Your Daily Value #40

Posted by Jeremy on January 27, 2009 under Your Daily Value | Be the First to Comment

2003 Bowman Chrome Draft RICKIE WEEKS Auto

Current eBay Price—$10.00-13.00

.234 BA 14 HR 46 RBI 66 BB/115 K

On the surface those numbers are quite disappointing given Weeks’ exciting tools.  In fact, many collectors would likely consider his career to this point to be a lackluster departure from the lofty expectations heaped upon him after being selected with the 2nd overall pick in the 2003 draft. 

However, the sum of his skills defies the fruits of his performance.  Weeks has surprising strength and good speed that plays well on the basepaths as well as on defense.  He is quite effective at drawing walks and putting himself into position to score once he reaches base.  The problem is that he doesn’t reach base enough.  Weeks still swings and misses at too many pitches and is prone to long slumps at the plate.  He often gets pull happy and falls victim to offspeed pitches out of the strike zone.

Better days could lie ahead for Rickie though.  He is approaching that infamous age of 27 where players tend to enter the prime years of their careers.  The talent is there for Weeks to be a perennial 20 HR/30 SB hitter who scores 100+ runs per season.  He plays in a great hitter’s ballpark and the fact that the Brewers were able to keep their deadly lineup intact for the ‘09 season bodes well for him as well. 

The 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft set has historically garnered high demand from collectors as players like Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon, Nick Markakis, Delmon Young and others have graced the upper echelon of the hobby’s hotlists over the past few years.  Weeks may not ever experience the ceiling of his once stratospheric potential, but at just $10 or so per chrome auto, I am willing to bet that his cards are at a market low.