Grady Sizemore - Swiped his 16th base, and he's only been caught once. Add in 8 HRs and and 38 Rs scored, and you have quite a fantasy asset on your team. He's taking another step forward into the elite fantasy OFs this year, and I think his batting average (currently .274) has some room for growth as well.
Victor Martinez - Giving his owners exactly what they paid for. While Mauer was the more popular pick, often 1-3 rounds ahead of Martinez, he's hit .318 with 7 HRs and 36 RBIs. He's hitting in the middle of one of the best offenses in the majors, so he's actually in a better situation than Mauer.
Jered Weaver - Posted a mediocre outing against the Yankees, but giving up 3 ERs in 5 IP is about average against an offense like that. He allowed 10 baserunners in 5 IP, but K'd 5 and has continued to be solid since returning from bicep tendenitis earlier in the season.
Orlando Hernandez - El Duque has posted excellent ratios and 29 Ks in 38 IP, so he's been pitching great this year. He'll be in and out of the rotation all year long with various ailments, but he's well worth using in front of the Mets offense when he's healthy.
Dan Haren - Haren continues to dominate, holding the Orioles to 1 ER and 2 Hs in 7 IP with 3 Ks. He's been the best draft day value at SP this year, hands down. He's this year's Brandon Webb.
Erik Bedard - Another solid outing against Oakland, posting 7 IP, 9 baserunners, 2 ER, and 8 Ks. He continues to bounceback from his early season struggles and is bringing his ERA down to a level that he should maintain the rest of the year.
Jason Bay - Hit his first HR in 2 weeks, so perhaps he's ready to go on one of his patented HR tears. Us owners can hope anyways, right? His HR pace is below his past two years, so I imagine he'll start showing more power.
Aaron Harang - Another solid outing from Harang, posting 8 IP, 7 baserunners, 2 ER, and 5 Ks. He had a real rough stretch, allowing 5 ER in 4 out of 5 outings, but he's too good to keep this up and he should improve. He's not really a buy low, but you could probably get a discount on him if you act soon.
Salomon Torres - He's hardly been as good this year as last, giving his owners a 4.95 ERA and 1.30 WHIP so far. This was actually the first outing allowing a run in his last 10 appearances, so he's vastly improved while converting his last 5 save opportunities. He's given himself added job security with his recent stretch.
David Weathers - Ugh, another disgusting closer blowup in a non-save situation. Weathers has been great this year, but after pitching a scoreless 9th to keep the game tied, he blew up by allowing 6 baserunners in the top of the 10th while only getting 1 out, and they all scored. I think he was pitching above his head, but I wouldn't worry too much about one outing.
Tim Hudson - Another rough outing last night, but he was due for a bad stretch. I still think he can be a fine asset in Ws and ratios, so if you hadn't sold him high, I'd hang onto him. I think 15 Ws, low 3s ERA, a solid WHIP, and decent K numbers are attainable come season's end.
Daisuke Matsuzaka - Matsuzaka was rolling last night, but after the 4th inning he appeared ill in the dugout and returned to get shelled in the 5th inning. This was just an unfortunate occurence and not something to be worried about.
Kenny Lofton - Lofton stole his 16th base of the season last night, so if you're one who loves to chase steals, Lofton is your guy. He's probably owned by now, but he's worth adding and using. He probably won't give you much AVG help, and he wont provide HR/RBI help either, but hitting leadoff for a good lineup and stealing bases gives him some value.
Julio Lugo - He stole 2 bases last night as well, giving him 14 on the season. With eligibility at 2B/SS/3B in Yahoo, he's quite valuable despite the putrid .235 AVG so far this year. His worst AVG in a season playing 100 or more games is .263, so I imagine that he'll get his average back up around that level by the end of the year.
Scott Baker - He had some control problems walking 4 last night, but Toronto is a tough matchup for him. He allowed 3 ER in 5 1/3 IP, so he wasn't too bad. Expect more solid outings from the underrated youngster.
Joe Nathan - He posted his 10th save last night, but put 2 more baserunners on. His K rate is fine (25 in 21 1/3 IP), and he has a 2.11 ERA, but his WHIP is a very uncharacteristic 1.45. His walk rate is fine, it's just that he's allowed 25 hits in those 21 1/3 IP. I imagine he'll drag that down as the year goes on...he's too good not to and it doesn't seem like he's battling any sort of injury.
Chad Cordero - I'm kicking myself for not taking my own advice and going after him when his value bottomed out. He's 3/3 in save chances since returning from the bereavement list and is cruising now. I would, however, suggest trading him for a closer that's going to have the job all year long. It would make too much sense for Washington to not trade him come the deadline. They won't make a playoff push, he's an expensive reliever, and he'll demand plenty of interest. Worst of all, however, is that he probably won't be a closer if he's dealt.
Felix Hernandez - Ugh, another injury. At least it wasn't his arm. Felix was cruising through 5, but got wild in the 6th and gave up a walk, double, and triple and then was removed with a tight lower back. Again, Seattle will probably play this safe and I wouldn't be surprised if Felix missed his next start. It will likely depend on his bullpen session and I'll post an update when there is one.
James Shields - Rough outing last night, allowed 10 hits, walking 3, and giving up 4 ERs. He was actually lucky to only allow 4 runs despite allowing 13 baserunners, but he did a good job pitching out of jams. A matchup against a full-strength Sox lineup at US Cellular is not a good one, so we can't hold this one against him.
Mark Buehrle - He's actually pitching very well this year, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He's increasing his K rate as well, K'ing 40 in 56 IP, which is a career high rate so far. He has plenty of motivation being in a contract year, so expect continued positive results. He's a quality 4/5 starter for fantasy teams this year.
Bobby Jenks - Another closer cruising along, posting a 2.70 ERA and going unscored upon in his last 8 appearances. 21 Ks in 20 IP, and a 1.15 WHIP. He's been justifying his draft day value so far this year, and should remain that way all year long.
J.J. Hardy - He won't stop hitting HRs, adding his 15th last night. Just wow so far.
Prince Fielder - Outstanding draft-day value here, as well. He also hit his 15th last night, and he's evolving into the bigtime power hitting 1B many thought he'd become. Hopefully he'll have a longer shelf-life than his father.
Trevor Hoffman/Scott Linebrink - Hoffman has complained of some arm soreness, so he sat out last night's game and Linebrink picked up the save. Hoffman had worked 3 times in 4 days, which is a little much for him personally. He said it's just his arm being cranky, so it's likely not a major concern. Linebrink is well worth picking up in all leagues in the meantime, doubly so for Hoffman owners.
Angel Guzman - Pinella at work again. Guzman had not entered a high pressure situation before since moving to the bullpen, throwing 1 2/3 IP in a 5-1 deficit. Last night with the bases loaded, 0 out, and 1 run already in with a 8-6 lead, Pinella calls on Guzman to come into the game. As you can imagine, he was jittery and all over the strikezone to the first hitter, walking him with a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score mixed into the 4 balls. An RBI single and sac fly followed before he induced a double play to get out of the inning. This was a perfect situation for Pinella to use Dempster to get out of the high-stress jam, and then use Guzman to start the 9th and close out the game.
Now, I don't want to specifically blame Pinella for too much of this, but it's an epidemic with many managers where they save their closer for the 9th inning no matter what the circumstance. After Howry loaded the bases with 0 outs and a 3 run lead, Pinella has to call on his best reliever at that point to make sure there's a game to save in the 9th inning. I understand he doesn't want his closer to go 2 innings as most managers don't, but you have to put your best reliever in when the game is on the line, whether it's the 8th or 9th inning. The rigid closer usage around the league is rather ignorant. What I do blame Pinella for is using Guzman in a situation like that. He hasn't had to enter a stressful relief situation yet since being converted from the starting rotation, and Pinella puts him into one of the most stressful situations in baseball? That's a horrible way to build confidence with a young relief pitcher as he's being put out there in a situation where failure is the likely result. I'm curious to see how Guzman bounces back from this.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Belated Thursday Action: Cubs Closer Update and Bonderman's Return
Jeremy Bonderman - Bonderman made a successful return to the rotation with 8 IP, 9 baserunners, 0 ER, and 6 K's. He was a bit wild early, as to be expected by someone who hadn't pitched in 2 weeks, but he settled down nicely and turned in an excellent outing. Obviously he's safe to return to your active lineup.
Orlando Cabrera - Cabrera has been a surprise this year, hitting .312 so far with 3 HR, 6 SB, and a good amount of Rs/RBIs. He's provided solid value to those who took him as a starting SS towards the end of the draft.
Carlos Guillen - Another great draft day value. Guillen hit his 5th and 6th HRs of the season, and is now hitting .327. Despite his strong year last season, he was again very underrated in drafts this year and is continuing to be a top 5 option at SS. His health is the only concern, but he's avoided a major injury the last two seasons and might be shaking that reputation.
Tom Gorzelanny - Gorzelanny allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 IP, but managed to avoid major damage by only surrendering 2 ER. He left his start a bit early with a thumb contusion suffered by a comebacker, but he appears to be fine and will only miss one start at most.
