Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
thanks for posting this stuff Hache.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
thanks for posting this stuff Hache.
Baseball/Fantasy News 2008
- Thread starter Hache Man
- Start date
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Pushing off on the right foot
I was under the impression that the baseball season didn't start until Ozzie Guillen threw out his ceremonial first insult towards a marginalized group, but apparently when I was sleeping there were some games played in Japan. Two down, 2,428 to go.
Welcome to The Week Ahead, which will help you set your weekly lineup by examining the pitchers who will be making two starts, giving updates on injuries, alerting you to games that could be affected by weather and running down other important statistics. Let's get started.
Two Start Pitchers:
The following pitchers are making two starts this week. Most of these guys are staff aces and top fantasy pitchers. Because of the unique nature of the first week's schedule, some teams haven't yet decided if they'll skip their fifth starter, or have their No. 1 guy bump him back a day.
Odalis Perez ? ATL (Tim Hudson) , @STL (Braden Looper)
Tim Hudson - @WAS (Odalis Perez), NYM (John Maine)
atlantabraves.com
The guys above pitch on Sunday night, which may or may not be included depending on the stat service you use to run your league. It's definitely worth checking out.
Meet the Supremes
Johan Santana - @FLA (Mark Hendrickson), @ATL (John Smoltz)
Jake Peavy ? HOU (Roy Oswalt), LAD (Undecided)
Erik Bedard ? TEX (Kevin Millwood), @BAL (Brian Burres)
Brandon Webb ? @CIN (Aaron Harang), @COL (Franklin Morales)
Justin Verlander ? KAN (Gil Meche), CHI (Gavin Floyd)
C.C. Sabathia ? CHI (Mark Buehrle), OAK (Dana Eveland)
Cream of the Crop
Carlos Zambrano ? MIL (Ben Sheets), HOU (Brandon Backe)
Roy Halladay - @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang), BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] ? HOU (Brandon Backe), LAD (Undecided)
Aaron Harang ? ARI (Brandon Webb), PHI (Undecided)
Roy Oswalt - @SDG (Jake Peavy), @CHI (Jason Marquis)
Daisuke Matsuzaka - @OAK (Joe Blanton), @TOR (Roy Halladay)
Brett Myers ? WAS (Matt Chico), @CIN (Undecided)
Ben Sheets - @CHI (Carlos Zambrano), SFO (Undecided)
Jered Weaver - @MIN(Livan Hernandez), TEX(Kevin Millwood)
Chien-Ming Wang ? TOR (Roy Halladay), TAM (James Shields)
Jon Garland - @MIN (Boof Bonser), TEX (Vicente Padilla)
Brad Penny ? SFO (Barry Zito), @SDG (Undecided)
James Shields - @BAL (Jeremy Guthrie), @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
More Hits by the Supremes
Mark Buehrle ? @CLE (C.C. Sabathia), @DET (Dontrelle Willis)
James Shields - @BAL (Jeremy Guthrie), @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
Ian Snell - @ATL (Tom Glavine), @FLA (Rick VandenHurk)
Jeremy Guthrie ? TAM (James Shields), SEA (Miguel Batista)
Adam Wainwright ? COL (Jeff Francis), WAS (Undecided)
Jeff Francis - @STL (Adam Wainwright), ARI (Edgar Gonzalez)
Joe Blanton ? BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka), CLE (Cliff Lee)
Kevin Millwood ? @SEA (Erik Bedard), @ANA (Jered Weaver)
Tom Glavine ? PIT (Ian Snell), NYM (Undecided)
Gil Meche - @DET (Justin Verlander), @MIN (Boof Bonser)
Barry Zito - @LAD (Brad Penny), @MIL (Undecided)
Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl"
Rick VandenHurk - NYM (Pedro Martinez), PIT (Ian Snell)
Brandon Backe - @SDG ([URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL]), @CHI (Carlos Zambrano)
Livan Hernandez ? ANA (Jered Weaver), KAN (Brett Tomko)
Vicente Padilla - @SEA (Felix Hernandez), @ANA (Jon Garland)
Matt Chico - @PHI (Brett Myers), @STL (Undecided)
Mark Hendrickson ? NYM (Johan Santana), PIT (Paul Maholm)
newyorkmets.com
Team-by-team Game Totals
Seven Games: ANA, HOU, MIN, SDG
Six Games: ARE, ATL, BAL, CHI-N, CHI-A, CIN, CLE, COL, DET, FLA, KAN, LAD, MIL, NYM, NYY, PHI, PIT, SEA, SFO, STL, TAM, TEX, TOR, WAS
Five Games: BOS, OAK
Continued?
<!--RW-->
The Stadium Effect
Hitter-friendly Parks:
1. Fenway Park (Red Sox) ? No Games
2. Wrigley Field (Cubs) ? 3 vs. MIL, 3 vs. HOU
3. Coors Field (Rockies) ? 3 vs. ARI
4. Progressive Field (Indians) ? 3 vs. CHI
5. Chase Field (Diamondbacks) ? No Games
Pitcher-friendly Parks:
1. Petco Park (Padres) ? 3 vs. HOU, 3 vs. LAD
2. McAfee Coliseum (Athletics) ? 2 vs. BOS, 3 vs. CLE
3. Metrodome (Twins) ? 4 vs. ANA, 3 vs. KAN
4. Tropicana Field (Rays) ? No Games
5. Minute Maid Park (Astros) - No Games
Not Caught Stealing:
This section will become more complete once we get some actual stats from this season to work with. Until then, here are the five easiest catchers to steal on from last season (that are currently starters):
1. Jason Kendall (allowed 111) ? 3 @ CHI, 3 vs. SFO
2. Jorge Posada (allowed 102) ? 3 vs. TOR, 3 vs. TAM
3. Russel Martin (allowed 82) ? 3 vs. SF, 3 @SD
4. Ronny Paulino (allowed 74) ? 3 @ ATL, 3 @ FLA
5. Johnny Estrada (allowed 72) ? 1 @NYM, 3 @ PHI, 3 @STL
The Weather Report:
The following games are going to be played in cities where there is at least a 50% chance of rain. The White Sox, Cleveland, Colorado and St. Louis all have two games on this list:
Monday, 3/31: TOR@NYY ? 60%
Monday, 3/31: MIL@CHI-N ? 90%
Monday 3/31: ARI@CIN ? 60%
Monday 3/31: KC@DET ? 70%
Monday 3/31: CHI-A@CLE ? 60%
Monday 3/31: COL@STL ? 60%
Monday 3/31: WAS@PHI ? 60%
Wednesday 4/2: SF@LAD ? 60%
Wednesday 4/2: BOS@OAK ? 60%
Thursday 4/3: CHI-A@CLE ? 50%
Thursday 4/3: COL@STL ? 50%
Friday, 4/4: NYM@ATL - 50%
Continued?
<!--RW-->
Injuries At-A-Glance:
Starting Pitchers:
John Lackey (elbow) ? Return May
Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) ? Out Indefinitely
Chad Gaudin (hip) ? Return April 12
Casey Janssen (shoulder) ? Out for season
John Smoltz (shoulder) ? Return April 6
Chuck James (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Anthony Lerew (hand) ? Return Aug/Sept
Chris Capuano (elbow) ? Out indefinitely
Yovani Gallardo (knee) ? Return mid-April
Chris Carpenter (elbow) ? Return August
Matt Clement (shoulder) ? Return May
Mark Mulder (shoulder) ? Return May
Joel Pineiro (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Randy Johnson (back) ? Return mid-April
Jason Schmidt (shoulder) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Noah Lowry (wrist) ? Return mid-April
Josh Johnson (elbow) ? Likely out for the season
Sergio Mitre (elbow) ? Return June
Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) ? Return July
Orlando Hernandez (foot) ? Return mid-April
Tim Redding (back spasms) ? Probable for Opening Day
Shawn Hill (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Troy Patton (shoulder) ? Out for season
Mark Prior (shoulder) ? Return June
Clay Hensley (shoulder) ? Return May
Scott Mathieson (elbow) ? Out indefinitely
Luis Mendoza (finger) ? Return April 12
Brandon McCarthy (arm) - Return mid-May
Scott Kazmir (elbow) ? Return early May
Josh Beckett (back) ? Return April 6
Curt Schilling (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Matt Belisle (arm) - Return mid-April
Bobby Livingston (shoulder) ? Return June
Jason Hirsh (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Jordan Tata (finger) ? Return late April/May
Scott Baker (back) ? Should start April 4
Andy Pettitte (back) ? Return early April
Carl Pavano (elbow) ? Return July
Important Relievers:
Scot Shields (arm) ? Return mid-April
Kiko Calero (shoulder) ? Return late May
B.J. Ryan (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Mike Gonzalez (elbow) ? Return June
Josh Kinney (elbow) ? Return May
Scott Eyre (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Angel Guzman (elbow) ? Return Aug/Sept
Henry Owens (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Duaner Sanchez (shoulder) ? Return mid-/late-April
Ryan Wagner (shoulder) ? Return May/June
Chris Ray (elbow) ? Return Aug/Sept
Danys Baez (elbow) ? Likely out for the season
Fernando Cabrera (elbow) ? Return May/June
Rocky Cherry (shoulder) ? Return late April
Justin Hampson (shoulder) ? Return late April
Carlos Guevara (hamstring) ? Out indefinitely
Brad Lidge (knee) ? Return April 5
Francisco Rosario (shoulder) ? Return late April
Mike Zagurski (elbow) ? Out for season
John Rheinecker (arm) - Return July
Chad Orvella (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Mike Timlin (finger) ? Return early April
Joel Zumaya (shoulder) ? Return June/July
Fernando Rodney (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Jesse Crain (shoulder) ? Probable Opening Day
Jeff Karstens (groin) ? Return mid-April
Sean Henn (shoulder) ? Return April 5
Continued?
<!--RW-->
Infielders:
Kaz Matsui (anus) ? Return mid-April
Geoff Blum (foot) ? day-to-day
Daric Barton (hand) ? day-to-day
Eric Chavez (back) ? Out indefinitely
Scott Rolen (finger) ? Return late April
Omar Infante (hand) ? Return late April
Brendan Ryan (ribs) ? Questionable for Opening Day
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) ? Return mid-April
Tony Abreu (groin) ? Return mid-April
Nomar Garciaparra (hand) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Andy LaRoche (thumb) ? Return May
Jeff Kent (hamstring) ? Probable for Opening Day
Kevin Frandsen (Achilles) ? Out for Season
Omar Vizquel (knee) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Kevin Millar (hand) ? Day-to-day
Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) ? Probable for Opening Day
Travis Metcalf (hamstring) ? Return in late May
Ben Zobrist (thumb) ? Return mid-April
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] (knee) ? Return mid-April
Danny Richar (ribs) ? Return May
Outfielders:
Gary Matthews Jr. (ankle) ? Day-to-day
Matt Stairs (hip) ? Day-to-day
Juan Encarnacion (eye) ? Likely out for season
Shin-Soo Choo (elbow) ? Return May
Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) ? Return early April
Alejandro De Aza (ankle) ? Return mid-April?
Moises Alou (groin) ? Return mid-April
Wily Mo Pena (ribs) ? Return late April
Freddie Bynum (knee) ? Return mid-April
Jim Edmonds (calf) ? Return early April
Chris Duffy (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Rocco Baldelli (hamstring) ? Out indefinitely
J.D. Drew (back) ? Day-to-day
Curtis Granderson (finger) Return mid-April
Jerry Owens (groin) ? Return late April
Catchers:
Miguel Montero (finger) ? Return mid-April
Mike Rabelo (knee) ? Return mid-April
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3901"]Ramon Castro[/URL] (hamstring) ? Return mid-April
Johnny Estrada (elbow) ? Return mid-April
David Ross (back) ? Return mid-April
Miguel Olivo (groin) ? Return April 5
Vance Wilson (elbow) ? Return late April
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Pushing off on the right foot
I was under the impression that the baseball season didn't start until Ozzie Guillen threw out his ceremonial first insult towards a marginalized group, but apparently when I was sleeping there were some games played in Japan. Two down, 2,428 to go.
Welcome to The Week Ahead, which will help you set your weekly lineup by examining the pitchers who will be making two starts, giving updates on injuries, alerting you to games that could be affected by weather and running down other important statistics. Let's get started.
Two Start Pitchers:
The following pitchers are making two starts this week. Most of these guys are staff aces and top fantasy pitchers. Because of the unique nature of the first week's schedule, some teams haven't yet decided if they'll skip their fifth starter, or have their No. 1 guy bump him back a day.
Odalis Perez ? ATL (Tim Hudson) , @STL (Braden Looper)
Tim Hudson - @WAS (Odalis Perez), NYM (John Maine)
atlantabraves.com
The guys above pitch on Sunday night, which may or may not be included depending on the stat service you use to run your league. It's definitely worth checking out.
Meet the Supremes
Johan Santana - @FLA (Mark Hendrickson), @ATL (John Smoltz)
Jake Peavy ? HOU (Roy Oswalt), LAD (Undecided)
Erik Bedard ? TEX (Kevin Millwood), @BAL (Brian Burres)
Brandon Webb ? @CIN (Aaron Harang), @COL (Franklin Morales)
Justin Verlander ? KAN (Gil Meche), CHI (Gavin Floyd)
C.C. Sabathia ? CHI (Mark Buehrle), OAK (Dana Eveland)
Cream of the Crop
Carlos Zambrano ? MIL (Ben Sheets), HOU (Brandon Backe)
Roy Halladay - @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang), BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] ? HOU (Brandon Backe), LAD (Undecided)
Aaron Harang ? ARI (Brandon Webb), PHI (Undecided)
Roy Oswalt - @SDG (Jake Peavy), @CHI (Jason Marquis)
Daisuke Matsuzaka - @OAK (Joe Blanton), @TOR (Roy Halladay)
Brett Myers ? WAS (Matt Chico), @CIN (Undecided)
Ben Sheets - @CHI (Carlos Zambrano), SFO (Undecided)
Jered Weaver - @MIN(Livan Hernandez), TEX(Kevin Millwood)
Chien-Ming Wang ? TOR (Roy Halladay), TAM (James Shields)
Jon Garland - @MIN (Boof Bonser), TEX (Vicente Padilla)
Brad Penny ? SFO (Barry Zito), @SDG (Undecided)
James Shields - @BAL (Jeremy Guthrie), @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
More Hits by the Supremes
Mark Buehrle ? @CLE (C.C. Sabathia), @DET (Dontrelle Willis)
James Shields - @BAL (Jeremy Guthrie), @NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
Ian Snell - @ATL (Tom Glavine), @FLA (Rick VandenHurk)
Jeremy Guthrie ? TAM (James Shields), SEA (Miguel Batista)
Adam Wainwright ? COL (Jeff Francis), WAS (Undecided)
Jeff Francis - @STL (Adam Wainwright), ARI (Edgar Gonzalez)
Joe Blanton ? BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka), CLE (Cliff Lee)
Kevin Millwood ? @SEA (Erik Bedard), @ANA (Jered Weaver)
Tom Glavine ? PIT (Ian Snell), NYM (Undecided)
Gil Meche - @DET (Justin Verlander), @MIN (Boof Bonser)
Barry Zito - @LAD (Brad Penny), @MIL (Undecided)
Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl"
Rick VandenHurk - NYM (Pedro Martinez), PIT (Ian Snell)
Brandon Backe - @SDG ([URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL]), @CHI (Carlos Zambrano)
Livan Hernandez ? ANA (Jered Weaver), KAN (Brett Tomko)
Vicente Padilla - @SEA (Felix Hernandez), @ANA (Jon Garland)
Matt Chico - @PHI (Brett Myers), @STL (Undecided)
Mark Hendrickson ? NYM (Johan Santana), PIT (Paul Maholm)
newyorkmets.com
Team-by-team Game Totals
Seven Games: ANA, HOU, MIN, SDG
Six Games: ARE, ATL, BAL, CHI-N, CHI-A, CIN, CLE, COL, DET, FLA, KAN, LAD, MIL, NYM, NYY, PHI, PIT, SEA, SFO, STL, TAM, TEX, TOR, WAS
Five Games: BOS, OAK
Continued?
<!--RW-->
The Stadium Effect
Hitter-friendly Parks:
1. Fenway Park (Red Sox) ? No Games
2. Wrigley Field (Cubs) ? 3 vs. MIL, 3 vs. HOU
3. Coors Field (Rockies) ? 3 vs. ARI
4. Progressive Field (Indians) ? 3 vs. CHI
5. Chase Field (Diamondbacks) ? No Games
Pitcher-friendly Parks:
1. Petco Park (Padres) ? 3 vs. HOU, 3 vs. LAD
2. McAfee Coliseum (Athletics) ? 2 vs. BOS, 3 vs. CLE
3. Metrodome (Twins) ? 4 vs. ANA, 3 vs. KAN
4. Tropicana Field (Rays) ? No Games
5. Minute Maid Park (Astros) - No Games
Not Caught Stealing:
This section will become more complete once we get some actual stats from this season to work with. Until then, here are the five easiest catchers to steal on from last season (that are currently starters):
1. Jason Kendall (allowed 111) ? 3 @ CHI, 3 vs. SFO
2. Jorge Posada (allowed 102) ? 3 vs. TOR, 3 vs. TAM
3. Russel Martin (allowed 82) ? 3 vs. SF, 3 @SD
4. Ronny Paulino (allowed 74) ? 3 @ ATL, 3 @ FLA
5. Johnny Estrada (allowed 72) ? 1 @NYM, 3 @ PHI, 3 @STL
The Weather Report:
The following games are going to be played in cities where there is at least a 50% chance of rain. The White Sox, Cleveland, Colorado and St. Louis all have two games on this list:
Monday, 3/31: TOR@NYY ? 60%
Monday, 3/31: MIL@CHI-N ? 90%
Monday 3/31: ARI@CIN ? 60%
Monday 3/31: KC@DET ? 70%
Monday 3/31: CHI-A@CLE ? 60%
Monday 3/31: COL@STL ? 60%
Monday 3/31: WAS@PHI ? 60%
Wednesday 4/2: SF@LAD ? 60%
Wednesday 4/2: BOS@OAK ? 60%
Thursday 4/3: CHI-A@CLE ? 50%
Thursday 4/3: COL@STL ? 50%
Friday, 4/4: NYM@ATL - 50%
Continued?
<!--RW-->
Injuries At-A-Glance:
Starting Pitchers:
John Lackey (elbow) ? Return May
Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) ? Out Indefinitely
Chad Gaudin (hip) ? Return April 12
Casey Janssen (shoulder) ? Out for season
John Smoltz (shoulder) ? Return April 6
Chuck James (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Anthony Lerew (hand) ? Return Aug/Sept
Chris Capuano (elbow) ? Out indefinitely
Yovani Gallardo (knee) ? Return mid-April
Chris Carpenter (elbow) ? Return August
Matt Clement (shoulder) ? Return May
Mark Mulder (shoulder) ? Return May
Joel Pineiro (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Randy Johnson (back) ? Return mid-April
Jason Schmidt (shoulder) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Noah Lowry (wrist) ? Return mid-April
Josh Johnson (elbow) ? Likely out for the season
Sergio Mitre (elbow) ? Return June
Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) ? Return July
Orlando Hernandez (foot) ? Return mid-April
Tim Redding (back spasms) ? Probable for Opening Day
Shawn Hill (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Troy Patton (shoulder) ? Out for season
Mark Prior (shoulder) ? Return June
Clay Hensley (shoulder) ? Return May
Scott Mathieson (elbow) ? Out indefinitely
Luis Mendoza (finger) ? Return April 12
Brandon McCarthy (arm) - Return mid-May
Scott Kazmir (elbow) ? Return early May
Josh Beckett (back) ? Return April 6
Curt Schilling (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Matt Belisle (arm) - Return mid-April
Bobby Livingston (shoulder) ? Return June
Jason Hirsh (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Jordan Tata (finger) ? Return late April/May
Scott Baker (back) ? Should start April 4
Andy Pettitte (back) ? Return early April
Carl Pavano (elbow) ? Return July
Important Relievers:
Scot Shields (arm) ? Return mid-April
Kiko Calero (shoulder) ? Return late May
B.J. Ryan (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Mike Gonzalez (elbow) ? Return June
Josh Kinney (elbow) ? Return May
Scott Eyre (elbow) ? Return mid-April
Angel Guzman (elbow) ? Return Aug/Sept
Henry Owens (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Duaner Sanchez (shoulder) ? Return mid-/late-April
Ryan Wagner (shoulder) ? Return May/June
Chris Ray (elbow) ? Return Aug/Sept
Danys Baez (elbow) ? Likely out for the season
Fernando Cabrera (elbow) ? Return May/June
Rocky Cherry (shoulder) ? Return late April
Justin Hampson (shoulder) ? Return late April
Carlos Guevara (hamstring) ? Out indefinitely
Brad Lidge (knee) ? Return April 5
Francisco Rosario (shoulder) ? Return late April
Mike Zagurski (elbow) ? Out for season
John Rheinecker (arm) - Return July
Chad Orvella (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Mike Timlin (finger) ? Return early April
Joel Zumaya (shoulder) ? Return June/July
Fernando Rodney (shoulder) ? Return mid-April
Jesse Crain (shoulder) ? Probable Opening Day
Jeff Karstens (groin) ? Return mid-April
Sean Henn (shoulder) ? Return April 5
Continued?
