Washington Nationals starter Jason Bergmann is headed to the DL with elbow sorness. When it rains, it pours. The Nationals top 3 starters are all on the DL, with Bergmann joining John Patterson and Shaun Hill. The 25 year old made a name for himself in his last start, taking a no-hitter into the 8th inning. Unfortunately, ESPN flashed over to that inning, and his next pitch was deposited over the right field wall by Brian McCann.
Fantasy Impact: I'm sure he was picked up in many leagues after that start, or possibly before given he was posting solid ratios all year long. It's a shame as he was pitching very well prior to the soreness, so hopefully it's nothing major and he'll avoid surgery. I don't believe he's worth stashing, but keep an eye on him if he returns and has a good start or two.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Hank Blalock To The DL
Texas Rangers 3B Hank Blalock is headed to the 60 day DL after being diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I don't understand exactly what the disease is, but apparently a rib is interfering with the nerves in his shoulder. He'll have surgery to remove the rib and be gone for about 3 months.
Fantasy Impact: Blalock can be dropped in mixed leagues, but if you have an empty DL slot, go ahead and stash him to see how his recovery goes. In the league I own him, I already have Kendrick and Mauer on the DL, so I don't have another spot and gladly let him go. If it takes 3 months, he'll only play for a month, plus he'll be rusty at the plate, and it's impossible to chew up an active roster spot given that. It's a shame as he had homered in 3 straight games prior to complaining about the injury. Here's to a quick recovery, Hank.
Fantasy Impact: Blalock can be dropped in mixed leagues, but if you have an empty DL slot, go ahead and stash him to see how his recovery goes. In the league I own him, I already have Kendrick and Mauer on the DL, so I don't have another spot and gladly let him go. If it takes 3 months, he'll only play for a month, plus he'll be rusty at the plate, and it's impossible to chew up an active roster spot given that. It's a shame as he had homered in 3 straight games prior to complaining about the injury. Here's to a quick recovery, Hank.
Belated Thursday Wrapup: Dye Not Dead, D. Young Awake, And Good Ole Fausto
Jermaine Dye: Sooner or later the White Sox offense was going to wake up, and Dye seems to be taking that first step. He drove in 4 runs with a double, HR, and sac fly on Thursday. If you're one that likes to buy low after a player starts to wake up, Dye is your man. He'll never repeat what he did last year, but he's a quality hitter that's due for a nice hot streak. Once Thome and his great OBP get back, he'll have more men on base to drive in as well.
Delmon Young: Another guy that falls in the same catagory as Dye...he's heating up and now's a good time to buy low before the window shuts for good. He smacked 2 HRs on Thursday and looks to be breaking out of his slump with his 3rd straight 2 hit game in a row.
Fausto Carmona: A complete game shutout for the surging youngster. He's still not K'ing many people, but with the way he's pitching it doesn't matter. He could be a surprise fantasy pitcher this year as he has a great offense behind him. I expect him to regress as teams figure him out, but he had a successful track record in the minors as a starter, and could be here for good despite being due for a rough patch soon.
Johan Santana: His WHIP is a bit higher than usual, but other than that he's pitching great again, and he usually heats up about now as well. He's actually off to a better start this year than the last few, so he could be in for even better numbers than usual come year's end if he goes on his summer hot streak.
Travis Hafner: His numbers are down a bit right now (.280, only 7 HRs so far), so it might be a good time to call his owner and see if you can get him for a slight discount.
Hideki Okajima: He's worth owning in all formats right now. His ratios (ERA, WHIP, K/9) are insane, and he's clearly the #2 guy for saves behind Papelbon. Papelbon owners would be real smart to add him if they have an empty roster spot, and even non-Papelbon owners should consider him as well. It's a scary time for opposing teams to be down heading into the 8th inning against Boston.
Jon Rauch/Chad Cordero: Again, don't worry about the save for Rauch on Thursday. Cordero had worked 2 straight days after being gone for a week, so he got a day off. He'll get the next save chance for Washington.
Chipper Jones: Jones hit his 11th HR, and has been a true force when in the lineup. With the lack of production at the 3B position this season, it's almost impossible to advise selling Jones unless you can package him for either A-Rod or Wright. He's hitting too well, and there's too many guys not producing at the 3B position this year. The best idea is to make sure you have a quality backup for when he misses game, and enjoy his production when he's healthy.
Ryan Dempster: Or is that dumpster? His ugly 2nd half 2006 self came back to haunt his owners with a complete blowup. The good thing is that he's still the best Cubs reliever, and he has plenty of job security. This will be a good test for him to see what type of mental makeup he has as he'll attempt to bounce-back from this.
Jon Garland: Alright, I'm sold, pick him up. After holding the Yankees to 1 run on Thursday, I'm convinced that he's back to his 2005 form. Don't be afraid to cut bait if he strings a couple bad performances together, but he's pitching incredibly right now. He won't help in K's, but he'll help in the other 3 catagories.
Ben Sheets: The K's are back! As I mentioned before, I was a bit concerned about his K-rate in the early going, but it did indeed prove to be a fluke as his track record suggested. He's now K'd 18 in his last 20 IP, so he's back on track and pitching great. 2 weeks ago I was offered Sheets and Manny for Webb and Rios in a league, and I jumped on it. It's not as lopsided as it sounds due to Webb's usual consistency and Sheet's flakiness, but for that value, Sheets was well worth buying low on. All his owners should be happy as he appears healthy and ready to dominate this year.
Jeremy Hermida: Hitting very well so far, but just 1 HR and no SBs yet. He's showing no rust so far, and could be ready to show his talent. Like I said before, he's worth picking up and speculating on if you have an empty spot, and he's well worth watching in all leagues.
Tim Linecum: After a rough first start in Philly, this super prospect has pitched 14 innings and allowed 9 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 16. He's here to stay, and will continue to get better. Expect some rough spots as with all rookie pitchers not named Liriano, but he'll probably prove to be one of the best waiver wire pitchers of this year.
Roy Oswalt: Cruising along like your staff ace should. 2.83 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 6 wins so far. His strikeout rate isn't what it was a few years ago, but that's of little concern when he pitches like this.
