Between Memorial Day festivities and a busy day at work yesterday, I've fallen a bit behind. Here's a recap of the action on Sunday and Monday...
Scott Olsen - A popular sleeper pick heading into the year, but he's done nothing but disappoint with a 5.11 ERA. He hasn't shown any signs of turning it around, so he's worth dropping in mixed leagues at this point for those who tried to show patience with him. Keep an eye and don't be afraid to pick him back up if he strings 3-4 solid performances in a row together.
David Wright - He stole his 10th base on Sunday, and he hasn't been caught yet this year. His previous high of SBs is 20, and he's now on pace for a bit over 30, so this is a nice surprise for his owners. However, his .267 AVG, 8 HRs and 27 RBIs are definitely a disappointment as we reach 1/3 of the way through the season. He's too good not to get real hot, so I'd look into buying him at a discount right now.
Alex Rodriguez - A-Rod continues his horrible slump as his AVG has now fallen under .300, and while the 5 HRs this month have been nice, his crappy batting average and lack of run production when he does get a hit are extremely frustrating. Look for him to get back on track sometime soon.
Bobby Abreu - He's now hitting .228, and there's no explanation for his struggles that I can see. Torre has tried moving him around in the lineup, but that hasn't helped either. He has a long career of .300 AVG and .400 OBP, so this is way out of line for his performance. He's not dealing with a leg injury as he's stolen 8 bases so far, but all other stats are way down. I'd still suggest buying low as his long career indicates this is quite an anomaly, but buy way low because his slump has hit 2 months and there's always a chance this could be some bigger problem.
Ryan Howard - It's safe to say he's back. 4/8 with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs over Sunday/Monday. His batting average, which was a fluky .313 last season, is sitting at a horrible .224. Expect a nice rebound there, but I don't see him hitting .300 again with the amount of times he strikes out (44 Ks in 34 games this year, 181 Ks last season).
Cole Hamels - Maybe I'm expecting too much from him, but a 3.74 ERA from this young kid seems a bit high. He's allowed 10 HRs already, so that's definitely playing a part in his ERA thus far. Unless he can control the HRs, expect an ERA in the mid 3's even though he has low 3's stuff. The fact he pitches half his games in Citizen's Bank doesn't help, either.
Adam Dunn - 2 HRs and 4 RBIs on Sunday, and he's putting together a great season so far. His .258 average would be the 2nd best of his career, and the 14 HRs with 33 RBIs, 38 Rs, and 7 SBs round out his season thus far. Despite the low average, Dunn is solid in OBP, posting OBP's over 100 points higher than his AVG for his career. It's a shame that manager Jerry Narron wastes that production when he could be hitting 2nd.
Nick Swisher - Adam Dunn - lite. Providing excellent draft day value with a .298 AVG thus far. His BBs are impressive as usual, and his K rate is a bit better this year. I don't expect his AVG to stay that high this year, so if you can find someone who does, I'd look to upgrade.
Joe Blanton - Gross. 8 ERs and 10 Hs in 6 IP. A popular waiver pickup in mixed leagues recently, myself included, and he's rewarded his owners with 2 staright poor performances. I'd hold him unless you see another pitching option on the waiver wire that you like a lot in case this is just a bump in the road, but he's disappointed badly last year and that can't be ignored.
Miguel Tejada - This recent power surge was a blessing for all his owners. He smacked 3 HRs in 4 days while driving in 8 runs and scoring 4 to bring him up to 5 HRs total. If he's re-discovered his power stroke and can get into the 25 HR range by the end of the year, he'll justify his draft position.
Scott Kazmir - Another slightly disappointing young southpaw. His walks continue to be a problem as he's up to 32 BBs in 66 IP, so there's a definite cause for his troubles. He limited this White Sox to 4 ERs despite 8 Hs and 3 BBs, so while he has the talent to fend off the walks and keep his ERA reasonable, he'll be more prone to disasterous outings unless he regains the improved command he found last year.
