How does Shohei Ohtani have a RC card?

[packs]

The thing is it's hard to tell what you're getting during spring training. Tanaka's ERA is over 7, but I expect him to be just fine.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

The thing is it's hard to tell what you're getting during spring training. Tanaka's ERA is over 7, but I expect him to be just fine.

Yes, but Tanaka is an established major leaguer and probably has just been working on stuff. Ohtani has to prove himself and probably has been pitching as best he can.

[clydepepper]

Here's the short, but accurate reason why he has a Rookie Card:

$

[Rich Klein]

A quick point, if Ohtani plays in the majors (or possibly even be on the 25-man roster) before 9.1 he will have a legit 2018 Rookie Card this year.

While money is important, I believe if this rule gets flouted then Panini should start using official logos on their cards since no rule is sacred to MLBPA and MLB properties. Once these rules are no longer followed, then let Panini have even competition. (I understand the contracts, but this is making a point)

Rich

[packs]

Right now I would be pretty worried if I paid the bucks for the rookies. Some of his signed autos are going for crazy money. I don't have a crystal ball, but something tells me he lives up to his contract while shorting all the collectors. Don't forget, Ohtani is playing for the league minimum. If he's only a replacement level player I'd still be pretty happy if I were the Angels. But I wouldn't be happy if I bought one of these cards.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A quick point, if Ohtani plays in the majors (or possibly even be on the 25-man roster) before 9.1 he will have a legit 2018 Rookie Card this year.

While money is important, I believe if this rule gets flouted then Panini should start using official logos on their cards since no rule is sacred to MLBPA and MLB properties. Once these rules are no longer followed, then let Panini have even competition. (I understand the contracts, but this is making a point)

Rich

Even if he is an official RC for the year, that doesn't condone the printing of cards prior to his first Official game is OK. The rules were already disregarded and and went unchecked. They have set a new precedent for producing cards. No longer does a prospect need to have played a game nor be on a roster, they just need to be popular and "too big to fail". Even Yu Darvish had to wait to have a RC card until after his first game just 6 years ago.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

Even if he is an official RC for the year, that doesn't condone the printing of cards prior to his first Official game is OK. The rules were already disregarded and and went unchecked. They have set a new precedent for producing cards. No longer does a prospect need to have played a game nor be on a roster, they just need to be popular and "too big to fail". Even Yu Darvish had to wait to have a RC card until after his first game just 6 years ago.

Or maybe they wanted to capitalize before he did fail.

[Rich Klein]

Well he did play on opening day so at least that part of this discussion is now mute. The bigger issue will be if the player does not come up in the year