<!--RW-->
Infielders:
Kaz Matsui (anus) ? Return mid-April
Geoff Blum (foot) ? day-to-day
Daric Barton (hand) ? day-to-day
Eric Chavez (back) ? Out indefinitely
Scott Rolen (finger) ? Return late April
Omar Infante (hand) ? Return late April
Brendan Ryan (ribs) ? Questionable for Opening Day
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) ? Return mid-April
Tony Abreu (groin) ? Return mid-April
Nomar Garciaparra (hand) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Andy LaRoche (thumb) ? Return May
Jeff Kent (hamstring) ? Probable for Opening Day
Kevin Frandsen (Achilles) ? Out for Season
Omar Vizquel (knee) ? Doubtful for Opening Day
Kevin Millar (hand) ? Day-to-day
Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) ? Probable for Opening Day
Travis Metcalf (hamstring) ? Return in late May
Ben Zobrist (thumb) ? Return mid-April
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] (knee) ? Return mid-April
Danny Richar (ribs) ? Return May
Outfielders:
Gary Matthews Jr. (ankle) ? Day-to-day
Matt Stairs (hip) ? Day-to-day
Juan Encarnacion (eye) ? Likely out for season
Shin-Soo Choo (elbow) ? Return May
Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) ? Return early April
Alejandro De Aza (ankle) ? Return mid-April?
Moises Alou (groin) ? Return mid-April
Wily Mo Pena (ribs) ? Return late April
Freddie Bynum (knee) ? Return mid-April
Jim Edmonds (calf) ? Return early April
Chris Duffy (shoulder) ? Out indefinitely
Rocco Baldelli (hamstring) ? Out indefinitely
J.D. Drew (back) ? Day-to-day
Curtis Granderson (finger) Return mid-April
Jerry Owens (groin) ? Return late April
Catchers:
Miguel Montero (finger) ? Return mid-April
Mike Rabelo (knee) ? Return mid-April
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3901"]Ramon Castro[/URL] (hamstring) ? Return mid-April
Johnny Estrada (elbow) ? Return mid-April
David Ross (back) ? Return mid-April
Miguel Olivo (groin) ? Return April 5
Vance Wilson (elbow) ? Return late April
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Opening Dose
Hello and welcome to the beginning of seven straight months of baseball. I'm smiling just from typing that sentence, which also happens to kick off another season of Rotoworld's "Daily Dose." Each and every weekday from now until October, this will be the place to find the latest news and analysis about injuries, lineup changes, roster moves, notable performances, and everything else that goes on during the beautiful marathon that is a 162-game baseball season.
My name is Aaron Gleeman and I'll be your host, but with a full slate of games on the schedule?and my mind still reeling from experiencing Joe Morgan and George Bush in the same broadcast booth last night?let's cut the pleasantries short and get right to the good stuff. After all, there's baseball to watch today! While fans across the country wear out remote controls celebrating the adult male version of Christmas morning, here are some notes from around baseball ?
* Unwilling to compound the mistake that general manager Ned Colletti made last winter by giving Juan Pierre a five-year, $44 million contract, manager Joe Torre announced Sunday that Andre Ethier will open the season as the Dodgers' starting left fielder. Ethier out-hitting Pierre this spring .377 to .188 likely had more to do with the decision than Torre suddenly trusting young talent, but either way it's clearly the right move.
With 50-steal speed and a .301 lifetime batting average Pierre has considerable fantasy potential, but his .287/.329/.365 hitting line over the past three seasons clearly makes him ill-suited to be a regular corner outfielder. Ethier has hit .295/.357/.464 for his career and is a good bet to beat Pierre by 100-150 points of OPS. Pierre would be a nice fourth outfielder if not for the part about making $9 million per year through 2011, but moving to the bench crushes his fantasy value.
He'll still probably work his way into the lineup several times per week and Torre may change his mind if Ethier starts slow, so penciling Pierre in for at least 300 at-bats remains safe. If Ethier starts strong and Pierre struggles to see action as much more than a pinch-runner, a trade is also possible. For now, give Ethier a nice value boost?he's capable of hitting .300 with 20 homers?and drop your expectations for Pierre from 50-plus steals to somewhere in the 20-25 range.
He goes from being a top-30 fantasy outfielder (and an example of why fantasy value doesn't always equate to real-life value) to being a far worse bet than fellow slap-hitting speedsters Willy Taveras and Michael Bourn. In fact, I'd also drop him below Shane Victorino and Jacoby Ellsbury in terms of projected value, and would rather target Nate McLouth, Dave Roberts, Jerry Owens, Corey Patterson, and my favorite stolen-base sleeper Carlos Gomez in any search for speed.
* Manager Trey Hillman announced Sunday that Alex Gordon will hit third in the Royals' lineup to begin the year. Gordon's rookie season was disappointing relative to the tremendous hype that preceded him as baseball's consensus No. 1 prospect, but he quietly hit .285/.330/.478 with 12 homers and 10 steals over the final 98 games. He's capable of a 20-20 campaign and hitting even .275 with an .800 OPS would lead to nice run production if he can stick in the No. 3 spot.
Gordon is a good breakout pick as a sophomore, but his Royals teammate Billy Butler might have an even better chance of emerging as a household fantasy name this season. Butler doesn't turn 22 years old until April 18, but hit .336/.416/.561 over 1,657 plate appearances in the minors?including .291/.412/.542 as a 21-year-old at Triple-A last season?and immediately thrived in the majors by hitting .292/.347/.447 in 92 games with the Royals.
Butler will open the year hitting fifth in the lineup?with Gordon batting third and veteran free-agent signing [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] in the cleanup spot?but is a good bet to be the team's top hitter and is capable of being one of the league's best draft-day bargains. Hillman explained the decision to bat Butler fifth by saying that "he's squaring up more balls than anyone right now" and will provide the best projection for Guillen, but expect the lineup to be built around Butler soon enough.
* Dusty Baker's love of veterans has predictably prevailed and the Reds' new skipper chose Scott Hatteberg over Joey Votto as the Opening Day first baseman. Even at 38 years old Hatteberg is a solid player deserving of a starting job after hitting .299/.391/.453 in two seasons with the Reds, so it's tough to blame Baker too much for giving him the nod. On the other hand, Votto is among the game's premier hitting prospects and at 24 years old is even more deserving of a regular gig.
Votto has hit .289/.385/.476 over 2,985 trips to the plate in the minors?including .294/.381/.478 with 22 homers at Triple-A last year?and batted .321/.360/.548 in a 24-game September stint with the Reds. Baker's decision to keep him around as a bench player isn't as bad as it would be for most top prospects, because Votto is already 24 and has little left to prove in the minors, but pinch-hitting certainly won't aide his development any (but will burn through his service time).
He doesn't project as a superstar, but Votto has a very well rounded all-around game. He figures to hit for a solid batting average, draws tons of walks, possesses 20-homer power, and swiped 41 bases over the past two years in the minors. Of course, excellent plate discipline isn't such a good thing when your manager thinks that drawing walks is simply "clogging the bases" and it may take a trade or a horrible start from Hatteberg for Votto to claim the job before midseason.
* Luis Hernandez beat out Brandon Fahey to be the Orioles' starting shortstop, but don't expect the 23-year-old rookie to come anywhere close to filling Miguel Tejada's shoes. Hernandez has hit .250/.296/.325 over 2,385 plate appearances in the minors, including .244/.276/.312 between Double-A and Triple-A last year, and has never posted even a .700 OPS at any level. He'll likely be the single worst hitter among AL regulars and at best might steal a half-dozen bases.
AL Quick Hits: Andy Pettitte (back) tossed six shutout innings Sunday in a minor-league game and is set to make his season debut Saturday against the Rays ? Rather than hand him a bench job over Scott Moore, the Orioles cut Jay Gibbons loose Sunday and ate the $11.9 million remaining on his contract ? Josh Beckett (back) is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game Tuesday ? Maicer Izturis will be the Angels' starting shortstop, beating out Erick Aybar and his higher fantasy upside for the job ? Scott Baker (back) tossed six innings Sunday in a minor-league game and is set to start the Twins' fifth game ? After working out Sunday, Gary Matthews Jr. (ankle) declared himself "ready to go" for the Angels' opener ? With both Ellsbury and Coco Crisp still around, Bobby Kielty said Sunday that he may decide to opt out of his contract with the Red Sox to pursue another option rather than head to Triple-A ? Alex Rios' agent said Sunday that his client is "getting closer" to signing a long-term extension with the Blue Jays that's believed to worth around $65 million over six years.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: John Smoltz (shoulder) struck out eight batters over five innings in a minor-league game Sunday and is now scheduled to make his season debut on April 6 against the Mets newyorkmets.com ? Jeff Kent (hamstring) looks ready for Opening Day after starting at second base and collecting an RBI in the Dodgers' spring finale Sunday ? Mike Pelfrey will begin the season as the Mets' fifth starter while Orlando Hernandez spends the next few weeks trying to get healthy following foot surgery ? Jason Schmidt (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list Sunday and is expected to miss at least the first month, leaving Esteban Loaiza as the Dodgers' fifth starter ? With Omar Vizquel (knee) on the DL, Brian Bocock will be the Giants' shortstop for at least a week despite the non-prospect hitting .243/.312/.344 at Single-A last year ? Scott Podsednik won a bench job over Cory Sullivan, but doesn't look likely to get enough playing time for his speed to make him a major fantasy asset ? Matt Murton is 26 years old and has hit .296/.365/.455 in 289 MLB games, but that didn't stop the Cubs from once again treating him like dirt by demoting him to Triple-A.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Opening Dose
Hello and welcome to the beginning of seven straight months of baseball. I'm smiling just from typing that sentence, which also happens to kick off another season of Rotoworld's "Daily Dose." Each and every weekday from now until October, this will be the place to find the latest news and analysis about injuries, lineup changes, roster moves, notable performances, and everything else that goes on during the beautiful marathon that is a 162-game baseball season.
My name is Aaron Gleeman and I'll be your host, but with a full slate of games on the schedule?and my mind still reeling from experiencing Joe Morgan and George Bush in the same broadcast booth last night?let's cut the pleasantries short and get right to the good stuff. After all, there's baseball to watch today! While fans across the country wear out remote controls celebrating the adult male version of Christmas morning, here are some notes from around baseball ?
* Unwilling to compound the mistake that general manager Ned Colletti made last winter by giving Juan Pierre a five-year, $44 million contract, manager Joe Torre announced Sunday that Andre Ethier will open the season as the Dodgers' starting left fielder. Ethier out-hitting Pierre this spring .377 to .188 likely had more to do with the decision than Torre suddenly trusting young talent, but either way it's clearly the right move.
With 50-steal speed and a .301 lifetime batting average Pierre has considerable fantasy potential, but his .287/.329/.365 hitting line over the past three seasons clearly makes him ill-suited to be a regular corner outfielder. Ethier has hit .295/.357/.464 for his career and is a good bet to beat Pierre by 100-150 points of OPS. Pierre would be a nice fourth outfielder if not for the part about making $9 million per year through 2011, but moving to the bench crushes his fantasy value.
He'll still probably work his way into the lineup several times per week and Torre may change his mind if Ethier starts slow, so penciling Pierre in for at least 300 at-bats remains safe. If Ethier starts strong and Pierre struggles to see action as much more than a pinch-runner, a trade is also possible. For now, give Ethier a nice value boost?he's capable of hitting .300 with 20 homers?and drop your expectations for Pierre from 50-plus steals to somewhere in the 20-25 range.
He goes from being a top-30 fantasy outfielder (and an example of why fantasy value doesn't always equate to real-life value) to being a far worse bet than fellow slap-hitting speedsters Willy Taveras and Michael Bourn. In fact, I'd also drop him below Shane Victorino and Jacoby Ellsbury in terms of projected value, and would rather target Nate McLouth, Dave Roberts, Jerry Owens, Corey Patterson, and my favorite stolen-base sleeper Carlos Gomez in any search for speed.
* Manager Trey Hillman announced Sunday that Alex Gordon will hit third in the Royals' lineup to begin the year. Gordon's rookie season was disappointing relative to the tremendous hype that preceded him as baseball's consensus No. 1 prospect, but he quietly hit .285/.330/.478 with 12 homers and 10 steals over the final 98 games. He's capable of a 20-20 campaign and hitting even .275 with an .800 OPS would lead to nice run production if he can stick in the No. 3 spot.
Gordon is a good breakout pick as a sophomore, but his Royals teammate Billy Butler might have an even better chance of emerging as a household fantasy name this season. Butler doesn't turn 22 years old until April 18, but hit .336/.416/.561 over 1,657 plate appearances in the minors?including .291/.412/.542 as a 21-year-old at Triple-A last season?and immediately thrived in the majors by hitting .292/.347/.447 in 92 games with the Royals.
Butler will open the year hitting fifth in the lineup?with Gordon batting third and veteran free-agent signing [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] in the cleanup spot?but is a good bet to be the team's top hitter and is capable of being one of the league's best draft-day bargains. Hillman explained the decision to bat Butler fifth by saying that "he's squaring up more balls than anyone right now" and will provide the best projection for Guillen, but expect the lineup to be built around Butler soon enough.
* Dusty Baker's love of veterans has predictably prevailed and the Reds' new skipper chose Scott Hatteberg over Joey Votto as the Opening Day first baseman. Even at 38 years old Hatteberg is a solid player deserving of a starting job after hitting .299/.391/.453 in two seasons with the Reds, so it's tough to blame Baker too much for giving him the nod. On the other hand, Votto is among the game's premier hitting prospects and at 24 years old is even more deserving of a regular gig.
Votto has hit .289/.385/.476 over 2,985 trips to the plate in the minors?including .294/.381/.478 with 22 homers at Triple-A last year?and batted .321/.360/.548 in a 24-game September stint with the Reds. Baker's decision to keep him around as a bench player isn't as bad as it would be for most top prospects, because Votto is already 24 and has little left to prove in the minors, but pinch-hitting certainly won't aide his development any (but will burn through his service time).
He doesn't project as a superstar, but Votto has a very well rounded all-around game. He figures to hit for a solid batting average, draws tons of walks, possesses 20-homer power, and swiped 41 bases over the past two years in the minors. Of course, excellent plate discipline isn't such a good thing when your manager thinks that drawing walks is simply "clogging the bases" and it may take a trade or a horrible start from Hatteberg for Votto to claim the job before midseason.
* Luis Hernandez beat out Brandon Fahey to be the Orioles' starting shortstop, but don't expect the 23-year-old rookie to come anywhere close to filling Miguel Tejada's shoes. Hernandez has hit .250/.296/.325 over 2,385 plate appearances in the minors, including .244/.276/.312 between Double-A and Triple-A last year, and has never posted even a .700 OPS at any level. He'll likely be the single worst hitter among AL regulars and at best might steal a half-dozen bases.
AL Quick Hits: Andy Pettitte (back) tossed six shutout innings Sunday in a minor-league game and is set to make his season debut Saturday against the Rays ? Rather than hand him a bench job over Scott Moore, the Orioles cut Jay Gibbons loose Sunday and ate the $11.9 million remaining on his contract ? Josh Beckett (back) is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game Tuesday ? Maicer Izturis will be the Angels' starting shortstop, beating out Erick Aybar and his higher fantasy upside for the job ? Scott Baker (back) tossed six innings Sunday in a minor-league game and is set to start the Twins' fifth game ? After working out Sunday, Gary Matthews Jr. (ankle) declared himself "ready to go" for the Angels' opener ? With both Ellsbury and Coco Crisp still around, Bobby Kielty said Sunday that he may decide to opt out of his contract with the Red Sox to pursue another option rather than head to Triple-A ? Alex Rios' agent said Sunday that his client is "getting closer" to signing a long-term extension with the Blue Jays that's believed to worth around $65 million over six years.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: John Smoltz (shoulder) struck out eight batters over five innings in a minor-league game Sunday and is now scheduled to make his season debut on April 6 against the Mets newyorkmets.com ? Jeff Kent (hamstring) looks ready for Opening Day after starting at second base and collecting an RBI in the Dodgers' spring finale Sunday ? Mike Pelfrey will begin the season as the Mets' fifth starter while Orlando Hernandez spends the next few weeks trying to get healthy following foot surgery ? Jason Schmidt (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list Sunday and is expected to miss at least the first month, leaving Esteban Loaiza as the Dodgers' fifth starter ? With Omar Vizquel (knee) on the DL, Brian Bocock will be the Giants' shortstop for at least a week despite the non-prospect hitting .243/.312/.344 at Single-A last year ? Scott Podsednik won a bench job over Cory Sullivan, but doesn't look likely to get enough playing time for his speed to make him a major fantasy asset ? Matt Murton is 26 years old and has hit .296/.365/.455 in 289 MLB games, but that didn't stop the Cubs from once again treating him like dirt by demoting him to Triple-A.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
GoGoGomez
Johan Santana won his Mets debut Monday against the Marlins, striking out eight batters while allowing two runs over seven innings, but so far at least the big offseason trade is working out pretty well for the Twins too. Acquired as the centerpiece of the Santana deal from Minnesota's point of view, Carlos Gomez doubled, bunted for a hit, walked, and stole two bases to completely upstage the Metrodome return of the man he's replacing in center field, Torii Hunter. newyorkmets.com
It's only one game and at just 22 years old Gomez doesn't figure to be on base consistently atop the Twins' lineup, but his speed is legitimately on par with Joey Gathright and Jose Reyes among baseball's fastest men. Gomez stole an average of 60 bases per 600 plate appearances in the minors and is already 14-for-17 in the majors after just 143 trips to the plate. Plus, Joe Mauer and his patient approach hitting in the No. 2 spot will give him ample opportunity to run.
He had little trouble against the vulnerable Jered Weaver-Mike Napoli battery Monday, beating a pitchout for his first steal and belly flopping into second base well ahead of the throw to swipe his second bag. I'm not convinced that he'll hit yet, but Gomez will have to be pretty awful at the plate for the Twins to turn to Denard Span or Jason Pridie and he can rack up steals even if his on-base percentage ultimately hovers around .300. Fifty steals is a very real possibility.
While Gomez amazingly makes Twins fans forget all about Santana and Hunter at the same time?for one night, at least?here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Eric Gagne began this season much like he ended last season, blowing a three-run lead in his Brewers debut by serving up a game-tying three-run homer to Kosuke Fukudome (who went 3-for-3 with seven total bases and a walk in his MLB debut). Gagne was fantastic for the Rangers last year, posting a 2.16 ERA and 29-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33.1 innings while converting 16-of-17 save chances, but has fallen apart since being traded to the Red Sox at midseason.