Ichiro Suzuki: Unfortunately I miss a few buy-low candidates trying to go through the boxscores every day, and unfortunatley I haven't touched on him yet until it's too late. He's stolen 7 bases in the last 7 days and has his average up over .320. He's back on track, so hopefully his owners were patient.
Delmon Young: Another guy that falls in the same catagory as Dye...he's heating up and now's a good time to buy low before the window shuts for good. He smacked 2 HRs on Thursday and looks to be breaking out of his slump with his 3rd straight 2 hit game in a row.
Fausto Carmona: A complete game shutout for the surging youngster. He's still not K'ing many people, but with the way he's pitching it doesn't matter. He could be a surprise fantasy pitcher this year as he has a great offense behind him. I expect him to regress as teams figure him out, but he had a successful track record in the minors as a starter, and could be here for good despite being due for a rough patch soon.
Johan Santana: His WHIP is a bit higher than usual, but other than that he's pitching great again, and he usually heats up about now as well. He's actually off to a better start this year than the last few, so he could be in for even better numbers than usual come year's end if he goes on his summer hot streak.
Travis Hafner: His numbers are down a bit right now (.280, only 7 HRs so far), so it might be a good time to call his owner and see if you can get him for a slight discount.
Hideki Okajima: He's worth owning in all formats right now. His ratios (ERA, WHIP, K/9) are insane, and he's clearly the #2 guy for saves behind Papelbon. Papelbon owners would be real smart to add him if they have an empty roster spot, and even non-Papelbon owners should consider him as well. It's a scary time for opposing teams to be down heading into the 8th inning against Boston.
Jon Rauch/Chad Cordero: Again, don't worry about the save for Rauch on Thursday. Cordero had worked 2 straight days after being gone for a week, so he got a day off. He'll get the next save chance for Washington.
Chipper Jones: Jones hit his 11th HR, and has been a true force when in the lineup. With the lack of production at the 3B position this season, it's almost impossible to advise selling Jones unless you can package him for either A-Rod or Wright. He's hitting too well, and there's too many guys not producing at the 3B position this year. The best idea is to make sure you have a quality backup for when he misses game, and enjoy his production when he's healthy.
Ryan Dempster: Or is that dumpster? His ugly 2nd half 2006 self came back to haunt his owners with a complete blowup. The good thing is that he's still the best Cubs reliever, and he has plenty of job security. This will be a good test for him to see what type of mental makeup he has as he'll attempt to bounce-back from this.
Jon Garland: Alright, I'm sold, pick him up. After holding the Yankees to 1 run on Thursday, I'm convinced that he's back to his 2005 form. Don't be afraid to cut bait if he strings a couple bad performances together, but he's pitching incredibly right now. He won't help in K's, but he'll help in the other 3 catagories.
Ben Sheets: The K's are back! As I mentioned before, I was a bit concerned about his K-rate in the early going, but it did indeed prove to be a fluke as his track record suggested. He's now K'd 18 in his last 20 IP, so he's back on track and pitching great. 2 weeks ago I was offered Sheets and Manny for Webb and Rios in a league, and I jumped on it. It's not as lopsided as it sounds due to Webb's usual consistency and Sheet's flakiness, but for that value, Sheets was well worth buying low on. All his owners should be happy as he appears healthy and ready to dominate this year.
Jeremy Hermida: Hitting very well so far, but just 1 HR and no SBs yet. He's showing no rust so far, and could be ready to show his talent. Like I said before, he's worth picking up and speculating on if you have an empty spot, and he's well worth watching in all leagues.
Tim Linecum: After a rough first start in Philly, this super prospect has pitched 14 innings and allowed 9 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 16. He's here to stay, and will continue to get better. Expect some rough spots as with all rookie pitchers not named Liriano, but he'll probably prove to be one of the best waiver wire pitchers of this year.
Roy Oswalt: Cruising along like your staff ace should. 2.83 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 6 wins so far. His strikeout rate isn't what it was a few years ago, but that's of little concern when he pitches like this.
Ichiro Suzuki: Unfortunately I miss a few buy-low candidates trying to go through the boxscores every day, and unfortunatley I haven't touched on him yet until it's too late. He's stolen 7 bases in the last 7 days and has his average up over .320. He's back on track, so hopefully his owners were patient.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Josh Beckett To The DL
Boston Red Sox starter Josh Beckett has been placed on the disabled list with a tear in the middle finger of his pitching hand. As has happened several times throughout his career, Beckett suffered another blister/tear on the same middle finger, and the Red Sox are playing it safe and placing him on the disabled list.
Fantasy Impact: It will be retroactive to his last start, which came back on May 13th, so he'll be available to come off the disabled list and make a start on May 29th. He'll probably only miss the minimum 15 days, and until then you could use a spot starter or two to cover your innings.
Fantasy Impact: It will be retroactive to his last start, which came back on May 13th, so he'll be available to come off the disabled list and make a start on May 29th. He'll probably only miss the minimum 15 days, and until then you could use a spot starter or two to cover your innings.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Hunter-ific, Wolf'in Down K's, And Blalock's Forearm
Hunter Pence: En fuego. He hasn't needed much rookie adjustment so far. Pence has played in 16 games, racking up a .355 AVG, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs, and 2 SBs to boot. Owners might have dropped him after an initially slow start, but he's raking right now and needs to be active in mixed leagues.
Randy Wolf: Comeback player of the year? If Josh Hamilton continues his decline, Wolf might have a shot. Now more than a year removed from TJ surgery, he's posted a 5-3 record with a 3.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and most impressively 62 Ks in 53 IP. He's been a quality K guy in the past, but nothing like this before. Perhaps his new elbow ligament came from a horse. He's definitely worth starting in mixed leagues at the moment while he's pitching well. Maybe a move to LA was just what he needed.
Hank Blalock: Blalock underwent tests on his forearm after the game, but nothing major showed up. He might miss a game or so to rest his soreness, but a DL stint seems unlikely at the moment.