A.J. Burnett - Another solid outing, getting the 8 IP complete game allowed 3 ER and 6 baserunners while K'ing 8. He's found his control, and the results prove it. The 125 pitches are a concern for a pitcher with a history of elbow problems, so hopefully he'll have a shorter leash next outing. He gets the White Sox next, so I'd consider benching him. Many pitchers don't have their best stuff coming off a high pitch outing, so take that into consideration if you're on the fence about starting him.
Adrian Beltre - He hit his 7th, 8th, and 9th HRs over the weekend. If he happens to be unowned in your league, grab him given the lack of production from 3B this year. He's up to .270, and has chipped in 5 SBs as well. His production has gone in the tank after signing the huge deal to come over to Seattle after his monstrous 2004 season, but if he could get back to 30 HRs, he'll be a fine asset in fantasy leagues.
Kevin Youkilis - There is no hotter hitter in baseball right now. He has at least 2 hits in 9 straight games, and in the last 10 he has 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, and even a SB. He only hit 13 HRs last year, so the 8 HRs this year are on pace to kill that total. Congrats to those of you who had him, and shame to those of you who dropped him at some point (me in both leagues).
Noah Lowry - Gave up 7 Hs, 3 BBs, and 4 ERs in 4 innings. This is the type of blowup I said he was destined for, and I'd imagine at least one more is around the corner. Hope you didn't pick him up.
Jake Peavy - Johan Santana of the NL. 7 more shutout innings, with only 2 Hs and 1 BB while K'ing 8. There's no better pitcher in fantasy baseball right now, and the scary thing is that given everything (home ballpark, health), he's capable of keeping this up.
Randy Wolf - 6 innings of shutout ball with 5 Ks and 5 baserunners. His ERA is down to 3.41, and his K rate remains at a career best with 71 Ks in 66 IP. He's finally healthy and can keep pitching at a mid 3's ERA level all year long.
Rich Hill - A nice bounceback outing against LA after a rought stretch, matching Wolf with 6 IP of shutout ball, allowing 5 baserunners and K'ing 3. Unfortunately Pinella subbed him out when they needed a pinch hitter despite him only being at 66 pitches. His fantasy owners were probably unhappy about the situation, but even more important was a rebound to form.
Morgan Ensberg - 3 HRs in 5 days. Keep an eye on him...his hitting talent hasn't disappeared yet. Like with Beltre, the weak 3B crew this year warrants following 3B with a previous history getting hot.
Roy Oswalt - 6 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 5 ER. Just a blip in the radar screen for Oswalt and nothing to worry about. Arizona can be a tough place to pitch.
Fausto Carmona - 7 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 3 K, and another win. Carmona pitched out of a few jams and earned his 6th victory. Continue to ride the hot hand here.
Kyle Lohse - Another random great start from Lohse. Ignore.
Chuck James - 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, and a career high 8 Ks. He's a talented young pitcher and worth keeping tabs on. He's been very inconsistent this year, but he's mixed in some very nice starts.
Jose Contreras - After an almost spot-less May, he ends it on a sour note, allowing 13 baserunners and 7 ER in 5 1/3 IP. If you picked him up, don't panic based on one start, because he's quietly been very solid for almost a month now.
Johan Santana - Not his best outing allowing 4 ER in 8 IP, but with only 8 baserunners, 7 Ks, and a Win, who's complaining? These are some of his best numbers in his career through the first two months, and he's now entering the time where his hot streak usually starts.
Paul Konerko - Konerko continues to move out of his slump, raising his average 40 points over the past 10 games. I'd still try to buy low as his overall numbers look pretty bad, but expect him to continue hitting well the rest of the year, especially with Thome back in the lineup.
Jeff Francis - 7 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. He's not a K pitcher, but he's pitching too well right now to leave him on the waiver wire. That's not 5 straight outings of 2 ER or less. Unfortunately that might mean he's due for a bad outing, but pick him up and use him in the right matchups.