Including the playoffs, Gagne now has a 7.50 ERA over 24 innings since the trade. However, his 29-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch suggests that he's far from washed up and can still miss plenty of bats. Gagne owners knew that he was a high-risk pick when they drafted him and his Opening Day performance is just the latest in a string of concerning outings, but don't expect the Brewers to give up on him any time soon after making a $10 million commitment.
* It looked like Carlos Zambrano may have suffered a serious injury when he grabbed his hand after a pickoff attempt and left Monday's game against the Brewers, but the Cubs announced afterward that he's day-to-day with forearm cramps. I'm on record advising people to stay away from Zambrano this season because he strikes me as a strong candidate for a breakdown, but it's worth noting that he was working on a three-hit shutout through 6.2 innings when he exited.
* General manager Pat Gillick said Monday that Brad Lidge is expected back from the disabled list this weekend, which is especially good news for the Phillies following Tom Gordon's implosion against the Nationals. Filling in for Lidge, Gordon entered a tie game in the ninth inning and coughed up five runs while recording one out. He pitched well down the stretch last year and remains a capable fill in at the age of 40, but may not get a save chance before Lidge returns.
* Jim Thome's career OPS is 1.065 against right-handers and .757 against left-handers, which is just about the biggest split you'll see from a Hall of Fame-caliber hitter. He batted just .196 with a .664 OPS against lefties last season and not surprisingly has struggled against C.C. Sabathia, going 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts against the portly southpaw heading into Monday's game. Naturally, Thome smacked a pair of two-run homers off Sabathia, giving him 509 career bombs.
* Two Arizona pitchers showed Monday why spring training stats don't mean much once the real games begin. Brandon Webb allowed a whopping 19 runs in 18 spring innings, but held the Reds to a pair of runs over six frames in his season debut. Brandon Lyon then came in and tossed a perfect ninth inning to close out the victory for Webb, shaking off a 13.50 spring ERA to convert his first save chance since being chosen over Tony Pena as the replacement for Jose Valverde.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez is scheduled to undergo an MRI after leaving Monday's game with a hamstring injury and manager Eric Wedge declined to call him day-to-day, so Kelly Shoppach is in line for some at-bats ? Jason Kubel is a nice breakout candidate, but only if manager Ron Gardenhire stops starting Craig Monroe over him against righties like he did Monday ? A sore ankle knocked David DeJesus out of Monday's game, with speedster Joey Gathright replacing him in center field ? After a spring full of trade rumors, Brian Roberts went 2-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base Monday ? Starting over Jonny Gomes against a righty Monday, Eric Hinske homered to earn himself more playing time ? Mark Grudzielanek reached base five times Monday and matched his 2007 stolen-base total with a first-inning steal ? Picking up right where he left off last season, Joe Borowski served up a homer to Jermaine Dye while notching a save Monday ? Signing Alex Cintron to a minor-league deal Monday signals that the Orioles won't give Luis Hernandez a long leash if he lives up to his track record and hits like a pitcher.
NL Quick Hits: As expected, Scott Hatteberg got the start at first base Monday over Joey Votto, going 0-for-4 ? Brad Penny became the first of many pitchers to breeze through the Giants' punchless lineup, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings Monday before the Dodgers' bullpen finished the shutout ? Starting in place of the suspended Mike Cameron, Tony Gwynn Jr. produced two hits, one stolen base, and a game-winning sacrifice fly ? Monday's Cardinals-Rockies game was rained out in the third inning, canceling a rough Jeff Francis outing that included an Albert Pujols homer and Rick Ankiel two-run double ? With [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] (knee) placed on the disabled list Monday, Jeff Keppinger will be the Reds' starting shortstop for at least two weeks and makes for a nice waiver-wire grab ? Juan Pierre remained on the bench Monday, snapping his sneak of consecutive games at 434 ? With Wily Mo Pena already sidelined and Elijah Dukes (hamstring) placed on the DL following Sunday's season opener, Willie Harris has some short-term value for speed-hungry teams. atlantabraves.com
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
GoGoGomez
Johan Santana won his Mets debut Monday against the Marlins, striking out eight batters while allowing two runs over seven innings, but so far at least the big offseason trade is working out pretty well for the Twins too. Acquired as the centerpiece of the Santana deal from Minnesota's point of view, Carlos Gomez doubled, bunted for a hit, walked, and stole two bases to completely upstage the Metrodome return of the man he's replacing in center field, Torii Hunter. newyorkmets.com
It's only one game and at just 22 years old Gomez doesn't figure to be on base consistently atop the Twins' lineup, but his speed is legitimately on par with Joey Gathright and Jose Reyes among baseball's fastest men. Gomez stole an average of 60 bases per 600 plate appearances in the minors and is already 14-for-17 in the majors after just 143 trips to the plate. Plus, Joe Mauer and his patient approach hitting in the No. 2 spot will give him ample opportunity to run.
He had little trouble against the vulnerable Jered Weaver-Mike Napoli battery Monday, beating a pitchout for his first steal and belly flopping into second base well ahead of the throw to swipe his second bag. I'm not convinced that he'll hit yet, but Gomez will have to be pretty awful at the plate for the Twins to turn to Denard Span or Jason Pridie and he can rack up steals even if his on-base percentage ultimately hovers around .300. Fifty steals is a very real possibility.
While Gomez amazingly makes Twins fans forget all about Santana and Hunter at the same time?for one night, at least?here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Eric Gagne began this season much like he ended last season, blowing a three-run lead in his Brewers debut by serving up a game-tying three-run homer to Kosuke Fukudome (who went 3-for-3 with seven total bases and a walk in his MLB debut). Gagne was fantastic for the Rangers last year, posting a 2.16 ERA and 29-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33.1 innings while converting 16-of-17 save chances, but has fallen apart since being traded to the Red Sox at midseason.
Including the playoffs, Gagne now has a 7.50 ERA over 24 innings since the trade. However, his 29-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch suggests that he's far from washed up and can still miss plenty of bats. Gagne owners knew that he was a high-risk pick when they drafted him and his Opening Day performance is just the latest in a string of concerning outings, but don't expect the Brewers to give up on him any time soon after making a $10 million commitment.
* It looked like Carlos Zambrano may have suffered a serious injury when he grabbed his hand after a pickoff attempt and left Monday's game against the Brewers, but the Cubs announced afterward that he's day-to-day with forearm cramps. I'm on record advising people to stay away from Zambrano this season because he strikes me as a strong candidate for a breakdown, but it's worth noting that he was working on a three-hit shutout through 6.2 innings when he exited.
* General manager Pat Gillick said Monday that Brad Lidge is expected back from the disabled list this weekend, which is especially good news for the Phillies following Tom Gordon's implosion against the Nationals. Filling in for Lidge, Gordon entered a tie game in the ninth inning and coughed up five runs while recording one out. He pitched well down the stretch last year and remains a capable fill in at the age of 40, but may not get a save chance before Lidge returns.
* Jim Thome's career OPS is 1.065 against right-handers and .757 against left-handers, which is just about the biggest split you'll see from a Hall of Fame-caliber hitter. He batted just .196 with a .664 OPS against lefties last season and not surprisingly has struggled against C.C. Sabathia, going 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts against the portly southpaw heading into Monday's game. Naturally, Thome smacked a pair of two-run homers off Sabathia, giving him 509 career bombs.
* Two Arizona pitchers showed Monday why spring training stats don't mean much once the real games begin. Brandon Webb allowed a whopping 19 runs in 18 spring innings, but held the Reds to a pair of runs over six frames in his season debut. Brandon Lyon then came in and tossed a perfect ninth inning to close out the victory for Webb, shaking off a 13.50 spring ERA to convert his first save chance since being chosen over Tony Pena as the replacement for Jose Valverde.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez is scheduled to undergo an MRI after leaving Monday's game with a hamstring injury and manager Eric Wedge declined to call him day-to-day, so Kelly Shoppach is in line for some at-bats ? Jason Kubel is a nice breakout candidate, but only if manager Ron Gardenhire stops starting Craig Monroe over him against righties like he did Monday ? A sore ankle knocked David DeJesus out of Monday's game, with speedster Joey Gathright replacing him in center field ? After a spring full of trade rumors, Brian Roberts went 2-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base Monday ? Starting over Jonny Gomes against a righty Monday, Eric Hinske homered to earn himself more playing time ? Mark Grudzielanek reached base five times Monday and matched his 2007 stolen-base total with a first-inning steal ? Picking up right where he left off last season, Joe Borowski served up a homer to Jermaine Dye while notching a save Monday ? Signing Alex Cintron to a minor-league deal Monday signals that the Orioles won't give Luis Hernandez a long leash if he lives up to his track record and hits like a pitcher.
NL Quick Hits: As expected, Scott Hatteberg got the start at first base Monday over Joey Votto, going 0-for-4 ? Brad Penny became the first of many pitchers to breeze through the Giants' punchless lineup, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings Monday before the Dodgers' bullpen finished the shutout ? Starting in place of the suspended Mike Cameron, Tony Gwynn Jr. produced two hits, one stolen base, and a game-winning sacrifice fly ? Monday's Cardinals-Rockies game was rained out in the third inning, canceling a rough Jeff Francis outing that included an Albert Pujols homer and Rick Ankiel two-run double ? With [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] (knee) placed on the disabled list Monday, Jeff Keppinger will be the Reds' starting shortstop for at least two weeks and makes for a nice waiver-wire grab ? Juan Pierre remained on the bench Monday, snapping his sneak of consecutive games at 434 ? With Wily Mo Pena already sidelined and Elijah Dukes (hamstring) placed on the DL following Sunday's season opener, Willie Harris has some short-term value for speed-hungry teams. atlantabraves.com
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
From Bad to Worse for Pedro
Before getting to the good stuff, a reminder that you can get the "Daily Dose" delivered straight to your e-mailbox each morning, which in addition to the obvious convenience-based benefits also enables you to the read the column without having to look at my ugly mug. To sign up for the e-mail, no-mug version, simply locate the "Sign Up For The Daily Dose" box about two inches down and directly to the right of this very sentence and enter in your e-mail address. See it? Good.
With that friendly reminder out of the way, here are some notes from around baseball ?
* Pedro Martinez's season debut started poorly and got significantly worse Tuesday night, as he gave up four early runs to the Marlins and then exited the game with a left hamstring injury. Prior to leaving Martinez relied heavily on his fastball despite topping out at 88-89 miles per hour and served up a pair of homers to Dan Uggla and [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] when he left pitches over the heart of the plate.
Then he came up lame while delivering a fourth-inning pitch, grimacing and grabbing his leg as the training staff rushed to the mound. Martinez limped off the field and will reportedly head to New York for an MRI, with manager Willie Randolph seemingly indicating afterward that the injury could be serious. "He said he felt a little twinge or pop," Randolph said. "That's not always good, but we'll let it calm down and get an MRI."
Even if Martinez avoids a significant injury he seems almost assured of a trip to the disabled list. Because Orlando Hernandez pitched in an official spring game Friday before being placed on the DL he's not eligible to return for nearly two more weeks, which leaves Jorge Sosa as the most likely fill-in candidate. Sosa pitched 2.2 scoreless innings Tuesday in relief of Martinez, but would be at most a marginal short-term option in deep NL-only leagues.
newyorkmets.com
* Chad Cordero was warming up Sunday night when his shoulder stiffened and he's expected to be shut down for several games after receiving a cortisone shot Tuesday. According to manager Manny Acta the Nationals "aren't even considering the disabled list yet" for Cordero, but they may learn more about his status Wednesday. Jon Rauch stepped in for Cordero in the season opener and blew the save, but later picked up the win and is capable of handling ninth-inning duties.
A one-time top prospect as a starter who shifted to the bullpen because of his own arm injuries, Rauch appeared in 85 games last season and 88 games in 2006. He's saved just a half-dozen career games, but has a 3.48 ERA and 180-to-68 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 209.2 innings with the Nationals. That includes a 3.61 ERA, 71-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .230 opponent's batting average in 87.1 innings as Cordero's primary setup man last season, so he's a solid fill in.
* If you're searching for reasons to be optimistic about Dontrelle Willis potentially turning things around in Detroit after posting a 5.17 ERA last season in Florida, don't ask his new manager Jim Leyland. Willis started an extended spring training game Sunday in an effort to work on his shaky control. Asked to review the performance, Leyland gave his usual honest assessment and more or less confirmed that Willis is a huge question mark at this point.
"There were some good signs and some not so good," Leyland said. "The velocity was real good. At times his command was pretty good, at other times it wasn't. We're talking about a lot of encouragement because the arm strength is there and the health is there. Now it's just a matter of trying to iron some things out." It won't take great pitching for Willis to win games with the Tigers' lineup providing his run support, but he's a bad bet to post an ERA under 4.50.
* Victor Martinez left Opening Day with a hamstring injury and the Indians announced Tuesday that he's day-to-day with what's being called a mild strain. Further details are expected to be released Wednesday, but for now at least it looks like he could avoid a stint on the disabled list. For however long Martinez is sidelined, Kelly Shoppach will step in as the Indians' starter behind the plate and makes for a nice short-term pickup if you're starved for catching help already.
Shoppach strikes out a ton and will never approach the .301 career batting average that Martinez boasts, but had back-to-back 20-homer seasons at Triple-A prior to be traded to the Indians and has gone deep 10 times in just 315 career plate appearances in the majors. He's a must-grab in every AL-only league and is worth keeping an eye on in mixed leagues in case Martinez's injury proves more serious than initially thought.
* Josh Beckett started a minor-league intrasquad game Tuesday, striking out six Single-A hitters and handing out zero walks while allowing one run over five innings. He threw 64 pitches and is now reportedly on track to come off the disabled list Sunday. If he can avoid a setback between now and then, Beckett will face Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays in Toronto. That's an unfavorable first matchup, but it'll be tough to avoid immediately sticking Beckett back into any fantasy lineup.
AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz didn't blow his first save until July 25 last season, but coughed up the lead Tuesday night when Josh Hamilton turned around a first-pitch fastball and deposited a two-run homer into the right-field seats ? Torii Hunter was the lone Angels starter without a hit in Tuesday's blowout win over the Twins and is now 0-for-8 in his return to the Metrodome ? With his health status uncertain and an April 1 deadline forcing a decision, the Rays declined their $6 million option on Rocco Baldelli for 2009, making him a free agent after this season ? Compared to last year Joba Chamberlain's velocity was down a few miles per hour Tuesday, but he got back-to-back strikeouts against Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas to wriggle out of trouble while setting Mariano Rivera up for a save ? After striking out in all four of his plate appearances Tuesday, Travis Buck is now 0-for-14 on the year ? Jerry Owens has 50-steal speed and a spot in the White Sox's outfield all but waiting for him, but he's expected to miss at least the first few weeks while recovering from a groin injury.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: Yovani Gallardo's recovery from knee surgery is reportedly going well and he's on track to join the Brewers' rotation by the end of the month ? Manager John Russell announced Tuesday that Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino will form a "tandem" behind the plate, with Doumit likely to start against most right-handers and Paulino to face primarily southpaws ? Marcus Giles reportedly decided to back out of a minor-league contract with the Dodgers while driving to the Triple-A ballpark Tuesday and the 30-year-old may be considering retirement ? Adam LaRoche and the Pirates are said to be at an impasse in long-term contract negotiations, but he's still under the team's control for two more seasons ? Kelly Johnson is considered day-to-day after leaving Monday's game with a strained left knee and said earlier this week that he's been playing through pain in the knee since last spring, which makes his breakout season all the more impressive ? Omar Vizquel (knee) reportedly could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Thursday and is hoping to return from the disabled list on April 7.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
From Bad to Worse for Pedro
Before getting to the good stuff, a reminder that you can get the "Daily Dose" delivered straight to your e-mailbox each morning, which in addition to the obvious convenience-based benefits also enables you to the read the column without having to look at my ugly mug. To sign up for the e-mail, no-mug version, simply locate the "Sign Up For The Daily Dose" box about two inches down and directly to the right of this very sentence and enter in your e-mail address. See it? Good.
With that friendly reminder out of the way, here are some notes from around baseball ?
* Pedro Martinez's season debut started poorly and got significantly worse Tuesday night, as he gave up four early runs to the Marlins and then exited the game with a left hamstring injury. Prior to leaving Martinez relied heavily on his fastball despite topping out at 88-89 miles per hour and served up a pair of homers to Dan Uggla and [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] when he left pitches over the heart of the plate.
Then he came up lame while delivering a fourth-inning pitch, grimacing and grabbing his leg as the training staff rushed to the mound. Martinez limped off the field and will reportedly head to New York for an MRI, with manager Willie Randolph seemingly indicating afterward that the injury could be serious. "He said he felt a little twinge or pop," Randolph said. "That's not always good, but we'll let it calm down and get an MRI."
Even if Martinez avoids a significant injury he seems almost assured of a trip to the disabled list. Because Orlando Hernandez pitched in an official spring game Friday before being placed on the DL he's not eligible to return for nearly two more weeks, which leaves Jorge Sosa as the most likely fill-in candidate. Sosa pitched 2.2 scoreless innings Tuesday in relief of Martinez, but would be at most a marginal short-term option in deep NL-only leagues.
newyorkmets.com
* Chad Cordero was warming up Sunday night when his shoulder stiffened and he's expected to be shut down for several games after receiving a cortisone shot Tuesday. According to manager Manny Acta the Nationals "aren't even considering the disabled list yet" for Cordero, but they may learn more about his status Wednesday. Jon Rauch stepped in for Cordero in the season opener and blew the save, but later picked up the win and is capable of handling ninth-inning duties.
A one-time top prospect as a starter who shifted to the bullpen because of his own arm injuries, Rauch appeared in 85 games last season and 88 games in 2006. He's saved just a half-dozen career games, but has a 3.48 ERA and 180-to-68 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 209.2 innings with the Nationals. That includes a 3.61 ERA, 71-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .230 opponent's batting average in 87.1 innings as Cordero's primary setup man last season, so he's a solid fill in.
* If you're searching for reasons to be optimistic about Dontrelle Willis potentially turning things around in Detroit after posting a 5.17 ERA last season in Florida, don't ask his new manager Jim Leyland. Willis started an extended spring training game Sunday in an effort to work on his shaky control. Asked to review the performance, Leyland gave his usual honest assessment and more or less confirmed that Willis is a huge question mark at this point.
"There were some good signs and some not so good," Leyland said. "The velocity was real good. At times his command was pretty good, at other times it wasn't. We're talking about a lot of encouragement because the arm strength is there and the health is there. Now it's just a matter of trying to iron some things out." It won't take great pitching for Willis to win games with the Tigers' lineup providing his run support, but he's a bad bet to post an ERA under 4.50.
* Victor Martinez left Opening Day with a hamstring injury and the Indians announced Tuesday that he's day-to-day with what's being called a mild strain. Further details are expected to be released Wednesday, but for now at least it looks like he could avoid a stint on the disabled list. For however long Martinez is sidelined, Kelly Shoppach will step in as the Indians' starter behind the plate and makes for a nice short-term pickup if you're starved for catching help already.
Shoppach strikes out a ton and will never approach the .301 career batting average that Martinez boasts, but had back-to-back 20-homer seasons at Triple-A prior to be traded to the Indians and has gone deep 10 times in just 315 career plate appearances in the majors. He's a must-grab in every AL-only league and is worth keeping an eye on in mixed leagues in case Martinez's injury proves more serious than initially thought.
* Josh Beckett started a minor-league intrasquad game Tuesday, striking out six Single-A hitters and handing out zero walks while allowing one run over five innings. He threw 64 pitches and is now reportedly on track to come off the disabled list Sunday. If he can avoid a setback between now and then, Beckett will face Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays in Toronto. That's an unfavorable first matchup, but it'll be tough to avoid immediately sticking Beckett back into any fantasy lineup.
AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz didn't blow his first save until July 25 last season, but coughed up the lead Tuesday night when Josh Hamilton turned around a first-pitch fastball and deposited a two-run homer into the right-field seats ? Torii Hunter was the lone Angels starter without a hit in Tuesday's blowout win over the Twins and is now 0-for-8 in his return to the Metrodome ? With his health status uncertain and an April 1 deadline forcing a decision, the Rays declined their $6 million option on Rocco Baldelli for 2009, making him a free agent after this season ? Compared to last year Joba Chamberlain's velocity was down a few miles per hour Tuesday, but he got back-to-back strikeouts against Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas to wriggle out of trouble while setting Mariano Rivera up for a save ? After striking out in all four of his plate appearances Tuesday, Travis Buck is now 0-for-14 on the year ? Jerry Owens has 50-steal speed and a spot in the White Sox's outfield all but waiting for him, but he's expected to miss at least the first few weeks while recovering from a groin injury.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: Yovani Gallardo's recovery from knee surgery is reportedly going well and he's on track to join the Brewers' rotation by the end of the month ? Manager John Russell announced Tuesday that Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino will form a "tandem" behind the plate, with Doumit likely to start against most right-handers and Paulino to face primarily southpaws ? Marcus Giles reportedly decided to back out of a minor-league contract with the Dodgers while driving to the Triple-A ballpark Tuesday and the 30-year-old may be considering retirement ? Adam LaRoche and the Pirates are said to be at an impasse in long-term contract negotiations, but he's still under the team's control for two more seasons ? Kelly Johnson is considered day-to-day after leaving Monday's game with a strained left knee and said earlier this week that he's been playing through pain in the knee since last spring, which makes his breakout season all the more impressive ? Omar Vizquel (knee) reportedly could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Thursday and is hoping to return from the disabled list on April 7.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: ROY Preview
There's no surer sign of spring than a minor league baseball game. With pitchers and catchers reporting to big league camp in mid-February and the college ranks scheduling meaningful games not much later, baseball is no stranger to all four seasons. On the flip side, the minors ramp up for the season quietly, and by the time most fans notice games have begun we'll be even closer to consistently warm weather, beer league softball, and more spontaneous and dramatic announcements like this one. Well, let's hope for two of the three.
On that note, welcome back to the Prospect Report. Since the minor league season won't start until Thursday and we're a few days from our first real callups, we'll kick off this year's Prospect Report as we do every year: with a Rookie of the Year preview. Last year I had [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] and Daisuke Matsuzaka taking home the awards, but it turned out that Dustin Pedroia (fifth ranked in AL) and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (13th ranked in NL) took home the hardware. You can see the Rookie of the Year previews for the last two years in the archives.
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
Jacoby Ellsbury ? OF Red Sox ? 5:1 (Odds of winning)
It's going to be pretty hard for Ellsbury to live up to expectations. The former Oregon State star provided a spark to the Red Sox last September, then cemented himself a fan favorite with a strong performance in Boston's World Series triumph. Ellsbury's .353/.394/.509 line in 116 regular season at-bats with the Red Sox was genuinely impressive, but there are plenty of reasons for pessimism.
First is that projecting any player to repeat a .353 batting average is folly, so we'll have to start by knocking that number down. Second, Ellsbury's career slugging in the minors is .425 and it was just .380 in 83 games at Triple-A last season. He has all of 10 homers in 1,017 minor league at-bats, so prorating the three he hit in the majors last season is unwise. And lastly, Ellsbury will have to battle for playing time with center fielder Coco Crisp also on the roster.
On the plus side, Ellsbury has quick hands, above average plate discipline, and blazing speed, so his .313 career average in the minors is no fluke. If things go well he could hit around .300 right away, and he'll also be a 40-steal threat and a plus defender in center field. Crisp will take away some at-bats, but a trade or an injury can quickly fix that and since Ellsbury is clearly the preferred option he should garner 500+ at-bats. With all of the other true studs battling bigger playing time issues, that makes Ellsbury the slight favorite.
Clay Buchholz ? RHP Red Sox ? 11:2
When you're the game's best pitching prospect, you've already thrown a no-hitter in the majors, and you play for the defending champions there's little chance you fly under the radar. Buchholz can say all of that, and he's not even the player most likely to win the Rookie of the Year award on his own team. While Buchholz is surely the better bet long-term, Ellsbury got the nod due to the Red Sox's intention to limit Buchholz to 180-190 innings of work. Since the club likely plans on some of those coming in the playoffs, Buchholz figures to be held back at times this season.
That said, the tall, lanky right-hander still has a strong shot at the award. Buchholz possesses an impressive fastball that sits in the low-90s and can be dialed up to 96 MPH when needed, but it's likely his third best pitch. Both his changeup and curveball are plus offerings and can carry him when needed, and his slider is also an average pitch. Add in good command and an extremely advanced approach, and it's easy to see why Buchholz has a career 2.46 ERA while striking out over 30% of the batters he's faced in the minors.
Even pitching at Fenway Park and in the American League, Buchholz is as good a bet as any rookie for strong ratios. He'll also enjoy the benefit of strong run support and pitching on a contender, both of which will help his chances. A 14-win, 3.70 ERA season isn't at all out of the question as a result. If Ellsbury fails to establish himself early and falls short of 500+ at-bats, Buchholz would be the favorite.
Joba Chamberlain ? RHP Yankees ? 7:1
Perhaps the most famous 24 innings to start a career, Chamberlain utterly dominated the competition while allowing just one run after joining the Yankees last season. He was similarly impressive in the minors, striking out 135 batters and posting a 2.45 ERA in 88 1/3 innings split between three levels. The name of the game with Chamberlain is heat, as his fastball routinely sits in the high-90s to go with a quick, tight slider. His command is also at least average, and Chamberlain works his slider off his fastball well with a very consistent delivery.
If Chamberlain was destined to be a starter all year he'd be the favorite here. Instead, the Yankees will be cautious and start him in a setup role after he threw just 112 innings last season. The current plan is to move him into the rotation mid-season, but the Yankees have already flip-flopped with Chamberlain multiple times. It'd thus come as no surprise if a team otherwise bereft of setup options deemed Joba "too valuable" to remove from that role in July. A middle reliever has never won the award in the closer era, so to win the award he'll need to move to the rotation even if he's again excellent as a setup man.
Ian Kennedy ? RHP Yankees ? 9:1
While Kennedy isn't nearly as talented as the three elite prospects listed ahead of him and the one behind him, the gap is much closer when evaluating productivity this season. The reason is Kennedy could legitimately toss 200 innings, as the Yankees have said they won't limit him after he rung up 165 in 2007.
A product of USC, Kennedy posted a 1.91 ERA and 163/50 K/BB in 147 innings during his first extended playing time in the minors. He also acquitted himself nicely in three big league starts last September. Kennedy's calling card is his changeup, but his fastball is solid at around 90-91 MPH and his curve is also a quality pitch. However, Kennedy's above average control and advanced approach have allowed him to outpitch his stuff thus far.
While an average projection would have Kennedy performing like a quality No. 3 starter, it's also rather possible that he continues to beat expectations and looks like a No. 2. If that's the case and none of the elite players get the necessary playing time, Kennedy could sneak away with the award. I'll peg him at 14 wins and a 4.10 ERA, with the opportunity for more.
Evan Longoria ? 3B Rays ? 11:1
Last week the Rays made the somewhat controversial decision to send Longoria back to the minors despite the fact that he hit .262/.407/.595 this spring. The club had previously announced it would be an open competition for the third base job, but the Rays showed they valued delaying Longoria's free agency a year more than winning in 2008 when they demoted him. It's a move clubs have been doing for awhile now, but because Longoria was so hyped it got a bit more attention.
Either way, Longoria begins the season ranked second to Jay Bruce in our Season Pass Top 100. There's little doubt he's ready for the majors after hitting .299/.402/.520 between Double-A and Triple-A in 2007. Since he also shows good patience at the plate (73 walks in 484 at-bats) and hits plenty of line drives (21%), he should hit for a solid average initially and improve to around .300 with time. While a [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL]-like debut is going to be near impossible for any player to match, Longoria is quite capable of bursting onto the scene in two months and swinging his way to ROY honors. I'm expecting a .280 average with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 105 games.
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Alexei Ramirez ? OF/2B White Sox ? 15:1
An import from Cuba this winter, Ramirez looked like he might win the second base job after batting .358 and slugging .582 this spring. Juan Uribe was picked instead, so Ramirez will battle for time in center field. The club only has room for one of Carlos Quentin and the currently injured Jerry Owens, but Ramirez could make sure he stays in the lineup at second or center with a hot start. Ramirez led the Cuban league in homers last year and is currently hitting well, so a .270-20-70 type season can't be ruled out.
Daric Barton ? 1B Athletics ? 18:1
A sweet-swinging lefty with perhaps the best plate discipline in the minors, Barton hit .290/.387/.436 with a 69/78 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Sacramento last season. He followed that up with a surprising debut with the big club and hit .347 with four homers in 72 at-bats. While last September's power outburst shouldn't be expected in 2008, Barton has the potential to develop into a 25-homer first basemen with excellent on-base percentages. Since he's not quite there in the power department and won't fair well in most counting stats, there are better options for 2008.
Nick Adenhart ? RHP Angels ? 25:1
A premier pitching prospect who struggled some in 2007, Adenhart surprisingly almost won a starting gig with the Angels this spring. Injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar allowed for the opportunity, and Adenhart was posting a 2.89 ERA and 13/3 K/BB ratio before a poor last outing. Though he posted a mediocre 3.65 ERA and saw his peripherals go in the wrong direction, Adenhart still possesses a strong three-pitch repertoire and the potential to be a No. 2 starter. If Adenhart can improve his command and learn to better utilize his changeup, he could be up with the Angels early this season.
Carlos Gonzalez ? OF Athletics ? 30:1
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade, Gonzalez was given a chance to win the starting center field job in Oakland. Ultimately CarGo was sent back to Triple-A, a move that made plenty of sense given his lack of plate discipline and the A's stage in the success cycle. Gonzalez has the excellent bat speed and powerful build to develop into a 30-homer outfielder, but he often gets himself out on bad pitches and is still relying too much on raw ability. He's the type of player where things could click at any moment and he's not far from Oakland, so an early season callup is possible.
Shelley Duncan ? 1B Yankees ? 40:1
Duncan isn't a long-term prospect like any of the players listed above, but he does have some things going for him in a Rookie of the Year evaluation. Duncan posted a very nice .295/.380/.577 line in Triple-A last season and continued to hit for power with seven homers in 74 at-bats with the big club. He's already 28 years old, so Duncan is in his peak years and already on a big league roster despite rookie status. With several injury-prone players ahead of him on the depth chart, it's not difficult to see Duncan amassing significant at-bats. If he does and it's a down year for rookies, maybe he'll contend.
Ineligible because of Service Time: Carlos Gomez
The Field (18:1) ? Aaron Laffey (LHP, Indians), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1351"]Brandon Wood[/URL] (3B, Angels), Jeff Niemann (RHP, Rays), David Murphy (OF, Rangers), Masahide Kobayashi (RHP, Indians), Jed Lowrie (SS, Red Sox), Wladimir Balentien (OF, Mariners), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=594"]Rich Thompson[/URL] (RHP, Angels), Nick Blackburn (RHP, Twins), Adam Miller (RHP, Indians), Kevin Mulvey (RHP, Twins), Yasuhiko Yabuta (RHP, Royals), Reid Brignac (SS, Rays), Jeff Clement (C, Mariners), David Price (LHP, Rays), Luke Hochevar (RHP, Royals), Gio Gonzalez (LHP, Athletics), Chuck Lofgren (LHP, Indians), Philip Humber (RHP, Twins), Kazuo Fukumori (RHP, Rangers), Garrett Olson (LHP, Orioles), Ryan Sweeney (OF, Athletics), Wade Davis (RHP, Devil Rays), Aaron Cunningham (OF, Athletics), Alan Horne (RHP, Yankees), Radhames Liz (RHP, Orioles), Luis Hernandez (SS, Orioles)
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[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
Kosuke Fukudome ? OF Cubs ? 4:1
The latest big import from Japan, Fukudome was perhaps the league's best offensive threat. He routinely hit for average, drew walks, and showed 30-homer power, with his best year being a .351/.438/.653 line in 2006. Bone spurs in his elbow limited him last season, but it's not something that's a long-term concern. A strong defender, Fukudome should be able to handle center in the majors and will spend some time there with the Cubs this season.
The left-handed hitting Fukudome has a starting job locked up and will provide a boost with both his defense and above average speed. Although he strikes out a little more than preferable, Fukudome also should hit around .280 given his high averages in Japan and the success other Japanese players have had in hitting for average. What ultimately will determine Fukudome's chances will be how his power translates to MLB.
To that end, Fukudome is off to a great start with an Opening Day three-run home run in the ninth inning. While his swing looks a little unorthodox, Fukudome generates plenty of power and if he wasn't so focused on getting out of the box quickly his quirks would hardly be noticeable. In that regard, he looks a bit like Hideki Matsui. Fukudome shouldn't be expected to match Matsui's power output, but 18 homers and 35 doubles are a reasonable estimate with his upside being a 25-homer/45-double campaign. Given all of his other skills, he may not even need those 25 homers to win the award.
Johnny Cueto ? RHP Reds ? 6:1
A quick riser in prospect circles last season, Cueto wasn't expected to begin the year with the big club. However, after impressing manager Dusty Baker and the club's front office this spring Cueto will begin the year in the Reds' rotation. One very poor outing in mid-March make Cueto's spring look mediocre, but if you remove that five-run, one-inning performance he posted a 2.65 ERA and 19/7 K/BB ratio.
Just 21 years old last spring, Cueto began the year repeating High-A Sarasota. A 3.33 ERA and good peripherals in 14 starts ensured that he'd move up, and Cueto was even better at Double-A Chattanooga before finishing the season with four starts in Triple-A. Overall, Cueto recorded a 3.07 ERA and superb 170/34 K/BB in 161 innings. Listed at under six-feet tall, the knock on Cueto has always been durability. However, his full season of work in 2007 eased much of those concerns.
Cueto's fastball gets the job done in the low-90s, but he can hit the mid-90s when necessary. However, his best assets are his impressive slider, plus command, and an above average changeup that he learned just two years ago. Cueto will need to continue displaying the same excellent command he did in the minors to succeed, but that seems likely. A few bumps in the road should still be expected, but Cueto has the talent and opportunity to win 15 games with an ERA under 4.00.
Hiroki Kuroda ? RHP Dodgers ? 8:1
Fukudome received considerably more press this winter, but Kuroda isn't that far behind in ability and both players will make about $12 million per year. A 33-year-old right-hander who was an ace in Japan, Kuroda routinely posted ERAs in the low-to-mid-3.00s. His best season came in 2006 when he posted a 1.85 ERA in 189 innings, and Kuroda's ERA has been below 4.00 in six of the last seven years.
Never much of a strikeout pitcher, Kuroda relies on pinpoint command and the ability to change speeds. His fastball is actually an average or so offering, but at a 94 MPH peak and without great movement he's not going to be striking out many hitters in the U.S. His slider is also an average offering, but he uses a plus forkball as his change of pace option. Varying pitch type and location while hitting his spots is what Kuroda will need to do to be successful in the majors, but that's exactly how he approached the game in Japan and that bodes well for success in MLB.
The Dodgers will give Kuroda 200 innings if he remains healthy, which automatically puts him ahead of most rookies. Playing half his games at Dodger Stadium will also help limit Kuroda's occasional long-ball tendencies. It wouldn't be at all surprising if he's better the first time around the league and then fell off as the year went on, but he's still a reasonable bet for solid ratios. If everything goes well he could win 15 games and post a 3.50 ERA, though 12 wins and 3.90 are more likely.
Geovany Soto ? C Cubs ? 10:1
Easily the most surprising performance of the minor league season, Soto came out of nowhere to win the PCL MVP award by hitting .354/.424/.652 in 110 games for Triple-A Iowa. The 24-year-old followed up that impressive campaign with a .389 average and three homers in 54 at-bats with the Cubs in September. For someone considered at best a long-term backup prior to the season, that's quite an astounding turnaround.
One of the hardest players to value coming into the season, every fantasy leaguer out there has been trying to decipher just how much of Soto's breakout is for real. On the plus side, Soto is reasonably selective at the plate, dropped 30 pounds last off-season, tinkered with his swing to give it more loft, and remained productive from wire-to-wire in his breakout campaign. On the down side, Soto was repeating Triple-A for the third time, was relying partially on an unsustainable .406 BABIP, and has the discouraging track record prior to 2007.
In a final verdict, I'm expecting most of Soto's new-found power to translate to the majors. Power is a much more repeatable skill (save Brady Anderson), and Soto had plenty of it. The batting average was much more fluky high, and his strikeouts also increased with the revised swing, so I wouldn't expect Soto to approach .300 in the majors. As a result, I have him pegged at a .270-20-75 season. Catchers have historically faired poorly in ROY voting, but that should be enough to get noticed and a slightly better performance would get him strong ROY consideration.
Joey Votto ? 1B Reds ? 15:1
One of the National League's best prospects, Votto had his third big year in four tries by hitting .294/.381/.478 with a 110/70 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Louisville and then adding a .321 average and four homers in 84 at-bats with the Reds. The 6'3 left-hander also swiped 17 bags in 27 tries, showing his underrated athleticism.
While it was a strong season for the 23-year-old, Votto had shown more doubles power at Double-A the previous season and it's quite possible he'll be better than he showed at Louisville. Votto has the swing, discipline, and build to be a 25-homer threat in the majors. He also could hit .290 with 40 doubles and plenty of walks in his prime, so the Reds have plenty to look forward to.
Unfortunately, the presence of first basemen Scott Hatteberg and manager Dusty Baker's extreme veteran preferences prevent Votto from ranking higher on this list. While he is already on the big league roster and likely to get some playing time, Baker isn't ready to use Votto as a full-time player. Maybe he'll start hot and force his hand, but it'd take a glaring difference for Baker to change his mind. If given 500 at-bats, Votto could smack 20 homers and drive in 85 runs, giving him a shot at some hardware.
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Colby Rasmus ? OF Cardinals ? 16:1
I picked Rasmus to win this award when our editors asked for pre-season predictions in January. Unfortunately, the Cardinals decided to give Rasmus more time in the minors and go with Skip Schumaker in center despite the fact that Rasmus hit .273/.467/.515 this spring. Rasmus probably doesn't need much more time in Triple-A after hitting .274/.380/.550 with a 108/70 K/BB in Double-A last season. Also of significance is that he hit 23% of balls in play for line drives and a whopping 49% in the air. When Rasmus swings he hits the ball with authority, and it should lead to a better batting average than he's shown as well as excellent power. He'll need to burst onto the scene in May or early June to have a chance at the award, but there's plenty of talent here.
Jay Bruce ? OF Reds ? 18:1
The game's best prospect, Bruce was expected to get a chance to compete for a starting job once Josh Hamilton was dealt this winter. The presence of Dusty Baker seemed troublesome, but there was really nobody who made sense to block Bruce with. Enter former Cub and a player Baker is very familiar with in Corey Patterson, and Bruce's shot at a job was all but gone. A poor spring by Bruce didn't change that, so he's headed back to Triple-A for now. Bruce hit .319/.375/.587 with 26 homers between three levels last year and reached Triple-A at the young age of 20. He'll have one of the game's best bats in his prime, so he needs to be watched closely even if his strikeouts mean he may struggle some as a rookie. Bruce will likely be up for good by June.
Chase Headley ? OF Padres ? 22:1
One of last seasons's breakout prospects, Headley's .330/.437/.580 line in 433 Double-A San Antonio at-bats was one of the minor's most dominant performances. The switch-hitting Headley hadn't previously shown that type of power in the minors, but since he did in college the breakout can mostly be seen as real. With a nice line drive stroke and selectivity at the plate, Headley should be good for some .300-20-100 seasons to go along with plenty of doubles and walks in his prime. He'll have to improve defensively in left field to break in with the Padres, but an early season callup is still likely.
