Your Daily Value #26

Posted by Jeremy on January 4, 2009 under Your Daily Value | Read the First Comment

Today I offer for you a double dose of Elvis…Andrus that is!  Typically, I am a staunch advocate for the supremacy of 1st year cards, but it seems that the industry is increasingly trending towards establishing autographed cards of all prospects rather than a select few.  Andrus is an interesting case, however, as his first autographed cards (from major manufacturers) occur two years after the debut of his first year card.  That fact alone may curry just enough market interest in his first year offering to help it avoid the obsolescence that many other base cards from top prospects inevitably suffer.  With out further ado, here are two cards that you can’t help falling in love with.

2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects ELVIS ANDRUS

Current eBay Price—$2.00-3.00

 

2008 Donruss Threads ELVIS ANDRUS Auto #/749

Current eBay Price—$6.00-8.00

• This kid reminds me so much of Rafael Furcal.  Game changing speed, a missle loaded arm, and developing power potential, Andrus as a teenager never ceased to impress the Rangers organization as a teen at AA.  For the ‘08 season, Andrus hit .295 with 4 HR 65 RBI 54 SB and 82 runs scored.  Unlike Furcal, Andrus also possesses leadership and makeup intangibles that are off the charts.  The one thing that still seems to be holding Elvis back is his so-so plate discipline (38 BB/91 K), though he has performed much better in the Venezuelan Winter League (25 BB/36 K).  Given the fact that Andrus was 2-4 years younger than the bulk of the competition at AA, it is reasonable to expect that he not only will shore up some of his selectivity issues, but will also hit with more power.  I really feel like the Texas Rangers are on the brink of being a special team very soon.  With the likes of Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, and Chris Davis in that lineup, it is reasonable to expect that a player like Andrus could have monsterous numbers at the top of that lineup.