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View Full Version : Thoughts on collecting prospects?



AWA85
03-24-2009, 09:54 PM
I know the board has talked about some of the ridiculous prices that are tagged to guys that have not proven themselves yet on the major league level. I was wondering what is everyone's thoughts on collecting minor league players game used items? I am start to move towards picking up a few items of guys that are on the teams "Top 10 Prospect List", but many of the players are still in High A or AA. I am not looking at high priced items, but still purchasing bats from players that may never make it.

What is your thoughts? Have any items that you can't pay to give away right now from players that never made it?

zookerman182
03-24-2009, 11:48 PM
At one point i had about 25 minor league bats of brewers guys and the only real "prospects" i had were lorenzo cain, alcides escobar, mat gamel, and angel salome.

We will put it this way. People know who the good prospects are and will pay alot of money for thier stuff. I actually think the hype of the prospect makes thier minor league bats more expensive than when they make the majors and flood the market. Just be smart about who you buy and for what prices.

i had a ryan braun AA Huntsville Stars uncracked trashed SAM bat from the year he got the call. i let the bat go when he had only 8 career major league home runs. I have never seen the bat again and never will. Even if it did surface the price tag would be in the thousands.

Prospecting players in game used memorabilia is a bad idea if you are looking for a flip, if you are just looking to collect for the fun of it there are lots of good young guys to be had.

TriplexXxSports
03-25-2009, 07:04 AM
Here might be a kid that is worth keeping an eye on.......

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-strasburg032409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

shoremen44
03-25-2009, 08:18 AM
The scary thing is if you watch that video... he gets a bunch of those strikeouts with his breaking stuff...

that kid can play

TriplexXxSports
03-25-2009, 08:43 AM
The scary thing is if you watch that video... he gets a bunch of those strikeouts with his breaking stuff...

that kid can play


Yeah he can! This tidbit had my jaw on the floor......:eek:

-Executives believe the asking price for the Washington Nationals (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/was/;_ylt=AgcDzoGvUNNcoNe2EQLMPXz.gYl4), who hold the first overall pick, will start at $15 million. It’s even been suggested that Boras could pull a fast one and attempt to destroy the draft slotting system by shooting for a deal that essentially would treat Strasburg as a front-of-the-rotation starter before he’s thrown a professional pitch.-

suave1477
03-25-2009, 08:54 AM
I think collecting prospects/minor leaguers can be a lot of fun. Espcially when you follow there career or just take a look at there career somewhere down the road and see where they ended up.

For Example you get a bat from a player in the minors, take the bat home put it in your closet or wherever find the bat a year later. Look up that player and see he moved up in the farm system or got traded for another player.

It's a lot of fun.

As far as trying to hope to make that big score, I think has become extremely hard now because I think AROD set the standard. Everyone is hoping to get the game used jersey or bat of the next AROD and since AROD has gone above and beyond numbers, he is too far ahead to catch up too.
So basically any new prospect that comes a long will be compared to AROD and can he come close, since chances are NO that will devalue that players item. I am not saying it won't sell for a lot but imagine how much more it would sell if there was no AROD???

So for prospect flipping purposes I think in most cases it is a huge gamble.

For instance Phil Hughes thought to be the next future hall of fame strikeout pitcher prospect, supposed to be the next biggest thing to hit baseball since AROD and after 1 great start, several average starts, Injury, then 4 terrible starts. He is not considered a Top Prospect any more. The Yankees have about 3 pitching prospects ahead of him.

Yet His Debut Regular Season Major League Jersey sold for 10k

WHATS IT WORTH TODAY????????

BULBUS
03-25-2009, 08:55 AM
It seems like when someone is a prospect, his minor league stuff sells for ridiculous money, but once he makes the bigs, the price on that minor league stuff drops and everyone wants the stuff from MLB. I personally don't like minor league game used items.

MUSEOVEN
03-25-2009, 09:51 AM
HELLO: :)

I REMEMBER THE CASE OF JACKSON MELIAN.. IN 1997 I PAID LIKE 200.000 Bs. (LIKE 200$) FOR ONE OF HIS BAT, I THINK A OLD HICKORY BAT.. RIGHT NOW I DONT KNOW WHERE HE IS PLAYING...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jackson_Meli%C3%A1n

suave1477
03-25-2009, 10:18 AM
HELLO: :)

I REMEMBER THE CASE OF JACKSON MELIAN.. IN 1997 I PAID LIKE 200.000 Bs. (LIKE 200$) FOR ONE OF HIS BAT, I THINK A OLD HICKORY BAT.. RIGHT NOW I DONT KNOW WHERE HE IS PLAYING...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jackson_Meli%C3%A1n (http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jackson_Meli%C3%A1n)


