Card Mensches E9 Prospect buying..the who & the how

>> Welcome to Card Manchys.
>> What is going on episode nine of Card Manchys?
And has that opening said I'm still John Newman.
And to the right of me on the screen, he's still Danny Black.
And it's Friday, 9 o'clock, and we're waiting for the regular crowd to shuffle in.
>> Today's episode.
>> Today's episode.
>> That's what we're opening.
>> It's all downhill from there.
>> Yeah, at any time I can mix in the Billy Joel reference and James some lyrics.
>> I'm going to do it.
Today I want to talk about baseball season.
Obviously has started Danny and you know,
top-smaid and an outspoken bataining to debut players.
We'll get into that a little bit into the show.
But you know, it's, I don't do as much as I used to do, but prospecting, right?
Buying some cards kind of stash in them on the way of guys we feel like
would be good or great major leagueers, right?
All start potential, all the same,
potential even further down the line.
And so today we're going to kind of pick two guys each.
Kind of say why we like them give a little sort of scouting report.
I'm going to even tell you when their first appearance was on cardboard or
chrome or both in many of these cases cases.
And give some tip Danny on how to, if you want to prospect and you're not doing it yet,
some tips and technique on how to do it.
And you know, save a little money hopefully in the process of doing it.
And I think it's fair to say, first of all, good to be on with you again.
I know I started off a little goofy, but it's, I look forward to it,
to our far-day card matches.
It's nice and I'm excited because both of us are total prospect geeks.
And I don't think we've ever really done a modern prospect show.
We've done Todd Van Poppel and Greg Jeffries, but I don't think we've ever really
talked.
I don't think we've really talked about how we buy prospects now.
I'm still waiting for that Jeffrey's call to pick off, but I told you you weren't allowed to pick him as one of your
projects in Justin.
Yeah, no, I'm past that point.
I still got the saw in my heart, but I got two guys here.
I'll even, I'll even tease the fact that none of us are back.
Tell people where you live and how much exposure you have to the moderately.
Just to give an idea.
All right.
So the triple eight Syracuse Metz.
And I was a Metz fan when they weren't the Syracuse Metz.
They were Syracuse's triple eight teams been the farm team for the blue jays, the aches way back when.
And then most recently before the Metz, the Washington Nationals.
And then I think three or four years ago became the Metz.
And that was like for me a big deal because the stadium is almost in walking distance from my house.
Let me put it this way.
But I can hear the PA announcer talking and if there's a fireworks night, I get all that fireworks.
I can see it right from my back deck.
Sometimes back there with a cigar and watch the fireworks show from from my house.
I'm very close to the Syracuse Metz.
They and they have some serious prospect coming down here for at least right now.
I will tease this.
I picked two prospects for today's show Danny.
I could have met what Metz guys, but I didn't want to be the Homer.
What doing this? Why pick two nine Metz guys a little bit younger.
And maybe a little bit further away than you know your Brett Badee's, Mark Frientos,
Brian Rodney Mauricio's and that sort of thing.
So I went a little deeper and where you know you can still maybe pick up some cards of these two particular players.
And that break your bank necessarily.
Being an ordeal fan.
You know, I had so many choices of great prospects.
I could talk about, I could have gone probably 25 prospects.
But that's just how it is for the orials.
I don't know if the Metz have that kind of talent being sarcastic.
I did not pick an ordeal either.
I didn't want to be a Homer.
So I'm with you there.
I want to think outside the box.
I did pick guys that are on the top one,
that they have cards that were available.
So they are on the top 100, but on the list I used an M.
M. B. pipeline just to randomly pick numbers.
They were both outside the top 40.
So I tried to go down at least a little bit to make it something where it could still be a little bit of growth and rise.
And part of my system.
And I think we're going to talk about that is looking for those opportunities.
Yeah, no doubt.
I want to be honest with you.
I don't know what numbers.
My prospects are.
I didn't base it on anything other than I think these two particular players.
Hello, Steven.
You know, will, you know, could be potential superstars, right?
Exercise with caution, but you know, the talent is there.
Whether the execution is remains to be seen, but the tools that are there.
Well, before you give the names.
Talk about the process.
I like guys.
I kind of like guys who are five tool guys, right?
That don't do just one thing well, but kind of a plethora of things.
They can run.
They can play defense.
They can hit or at least, you know, at the assist at the levels.
They've been at have shown that they can hit.
I like to, I like to go younger where they have some good size, but they really haven't stopped filling out where they can hit the weight room and add to their frame.
And so, and the reason I like, obviously, everyone likes five tool guys sort of scouts and for the real thing.
And for the real, for the real reason, right?
But, you know, it's common sense, but a five tool guy, if he's lacking in one thing, something else might keep them in the big league while he works on something that's deficient.
If you're not a five tool guy and what your tools are are not performing very well, you know, that ends careers.
Maybe a little faster than a five tool guy.
So I tend to go that direction most of the time, not not all the time.
I will say these two particular players will sort of fit that description for today's show, but you know, that's generally, you know, what I look for Danny, the other thing.
I don't really take stats seriously until I see it in double A when they can do it in double A.
Now that being said, I will buy prospects who haven't even got to double A yet.
So I don't want to make it sound like, but you might be looking at what sometimes the buses are ready left the station, but I don't really get too excited.
I guess is what I'm trying to say until I see him do it on that level.
