Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2007
Week That Was
Relievers coming and going, the Moose seemingly fading, and hot hitting from the Gamester this week's Week That Was.
Bob Wickman: Reports out of Atlanta have the Braves designating Bob Wickman for assignment. This is a bit odd. You would at least expect the Braves to try and move him to a team in need of middle relief. That said, it is hardly a surprise that the Braves have lost faith in Wickman. It is nearly impossible to succeed as a closer while allowing over 1.5 baserunners per inning. What to do from a fantasy perspective? Well, first, cut bait on Wickman. Without the saves, he hurts your team. Second, go get Rafael Soriano. Not only is he the odds on favorite for saves in Atlanta, Sori has a WHIP under 1.00 and a K/BB of over 4:1. Hot ratios indeed. The one risk with Soriano is that Octavio Dotel will return in September and has more closing experience. For those in desperate need of saves, Dotel is worth squirreling away now.
Chase Utley: Chase Utley is set to start a rehab assignment with an eye toward returning on Sunday or early next week. If you own Utley, given how much you surely paid, you have no choice but to activate him and hope for the best. However, you need to keep your expectations in check. Players returning from hand or wrist injuries often show a significant decline in power from their pre-injury stats. For example, Lyle Overbay, who sustained a similar injury, has homered every 40+ AB this year -- a far cry from last year and pre-injury projections for this year. Miguel Tejada has had a similar experience, homering approximately every 30 AB as compared to last year's 20. Bottom line: do not rush out to grab Utley unless you get a real discount from pre-season prices.
Ryan Dempster: Cubs skipper Lou Piniella announced that Ryan Dempster has deposed the committee and is now the solo closer. It is true that Dempster has been very good since ugly back to back outings against the Mets in early August. However, Piniella is famous for disinformation. Thus, if you own Dempster, it is a good time to dump him. Piniella will change his mind. Strike while the iron is hot. This writer has no doubt that Lou will go with the hot hand the rest of the way (whether that be Howry, Marmol, or even Kerry Wood).
Joel Zumaya: Joel Zumaya was lit up Thursday, giving up three runs in one inning and taking the loss in a key divisional game. This situation presents a tough call for roto owners. On the one hand Zumaya was lights out last year. However, his 100 mph heater has not helped him be consistently effective this year. In the end, the safe play is to reserve Zumaya until he puts two or three good outings together (and given how many innings he tossed in relief at a young age in 2006, that may not happen until next year). That said, if you are out of it and can snag Joel for next year, that is a move worth pursuing.
Craig Monroe: The Cubs won the Craig Monroe "sweepstakes," acquiring the outfielder from the Tigers for a player to be named later. Boy, this situation is a tough one. On one hand, Monroe has hit 89 HR in the past 4 completed seasons. On the other hand, his batting average has been declining year after year. In the end, I think only the most power hungry, need to catch lightning in a bottle owners should take a run at Monroe. The Cubs have a lot of moving parts and it is just not clear how much Monroe will play. Just when he gets hot, you will click on the TV and see Mark Derosa move from second base to the outfield in place of Monroe. Who needs that kind of roto disappointment?
Mike Mussina: In a story that really makes me sad, there are indications out of Yankee camp that Mike Mussina may lose his spot in the rotation. Well, admittedly, the Moose has been awful in his last two starts. In fact one of the biggest Moose fans I know was forced to ask "is he even trying" while watching the latest debacle. If you own Moose, you may as well hold and see how he does against Detroit this week. Bottom line ? there is a bit of panic here that needs to be erased. Yes, Moose stunk in his last two starts. However, in the 7 preceding starts, Moose gave up more than 3 runs only once. The Yankees need Moose and will not cut bait.
Franklin Gutierrez: Franklin Gutierrez continues to stake his claim to serious playing time. Wednesday, he belted a three-run homer and added a double in the Tribe's victory over Detroit. With Trot Nixon not doing anything, there is little reason for the Indians to sit Gutierrez. After hitting .341 in AAA this year, Franklin has belted 9 dingers in just 160 AB's in the show. Look for continued production down the stretch. For those in keeper leagues, this is one to latch onto now. Soon, if not already, it will be too late.
