I Want To Be A Market Analyst Named Pumpsie!

According to a few sources, it appears that Beckett only employs one analyst per sport.  This boggles my mind.  What this means to me, and maybe I’ve put way too much thought in to it, is that one guy decides the value of cards, which in turn, effects the selling prices of all cards.  Singles all the way up to hobby boxes and cases.  One guy.

I decided to ask if this was true on the Beckett boards.  I asked for someone who knew for sure how many people were responsible for following the markets.  What I got was a big argument.  I got the response that if I thought I could do better, why didn’t I.  This was their whole argument.  That if we couldn’t do better, we shouldn’t complain about how bad their guide is.  I’ve decided to take on that argument and do some market research.  I want to start small.  I figure I’ll see how hard it is to follow three cards for a couple months and report their value based on my research.  I will not look at a price guide of any kind during this period.  I still need to come up with a formula for my final price.  When I do, I will do my best to try and explain how I came up with the numbers.

I need help from you the reader, even if it is just two of you.  I need three random cards to follow in the different markets.  I’ll take suggestions in the comment section and compile a final list for a poll.   After I figure all this out I will report my findings.  I’m hoping to come up with a method that requires little time and can be updated regularly.  I also welcome any ideas or thoughts on what would be a better way to accurately set a value for our cards.  I know they’re worth something, right?

Anyways here’s a random card of a guy named Pumpsie to look at.

Show And Tell, #23 Style

While sorting through my picture folders I came across these pics from Sandberg’s jersey retirement ceremony.  The date was August 28, 2005. The pitching match up was, coincidentally enough, Zambrano against Josh Beckett and D. Lee led the way with two home runs. The Cubs won 14 to 3

Sandberg throwing out the first pitch to Dawson, who is sporting the fashionable Cub’s top and Marlin’s bottoms.

Dawson, Sarge, and the sharp dressed Bobby Dernier.

When Antonio “The Sixth Digit” Alfonseca pitch for the Cub’s he was usually taken out by Dusty while being booed by the fans.  This day ended similar, except El Pulpo was taken out by McKeon after giving up two hits and a walk, and ferociously booed by the fans.  He gave up 3 runs while recording 1 out, I believe that adds up to an ERA of an even 81.00 .  I still remember him getting pulled one day after giving up the lead after a couple of long balls.  The crowd was booing so fiercely, Alfonseca tried to flip the crowd the bird, he failed miserably due to the fact  that technically he has two of them on the hand he used.  Man, I hated this guy when he pitched for us, he is quite possibly my least favorite Cub of all time.  It’s kinda funny, the day started out with my favorite Cub being honored and ended with my least favorite Cub being booed, awesome.  I also scored this as a freebie!

Show And Tell, #31 Style

Today was about the most perfect day for watching baseball.  The wind was blowing out, the sun was shining, and the beer was cold.  What more could you want.  Pictures you say, you want pictures……..OK, here they are………….

Has Anyone Ever Thought To Just Ask?

Beckett Pricks!

After turning through the pages of an old Beckett I decided to post a question on their boards.  I asked how do they come to a conclusion on what a card is really worth.  I was looking for a real explanation of the process they use to determine the final value.  I’ve bitched and moaned enough on how their prices reflect nothing in the real world.  I know I’m not alone in this thought.  Instead of bitching one more time, I decided to just come out and ask the question.

Here is the screen capture of the original post.  Some of the discussion has been  interesting and somewhat insightful.  Other parts have been just down right moronic.  See, a couple months back I was banned by Beckett for allegedly spamming a member.  He was having problems with the site like so many of us had, so I sent him a PM suggesting he try Zistle.  He then reported me for spamming another site on the boards.  So like any self respecting rule breaker, I broke the rules and obtained a new email account and hopped right back on.  I’ve laid low and tried to play nice.  After asking this question today I was bombarded with assholery.  It just so happened to be from the same two weasels who had me banned a few months back.  RiceLynnEvans75 and The Cardboard Fan are the guilty parties.  The thing is, I don’t think they know that I’m the same guy they had beef with a while back.  These guys will report people for just posting something that may be construed as negative towards Beckett.  They defend Beckett like it’s their retarded little sister.  If you have a Beckett account please feel free to tell them what kind of dicks they really are, and while you’re at it go ahead and throw your 2 cents in the discussion.  The thread is near the top of the baseball boards. Some level headed discussion would be appreciated!

Zistle Blog Hall Meetings

If I’m going to get banned by Beckett for spamming Zistle I might as well tell you how awesome it really is.  If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and check it out.  They recently added a live chat room to the site.  I was kicking around the idea of having a weekly blogosphere meeting there.  Maybe on Sunday nights during and after Sunday Night Baseball.  I think it would be cool to get together and have a live chat once and a while instead of leaving comments scattered on several different blogs.  Although I would still scatter plenty of comments on several blogs.  Let me know if anyone else is interested or has an idea of a better day or time to do this.

#31

I may not be home in time time tomorrow ight to chat on Zistle.  I’m leaving town around 8 a.m. so I can make it to my seat in time for the jersey retirement ceremony.  It’s going to be a long day and I’ll probably catch the Swine Flu  on the L, but it will be worth every minute.  Hopefully I can grab some pics if I don’t forget the camera, if I do I will be sure to post a couple.  Of course I was able to score some sweet tickets down the first base line and not even two hours later they announced the flag will be raised proudly up the left field foul pole.  Just my luck!