Curt Schilling - And he's back. 7 innings of 6 hit, 1 ER ball with 10 Ks against a quality Cleveland offense. Feel free to get him back into the lineup if you benched him like I did during his cold streak.
Doug Davis - 8 IP, 7 Hs, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks. Hmm, he's actually pitched well in 5 of his last 7 outings. Given what he did last year, the fact he pitches in a quality hitter's ballpark, and his large amount of walks outside of his last outing, I can't recommend doing anything with him other than pointing to his stellar ERA and getting rid of him. His ugly 1.62 WHIP and 32 BB in 66 IP are terrible signs heading forward.
Carl Crawford - After raving about his high SB percentage last week, he goes and gets caught in 3 of his next 4 attempts. He's actually been kind of a bust, with only 12 SBs (6 CS), 5 HRs, and 24 runs scored. The lack of power in the middle of the lineup is hurting him and he's been moved to the 3rd spot. It hasn't hurt his green light for stealing bases, but he's not being driving in as much as he would be leading off.
Steve Trachsel - A complete game, 1 ER performance that gives him a 3.39 ERA? Props to him for a great start, but don't you even think about picking him up. He has a 1.30 WHIP, which isn't bad, but is due to go up thanks to his abysmal 18:31 K/BB ratio.
Brian Roberts - 6 SBs in the last 10 games give him 19 for the year. He's definitely justifying the high draft position at 2B with all these steals to go along with the .312 AVG and 34 runs scored.
Bartolo Colon - He pitched well for a while, but his arm is bothering him again, and he was blasted for 11 hits and 9 R (7 ER) in 6 1/3 IP before complaining of additional arm soreness. Expect another DL stint, and unless you have an empty DL slot, go ahead and drop him.
Chad Gaudin - One of the more amazing stories so far this year. He pitched 6 2/3 IP of ER ball, only allowing 7 baserunners. He's been a quality pitcher all year, and while he's due for some regression, continue starting him as he's shown no signs of slowing down yet. If you can sell another owner on his performance despite the lack of name recognition, he'd be a great throw-in in a trade to upgrade somewhere in your lineup for cheap.
Alan Embree - 3 perfect outings in his 3 save chances. I was wrong to tell everyone to avoid the Oakland bullpen as he's stepped up and thrived in the closer's role, despite it being a small sample. With Duchscherer suffering a setback in his rehab and Street still out, he should have the closer's role for a while.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday Wrapup: Carlos and Hoffman Return
Howie Kendrick - Kendrick has not hit well since returning from his broken finger, so I'd consider using the 2B you picked up in his place for a little while longer until he gets hot, and I'd start shopping his replacement for an upgrade at another position in the meantime as Kendrick will return to form soon enough.
Kelvim Escobar - Wow, what a season for him so far. He's always had the talent to do this when he's healthy, and he's certainly capable of keeping this up all year long. However, his arm will likely not allow him to pitch 200 innings this year, so now is a good time to try to move him for a guy more likely to pitch at a high level all season long. The only problem you might run into is the lack of name recognition, which unfortunately makes guys like Escobar more valuable to their knowledgable owners than anyone else.
Carlos Zambrano - There's the Carlos we love! He pitched an excellent game last night, although Pinella left him in a bit too long and he ended up at 125 pitches. Given he's been battling issues with his velocity all season long, this didn't seem like a good idea. He was still only about 90-91 MPH last night compared to throwing mid-90s most of his career. I figured we'd see increased velocity as the season wore on, but I'm a bit worried as to what the cause of this is.
Ryan Dempster - Gave up a couple hits to start the 9th, but got a K and a double play to get out of it. There doesn't seem to be any indication of Pinella actually removing Dempster from the closer's role, so maybe he came to his senses, or this will be a drawn-out process. I picked up Guzman in a league in which I needed saves, but I'm very tempted to drop him if Dempster continues to close.
Aramis Ramirez - Smacked his 12th HR last night, and has his average up to .295. He's performing like an elite 3B yet again this year despite being drafted at a slight discount. He, unlike Garrett Atkins, is living up to his draft day position.