And so if you ask the question, why double A? Why not single A? Why not rookie ball?
You can double A. That's where all the talent. That's where a lot of the bonus babies are, you know, and some of those bigger names and first round picks.
And that they're playing against that upper echelon, which is what they're good if they're going to make the major leagues, right? They're going to be playing with the best that the baseball has to walk.
So, and I'll defend you on that. That's usually pretty much the youngest league that you'll get promoted to the majors from.
So that's your kind of your first league where you're playing against guys that you are sure are going to be major leagueers.
So that's that's a, I haven't looked at that way, but I like that.
That that rule. Yeah, and it's just, you know, it's my rule. It doesn't have to be anyone else's rule, you know, but, you know, whatever works for you, everyone, you know, yes, people who prospect any, you know, they'll get them, they might give me a different answer.
That's just my sort of template. I mean, what do you do, I guess is I'll turn the question to you.
So, I guess, in general, I'm going to be both looking, obviously, for guys we think are going to develop into good players. What do I use to kind of figure that out?
I like guys, well, first of all, a couple of cardinal rules for me. I don't invest in pictures or catchers.
Historically, that is going to hold generally true, although nothing's 100%. So I try not to invest in pictures and catchers as prospects.
I like middle and filters with a good hit tool, and I want to 20 to 80 scales. You know, I was preferably a 60 hit tool if I'm buying a younger player because that's the thing that's going to carry them.
And so many guys have a kind of that average average plus hit tool. Once you get to 60, you're getting to more much more advanced hit or even at a young age.
So I like the hit tool, but I also want somebody who's athletic. So that's why I said I like the middle and filters to your point. There's a chance they can become centerfielders second baseman.
There's more of a chance to move around and stay on the field defensively. But if you can't hit eventually, you're going to get phased out.
So for me, that far away is the number of tools. And then I like to see somebody that's not too old for their league.
You know, if a guy is 26 in AA, you know, maybe you look at those numbers differently than if they're 19 in AA.
So that's kind of, those are kind of my general rules of a thumb now to be specific. If I'm buying if we're talking about specifically investing in cards, I really, really hold towards to the picture and catcher rule.
More so than I might even give a little bit more if I like a player for another reason, but the numbers on pictures and catchers. I just don't like putting my money behind.
Yeah, I have a picture rule and and I sometimes break it and sometimes when I break it, it sort of works out.
Two guys recently, I broke that rule on is and I've talked about this before. I think I'm my own podcast, but a Tristan McKenzie and Hunter Green and they're both, you know, opening day starters. Well, what ones, you know, one's nicked up and Tristan, but he'll be back shortly, but they're both, you know,
I'm not related as their top pictures on their respective teams. They both throw hard there and they both had some success last year, but you know, pictures are definitely a risky proposition. I can tend to stay away from them, but every so often I'm tempted out of the basement and buying a bunch of, you know,
I don't know, I don't know if I can get out of the picture. Those two are just the recent ones I broke my own ruin catchers. I don't necessarily have that rule, Danny, but I get it because generally catcher, you know, what's the only other most of the time, I don't know, I want to pay what a broad brush.
And the only other position a catcher can go to is generally first base, right? They're kind of pigeonholed into those two positions. We've seen what can happen to a catcher when he can't get it done behind the backstop with a recent example of Gary Sanchez,
who I believe is out of the baseball now and was a huge prospect, huge prospect, playing in the Yankee starting catcher and all of a star. And I can tell you, I saw a lot of Gary's hunches stuff in New York and it's probably a good thing because right now,
I hate to say it because folks that bought Gary Sanchez, you know, the music looks like it's in stop there. Can I defend my catcher rules just a little bit because you're,
I stay away from them one because it's hard for their bat to catch up with their gloves when they make it to their majors.
It usually takes a couple more years for the bat to catch up typically these are all typically number two they typically don't play as many games per year because there's usually I guess now we call this load management, but they try to save the wear and tear on the body.
And so the total stats don't usually add up to other positions. Now, do they do things on the field was Yadir Molina, a valuable player, yes, or his cards valuable, no. So, you know, rarely do catchers cards keep that value.
Beyond the kind of that prospect first year or two status. I'm an Oriental fan, I hope I'm wrong and I hope badly rushed for this Johnny Bench and you know that that will goes up the window, but I would say,
if you know, if you can't see that the value and addly seems to be the last 12 months or so. What the other side of that coin is you kind of mentioned it and what you just said there is catchers can get in the hall of fame with numbers that another position wouldn't even be considered Hall of Famers the bars a little bit lower because of the wear and tear and everything you just spoke on so guys like,
or yadding or malina like you mentioned. If you if you took their names off and just handed
their stats to somebody, most people would say these are not Hall of Fame or stats, but all three
maybe probably being the Hall of Fame together at some point potentially because of the position
they play. That's the advantage of being a catcher. But how many Hall of Fame treasures do
people really collect? You have your barren John Adventure? Man, it's probably a few more
current physics might end. Mike P. Otsa? No, nobody outside of your house collects Mike Piazza.
You'd be surprised. Don't be hit on one. Then then then then then then then then then then then
then you're a picky. Not a bench. Yo, he bearer. Mike Piazza is not in that conversation.
Yeah, we'll pull you out with you. Since we're meant to just we will pull lightly to
somehow set. Okay, so we've built this up. We have our systems. These are general rules.