Braden Looper - Looper continues his improbable run as a converted started by limiting the Pirates to 1 ER over 6 IP. His K rate is low (36 Ks in 61 IP), but his ratios are very solid. I imagine he'll start getting hit harder as more teams get a better look at him, so he remains a sell high candidate if someone believes he'll keep this up all year.
Delmon Young - He remains an excellent buy-low candidate. He's quietly raised his average 15 points over the past 10 days, but still hasn't gotten truly hot yet. Pitchers have adjusted to him after his call-up last year, so he's currently re-adjusting and will continue to improve.
Jeremy Accardo - Accardo continued his improbably run as a reliver this year as he still has not been scored upon. He's 5/5 in save chances, so barring a terrible cold streak, he should remain Toronto's closer all year long.
Alex Gonzalez - He hit his 8th HR of the season and has probably been a popular pickup in mixed leagues at SS, but he'll never hit for a high average, he doesn't steal bases, and his runs scored will remain low hitting towards the bottom of Cincy's lineup. 25 HRs is a reasonable assumption given he's hitting in one of the best HR parks in the majors, but he won't contribute enough to other catagories to warrant starting him.
John Smoltz - 7 IP, 7 Hs, 0 ERs, 5 Ks against the powerful Mets lineup. He's pitching as well as any pitcher in baseball right now, and continues to provide solid draft day value behind the elite starters. He doesn't have the upside some of them do, but he's as reliable as any.
Bob Wickman - Picked up his first save since returning from the DL. With Mike Gonzalez done for the year with Tommy John surgery, Rafael Soriano is a must-add as Wickman remains probably to have an additional injury this season due to his age. Wickman's owners would be wise to work a small trade to add Soriano for insurance.
Casey Blake - He's been on absolute fire over the past month, but avoid picking him up as it's likely just a hot streak and not an indication of anything better unless you're stuck at 3B. He's 33 years old and only has one quality season, back in 2004. He's never combined for .250 and 20+ HRs in any other season.
Micah Owens - A complete game, 9 H, 1 ER, 8 K performance. I don't know too much about his minor league track record, but he's posted solid numbers so far this season. He's emerging as a potential spot starter against weak offenses, if not more if he keeps improving.
Eric Byrnes - One of the most underrated OFs on draft day, he's hitting .299 with 6 HRs, 9 SBs, and 26 Rs/RBIs. He's likely going to have big hot/cold streaks, but he'll probably hit .280 with 25 HRs and 30 SBs. Can't complain about that as your 3rd OF!
Ryan Dempster - Pitched a clean 9th inning for his 10th save in 11 chances. I'm not sure what Pinella plans on doing now, but that's 2 straight perfect inning saves from Dempster since his 9th inning meltdown last week. I just don't understand why they'd remove him from the roll, and like I posted in my analysis of the Cubs closing situation, Dempster is well worth using until the switch becomes official.
Orlando Cabrera - Cabrera has been a surprise this year, hitting .312 so far with 3 HR, 6 SB, and a good amount of Rs/RBIs. He's provided solid value to those who took him as a starting SS towards the end of the draft.
Carlos Guillen - Another great draft day value. Guillen hit his 5th and 6th HRs of the season, and is now hitting .327. Despite his strong year last season, he was again very underrated in drafts this year and is continuing to be a top 5 option at SS. His health is the only concern, but he's avoided a major injury the last two seasons and might be shaking that reputation.
Tom Gorzelanny - Gorzelanny allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 IP, but managed to avoid major damage by only surrendering 2 ER. He left his start a bit early with a thumb contusion suffered by a comebacker, but he appears to be fine and will only miss one start at most.
Braden Looper - Looper continues his improbable run as a converted started by limiting the Pirates to 1 ER over 6 IP. His K rate is low (36 Ks in 61 IP), but his ratios are very solid. I imagine he'll start getting hit harder as more teams get a better look at him, so he remains a sell high candidate if someone believes he'll keep this up all year.
Delmon Young - He remains an excellent buy-low candidate. He's quietly raised his average 15 points over the past 10 days, but still hasn't gotten truly hot yet. Pitchers have adjusted to him after his call-up last year, so he's currently re-adjusting and will continue to improve.
Jeremy Accardo - Accardo continued his improbably run as a reliver this year as he still has not been scored upon. He's 5/5 in save chances, so barring a terrible cold streak, he should remain Toronto's closer all year long.
Alex Gonzalez - He hit his 8th HR of the season and has probably been a popular pickup in mixed leagues at SS, but he'll never hit for a high average, he doesn't steal bases, and his runs scored will remain low hitting towards the bottom of Cincy's lineup. 25 HRs is a reasonable assumption given he's hitting in one of the best HR parks in the majors, but he won't contribute enough to other catagories to warrant starting him.
John Smoltz - 7 IP, 7 Hs, 0 ERs, 5 Ks against the powerful Mets lineup. He's pitching as well as any pitcher in baseball right now, and continues to provide solid draft day value behind the elite starters. He doesn't have the upside some of them do, but he's as reliable as any.
Bob Wickman - Picked up his first save since returning from the DL. With Mike Gonzalez done for the year with Tommy John surgery, Rafael Soriano is a must-add as Wickman remains probably to have an additional injury this season due to his age. Wickman's owners would be wise to work a small trade to add Soriano for insurance.
Casey Blake - He's been on absolute fire over the past month, but avoid picking him up as it's likely just a hot streak and not an indication of anything better unless you're stuck at 3B. He's 33 years old and only has one quality season, back in 2004. He's never combined for .250 and 20+ HRs in any other season.
Micah Owens - A complete game, 9 H, 1 ER, 8 K performance. I don't know too much about his minor league track record, but he's posted solid numbers so far this season. He's emerging as a potential spot starter against weak offenses, if not more if he keeps improving.
Eric Byrnes - One of the most underrated OFs on draft day, he's hitting .299 with 6 HRs, 9 SBs, and 26 Rs/RBIs. He's likely going to have big hot/cold streaks, but he'll probably hit .280 with 25 HRs and 30 SBs. Can't complain about that as your 3rd OF!
Ryan Dempster - Pitched a clean 9th inning for his 10th save in 11 chances. I'm not sure what Pinella plans on doing now, but that's 2 straight perfect inning saves from Dempster since his 9th inning meltdown last week. I just don't understand why they'd remove him from the roll, and like I posted in my analysis of the Cubs closing situation, Dempster is well worth using until the switch becomes official.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Get Boofed, Curt Shelling, And Ollie Perez
Lemme just say that looking through the boxscores and seeing KC and Washington combine for 23 runs in the same night had me weirded out, like it was bizarro world or something. Those teams might not combine for that many runs in a week ever again.
Boof Bonser - Another good start again from the Boof, allowed 2 ER and K'ing 6 in 5 IP. He did allow 8 baserunners, but minimized the damage and continued racked up the K's. He's well worth using in mixed leagues, although his lack of command will result in some ugly outings.
Joe Nathan - Geez, a save opportunity for Nathan, his first in 18 days. He's pitching well for the most part, and the Twins will start generating more save opportunities for him. It might be worth seeing if he can be had for a discount given his lack of saves so far. He took a broken bat off his knee, stuggled a bit after that, but nothing indicates it will be a problem moving forward.
Curt Schilling - Schilling continued to struggle, although if you started him last night you enjoy living your fantasy baseball life dangerously. He went 6 IP, but allowed 12 hits and 5 ERs. He was cruising this year until 3 starts ago in Minnesota when he unraveled in the 7th inning, and he hasn't pitched well since. Something might be bothering him that he's not talking about, and he's sporting an ugly 1.39 WHIP.
Hideki Matsui - He's finally recovered from his injuries and has hit batting average up to .291, plus he's homered twice in the past week. Nice to see some signs of life from him, and the struggles were expected due to all the time he's missed in the past year.
Derek Jeter - He's only hit 3 HRs and stolen 4 bases this year, but he's hitting an amazing .367 this year to make up for hit. Some extra power and speed would be nice, but he's continuing to perform like an elite SS should in some shape or form.
Andy Pettitte - Another solid start from him. Given the lack of Ks (35 in 64 1/3 IP) and below average WHIP (1.35), he's not helping his owners as much as it seems, especially while only winning 3 games due to the lack of run support. I'd shop him and his flukey 2.66 ERA to try to find a more well-rounded pitcher in return.
Brian Roberts - He's quietly returned to form as well, lifting his average to .307 and swiping his 15th SB last night. He's justifying the draft position, but with only 2 HRs and 12 RBIs, there were much better draft day values at the 2B position. Still, he's definitely helping owners as much as he can, and you can't argue with the SB production.
Nick Markakis - Boy am I glad I traded him (with John Maine), even if all I got in return was a struggling Carlos Zambrano. He was a popular sleeper on draft day, and I bought into it, but his production has been below his draft value when many expected him to exceed it. A .264 average with 5 HRs and 3 SBs? Odds are you've picked up at least one waiver wire hitter that's producing better than that. You shouldn't cut him, but I'd keep him on the bench unless you don't have better options. Odds are he'll come around eventually, but the power he flashed in the 2nd half of last year seems to be a bit flukey.
