Opening Pitch: Here we go again with another exciting week of sports and we are so wound up around the one thing that drives people's workdays, the message boards. Why is there so much ado about nothing? It is like I am watching an episode of Seinfeld™ unfold right before my eyes. We get a 13-K, PERFECT GAME performance by Randy Johnson and we are out complaining about people's posts being deleted and we are still deleting them. Either way it is a no-win situation. You have set up a forum where people are supposedly free to express their opinions on anything from A to Z. Then there are some guidelines established and highlighted by Steve-O. Then you have back door complaints from some people to get posts removed. I am not sure where all this ends but hopefully we can get past this and talk about something else (like Randy Johnson). There are plenty of First Amendment and Iraq forums on other chat sites so why not keep our focus to baseball and eTopps? Let's clean this up in-house and not from right hooks from behind the back. Now let's talk baseball!

Randy Johnson is the ageless wonder, proving himself to still be one of the best we have seen in a long time with his perfect game against the woeful Braves the other night. The 31 strikeouts against the Braves set a new two-game record. Johnson and Ben Sheets were the benefactors. Is this the end of the Braves? I certainly hope not. I enjoy a good rivalry in the NL East but am a bit disappointed this year. Johnson, on the other hand, is the right guy for the D-Backs. Now they just need to support him with some more runs. Look at the good game Webb put up tonight only to turn it over after 7 and get a no-decision. The D-Backs have two big hitters in Gonzalez and Finley, so why can't they get men on base to drive in? I am not the one to answer these big questions. Take it to the forum and let's debate those Braves and D-Backs who can't support their pitchers.

As I did two weeks ago, I am going to launch into my eTopps slush fund campaign. As time dwindles down towards eCON04 money becomes more and more of an issue for the big boys helping steer the ship during eCON04. There are many overhead and out-of-pocket expenses they are committing to without and backup from board members and fans alike. I did this last year for the program and raised several hundred dollars. This year I have started the same program with a goal of $1000. I want to be able to send Bearabull or Ronin a 1K payment for them to use to make sure we have a great time at eCON and we get those nice little giveaways like last year. If you are interested in donating to the eCON slush fund, please go to the general forum and search for it under Slush Fund. It lays out the nitty gritty or you can just email me at etoppsguru@aol.com. I would gladly help anyone out who is helping out this program.

Before we roll into the picks I want to highlight a couple more key things here. I am not sure if everyone is up on the boards but if not please check out the general forum (reference eCON04). There you can research anything from hotel information to national updates. There are also several key events that other eTopps personnel are running, such as the golf outing. So please help out, support the program, and come to eCON and get your free card. Meet and greet other fans, drink beers with me (if of age) and let's have a great time. So with that… Remember that these picks listed below are done with research and common sense. Do not trust my opinion. Simply use this as a tool or guide then develop your own buying strategy. Let's roll!

Carlos Zambrano (3,750 @ $4.50)

Pitching in his fourth season for Chicago, this young gun is starting to come into his own. Tossed into arguably the best rotation in baseball, Carlos is holding his own. In 8 starts this year he is 4-1. Last year he went 13-11 with a 3.11 ERA. This year he has lowered his ERA to 2.08. He is showing a lot of poise and promise for the Cubs. Expect him to challenge his RP bonus this year and possibly earn it. It is well within his reach. Being that this is the first eTopps card of a young star on a fine pitching team, I have to recommend a BUY for Carlos.

Chad Tracy (5,000 @ $5.75)

Chad is a fine young hitter who has gotten some time to play because of the injury to big Richie Sexson. He has held his own in the past 24 games. He has batted .348 with 9 extra base hits. He is not a big hitter who drives the ball deep. He is a more pure hitter who drives the ball to opposite fields and has an excellent eye, walking 9 times thus far. Chad has a lot of potential but might be relegated to platooning at 3B with Hillenbrand when Sexson gets back. I like this rookie card but the PR seems a bit too high for a player that has not reached his potential yet. Do not look for him to reach his RP bonus unless Hillenbrand is benched or injured. This is a WEAK BUY.