Feel free to put questions in the comments or in the chat in the YouTube comments. We'll try to answer
them. You want to reveal your first player? Yeah, I'll reveal my first player. Let me let me just say
we're picking two players each. That we're not saying these two are the only ones we like. I can
make a long list of guys I like. But for the length of the show and what the form added the show
we went with two weeks. So these are two of my particular favorites that are not match guys.
To get away from being a Homer. Let me go with my first guy. He's 19 years old. He got a 1.5
million dollar bonus. He bad at 301 last year with 23 extra base hits. So they team bases in
the 40 games in the rookie league. He was a sign too. He's a little bit of a pitch chaser, but he's young
at 19. They can work that out. He's kind of a 6-3 and he's been compared to a player in the organization
that he plays for in Raffio Devers. Obviously it's the red sock. My first pick is going to be
Miguel Blice. That's BL EIS for those who want to know how it's spelled. He's again we talked about
that five two. I told you I was still half as many bases of games played. Again, the stats were done at
rookie balls. So take what a grain of salt. But he also did it as a 19-year-old young kid too. So
also that has to be considered in the scout. He's 19 and 6-4-3 already and he's going to put more
muscle on his frame. So I think he's going to hit for more power than he's currently at the level
he's at. I like this pick. I like to pick guys that aren't really necessarily on the cusp or make
in the major league. There's right this year or maybe next year. Maybe two to three years away.
My other guy which I won't mention now is a little bit closer. Matter of fact, I think you actually
played a little bit last year. But it's a little bit closer than Miguel. But Miguel Blice is my
first guy Red Sox. And you mentioned it when you were talking about kind of what you look for, right?
Guys that can play infield and outfield. Right? That's always sort of a plus. That way if they struggle
defensively, if they're in field or they struggle a little bit defensively, on the infield where someone
else is better suited there, they're still not out of the line up. They may just be converted to an outfielder.
And I like that sort of versatility that multi-positioned potential actually both of these guys
qualify other than as well. So that's my first guy. I'm going to talk baseball card hobby perspective
real quick on Miguel Blice. He's rated on MLB pipeline as 93. And you and I both talked about him.
I would have picked him if you did. I think he's a fantastic pick. But more importantly, at 93,
his card pressure will go up. If he continues to play like you and I both expect him to. He moves
up that rankings and so much of the prices on the cards for these guys come based on these rankings.
You know, when they break the top 100, the price goes up top 50, top 10, whatever it is. So I love
Miguel Blice as a pick for a number of reasons. So real quick, too. Just so for people who want to go look
for his first appearance is in 2021 Bowman Chrome. Has autos all that. A color, just like
with normal prospects. So that's where you'll find in 2021 Bowman. And you know, listen, it doesn't
hurt when you play in a big city or you know, if he turns out to be a star in Boston, that light's
going to be a little brighter than maybe somewhere else too. So absolutely. So can I give you my first
time? Yeah. You're a turn. All right. So this was a guy a player. I actually saw play last year in person a couple
times. And sometimes you see somebody on the field and they just look different than everybody else.
And that's one of the cool things about minor league games. You get up close. And the guys who are going
to be major leagueers just seem to stand out. For me, that was called some Montgomery short stuff in the
white soft system. You're 21 years old. Big kid. I want to say something like 6263. But he's a short stop with a
60 hit tool, a 55 field and a 55 overall. So you're talking about an athletic guy. He easily could move
to a corner and feel it and have the bat to go with it. But athletic enough to stay at short stop at his
size and his ability. 21 years old, first round pick. So you're hitting the majors young. His first
card is actually the Bowman first is 22 Bowman Crohn. And I'm a huge fan of his, his prices shot up a
little bit because his talent just seems to be overwhelming. But if you can get him now or get him
before the season starts, well don't don't buy him because I want it. So ignore everything I just said.
But I'm a big fan of Montgomery. So he would definitely be my first recommendation or the first
person that I like. Yeah, you know, I've heard I've read the Scouting reports on him. I didn't get to see him
in person as you did. So I can't I can't go to have far put everything I've read about him. Like you
just said, you know, be a surprise if he doesn't at least get to the major leagues. He's got the size to
tool set. And listen, short stop. I think you tell me a few great day. Short stop is, you know,
we like football right quarterbacks to position. Short stop is kind of like the quarterback of baseball.
If you are short stop in the major leagues in our producing and our great player, there's a little extra
shine pertaining to that because of the position you play. And so that doesn't hurt to be a short
stop in highly tout. It's not wrong with that pick. I think that's, you know, probably my advice
with him would be if you are going to buy him the sooner probably the better because you know, even at 21,
it doesn't sound old and it's not old, but you know, he's knocking on the door. Yeah, he could be a Chicago
sooner than probably before. You know, the other three guys we're going to talk about tonight. So,
yeah, I like that pick. It's, I don't want to say safe pick. I don't, you know, but he's definitely
on the track to the, to the major league, which is, I mean, that's what you want, right? Yeah, that's what we're,
that's what we're talking about. I mean, I mean, I should be so good as to look at a prospect.
Listen, pick every major league. Yeah, keep keep keep in mind folks. This is not horse racing where you
throw 10 bucks at a seven and one shot. You get more. I guess you could say the cost you last
on the longer shots of the payoff is more, but it's, it's probably not the best play. It might,
it might be fun to do that with two or five bucks at the track. It's a lot riskier. This is a different
way to hobby. This is a different way to PC. I, you know, the brakes are popular for prospects a lot
of times. We, we don't personally go into brakes, but this is a different way to enjoy the hobby.