J.R. Towles ? C Astros ? 25:1
The second rookie catcher on the list, I think Towles has more long-term potential than Soto. The 24-year-old is more athletic and is more balanced on the offensive end, hitting for average, drawing walks, and showing solid power. His .300/.393/.470 career line in the minors is encouraging, as is his 155/88 K/BB ratio in 907 at-bats. He even has good speed for a catcher, swiping 48 bags. However, Towles has had trouble staying healthy and is still raw defensively, in part because he's missed so much time. He'll also have to contend with Brad Ausmus for playing time, so he's more of a flier than someone to count on.
Jair Jurrjens ? RHP Braves ? 35:1
Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria trade, Jurrjens went straight into the Braves' rotation this spring. The right-hander turned 22 years old this winter and hasn't pitched in a single Triple-A game, but he did go 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA in seven starts with the Tigers last season. Jurrjens has been pretty consistent in his minor league career, and his 3.20 ERA and 94/31 K/BB in 113 innings is a good indicator of his abilities. He projects to be a good No. 4 starter thanks to plus command, a solid fastball-changeup combination, and a workable curve. On a quality Braves team that should content, a few ROY votes can't be ruled out. atlantabraves.com
The Field (16:1) ? Homer Bailey (RHP, Reds), Clayton Kershaw (LHP, Dodgers), Franklin Morales (RHP, Rockies), Steven Pearce (OF, Pirates), Matt Antonelli (2B, Padres), Wade LeBlanc (LHP, Padres), Ross Detwiler (LHP, Nationals), Brian Barton (OF, Cardinals), Brandon Jones (OF, Braves), Chin-lung Hu (2B, Dodgers), Jayson Nix (2B, Rockies), Kevin Hart (RHP, Cubs), Cameron Maybin (OF, Marlins), Andy LaRoche (3B, Dodgers), Max Scherzer (RHP, Diamondbacks), Eugenio Velez (2B, Giants), Blake DeWitt (3B, Dodgers), Ian Stewart (3B/2B Rockies), James McDonald (RHP, Dodgers), Jon Meloan (RHP, Dodgers), Joe Thatcher (LHP, Padres), Matt LaPorta (OF, Brewers), Jordan Schafer (OF, Braves), Nate Schierholtz (OF, Giants), Justin Huber (OF, Padres), Justin Maxwell (OF, Nationals), Delwyn Young (OF, Dodgers), Callix Crabbe (2B, Padres), Erick Threets (RHP, Giants)
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: ROY Preview
There's no surer sign of spring than a minor league baseball game. With pitchers and catchers reporting to big league camp in mid-February and the college ranks scheduling meaningful games not much later, baseball is no stranger to all four seasons. On the flip side, the minors ramp up for the season quietly, and by the time most fans notice games have begun we'll be even closer to consistently warm weather, beer league softball, and more spontaneous and dramatic announcements like this one. Well, let's hope for two of the three.
On that note, welcome back to the Prospect Report. Since the minor league season won't start until Thursday and we're a few days from our first real callups, we'll kick off this year's Prospect Report as we do every year: with a Rookie of the Year preview. Last year I had [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] and Daisuke Matsuzaka taking home the awards, but it turned out that Dustin Pedroia (fifth ranked in AL) and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (13th ranked in NL) took home the hardware. You can see the Rookie of the Year previews for the last two years in the archives.
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
Jacoby Ellsbury ? OF Red Sox ? 5:1 (Odds of winning)
It's going to be pretty hard for Ellsbury to live up to expectations. The former Oregon State star provided a spark to the Red Sox last September, then cemented himself a fan favorite with a strong performance in Boston's World Series triumph. Ellsbury's .353/.394/.509 line in 116 regular season at-bats with the Red Sox was genuinely impressive, but there are plenty of reasons for pessimism.
First is that projecting any player to repeat a .353 batting average is folly, so we'll have to start by knocking that number down. Second, Ellsbury's career slugging in the minors is .425 and it was just .380 in 83 games at Triple-A last season. He has all of 10 homers in 1,017 minor league at-bats, so prorating the three he hit in the majors last season is unwise. And lastly, Ellsbury will have to battle for playing time with center fielder Coco Crisp also on the roster.
On the plus side, Ellsbury has quick hands, above average plate discipline, and blazing speed, so his .313 career average in the minors is no fluke. If things go well he could hit around .300 right away, and he'll also be a 40-steal threat and a plus defender in center field. Crisp will take away some at-bats, but a trade or an injury can quickly fix that and since Ellsbury is clearly the preferred option he should garner 500+ at-bats. With all of the other true studs battling bigger playing time issues, that makes Ellsbury the slight favorite.
Clay Buchholz ? RHP Red Sox ? 11:2
When you're the game's best pitching prospect, you've already thrown a no-hitter in the majors, and you play for the defending champions there's little chance you fly under the radar. Buchholz can say all of that, and he's not even the player most likely to win the Rookie of the Year award on his own team. While Buchholz is surely the better bet long-term, Ellsbury got the nod due to the Red Sox's intention to limit Buchholz to 180-190 innings of work. Since the club likely plans on some of those coming in the playoffs, Buchholz figures to be held back at times this season.
That said, the tall, lanky right-hander still has a strong shot at the award. Buchholz possesses an impressive fastball that sits in the low-90s and can be dialed up to 96 MPH when needed, but it's likely his third best pitch. Both his changeup and curveball are plus offerings and can carry him when needed, and his slider is also an average pitch. Add in good command and an extremely advanced approach, and it's easy to see why Buchholz has a career 2.46 ERA while striking out over 30% of the batters he's faced in the minors.
Even pitching at Fenway Park and in the American League, Buchholz is as good a bet as any rookie for strong ratios. He'll also enjoy the benefit of strong run support and pitching on a contender, both of which will help his chances. A 14-win, 3.70 ERA season isn't at all out of the question as a result. If Ellsbury fails to establish himself early and falls short of 500+ at-bats, Buchholz would be the favorite.
Joba Chamberlain ? RHP Yankees ? 7:1
Perhaps the most famous 24 innings to start a career, Chamberlain utterly dominated the competition while allowing just one run after joining the Yankees last season. He was similarly impressive in the minors, striking out 135 batters and posting a 2.45 ERA in 88 1/3 innings split between three levels. The name of the game with Chamberlain is heat, as his fastball routinely sits in the high-90s to go with a quick, tight slider. His command is also at least average, and Chamberlain works his slider off his fastball well with a very consistent delivery.
If Chamberlain was destined to be a starter all year he'd be the favorite here. Instead, the Yankees will be cautious and start him in a setup role after he threw just 112 innings last season. The current plan is to move him into the rotation mid-season, but the Yankees have already flip-flopped with Chamberlain multiple times. It'd thus come as no surprise if a team otherwise bereft of setup options deemed Joba "too valuable" to remove from that role in July. A middle reliever has never won the award in the closer era, so to win the award he'll need to move to the rotation even if he's again excellent as a setup man.
Ian Kennedy ? RHP Yankees ? 9:1
While Kennedy isn't nearly as talented as the three elite prospects listed ahead of him and the one behind him, the gap is much closer when evaluating productivity this season. The reason is Kennedy could legitimately toss 200 innings, as the Yankees have said they won't limit him after he rung up 165 in 2007.
A product of USC, Kennedy posted a 1.91 ERA and 163/50 K/BB in 147 innings during his first extended playing time in the minors. He also acquitted himself nicely in three big league starts last September. Kennedy's calling card is his changeup, but his fastball is solid at around 90-91 MPH and his curve is also a quality pitch. However, Kennedy's above average control and advanced approach have allowed him to outpitch his stuff thus far.
While an average projection would have Kennedy performing like a quality No. 3 starter, it's also rather possible that he continues to beat expectations and looks like a No. 2. If that's the case and none of the elite players get the necessary playing time, Kennedy could sneak away with the award. I'll peg him at 14 wins and a 4.10 ERA, with the opportunity for more.
Evan Longoria ? 3B Rays ? 11:1
Last week the Rays made the somewhat controversial decision to send Longoria back to the minors despite the fact that he hit .262/.407/.595 this spring. The club had previously announced it would be an open competition for the third base job, but the Rays showed they valued delaying Longoria's free agency a year more than winning in 2008 when they demoted him. It's a move clubs have been doing for awhile now, but because Longoria was so hyped it got a bit more attention.
Either way, Longoria begins the season ranked second to Jay Bruce in our Season Pass Top 100. There's little doubt he's ready for the majors after hitting .299/.402/.520 between Double-A and Triple-A in 2007. Since he also shows good patience at the plate (73 walks in 484 at-bats) and hits plenty of line drives (21%), he should hit for a solid average initially and improve to around .300 with time. While a [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL]-like debut is going to be near impossible for any player to match, Longoria is quite capable of bursting onto the scene in two months and swinging his way to ROY honors. I'm expecting a .280 average with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 105 games.
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Alexei Ramirez ? OF/2B White Sox ? 15:1
An import from Cuba this winter, Ramirez looked like he might win the second base job after batting .358 and slugging .582 this spring. Juan Uribe was picked instead, so Ramirez will battle for time in center field. The club only has room for one of Carlos Quentin and the currently injured Jerry Owens, but Ramirez could make sure he stays in the lineup at second or center with a hot start. Ramirez led the Cuban league in homers last year and is currently hitting well, so a .270-20-70 type season can't be ruled out.
Daric Barton ? 1B Athletics ? 18:1
A sweet-swinging lefty with perhaps the best plate discipline in the minors, Barton hit .290/.387/.436 with a 69/78 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Sacramento last season. He followed that up with a surprising debut with the big club and hit .347 with four homers in 72 at-bats. While last September's power outburst shouldn't be expected in 2008, Barton has the potential to develop into a 25-homer first basemen with excellent on-base percentages. Since he's not quite there in the power department and won't fair well in most counting stats, there are better options for 2008.
Nick Adenhart ? RHP Angels ? 25:1
A premier pitching prospect who struggled some in 2007, Adenhart surprisingly almost won a starting gig with the Angels this spring. Injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar allowed for the opportunity, and Adenhart was posting a 2.89 ERA and 13/3 K/BB ratio before a poor last outing. Though he posted a mediocre 3.65 ERA and saw his peripherals go in the wrong direction, Adenhart still possesses a strong three-pitch repertoire and the potential to be a No. 2 starter. If Adenhart can improve his command and learn to better utilize his changeup, he could be up with the Angels early this season.
Carlos Gonzalez ? OF Athletics ? 30:1
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade, Gonzalez was given a chance to win the starting center field job in Oakland. Ultimately CarGo was sent back to Triple-A, a move that made plenty of sense given his lack of plate discipline and the A's stage in the success cycle. Gonzalez has the excellent bat speed and powerful build to develop into a 30-homer outfielder, but he often gets himself out on bad pitches and is still relying too much on raw ability. He's the type of player where things could click at any moment and he's not far from Oakland, so an early season callup is possible.
Shelley Duncan ? 1B Yankees ? 40:1
Duncan isn't a long-term prospect like any of the players listed above, but he does have some things going for him in a Rookie of the Year evaluation. Duncan posted a very nice .295/.380/.577 line in Triple-A last season and continued to hit for power with seven homers in 74 at-bats with the big club. He's already 28 years old, so Duncan is in his peak years and already on a big league roster despite rookie status. With several injury-prone players ahead of him on the depth chart, it's not difficult to see Duncan amassing significant at-bats. If he does and it's a down year for rookies, maybe he'll contend.
Ineligible because of Service Time: Carlos Gomez
The Field (18:1) ? Aaron Laffey (LHP, Indians), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1351"]Brandon Wood[/URL] (3B, Angels), Jeff Niemann (RHP, Rays), David Murphy (OF, Rangers), Masahide Kobayashi (RHP, Indians), Jed Lowrie (SS, Red Sox), Wladimir Balentien (OF, Mariners), [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=594"]Rich Thompson[/URL] (RHP, Angels), Nick Blackburn (RHP, Twins), Adam Miller (RHP, Indians), Kevin Mulvey (RHP, Twins), Yasuhiko Yabuta (RHP, Royals), Reid Brignac (SS, Rays), Jeff Clement (C, Mariners), David Price (LHP, Rays), Luke Hochevar (RHP, Royals), Gio Gonzalez (LHP, Athletics), Chuck Lofgren (LHP, Indians), Philip Humber (RHP, Twins), Kazuo Fukumori (RHP, Rangers), Garrett Olson (LHP, Orioles), Ryan Sweeney (OF, Athletics), Wade Davis (RHP, Devil Rays), Aaron Cunningham (OF, Athletics), Alan Horne (RHP, Yankees), Radhames Liz (RHP, Orioles), Luis Hernandez (SS, Orioles)
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[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
Kosuke Fukudome ? OF Cubs ? 4:1
The latest big import from Japan, Fukudome was perhaps the league's best offensive threat. He routinely hit for average, drew walks, and showed 30-homer power, with his best year being a .351/.438/.653 line in 2006. Bone spurs in his elbow limited him last season, but it's not something that's a long-term concern. A strong defender, Fukudome should be able to handle center in the majors and will spend some time there with the Cubs this season.
The left-handed hitting Fukudome has a starting job locked up and will provide a boost with both his defense and above average speed. Although he strikes out a little more than preferable, Fukudome also should hit around .280 given his high averages in Japan and the success other Japanese players have had in hitting for average. What ultimately will determine Fukudome's chances will be how his power translates to MLB.
To that end, Fukudome is off to a great start with an Opening Day three-run home run in the ninth inning. While his swing looks a little unorthodox, Fukudome generates plenty of power and if he wasn't so focused on getting out of the box quickly his quirks would hardly be noticeable. In that regard, he looks a bit like Hideki Matsui. Fukudome shouldn't be expected to match Matsui's power output, but 18 homers and 35 doubles are a reasonable estimate with his upside being a 25-homer/45-double campaign. Given all of his other skills, he may not even need those 25 homers to win the award.
Johnny Cueto ? RHP Reds ? 6:1
A quick riser in prospect circles last season, Cueto wasn't expected to begin the year with the big club. However, after impressing manager Dusty Baker and the club's front office this spring Cueto will begin the year in the Reds' rotation. One very poor outing in mid-March make Cueto's spring look mediocre, but if you remove that five-run, one-inning performance he posted a 2.65 ERA and 19/7 K/BB ratio.
Just 21 years old last spring, Cueto began the year repeating High-A Sarasota. A 3.33 ERA and good peripherals in 14 starts ensured that he'd move up, and Cueto was even better at Double-A Chattanooga before finishing the season with four starts in Triple-A. Overall, Cueto recorded a 3.07 ERA and superb 170/34 K/BB in 161 innings. Listed at under six-feet tall, the knock on Cueto has always been durability. However, his full season of work in 2007 eased much of those concerns.
Cueto's fastball gets the job done in the low-90s, but he can hit the mid-90s when necessary. However, his best assets are his impressive slider, plus command, and an above average changeup that he learned just two years ago. Cueto will need to continue displaying the same excellent command he did in the minors to succeed, but that seems likely. A few bumps in the road should still be expected, but Cueto has the talent and opportunity to win 15 games with an ERA under 4.00.
Hiroki Kuroda ? RHP Dodgers ? 8:1
Fukudome received considerably more press this winter, but Kuroda isn't that far behind in ability and both players will make about $12 million per year. A 33-year-old right-hander who was an ace in Japan, Kuroda routinely posted ERAs in the low-to-mid-3.00s. His best season came in 2006 when he posted a 1.85 ERA in 189 innings, and Kuroda's ERA has been below 4.00 in six of the last seven years.
Never much of a strikeout pitcher, Kuroda relies on pinpoint command and the ability to change speeds. His fastball is actually an average or so offering, but at a 94 MPH peak and without great movement he's not going to be striking out many hitters in the U.S. His slider is also an average offering, but he uses a plus forkball as his change of pace option. Varying pitch type and location while hitting his spots is what Kuroda will need to do to be successful in the majors, but that's exactly how he approached the game in Japan and that bodes well for success in MLB.
The Dodgers will give Kuroda 200 innings if he remains healthy, which automatically puts him ahead of most rookies. Playing half his games at Dodger Stadium will also help limit Kuroda's occasional long-ball tendencies. It wouldn't be at all surprising if he's better the first time around the league and then fell off as the year went on, but he's still a reasonable bet for solid ratios. If everything goes well he could win 15 games and post a 3.50 ERA, though 12 wins and 3.90 are more likely.
Geovany Soto ? C Cubs ? 10:1
Easily the most surprising performance of the minor league season, Soto came out of nowhere to win the PCL MVP award by hitting .354/.424/.652 in 110 games for Triple-A Iowa. The 24-year-old followed up that impressive campaign with a .389 average and three homers in 54 at-bats with the Cubs in September. For someone considered at best a long-term backup prior to the season, that's quite an astounding turnaround.
One of the hardest players to value coming into the season, every fantasy leaguer out there has been trying to decipher just how much of Soto's breakout is for real. On the plus side, Soto is reasonably selective at the plate, dropped 30 pounds last off-season, tinkered with his swing to give it more loft, and remained productive from wire-to-wire in his breakout campaign. On the down side, Soto was repeating Triple-A for the third time, was relying partially on an unsustainable .406 BABIP, and has the discouraging track record prior to 2007.
In a final verdict, I'm expecting most of Soto's new-found power to translate to the majors. Power is a much more repeatable skill (save Brady Anderson), and Soto had plenty of it. The batting average was much more fluky high, and his strikeouts also increased with the revised swing, so I wouldn't expect Soto to approach .300 in the majors. As a result, I have him pegged at a .270-20-75 season. Catchers have historically faired poorly in ROY voting, but that should be enough to get noticed and a slightly better performance would get him strong ROY consideration.
Joey Votto ? 1B Reds ? 15:1
One of the National League's best prospects, Votto had his third big year in four tries by hitting .294/.381/.478 with a 110/70 K/BB ratio for Triple-A Louisville and then adding a .321 average and four homers in 84 at-bats with the Reds. The 6'3 left-hander also swiped 17 bags in 27 tries, showing his underrated athleticism.
While it was a strong season for the 23-year-old, Votto had shown more doubles power at Double-A the previous season and it's quite possible he'll be better than he showed at Louisville. Votto has the swing, discipline, and build to be a 25-homer threat in the majors. He also could hit .290 with 40 doubles and plenty of walks in his prime, so the Reds have plenty to look forward to.
Unfortunately, the presence of first basemen Scott Hatteberg and manager Dusty Baker's extreme veteran preferences prevent Votto from ranking higher on this list. While he is already on the big league roster and likely to get some playing time, Baker isn't ready to use Votto as a full-time player. Maybe he'll start hot and force his hand, but it'd take a glaring difference for Baker to change his mind. If given 500 at-bats, Votto could smack 20 homers and drive in 85 runs, giving him a shot at some hardware.
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Colby Rasmus ? OF Cardinals ? 16:1
I picked Rasmus to win this award when our editors asked for pre-season predictions in January. Unfortunately, the Cardinals decided to give Rasmus more time in the minors and go with Skip Schumaker in center despite the fact that Rasmus hit .273/.467/.515 this spring. Rasmus probably doesn't need much more time in Triple-A after hitting .274/.380/.550 with a 108/70 K/BB in Double-A last season. Also of significance is that he hit 23% of balls in play for line drives and a whopping 49% in the air. When Rasmus swings he hits the ball with authority, and it should lead to a better batting average than he's shown as well as excellent power. He'll need to burst onto the scene in May or early June to have a chance at the award, but there's plenty of talent here.
Jay Bruce ? OF Reds ? 18:1
The game's best prospect, Bruce was expected to get a chance to compete for a starting job once Josh Hamilton was dealt this winter. The presence of Dusty Baker seemed troublesome, but there was really nobody who made sense to block Bruce with. Enter former Cub and a player Baker is very familiar with in Corey Patterson, and Bruce's shot at a job was all but gone. A poor spring by Bruce didn't change that, so he's headed back to Triple-A for now. Bruce hit .319/.375/.587 with 26 homers between three levels last year and reached Triple-A at the young age of 20. He'll have one of the game's best bats in his prime, so he needs to be watched closely even if his strikeouts mean he may struggle some as a rookie. Bruce will likely be up for good by June.