Curt Schilling (3,750 @ $5.25)

Schilling is appearing on his fourth eTopps card and there is not really much you can say about this star that has not already been said. He brings solid consistency to the Red Sox along with leadership that gives them a strong shot at winning the AL East. However the PR is a bit high for this Sox hurler. I think a better PR would have been 2,500. Though this card will most likely sell out, it will not carry the same weight as his 2001 card. As for his bonus, Curt has won 18 games or more only twice in his career. Yes, this is hard to believe but true. If he stays healthy he might make a run for the money (oh yeah, if he gets run support). It is not a lock but not unreasonable to think he might have another 20-win season, like the two he had in the past 17 seasons. I like the card but the PR and the price scare me here. You are better off picking this card up on the secondary market. DON'T BUY THIS CARD.

Jason Bay (3,750 @ $4.50)

Do not buy this card if you want reward points. Do not buy this card if you are chasing rookies. You have to be a Pirates fan to believe that this guy is a buy. You have to look at him as the next Bobby Bonilla. He has good power and the ability to field, but he is coming off of an injury. This is his second year with the Pirates, after a short stint with the Padres. He should not be in the running for the NL Rookie of the Year. I would not even look for him to finish in the top 5. Not that I am not a Bay fan, because he did very well in the minors. He is just playing for the wrong team. Who does he have to look up to as a mentor? The price is not right and the print run is not looking good. Get it on the secondary market. DON'T BUY THIS CARD!

Rich Harden (2,500 @ $4.50)

You want a good deal? Pick up Harden's 2003 rookie card that is selling 20-25% below IPO. You can pick up that rookie card for the price of this card. I do however like the fact that his PR has dropped to 2,500 from 5,000 last year. However the price should have dropped to $4.00 as well. He is 2-3 in the seven games he has started this year. He has shown glimpses of greatness but they are nowhere near the flashes he showed last fall. In the 20 games he has started so far he is 7-7. So the question is now: How do you better support the outstanding A's pitchers? Zito, Mulder, and Hudson are not having great years either. Is there a change in the air around the Bay? The A's need to bring in a pitching coach and get these guys back into their grooves. Do not look for him to reach his PR bonus either. He might lose 14-17 games this year without run support. This is surprising in their pitchers' park! Buy his rookie card first and DON'T BUY THIS CARD!

San Diego Padres Team Card (2,500 @ $6.50)

If the Padres win 14 games in June and/or 87 games this season you will earn reward points. Every month that they meet their target you earn one RP. If they meet their target for the year you get another RP. If they advance to the World Series you get 2 RP's and another 2 RP's if they win the World Series. The Padres are a good team this year and with their new pitchers' park, Petco Field, the Padres are showing that their pitchers are some of the best and most overlooked. They could easily win 14 games next month and 87 this season. They also have an outside shot at the NL West crown. Keep your eye on them. BUY.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team Card (2,500 @ $5.75)

If the Rays win 10 games in June and/or 61 games this season you will earn reward points. Every month that they meet their target you earn one RP. If they meet their target for the year you get another RP. If they advance to the World Series you get 2 RP's and another 2 RP's if they win the World Series. The Rays go from worse to worse, if that is even possible. The real question is how long can Lou hold out before he explodes down there? Do not count on them winning 10 games in June or any month. They might be lucky to win 61 games next year! DON'T BUY THIS CARD!

Toronto Blue Jays Team Card (2,500 @ $5.75)

If the Blue Jays win 12 games in June and/or 73 games this season you will earn reward points. Every month that they meet their target you earn one RP. If they meet their target for the year you get another RP. If they advance to the World Series you get 2 RP's and another 2 RP's if they win the World Series. The Jays are a good team but stuck in the very competitive AL East. They might finish in third place and make a run for the Wild Card, but that is a big MIGHT! However they are good locks for picking up wins and winning 73 games this season. Do not expect much past that. WEAK BUY!