If it's not for you, it's not for you, but I know for a lot of people, especially, you know,
around Baltimore the last couple of years, people are getting into the boom and first,
very happy. Yep, no doubt, no doubt. You want to get my second guy? I was about to say, give us the,
the one to buy. Yeah. Now, this guy is probably a little more known. He's not, he's,
not that Miguel Blisbe is a secret. A lot of people know about him too. This guy is probably a little
more known. He's a couple years older at 21 years old, like Cose and Montgomery. He's been
compared to O'Neill Cruz for comparisons. And once gotten a report, I read predicted it would
actually be better player than O'Neill Cruz. O'Neill Cruz as, you know, as young too, it hasn't done it yet,
consistently. So, you know, the jury's still out on really both of these guys. The give you a comparison,
this guy, you know, I talked about the $1.5 million bonus Miguel Blisbe, got, you know,
this guy, almost said his name, kind of like, he's been up to the expense, got $65,000 bonus in 2018
the science. So a lot less bonus. He wasn't highly touted player when he was signed. He has developed
into that player that for people predicting now he's five, two. And he's frankly one of the best
prospects in baseball. And he first appeared in 2022 Bowman as well. And that's, uh, Ellie Delacruz,
a long name and highly touted and, you know, another player that should add to his frame. And so
as good as he is now, that that could be even more impressive by the time you see him in the
pig leagues. And he's not, he's not super cheap, but he's also not super expensive. And if he turns out
to be a player that many predict he will, you're still going to be all right if you bought him now or
in near future. So, you know, he's closer to the big leagues than then we go, uh, bless his. So,
so I went one little closer to the big, uh, the end of the, uh, the cover of all spectrum.
I'm going to say, if you're going to tell me a call someone, Gummery is, is an easy one. Then
Ellie Delacruz, you mind his well-picked Jimmy Fox. I think he's got a chance. I mean Delacruz is 6 foot 5.
You, you know, for people who don't know when you say comparisons to Neil Cruz, I think that's one
of the big reasons you're talking about a middle and filter at that height. And to give you an idea,
Cal Ripkin was 6-4. So, you're, you're talking about 6-5 and 6-7 with, with those guys. So,
I like to pick a day of La Cruz. I think you want a little bit chalk there, but, uh,
a little bit. I'll give you that. It was just too much. There was too much there to not really pick up.
You know, it was just, you know, I've ever seen you want to pick players that you think, you know,
I'm going to get it done, right? He's, he's, he's, he's, leading to do that. I'll be frank. I have a
client selling Ellie Delacruz right now. So, I'm a big fan. I'm, I'm rooting for you to be right.
I think more than any other episode that we've had. So, I, I hope this is a picture to go right. Let's put
it that way. All right. Well, I think he's highly talented. So, well, I, now I feel like the pressure's
all my last guy, because my last guy's not as good as Ellie Delacruz, and I haven't done just this here.
I'm picking a player who fits, fits my criteria, middle and filter shortstop, 60 hit tool,
55 field, 55 overall athletic guy, 60 tall, 21 years old, international signing, color rot Iraqi,
shortstop, audio, I'm a door. I think he is somebody, when you have more walks than strikeouts,
at 19 years old, that, that says something. So, I, I love his hit tool. I love his overall athleticism.
I think he stays up the middle, whether it's second shorter center. And if he has more walks and strikeouts
at 19, what is he going to be in a couple of years? I mean, you're talking about the majors by 21 or 22,
as not the middle defender. I think that it's just all the value in the world. I know his cards do
go for, for decent money right now, but, you know, the ceiling on him could be very high.
People talked about Jordan Walker when Jordan Walker was, was it was ranked in the 50s
for prospects? And, you know, in the last week you see what's happened to him or Anthony Falpie. So,
in a year or two, I think I'm a door and could be one of those guys.
I'm going to have, I'm going to make a confession here. I don't know, I don't know much about
my amador for the name, but I don't know him in the same way you do. And that's the age, right?
It seems to be something about 19, right? That if a guy is playing well in 19, you know,
years per cup, people start to take notice. Like you said, at 19, if you have that sort of
plate discipline where you're walking more than then striking out, that's a good sign at a very
early age and early progression to the big leagues. Because usually it's the opposite. Even
the best players are trying to hit, you know, home runs with what won it back. And so to have that
sort of discipline to play with himself, not swing at bad pitches. Obviously, if you're walking more
than you're striking out, you're not swinging at bad pitches. So, it means you have plate discipline,
it means you have a good, badter's eye. And at 19, if you're doing that at 19, that usually doesn't
regret. So, you think it gets better into your 20s and 30s. Then it starts maybe to go downhill after that.
But I can tell you after my 30s, I've regressed a lot and gone down.
Yes. Yeah, I think you and me both. And it is a guy, you know, I'm an out of sky. I did not know
much about him. I've heard the name. But now, when I have to do some research myself and see what
the fuss is about. Well, I'm glad I could come up with one because you're a tough one with prospects.
So, I'm glad I have one that you can look into. Yeah, I like that. Someone I off my radar
that may now I probably should put on my radar now. I did more prospecting a few years back.
I think like a lot of the stuff in the hobby, right? There's a lot more to be trying to
shine at your age. You're talking about the gold rush. Thanks for joining us today.