Jason Varitek: Jason Varitek continues to struggle. Yes, he is a solid receiver and a very good leader. However, those two things and a metrocard will get you on the subway when it comes to fantasy baseball. Varitek is in danger of approaching the Mendoza line in the second half. The bottom line is that aging catchers not named Posada fade in the second half as the wear and tear takes its toll. Sell Varitek if you can find a buyer. He will drag down your offense for the rest of the year if you don't.
Milton Bradley: The gamester is back and looking strong (ok, I know he is just another injury away from frustrating his owners from Rockland County all the way to San Diego, but he is hot now). Last night, Bradley belted two dingers to further bloat his gaudy numbers since joining the Pods -- .368, 7 HR and 24 RBI in just 27 games. Buy and hope for continued health.
Chris Capuano: You know the mighty have fallen when a starter dropped from the rotation gives up 4 runs in 5 innings of relief and that is considered a decent outing. Capuano, who was dropped from the Brewers rotation, should not be active in any format. Here is one thing to watch however. If the Cap owner in your keeper league dumps him this week, make the cheap pickup if you either are out of it or can store him on taxi. There is talent there, it just has been hidden since the spring.
Last but not least, this week's Schultz Says: "If you're still reading roto-baseball columns at this point, you don't need anyone to tell you that Hanley Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and Albert Pujols have been tearing it up the last few weeks. You've been there, done that and text messaged your dorky friends about how great it was, probably sent them a fuzzy cameraphone shot of someone who really isn't Scarlett Johansson too. (For new readers, we at The Week That Was are big fans of young Miss Scarlett).
For those of you still bothering to read past the first paragraph, the least I can do is point out a few hidden talents lurking in the roto-verse; especially since its unlikely that anyone will put a Scarlett Johansson picture next to the opening stanza. Seriously, wouldn't we all rather see Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive instead of yet another stock photo of some ballplayer. Speaking of sexy though, some of these suggestions may not look and feel like sleek pickups but in a close race, they may give you that added boost into the top echelon of your league.
If you've been watching the Pirates lately, I feel bad for you as you're either from Pittsburgh or in some serious need of outside interests. However, you would among the few that are cognizant of how well Freddy Sanchez and Nate McLouth have been playing. Last year's batting champion was hindered out of the blocks with an injured knee, causing many to write off the former hot prospect as the 2006 version of Bill Mueller. Now that Sanchez is healthy, he's in a serious groove and is a tough out. Jump on him if you can, he will finish strong. McLouth is benefiting from Chris Duffy's injury and making the most of it. His overall numbers aren't impressive; his last ten days, in which he's hit 5 home runs while hitting .333 and scoring 12 runs, are. He is likely on your waiver wire waiting to help you in September.
Jeff Keppinger is another whodat that is toiling away in the anonymity of Cincinnati. Currently hitting .371, Keppinger's minor league numbers show that the high average may not be a total fluke. After uninspiring stints with the Mets and Royals, Keppinger will likely have a role in the Reds lineup for the rest of the season. He may not be a franchise player but why not ride his hot streak while he's on it? As he's shortstop eligible, there are many worse options out there.
Another hot shortstop is playing in Seattle. One of the key ingredients to Seattle's refusal to fade away has been the emergence of Yuniesky Betancourt. After a miserable first half, Betancourt has been as hot as Ichiro. Over the last month, Betancourt is hitting .367 and shown surprising pop in his bat, slugging 4 HRs to equal his career season-high. No one will be cowering in fear when you pick him up so slyly grab him and reap the benefits.
One football related note: if you take Larry Johnson with a high first round pick, you are an idiot. It had to be said.
Now, Glenn, if the season were to end today, would the Indians be in the playoffs? Would the Yankees?
Response: Good one. Not! Seriously, Schultz is right about one thing ? we are big Scarlett fans! Ok, really seriously ? Keppinger continues to rake and makes a quality pickup for the stretch run. However, I worry about McLouth and Sanchez as Pittsburgh is hardly a mecca for offensive production. As to LJ and football, I hear this LaDanian guy is pretty good.
Final thought: I bet the Yankees wish they had a lefty Joba too. Watching Sean Henn lay eggs is just getting downright sickening. If you own Henn in a fantasy league, you should be banned from playing ever again. In the heat of a pennant race, Henn has given up 9 runs in his last three outings (including 3 baserunners per inning). Geez, even Schultzie throwing with his off-hand is a better choice at this point.
Have a great weekend all.
Week That Was
Relievers coming and going, the Moose seemingly fading, and hot hitting from the Gamester this week's Week That Was.
Bob Wickman: Reports out of Atlanta have the Braves designating Bob Wickman for assignment. This is a bit odd. You would at least expect the Braves to try and move him to a team in need of middle relief. That said, it is hardly a surprise that the Braves have lost faith in Wickman. It is nearly impossible to succeed as a closer while allowing over 1.5 baserunners per inning. What to do from a fantasy perspective? Well, first, cut bait on Wickman. Without the saves, he hurts your team. Second, go get Rafael Soriano. Not only is he the odds on favorite for saves in Atlanta, Sori has a WHIP under 1.00 and a K/BB of over 4:1. Hot ratios indeed. The one risk with Soriano is that Octavio Dotel will return in September and has more closing experience. For those in desperate need of saves, Dotel is worth squirreling away now.
Chase Utley: Chase Utley is set to start a rehab assignment with an eye toward returning on Sunday or early next week. If you own Utley, given how much you surely paid, you have no choice but to activate him and hope for the best. However, you need to keep your expectations in check. Players returning from hand or wrist injuries often show a significant decline in power from their pre-injury stats. For example, Lyle Overbay, who sustained a similar injury, has homered every 40+ AB this year -- a far cry from last year and pre-injury projections for this year. Miguel Tejada has had a similar experience, homering approximately every 30 AB as compared to last year's 20. Bottom line: do not rush out to grab Utley unless you get a real discount from pre-season prices.
Ryan Dempster: Cubs skipper Lou Piniella announced that Ryan Dempster has deposed the committee and is now the solo closer. It is true that Dempster has been very good since ugly back to back outings against the Mets in early August. However, Piniella is famous for disinformation. Thus, if you own Dempster, it is a good time to dump him. Piniella will change his mind. Strike while the iron is hot. This writer has no doubt that Lou will go with the hot hand the rest of the way (whether that be Howry, Marmol, or even Kerry Wood).
Joel Zumaya: Joel Zumaya was lit up Thursday, giving up three runs in one inning and taking the loss in a key divisional game. This situation presents a tough call for roto owners. On the one hand Zumaya was lights out last year. However, his 100 mph heater has not helped him be consistently effective this year. In the end, the safe play is to reserve Zumaya until he puts two or three good outings together (and given how many innings he tossed in relief at a young age in 2006, that may not happen until next year). That said, if you are out of it and can snag Joel for next year, that is a move worth pursuing.
Craig Monroe: The Cubs won the Craig Monroe "sweepstakes," acquiring the outfielder from the Tigers for a player to be named later. Boy, this situation is a tough one. On one hand, Monroe has hit 89 HR in the past 4 completed seasons. On the other hand, his batting average has been declining year after year. In the end, I think only the most power hungry, need to catch lightning in a bottle owners should take a run at Monroe. The Cubs have a lot of moving parts and it is just not clear how much Monroe will play. Just when he gets hot, you will click on the TV and see Mark Derosa move from second base to the outfield in place of Monroe. Who needs that kind of roto disappointment?
Mike Mussina: In a story that really makes me sad, there are indications out of Yankee camp that Mike Mussina may lose his spot in the rotation. Well, admittedly, the Moose has been awful in his last two starts. In fact one of the biggest Moose fans I know was forced to ask "is he even trying" while watching the latest debacle. If you own Moose, you may as well hold and see how he does against Detroit this week. Bottom line ? there is a bit of panic here that needs to be erased. Yes, Moose stunk in his last two starts. However, in the 7 preceding starts, Moose gave up more than 3 runs only once. The Yankees need Moose and will not cut bait.
Franklin Gutierrez: Franklin Gutierrez continues to stake his claim to serious playing time. Wednesday, he belted a three-run homer and added a double in the Tribe's victory over Detroit. With Trot Nixon not doing anything, there is little reason for the Indians to sit Gutierrez. After hitting .341 in AAA this year, Franklin has belted 9 dingers in just 160 AB's in the show. Look for continued production down the stretch. For those in keeper leagues, this is one to latch onto now. Soon, if not already, it will be too late.
Jason Varitek: Jason Varitek continues to struggle. Yes, he is a solid receiver and a very good leader. However, those two things and a metrocard will get you on the subway when it comes to fantasy baseball. Varitek is in danger of approaching the Mendoza line in the second half. The bottom line is that aging catchers not named Posada fade in the second half as the wear and tear takes its toll. Sell Varitek if you can find a buyer. He will drag down your offense for the rest of the year if you don't.
Milton Bradley: The gamester is back and looking strong (ok, I know he is just another injury away from frustrating his owners from Rockland County all the way to San Diego, but he is hot now). Last night, Bradley belted two dingers to further bloat his gaudy numbers since joining the Pods -- .368, 7 HR and 24 RBI in just 27 games. Buy and hope for continued health.
Chris Capuano: You know the mighty have fallen when a starter dropped from the rotation gives up 4 runs in 5 innings of relief and that is considered a decent outing. Capuano, who was dropped from the Brewers rotation, should not be active in any format. Here is one thing to watch however. If the Cap owner in your keeper league dumps him this week, make the cheap pickup if you either are out of it or can store him on taxi. There is talent there, it just has been hidden since the spring.
Last but not least, this week's Schultz Says: "If you're still reading roto-baseball columns at this point, you don't need anyone to tell you that Hanley Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and Albert Pujols have been tearing it up the last few weeks. You've been there, done that and text messaged your dorky friends about how great it was, probably sent them a fuzzy cameraphone shot of someone who really isn't Scarlett Johansson too. (For new readers, we at The Week That Was are big fans of young Miss Scarlett).
For those of you still bothering to read past the first paragraph, the least I can do is point out a few hidden talents lurking in the roto-verse; especially since its unlikely that anyone will put a Scarlett Johansson picture next to the opening stanza. Seriously, wouldn't we all rather see Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive instead of yet another stock photo of some ballplayer. Speaking of sexy though, some of these suggestions may not look and feel like sleek pickups but in a close race, they may give you that added boost into the top echelon of your league.
If you've been watching the Pirates lately, I feel bad for you as you're either from Pittsburgh or in some serious need of outside interests. However, you would among the few that are cognizant of how well Freddy Sanchez and Nate McLouth have been playing. Last year's batting champion was hindered out of the blocks with an injured knee, causing many to write off the former hot prospect as the 2006 version of Bill Mueller. Now that Sanchez is healthy, he's in a serious groove and is a tough out. Jump on him if you can, he will finish strong. McLouth is benefiting from Chris Duffy's injury and making the most of it. His overall numbers aren't impressive; his last ten days, in which he's hit 5 home runs while hitting .333 and scoring 12 runs, are. He is likely on your waiver wire waiting to help you in September.
Jeff Keppinger is another whodat that is toiling away in the anonymity of Cincinnati. Currently hitting .371, Keppinger's minor league numbers show that the high average may not be a total fluke. After uninspiring stints with the Mets and Royals, Keppinger will likely have a role in the Reds lineup for the rest of the season. He may not be a franchise player but why not ride his hot streak while he's on it? As he's shortstop eligible, there are many worse options out there.
Another hot shortstop is playing in Seattle. One of the key ingredients to Seattle's refusal to fade away has been the emergence of Yuniesky Betancourt. After a miserable first half, Betancourt has been as hot as Ichiro. Over the last month, Betancourt is hitting .367 and shown surprising pop in his bat, slugging 4 HRs to equal his career season-high. No one will be cowering in fear when you pick him up so slyly grab him and reap the benefits.
One football related note: if you take Larry Johnson with a high first round pick, you are an idiot. It had to be said.
Now, Glenn, if the season were to end today, would the Indians be in the playoffs? Would the Yankees?
Response: Good one. Not! Seriously, Schultz is right about one thing ? we are big Scarlett fans! Ok, really seriously ? Keppinger continues to rake and makes a quality pickup for the stretch run. However, I worry about McLouth and Sanchez as Pittsburgh is hardly a mecca for offensive production. As to LJ and football, I hear this LaDanian guy is pretty good.
Final thought: I bet the Yankees wish they had a lefty Joba too. Watching Sean Henn lay eggs is just getting downright sickening. If you own Henn in a fantasy league, you should be banned from playing ever again. In the heat of a pennant race, Henn has given up 9 runs in his last three outings (including 3 baserunners per inning). Geez, even Schultzie throwing with his off-hand is a better choice at this point.
Have a great weekend all.