What is Bowman doing???

[ryanhoward06]

Even though Venditte has a low ceiling, he will get national media attention when he is called up(and already has a little). Add in the Yankees fan base and it might be a good card to quick flip. I will probably buy some.

 

[Jaypers]

Even though Venditte has a low ceiling, he will get national media attention if he is called up(and already has a little). Add in the Yankees fan base and it might be a good card to quick flip. I will probably buy some.

Fixed.

 

[bricewaynebisel]

My buddy was one of his catchers at Creighton last year, said he thought Venditte was pretty decent. Lot softer from the left side obviously, but did say he could hold close to average velocity from rh side with a good slider. If he keeps getting people out like he has through college and the minors so far, won't have much of a choice but to promote him.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Even though Venditte has a low ceiling, he will get national media attention if he is called up(and already has a little). Add in the Yankees fan base and it might be a good card to quick flip. I will probably buy some.

Fixed.

Can you not say this about EVERY Minor League player?

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

<cough>Jim Abbott<cough>

Isn't that the complete opposite of a pitcher that can throw with both arms?

My point is, he's a novelty.

Hell, even BA didn't rank him on their Yankees' top 30 list.

Here's another name in the same mold for you -- Cooper Brannan.

JP, you know that BA isn't always right, and while the Top 30 is a good guide, it clearly doesn't contain every single potential prospect.

 

[Jaypers]

Even though Venditte has a low ceiling, he will get national media attention if he is called up(and already has a little). Add in the Yankees fan base and it might be a good card to quick flip. I will probably buy some.

Fixed.

Can you not say this about EVERY Minor League player?

Of course, but I wasn't referring to every minor league player.

 

[Jaypers]

<cough>Jim Abbott<cough>

Isn't that the complete opposite of a pitcher that can throw with both arms?

My point is, he's a novelty.

Hell, even BA didn't rank him on their Yankees' top 30 list.

Here's another name in the same mold for you -- Cooper Brannan.

JP, you know that BA isn't always right, and while the Top 30 is a good guide, it clearly doesn't contain every single potential prospect.

Which is why I included the word "even" above. I certainly don't use them as my only source.

 

[ryanhoward06]

Even though Venditte has a low ceiling, he will get national media attention if he is called up(and already has a little). Add in the Yankees fan base and it might be a good card to quick flip. I will probably buy some.

Fixed.

Opps, I meant to put if/when.

 

[Crash Davis]

<cough>Jim Abbott<cough>

Jim Abbott had 10 times the career that most of the prospects you invest in will end up having.

 

[Jaypers]

<cough>Jim Abbott<cough>

Jim Abbott had 10 times the career that most of the prospects you invest in will end up having.

I'll say it one more time -- I'm not referring to his career.

 

[Crash Davis]

<cough>Jim Abbott<cough>

Jim Abbott had 10 times the career that most of the prospects you invest in will end up having.

I'll say it one more time -- I'm not referring to his career.

Your point is a rather soft one.

For starters, Abbott was a highly-touted prospect who starred at every level of competition, from High School to College to The Olympics. He was a more-than-serviceable starter for a number of teams and pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees.

If Venditte was a stiff who had an ERA of 36.00 and couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pitch, he probably wouldn't have been included in the set.

Will I buy his cards? Absolutely not.

Can I see where Topps was coming from by including him? Yes.

 

[Jaypers]

If Venditte was a stiff who had an ERA of 36.00 and couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pitch, he probably wouldn't have been included in the set.

Which is precisely why Topps made him an auto -- the novelty of being ambidextrous.

Just like the novelty of including 2 Indian pitchers.

Just like the novelty of including "Ernie Banks".

Do you seriously not see this as a gimmick????

 

[archiebunkerjr]

I see the gimmick. Those two Indian pitchers are enough for me to cross 2009 Bowman Chrome off my list.

You guys watch. Topps will be mailing these two clowns in place of the Inoa redemptions before all is said and done.

 

[All The Hype]

If Venditte was a stiff who had an ERA of 36.00 and couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pitch, he probably wouldn't have been included in the set.

Which is precisely why Topps made him an auto -- the novelty of being ambidextrous.

Just like the novelty of including 2 Indian pitchers.

Just like the novelty of including "Ernie Banks".

Do you seriously not see this as a gimmick????

Exactly right.


It's not that he's not a legitimate prospect who could make it to the majors, it's simply that he was chosen for this set over any other prospect because of his ambidexterity.

Look at it this way: if you are Topps, and you're deciding between two players who are exactly equal prospects with the exact same chance to make it to the majors, and the only difference is that one is ambidextrous and the other is not, who do you pick? Easy choice.

 

[Crash Davis]

If Venditte was a stiff who had an ERA of 36.00 and couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pitch, he probably wouldn't have been included in the set.

Which is precisely why Topps made him an auto -- the novelty of being ambidextrous.

Just like the novelty of including 2 Indian pitchers.

Just like the novelty of including "Ernie Banks".

Do you seriously not see this as a gimmick????

It's only cards, bro. Chill.

And, Banks was reportedly removed and replaced with...

 

[Card Magnet]

Back on topic - I remember seeing on ESPN when the Indian guys won The Million Dollar Arm (or something like that) in India. The Pirates didn't set it up as a publicity stunt, it was a reality show that brought you to America, and all teams would scout you. On their last day here, their agent asked them if they knew who the Pirates were. They both said no. He told them well that's your new team. I literally facepalmed myself when I heard that.

It's bad enough that every working job in America gets outsourced to places like India. Do we have to send our cheesy reality shows and prospect slots there now too? :?

Now my input on the Venditte discussion that was going on - I can pitch with both my right and left (also throw a football that way). Perhaps I can get a card in Bowman... Back when I was about 18, I hit 89 mph with my left, and 86 with my right if I remember right. Accuracy is about the same, but my right is better (even though I am a lefty, so it's weird).

 

[bballcardkid]

[quote="Crash Davis":cor9xl0h]If Venditte was a stiff who had an ERA of 36.00 and couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pitch, he probably wouldn't have been included in the set.

Which is precisely why Topps made him an auto -- the novelty of being ambidextrous.

Just like the novelty of including 2 Indian pitchers.

Just like the novelty of including "Ernie Banks".

Do you seriously not see this as a gimmick????

It's only cards, bro. Chill.

And, Banks was reportedly removed and replaced with...[/quote:cor9xl0h]

another turd?

 

[Jaypers]

It's only cards, bro. Chill.

Amazing retort. This little guy salutes you.

 

[brianga26]

Ernie Banks was released over spring training. I don't know if anyone caught that in the transactions. Pretty bad when the auto is of an Independent leaguer...

 

[coltsfan23]

Of course this is a gimmick and nothing else. I'm curious to see if Topps succeeds or not. By the initial reaction on this board, it seems to have turned away people but who knows about the general rest of the public.

I, for one, would be happy to pull an auto or dual auto of the Indian pitchers. I wouldn't mind keeping it for PC, but you know it'll go for a lot when selling. Just dual signed baseballs were getting 30-40 earlier, though I haven't checked in a while. Just the fact that they are the first 2 pitchers from India will raise the price a ton, regardless of their performance. Not everyone who buys BC are prospectors and maybe it'll help them gain customers outside of their niche market. We shall see if this works.