Magglio Ordonez - Holy renassaince. 2 more HRs last night giving him a line of .345 with 12 HRs and 42 RBIs. He's definitely returned to his pre-knee injury hitting form, and there's no reason to sell high given he has a history of great hitting seasons in the past. He won't hit .340 this season, but the power is legit and he'll have plenty of runners to drive home all year long.
Freddy Garcia - His K rate is back up in the NL, but his ratios are a bit ugly so far. He's still worth a spot start against weaker offense, preferrably on the road. He turned in a quality outing last night with 6 IP, 9 baserunners, 3 ER, and 4 Ks against a quality Florida offense. He would have won too if Myers hadn't gotten hurt and blew the lead all at once.
Ryan Church - 3/5 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. Not a mixed league option, especially in Washington, but props for a big night. He'd likely be roster-able if he played somewhere better as he's a talented OF.
Jose Guillen - 4/5 with a 2 Rs and RBIs. He's hot, so pick him up if you need OF depth or have a hole in your lineup. He's always been a legit hitter when healthy, but Safeco Field will limit his power a bit.
B.J. Upton - Another HR and SB for him last night. His AVG is dropping back down to normal levels (I doubt he'll hit .300 this year), but given he's posted 8 HRs and 9 SBs, he's been an outstanding draft day value.
Oliver Perez - I watched him pitch last night, and he was honestly not very good for the most part, throwing a wild pitch, hitting 2 batters, and struggling to command his breaking pitches for innings at a time. However, he was effectively wild and posted a great statline of 7 IP, 6 baserunners, 0 Rs, and 5 Ks. It's a great sign to see him post such a solid night even when he wasn't at his best. He's been one of the best waiver wire finds of the year so far, and he definitely has the talent and supporting offense to keep this up.
Jose Reyes - 26 SBs already. Ridiculous.
Kip Wells - He tantalized many owners by posting 3 quality starts at the beginning of the year, but he's been beyond brutal since then, until last night. He posted 7 IP, 6 baserunners,1 ER, and 4 Ks. It was only the Pirates, so he'll need 2-3 more outings like this in a row before you should think about picking him up again. In other words, don't bother.
Mike Sweeney - 2 nights in a row with a HR. You could pick him up and hope he stays hot for a while if you're desparate at the UTIL spot, but in that lineup with his injury history it won't last for long. He was a great hitter in his prime, but never played for good teams and was injured quite a bit.
Cliff Lee - Brutal last night, giving up 8 ER in 4 1/3 IP. You might be tempted to take a chance on him if you remember his 2005 compaign, but odds are he'll never recapture that form. Avoid.
Alex Gordon - The most hyped bust of the year so far, but start paying attention to him. He has a little 6 game hitting streak including 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, and 2 SBs. He's likely on the WW in all but deep keeper leaguees, but he's a legit talent and might be starting to figure things out at the plate.
Chad Gaudin - Very underappreciated season so far, posting a 2.58 ERA and only allowing more than 2 ERs twice so far this year. At this point he's worth rostering in all mixed leagues to see what he'll do the rest of the year. He very well could surprise and be solid throughout.
Jeff Francis - 7 IP, 7 baserunners, 0 ER, and 4 K last night. That's 4 straight very good starts from him, so it's probably time to pick him up in mixed leagues. I'd start him based on quality matchups only, though, unless he gets on a serious roll. Being a Colorado pitcher is not a good thing, but after a rough stretch of 4 starts he's pitching very well. He was well thought of in the minors, so he has talent.
Sean Marshall - Great start last night in his first start of 2007, but he's not worth picking up a mixed leagues. First of all, it was in San Diego. Second of all, he was horrible last year. Lastly, he has no job security. Avoid.
Barry Zito - There's the Zito I was talking about in my last post about him. He never struggles for too long, and an outing against the weak Houston offense was just what he needed. He pitched 7 innings last night, giving up 6 baserunners and K'ing 2 batters. Definitely a step in the right direction, and he's still worth trying to acquire at a discount.
Boof Bonser - Another good start again from the Boof, allowed 2 ER and K'ing 6 in 5 IP. He did allow 8 baserunners, but minimized the damage and continued racked up the K's. He's well worth using in mixed leagues, although his lack of command will result in some ugly outings.
Joe Nathan - Geez, a save opportunity for Nathan, his first in 18 days. He's pitching well for the most part, and the Twins will start generating more save opportunities for him. It might be worth seeing if he can be had for a discount given his lack of saves so far. He took a broken bat off his knee, stuggled a bit after that, but nothing indicates it will be a problem moving forward.
Curt Schilling - Schilling continued to struggle, although if you started him last night you enjoy living your fantasy baseball life dangerously. He went 6 IP, but allowed 12 hits and 5 ERs. He was cruising this year until 3 starts ago in Minnesota when he unraveled in the 7th inning, and he hasn't pitched well since. Something might be bothering him that he's not talking about, and he's sporting an ugly 1.39 WHIP.
Hideki Matsui - He's finally recovered from his injuries and has hit batting average up to .291, plus he's homered twice in the past week. Nice to see some signs of life from him, and the struggles were expected due to all the time he's missed in the past year.
Derek Jeter - He's only hit 3 HRs and stolen 4 bases this year, but he's hitting an amazing .367 this year to make up for hit. Some extra power and speed would be nice, but he's continuing to perform like an elite SS should in some shape or form.
Andy Pettitte - Another solid start from him. Given the lack of Ks (35 in 64 1/3 IP) and below average WHIP (1.35), he's not helping his owners as much as it seems, especially while only winning 3 games due to the lack of run support. I'd shop him and his flukey 2.66 ERA to try to find a more well-rounded pitcher in return.
Brian Roberts - He's quietly returned to form as well, lifting his average to .307 and swiping his 15th SB last night. He's justifying the draft position, but with only 2 HRs and 12 RBIs, there were much better draft day values at the 2B position. Still, he's definitely helping owners as much as he can, and you can't argue with the SB production.
Nick Markakis - Boy am I glad I traded him (with John Maine), even if all I got in return was a struggling Carlos Zambrano. He was a popular sleeper on draft day, and I bought into it, but his production has been below his draft value when many expected him to exceed it. A .264 average with 5 HRs and 3 SBs? Odds are you've picked up at least one waiver wire hitter that's producing better than that. You shouldn't cut him, but I'd keep him on the bench unless you don't have better options. Odds are he'll come around eventually, but the power he flashed in the 2nd half of last year seems to be a bit flukey.
Magglio Ordonez - Holy renassaince. 2 more HRs last night giving him a line of .345 with 12 HRs and 42 RBIs. He's definitely returned to his pre-knee injury hitting form, and there's no reason to sell high given he has a history of great hitting seasons in the past. He won't hit .340 this season, but the power is legit and he'll have plenty of runners to drive home all year long.
Freddy Garcia - His K rate is back up in the NL, but his ratios are a bit ugly so far. He's still worth a spot start against weaker offense, preferrably on the road. He turned in a quality outing last night with 6 IP, 9 baserunners, 3 ER, and 4 Ks against a quality Florida offense. He would have won too if Myers hadn't gotten hurt and blew the lead all at once.
Ryan Church - 3/5 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. Not a mixed league option, especially in Washington, but props for a big night. He'd likely be roster-able if he played somewhere better as he's a talented OF.
Jose Guillen - 4/5 with a 2 Rs and RBIs. He's hot, so pick him up if you need OF depth or have a hole in your lineup. He's always been a legit hitter when healthy, but Safeco Field will limit his power a bit.
B.J. Upton - Another HR and SB for him last night. His AVG is dropping back down to normal levels (I doubt he'll hit .300 this year), but given he's posted 8 HRs and 9 SBs, he's been an outstanding draft day value.
Oliver Perez - I watched him pitch last night, and he was honestly not very good for the most part, throwing a wild pitch, hitting 2 batters, and struggling to command his breaking pitches for innings at a time. However, he was effectively wild and posted a great statline of 7 IP, 6 baserunners, 0 Rs, and 5 Ks. It's a great sign to see him post such a solid night even when he wasn't at his best. He's been one of the best waiver wire finds of the year so far, and he definitely has the talent and supporting offense to keep this up.
Jose Reyes - 26 SBs already. Ridiculous.
Kip Wells - He tantalized many owners by posting 3 quality starts at the beginning of the year, but he's been beyond brutal since then, until last night. He posted 7 IP, 6 baserunners,1 ER, and 4 Ks. It was only the Pirates, so he'll need 2-3 more outings like this in a row before you should think about picking him up again. In other words, don't bother.
Mike Sweeney - 2 nights in a row with a HR. You could pick him up and hope he stays hot for a while if you're desparate at the UTIL spot, but in that lineup with his injury history it won't last for long. He was a great hitter in his prime, but never played for good teams and was injured quite a bit.
Cliff Lee - Brutal last night, giving up 8 ER in 4 1/3 IP. You might be tempted to take a chance on him if you remember his 2005 compaign, but odds are he'll never recapture that form. Avoid.
Alex Gordon - The most hyped bust of the year so far, but start paying attention to him. He has a little 6 game hitting streak including 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, and 2 SBs. He's likely on the WW in all but deep keeper leaguees, but he's a legit talent and might be starting to figure things out at the plate.
Chad Gaudin - Very underappreciated season so far, posting a 2.58 ERA and only allowing more than 2 ERs twice so far this year. At this point he's worth rostering in all mixed leagues to see what he'll do the rest of the year. He very well could surprise and be solid throughout.
Jeff Francis - 7 IP, 7 baserunners, 0 ER, and 4 K last night. That's 4 straight very good starts from him, so it's probably time to pick him up in mixed leagues. I'd start him based on quality matchups only, though, unless he gets on a serious roll. Being a Colorado pitcher is not a good thing, but after a rough stretch of 4 starts he's pitching very well. He was well thought of in the minors, so he has talent.
Sean Marshall - Great start last night in his first start of 2007, but he's not worth picking up a mixed leagues. First of all, it was in San Diego. Second of all, he was horrible last year. Lastly, he has no job security. Avoid.
Barry Zito - There's the Zito I was talking about in my last post about him. He never struggles for too long, and an outing against the weak Houston offense was just what he needed. He pitched 7 innings last night, giving up 6 baserunners and K'ing 2 batters. Definitely a step in the right direction, and he's still worth trying to acquire at a discount.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Injury Update: Brett Myers
Philadelphia closer Brett Myers left tonights game after giving up 4 runs and 5 hits in 2/3 IP with what's being called a sore right shoulder. Observers watching the game reported he was holding his triceps and looked to be in quite a bit of pain. After looking back over his recent usage, there's no question Jerry Manuel was abusing him. Myers pitched 6 times between May 12th - 20th, including 3 appearances over an inning long. The Philly bullpen has been a mess outside of Myers, so Manuel didn't feel comfortable using anyone else in close situations, regardless if it was a save opportunity or not. However, those are the times you go out and acquire an arm instead of abusing the one consistent guy in your pen. Also factor in that Myers wasn't used to the crazy life of a relief pitcher, instead pitching every 5 days throughout his minor and major league career. Manuel is a bad manager and needs to be fired, especially after this. It's one thing to take the best starter and turn him into a reliever, but it's another to abuse that arm.
Fantasy Impact: Nothing definitive will be known until tests are performed. There's no clearcut 2nd man in the Philly bullpen, so much like with Oakland, it's best to avoid the whole situation between now and when Tom Gordon returns. All Gordon owners will be getting a closer back when he returns from the DL, reportedly the first week of June.
Fantasy Impact: Nothing definitive will be known until tests are performed. There's no clearcut 2nd man in the Philly bullpen, so much like with Oakland, it's best to avoid the whole situation between now and when Tom Gordon returns. All Gordon owners will be getting a closer back when he returns from the DL, reportedly the first week of June.
Injury Updates: Randy Johnson and Josh Hamilton
Randy Johnson - News tonight has revealed that Randy Johnson will miss his next start with forearm tendinitis. Forearms are a tricky thing as many elbow problems start off as forearm pain. However, before I start a wildfire, this momentarily looks like a minor issue. Johnson will initially avoid the DL, and they'll see how he feels the next couple days.
Josh Hamilton - Further testing confirmed that his only problem was gastroenteritis, so he should be back as soon as his 15 days are up.
Josh Hamilton - Further testing confirmed that his only problem was gastroenteritis, so he should be back as soon as his 15 days are up.
Florida Marlins Closing Situation - Gregg Remains The Closer
The Florida Marlins announced that Kevin Gregg will remain the team's closer after Henry Owens returns from the DL.
Fantasy Impact: I just posted a day or two ago that Owens hadn't done anything prior to getting hurt to lose his closer's job, but Gregg has racked up 3 saves in his last 4 outings, striking out 6, walking 2, and allowing no hits. Apparently manager Fredi Gonzalez doesn't want to mess with what's working, so all of you who picked up Kevin Gregg might have a handy closer until Gonzalez changes his mind again. Owens will likely return to a setup role, and then it will be Gregg's job to lose at that point. Those who have Owens stashed on the DL should keep him there until you have to activate him, and if you do have to activate him, I'd keep him benched for a bit until this plays out more unless you absolutely need the roster spot for something more important.
Fantasy Impact: I just posted a day or two ago that Owens hadn't done anything prior to getting hurt to lose his closer's job, but Gregg has racked up 3 saves in his last 4 outings, striking out 6, walking 2, and allowing no hits. Apparently manager Fredi Gonzalez doesn't want to mess with what's working, so all of you who picked up Kevin Gregg might have a handy closer until Gonzalez changes his mind again. Owens will likely return to a setup role, and then it will be Gregg's job to lose at that point. Those who have Owens stashed on the DL should keep him there until you have to activate him, and if you do have to activate him, I'd keep him benched for a bit until this plays out more unless you absolutely need the roster spot for something more important.
Injury Updates: Thome, Kendrick, Mauer, Sheets
Jim Thome - Jim Thome has returned from the DL, and I'm sorry for not posting this when it happened Sunday. He smoked the ball last night, going 3/3 with a HR, so get him back in your lineups.
Howie Kendrick - The Angels recalled Kendrick from his minor league assignment last night and he has returned from the DL. He was killing the ball towards the end of his rehab assignment, so he's worth putting back in your starting lineups right away.
Joe Mauer - Mauer has made nice progress from his quad injury, and the Twins hope to have him back on Monday. I'll post as soon as he returns from the DL to the starting lineup.
Ben Sheets - Sheets left his start last night after 6 1/3 IP with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Odds are he'll miss at least one start, but not more than two. The Brewers will likely monitor his progression over the next couple days and see where his recovery is. If he goes on the DL, he won't miss more than the 15 day minimum.
Howie Kendrick - The Angels recalled Kendrick from his minor league assignment last night and he has returned from the DL. He was killing the ball towards the end of his rehab assignment, so he's worth putting back in your starting lineups right away.
Joe Mauer - Mauer has made nice progress from his quad injury, and the Twins hope to have him back on Monday. I'll post as soon as he returns from the DL to the starting lineup.
Ben Sheets - Sheets left his start last night after 6 1/3 IP with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Odds are he'll miss at least one start, but not more than two. The Brewers will likely monitor his progression over the next couple days and see where his recovery is. If he goes on the DL, he won't miss more than the 15 day minimum.
Justin Duchscherer To The DL
Oakland A's temporary closer Justin Duchscherer has been placed on the DL with a right hip strain.
He would have been a great pickup in fantasy leagues while Street was on the DL, but he joined his teammate there instead. As I posted before, he had actually asked to be placed there before Street went down, and likely tried to use rest and a cortizone shot to return and close for the A's to no avail.
Fantasy Impact: Those who picked Duchscherer up hoping he would close can drop him now. Kiko Calero would normally be next in line, but he's really struggled this year and the A's are going to use Alan Embree as their closer. Embree is worth picking up in all leagues, and should prove to be a solid, if unspectacular, closer in Street and Duch's absence.
He would have been a great pickup in fantasy leagues while Street was on the DL, but he joined his teammate there instead. As I posted before, he had actually asked to be placed there before Street went down, and likely tried to use rest and a cortizone shot to return and close for the A's to no avail.
Fantasy Impact: Those who picked Duchscherer up hoping he would close can drop him now. Kiko Calero would normally be next in line, but he's really struggled this year and the A's are going to use Alan Embree as their closer. Embree is worth picking up in all leagues, and should prove to be a solid, if unspectacular, closer in Street and Duch's absence.
A Dying Moose, Scott "Ball Four" Kazmir, and Thome's Welcome Home Party
John Lackey - Lackey had some control problems last night, walking 4 in 5 innings, but still managed to only allow 1 run to win his 7th game so far. He's been a great asset in Ws, Ks, and ERA, and has posted a reasonable WHIP of 1.26. His ERA won't stay below 3 for very long, but he's a great #2 starter on fantasy teams.
Francsico Rodriguez - K-Rod continues to perform as one of the best closers in the game, saving his 14th game of the season. He has a 2.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 29 Ks in 26 2/3 IP. He's been well worth his draft status the last 3 seasons.
Chone Figgins - This guy has been dreadful so far while posting a .130 average after coming off the DL. As a personal opinion, these guys are not worth having on your fantasy team. I've never been one to own empty speed (guys that contribute little else other than 30 SBs or so), and given the glut of 2nd tier talent at 2B this year, there's better options out there. Figgins has the most value at 2B, although he's eligible at 3B and OF as well in Yahoo. If you like this kinda player, he's a good buy-low, but I honestly don't think he's worth much in your lineup, especially batting 9th.
Mike Mussina - Mussina was killed by the Red Sox last night for 7 ERs and 10 Hs in 6 2/3 IP. I didn't start him last night, and I dropped him off the team I owned him. I read he's sitting in the mid-80s with his fastball, and it's obvious by his K rate (12 Ks in 29 IP) that he's not missing bats. He's definitely worth dropping until he strings together a couple solid outings, although it's possible he's either hurt again or just about done.
Manny Ramirez - Blasted a 3 run HR in the first, but that was his only hit of the game. I'll take it, and hopefully it's something he'll build off-of.
Alex Rios - Nice to see him try to run last night, attempting his 3rd and 4th SBs of the season, stealing one and getting caught once. Daniel Cabrera, the opposing pitcher, doesn't hold runners on very well, so you can't read too much into this. I'm sure Rios owners are quite disappointed with his lack of running so far, especially since he's hitting leadoff. He has 20 SB speed and talent, so I'm not sure why he's not running more.
A.J. Burnett - 4 runs in 6 2/3 IP last night, but K'd 8 and only allowed 8 baserunners (minus the HBP). Unfortunately due to a HR and a couple hits in the same inning, he gave up those 4 runs. He's been on a very nice streak and is putting his talent to good use now.
Daniel Cabrera - I dropped him a few weeks ago, and he's still not capitalizing on all that talent. He's still very inconsistent with his control, and when he's not walking lots of hitters, he's giving up lots of hits. His tantalizing spring of great control gave us a false sign of hope, and he's not closer to turning into the pitcher he could be.
Cole Hamels - Tough start for him last night allowing 5 ER in 6 IP, and the Marlins are actually scoring a lot of runs this year. He still K'd 8 hitters, so even on an off-night he contributed positively to your team.
Kenji Johjima - He's been justifying his draft position by hitting .317 with 6 HRs. He has upper-tier talent at the catcher position for fantasy, but due to the pitcher's ballpark he calls home and the below-average offense around him, his skills are slightly wasted.
Scott Kazmir - Another mediocre outing for him last night which included 3 more BBs in 5 IP. he's definitely not pitching up to this talent level, and it's mostly because of the regression in his command. He brought his walks down last year and posted a solid 1.27 WHIP, and his owners thought he'd take another step forward this year. So far, that has not been the case with a 1.44 WHIP and 29 BBs in 59 IP. Until he regains his command, the consistency won't be there like it was last year in the first half of the season.
Ken Griffey Jr. - I love that the The Kid is back this season. He's been my all-time favorite baseball player since he broke in as a 19 year old. He's posting a .300 BA and slugged his 10th HR last night. He's great for the game, but thanks to his injuries he's almost an after-thought as idiots like Bonds approach 755 HRs, and Sosa approaches 600 HRs. At least he's only 10 away from McGwire, so he'll pass at least one of the cheaters before he retires. As I've mentioned several times before, however, try to sell high.
Felipe Lopez - What a jerk. I dropped him in favor of Bobby Crosby a few days ago, and he lights up the Reds for 3 XBH, 1 HR, and 6 RBIs. He was motivated facing his former team in his former home ballpark, and he also reminded us what his value would be like had he not been traded. He still hasn't homered at home in Washington yet, and given that he's not stealing many bases, he's not worth starting.
Kyle Davies - What a great start for him last night, giving up 9 baserunners and 1 ER in 8 IP against the Mets. Keep an eye on him as he'll possibly rebound and have end-of-the-rotation fantasy value by the end of the season if he could maintain control of his pitches, but odds are he'll be crappy and not worth even considering.
Johan Santana - He was downright filthy last night, K'ing 13 and allowing 1 run over 7 IP. He picked up his 5th win of the season, and once Mauer returns, he'll start getting more run support.
Justin Morneau - 2 HR and 5 RBIs last night as he's now officially locked in. Wish I had picked him over stupid Jason Bay. I hate Jason Bay.
Mark Teahen - He's quitely been a solid fantasy asset this season, hitting over .300 with 4 HRs and 6 SBs. It'd be nice to see the power he flashed at the end of last season, but his minor league track record suggests that was a bit of a fluke, and he's more of a 20 HR guy than a 30 HR guy.
Jim Thome - 3/3, 2 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI last night. Welcome back from the DL, Jim!
Jake Peavy - I love Jake Peavy. 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 Ks last night. Better yet, the Padres pulled him after 96 pitches in a 5-1 game. Given their bullpen is a huge strength, there was no need to run him back out there and push him possibly into a pitch count in the 110s. They're taking extra care of his arm, and it'll pay off in the long run.
Rich Hill - He's struggling, but he was due to struggle. 4 HRs last night accounting for 5 ERs in all. He only allowed 8 baserunners and K'd 8, so he still pitched pretty well despite the ugly ERA on the evening. He was due to get his ERA back over 3, but he's still pitching very well on the season. The longballs will continue to be a problem for him, but he's definitely a quality 3/4 guy in your fantasy rotation and is providing solid draft value.
Ben Sheets - Solid outing last night cut short by a blister. Always something with him, isn't it? At least it's not his shoulder, and he won't miss more than 15 days I'd assume.
Randy Wolf - He continues to roll, posting his 6th win in yet another quality start. He's becoming an every-outing start in mixed leagues. I sat him last night against the tough Milwaukee offense facing Ben Sheets, but as usual he turned in a good game.
Tim Lincecum - Maybe he'll be closer to Francisco Liriano than I thought. 8 IP, 6 baserunners, 2 ER, and 4 Ks. He's pitched brilliantly since his first outing, and should continue to do so, especially when faces teams for the first time.
Francsico Rodriguez - K-Rod continues to perform as one of the best closers in the game, saving his 14th game of the season. He has a 2.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 29 Ks in 26 2/3 IP. He's been well worth his draft status the last 3 seasons.
Chone Figgins - This guy has been dreadful so far while posting a .130 average after coming off the DL. As a personal opinion, these guys are not worth having on your fantasy team. I've never been one to own empty speed (guys that contribute little else other than 30 SBs or so), and given the glut of 2nd tier talent at 2B this year, there's better options out there. Figgins has the most value at 2B, although he's eligible at 3B and OF as well in Yahoo. If you like this kinda player, he's a good buy-low, but I honestly don't think he's worth much in your lineup, especially batting 9th.
Mike Mussina - Mussina was killed by the Red Sox last night for 7 ERs and 10 Hs in 6 2/3 IP. I didn't start him last night, and I dropped him off the team I owned him. I read he's sitting in the mid-80s with his fastball, and it's obvious by his K rate (12 Ks in 29 IP) that he's not missing bats. He's definitely worth dropping until he strings together a couple solid outings, although it's possible he's either hurt again or just about done.
Manny Ramirez - Blasted a 3 run HR in the first, but that was his only hit of the game. I'll take it, and hopefully it's something he'll build off-of.
Alex Rios - Nice to see him try to run last night, attempting his 3rd and 4th SBs of the season, stealing one and getting caught once. Daniel Cabrera, the opposing pitcher, doesn't hold runners on very well, so you can't read too much into this. I'm sure Rios owners are quite disappointed with his lack of running so far, especially since he's hitting leadoff. He has 20 SB speed and talent, so I'm not sure why he's not running more.
A.J. Burnett - 4 runs in 6 2/3 IP last night, but K'd 8 and only allowed 8 baserunners (minus the HBP). Unfortunately due to a HR and a couple hits in the same inning, he gave up those 4 runs. He's been on a very nice streak and is putting his talent to good use now.
Daniel Cabrera - I dropped him a few weeks ago, and he's still not capitalizing on all that talent. He's still very inconsistent with his control, and when he's not walking lots of hitters, he's giving up lots of hits. His tantalizing spring of great control gave us a false sign of hope, and he's not closer to turning into the pitcher he could be.
Cole Hamels - Tough start for him last night allowing 5 ER in 6 IP, and the Marlins are actually scoring a lot of runs this year. He still K'd 8 hitters, so even on an off-night he contributed positively to your team.
Kenji Johjima - He's been justifying his draft position by hitting .317 with 6 HRs. He has upper-tier talent at the catcher position for fantasy, but due to the pitcher's ballpark he calls home and the below-average offense around him, his skills are slightly wasted.
Scott Kazmir - Another mediocre outing for him last night which included 3 more BBs in 5 IP. he's definitely not pitching up to this talent level, and it's mostly because of the regression in his command. He brought his walks down last year and posted a solid 1.27 WHIP, and his owners thought he'd take another step forward this year. So far, that has not been the case with a 1.44 WHIP and 29 BBs in 59 IP. Until he regains his command, the consistency won't be there like it was last year in the first half of the season.
Ken Griffey Jr. - I love that the The Kid is back this season. He's been my all-time favorite baseball player since he broke in as a 19 year old. He's posting a .300 BA and slugged his 10th HR last night. He's great for the game, but thanks to his injuries he's almost an after-thought as idiots like Bonds approach 755 HRs, and Sosa approaches 600 HRs. At least he's only 10 away from McGwire, so he'll pass at least one of the cheaters before he retires. As I've mentioned several times before, however, try to sell high.
Felipe Lopez - What a jerk. I dropped him in favor of Bobby Crosby a few days ago, and he lights up the Reds for 3 XBH, 1 HR, and 6 RBIs. He was motivated facing his former team in his former home ballpark, and he also reminded us what his value would be like had he not been traded. He still hasn't homered at home in Washington yet, and given that he's not stealing many bases, he's not worth starting.
Kyle Davies - What a great start for him last night, giving up 9 baserunners and 1 ER in 8 IP against the Mets. Keep an eye on him as he'll possibly rebound and have end-of-the-rotation fantasy value by the end of the season if he could maintain control of his pitches, but odds are he'll be crappy and not worth even considering.
Johan Santana - He was downright filthy last night, K'ing 13 and allowing 1 run over 7 IP. He picked up his 5th win of the season, and once Mauer returns, he'll start getting more run support.
Justin Morneau - 2 HR and 5 RBIs last night as he's now officially locked in. Wish I had picked him over stupid Jason Bay. I hate Jason Bay.
Mark Teahen - He's quitely been a solid fantasy asset this season, hitting over .300 with 4 HRs and 6 SBs. It'd be nice to see the power he flashed at the end of last season, but his minor league track record suggests that was a bit of a fluke, and he's more of a 20 HR guy than a 30 HR guy.
Jim Thome - 3/3, 2 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI last night. Welcome back from the DL, Jim!
Jake Peavy - I love Jake Peavy. 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 Ks last night. Better yet, the Padres pulled him after 96 pitches in a 5-1 game. Given their bullpen is a huge strength, there was no need to run him back out there and push him possibly into a pitch count in the 110s. They're taking extra care of his arm, and it'll pay off in the long run.
Rich Hill - He's struggling, but he was due to struggle. 4 HRs last night accounting for 5 ERs in all. He only allowed 8 baserunners and K'd 8, so he still pitched pretty well despite the ugly ERA on the evening. He was due to get his ERA back over 3, but he's still pitching very well on the season. The longballs will continue to be a problem for him, but he's definitely a quality 3/4 guy in your fantasy rotation and is providing solid draft value.
Ben Sheets - Solid outing last night cut short by a blister. Always something with him, isn't it? At least it's not his shoulder, and he won't miss more than 15 days I'd assume.
Randy Wolf - He continues to roll, posting his 6th win in yet another quality start. He's becoming an every-outing start in mixed leagues. I sat him last night against the tough Milwaukee offense facing Ben Sheets, but as usual he turned in a good game.
Tim Lincecum - Maybe he'll be closer to Francisco Liriano than I thought. 8 IP, 6 baserunners, 2 ER, and 4 Ks. He's pitched brilliantly since his first outing, and should continue to do so, especially when faces teams for the first time.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Josh Hamilton to the DL
The Cincinnati Reds placed OF Josh Hamilton on the 15 day DL with gastroenteritis.
I've never heard of a player being put on the disabled list with bad gas, but I guess there's a first for everything. I'm personally a bit skeptical as to what is going on given Hamilton's history, but I'll give the situation the benefit of the doubt. He was probably severely dehydrated from the virus, and thus needed an IV at a hospital.
Fantasy Impact: Assuming everything is all good, he'll be back when the 15 days are up. It's retroactive to May 19th, so he should be back in the starting lineup on June 3rd or 4th. Most of his owners grabbed him off waivers as a 4th OF, so they shouldn't miss him too terribly much.
I've never heard of a player being put on the disabled list with bad gas, but I guess there's a first for everything. I'm personally a bit skeptical as to what is going on given Hamilton's history, but I'll give the situation the benefit of the doubt. He was probably severely dehydrated from the virus, and thus needed an IV at a hospital.
Fantasy Impact: Assuming everything is all good, he'll be back when the 15 days are up. It's retroactive to May 19th, so he should be back in the starting lineup on June 3rd or 4th. Most of his owners grabbed him off waivers as a 4th OF, so they shouldn't miss him too terribly much.
Cubs Supposed Closing Situation - Dempster Out, Guzman In
The Chicago Cubs are going to convert current closer Ryan Dempster back to the starting rotation, and they're going to move Angel Guzman to the bullpen to be the new closer.
This is a ridiculous over-reaction by Lou Pinella who has a history of doing such things throughout his tenure in the major leagues. Dempster does have a 4.43 ERA, but he has a very solid 1.03 WHIP, and he's converted 9 out of 10 save chances. He's also posted 21 Ks in 20 1/3 IP. He's only had two truly bad outings, including the last one where he blew up for 5 runs in 1/3 of an inning, but most closers have an outing or two like that during the year. It happens. Dempster has given Pinella very little reason to remove him from the closer's role, but he's doing it anyways. Outside of a very solid 2000 season, Dempster has a long track record of being a mediocre to poor starter, never posting an ERA below 4.71 other than in 2000. Given that, Pinella looks even dumber for making this decision.
Regarding Guzman, he's long been viewed as a great arm in the Cubs farm system. He's posted quality starts in 2 of his 3 appearances since being recalled from the minors, so it's not like he was pitching badly. He limited the powerful Mets offense to 1 run in 5 innings in his last outing, even though he surrendered 8 hits. He has far more value as a starter than a reliever to the Chicago Cubs, so the switch from this side doesn't make sense either. Guzman has very little track record as a reliever, although he does have the stuff to closer. Whether or not he has the mental makeup is to be determined, however.
Fantasy Impact: Wait until this actually plays out in a game, and then go ahead and drop Ryan Dempster. Odds are very strong that he won't have any value as a starter given his history. Guzman has upside as a closer for a good team, so pick him up and stash him to see how he adjusts to his new role. I wouldn't use him right away until you see how he reacts to being a closer for the first time for the sake of your ERA and WHIP, even if it costs you a save or two.
This is a ridiculous over-reaction by Lou Pinella who has a history of doing such things throughout his tenure in the major leagues. Dempster does have a 4.43 ERA, but he has a very solid 1.03 WHIP, and he's converted 9 out of 10 save chances. He's also posted 21 Ks in 20 1/3 IP. He's only had two truly bad outings, including the last one where he blew up for 5 runs in 1/3 of an inning, but most closers have an outing or two like that during the year. It happens. Dempster has given Pinella very little reason to remove him from the closer's role, but he's doing it anyways. Outside of a very solid 2000 season, Dempster has a long track record of being a mediocre to poor starter, never posting an ERA below 4.71 other than in 2000. Given that, Pinella looks even dumber for making this decision.
Regarding Guzman, he's long been viewed as a great arm in the Cubs farm system. He's posted quality starts in 2 of his 3 appearances since being recalled from the minors, so it's not like he was pitching badly. He limited the powerful Mets offense to 1 run in 5 innings in his last outing, even though he surrendered 8 hits. He has far more value as a starter than a reliever to the Chicago Cubs, so the switch from this side doesn't make sense either. Guzman has very little track record as a reliever, although he does have the stuff to closer. Whether or not he has the mental makeup is to be determined, however.
Fantasy Impact: Wait until this actually plays out in a game, and then go ahead and drop Ryan Dempster. Odds are very strong that he won't have any value as a starter given his history. Guzman has upside as a closer for a good team, so pick him up and stash him to see how he adjusts to his new role. I wouldn't use him right away until you see how he reacts to being a closer for the first time for the sake of your ERA and WHIP, even if it costs you a save or two.
Monday - Interleague Is Over
After an interesting, interstate rival filled weekend (for the most part) being over, it's back to the grind within the AL and NL.
Ryan Zimmerman - He continued to break out of his slump by adding his 5th HR and 12th 2B yesterday. His upside is limited by the putrid offense around him, but he's still a quality buy low candidate if his owner hasn't noticed the recent hot streak.
Ken Griffey Jr. - The man won't stop hitting. .303 on the year, and smashed his 9th HR last night. Again, he's still a great sell-high due to his health, although perhaps being in RF might help him stay healthy this year. Odds are against it, though.
Bronson Arroyo - Gross-o. 6 Rs in 2 IP against that previous stated putrid Washington offense. Just an off-night for the hairy wonder.
Manny Ramirez - Who else hates this guy right now? He's still mired in his slump, which means he's still a great buy-low guy. He'll go on an absolute terror sometime very soon.
Tim Wakefield - The downward spiral continues. He didn't have control of his knuckler last night, walking 5 and giving up 9 hits and 6 runs. He's lucky it wasn't worse.
C.C. Sabathia - Not at his best last night in giving up 8 hits and K'ing 4 in 5 IP, but still only gave up 1 run and continues to pitch like a staff ace.
Vincente Padilla - A guy owned by many last year after posting a very solid year, but he's been horrible this year. He gave up 2 runs and 5 hits last night while K'ing 4 in 5 2/3 IP, so that's a start. Perhaps he'll bounceback a bit.
Jose Contreras - Season-high 8 Ks last night in 6 1/3, although he did give up 9 hits. He continues to pitch like a back-of-the-rotation fantasy starter, so pick him up if he's out there. With Thome back and the offense starting to pick up, maybe Contreras can regain his 2nd half 2005 form.
Brandon Webb - His numbers look bad, giving up 5 or more runs in 5 of his 10 starts. Digging deeper, one realizes 4 of those 5 bad starts were all against the Rockies, and the lone other against the Mets. He continues to have control issues, walking 4 more last night, which is a concern. However, against Colorado, he has 25 IP, 6.84 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and an 0-2 record. Against everyone else, he has 45 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 3-1 record. Don't start him against the Rockies, apparently.