Chase Headley ? OF Padres ? 22:1
One of last seasons's breakout prospects, Headley's .330/.437/.580 line in 433 Double-A San Antonio at-bats was one of the minor's most dominant performances. The switch-hitting Headley hadn't previously shown that type of power in the minors, but since he did in college the breakout can mostly be seen as real. With a nice line drive stroke and selectivity at the plate, Headley should be good for some .300-20-100 seasons to go along with plenty of doubles and walks in his prime. He'll have to improve defensively in left field to break in with the Padres, but an early season callup is still likely.
J.R. Towles ? C Astros ? 25:1
The second rookie catcher on the list, I think Towles has more long-term potential than Soto. The 24-year-old is more athletic and is more balanced on the offensive end, hitting for average, drawing walks, and showing solid power. His .300/.393/.470 career line in the minors is encouraging, as is his 155/88 K/BB ratio in 907 at-bats. He even has good speed for a catcher, swiping 48 bags. However, Towles has had trouble staying healthy and is still raw defensively, in part because he's missed so much time. He'll also have to contend with Brad Ausmus for playing time, so he's more of a flier than someone to count on.
Jair Jurrjens ? RHP Braves ? 35:1
Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria trade, Jurrjens went straight into the Braves' rotation this spring. The right-hander turned 22 years old this winter and hasn't pitched in a single Triple-A game, but he did go 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA in seven starts with the Tigers last season. Jurrjens has been pretty consistent in his minor league career, and his 3.20 ERA and 94/31 K/BB in 113 innings is a good indicator of his abilities. He projects to be a good No. 4 starter thanks to plus command, a solid fastball-changeup combination, and a workable curve. On a quality Braves team that should content, a few ROY votes can't be ruled out. atlantabraves.com
The Field (16:1) ? Homer Bailey (RHP, Reds), Clayton Kershaw (LHP, Dodgers), Franklin Morales (RHP, Rockies), Steven Pearce (OF, Pirates), Matt Antonelli (2B, Padres), Wade LeBlanc (LHP, Padres), Ross Detwiler (LHP, Nationals), Brian Barton (OF, Cardinals), Brandon Jones (OF, Braves), Chin-lung Hu (2B, Dodgers), Jayson Nix (2B, Rockies), Kevin Hart (RHP, Cubs), Cameron Maybin (OF, Marlins), Andy LaRoche (3B, Dodgers), Max Scherzer (RHP, Diamondbacks), Eugenio Velez (2B, Giants), Blake DeWitt (3B, Dodgers), Ian Stewart (3B/2B Rockies), James McDonald (RHP, Dodgers), Jon Meloan (RHP, Dodgers), Joe Thatcher (LHP, Padres), Matt LaPorta (OF, Brewers), Jordan Schafer (OF, Braves), Nate Schierholtz (OF, Giants), Justin Huber (OF, Padres), Justin Maxwell (OF, Nationals), Delwyn Young (OF, Dodgers), Callix Crabbe (2B, Padres), Erick Threets (RHP, Giants)
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
A Pair of 'Mild' Injuries
J.J. Putz blew a save Tuesday against the Rangers by serving up a homer to Josh Hamilton and was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with what the Mariners are calling "mild costochondritis" on his right side. I've never heard of that before and odds are neither have you, but I'm told that it means Putz has inflammation where cartilage attaches to his ribs. There's no timetable yet for his return, but the assumption is that it'll be longer than the minimum 15 days.
Mark Lowe is the obvious choice to replace Putz at closer, but he had pitched on back-to-back days and with no need for a fifth starter this week the Mariners chose to hand Miguel Batista ninth-inning duties Wednesday. Batista retired three straight batters to close out a three-run lead and saved 31 games for the Blue Jays in 2005, so it's possible that the Mariners could shift him to the bullpen until Putz returns and potentially slide Cha-Seung Baek into the rotation. Stay tuned.
While baseball's most underrated closer goes down and Lowe becomes a waiver-wire favorite, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* As expected, the Mets placed Pedro Martinez on the disabled list Wednesday with a strained left hamstring. Like Putz's unique injury the team termed it a "mild" strain, but simultaneously announced that Martinez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Mike Pelfrey is now all but guaranteed to stay in the rotation through at least May and the Mets figure to turn to either Nelson Figueroa or Jorge Sosa to fill in for Martinez until Orlando Hernandez is ready in about two weeks.
newyorkmets.com
* It was silly for Baseball America to rank Nick Blackburn as the Twins' top prospect prior to the Johan Santana trade, but he certainly looked like a No. 1 prospect Wednesday in his first big-league start, holding the Angels to one run over seven innings while taking a tough loss against Joe Saunders. He lived up to his minor-league track record by inducing a dozen ground balls, but six strikeouts against a lineup that made the third-most contact in the league last season was totally out of character.
Blackburn's ability to throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground are what make me think that he can have a decent career as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever, but 75 measly strikeouts in 148.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season are why he's not really a great prospect. However, if he can somehow find a way to start missing a fair number of bats after rarely striking anyone out in the minors it would drastically change his long-term outlook.
* Dan Haren made his Diamondbacks debut Wednesday, allowing three runs over six innings against the Reds and leaving in a position to pick up the victory. In his second save opportunity of the season, new Arizona closer Brandon Lyon failed to record an out while putting two men on base to set up Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off homer. Lyon had a rough spring and doesn't have typical closer stuff, which is why top setup man Tony Pena looms large in the background.
* Rich Harden has two no-decisions through two starts, but don't assume that he's struggling. Despite facing the Red Sox's powerful offense in both of his outings, Harden has allowed just one run on seven hits in 11 innings while racking up 15 strikeouts. Unlike Mark Prior and many other oft-injured pitchers Harden has never lost his stuff between trips to the disabled list, so he can be counted on as a top-notch starter for as long as he remains healthy.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez (hamstring) said Wednesday that he expects to avoid the disabled list and could be available to pinch-hit as soon as Thursday ? Scott Kazmir (elbow) threw a 44-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and said afterward that his arm "feels alive" ? After losing the Angels' shortstop battle to Maicer Izturis this spring, Erick Aybar started Wednesday for the first time this season and went 0-for-4 with an error ? According to the Boston Globe, the White Sox and Cubs have shown the most interest in Coco Crisp ? Meanwhile, Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup Wednesday despite the Red Sox facing a right-handed starter ? As expected, David DeJesus (ankle) sat out Wednesday's game and Joey Gathright started in his place ? Nathan Haynes got the start in right field Wednesday over both Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes, singling in four at-bats ? Jorge Posada was scratched from Wednesday's game with a sore right shoulder, giving Jose Molina a rare start ? David Ortiz snapped an 0-for-11 start by going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Wednesday.
NL Quick Hits: Carlos Zambrano exited his Opening Day start with forearm cramping, but is expected to make his next scheduled turn in the rotation Sunday against the Astros ? Subbing for Chad Cordero (shoulder), Jon Rauch pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning Wednesday to close out a 1-0 victory for Tim Redding ? Kelly Johnson (knee) said Wednesday that he expects to return to the lineup within a couple days ? Chris Duncan was scratched from Wednesday's game with a sore hamstring and Ryan Ludwick went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in his place ? Conor Jackson left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning and later headed to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing after being weakened by an undisclosed illness this week ? Todd Wellemeyer isn't able to pitch very deep into games, but after holding the Rockies to one run over five innings Wednesday the former reliever is now 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in a dozen career starts ? Adding to his reputation as the NL's version of Ervin Santana, Wandy Rodriguez's road struggles continued Wednesday by allowing four runs over five innings at pitcher-friendly Petco Park ? After another rough outing Wednesday, Damaso Marte now has an 81.00 ERA in two appearances.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
A Pair of 'Mild' Injuries
J.J. Putz blew a save Tuesday against the Rangers by serving up a homer to Josh Hamilton and was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with what the Mariners are calling "mild costochondritis" on his right side. I've never heard of that before and odds are neither have you, but I'm told that it means Putz has inflammation where cartilage attaches to his ribs. There's no timetable yet for his return, but the assumption is that it'll be longer than the minimum 15 days.
Mark Lowe is the obvious choice to replace Putz at closer, but he had pitched on back-to-back days and with no need for a fifth starter this week the Mariners chose to hand Miguel Batista ninth-inning duties Wednesday. Batista retired three straight batters to close out a three-run lead and saved 31 games for the Blue Jays in 2005, so it's possible that the Mariners could shift him to the bullpen until Putz returns and potentially slide Cha-Seung Baek into the rotation. Stay tuned.
While baseball's most underrated closer goes down and Lowe becomes a waiver-wire favorite, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* As expected, the Mets placed Pedro Martinez on the disabled list Wednesday with a strained left hamstring. Like Putz's unique injury the team termed it a "mild" strain, but simultaneously announced that Martinez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Mike Pelfrey is now all but guaranteed to stay in the rotation through at least May and the Mets figure to turn to either Nelson Figueroa or Jorge Sosa to fill in for Martinez until Orlando Hernandez is ready in about two weeks.
newyorkmets.com
* It was silly for Baseball America to rank Nick Blackburn as the Twins' top prospect prior to the Johan Santana trade, but he certainly looked like a No. 1 prospect Wednesday in his first big-league start, holding the Angels to one run over seven innings while taking a tough loss against Joe Saunders. He lived up to his minor-league track record by inducing a dozen ground balls, but six strikeouts against a lineup that made the third-most contact in the league last season was totally out of character.
Blackburn's ability to throw strikes and keep the ball on the ground are what make me think that he can have a decent career as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever, but 75 measly strikeouts in 148.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season are why he's not really a great prospect. However, if he can somehow find a way to start missing a fair number of bats after rarely striking anyone out in the minors it would drastically change his long-term outlook.
* Dan Haren made his Diamondbacks debut Wednesday, allowing three runs over six innings against the Reds and leaving in a position to pick up the victory. In his second save opportunity of the season, new Arizona closer Brandon Lyon failed to record an out while putting two men on base to set up Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off homer. Lyon had a rough spring and doesn't have typical closer stuff, which is why top setup man Tony Pena looms large in the background.
* Rich Harden has two no-decisions through two starts, but don't assume that he's struggling. Despite facing the Red Sox's powerful offense in both of his outings, Harden has allowed just one run on seven hits in 11 innings while racking up 15 strikeouts. Unlike Mark Prior and many other oft-injured pitchers Harden has never lost his stuff between trips to the disabled list, so he can be counted on as a top-notch starter for as long as he remains healthy.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez (hamstring) said Wednesday that he expects to avoid the disabled list and could be available to pinch-hit as soon as Thursday ? Scott Kazmir (elbow) threw a 44-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and said afterward that his arm "feels alive" ? After losing the Angels' shortstop battle to Maicer Izturis this spring, Erick Aybar started Wednesday for the first time this season and went 0-for-4 with an error ? According to the Boston Globe, the White Sox and Cubs have shown the most interest in Coco Crisp ? Meanwhile, Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup Wednesday despite the Red Sox facing a right-handed starter ? As expected, David DeJesus (ankle) sat out Wednesday's game and Joey Gathright started in his place ? Nathan Haynes got the start in right field Wednesday over both Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes, singling in four at-bats ? Jorge Posada was scratched from Wednesday's game with a sore right shoulder, giving Jose Molina a rare start ? David Ortiz snapped an 0-for-11 start by going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Wednesday.
NL Quick Hits: Carlos Zambrano exited his Opening Day start with forearm cramping, but is expected to make his next scheduled turn in the rotation Sunday against the Astros ? Subbing for Chad Cordero (shoulder), Jon Rauch pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning Wednesday to close out a 1-0 victory for Tim Redding ? Kelly Johnson (knee) said Wednesday that he expects to return to the lineup within a couple days ? Chris Duncan was scratched from Wednesday's game with a sore hamstring and Ryan Ludwick went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in his place ? Conor Jackson left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning and later headed to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing after being weakened by an undisclosed illness this week ? Todd Wellemeyer isn't able to pitch very deep into games, but after holding the Rockies to one run over five innings Wednesday the former reliever is now 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in a dozen career starts ? Adding to his reputation as the NL's version of Ervin Santana, Wandy Rodriguez's road struggles continued Wednesday by allowing four runs over five innings at pitcher-friendly Petco Park ? After another rough outing Wednesday, Damaso Marte now has an 81.00 ERA in two appearances.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
No Pe?a, No Ge?a
Below are some players whose roles have changed over the course of spring training. I've included approximate money values based on $100 FAAB, but obviously every league is unique when it comes to owners' needs and frugality.
This is the part where I remind you not to panic. Just because Robinson Cano has gotten off to a brutal start doesn't mean you need to rush out and add Jose Lopez.
[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
Tony Pe?a - A tough spring continued into a tough April for Brandon Lyon, who gave up a three-run home run to blow a save and take the loss on Wednesday night. The Diamondbacks figure to give him more chances, but Tony Pena is poised to step in if Lyon doesn't get things under control. If he's not owned already, he's a great speculative add.
NL: $23 Mixed: $10
Blake DeWitt - The Dodgers have lost a small arsenal of third basemen, and as a result Blake DeWitt finds himself starting in Los Angeles. A decent prospect, DeWitt likely needs to hone his approach at the plate before contributing at the major league level. That combined with the fact that Nomar Garciaparra could return after the worst week make him a poor investment.
NL: No. Mixed: No.
[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] - With Jeremy Hermida on the disabled list, the Marlins have turned to [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] in right field. Florida hopes Hermida will return on April 5, and Gonzalez wouldn't be a great fantasy option even if he had a full-time job.
NL: $1 Mixed: No.
Corey Patterson ? If nothing else, the 2008 Reds will be remembered for reuniting Dusty Baker and Patterson, widely regarded as the greatest duo to grace Chicago baseball since Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox. Since 2005, Corey has leveled off as a .270 hitter whose fantasy value stems almost entirely from the 82 bases he stole in the past two seasons. It's still unclear if he'll be starting against lefties, so bid with caution.
NL: $15 Mixed: $5
Johnny Cueto - For now, the more promising of Cincinnati's two young Dominican starters, Cueto is immediately rosterable in medium mixed leagues. He has three plus pitches including a fastball that was regularly hitting the mid-nineties during a spring training. Once it became clear that Cueto had earned himself a spot on the big league roster, his spring training numbers faltered a bit, but if you're looking for someone with plenty of breakout potential, he's your guy. Projected to finish with 13 wins, 133 strikeouts, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 159 innings. NL: $22 Mixed: $12
Edinson Volquez ? Volquez parlayed a great spring into the fifth spot in Cincinnati's rotation, sending Homer Bailey back to Triple-A. His biggest knocks in the minor leagues have been that he gives up a lot of home runs and has control problems. Pitching in Cincinnati won't help the home runs, but in spring training Volquez amassed a 26/4 K/BB ratio and a 2.70 ERA. One month of camp shouldn't make concerns about him disappear, but they do suggest there's a lot of upside.
NL: $12 Mixed: $5
Angel Pagan ? With Moises Alou expected to miss most of April, Angel Pagan seems poised to see the majority of time in left field. Pagan hit .329 this spring, but he's shown nothing to suggest that he'll hit ever sniff .300 in the majors. He's also likely to share his time in left field, further stripping him of his value.
NL: $1 Mixed: No
Xavier Nady ? Nady got off to a great start in 2008, hitting two opposite field home runs in the Pirates' first game this season. While it's nice to imagine that Nady will wind up with 324 homers this season, fantasy leaguers shouldn't ignore his five seasons of major league experience. While Nady could still set career highs, he'd still be unlikely to be anything more than a league-average outfielder.
NL: $13 Mixed: $5
Kyle Lohse ? Lohse signed with a Cardinals team that was forced to turn to him due to a plethora of injuries. He has a history of arm troubles, and has only exceeded last year's 4.62 ERA once. His St. Louis debut was a success, as he gave up just three hits in five innings, but that could very well be his best outing all season. He might be a nice piece in the back of NL-only rotations, but mixed leaguers shouldn't get too excited about his quality debut.
NL: $6 Mixed: $2
Derrick Turnbow ? Eric Gagne is back to his old tricks, blowing a three-run lead against the Cubs in his first appearance of the season. Despite the fact that the Brewers gambled $10 million on him in the offseason, he's not operating on a very long leash. Derrick Turnbow and David Riske are both candidates to take the job if Gagne continues to struggle, and while Turnbow might get the first crack, Riske seems like a better long-term option.
Turnbow:NL: $7 Mixed: $3
Riske: NL: $9 Mixed: $3
Jon Rauch - With Chad Cordero experiencing tendinitis in his shoulder, Jon Rauch has assumed closer duties, blowing his first save opportunity but converting his second. Rauch has proven he's a capable closer, but his value hinges on Cordero's absence. Cordero was supposed to start throwing on Wednesday, but the team pushed that back a day, suggesting he could be out through the weekend. For now, Rauch's value is short-term, but if Cordero ends up on the DL, he'd be a must own. For what it's worth, the Tigers have also reportedly shown interest in Cordero.
NL: $14 Mixed: $6
Carlos Marmol - Despite the fact that Kerry Wood was named the closer out of spring training, Marmol projects to have the most success in the role. Unfortunately for his fantasy value, however, the Cubs look to him as a multi-inning option. Wood did nothing to prove his worthiness by blowing his first save attempt on Monday, but he figures to stick in the role until his next DL stint, which could come at any moment. Marmol is a worthy investment.
NL: $14 Mixed: $6
Nick Johnson - Johnson hadn't played since breaking his leg in 2006, but managed to win back his starting job from the Dmitri Young. Prior to his injury, Johnson had just started to show his power, hitting 23 home runs and 46 doubles in just 500 at-bats. If Johnson can avoid another injury, he could wind up pushing 30 home runs with an average hovering around .300. That's a big "if," though.
NL: $16 Mixed: $6
Willie Harris ? With Elijah Dukes on the DL, Willie Harris figures to see significant playing time in left field. That's great, but he's still Willie Harris, and even his speed isn't enough to make him much of an option.
NL: $3 Mixed: No.
Ryan Doumit - Ronny Paulino's pathetic spring has him losing at-bats to Ryan Doumit. Doumit is inferior behind the plate, but he's a switch-hitting catcher who slugged .472 in 252 at-bats last season. Manager John Russell has said he plans on starting Doumit against the majority of right-handed pitchers, which would give him plenty of playing time behind the plate for the Pirates. There's plenty of upside here.
NL: $14 Mixed: $4
Jorge Sosa - With Pedro Martinez headed for the disabled list, both Jorge Sosa and Nelson Figueroa are candidates to take his spot as the fifth starter. The Mets will likely turn to a four man rotation at first, and with Orlando Hernandez making his first minor league rehab assignment on Thursday, Sosa or Figueroa would likely only start one game. That's probably not an attractive option for even the most desperate streamers. newyorkmets.com
NL: $1 Mixed: No.
Mike Pelfrey - Pedro Martinez's injury also means that Mike Pelfrey is likely to stick in the Mets' rotation for at least the first couple months of the season. Pelfrey was once one of the game's top prospects, but control problems and the lack of a strikeout pitch have hurt his stock. He finished the spring with an 8/10 K/BB ratio and a 8.14 ERA. Let him prove something before you waste your free agent bucks on him.
NL: $2 Mixed: No.
Franklin Morales - Morales won the fifth spot in the Rockies' starting rotation, but at age 22 still has a little work to do before he can be relied on by fantasy players. Morales has three above average pitches, but his control remains his biggest issue. Although pitching coach Bob Apodaca says he won't be on a pitch count, you can bet that the Rockies will be watching the youngsters' total innings pitched. He's also not guaranteed to stick in the rotation all year. Morales has a bright future, but for now, his best fit is on the bench of keeper teams.
NL: $4 Mixed: $1
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
Mark Lowe - With J.J. Putz headed to the 15-day disabled list, Mariners manager John McLaren said he plans on using a committee. Seattle is unsure how long Putz will be out, but for now, Lowe figures to see the majority of save opportunities. He didn't get the first chance after being used the previous two days, but the power pitcher is clearly the best suited to handle ninth inning duties in Putz's absence.
