Justin Smoak Called Up

[Anthony]

The FreedomCardBoard Justin Smoak...FCBOW

The signed version was signed during a USA/Canada game here in Cary, NC.

I got my FCB card of his signed at ST, along with... some other card--probably a Razor base card.

 

[jmc280zx]

Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

 

[Huffamaniac]

Rangers are home this weekend. Nice way to begin your career

 

[Bruin7]

If he gets a Finest Redemption with some autos expect him to be in Bowman Chrome later this year. That's going to be the top card in that product unless they can somehow get Chapman to sign.

Allen

 

[beefycheddar]

Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

Because they have a blanket contract to make cards of guys in MILB, not MLB. MLB players all have to sign individual contracts with Topps to use their images, Razor guys can not.

 

[pigskincardboard]

Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

Because they have a blanket contract to make cards of guys in MILB, not MLB. MLB players all have to sign individual contracts with Topps to use their images, Razor guys can not.

Say what? If that's true, that's the dumbest crap that I've ever heard. It seems to me like that'd be a union thing. If Razor guys don't join the union, that makes sense. They're basically LB#56 in Madden when Arrington did his own thing. However, if you purchase a license from MLB and MLBPA, I'd assume that everyone under the umbrella is covered.

Getting autographs, is obviously another story.

While what you say is certian possible, I can't think of a more idiotic way to negotiate rights of "baseball players." That would essentially mean that every single MLB player would have to sign off on a video game like MLB2K10 rather than just going through a licensing agency like the MLBPA and MLB.

 

[beefycheddar]

Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

Because they have a blanket contract to make cards of guys in MILB, not MLB. MLB players all have to sign individual contracts with Topps to use their images, Razor guys can not.

Say what? If that's true, that's the dumbest crap that I've ever heard. It seems to me like that'd be a union thing. If Razor guys don't join the union, that makes sense. They're basically LB#56 in Madden when Arrington did his own thing. However, if you purchase a license from MLB and MLBPA, I'd assume that everyone under the umbrella is covered.

Getting autographs, is obviously another story.

While what you say is certian possible, I can't think of a more idiotic way to negotiate rights of "baseball players." That would essentially mean that every single MLB player would have to sign off on a video game like MLB2K10 rather than just going through a licensing agency like the MLBPA and MLB.

Topps is grandfathered since they have been around so long. Upper Deck had a MLBPA contract, and still does. Topps does not, that is why they can picture players in MLB Uniforms before they are in MLB (Getting around the rookie rule.) Razor however owns their images rights if they signed a contract, which is the case with Smoak. The only MLBPA contract Topps has is ETopps. That is why there is a Wieters ETopps, and nothing else.

 

[rbadger]

 

[pigskincardboard]

[quote="nborton":3i5p76pa]Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

Because they have a blanket contract to make cards of guys in MILB, not MLB. MLB players all have to sign individual contracts with Topps to use their images, Razor guys can not.

Say what? If that's true, that's the dumbest crap that I've ever heard. It seems to me like that'd be a union thing. If Razor guys don't join the union, that makes sense. They're basically LB#56 in Madden when Arrington did his own thing. However, if you purchase a license from MLB and MLBPA, I'd assume that everyone under the umbrella is covered.

Getting autographs, is obviously another story.

While what you say is certian possible, I can't think of a more idiotic way to negotiate rights of "baseball players." That would essentially mean that every single MLB player would have to sign off on a video game like MLB2K10 rather than just going through a licensing agency like the MLBPA and MLB.

Topps is grandfathered since they have been around so long. Upper Deck had a MLBPA contract, and still does. Topps does not, that is why they can picture players in MLB Uniforms before they are in MLB (Getting around the rookie rule.) Razor however owns their images rights if they signed a contract, which is the case with Smoak. The only MLBPA contract Topps has is ETopps. That is why there is a Wieters ETopps, and nothing else.[/quote:3i5p76pa]

Yah, that's insane.
Why the hell didn't Upper Deck tear the MLBPA a new arse-hole?

 

[beefycheddar]

[quote="beefycheddar":2x269por][quote="nborton":2x269por]Has anything changed now that Topps has an exclusive? Is it possible he could have an auto this year?

No, same thing as Matusz and Wieters. Also there is now no Upper Deck to be able to use MLBPA license to make his cards and buy autos off Razor, Topps would have to buy autos and image rights from Razor.

I understand them having to buy the Auto right but if they are able to make MILB cards of Smoak why wouldnt they be able to make MLB cards of him??

Because they have a blanket contract to make cards of guys in MILB, not MLB. MLB players all have to sign individual contracts with Topps to use their images, Razor guys can not.

Say what? If that's true, that's the dumbest crap that I've ever heard. It seems to me like that'd be a union thing. If Razor guys don't join the union, that makes sense. They're basically LB#56 in Madden when Arrington did his own thing. However, if you purchase a license from MLB and MLBPA, I'd assume that everyone under the umbrella is covered.

Getting autographs, is obviously another story.

While what you say is certian possible, I can't think of a more idiotic way to negotiate rights of "baseball players." That would essentially mean that every single MLB player would have to sign off on a video game like MLB2K10 rather than just going through a licensing agency like the MLBPA and MLB.