Looks like last he was with Tigers AAA team in 2008

Batting StatisticsYearTeamLgAgeOrg.LevelUnifPosLnGABRH2B3B HRRBISBCSBBSOHBPIBBSH SFDP AVGOBPSLGOPS1997YAN (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/1997/10232.shtml)GCL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/1997/GCL.shtml)17NyyRkof 57213325611233691205200028 .263.323.3766991998GRE (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/1998/10209.shtml)SAL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/1998/SAL.shtml)18NyyAof 13546766119182845151241120701412 .255.322.3536751999TAM (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/1999/10408.shtml)FSL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/1999/FSL.shtml)19NyyA+-of 1284676513217136611184998101188 .283.358.4137712000CHA (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2000/10138.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2000/Sou.shtml)20CinAAof 26010000000000000 .167.167.167334 NOR (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2000/10324.shtml)East (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2000/East.shtml)20NyyAAof 81290347384938171186931236 .252.299.4006992001CHA (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2001/10138.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2001/Sou.shtml)21CinAA0f 12042664101220165210736951010111 .237.311.4017122002HUN (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2002/10247.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2002/Sou.shtml)22MilAAof 56184344161624103356371032 .223.362.364726 WTN (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2002/10433.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2002/Sou.shtml)22ChcAAof 7123425721704261061762102034 .308.375.4328072003WTN (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2003/10433.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2003/Sou.shtml)23ChcAA30of 7925228658372887204721003 .258.318.397715 IOW (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2003/10253.shtml)PCL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2003/PCL.shtml)23ChcAAAof 4312972340394082700002 .178.226.2795052004TRE (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2004/10412.shtml)East (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2004/East.shtml)24NyyAAof 4112119326331511133121111 .264.343.438781 GRE (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2004/10210.shtml)Sou (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2004/Sou.shtml)24AtlAAof 5216118318331320143832125 .193.267.335602 COL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2004/10147.shtml)IL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2004/IL.shtml)24NyyAAA-of 1130194204004710000 .300.400.5679672005ERI (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2005/10191.shtml)East (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2005/East.shtml)25DetAAof 723262001001500011 .261.280.3486282006LAK (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2006/10271.shtml)FSL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2006/FSL.shtml)26DetA+of 931370103000610010 .226.242.290532 ERI (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2006/10191.shtml)East (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2006/East.shtml)26DetAAof 1033655298234156041246970249 .268.323.477800 TOL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2006/10411.shtml)IL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2006/IL.shtml)26DetAAAof 514211000001800000 .071.133.1432762007ERI (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2007/10191.shtml)East (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2007/East.shtml)27DetAAof 883194799152146576306760063 .310.374.5028762008ROU (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2008/11063.shtml)PCL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2008/PCL.shtml)28HouAAAof 825340023000800001 .160.160.400560 TOL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/2008/10411.shtml)IL (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/leagues/2008/IL.shtml)28DetAAAof 451501634804163272700202 .227.261.360621Minor League Totals - 12 Season(s)11413907518100417840103499111553388996910 103978 .257.324.402726

Game Logs:

bigtruck260
03-25-2009, 11:55 AM
When I collected cards - it was way common to have hundreds of prospect cards that were high at one point and worthless in 3 years. names that come to mind: Luis Montanez (finally playing in B-More), Erick Almonte, Rick Helling, Ben McDonald, Ty Griffin...etc.

As for bats - I stay away from prospects. Even at a bargain, unproven in the majors is a mistake. I'd rather pass and regret passing than buy and regret buying...

One guy who will be interesting is Colby Rasmus for the Cards. A few years ago, you'd think he would be Edmonds heir to the CF STL throne. Now, he might be a fourth outfielder - and has lost much of his luster - not saying he won't be a star, but the fast track has slowed.

As for Strasburg, HOLY SMOKES. Mechanics, power, control and the fear factor. If he ever makes it to the bigs - he will make people drool for everything he has touched related to baseball...I would like to see where his stuff starts and ends up at. Anyone remember Mark Prior?

godwulf
03-25-2009, 12:30 PM
I buy what prospects gear I can afford to at the time, and if the price is right, I don't worry about whether the guy is a "hot" prospect or just somebody who may never make it out of Double-A. I collect them because they played for my organization - even if it was in Mobile or Yakima, rather than in Phoenix.

About the only real gamble I guess I've made is in shelling out some pretty good money for seven Justin Upton minor league jerseys. I have to admit that I would not have paid as much money as I did for just any prospect's jerseys. Looking back, I only did it because I was pretty flush at the time, and decided to treat myself. It happens. But if - God forbid - J-Up's career were to tank and I couldn't give those jerseys away, since I collect for fun and not as an investment, I could live with it. They're pretty! :D

allstarsplus
03-25-2009, 12:30 PM
Here might be a kid that is worth keeping an eye on.......

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-strasburg032409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Good eye. There will be a great story on Stephen Strasburg in this week's Sports Illustrated.

His advisor is Scott Bora$$ so this will set the record for #1 picks.

Who has this years #1? The Washington Nationals

Peter Gammons thinks he could get a 6 year $50 million deal on Day #1.

This was the same kid that struck out 23 batters in a game last year at San Diego State and is averaging 19 K's per game this year if you extrapolate that for a full 9 inning game. He is a man amongst boys.

He is as close as you can get to a sure thing----but he is a pitcher and has to stay healthy.

I have already had a call from someone wanting to get one of his Nationals jerseys. lol This is potentially great news for any Nats fan.

I just hope the Nats can sign him as the comparisons to Nolan Ryan makes me think of a lot of W's!!!

geoff
03-25-2009, 03:19 PM
A couple of Years ago I over Paid for a few Items from A few Prospects and said I would not over Pay ever again.I will wait and see if they are going to be anything Special or if I can get a good Deal.