AL: $15 Mixed: $6
Franklin Gutierrez ? Gutierrez has proven he's a talented fielder, and after revamping his swing in the Indians' farm system, he hit .266 in 271 at-bats last season. Gutierrez showed an improved approach at the plate during spring training, and has carried it over to the regular season, drawing walks in each of his first two games. His Achilles' heel is that he struggles mightily against righties. Still, if his improved approach at the plate sticks, he could wind up hitting 20 home runs and pushing 15-20 stolen bases.
AL: $14 Mixed: $6
Alex Cintron - Baltimore: where reserves go to start. Cintron was cut by the Cubs, and sensing the ease with which he could surpass Luis Hernandez and Brandon Fahey, signed a deal with Baltimore. He's headed to Triple-A for a bit, but could be seeing significant playing time with the Orioles by May. Still, he's not worth holding onto for a month in case that happens.
AL: $1 Mixed: No.
Kelly Shoppach - Victor Martinez is officially day-to-day with tightness in his left hamstring, and could wind up being used sparingly until the weather heats up a bit. That is, of course, assuming he doesn't end up on the disabled list. Kelly Shoppach will assume catching duties in the meantime, and while he won't hit for average, he does possess decent power. Still, until we have a better idea of the severity of Victor's injury, Shoppach is isn't a very attractive option.
AL: $5 Mixed: $1
Joey Gathright - David DeJesus is currently day-to-day with a sprained ankle, giving Joey Gathright a temporary hold on the center field job. Gathright finally got his average up over .300 last season, but converted just nine of his 17 steal attempts. He hit .349 with 12 steals during spring training, turning heads and prompting some to wonder if he'd finally found a coach who could help him succeed at the major league level. Don't expect him to play regularly, but if you have bench space you should be able to get 20 steals by plugging him in when he's active.
AL: $9 Mixed: $3
Marco Scutaro - With Scott Rolen expected to miss 3-5 weeks with a broken finger, Marco Scutaro will fill in at third base for the Jays. Hopefully you have a better backup plan than Toronto.
AL: $1 Mixed: No.
Carlos Gomez - Acquired in the Johan Santana trade, Gomez won the starting center field job for Minnesota during spring training. He's a speedy little guy, but like most youngsters, Gomez's biggest problem is his lack of patience at the plate. He's only 22, though, and that will likely develop with time. You can't count on him to hit for average or power, but he'll be a nice source of steals for as long as he's getting regular playing time.
AL: $16 Mixed: $7
Brandon Inge ? Due to Curtis Granderson's broken finger, Brandon Inge is slated to start the season in center field for the Tigers. He should maintain his third base eligibility in most formats, but even so, he's not worth a significant investment at this point in the season.
AL: $4 Mixed: $1
Jose Lopez - Lopez finds himself in the No. 2 spot in the Mariners lineup to start the season, and has gone 3-for-11 with a double, a home run and three RBI to start the year. Lopez has enjoyed success in the second spot in the past, but has traditionally fizzled once the season's worn on, and his conditioning has been subject to criticism in the past. Still, he's only 24, and there's no reason he can't enjoy a breakout of sorts this season. Just don't bet on it - especially in mixed leagues.
AL: $9 Mixed: $3
Alexei Ramirez ? Ramirez finds himself with a job in center thanks to an injury to Jerry Owens. So far, he's done little to prove he deserves the gig, starting 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Ramirez did hit .358 this spring, but he's not much of an option with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1893"]Brian Anderson[/URL] and Carlos Quintin both expected to see time at the position.
AL: $4 Mixed: No.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
No Pe?a, No Ge?a
Below are some players whose roles have changed over the course of spring training. I've included approximate money values based on $100 FAAB, but obviously every league is unique when it comes to owners' needs and frugality.
This is the part where I remind you not to panic. Just because Robinson Cano has gotten off to a brutal start doesn't mean you need to rush out and add Jose Lopez.
[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
Tony Pe?a - A tough spring continued into a tough April for Brandon Lyon, who gave up a three-run home run to blow a save and take the loss on Wednesday night. The Diamondbacks figure to give him more chances, but Tony Pena is poised to step in if Lyon doesn't get things under control. If he's not owned already, he's a great speculative add.
NL: $23 Mixed: $10
Blake DeWitt - The Dodgers have lost a small arsenal of third basemen, and as a result Blake DeWitt finds himself starting in Los Angeles. A decent prospect, DeWitt likely needs to hone his approach at the plate before contributing at the major league level. That combined with the fact that Nomar Garciaparra could return after the worst week make him a poor investment.
NL: No. Mixed: No.
[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] - With Jeremy Hermida on the disabled list, the Marlins have turned to [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] in right field. Florida hopes Hermida will return on April 5, and Gonzalez wouldn't be a great fantasy option even if he had a full-time job.
NL: $1 Mixed: No.
Corey Patterson ? If nothing else, the 2008 Reds will be remembered for reuniting Dusty Baker and Patterson, widely regarded as the greatest duo to grace Chicago baseball since Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox. Since 2005, Corey has leveled off as a .270 hitter whose fantasy value stems almost entirely from the 82 bases he stole in the past two seasons. It's still unclear if he'll be starting against lefties, so bid with caution.
NL: $15 Mixed: $5
Johnny Cueto - For now, the more promising of Cincinnati's two young Dominican starters, Cueto is immediately rosterable in medium mixed leagues. He has three plus pitches including a fastball that was regularly hitting the mid-nineties during a spring training. Once it became clear that Cueto had earned himself a spot on the big league roster, his spring training numbers faltered a bit, but if you're looking for someone with plenty of breakout potential, he's your guy. Projected to finish with 13 wins, 133 strikeouts, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 159 innings. NL: $22 Mixed: $12
Edinson Volquez ? Volquez parlayed a great spring into the fifth spot in Cincinnati's rotation, sending Homer Bailey back to Triple-A. His biggest knocks in the minor leagues have been that he gives up a lot of home runs and has control problems. Pitching in Cincinnati won't help the home runs, but in spring training Volquez amassed a 26/4 K/BB ratio and a 2.70 ERA. One month of camp shouldn't make concerns about him disappear, but they do suggest there's a lot of upside.
NL: $12 Mixed: $5
Angel Pagan ? With Moises Alou expected to miss most of April, Angel Pagan seems poised to see the majority of time in left field. Pagan hit .329 this spring, but he's shown nothing to suggest that he'll hit ever sniff .300 in the majors. He's also likely to share his time in left field, further stripping him of his value.
NL: $1 Mixed: No
Xavier Nady ? Nady got off to a great start in 2008, hitting two opposite field home runs in the Pirates' first game this season. While it's nice to imagine that Nady will wind up with 324 homers this season, fantasy leaguers shouldn't ignore his five seasons of major league experience. While Nady could still set career highs, he'd still be unlikely to be anything more than a league-average outfielder.
NL: $13 Mixed: $5
Kyle Lohse ? Lohse signed with a Cardinals team that was forced to turn to him due to a plethora of injuries. He has a history of arm troubles, and has only exceeded last year's 4.62 ERA once. His St. Louis debut was a success, as he gave up just three hits in five innings, but that could very well be his best outing all season. He might be a nice piece in the back of NL-only rotations, but mixed leaguers shouldn't get too excited about his quality debut.
NL: $6 Mixed: $2
Derrick Turnbow ? Eric Gagne is back to his old tricks, blowing a three-run lead against the Cubs in his first appearance of the season. Despite the fact that the Brewers gambled $10 million on him in the offseason, he's not operating on a very long leash. Derrick Turnbow and David Riske are both candidates to take the job if Gagne continues to struggle, and while Turnbow might get the first crack, Riske seems like a better long-term option.
Turnbow:NL: $7 Mixed: $3
Riske: NL: $9 Mixed: $3
Jon Rauch - With Chad Cordero experiencing tendinitis in his shoulder, Jon Rauch has assumed closer duties, blowing his first save opportunity but converting his second. Rauch has proven he's a capable closer, but his value hinges on Cordero's absence. Cordero was supposed to start throwing on Wednesday, but the team pushed that back a day, suggesting he could be out through the weekend. For now, Rauch's value is short-term, but if Cordero ends up on the DL, he'd be a must own. For what it's worth, the Tigers have also reportedly shown interest in Cordero.
NL: $14 Mixed: $6
Carlos Marmol - Despite the fact that Kerry Wood was named the closer out of spring training, Marmol projects to have the most success in the role. Unfortunately for his fantasy value, however, the Cubs look to him as a multi-inning option. Wood did nothing to prove his worthiness by blowing his first save attempt on Monday, but he figures to stick in the role until his next DL stint, which could come at any moment. Marmol is a worthy investment.
NL: $14 Mixed: $6
Nick Johnson - Johnson hadn't played since breaking his leg in 2006, but managed to win back his starting job from the Dmitri Young. Prior to his injury, Johnson had just started to show his power, hitting 23 home runs and 46 doubles in just 500 at-bats. If Johnson can avoid another injury, he could wind up pushing 30 home runs with an average hovering around .300. That's a big "if," though.
NL: $16 Mixed: $6
Willie Harris ? With Elijah Dukes on the DL, Willie Harris figures to see significant playing time in left field. That's great, but he's still Willie Harris, and even his speed isn't enough to make him much of an option.
NL: $3 Mixed: No.
Ryan Doumit - Ronny Paulino's pathetic spring has him losing at-bats to Ryan Doumit. Doumit is inferior behind the plate, but he's a switch-hitting catcher who slugged .472 in 252 at-bats last season. Manager John Russell has said he plans on starting Doumit against the majority of right-handed pitchers, which would give him plenty of playing time behind the plate for the Pirates. There's plenty of upside here.
NL: $14 Mixed: $4
Jorge Sosa - With Pedro Martinez headed for the disabled list, both Jorge Sosa and Nelson Figueroa are candidates to take his spot as the fifth starter. The Mets will likely turn to a four man rotation at first, and with Orlando Hernandez making his first minor league rehab assignment on Thursday, Sosa or Figueroa would likely only start one game. That's probably not an attractive option for even the most desperate streamers. newyorkmets.com
NL: $1 Mixed: No.
Mike Pelfrey - Pedro Martinez's injury also means that Mike Pelfrey is likely to stick in the Mets' rotation for at least the first couple months of the season. Pelfrey was once one of the game's top prospects, but control problems and the lack of a strikeout pitch have hurt his stock. He finished the spring with an 8/10 K/BB ratio and a 8.14 ERA. Let him prove something before you waste your free agent bucks on him.
NL: $2 Mixed: No.
Franklin Morales - Morales won the fifth spot in the Rockies' starting rotation, but at age 22 still has a little work to do before he can be relied on by fantasy players. Morales has three above average pitches, but his control remains his biggest issue. Although pitching coach Bob Apodaca says he won't be on a pitch count, you can bet that the Rockies will be watching the youngsters' total innings pitched. He's also not guaranteed to stick in the rotation all year. Morales has a bright future, but for now, his best fit is on the bench of keeper teams.
NL: $4 Mixed: $1
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
Mark Lowe - With J.J. Putz headed to the 15-day disabled list, Mariners manager John McLaren said he plans on using a committee. Seattle is unsure how long Putz will be out, but for now, Lowe figures to see the majority of save opportunities. He didn't get the first chance after being used the previous two days, but the power pitcher is clearly the best suited to handle ninth inning duties in Putz's absence.
AL: $15 Mixed: $6
Franklin Gutierrez ? Gutierrez has proven he's a talented fielder, and after revamping his swing in the Indians' farm system, he hit .266 in 271 at-bats last season. Gutierrez showed an improved approach at the plate during spring training, and has carried it over to the regular season, drawing walks in each of his first two games. His Achilles' heel is that he struggles mightily against righties. Still, if his improved approach at the plate sticks, he could wind up hitting 20 home runs and pushing 15-20 stolen bases.
AL: $14 Mixed: $6
Alex Cintron - Baltimore: where reserves go to start. Cintron was cut by the Cubs, and sensing the ease with which he could surpass Luis Hernandez and Brandon Fahey, signed a deal with Baltimore. He's headed to Triple-A for a bit, but could be seeing significant playing time with the Orioles by May. Still, he's not worth holding onto for a month in case that happens.
AL: $1 Mixed: No.
Kelly Shoppach - Victor Martinez is officially day-to-day with tightness in his left hamstring, and could wind up being used sparingly until the weather heats up a bit. That is, of course, assuming he doesn't end up on the disabled list. Kelly Shoppach will assume catching duties in the meantime, and while he won't hit for average, he does possess decent power. Still, until we have a better idea of the severity of Victor's injury, Shoppach is isn't a very attractive option.
AL: $5 Mixed: $1
Joey Gathright - David DeJesus is currently day-to-day with a sprained ankle, giving Joey Gathright a temporary hold on the center field job. Gathright finally got his average up over .300 last season, but converted just nine of his 17 steal attempts. He hit .349 with 12 steals during spring training, turning heads and prompting some to wonder if he'd finally found a coach who could help him succeed at the major league level. Don't expect him to play regularly, but if you have bench space you should be able to get 20 steals by plugging him in when he's active.
AL: $9 Mixed: $3
Marco Scutaro - With Scott Rolen expected to miss 3-5 weeks with a broken finger, Marco Scutaro will fill in at third base for the Jays. Hopefully you have a better backup plan than Toronto.
AL: $1 Mixed: No.
Carlos Gomez - Acquired in the Johan Santana trade, Gomez won the starting center field job for Minnesota during spring training. He's a speedy little guy, but like most youngsters, Gomez's biggest problem is his lack of patience at the plate. He's only 22, though, and that will likely develop with time. You can't count on him to hit for average or power, but he'll be a nice source of steals for as long as he's getting regular playing time.
AL: $16 Mixed: $7
Brandon Inge ? Due to Curtis Granderson's broken finger, Brandon Inge is slated to start the season in center field for the Tigers. He should maintain his third base eligibility in most formats, but even so, he's not worth a significant investment at this point in the season.
AL: $4 Mixed: $1
Jose Lopez - Lopez finds himself in the No. 2 spot in the Mariners lineup to start the season, and has gone 3-for-11 with a double, a home run and three RBI to start the year. Lopez has enjoyed success in the second spot in the past, but has traditionally fizzled once the season's worn on, and his conditioning has been subject to criticism in the past. Still, he's only 24, and there's no reason he can't enjoy a breakout of sorts this season. Just don't bet on it - especially in mixed leagues.
AL: $9 Mixed: $3
Alexei Ramirez ? Ramirez finds himself with a job in center thanks to an injury to Jerry Owens. So far, he's done little to prove he deserves the gig, starting 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Ramirez did hit .358 this spring, but he's not much of an option with [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1893"]Brian Anderson[/URL] and Carlos Quintin both expected to see time at the position.
AL: $4 Mixed: No.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Greinke Starts Strong
It's been a busy opening week, so let's skip the usual pleasantries and get right to the notes from around baseball ?
* Johnny Cueto made his highly anticipated big-league debut Thursday and was amazing, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Diamondbacks before Justin Upton broke things up with a solo homer. That was the lone hit surrendered by Cueto in seven innings of work and he racked up 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk. Just as importantly for a young pitcher who's being manager by Dusty Baker, Cueto needed just 92 pitches to record 21 outs.
Cueto hasn't received anywhere near the hype and attention that Homer Bailey has over the past couple years, but might be a better all-around prospect and is definitely a better short-term bet. Bailey is still trying to consistently throwing strikes, while Cueto walked just 34 batters in 161.1 innings between Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A last season. And he's far from a soft-tossing control artist, striking out 170 batters in those 161.1 frames.
As a fly-ball pitcher Cueto figures to have some problems keeping the ball in Cincinnati's power-inflating home ballpark and there are the usual concerns about durability that come along with any pitcher under six feet tall, but he's extremely advanced for a 22-year-old and has very good fastball velocity with strong secondary offerings. He'll no doubt experience some rough patches, but Cueto is capable of overpowering lineups when he's on and may be in the majors for good.
* One of my favorite AL-only pitching sleepers had an excellent season debut Thursday, as Zack Greinke held the Tigers to one run over seven innings while the Royals completed a surprising three-game road sweep. Dating back to last season Greinke now has a 1.76 ERA over his last eight starts. Toss in the 3.54 ERA and 55-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio that he posted in 53.1 relief innings prior to that and he's clearly back on track after a rough two-year stretch.
Greinke's past off-field issues scared plenty of fantasy owners away and certainly provide some reason to remain skeptical even now, but any other 24-year-old pitcher performing like he has since the middle of last season would be getting a tremendous amount of hype. He continues to fly somewhat under the radar, although that will obviously change with a few more outings like the one he turned in Thursday. He's capable of 12-15 wins, 150 strikeouts, and a 4.00 ERA.
* While Greinke is off to a great start, another of my favorite AL-only pitching sleepers didn't fare quite as well Thursday. Kevin Slowey allowed three runs in 3.1 innings against the Angels before leaving his start with a strained right biceps. He seems likely to land on the disabled list, in which case Philip Humber or Glen Perkins would likely be called up to replace him, although the Twins could skip his next turn in the rotation while waiting to see if he's able to return before 15 days.
One option that has already been ruled out is moving Francisco Liriano into the rotation to replace Slowey, as manager Ron Gardenhire made it clear that Liriano's timetable will not be pushed up due to outside factors. That's the right approach to take and Liriano didn't look especially ready to face big-league lineups anyway Thursday while allowing four runs over 5.1 innings in a start at Single-A. The good news is that Liriano did rack up eight strikeouts, so he's making progress.
* After being held in check by Greinke the Tigers have now scored just five runs through three games, which is going to make it awfully tough for them to live up to ESPN talking head Steve Phillips' outlandish prediction that they'd have "the best offense of all time." To make matters worse, Gary Sheffield suffered a torn tendon in his finger while sliding into second base Thursday and may be joining Curtis Granderson on the disabled list.
Sheffield said afterward that he plans to play through the injury, but that approach didn't work well with his ongoing shoulder problems last season and a torn finger tendon sounds likely to have a similarly negative impact on his production. If Sheffield is sidelined, Marcus Thames figures to see most of the playing time at designated hitter and utility man Ryan Raburn could also pick up some at-bats if manager Jim Leyland chooses to shuffle multiple players through the DH spot.
AL Quick Hits: Miguel Cabrera was scratched from Thursday's game with a sore left quadriceps, so Brandon Inge shifted to third base and Clete Thomas replaced him in center field ? Victor Martinez (hamstring) returned to limited action Thursday as a pinch-hitter, which is a strong sign that he'll avoid the disabled list ? Until Martinez is cleared to catch again, Ryan Garko will serve as Kelly Shoppach's emergency backup ? Carl Crawford said Wednesday that he'd "definitely listen" if the Rays approached him about a long-term contract extension, but he's already under the team's control through 2010 ? Alex Gordon went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer Thursday and narrowly missed a second long ball ? Starting Thursday for just the second time this season because of manager Ron Gardenhire's misguided love of Craig Monroe, Jason Kubel smacked the Twins' first homer of the year ? Once considered a top prospect, 27-year-old [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1390"]Nelson Cruz[/URL] cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the Rangers last week and was sent to Triple-A on Thursday.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: Orlando Hernandez (foot) threw five innings of two-run ball in a minor-league start Thursday and said afterward that he expects to make two more rehab starts before returning from the disabled list ? Nick Johnson received Thursday off, but Dmitri Young wasn't able to sub for him at first base because of back tightness ? Ryan Dempster started Thursday for the first time since 2005 and limited the Brewers to two runs over six innings ? After an ugly outing Monday, Kerry Wood bounced back Thursday with a perfect ninth inning to close out a three-run lead and save the win for Dempster ? With both Wily Mo Pena and Elijah Dukes sidelined, Felipe Lopez received his first career start in the outfield Thursday ? Tony Gwynn Jr. left Thursday's game with a tight hamstring and Gabe Kapler replaced him in center field ? Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday that the Phillies are hoping to have Kris Benson back "before June 1" ? Jesus Flores started behind the plate Thursday in place of Paul Lo Duca and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a steal. newyorkmets.com
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Greinke Starts Strong
It's been a busy opening week, so let's skip the usual pleasantries and get right to the notes from around baseball ?