Rickie Weeks - Coming back after missing a few days with a wrist injury (sorry for not posting about it), he went 4/5 with 3 RBIs. He's fine and get him active!
Noah Lowry - 7 IP of shutout ball last night. He's due for a regression with 2.69 ERA against his 1.34 WHIP, but he continues to pitch very well despite the large amount of baserunners. He's worth adding and starting against weaker offenses as a #5/6 starter in mixed leagues.
Ryan Zimmerman - He continued to break out of his slump by adding his 5th HR and 12th 2B yesterday. His upside is limited by the putrid offense around him, but he's still a quality buy low candidate if his owner hasn't noticed the recent hot streak.
Ken Griffey Jr. - The man won't stop hitting. .303 on the year, and smashed his 9th HR last night. Again, he's still a great sell-high due to his health, although perhaps being in RF might help him stay healthy this year. Odds are against it, though.
Bronson Arroyo - Gross-o. 6 Rs in 2 IP against that previous stated putrid Washington offense. Just an off-night for the hairy wonder.
Manny Ramirez - Who else hates this guy right now? He's still mired in his slump, which means he's still a great buy-low guy. He'll go on an absolute terror sometime very soon.
Tim Wakefield - The downward spiral continues. He didn't have control of his knuckler last night, walking 5 and giving up 9 hits and 6 runs. He's lucky it wasn't worse.
C.C. Sabathia - Not at his best last night in giving up 8 hits and K'ing 4 in 5 IP, but still only gave up 1 run and continues to pitch like a staff ace.
Vincente Padilla - A guy owned by many last year after posting a very solid year, but he's been horrible this year. He gave up 2 runs and 5 hits last night while K'ing 4 in 5 2/3 IP, so that's a start. Perhaps he'll bounceback a bit.
Jose Contreras - Season-high 8 Ks last night in 6 1/3, although he did give up 9 hits. He continues to pitch like a back-of-the-rotation fantasy starter, so pick him up if he's out there. With Thome back and the offense starting to pick up, maybe Contreras can regain his 2nd half 2005 form.
Brandon Webb - His numbers look bad, giving up 5 or more runs in 5 of his 10 starts. Digging deeper, one realizes 4 of those 5 bad starts were all against the Rockies, and the lone other against the Mets. He continues to have control issues, walking 4 more last night, which is a concern. However, against Colorado, he has 25 IP, 6.84 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and an 0-2 record. Against everyone else, he has 45 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 3-1 record. Don't start him against the Rockies, apparently.
Rickie Weeks - Coming back after missing a few days with a wrist injury (sorry for not posting about it), he went 4/5 with 3 RBIs. He's fine and get him active!
Noah Lowry - 7 IP of shutout ball last night. He's due for a regression with 2.69 ERA against his 1.34 WHIP, but he continues to pitch very well despite the large amount of baserunners. He's worth adding and starting against weaker offenses as a #5/6 starter in mixed leagues.
Weekend Catchup
Had a 4 day vacation of relaxation, and also went to the Cubs/Sox game on Friday. Yay for ballpark food and beer, boo to the outcome.
Ian Snell - He's still pitching quite well so far, but an ERA of 2.76 does not match up with a WHIP of 1.21, which is what he's got going on right now. He'll have to cut down the baserunners if he's going to keep his ERA around 3, but I think a mid-3s ERA is more correlated to him this season. If you can package him for an ace for your staff, go for it.
Byung-Hyun Kim - Kim enjoyed a successful return to the rotation, and maybe getting out of Colorado's thin air will help him. He's worth keeping an eye on after being traded to the Marlins and moved back into the starting rotation. He still has a bit of upside, although for mixed leagues he'll probably just remain a spot-starting option.
Brett Myers - He's making it impossible for the Phillies to remove him from the closer's role. He made things interesting on Friday by loading the bases, but he's 6/6 in save opportunities, and he's also K'ing a ton of batters in the process.
Albert Pujols - Now's your last chance to deal for him before he goes off. 4/4 on Friday with a HR, and continued solid hitting over the rest of the weekend. I just traded David Ortiz and Dan Wheeler for him, to give you an idea of what an owner might be looking for. I believe an offensive explosion is imminent. He's currently at .273, and he's only hit below .329 once in his career.
Oliver Perez - Wow, has he rebounded this year or what? He held the Yankees to 2 runs and 5 hits in 7 2/3 IP. He's becoming an every-outing start at this point.
Eric Gagne - He's back healthy, for now. He converted a save opportunity on Friday, and he hasn't been scored upon yet. The 5 walks in 7 1/3 IP are a bit of a concern, but those can be disregarded for now given how little he's pitching in recent years. I'd try to move him immediately if you don't own both Gagne and Otsuka.
Boof Bonser - 12 Ks on Friday! Very nice performance from this kid, and it probably led to many mixed league adds if he wasn't already owned. He's got pretty good stuff and can be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter for your fantasy team this year.
Torii Hunter - All of you who drafted him are reaping the rewards of his terrorizing start. This just goes to show you that contract year players are usually worth drafting due to their added motivation. He's never hit .300 before, but he did reach .289 once back in 2002, so perhaps the extra motivation will keep his average up there. I'd bet it'll probably come back down to the .270 - .280 area, though.
Barry Zito - 2 disgusting starts in a row. He's been known to start slow the last couple years, so I'd suggest inquiring into his availability in your league. His ERA was fine before his last 2 starts. His move to the NL will most likely benefit him in the long run.
Chris Young (SD) - He's rolling right along with a 2.89 ERA, but just like with Ian Snell, his 1.26 WHIP doesn't match up. Combine that with his propensity to fade in the 2nd half the last two years (almost an ERA rise of 1), and now might be a good time to sell.
Alex Rodriguez - After a long HR/RBI slump, he's homered in the past 3 games and also stole a base last night. Back to normal for A-Rod!
David Wright - 3 HRs in the past two games show the power has returned. I hope you bought low on him when I recommended it a few weeks ago, if it was possible.
Paul Konerko - Another buy-low candidate starting to heat up...7/16 with a HR and a 2B the past 4 games. I'd suggest making a move for him now while his numbers are still terrible and catch him on the upswing.
Chris Ray - 2 converted saves after a blowup against Boston a few days ago. He's the opposite of Snell/Young...his 4.35 ERA is too high for his 1.16 WHIP. He's throwing well, so expect that ERA to drop while racking up saves. A good buy-at-a-discount candidate.
Brandon Phillips - The 2B crop after Chase Utley is turning out to be quite a deep bunch. 2 HRs over the weekend, giving him 8 HRs/SBs along with a .286 average and plenty of Rs/RBIs. Given Cincy is hitting him in the middle of the order, expect big numbers the rest of the way. He was an elite talent in the minors who got lost after a few failed chances with the Indians, so he's not playing over his head.
Jered Weaver - He's made a successful return from a minor arm injury so far this year, proving his rookie year was not a fluke. Nobody expect him to post a sub 3.00 ERA in his first full season, so the 3.46 ERA and 36 Ks in 39 IP are right for him. He needs to cut down on his 1.41 WHIP, though, and I think he will as he shakes the rust off.
Anthony Reyes - A somewhat popular sleeper has been disgusting this year, posting an 0-7 mark to go along with a 5.84 ERA. He has a solid 1.23 WHIP, but thanks to numerous big innings, his ERA doesn't match it. He's only had one quality start this year, but remains someone to monitor given his minor league track record.
Scott Baker - Here's another guy to keep an eye on. He had a great first start back in the majors against the powerful Brewer offense, going 8 1/3 with 5 Ks and allowing only 2 ER. He was a sleeper last year as the 5th starter, but thanks to mis-managed outings that were often 10 days apart, he found no rhythm and posted ugly outings. If Minnesota commits to pitching him every 5th day, he could have value in mixed leagues before long.
Dan Haren - Enough can't be said about his amazing start. 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 54 Ks in 67 1/3 IP. I just wish I had targeted him this year.
John Smoltz - Well, my recommendation here shows why it's a mixed bag starting pitchers coming off of an injury. Can't argue it didn't make sense to sit him, especially against Boston's offense, although if you did, you missed out on 7 IP of shutout ball with 7 Ks.
Randy Johnson - He's back! 10 more Ks in 5 2/3 IP. After struggling to regain his form following his return from injury, he's pitching great and should post very good numbers this year being back in the NL.
Chad Cordero - I told ya. Back in the closer's role with his 5th save on Sunday. No worries here, other than the possibility he'll be traded near the deadline.
Chris Duncan - He's proving last year was no fluke by hitting his 7th HR so far this season to go along with his .290 average. His Rs and RBI have suffered with the slumping STL offense, but I expect those will rebound as Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals exit their slump.
Kevin Gregg - He notched his 3rd save on Sunday, proving he's the definitive closer in Henry Owens' absence. I can't imagine he'll remain the closer when Owens returns, given Owens didn't give them any reason to remove him.