But you know, we talked about this off the year. I think there's a lot more people doing it.
And I think it's made it a little harder to navigate, right? When there's less people doing it,
you have an easier time. But when there's more people, right? It's going to drive the prices up a
little more. You're going to get into bending wars. If you're going to auction route. So, I've got
a little bit less. I still do it. I think it's a little more difficult to do it. I think there's more people,
paying attention. I think there's more people reading, scanning reports rather than just listening to
me and you predict something or talk about a player. So, you know, the pool has a lot more people
swimming in it. So, the room would navigate is a little tighter. But still fun to do. And I still do it.
And there's four names that can maybe show up on other people's lists. And that's the beauty.
I think that the pattern of the bats are on the bat here, Danny. But we're talking about guys we like.
Like some people don't like to do that because they don't want to let the cat out of the
bat. So, to speak. And listen, there's 100 prospects. That's why there's a 100 prospect list. So,
there's 96 that we didn't mention tonight. So, and you know, there's people who may not like, you know,
these, some of these guys too, they might find holes in their game, especially at 19. Again,
like I said, I'm not really starting to believe until I see it at the double A level.
Let me just get caught up real quick. Shout out a lot at home. And US sports cards, as any guesses
on who might be the next 100 mile per hour picture, like 100 grain. Well, if you're talking about
minor league, there's I'll give you a name from the Orioles. Great. Some run regas. He, I've seen him touch
100 on a regular basis as a starting pitcher, which like 100 grain is phenomenal. Whether or not he pitches
and sits there, we'll see as, you know, he's a young guy trying to get his command. But he can throw
easy 100 if he wants to. Yeah, the name escapes me. And I know that's staying right
by the way, who I believe is a white-sax guy. There's a guy in this system, like I said, I
proud of this for not knowing that that is throwing that hard at a pretty young age. I think he's
just got a sort of home to control, but he could be on a fast track to the Wendy City
as well. Again, you can probably find it out. I can look it up even myself. No, it's not Garrett
Crochet. Someone else. I think it's a, a not American born player. I think he's from the Dominican
Republic or another country. And I feel bad because I usually do know the name. And here's the
other thing about 100 mile an hour pitchers, Danny. That used to be, it's not as, there's more,
there's more hurler, throwing 100 than ever before in baseball. It's still a big number. Don't get me wrong.
Let's do that, then do do. But it used to be years ago, that was like huge, like hitting
100. And we're seeing guys like around this Chapman hit, you know, 104 or 106, sometimes. There's more
people throwing at that level than ever before. But it's still impressive. As a former pitcher
who get only get it into, you know, on my best day in the high 80s, I'm impressed with that kind of
the last. I could be wrong. Sean Burke might be the pitcher you're talking about. But I know he
tops out somewhere in the upper end. It might be, it might be. It's no one. I'm like, you know,
by the end of the comments in YouTube because I don't feel like Google. And so, how's that?
Well, that was cool. I'd like to actually, this was much fun. I'd love to do another
episode on Prospects. If you're a game with that another time. Yeah, yeah, we maybe we can even do,
you know, something midseason with guys that are on the even on the brink. You know, when it comes to
September and you extended a call ups, maybe if we can do a show where there are players that are closer
to, you know, to do it. So, you know, Moogie Chilson, again, I love that name Alex Ramirez in the
Met system. You know, I'm proud of the Metismets fan, right? They traditionally a lot of times will
train their system away or a good percentage. And Coins built this team to win now without
mortgaging the future. So, you've got your, you know, you've got your babies, v-entos, Mauricio,
Parada, you know, Alex from me, I do not know much about him. Here's the bad thing, living in Syracuse.
I'm paying more attention than like double in AAA because they're so close to coming here that I'm
not, you know, looking at like the Brooklyn Cyclones and the lower systems like I used to. So,
Moogie, I don't want to let you down, but my, my remembrance on Alex was that his bat was a little
bit of a weak spot. And, you know, he, he's still a young kid. So, there's plenty of time to, for those
adjustments. But, but if you weren't with us before personally, I like to see a hit tool for me,
young age. So, for me, you know, to Dan before I did take calls on Montgomery is one of my prospects.
And for Moogie, one of the reasons I might hesitate on Alex from yours is the hit tool because they've
got a ton of guys in their system with it with a better hit tool if you're looking for a match.
Yeah, I mean, they got another catcher. And, you know, they got, you know, for Cisco,
Alvarez and Paradas, they kept like one of those guys is either going to move to first.
Maybe they trade Alonzo at some point in the next few years, who knows, maybe they trade Alvarez
or Parada. And keep a lot, like there's going to be, you know, they got to remember this,
you know, there's prospects that play similar positions. And that's where those trades occur, right?
Well, we like this guy and not this guy as much were moving off of him. And so, I don't know.
I like Parada as a hitter. I think he's going to move out of catcher. So, I think you're exactly correct.
Yeah, so there's so many variables. And, you know, they may make it and be, you know,
bona fide, you know, all stars. And it may be on a different team. It may just be a change of scenery
because they're blocked by an established, you know, a big league veteran or someone even a couple
years. I don't even want to say a veteran, but maybe someone a couple years older that the organization
feels they found their guy in that guy. So, there's, there's sometimes, you know, we've seen guys
become, you know, all stars on different teams than what drafted them, than who draft. So,
you know, it may be like that with some of these meds guys, because I can't remember the last time
they've had this many prospect, you know, it's been a long time. So, it's a good problem. They have
and you have the same problem as an orios fan. That's one of the probably the two, you know,
two best systems in the league. Well, I'll be gracious unless you pretend that you're anywhere near
the orios in the ranks. All right, anything else to add to that? Because I'm leaving a clear answer.
