Power mods to boost this card to absurd levels. You'll be able to scoop this card on the marketplace if you don't play online, but expect to pay an absurd amount.
August Spotlight 3 Program Breakdown
The cards featured in this week's program are:
- Nick Sogard, 2B BOS (99 OVR Spotlight)
- Alec Bohm, 3B PHI (97 OVR Topps Now)
- Matt Wilkinson, SP SF (97 OVR Topps Now)
August Spotlight 3 Pack Breakdown
The cards featured in this week's pack are:
- Jacob deGrom, SP TEX (99 OVR Spotlight)
- Randy Arozarena, LF SEA (99 OVR Spotlight)
- Willy Adames, SS SF (97 OVR Topps Now)
- Jake Rogers, C CWS (97 OVR Topps Now)
- Hector Rodriguez, RF CIN (97 OVR Topps Now)
JJ Bleday Spotlight Collection Update
An August Spotlight collection update has landed, with 99 Milestone J.J. Bleday available to those able to collect Spotlight Angel Genao, Gunnar Henderson, and Nick Sogard - the first three August Spotlight Program reward cards.
It's a free card.
Cornerstone Michael Young Program
The 7th Inning Cornerstone player is Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.
Cornerstone Young is an offensively focused version of the legend, with average fielding at the shortstop position and decent speed. He can also play first, second, and third base, so there's some infield utility.
Don't Forget: Cornerstone is a collection series, so knocking out quick programs like this will help you stay on top of free cards you can earn for collections.
Chase Pack 24 Featuring 99 OVR Ozzie Smith
They did the meme!
Your absurdly expensive switch-hitting Chase card of the week is Awards Ozzie Smith. No notes necessary on this card - it's absolutely insane. Power mod this guy and watch him just absolutely rule the entire field.
ShowZone Out of Position Ratings Now Live
Ozzie Smith is a fun card to use to highlight one of ShowZone's newest features - Out of Position (OOP) ratings.
For years, players have boldly played elite defenders with elite speed out of position, taking defensive rating attributes that still fell into the "playable" category.
These ratings show you where a player card falls in the Meta Overall rankings at each respective position, with defensive penalties already factored in for you.
Ozzie Smith being the new #3 Meta Overall shortstop doesn't surprise anyone. He's also the new #3 3B when played out of position, thanks to his elite defensive abilities translating to literally every position on the field. This is a great feature to help you freshen up your lineup with perhaps once-unthought-of possibilities, and it gives a deeper insight into how some of the more competitive players have maintained an edge on the field.
Shark Map
And just in case you missed it, the fabled Shark Map returns to Diamond Dynasty. A yearly staple in Conquest, the Shark Map traditionally features oodles of packs buried in the map in addition to the completion rewards.
It's not the most impressive Shark Map we've seen, but it's still a great way to get free packs while knocking out grindable missions.
There's the latest content in Diamond Dynasty! What are you grinding first over the weekend? Let us know in the comments!