John Danks: Danks has been on a roll with 3 straight quality starts, the latest being last night against the Yankees. He has a great arm, but many thought he wasn't quite ready for the major league level yet. He's proving them wrong so far, and another quality start or two might warrant a pickup in mixed leagues. If the White Sox offense continues to come out of its slumber, he'll be worth spot starting against weaker offenses thanks to his K potential (35 in 41 2/3 IP so far).
Matt Thornton/Bobby Jenks: I haven't read anything about Jenks having arm troubles, so my guess last night was that Guillen played matchups in the 9th inning (2 lefties, plus a switch hitter who didn't hit lefties at all due up in the 9th) and saved his closer for the 2nd game. The Sox got blown out in the 2nd game, but Thornton pitched a clean 9th for his first save. Nothing to worry about here for Jenks owners.
Cole Hamels: 8 IP, 2 Hits, 2 Runs, and 11 Ks last night. He's rounding into ace form, so hopefully you followed my advice earlier and at least inquired about buying low.
Ryan Zimmerman: 2/3 with a HR last night. He was due to heat up, and with his current .247 average, he has room to grow. He's a decent buy-low guy, but with the inept offense around him, his R and RBI ceilings are fairly low. Still, he's a top 10 3B that could be had on the cheap right now.
Chad Cordero: Cordero is being eased back into the closer's role, so don't fret about his 8th inning appearance last night. His manager Manny Acta stated this would happen, so maybe think about making an inquiry into his owner to see if he is spoofed by his appearance last night. He's still a candidate to be traded towards the trading deadline, and I'm not sure if he'd be dealt somewhere where he can close. If he can be had cheaply, it'd probably be worth the saves up until that point, but just beware of that possibility.
C.C. Sabathia: A great 1 run, 5 hit performance last night in 8 innings with 5 Ks. He was a popular candidate to ascend to #1 fantasy starter role this year, and so far he's living up to that. A great draft day value so far.
A.J. Burnett: CG, 1 run, 5 hits/walks, and 10 Ks. Just what the doctor ordered for my struggling fantasy rotation, that's for sure. Only 2 BBs, so his command was good last night. He's put together 3 straight quailty starts, so despite the 5 BBs last time out, he's finding his groove.
Jorge Sosa: Brilliant outing last night against the Cubs, and that's now 3 straight solid performances since joining the rotation. He had a surprising 2005 stint in the starting rotation with Atlanta, but I wouldn't read too much into this yet.
Rich Hill: He's struggled a bit in 3 of his 5 last starts, but he's still enjoying a fine season and his WHIP is a very strong 1.06. It isn't much of an opportunity with his very strong numbers, but perhaps you can talk about his recent struggles and past poor performance and get him for a discount. He reminds me a lot of Barry Zito, who would have had an even better career had he spent his prime years in the NL. Great sleeper heading into the season, and a quality option the rest of the year.
Mark Teixeira: He's continued his torrid hitting going 3/4 last night and adding his 4th HR in May. Hopefully you didn't trade him away after his slow start, learning from last year!
Noah Lowry: A tough luck CG loss last night, and his ERA is all the way down to 3.04 now. His ERA does NOT match his low K rate and 1.35 WHIP, so don't be fooled into picking him up. Some shellings are likely on the way, but he might be worth a spot start here and there against weaker offenses.
Brandon Webb: He's been irritating to own so far, serving up 2 HRs to Brad Hawpe last night which accounted for 4/5 ERs he allowed. He's alternated great starts with mediocre ones for much of the season. His WHIP sits at 1.29, but he's only walked 3 in his last two outings. He's not really a buy-low, but he might be a "buy at a discount". I expect him to eventually find his form from last year if his command stays stable. He won't post the same numbers, but he'll be plenty valuable the rest of the way.
John Lackey: 6 shoutout innings last night, and he's been awesome this year with a 2.43 ERA and 54 Ks in 59 1/3 IP. Another good draft day value.
Duchscherer/Calero/Embre/Witasick: With Dutch not able to pitch the past two days and Street on the DL, the bullpen has blown a save in each of the last two nights. This situation is a mess, but I think Duchscherer is worth holding onto to see if he gets the rest he needs to take over the closer's role until Street returns. None of the rest are worth owning right now.
Bronson Arroyo: To everyone's surprise, he's pitching just as well this year as he did last year, posting a 2.64 ERA thus far, and amassing a quality 43 Ks in 61 1/3 IP. His ERA will hop back over 3 before too long, but he'll provide his owners with a reliable back-end starter all year long.
Jake Peavy: Awesome again last night, although not quite so dominant with only 5 Ks but 9 hits in 7 IP. Allowed 2 runs in the first, then blanked them the next 6 innings. Too bad his offense didn't give him that final run he needed until after he left.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Injury Updates: Smoltz, Chipper, and Beckett
John Smoltz: Smoltz will make his scheduled start this weekend versus Boston. I'd probably play it safe and bench him against an elite offense coming off a finger injury on his pitching hand. Perhaps some of you guys are moreso the gambling type than I, but I believe it's best if you keep him benched for this one.
Chipper Jones: Chipper is back in the lineup tonight after missing the last several games with a variety of injuries. He's been on fire at the plate, but this is what you have to put up with to enjoy that production. Hopefully he'll feel fine tonight and stay in the lineup until his next injury.
Josh Beckett: Beckett will miss his scheduled start with his finger tear, as I figured he would, and he'll probably head to the DL if I had to guess. There's no point to Boston letting him pitch through it at this point in the season.
Chipper Jones: Chipper is back in the lineup tonight after missing the last several games with a variety of injuries. He's been on fire at the plate, but this is what you have to put up with to enjoy that production. Hopefully he'll feel fine tonight and stay in the lineup until his next injury.
Josh Beckett: Beckett will miss his scheduled start with his finger tear, as I figured he would, and he'll probably head to the DL if I had to guess. There's no point to Boston letting him pitch through it at this point in the season.
Not So Uggla, The Zambrano We Love, And Felix Returns
Dan Uggla: Uggla was noted by a lot of fantasy outlets as having a high bust probability this year after last year's surprise season. His average is poor and he's not much of a base stealer, but his power numbers are doing just fine so far and he's more or less repeating his performance from last year. So far so good, and there's no reason to do anything with him.