C.C. Sabathia - Cruising right along. He hasn't had a dominant outing this month, but he's been very consistent and turned in a solid performance (7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 6 K) against a very tough Tigers offense.
Justin Verlander - Had control problems last night with 4 BBs, but he limited the damage by allowing only 3 Hs and 2 ERs in 6 IP. He hasn't posted the K rate expected of him (44 K in 63 IP), but he's pitched efficiently and has great numbers across the board.
Edgar Renteria - .332 AVG with 7 HR and 3 SB this year. He's been an outstanding value as he was likely one of the last SSs taken on draft day. He'll slow down a bit batting average-wise, but he has the talent to keep this up, posting 3 seasons of .290 or better in his career, including hitting .330 once. His career high in HRs is 16, so his HR pace will decline a bit as well.
Antonio Alfonseca - It's official, he's the Phillies closer while Gordon and Myers are on the DL. He gave up 1 hit in a scoreless inning last night for the save, but he's only attractive to those who chase saves with little regard to ERA/WHIP.
Carlos Delgado - He Del-Got-It last night, smashing 2 HRs and driving in 5. Given his poor overall numbers, he's still a quality buy-low guy who should heat up in a hurry.
John Maine - He bounced back a bit last night, giving up 2 ER in 6 IP with 8 Ks. He walked 4 more, so his outing wasn't as encouraging as one might think. He's still managing to avoid major damage while walking 34 in 61 1/3 IP, but he's not going to keep doing that. If you haven't yet, I'd still try to trade him before his numbers continue to decline.
Richie Sexson - He got a hit last night, which is noteworthy in itself given his .182 AVG so far. He's making Adam Dunn look like Ted Williams. I feel sorry for everyone who drafted him.
Alex Rios - I'm punching myself in the balls every time he hits a HR. He's now hitting .309 with 11 HRs, 35 Rs, 26 RBIs, and 4 SBs. He's making me look stupid for trading him along with Webb to get Manny and Sheets. I know Manny will get hot as well and not look back, sometime soon preferrably, right? Jerk.
Michael Cuddyer - He's providing very solid 3rd OF value, as that's what he likely is for your team. 4/5 last night with a HR, giving him a .290 AVG with 7 HRs so far this year. He's hit 3 HRs and driven in 9 over the past week, so he's getting hot and moving his numbers to those that were expected by his owners.
Edwin Encarnacion - HR last night, giving him solid numbers since returning from the minors. He should continue to hit, and is a borderline starter at 3B in mixed leagues. You could do worse than picking him up/trading garbage for him if he's available in your league. He should be a top 10 3B this year when all is said and done.
Bronson Arroyo - Alright, it's time to get worried. After getting lit up for 6 ERs in 2 IP against Washington 5 days ago, he got hit around for 6 ER in 4 IP this time, walking 4 in the process. That's 12 ER in 6 IP against the two worst offenses in the NL. I would bench him until he posts a solid outing.
Jim Edmonds - He's been on a tear the last two weeks, and is worth adding if you need OF help. He's too good of a hitter when healthy to continue the pace he was on. With the entire Cardinals lineup starting to heat up, he'll post solid numbers outside of SBs while he's healthy.
Jason Isringhausen - He's quietly posting a great season again as the Cardinals' closer. 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 14 Ks in 19 IP while saving 13.
Manny Ramirez - Slowly heating up. He's raised his average 27 points in the last 6 days to .272. The power should soon follow as he's only hit 7 HRs so far this year. Last chance to get him at a discount.
Aaron Cook - A CG, 1 ER performance last night. 27 Ks in 72 1/3 IP along with un-impressive ratios, and you'll realize this was just a great performance by an average pitcher. Don't pick him up.
Brandon Webb - Well, it looks like he just needed a non-Colorado matchup to get him back on his game. 7 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, and 8 K. Granted the Houston offense is rather weak, but this was a nice sign to see after 2 straight 5 R performances. Expect him to continue to improve, especially if he keeps showing better control.
Jose Valverde - Another great bullpen steal on draft day. 2.53 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 22 Ks in 21 1/3 IP while saving 18 games. He's always had the talent to do this, but he's finally showing the consistency necessary to keep this up all year long.
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee's prized hitting prospect, and arguably the best hitting prospect in the minors after Billy Butler and Hunter Pence graduated, has been promoted. 3/4 with a HR and a SB in his 2nd game. He's still on waivers in Yahoo's league, and he's worth a claim for all teams in need of a 3B or UTIL help.
Justin Germano - He's had an amazing start to his career, posting a 1.08 ERA and 0.76 WHIP, but with 9 Ks in 25 IP, it's hard to see him keeping this up. Pitching half his games in SD will help him maintain some semblance of success, but I figure things will go south for him eventually. It's hard to recommend him in mixed leagues.
Trevor Hoffman - Returned to the closer's role last night after a save opportunity presented itself with Brocail walking 2/3 hitters he faced. His sore arm is obviously not a long-term concern, but he'll continue to need days off more than most closers. Like I said before, all Hoffman owners need to own Linebrink to guard against a further injury, and to make sure they claim all saves generated by the Padres bullpen.
Kelvim Escobar - Wow, what a season for him so far. He's always had the talent to do this when he's healthy, and he's certainly capable of keeping this up all year long. However, his arm will likely not allow him to pitch 200 innings this year, so now is a good time to try to move him for a guy more likely to pitch at a high level all season long. The only problem you might run into is the lack of name recognition, which unfortunately makes guys like Escobar more valuable to their knowledgable owners than anyone else.
Carlos Zambrano - There's the Carlos we love! He pitched an excellent game last night, although Pinella left him in a bit too long and he ended up at 125 pitches. Given he's been battling issues with his velocity all season long, this didn't seem like a good idea. He was still only about 90-91 MPH last night compared to throwing mid-90s most of his career. I figured we'd see increased velocity as the season wore on, but I'm a bit worried as to what the cause of this is.
Ryan Dempster - Gave up a couple hits to start the 9th, but got a K and a double play to get out of it. There doesn't seem to be any indication of Pinella actually removing Dempster from the closer's role, so maybe he came to his senses, or this will be a drawn-out process. I picked up Guzman in a league in which I needed saves, but I'm very tempted to drop him if Dempster continues to close.
Aramis Ramirez - Smacked his 12th HR last night, and has his average up to .295. He's performing like an elite 3B yet again this year despite being drafted at a slight discount. He, unlike Garrett Atkins, is living up to his draft day position.
C.C. Sabathia - Cruising right along. He hasn't had a dominant outing this month, but he's been very consistent and turned in a solid performance (7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 6 K) against a very tough Tigers offense.
Justin Verlander - Had control problems last night with 4 BBs, but he limited the damage by allowing only 3 Hs and 2 ERs in 6 IP. He hasn't posted the K rate expected of him (44 K in 63 IP), but he's pitched efficiently and has great numbers across the board.
Edgar Renteria - .332 AVG with 7 HR and 3 SB this year. He's been an outstanding value as he was likely one of the last SSs taken on draft day. He'll slow down a bit batting average-wise, but he has the talent to keep this up, posting 3 seasons of .290 or better in his career, including hitting .330 once. His career high in HRs is 16, so his HR pace will decline a bit as well.
Antonio Alfonseca - It's official, he's the Phillies closer while Gordon and Myers are on the DL. He gave up 1 hit in a scoreless inning last night for the save, but he's only attractive to those who chase saves with little regard to ERA/WHIP.
Carlos Delgado - He Del-Got-It last night, smashing 2 HRs and driving in 5. Given his poor overall numbers, he's still a quality buy-low guy who should heat up in a hurry.
