Guardians: The Gathering (Part 2)

A continuation of Guardians: The Gathering – Cleveland Guardians Roster Strategy as a Fantasy Card Game

Guardians: The Gathering (Part 2)

— by Mario Crescibene

In Part I of Guardians: The Gathering, we cracked open the booster pack and revealed the central premise: the Cleveland Guardians roster is best understood not through traditional baseball metrics, but as a finely-tuned fantasy card deck—each player a unique piece, and each lineup decision a tactical move in a high-stakes strategy game.

We introduced the core mechanics of the T-POPS Adventure Deck, explored the mythic value of versatility, and spotlighted how players like José Ramírez and Steven Kwan serve as irreplaceable anchors, while x-factors like Gabriel Arias, Ángel Martínez, and Daniel Schneemann grant the Guardians a flexibility that defines the very identity of the deck. We laid down nine player cards, teased the deeper logic behind the system, and now—having shuffled the deck once more—we’re ready to explain how the game is actually played.

But first, we must update the deck. Noel, Wilson, and Brennan are out; Lane Thomas returns from injury, and Jonathan Rodríguez has been promoted from Columbus. Yet the structure of the deck remains intact. As noted in Part I, Thomas can capably cover both center and right field, and while Rodríguez is limited to right, he steps neatly into Noel’s vacated role. So with our updated deck in hand, let’s dive into the magical mechanics of how to play T-POPS.

How to Play T-POPS:

If you take a closer look at any T-POPS card, you’ll notice a small QR code tucked into the bottom-right corner. That’s not decoration—it’s your portal. Scan the code with your phone, and the card uploads directly into your personal roster in the T-POPS app. This becomes your digital vault—a living archive of all the cards you’ve pulled from your booster packs.

But this isn’t a solitary campaign. T-POPS is a duel. A battle. And to play it properly, you need an opponent standing across from you, deck in hand, eyes locked, and strategy brewing. Why in person? Because the stakes are real: the winner claims one card from the loser’s starting lineup. Forever.

To begin, both players open the T-POPS app and select a full starting lineup from their scanned roster: one player at each position, plus a designated hitter, a starting pitcher, and a reliever. The app randomizes who chooses first. That manager drafts their first starter; then their opponent picks theirs, and the draft continues back and forth until both lineups are locked. Once rosters are finalized, the game begins. The first drafter becomes the away team, and the simulation unfolds batter by batter.

The game can be played over three or nine innings, depending on your appetite for glory. The starter pitches for the first two thirds of the game, and the reliever pitches for the remaining third. Each plate appearance is simulated using real statistical matchups: the pitcher’s arsenal, the batter’s splits, home/away conditions, even lefty/righty dynamics. Want full immersion? Simulate pitch-by-pitch, feeling every foul tip and every full-count. Want speed? Simulate at-bat-by-at-bat, inning-by-inning, or run a full-game outcome if you want to do rapid-fire games or play out a series. The game is as granular or as grand as you want it to be.

But the danger? The thrill? That never changes.

Because in T-POPS, every card in your starting lineup is on the line. Lose the game, and one becomes a casualty. The winner selects one card from the loser’s starting lineup and adds it to their own collection—forever.

So build your lineup wisely. Don’t flash your prized José Ramírez unless you’re prepared to lose him. Bluff. Counterpick. Risk big and win bigger. Because in the game of T-POPS, the boldest manager walks away stronger.

So ask yourself: would you rather collect a static TOPPS baseball card, frozen in plastic and fading in a binder… or wield a T-POPS card—an artifact of power that comes alive in the fantasy realm of this enchanted game of baseball?

And now, without further ado, I present the Art Deco Expansion Pack featuring the final six starters from Part I, including Lane Thomas as well:

The Art Deco Expansion Pack: