Fantasy Baseball News 2008

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Sell High for the Second Half
With the second half getting underway today, it's a good time to look at my favorite "buy-low" and "sell-high" candidates for the remainder of the season. Yesterday in this space my buy-low picks were discussed and the response was predictably very pleasant, because no one objects when you write that a player is better than he's shown thus far. Of course, the flip side is that today's column focuses on my sell-high candidates and the response to this sort of thing tends to be ugly.

It's a natural companion piece to the buy-low list and focuses on the same general principles, just in reverse. Basically, the goal here is to identify players who a) saw their value rise during a good first half, and b) figure to have difficulty maintaining that performance in the second half. Simple enough, right? Except when you write that a player is worse than he's shown thus far, the objections come flying in.

Opining yesterday that Justin Verlander was likely to improve upon his disappointing 7-9 record and 4.15 ERA got absolutely no one upset. However, opining today that Justin Duchscherer is unlikely to keep his ERA under 2.00 in the second half will inevitably lead to angry e-mails. It's like commenting on a buddy's girlfriend after meeting her for the first time. No one minds if you say that she's prettier than you expected, but saying that she's uglier probably gets you punched.

Milton Bradley (OF, Rangers) ? Bradley might have a better chance of keeping his OPS above 1.000 than you'd imagine, because he's hitting .312/.424/.582 with 32 homers and 94 RBIs in 141 games dating back to last year. However, his lengthy injury history is still more than enough reason to sell high. Bradley has already missed 16 of the Rangers' first 96 games and hasn't played more than 100 games in a season since 2004. If decline doesn't get him, injuries will.

Justin Duchscherer (SP, A's) ? It makes sense to sell high on anyone with a 1.82 ERA at the All-Star break, but it's especially true in Duchscherer's case. He's had 80 percent of his balls in play turned into outs by the A's defense and has stranded 80 percent of his runners on base, but neither of those rates are sustainable long term. Thanks to years in the bullpen and injuries he's also already thrown more innings than in any season since 2003. He's good, but start shopping.

Brian Fuentes (RP, Rockies) ? Fuentes has done a nice job since reclaiming ninth-inning duties from Manny Corpas in mid-April, converting 14-of-16 save chances with a 3.67 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 27 innings. He's repeatedly proven himself to be a capable closer despite calling Coors Field home for the past seven seasons, but sounds likely to be traded before the July 31 deadline and will almost surely be limited to a setup role wherever he lands.

Armando Galarraga (SP, Tigers) ? With the veterans in the Tigers' rotation either disappointing or getting hurt in the first half, Galarraga provided a major bright spot by going 7-3 with a 3.27 ERA. For most rookies that'd be a sign of great things to come, but Galarraga is already 26 years old and has gotten by with lots of smoke and mirrors. His strikeout rate is mediocre, his control is sub par, and he's not a ground-ball pitcher, so don't expect a sub-.400 ERA for much longer.

Matt Holliday (OF, Rockies) ? Holliday makes this list solely due to rumors that the Rockies are looking to trade him, because moving away from Coors Field would crush his fantasy value. He finished second in the MVP voting last year and is widely considered one of the NL's top hitters because of gaudy raw numbers, but Holliday has hit just .277-18-73 per 600 plate appearances on the road during his career, compared to .364-34-124 per 600 plate appearances at home.

Todd Jones (RP, Tigers) ? How long can the Tigers stick with a closer who struggles to keep his ERA below 5.00 and barely totals more strikeouts than walks? So far it's been three seasons, but Jones may finally be in danger of losing ninth-inning duties now that Joel Zumaya is back from the disabled list and the Tigers are fighting just to remain in contention. He's beaten the odds in the past, but with just 13 strikeouts in 36.1 innings Jones' tightrope-walking days are numbered.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (SP, Red Sox) ? Matsuzaka is having an odd sophomore year. His strikeouts are down 15 percent and his walks are up 60 percent, yet he's sliced nearly two runs off his ERA while going 10-1. A huge improvement keeping the ball in the ballpark is the driving force, but it's largely due to luck. He remains an extreme fly-ball pitcher, but after giving up a homer on 12 percent of his fly balls last year that number has dropped to six percent. It won't stay that way.

David Murphy (OF, Rangers) ? If not for Josh Hamilton's amazing first half Murphy coming out of nowhere to rank sixth in the league with 60 RBIs would be a bigger story, but unfortunately he's not likely to keep it going. Murphy has 13 homers in 384 plate appearances after averaging just seven homers per 384 plate appearances in the minors, and has never hit more than 14 homers in a season previously. Cash him in now before the power dries up.

Xavier Nady (OF, Pirates) ? Nady had a fantastic first half, hitting .321 with a .902 OPS, but his track record suggests a looming trip back down to earth. A 29-year-old who came into this season with a .272 batting average and .768 OPS in 1,800 career plate appearances, he's never topped 20 homers or 75 RBIs. Toss in a .351 batting average on balls in play that's 40 points better than his career mark coming into the season and it's tough to see Nady avoiding a decline.

Scott Olsen (SP, Marlins) ? On the surface Olsen has bounced back from a disappointing 2007 season by posting a career-best 3.77 ERA, but there's little in his performance to suggest that it's sustainable. Once a hard-thrower who racked up strikeouts, this year he's averaging under five strikeouts per nine innings and has lost three miles per hour on his fastball. Olsen has benefited from strong defense and good luck, but with a 64-to-43 strikeout-to-walk ratio it'll be short-lived.

Joe Saunders (SP, Angels) ? Saunders and Cliff Lee are tied for the AL lead with 12 wins, but unlike Lee his great first half was due more to good fortunate than legit improvement. Saunders came into this season with a 4.71 ERA in 187 big-league innings after posting a 3.81 ERA in 276 innings at Triple-A. That makes his current 3.07 mark stick out like a sore thumb, and just 63 strikeouts in 120 innings suggests that he's still the same mediocre pitcher, just with better luck.

C.J. Wilson (RP, Rangers) ? Wilson has converted 34-of-38 save chances since taking over as the Rangers' closer midway through last year, but he's sporting an ugly 5.01 ERA and manager Ron Washington has repeatedly dropped hints that his grip on ninth-inning duties isn't overly secure. Wilson has had several ugly outings in non-save situations and with longtime closer Eddie Guardado pitching well in a setup role he may be a couple blown leads from a demotion.

Dishonorable Mentions: Gavin Floyd (SP, White Sox); Jerry Hairston Jr. (SS, Reds); Aubrey Huff (1B, Orioles); Kyle Kendrick (SP, Phillies); Kyle Lohse (SP, Cardinals); Ryan Ludwick (OF, Cardinals); Jamie Moyer (SP, Philles); Miguel Olivo (C, Royals); Vicente Padilla (SP, Rangers); Nick Punto (SS, Twins); Greg Smith (SP, A's)

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

A's Deal Blanton to Phillies
General manager Billy Beane and the A's continued to part with veterans Thursday, following up the Rich Harden trade by dealing Joe Blanton to the Phillies for a trio of prospects. Oakland is just 4.5 games out of a playoff spot, but Beane has never been shy about rebuilding on the fly and got a surprisingly good package of players in exchange for Blanton. His return on the Harden deal was less impressive, but clearly the A's felt dealing him before injuries could strike made sense.

Blanton landed on the "honorable mention" list in my column earlier this week discussing potential buy-low targets for the second half, but that was assuming he'd remain in Oakland. While moving to the weaker league is certainly a positive for any pitcher, over the years Blanton has benefited tremendously from the A's pitcher-friendly home ballpark. He's posted a 3.79 ERA in 408 innings at home, compared to a 4.78 mark in 352 innings on the road.

Along with saying goodbye to the spacious foul territory and forgiving dimensions in Oakland, Blanton heads to one of baseball's most hitter-friendly, power-boosting ballparks in Philadelphia. He's better than his 5-12 record this season has shown, but may have a tough time maintaining a 4.25 career ERA with the Phillies. On the other hand, he goes from receiving horrible run support from one of the AL's worst offenses to a lineup that has the second-most runs in the NL.

Trading away a solid 27-year-old starter who was under the team's control for two more seasons will draw plenty of criticism, but unlike parting with Harden giving up Blanton has little chance of coming back to haunt the A's. They've stockpiled enough young pitching depth to be confident about replacing Blanton's 4.00-something ERA and picked up an excellent second-base prospect in former first-round pick Adrian Cardenas.

At just 20 years old he's a long way from the majors, but Cardenas is hitting .309/.374/.444 while going a perfect 16-for-16 on steal attempts in 67 games at high Single-A. He doesn't project as a big-time power source, but should be able to smack 10-15 homers per season and sports a pretty .303 batting average through 1,032 pro plate appearances. Along with Cardenas, the A's also get 23-year-old southpaw Josh Outman and 22-year-old outfielder Matthew Spencer.

Spencer has struggled at Single-A after being a third-round pick in 2007, but Outman could have some fantasy relevance fairly soon. He has a 3.20 ERA and 66-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 70 innings split between starting and relieving at Double-A, shifting to the bullpen after beginning the season in the rotation. Outman's shaky control may lead to career spent relieving, but the A's will give him a chance to continue starting and he has the stuff to succeed if he can throw strikes.

Along with the immediate impact, the Blanton trade also clears the path for two other interesting decisions. One is that the Phillies may now be tempted to bring Brett Myers back from the minors as a reliever, which while perhaps ultimately his best role would crush his already sagging fantasy value by making him a setup man for closer Brad Lidge. Meanwhile, by dealing both Harden and Blanton the A's seemingly could turn their attention to smartly cashing in Justin Duchscherer.

While Blanton heads for an increased winning percentage and ERA, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* David Ortiz homered in his first minor-league rehab game Thursday at Triple-A, providing some optimism that his injured wrist has benefited from six weeks on the sidelines. Ortiz is expected to play seven rehab games before coming off the disabled list on July 25, although that return date certainly isn't set in stone either way. Fittingly, the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Yankees at Fenwark Park on July 25.

* Released last week by the Mariners, Richie Sexson has reportedly latched on with the Yankees, who'll likely give him a chance to platoon with Jason Giambi at first base. Sexson may be done as a quality regular, but still has enough juice left in his bat to be effective if spotted against left-handers. Giambi has posted an OPS around .900 versus both righties and lefties this season, but was about 15 percent less effective against southpaws over the previous three years.

* Meanwhile, having perhaps realized that giving Sexson's playing time to Jose Vidro makes zero sense, the Mariners are expected to call up prospect Bryan LaHair from Triple-A. At 25 years old he's far from a top-notch prospect, but LaHair has earned a chance by hitting .282/.351/.459 with 34 homers and 178 RBIs in 277 games at Triple-A. He projects as a platoon player rather than a full-time starter, but should put up decent numbers against right-handers if given the opportunity.

AL Quick Hits: Marcus Thames continued his hot hitting with another homer Thursday, giving him 18 long balls in just 208 plate appearances overall and 16 homers in his last 41 games ? After unexpectedly pitching in the All-Star game, Scott Kazmir's next scheduled start has been pushed back from Saturday to either Sunday or Monday ? Asdrubal Cabrera is set to rejoin the Indians for Friday's game, reclaiming the starting job at second base after batting .326/.375/.475 in 34 games following a demotion to Triple-A ? Carlos Guillen has left the Tigers to be with his wife following complications from child birth, with Brandon Inge starting at third base Thursday ? Troy Percival (hamstring) threw to live hitters Thursday and could come off the disabled list as soon as this weekend, with an immediate return to ninth-inning duties expected ? Garrett Olson struggled Thursday for the third straight start, allowing five runs in six innings ? Gary Sheffield accounted for some of the damage against Olson by homering for the first time since June 26, snapping an 8-for-49 (.163) slump during that 13-game span.

NL Quick Hits: Taking a big step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Chris Carpenter is scheduled to make his first minor-league rehab start Saturday at Double-A ? David Wright smacked a game-tying homer in the ninth inning and drove in four runs Thursday as the Mets moved into a first-place tie with their 10th straight victory ? Francisco Cordero blew his fifth save Thursday, coughing up four runs on six hits while recording one out ? Upset at being left off the All-Star team, Kyle Lohse improved to 12-2 with seven innings of two-run ball Thursday ? Jake Peavy tied a career-high by serving up four homers in Thursday's loss, although thanks to zero runners being on base for the blasts he still managed to turn in a decent outing ? Troy Glaus went deep twice Thursday and has raised his OPS by 75 points in the past four games ? Adam LaRoche (thumb) returned to the lineup Thursday with two hits and is now batting .415 with an .854 slugging percentage this month ? Andrew Miller is headed to the disabled list with knee tendinitis, but the Marlins are reportedly hopeful that he can return when eligible in two weeks. www.newyorkmets.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Tricks of the trade
Just like in the majors, the trading deadline in many fantasy leagues is fast approaching. And arguably the top two starting pitchers on the market have already been dealt.

Those in keeper leagues will instantly recognize the CC Sabathia-Matt LaPorta trade between the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers as the kind that's made every year. One team is looking for that one player to put it over the top, and the other is looking to rebuild for next season.

Similarly, the Chicago Cubs gave up a 22-year-old rookie pitcher in Sean Gallagher, a career .292 hitter in Matt Murton and two others to add a potential ace in Rich Harden.

No doubt, those major league general managers are ascribing to the theory that shrewd fantasy baseball owners realized long ago.

Lesson No. 1: The sooner a deal is made, the better.

The Brewers and Cubs decided they were playing for this season and needed front-line starters for the stretch run. So they made sure to get ones who could contribute for almost three full months.

The same theory can be applied to fantasy baseball. Address your team's weaknesses sooner rather than later and you'll reap the maximum benefit.

Every year there comes a point when a clear dividing line is drawn in the standings. There are teams that are strong enough to win a championship, and there are teams that are clearly inferior. The sooner those owners recognize which description fits them, the better they can position themselves for success.

For example, in one of my NL-only keeper leagues, one owner traded high-priced stars Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley just five weeks into the season. The move was ridiculed at the time, but the package the owner received in return ? pitcher Chad Billingsley, first baseman Joey Votto and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki? was a major coup, especially at those players' fantasy salaries.

Now as the league's trade deadline draws near, the number of contending teams has shrunk, and the number of reasonably priced players on the market has all but dried up. Also, the deals that other out-of-the-running teams have been able to make since then have netted far less.

Conversely, the team that got Rollins and Utley has enjoyed their production since mid-May and is in position to make the playoffs.

Lesson No. 2: Don't count on using the deadline to your advantage.

Procrastination is one of the most common human traits. We wait until the last minute for so many things. Whether it's filing taxes, writing term papers or cleaning out cat boxes, waiting until the last minute somehow gives us a feeling that whatever discomfort comes with these activities will be lessened if we put it off.

Many fantasy owners believe waiting until the last minute to make a trade will force the other side to cave in to their terms. Perhaps that happens occasionally, but more often than not it results in both sides getting less than they wanted or in no deal at all.

If the other owner promises to "think about" your offer without proposing something else, your chances of getting something done aren't very good.

In the Harden trade, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he and Oakland A's GM Billy Beane kept in constant contact, batting names of players back and forth. It took considerable time to hammer out something that worked for both sides, but in the end, both teams were happy with the results.

The front-running Cubs had Harden as their prime target, and the A's needed a young pitcher who could fill his spot in the rotation. The A's determined they wanted Gallagher, whom the Cubs were reluctant to give up because of his ability to move easily between the rotation and the bullpen. The A's offered Chad Gaudin, whom they didn't value as highly, but someone who could fill that role for the Cubs.

Which brings us to ?

Lesson No. 3: If you aren't looking at the deal from the other team's perspective, you're not likely to get a deal done.

This is where many novices run into problems. They want quality players but aren't willing to give anything up. If you can give the other owner a genuine reason to make the deal, you're on the right track.

Instead of scouring other teams' rosters for the players who can help you the most, check them for obvious weaknesses. Those in Roto leagues have a handy gauge: the point totals in each category. If one team is near the bottom in stolen bases for example, see if you can address that need with a player of your own.

Then, as the Cubs and A's did, work to address both teams' needs. Add another player or two on both sides to make the deal more equitable. If you can develop this kind of give-and-take relationship with just a few of the other owners in your league, you'll make more than your share of successful trades.

If that approach doesn't work ?

Lesson No. 4: Know when to say no.

In almost every fantasy league there are at least one or two Billy Beanes who enjoy trading and who are comfortable talking to anyone. However, there's usually also an owner everyone tries avoid in trade talks. It's the person who has a hard time making a final decision, one who will waffle when a deal is proposed, preferring to analyze the trade from a thousand different angles.

If you've gone back and forth and can't seem to get an agreement, it's probably best not to waste any more time. Remember, one of the oldest clich?s in baseball is that sometimes the best trades are the ones that are never made.

Lesson No. 5: Fantasy trades rarely should be overturned.

One of the most frequent questions I get in the fantasy mailbag each week has to do with trades that are deemed "unfair." Many times, the writers feel deals should be disallowed because they give one team a clear path to winning the league championship.

First of all, even though a team adds someone like Sabathia or Harden for a handful of prospects or draft picks, that team isn't guaranteed victory.

Secondly, just because a trade seems lopsided doesn't mean it will turn out that way.

Some of the most celebrated trades in major league history appeared to be heavily in favor of one team, only to turn the other way several years later. The Detroit Tigers acquired Doyle Alexander in mid-August of 1987 for a minor league pitching prospect, then Alexander went 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA and helped the Tigers win the American League East title.

It was a great move, except that Alexander retired two years later. The prospect, of course, was 20-year-old John Smoltz, who spent the next 20 years helping lead the Braves to 14 playoff appearances.

There are other examples: Pitcher Randy Johnson from the Seattle Mariners to the Houston Astros in 1998 for pitchers Freddy Garcia and John Halama and infielder Carlos Guillen; and pitcher Bartolo Colon to the Montreal Expos in 2002 in a deal that netted Cleveland infielder Brandon Phillips, pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Grady Sizemore.

Fantasy baseball works the same way. Players can get hurt or underperform. Prospects can blossom. As long as both sides can legitimately claim they're getting something out of the deal ? whether it's something for this season or the promise of a future star ? the trades should go through.

The duty of a commissioner isn't to prevent trades that are "unfair" or "lopsided," it's to make sure there's no collusion and that all deals are made in good faith.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Johnny B. Good (and big)
There's no time for joking around when one has the opportunity to add a 290-pound baseball player to their fantasy squad, so let's get down to business.

[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]

1. Jonathan Broxton ? RP ? LAD - Broxton is owned in almost every league out there, so I'll keep this short: grab him if you can. Takashi Saito might need surgery on his arm and there's a very good chance he'll be out the rest of the season, leaving Broxton with the closing job.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

2. Chris Iannetta ? C- COL - Chris Iannetta has a firm hold on the catching job in Colorado, and is currently hitting .281 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 171 at-bats. In most standard leagues, Iannetta has been a top-10 catcher this season, yet he's owned in just one out of every ten leagues. His .281/.380/.544 line suggests that should change.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

3. Joe Blanton ? SP ? PHI - With Joe Blanton now in the National League, NL-only leaguers should grab him, but don't expect him to turn your fantasy squad around. Opponents were hitting .284 off him, despite the fact that he threw 89 1/3 of his 127 innings at the very pitcher-friendly ballpark in Oakland. His 62/35 K/BB ratio didn't help matters. Blanton now finds himself in the National League where he'll get to face pitchers, and that should help counteract the shift to a slightly more hitter-friendly ballpark. He'll also get more run support, which should boost his record, but Blanton will need to reestablish his dominance from last season to truly be a difference maker in the second half.
Recommendation: Should be grabbed in NL-only leagues.

4. Chris Carpenter ? SP ? STL - Carpenter, who hasn't pitched since the first game of last season, is going to make a rehab start for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday. It's very possible he'll suffer a setback and his return will be delayed, but there's also a good chance he could return to St. Louis during the second week of August and post a sub 3.50 ERA. Obviously that would be the best case scenario, but Carpenter's progress in the minor leagues should definitely be monitored, and owners with bench space should consider stashing him in the meantime.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

5. Jaime Garcia ? SP ? STL - Garcia will make his first major league start on Sunday against the Padres. He's pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Cards, and thrived at Double-A this season, but he's gone 3-2 with a 4.59 ERA at Triple-A so far this year. Part of the problem is his 57/25 K/BB ratio which demonstrates some of his inconsistent control. When Garcia is off, he's really off, which should make him somewhat unpredictable this season. As the 22-year-old develops, though, he should become a solid middle of the rotation-type pitcher.
Recommendation: Monitor in NL-only leagues.

6. Freddy Garcia ? SP ? FA - Garcia hasn't latched onto a team yet, but I'm sticking him in the NL because that's where he pitched last. Unfortunately, he did so rather ineffectively, posting a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts for the Phillies last season. He was clearly bothered by his shoulder, and underwent surgery on his labrum last August. Garcia still hasn't faced live hitters, but he and his agent say they're looking for a one-year deal which suggests that he thinks he will prove he's fully recovered this season and will get a nice contract this winter. Garcia is hoping to throw for scouts by the end of the month, which is when we should have a better idea where his stuff stands. For now, just monitor him.
Recommendation: Should be monitored in mixed leagues

7. Fernando Tatis ? OF ? NYM - Fernando Tatis is hitting .432 with four homers in 37 July at-bats. Let me state immediately that he will definitely not continue at this pace. Tatis had been out of the majors for two years prior to this season and he hasn't finished with an average over .255 since 2001 with the Expos. That being said, Tatis has clearly been swinging the bat well, and is currently the Mets' best option. Grab him while he's hot, but do NOT expect this to last. www.newyorkmets.ws
Recommendation: Worth short-term consideration in NL-only leagues.
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[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]

1. Francisco Liriano ? SP ? MIN - If Liriano hasn't been grabbed in your league, please just do it. He was rushed back after Tommy John surgery, but he's 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his last nine starts at Triple-A, with a fastball touching 97 mph. Of all the pitchers on the waiver wire, he has the best chance at making a significant contribution in the second half.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

2. Hank Blalock ? 1B/3B ? TEX - Blalock is finally returning from a myriad of injuries, and the Rangers will stick him back at third base (good news for Chris Davis, who will stick in the lineup). Blalock had a strong finish to last year ? he had a 900 OPS in his last 58 games ? and before getting injured this year he was hitting .299/.365/.460 with three homers in 87 at-bats. That being said, it would seem that wrist surgery could zap him of his power. Still, he should hit for a fine average and any dingers would just be gravy.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

3. Tim Wakefield ? SP ? BOS - Wakefield is currently sporting a 3.60 ERA, but that's largely due to his lucky .237 BABIP, which is about half a point better than his career average. Wakefield hasn't finished with an ERA under four since 2002. That being said, Wakefield has been pitching effectively deeper in games this season. Last year he sporting a .287 BAA in the fourth through sixth innings, and this year it's at just .209. He only faced 69 batters in the seventh through ninth innings last season, and posted a .319 BAA. This year, he's already faced 54 batters in the seventh through ninth and he's posted a solid .185 BAA. Perhaps his success is a result of better offseason conditioning. Regardless, he can be used until his numbers start to deteriorate.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

4. Frank Thomas ? 1B ? OAK - Thomas is expected to return by the end of the month, and he's hitting .315 with four homers and 16 RBI in 91 at-bats for the Athletics. The power showed up just before he was placed on the disabled list, so teams in need of power that won't kill their batting average should keep Big Frank in mind.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

5. Asdrubal Cabrera ? 2B ? CLE - Cabrera hit .283/.354/.421 in 159 at-bats with the Indians last season, but the 22-year-old struggled in the majors this year, hitting .184/.282/.247. He was sent down in early June, and hit .326/.375/.475 in the minor leagues. He's being brought into a low-pressure situation with the Indians safely out of contention, and should be given every opportunity to establish himself at second base with Jamey Carroll coming back to earth.
Recommendation: Should be grabbed in AL-only leagues.

6. Gio Gonzalez ? SP ? OAK - The Athletics haven't decided who they'll promote to take Joe Blanton's spot in the rotation, but assistant GM David Forst says that Gio Gonzalez has "definitely pitched well enough to put himself in the coversation." Kirk Saarloos and Lenny DiNardo are other options, but Gonzalez is the most intriguing for fantasy purposes. In his last ten starts he's 6-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 73 strikeouts in just 61 1/3 innings. He's walking almost four batters per game over that span, which takes off some of the luster, but he's definitely someone to watch if he gets the call.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

7. Bryan LaHair ? 1B ?SEA - Bryan LaHair was hitting .263 in the minor leagues, and that's largely a result of his .183 average against left-handed pitchers. Against righties he hit .287/.392/.529 with 11 of his 12 homers. That split suggests he's more of a platoon player, but the Mariners say they want to see LaHair's playing time gradually increase as the season wears on.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

8. Alan Embree ? RP ? OAK - With Oakland hemorrhaging pitchers to the National league, the speculation that Huston Street will be traded has started up once again. It's unknown just who would supplant him, but with Joey Devine and Keith Foulke injured, the two immediate candidates seem to be Santiago Casilla and Alan Embree. Casilla has been giving up a bunch of runs since returning from the disabled list, so for now I'll peg Embree as the favorite. Since we're talking about Oakland, this could change very easily.
Recommendation: Monitor situation in mixed leagues.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

There's a Moose on the Loose
The Moose is loose in New York, Fukudome flails in Chicago and more ramblings from Schultz in this week's Week That Was.

Mike Mussina: Mike Mussina continued his magical comeback season by picking up his 12th win and helping the Yankees get off to a good start in the second half. The Moose went six, allowing just one run and striking out six. Can this continue throughout the second half? Answer ? Yes (and I would say that even if I didn't fear the wrath of the world's biggest Moose fan who is also a loyal reader). The truth is that the Yankee hurler has adapted his game to fit his stuff. Despite throwing in the high 80's at best, Mussina is moving the ball around, keeping hitters off balance and even pitching inside more than he has in the last few years. Buy.

Kosuke Fukudome: Despite getting a silly, soppy nod to play in the allstar game, Kosuke Fukudome continues to struggle. The Cub outfielder is well below the Mendoza line this month and is hitting only .276 for the year. This one is easy ? SELL. First, Fukudome is not nearly as good as his jersey sales indicate. Second, Japanese players, who are used to much shorter seasons, often wilt in the dog days of August. Third, Japanese players rarely hit for power in their first year in MLB. Sell, Sell Sell.

Michael Bourn: According to reports, the Astros have given Michael Bourn a seat on the pine. This year, Bourn has personified the phrase "you cannot steal first base." While hitting only .218, Bourn has managed to tally 32 swipes. What to do if you are a Bourn owner? Two things: First, do not panic. The Astros will get tired of Erstad very quickly. Second, add a top average hitter to add balance. If you get a .318 hitter, the two are at .268 and you have the steals to boot.

Luke Scott: Luke Scott went yard twice last night in the Orioles win over Detroit. For the year, Scott has belted 16 dingers and driven in 37. Hitting in Camden throughout the summer will only help to prop up already good power numbers. Scott is a quality outfielder who often flies under the radar. If you own him, hold. If not, call up the Luke owner in your league, rag on his .260 average and see if you can get a bargain. He was a .290 type hitter in the minors and should improve that .260 average this year.

A.J. Burnett: A.J. Burnett tossed another gem yesterday, giving up just 2 earned runs in seven innings while striking out 6. Burnett is one of the most frustrating players to own. He has Cy Young caliber stuff but cannot seem to bring his A game with any degree of consistency. Given that he can opt out of his contract after this year, he is a good candidate to be dealt in the next couple of weeks. If he ends up back in the NL, he makes a good place to spend all of your FAAB. If he stays in the AL, only teams that need to take a big risk to move up should gamble on the inconsistent and frustrating A.J.

Justin Upton: As expected, Arizona put Justin Upton on the shelf due to his oblique injury. Upton, who has a world of talent, has struggled this year. Justin is hitting just .242 and has already struck out almost 100 times. In keeper leagues, he is a must have. In non-keeper leagues, Upton owners should wait until he comes back and deal him at the first hot streak. The odds of the 20 year old coming back from the oblique injury and posting a good average the rest of the way are very long indeed.

Joe Blanton: The Phillies continued the NL trend of importing pitchers from the AL, adding Joe Blanton to their rotation. Yes, he is going from the AL to the NL and will not have to face the DH. However, he is also going from a pitchers' park to a bandbox in Philly. Given that he has been just bad this year with a 4.96 ERA, you are really just hoping against hope if you bet your fantasy fortunes on Blanton. If you have a ton of FAAB left, don't blow it on Joe. Wait to see who else arrives before July 31.

Leo Nunez: Leo Nunez should come off the DL this week. Those of you in AL only leagues should take notice. First, Nunez was doing the job before he got hurt, posting a sub 2.00 ERA. Second, he is a favorite of my friend and baseball genius Jason Grey and that is good enough reason to pick up any player. Third, reports indicate he has been throwing in the mid 90s. BUY.

Hank Blalock: Hank Blalock returned from the DL and took over at the hot corner for the Rangers. Blalock, a prime candidate to be dealt in the next two weeks, has become a low power, high average hitter ever since returning to the bigs late last year (.292 this year, .293 in limited time last year). If you own Blalock, hold, but be mindful that he will not likely hit for power and could very well find himself in a ballpark less suited to offense.

Richie Sexson: In a basically risk free move, the Yankees signed Richie Sexson. From a fantasy perspective, this has little meaning. Sexson should not play enough to matter. In fact, the biggest effect is that Wilson Betemit loses whatever value he had. From a real baseball perspective, using Sexson against LHP and as a fielding sub makes a lot of sense. Yankee fans ? be happy. Roto players, this is meaningless. Next.

And finally, more musings from the Carlton the Doorman of fantasy sports -- Schultz Says: "There has always been a hackneyed axiom that whenever a pitcher changes leagues, his value skyrockets. the best examples of this include Rick Sutcliffe's transformation after being traded from the Indians to the Cubs and pretty much Kevin Brown's entire career. The cliche still kicks around these days despite the fact that the main reason for its validity - that hitters are seeing the pitcher for the first time - no longer remains quite an issue. Now that there's interleague play, pitchers switching leagues aren't as much of a mystery as they may have been in the past. However, cliches are cliches because at the core there is an eternal truth to them and the one we are discussing is no different. Essentially, this paragraph relates more to Joe Blanton then it does to C.C. Sabathia and Rich Harden. The latter two were pretty damn good before being traded and even though their value increases, it wasn't as if they were toiling in anonymity. On the other hand, Blanton, who I have always thought had potential, may have lucked into becoming a profitable roto-commodity.

Blanton's uptick is likely to come at the expense of Mr. Minor League Brett Myers. His troubles have been ballyhooed and bellyached about for weeks and I have nothing new to add . . . except this. Perhaps we should start a new cliche: don't bank on pitchers the season after they get arrested for beating their wife. In the tmz age that we're now living in, this one should be pretty easy to keep track of.

In putting together the All-Schultz teams for last week, I overlooked someone for the all-patience team: Justin Upton. Even before Glenn mentioned him at the end of the column, I realized that he should have been on that list instead of a tired Rocco Baldelli joke. But then again, who doesn't like a good Rocco Baldelli joke. Did you hear the one where a priest, rabbi and Rocco Baldelli walk into a bar . . . Oh, you have, I'll stop here then. I know they aren't as funny as Kei Igawa jokes"

Response: That is right ? another week without Igawa is a good week! Seriously, as noted above, I disagree with Schultz about Blanton. I say avoid him. We shall see.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Brewers Add Durham
No doubt thrilled with the early results from the CC Sabathia trade, the Brewers added another veteran Sunday by acquiring Ray Durham from the Giants for a pair of marginal prospects. At 36 years old Durham has lost several steps defensively, but he's bounced back from a career-worst season to hit .293/.385/.414 in 87 games this year. Aside from a little action at designated hitter Durham's 14-year career includes a grand total of one inning played away from second base.

In other words, unless the Brewers brought in Durham to pinch-hit Rickie Weeks' job is in serious jeopardy. Weeks appeared to have turned the corner last year when he hit .273/.442/.553 with 11 homers, 15 steals, and 44 runs in 43 games after returning from a midseason demotion to Triple-A, but has hit just .218/.322/.367 in 79 games this year. Manager Ned Yost said Sunday that Weeks remains the starter, but added that he'll try to play Durham "a couple of days a week."

With Durham out of the picture the Giants may give Eugenio Velez a chance to replace him. He's struggled in the majors thus far, hitting just .221/.276/.359 in 156 plate appearances, but is a .295/.342/.450 hitter in 446 minor-league games, including .310/.372/.509 in 42 games at Triple-A this season. Velez doesn't project as an impact hitter, but as a legitimate 50-steal threat with world-class speed he'll merely need to be decent offensively to receive regular at-bats.

While the clock ticks on Weeks' days as a starter and perhaps even his time in Milwaukee, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* Cliff Lee came out of nowhere to begin the season 6-0 with a 0.67 ERA, but when he had a brief rough patch from mid-May through early June many people incorrectly assumed that he was crashing back down to earth without closely examining his performance. Despite allowing 18 runs over a four-start stretch Lee's secondary stats remained strong and suggested that his great early numbers were due to legitimate improvement (along with plenty of good fortune, of course).

Lee scattered 11 hits in Sunday's complete-game victory over the punchless Mariners and is 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 45-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 57 innings spread over his last eight starts. With Sunday's outing he improved to 13-2 with a 2.29 ERA overall, and it's a mistake to assume that he's due to collapse simply because of his mediocre track record prior to this year. Lee is missing more bats, throwing more strikes, and inducing more ground balls then ever before.

* Manny Parra got off to a rough start after grabbing a rotation spot coming out of spring training, but has quietly turned things around in a big way while Sabathia and Sheets get all the attention in Milwaukee. Parra held the Giants to two runs over 7.2 innings Sunday for his ninth win of the season. Since beginning the year with a 5.79 ERA through seven starts, Parra has gone 8-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 75 innings spread over a dozen starts. Not a bad No. 3 starter.

* David Ortiz began his minor-league rehab assignment by homering in each of his first three games at Triple-A, including a 420-foot bomb Saturday. Ortiz took Sunday off and is expected to come off the disabled list Friday, although a couple more games with a homer could convince the Red Sox to move up his timetable a bit. Ortiz has already missed 42 games since injuring his wrist on May 31, but was on fire prior to the injury and appears to have quickly found his swing.

* Justin Verlander turned in yet another impressive start Sunday, holding the Orioles to one run while coming up one out short of a complete game. Once 1-7 with a 6.05 ERA, Verlander has gone 7-2 with a 2.53 ERA in a dozen starts since then while allowing more than three runs just once during that stretch. Now that his ERA is below 4.00 for the first since last season he ceases being a great buy-low candidate, but regular readers of this column have had plenty of warning.

* Josh Johnson has come back strong from Tommy John surgery, turning in his second straight solid outing Sunday by holding the high-scoring Phillies to two runs over 6.2 innings. He pitched well during a five-start minor-league rehab assignment and has posted a 10-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 11.2 innings with the Marlins, all while actually throwing slightly harder than he did prior to going under the knife. He's still risky, but Johnson looks like a good gamble in NL-only leagues.

* No doubt inspired by me picking him as a buy-low target for the second half in this space last week, Alex Rios homered Sunday for the first time since June 24 and just the second time since May 2. With just five homers overall he's on pace to fall about 15 long balls short of last season's career-best total, but Rios has made up for the lack of power by already setting a career-high in steals, swiping his 24th bag Sunday. He's hitting .315 since June 1 and the power is coming.

AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz (elbow) returned from the disabled list Sunday with a scoreless inning of relief, but hasn't reclaimed the closer role from Brandon Morrow yet ? Andy Pettitte held the A's to one run over eight innings Sunday, racking up a season-high nine strikeouts while winning for the sixth time in eight outings ? Kelly Shoppach went deep Sunday, giving him six homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games since Victor Martinez landed on the DL ? Vicente Padilla tossed seven shutout innings Sunday in his return from the DL, giving him a 1.29 ERA in three starts against the Twins compared to a 5.11 mark in 16 starts versus everyone else ? Thanks to Minnesota's lineup being helpless against Padilla, Scott Baker took a tough-luck loss Sunday despite holding the league's highest-scoring team to one run over eight innings ? Jermaine Dye exited Sunday's game in the fourth inning after taking a curveball off the knee ? After three appearances out of the bullpen at Triple-A, Justin Masterson rejoined the Red Sox as a reliever Sunday ? Carlos Silva left Sunday's game in the fourth inning with back stiffness, but not before allowing four runs.
www.newyorkmets.ws
NL Quick Hits: Brandon Webb tossed eight innings of one-run ball Sunday, but got stuck with a no-decision when Brandon Lyon imploded in the ninth inning ? Mark Teixeira said Saturday that he doesn't expect to be traded and then smacked a pair of homers Sunday to give him nine long balls in his last 22 games ? Jesus Flores notched five singles Sunday, raising his average from .270 to .288 ? Jaime Garcia made his first MLB start Sunday, allowing three runs in five innings against the Padres ? Zach Duke was pounded for nine runs Sunday at Coors Field and has now allowed 19 runs over his last 13.1 innings ? After missing the All-Star game with the flu, Tim Lincecum tied a season-high by allowing five runs in Sunday's loss ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] homered just three times in April, but took Lincecum deep Sunday and has 21 homers in 69 games since May 1 ? Troy Glaus had just two homers through his first 55 games, but after going deep Sunday now has 16 homers in his last 43 games ? Chris Snyder returned from the disabled list Sunday after sitting out three weeks with a fractured testicle. www.atlantabraves.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Midseason Top 150 Prospects
Up this week is the Midseason Top 150 Prospects article. With one exception (Taylor Teagarden is expected to be sent down this week), only those prospects currently in the minors and with future rookie eligibility still intact qualify for the list below. Also, I'm not including any 2008 draftees. As a result, this list is a whole lot weaker than the preseason one. Anyone not moving up is definitely moving down.

Writeups are included for the top 25. Beginning Tuesday, I'll write up five additional prospects per day on the blog.

Click here to go to the Strike Zone Blog

2008 Midseason Top 150 Prospects

1. David Price - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/26/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: 2008 #7

4-0, 1.82 ERA, 28 H, 37/7 K/BB in 34 2/3 IP (A+ Vero Beach)
4-0, 2.03 ERA, 26 H, 25/10 K/BB in 31 IP (AA Montgomery)

That Price went down with an elbow injury before throwing his first professional pitch was more than a little worrisome, but he's been brilliant since returning in late May, and as long as the Rays were being completely upfront in calling the injury a strained muscle, there's no reason to look at him as more of a health concern going forward than the typical 22-year-old pitcher. Price is on his way to showing above average command to go along with his dominant fastball-slider combination, so he could prove to be better than Scott Kazmir. The Rays might add him to their rotation next month.

2. Clayton Kershaw - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 03/19/88 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #40, mid-2007 #9, 2008 #6

2-3, 1.91 ERA, 39 H, 59/19 K/BB in 61 1/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
0-2, 4.42 ERA, 39 H, 33/24 K/BB in 38 2/3 IP (NL Los Angeles)

Kershaw spent most of 2007 in the Midwest League and walked five batters per nine innings, yet there was a lot of sentiment for giving him a rotation spot coming out of spring training. He went on to receive his first chance in late May and demonstrated that he still wasn't quite ready. Subpar command is the only thing holding him back. With a 95-mph fastball and a curve that's about as nasty as any in baseball, Kershaw has even more upside than Price. He just needs to throw more strikes. Right now, he's about where Chad Billinglsey was in 2006. Clearly, the Dodgers should put him in the pen next spring and sign Brett Tomko to become their fifth starter.

3. Colby Rasmus - OF Cardinals - DOB: 08/11/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #135, mid-2006 #47, 2007 #27, mid-2007 #11, 2008 #2

.249/.351/.401, 11 HR, 36 RBI, 69/49 K/BB, 13 SB in 313 AB (AAA Memphis)

The belief was that Rasmus had a shot at a starting job this spring and he actually had a big March while vying for the opening in center field, but the Cardinals sent him down anyway and a typically slow start followed. Unfortunately, it took him longer than expected to pull out of it, and after he finally did explode with a .333/.441/.535 line in June, he ended up missing the first 2 ? weeks of July with a strained groin. Rasmus doesn't lose much ground here, though. He was never a very good bet for major league success this season anyway. He still could have a future as an All-Star after erasing doubts regarding his ability to stay in center field. He should possess 30-homer ability by the time he reaches his prime seasons.

4. Matt Wieters - C Orioles - DOB: 05/21/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #16

.345/.448/.576, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 47/44 K/BB, 1 SB in 229 AB (A+ Frederick)
.361/.439/.569, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 72 AB (AA Bowie)

Drafting aggressively for once, the Orioles grabbed Wieters with the fifth overall selection last year and gave him $6 million to sign just before the Aug. 15 deadline. It could go down as the team's best investment of the decade. Wieters has been even better than anticipated offensively, though he really should have been in Double-A all along, and his defensive reputation wasn't inflated at all. While he probably won't hit for average like this in the majors, he has legitimate 20-25 homer potential and he draws walks at a very good clip. He might already be the best catcher in the organization. However, with Ramon Hernandez signed for 2009 and possessing little trade value, there's no guarantee that he'll open next season in the majors.

5. Matt LaPorta - OF Indians - DOB: 01/08/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2008 #14

.288/.402/.576, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 63/45 K/BB in 302 AB (AA Huntsville)
.375/.375/.563, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4/0 K/BB in 16 AB (AA Akron)

Baseball teams still aren't allowed to trade draft picks, but the Brewers certainly had their eyes open to the possibility of dealing LaPorta from the moment they made him the seventh overall selection last season. Price, Wieters and perhaps Rick Porcello have to be the only other 2007 first-rounders Cleveland would have looked at as a fair return for CC Sabathia, and all three of them cost much more than LaPorta in the form of a signing bonus. The Indians have left LaPorta in the outfield since picking him up, but he's likely to overtake Ryan Garko next year and establish himself as the team's long-term first baseman. He gives it his all, but he just doesn't have the range to be of much use in left or right. His bat could make him an All-Star in his best years. Besides the obvious 30- to 35-homer power, he possesses a fine eye at the plate that could lead to OBPs in the .380-.400 range.

6. Max Scherzer - RHP Diamondbacks - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #12, 2008 #31

0-0, 2.84 ERA, 16 H, 43/6 K/BB in 25 1/3 IP (AAA Tucson)
0-2, 2.90 ERA, 25 H, 33/14 K/BB in 31 IP (Arizona)

Scherzer was unbelievable in April, amassing a 1.17 ERA in four starts for Tucson. He allowed 12 hits, walked three and struck out 38 in 23 innings. A promotion to the majors followed, and Scherzer continued to impress. However, the Diamondbacks decided they didn't want to use him exclusively as a reliever, and after they sent him down, he hurt his shoulder. He's now missed a month with what the team has called fatigue, but he is expected back soon. Scherzer throws 93-95 mph as a starter and harder as a reliever. His slider is an outstanding strikeout pitch, and he's made definite progress with his change, which should guarantee that he's a starter for the long term. If there's nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder -- and the Diamondbacks don't think there is -- then he could play a big role come August and September. He's on his way to becoming a No. 2 starter.

7. Elvis Andrus - SS Rangers - DOB: 08/26/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #110, mid-2006 #96, 2007 #129, mid-2007 #109, 2008 #30

.291/.350/.346, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 62/24 K/BB, 37 SB in 309 AB (AA Frisco)

Andrus is more than merely holding his own lately. The Texas League's youngest player is hitting .327 in 119 at-bats since returning from a fractured finger last month. He's also swiped 10 bases in his last 10 games. Andrus is still figuring out exactly what he can do on a baseball field. He's on his way to becoming an above average defender at shortstop and his swing is starting to result in fewer grounders and more liners. He's never been one to be blown away by fastballs. With 12 homers in more than 1,400 professional at-bats and just 13 extra-base hits total this year, he still isn't showing any real power. However, that's perfectly acceptable at age 19. At worst, he figures to be good for 10-15 homers per year in the majors by the time he's in his mid-20s. The Rangers will have reason to move Michael Young back to second or to third in 2010.

8. Cameron Maybin - OF Marlins - DOB: 04/04/87 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #79, mid-2006 #36, 2007 #18, mid-2007 #6, 2008 #9

.265/.357/.461, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 99/43 K/BB, 17 SB in 306 AB (AA Carolina)

Maybin can go head-to-head with any prospect in the minors when it comes to tools, and it's not like he's failed to perform: he had a 932 OPS in 91 minor league games last year, and he's currently at 818 as a 21-year-old in Double-A. However, his strikeout rate is more of a concern than ever. He's at 99 this year even through he's missed the last 2 ? weeks with a sore back. Maybin offers 30-homer potential and great defense in center field. However, he may not be a top-of-the-order guy. The speed is there and he does walk quite a bit, but he's going to have a very difficult time hitting for average in the majors as often as he swings and misses. Perhaps it's something that will work itself out over time. By showing more patience with him than expected -- there appeared to be a very good chance that Maybin would be in center field on Opening Day -- the Marlins have given him his best chance of success.

9. Jason Heyward - OF Braves - DOB: 08/09/89 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #47

.324/.388/.464, 8 HR, 43 RBI, 58/38 K/BB, 15 SB in 336 AB (A- Rome)

The first of four Braves outfield prospects in the top 150, Heyward has displayed legitimate star potential since being selected 14th overall in the 2007 draft. The 18-year-old features an advanced approach at the plate, and he's only going to get stronger. It's reasonable to think he'll have 35-homer seasons in the majors. His speed will probably evaporate with time, but the Braves were already looking at him as a corner outfielder when they drafted him. He handles breaking balls quite well for someone his age, and lefty-lefty matchups have posed him no problems so far. He could start moving quickly next year.

10. Rick Porcello - RHP Tigers - DOB: 12/27/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #17

5-6, 2.97 ERA, 88 H, 53/26 K/BB in 94 IP (A+ Lakeland)

Had money not been an issue, Porcello likely would have been the second or third pick in the 2007 draft. Since it was, he slipped to the Tigers at No. 27. It took a $7.3 million bonus to land him, but the Tigers don't regret it, especially since he's their one top prospect left after the Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria deals. Porcello, though, hasn't been overpowering as a pro. Billed as a mid-90s guy coming out of high school, he's usually been in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball in the FSL. Fortunately, he does get sinking movement on the heater and he has three complimentary pitches, including a plus curveball. Because of his ability to induce grounders, he still appears to possess No. 2-starter ability.

11. Fernando Martinez - OF Mets - DOB: 10/10/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #80, 2007 #10, mid-2007 #8, 2008 #12

.462/.500/.692, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 13 AB (R GCL Mets)
.292/.333/.421, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 51/13 K/BB, 5 SB in 233 AB (AA Binghamton)

With a .328 average in 119 at-bats since the beginning of May, it seems like Martinez is starting to get a handle on Double-A pitching. He got off to another slow start in April, and 32 of his 53 strikeouts came in the first month of the season. He's made adjustments versus breaking balls since, and he's collecting a lot of singles as a result. His power stroke isn't there yet at age 19, and it's likely similar adjustment periods are in store when he's promoted to Triple-A and later the majors. However, he remains an elite prospect with All-Star upside. He should possess the power to his 30 homers per year, and he projects as an above average defender in right field.

12. Travis Snider - OF Blue Jays - DOB: 02/02/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #71, mid-2007 #43, 2008 #24

.279/.333/.557, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 22/5 K/BB, 1 SB in 61 AB (A+ Dunedin)
.263/.337/.454, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 101/32 K/BB, 1 SB in 304 AB (AA New Hampshire)

For a 20-year-old in Double-A, Snider has a nice enough line. However, his strikeout total is even more extreme than Maybin's. He's fanned 123 times in 97 games this year, and he's also walked less frequently as the year has gone on. There's still an awful lot to like about his bat. Snider generates big-time power without resorting to a particularly long swing, and he's not guilty of trying to pull everything. He doesn't offer much on defense or on the basepaths, so his bat will have to carry him, and he'll probably struggle against left-handers early on in his major league career. I had thought he might be ready to assume a lineup spot in Toronto on Opening Day 2009, but it looks like he'll need at least an additional half year in the minors next season.

13. Austin Jackson - OF Yankees - DOB: 02/01/87 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #35

.290/.368/.444, 8 HR, 55 RBI, 73/48 K/BB, 14 SB in 383 AB (AA Trenton)

Jackson never could master in the Sally League in a year and a half at the level, but in 163 games at Single-A Tampa and Trenton since his promotion last year, he's hit .312 with 41 doubles, 11 triples and 18 homers. He's also displayed a surprisingly strong walk rate this year. On defense, he has the range to play center and a very good arm. He may eventually need to move to right, but he'll probably be an upgrade over Melky Cabrera with the glove when he arrives in New York. The Yankees could deal Cabrera and let Jackson compete for the job next spring. Look at him as a 20-homer guy with the ability to hit for average.

14. Michael Bowden - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 09/09/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #97, mid-2007 #35, 2008 #65

9-4, 2.33 ERA, 72 H, 101/24 K/BB in 104 1/3 IP (AA Portland)

Bowden also got off to a great start last year, amassing a 1.37 ERA in eight starts at the extreme offensive environment at Single-A Lancaster, but he was mediocre after a subsequent promotion to Double-A. Eastern League hitters gave him no trouble this year, and he was just moved up to Triple-A last week. There was some concern that Bowden's delivery would lead to arm woes, but he's stayed healthy to date. Bowden has shown 91-95 mph velocity with more consistency this year, and his curveball is as much of a strikeout pitch as ever. He is a flyball pitcher, but since he doesn't walk a lot of batters, the homers he allows should be solo shots. He's shaping up as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

15. Mat Gamel - 3B Brewers - DOB: 07/26/85 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

.370/.429/.597, 15 HR, 81 RBI, 74/40 K/BB, 5 SB in 395 AB (AA Huntsville)

Gamel has the stick of a top-10 prospect, but with anything more than batting gloves on his hands, he scarcely resembles a major leaguer. Especially now that LaPorta is gone, the Brewers have good reason to try him in the outfield. While he's a fair enough athlete, there's simply no way he's making it at third base. Gamel's bat should be ready during the first half of next year, assuming that it isn't already. The left-handed hitter makes an awful lot of hard contact and could settle in as a 25-homer guy. He's hit .398 against lefties this year, so it doesn't appear that he'll need to be platooned. The Brewers probably won't be willing to move Corey Hart to center field to make room for him, but he could be the first player called on in the event of an injury next year.

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16. Jeremy Hellickson - RHP Rays - DOB: 04/08/87 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #68, 2008 #68

7-1, 2.00 ERA, 64 H, 83/5 K/BB in 76 2/3 IP (A+ Vero Beach)
0-3, 4.88 ERA, 35 H, 20/3 K/BB in 27 2/3 IP (AA Montgomery)

Hellickson's walk rate has gone from good to awesome, and he's emerged as a stellar prospect as a result. 13:1 strikeout-to-walk ratios in the minors aren't unprecedented, but Hellickson isn't just a strike-thrower. He's in the low-90s consistently with his fastball, and his curveball should prove to be a fine major league pitch. His changeup still does need some work. A flyball pitcher, he'll likely always be prone to the home run ball. However, he looks like a particularly good bet to become a No. 3 starter anyway.

17. Trevor Cahill - RHP Athletics - DOB: 03/01/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #137

5-4, 2.78 ERA, 52 H, 103/31 K/BB in 87 1/3 IP (A+ Stockton)
4-1, 2.67 ERA, 16 H, 23/11 K/BB in 114 1/3 IP (AA Midland)

The numbers are now impossible to ignore. Cahill, a 2006 second-round pick, is limiting minor leaguers to a .174 average, striking out three for every one he walks and getting 2 ? outs on the ground for each one through the air. He's still doing it with a fairly underwhelming fastball. He can work at 92-94 mph on some days, but he's just as often at 89-92 mph. Fortunately, he gets plenty of movement on his heater, and his curveball is an excellent secondary pitch. The package shouldn't make him a major league ace, but as well as his stuff has held up in Double-A so far, there's now reason to think he'll be a No. 2. I do worry a bit about his health, so I'm keeping him below Bowden and Hellickson.

18. Carlos Carrasco - RHP Phillies - DOB: 03/21/87 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #93, mid-2007 #29, 2008 #48

5-7, 4.02 ERA, 101 H, 95/40 K/BB in 103 IP (AA Reading)

Carrasco hasn't had the same kind of breakthrough season as some of the pitchers ahead of him, but he is making steady progress. Following a midseason promotion, he had a 49/46 K/BB ratio in 70 1/3 IP for Reading last year. However, he's back displaying nice peripherals now. One key has been that he is more comfortable working from the stretch than ever before. Carrasco throws in the low-90s and has a terrific changeup that serves to keep left-handers off balance. His curveball is a third major league pitch. He's on his way to becoming a third starter or maybe a little something more.

19. Andrew McCutchen - OF Pirates - DOB: 10/10/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #87, mid-2006 #64, 2007 #25, mid-2007 #18, 2008 #19

.282/.371/.405, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 62/47 K/BB, 25 SB in 358 AB (AAA Indianapolis)

McCutchen might look like a better prospect right now if the Pirates didn't have him skip high-A ball in 2007. He's put up perfectly adequate numbers at Double-A last year and in Triple-A this season, but he hasn't excelled at any point. His biggest strength remains his defense in center field. McCutchen has outstanding speed and a decent enough arm. Offensively, most of his production continues to come versus lefties. The right-handed hitter had a 642 OPS versus righties in Double-A last year and he's at 731 right now. He's also failed to establish himself as a premier basestealer, and he doesn't figure to add a lot of power. He makes enough solid contact that he seems practically certain to develop into a long-term regular. However, his upside is in question.

20. Neftali Feliz - RHP Rangers - DOB: 05/02/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: none

6-3, 2.52 ERA, 55 H, 106/28 K/BB in 82 IP (A- Clinton)
2-0, 2.65 ERA, 11 H, 17/6 K/BB in 17 IP (AA Frisco)

It was well known that the Rangers landed a top-notch talent when they picked up Feliz as part of the Mark Teixeira deal, but no one could have predicted that he'd come this quickly. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Dominican was still in Rookie ball when the deal was struck, and he entered this year having thrown 71 1/3 innings in two seasons in the U.S. Now he's in Double-A after being promoted earlier this month. Feliz has a .193 average against this year, and he's surrendered only two homers in 99 innings. He overpowers hitters with a 94-98 mph fastball, and both his curveball and changeup have really come along since he first debuted. I pegged his ETA as 2011 in the Rangers' preseason top 10, but it now looks like there's a real chance of him contributing next year.

21. Madison Bumgarner - LHP Giants - DOB: 08/01/89 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

9-3, 1.79 ERA, 80 H, 104/16 K/BB in 95 1/3 IP (A- Augusta)

Bumgarner is another who could be moving quickly, but the Giants have restrained themselves and kept him in the Sally League despite his brilliant showing. In his last 15 starts, he's allowed a total of nine earned runs and posted a 102/14 K/BB ratio. Bumgarner, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft, throws 92-95 mph and could add some additional velocity. He's still a rather raw prospect -- he needs to tighten up his curve and continue to work on his changeup -- but that his command is already this good at age 18 is an extremely encouraging sign.

22. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1351"]Brandon Wood[/URL] - SS/3B Angels - DOB: 03/02/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: 2005 #149, mid 2005 #13, 2006 #3, mid-2006 #2, 2007 #6, mid-2007 #10, 2008 #18

.274/.343/.541, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 66/24 K/BB, 3 SB in 259 AB (AAA Salt Lake)
.125/.164/.188, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 21/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 64 AB (AL Los Angeles)

Wood's stock is clearly tumbling, yet the shift back to shortstop this year has helped his cause a bit. He never required the switch to third in the first place, but the Angels moved him because it was assumed he'd be ready while Orlando Cabrera was still the team's shortstop. Wood doesn't have great range, but he's a steady defender with a strong arm. While it's beginning to look like he'll never meet expectations offensively, it should be worth living with mediocre OBPs when he's hitting 25 homers per year in his prime. At worst, he'd seem to be the new Pedro Feliz. He might yet turn out to be an above average major league shortstop, but he will fall out of the top 40 in the 2009 list unless he can put together a strong second half.

23. Wade Davis - RHP Rays - DOB: 09/07/85 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #79, 2007 #83, mid-2007 #24, 2008 #22

9-6, 3.85 ERA, 104 H, 81/42 K/BB in 107 2/3 IP (AA Montgomery)

No longer joined at the hip with Jake McGee after the left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery, Davis was the first of the Rays' new wave of pitching prospects to reach Triple-A, receiving his promotion over the weekend. He actually pitched worse in Double-A this year than he did after his midseason promotion last year (7-3, 3.15 ERA in 80 IP), so he's essentially holding steady on this list. Davis throws 91-94 mph and mixes in a curveball, a slider and a change. The curve is his best secondary pitch and gets him a significant number of his strikeouts. His command still leaves something to be desired in his fifth season as a pro, and that he's regressed a bit this year could cost him a midseason callup. He still has a promising future as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

24. Dexter Fowler - OF Rockies - DOB: 03/22/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #110, 2007 #79, mid-2007 #80, 2008 #66

.329/.421/.508, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 76/55 K/BB, 17 SB in 368 AB (AA Tulsa)

Fowler was set back by injuries, most notably a broken hamate bone, and hit just two homers in 352 at-bats between Single-A Modesto and the Arizona Fall League in 2007. Fully healthy this season, his modest power has returned and he's getting on base more than ever. Fowler is a switch-hitter with excellent range in center field. He strikes out a bit more than one would like from a potential leadoff man, but he makes up for it with a strong walk rate. The belief that he is injury prone knocks him down about five spots here. He'd seem to have more offensive potential than McCutchen if he can stay healthy. Besides improving his basestealing technique, there's not a lot left for him to work on in the minors. He could make Willy Taveras expendable this winter.

25. Reid Brignac - SS Rays - DOB: 01/16/86 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #83, 2007 #31, mid-2003 #23, 2008 #38

.263/.313/.423, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 71/23 K/BB, 4 SB in 293 AB (AAA Durham)
.000/.091/.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 10 AB (Tampa Bay)

Jason Bartlett looked like a one-year stopgap as a starting shortstop when picked up in the Delmon Young deal, but it no longer appears that Brignac will be ready to assume the position at the beginning of 2009. It's not a huge problem, given that Brignac is still only 22 years old. The left-handed hitter has 20- to 25-homer potential, and he should also supply plenty of line-drive doubles. His defense at shortstop won't win him any Gold Gloves, but he has displayed enough range to keep himself at the position. By the time he's 30, he may require a move to second or third. He's due to spend a second season in Triple-A in 2009.

26. Alcides Escobar - SS Brewers - DOB: 12/16/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

27. Taylor Teagarden - C Rangers - DOB: 12/21/83 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #135, 2008 #34

28. Nick Adenhart - RHP Angels - DOB: 08/24/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #21, 2007 #21, mid-2007 #22, 2008 #28

29. Gio Gonzalez - LHP Athletics - DOB: 09/19/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #81, 2006 #84, mid-2006 #62, 2007 #78, mid-2007 #21, 2008 #33

30. Mike Moustakas - 3B Royals - DOB: 09/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none, 2008 #51

31. Tommy Hanson - RHP Braves - DOB: 08/26/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #120, 2008 #105

32. Adrian Cardenas - 2B Athletics - DOB: 10/10/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #93, 2008 #56

33. Tim Alderson - RHP Giants - DOB: 11/03/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: none

34. Carlos Triunfel - SS Mariners - DOB: 02/27/90 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #28, 2008 #26

35. Jarrod Parker - RHP Diamondbacks - DOB: 11/24/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #63

36. Sean Doolittle - 1B Athletics - DOB: 09/26/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

37. Michael Burgess - OF Nationals - DOB: 10/20/88 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none

38. Brett Anderson - LHP Athetics - DOB: 02/01/88 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #72, 2008 #61

39. Chris Marrero - 1B/OF Nationals - DOB: 07/02/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #117, mid-2007 #45, 2008 #36

40. Gorkys Hernandez - OF Braves - DOB: 09/07/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #79, 2008 #76

41. Angel Villalona - 1B Giants - DOB: 08/13/90 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #82, 2008 #64

42. Chris Tillman - RHP Orioles - DOB: 04/15/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #132

43. Lars Anderson - 1B Red Sox - DOB: 09/25/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #74, 2008 #46

44. Josh Vitters - 3B Cubs - DOB: 08/27/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: 2008 #43

45. Todd Frazier - SS/OF Reds - DOB: 02/12/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #126

46. Wladimir Balentien - OF Mariners - DOB: 07/02/84 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #39, 2008 #45

47. Daryl Thompson - RHP Reds - DOB: 11/02/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: none

48. Wes Hodges - 3B Indians - DOB: 09/14/84 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #94, 2008 #91

49. Desmond Jennings - OF Rays - DOB: 10/30/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #88, 2008 #57

50. Tyler Robertson - LHP Twins - DOB: 12/23/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #119

<!--RW-->

51. Matt Antonelli - 2B Padres - DOB: 04/08/85 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #63, 2008 #32

52. Stephen Marek - RHP Angels - DOB: 09/03/83 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

53. James McDonald - RHP Dodgers - DOB: 10/19/84 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #73

54. Daniel Cortes - RHP Royals - DOB: 03/04/87 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #79

55. Jess Todd - RHP Cardinals - DOB: 04/20/86 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none

56. Phillipe Aumont - RHP Mariners - DOB: 11/18/87 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: 2008 #131

57. Jordan Schafer - OF Braves - DOB: 09/04/86 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #92

58. Bryan Anderson - C Cardinals - DOB: 12/16/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #85, 2008 #84

59. Chris Coghlan - 2B Marlins - DOB: 06/18/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #106, 2008 #85

60. Casey Weathers - RHP Rockies - DOB: 06/10/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #111

61. Jhoulys Chacin - RHP Rockies - DOB: 01/07/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

62. Jon Meloan - RHP Dodgers - DOB: 07/11/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #112, mid-2007 #60, 2008 #69

63. Lou Marson - C Phillies - DOB: 06/26/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

64. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2794"]Jordan Zimmermann[/URL] - RHP Nationals - DOB: 05/23/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

65. Nick Weglarz - OF Indians - DOB: 12/16/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #144

66. Henry Sosa - RHP Giants - DOB: 07/28/85 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #58, 2008 #88

67. Jake McGee - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/06/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #114, 2007 #91, mid-2007 #26, 2008 #23

68. Hank Conger - C Angels - DOB: 01/29/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2007 #60, mid-2007 #55, 2008 #78

69. Jake Arrieta - RHP Orioles - DOB: 03/06/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

70. Will Inman - RHP Padres - DOB: 02/26/87 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #113, 2007 #73, mid-2007 #47, 2008 #93

71. Chris Parmelee - OF Twins - DOB: 02/24/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2007 #64, mid-2007 #56, 2008 #74

72. Jose Tabata - OF Yankees - DOB: 08/12/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2006 #136, mid-2006 #18, 2007 #17, mid-2007 #13, 2008 #27

73. Adam Miller - RHP Indians - DOB: 11/26/84 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #101, 2005 #8, mid-2005 #26, 2006 #35, mid-2006 #31, 2007 #22, mid-2007 #14, 2008 #42

74. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=778"]Chris Carter[/URL] - 1B Athletics - DOB: 12/18/86 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #123

75. Brandon Erbe - RHP Orioles - DOB: 12/25/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #82, 2007 #51, mid-2007 #54, 2008 #134

76. Trevor Crowe - OF Indians - DOB: 11/17/83 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #41, 2007 #43, mid-2007 #59, 2008 #89

77. Neil Walker - 3B Pirates - DOB: 09/10/85 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #129, 2006 #114, mid-2006 #107, 2007 #105, mid-2007 #30, 2008 #44

78. Sean Rodriguez - 2B Angels - DOB: 04/26/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #125, 2007 #96, mid-2007 #69, 2008 #97

79. Jeff Niemann - RHP Rays - DOB: 02/28/83 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2005 #60, mid-2005 #74, 2006 #83, mid-2006 #49, 2007 #53, mid-2007 #32, 2008 #60

80. Angel Salome - C Brewers - DOB: 06/08/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #150

81. Scott Elbert - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #118, mid-2006 #37, 2007 #35, mid-2007 #46, 2008 #58

82. Kevin Mulvey - RHP Twins - DOB: 05/26/85 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #128

83. Michael Saunders - OF Mariners - DOB: 11/19/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

84. Daniel Bard - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 06/25/85 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

85. Jose Ceda - RHP Cubs - DOB: 01/28/87 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #146

86. Steve Pearce - 1B/OF Pirates - DOB: 04/13/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #104, 2008 #52

87. Kasey Kiker - LHP Rangers - DOB: 11/19/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #53, 2008 #90

88. Ross Detwiler - LHP Nationals - DOB: 03/06/86 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #70

89. Jordan Walden - RHP Angels - DOB: 11/16/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #141

90. Ben Revere - OF Twins - DOB: 05/03/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none

91. Clayton Mortensen - RHP Cardinals - DOB: 04/10/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #139

92. Jeff Manship - RHP Twins - DOB: 01/16/85 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #70, 2008 #98

93. David Huff - LHP Indians - DOB: 08/22/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none

94. Beau Mills - 1B/3B Indians - DOB: 08/15/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008: #86

95. David Hernandez - RHP Orioles - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

96. Donald Veal - LHP Cubs - DOB: 09/18/84 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #90, 2007 #69, mid-2007 #77, 2008 #122

97. Billy Rowell - 3B Orioles - DOB: 09/10/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2007 #57, mid-2007 #41, 2008 #62

98. Jon Niese - LHP Mets - DOB: 10/27/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

99. Aaron Poreda - LHP White Sox - DOB: 10/01/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #130

100. Mark Melancon - RHP Yankees - DOB: 03/28/85 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

101. Brandon Jones - OF Braves - DOB: 12/10/83 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #96, 2008 #82

102. Jeremy Jeffress - RHP Brewers - DOB: 09/21/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2007 #120, mid-2007 #77, 2008 #109

103. Drew Stubbs - OF Reds - DOB: 10/04/84 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #111, mid-2007 #84, 2008 #110

104. Aaron Thompson - LHP Marlins - DOB: 02/28/87 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #116, 2007 #104, mid-2007 #89, 2008 #80

105. Ruben Tejada - SS Mets - DOB: 09/01/89 - ETA: 2013
Previous rankings: 2008 #127

106. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1739"]Henry Rodriguez[/URL] - RHP Athletics - DOB: 02/25/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

107. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1554"]Mike Stanton[/URL] - OF Marlins - DOB: 11/08/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none

108. Chorye Spoone - RHP Orioles - DOB: 09/16/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #100

109. Nolan Reimold - OF Orioles - DOB: 10/12/83 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #144, mid-2006 #73, 2007 #103, mid-2007 #101, 2008 #112

110. Brett Cecil - LHP Blue Jays - DOB: 07/02/86 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

111. Jason Donald - SS Phillies - DOB: 09/04/84 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: none

112. Anthony Swarzak - RHP Twins - DOB: 09/10/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #100, mid-2007 ---, 2008 #124

113. Ryan Kalish - OF Red Sox - DOB: 03/28/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: 2008 #106

114. Gerardo Parra - OF Diamondbacks - DOB: 05/06/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #121

115. Adam Ottavino - RHP Cardinals - DOB: 11/22/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #111, 2008 #94

116. Andrew Lambo - OF Dodgers - DOB: 08/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none

117. Eulogio De La Cruz - RHP Marlins - DOB: 03/12/84 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #134, 2008 ---

118. Eric Patterson - 2B/OF Athletics - DOB: 04/08/83 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #148, mid-2007 #121

119. Deolis Guerra - RHP Twins - DOB: 04/17/89 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #87, mid-2007 #44, 2008 #67

120. Jesus Montero - C Yankees - DOB: 11/28/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none

<!--RW-->

121. Justin Jackson - SS Blue Jays - DOB: 12/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none

122. Hector Rondon - RHP Indians - DOB: 02/26/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

123. James Simmons - RHP Athletics - DOB: 09/26/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #145

124. Freddie Freeman - 1B Braves - DOB: 09/12/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none

125. Charlie Zink - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 08/26/79 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

126. Nate Schierholtz - OF Giants - DOB: 02/15/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none

127. Carlos Rosa - RHP Royals - DOB: 09/21/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none

128. Antonio Bastardo - LHP Phillies - DOB: 09/21/85 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: none

129. Dan McCutchen - RHP Yankees - DOB: 09/26/82 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: none

130. Engel Beltre - OF Rangers - DOB: 11/01/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none

131. Taylor Green - 3B Brewers - DOB: 11/02/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

132. Chuck Lofgren - LHP Indians - DOB: 01/29/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #69, 2007 #46, mid-2007 #38, 2008 #83

133. Josh Bell - 3B Dodgers - DOB: 11/13/86 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none

134. Alan Horne - RHP Yankees - DOB: 01/05/83 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #148, 2008 #138

135. Peter Bourjos - OF Angels - DOB: 03/31/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

136. Jeff Larish - 1B Tigers - DOB: 10/11/82 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: none

137. Scott Campbell - 2B Blue Jays - DOB: 09/25/84 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: none

138. Mike Carp - 1B Mets - DOB: 06/30/86 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #124, 2008 ---

139. Blake Wood - RHP Royals - DOB: 08/08/85 - ETA: June 2009
Previous rankings: none

140. J.P. Arencibia - C Blue Jays - DOB: 01/05/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

141. Tyler Colvin - OF Cubs - DOB: 09/05/85 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #65, 2008 #104

142. Josh Roenicke - RHP Reds - DOB: 08/04/82 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: none

143. Josh Reddick - OF Red Sox - DOB: 02/19/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none

144. Aaron Cunningham - OF Athletics - DOB: 04/24/86 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: 2008 #148

145. Jamie Romak - OF Pirates - DOB: 09/30/85 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

146. Eduardo Morlan - RHP Rays - DOB: 03/01/86 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #113, 2008 #117

147. Greg Halman - OF Mariners - DOB: 08/26/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

148. Joe Savery - LHP Phillies - DOB: 11/04/85 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2008 #115

149. Michael Hollimon - 2B/SS Tigers - DOB: 06/14/82 - ETA: April 2008
Previous rankings: none

150. Vin Mazzaro - RHP Athletics - DOB: 09/27/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none

The Wrap-Up

Top 150 by Position

RHP - 55
LHP - 18
C - 8
1B - 8
2B - 6
3B - 8
SS - 9
OF - 38

Top 150 by League

AL - 84
NL - 66

Top 150 by Team

10 - Athletics
9 - Indians
8 - Orioles, Rays
7 - Angels, Twins
6 - Braves, Dodgers, Red Sox. Yankees
5 - Blue Jays, Brewers, Cardinals, Giants, Mariners, Marlins, Phillies, Rangers
4 - Cubs, Reds, Mets, Nationals, Pirates, Reds, Royals
3 - Diamondbacks, Tigers
2 - Padres
1 - White Sox
0 - Astros

Graduates (from 2008 preseason list)

1. Jay Bruce - OF Reds
3. Evan Longoria - 3B Rays
4. Clay Buchholz - RHP Red Sox
5. Joba Chamberlain - RHP Yankees
8. Daric Barton - 1B Athletics
10. Jacoby Ellsbury - OF Red Sox
11. Johnny Cueto - RHP Reds
13. Homer Bailey - RHP Reds
15. Andy LaRoche - 3B Dodgers
20. Chase Headley - OF/3B Padres
21. Joey Votto - 1B Reds
25. Franklin Morales - LHP Rockies
29. Ian Kennedy - RHP Yankees
37. Carlos Gonzalez - OF Athletics
39. Eric Hurley - RHP Rangers
40. Jeff Clement - C Mariners
41. Chris Volstad - RHP Marlins
49. Jed Lowrie - SS Red Sox
50. J.R. Towles - C Astros
53. Ian Stewart - 3B Rockies
54. Luke Hochevar - RHP Royals
55. Ryan Sweeney - OF Athletics
59. Geovany Soto - C Cubs
71. Jaime Garcia - LHP Cardinals
72. Justin Masterson - RHP Red Sox
75. Greg Reynolds - RHP Rockies
77. Chris Perez - RHP Cardinals
81. Brent Lillibridge - SS Braves
87. Jair Jurrjens - RHP Braves
95. Chris Davis - 1B Rangers
99. Matt Harrison - LHP Rangers
101. Garrett Olson - LHP Orioles
103. Aaron Laffey - LHP Indians
108. Sean Gallagher - RHP Cubs
113. Collin Balester - RHP Nationals
114. Chin-Lung Hu - SS Dodgers
116. Radhames Liz - RHP Orioles
118. Brandon Moss - OF Red Sox
120. Brian Barton - OF Cardinals
136. Justin Huber - 1B/OF Padres

Dropping off

96. Philip Humber - RHP Twins
102. Gaby Hernandez - RHP Marlins
107. Fautino De Los Santos - RHP Athletics
129. Joel Guzman - 3B/OF Rays
133. Felipe Paulino - RHP Astros
135. Charlie Haeger - RHP White Sox
140. Jack Egbert - RHP White Sox
142. Brad Lincoln - RHP Pirates
143. Chris Nelson - SS Rockies
147. Brett Sinkbeil - RHP Marlins
149. Chad Huffman - OF Padres

Ineligibles

Below are approximations of where some of the ineligible players would have ranked:

12. Chris Davis - 1B Rangers
14. Chris Volstad - RHP Marlins
15. Andy LaRoche - 3B Dodgers
16. Chase Headley - OF Padres
17. Justin Masterson - RHP Red Sox
18. Carlos Gonzalez - OF Athletics
20. Pedro Alvarez - 3B Pirates
25. Eric Hurley - RHP Rangers
30. Jeff Clement - C Mariners
30. Jed Lowrie - SS Red Sox
32. Buster Posey - C Giants
35. Jaime Garcia - LHP Cardinals
35. Ian Stewart - 3B Rockies
45. Ryan Tucker - RHP Marlins
50. Tim Beckham - SS Rays
55. Collin Balester - RHP Nationals
55. Justin Smoak - 1B Rangers
60. Max Ramirez - C Rangers
60. Yonder Alonso - 1B Reds
65. Jose Arrendondo - RHP Angels
70. Gordon Beckham - SS White Sox
75. Eric Hosmer - 1B Royals
85. Brian Matusz - LHP Orioles
90. Matt Harrison - LHP Rangers
90. Brett Wallace - 1B/3B Cardinals
115. Reese Havens - 2B/SS Mets
120. Charlie Morton - RHP Braves
125. Aaron Crow - RHP Nationals
130. Michael Inoa - RHP Athletics
140. Kyle Skipworth - C Marlins

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Wood Looking DL Bound Again
They're probably too modest to self-promote, but Rotoworld's football and basketball gurus were both interviewed recently, and Gregg Rosenthal and Steve Alexander each referred to their gig as a "dream job." Now, my "dream job" involves Keeley Hazell, suntan oil, and a photo shoot on a beach somewhere, although realistically it wouldn't be any worse without the actual photo shoot and the location probably doesn't matter a whole lot (assuming the benefits package is good).

Working at Rotoworld finishes a very close second to serving as Hazell's personal oil assistant, because admittedly this is a pretty sweet way to make a living. My favorite part of the Rosenthal-Alexander media blitz is that Gregg predictably picks the Patriots to win the Super Bowl while Steve sports a Colts t-shirt in the photo for his article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. They're definitely the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of Rotoworld, which makes me Tarvaris Jackson.

While Alexander sums up my take on the most crucial aspect of this job with "naps are very good" and Rosenthal becomes more careful what he wishes for after suggesting to me last week that Hazell deserved a Daily Dose mention, here are some notes from around baseball ?

* No official move has been made yet as of this writing, but Kerry Wood may be placed on the disabled list with a busted blister on his right index finger. Wood missed the All-Star game and hasn't pitched since July 11, but the Cubs are holding out hope that he can avoid the DL. With Wood likely out for at least the rest of this week, Carlos Marmol will take over as closer, which at one point would've been an opportunity for one of the league's top relievers to take center stage.

However, Marmol has struggled recently, perhaps because of his extreme early season workload. Through the end of May he had a 1.75 ERA and 54-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 36 innings while appearing in 29 of the Cubs' first 56 games. That put him on an 85-game, 105-inning pace that his right arm predictably hasn't been able to handle. Marmol has an 8.83 ERA and 16-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 17.1 innings since June 1.

* Since returning from the disabled list early last month Jorge Posada hit just .248/.380/.371 in 33 games, rarely started at catcher, and struggled mightily to control the running game when he was behind the plate, so the Yankees decided to place him back on the shelf Monday. Posada is set to undergo an MRI exam Tuesday and may require season-ending shoulder surgery, although it's possible that the Yankees would use him at designated hitter even if he's not able to catch.

Surgery would also put Posada's status for the start of next season in some doubt, so it's surely being viewed as a last resort. In the meantime, Jose Molina will continue to receive the bulk of the starts behind the plate, with Chad Moeller serving as his little-used backup. Catcher playing time is difficult to come by at this point in the season, but even as an everyday player Molina has very little fantasy potential. He's hitting .227/.266/.307 this season and .239/.276/.338 for his career.

* One of my favorite young sleeper candidates coming into the season, Adam Jones got off to a brutal start when he hit just .245/.292/.351 with two homers in 54 games through the end of May. Fortunately the Orioles showed patience with their new 22-year-old center fielder and he's turned things around since then. Jones homered Monday and is now 52-for-159 (.327) with four homers and four steals in 43 games since June 1, showing his long-term 20-20 potential.

* Sent back down to the minors earlier this month after going 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA in eight starts, Clayton Kershaw is now expected to recalled Tuesday to rejoin the Dodgers' rotation. Kershaw has allowed just two runs over 18 innings at Double-A since the demotion, but he was every bit as dominant before the initial call-up and the 20-year-old southpaw still figures to struggle with his command against major-league hitters. Expect inconsistency and good but not great numbers.

* Rich Harden is 2-for-2 turning in dominant starts for the Cubs after racking up 10 strikeouts over seven innings of one-run ball Monday, but took his first NL loss thanks to Randy Johnson's seven shutout frames. Harden has allowed one run while fanning 20 in 12.1 innings since being traded to the Cubs, which is little surprise given how well he pitched for the A's. He now has a 2.12 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 89.1 innings overall, and won't be stopped unless the injury bug bites again.

* Demoted to the minors on July 1, Brett Myers posted a 3.00 ERA and 28-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts and was recalled Monday. He'll officially rejoin the Phillies' rotation Wednesday against the Mets and figures to improve upon his pre-demotion 5.84 ERA, but don't expect Myers to have a ton of success in the second half. Dating back to last year, he's 3-11 with a 6.31 ERA, 107-to-53 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 29 homers allowed in 117 innings spread over 20 starts.

* Jon Lester scattered eight hits in 7.1 scoreless innings Monday against the Mariners, combining with Jonathan Papelbon on a shutout. Lester has now started six games this season in which the Red Sox shut out their opponent, which is pretty amazing given that 17 of the other 29 teams have fewer than six shutouts all year. Lester struggled some early on this season, but he's now 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 72-to-25 strikeout-to-walk in 100.2 innings spread over his last 15 starts.

AL Quick Hits: Scott Kazmir shut out the A's for seven innings Monday, bouncing back nicely from his unexpected appearance in the All-Star game ? Robinson Cano launched a mammoth homer into the upper deck Monday and now has 10 hits in his last four games ? After throwing five innings in a minor-league rehab start Saturday at Double-A, Fausto Carmona (hip) is slated to return from the disabled list this weekend ? Denard Span notched three hits Monday to raise his on-base percentage to .424, yet manager Ron Gardenhire refuses to yank Carlos Gomez and his putrid .281 OBP from the leadoff spot ? Manager Eric Wedge gave Jhonny Peralta a vote of confidence Sunday, saying: "He's our shortstop" and "I don't see us making any change any time soon" ? Expected to be held out until Friday, Johnny Damon (shoulder) instead came off the shelf Monday and started at designated hitter ? Jason Bartlett (knee) went through pregame workouts Monday and could come off the DL by Thursday ? Miguel Cabrera tied a pair of career-highs Monday with five hits and six RBIs.

NL Quick Hits: Alfonso Soriano (hand) went 0-for-2 with a walk in a minor-league rehab game Monday at rookie-ball and is hoping to rejoin the Cubs as soon as Thursday ? Rickie Weeks did his best to keep Ray Durham on the bench Monday, going 2-for-5 with a three-run homer for just his second long ball since May 22 ? Ken Griffey Jr. still sports his worst OPS since his rookie season, but blasted his 606th career homer Monday ? Getting a rare start over Russell Branyan against a right-hander Monday, Bill Hall went 3-for-5 with a homer ? Rafael Soriano returned from the disabled list Monday, but likely won't be in the mix for saves again unless Mike Gonzalez falters ? Troy Tulowitzki (hand) came off the shelf Monday, but it sounds like the Rockies may slowly ease him back into an everyday gig ? Jorge Campillo shut out the Marlins for seven innings Monday for his fifth victory, giving him a 2.83 ERA and 65-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 92.1 innings ? Kip Wells recorded just one out in Monday's return to the rotation, giving up eight runs before being yanked in the first inning.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

$137.5 Million Can't Buy a Win
It's not a trade that'll grab many headlines, but the Diamondbacks pulled off a nice move Tuesday to strengthen their bullpen for the short and long term by picking up Jon Rauch. Rauch had been serving as the Nationals' closer with Chad Cordero done for the season, saving 17 games with a 2.92 ERA and 46-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 49.1 innings. Since moving to the bullpen full time in 2005, Rauch has a 3.40 ERA and 224-to-74 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 257 innings.

Along with the pretty ERAs, Rauch is among the NL's most durable relievers. He's on pace to log at least 80 innings for the third straight season, which is pretty remarkable given that he moved to the bullpen in large part because of previous arm problems. Rauch could work himself into the mix for saves in Arizona if Brandon Lyon continues to struggle, but for now he'll slide into a setup role alongside Tony Pena and Chad Qualls, giving the Diamondbacks tons of late-inning options.

Not only will Rauch make a big impact down the stretch now, he's under Arizona's control for just $2 million in 2009 and $2.9 million in 2010. To get their hands on 2.5 seasons of an excellent, inexpensive reliever all the Diamondbacks had to surrender was prospect Emilio Bonifacio. He's oddly considered a promising young player in some circles, but a .283/.338/.360 line in 648 minor-league games shows him projecting more as a utility man than impact starter.

If the Nationals eventually choose to hand Bonifacio the starting job at second base despite his sub par bat he'll have plenty of speed-based fantasy value, as he's swiped 50 bags per 600 plate appearances in the minors. Meanwhile, with Rauch out of the picture Joel Hanrahan takes over as the Nationals' closer and is worth grabbing in all leagues. Like Rauch, Hanrahan has found a post-injury home in the bullpen with a 3.94 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 59.1 innings this season.

While Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes pulls off what figures to be one of the most underrated moves in a month full of trades, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* At the opposite end of the trading spectrum, the Astros pulled off a deal Tuesday that makes little sense. Houston didn't give up anything of consequence to get Randy Wolf from the Padres, but the impending free agent doesn't figure to help a team that's 11 games out of a playoff spot. Plus, Wolf has pitched horribly this season away from the pitcher's haven known as Petco Park, going 1-6 with a 6.63 ERA on the road. An odd, seemingly pointless trade, to be sure.

* Johan Santana's tough-luck season continued Tuesday, as he tossed eight innings of two-run ball against the Phillies only to watch his win vanish when the Mets' bullpen imploded without Billy Wagner. Wagner said before the game that he'd be able to pitch despite having an MRI exam on his sore shoulder in the morning, but manager Jerry Manuel opted against using him and paid the price, as Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith, and Pedro Feliciano coughed up six ninth-inning runs.

Santana has a 3.05 ERA and 120 strikeouts through 21 starts, yet poor support from the lineup and bullpen have left him with just eight wins. Tuesday marked the ninth time this season that Santana has failed to pick up a victory despite turning in a Quality Start and he's now 1-4 over his last nine starts despite a 2.84 ERA during that span. He's having a great season, although his win-loss record will sadly keep far too many fans and media members from realizing it.

* Along with dealing away one of the team's few tradable assets for a very questionable return, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden signed Cristian Guzman to a two-year contract extension worth $16 million Tuesday. Guzman is healthy and effective this season after hitting just .216 in 2005 and missing most of the past two years with injuries, and has batted .315/.352/.436 in 142 games dating back to last season.

Committing to anyone for just two seasons has limited risk and many teams would gladly pay $8 million per year for his recent production, but he's 30 years old and has lost a ton of speed. In those 142 games Guzman has just seven homers, five steals, and 31 walks, so his value's hugely dependent on his ability to hit singles. Toss in the fact that he's never posted an OPS above .700 while playing more than 120 games, and it's a debatable move on the heels of trading Rauch.

AL Quick Hits: Brad Ziegler tossed two more shutout innings Tuesday, setting a new AL record for most consecutive scoreless innings to begin a career with 23.2 ? Adam Lind went 4-for-5 with a homer Tuesday, making the Daily Dose buy-low target 27-for-78 (.346) with five homers and 22 RBIs in 22 games since returning from Triple-A ? Manager Ron Gardenhire finally pulled the plug on Carlos Gomez and his .285 on-base percentage leading off, turning to Denard Span atop the lineup Tuesday ? Pitching on three days' rest Tuesday, Mark Buehrle tossed 7.2 innings of one-run ball to beat the high-scoring Rangers ? Starting Tuesday for the first time since June 18, Shaun Marcum (elbow) was knocked around for seven runs ? Manager Trey Hillman said Monday that Brian Bannister will remain in the rotation despite going 4-8 with a 6.49 ERA in his last 17 starts ? Jeff Clement exited Tuesday's game after his right thumb got caught in the netting behind home plate as he tried to catch a foul ball ? Torii Hunter will be on bereavement leave until Friday, giving Reggie Willits some rare action in center field.

NL Quick Hits: Clayton Kershaw struggled in his return to the rotation Tuesday, allowing five runs on 10 hits while dropping to 0-3 ? Pedro Martinez (hip) threw a 56-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and is slated to make his next start either Friday or Saturday ? Wily Mo Pena will miss the remainder of the season following surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff ? Johnny Cueto tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts Tuesday, but the 22-year-old was allowed to throw 120 pitches in a no-decision ? Todd Helton (back) said Monday that he's not close to returning, leaving Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart manning the Rockies' infield corners ? Playing Tuesday for the first time since May 25, Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with two walks ? Bengie Molina entered Tuesday's game with zero homers since May 27, but went deep twice to help Barry Zito notch his fifth win ? Dave Roberts (knee) came off the shelf Tuesday, but will serve as the Giants' fourth outfielder for now ? Yunel Escobar (shoulder) returned Tuesday after 13 days off, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts ? Hitting just .242 with two homers in 29 games since returning from Triple-A, Chris Duncan landed on the disabled list Tuesday with a bulging disk in his neck.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Prospects: They're Back!
What a weird trading season. First the Indians trade their best player and a veteran of the team for eight full seasons, C.C. Sabathia, in exchange for one of the five best prospects in baseball, Matt LaPorta. Dealing elite prospects or even a handful of very good ones for rental players is much rarer these days than it used to be, in part because top talent is becoming so expensive on the free agent market. Since pre-arbitration and even early arbitration salaries are not catching up, the advantage of young, cheap talent is becoming even more important. Some will point to the Rangers getting an excellent haul for Mark Teixeira last year, but he had a year and a half left on his deal and the two draft picks the Braves will get for him this winter will help offset the prospect loss. Sabathia will test the free agent waters this winter, and his trade was the most significant rental, on both sides of the deal, since the infamous Randy Johnson to the Astros trade in 1998.

On top of that, the Athletics make two trades, and received a significantly better return for the player with the ERA nearing 5.00 than they did for the one with an ERA under 3.00. The Astros also made a trade for a rental pitcher when they're nowhere close to sniffing the playoffs, though they didn't give up anything that will haunt them. And lastly the Nationals traded their closer with two more years under control for a no-hit middle infield prospect. I'm not sure what's in the water that's causing all of this, but the biggest rental trade in a decade and several significant head-scratchers certainly add to the mid-season intrigue. With several other players that could move, this is one of the more active trade deadlines in the last handful of years. Enjoy it while you can.

[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]

Brooks Conrad ? 2B Athletics ? A 2001 8th round pick out of Arizona State, Conrad looked better as a sophomore than he did as a junior but still had some teams intrigued in his bat. He's moved slowly through the system since, not reaching Double-A until age 24 in 2004. However, Conrad has always shown solid abilities at the plate, as his career .260/.344/.465 line indicates. This season, Conrad has been struggling with strikeouts (94 in 93 games) and his batting average is down to .242 as a result. However, since that's come with 21 doubles and 21 homers, Conrad is managing a fine .484 slugging percentage.

A 5'11" switch-hitter who isn't particularly athletic, Conrad doesn't impress scouts. He can't handle shortstop and he's not a plus defender at second base, though he can handle second and third admirably. His high strikeout rate has prevented him from ever jockeying for a big league job, and he's now 28 years old and just making his big league debut. That said, Conrad's power is legitimate and he draws a number of walks, so it'd be interesting to see what he could do as a utility player. He won't play enough to garner fantasy value and the club could look for other alternatives if a starter got hurt, but Conrad is someone to root for and his power gives him at least a small chance of having value at some point.

Recommendation: Ignore in AL-only leagues.

Jamie D'Antona ? 3B Diamondbacks ? A second round pick out of Wake Forrest in 2003, D'Antona had an accomplished college career that saw him smack 58 homers in three years. D'Antona's bat translated immediately after signing, as he played well for Single-A Yakima in 2003 and High-A Lancaster for the first half of 2004. Between the two stops D'Antona hit .296 with 36 doubles and 28 homers in 544 at-bats. His 96/51 K/BB was also strong, and it looked like the Diamondbacks had a steal of a draft pick.

Unfortunately for D'Antona the move to Double-A proved troublesome and he was quickly sidelined for the rest of the season once reaching there. The 2005 campaign wasn't any easier, as D'Antona struggled to hit for both average and power in Double-A. At this point it looked like his status was overly inflated because of the hitter-friendly California League, but D'Antona bounced back in 2006. He hit .312/.383/.487 for Double-A Tennessee, showing good plate discipline and belting 17 homers in 126 games along the way. D'Antona more or less repeated that performance at Triple-A Tucson last season, though that his K/BB ratio improved to a nifty 57/40 was even more promising.

The 6'2", 220-pound right-hander was having his best season at the plate before the promotion, batting .367/.407/.612 with 31 doubles, 17 homers, and a fine 53/24 K/BB. A third basemen by trade, D'Antona isn't a particularly good fielder. The Diamondbacks have tried him at catcher, but never gave him an extended look there and he's an emergency third catcher at best. He's also played a good deal of first, and if his bat translates well he'll end up playing first base or DH'ing for an AL team. With above average power and a high contact rate, I like D'Antona's chances of producing enough with the bat to justify a spot in the lineup even from first base or DH.

The Diamondbacks have nothing to lose by giving D'Antona an occasional start, using him as a pinch-hitter, and utilizing his flexibility to play catcher when making late-game switches. He'd need quite a hot streak to earn even a semi-regular job, but his bat is promising enough that he's worth stashing away in deeper NL-only leagues. However, if he were to earn catcher eligibility, D'Antona would be a must-claim in two-catcher NL-only formats. Though he's already 26, D'Antona's .280 batting average and 20-homer potential mean there are worse players to have stashed away in keeper leagues.

Recommendation: Stash away in one-year NL-only leagues; monitor in keeper formats.

Clayton Kershaw ? LHP Dodgers ? I wrote about Kershaw back in late May when he was called up the first time, so I won't revisit some of the historical information. However, when perhaps the game's best prospect gets recalled to the majors, it's worth an update. Kershaw went 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA in eight starts with the Dodgers before his demotion. He gave up 39 hits, including three homers, walked 24, and struck out 33 in 38 2/3 innings. The Dodgers decided Kershaw needed to fine-tune his command, so they sent him back to the minors on July 2.

Kershaw gave up two runs and posted a 12/4 K/BB in 18 Double-A innings spread over three starts since his demotion, and now he's back in the majors. It's unlikely that Kershaw has made significant enough changes in three starts to produce immediate major league improvement, and it's a curious decision by the Dodgers to promote him again so soon. That means the odds are still stacked against Kershaw having fantasy value, especially in 4x4 leagues.

However, betting against elite prospects is rarely an advised strategy, and Kershaw's fastball-curveball combination is strong enough for him to have an impact down the stretch. He'll need to get more efficient and walk fewer batters, but Kershaw has that ability and the price to take a chance on him will never be lower. He's an especially good gamble for a middle of the road team that needs a spark. As I wrote that last line I noticed Kershaw isn't pitching well, but it was in Coors Field and Kershaw is still worth a dice roll.

Recommendation: Claim in NL-only leagues; monitor in mixed leagues; buy-low if possible in keeper formats.

Bryan LaHair ? 1B Mariners ? A big 6'5", 220-pound left-handed hitting first basemen, LaHair is getting his first shot in the majors after six seasons in the minor leagues. A 39th round pick in 2002 who signed the next spring as a draft-and-follow, LaHair broke out in the California League in 2005 with a .310/.373/.503 line that included a 125/51 K/BB. LaHair proved the performance wasn't a California League mirage by playing solidly for Double-A San Antonio to start the 2006 campaign. He looked even better after a mid-season promotion to Triple-A, hitting .327/.393/.525 in the Pacific Coast League as a 23-year-old.

Unfortunately, that's when LaHair's stock as a prospect peaked. He couldn't crack the Mariners' roster the next spring, and he disappointed after returning to Tacoma. LaHair continued to disappoint this season, though his .263/.357/.467 mark with 26 doubles and 12 homers wasn't all that bad. Still, LaHair strikes out too often, doesn't have 30-homer power, and is too inconsistent when he does make contact. Since he's a first basemen through and through, he's not a prospect that projects to be a regular.

That said, LaHair could smack 20 homers and draw a few walks if ever given a full-time job, though a team would have to be desperate to do so. Fortunately for AL-only leaguers, the Mariners are that desperate. With Richie Sexson gone and Jose Vidro's name being more dangerous than his bat, it's easy to see the club giving plenty of at-bats versus right-handed pitching to LaHair. The left-hander does have big splits (920 OPS vs RHs; 480 vs. LHs) and a career as a Brian Daubach type platoon player wouldn't be completely unreasonable, but that's his absolute upside. Those with an opening in an AL-only league should give him a shot and hope for a .250 average and eight homers, just don't be surprised if he swings himself back to Triple-A in a few weeks.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only leagues.

Clayton Richard ? LHP White Sox ? Another player I've recently written about, I saw Richard pitch at the Futures Game a few weeks ago and wrote about it in this space. To summarize, Richard is a big southpaw at 6'6" and 240 pounds. He relies primarily on a sinker, and the downward plane from his tall frame makes the pitch better than it really is. Richard has good command and induces plenty of grounders, making up for a below average strikeout rate.

Richard's year-to-date stats look good, with a 2.44 ERA and 82/20 K/BB in 121 2/3 innings between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. That he's only allowed 91 hits, including four homers, has allowed Richard to post such a low ERA. His hit rate won't remain that low in the majors, but as long as he's walking few people and keeping the ball in the park, he should be at least an innings eater. The 24-year-old has a little more potential than that, but the odds are against him being a No. 3 starter.

Originally scheduled to pitch for Team USA in the Olympics, the White Sox have called up Richard to start on Wednesday in place of the injured Jose Contreras. Richard should get at least two and likely three chances to show what he can do, but he'll head back to the minors if the rotation is full once Contreras is ready. He may have a little short-term value in AL-only leagues as a result, and will get the Rangers, Twins, and Royals during his three potential outings.

Recommendation: Short-term flier in AL-only formats.

Ian Stewart ? 3B Rockies ? Like Kershaw, I wrote about Stewart back in late May when he was originally promoted to the majors. As predicted, Stewart continued his conscious effort to trade batting average for power. He smacked three homers, three doubles, and a triple in just 55 at-bats, but he also had just five singles and struck out 28 times. The Rockies sent him back to the minors, and Stewart continued raking in Triple-A with a .279 average, seven homers, and six doubles in 23 games.

With Todd Helton on the shelf and Joe Koshansky not cutting it, the club decided to give Stewart another chance. He's gotten off to an excellent start, going 9-for-17 with three doubles, a homer, and 10 RBI in four games at Coors Field. He's also struck out four times, but the power is very much there. Stewart has the ability to smack 30 homers annually while so focused on power, but it might come with a .260 average even with Coors Field helping him. He's still just 23, so it's too early to rule out a talented player like Stewart making adjustments and improving his contact rate as time progresses.

Stewart was given a chance to play second base last time in the majors, but Jeff Baker is holding down that spot admirably now. Instead, Stewart has been installed as the third basemen with Garrett Atkins moving over to first. Todd Helton will squeeze Stewart or Baker out of the lineup once he's ready to return, but his back is still bothering him and he seems at least two more weeks away. That means Stewart is a good short-term claim in all leagues. NL-only leaguers can play him all the time, but mixed leaguers with daily lineups will probably want to sit him on the road. Even if that's not possible, his power gives him short-term value in almost all weekly lineup leagues. He's still a good option to hold on to in keeper formats.

Recommendation: Claim in all one-year and keeper formats.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Jorge's Choice
Placed on the disabled list earlier this week, Jorge Posada was told Wednesday that he'll need surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder if he wants to catch again. However, instead of immediately going under the knife with an eye toward returning at something resembling full strength next season, Posada is planning to take a couple weeks off before attempting to play through the injury as either a designated hitter or first baseman.

At 36 years old it's tough to blame Posada for not wanting to give up on a season, but he'll lose a significant chunk of his value to the Yankees the moment he ceases being an option behind the plate. A .277/.380/.477 career line makes Posada about 20 percent more productive than the average MLB catcher, but would put him just six percent above average at first base. That's a big difference, although for fantasy purposes he'll maintain catcher eligibility for at least next season.

Beyond that, there's no guarantee that Posada will post his usual .850 OPS while playing through the injury. He hit just .248/.380/.371 with two homers in 33 games between DL stints and a torn labrum doesn't heal itself. If he puts off surgery now, struggles to remain productive regardless of position, and then ultimately decides to go under the knife later, he'd likely miss part of next year as well. Look for the Yankees to add a veteran catcher (Gregg Zaun?) to pair with Jose Molina.

While the Yankees test exactly how many designated hitters one roster can hold, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* If CC Sabathia keeps this up, it's going to be awfully tough for the Brewers to let him walk as a free agent. Sabathia tossed a complete-game shutout Wednesday over the Cardinals, going the distance for the third time in four starts with the Brewers. He's 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA since coming over from Cleveland, which makes him 10-5 with a 1.97 ERA and 140-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128.1 innings spread over 18 starts since beginning the season with four rough outings.

* Sabathia handed them a third straight loss Wednesday, but the Cardinals did get some good news on the injury front. After throwing four scoreless innings in his first minor-league rehab start Sunday at Double-A, Chris Carpenter had a successful bullpen session Tuesday and is on track to make his second rehab appearance Friday at Triple-A. Carpenter is exactly one year removed from Tommy John elbow surgery, and barring a setback looks capable of returning next month.

Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright also threw a bullpen session Tuesday and said afterward that he "optimistically" hopes to return within three weeks. He's been sidelined since June 7 with a ruptured pulley in his right middle finger and no timetable has been established for a rehab stint, so three weeks may be a best-case scenario. Still, if the Cardinals can remain within striking distance for a playoff spot, getting Carpenter and Wainwright back next month could be huge.

* Not even his agent filing a grievance against the Twins on his behalf earlier this week can slow Francisco Liriano down. Stuck at Triple-A because the Twins refuse to dump Livan Hernandez and his 5.29 ERA from the rotation, Liriano tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday while racking up 10 strikeouts and allowing just two hits. He's now 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 81-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64.2 innings spread over his last 10 starts.

Liriano has allowed just one earned run over his last 35 innings, totaling 42 strikeouts versus five walks during that span. While his agent's claim that the Twins are keeping Liriano at Triple-A to suppress his service time falls apart once the details are examined, there's plenty of reason to question why he's still being allowed to overpower minor leaguers when the Twins are in the thick of a pennant race. Much of his velocity has returned and the results are outstanding. It's time.

* An MRI exam on Erik Bedard's injured shoulder confirmed the original diagnosis of an internal impingement, which is basically a fancy way of saying "soreness." That qualifies as good news because it rules out major structural damage, but he's yet to begin throwing and is probably out of time to show that he's healthy with a start before the July 31 trading deadline. Bedard is under the Mariners' control through next season, but seems like a long shot to be in Seattle come April.

AL Quick Hits: Carlos Quentin took over the AL lead with a pair of homers Wednesday and ranks second to only Josh Hamilton with 76 RBIs ? David Ortiz (wrist) played his final minor-league rehab game Wednesday and remains on track to come off the disabled list Friday ? J.J. Putz totaled three strikeouts in two scoreless innings Wednesday, but likely didn't gain any ground on reclaiming the closer job thanks to Brandon Morrow tossing two shutout frames ? Mike Mussina tossed eight shutout innings Wednesday, picking up his 13th win and improving to 22-6 lifetime versus the Twins ? Jeff Mathis went 4-for-5 while driving in six runs Wednesday, smacking his first career grand slam ? Justin Masterson made his first career relief appearance Wednesday, retiring all eight batters he faced after entering a tie game with two runners on base ? Multiple reports suggest that the Yankees are interested in Jarrod Washburn and may be willing to take Jose Vidro off the Mariners' hands to make a deal work ? In the lineup against a left-hander Wednesday, Casey Kotchan had a career-high five hits ? Manny Ramirez was scratched from Wednesday's game with right knee soreness.

NL Quick Hits: Roy Oswalt (hip) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is on track to come off the disabled list Monday against the Reds ? Atlanta saw Tim Hudson (elbow) and Chipper Jones (hamstring) exit Wednesday's game with injuries, but both players said afterward that they expect to avoid the DL ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] went 4-for-5 with a homer Wednesday and is now hitting .302 with 22 homers in 72 games since a poor April ? As expected, Alfonso Soriano (hand) came off the shelf Wednesday and resumed leading off, dropping Kosuke Fukudome in the lineup ? One day after the Mets' bullpen imploded without him and cost Johan Santana a victory, Billy Wagner (shoulder) tossed a perfect ninth inning Wednesday for his 25th save ? Amid various trade rumors, Jason Bay matched last season's total with his 21st homer Wednesday ? Gregor Blanco came into Wednesday's game with a modest .670 OPS, but went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs ? Jose Reyes smacked what proved to be the game-winning three-run homer Wednesday, giving him a .312 batting average, nine homers, 27 steals, and 59 runs in 75 games since May 1.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Hunting for second-half stars
Fantasy owners everywhere ?" at least those still playing for this season ?" are looking for ways to make second-half surges.

For those in Roto leagues, this might come in the form of targeting specific categories in which they have the most room for improvement in the standings.

For those in head-to-head leagues, it might come through late-season trading with teams out of the running.

But no matter what type of league you're in, the key to making a championship run lies in constantly trying to improve your roster.

Of course, that's easier said than done when every other team in the league is attempting to do the same thing. That's why it's often a good strategy to go against the flow and try something the rest of your league isn't doing.


First, things the other owners in your league probably are trying:

1. Look to acquire players who traditionally perform better in the second half.

Some players always turn it on as the weather heats up. Johan Santana's 2004 season, when he went 13-0 with a 1.21 ERA after the break and carried a number of fantasy owners to championships, is often cited as the Holy Grail of second-half acquisitions.

Take it from someone who traded Santana that year after his mediocre (7-6, 3.78 ERA) first half, it's no fun to see your opponents' players get hot down the stretch.

But predicting which players will surge and which ones will fade just because the calendar says July, August or September is a shaky proposition at best. There are many other factors that can affect performances.

Look for players with proven track records, superior underlying skills or the promise of greater playing time (Robinson Cano, Brad Hawpe, Justin Verlander and Jonathan Broxton, for example) to fuel your second-half surge.

2. Look for players switching leagues or minor league call-ups to provide late-season jolts.

Already this month, the American League has seen three talented pitchers (CC Sabathia, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton) leave in trades to National League clubs. Those in AL-only leagues must feel that the trend surely will reverse itself before the July 31 deadline.

As enticing as a Matt Holliday trade to the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox could be, the odds that he will be dealt and that your fantasy team will be able to pick him up are still slim.

Holliday and Mark Teixeira are perhaps the only two players potentially on the trading block who could make a major difference to fantasy teams over the final two months of the season.

Although it's nice to have the No. 1 waiver pick or the highest FAAB (free agent acquisition budget) in your league, it's unlikely that the advantage will pay off in a season-altering addition.

The pool of potentially major league-ready minor leaguers is also a bit thinner this year. One reason is that some of the top prospects in the game (outfielders Matt LaPorta and Colby Rasmus, pitcher Casey Weathers, catcher Taylor Teagarden and others) will be on the USA's 25-man roster at the Olympics.

By the time they return from Beijing in late August, their seasons could be all but over.

So how can a fantasy owner make roster improvements if those traditional methods are such high-risk propositions?

Look no further than the injury report.

A three- or four-day All-Star break doesn't heal injuries by itself, but it allows the healing process to continue stress-free. David Ortiz is one of a number of top fantasy performers due to return in the next week.

For those fantasy teams that have lived without Big Papi's big bat in the lineup, it's almost like adding a star player for free.

If you're in a league that allows you to pick up players who are still on the disabled list, now is a good time to make a move.

Or if you're in the process of making a trade, see if you can get the other owner to throw in a player who's working his way back from injury. It's a low-risk, high-reward proposition.

If your pitching staff is struggling, a pair of St. Louis Cardinals could give you a lift. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright could return in a couple of weeks. Both are top-tier pitchers when healthy, and though Carpenter is recovering from elbow surgery, he was one of the NL's best pitchers from 2004 to 2006.

Others to watch: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL], Fausto Carmona, Jeff Francis, Anibal Sanchez.

There are also decent hitters working their way back toward the active ranks. Frank Thomas might be a forgotten man with all the Oakland Athletics roster changes in the last several weeks, but he'll go right back into the middle of the lineup when he returns, possibly in early August.

Others to watch: Victor Martinez, Dave Roberts, Johnny Damon, Tadahito Iguchi, Rocco Baldelli.

If your catching ranks are thin, Gerald Laird is another week or so away from testing his injured hamstring. He was hitting .306 with 25 RBI in 51 games before the injury and could be an asset down the stretch, especially in two-catcher leagues.

This game counts: One of the benefits of setting up a league is being able to write the rulebook. That allows for creativity to do things most ordinary leagues don't.

Want to penalize players for errors? How about using only players from AL Central teams? Or counting 11 different hitting and pitching categories? Or starting from scratch after the All-Star break? It's your league. The possibilities are endless.

One of the fun rules available to those who customize their league is to count stats from the All-Star Game.

It's not a bad idea, especially for those fantasy teams with All-Star pitchers on their staffs. For instance, Cliff Lee essentially loses a regular-season start because he performed well enough over the first half to be the AL's starting All-Star pitcher.

In a dynasty points league of mine that has a number of quirky rules, we include stats from the All-Star Game in our season totals. Just for fun, here's a quick recap from a fantasy perspective.

*Total points: American League 66, National League 35.

*High scores: Game MVP J.D. Drew also had the highest point total, 10 (on five total bases, one walk, one stolen base, one run, two RBI). Runners-up with six points were Justin Morneau, Holliday and Lee.

*Low scores: The goats of the game were also fantasy duds. Losing pitcher Brad Lidge (minus four points), Dan Uggla (minus three; yes, errors count) and Billy Wagner (minus two after allowing a run and blowing a save) were among the six players who finished with negative point totals.

Though the extra points awarded (or deducted) ended up being a tiny percentage of the overall totals, it made a memorable game even more enjoyable to watch.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Jorge's Choice
Placed on the disabled list earlier this week, Jorge Posada was told Wednesday that he'll need surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder if he wants to catch again. However, instead of immediately going under the knife with an eye toward returning at something resembling full strength next season, Posada is planning to take a couple weeks off before attempting to play through the injury as either a designated hitter or first baseman.

At 36 years old it's tough to blame Posada for not wanting to give up on a season, but he'll lose a significant chunk of his value to the Yankees the moment he ceases being an option behind the plate. A .277/.380/.477 career line makes Posada about 20 percent more productive than the average MLB catcher, but would put him just six percent above average at first base. That's a big difference, although for fantasy purposes he'll maintain catcher eligibility for at least next season.

Beyond that, there's no guarantee that Posada will post his usual .850 OPS while playing through the injury. He hit just .248/.380/.371 with two homers in 33 games between DL stints and a torn labrum doesn't heal itself. If he puts off surgery now, struggles to remain productive regardless of position, and then ultimately decides to go under the knife later, he'd likely miss part of next year as well. Look for the Yankees to add a veteran catcher (Gregg Zaun?) to pair with Jose Molina.

While the Yankees test exactly how many designated hitters one roster can hold, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* If CC Sabathia keeps this up, it's going to be awfully tough for the Brewers to let him walk as a free agent. Sabathia tossed a complete-game shutout Wednesday over the Cardinals, going the distance for the third time in four starts with the Brewers. He's 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA since coming over from Cleveland, which makes him 10-5 with a 1.97 ERA and 140-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128.1 innings spread over 18 starts since beginning the season with four rough outings.

* Sabathia handed them a third straight loss Wednesday, but the Cardinals did get some good news on the injury front. After throwing four scoreless innings in his first minor-league rehab start Sunday at Double-A, Chris Carpenter had a successful bullpen session Tuesday and is on track to make his second rehab appearance Friday at Triple-A. Carpenter is exactly one year removed from Tommy John elbow surgery, and barring a setback looks capable of returning next month.

Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright also threw a bullpen session Tuesday and said afterward that he "optimistically" hopes to return within three weeks. He's been sidelined since June 7 with a ruptured pulley in his right middle finger and no timetable has been established for a rehab stint, so three weeks may be a best-case scenario. Still, if the Cardinals can remain within striking distance for a playoff spot, getting Carpenter and Wainwright back next month could be huge.

* Not even his agent filing a grievance against the Twins on his behalf earlier this week can slow Francisco Liriano down. Stuck at Triple-A because the Twins refuse to dump Livan Hernandez and his 5.29 ERA from the rotation, Liriano tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday while racking up 10 strikeouts and allowing just two hits. He's now 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 81-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64.2 innings spread over his last 10 starts.

Liriano has allowed just one earned run over his last 35 innings, totaling 42 strikeouts versus five walks during that span. While his agent's claim that the Twins are keeping Liriano at Triple-A to suppress his service time falls apart once the details are examined, there's plenty of reason to question why he's still being allowed to overpower minor leaguers when the Twins are in the thick of a pennant race. Much of his velocity has returned and the results are outstanding. It's time.

* An MRI exam on Erik Bedard's injured shoulder confirmed the original diagnosis of an internal impingement, which is basically a fancy way of saying "soreness." That qualifies as good news because it rules out major structural damage, but he's yet to begin throwing and is probably out of time to show that he's healthy with a start before the July 31 trading deadline. Bedard is under the Mariners' control through next season, but seems like a long shot to be in Seattle come April.

AL Quick Hits: Carlos Quentin took over the AL lead with a pair of homers Wednesday and ranks second to only Josh Hamilton with 76 RBIs ? David Ortiz (wrist) played his final minor-league rehab game Wednesday and remains on track to come off the disabled list Friday ? J.J. Putz totaled three strikeouts in two scoreless innings Wednesday, but likely didn't gain any ground on reclaiming the closer job thanks to Brandon Morrow tossing two shutout frames ? Mike Mussina tossed eight shutout innings Wednesday, picking up his 13th win and improving to 22-6 lifetime versus the Twins ? Jeff Mathis went 4-for-5 while driving in six runs Wednesday, smacking his first career grand slam ? Justin Masterson made his first career relief appearance Wednesday, retiring all eight batters he faced after entering a tie game with two runners on base ? Multiple reports suggest that the Yankees are interested in Jarrod Washburn and may be willing to take Jose Vidro off the Mariners' hands to make a deal work ? In the lineup against a left-hander Wednesday, Casey Kotchan had a career-high five hits ? Manny Ramirez was scratched from Wednesday's game with right knee soreness.

NL Quick Hits: Roy Oswalt (hip) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is on track to come off the disabled list Monday against the Reds ? Atlanta saw Tim Hudson (elbow) and Chipper Jones (hamstring) exit Wednesday's game with injuries, but both players said afterward that they expect to avoid the DL ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] went 4-for-5 with a homer Wednesday and is now hitting .302 with 22 homers in 72 games since a poor April ? As expected, Alfonso Soriano (hand) came off the shelf Wednesday and resumed leading off, dropping Kosuke Fukudome in the lineup ? One day after the Mets' bullpen imploded without him and cost Johan Santana a victory, Billy Wagner (shoulder) tossed a perfect ninth inning Wednesday for his 25th save ? Amid various trade rumors, Jason Bay matched last season's total with his 21st homer Wednesday ? Gregor Blanco came into Wednesday's game with a modest .670 OPS, but went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs ? Jose Reyes smacked what proved to be the game-winning three-run homer Wednesday, giving him a .312 batting average, nine homers, 27 steals, and 59 runs in 75 games since May 1.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Delgado Not Done Yet
It's been a busy week and there's plenty of stuff to cover today, so let's skip the usual chatter and get right to the notes from around baseball ?

* Colby Rasmus came into this season as a consensus top-10 prospect and was thought to have a legitimate shot at replacing Jim Edmonds as the Cardinals' starting center fielder. Instead, he was sent to Triple-A despite posting a .982 OPS during spring training and slumped at Memphis, hitting just .210 in April and .218 in May. He put together a big June, hitting .333/.441/.535, but then missed time earlier this month with a groin injury.

Ramus had just returned to the lineup Tuesday when he suffered a sprained knee that's expected to sideline him for at least a month and will keep him from playing in the Olympics. He once seemed like nearly a sure thing to spend a chunk of this season in the majors, but between the injuries and hitting just .249/.346/.395 the 22-year-old may not make it to St. Louis until 2009. His 11 homers, 49 walks, and 15 steals in 89 games are still a good sign, so don't give up on him.

* Overreacting to his recent struggles, the Blue Jays sent Jesse Litsch to the minors Thursday despite his decent 8-7 record and 4.46 ERA overall this season. Litsch is 23 years old, has gone 15-16 with a 4.12 ERA in 39 career starts, and has posted better secondary numbers?strikeouts, walks, homers allowed?than he did as a rookie last season. Given that Toronto is all but out of the playoff picture, he likely deserved to remain in the rotation and work through his problems.

Whatever the case, the Blue Jays recalled southpaw David Purcey from Triple-A to replace Litsch in the rotation and he's worth watching after showing major improvement recently. A first-round pick in 2004, Purcey has always racked up plenty of strikeouts, but struggled with his control for his first three pro seasons before something finally clicked for him last year. Now that he's finding the strike zone with regularity, Purcey looks capable of becoming a solid mid-rotation starter.

In 30 starts between Double-A and Triple-A over the past two seasons, Purcey has a 3.62 ERA and 176-to-50 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 179 innings. Striking out around one batter per inning is nothing new for Purcey, but he's issued just 2.5 free passes per nine innings during that time after walking 5.1 batters per nine innings from 2004-2006. Don't expect him to be a mixed-league option, but Purcey has a chance to provide some solid value in AL-only leagues.

* Jeff Baker has officially taken over as the Rockies' second baseman, starting six straight games at the position even with Troy Tulowitzki's return from the disabled list crowding the infield picture. Baker's bat was mediocre when he was playing primarily first base or an outfield corner, but he has enough pop to be one of the league's better hitters at second base and has been surprisingly effective defensively for someone who made his MLB debut at the position earlier this year.

Baker is a .274/.329/.488 hitter with 17 homers, 55 total extra-base hits, 71 RBIs, and 77 runs in 484 career plate appearances, including .297/.344/.510 in 224 trips to the plate this season. His solid-looking raw numbers are due largely to playing home games at Coors Field, as he's hit just .218/.282/.341 on the road during his career, but Baker isn't going anywhere and raw numbers are all that matter for fantasy purposes. He could be a major sleeper down the stretch.

* Oliver Perez had three shutout efforts in his first four outings this season, but then went through an ugly eight-start stretch that saw him post a 7.51 ERA with more walks than strikeouts from late April through early June. He's gotten back on track since then and after fanning a dozen over 7.2 innings of one-run ball Thursday he now has a 2.53 ERA and 57-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 57 innings spread over his last nine outings, including five straight Quality Starts.

* After a week full of contradictory stories about what the Cubs planned to do with Kerry Wood, the oft-injured closer finally landed on the disabled list Thursday due to a blister on his right index finger. Wood hasn't pitched since July 11 and the DL stint was backdated to make him eligible for a quick return, but he's unlikely to be ready by the end of the month. Carlos Marmol will keep filling in for Wood and should be able to pick up a few saves despite his own recent struggles.

* Carlos Delgado posted the worst OPS of his career last year and hit just .198 this April as many people began speculating about the Mets replacing him, but he's been one of the NL's best hitters since May 1. Delgado delivered a key two-run double Thursday against the Phillies and is hitting .284/.363/.530 with 16 homers and 18 doubles over his last 74 games. He's been especially great this month, going 29-for-73 (.397) with five homers, eight doubles, and 16 RBIs in 20 games.

AL Quick Hits: As expected, the Mariners are no longer counting on Erik Bedard (shoulder) being able to make a start before the trading deadline ? Meanwhile, Jarrod Washburn said Wednesday that he'd "strongly consider" waiving his partial no-trade clause for a deal to the Yankees ? Roy Halladay picked up his 12th win by holding the Orioles to one run over seven innings Thursday and now ranks third in the league with a 2.82 ERA ? With Jorge Posada (shoulder) no longer an option behind the plate and Jose Molina sporting a measly .560 OPS, the Yankees are said to be interested in veteran catchers Gerald Laird, Paul Lo Duca, Miguel Olivo, and Rod Barajas ? Gil Meche tossed seven shutout innings Thursday against the Rays for his eighth victory ? Daniel Cabrera was rocked by the Blue Jays for seven runs on 11 hits Thursday and is now 1-5 with a 6.56 ERA over his last 10 outings following a very promising start to the season ? Jason Bartlett returned from the disabled list Thursday by going 3-for-3 with a double ? With as many as a dozen teams said to be scouting George Sherrill, he doesn't figure to be a closer for much longer.

NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins was benched Thursday for showing up late to the ballpark, but made the final out of the game as a pinch-hitter ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] notched his second straight four-hit game Thursday and is now hitting .382 this month ? Carlos Zambrano hasn't totaled more than six strikeouts in a start since April 6, but improved to 11-4 with seven innings of two-run ball Thursday against the Marlins ? Showing no signs of slowing down, Xavier Nady went 2-for-4 with a homer Thursday and is now sporting a 1.060 OPS this month ? Bronson Arroyo is 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his last five starts, reportedly drawing the Rockies' interest despite being owed $23 million over the next two years ? Lastings Milledge returned from the disabled list Thursday and resumed starting in center field, with Willie Harris sliding to left field ? Josh Bard came off the shelf Thursday after sitting out two months with an ankle injury suffered when Albert Pujols slid into him ? General manager Jim Bowden said Thursday that the Nationals will non-tender Chad Cordero (shoulder) after the season, but may try to re-sign him to an incentive-laden deal.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Steinbrenners bail Bonds?
We're over 100 games into the season, so I figure it's probably about time to open up the old mailbag. Let's start with a compilation of many emails sent by one of my most rabid readers:

"Amateur hour? Another young punk, who thinks he knows something about baseball. Take your stats and play with yourself? You are just 1 of the many jokers that write opinions on Roto World. All of you are the same? I win fantasy leagues and financially can buy and sell you 10 times over? Maine is a done deal for the rest of the year. Pick any starter against Maine, he will not win another game this year. That is why you are a Stat Geek and you are clueless. I am telling you this before the fact JAG OFF."

Why, thank you. Of course, all of that was written before Maine won on Wednesday, but I'm sure the general "you are a jag off" sentiment still rings true. Here are this week's waiver options:

[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]

1. Ryan Zimmerman ? 3B ? WAS - Zimmerman was activated off the disabled list this week, and has gone 5-for-12 in his first three games back after missing two months with a shoulder injury. The injury could end up zapping some of his power this season, but on the other hand Zimmerman has hit about 30 points better in the second half than the first in his short career. For now, he's certainly of use in NL-only leagues, and he's worth snatching up in case he is able to return to his old form.
Recommendation Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

2. Manny Corpas ? RP ? COL - He's been mentioned before, but with the trading deadline just a week away and Brian Fuentes on the block, Corpas is a fine short-term investment.
Recommendation - Should be owned in mixed leagues.

3. Jason Bergmann ? SP ? WAS - Bergmann is 1-7 this season, and as a member of the Nationals that record doesn't figure to improve much (unless Emilio Bonifacio was acquired for magical abilities). He's coming off a tough start against the Giants in which he allowed three homers, which tends to be his biggest flaw. Still, since being demoted earlier this season, he's posted a solid 3.00 ERA. He doesn't strike out many batters, and he won't get wins, but he should be a solid innings eater over the rest of the season.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

4. Freddy Sanchez ? 2b ? PIT - Freddy Sanchez is finally starting to heat up a little: he's gone 14-for-30 with two homers in the past week. Part of this could be that he's finally starting to distance himself from offseason shoulder surgery, and Sanchez also had a strong finish to the season last year. He doesn't have much power or speed, but since he's in the No. 2 hole in Pittsburgh's explosive lineup, he should score plenty of runs if he can continue to hit. The one-week surge isn't enough to declare him back, but it's certainly a good sign.
Recommendation Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

5. Eugenio Velez ? 2B ? SF - The Giants shipped Ray Durham to Milwaukee, and thus Eugenio Velez should see significant playing time at second base. The trade also provided me with a good excuse to use "I Dream of Eugenio" as the headline of this article. Velez isn't much of a hitter, but he's a speedy feller who should contribute at least ten steals over the final two months of the season. His .246 BABIP combined with his speed suggests his average should improve from its current .208 level, which would also be nice.
Recommendation - Worth consideration in NL-only leagues.

6. Chris Volstad ? SP ? FLA - Volstad has a 2.16 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings for the Marlins, and while he projects to eventually be a very solid starter, his rookie season will likely be filled with ups and downs. His strikeout totals aren't very impressive, but he's someone that can be used in the right situation. His match-up against the Cubs on Saturday is not the right situation, but it's a good chance to see what the 21-year-old is made of.
Recommendation: Streamer material in mixed leagues.

7. Ian Stewart ? 3B ? COL - The Denver Post reported earlier this week that Todd Helton was "not close to returning," but the Rockies can't be upset with what they've gotten out of Stewart this week with Garrett Atkins filling in at first. Stewart has gone 11-for-20 with 11 RBI and five runs scored. Stewart hadn't shown much before this week, but the former first-round pick is only 23 and clearly has plenty of potential, as his .280/.372/.607 line in the minors attests to. Still, he might only have playing time for a couple more weeks.
Recommendation: Should be owned short-term in NL-only leagues.

<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]

1. Adam Lind ? OF ? TOR - Lind is finally starting to hit like so many of us knew he would: he's put up a .383/.387/.667 line in 60 at-bats this month, with three homers and 17 RBI. While that probably won't continue for the rest of the season, we've discussed the reasons Lind is worth owning in this space before.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

2. Casey Blake ? 3B ? CLE - Since June 1, Casey Blake is hitting .348 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. Blake has alternated between an OPS of around .750 and .850 for the past six seasons, and this season he's due to wind up in the .850 range. And patterns don't lie. Ever. Blake has always been slowed by an inability to hit with runners in scoring position, but he seems to have conquered the problem this year, and his 58 RBI puts him on pace to set a new career record. The fact is that Blake has shown he has the power to hit at a 20 homer pace, his average won't hurt you, and he's eligible at shortstop in some leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

3. Glen Perkins ? SP ? MIN - Before Wednesday, Perkins hadn't allowed more than three runs in any of his starts since June 4, and six of his eight starts over that time have lasted long enough to be quality. His tough outing against the Yankees on Wednesday was largely the fault of poor fielding. His 46/23 K/BB ratio in 90 1/3 innings isn't very impressive, but the Twins keep winning, and Perkins is 5-1 in his last seven starts. Used wisely, he could be a cheap source of wins down the stretch.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

4. Barry Bonds ? OF - ?? - If Bonds signs, it will probably be with an American League team, and there is still plenty of reason to think he won't sniff the majors this season. Still, the Yankees have made no secret of the fact that they're talking about him, and while it remains a long shot, it's proof that desperate teams are starting to consider ole Barry. If he was signed this week, he'd probably hit at least 10 homers and post an OPS of 1.000 over the rest of the season. He could do even more damage depending on the level of rage that is simmering in that huge head of his. There's no harm in stashing him if you have the space: the dividends could be huge. Like his head.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

5. Melvin Mora ? 3B ? BAL - Mora has been an absolute beast in July, he's hitting .359/.427/.641 with five homers and 24 RBI. Thanks in part to a brutal June, he's still hitting just .256, but that number figures to rise slightly. Mora is 36, and his best days are clearly behind him, but he should be good for almost ten homers and a decent average over the rest of the season.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

6. Jason Bartlett ? SS ? TB - Jason Bartlett is back from the disabled list, and his 3-for-3 night on Thursday raised his average all the way to .264. Amazing. While he's not going to provide much help with his bat, Bartlett did steal 18 bases in his first 276 at-bats this season, and if he shows his knee sprain didn't slow him, he could steal ten more before the season's out.
Recommendation: Should be owned in AL-only leagues.

7. Jim Johnson ? RP - BAL - The Orioles have another week to trade George Sherrill, so Johnson might be worth grabbing just in case George gets moved. Johnson would likely get the first shot at the closing job, and while it's unlikely he'll maintain the success he's enjoyed for the first 100 games of the season, he could make a valuable trade chip until he falters. He has 17 holds so far this season, so he can handle pressure. I'd recommend adding Johnson just until the trade deadline, but the closing situation in Baltimore could wind up being a committee: Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford and Fernando Cabrera are all candidates to be in the mix.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in mixed leagues.

8. David Purcey ? SP ? TOR - One of the biggest knocks against Purcey has been his command, but so far this year he's posted a 121/34 K/BB ratio in 117 innings at Triple-A Syracuse. He's sporting a 2.69 ERA in his 19 minor league starts, and now will get a chance to show he can maintain the gains in the major leagues.
Recommendation - Worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Welcome Xman, Sayonar Kei?
The Xman returns to NY, Wood hits the pine, and a possible Igawa deal in this week's Week That Was.

Xavier Nady: In a deal I imagine you have all heard about, the Yankees obtained the "Xman", Xavier Nady, as well as lefty fireballer Damaso Marte, from the Pirates for prospects. From a real-life perspective this deal makes a lot of sense for both teams. The Yankees get a righty stick they need and a lhp set up man they for whom they have been searching since the turn of the century (literally), while the Pirates saved some money and got some prospects for a player in Nady who was leaving after this year. From a fantasy perspective, Nady is still a sell-high candidate (he simply cannot keep up his .330 average). That said, he will score and knock in more runs in NY. As to Marte, he will post good ratios and vulture a few wins, but saves are a thing of the past for him this year. After all, the best that's ever been is still closing and pitching lights out in the Bronx.

Aaron Cook: Aaron Cook continued his magical season, notching win number 13 Friday night. With an ERA and WHIP far below his established record, one would have to say this is a career year. Will it continue? I doubt it. Let me take that back. I highly doubt it. Wait, I very highly doubt it. Ok, you get the point. With only 73 strikeouts in 150+ innings, Cook is a prime candidate to sell high off of your fantasy roster. Do it now, before the dog days of August take a bite out of his value.

Juan Pierre: Juan Pierre came off the shelf this week after missing 20 games. If Joe Torre does the right thing, he will give Pierre Andruw Jones' at bats. How bad has Andruw been? Well, lets just say he yearns for the .220 average he posted last year. In fact, he would have to go on a tear just to get to that point. Other than the what I understand to be a lack of discipline and a failure to stay in shape, it is hard to explain how Andruw has fallen so far so fast. In another Dodger note, in order to make room for Pierre, Delwyn Young was placed on the DL. He is out of options and a prime candidate to be moved in a deal.

Steven Pearce: The Bucs recalled Steven Pearce to take Xavier Nady's place. A good move if I may say so. Pearce has struggled this year in the minors, but that often happens with a player who has nothing to prove in the bush leagues. Pearce, who hit .330+ in AAA in 07 followed by a .290+ stint in the show is a good speculative pick for NL-only players looking to win this year as well as those in keeper leagues.

Josh Bard: In his first start since coming off of the DL, Josh Bard smacked two hits and notched two RBI. It is true that Bard has not hit a lick this year (.209), however, it also true that he is at prime hitting age for a catcher (30) and has hit .285 and .333 over the last two years. If you are looking for production from the catcher's spot and Bard is available by FAAB or deal, do it. He will likely be better than one or both of the catchers you are carrying.

Josh Fields: With Joe Crede returning to the DL, the Chisox called up Josh Fields. Fields was your classic Rob Deer, Dave Kingman, Gorman Thomas, Jack Cust type player last year, hitting 23 dingers but managing only a .244 average. Unfortunately for Fields, that has not changes in AAA this year, as he has posted a very weak .248 average. So, what to do in fantasyland? If you are looking to win this year, avoid Fields (unless you are winning batting average by a lot). On the other hand, if you are building for next year, take a shot that Fields will take advantage of this opportunity. Why not?

Jason Bartlett: Jason Bartlett went a perfect 3-3 in his first game back from the DL. While Bartlett was hitting just .256 before landing on the shelf, he is a good source of speed, with his 18 SB against only 3 CS this year. You could do a lot worse at MI and remember, those late season swipes are hard to come by.

Kerry Wood: In a long awaited move, the cubbies put Kerry Wood and his blister on the DL. However, since it was retroactive to July 14, he can return on Tuesday. With 55 K's in 44 innings to go along with the 24 saves, Wood is in no danger of losing the closer role. It is less than a week. Do not panic. If you have Carlos Marmol, lucky you, you could get a save or two this weekend.

Joey Gathright: KC put Joey Gathright on the 15-day with a reported bone bruise in his right shoulder. The good news is that it is not an injury to his one and only fantasy asset ? his legs. With an average just over .250 and little power to speak of, all of Joey's value comes from his 21 steals. DL him, activate him in two weeks, but do not expect production in any of the four other categories.

Kei Igawa: While I have nothing against Seattle, the Mariners or their fans, I do hope they take the bait and actually agree to receive Kei Igawa in a trade. Safeco is a pitcher's park, but it is hardly big enough to contain the gopher balls, screaming line drives and frozen ropes that have been the hallmark of Igawa's major league career.

And finally, more musings from the Carlton the Doorman of fantasy sports -- Schultz Says: "It's always a fun week when a Will Ferrell movie has great importance to the world of rotisserie sports. "How so?" you say. Well let me 'splain. Think back to Talladega Nights where Ricky Bobby keeps repeating the mantra, "If you ain't first, you're last" until his Dad yells at him that that makes no sense. "You can be second, third, fourth . . . hell, you can even be fifth," he tells his NASCAR-challenged son. Too often in roto-baseball, people lose sight of the fact that while winning brings prestige (unlikely, but surely you're Mom will be impressed you won Geekfest 2008) and bragging rights for the winter, usually the next three places bring some sort of monetary reward that exceeds the league fee you paid in April. Getting more back than you shelling out; that, my friends, is what is called a good return on your investment . . . and many people forget this.

Still waiting for the relevance? Most leagues have their trading deadline right around the end of July/beginning of August and many like to jump the pack and begin their dumping in late June. Should you be one of the teams that's hovering just above your leagues cellar dwellers but a money position is on the distant horizon, perhaps you should be rethinking your inclination to dump for next year. Check out your standings and see if teams that are slightly ahead of you in various categories have already packed up their tents and moved on to next year. This should greatly assist you in gaining points if you either remain pat or swim against your leagues tide and make a couple trades to bolster your roster. There may be anywhere from 10 to 12 points lurking out there if you're bold enough to grab them.

Now - Shake and Bake (that's a catchphrase, not epilepsy).

Response: If you have any idea what he is talking about, let me know. I think the Dog Days of August got Schultzie early this year

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

A big job for a Buehrle man
It's a big week in Chicago: both the White Sox and the Cubs are in first place, and both are playing the teams nipping at their heels in the coming week. Here's what else is happening around the league:

[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]

American League

Must Start
Daisuke Matsuzaka ? LAA (Jered Weaver), OAK (Dallas Braden)
Mark Buehrle - @MIN (Kevin Slowey), @KC (Kyle Davies)
Aaron Laffey ? DET (Armando Galarraga), @MIN (Glen Perkins)
John Lackey - @BOS (Clay Buchholz), @NYY (Mike Mussina)
Mike Mussina ? BAL (Daniel Cabrera), LAA (John Lackey)
Felix Hernandez - @TEX (Kevin Millwood), BAL (Jeremy Guthrie)
James Shields - @TOR (A.J. Burnett), DET (Armando Galarraga)
A.J. Burnett ? TB (James Shields), @TEX (Kevin Millwood)

Other Options
Jeremy Guthrie - @NYY (Darrell Rasner), @SEA (Felix Hernandez)
Paul Byrd ? DET (Kenny Rogers) @MIN (Kevin Slowey)
Zack Greinke - @OAK (Dallas Braden), CHW (Undecided)
Jered Weaver - @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka), @NYY (Darrell Rasner)
Kevin Slowey ? CHW (Mark Buehrle), CLE (Paul Byrd)
Glen Perkins ? CHW (Undecided), CLE (Aaron Laffey)
Darrell Rasner ? BAL (Jeremy Guthrie), LAA (Jered Weaver)
Dallas Braden ? KC (Zack Greinke), @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
R.A. Dickey - @TEX (Luis Mendoza), BAL (Garrett Olson)
Luis Mendoza ? SEA (R.A. Dickey), TOR (Shaun Marcum)
Kevin Millwood ? SEA (Felix Hernandez), TOR (A.J. Burnett)

National League

Must Start
Tim Hudson ? STL (Todd Wellemeyer), MIL (Ben Sheets)
Carlos Zambrano - @MIL (Ben Sheets), PIT (Ian Snell)
Johnny Cueto - @HOU (Jack Cassel), @WAS (Collin Balester)
Ricky Nolasco ? NYM (John Maine), COL (Jason Hirsh?)
CC Sabathia ? CHC (Ted Lilly), @ATL (Charlie Morton)
Ben Sheets ? CHC (Carlos Zambrano), @ATL (Tim Hudson)

Other Options
Yusmeiro Petit - @SD (Greg Maddux), @LAD (Clayton Kershaw)
Doug Davis - @SD (Clay Hensley), @LAD (Hiroki Kuroda)
Charlie Morton ? STL (Braden Looper), MIL (Jeff Suppan)
Ted Lilly - @MIL (CC Sabathia), PIT (Paul Maholm)
Jason Hirsh? - @PIT (Ian Snell), @FLA (Ricky Nolasco)
Glendon Rusch - @PIT (Yoslan Herrera), @FLA (Anibal Sanchez)
Anibal Sanchez ? NYM (Oliver Perez), COL (Glendon Rusch)
Jack Cassel ? CIN (Johnny Cueto), NYM (John Maine)
Clayton Kershaw ? SF (Kevin Correia), ARI (Yusmeiro Petit)
Hiroki Kuroda ? SF (Matt Cain), ARI (Doug Davis)
John Maine - @FLA (Ricky Nolasco), @HOU (Jack Cassel)
Brett Myers - @WAS (Collin Balester), @STL (Todd Wellemeyer)
Ian Snell ? COL (Jason Hirsh?), @CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Greg Maddux ? ARI (Yusmeiro Petit), SF (Kevin Correia)
Kevin Correia - @LAD (Clayton Kershaw), @SD (Greg Maddux)
Braden Looper - @ATL (Charlie Morton), PHI (Joe Blanton)
Todd Wellemeyer - @ATL (Tim Hudson), PHI (Brett Myers)
Collin Balester ? PHI (Brett Myers), CIN (Johnny Cueto)

[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]

The following pitchers are available in about half of mixed leagues and should have at least one decent start this week.

American League

Saturday, August 2 - Mark Buehrle @ KC ? If you're reading columns like this, Buehrle probably isn't available in your league, but he's only owned in half of fantasy leagues and this contest with the Royals should be a good one.

Sunday, August 3 - Jeremy Guthrie @ SEA ? It's a tough matchup against Livan Hernandez, but Guthrie should post solid numbers against Seattle's anemic offense. In his first outing against them this year he allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings.

National League

Tuesday, July 29 - Doug Davis @ SD - Davis hasn't pitched especially well this month with the exception of his start against the Padres. In that outing he lasted eight innings, striking out seven and surrendering just three runs. A second outing against the Dodgers should also be beneficial if you need him for the week.

Wednesday, July 30 - Jamie Moyer @ WAS ? Moyer has pitched well this season, and in the last month he's compiled a 2.78 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. In his last outing against the Nationals he didn't allow a run in six innings. He should do well once again.

Thursday, July 31 - Dave Bush vs. CHC ? Bush has been dominant at home, posting a 2.50 ERA. A match-up against the Cubs isn't ideal, but Sheets has limited opponents to a .208 average when pitching in Milwaukee.

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[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]

American League

7: CHW, CLE, DET, LAA, MIN, NYY, SEA, TEX
6: BAL, BOS, KC, OAK, TB, TOR

National League
7: ARI, ATL, CHC, COL, FLA, LAD, MIL, STL
6: CIN, HOU, NYM, PIT, SD, SF, WAS

[SIZE=+1]Righty vs. Lefty Match-ups[/SIZE]

American League
Baltimore - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Boston - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees ? 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay ? 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Texas ? 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto ? 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties

Notes:

Boston faces lefties in three of their six games this week.
Good For: Sean Casey (.385 vs. LHP), Coco Crisp (.327),
Bad For: David Ortiz (.163)

Kansas City faces lefties in three of their six games this week.
Good For: Mike Aviles (.364 vs. LHP), John Buck (.281), Mark Grudzielanek (.403), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] (.301), Miguel Olivo (.283)
Bad For: Ross Gload (.186), Alex Gordon (.186)

Minnesota faces lefties in four of their seven games this week.
Good For: Joe Mauer (.361 vs. LHP), Denard Span (.462)
Bad For: Brendan Harris (.273), Jason Kubel (.167), Mike Lamb (.074)

National League:
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs ? 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati ? 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Florida ? 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties (could change)
Houston - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers ? 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia ? 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh ? 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties

Notes:

Every National League team faces a pretty standard ratio of lefties.

[SIZE=+1]The Injury Bug[/SIZE]

For the latest on injuries, check out Rotoworld's handy Injury Page.

Kelvim Escobar ? SP ? Out for the season
Roy Oswalt ? SP ? Hip ? Return Monday
Frank Thomas ? DH ? Quadriceps ? Return late July
Dustin McGowan ? SP ? Shoulder- Out indefinitely
Vernon Wells ? OF ? Hamstring ? Return August
Aaron Hill ? 2B ? Head ? Out indefinitely
Adam Wainwright ? SP ? Finger ? Return early August
Kerry Wood ? RP ? Finger ? Return early August
Justin Upton ? OF ? ribs ? Return August
Eric Byrnes ? OF ? Hamstring ? Out indefinitely
Takashi Saito ? RP ? Elbow ? Return September
Rafael Furcal ? SS- Back ? Return September
Victor Martinez ? C ? Elbow ? Return mid-August
Travis Hafner ? DH ? Return August?
Fausto Carmona ? SP ? Hip ? Return late July
Erik Bedard ? SP ? Back ? Out indefinitely
Jerry Hairston ? SS ? Hamstring ? Return August
Aaron Harang ? SP ? Return August
Jorge Posada ? C ? Shoulder ? Out indefinitely
Johnny Damon ? OF ? Shoulder ? Return late July
Hideki Matsui ? DH ? Knee ? Out indefinitely

[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]

For this week's top waiver adds, read my opinion in this week's Waiver Wired.

AL

1. Adam Lind
2. Casey Blake
3. Glen Perkins
4. Barry Bonds
5. Melvin Mora

NL

1. Ryan Zimmerman
2. Manny Corpas
3. Jason Bergmann
4. Freddy Sanchez
5. Eugenio Velez

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Trade Deadline Preview

This week's column is all about the trade deadline. First up is a run through of what every team is trying to do right now. Second is a look at some of the players available and where they could go. Last on the agenda is a review of the trades of the last week and what effect they'll have in fantasy leagues.

August rankings next week.
American League Team Needs
National League Team Needs
12 Rumored Players on the Move
Review of Previously Completed Trades

American League Teams

Baltimore - To sell or make a run at .500? The Orioles have lost five in a row, so they may be more open to parting with George Sherrill than they were a week ago. Unfortunately, the one other player who would bring a really nice return, Luke Scott, probably won't be made available. Aubrey Huff's name hasn't been coming up, but he's a darkhorse to go, and the Orioles would be open to dumping the contracts of Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker and Jay Payton if they have the chance. They'll be after a young shortstop and pitching.

Boston - The Red Sox aren't as occupied with matching the Yankees blow for blow as they used to be, but they really could use another reliever. It seems unlikely that they'll do anything else unless the Manny Ramirez situation is as dire as some in the press would like everyone to believe. They were looking at Juan Uribe as a backup infielder, but they'll probably be content with their current situation at shortstop unless someone falls into their laps.

Chicago - GM Kenny Williams is known for being aggressive, but since he's left himself with one of the game's weakest farm systems after acquiring Nick Swisher, he'll have a difficult time pulling another rabbit out of his hat. Williams can't even shop Josh Fields since he's currently starting as a result of Joe Crede's injury. There appeared to be some substance to the Orlando Cabrera rumors, but they're dead now. The White Sox will probably stick with what they have on offense and try to add a pitcher.

Cleveland - The Indians have already dumped two of their three key free agents, with just Paul Byrd remaining. It makes perfect sense that he'd be the next to go. Rafael Betancourt could also be available, but the Indians would be selling low with him. Jamey Carroll, David Dellucci and Juan Rincon could all be had cheap. Cy Young favorite Cliff Lee, who is under control at a total of $13.75 million for 2009 and 2010, doesn't appear to be on the table.

Detroit - Detroit views itself as still being in the race, but the team doesn't figure to swing any major trades in an effort to pass the White Sox and Twins. For one thing, there isn't much left in the farm system with which to barter. An innings-eating fifth starter and a quality reliever would help. Byrd could work here and would come fairly cheap.

Kansas City - Besides Joakim Soria, Alex Gordon and Billy Butler, everyone on the Royals' roster should be available at the right price. Still, a major trade appears unlikely. There's been little to suggest Zack Greinke, Gil Meche, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] or David DeJesus will be on the move. Miguel Olivo and Mark Grudzielanek are being shopped, and it's clear that Ron Mahay is in demand. The Royals will probably deal one or two of the three. Adding more young pitching is likely the priority.

Los Angeles - The Angels don't need to do anything to cruise into the playoffs, but they might feel as though one more bat is necessary if they're going to make it to the World Series for the first time since winning in all in 2002. The names of Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins have been bandied about. Still, the Angels have a history standing pat that may not change just because the old GM stepped aside.

Minnesota - After trading Johan Santana and letting Torii Hunter walk, the Twins probably have more financial flexibility than they've ever had at a trade deadline. They've been the prime suitors for Adrian Beltre, even though he's owed about $16 million through the end of 2009. Hank Blalock is another player they've looked at. A right-handed power hitter would be ideal, especially with the questions surrounding Michael Cuddyer, and they could also use a setup man to replace Pat Neshek.

New York - The Yankees' biggest need was a starting pitcher, but that went unaddressed in the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade. They remain in serious talks with the Mariners regarding Jarrod Washburn. For some reason, the Yankees seem to think the fact that he's been successful against their lineup means he'll also be effective versus other teams in Yankee Stadium. The alternatives are pretty limited, but they have the talent in their system to bring in someone better. A trade for a backup catcher such as Olivo or Gerald Laird is also being explored.

Oakland - The A's have traded their season-opening No. 1 and No. 2 starters, and they've now put their closer in play. Besides Huston Street, candidates to go include Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby, Alan Embree and Emil Brown. Justin Duchscherer seems set to stay, though he might bring back a return even nicer than Joe Blanton's if the A's moved him. Ellis would be a fit for the White Sox if the team moved Cabrera for pitching, but that seems unlikely at this point. Crosby's value remains modest enough that there's little reason to deal him now.

Seattle - It doesn't look like anything is happening with Ichiro Suzuki, but Washburn and Raul Ibanez appear set to go. Beltre remains more likely to stay because the team controls him for 2009 and has no one to replace him. Jose Vidro also figures to hang around unless the Mariners can persuade a team to take his salary as part of a bigger deal. A trade of Arthur Rhodes for a lesser prospect is a strong possibility, though it might wait until August.

Tampa Bay - The Rays were in on Nady and Blake, but they came up short. Now it looks like they'll hope Rocco Baldelli will be the right-handed bat they were looking for. It is likely that the Rays will pick up a reliever. With the way the team has come through, it'd be a shame if management did nothing to provide a lift at the deadline, even if it's mostly symbolic.

Texas - Indications are that the Rangers have decided to keep Milton Bradley, and Kevin Millwood is out as an option now that he's back on the DL. That leaves Vicente Padilla, Laird, Blalock, Eddie Guardado and Frank Catalanotto as the trade possibilities. Laird has the best chance of being dealt. If only he didn't have more than $7 million left on his contract, Catalanotto would be a great fit for an NL club looking for a pinch-hitter.

Toronto - A.J. Burnett is available, but perhaps not for any AL East clubs. It looks like the Jays would eagerly dump Gregg Zaun, David Eckstein, Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench should they have the chance, but relievers Scott Downs, Brian Tallet and Jason Frasor figure to be in greater demand. Still, the most likely scenario has the Blue Jays doing little or nothing at all.

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National League Teams

Arizona - The Diamondbacks found themselves a top setup man cheap. Now they're on the lookout for a replacement for Eric Byrnes. They do have Conor Jackson holding his own in the outfield, but Justin Upton has become a question mark and they could always move Jackson back to first base if Upton comes back strong. Ibanez's name keeps popping up here.

Atlanta - Along with Colorado, one of the two NL teams conflicted over whether it's a buyer or a seller. The Braves might as well sell unless they're willing to give Mark Teixeira $20 million per year this winter. They could deal him, Will Ohman and Mark Kotsay and still be in pretty good position for 2009. Ohman has the best chance of going. With left-handers hitting just .156 off him this year, he could bring back a better prospect than anyone expects.

Chicago - The Cubs acquired a top-notch starter in Rich Harden. Now they just have to hope that he stays healthy. If they do anything more before the deadline, it will probably be to pick up another reliever. A lefty to replace Sean Marshall would help.

Cincinnati - Cincinnati will consider selling, but the team doesn't want to do anything to hurt its chances in 2009. The demand for Adam Dunn seems practically non-existent, and even though Bronson Arroyo has won five straight, he's still not anyone's preferred target. If the Reds do something, it's more likely to involve David Weathers, Josh Fogg, David Ross, Jeremy Affeldt or Todd Coffey.

Colorado - Although they're still eight games under .500, the Rockies are very much in contention in the NL West. Matt Holliday seems nearly certain to stay, and the chances of a deal involving Brian Fuentes appear to be decreasing. Perhaps Garrett Atkins could go, but the Rockies would likely hold out for something that would help them this year.

Florida - Instead of looking to trade guys like Kevin Gregg, Jorge Cantu and Mike Jacobs, the Marlins are hoping to add a piece or two. A center fielder is no longer viewed as a priority, but a catcher and some pitching help would be nice. Since they have Josh Johnson back and they're also about to regain the services of Anibal Sanchez, they'll concentrate on the pen rather than the rotation.

Houston - The Astros just acquired Randy Wolf, but they're not so deep in denial that they're going to mortgage more of the future in what appears to be a hopeless cause. On the other hand, don't expect him to sell veterans on July 31. They might part with some combination of Darin Erstad, Mark Loretta, Geoff Blum and a reliever or two in an August deal.

Los Angeles - While they're contenders in the NL West regardless, the Dodgers need a couple of more players in order to be a serious threat to make it to the NLCS, even if they're just stopgaps like Blake. A legitimate shortstop and another late-game reliever would be nice. A solid starter would be even better, and Greg Maddux is likely available.

Milwaukee - The Brewers struck early, adding the best starter available in CC Sabathia and a nice bench bat in Ray Durham. They'll keep their eyes open for another reliever, but they should be quiet otherwise.

New York - The Mets have been beaten to the punch on Nady and Blake, but they still want to add an outfielder, probably Ibanez. The problem is that they're short of Meloans and McCutchens. Beyond Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese, both of whom they desperately want to keep, they don't have many prospects with trade value. They'll probably have to settle for one modest acquisition.

Philadelphia - Having already addressed their biggest need by picking up Joe Blanton, the Phillies could remain idle at the deadline. Still, GM Pat Gillick would surely like to make a splash before leaving at the end of the year. The Phillies have kicked around Holliday and Fuentes, but those talks are long over. Another setup man would always help.

Pittsburgh - The two players most likely to depart are already gone to the Yankees, but the Pirates still have Jason Bay, Jack Wilson and John Grabow that they could move. If Bay can't bring back more than the entire package for Nady and Marte, the Pirates should just keep him.

St. Louis - The Cardinals are scoring enough runs, and they'll hope that getting Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright back will take care of their rotation problems. If they make a trade, it will likely be for a late-game reliever.

San Diego - Maddux appears to be the likeliest candidate to follow Tony Clark out the door, but since he holds all of the cards -- the Dodgers might be the only realistic fit for him given his no-trade clause and the needs of other West Coast teams -- it's possible the Padres will just keep him. Brian Giles is likely to stay and have his 2009 option picked up. Josh Bard is available, but his value is well down from where it was last year. Cla Meredith is the best bet of the relievers to be moved.

San Francisco - GM Brian Sabean has already parted with Ray Durham and could ship Randy Winn, Jack Taschner, Rich Aurilia, Omar Vizquel, Tyler Walker and Dave Roberts elsewhere. Winn is the only one with capable of bringing back legitimate prospects, and the Giants would surely have to eat some salary in order to find a taker for Roberts.

Washington - The Nationals traded Jon Rauch and extended Cristian Guzman, leaving them with fewer questions in the final days before the deadline. Still, they have Tim Redding, Odalis Perez, Ronnie Belliard, Luis Ayala, Felipe Lopez and Willie Harris to discuss. Redding has the most value, and the Nats would be smart to sell high there. Lopez seems completely unwanted at this point.

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12 Rumored Players

Mark Teixeira (1B Braves) - Making Teixeira even more attractive in trade talks is his history of second-half surges. Also, there's no risk involved in offering him arbitration, so he's guaranteed to bring back two draft picks if he leaves as a free agent this winter. However, none of the contenders are in the market for a first baseman. The Braves could try sending him to the Angels for Casey Kotchman or the Dodgers for James Loney, but there's no guarantee either team would bite. It looks like they have proposed trading Teixeira to Arizona for Conor Jackson, only to be turned down. The Braves should be hoping the Red Sox move Manny Ramirez and then opt to enter the bidding.

Possibilities
To Diamondbacks for RHP Micah Owings, OF Gerardo Parra and RHP Barry Enright
To Red Sox for RHP Michael Bowden, OF Brandon Moss and RHP Daniel Bard

Prediction: Stays

Manny Ramirez (OF Red Sox) - This isn't anything new. In fact, Manny's late July brush with Red Sox management is something of a tradition in Boston. If it seems more serious this time around, perhaps it is. However, Ramirez doesn't seem all that displeased -- he's still talking to the media -- and the Red Sox know they're better off with him than without, since there's no way they'd get equal value in return. With so few potential suitors, it's hard to come up with a trade that might work. The Red Sox wouldn't want to send him to Anaheim even if the Angels were interested, and the Mets probably aren't. If the Red Sox thought Andruw Jones could be redeemed, a swap with the Dodgers would make sense. However, Andruw has been so awful this year that Boston couldn't risk it.

Possibilities
To Dodgers for OF Andruw Jones and 3B Andy LaRoche
To Mets for RHP Aaron Heilman and RHP Robert Parnell

Prediction: Stays

Adam Dunn (OF Reds) - Dunn is second in the majors in homers and first in walks, but no one seems eager to add him, even though the price would likely be fairly modest. He'd make sense in Boston as a replacement for Ramirez, but not otherwise. They, like the Rays, would rather have a right-handed hitter anyway. His approach wouldn't fit in as well with the Angels and Mets, but the Mets would be smart to make a bid anyway. The best match of all would have been Atlanta, but the Braves are pretty much out of the race. As a result, it seems likely that he'll finish out his contract in Cincinnati and become a free agent.

Possibilities
To Mets for LHP Jon Niese and OF Ezequiel Carrera
To Red Sox for OF Brandon Moss and RHP Craig Hansen

Prediction: Stays

Jason Bay (OF Pirates) - Bay was up for grabs over the winter, but no one took a chance. The Pirates would want considerably more in return for him now. They have him at $7.5 million in 2009 and they're looking to stay out of the cellar, so they'll probably retain him unless they can land a Fernando Martinez or one of the Rays' elite pitching prospects and more. The Diamondbacks, Cardinals and A's are among the other teams to have expressed interest. Bay has a better chance of going than the three outfielders above him here, but I still think the odds favor him staying.

Possibilities
To A's for LHP Gio Gonzalez, RHP Vin Mazzaro and OF Aaron Cunningham
To Rays for RHP Jeremy Hellickson and SS Reid Brignac
To Twins for LHP Glen Perkins, LHP Tyler Robertson and 1B/OF Chris Parmelee

Prediction: Stays

Raul Ibanez (OF Mariners) - Ibanez is 36, a big liability in the outfield and a free agent at season's end, so the Mariners would be crazy not to trade him. The Mets appear to want him, but Seattle is likely to hold out for left-hander Jon Niese. It's hardly an unfair request, especially given the possibility that Ibanez will bring back two draft picks this winter. Niese is a fine prospect, but he doesn't project as more than a No. 3. The Diamondbacks are the other interested party.

Possibilities
To Mets for LHP Jon Niese
To Diamondbacks for RHP Yusmeiro Petit and INF Jamie D'Antona

Prediction: Goes to Mets

Brian Fuentes (LHP Rockies) - The Rockies are a better team with Fuentes in the pen, an extremely important consideration with the team still in contention, but since it's not very likely that he'll re-sign as a free agent, he remains a possibility to go. Taylor Buchholz would likely replace him in the closer's role if it happens. Practically every contender is interested, with the Cardinals, Marlins and Red Sox likely leading the way in the competition for his services. Still, the Rockies are now quite a bit more likely to keep him than they were a couple of weeks ago.

Possibilities
To Cardinals for RHP Clayton Mortensen, RHP Brad Thompson and OF Jon Jay
To Marlins for 2B Chris Coghlan and RHP Eulogio De La Cruz
To Red Sox for 1B Lars Anderson and RHP Daniel Bard

Prediction: Stays

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George Sherrill (LHP Orioles) - The relatively modest returns in the Jon Rauch and Damaso Marte trades have made it more likely that Sherrill will stay. The Orioles have set a very high price tag since they have him under control through 2011 and possess no obvious replacement in the closer's role (Jim Johnson would be the likely choice). Plus, their longstanding reluctance to deal within the division could rule out a couple of likely suitors in Boston and Tampa Bay. The Cardinals are after him, and the Brewers and Dodgers are thought to be sniffing around. The Orioles, though, are hardly a team to strike while the iron is hot.

Possibilities
To Cardinals for LHP Jaime Garcia, OF Brian Barton and 3B/OF Allen Craig
To Dodgers for 3B Andy LaRoche

Prediction: Stays

Huston Street (RHP Athletics) - There have been indications that the A's are pretty eager to deal Street. He's had some injury problems, and his stuff isn't as crisp as it once was. If they keep him, they risk a Chad Cordero-type situation developing next year. Unfortunately for them, many other teams seem down on Street as well. The White Sox and Dodgers appear to be the most interested parties, with the Brewers and Mets also possibly in the hunt. The A's control Street through 2010, but if they can get two quality prospects back for him, they'll probably make the move. Joey Devine is set up to be the eventual replacement in the closer's role, but a committee including Brad Ziegler and Alan Embree could occupy the role initially.

Possibilities
To Dodgers for 3B Andy LaRoche
To Dodgers for RHP James McDonald and 3B Austin Gallagher
To Cardinals for RHP Clayton Mortensen and RHP Chris Perez

Prediction: Goes to Dodgers

A.J. Burnett (RHP Blue Jays) - Burnett heads a forgettable list of available starters that also includes Padilla, Arroyo, Maddux, Washburn, Redding, Odalis Perez and Byrd. Complicating Burnett's situation is that he can opt out of his current deal at season's end or elect to pick up a two-year, $24 million option. If he finishes strong, he'll almost certainly opt for free agency. However, if he gets hurt, a team would be stuck with him. A particularly desperate team may take him on anyway. The Cardinals would have the intriguing option of sticking Adam Wainwright back in the closer's role if they picked up Burnett. The White Sox, Dodgers and Rockies could also use him. It's doubtful that the Blue Jays would trade him within the division to the Yankees.

Possibilities
To Cardinals for RHP Clayton Mortensen and OF Jon Jay
To White Sox for RHP Jack Egbert and 1B Brandon Allen

Prediction: Goes to White Sox

Garrett Atkins (3B Rockies) - The Rockies appear ready to commit to Ian Stewart at third base, but that they can't count on Todd Helton and his balky back gives them additional incentive to hang on to Atkins, who is currently filling in at first. The Angels are the only team being mentioned in connection with Atkins at the moment. If only they had Kelvin Escobar back, they'd be in better position to part with the pitching the Rockies would want in return.

Possibilities
To Angels for RHP Nick Adenhart and 2B Sean Rodriguez

Prediction: Stays

Randy Winn (OF Giants) - Winn's no-trade clause has expired, but his $8.25 million salary in 2009 still might make him difficult to move. He hits like a center fielder, but he's a better fit in a corner at this point in his career. On the plus side, he is a real asset in left and right and he adds to his offensive value with his baserunning. Still, he seems like a fallback plan for teams right now.

Possibilities
To Rays for RHP Jeff Niemann and LHP James Houser
To Mets for RHP Robert Parnell and RHP Eddie Kunz

Prediction: Stays

Gerald Laird (C Rangers) - Laird is the top catcher available from a group that also includes Josh Bard, Miguel Olivo, Gregg Zaun, Paul Lo Duca and maybe Ramon Hernandez. Because he's still cheap and he's not a free agent until after 2010, he'd seem to be a great choice for the Marlins. The Red Sox were believed to be interested over the winter and still could use the help, but they're not going to replace Jason Varitek and they'd likely be reluctant to replace Tim Wakefield's personal catcher, Kevin Cash.

Possibilities

To Marlins for LHP Aaron Thompson and RHP Eulogio De La Cruz
To Yankees for RHP Jairo Heredia and OF Brett Gardner

Prediction: Goes to Marlins


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Trade Review

Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from the Pirates for outfielder Jose Tabata, RHP Dan McCutchen, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and RHP Jeff Karstens.

Nady will remain an everyday player for now, but he could lose at-bats against right-handers if Jorge Posada or Hideki Matsui returns next month as a designated hitter. While he remains in a very good situation for RBI in the Yankees' lineup, he figures to struggle to adjust to a whole new set of pitchers. I think he'll cease being an asset in mixed leagues by the time September rolls around.

John Grabow looks like the new favorite for saves in Pittsburgh, though there's still a slight chance that he'll follow Marte out of town. Tyler Yates has the closer-type fastball, but he possesses little in the way of command and he's faded since a nice start. Denny Bautista might be the Pirates' second-best reliever at this point. Still, it's Grabow who needs to be picked up in fantasy leagues.

All three pitchers the Pirates picked up are candidates to spend time in the rotation in the final two months. However, no one needs to be picked up right away in NL-only leagues. McCutchen is the best sleeper of the group for 2009.


Dodgers acquired third baseman Casey Blake from the Indians for RHP Jon Meloan and catcher Carlos Santana.

The two players the Indians got in return for Blake might be more valuable than the top two the Pirates received for both Nady and Marte. Meloan has closer-type ability and should get a look in September. Santana is tougher to judge. I left him out of last week's top 150 because I still don't have a good read on how he's progressed as a catcher. He has the arm for the position and he certainly can hit, so he might be a regular.

The Dodgers may have upgraded at third base by picking up Blake, but they did further weaken themselves defensively. With Jeff Kent at second and Nomar Garciaparra at short, they probably have the worst infield defense in the majors right now. Blake is more of a sure thing in the starting lineup. Blake DeWitt has already been sent down to make room for him, and Andy LaRoche could be dealt if the right kind of upgrade comes along before the deadline. The Orioles should offer Sherrill straight up for him.


Diamondbacks acquired RHP Jon Rauch from the Nationals for 2B Emilio Bonifacio.

The Nationals surrendered their closer for an infielder they view as a top prospect, even if most would disagree. They see Bonifacio as their second baseman and either a No. 1 or No. 2 hitter next year. He'll probably get his first crack at the job by mid-August or September, and because he can steal bases, he'll have some fantasy value when it happens. However, he may never get on base enough to be an adequate regular.

Rauch is setting up in Arizona, but he is next in line to close if Brandon Lyon continues to struggle. At the very least, he's worth holding on to in NL-only leagues. Tony Pena can probably be dropped in redraft leagues. The Nats are giving Joel Hanrahan a chance to close, but it doesn't look like they'll have made leads to protect. The Dodgers' castoff has been plenty good lately, but it's going to be hard for him to stay sharp if he pitches once per week.


Indians acquired RHP Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals for RHP Luis Perdomo.

Indians GM Mark Shapiro got a potential steal here. Reyes desperately needed out of St. Louis, and he'll get a fresh start with a team that needs arms. Although he was assigned to Triple-A initially, he should spend the final six weeks of the season in Cleveland's rotation. He could be an awfully intriguing $1-$2 pick next year. The Cardinals did get themselves a potential setup man in Perdomo, but it's not an impressive return for a guy who still might be a long-term No. 3 starter.


Astros acquired LHP Randy Wolf from the Padres for RHP Chad Reineke.

Nothing to see here. This actually could work out for the Astros if Wolf turns in a couple of good starts and brings back a better prospect in a waiver deal next month. Reineke has a chance to be a decent reliever in Petco, but who doesn't? He's 26 and hasn't made any real progress in years.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Yankees Add Nady, Marte
Being traded from the Pirates to the Yankees shouldn't have a ton of impact on Xavier Nady's fantasy value. Going from the NL to the AL will hurt him somewhat, but he'll continue starting every day in a high-scoring lineup while calling a fairly neutral ballpark home. However, he remains a poor bet to maintain his career-best performance for the remainder of the season. Nady hit .330/.383/.535 prior to the trade, which is a big change for the 29-year-old.

He came into this season as a .272/.327/.441 career hitter and much of his improvement stems from a .363 batting average on balls in play that ranked fifth in the NL and represents a 60-point jump from his career mark. Some of that's due to better hitting?his line-drive rate is at an all-time high?but it's still unsustainable and even when Nady proves to be a league-average corner outfielder he'll be viewed as a disappointment by fans expecting him to hit .330 with power.

Along with Nady, the Yankees also acquired Damaso Marte, who's been one of baseball's best left-handed relievers for the past seven seasons. He'll be a big upgrade to the Yankees' bullpen, but goes from filling in for Matt Capps as the Pirates' closer to setting up Mariano Rivera, losing all fantasy value in the process. With Marte gone and Capps' status uncertain, John Grabow, Tyler Yates, and Denny Bautista will fight for saves, with Grabow likely having the edge initially.

Parting with Nady also clears the way for Steve Pearce to take over as the Pirates' right fielder. He had a monster 2007 season, hitting .333/.394/.622 with 31 homers and 40 doubles in 134 games between three levels, but has batted just .258/.310/.425 with 11 homers in 93 games at Triple-A this year. His stock has dropped considerably and at 25 years old he doesn't possess a ton of upside, but Pearce projects as an above-average hitter who could end up similar to Nady.

From the Pirates' point of view the trade hinges on how teenage outfielder Jose Tabata develops. He hit .307/.371/.392 at Single-A as an 18-year-old, which had many people pegging him as an elite prospect. Unfortunately, he's hit just .248/.320/.310 at Double-A this year while missing time with injuries and drawing criticism for his work ethic. He still has lots of potential and the Pirates also got three serviceable young pitchers, but it doesn't strike me as a great haul for Nady/Marte.

While the Pirates hope that Tabata is a rare much-hyped Yankees prospect who pans out after being traded, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* Saturday's trade for Casey Blake gives the Dodgers a solid veteran at third base, which not surprisingly was general manager Ned Colletti's preference rather than trusting Andy LaRoche or Blake DeWitt with the job. A career .266/.336/.447 hitter who's batting .289/.365/.465 this season, Blake will be a solid upgrade by providing above-average offense and below-average defense at the hot corner for a team that ranks second-worst in the league with a .673 OPS at the position.

Replacing DeWitt and his modest .257/.324/.364 line in 88 games makes plenty of sense given his mediocre minor-league track record, but handing the position over to the 24-year-old LaRoche would have made more sense than Colletti probably thinks. He hasn't hit yet in limited action with the Dodgers, but LaRoche is a career .307/.410/.541 hitter with 33 homers, 109 RBIs, and an excellent 88-to-101 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 166 games at Triple-A.

Blake will be solid, but if given a chance LaRoche is capable of being just as good offensively and better defensively. Instead, the Dodgers gave up a pair of very intriguing, high-upside prospects in right-hander Jonathan Meloan and catcher Carlos Santana. If either of those players pan out, the team's unwillingness to simply trust LaRoche will come back to bite them. Given the sorry state of Cleveland's bullpen, the hard-throwing Meloan could be a factor for saves by mid-2009.

* Kerry Wood was unable to throw a scheduled bullpen session Sunday, making it unlikely that his blister will be healed enough for him to come off the disabled list when eligible Tuesday. With Wood out Carlos Marmol has been filling in as the Cubs' closer, but he was unavailable Sunday after throwing 35 pitches in a non-save situation Saturday. That gave rookie Jeff Samardzija the chance for a two-inning save and he closed out the victory by retiring all six batters he faced.

Samardjiza's minor-league numbers never came close to matching his considerable hype, but he showed improvement following a promotion to Triple-A with a 3.13 ERA and 40-to-16 strikeout-to-walk in 37.1 innings spread over six starts. Even with the solid work at Iowa he has a 4.26 ERA and 166-to-114 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 285 innings in the minors, making it plenty interesting that the Cubs would not only call him up, but hand him a prominent, late-inning bullpen role.

A poor track record provides plenty of reason to be skeptical that Samardzija can thrive in the majors right now, but he certainly appeared capable of success Sunday, showing off a low-90s fastball while getting two swinging strikeouts on a mid-80s splitter that looked much better than scouting reports suggested. Setbacks and all Wood is slated to return relatively soon and Marmol remains the primary backup for saves, but it's definitely worth tracking Samardzija's progress.

AL Quick Hits: It's a long time coming, but the Tigers removing Todd Jones as closer is surprising given just three blown saves and replacement Fernando Rodney's 5.17 ERA ? Manny Ramirez said Sunday that he'd be open to a trade, but it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will find an acceptable deal for him prior to Thursday's deadline ? Eric Chavez said Saturday that his injured shoulder is "shredded" and hinted that he may be forced to move away from third base ? With trade rumors swirling, Jarrod Washburn tossed eight innings of one-run ball Sunday to give him a 2.82 ERA in 11 starts since being knocked around on May 21 ? Frank Thomas (quadriceps) ran Saturday, saying afterward that he "didn't feel like Gumby this time" and could close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment ? Billy Butler homered Sunday for the fifth time in 82 at-bats since returning from Triple-A ? Ivan Rodriguez had four hits Sunday and has raised his average from .245 to .298 since June 8 by going 42-for-107 (.393) ? With two shutout innings Sunday, Brad Ziegler broke a 101-year-old MLB record with 27 straight scoreless innings to begin a career.

NL Quick Hits: Johan Santana finally received some run support Sunday and avoided another bullpen implosion with a complete-game win over the Cardinals ? Brian McCann was knocked out of Sunday's game with a mild concussion after a head-to-head collision at home plate with Shane Victorino ? Mike Jacobs went deep twice Sunday, setting a new career-high with 22 homers on the year ? Out of the lineup since Wednesday, Chipper Jones (hamstring) admitted Sunday that he may be headed for the DL ? Fernando Tatis continued to lessen the Mets' need for an outfielder by going 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles Sunday, giving him an impressive .318/.370/.520 line in 54 games ? Randy Johnson scattered nine hits in seven shutout innings Sunday, picking up his fourth straight win ? Paul Maholm racked up nine strikeouts over seven innings of one-run ball Sunday and now has a 2.43 ERA with a 31-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio this month ? Nomar Garciaparra is considered day-to-day after exiting Sunday's game with a sore left knee ? Kyle Lohse lost Sunday for the first time since May 8, falling to 12-3 with a 3.68 ERA.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Trading Teix?
Things are very hectic in the Rotoworld news department with Thursday's trading deadline rapidly approaching, so let's skip the usual small talk and get right to the notes from around baseball ?

* Atlanta may have officially gone from buyers to sellers Monday, placing Chipper Jones on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, losing a third straight game, and learning that Tim Hudson could miss the remainder of the season with an elbow injury. Toss in the mild concussion that Brian McCann suffered Sunday and it certainly looks like the Braves are destined to miss the playoffs for the third straight season after 14 consecutive postseason appearances.

McCann is expected to avoid the DL and Jones figures to come off the shelf next month, but an MRI exam on Hudson's elbow revealed ligament damage that has him scheduled for a visit with Dr. James Andrews. Tommy John surgery is the worst-case scenario and might knock him out until 2010, although Hudson claims that he could pitch through the pain. Meanwhile, the various Mark Teixeira trade rumors suddenly have a lot more smoke behind them.

* Proving once again that a vote of confidence is usually the kiss of death, pitching coach Dave Duncan announced Monday that Jason Isringhausen has reclaimed ninth-inning duties less than 24 hours after manager Tony La Russa assured everyone that Ryan Franklin was still "the best guy we have for that role." Isringhausen hasn't pitched especially well since returning from the disabled list in mid-June, posting a 3.79 ERA and 16-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 19 innings.

Instead, the move was no doubt made primarily because of Franklin's recent struggles, including two blown saves and a loss in his last three outings. Franklin will slide back into a setup gig while Isringhausen moves back into a role that has seen him rack up 292 career saves, but don't count on ninth innings being any less tense in St. Louis and don't be shocked if the Cardinals add some bullpen help before Thursday's trading deadline.

* Jorge Posada had hoped to put off shoulder surgery and help the Yankees yet this season as a first baseman or designated hitter, but the team announced Monday that he'll indeed go under the knife. Officially ruling Posada out for the remainder of the season was likely a slightly easier call once the Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and opting for surgery now increases his odds of being ready for spring training, although it remains to be seen if he can be an effective catcher again.

* Asked Monday whether A.J. Burnett may be dealt before Thursday's trading deadline, general manager J.P. Ricciardi said: "He's not going anywhere." Of course, given Ricciardi's track record with public statements that does anything but rule out a Burnett deal. Whatever the case, Burnett turned in another impressive outing Monday night by holding the Rays to one run over seven innings, making him 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 31-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last four starts.

* Chris Carpenter has been sidelined for 16 months since elbow discomfort in his Opening Day start last season led to Tommy John surgery, but he's set to come off the shelf Wednesday against the Braves. There's little doubt that he's being rushed back, but Carpenter reportedly looked good while posting a 1.86 ERA, 9-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .147 opponent's batting average in a pair of minor-league rehab starts. For now, expect modest success and lots of risk.

* Ubaldo Jimenez was 1-6 with a 5.43 ERA through 13 starts, but the Rockies stuck with the 24-year-old right-hander and he's turned things around in a big way. Jimenez shut out the Reds for six innings Sunday and is 6-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 45-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 65.1 innings spread over his last 10 starts. He's still not getting tons of strikeouts despite the league's fastest fastball, but does rank fifth in the NL by inducing a grounder on 56 percent of his balls in play.

* Manager Bob Geren announced Sunday that recent call-up Eric Patterson will take over as the A's leadoff man and starting left fielder against right-handers. Patterson began his A's career by going 0-for-3 on both Sunday and Monday, but his track record suggests solid fantasy potential if he's given a chance to play through early struggles. Patterson has batted .311/.367/.446 with 25 homers and 48 steals in 211 games at Triple-A, and may be eligible at second base in the future.

AL Quick Hits: Michael Young is expected to miss 5-7 days after suffering a fractured ring finger Monday, likely ending his five-year streak of 200-hit seasons while giving Ramon Vazquez action at shortstop ? Manager Jim Riggleman indicated Sunday that Erik Bedard (shoulder) is still several weeks away from coming off the disabled list ? With trade rumors swirling, Hank Blalock was scratched from Monday's lineup with an upset stomach ? Adam Jones went 3-for-6 with a grand slam Monday and is 60-for-191 (.314) in 50 games since June 1 ? Kevin Slowey tossed a complete-game shutout Monday, beating the White Sox after they clobbered him for eight runs on June 8 ? Daisuke Matsuzaka lost Monday for the second time this season, falling apart in the sixth inning after allowing just one run through five frames ? Paul Byrd shut out the Tigers for 7.2 innings Monday, improving to 5-10 while slicing his ERA from 5.28 to 4.93 ? Sidelined since leaving Friday's game on a stretcher following a collision with the wall, Carlos Gomez came off the bench as a defensive replacement Monday.

NL Quick Hits: Dan Haren said Monday that he's close to signing a contract extension with the Diamondbacks ? Assuming that his scheduled bullpen session Tuesday goes as planned, Pedro Martinez (hip) is expected to start Friday ? According to MLB.com, Pirates ownership recently vetoed a deal that would have sent Jason Bay to the Braves ? John Maine left Monday's start in the fifth inning with right shoulder tightness ? Despite drawing significant interest, the Reds have reportedly told teams that they won't be trading Bronson Arroyo ? After posting a 2.89 ERA in five minor-league rehab outings, Anibal Sanchez will complete his comeback from Tommy John surgery when he starts Thursday against the Rockies ? Aaron Harang (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday and could be close to beginning a rehab stint ? Both the Red Sox and Tigers are said to have contacted the Astros recently about Miguel Tejada ? Tom Glavine (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is slated to pitch a simulated game Wednesday, with an eye toward returning in mid-August. www.atlantabraves.ws

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Big Deal: Teixeira-Kotchman
One day after falling 7.5 games behind the Mets in the NL East and placing both Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones on the disabled list, the Braves moved quickly to trade Mark Teixeira, sending him to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek. An impending free agent who'll likely be pushed to test the open market by agent Scott Boras, acquiring Teixeira is an interesting, risky move for the first-place Angels.

There's no doubt that Teixeira represents an upgrade over Kotchman, but the gap in overall value is likely smaller than most people assume. Since the beginning of last season, Kotchman has hit .292/.352/.458 in 237 games, while Teixeira has hit .296/.396/.541 in 235 games. Assuming that both players duplicate those numbers down the stretch while batting 200 times, Teixeira figures to be about 15 runs better than Kotchman offensively while giving back a few runs defensively.

Studies have shown that every 10 runs added is typically worth one win, so by acquiring Teixeira the Angels have essentially added slightly more than one victory. Of course, they were likely to win the AL West regardless of who they had at first base, so much of Teixeira's value this season will come in the playoffs. Is one extra win plus whatever upgrade Teixeira provides in the playoffs worth giving up the next three seasons of Kotchman's career and a solid relief prospect in Marek?

Actually, it's not quite that simple. If the Angels let Teixeira go as a free agent, they'll receive two compensatory draft picks. In that scenario, they traded Marek and three-plus years of Kotchman for about 50 games of Teixeira and two draft picks. Another scenario is that they re-sign Teixeira to a long-term deal, in which case they dealt away Marek and three-plus seasons of Kotchman for about 50 games of Teixeira and the right to pay him market value for the next 5-7 years.

Paying Teixeira somewhere around $20 million per year into his mid-30s doesn't sound especially appealing to me, although certainly the Angels have money to burn. Because of that the Braves come out looking pretty good, picking up a long-term replacement at first base who won't match Teixeira's production or 35-homer power, but is three years younger and should be both above-average offensively and excellent defensively while under the team's control through 2011.

For the Angels, they make a 10-15 run upgrade for the stretch run, add a middle-of-the-order bat for the playoffs, and either keep him around for the long haul or take a couple drafts picks when he departs. That's not an ideal swap, but the draft-pick fallback lessens the potential for the deal to be a big mistake and if Teixeira comes up with some big hits in October it'll look like a fairly shrewd move regardless of where he's playing in 2009.

In terms of fantasy impact, not much changes for either player. Teixeira hit well in Atlanta, but the Angels' home ballpark is actually slightly more favorable for hitters overall and both lineups have scored right around 4.5 runs per game. He has plenty of experience in the AL, and specifically the AL West, and should get lots of RBI chances from Chone Figgins and likely Howie Kendrick, with Vladimir Guerrero batting either directly in front or behind him.

Kotchman will likely be asked to take on more of a run-producing role with the Braves after often batting second or sixth in the Angels' lineup. He'll never approach Teixeira's power, but should be a consistent .280-.300 hitter, does an excellent job controlling the strike zone, and is capable of going deep 20 times per year in the NL. An overlooked part of the deal, Marek has racked up 57 strikeouts in 46.2 innings during his first full season as a reliever and has late-inning potential.

AL Quick Hits: John Lackey entered Tuesday at 2-6 with a 6.01 ERA in 12 career starts against Boston, but took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before settling for a complete-game win ? Eight months after signing a three-year, $36 million contract with the Royals, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] said Tuesday that he'd defer money to get out of Kansas City ? Initially slated to miss 5-7 days after fracturing his finger Monday, Michael Young remained in the starting lineup Tuesday ? Michael Cuddyer (finger) played catch Monday for the first time since June 28, but hasn't yet been scheduled for minor-league rehab assignment ? Roy Halladay tossed at least seven innings for the 16th time in 22 starts Tuesday, but fell to the Rays while allowing three runs in eight frames ? Alexi Casilla may be done for the season after tearing a tendon in his right thumb while diving into second base Monday ? After taking batting practice and running Monday, Frank Thomas (quadriceps) said that he'd like to return without going on a rehab stint ? Hoping to return in mid-August, Victor Martinez (elbow) played catch Monday and reported no problems ? Johnny Damon started in left field Tuesday for the first time since July 4.

NL Quick Hits: John Maine is considered day-to-day after an MRI exam on his injured shoulder revealed a mild rotator cuff strain ? Adam Wainwright (finger) is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday and general manager John Mozeliak hinted Monday that he could return next month as a closer ? Asked Monday whether Jeff Samardzija could get more save chances with Kerry Wood (finger) sidelined, manager Lou Piniella replied: "Why not?" ? Pedro Martinez returned from bereavement leave and threw a bullpen session Tuesday, remaining on track to start Friday against the Astros ? According to Miguel Tejada, general manager Ed Wade has told him that he won't be traded ? With Scott Podsednik (finger) landing on the disabled list Tuesday, Willy Taveras has no competition for playing time in center field ? Confirming the obvious Monday, manager Jerry Manuel officially named Fernando Tatis the Mets' full-time left fielder ? Greg Maddux snapped a 14-start winless streak Monday and moved into 10th place on the all-time strikeout list.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Samardzija Knows Baseball
Announced last night was the huge Mark Teixeira for Casey Kotchman trade, which made a lot of sense for both clubs. Teixeira is a significant upgrade over Kotchman with the bat, and makes the Angels that much more dangerous by inserting him into the middle of the lineup along with Vladimir Guerrero. If they're not the favorites in the American League now, they're close. Kotchman is under control through 2011, has always shown good bat control, and plays excellent defense. I still think he has 20-25 homer upside, and his walk rate should rebound as he becomes more dangerous at the plate. His underpaid presence on the team will allow the Braves to focus on other positions this winter.

The third player in the trade isn't nearly as big a name right now, but to fantasy owners he might be the most important player to watch. Stephen Marek has always been an intriguing prospect, but fantasy players are taking notice more recently now that he's been moved to the bullpen. The 6'2", 200-pound right-hander had a 3.66 ERA and 57/21 K/BB in 46 2/3 innings for Double-A Arkansas before the trade, and the ERA is that high largely because of significant struggles during the last week. Marek can hit 97 MPH with his fastball, and he sits in the 93-95 range most often now that he's in the bullpen. His curve is a strikeout pitch, and the lack of a quality changeup is what got sent him to a relief role.

While Marek is one of the better relief prospects out there, he's most interesting because of the situation he's landed in. The Braves don't have a closer of the future in the minors right now, and most of their starters with closer potential appear poised to make it in the rotation. With both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano gone after 2009, it's easy to see Marek closing with the big club by 2010. And with the injury history of both of those players, an opportunity before then can't be ruled out. Marek will have to continue to improve his command to get there, but he's now someone to have on your radar screen.

[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]

J.A. Happ ? LHP Phillies ? A third round pick out of Northwestern in 2004, Happ has progressed slowly though the minors despite generally good results. The 6'5" left-hander succeeded right away after signing in 2004, and also looked strong in Single-A in 2005. However, his real breakout was in 2006 when Happ spent 13 starts in High-A, 12 in Double-A, and one in Triple-A. He posted a 2.69 ERA and 162/49 K/BB in 160 2/3 innings that year as a 23-year-old. Yes, he was a bit old for High-A and wasn't young for Double-A, but it was still an impressive performance.

The 2007 campaign didn't go as well for Happ, but he's rebounded thus far for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with a 3.30 ERA and 127/41 K/BB in 117 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old still struggles with his command at times and looked shaky in two spot starts earlier this year, but he is intriguing. Happ has a solid low-90s fastball and a workable slider, but his best pitch is his changeup. He's struggled commanding all three offerings at times this season, and that, along with a better slider, will be the key to his chances in the rotation. In the short-term the Phillies will try him as a left-handed reliever, but he also could be in line for some starts if injuries allow for an opportunity. He's not good enough to stash away, but he is worth monitoring in case a rotation spot opens up.

Recommendation: Watch in NL-only leagues.

Eric Patterson ? 2B/OF Athletics ? Sent from the Cubs to the Athletics in the Rich Harden deal earlier this month, Patterson is already up with the big club. An eighth round pick who signed for fourth round money in 2004, the former Georgia Tech star dominated Single-A Peoria in 2005 when he hit .333/.405/.535 with 40 steals in 51 tries and a 94/53 K/BB ratio. Since he was already 22 years old and lacked defensive refinement, Patterson had a long way to go to prove doubters wrong. The Cubs decided to be aggressive with Patterson given his age and production, skipping High-A and having him begin the 2006 campaign at Double-A West Tennessee. Patterson wasn't overmatched, but his .263/.330/.408 line was underwhelming. He did look better in a late-season trial with Triple-A Iowa, so the Cubs continued to be aggressive with a promotion at the start of the 2007 campaign.

Patterson looked better with Iowa in 2007, hitting .297 with 48 extra-base hits, 24 steals, and an 85/54 K/BB. Patterson was hitting a bit better than that with Iowa as a 25-year-old this year, but he exploded once reaching Sacramento and was hitting .349/.414/.635 with three homers in 63 at-bats since arriving on the left coast. At this point, Patterson's value seems pretty clear. He should hit for a solid average once established, and his plate discipline is good enough to draw an occasional walk. He has speed, but more of the 25-steal variety than a true burner. And the 5'11", 170-pound left-handed hitter can get a hold of one now and again, but will top out in the mid teens as far as home run power.

A .280-15-25 type of player would be useful to both big league clubs and fantasy owners alike at second base, but unfortunately Patterson's defense gets a bad rap. While he has speed, Patterson has trouble with the fundamentals of the position and doesn't read balls well. As a result he's destined for left field, where he figures to be a below average but passable regular. The Athletics have nothing to lose by giving him a shot, and manager Bob Geren announced on Monday that Patterson would start in left field and bat leadoff against right-handers. Those in AL-only leagues should grab Patterson and hope for a boost, and if he has second base eligibility in your league he gets a considerable bump. If he looks strong early, mixed leaguers could even consider him at a middle infield spot. However, given the position change, his keeper value is limited.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues; monitor in mixed leagues.

Steven Pearce ? OF Pirates ? I originally wrote about Pearce three weeks ago when he was first recalled, but he's since been demoted, seen a change in opportunity, and recalled back to the majors. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the one thing that hasn't changed is Pearce's production. The 5'11" right-hander still hasn't found his stroke, going 13-for-55 with no homers and a 591 OPS since returning back to Triple-A. For the year he's at just .258/.310/.425 in Triple-A. Contrast that to the .333/.394/.622 line he put up between three minor league levels last season and it's easy to see the big disappointments in batting average and power.

Frankly, nobody knows what to make of Pearce. Some questioned his defensive ability and others just how much home run potential he had, but nobody thought Pearce would be something other than a quality big league hitter. Now he can't touch the same Triple-A pitching he feasted on last season, and there's no injury, mechanical change, or personal distraction that's been offered up as an excuse thus far.

With Xavier Nady gone to the Yankees, Pearce will get regular at-bats in the outfield. He turns 26 next April, so this may be the only shot he gets at a regular gig. The talent is still there and the history is too good to ignore, and since he'll come cheaply he's well worth a flier. He could smack 8 homers, hit .290, and secure a big league job for next season if everything breaks right.

Recommendation: Pursue in NL-only one-year and keeper leagues.

David Purcey ? LHP Blue Jays ? Purcey was up in the majors for a couple of spot starts earlier in the year, but he was never there long enough to get written up. Back with the Jays now that Jesse Litsch is in the minors, Purcey is intriguing enough to merit a look. A first round pick in 2004 by the Blue Jays, Purcey had a plus fastball-curveball combination and looked dominant at times for the University of Oklahoma. His command was below average and his changeup wasn't a weapon, but he was just 22 and there was plenty of time for improvement here. While the command didn't hold him back from posting quality ERAs in the lower levels of the minors, Purcey struggled in Double-A and Triple-A the past two seasons. His strikeout rate was fine at around 8 per nine innings, but too many walks and too many errant pitches in the strike zone were dooming him to ERAs over 5.00.

However, something may have clicked for Purcey with Double-A New Hampshire in 2007. While his ERA was still poor, his walk rate dropped to 16 in 62 innings, or just 2.3 per nine innings. Considering he was typically walking over 5 batters per nine innings, that was a major improvement. That didn't translate to increased strikeouts or less hits then, but everything has seemingly come together for Purcey in 2008. The big, 6'5", 240-pound left-hander has a 2.69 ERA and 121/34 K/BB in 117 innings for Triple-A Syracuse this season, which qualifies as the best K/BB ratio of his career. Those two earlier spot starts didn't go well as Purcey's command was all over, but it was likely more nerves than anything.

With Litsch now in the minors, Purcey has the opportunity to win a rotation spot for the rest of the year. His low-90s fastball and plus curve should allow him to get the job done as long as the major improvements in command remain prevalent. The left-hander looked good in his first start, yielding three runs with four strikeouts and just one walk in six innings against the Mariners. Already 26 years old, Purcey has little upside. Still, he's good enough that he could be a contributor down the stretch, and perhaps even a low investment keeper.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only leagues.

Jeff Samardzija ? RHP Cubs ? The best statistical receiver in the history of Notre Dame, Samardzija is still more well known for his football exploits than his baseball skills. However, the Cubs surprisingly spent a fifth round pick on the right-hander in 2006, and then made an even bigger splash by giving him a $10 million major league contract if he stuck to baseball. Samardzija certainly had plenty of potential and additional focus on baseball would help, but his performances were underwhelming on the mound in college and a bonus that size on an unrefined player was a huge risk.

Samardzija quickly debuted and looked solid in the low levels of the minors, so the Cubs promoted him to High-A Daytona to start the 2007 campaign. It was an aggressive move since he was still just 21 and had more to learn than most college players. It wasn't surprising then when Samardzija posted a 4.95 ERA and poor 45/35 K/BB in 107 1/3 innings. A promotion to Double-A Tennessee ensued anyway, and Samardzija looked a little better with a 3.41 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings.

Back at Tennessee to begin the 2008 campaign, Samardzija once again struggled with a 4.86 ERA and terrible 44/42 K/BB in 76 innings. He wasn't really being hit hard, as his 73 hits allowed and 6 homers suggest, but he also wasn't showing good command or maximizing his stuff. However, once promoted to Triple-A Iowa this season, Samardzija has looked like a different pitcher with 40 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA in 37 1/3 innings.

What's changed with Samardzija? Well to start he's been adding a new pitch, a splitter, to his repertoire more this year. He's also working his slider in better, and the sharp sinking movement on his mid-90s fastball has always been a plus. A gunslinger from a tall 6'5" frame, I would expect Samardzija to continue to struggle with his command. He's athletic enough to repeat his delivery well, but the tall frame and plus movement on his fastball mean consistency will be tough to achieve. His changeup isn't much of an offering and his slider still needs plenty of work, but his fastball is already a plus pitch and his splitter looks good in small doses.

The Cubs have called up the right-hander to work in the bullpen, and he already recorded a save with a two-inning performance this week. He has five strikeouts, no walks, and two hits allowed in four innings of work with the big club, and manager Lou Pineilla already seems to trust him in big situations. Continued save chances aren't likely with Carlos Marmol around, but Samardzija could be an asset in NL-only leagues anyway. Long-term I'd like to see what he could do with a fastball-slider-splitter combination in the rotation, but he'll need more time in the minors to refine his slider and command. If that doesn't come to fruition, Samardzija has legitimate closer stuff and could supplant Marmol as the Cubs' long-term answer at the position. As a result, he's worth gambling on in keeper leagues.

Recommendation: Claim in NL-only leagues; stash away in keeper formats.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Power hitters at a premium
One of the major statistical revelations from last season was a significant decline in home runs ? almost across the board.

In 2006, 23 players hit 35 or more homers, but last year only eight ( Alex Rodriguez, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Carlos Pena, Adam Dunn, Matt Holliday, Jim Thome and David Ortiz) reached that number. In all, there were 429 fewer homers hit in 2007 than during the previous season.

With about two-thirds of the season complete, it's a good time to look at the overall numbers to see if the outage is just a one-year blip or perhaps the beginning of a trend.

At first glance, the individual power stats seem to be rebounding. Injuries have taken their toll on Pena and Ortiz, but the rest of last year's top sluggers have a reasonable chance of returning to the 35-homer level (though Holliday will need to match the 21 he hit after the break last season).

However, the real reason for the resurgence of sluggers this season is the addition of Carlos Quentin, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL], Pat Burrell, Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Dan Uggla and others to the frequent-long-ball fraternity. Through Sunday, those players were among 19 on pace to finish with 35 or more homers.

So that settles it: The pendulum has swung back in the other direction and power has returned, right?

Not exactly. While the top tier of power hitters is a little more crowded, the overall home run rate this season is down ? again. The number of homers hit per game in the majors (through the the weekend) was at its lowest level since 1993.

The American League must shoulder the majority of the blame for the power outage. Last season was the first time in 14 years that AL teams combined to hit an average of fewer than one home run a game.

This season, the league's home run rate was even worse (0.97) and through Saturday's games, the overall rate in the majors also was still below the 1.00 mark. If that figure holds up, it would be the first time since the power outage of 1993 that major league teams had fewer home runs than games played.

The National League wasn't faring much better this season with its average of 1.04 homers a game, but at least it has recent history on its side. In each of the past two seasons, the home run rate in the NL went up after the All-Star break. It went in the opposite direction in the AL.

What does all this mean to the fantasy owner looking to make a move in homers over the final two months of the season? Look for the NL to provide the punch.

Surging (HRs by month in parentheses)

Howard (April, 5; May, 10; June, 5; July, 10) and Dunn (4-10-6-9) were leading the majors in homers for July and for the season. Expect both trends to continue over the final two months.

The Cardinals' Rick Ankiel (5-3-7-7) and Ryan Ludwick (4-9-3-7) are also showing consistent power, with no indication of a deterioration in skills. Meanwhile, teammate Troy Glaus (1-2-8-7) seems to be turning the doubles he hit in April and May into summer homers.

Braun (3-11-6-7) has shaken off a minor hand injury to be a major offensive force once again.

In addition, Burrell (8-5-6-6), Carlos Delgado (3-5-6-8), David Wright (4-7-4-4) are good bets to be power sources over the season's final two months.

In the AL, things are a little less certain.

Sizemore (2-7-9-6) is seeing a higher percentage of his fly balls clear the fence than in previous years. He might not be able to sustain that pace, but a 30-homer, 30-steal season is no longer a question. Can he get to 40-40?

Josh Hamilton's raw power was on display for all to see at the Home Run Derby. He's been consistent in games that count as well (6-8-5-5), but watch out for the injury bug.

Quentin (7-7-5-8) and Rodriguez (4-3-9-5) are also consistent power options, but there aren't many others.

Question marks

They're having good to excellent seasons overall, but several of the game's top hitters have recently seen their home run output slow to a trickle. Some fantasy seasons could depend on Lance Berkman, Utley, Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Uggla rediscovering their power strokes.

Berkman (8-9-5-0) isn't making contact as consistently as he did earlier in the season. And like Utley (10-8-4-2) and Gonzalez (5-10-6-4), he's hitting a lot more ground balls this month, which limit his power potential. All three should be able to reverse the trends, if only to get back to their career norms. However, Gonzalez doesn't have the advantage of playing in a hitters' park the way the others do.

Pujols (5-9-3-2) is more worrisome. He's making contact just as frequently as he did earlier in the season. His batting average was a little lower over the past two months but is still above .300. He's even hitting more fly balls than he did in previous months, but his home run totals are down considerably. That doesn't compute. Pujols missed time in June with a calf injury and perhaps the pain (or another injury) is still bothering him.

Fielder (4-4-8-4) has had several different seasons rolled into one this year. He made good contact in the first two months, but didn't hit as many fly balls as he did last season. Consequently, his homers were down.

In June, he started striking out more, but his fly-ball rate spiked. In July, he started hitting more ground balls, but his fly balls kept leaving the park. Anything close to a typical princely finish should have him coming close to the 20 homers he hit during the August/September stretch run in 2007.

Cabrera (4-3-3-6) is finally starting to look comfortable in a Tigers uniform. He's come alive in the past month and his home run/fly-ball rate is still below his career norm. That bodes well for a second-half surge.

Uggla (4-12-7-1) is a legitimate power hitter, but he has a problem making consistent contact. When he does, he has months like he did in May. When he doesn't, he struggles the way he has in July.

Stealth sources

There are also players who don't have such a high profile, but who can help a fantasy team make up for those missing homers.

Scott Hairston (4-3-2-7) will soon set a career high for games played. He hasn't wasted the opportunity to show off his power-hitting abilities. Although his batting average isn't great and he plays in a pitchers' park in San Diego, he has set a career high in homers. He's been on a tear in July, but the power will still be there when he eventually cools down.

Chris Davis (0-0-2-8) wasn't promoted to the majors until late June, but he's made quite an impact. He has all the makings of a classic power hitter, plus he has the advantage of the Texas Rangers' hitter-friendly ballpark. As long as he can make consistent contact, he'll be a fantasy asset.

Finally, as the July 31 major league non-waiver trade deadline hits, teams that are out of the playoff chase will be turning to prospects. For example, the Pittsburgh Pirates have an open spot in their outfield for Steve Pearce after dealing Xavier Nady to the New York Yankees.

Some of these call-ups can provide a late-season power boost, so keep your eyes open for the likes of Wladimir Balentien, Fernando Martinez, Brad Eldred, Mat Gamel, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1390"]Nelson Cruz[/URL], Nate Schierholtz and Dallas McPherson. They might not be up until rosters expand in September, but they could provide a few extra homers down the stretch. With home runs as scarce as they've been in 15 years, every single one helps.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

The art of a deal
By Craig Neuman and Ron Shandler, BaseballHQ.com

Your fantasy league title is there for the taking, but you find yourself a couple of pieces short as you get ready for the late-season push. Here is a four-step process for dealing your way to the championship:

Step 1: Assess your needs

The first step to a successful trade is identifying what you need to acquire. A shrewd owner knows not to focus on the categories in which he has the fewest standings points; rather, he looks to the categories where he has the most points to easily gain. In many cases, these will be the same. But if you're 20 saves behind the next team in that category, acquiring one closer is not going to help your standings position. In fact, you might want to actually consider trading a closer.

Next, you need to understand what your trading partner wants and/or needs. In a keeper league, where you may be trading with a team that is dumping, that simply means low-priced, young, talented players. But when trading with someone who is trying to compete for the title as well, you need to understand the results of his own needs assessment. If he is the one who's 20 saves behind, offering him a closer is unlikely to get a deal done ? no matter how "fair" a proposed deal may look based upon comparing player values.

Another point worth remembering: Just as you are trying to make a move, you can bet that the other contenders are in the market as well. If a couple of you are searching for the same commodity, the rules of supply and demand take over. You should be prepared to pay a higher price to outbid your biggest competition for an in-demand commodity. This late in the year, overpaying is not necessarily a bad idea.

The key here is to remember that you don't need to finish first in every category to win. You simply need to have more points than everyone else. Your primary goal is to improve your team; hurting your opponents in the process is even better.

Look for teams that are right behind your closest opponent in certain categories. These teams have the ability to impede your opponent. If they also have the players you need, they can make good trading partners.

Step 3: Target the right players

Ultimately, to make a good trade, you need to acquire the best player(s) to suit your needs. Here are a couple of things to consider when you have to make tough choices between players:

* Will he be playing in September? Look at which major league teams your trading targets play for. If you need an outfielder who steals bases, you might choose to pursue Jacoby Ellsbury (whose Boston Red Sox are in a pennant race), as opposed to Willy Taveras (whose Colorado Rockies may be looking to trade him, or bench him to look at other players).

* Be aware of under/overachievers. There is still plenty of time for outlying performances to correct themselves. For instance, Troy Tulowitzki's batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is artificially holding down his batting, so he could surge down the stretch as more of his hits start falling in. Among pitchers, Joe Saunders will struggle to keep his ERA down near 3.00 while striking out only 4.4 hitters per nine innings.

Step 4: Negotiate through empowerment

Once you've identified your goals, your potential trading partners and your targeted players, it's time to negotiate

Empowerment is usually something they talk about in corporate management seminars. It involves the shifting of control away from you and to someone else. The concept is intended to give the other person an enhanced perception of self-worth, and thus increase productivity out of employees. It works somewhat similarly in trade negotiations.

It comes down to one simple concept: Give the other owner choices. Providing alternatives makes the other owner feel like he has control of the situation and his own destiny. Of course, it is actually all a matter of perception. The control really still rests with you because you are setting the parameters for the deal by deciding what the choices are going to be.

One trick, though, is to offer alternatives in such a way that you subtly lead the owner to the deal you really want. The choices you offer should be slightly obvious.

For instance ... you want a slugger. You're willing to part with a top-notch starter to get him. Instead of presenting the deal as top-notch starter for a slugger, offer a tier-two pitcher for a slugger.

It is important to put the perceived lesser name first. The other owner will see or hear that name first and subconsciously create an immediate opinion about the deal (usually negative or ambivalent). When the real payoff ? a No. 1 starter ? appears, it will provide a psychological lift to his perception. This will empower him to take control of the situation by making what he appears to be the clear choice.

A side benefit to this is you might even benefit by offering a lesser player. The other owner might happen to like the second-tier pitcher's long-term upside, or his lower contract value. But whatever the case, be prepared to structure a deal with every choice you offer.

You don't have to stop at a single choice. One of the most empowering offers is what can be called the "Build Your Own Deal." If presented right, these deals make themselves. Offer pitcher 1 or pitcher 2 and infielder 1 or infielder 2 for outfielder 1 or outfielder 2. Another way to structure this would be to offer pitcher 1 and infielder 2 or infielder 1 and pitcher 2 for outfielder 1 or outfielder 2.

Just make sure any of those combinations is something you can live with.

Either deal structure outlined above gives the other owner a choice he can make. The first option gives him more flexibility, the second a bit less so. The intent of the second is to prevent a combination you might not want, such as pitcher 1 and infielder 1. If you come into a trade negotiation armed with an offer structured like this, you've already built in your fall-back position and are ready for several possible counteroffers.

The more choices you provide, the more negotiating room you've opened and the more empowerment you've given the other owner.

The bottom line is this: Trading is a bit of art as well as science. Use your remainder-of-season projections to help in determining your best strategy for success, both in terms of players to acquire and teams with which to deal. Target the players you want, open the line of communication, and "let" your competitor give you a deal that works for you.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

A Big Apple for Pudge
Wednesday was the calm before what looks like it'll be a pretty huge storm leading up to today's trading deadline. While all sorts of juicy rumors swirled around names like Manny Ramirez, Jason Bay, Huston Street, Jeremy Hermida, Adam Dunn, Adrian Beltre, Raul Ibanez, Jack Wilson, Brian Fuentes, and Greg Maddux, the lone big move of the day was the Tigers sending Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth.

With Jorge Posada out for the season following shoulder surgery, the Yankees decided not to rely on Jose Molina and his .618 career OPS behind the plate, so they brought in an aging future Hall of Famer who's been on fire recently. At 36 years old Rodriguez is a shell of his former self and is on pace for his fourth straight season with a sub-.800 OPS after topping that mark each year from 1996 to 2004, but he's hitting .346 since June 1 and remains a good defender.

Rodriguez is no longer an elite catcher, but he represents a major upgrade over Molina and could fetch the Yankees draft picks as an impending free agent while giving them an option to replace Posada if he struggles to return following surgery. Beyond that, the cost to acquire him was right, as Farnsworth had a 4.33 ERA during three seasons in New York and served up 11 long balls in 44.3 innings even while pitching better this year.

Of course, with his 3.65 ERA, 43-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and mid-90s fastball Farnsworth immediately becomes one of the better options in Detroit's mess of a bullpen. He may even work his way into the mix for saves if Fernando Rodney struggles to replace Todd Jones as closer. Along with adding a solid bullpen arm in Farnsworth, trading Rodriguez also clears the way for Brandon Inge to take over as the Tigers' starting catcher.

It's been an odd season for Inge, who campaigned for a trade after losing his job at third base when the Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera and spent time in sort of a super-utility role so manager Jim Leyland could find ways to get him into the lineup. Now he's back behind the plate as a full-time catcher for the first time since 2003 and the hope is that he can maintain his strong power numbers after previously struggling to be a productive hitter as a backstop.

While Rotoworld's up-to-the-minute news page provides rumors and analysis throughout today's trading frenzy, are some other notes from around baseball ?

* Kelly Shoppach went 5-for-6 with two homers and three doubles Wednesday, becoming just the eighth player in baseball history to smack five extra-base hits in a game. Shawn Green was the last player to accomplish the feat when he belted four homers and a double in 2002. Since taking over for the injured Victor Martinez as the Indians' starting catcher in mid-June, Shoppach has hit .303 with nine homers, 13 doubles, 25 RBIs, and 24 runs in 36 games.

* Starting a big-league game Wednesday for the first time since Opening Day of last year, Chris Carpenter returned from Tommy John surgery to toss four innings of one-run ball against Atlanta. On a strict pitch count after rejoining the Cardinals' rotation following just two minor-league rehab starts, Carpenter made 67 throws and worked out of multiple jams with seven ground-ball outs. He looked relatively good and should be able to top 80 pitches in his next outing.

* Joba Chamberlain turned in his fifth straight strong start Wednesday, holding the Orioles to one earned run over six innings while striking out six and walking zero. It took him a couple outings to get comfortable again as a starter, but Chamberlain now has a 2.23 ERA and 69-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 60.2 innings spread over 11 starts. With his arm strength built up, Chamberlain is in position to be one of the league's top fantasy starters during the season's final two months.

* Chad Billingsley tossed his first career complete-game shutout Wednesday against the Giants, striking out eight and walking zero. A long-time Daily Dose favorite, Billingsley has thrived with a full-time move to the rotation this season and is now 25-18 with a 3.23 ERA and 302 strikeouts in 334.2 innings spread over 58 career starts. He's made strides with his control, handing out more three walks just once in his last 14 starts, and at 24 years old has become the Dodgers' ace.

* Out since last May and in danger of seeing his career end because of mitochondrial disease, Rocco Baldelli now looks to be on the verge of rejoining the Rays. He's hit .306/.390/.583 with three homers in 12 games at Double-A and manager Joe Maddon indicated Tuesday that he could come off the disabled list as soon as this weekend. Baldelli will no doubt be used as a part-time player initially and is always an injury risk, but should be snatched up in AL-only leagues.

AL Quick Hits: Joe Saunders held the Red Sox to two runs in six innings Wednesday, tying Cliff Lee for the AL lead with 14 victories ? Fernando Rodney coughed up a one-run lead Wednesday to give him three blown saves in 17 appearances, or the same number that Todd Jones has in 44 outings ? Livan Hernandez lasted just four innings Wednesday, giving him a 6.59 ERA and .365 opponent's batting average in his last 14 starts while Francisco Liriano thrives at Triple-A ? Just days after saying that he'd be their new left fielder and leadoff man, the A's sent Eric Patterson back to Triple-A ? Curtis Granderson collected five hits and a walk in Wednesday's high-scoring, marathon victory over the Indians ? Meanwhile, Ben Francisco went 4-for-7 with two homers in the same game ? Hitting .169 this month, Scott Rolen admitted Wednesday that his surgically repaired shoulder is once again bothering him ? Gavin Floyd allowed one run over 7.2 innings Wednesday, improving to 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA against the Twins ? Nate Robertson was rocked by the Indians for eight runs Wednesday and finishes July with an 8.62 ERA in five starts.

NL Quick Hits: Tim Hudson may be sidelined until 2010 after two doctors agreed Wednesday that he needs season-ending Tommy John surgery ? With trade rumors swirling, Adam Dunn went deep twice Wednesday and is 26-for-84 (.310) with 11 homers and 26 RBIs this month ? Unable to throw a scheduled simulated game Wednesday, Kerry Wood (finger) is now unlikely to return this week ? Edinson Volquez tossed 6.1 innings of one-run ball Wednesday, improving to 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA ? Adam Wainwright (finger) is no longer slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday after struggling through Tuesday's bullpen session ? Khalil Greene injured his left hand Wednesday by hitting a storage chest ? Willie Harris went 3-for-5 with a homer and two doubles Wednesday, making him 34-for-103 (.330) with five homers in his last 30 games ? Ryan Dempster racked up nine strikeouts Wednesday while holding the Brewers to one run over seven innings, improving to 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA ? Mike Jacobs wondered if he'd been traded after being pulled from Wednesday's game, but no deal has been made yet.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Samardzija Knows Baseball
Announced last night was the huge Mark Teixeira for Casey Kotchman trade, which made a lot of sense for both clubs. Teixeira is a significant upgrade over Kotchman with the bat, and makes the Angels that much more dangerous by inserting him into the middle of the lineup along with Vladimir Guerrero. If they're not the favorites in the American League now, they're close. Kotchman is under control through 2011, has always shown good bat control, and plays excellent defense. I still think he has 20-25 homer upside, and his walk rate should rebound as he becomes more dangerous at the plate. His underpaid presence on the team will allow the Braves to focus on other positions this winter.

The third player in the trade isn't nearly as big a name right now, but to fantasy owners he might be the most important player to watch. Stephen Marek has always been an intriguing prospect, but fantasy players are taking notice more recently now that he's been moved to the bullpen. The 6'2", 200-pound right-hander had a 3.66 ERA and 57/21 K/BB in 46 2/3 innings for Double-A Arkansas before the trade, and the ERA is that high largely because of significant struggles during the last week. Marek can hit 97 MPH with his fastball, and he sits in the 93-95 range most often now that he's in the bullpen. His curve is a strikeout pitch, and the lack of a quality changeup is what got sent him to a relief role.

While Marek is one of the better relief prospects out there, he's most interesting because of the situation he's landed in. The Braves don't have a closer of the future in the minors right now, and most of their starters with closer potential appear poised to make it in the rotation. With both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano gone after 2009, it's easy to see Marek closing with the big club by 2010. And with the injury history of both of those players, an opportunity before then can't be ruled out. Marek will have to continue to improve his command to get there, but he's now someone to have on your radar screen.

[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]

J.A. Happ ? LHP Phillies ? A third round pick out of Northwestern in 2004, Happ has progressed slowly though the minors despite generally good results. The 6'5" left-hander succeeded right away after signing in 2004, and also looked strong in Single-A in 2005. However, his real breakout was in 2006 when Happ spent 13 starts in High-A, 12 in Double-A, and one in Triple-A. He posted a 2.69 ERA and 162/49 K/BB in 160 2/3 innings that year as a 23-year-old. Yes, he was a bit old for High-A and wasn't young for Double-A, but it was still an impressive performance.

The 2007 campaign didn't go as well for Happ, but he's rebounded thus far for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with a 3.30 ERA and 127/41 K/BB in 117 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old still struggles with his command at times and looked shaky in two spot starts earlier this year, but he is intriguing. Happ has a solid low-90s fastball and a workable slider, but his best pitch is his changeup. He's struggled commanding all three offerings at times this season, and that, along with a better slider, will be the key to his chances in the rotation. In the short-term the Phillies will try him as a left-handed reliever, but he also could be in line for some starts if injuries allow for an opportunity. He's not good enough to stash away, but he is worth monitoring in case a rotation spot opens up.

Recommendation: Watch in NL-only leagues.

Eric Patterson ? 2B/OF Athletics ? Sent from the Cubs to the Athletics in the Rich Harden deal earlier this month, Patterson is already up with the big club. An eighth round pick who signed for fourth round money in 2004, the former Georgia Tech star dominated Single-A Peoria in 2005 when he hit .333/.405/.535 with 40 steals in 51 tries and a 94/53 K/BB ratio. Since he was already 22 years old and lacked defensive refinement, Patterson had a long way to go to prove doubters wrong. The Cubs decided to be aggressive with Patterson given his age and production, skipping High-A and having him begin the 2006 campaign at Double-A West Tennessee. Patterson wasn't overmatched, but his .263/.330/.408 line was underwhelming. He did look better in a late-season trial with Triple-A Iowa, so the Cubs continued to be aggressive with a promotion at the start of the 2007 campaign.

Patterson looked better with Iowa in 2007, hitting .297 with 48 extra-base hits, 24 steals, and an 85/54 K/BB. Patterson was hitting a bit better than that with Iowa as a 25-year-old this year, but he exploded once reaching Sacramento and was hitting .349/.414/.635 with three homers in 63 at-bats since arriving on the left coast. At this point, Patterson's value seems pretty clear. He should hit for a solid average once established, and his plate discipline is good enough to draw an occasional walk. He has speed, but more of the 25-steal variety than a true burner. And the 5'11", 170-pound left-handed hitter can get a hold of one now and again, but will top out in the mid teens as far as home run power.

A .280-15-25 type of player would be useful to both big league clubs and fantasy owners alike at second base, but unfortunately Patterson's defense gets a bad rap. While he has speed, Patterson has trouble with the fundamentals of the position and doesn't read balls well. As a result he's destined for left field, where he figures to be a below average but passable regular. The Athletics have nothing to lose by giving him a shot, and manager Bob Geren announced on Monday that Patterson would start in left field and bat leadoff against right-handers. Those in AL-only leagues should grab Patterson and hope for a boost, and if he has second base eligibility in your league he gets a considerable bump. If he looks strong early, mixed leaguers could even consider him at a middle infield spot. However, given the position change, his keeper value is limited.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues; monitor in mixed leagues.

Steven Pearce ? OF Pirates ? I originally wrote about Pearce three weeks ago when he was first recalled, but he's since been demoted, seen a change in opportunity, and recalled back to the majors. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the one thing that hasn't changed is Pearce's production. The 5'11" right-hander still hasn't found his stroke, going 13-for-55 with no homers and a 591 OPS since returning back to Triple-A. For the year he's at just .258/.310/.425 in Triple-A. Contrast that to the .333/.394/.622 line he put up between three minor league levels last season and it's easy to see the big disappointments in batting average and power.

Frankly, nobody knows what to make of Pearce. Some questioned his defensive ability and others just how much home run potential he had, but nobody thought Pearce would be something other than a quality big league hitter. Now he can't touch the same Triple-A pitching he feasted on last season, and there's no injury, mechanical change, or personal distraction that's been offered up as an excuse thus far.

With Xavier Nady gone to the Yankees, Pearce will get regular at-bats in the outfield. He turns 26 next April, so this may be the only shot he gets at a regular gig. The talent is still there and the history is too good to ignore, and since he'll come cheaply he's well worth a flier. He could smack 8 homers, hit .290, and secure a big league job for next season if everything breaks right.

Recommendation: Pursue in NL-only one-year and keeper leagues.

David Purcey ? LHP Blue Jays ? Purcey was up in the majors for a couple of spot starts earlier in the year, but he was never there long enough to get written up. Back with the Jays now that Jesse Litsch is in the minors, Purcey is intriguing enough to merit a look. A first round pick in 2004 by the Blue Jays, Purcey had a plus fastball-curveball combination and looked dominant at times for the University of Oklahoma. His command was below average and his changeup wasn't a weapon, but he was just 22 and there was plenty of time for improvement here. While the command didn't hold him back from posting quality ERAs in the lower levels of the minors, Purcey struggled in Double-A and Triple-A the past two seasons. His strikeout rate was fine at around 8 per nine innings, but too many walks and too many errant pitches in the strike zone were dooming him to ERAs over 5.00.

However, something may have clicked for Purcey with Double-A New Hampshire in 2007. While his ERA was still poor, his walk rate dropped to 16 in 62 innings, or just 2.3 per nine innings. Considering he was typically walking over 5 batters per nine innings, that was a major improvement. That didn't translate to increased strikeouts or less hits then, but everything has seemingly come together for Purcey in 2008. The big, 6'5", 240-pound left-hander has a 2.69 ERA and 121/34 K/BB in 117 innings for Triple-A Syracuse this season, which qualifies as the best K/BB ratio of his career. Those two earlier spot starts didn't go well as Purcey's command was all over, but it was likely more nerves than anything.

With Litsch now in the minors, Purcey has the opportunity to win a rotation spot for the rest of the year. His low-90s fastball and plus curve should allow him to get the job done as long as the major improvements in command remain prevalent. The left-hander looked good in his first start, yielding three runs with four strikeouts and just one walk in six innings against the Mariners. Already 26 years old, Purcey has little upside. Still, he's good enough that he could be a contributor down the stretch, and perhaps even a low investment keeper.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only leagues.

Jeff Samardzija ? RHP Cubs ? The best statistical receiver in the history of Notre Dame, Samardzija is still more well known for his football exploits than his baseball skills. However, the Cubs surprisingly spent a fifth round pick on the right-hander in 2006, and then made an even bigger splash by giving him a $10 million major league contract if he stuck to baseball. Samardzija certainly had plenty of potential and additional focus on baseball would help, but his performances were underwhelming on the mound in college and a bonus that size on an unrefined player was a huge risk.

Samardzija quickly debuted and looked solid in the low levels of the minors, so the Cubs promoted him to High-A Daytona to start the 2007 campaign. It was an aggressive move since he was still just 21 and had more to learn than most college players. It wasn't surprising then when Samardzija posted a 4.95 ERA and poor 45/35 K/BB in 107 1/3 innings. A promotion to Double-A Tennessee ensued anyway, and Samardzija looked a little better with a 3.41 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings.

Back at Tennessee to begin the 2008 campaign, Samardzija once again struggled with a 4.86 ERA and terrible 44/42 K/BB in 76 innings. He wasn't really being hit hard, as his 73 hits allowed and 6 homers suggest, but he also wasn't showing good command or maximizing his stuff. However, once promoted to Triple-A Iowa this season, Samardzija has looked like a different pitcher with 40 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA in 37 1/3 innings.

What's changed with Samardzija? Well to start he's been adding a new pitch, a splitter, to his repertoire more this year. He's also working his slider in better, and the sharp sinking movement on his mid-90s fastball has always been a plus. A gunslinger from a tall 6'5" frame, I would expect Samardzija to continue to struggle with his command. He's athletic enough to repeat his delivery well, but the tall frame and plus movement on his fastball mean consistency will be tough to achieve. His changeup isn't much of an offering and his slider still needs plenty of work, but his fastball is already a plus pitch and his splitter looks good in small doses.

The Cubs have called up the right-hander to work in the bullpen, and he already recorded a save with a two-inning performance this week. He has five strikeouts, no walks, and two hits allowed in four innings of work with the big club, and manager Lou Pineilla already seems to trust him in big situations. Continued save chances aren't likely with Carlos Marmol around, but Samardzija could be an asset in NL-only leagues anyway. Long-term I'd like to see what he could do with a fastball-slider-splitter combination in the rotation, but he'll need more time in the minors to refine his slider and command. If that doesn't come to fruition, Samardzija has legitimate closer stuff and could supplant Marmol as the Cubs' long-term answer at the position. As a result, he's worth gambling on in keeper leagues.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Blockbuster Breakdown
At times Thursday afternoon it appeared that Manny Ramirez would remain in Boston past the trading deadline when the Red Sox, Pirates, and Marlins couldn't hammer out a massive three-team trade revolving around the future Hall of Famer. Instead, the Dodgers replaced the Marlins at the last moment to finish the blockbuster trade, sending Ramirez to Los Angeles, Jason Bay to Boston, and Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen, and Bryan Morris to Pittsburgh.

Many people will be surprised that the Red Sox dealt Ramirez without getting another big-name player in return, but Bay would be a household name if he played in prominent market. Not only is he a capable and potentially even superior replacement for Ramirez down the stretch this season, Bay is seven years younger, much cheaper, and under the Red Sox's control for 2009. Swapping Ramirez, Moss, and Hansen for Bay is an excellent move for Boston.

Ramirez is one of the greatest hitters in baseball history and even in his mid-30s remains one of the best bats in the game, but his production has definitely come down a notch since his prime. After posting an OPS of at least .950 each year from 1995 to 2006, Ramirez is currently on pace to undershoot that mark for the second straight season. He's batted .297/.392/.508 in 233 games since the beginning of last season, including .299/.398/.529 in 100 games this year.

Meanwhile, Bay has bounced back from a hugely disappointing, injury-wrecked 2007 season to hit .282/.375/.519 in 100 games and has posted a nearly identical .281/.375/.515 hitting line in 3,048 career plate appearances. For both this season and his six-year career Bay's production is about four percent below Ramirez's production over the past two seasons. Not only isn't that a huge dropoff, once you account for park factors and defense, Bay potentially comes out ahead.

Fenway Park is one of the most hitter-friendly locations in baseball, while PNC Park in Pittsburgh is pitcher-friendly. Because of that it's not surprising to see that Bay has actually posted a slightly higher OPS on the road during his career while Ramirez has been substantially more productive at home as a member of the Red Sox, including posting a higher home OPS in six of his eight seasons in Boston.

Once ballparks are factored in, Bay at 29 years old and Ramirez at 36 years old come out looking awfully close?they essentially both look good for an OPS around .900?and the gap in defensive value swings heavily in Bay's favor. In other words, the Red Sox acquired a similar hitter and superior defender who's significantly younger and under the team's control through next season. Moss and Hansen were the cost to swap, but Boston won't miss either in the big picture.

From the Pirates' point of view giving up an excellent all-around player like Bay was no doubt a very tough decision, but even at 29 years old Bay was unlikely to be in Pittsburgh and performing at his current level when the team's planned rebuilding effort potentially pays off. By parting with him now the Pirates pick up a long-term solution at third base in LaRoche, a solid young outfield replacement for Bay in Moss, and two intriguing arms in Hansen and Morris.

LaRoche is the centerpiece of the deal from Pittsburgh's standpoint and figures to immediately take over as the starting third baseman. He's yet to hit in the majors, but wasn't given much of a chance by the Dodgers and is a 24-year-old career .310/.412/.544 hitter with 33 homers and an outstanding 88-to-101 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 167 games at Triple-A. LaRoche projects to hit for a solid batting average with good power and strong plate discipline, and is a plus defensively too.

Moss doesn't have nearly as much upside as LaRoche, but is also 24 years old and should give the Pirates a reasonable outfield replacement for Bay. He batted .291/.348/.456 in 115 trips to the plate for the Red Sox scattered over the past two season and is a .282/.359/.485 career hitter with 24 homers and a 195-to-77 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 176 games at Triple-A. Moss won't be close to Bay, but should be close to a league-average corner outfielder.

Morris and Hansen are former first-round picks who've since become question marks, Morris due to undergoing Tommy John surgery last year and Hansen because his struggles in various stints in the majors. Morris has come back strong from surgery to pitch well at low Single-A this season and the 21-year-old right-hander looks capable of developing into a mid-rotation starter long term. Hansen's remaining potential is debatable, but at worst he's an intriguing bullpen arm.

In shipping Ramirez to Los Angeles the Red Sox agreed to pay his entire remaining salary for this season and in acquiring him the Dodgers agreed to decline team options for both 2009 and 2010. In other words, the Dodgers gave up a good, young third baseman in LaRoche and a solid young pitching prospect in Morris for two months of Ramirez. There's no doubt that he'll be an upgrade over Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones, assuming of course that the Dodgers bench the right guys.

However, is the difference between Ramirez and Pierre/Jones (or Andre Ethier/Matt Kemp if the Dodgers go nuts) over the course of 50 games really worth LaRoche and Morris? To me the answer is no, but the Dodgers seemingly soured on LaRoche and dealing 21-year-old pitchers who've already gone under the knife is typically a reasonable gamble. It's clear why the Dodgers made the deal, but they may overrate the upgrade Ramirez brings and underrate LaRoche.