Sergio Mitre: Mitre is putting up some impressive ratios (2.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) so far, but I don't have faith in him as more than a spot starter in mixed leagues against weak offenses. I have a feeling he's due to crash back down as nothing in his past suggests he's anywhere this good.
Hanley Ramirez: He's more than living up to expectations thus far. It seemed split between people whether he would progress or regress this year, and he's definitely progressing thus far. Between Ramirez, Cabrera, Uggla, and Hermida, the Marlins have the foundation for a quality offense for years to come, or more accurately until their cheap contracts start to expire.
Jhonny Peralta: Another HR last night gives him 8 on the season, and outside of batting average, he's definitely close to returning to his 2005 form. I'm not sure if he'll get up to .280, but the rest of his production is giving his owners great value this season.
Jeremy Accardo: 3/3 in saves, and still unscored upon. Not too bad so far for a waiver wire closer, and yet another example of why taking high-risk closers in the middle rounds is a waste of a draft choice. Teams will begin to figure him out, but from what I've read, he does have closer-quality stuff.
Hank Blalock: 3 straight 2 hit, 1 HR games. The power seems to be coming back, and the only thing that sucks is the lack of baserunners on when he jacks one out.
Carl Crawford: Up to 11 steals now. Those who didn't freak out when he was 1/3 in steals early in the season have been rewarded with 10 straight successful attempts. The 5 HR are nice too, and it seems like the power surge early last year wasn't as big of a fluke as some thought.
Brandon McCarthy: He was more than likely dumped to the waiver wire after starting off the season like a steaming turd, but he's starting to get his command figured out and lasted 6 innings last night, K'ing 7. I don't like his flyball tendencies in the Texas heat, especially during the summer months, so I don't think he's more than a spot starter against weak offenses, preferrably on the road. He will continue to improve though.
James Shields: Another great outing last night, although another no decision to show for it. He's on a roll, and should continue pitching well. I'd only bench him against the Yankees and Red Sox going forward.
Carlos Zambrano: Another glimmer of hope. After working hard on his mechanics of keeping his front closed after his last start, he put together one of this season's better performances by holding the Mets to 1 run in 8 IP. The 3:3 K:BB ratio isn't great, but he took a step in the right direction. He's still a great buy-low candidate, but act fast.
Carlos Lee: 2 more HRs last night, and he's been a monster so far this year. I'm looking really smart taking Jason Bay over him so far. Or not.
Hunter Pence: The best hitting prospect in the majors is off to a great start, hitting .310 with 3 HRs. I doubt he hits above .300 this year given pitchers will start adjusting to and attacking his weaknesses, but he's well worth picking up and using if you have a hole in your lineup while he's hot. The power is definitely legit, and the average could be too if he stays on top of the swing flaws that pitchers will eventually find.
Randy Johnson: 6 IP, 9 Ks, 1 H. He was not removed due to injury, and said he's feeling great. Buy low opportunity might be closed after this start, and being back in the NL will provide great help to his numbers.
Bobby Crosby: Numbers over the last month are .280, 15 Rs, 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, 4 SBs. Pick him up if you have a hole at SS...this might be the year he stays healthy and put his immense talent to full use.
Kelvim Escobar: I looked at his stat line this morning and immediately vomitted. Don't worry, he's not hurt. Just one of those nights. One of those ugly, ugly nights. *curses*
Felix Hernandez: Felix's control was off last night, but the most important part of his outing was that he didn't re-injure himself, and that his stuff looked great. He was pulled after 3 2/3 due to hitting his pitch count which was a shame due to the 10 runs of support the Seattle offense gave him. I'd use him next time out without concern.
Rafael Furcal: 3 straight 4 hit nights, and he's now hitting .297. I tried very hard to acquire him in a league where my SS (Felipe Lopez) sucks, but unfortunately we didn't have a match. It's a shame, because he was a great buy-low candidate a week ago.
Sergio Mitre: Mitre is putting up some impressive ratios (2.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) so far, but I don't have faith in him as more than a spot starter in mixed leagues against weak offenses. I have a feeling he's due to crash back down as nothing in his past suggests he's anywhere this good.
Hanley Ramirez: He's more than living up to expectations thus far. It seemed split between people whether he would progress or regress this year, and he's definitely progressing thus far. Between Ramirez, Cabrera, Uggla, and Hermida, the Marlins have the foundation for a quality offense for years to come, or more accurately until their cheap contracts start to expire.
Jhonny Peralta: Another HR last night gives him 8 on the season, and outside of batting average, he's definitely close to returning to his 2005 form. I'm not sure if he'll get up to .280, but the rest of his production is giving his owners great value this season.
Jeremy Accardo: 3/3 in saves, and still unscored upon. Not too bad so far for a waiver wire closer, and yet another example of why taking high-risk closers in the middle rounds is a waste of a draft choice. Teams will begin to figure him out, but from what I've read, he does have closer-quality stuff.
Hank Blalock: 3 straight 2 hit, 1 HR games. The power seems to be coming back, and the only thing that sucks is the lack of baserunners on when he jacks one out.
Carl Crawford: Up to 11 steals now. Those who didn't freak out when he was 1/3 in steals early in the season have been rewarded with 10 straight successful attempts. The 5 HR are nice too, and it seems like the power surge early last year wasn't as big of a fluke as some thought.
Brandon McCarthy: He was more than likely dumped to the waiver wire after starting off the season like a steaming turd, but he's starting to get his command figured out and lasted 6 innings last night, K'ing 7. I don't like his flyball tendencies in the Texas heat, especially during the summer months, so I don't think he's more than a spot starter against weak offenses, preferrably on the road. He will continue to improve though.
James Shields: Another great outing last night, although another no decision to show for it. He's on a roll, and should continue pitching well. I'd only bench him against the Yankees and Red Sox going forward.
Carlos Zambrano: Another glimmer of hope. After working hard on his mechanics of keeping his front closed after his last start, he put together one of this season's better performances by holding the Mets to 1 run in 8 IP. The 3:3 K:BB ratio isn't great, but he took a step in the right direction. He's still a great buy-low candidate, but act fast.