I know we got to get into our last segment here. You know, we didn't get to spend much time on it.
You know, a question I get asked, I'm sure you get asked the NEs. All right, we know who we want to
invest in. I know people don't like that word all the time. We know who we want to buy,
we want to stash and stack up. How do we do it now? What are the best ways? So, real quick,
I wish we could spend a little more time. Maybe in a future episode, right, you mentioned options,
buying a team. So, if you know, Miguel Blis is on the red socks and you're buying into a 2022
Bowman rip, you know, you buy the red socks. You know, man, he come out of that break, whether it's
a good brand. Don't buy in the breaks. Yeah, I know, I know, but you know, you're going to
at least get some base cards. And I still, I'm still a base card guy. I know people hate base cards.
I'm not one of those people, right? Obviously, your auction site, right, more than that just eBay.
All your other platforms have lots of them or, you know, an auto, a number of colored pair allow.
So, you can check your auction sites, check your Facebook selling groups, right? But, you know,
there are a lot of times you don't have to buy in the break. Someone else has done that. Now,
they're trying to kind of cut their losses, right? So, you can buy, you can buy their losses.
They bought into a break, hoping to hit, you know, a low number pair allow, didn't work out for them.
And they're just trying to recruit something. So, it doesn't sting as bad. So, I've bought in
prospects like that. I've bought in 20 card lots from, you know, a half case or 50, 50 or 60 card
lots from a full case break of a player. So, you know, that's an option to Facebook groups.
And, you know, just even, just even advertising, hey, I'm collecting so and so. What do you got, right?
Just kind of putting on wanted posts. I'm looking for this guy. People will tell you, hey, I pull,
you know, you might get someone doesn't even know, like, hey, I pulled the card in the guy you're looking for.
You know, give me 20 bucks and you can have it. I'll help you out. So, there's a lot of ways to
acquire these cards. And, you know, I see a, you know, Dan Ryan says, we're love about spec.
Have segment with the, you know, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You guys said, you know, kind of we're,
we're burning bright at an injury or two and kind of people sort of forget about them. If you
forget about Lewis Rover, I'm not talking to Dan, but general. I'm a Luis Rover guy. So, I got a lot of
his charm of cards to tell for you. I got a box over there. I'm not making this up with quite a
bit of Lewis Rover. And, and I won't sell it now. Why, why would I, right? Because I believe he's going to be
quite the player, you know, barren, got to stand the field. But if he does that, he's, he's a player,
you know, E-L-A-M, and that same team I know. You know, people sort of forgot about him. This guy is
the real deal when he's healthy. So, and there's a lot of guys, it would make a good episode. Maybe
that's another one down the line. We'll have to keep it. It was not to say, off air. This is
one of my favorite areas to actually buy cards in. Yeah. Is the forgotten combat prospect. I think you can
get one or Franco cheap right now. I mean, even a guy like Kyle Lewis, you know, that I'm a Mr. Kyle
Lewis this off season. And so we'll see if he can at least have a good April. But who knows?
What will do another episode on that? All right. You're ready to move forward. Yeah, that's
guy. I think we've got the nice thing about this this week. Show. I think we got a couple future episodes out of it
to it sounds like so. Yeah. I think what we can go along for, as they say.
Experience quality, consistency. And the quickest turnaround times in the grading industry,
we are proud to partner with SGC grading. Check them out at www.gosgc.com. John, you texted me today.
You got something back. Well, they're not back yet. They're on their way. They're any day now.
Any day, any day. The quick you listen, just like the commercial reads said, right. Quick is turning
around time. I sent that out on Tuesday. And I could have it back as early as tomorrow and definitely
by Monday at the latest. So that's that's crazy, man. And so, you know, I'm a big ask. She's see,
guy. I know these spots are this show. They spots are my show. I don't care if they didn't
spots. They're I wouldn't change my opinion of them. So yeah, they're right now. They're the,
they're the blazing gun in the west, right? No one's got a quicker trigger right now than they do.
So SGC home of the nine and a half. Okay. And move on to our favorite way to end every episode.
Go to the failure segment where John and Danny share their picks short to go wrong.
So we got to talk a little NCAA final four picks. So we can finish embarrassing ourselves like
everybody else on this year's bracket. Please don't even bother looking at previous episodes picks.
We did know better than your brackets. We we absolutely got to score as well. So with all that being said,
as John likes to remind you, these are picks to not follow. Especially this year. Listen,
no one, anyone that says, oh, I picked all four, these final four teams. They are lying lying lying,
just know that they are lying. They said they could two of them the line. That's what this year.
Yes, the highest seed in this final four is a three seed. Okay. So not that that means,
you know, it doesn't mean you can't have one of them. None of the four picks. My final four picks that I
made on this very show, none of them are here. A couple of them bowed out at the round of eight. They were close
in Gonzaga and Texas, but I had none of these teams in my final four. So I was zero for four. I did not
watch a ton of college basketball this year. I typically watch more. So again,
we're what we're about to pick. Maybe even pick the opposite and go to draft kings and bed against us.