John Maine - He bounced back a bit last night, giving up 2 ER in 6 IP with 8 Ks. He walked 4 more, so his outing wasn't as encouraging as one might think. He's still managing to avoid major damage while walking 34 in 61 1/3 IP, but he's not going to keep doing that. If you haven't yet, I'd still try to trade him before his numbers continue to decline.
Richie Sexson - He got a hit last night, which is noteworthy in itself given his .182 AVG so far. He's making Adam Dunn look like Ted Williams. I feel sorry for everyone who drafted him.
Alex Rios - I'm punching myself in the balls every time he hits a HR. He's now hitting .309 with 11 HRs, 35 Rs, 26 RBIs, and 4 SBs. He's making me look stupid for trading him along with Webb to get Manny and Sheets. I know Manny will get hot as well and not look back, sometime soon preferrably, right? Jerk.
Michael Cuddyer - He's providing very solid 3rd OF value, as that's what he likely is for your team. 4/5 last night with a HR, giving him a .290 AVG with 7 HRs so far this year. He's hit 3 HRs and driven in 9 over the past week, so he's getting hot and moving his numbers to those that were expected by his owners.
Edwin Encarnacion - HR last night, giving him solid numbers since returning from the minors. He should continue to hit, and is a borderline starter at 3B in mixed leagues. You could do worse than picking him up/trading garbage for him if he's available in your league. He should be a top 10 3B this year when all is said and done.
Bronson Arroyo - Alright, it's time to get worried. After getting lit up for 6 ERs in 2 IP against Washington 5 days ago, he got hit around for 6 ER in 4 IP this time, walking 4 in the process. That's 12 ER in 6 IP against the two worst offenses in the NL. I would bench him until he posts a solid outing.
Jim Edmonds - He's been on a tear the last two weeks, and is worth adding if you need OF help. He's too good of a hitter when healthy to continue the pace he was on. With the entire Cardinals lineup starting to heat up, he'll post solid numbers outside of SBs while he's healthy.
Jason Isringhausen - He's quietly posting a great season again as the Cardinals' closer. 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 14 Ks in 19 IP while saving 13.
Manny Ramirez - Slowly heating up. He's raised his average 27 points in the last 6 days to .272. The power should soon follow as he's only hit 7 HRs so far this year. Last chance to get him at a discount.
Aaron Cook - A CG, 1 ER performance last night. 27 Ks in 72 1/3 IP along with un-impressive ratios, and you'll realize this was just a great performance by an average pitcher. Don't pick him up.
Brandon Webb - Well, it looks like he just needed a non-Colorado matchup to get him back on his game. 7 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, and 8 K. Granted the Houston offense is rather weak, but this was a nice sign to see after 2 straight 5 R performances. Expect him to continue to improve, especially if he keeps showing better control.
Jose Valverde - Another great bullpen steal on draft day. 2.53 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 22 Ks in 21 1/3 IP while saving 18 games. He's always had the talent to do this, but he's finally showing the consistency necessary to keep this up all year long.
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee's prized hitting prospect, and arguably the best hitting prospect in the minors after Billy Butler and Hunter Pence graduated, has been promoted. 3/4 with a HR and a SB in his 2nd game. He's still on waivers in Yahoo's league, and he's worth a claim for all teams in need of a 3B or UTIL help.
Justin Germano - He's had an amazing start to his career, posting a 1.08 ERA and 0.76 WHIP, but with 9 Ks in 25 IP, it's hard to see him keeping this up. Pitching half his games in SD will help him maintain some semblance of success, but I figure things will go south for him eventually. It's hard to recommend him in mixed leagues.
Trevor Hoffman - Returned to the closer's role last night after a save opportunity presented itself with Brocail walking 2/3 hitters he faced. His sore arm is obviously not a long-term concern, but he'll continue to need days off more than most closers. Like I said before, all Hoffman owners need to own Linebrink to guard against a further injury, and to make sure they claim all saves generated by the Padres bullpen.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday Wrapup: Sizemore = Large, Bay's Power, And Pinella/Closer Rant
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Jason Bergmann To The DL
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.
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.
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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