Carlos Lee: 2 more HRs last night, and he's been a monster so far this year. I'm looking really smart taking Jason Bay over him so far. Or not.
Hunter Pence: The best hitting prospect in the majors is off to a great start, hitting .310 with 3 HRs. I doubt he hits above .300 this year given pitchers will start adjusting to and attacking his weaknesses, but he's well worth picking up and using if you have a hole in your lineup while he's hot. The power is definitely legit, and the average could be too if he stays on top of the swing flaws that pitchers will eventually find.
Randy Johnson: 6 IP, 9 Ks, 1 H. He was not removed due to injury, and said he's feeling great. Buy low opportunity might be closed after this start, and being back in the NL will provide great help to his numbers.
Bobby Crosby: Numbers over the last month are .280, 15 Rs, 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, 4 SBs. Pick him up if you have a hole at SS...this might be the year he stays healthy and put his immense talent to full use.
Kelvim Escobar: I looked at his stat line this morning and immediately vomitted. Don't worry, he's not hurt. Just one of those nights. One of those ugly, ugly nights. *curses*
Felix Hernandez: Felix's control was off last night, but the most important part of his outing was that he didn't re-injure himself, and that his stuff looked great. He was pulled after 3 2/3 due to hitting his pitch count which was a shame due to the 10 runs of support the Seattle offense gave him. I'd use him next time out without concern.
Rafael Furcal: 3 straight 4 hit nights, and he's now hitting .297. I tried very hard to acquire him in a league where my SS (Felipe Lopez) sucks, but unfortunately we didn't have a match. It's a shame, because he was a great buy-low candidate a week ago.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Huston Street To The Disabled List
Oakland A's closer Huston Street has been placed on the disabled list with an irritated right ulnar nerve. I guess the warning signs were there as Street had only pitched once in the past 9 days, and generally even if save opportunities don't exist, managers try to get their closers some work in between to keep them fresh. This is somewhat surprising though, as usually abnormally bad performance is the best indicator of an injury, but Street had been pitching brilliantly so far this year.
Fantasy Impact: The situation is a bit of a mess as Justin Duchscherer would be next in line as the A's top setup man, but he said today that it might be best if he went on the DL to rest his ailing arthritic hip. Considering the A's haven't placed him there yet, he still has to be considered the favorite for saves as he might try to pitch through the pain given Street's injury. He didn't have a good outing against KC last night, giving up 2 runs and 3 hits in a loss. Kiko Calero is another possibility as he was the setup man last year for the A's when Street was injured and Duchscherer closed, but he's posted a 5.51 ERA so far. His WHIP remains a solid 1.16 however, so it could be bad luck. Duchscherer is the guy worth picking up here, but keep an eye on the next save opportunity and also whether or not Duchscherer joins Street on the DL.
Smoltz's Pinky, The Roll Of The Dice, and Mad Dog's CG
John Smoltz: First and foremost, let me address the scary moment last night when John Smoltz was defensively involved in a run-down, and a crash into the baserunner dislocated his pinky. X-rays were negative, so that's the best possible scenario. Smoltz has been pitching well this year, posting a 3.19 ERA with a 5-2 record plus 48 Ks in 59 1/3 IP. He might have his start pushed back depending on how the swelling subsides over the next several days, but he's avoided breaking anything and probably shouldn't miss more than one start at most.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Dice-K continued his roll with a CG effort last night, giving up 1 run and 6 hits while K'ing 5. Combine this with his last effort, and he seems to have worked out his issues and his new throwing regimine might be the reason why. Most encouraging was that he didn't walk anyone, so hopefully he's fixed his control issues and will begin dominating the way fantasy owners imagined when they drafted him.
Greg Maddux: Greg Maddux also tossed a complete game last night, his first in about 2 years. Petco Park will no doubt help aid his stats this year, and because of that he's well worth owning in all formats. I would always start him at home, but I'd avoid his away starts against good offenses to maximize his value to your rotation.
Tom Gorzelanny: This dude is on a serious roll this year, and looks to be fulfilling the promise and talent he flashed in the minor leagues. His 2.36 ERA and 1.09 WHIP are great, and 34 Ks in 53 1/3 IP is respectable. Toss in the 5 wins, and he's been great to his fantasy owners so far this season. He's not quite this good, and given he's never thrown 200 innings before and has also battled arm problems the past, I'd highly suggest moving him now.
Hank Blalock: After a slow April, he's quitely been hitting very well in May. .370 with 3 HRs 6 doubles, and a 1.127 OPS. He's always had the talent, but he's consistently disappointed since his rookie season. I thought he'd get things turned around this year, and if you do too, contact his owner and point to the less-than-stellar overall stats and get him cheap. He could really become a monster once it heats up in Texas and balls start flying out of the ballpark.
Jesus Colome: Colome notched a save in last night's game, but he's not worth picking up. Washington is going to ease Cordero back into the closer's role after he missed a week due to the bereavement list, and given Rauch had pitched in 3 straight games, they gave Colome a chance. Odds are it'll be his only save of the season as he's clearly 3rd in line.
Brett Myers: After being moved to the closer's role following Gordon's arm problems, he's posted 7 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, and 9 Ks. He's doing nothing to disprove my claim that he'll still be the closer when Gordon returns.
J.J. Hardy: 12 HRs, good for 2nd in the majors right now. A Brewers fan drafted him in one of my leagues, saying that he was confident Hardy would breakout this year. Kudos to him as he was likely waiver wire material in most leagues to start the season. Hardy was a legit power prospect at SS before injuries de-railed his first few seasons in the majors, but he's cruising now. He's not quite this good, obviously, but expect solid numbers the rest of the way as this isn't completely out of his realm.
Troy Glaus: In a shocking turn of events, he played last night through his foot injury and actually slugged a HR. Given he said he felt something pop in his foot the previous day, I'm not sure what's going on here. He's a bigtime power hitter and fantasy producer (outside of average) and is SS eligible, but he's always a health risk. He's played ~150 games the last two years, so maybe he has another one of those in him this year. It's hard to recommend selling him given the power he produces at the SS position, but if you have holes and can get a decent SS in return, I'd look to make a move before this foot issue becomes a bigger problem. It'd be even better if you can play up his very out-of-character batting average thus far.