Pat Burrell - He's entered a hot streak, homering 5 times in the past 10 games. His batting average is still in the .250s, but he's worth using in mixed leagues while hot. Given the offense around him, he could straighten himself out and have quite a bit of value the rest of the year.
Geoff Jenkins - He's as hot and cold as any player in the majors, but it's possible that he'll prove valuable in mixed leagues all year long. He's up to 9 HRs now, and with the Brewers offense maturing all at once, he should post plenty of Rs and RBIs as well.
Carlos Zambrano - All the progress he showed in his last start with the Mets just went right out the window. He deserved better given that Cotts gave up a 2 out grand slam to AJ Pierzynski, causing 3 more runs to be charged against Zambrano, but he shouldn't have loaded the bases to begin with. I watched this game, and his stuff doesn't look the same. I'm officially worried at this point. I don't know if it's bad mechanics or an injury.
Kelvim Escobar - That's more like it. 8 IP of shutout ball against the Dodgers on Sunday, so last week's massacre was definitely just a blip in the radar.
Felix Hernandez - He lasted only 5 IP this start, but he had already thrown over 100 pitches by that point. His stuff is still fine, as evidenced with the 9 Ks, but his command isn't there yet. He gave up 8 hits and 3 walks, but I won't worry unless this keeps up for another start or two.
Matt Morris - Holy flashback, Batman. Morris posted a complete game, 1 run, 2 hit start with 9 Ks. His ERA dropped to 2.93, but he's not worth much of a mixed league start unless he follows this up with another few quality outings. His WHIP stands at 1.34, so that ERA should be shooting up sometime very soon. His stuff isn't the same after shoulder surgery a few years ago.
Ian Snell - He's still pitching quite well so far, but an ERA of 2.76 does not match up with a WHIP of 1.21, which is what he's got going on right now. He'll have to cut down the baserunners if he's going to keep his ERA around 3, but I think a mid-3s ERA is more correlated to him this season. If you can package him for an ace for your staff, go for it.
Byung-Hyun Kim - Kim enjoyed a successful return to the rotation, and maybe getting out of Colorado's thin air will help him. He's worth keeping an eye on after being traded to the Marlins and moved back into the starting rotation. He still has a bit of upside, although for mixed leagues he'll probably just remain a spot-starting option.
Brett Myers - He's making it impossible for the Phillies to remove him from the closer's role. He made things interesting on Friday by loading the bases, but he's 6/6 in save opportunities, and he's also K'ing a ton of batters in the process.
Albert Pujols - Now's your last chance to deal for him before he goes off. 4/4 on Friday with a HR, and continued solid hitting over the rest of the weekend. I just traded David Ortiz and Dan Wheeler for him, to give you an idea of what an owner might be looking for. I believe an offensive explosion is imminent. He's currently at .273, and he's only hit below .329 once in his career.
Oliver Perez - Wow, has he rebounded this year or what? He held the Yankees to 2 runs and 5 hits in 7 2/3 IP. He's becoming an every-outing start at this point.
Eric Gagne - He's back healthy, for now. He converted a save opportunity on Friday, and he hasn't been scored upon yet. The 5 walks in 7 1/3 IP are a bit of a concern, but those can be disregarded for now given how little he's pitching in recent years. I'd try to move him immediately if you don't own both Gagne and Otsuka.
Boof Bonser - 12 Ks on Friday! Very nice performance from this kid, and it probably led to many mixed league adds if he wasn't already owned. He's got pretty good stuff and can be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter for your fantasy team this year.
Torii Hunter - All of you who drafted him are reaping the rewards of his terrorizing start. This just goes to show you that contract year players are usually worth drafting due to their added motivation. He's never hit .300 before, but he did reach .289 once back in 2002, so perhaps the extra motivation will keep his average up there. I'd bet it'll probably come back down to the .270 - .280 area, though.
Barry Zito - 2 disgusting starts in a row. He's been known to start slow the last couple years, so I'd suggest inquiring into his availability in your league. His ERA was fine before his last 2 starts. His move to the NL will most likely benefit him in the long run.
Chris Young (SD) - He's rolling right along with a 2.89 ERA, but just like with Ian Snell, his 1.26 WHIP doesn't match up. Combine that with his propensity to fade in the 2nd half the last two years (almost an ERA rise of 1), and now might be a good time to sell.
Alex Rodriguez - After a long HR/RBI slump, he's homered in the past 3 games and also stole a base last night. Back to normal for A-Rod!
David Wright - 3 HRs in the past two games show the power has returned. I hope you bought low on him when I recommended it a few weeks ago, if it was possible.
Paul Konerko - Another buy-low candidate starting to heat up...7/16 with a HR and a 2B the past 4 games. I'd suggest making a move for him now while his numbers are still terrible and catch him on the upswing.
Chris Ray - 2 converted saves after a blowup against Boston a few days ago. He's the opposite of Snell/Young...his 4.35 ERA is too high for his 1.16 WHIP. He's throwing well, so expect that ERA to drop while racking up saves. A good buy-at-a-discount candidate.
Brandon Phillips - The 2B crop after Chase Utley is turning out to be quite a deep bunch. 2 HRs over the weekend, giving him 8 HRs/SBs along with a .286 average and plenty of Rs/RBIs. Given Cincy is hitting him in the middle of the order, expect big numbers the rest of the way. He was an elite talent in the minors who got lost after a few failed chances with the Indians, so he's not playing over his head.
Jered Weaver - He's made a successful return from a minor arm injury so far this year, proving his rookie year was not a fluke. Nobody expect him to post a sub 3.00 ERA in his first full season, so the 3.46 ERA and 36 Ks in 39 IP are right for him. He needs to cut down on his 1.41 WHIP, though, and I think he will as he shakes the rust off.
Anthony Reyes - A somewhat popular sleeper has been disgusting this year, posting an 0-7 mark to go along with a 5.84 ERA. He has a solid 1.23 WHIP, but thanks to numerous big innings, his ERA doesn't match it. He's only had one quality start this year, but remains someone to monitor given his minor league track record.
Scott Baker - Here's another guy to keep an eye on. He had a great first start back in the majors against the powerful Brewer offense, going 8 1/3 with 5 Ks and allowing only 2 ER. He was a sleeper last year as the 5th starter, but thanks to mis-managed outings that were often 10 days apart, he found no rhythm and posted ugly outings. If Minnesota commits to pitching him every 5th day, he could have value in mixed leagues before long.
Dan Haren - Enough can't be said about his amazing start. 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 54 Ks in 67 1/3 IP. I just wish I had targeted him this year.
John Smoltz - Well, my recommendation here shows why it's a mixed bag starting pitchers coming off of an injury. Can't argue it didn't make sense to sit him, especially against Boston's offense, although if you did, you missed out on 7 IP of shutout ball with 7 Ks.
Randy Johnson - He's back! 10 more Ks in 5 2/3 IP. After struggling to regain his form following his return from injury, he's pitching great and should post very good numbers this year being back in the NL.
Chad Cordero - I told ya. Back in the closer's role with his 5th save on Sunday. No worries here, other than the possibility he'll be traded near the deadline.
Chris Duncan - He's proving last year was no fluke by hitting his 7th HR so far this season to go along with his .290 average. His Rs and RBI have suffered with the slumping STL offense, but I expect those will rebound as Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals exit their slump.
Kevin Gregg - He notched his 3rd save on Sunday, proving he's the definitive closer in Henry Owens' absence. I can't imagine he'll remain the closer when Owens returns, given Owens didn't give them any reason to remove him.
Pat Burrell - He's entered a hot streak, homering 5 times in the past 10 games. His batting average is still in the .250s, but he's worth using in mixed leagues while hot. Given the offense around him, he could straighten himself out and have quite a bit of value the rest of the year.
Geoff Jenkins - He's as hot and cold as any player in the majors, but it's possible that he'll prove valuable in mixed leagues all year long. He's up to 9 HRs now, and with the Brewers offense maturing all at once, he should post plenty of Rs and RBIs as well.
Carlos Zambrano - All the progress he showed in his last start with the Mets just went right out the window. He deserved better given that Cotts gave up a 2 out grand slam to AJ Pierzynski, causing 3 more runs to be charged against Zambrano, but he shouldn't have loaded the bases to begin with. I watched this game, and his stuff doesn't look the same. I'm officially worried at this point. I don't know if it's bad mechanics or an injury.
Kelvim Escobar - That's more like it. 8 IP of shutout ball against the Dodgers on Sunday, so last week's massacre was definitely just a blip in the radar.
Felix Hernandez - He lasted only 5 IP this start, but he had already thrown over 100 pitches by that point. His stuff is still fine, as evidenced with the 9 Ks, but his command isn't there yet. He gave up 8 hits and 3 walks, but I won't worry unless this keeps up for another start or two.
Matt Morris - Holy flashback, Batman. Morris posted a complete game, 1 run, 2 hit start with 9 Ks. His ERA dropped to 2.93, but he's not worth much of a mixed league start unless he follows this up with another few quality outings. His WHIP stands at 1.34, so that ERA should be shooting up sometime very soon. His stuff isn't the same after shoulder surgery a few years ago.
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