Topps is grandfathered since they have been around so long. Upper Deck had a MLBPA contract, and still does. Topps does not, that is why they can picture players in MLB Uniforms before they are in MLB (Getting around the rookie rule.) Razor however owns their images rights if they signed a contract, which is the case with Smoak. The only MLBPA contract Topps has is ETopps. That is why there is a Wieters ETopps, and nothing else.[/quote:2x269por]

Yah, that's insane.
Why the hell didn't Upper Deck tear the MLBPA a new arse-hole?[/quote:2x269por]

I think it's cause Topps existed before the MLBPA.

 

[WJCIII]

This is why the Rangers suck. On a team of awful defenders Davis is the lone bright spot. He's not hitting much, but why they aren't moving Hamilton to CF and sending Borbon down is beyond me. They could plug Smoak in left and while he may be below average defensively Borbon offers nothing. As a season ticket holder this is incredibly frustrating.

 

[js0000001]

 

[Huffamaniac]

Borbon is hitting .208 in the last seven days, while Davis is batting .158. After Borbon's pathetic start he is showing a little more offensively then Davis has.

Is moving Hamilton to CF a good idea? I think it is a more physically challenging position then LF, and the Rangers can not afford for Hamilton to get injured again especially since he has just begun to swing the bat. With Cruz hamstring acting up a little the CF might be asked to cover a little more ground. After Cruz's two SBs last night maybe it is not an issue, but it could be.

Davis is a plus defender and for that reason I thought he would have been given a more of a chance then 3 weeks.

This is why the Rangers suck. On a team of awful defenders Davis is the lone bright spot. He's not hitting much, but why they aren't moving Hamilton to CF and sending Borbon down is beyond me. They could plug Smoak in left and while he may be below average defensively Borbon offers nothing. As a season ticket holder this is incredibly frustrating.

 

[WJCIII]

Borbon is hitting .208 in the last seven days, while Davis is batting .158. After Borbon's pathetic start he is showing a little more offensively then Davis has.

Is moving Hamilton to CF a good idea? I think it is a more physically challenging position then LF, and the Rangers can not afford for Hamilton to get injured again especially since he has just begun to swing the bat. With Cruz hamstring acting up a little the CF might be asked to cover a little more ground. After Cruz's two SBs last night maybe it is not an issue, but it could be.

Davis is a plus defender and for that reason I thought he would have been given a more of a chance then 3 weeks.

This is why the Rangers suck. On a team of awful defenders Davis is the lone bright spot. He's not hitting much, but why they aren't moving Hamilton to CF and sending Borbon down is beyond me. They could plug Smoak in left and while he may be below average defensively Borbon offers nothing. As a season ticket holder this is incredibly frustrating.

Normally I would agree, but if the Rangers are encouraged by Borbon hitting .208 in a week then they are really not expecting much. What's even worse is that Borbon has zero walks this season. Davis will never hit for much average but his obp will typically be 100 points higher than his avg and his defense is incredible. Moving Hamilton to CF may be hard to do, but Borbon is dead weight.

 

[Huffamaniac]

I know I am grasping at straws stating Borbon's .208 in the last 7 days could be a reason to keep him over Davis

Borbon is hitting .208 in the last seven days, while Davis is batting .158. After Borbon's pathetic start he is showing a little more offensively then Davis has.

Is moving Hamilton to CF a good idea? I think it is a more physically challenging position then LF, and the Rangers can not afford for Hamilton to get injured again especially since he has just begun to swing the bat. With Cruz hamstring acting up a little the CF might be asked to cover a little more ground. After Cruz's two SBs last night maybe it is not an issue, but it could be.

Davis is a plus defender and for that reason I thought he would have been given a more of a chance then 3 weeks.

This is why the Rangers suck. On a team of awful defenders Davis is the lone bright spot. He's not hitting much, but why they aren't moving Hamilton to CF and sending Borbon down is beyond me. They could plug Smoak in left and while he may be below average defensively Borbon offers nothing. As a season ticket holder this is incredibly frustrating.

Normally I would agree, but if the Rangers are encouraged by Borbon hitting .208 in a week then they are really not expecting much. What's even worse is that Borbon has zero walks this season. Davis will never hit for much average but his obp will typically be 100 points higher than his avg and his defense is incredible. Moving Hamilton to CF may be hard to do, but Borbon is dead weight.

 

[WJCIII]

It's just a really bad time for the Rangers, brother! I haven't even mentioned the embarrassment of having Washington still managing the team.

 

[docsilvey]

Get your Smoaks out...

Texas called up Justin Smoak and sent down Chris Davis; Smoak should play immediately...
ESPN Alert

 

[docsilvey]

Re: Get your Smoaks out...

Sorry, just saw Ben's post on Page 2... Disregard...

 

[CAROLINA BOSOX]

If any of you Ranger guys can get your hands on some ticket stub(s) from his debut game I would be interested in purchasing them for a reasonable price. Thanks.

 

[CAROLINA BOSOX]

0-2 with 2 walks and set up the winning run. Not bad for a debut, hopefully he gets his first hit today.