David Wright: Your buy-low opportunity is quickly closing as he's really starting to rake now. Talk about his overall sub-standard numbers and see if you can get a deal done quick for a discount and he's entering what should be a nice tear.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Dice-K continued his roll with a CG effort last night, giving up 1 run and 6 hits while K'ing 5. Combine this with his last effort, and he seems to have worked out his issues and his new throwing regimine might be the reason why. Most encouraging was that he didn't walk anyone, so hopefully he's fixed his control issues and will begin dominating the way fantasy owners imagined when they drafted him.
Greg Maddux: Greg Maddux also tossed a complete game last night, his first in about 2 years. Petco Park will no doubt help aid his stats this year, and because of that he's well worth owning in all formats. I would always start him at home, but I'd avoid his away starts against good offenses to maximize his value to your rotation.
Tom Gorzelanny: This dude is on a serious roll this year, and looks to be fulfilling the promise and talent he flashed in the minor leagues. His 2.36 ERA and 1.09 WHIP are great, and 34 Ks in 53 1/3 IP is respectable. Toss in the 5 wins, and he's been great to his fantasy owners so far this season. He's not quite this good, and given he's never thrown 200 innings before and has also battled arm problems the past, I'd highly suggest moving him now.
Hank Blalock: After a slow April, he's quitely been hitting very well in May. .370 with 3 HRs 6 doubles, and a 1.127 OPS. He's always had the talent, but he's consistently disappointed since his rookie season. I thought he'd get things turned around this year, and if you do too, contact his owner and point to the less-than-stellar overall stats and get him cheap. He could really become a monster once it heats up in Texas and balls start flying out of the ballpark.
Jesus Colome: Colome notched a save in last night's game, but he's not worth picking up. Washington is going to ease Cordero back into the closer's role after he missed a week due to the bereavement list, and given Rauch had pitched in 3 straight games, they gave Colome a chance. Odds are it'll be his only save of the season as he's clearly 3rd in line.
Brett Myers: After being moved to the closer's role following Gordon's arm problems, he's posted 7 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, and 9 Ks. He's doing nothing to disprove my claim that he'll still be the closer when Gordon returns.
J.J. Hardy: 12 HRs, good for 2nd in the majors right now. A Brewers fan drafted him in one of my leagues, saying that he was confident Hardy would breakout this year. Kudos to him as he was likely waiver wire material in most leagues to start the season. Hardy was a legit power prospect at SS before injuries de-railed his first few seasons in the majors, but he's cruising now. He's not quite this good, obviously, but expect solid numbers the rest of the way as this isn't completely out of his realm.
Troy Glaus: In a shocking turn of events, he played last night through his foot injury and actually slugged a HR. Given he said he felt something pop in his foot the previous day, I'm not sure what's going on here. He's a bigtime power hitter and fantasy producer (outside of average) and is SS eligible, but he's always a health risk. He's played ~150 games the last two years, so maybe he has another one of those in him this year. It's hard to recommend selling him given the power he produces at the SS position, but if you have holes and can get a decent SS in return, I'd look to make a move before this foot issue becomes a bigger problem. It'd be even better if you can play up his very out-of-character batting average thus far.
David Wright: Your buy-low opportunity is quickly closing as he's really starting to rake now. Talk about his overall sub-standard numbers and see if you can get a deal done quick for a discount and he's entering what should be a nice tear.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Michael Vick's In The Doghouse
There seems to be a news update almost daily about Michael Vick's involvement in a dog fighting ring. I've been focusing on baseball updates, but with the way this story is picking up steam, I wanted to address this issue.
First of all, Vick is an idiot for involving himself in this legal activity. Any athlete that puts their reputation and sports life on the line to be a part of something illegal just doesn't get it. Why would you risk fame and fortune for this? What does he possibly gain from doing it? Those are only answers that these athletes can provide, unfortunately.
Not only is dog fighting a very vicious, inhumane part of society, but so is everyone involved in the process of making it happen. Nobody will deny the fact that any athlete that does something like that deserves to be punished. The problem is that in this day and age, celebrities and athletes get far more free passes than the common citizen does. Not only is this a terrible precedent for society as a whole, but it's especially a terrible example for the children that look up to these athletes. These children see their favorite athlete doing something illegal and possibly think it's OK to do it, and they also see these athletes get away with lots of it and think that they won't be held accountable for it either. We can only hope that Michael Vick is not only punished by the law, but will also face a lengthy suspension from the NFL.
Fantasy Impact: This story, as it has grown, is undoubted increasing the chances that Michael Vick will be investigated and punished by the NFL. I have to think his playing status for the start of the season is now in question, and his future with the Falcons could be too depending on the depth of his involvement. I'm sure owner Arthur Blank has been elated by the financial impact that Vick has made on the Falcons, but there's no doubt that he's fallen short of expectations on the football field. The new coaching staff has no ties to him, although by trading Matt Schaub earlier this offseason, they lack a quality in-house alternative. There's nothing definitive to be said about him right now, but dynasty and keeper league owners should give a lot of thought to seeing what they can salvage from his value in a trade before this situation gets any worse.
First of all, Vick is an idiot for involving himself in this legal activity. Any athlete that puts their reputation and sports life on the line to be a part of something illegal just doesn't get it. Why would you risk fame and fortune for this? What does he possibly gain from doing it? Those are only answers that these athletes can provide, unfortunately.
Not only is dog fighting a very vicious, inhumane part of society, but so is everyone involved in the process of making it happen. Nobody will deny the fact that any athlete that does something like that deserves to be punished. The problem is that in this day and age, celebrities and athletes get far more free passes than the common citizen does. Not only is this a terrible precedent for society as a whole, but it's especially a terrible example for the children that look up to these athletes. These children see their favorite athlete doing something illegal and possibly think it's OK to do it, and they also see these athletes get away with lots of it and think that they won't be held accountable for it either. We can only hope that Michael Vick is not only punished by the law, but will also face a lengthy suspension from the NFL.