And you might win somebody that. That's actually I think we just figured out a new bedding strategy.
Feed the mentions. Yeah. Head to head to mental. Right. Exactly. All right. So let's put this up here.
And this is the lines I've pulled off at ESPN. We have San Diego State as a two and a half
point favorite over Florida Atlantic and you can as a five and a half point favorite over my hand.
You want to go first. You want me to go first on this. I don't think it matters because I think we're both
going to screw this up. It's whatever order we want to go ahead. I'm going to go first. I want you to go first.
I want you to go first. Yeah. And then I completely agree. I'm going to screw this up. So I'll screw it up
quickly here. I'm actually like San Diego State. I like them to finish their run out. And I'm going to
take Miami on the upset. So I'm going to go San Diego State given the total half Miami taken the five and a half.
But I will take Miami on the money line as well. And I'll take Miami San Diego State with Miami win in the
championship. All right. Man. How about FAU? Like well, both San Diego State and FAU. Right.
Who? Cinderella's right. Who? Yeah. Right. How I mean they're playing with how smart he. Right. It's
hard to pick against a Florida Atlantic right now the way they're playing. But I'm I'm going to be similar to
you. If not, you know, I think San Diego State. I think the magic has to run out for an underdog at some
point. I think San Diego State wins. And I'm going to take, you know, I look at this. You kind of
Miami matchup. These are actually two pretty teams that are playing very, very well. Now,
while they may not have been predicted to be this far, they are actually burned their way here.
Beats some great competition. You kind coach by hurly and in Larry, I got in Miami. You got to a
young up in coming coach and a proven veteran coach. I'm going to go with the veteran coach in this
matchup much like you did. I don't know if that's why you did it. But I'm going to take Miami
to cover and win outright on the money line like you said. So I'm going to say Miami San Diego State
in the final on Tuesday and you know, I think it's Tuesday and usually is and who would have predicted that,
right? And if anyone would have told you, it would be Miami and San Diego State, you would have
like, okay man, here's a specimen cup. I need you to go in that bathroom and provide a sample.
And we're going to send this out for testing, right? So listen, I like this, right? You know,
how many years in college basketball was it always those five to eight powerhouse teams, right? Your
don't skin tucky, Arizona's that sort of thing? And you kind of knew, you know, you could, you if you
had seven or eight teams you could pick, you'd get all of the final four, right? And I think that that
that error is going and I kind of liked that as someone, you know, in Syracuse here, you know,
what the Syracuse are, they had a terrible year this year. Next year they could be in the final
four with the landscape of college basketball of what it is today with the NIA, with the transfer portal,
players leaving for the NBA very early. That's why we have these sort of matchups.
Well, it's also a change in the card. There's no more coach K. I mean, you know, Tom is
going to get up there, Jim Bay, Homes retiring. So, you know, some of that, I think, you know,
coincides with the NIA and all of that. So, all right, well, we've gone on this one hour here in our half
hour show. Well, you want to real quick talk about the taps announcement with the, you know,
go and kind of tying the back in with the prospecting. Sure, absolutely. Yeah, we forgot to talk about that
before that. That was a big, that was a big announcement. Do you understand? So, I'll send it up.
We don't have to spend a lot of time. We'll kind of go out on this, Danny. You know,
taps announced that their big announcement was at every, every rookie player in his first game in
a major league will have a MLB debut patch on his uniform for the education. That patch will be
taken off and then used in top scars. Now, what we don't know is what product you're going to find this.
We don't know is it going to be one card with the whole patch? Are they going to, you know,
piece it out and make maybe five cards? All questions that need to be remained to be answered. But let's
just talk about what we think, you know, kind of our thoughts on the concept, right? I'm a, I think
will make the assumption that these will be autographed cards. So, in the sense that it will be,
you know, pure RPAs, right, rookie patcher autos. And think about the provenance of the game.
Let's say, so we'll use a guy we talked about or you mentioned already in Anthony Volpe,
right? So he made his rookie debut the other day. That patch is going to be on card or indoor cards. We don't
know if it's one or multiple. But let's let's just say it's one. Let's just use it. Let's say they
take the whole patch. They make one Anthony Volpe, you know, major league debut patch autocard. Let's say
Anthony Volpe has a similar career to Derek Jeter becomes a hall of fame, Nike shortstop.
Think about this card now. You get many, many moons later from now, right? To significance of that
car, especially if it's a one-on-one. Let's make it a one-on-one until we know to the contrary. Think about,
you know, that's a card that's going to be probably sitting in the case at the national, you know,
25 years from now. And people buzzing about it. Hopefully, I'm still around. Maybe you're pushing
me in the wheelchair to see it. But... And as an oil fan, I hope it's not Anthony Volpe. I hope
if somebody else makes a major debut. But so I think it's awesome. But can I tell you one thing I saw
just to my clarify your point? It looked really tiny on the uniform like it's going to be a one-card patch.
Yeah. That was the only thing I noticed since you were a point. And which I think in some ways is
core. It becomes like the super fracture. And then... But it's from that day, that time. It's from a,
you know, think about, you know, I don't want to make this segment any longer than it has to be.
But think about, you know, we talked about this off the day. Think about, and I know it wasn't invented yet.
