i am NOT a prospector - my busted attempts

[cmixer]

Every year I pick one super-sleeper;
hoping to collect a winner while he's still cheap.
I don't pick them based on Baseball America, etc.
I usually see them in the minors or just go with my gut.
Here's my TOP-5 failures:

(#5) Brent Lillibridge. - 2005 Bowman cards.
I guess he wasn't a failure like my others. - He made the 40 MAN roster -
but have you seen his BA? yuck!
Best cards I own:

(#4) Esmerling Vasquez - 2007 Bowman cards.
Not my fault - #1 Dbacks prospect pitcher for a while.
Then came the arm blow-out & surgery ...
Best card I own:

(#3) Kasey Kiker -
Not a total bust yet - 2008 Top-10 Rangers.
Of course you can buy his cards on eBAY still for pocket change.
Best card I own:

(#2) Vito Chiaravalloti -
He was GREAT at Auburn (Doubledays) in 2003 - league triple crown winner!
I found out later that means nothing ...
Best card I own:

(#1) And my biggest bust -
ole' PAT OSBORN(e) - they don't even know how to spell his name ...
A product of the UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA, and I'm a sucker ...

And the RED's #/20 - I won't bore you with all of them -
but yes - almost ALL of them (14/20 i think at last count).

Honorable Mentions:

Shane Funk - lived in the city I was in at the time ...

Vicente Padilla - an allstar, right?

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Thanks for viewing my pain ...

 

[thefasterblade]

I'll say a prayer for David Nick.

 

[Derek2011]

Vito and Osborn are both stars in the Independant Atlantic League. Atleast they were last year.

 

[Penno]

Eww. two guys I had some cards of were on your list, Lillibridge and Kiker. I still have about 15 chromes of Brents unfortunately. Kiker, I got out of except for 1 refractor auto.

 

[abravesfan]

i feel your pain on lillibridge... :lol: more of a PC, but of course he was traded

 

[cgilmo]

I'll say a prayer for David Nick.

why do you think David Nick prays so much?

 

[Adam G]

Thanks for sharing.

For anyone out there considering "investing" in prospects, remember that unless there is considerable research, analysis, and organization behind your picks, it's not investing at all, but rather speculation. There is a big difference, and as I have learned to differentiate between the 2 terms, I have been a lot more successful not only in prospecting, but general investments in life (my stock portfolio finished up 40% last year, and I'm up 20% this year).

Investment -- The allocation of funds for purchasing an item or product with the expectation that future price will increase and reflect inherent value.

Speculation -- The allocation of funds for purchasing an item or product with the expectation that future price will increase regardless of inherent value.

You can't invest unless you have some intelligent way of determining a true value range of an asset, and the more well designed the method of appraisal, the more likely your determined value will be correct, and one day reflected in market price.

 

[tramers]

i collect pirates need i say anything else? cmb's

 

[aw00d05]

Kiker still has time and has been GREAT this year so far.

 

[cmixer]

i feel your pain on lillibridge... :lol: more of a PC, but of course he was traded

WOW - the super!

Yup - started picking him up as a BRAVE ... grrr

 

[RL24]

And the RED's #/20 - I won't bore you with all of them -
but yes - almost ALL of them (14/20 i think at last count).

I think 14/20 is pretty cool no matter who the player is!



That David Nick is pretty hilarious! It gets more serious once you read what the card says, but at first glance it seems like a real funny inscription. Who does this guy think he is, LaPorta?? :lol:

 

[abravesfan]

no its worse, the 05 BCDP Red Refractor is 1/1 as well

don't these just look pretty?

 

[Bruin7]

Wow, some of those cards reminded me of a time when I was buying guys who probably work at In and Out now (best burger joint IMO).

Allen

 

[hive17]

Reminds me of my Hernan Iribarren collection. I'm not saying he's done, but something about him screams AAAA-4-life to me now.

Of course, I said the same thing about Nelson Cruz (and i still think I'm right), but Hernan doesn't have power, which can bail out a failed prospecting venture with 2 good weeks like it was TARP money.

 

[AKA Coastal]

Don't stick a fork in Kiker yet. He's still young and been pretty good to start the year.

 

[AKA Coastal]

Vasquez has been really good out the pen so far this year in AAA.

 

[AKA Coastal]

Osborn killed the ball in the Atlantic League last year.

 

[tramers]

i feel your pain on lillibridge... :lol: more of a PC, but of course he was traded

WOW - the super!

Yup - started picking him up as a BRAVE ... grrr

i collected as a pirate - have one 1/1

 

[vetsgt02]

I prospected Chris Hobdy and he is in jail now so I win for worst prospecting ever LOL

 

[Ty Hope]

I feel your pain...

etc.
etc.
etc.....