Fantasy Impact: This story, as it has grown, is undoubted increasing the chances that Michael Vick will be investigated and punished by the NFL. I have to think his playing status for the start of the season is now in question, and his future with the Falcons could be too depending on the depth of his involvement. I'm sure owner Arthur Blank has been elated by the financial impact that Vick has made on the Falcons, but there's no doubt that he's fallen short of expectations on the football field. The new coaching staff has no ties to him, although by trading Matt Schaub earlier this offseason, they lack a quality in-house alternative. There's nothing definitive to be said about him right now, but dynasty and keeper league owners should give a lot of thought to seeing what they can salvage from his value in a trade before this situation gets any worse.
Injury Update: Jeremy Hermida
The Florida Marlins activated OF Jeremy Hermida from the DL today. He's not to be picked up in mixed leagues yet, but he is well worth monitoring. He's suffered several injuries so far in his young career, but he has a lot of talent and is a potential 30 HR/15 SB threat once he gets acclimated to the majors. If you do have a spot you're not doing anything with, he's worth adding for speculation's sake, but I imagine it'll take him a few weeks to get back up to speed and start showing what we can expect from him this season, which might be 10-15 HRs and 5 SBs as a conservative estimate. He could be nice to have in the 2nd half this season.
Injury Updates: Mauer, Kendrick, Felix, and Beckett
Joe Mauer: Mauer is still experiencing some discomfort in his hamstring, so while he's eligible to come off the DL on Sunday, that looks unlikely at this point. I'm not sure how much extra time he'll need, but it hopefully won't be too much longer until the best catcher in fantasy returns to the lineup. They might activate him at DH to start, but that's of little interest to us fantasy leaguers as long as he's able to hit effectively and stays in the lineup.
Howie Kendrick: Kendrick has been out since April 17th with a broken finger suffered on a hit-by-pitch, but it seems possible that he'll return next week. He'll be going on a minor league rehab assignment soon, and as long as he doesn't feel any pain in his finger, he'll likely rejoin the team next week.
Felix Hernandez: King Felix will return tomorrow evening to face the Anaheim Angels. Like I said before, I advise against starting pitchers in their first game back. Felix hasn't thrown in a game since feeling pain in his elbow on April 18th, and he'll likely be limited to 75-80 pitches. Even though he's facing a weaker offense, it was an elbow injury and I'm still worried this will mirror the Fracisco Liriano situation from last season. Liriano left a start with an elbow injury, missed a start, said he was fine. He tried pitching through it, but re-injured himself his first start back and needed Tommy John surgery. This situation is different, however, with Seattle being very cautious that he was 100% before activating him. Keep a close eye on his start tomorrow night and see how he throws, and most importantly what he says about his arm the following day.
Josh Beckett: Beckett left his start yesterday with torn skin on the middle finger of his pitching hand...the same injury that has plagued him his entire career. Sure enough, in my last post about him, I stated how he didn't have any blister problems last year, and then his next start it happens for the first time in over a year. Odds are he'll miss a start, or perhaps the Red Sox will play it safe and DL him for 15 days to make sure it fully heals. If you can get ace value for him, deal him. Considering this injury tends to linger and/or re-occur with him, see what his value is like on the trade market so you don't have to worry about it again. I know this will probably raise a red flag with potential trading partners, but see if someone will take the risk with him having such a fine start to the season. In hindsight, I should have recommended this given his past, but I thought after a full year without problems, he might have figured out how to deal with the issue.
Howie Kendrick: Kendrick has been out since April 17th with a broken finger suffered on a hit-by-pitch, but it seems possible that he'll return next week. He'll be going on a minor league rehab assignment soon, and as long as he doesn't feel any pain in his finger, he'll likely rejoin the team next week.
Felix Hernandez: King Felix will return tomorrow evening to face the Anaheim Angels. Like I said before, I advise against starting pitchers in their first game back. Felix hasn't thrown in a game since feeling pain in his elbow on April 18th, and he'll likely be limited to 75-80 pitches. Even though he's facing a weaker offense, it was an elbow injury and I'm still worried this will mirror the Fracisco Liriano situation from last season. Liriano left a start with an elbow injury, missed a start, said he was fine. He tried pitching through it, but re-injured himself his first start back and needed Tommy John surgery. This situation is different, however, with Seattle being very cautious that he was 100% before activating him. Keep a close eye on his start tomorrow night and see how he throws, and most importantly what he says about his arm the following day.
Josh Beckett: Beckett left his start yesterday with torn skin on the middle finger of his pitching hand...the same injury that has plagued him his entire career. Sure enough, in my last post about him, I stated how he didn't have any blister problems last year, and then his next start it happens for the first time in over a year. Odds are he'll miss a start, or perhaps the Red Sox will play it safe and DL him for 15 days to make sure it fully heals. If you can get ace value for him, deal him. Considering this injury tends to linger and/or re-occur with him, see what his value is like on the trade market so you don't have to worry about it again. I know this will probably raise a red flag with potential trading partners, but see if someone will take the risk with him having such a fine start to the season. In hindsight, I should have recommended this given his past, but I thought after a full year without problems, he might have figured out how to deal with the issue.
Weekend Action - What The Cust Is Going On?
Jack Cust: Alright, time to address the hottest hitter in the majors. 6 HRs and 14 RBIs over the past week. This guy has always been a very legit power prospect, but he's a ridiculous liability on defense. His only possible position is DH, but despite that, he spent minor league time in NL systems which helped block his path to the majors. He's definitely a 30 HR candidate over a full season, and he'll draw plenty of walks, but his K-rate will prevent him from becoming a high average hitter. He's well worth picking up (he's OF eligible) and starting during his hot streak, and he'll have a month to prove himself before Piazza returns. What happens at that point is a mystery as I can't see Oakland benching Piazza or trying Cust in the field.
A.J. Burnett: 6 2/3 IP, 5 BB. This is definitely becoming a trend, and a worrisome one at that. I'm not sure what to say, but be selective with who you start him against while his wild streak continues. The Rays are too impatient of a team, so he escaped with a pretty good start despite the walks. He can't be doing that against quality offenses and have that sort of success.
