Weekend Classic II began today, which kicked off the second-ever weekend tournament style throwdown. The first Weekend Classic unveiled the format for this competitive mode, and Weekend Classic II mirrors that with some minor changes.
Something that didn't change is the inclusion of the Weekend Classic II Choice Pack, earned by players that land in the required leagues and ratings. The higher divisions will earn tiered versions, featuring a pick of one of the new rewards (covered here) and the previous Choice Pack rewards. Lower divisions should look for Rewind Packs.
2nd Half Heroes 2B Ryne Sandberg (Chicago Cubs) - #2 2B True Overall
Starting things off is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg of the Cubs. Ryno features a modest build, with elite Contact against LHP at 111 and solid 94 against RHP. Sandberg also features some pop with 78 Power versus LHP and 90 against RHP. The relatively low Clutch at 74 can make Ryno a solid lead-off hitter (if you don't care about the 60 Speed) or an ideal 7 or 8-hole hitter.
Cards like this want you to maximize their at-bats without runners in scoring position. Depending on your lineup, you could fit Sandberg higher or lower to fit your needs.
Overall, True Overall has Sandberg as the #2 2B in Diamond Dynasty.
All-Star RF Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) - #5 RF True Overall
The second Weekend Classic II reward is Giancarlo Stanton. This All-Star version hits all the notes you should expect from a 91 overall Stanton, with 90/82 Contact and 80 Clutch and massive 108/103 Power against LHP and RHP respectively. These are the attributes we might expect, but so is the 45 Vision. Stanton has never been a stranger to strikeouts, which certainly lowers the viability of this card on higher difficulties.
Outside of the offense, this Stanton features 82 Fielding (Gold shield) with a very good arm (88 Strength and 85 Accuracy) and 67 Speed. While that 67 Speed doesn't make him capable of chasing down every gap-shot, it's a Hell of a lot faster than any modern Stanton card will be.
Closing Thoughts
As SDS navigates the fresh waters of Weekend Classic, it's important to remember that the rewards are just as tweakable as the mechanics of the mode. On the surface, these cards can seem disappointing as premium multiplayer rewards. It's incredibly easy to cherry pick attributes and downplay cards based off certain factors. With these cards being a bit below the new Bosses, it does make one question if the power level is right yet.
If the first six games of each Weekend Classic are supposed to be the most competitive games you can play, then the rewards being a little more powerful than grindable cards makes sense. This seems like an easy suggestion to make for future Weekend Classics, and hopefully Weekend Classic II works much better than the first.
Will you be playing Weekend Classic II? How do you feel about these rewards? Let us know in the comments!
Cory Wayne Dell
Cory has been writing about all things baseball and gaming since 2022 and has been featured at Operation Sports as well as cited by Forbes. Cory is also a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Cargocastle. Cargocastle's latest single, "Truth and Reconciliation," is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Cory is also the author of Shadow of a Monster, a personal memoir currently seeking publication.
