So when will we see Nelson Cruz heating up?

[Topnotchsy]

He was hyped before the season by at least one member of the boards, and prices spiked then before dropping (I remember a crazy couple of days on thepit.com when prices just something like 400%.)

Now the season is a little past 1/3 through, and Cruz is merely hitting .291/17/42. He also has 9 steals to boot. He's not exactly a kid, but shouldn't numbers like that warrant some recognition?

 

[AKA Coastal]

He's got 17 HR's. He's a beast IMO.

 

[AKA Coastal]

His gold refractors have been getting about $150. His prices are way up since the off-season.. I think he'll end up with 45+ HR's.

 

[Topnotchsy]

He's got 17 HR's. He's a beast IMO.

I edited the typo. He's been ridiculous, and I have to give you props for predicting it before the season.

 

[ozzie's translator]

I was hyping him and I'm surprised how low his raw stuff still is, but I have been doing well on slabs. In the last week, I sold a BGS 9 chrome gold for 140, a BGS 9 SP gold for 300, and a 9.5 SP A for 135...and rising, have offer for another SP @150 and not sure I want to sell just yet.

 

[aw00d05]

He's hit like 8 HR's the last 3 weeks...

 

[Topnotchsy]

I was hyping him and I'm surprised how low his raw stuff still is, but I have been doing well on slabs. In the last week, I sold a BGS 9 chrome gold for 140, a BGS 9 SP gold for 300, and a 9.5 SP A for 135...and rising, have offer for another SP @150 and not sure I want to sell just yet.

I just picked up 56 base Chrome's for an average of $2.80 apiece. I had figured the boat had sailed on him, and was shocked they were so low.

 

[ozzie's translator]

I was hyping him and I'm surprised how low his raw stuff still is, but I have been doing well on slabs. In the last week, I sold a BGS 9 chrome gold for 140, a BGS 9 SP gold for 300, and a 9.5 SP A for 135...and rising, have offer for another SP @150 and not sure I want to sell just yet.

I just picked up 56 base Chrome's for an average of $2.80 apiece. I had figured the boat had sailed on him, and was shocked they were so low.

Nice, I picked up the SP Gold with ebay bucks, so a free $300..... :mrgreen:

 

[ballerskrip]

the hype came before the production. Now the production is meeting the prices. Not sure how much higher they can get.

skrip

 

[ThoseBackPages]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

 

[BGSRCGUY]

Don't forget, he is a good outfielder too! He has a gun out there!

 

[ozzie's translator]

All right, accepted the 150, 1 SP left. I made out on Soto basically same way, same set last year.....look at him now!!

 

[aw00d05]

Don't forget, he is a good outfielder too! He has a gun out there!

He's got like 10 SB's too, he's alot more athletic than he looks.

 

[AKA Coastal]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

 

[Topnotchsy]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

I agree with this 100%. Gone are the days when people won't pay for anyone over 25. Ryan Howard broke that barrier, and I'm sure if Cruz ends the season with .285/40/120, he'll get props. Even more recognition if he ends up leading the AL in homers.

 

[hofmichael]

the hype came before the production. Now the production is meeting the prices. Not sure how much higher they can get.

skrip

Not to hijack a thread but Skrip have you had any luck getting back to work?
Mike

 

[Austin]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

Since Cruz turns 29 in a few months, investors and collectors realize Cruz started too late to have a Hall of Fame career.
So people are hesitant to spend so much money on his cards.
Say he hits .300 with 38 homers and 115 rbi.
Excellent season, but it's nothing extraordinary for a 29 year old.
Are people clamoring for cards of Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and other excellent hitters who put up similar stats?
Unless a player explodes at a very early age, (or is a freak like Ryan Howard) his cards aren't going to hold much interest or value.

 

[AKA Coastal]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

Since Cruz turns 29 in a few months, investors and collectors realize Cruz started too late to have a Hall of Fame career.
So people are hesitant to spend so much money on his cards.
Say he hits .300 with 38 homers and 115 rbi.
Excellent season, but it's nothing extraordinary for a 29 year old.
Are people clamoring for cards of Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and other excellent hitters who put up similar stats?
Unless a player explodes at a very early age, (or is a freak like Ryan Howard) his cards aren't going to hold much interest or value.

Have you been hiding in a cave for the last few years?

 

[Halonut]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

agreed...big papi was in the hobby obscurity until 2003 at age of 27

 

[Austin]

[quote="AKA Coastal":15jcs5gd]

at 29 years old, how much hobby love is he expected to garner now?

Still haven't figured out you can make money on the cougars? If you show big time power, play on a winning team, and get people talking... you cards will go up no matter how old you are.

Since Cruz turns 29 in a few months, investors and collectors realize Cruz started too late to have a Hall of Fame career.
So people are hesitant to spend so much money on his cards.
Say he hits .300 with 38 homers and 115 rbi.
Excellent season, but it's nothing extraordinary for a 29 year old.
Are people clamoring for cards of Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and other excellent hitters who put up similar stats?
Unless a player explodes at a very early age, (or is a freak like Ryan Howard) his cards aren't going to hold much interest or value.

Have you been hiding in a cave for the last few years?[/quote:15jcs5gd]
Name some players whose cards have risen dramatically after he breaks out for the first time at such an advanced age as Cruz.
(And not a Japanese import or someone with a great story like Josh Hamilton.)
Also, comparing Nelson Cruz of the unpopular Rangers to a clutch-hitting Red Sox legend like David Ortiz is ridiculous.