No one was even thinking along those lines. But can you imagine how they've done these in the 50s and
60s? Can you imagine a Mickey Manel, one of one patch, rookie patch, auto, you know, that would bring
if something like that wasn't play, you know, from those days, right? But still baseball, right?
It's, I know technology is better. But still, if that's, if they're making one of ones and these
players come, legendary. And some of them are good. That's how it works. Not all of them. But there's
going to be something that have, you know, legendary all-star Hall of Fame careers. And like you said, that patch
is provenance. Not not maybe we think it is from that debut. You can watch that game and see that patch
in action. And now you own it if you own the card along with the auto and everything else that comes with it.
I think it's, you know, I know we like to beat up top a lot of times and deservedly so.
I got, I got to give them credit on this one. This one is, I think it's a great move. And I mean,
even people who think it's, I've heard some people be sort of critical of it. Even those ones
that are critical. If they're open in a top spec and they can pull this, you think they're going to be disappointed.
Even the harshest critic will be very happy to own one of these. And that's the question. How
are these going to be distributed, right? Is it going to be a redemption? Is the card,
it's going to be going to be in the pack? And it's going to be fun to kind of track these, right?
Hopefully they're distributed out of my email account to a guy.
But it's going to be fun to track these. Like no one has, as old claim ownership of this card.
Is it still, if they are distributed in a product, it's still somewhere remaining.
Obviously, we know what happens with one of one cards, right? There's going to be,
it could be bound, he's placed on it. Hey, you know, the vote, I'll give $500,000. You imagine what
that I'm picking with you. Yeah. I mean, now you're getting to a whole another level of Europe is creating a
flawless or national treasures for baseball. And I got asked today from a few different people,
Danny, like, John, what, what do you, how do you think these are getting distributed? How do we,
how do we get it? You know, and I don't know, it could be a redemption thing. It could be,
how do we know, tops is not making their version of flawless or national treasure. It's obviously not
going to be called that, right? But it's going to be a premium boom in product. Yeah, maybe
boomin, you know, boomin for steam or I don't know, whatever if they did, you know,
boomin elite, right? Whatever they, yeah, that's a great, a great boy, right? My dad,
and I can see players are trying to own their 101, right? And they're going to have more,
they're going to probably have more money than the people most people, maybe not everyone.
But I think I'm pulled is a vulby put a bounty on their own car. Yeah. Now,
much do you want to pull that car? Yeah. I mean, you don't have to just take money from them.
You can say, hey, I want this much money. I want, you know, 10 signed bets. I want a signed glove.
I want some bad and go out. I want some, doesn't, we're going to get all that from
Adley Ruchman. So, you know, this really is going to be listen. You don't have to like it.
But listen, you know, for years, right, tops was sort of sitting on their hands and there were maybe
lacking a little innovation. Kudos for them doing something here. And I mean, these these cards
are going to be in high demand. Let's just call it like it is, right? No, I have to like the promise of it.
But it's, it's, it's, I like it. I think it's smart on their part. I think it's going to bring a
lot of attention, a lot of buzz. Not just the tops and fanatics, but to the hobby, too.
This is, you know, this is going to bring a lot of attention to the hobby. You're going to
see this on, you know, new shows. Not, and I'm not talking about hobby new shows. I'm talking
about regular new shows. Like we saw in the crescendo, like, hey, you know, this auction,
you know, man, oh, 5.6 million dollars. We're going to see that again with these cards. It's,
it, and, but, you know, to do it with a new release is harder. It's easier said than done. And I think they
found a way to do it. And so Kudos, Kudos, the tops and fanatics were thinking outside the box a little
bit here and coming up with this. But the choice thing you said is we probably could do it episode
just on that patch because I would love to have Hank Aaron's debut patch off the field. You know, I'm
you know, I mean, I think about it. I'm a jackie Robinson. Yeah, because without saying,
can you imagine if this existed in 1948 or 47, right? A jackie Robinson's first game,
the patch off is uniform in a card, like as a wise man once said, forget about it.
Yeah, well, I don't have, I wouldn't be owning that. If I sold everything, I had. I wouldn't have enough money.
So, you know, it's, yeah, and Dan brings up the upper deck with the 23, 24 going with the
the outburst gold, which will be one of ones for the first time ever. It just funny to have
to do it and the kind of regards rookie rookie year. Not a lot of county, right? I like we talked about
the other night. There's going to be a bounty on that outburst gold, kind of regard. And what that
bounty is, left the wait and see. But the hobby is, is there's some interesting storylines coming
up in the next few years to say the very least. Well, and, and, and I'd be remiss if I, if I didn't
give a shout out to a hobby news daily launching tomorrow, if you're watching this on YouTube,
and if you're listening to the podcast form, it is up and running. Get your morning dose of your
podcast and your hobby news daily morning minute, original writing, and more of the both of us and a whole
team of, uh, that we have 15 writers right now and links to some of you and links to some of the
best content creators around the hobby. So, I just wanted to throw that out there. I appreciate the
great show guys from Hodges as always. Now, thank you. Mr. Newman, we went a little over time,
but that's okay. It was worth it. We don't, we don't fit in one size fits all. We, we are special
size. So, on that note, it was a, you know, wait, I'm going to show I'm going to show this as we
play ourselves out. This is my wife found my Billy Joel concert ticket with Billy Joel guitar pick
from 2009 and John with his Billy Joel and Billy Joel Nelson Johnathon correct tickets. So,
say goodbye John goodbye John.