For fantasy purposes, LaRoche and Moss receive the biggest value boosts by going from toiling away at Triple-A to being starters in both the short and long term. LaRoche is a one of the better young third basemen in baseball and has a chance to be a legitimate star within a couple years, while Moss should be a capable platoon player against right-handers with a chance to emerge as a solid everyday player. For upsides, think .290-25-100 for LaRoche and .270-20-75 for Moss.

Ramirez sees his fantasy value drop somewhat, both because he's moving to a tougher ballpark to post big numbers and because he's no longer batting behind David Ortiz in a great lineup. The switch from AL to NL may help offset some of that, but he definitely shouldn't be expected to post his usual numbers from Boston. Bay's value rises slightly for many of the same reasons that Ramirez's value declines, although he doesn't seem likely to experience huge improvement.

General manager Theo Epstein and the Red Sox made the best of a tough situation, swapping a 36-year-old future Hall of Famer for a 29-year-old who figures to nearly match his overall value and did so without giving up anyone else of major significance in the process. Pittsburgh's new regime also comes out looking fairly good, getting back a long-term answer at third base, a solid replacement for Bay in the outfield, and two intriguing young arms.

For the Dodgers, parting with LaRoche and Morris to get 50 games of Ramirez strikes me as a mistake, although much less so if they add compensatory draft picks when he leaves as a free agent. Plus, the Dodgers will certainly feel good about the move either way if Ramirez comes up big down the stretch and into October. Los Angeles may also end up re-signing Ramirez beyond this year, but will no doubt pay a premium to do so and may have to commit to him into his 40s.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Ahoy, mateys!
If you're still competing in your fantasy league this season, then I don't have to tell you that NL-only leaguers should snatch up Manny Ramirez and AL-only leaguers probably want to grab Mark Teixeira, so I'm not going to waste column space. These are some things I might have to tell you:

1. Manny Ramirez doesn't have time for kids with cancer. Manny being Manny!
2. Jordan knows he's better than Kobe, but it seems like his public speaking routine is just him hitting jumpers over 8-year-olds.
3. If you're out of your baseball league, it's time to cut your losses and start reading up on football.

Here are this week's top waiver additions:

[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]

1. Paul Maholm ? SP ? PIT - Maholm is owned in fewer than 10 percent of fantasy leagues despite the fact that he's posted a 3.79 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP so far this season. He's been on fire since the end of May, going 5-1 with a 2.87 ERA, and a 51/14 K/BB ratio in 78 1/3 innings. He has a tough schedule coming up, with games against the Cubs, Phillies and Milwaukee, but he should be valuable enough to roster in mixed leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

2. Anibal Sanchez ? SP ? FLA - Sanchez made his first start in 15 months on Thursday night, and lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked two. Sanchez was solid during his five minor league rehab starts, too, going 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA. He's a huge injury risk, but if healthy he has the upside of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Unfortunately, he's looking at a tough stretch including Philly, St. Louis and the Cubs. He's worth stashing, though, in case he impresses.
Recommendation: Worth stashing in mixed leagues.

3. Yusmeiro Petit ? SP ? ARI - Yusmeiro Petit will start for the Diamondbacks on Saturday following the demotion of Micah Owings to Triple-A. He's been solid so far this season, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and a 18/5 K/BB ratio in 24 2/3 innings. He might not wind up a great ERA, but his WHIP and strikeout totals should make him rosterable in most leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in NL-only leagues.

4. Brandon Moss ? OF ? PIT - Moss wound up in Pittsburgh following the Manny Ramirez trade, and should immediately step in as the team's left fielder. The 25-year-old hit .295/.337/.462 for the Red Sox this season, and was hitting .282/.346/.528 at Triple-A Pawtucket. He has ten homers in 231 at-bats between the minors and majors this season, so he could be a decent source of power during the home stretch.
Recommendation: Should be owned in NL-only leagues.

5. Andy LaRoche ? 3B - PIT - LaRoche has never been given much of a chance to show what he's got at the major league level ? he's a career .217/.348/.316 hitter in 152 at-bats spread over two seasons. At Triple-A, though, he's hit .307 with 33 homers in 586 career at-bats, which is buoyed by an incredible 88/101 K/BB ratio. Not only will LaRoche get playing time in Pittsburgh, he'll also get plenty of brotherly hugs from Adam, which is sure to boost his performance. He's worth gambling on to see if the regular job (and hugs) leads to major league success.
Recommendation: Should be grabbed in NL-only leagues.

6. Steve Pearce ? OF ? PIT - With the Pirates shedding outfielders, the team will take a long look at 25-year-old Steve Pearce over the final two months of the season. He's without a homer through 81 major league at-bats, but he's displayed plenty of power in the minor leagues, and projects to hit at a 25 homer pace in the big leagues. He's also maintained a solid K/BB ratio throughout his professional career. He's got a great chance to prove he's a valuable member of Pittsburgh's future, and has solid upside for the final two months of the season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in NL-only leagues.

7. Emilio Bonifacio ? 2b ? WAS - Bonifacio doesn't project to be much of a regular at second base, but the Nationals traded Jon Rauch for him and have promoted him to the big leagues. He's a career .285 hitter in the minor leagues, and he doesn't exhibit much power, but he's got plenty of speed. In fact, he averaged a stolen base every 11 at-bats in the minors. If that's what you're looking for Bonifacio should help.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in NL-only leagues.

8. Joe Mather ? OF ? STL - The Cardinals are dealing with some injuries in their outfield, and as a result Joe Mather has seen more playing time lately. He's started five straight games for the Cards, and has gone 7-for-23 with two homers, six runs and four RBI. Tony LaRussa has plenty of options in the outfield, but Mather is doing a good job at carving out a nice role for himself.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in NL-only leagues.

9. Craig Hansen ? RP ? PIT - As Rotoworld fantasy baseball guru Matthew Pouliot wrote in Craig Hansen's player blurb, being traded to Pittsburgh leaves him a couple of good weeks from potentially being placed in the closer's role. Of course, first he'll have to string together a couple of good weeks. Right now he's sporting a 5.58 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings this season, so those two good weeks might not come anytime soon. He's only worth grabbing if he shows improvement.
Recommendation: Monitor in NL-only leagues.
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[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]

1. Frank Thomas ? DH ? OAK - The Big Hurt will be returning to Oakland's lineup on Friday even though he admits he's still two weeks from being at top speed. Frank was hitting .319/.417/.516 in 91 at-bats since being added to Oakland's roster, and while he probably won't match that over the rest of the season, he could provide a nice boost to needy offenses. He had just started to find his power before the two-month break, and while it probably won't return immediately, he should prove valuable down the stretch. Over the last three seasons he's hit .312 with 25 homers in 382 at-bats during August and September.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues.

2. Kyle Farnsworth ? RP ? DET - Todd Jones has been taken out of the closer's role, and Fernando Rodney was given the job. He's allowed runs in three straight games and has blown his third save in the meantime. The Tigers traded for Kyle Farnsworth, who could be next in line if Detroit looks to other options for saves.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues

3. David Purcey ? SP ? TOR - Purcey threw a quality start in his return to Toronto's rotation on Sunday, and could keep the job if he continues to pitch well. He has never had a problem striking people out, but he's managed to cut his BB/9 in half over the past two seasons in the minors (assist Gleeman). If Purcey can maintain that success during his extended tryout with the big league club, he should have plenty of value.
Recommendation: Should be owned in AL-only leagues

4, Rocco Baldelli ? OF ? TB - During spring training it was thought that Baldelli's career was in jeopardy due to mitochondrial disease, but he's expected to rejoin the Rays this weekend. He's hit .306/.390/.583 during his 12 games at Double-A, which suggests he could make immediate contributions on offense. For now, he'll probably only play a few games a week, but that role could expand if he remains healthy, making him someone that should be owned in AL-only leagues.
Recommendation: Should be grabbed in AL-only leagues.

5. Kelly Shoppach ? C ? CLE - Since taking over for Victor Martinez, Shoppach has hit .302 with 10 homers and 27 RBI in 126 at-bats. Martinez is hoping to return in a couple of weeks, but the Indians have no reason to rush him. Shoppach has been very hot, so it's worth grabbing him, especially if you're looking for a Brian McCann replacement.
Recommendation: Should be owned in mixed leagues for two weeks.

6. Ramon Vazquez ? 3B ? TEX - With Hank Blalock back resting comfortably on the disabled list, Vazquez will once again be the Rangers' primary third baseman. The 31-year-old has hit .319/.385/.491 in 121 at-bats for the Rangers so far this season, which is significantly better than his career averages. Still, playing in Texas' high-powered offense should make him a fine AL-only third baseman for as long as Blalock is out, which could be the rest of the season.
Recommendation: Should be grabbed in AL-only leagues.

7. Gerald Laird ? C ? TEX - Laird is back and he's starting behind the plate for the Rangers. He's hitting .320/.376/.448 so far this season, and has gotten off to a decent start since returning, going 6-for-15 with three runs and an RBI. If you're looking for an emergency option at catcher, Laird is someone to consider.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

8. Brandon Inge ? C ? DET - With Pudge (the second) wearing pinstripes in New York, Brandon Inge will assume catching duties in Detroit. He's never hit for much average, but always been a decent source of home runs and RBI when actually in the lineup. In 181 at-bats this season, he has nine homers and 31 RBI. If he continued at that pace while seeing regular at-bats over the rest of the season, Inge would make a very nice AL-only catcher.
Recommendation: Worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

It's Gettin Hot in 'Herre'
As we head into the final two months of the season, things are just starting to heat up - ask Ken "I've got heat cramps" Griffey. Not all of us are lucky enough to miss the busy season at work with an ouchie on the fingie. I'm looking at you, Kerry Wood. Here's what's happening in the week head:

[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]

American League

Must Starts
Joe Saunders ? BAL (Dennis Sarfate), NYY (Andy Pettitte)
Roy Halladay ? OAK (Greg Smith), CLE (Matt Ginter)
Cliff Lee - @TB (Matt Garza), @TOR (Scott Richmond)
Joba Chamberlain - @TEX (Vicente Padilla), @ANA (John Lackey)
Andy Pettitte - @TEX (Matt Harrison), @ANA (Joe Saunders)
Matt Garza ? CLE (Cliff Lee), @SEA (Miguel Batista)

Fine Choices
Glen Perkins - @SEA (Miguel Batista), @KAN (Gil Meche)
Gil Meche ? BOS (Clay Buchholz), MIN (Glen Perkins)
Sean Gallagher - @TOR (Scott Richmond), @DET (Nate Robertson)
Gavin Floyd ? DET (Nate Robertson), BOS (Clay Buccholz)
Edwin Jackson ? CLE (Fausto Carmona), @SEA (R.A. Dickey)

Other Options
Dennis Sarfate - @ANA (Joe Saunders), TEX (Vicente Padilla)
Clay Buchholz - @KAN (Gil Meche), @CHW (Gavin Floyd)
Nate Robertson - @CHW (Gavin Floyd), OAK (Sean Gallagher)
Greg Smith - @TOR (Roy Halladay), @DET (Armando Galarraga)
Miguel Batista ? MIN (Glen Perkins), TB (Matt Garza)
R.A. Dickey ? MIN (Scott Baker), TAM (Edwin Jackson)
Vicente Padilla ? NYY (Joba Chamberlain), @BAL (Dennis Sarfate)
Matt Harrison ? NYY (Andy Pettitte), @BAL (Garrett Olson)
Scott Richmond ? OAK (Sean Gallagher), CLE (Cliff Lee)

National League

Must Starts
Brandon Webb ? PIT (Zach Duke), ATL (Mike Hampton) www.atlantabraves.ws
Dan Haren ? PIT (Yoslan Herrera), ATL (Jair Jurrjens)
Chad Billingsley - @STL (Chris Carpenter), @SF (Matt Cain)
Jamie Moyer ? FLA (Josh Johnson), PIT (Yoslan Herrera)
Ryan Dempster ? HOU (Brian Moehler), STL (Chris Carpenter)
Edinson Volquez ? MIL (Dave Bush), HOU (Wandy Rodriguez)
Matt Cain ? ATL (Jair Jurrjens), LAD (Chad Billingsley)
Aaron Cook ? WAS (Tim Redding), SD (Greg Maddux)
Jair Jurrjens - @SF (Matt Cain), @ARI (Dan Haren)

Fine Choices
Manny Parra - @CIN (Bronson Arroyo), WAS (John Lannan)
Bronson Arroyo ? MIL (Manny Parra), HOU (Brian Moehler)
Mike Pelfrey ? SD ([URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL]), FLA (Josh Johnson)


Other Options
Mike Hampton - @SF (Jonathan Sanchez), @ARI (Brandon Webb)
Jorge De La Rosa ? WAS (John Lannan), SD ([URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL])
Josh Johnson - @PHI (Jamie Moyer), @NYM (Mike Pelfrey) www.newyorkmets.ws
Brian Moehler - @CHC (Ryan Dempster), @CIN (Bronson Arroyo)
Wandy Rodriguez - @CHC (Rich Harden), @CIN (Edinson Volquez)
Yoslan Herrera - @ARI (Dan Haren), @PHI (Jamie Moyer)
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] - @NYM (Mike Pelfrey), @COL (Jorge De La Rosa)
Chris Carpenter ? LAD (Chad Billingsley), @CHC (Ryan Dempster)
Tim Redding - @COL (Aaron Cook), @MIL (Ben Sheets)
John Lannan - @COL (Jorge De La Rosa), @MIL (Manny Parra)

[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]

The following pitchers are owned in less than half of fantasy leagues, but they have nice match-ups this week that make them worth using.

American League

Wednesday, 8/6 - Nick Blackburn @SEA - Blackburn is barely owned in fantasy leagues despite having a 3.69 ERA and a 1.28 ERA. He's been even better in the last month, and on Wednesday will face Seattle's brutal offense. He should be a great start.

Friday, 8/8 ? Paul Byrd @ TOR - Byrd has been very hot over the last couple of weeks, going 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He's struggled on the road this season, but the problem seems to be corrected during the last month, as Byrd pitched well against three contenders on the road. The Blue Jays' offense is in the bottom third of the league.

National League

Tuesday, 8/5 ? Mike Pelfrey vs. SD - Owned in just under half of mixed leagues, Pelfrey should bounce back from a tough outing against the Marlins when facing the Padres at home on Tuesday. In his first start against San Francisco, he allowed just one run in six innings.

Thursday, 8/7 ? Ubaldo Jimenez vs. WAS - Jimenez is owned in over half of mixed leagues, so he breaks the rules as set forth above, but barely. He's allowed just one run in his last 26 innings, and should be used in his match-up with the Nationals.

Saturday, 8/9 ? Jason Johnson @ SF - Starting against the Giants last week, Johnson pitched six shutout innings while allowing just five hits. There's no reason to think he can't pitch just as well his second time out.

Sunday, 8/10 ? Manny Parra vs. WAS - Parra is coming off a tough outing, but he's been solid for the most part this season, and a match-up with the Nationals should only help. His ERA is just 3.55 at home, and the Nats have the worst offense in baseball.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]

American League

7: NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
6: BAL, BOS, CHW, CLE, DET, KC, LAA, MIN

National League
7: ARI, ATL, CIN, COL, HOU, WAS
6: CHC, FLA, LAD, MIL, NYM, PHI, PIT, SD, ST, STL

[SIZE=+1]Righty vs. Lefty Match-ups[/SIZE]

American League
Baltimore - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Boston - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees ? 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay ? 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Texas - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties

Notes:

Detroit faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For: Magglio Ordonez (.359 vs. LHP), Placido Polanco (.366), Ryan Raburn (.292), Edgar Renteria (.309)
Bad For: Brandon Inge (.200), Marcus Thames (.229)

Oakland faces lefties in three of its seven games this week.
Good For: Daric Barton (.295 vs. LHP), Emil Brown (.284), Eric Patterson (.333)
Bad For: Mark Ellis (.175), Carlos Gonzalez (.200), Kurt Suzuki (.237), Ryan Sweeney (.263)


Toronto faces lefties in three of its seven games this week.
Good For: David Eckstein (.311 vs. LHP), Adam Lind (.333), Brad Wilkerson (.258)
Bad For: Rod Barajas (.211), Lyle Overbay (.247), Alex Rios (.250), Marto Scutaro (.233), Matt Stairs (.179), Gregg Zaun (.179)

National League:
Arizona - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Florida - 1 vs. Righties, 5 vs. Lefties
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers ? 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties

Notes:

Atlanta faces lefties in three of its seven games this week.
Good For: Omar Infante (.313 vs. LHP), Kelly Johnson (.330), Chipper Jones (.407), Casey Kotchman (.337)
Bad For: Yunel Escobar (.252), Jeff Francoeur (.206), Ruben Gotay (.130), Mark Kotsay (.241)

Colorado faces lefties in three of its seven games this week.
Good For: Garrett Atkins (.404 vs. LHP), Jeff Baker (.324), Chris Iannetta (.409), Willy Taveras (.287), Troy Tulowitzki (.324)
Bad For: Clint Barmes (.267)

Florida faces lefties in five(!) of its six games this week.
Good For: Jorge Cantu (.330), Paul Hoover (.286)
Bad For: Alfred Amezaga (.231), John Baker (.133), Hanley Ramirez (.236)

San Diego faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For: Scott Hairston (.291), Chase Headley (.340)
Bad For: Josh Bard (.179), Adrian Gonzalez (.201), Tadahito Iguchi (.175)

[SIZE=+1]The Injury Bug[/SIZE]

For the latest on injuries, check out Rotoworld's handy Injury Page.

Kelvim Escobar ? SP ? Out for the season
Roy Oswalt ? SP ? Hip ? Return Monday
Dustin McGowan ? SP ? Shoulder- Out for season
Vernon Wells ? OF ? Hamstring ? Return end of August
Aaron Hill ? 2B ? Head ? Out indefinitely
Adam Wainwright ? SP ? Finger ? Return early August
Tim Hudson ? SP ? Elbow ? Out for season
Chipper Jones ? 3B ? Hamstring ? Return mid-August
Brian McCann ? C ? head ? Day-to-day
Tom Glavine ? SP ? Elbow ? Return mid-August
Kerry Wood ? RP ? Finger ? Return early August
Justin Upton ? OF ? ribs ? Return August
Eric Byrnes ? OF ? Hamstring ? Out indefinitely
Brad Penny ? SP ? Shoulder- Return August
Takashi Saito ? RP ? Elbow ? Return September
Rafael Furcal ? SS- Back ? Return September
Victor Martinez ? C ? Elbow ? Return mid-August
Travis Hafner ? DH ? Return August?
Erik Bedard ? SP ? Shoulder ? Out indefinitely
John Maine ? SP ? Shoulder ? Return mid-August
Billy Wagner ? RP ? Arm ? Day-to-day
Khalil Greene ? SS ? Hand ? Out for season
Adam LaRoche ? 1B ? Ribs ? Return mid-August
Aaron Harang ? SP ? Return August
Rocco Baldelli ? OF ? Hamstring ? Return early August
Mark Grudzielanek ? 2B ? Ankle ?Return mid-August
Todd Jones ? RP ? Triceps ? Day-to-day
Jorge Posada ? C ? Shoulder ? Out indefinitely
Hideki Matsui ? DH ? Knee ? Out indefinitely

[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]

For this week's top waiver adds, read my opinion in this week's Waiver Wired.

AL

1. Frank Thomas
2. Kyle Farnsworth
3. David Purcey
4. Rocco Baldelli
5. Kelly Shoppach

NL

1. Paul Maholm
2. Anibal Sanchez
3. Yusmeiro Petit
4. Brandon Moss
5. Andy LaRoche

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

August Third Basemen Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.

Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings



Third basemen

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Team</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Alex Rodriguez</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>David Wright</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL]</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Miguel Cabrera</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Aramis Ramirez</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Evan Longoria</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Garrett Atkins</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Chone Figgins</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Chipper Jones</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Mike Lowell</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Alex Gordon</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jorge Cantu</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Mark Reynolds</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Troy Glaus</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Adrian Beltre</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Edwin Encarnacion</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Ryan Zimmerman</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Kevin Kouzmanoff</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Melvin Mora</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Casey Blake</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Scott Rolen</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Joe Crede</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL]</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Andy LaRoche</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Chase Headley</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Brian Buscher</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Fernando Tatis</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Ian Stewart</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Bill Hall</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Andy Marte</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Ty Wigginton</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Ramon Vazquez</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Pedro Feliz</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Hank Blalock</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jack Hannahan</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Joe Inglett</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Greg Dobbs</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Josh Fields</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3803"]Jose Bautista[/URL]</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Willy Aybar</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Russell Branyan</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Rich Aurilia</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Eric Chavez</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Doug Mientkiewicz</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Wes Hodges</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Dallas McPherson</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Blake DeWitt</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Wilson Betemit</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Wes Helms</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Mike Lamb</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Rising: Evan Longoria (9 to 6), Troy Glaus (17 to 14), Ryan Zimmerman (20 to 17), Andy LaRoche (34 to 24), Brian Buscher (35 to 26), Fernando Tatis (NR to 27), Ian Stewart (42 to 28), Andy Marte (40 to 30)

Falling: Chone Figgins (6 to 8), Chipper Jones (7 to 9), Adrian Beltre (12 to 15), Joe Crede (15 to 22), Pedro Feliz (27 to 33), Hank Blalock (25 to 34), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3803"]Jose Bautista[/URL] (24 to 39), Russell Branyan (31 to 41), Eric Chavez (23 to 43), Blake DeWitt (33 to 47)

Notes:

- Marte got his big break with the Casey Blake trade, but he'd one little with it so far. After a promising first half of July, he's hit .163 in 49 at-bats since the break. If he doesn't pick it up this month, the Indians could turn to Wes Hodges in September. Marte isn't hopeless yet, but Hodges is the best bet to become the team's long-term third baseman.

- Bautista has hit .271 with 11 homers and 26 walks in 218 at-bats since the beginning of May, but he's the odd man out in Pittsburgh with the LaRoche acquisition. That he's an option in the outfield should result in him continuing to get at-bats against lefties, but it will take an injury to someone ahead of him to make him a solid option in NL-only leagues. As for LaRoche, well, his power still hasn't come all of the way back after his spring training hand injury. He'll likely get on base for the Pirates, but he's not going to be a stud fantasy third baseman this year.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

August Shortstop Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.

Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings


Shortstops

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Team</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Hanley Ramirez</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jose Reyes</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jimmy Rollins</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Michael Young</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Miguel Tejada</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Derek Jeter</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Carlos Guillen</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Orlando Cabrera</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Ryan Theriot</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>J.J. Hardy</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Stephen Drew</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Jhonny Peralta</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Yunel Escobar</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Cristian Guzman</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Troy Tulowitzki</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Edgar Renteria</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Bobby Crosby</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Mike Aviles</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Jack Wilson</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Rafael Furcal</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Yuniesky Betancourt</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Maicer Izturis</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Jeff Keppinger</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Brendan Harris</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Marco Scutaro</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jerry Hairston</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jed Lowrie</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Jason Bartlett</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Nick Punto</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Felipe Lopez</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Julio Lugo</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Nomar Garciaparra</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Erick Aybar</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Cesar Izturis</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Clint Barmes</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ronny Cedeno</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Aaron Miles</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>David Eckstein</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Manny Burriss</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Brendan Ryan</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Willie Bloomquist</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Omar Vizquel</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Juan Uribe</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Mark Loretta</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Luis Rodriguez</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Rising: J.J. Hardy (19 to 10), Jhonny Peralta (15 to 12), Mike Aviles (23 to 18), Marco Scutaro (36 to 25), Jed Lowrie (43 to 27), Nick Punto (39 to 29)

Falling: Yunel Escobar (11 to 13), Rafael Furcal (9 to 20), Julio Lugo (17 to 31), Khalil Greene (21 to NR)

Notes:
- Felipe Lopez sticks in the rankings at No. 30 in the hopes that he'll get a legitimate opportunity with another team. He was positively dreadful for the Nationals, but with free agency on the way, he'll be plenty motivated if another team wants to give him a look at shortstop or second base. The Orioles were interested in the past.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

August Outfielder Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.


Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings


Outfielders

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Team</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Matt Holliday</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Grady Sizemore</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Alfonso Soriano</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Carlos Beltran</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Nick Markakis</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Ichiro Suzuki</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Alex Rios</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Vladimir Guerrero</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Bobby Abreu</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Carl Crawford</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Carlos Lee</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Curtis Granderson</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jason Bay</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Manny Ramirez</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Josh Hamilton</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Adam Dunn</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Carlos Quentin</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Nate McLouth</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Corey Hart</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Kemp</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Torii Hunter</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Magglio Ordonez</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL]</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Hunter Pence</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Jacoby Ellsbury</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Jermaine Dye</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Johnny Damon</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Ryan Ludwick</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Delmon Young</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Shane Victorino</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Pat Burrell</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Brad Hawpe</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Jay Bruce</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Willy Taveras</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Kosuke Fukudome</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>J.D. Drew</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Juan Pierre</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Nick Swisher</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Jeremy Hermida</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Rick Ankiel</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Milton Bradley</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>David Murphy</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Raul Ibanez</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Adam Jones</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Vernon Wells</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Mike Cameron</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Josh Willingham</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Randy Winn</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Aaron Rowand</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Carlos Gomez</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Ken Griffey Jr.</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Jack Cust</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Adam Lind</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Jeff Francoeur</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL]</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Skip Schumaker</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Ben Francisco</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Lastings Milledge</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Cody Ross</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Michael Cuddyer</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Xavier Nady</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>David DeJesus</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>63</TD><TD>Garret Anderson</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>64</TD><TD>Jason Kubel</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>65</TD><TD>Fred Lewis</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>66</TD><TD>Luke Scott</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>67</TD><TD>Juan Rivera</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>68</TD><TD>Michael Bourn</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>69</TD><TD>Brian Giles</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>70</TD><TD>Marcus Thames</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>71</TD><TD>Ryan Sweeney</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>72</TD><TD>John Bowker</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>73</TD><TD>Ryan Church</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>74</TD><TD>Justin Upton</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>75</TD><TD>Jim Edmonds</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>76</TD><TD>Austin Kearns</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>77</TD><TD>Gary Matthews Jr.</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>78</TD><TD>Matt Joyce</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>79</TD><TD>Melky Cabrera</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>80</TD><TD>Scott Hairston</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>81</TD><TD>Brandon Moss</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>82</TD><TD>Carlos Gonzalez</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>83</TD><TD>Elijah Dukes</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>84</TD><TD>Mark Teahen</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>85</TD><TD>Shin-Soo Choo</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>86</TD><TD>Steven Pearce</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>87</TD><TD>Jayson Werth</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>88</TD><TD>Hideki Matsui</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>89</TD><TD>Jody Gerut</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>90</TD><TD>Geoff Jenkins</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>91</TD><TD>Coco Crisp</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>92</TD><TD>Denard Span</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>93</TD><TD>Andre Ethier</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>94</TD><TD>Joey Gathright</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>95</TD><TD>Franklin Gutierrez</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>96</TD><TD>Gregor Blanco</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>97</TD><TD>Reed Johnson</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>98</TD><TD>Cliff Floyd</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>99</TD><TD>Mark Kotsay</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>100</TD><TD>Rocco Baldelli</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>101</TD><TD>Matt Stairs</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>102</TD><TD>Jeremy Reed</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>103</TD><TD>Willie Harris</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>104</TD><TD>Brandon Jones</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>105</TD><TD>Ryan Spilborghs</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>106</TD><TD>Corey Patterson</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>107</TD><TD>Marlon Byrd</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>108</TD><TD>Kory Casto</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>109</TD><TD>Jonny Gomes</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>110</TD><TD>Andruw Jones</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>111</TD><TD>David Dellucci</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>112</TD><TD>Emil Brown</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>113</TD><TD>Brandon Boggs</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>114</TD><TD>Darin Erstad</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>115</TD><TD>Daniel Murphy</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>116</TD><TD>Travis Buck</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>117</TD><TD>Eric Patterson</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>118</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3797"][URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4378"]Luis Gonzalez[/URL][/URL]</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>119</TD><TD>Joe Mather</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>120</TD><TD>Gabe Gross</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Rising: Alfonso Soriano (7 to 3), Alex Rios (10 to 7), Carlos Quentin (28 to 17), Matt Kemp (29 to 20), Ryan Ludwick (64 to 28), Adam Jones (62 to 44), Adam Lind (81 to 53), Skip Schumaker (73 to 56), Cody Ross (90 to 59), Juan Rivera (NR to 67), Matt Joyce (NR to 78), Brandon Moss (NR to 81), Steve Pearce (NR to 86)

Falling: Ichiro Suzuki (3 to 6), Vladimir Guerrero (4 to 8), Carl Crawford (6 to 10), Corey Hart (14 to 19), Jacoby Ellsbury (15 to 25), Kosuke Fukudome (26 to 35), Nick Swisher (27 to 38), Vernon Wells (23 to 45), Jeff Francoueur (33 to 54), Michael Bourn (44 to 68), Justin Upton (55 to 74), Gary Matthews Jr. (56 to 77), Hideki Matsui (43 to 88), Andruw Jones (69 to 110), Eric Byrnes (47 to NR)

Notes:

- Manny Ramirez came in five spots ahead of Jason Bay last month, but he drops three spots with the trade to Los Angeles and Bay climbs three spots. It's true that Ramirez is going to the easier league, but he'll have to deal with a tougher ballpark and a weaker lineup. I imagine Ramirez will have an obvious advantage in OPS the rest of the way, but I give Bay the edge in 5x5 leagues. Ramirez would still be ahead of him in a 4x4.

- Swisher followed up a .315/.402/.630 month of June by hitting .193/.327/.349 in July. While Paul Konerko figures to take the biggest hit in playing time with Ken Griffey Jr. in town, Swisher also figures to lose at least one start per week.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

August Starter Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.

Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings



Starting pitchers

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Team</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Johan Santana</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Brandon Webb</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Jake Peavy</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>CC Sabathia</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Roy Halladay</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Dan Haren</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Josh Beckett</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>John Lackey</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Tim Lincecum</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Carlos Zambrano</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Cole Hamels</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Felix Hernandez</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Ben Sheets</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>Cliff Lee</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Chad Billingsley</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Scott Kazmir</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Joba Chamberlain</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>Edinson Volquez</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Justin Verlander</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Matt Cain</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Jon Lester</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>Randy Johnson</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Daisuke Matsuzaka</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>James Shields</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Joe Saunders</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Ervin Santana</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL]</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Rich Harden</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Ryan Dempster</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>Javier Vazquez</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Aaron Harang</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Oliver Perez</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Manny Parra</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>Derek Lowe</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Jeremy Guthrie</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Ted Lilly</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Matt Garza</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>A.J. Burnett</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Mark Buehrle</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>John Danks</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Jered Weaver</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Roy Oswalt</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Jair Jurrjens</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Zack Greinke</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Justin Duchscherer</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Mike Mussina</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Francisco Liriano</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Fausto Carmona</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Aaron Cook</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Kyle Lohse</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>John Maine</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Adam Wainwright</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Erik Bedard</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Andy Pettitte</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Jonathan Sanchez</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Gil Meche</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Ubaldo Jimenez</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Brad Penny</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Kevin Slowey</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Wandy Rodriguez</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>61</TD><TD>Ricky Nolasco</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>62</TD><TD>Mike Pelfrey</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>63</TD><TD>Scott Baker</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>64</TD><TD>Chris Carpenter</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>65</TD><TD>Clayton Kershaw</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>66</TD><TD>Tim Wakefield</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>67</TD><TD>Pedro Martinez</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>68</TD><TD>Shaun Marcum</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>69</TD><TD>Jon Garland</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>70</TD><TD>Jorge Campillo</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>71</TD><TD>Greg Maddux</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>72</TD><TD>Johnny Cueto</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>73</TD><TD>Joe Blanton</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>74</TD><TD>Nick Blackburn</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>75</TD><TD>Hiroki Kuroda</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>76</TD><TD>Todd Wellemeyer</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>77</TD><TD>Scott Olsen</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>78</TD><TD>Ian Snell</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>79</TD><TD>Bronson Arroyo</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>80</TD><TD>Josh Johnson</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>81</TD><TD>Andy Sonnanstine</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>82</TD><TD>Glen Perkins</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>83</TD><TD>Chris Volstad</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>84</TD><TD>John Lannan</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>85</TD><TD>Armando Galarraga</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>86</TD><TD>Brett Myers</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>87</TD><TD>Gavin Floyd</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>88</TD><TD>Daniel Cabrera</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>89</TD><TD>Dave Bush</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>90</TD><TD>David Price</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>91</TD><TD>Anibal Sanchez</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>92</TD><TD>Clay Buchholz</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>93</TD><TD>Tom Glavine</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>94</TD><TD>Paul Maholm</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>95</TD><TD>Sean Gallagher</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>96</TD><TD>Jarrod Washburn</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>97</TD><TD>Tim Redding</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>98</TD><TD>Kenny Rogers</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>99</TD><TD>Max Scherzer</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>100</TD><TD>Bartolo Colon</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>101</TD><TD>Jamie Moyer</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>102</TD><TD>Jeff Francis</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>103</TD><TD>Brian Bannister</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>104</TD><TD>Kevin Millwood</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>105</TD><TD>Kyle Kendrick</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>106</TD><TD>Braden Looper</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>107</TD><TD>Greg Smith</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>108</TD><TD>Yusmeiro Petit</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>109</TD><TD>Dana Eveland</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>110</TD><TD>Doug Davis</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Rising: Brandon Webb (8 to 2), Dan Haren (12 to 6), Chad Billingsley (22 to 15), Jon Lester (31 to 21), Randy Johnson (36 to 22), Rich Harden (40 to 28), Ryan Dempster (45 to 29), Oliver Perez (61 to 32), Derek Lowe (46 to 34), Matt Garza (49 to 37), Mike Mussina (70 to 46), Francisco Liriano (82 to 47), Aaron Cook (85 to 49), Ubaldo Jimenez (94 to 57), Ricky Nolasco (88 to 61), Chris Carpenter (92 to 64), John Lannan (NR to 84)

Falling: Josh Beckett (3 to 7), Cole Hamels (6 to 11), Aaron Harang (20 to 31), Jered Weaver (29 to 41), Roy Oswalt (30 to 42), John Maine (26 to 51), Erik Bedard (16 to 53), Dana Eveland (67 to 109), Tim Hudson (17 to NR), Dustin McGowan (42 to NR), Micah Owings (68 to NR), Aaron Laffey (75 to NR), Randy Wolf (79 to NR)

Notes:
- Liriano was pretty wild in his return to the majors on Sunday, but he held the Indians scoreless for six innings anyway. He's set to spend the rest of the month facing the Royals, Mariners (twice) and A's (twice), so he should be used in even the shallowest mixed leagues.

- I figured that Nolasco would be back on the DL by now after a month of June that included starts of 132 and 120 pitches, but the Marlins have backed off him now and he was as strong as ever in a 13-strikeout game on Saturday. I still worry about his arm after he had his 2007 season ruined by an elbow injury, but it doesn't take quite as much of a toll on his ranking this month.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

August Relief Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.

Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings


Relief pitchers

<TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=TableTopRed><TD>Rank</TD><TD>Player Name</TD><TD>Team</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>1</TD><TD>Francisco Rodriguez</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>2</TD><TD>Jonathan Papelbon</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>3</TD><TD>Joe Nathan</TD><TD>MIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>4</TD><TD>Mariano Rivera</TD><TD>NYY</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>5</TD><TD>Joakim Soria</TD><TD>KC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>6</TD><TD>Bobby Jenks</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>7</TD><TD>Brad Lidge</TD><TD>PHI</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>8</TD><TD>Billy Wagner</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>9</TD><TD>Jonathan Broxton</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>10</TD><TD>Kevin Gregg</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>11</TD><TD>Trevor Hoffman</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>12</TD><TD>Francisco Cordero</TD><TD>CIN</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>13</TD><TD>Jose Valverde</TD><TD>HOU</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>14</TD><TD>B.J. Ryan</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>15</TD><TD>Brandon Lyon</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>16</TD><TD>Brian Wilson</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>17</TD><TD>Brian Fuentes</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>18</TD><TD>George Sherrill</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>19</TD><TD>Huston Street</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>20</TD><TD>Kerry Wood</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>21</TD><TD>Troy Percival</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>22</TD><TD>C.J. Wilson</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>23</TD><TD>Mike Gonzalez</TD><TD>ATL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>24</TD><TD>Salomon Torres</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>25</TD><TD>Brandon Morrow</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>26</TD><TD>Masahide Kobayashi</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>27</TD><TD>Jason Isringhausen</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>28</TD><TD>Carlos Marmol</TD><TD>CHC</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>29</TD><TD>Joel Hanrahan</TD><TD>WAS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>30</TD><TD>J.J. Putz</TD><TD>SEA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>31</TD><TD>Fernando Rodney</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>32</TD><TD>Rafael Perez</TD><TD>CLE</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>33</TD><TD>Brad Ziegler</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>34</TD><TD>John Grabow</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>35</TD><TD>Heath Bell</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>36</TD><TD>Kyle Farnsworth</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>37</TD><TD>Matt Capps</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>38</TD><TD>Jon Rauch</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>39</TD><TD>Eric Gagne</TD><TD>MLW</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>40</TD><TD>Denny Bautista</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>41</TD><TD>Taylor Buchholz</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>42</TD><TD>Scott Downs</TD><TD>TOR</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>43</TD><TD>Joel Zumaya</TD><TD>DET</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>44</TD><TD>Ryan Franklin</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>45</TD><TD>Dan Wheeler</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>46</TD><TD>Tyler Yates</TD><TD>PIT</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>47</TD><TD>Manny Corpas</TD><TD>COL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>48</TD><TD>Scot Shields</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>49</TD><TD>Jim Johnson</TD><TD>BAL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>50</TD><TD>Joey Devine</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>51</TD><TD>Jose Arredondo</TD><TD>ANA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>52</TD><TD>Jerry Blevins</TD><TD>OAK</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>53</TD><TD>Matt Lindstrom</TD><TD>FLA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>54</TD><TD>Octavio Dotel</TD><TD>CWS</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>55</TD><TD>Hong-Chih Kuo</TD><TD>LA</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>56</TD><TD>Kyle McClellan</TD><TD>STL</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>57</TD><TD>Tony Pe?a</TD><TD>ARZ</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>58</TD><TD>Grant Balfour</TD><TD>TB</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW2><TD>59</TD><TD>Frank Francisco</TD><TD>TEX</TD></TR><TR class=TABLEALTROW1><TD>60</TD><TD>Hideki Okajima</TD><TD>BOS</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Rising: Francisco Rodriguez (4 to 1), Joakim Soria (8 to 5), Jonathon Broxton (39 to 9), Kevin Gregg (22 to 10), Brian Wilson (23 to 16), Brian Fuentes (27 to 17), Brandon Morrow (34 to 25), Masahide Kobayashi (37 to 26), Jason Isringhausen (41 to 27), Joel Hanrahan (NR to 29), Fernando Rodney (NR to 31), Rafael Perez (58 to 32), Brad Ziegler (NR to 33), John Grabow (NR to 34)

Falling: Billy Wagner (5 to 8), Huston Street (10 to 19), J.J. Putz (16 to 30), Matt Capps (13 to 37), Jon Rauch (19 to 38), Ryan Franklin (26 to 44), Takashi Saito (6 to NR), Todd Jones (24 to NR), Joe Borowski (29 to NR)

Notes
- With the way Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman are throwing, the Mets figure to mix and match at closer if Wagner lands on the DL with his strained left forearm. Sanchez's numbers remain pretty solid, but his velocity is well down at the moment. He'd probably be the favorite for saves anyway, but he doesn't crack the top 60 this month.

- Street is no longer Oakland's sole closer, but he remains the heavy favorite for saves. The A's may still want to deal him this winter, and his trade value would only decline further if it's clear the team doesn't trust him as a closer. Brad Ziegler debuts at No. 33 this month, but the ranking has more to do with his setup performance than the possibility of saves.

- Putz falls to No. 30, but there is still the possibility that the Mariners could announce within the next week or two that they're shifting Morrow to the rotation. He's a buy-low candidate in leagues with late trade deadlines.

- Kyle Farnsworth likely would have been ranked ahead of Rodney today had he pitched better yesterday. Rodney hasn't responded well at all to the move to thrust him in the closer's role, and the Tigers could soon be forced to go to a committee. Ideally, Joel Zumaya would prove his arm is sound and run away with the job. However, that's not something that can be counted on. As a result, no Tigers relievers crack the top 30.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Halladay Over For Strikeouts
When Roy Halladay first emerged as an elite starter he missed plenty of bats, but his strikeout rate has dipped in recent years as he focused more and more on pitching to contact. The change in approach served Halladay well because his excellent control and ground-ball inducing ways let him pitch deep into games while conserving his pitch count, but meanwhile the lack of strikeouts kept him from being a truly elite fantasy pitcher.

From 2001-2005, Halladay struck out 19 percent of the batters he faced, including a career-high 204 strikeouts in his Cy Young-winning 2003 season. Between 2006 and 2007, he struck out just 15 percent of the batters he faced and managed just 132 and 139 strikeouts despite logging 220 innings both years. Interestingly, after two years of pitching to contact Halladay is missing more bats this season than he has since 2001.

Halladay held the A's to one run over eight innings Monday, picking up his 13th win while fanning eight. With 149 strikeouts in 175 innings he's already surpassed his season totals from 2006 (220 innings) and 2007 (225 innings) while fanning 21 percent of the batters he's faced. He's combined the best of both approaches by conserving pitches, throwing strikes, inducing ground balls, and working deep in games while still missing bats. Add it all up and it's a Cy Young-caliber year.

While Halladay comes up one inning short of his MLB-leading eighth complete game, here are some other notes from around baseball ?

* It looks like the Rangers are on the verge of switching closers even if manager Ron Washington continues to dance around the topic. Washington had Eddie Guardado and not closer C.J. Wilson warming up with a one-run lead in the ninth inning Sunday, although when Guardado eventually came into the game it was a non-save situation because the Rangers upped the lead to four runs. Guardado didn't pick up a save, but would have if the lineup didn't tack on more damage.

"I just felt it," Washington said. "I felt Eddie was the right man. That's all it was. That's not C.J. falling out of favor or losing his job. It's nothing like that." Well, it's something like that. Wilson has been on thin ice for a while now and is sporting an ugly 6.17 ERA since June 1, although he's converted 24-of-28 save chances overall. Washington indicated Monday that fatigue may have played in a part in Wilson's recent struggles, but Wilson avoided the question when asked.

Washington also gave Wilson a half-hearted vote of confidence, saying that he's still the Rangers' closer while adding that he may choose to use other options in future save situations. There was no save to be had Monday as Guardado worked the ninth inning of a tie game at home?when any chance for a save had vanished?so it's tough to get a good feel for whether the job truly still belongs to Wilson. Whatever the case, Guardado is waiting in the wings.

* With Billy Wagner expected to undergo an MRI exam on his sore left forearm and setup men Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez both struggling, the Mets called up former first-round pick Eddie Kunz from Double-A. Kunz is just 22 years old and has a grand total of 53 pro appearances under his belt, but he closed in college for a championship Oregon State team, saved 27 games with a 2.79 ERA at Double-A, and may get a chance to establish himself in a key late-inning role.

Kunz isn't a typical closer prospect in that he doesn't get tons of strikeouts?although he misses a fair number of bats?but he's one of the most extreme ground-ball pitchers in baseball and has yet to serve up a homer in 60.1 innings as a pro after giving up just one long ball in 100 college innings. A side-arming right-hander with a heavy low-90s fastball and power slider, it's possible that Kunz could even find himself in the mix for saves if Wagner's arm problems linger.

AL Quick Hits: Joba Chamberlain left Monday's start with shoulder stiffness after coughing up five runs in 4.2 innings ? Eric Chavez is scheduled to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery next week and the six-time Gold Glove third baseman may be forced to abandon the position once he returns ? Michael Cuddyer (hand) is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A with an eye toward returning next week ? Showing zero signs of slowing down, Cliff Lee held the Rays to two runs over seven innings Monday for his AL-leading 15th victory ? Ichiro Suzuki's stolen base Sunday was his first in 22 games, yet still tied him with Jacoby Ellsbury for the AL lead ? Robinson Cano (hand) returned to the lineup and homered Monday after missing two straight starts ? Erik Bedard (shoulder) played catch Sunday for the first time in nearly a month, but there's still no timetable for his return ? Carl Crawford was scratched from Monday's lineup with lingering hamstring soreness, giving Eric Hinske a start in left field ? Damaso Marte loaded the bases with three walks and then served up a walk-off grand slam Monday.
www.newyorkmets.ws
NL Quick Hits: Taking advantage of what's probably a hundred-pound weight gap, Prince Fielder shoved Manny Parra into the bench during a dugout scuffle Monday ? Placed on the disabled list Sunday, John Maine (shoulder) is expected to return following the minimum 15-day stay ? Just days after "benching" him, manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday that Omar Vizquel will continue to start twice per week ? According to manager Lou Piniella, Kerry Wood (blister) may come off the DL before Friday and will make at least one appearance in middle relief before reclaiming closer duties ? Jay Bruce smacked his first career homer off a left-hander Monday, but is still batting below .200 against southpaws overall ? Out since late June, Jeff Francis (shoulder) is scheduled to come off the shelf Wednesday against the Nationals after throwing six shutout innings in his final minor-league rehab start ? Freddy Sanchez (back) returned to the starting lineup Monday for the first time in a week and led off for the Pirates ? Bronson Arroyo held the Brewers to one run over six innings Monday and smacked a two-run double to break a 0-0 tie in the fifth inning.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Impact of deadline deals
The most turbulent week of the fantasy season has passed and for once, a handful of meaningful players ended up switching teams at the trade deadline.

For those American League- or National League-only fantasy league owners who carefully saved their Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) or protected their No. 1 waiver priority, the payoff ended up being an elite slugger ? either Manny Ramirez in the NL or Mark Teixeira in the AL.

Congratulations. Those two are capable of changing the balance of power in fantasy leagues all by themselves, especially with two months' worth of stats ahead of them.

The only downside to getting Ramirez or Teixeira is that as free agents they could just as easily return to the other league next season, negating their value as keepers. In fact, the runners-up in the free agent frenzy who added the likes of Jason Bay and Casey Kotchman could end up in better shape next season because those two will still be under contract with their new teams.

But for now, let's just focus on this season.

One of the big questions about the players dealt at the trade deadline is where they'll fit into their new lineups.

For instance, Bay has hit in either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot all season with Pittsburgh, but outside of an injury there's little chance he's displacing David Ortiz or Mike Lowell in the Red Sox lineup. Still, Bay goes from a home park that's ranked the 28th-best for scoring out of 30 to one that's ranked 11th. Plus, he'll now get a chance to take aim at the beckoning Green Monster, the major reason Fenway Park is the top stadium for doubles in the majors.

With high on-base guys like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Ortiz hitting ahead of him, Bay should see his RBI opportunities increase considerably.

Kotchman spent the most time this season hitting either second or sixth for the Los Angeles Angels. However with the Atlanta Braves, it looks like he'll be asked to be more of a run-producer. He's hit mostly cleanup in his first few games, but will likely be moved to the No. 5 spot once both Brian McCann and Chipper Jones return to the lineup.

Griffey will also have to adjust to a new place in the batting order with the White Sox instead of his customary No. 3 spot. With Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome already a solid 3-4-5 combination, Junior might end up almost being Kotchman in reverse ? seeing the majority of his time hitting either second or seventh.

Trade winners and losers

Even more important to fantasy owners than the players who end up changing teams at the trade deadline are the repercussions of those moves on other players.

For instance, Griffey's value doesn't really change just because he's playing his home games in Chicago rather than in Cincinnati. He'll still hit his share of home runs, he'll still have his share of struggles against left-handed pitchers and he'll still be an injury risk.

However, the greater impact is what his arrival will do to the distribution of playing time. By taking over in center field, Griffey creates a logjam among Nick Swisher, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko for the two available spots at first base and designated hitter.

Konerko figures to be the odd man out for a couple of reasons. He's struggled terribly all season ? hitting just .212 and battling both hand and side injuries that seemingly have sapped his power. For someone who's hit 30 or more homers in each of the past four years, Konerko finally reached double digits for this season on Saturday.

Swisher's batting average isn't much better than Konerko's, but he is a switch-hitter and more versatile defensively. Swisher is likely to play first base against right-handers and give Griffey a break in center field against lefties.

The other major logjam created by a trade-deadline move is in Los Angeles, where Manny Ramirez's arrival adds to an already crowded Dodger outfield.

Without the benefit of a DH, manager Joe Torre has to figure out a way to get youngsters Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in the lineup, while also working around a trio of high-salaried veterans in Ramirez, Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.

Kemp has been the team's best offensive outfielder this season (.295, 13 HRs, 60 RBI, 26 SB through Sunday), so the real question is how playing time will be allocated with Jones, Pierre and Ethier essentially competing for one spot.

Jones' situation is a lot like Konerko's in Chicago, except he's struggled even worse this season (.161 with just two home runs). Although his defense in center field is still excellent, his lack of production on offense trumps everything.

Pierre still has some value, even as a part-time center fielder, because of his ability to steal bases. Ethier will see his playing time drop, but he can still give Ramirez an occasional day off in left or take over in right when Kemp moves to center.

Meanwhile, the deadline deals have opened up opportunities for players on other teams. Perhaps the biggest winner from a fantasy standpoint is third baseman Andy LaRoche, who finally gets a chance to play full time in Pittsburgh.

LaRoche put up excellent numbers in the minors, but never seemed to get a fair shot with the Dodgers. At age 24, he still has plenty of time to fulfill his power-hitting potential.

Another Pirates acquisition, reliever Craig Hansen, is in a similar situation. When he was drafted in the first round of the rich 2005 draft, the Red Sox believed that he ? and not Jonathan Papelbon? would be their closer of the future. Although control issues helped prevent that, Hansen still has a live fastball and could even enter the mix for saves this season while Matt Capps remains sidelined.
www.atlantabraves.ws
The trade that sent catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees was one of necessity for both teams. Pudge's fantasy value gets a slight boost because he'll be in the lineup most every day.

The real winners in that deal are Brandon Inge, who goes from a utility man to the Tigers' full-time catcher, and Kyle Farnsworth. With Todd Jones on the disabled list, Fernando Rodney struggling and Joel Zumaya battling arm issues, Farnsworth could see some save chances.

Finally, Griffey's departure makes Jay Bruce another of the deadline winners. The move allows Bruce to move from center field to Griffey's former spot in right. It also takes some of the defensive pressure off Bruce and allows him to concentrate on his offense.

In addition, Bruce isn't likely to bat in the leadoff spot ? where he's hit .232, compared to an overall average of .270. He'll get more opportunities to drive in runs as he also takes over Griffey's No. 3 spot in the batting order. Plus, he'll have the protection of Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn hitting behind him.
www.newyorkmets.ws
More deals?

Although the major trades have all been made, there's still an opportunity for teams to make waiver deals. Players such as Craig Monroe and Russell Branyan (twice) changed teams last August.

With so many clubs still in contention for a playoff berth, veterans like Paul Byrd, Jarrod Washburn, Frank Catalanotto, Randy Winn and even Greg Maddux may still be on the market

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

More Changes in Seattle
Lots of juicy stuff to cover today, so let's skip the usual small talk and get right to the notes from around baseball ?

* Apparently comfortable with J.J. Putz's health two weeks after his stint on the disabled list?an iffy feeling given his recent work?the Mariners handed him back the closer gig Tuesday and sent Brandon Morrow to Triple-A. Morrow has been fantastic this season, posting a 1.47 ERA and 47-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 36.2 innings spent first as a setup man and then filling in for Putz at closer, but the Mariners are planning to prep him for a long-term move to the rotation.

Morrow hasn't thrown more than 30 pitches in a game this year and has started just five games as a pro, including zero in the majors, so it figures to take him the rest of the month to build up sufficient arm strength to join the Mariners' rotation. Moving him away from the bullpen is a risk after such a dominant relief performance, but he was a starter in college and with Putz around to handle closer duties it's smart to see if Morrow can give the team 200 innings instead of 60-70.

* Along with sliding Putz back into the closer role and sending Morrow to the minors, the Mariners finally cut Jose Vidro loose Tuesday after he batted just .234/.274/.338 in 85 games. Vidro was once among the game's most underrated players, but now offers zero defensive value and isn't worth much as a designated hitter given his .287/.345/.381 line over the past three seasons. With Vidro out of the picture, Wladimir Balentien and Jeff Clement may form a platoon at DH.

Balentien was called back up from Triple-A to replace Vidro on the roster after hitting .271 with 12 homers in 44 games since his demotion in mid-June. He figures to see most of his starts versus left-handers and could emerge with decent value in AL-only leagues. Meanwhile, Clement has hit four homers in the past 20 games to show some signs of life offensively for the first time this year and figures to see near-everyday playing time against right-handers, giving him solid upside.

* Oakland had been planning to replace Dana Eveland in the rotation with Dan Meyer, but that all changed when he was needed in relief Monday. Instead, the A's are now expected to call up Gio Gonzalez from Triple-A to start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. Acquired from the White Sox in the offseason deal for Nick Swisher, Gonzalez is one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in baseball and has 128 strikeouts in 123 innings at Triple-A despite being just 22 years old.

However, Gonzalez has also handed out 68 walks in those 123 innings, which along with a 4.24 ERA and 12 homers allowed suggest that he's not quite ready to thrive in the majors yet. He may have some short-term success, especially given that the Blue Jays rank second-worst among all MLB teams with a measly .685 OPS against southpaws, but don't expect Gonzalez to emerge as a fantasy asset until at least next season.

* Billy Wagner landed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained left forearm and manager Jerry Manuel indicated that Aaron Heilman would be the favorite for saves in his absence, but that may change after Heilman nearly blew a four-run lead. Manuel may try to mix and match Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano, and Scott Shoeneweis, but as discussed yesterday in this space don't be shocked if rookie Eddie Kunz emerges from the wreckage as a closer candidate.

* Manager Ron Washington was ready to go with Eddie Guardado in a save situation Sunday and danced around questions about C.J. Wilson's status Monday, but the Rangers' bullpen picture got much clearer Tuesday when Wilson served up a grand slam and revealed that he's been pitching through bone spurs in his elbow. Whether or not Wilson opts for surgery Guardado is now the heavy favorite for saves over Frank Francisco and should be owned in all leagues.

* David Ortiz revealed after the game that he felt a "click" in his surgically repaired left wrist during a ninth-inning plate appearance Monday, but general Theo Epstein indicated Tuesday afternoon that it wasn't a major concern and sure enough Ortiz was back in the lineup Tuesday night. Ortiz is now 11-for-43 (.256) with one homer, two doubles, and six RBIs in 11 games since returning from the disabled list.

* Kerry Wood returned from the disabled list Tuesday with a scoreless eighth inning before Carlos Marmol closed out a four-run victory with a perfect ninth frame. Wood coming off the shelf in a non-save appearance was no surprise, as manager Lou Piniella had indicated that he wanted to see him pitch at least once before handing him closer duties again. Wood looked good enough Tuesday that ninth-inning duties should once again be his.

AL Quick Hits: One day after being scratched from the lineup due to a family emergency, Jason Kubel went 4-for-5 with two homers and a double Tuesday ? Adam Jones has hit .310/.345/.452 in 54 games since June 1, but his breakout is put on hold until next month because of a fractured foot ? Huston Street blew a one-run lead Tuesday and is now 0-3 with three blown saves and a 6.75 ERA in his last nine appearances ? Manager Cito Gaston said Monday that Vernon Wells (hamstring) could come off the disabled list as soon as next week ? Jason Bay went 4-for-5 with two doubles Tuesday, giving him a 1.282 OPS in five games with the Red Sox ? Victor Martinez (hamstring, elbow) ran the bases Monday and reported no problems, potentially setting him up to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week ? A 27-year-old with a 4.60 ERA in 521 career innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Chris Waters made his MLB debut Tuesday and tossed eight scoreless, one-hit innings against the AL-leading Angels ? Gary Matthews Jr. went hitless Tuesday and is now batting .130 since July 1.

NL Quick Hits: Edinson Volquez allowed a season-high nine hits Tuesday and is 3-3 with a 5.65 ERA over his last eight starts after once being 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA ? Brandon Webb scattered nine hits in a complete game Tuesday for his MLB-leading 16th win ? Chris Carpenter and Josh Johnson continue to look good in returns from Tommy John surgery, combining for 11 scoreless innings Tuesday ? Dan Haren signed a contract extension Tuesday that will keep him in Arizona through at least 2012 ? Adam Wainwright (finger) threw a 35-pitch simulated game Tuesday and declared himself ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment ? Andruw Jones delivered a pinch-hit homer Tuesday, going deep for the first time since May 15 ? An MRI exam on Todd Helton's injured back revealed no further damage Monday, but no timetable has been established for his return ? With seven innings of two-run ball Tuesday, Mike Hampton picked up his first win since August 14, 2005 ? After apologizing for Monday's dugout scuffle with Manny Parra, Prince Fielder smacked a two-run homer Tuesday.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Callups: Bonifacio's Wheels
The Big Obvious this week is putting in a bid on the Twins' new No. 5 starter, Francisco Liriano. The fantasy darling of the 2006 campaign, Liriano is back with a vengeance after compiling a 9-0 record, 2.51 ERA and a ridiculous 73/9 K/BB in his last 10 Triple-A starts. He also recorded six shutout innings in his first start back in the majors, so fantasy owners should naturally be doing anything short of violating a penal code to acquire him. In one league that involved me blowing my entire remaining FAAB ($88) on Liriano, and it's an appropriate measure once all of the trade deadline movers are on rosters.

Despite all the hype, there may still be some value opportunity on Liriano, though it comes in keeper leagues. While I sense that owners are excited that Liriano is back, I've seen some trades in keeper leagues that suggest he's not being valued properly. Liriano was the best starter in baseball during his run in 2006, and his Triple-A performance suggests he's not far from returning to that level. The Tommy John surgery doesn't appear to have any lingering effects, so owners should confidently project Liriano as a Top 10 starter next season. If he finishes the 2008 campaign strongly, he could well end up in the Top 5 for 2009. The window to secure some long-term equity will close quickly, but throw out a trade offer and see if you can grab some value before Liriano's next start.

[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]

Wladimir Balentien ? OF Mariners ? This feels like the fifth or sixth time I've written up Balentien over the last few years, but apparently it's only the second. That's because he's gone from having an excellent first half in 2007, to struggling in the minors, and finally getting shuttled to and from the majors after brief and sporadic trials. The 24-year-old Balentien has continued to produce as expected in the minors this year, batting .266/.354/.584 with a 49/32 K/BB in 233 at-bats. However, his play in the majors has been poor with a .196/.265/.346 mark that includes four homers and 35 strikeouts in 107 at-bats. The 6'2", 215-pound right-hander still hasn't been given an extended chance, though that could change now that the Mariners have waived the white flag.

Balentien has always been known for his tremendous raw power, trouble with good off-speed pitches, and high strikeout rates. He both swings hard and has trouble hitting good pitches, so the strikeouts have been a bigger issue in the majors than in the minors. That leaves his batting average wanting even if he does occasionally get a hold of one for a long ball. Balentien is young enough that he can improve here, but overall he projects as a .260 hitter even in his best case. However, since he has legitimate 35-homer potential and isn't afraid to draw a walk, both fantasy owners and big league clubs will give him chances.

With Jose Vidro designated for assignment, Balentien will likely start against left-handers for the remainder of the season. He'll have to battle whichever of Jeff Clement and Kenji Johjima isn't starting at catcher on a given day as well, so don't expect too much playing time. Still, Balentien's power alone makes him worth a flier in AL-only leagues down the stretch. A strong finish would secure a job with the big club for next season, so those in AL-only keeper leagues can also make an investment. Mixed leaguers should be wearier of Balentien's batting average troubles and thus take a wait-and-see approach for 2009.

Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper formats.

Emilio Bonifacio ? 2B Nationals ? Recently acquired from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Jon Rauch, Bonifacio is now the Nationals' second basemen of the future. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2001 and debuting in the U.S. in 2003, Bonifacio has made a slow but steady progression towards the majors. While he did show decent batting averages, Bonifacio's bat only looked strong the one year he played in the extremely hitter-friendly environment that is Lancaster of the California League. What did get Bonifacio noticed was his defense, which draws rave reviews and projects to be somewhere between above average and Gold Glove-caliber in the majors.

Fantasy owners aren't really interested in defense, but Bonifacio's is good enough that it will keep him in the lineup as long as he can maintain a decent batting average. The 5'10", 190-pound switch-hitter was batting .314 with 20 doubles, five triples, and a homer in 398 at-bats before his callup, and that came with a decent 68/31 K/BB. Since he'll put the ball in play most times and has incredible speed, Bonifacio could scratch out a batting average around .280 despite a lack of power.

And that's the most alluring part about Bonifacio's game, his speed. He's swiped a minimum of 40 bases in each of the last four seasons, topping out at 58 and always doing so at a good percentage. He's slipped in both opportunities and effectiveness this year with just 21 steals in 31 tries, but Bonifacio is a true 40-steal threat. He could be equivalent to Luis Castillo minus some walks and plus some defense, but he'll likely settle in as a poor man's Castillo instead.

The Nationals have already handed him the second base job and leadoff spot in the lineup for the rest of the season. General manager Jim Bowden also went as far as to say they have Bonifacio penciled in as the club's leadoff hitter for 2009, though he'll need to justify that position at least a little down the stretch. I suspect he'll struggle to hit for much average this year and into next, and then establish himself as a decent regular in 2010. That said, as long as his defense and promise are keeping him in the lineup, Bonifacio is a very useful fantasy asset given his wheels. He could be somewhat under-the-radar given he's not a top prospect, but he's worth pursuing fairly aggressively.

Recommendation: Pursue in NL-only leagues and all deep keeper formats.

Eddie Kunz ? RHP Mets ? One manifestation of the Mets' obsession with relief pitchers in the 2007 draft, Kunz was the 42nd overall pick after a junior season as Oregon State's closer. The big 6'5", 265-pound right-hander induced plenty of ground balls in college and posted nice ERAs, though both his strikeout and walk rates were rather unexceptional. The Mets moved him right to Double-A this season, and he responded reasonably well with a 2.79 ERA and 27 saves as the club's closer. His 43/25 K/BB in 48 1/3 innings is rather pedestrian for a relief prospect, but his 3.55 GB/FB ratio is exceptional.

As you've probably surmised by now, Kunz throws a nice sinker from a tall frame. He's difficult to square up (no homers allowed this year) and the double play ball bails him out of quite a few jams. That the pitch typically sits in the mid-90s adds further intrigue. Kunz's secondary pitches, a slider and changeup, lag behind and aren't close to being big league out pitches at this point. Still, Kunz's fastball is good enough to keep him relatively effective. While the Mets will use a closer-by-committee in Billy Wagner's absence, the odds of them going to a rookie like Kunz in the middle of a pennant race, especially after last year's collapse, are slim to none. Kunz probably isn't ready for the chance anyway, and he profiles as more of an eighth inning option than a true closer to boot. He won't have any value if he's not in the saves mix.

Recommendation: Monitor in NL-only leagues.

Daniel Murphy ? OF Mets ? A 13th round pick out of Jacksonville University in 2006, Murphy showed a solid bat but little power for High-A St. Lucie last season. Overall he hit .285/.338/.430 with a 61/42 K/BB, 34 doubles, and 11 homers in 502 at-bats. This season has been more impressive for Murphy as he was batting .308/.374/.496 for Double-A Binghamton. Perhaps more impressive was his 46/39 K/BB, and he also turned in 14 steals in 19 attempts. Murphy, a 6'3" 210-pound left-handed hitter, was playing primarily third base this season. He also saw time at second, first, and left field, but he's not particularly strong anywhere and thus profiles best as a corner outfielder in the majors.

While Murphy is good at hitting singles and doubles, he's not going to draw enough walks or hit enough homers to be an above average regular. He could squeeze out a major league job by batting .290 and smacking 15 homers per year, but his defense also won't be a plus and he's the type of player who seems more likely to receive sporadic chances and end up on a bench. That said, Murphy is an advanced enough hitter that he's capable of hitting a bit right away, and Mets manager Jerry Manuel announced Murphy will start in left field against right-handers for now. Ryan Church's return, which could be within two weeks, will send Murphy to the bench or the minors.

Recommendation: Short-term claim in NL-only leagues.

Luis Montanez ? OF Orioles ? For years the name Luis Montanez was synonymous with the word 'bust'. The third overall pick in the 2000 draft, Montanez failed to hit his way out of paper bag for quite a few years. There's plenty of first round busts littering the draft's history, but picking a player third overall who couldn't record even a 700 OPS until his fourth full season in the minors is as bad an example of talent misevaluation as you'll find. Montanez eventually showed flashes of potential in 2005, 2006, and 2007, but he could never keep it together for long and most of his value was being derived from fluky high batting averages anyway.

Now 26 years old, Montanez was having his best, and most consistent, year as a professional prior to being called up. The 6'2", 200-pound right-hander was posting a .335/.385/.601 mark for Double-A Bowie that included 26 homers, five triples, and 32 doubles. He was also showing good plate discipline with a 63/36 K/BB in 116 games, and was leading the Eastern League in batting average, homers, and slugging percentage. Montanez was producing much better at home (1191 OPS) than on the road (768), but Bowie's park factor isn't terribly favorable to hitters and it's likely more random fluctuation than a hint about his true talent level.

Maybe Montanez's power surge means he's having an extremely late-career breakthrough, but the odds are against it. He's in his ninth minor league season, he's 26 years old and playing in Double-A, and he's failed every test he's ever had against Triple-A pitching. Still, the Orioles have nothing to lose by giving him two months of at-bats, and maybe they'll do just that. Now an outfielder, Montanez could get the starts that were coming Adam Jones' way now that he's out for a month or more. Montanez's only competition is Jay Payton, and the Orioles have little to gain by sticking the veteran out there. I'm not optimistic Montanez's bat will translate, but those in deep AL-only leagues can take a cheap flier on him.

Recommendation: Monitor in AL-only leagues.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Finding relief at closer
By Michael Roy and Ron Shandler, BaseballHQ.com

With the passing of the non-waivers trade deadline, fantasy owners are gearing up for their own pennant chase. That means finding new sources for saves. Where to search? Try teams with bullpens in flux due to depletion from trades, injuries or closer ineffectiveness.

Closer potential requires two elements: talent and opportunity. With recent upheaval from trades (Damaso Marte leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates for the New York Yankees, for example) and other factors, opportunity is now knocking for relievers on several teams. To gauge the talent of these closer wannabes, we analyze the skills that underlie surface statistics like ERA, such as strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), walks per nine innings (BB/9) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB).

Let's look at those teams where the closer role is in flux, examine the current favorites and see whether they have the skills to close.

* Chicago Cubs: With Kerry Wood's slow recovery from blister problems and his injury history, manager Lou Piniella is rotating three relievers.

The favorite is Carlos Marmol, who had six saves and ranked second in the National League with 22 holds. Marmol has electric stuff (12.5 K/9). The trouble is that in June and July he couldn't find the plate (7.7 BB/9) and surrendered too many homers. Marmol may be weary from overuse.

After a slow start, setup man Bob Howry has pitched better, relying on his pinpoint control (1.4 BB/9). Unlike past seasons, Howry, 34, has been hittable this year (.302 opponent BA). Another disqualifier for a closer: Howry is an extreme fly ball pitcher.

The wild card is 23-year-old rookie Jeff Samardzija. He throws high heat, consistently hitting the mid-90s, but he sometimes struggles with his control. At Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa, Samardzija flashed some elite skills (9.6 K/9). Piniella has given him two save opportunities, but will likely be cautious in pressure situations.

* Cleveland Indians: Joe Borowski opened the season as closer, but was released after blowing his fourth save in early July. Manager Eric Wedge initially designated MasaKobayashi as closer. He's not a classic strikeout pitcher, but keeps the ball on the ground and displays solid skills. Kobayashi posted six saves in eight chances, but a few bad outings (5.59 ERA in July) may have soured Wedge. Wedge recently announced that he would use several relievers to close games.

The new closer-by-committee inflates the value of relievers Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt. Perez has pitched in more late-inning stints this year, amassing 15 holds and strong skill indicators (8.5 K/9, 2.9 BB/9). As the only lefty in the pen, Perez may be used more situationally, hindering his promotion to sole closer.

Betancourt boasts a history of terrific setup work, and he earned four saves in six chances while Borowski was injured earlier this season. But he has coughed up too many homers, making him prone to the big inning. His other skills remain stellar (8.9 K/9, 2.9 BB/9).

* Detroit Tigers: Original closer Todd Jones lost his job in late July due to ineffectiveness and is on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Fernando Rodney was anointed closer on the strength of his track record before 2008 (9.6 K/9, 2.6 K/BB in 2007). He missed most of the first half with a sore shoulder, and his rustiness has hampered his control (7.9 BB/9).

If Rodney continues to falter, the Tigers would like to turn to Joel Zumaya, once thought the heir apparent to Jones as closer. Like Rodney, Zumaya lost the first half recovering from shoulder surgery. Zumaya has been throwing his fastball close to 100 mph again, but he has been nearly as wild as Rodney (7.8 BB/9). He needs more time to get sharp.

Plan C is newly acquired Kyle Farnsworth, who saved six games for Detroit in 2005. He has rebounded (8.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9) from a down year in 2007. Farnsworth has been on a roll, logging nine hitless innings recently. His tendency to yield home runs (2.2 HR/9) may hold him back.

* Pittsburgh Pirates: Fallout from the shoulder injury to Matt Capps and the trade of Marte has left this closer job up for grabs. Tyler Yates converted the first save chance after the trade. Lefty John Grabow got the next save, but manager John Russell has not committed to either.

For the season Grabow has shown better skills (7.6 K/9), with Yates being prone to wildness (5.7 BB/9). But Yates has performed better over the past month, increasing his strikeouts and curbing his walks. Grabow has struggled to find the plate since June 1 (5.7 BB/9). Russell has not hesitated to hand the closer role to lefties like Marte and Grabow.

A dark horse candidate is Denny Bautista, who sparkled in July (8.0 K/9, 3.0 BB/9). But in four-plus major league seasons Bautista has not approached that level of command (1.4 K/BB).

* St. Louis Cardinals: After a string of blown saves and a 6.59 ERA in July, Ryan Franklin is out and Jason Isringhausen is back in. Isringhausen, 35, saved nine games in April, hit a wall in May (12.00 ERA) and went on the disabled list. He returned in mid-June and has shown little improvement. His hold is shaky at best.

The Cardinals have solid setup men in Kyle McClellan (7.2 K/9, 2.6 BB/9) and Russ Springer (7.5 K/9, 3.3 BB/9). McClellan led the NL with 25 holds, but is prone to bouts of wildness. Springer has benefited from some luck, stranding many runners (85%) and throwing a lot of fly balls without the accompanying homers.

The long shot here is Adam Wainwright, who is due back from the disabled list this month. As a starter this season, Wainwright has been solid (6.1 K/9, 2.0 BB/9). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Wainwright, who closed for the 2006 World Series champs, could shift back to the role.

It may depend upon how well the other starters are faring, especially Chris Carpenter.

 

[Hache Man]

Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008

Still time to salvage a season
When is it too late to make a run?

Theoretically, it is never too late until a team is mathematically eliminated. That's why we play this game for six months.

But last year at this time, we had nearly written off the fourth-place Colorado Rockies. All it took was a little September magic for them to streak into the postseason. Still, it's tough to imagine even a relatively strong club such as the Detroit Tigers harboring any real hopes of similar magic this year.

For teams, it's difficult to project large-scale movement in the standings because many independent performances have to contribute en masse. For players, however, amazing runs are still possible.

The New York Yankees' Robinson Cano seems forever mired in a middling batting average, thanks to a .151 April mark. For this perennial .300 hitter, is it possible to return to that level in 2008? At his .262 average entering Tuesday, Cano would have to bat .375 over the remainder of this season. Given that he was able to bat .398 in June 2006 and .385 in July 2007, Cano has demonstrated the ability to put up big months. You can't rule it out.

Most pundits agree that the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has had a disappointing year compared to his productivity with the Florida Marlins. At the season's midpoint, he had 11 home runs and was on pace for the lowest total of his career. But after hitting eight home runs in July, Cabrera has started to pick up the pace. Is it too late to match 2007's career mark of 34? Not by a long shot. Cabrera has hit at least seven homers in a month seven times in his career.

Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds has been a serviceable starter during his career, posting ERAs of no worse than the mid-4.00s. When he posted a 6.19 ERA through the end of June, most of us were ready to write him off. But three of his next four starts were solid performances, and he has a history of stronger second halves. Is it possible for him to get his ERA down into more familiar territory? At his current 5.74 ERA, he would need to pitch at a 2.00 level to reach a 4.50 ERA by season's end. That's a tall task. But he has pitched at a level less than 3.00 over a month nine times during his career, and that would at least push his ERA down to about 4.75.

A better bet might be Justin Verlander. At 4.49, his ERA is nearly a run poorer than the levels he's posted over the past two seasons. At this point, is last year's 3.66 ERA even a remote possibility? He, too, would have to pitch at a 2.00 level the rest of the season. But Verlander did even better in 2006, posting ERAs of 1.73 in May and 1.01 in July. After a recent eight-game streak in which he allowed no more than two runs in any game, and with an improved Tigers bullpen, it's possible he could go on a run.

Truth be told, even teams currently on the outside looking in can make dramatic moves in the standings. Verlander's Tigers, for instance, have history and recent trends behind them. A 19-8 (.704) June shows there is still life in this roster; in fact, they've had five .600-plus months since 2006. If they play at a .600 clip over their final eight weeks, an 85-win season is still within reach. That win total would have been enough to win a division in each of the past three seasons.

And so, in the NL West, where the division leaders only recently ascended past .500, the Rockies' eight-game deficit entering Tuesday is still eminently scalable.