Thoughts on collecting prospects?

[AWA85]

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]

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]

Here might be a kid that is worth keeping an eye on.......

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

[shoremen44]

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]

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......

-Executives believe the asking price for the Washington Nationals, 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.-

[BULBUS]

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.

[suave1477]

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????????

[allstarsplus]

Here might be a kid that is worth keeping an eye on.......

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...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]

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.

[MUSEOVEN]

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/bu...on_Meli%C3%A1n