Jon Garland: He's well worth spot starting against weaker offenses. He'll never K many people, but he's posted a 0.99 WHIP so far (it will go up as he pitches too much to contact) and only has 2 non-quality starts this year. He's not worth a roster spot due to his lack of Ks, but he's a solid spot starter, especially once Thome gets back and the Chicago lineup starts hitting again.
Joe Blanton: He's posting the best K rate of his career, and his ratios have been very solid so far. He's definitely worth picking up if still available in your league. Oakland's offense should be pretty solid, and he pitches in arguably the weakest offensive division in the AL. He's coming off an impressive outing in Cleveland in which he only gave up 2 runs in 7 IP. A solid 4/5 starter type for mixed leaguers.
Jake Peavy: 4 straight starts of 7 IP or less, but 10+ Ks...a major league record. Welcome to the best pitcher in the NL. 53 1/3 IP, 5-1, 1.52 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 66 Ks. When he's healthy, he's one of the best in baseball, so let's enjoy the 2007 season from him.
Takashi Saito: 25 straight converted saves for the most undervalued closer on draft day. As I stated before, he actually has legit stuff to avoid the downfall most Japanese pitchers face in their second seasons, and so far he's proving his doubters wrong. He's again posting outstanding ratios and K numbers, equaling what he accomplished last season.
Ben Sheets: He's posted much better K numbers over his last two starts, so it looks like he's quietly turning around. He turned in a quality start against the Mets offense last time out, allowing 3 ER and K'ing 5 over 6 IP. With the Brewers offense breaking through this season, he should start racking up wins as well. I'm thinking he's under-valued at this point and is a good buy-low.
Chuck James: Another pitcher to keep an eye on. He has control issues, but he's a quality pitcher backed by a quality offense. He had a great outing against Pittsburgh last time out (although few don't), so keep an eye on him over his next outing or two and see if he can string together some consistency.
Jeremy Accardo: Toronto's official new closer. A perfect 2 K inning for his first save, and he has the stuff to be a quality closer. Pick him up if still available.
Ted Lilly: Very impressive season thus far. The league switch was definitely going to help him, but he's been great so far with a 2.53 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. With 48 Ks in 53 1/3 IP, he's keeping a very strong K rate and should provide great value to those who drafted him late in mixed leagues this year. He'll remain valuable for as long as his shoulder stays healthy.
Oliver Perez: Another impressive season thus far. If he can maintain his control, he's going to be very valuable this year as well. His K rate has remained very good, and he's walked 14 in 42 IP, which is very good considering he walked 7 in a brutal 2 2/3 IP start earlier in this season. Outside of that blowup and another meltdown after an error in his start before Sunday, he's been solid and is probably worth starting each time out now that he's showing consistency.
Jose Reyes: 21 SBs already. Crazy. We could see our first 80 SB guy in quite some time. Some maniac in one of my leagues took him over Pujols, and that's looking genius thus far. He's a big Mets fan, so I can't give him too much credit.
A.J. Burnett: 6 2/3 IP, 5 BB. This is definitely becoming a trend, and a worrisome one at that. I'm not sure what to say, but be selective with who you start him against while his wild streak continues. The Rays are too impatient of a team, so he escaped with a pretty good start despite the walks. He can't be doing that against quality offenses and have that sort of success.
Jon Garland: He's well worth spot starting against weaker offenses. He'll never K many people, but he's posted a 0.99 WHIP so far (it will go up as he pitches too much to contact) and only has 2 non-quality starts this year. He's not worth a roster spot due to his lack of Ks, but he's a solid spot starter, especially once Thome gets back and the Chicago lineup starts hitting again.
Joe Blanton: He's posting the best K rate of his career, and his ratios have been very solid so far. He's definitely worth picking up if still available in your league. Oakland's offense should be pretty solid, and he pitches in arguably the weakest offensive division in the AL. He's coming off an impressive outing in Cleveland in which he only gave up 2 runs in 7 IP. A solid 4/5 starter type for mixed leaguers.
Jake Peavy: 4 straight starts of 7 IP or less, but 10+ Ks...a major league record. Welcome to the best pitcher in the NL. 53 1/3 IP, 5-1, 1.52 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 66 Ks. When he's healthy, he's one of the best in baseball, so let's enjoy the 2007 season from him.
Takashi Saito: 25 straight converted saves for the most undervalued closer on draft day. As I stated before, he actually has legit stuff to avoid the downfall most Japanese pitchers face in their second seasons, and so far he's proving his doubters wrong. He's again posting outstanding ratios and K numbers, equaling what he accomplished last season.
Ben Sheets: He's posted much better K numbers over his last two starts, so it looks like he's quietly turning around. He turned in a quality start against the Mets offense last time out, allowing 3 ER and K'ing 5 over 6 IP. With the Brewers offense breaking through this season, he should start racking up wins as well. I'm thinking he's under-valued at this point and is a good buy-low.
Chuck James: Another pitcher to keep an eye on. He has control issues, but he's a quality pitcher backed by a quality offense. He had a great outing against Pittsburgh last time out (although few don't), so keep an eye on him over his next outing or two and see if he can string together some consistency.
Jeremy Accardo: Toronto's official new closer. A perfect 2 K inning for his first save, and he has the stuff to be a quality closer. Pick him up if still available.
Ted Lilly: Very impressive season thus far. The league switch was definitely going to help him, but he's been great so far with a 2.53 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. With 48 Ks in 53 1/3 IP, he's keeping a very strong K rate and should provide great value to those who drafted him late in mixed leagues this year. He'll remain valuable for as long as his shoulder stays healthy.
Oliver Perez: Another impressive season thus far. If he can maintain his control, he's going to be very valuable this year as well. His K rate has remained very good, and he's walked 14 in 42 IP, which is very good considering he walked 7 in a brutal 2 2/3 IP start earlier in this season. Outside of that blowup and another meltdown after an error in his start before Sunday, he's been solid and is probably worth starting each time out now that he's showing consistency.
Jose Reyes: 21 SBs already. Crazy. We could see our first 80 SB guy in quite some time. Some maniac in one of my leagues took him over Pujols, and that's looking genius thus far. He's a big Mets fan, so I can't give him too much credit.
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