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.-

[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????????

[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.

[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

[suave1477]

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

Looks like last he was with Tigers AAA team in 2008

Batting StatisticsYearTeamLgAgeOrg.LevelUnifPosLnGABRH2B3B HRRBISBCSBBSOHBPIBBSH SFDP AVGOBPSLGOPS1997YANGCL17NyyRkof 57213325611233691205200028 .263.323.3766991998GRESAL18NyyAof 13546766119182845151241120701412 .255.322.3536751999TAMFSL19NyyA+-of 1284676513217136611184998101188 .283.358.4137712000CHASou20CinAAof 26010000000000000 .167.167.167334 NOREast20NyyAAof 81290347384938171186931236 .252.299.4006992001CHASou21CinAA0f 12042664101220165210736951010111 .237.311.4017122002HUNSou22MilAAof 56184344161624103356371032 .223.362.364726 WTNSou22ChcAAof 7123425721704261061762102034 .308.375.4328072003WTNSou23ChcAA30of 7925228658372887204721003 .258.318.397715 IOWPCL23ChcAAAof 4312972340394082700002 .178.226.2795052004TREEast24NyyAAof 4112119326331511133121111 .264.343.438781 GRESou24AtlAAof 5216118318331320143832125 .193.267.335602 COLIL24NyyAAA-of 1130194204004710000 .300.400.5679672005ERIEast25DetAAof 723262001001500011 .261.280.3486282006LAKFSL26DetA+of 931370103000610010 .226.242.290532 ERIEast26DetAAof 1033655298234156041246970249 .268.323.477800 TOLIL26DetAAAof 514211000001800000 .071.133.1432762007ERIEast27DetAAof 883194799152146576306760063 .310.374.5028762008ROUPCL28HouAAAof 825340023000800001 .160.160.400560 TOLIL28DetAAAof 451501634804163272700202 .227.261.360621Minor League Totals - 12 Season(s)11413907518100417840103499111553388996910103978 .257.324.402726

Game Logs:

[bigtruck260]

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?