Andruw Jones (2,500 @ $6.50)

Jones is putting together a solid season in 2003, on pace to hit 37 homers and drive in 147 runs. The performance bonus targets on this card are not at all unattainable. The only PB question marks are the stolen bases and OBP. He has stolen at least eight bases every year so I'm not worried about that. He should make the OBP by a hair. In my opinion the '02 card of Andruw is in serious trouble as this card will have 2,500 or less copies, as opposed to 4,849. I would much rather have the '03 than the '02. This card wont make huge gains but won't lose money either since the print run will be fair and the PB numbers are realistic.

Craig Biggio (2,500 @ $6.50)

Biggio is off to a mediocre start, for him anyway. I'm not real high on this card short term since I really don't see him reaching his performance bonus. The print run is going to help keep this card's value long term as well (as it will most of the other cards in the '03 set). That being said, Biggio is a big asset to the Astros and is average as far as collectibles goes. I'm still not real sure if the move to center field has helped or hurt him. I for one won't be buying this card at IPO.

Drew Henson (3,000 @ $4.00)

Are you a speculator? Do you have patience to wait on a promising young prospect? Well, if you do, then buy the crap outta these! Henson is still in AAA for the Yankees but all indications are that he will be at least a very solid third basemen and maybe even a star. Add to that the fact that he will eventually be playing for a high profile team like the Yanks and I'm seeing dollar signs. If he gets called up early he may reach the modest performance bonuses but for 1 reward point per card I wouldn't even worry about it. If you are smart (like me) you will buy these at IPO and not stop until he hits the majors.

Jason Giambi (2,500 @ $9.50)

Giambi is really struggling to find his bat this year. Batting only .204, he has really been slumping. Unless his performance changes dramatically, the performance bonus targets for this card are doomed. So don't start planning how to spend the three points a card yet. At $9.50, this card isn't worth buying. I would wait until it inevitably dives below IPO on eBay. As I've said a million times do not chase short prints at IPO. But you guys won't listen to me and neither will anyone else. Consequently this card won't even come close to SP status. With 5,142 of his '02 issue out there this card could do well long term. In the short term it does not look appealing.

Jesse Foppert (3,500 @ $6.50)

I for one really like Foppert and think he has an excellent chance of becoming a top-tier pitcher. He has looked better every time I see him pitch. This guy is young which means that he hasn't even found all his good stuff yet. As soon as he settles down his ERA will come down. Currently it is at 4.86, which is to be expected of a young prospect in his rookie season. If you want to know if this card will make you money I will give you a direct answer - YES! How much do you ask? Well, just take a look at his other cards. They are selling pretty well, especially the Bowman Uncirculated on ThePit. Anybody who takes issue with this card being voted in has no baseball vision at all. I say buy at IPO and on eBay.

Tomo Ohka (2,500 @ $4.00)

Here we go again with another $4 card. But this one is nowhere near the quality of the Henson card. Ohka is a 27-year old mediocre starter on a bad team. The picture selection on this card is atrocious (the action shot looks like he was stabbed in the back while standing in a wind tunnel - Who makes a face like that?). Anyways, the performance bonuses are attainable but I wouldn't count on him making them. I think he will lose too many games because he is on the Expos. The strikeouts will be a close call as well. If you are a set collector go ahead and buy this at IPO. At $4 it isn't going to lose much value.

The bottom line:
Strong Buys: Foppert and Henson
Weak Buys: Jones and Ohka
eBay or not at all: Giambi and Biggio

My thoughts on the state of eTopps, Part II

Last time I talked about the fact that declining print runs in the 2003 baseball set were going to hurt the 2002 set. This time I am going to offer a suggestion to eTopps on how to "fix" the eTopps market in 2004. My idea may not be a new one but rest assured I have thought this out over the last few days and believe that it is a foolproof way of guaranteeing that 2004 will be a successful year for both eTopps and us.

The concept behind my idea is simple - WE NEED A CHANGE! I simply don't see people laying out $6.50 for a 4th year eTopps card with only subtle changes in the design of the card. The eTopps cards thus far have looked just like every other card on the market - nothing to get the blood moving. I'm not talking inserts or other specially-marketed "chase" cards. I'm saying that all 2004 eTopps need to be 3-dimensional, holographic, refractive, gold-plate framed, or something of that ilk. Make people want these cards simply because they look cool and different! It would be the only mainstream set that looks this awesome! If the pics got out in Beckett or other places online it would bring in more collectors because they gotta get some of these cards! Let's pump up the excitement about eTopps! Best of all, it won't hurt the other sets, except 2002 baseball (which is already doomed) and some '02s with higher print runs. Basically you will still have regular-looking cards with the lower print runs but now with the different-looking cards you will have a reason to buy another card of the same player, regardless of the print run I know I'm rambling here but it makes sense. eTopps - change it and they will come! How would you change eTopps in 2004? Tell us below...