* Johnny Cueto made his highly anticipated big-league debut Thursday and was amazing, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Diamondbacks before Justin Upton broke things up with a solo homer. That was the lone hit surrendered by Cueto in seven innings of work and he racked up 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk. Just as importantly for a young pitcher who's being manager by Dusty Baker, Cueto needed just 92 pitches to record 21 outs.
Cueto hasn't received anywhere near the hype and attention that Homer Bailey has over the past couple years, but might be a better all-around prospect and is definitely a better short-term bet. Bailey is still trying to consistently throwing strikes, while Cueto walked just 34 batters in 161.1 innings between Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A last season. And he's far from a soft-tossing control artist, striking out 170 batters in those 161.1 frames.
As a fly-ball pitcher Cueto figures to have some problems keeping the ball in Cincinnati's power-inflating home ballpark and there are the usual concerns about durability that come along with any pitcher under six feet tall, but he's extremely advanced for a 22-year-old and has very good fastball velocity with strong secondary offerings. He'll no doubt experience some rough patches, but Cueto is capable of overpowering lineups when he's on and may be in the majors for good.
* One of my favorite AL-only pitching sleepers had an excellent season debut Thursday, as Zack Greinke held the Tigers to one run over seven innings while the Royals completed a surprising three-game road sweep. Dating back to last season Greinke now has a 1.76 ERA over his last eight starts. Toss in the 3.54 ERA and 55-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio that he posted in 53.1 relief innings prior to that and he's clearly back on track after a rough two-year stretch.
Greinke's past off-field issues scared plenty of fantasy owners away and certainly provide some reason to remain skeptical even now, but any other 24-year-old pitcher performing like he has since the middle of last season would be getting a tremendous amount of hype. He continues to fly somewhat under the radar, although that will obviously change with a few more outings like the one he turned in Thursday. He's capable of 12-15 wins, 150 strikeouts, and a 4.00 ERA.
* While Greinke is off to a great start, another of my favorite AL-only pitching sleepers didn't fare quite as well Thursday. Kevin Slowey allowed three runs in 3.1 innings against the Angels before leaving his start with a strained right biceps. He seems likely to land on the disabled list, in which case Philip Humber or Glen Perkins would likely be called up to replace him, although the Twins could skip his next turn in the rotation while waiting to see if he's able to return before 15 days.
One option that has already been ruled out is moving Francisco Liriano into the rotation to replace Slowey, as manager Ron Gardenhire made it clear that Liriano's timetable will not be pushed up due to outside factors. That's the right approach to take and Liriano didn't look especially ready to face big-league lineups anyway Thursday while allowing four runs over 5.1 innings in a start at Single-A. The good news is that Liriano did rack up eight strikeouts, so he's making progress.
* After being held in check by Greinke the Tigers have now scored just five runs through three games, which is going to make it awfully tough for them to live up to ESPN talking head Steve Phillips' outlandish prediction that they'd have "the best offense of all time." To make matters worse, Gary Sheffield suffered a torn tendon in his finger while sliding into second base Thursday and may be joining Curtis Granderson on the disabled list.
Sheffield said afterward that he plans to play through the injury, but that approach didn't work well with his ongoing shoulder problems last season and a torn finger tendon sounds likely to have a similarly negative impact on his production. If Sheffield is sidelined, Marcus Thames figures to see most of the playing time at designated hitter and utility man Ryan Raburn could also pick up some at-bats if manager Jim Leyland chooses to shuffle multiple players through the DH spot.
AL Quick Hits: Miguel Cabrera was scratched from Thursday's game with a sore left quadriceps, so Brandon Inge shifted to third base and Clete Thomas replaced him in center field ? Victor Martinez (hamstring) returned to limited action Thursday as a pinch-hitter, which is a strong sign that he'll avoid the disabled list ? Until Martinez is cleared to catch again, Ryan Garko will serve as Kelly Shoppach's emergency backup ? Carl Crawford said Wednesday that he'd "definitely listen" if the Rays approached him about a long-term contract extension, but he's already under the team's control through 2010 ? Alex Gordon went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer Thursday and narrowly missed a second long ball ? Starting Thursday for just the second time this season because of manager Ron Gardenhire's misguided love of Craig Monroe, Jason Kubel smacked the Twins' first homer of the year ? Once considered a top prospect, 27-year-old [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1390"]Nelson Cruz[/URL] cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the Rangers last week and was sent to Triple-A on Thursday.
atlantabraves.com
NL Quick Hits: Orlando Hernandez (foot) threw five innings of two-run ball in a minor-league start Thursday and said afterward that he expects to make two more rehab starts before returning from the disabled list ? Nick Johnson received Thursday off, but Dmitri Young wasn't able to sub for him at first base because of back tightness ? Ryan Dempster started Thursday for the first time since 2005 and limited the Brewers to two runs over six innings ? After an ugly outing Monday, Kerry Wood bounced back Thursday with a perfect ninth inning to close out a three-run lead and save the win for Dempster ? With both Wily Mo Pena and Elijah Dukes sidelined, Felipe Lopez received his first career start in the outfield Thursday ? Tony Gwynn Jr. left Thursday's game with a tight hamstring and Gabe Kapler replaced him in center field ? Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday that the Phillies are hoping to have Kris Benson back "before June 1" ? Jesus Flores started behind the plate Thursday in place of Paul Lo Duca and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a steal. newyorkmets.com
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Understudies in spotlight
If there was ever a season that proves fantasy drafts should be held as close to opening day as possible, it's this one.
With all the late-spring injuries and surprising roster moves, fantasy teams assembled with keepers and players drafted in early spring might be significantly different from the ones that ended up starting the season.
If your squad fits this description, don't despair. This just means you're beginning the process of building and shaping your roster a little earlier than usual. As a physics professor says, for every reaction there's an equal and opposite reaction. Perhaps that isn't completely true in fantasy baseball, but the principle applies.
Injury losses
When players lose value through injuries or demotions to the minors, there are others who get an opportunity to succeed. Look at the situations on these teams:
-- Angels: John Lackey has been about as reliable as any other starting pitcher over the last four seasons. In fact, he had never missed a start in his six-year career until straining a triceps midway through spring training. But Lackey's injury, which could keep him out until mid-May, has opened the door for a trio of youngsters.
Joe Saunders, who was probably going to have a spot in the rotation anyway before the injuries to Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, held opponents to a .133 batting average and had a 1.29 ERA this spring. His first start of the regular season validated those numbers when he threw eight shutout innings against the Twins.
Dustin Moseley and Nick Adenhart are capable alternatives as well, and they could have fantasy value even when Lackey returns. Adenhart, 21, remains one of the game's top young pitching prospects.
-- Twins: Although Francisco Liriano, coming off Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgery, held hitters to a .237 average and struck out almost a batter per inning during the exhibition season, he struggled with his control. He was scheduled to begin the season with a couple of starts in the minors. Nick Blackburn has a temporary spot in the rotation.
Without the gift of a blazing fastball, Blackburn relies on pinpoint control to be successful. He had a breakout season last year in the minors (compiling a 2.36 ERA at Class AA and AAA) and was one of the Twins' best pitchers this spring. In his first start, he held the Angels to one run in seven innings, but he had the misfortune of pitching the same night as Saunders. Blackburn will likely move into the bullpen once Liriano returns.
-- Tigers: One of last season's breakout performers, leadoff man Curtis Granderson, broke a finger when he was hit by a pitch. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, but during that time Brandon Inge will play regularly in center field.
Inge lost his starting job at third base to offseason acquisition Miguel Cabrera, but his versatility is the main reason the Tigers held on to him. (Before Granderson's injury, his main role this season was going to be as a backup catcher.)
There's still a decent chance Inge could be traded once Granderson returns, but by that time he might have spent enough time in the outfield to become eligible there.
-- Mets: A hernia should keep Moises Alou, 41, out until late April. It looks like switch-hitting Angel Pagan will get the most playing time in Alou's place. Pagan doesn't have a whole lot of upside, but he hit .329 and led the team in RBI this spring. newyorkmets.com
-- Nationals: An oblique injury to Wily Mo Pena (he should be out until at least mid-April) gave offseason acquisition Elijah Dukes the starting job in left field. Dukes has had his share of off-field problems, but he has quietly adapted to his new surroundings, and he's tremendously talented. However, Dukes also aggravated a hamstring injury on opening night and now he's on the disabled list.
With the exception of the 30-year-old Inge, all of these fill-ins are youngsters who haven't gotten a chance to be full-time major leaguers. Sometimes it only takes a minor injury to jump-start someone else's career.
Back to the farm
Several top prospects have already been told they'll begin the 2008 season in the minors. But that doesn't mean we won't be seeing these players at some point this year:
-- Evan Longoria, Rays: Longoria was the Rays' best third baseman during the spring, but he'll start the year in Class AAA. The 22-year-old super prospect will likely have to wait only until June before he is in the majors for good. That extra time in the minors would delay his eligibility for arbitration until 2011.
-- Chase Headley, Padres: Another third baseman, Headley was blocked by starter Kevin Kouzmanoff and has moved to left field. His glove might not be major league-ready, but his bat certainly appears to be. After hitting .330 with an on-base-plus-slugging better than 1.000 in the minors last season, Headley, 23, will move up a level to Class AAA and wait for an opening.
-- Steve Pearce, Pirates: Pearce, 24, has displayed excellent power throughout his brief minor league career, but was blocked at his natural position by first baseman Adam LaRoche.
He nearly played his way onto the roster as an outfielder this spring anyway, leading the team in homers. If LaRoche or outfielders Jason Bay or Xavier Nady gets hurt or traded, Pearce should step right into the starting lineup.
-- Colby Rasmus, Cardinals: Rasmus might be the Cardinals' center fielder of the future. But the future hasn't arrived just yet. The team has several other options to try before turning to the 21-year-old, but he could be starting in St. Louis by midseason.
-- Cameron Maybin, Marlins, and Jay Bruce, Reds: Maybin and Bruce have torn up the minor leagues, but they've been less impressive against major league pitching during spring training or the regular season. Solid years at Class AAA should get them call-ups after the All-Star break and jumps on starting roles in 2009
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Understudies in spotlight
If there was ever a season that proves fantasy drafts should be held as close to opening day as possible, it's this one.
With all the late-spring injuries and surprising roster moves, fantasy teams assembled with keepers and players drafted in early spring might be significantly different from the ones that ended up starting the season.
If your squad fits this description, don't despair. This just means you're beginning the process of building and shaping your roster a little earlier than usual. As a physics professor says, for every reaction there's an equal and opposite reaction. Perhaps that isn't completely true in fantasy baseball, but the principle applies.
Injury losses
When players lose value through injuries or demotions to the minors, there are others who get an opportunity to succeed. Look at the situations on these teams:
-- Angels: John Lackey has been about as reliable as any other starting pitcher over the last four seasons. In fact, he had never missed a start in his six-year career until straining a triceps midway through spring training. But Lackey's injury, which could keep him out until mid-May, has opened the door for a trio of youngsters.
Joe Saunders, who was probably going to have a spot in the rotation anyway before the injuries to Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, held opponents to a .133 batting average and had a 1.29 ERA this spring. His first start of the regular season validated those numbers when he threw eight shutout innings against the Twins.
Dustin Moseley and Nick Adenhart are capable alternatives as well, and they could have fantasy value even when Lackey returns. Adenhart, 21, remains one of the game's top young pitching prospects.
-- Twins: Although Francisco Liriano, coming off Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgery, held hitters to a .237 average and struck out almost a batter per inning during the exhibition season, he struggled with his control. He was scheduled to begin the season with a couple of starts in the minors. Nick Blackburn has a temporary spot in the rotation.
Without the gift of a blazing fastball, Blackburn relies on pinpoint control to be successful. He had a breakout season last year in the minors (compiling a 2.36 ERA at Class AA and AAA) and was one of the Twins' best pitchers this spring. In his first start, he held the Angels to one run in seven innings, but he had the misfortune of pitching the same night as Saunders. Blackburn will likely move into the bullpen once Liriano returns.
-- Tigers: One of last season's breakout performers, leadoff man Curtis Granderson, broke a finger when he was hit by a pitch. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, but during that time Brandon Inge will play regularly in center field.
Inge lost his starting job at third base to offseason acquisition Miguel Cabrera, but his versatility is the main reason the Tigers held on to him. (Before Granderson's injury, his main role this season was going to be as a backup catcher.)
There's still a decent chance Inge could be traded once Granderson returns, but by that time he might have spent enough time in the outfield to become eligible there.
-- Mets: A hernia should keep Moises Alou, 41, out until late April. It looks like switch-hitting Angel Pagan will get the most playing time in Alou's place. Pagan doesn't have a whole lot of upside, but he hit .329 and led the team in RBI this spring. newyorkmets.com
-- Nationals: An oblique injury to Wily Mo Pena (he should be out until at least mid-April) gave offseason acquisition Elijah Dukes the starting job in left field. Dukes has had his share of off-field problems, but he has quietly adapted to his new surroundings, and he's tremendously talented. However, Dukes also aggravated a hamstring injury on opening night and now he's on the disabled list.
With the exception of the 30-year-old Inge, all of these fill-ins are youngsters who haven't gotten a chance to be full-time major leaguers. Sometimes it only takes a minor injury to jump-start someone else's career.
Back to the farm
Several top prospects have already been told they'll begin the 2008 season in the minors. But that doesn't mean we won't be seeing these players at some point this year:
-- Evan Longoria, Rays: Longoria was the Rays' best third baseman during the spring, but he'll start the year in Class AAA. The 22-year-old super prospect will likely have to wait only until June before he is in the majors for good. That extra time in the minors would delay his eligibility for arbitration until 2011.
-- Chase Headley, Padres: Another third baseman, Headley was blocked by starter Kevin Kouzmanoff and has moved to left field. His glove might not be major league-ready, but his bat certainly appears to be. After hitting .330 with an on-base-plus-slugging better than 1.000 in the minors last season, Headley, 23, will move up a level to Class AAA and wait for an opening.
-- Steve Pearce, Pirates: Pearce, 24, has displayed excellent power throughout his brief minor league career, but was blocked at his natural position by first baseman Adam LaRoche.
He nearly played his way onto the roster as an outfielder this spring anyway, leading the team in homers. If LaRoche or outfielders Jason Bay or Xavier Nady gets hurt or traded, Pearce should step right into the starting lineup.
-- Colby Rasmus, Cardinals: Rasmus might be the Cardinals' center fielder of the future. But the future hasn't arrived just yet. The team has several other options to try before turning to the 21-year-old, but he could be starting in St. Louis by midseason.
-- Cameron Maybin, Marlins, and Jay Bruce, Reds: Maybin and Bruce have torn up the minor leagues, but they've been less impressive against major league pitching during spring training or the regular season. Solid years at Class AAA should get them call-ups after the All-Star break and jumps on starting roles in 2009
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Full Stream Ahead
After almost one week of baseball it's clear that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3850"]Matt Holliday[/URL] will suck this season and upstart [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3785"]John Grabow[/URL] is 3 1/3 scoreless innings into what will obviously be a Cy Young season for the middle reliever. Any idiot can see that. They key is making the corresponding roster moves before the other members in your league.
The Week Ahead is primarily a tool for setting weekly lineups, but it also provides plenty of information to those of you who set your lineups daily. Starting this week, it will alert you to pitchers who are probably on the waiver wire, but have great match-ups in the coming week (hip kids call them "streamers"). This should give you a nice head start on your competitors, which is truly the key to a successful fantasy season.
Below is some slightly more reliable information to help you maximize your output next week, and don't forget that there's always plenty of quality discussion happening in the Rotoworld.com Forums.
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League:
Must-starts:
Fausto Carmona - @LAA (Joe Saunders), vs. OAK (Rich Harden)
Felix Hernandez - @BAL (Daniel Cabrera), vs. LAA (Jon Garland)
A.J. Burnett - vs. OAK (Rich Harden), @TEX (Jason Jennings)
Daisuke Matsuzaka - vs. DET (Kenny Rogers), vs. NY (Phil Hughes)
Javier Vazquez - vs. MIN (Nick Blackburn), vs. DET (Kenny Rogers)
Rich Harden - @TOR (A.J. Burnett), @CLE (Fausto Carmona)
Other Options:
Daniel Cabrera - vs. SEA (Felix Hernandez), @TB (Matt Garza)
Steve Trachsel - @TEX (Jason Jennings), @ TB (Andy Sonnanstine)
Kenny Rogers - @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka), @CHW (Javier Vazquez)
Brian Bannister - vs. NYY (Hughes), vs. MIN (Nick Blackburn)
Joe Saunders - vs. CLE (Fausto Carmona), @SEA (Carlos Silva)
Nick Blackburn - @CHW (Javier Vazquez), @KC (Brian Bannister)
Mike Mussina - vs. TB (Matt Garza), @BOS (Josh Beckett)
Phil Hughes - @KC (Brian Bannister), @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
Carlos Silva - @TB (Andrew Sonnanstine), @LAA (Joe Saunders)
Matt Garza - @NYY (Mike Mussina), vs. BAL (Daniel Cabrera)
Jason Hammel - vs. SEA (Carlos Silva), vs. BAL (Steve Trachsel)
Jason Jennings - vs. BAL (Steve Trachsel), vs. TOR (A.J. Burnett)
National League:
Must-Starts:
Dan Haren - vs. LAD (Derek Lowe), vs. COL (Ubaldo Jimenez)
Ted Lilly - @PIT (Tom Gorzelanny), @PHI (Jamie Moyer)
Bronson Arroyo - vs. PHI (Cole Hamels), @PIT (Ian Snell)
Oliver Perez - vs. PHI (Jamie Moyer), vs. MIL (Jeff Suppan)
Cole Hamels - @CIN (Bronson Arroyo), vs. CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Matt Cain - vs. SD (Greg Maddux), vs. STL (Todd Wellemeyer)
Tim Lincecum - vs. SD (Randy Wolf), vs. STL (Brad Thompson)
atlantabraves.com
Other Options:
Jair Jurrjens - @COL (Aaron Cook), @WAS(Odalis Perez)
Chuck James (for Mike Hampton) - @COL (Ubaldo Jimenez), @WAS(Tim Redding)
Johnny Cueto - @MIL (Jeff Suppan), @PIT(Tom Gorzelanny)
Aaron Cook - vs. ATL (Jair Jurrjens), @ARI (Brandon Webb)
Ubaldo Jimenez - vs. ATL (Undecided), @ARI (Dan Haren)
Andrew Miller - @WAS (Tim Redding), @HOU (Brandon Backe)
Wandy Rodriguez - vs. STL (Todd Wellemeyer), vs. FLA (Ricky Nolasco)
Derek Lowe - @ARI (Dan Haren), vs. SD (Greg Maddux)
Jeff Suppan - vs. CIN (Johnny Cueto), @NYM (Oliver Perez)
Jamie Moyer - @NYM (Oliver Perez), vs. CHC (Ted Lilly)
Tom Gorzelanny - vs. CHC (Ted Lilly), vs. CIN (Johnny Cueto)
Greg Maddux - @SF (Matt Cain), @LAD (Derek Lowe)
Todd Wellemeyer - @HOU (Wandy Rodriguez), @SF (Matt Cain)
Brad Thompson - @HOU (Chacon), @SF (Tim Lincecum)
Tim Redding - vs. FLA (Andrew Miller), vs. ATL (Undecided)
newyorkmets.com
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
The following pitchers have decent match-ups this week and should be available in a number of leagues. Some of these guys have two starts in the coming week, making them nice adds only if you can sit them for their tougher match-up.
American League:
Tuesday 4/8 - Jake Westbrook @ LAA - Westbrook finished 0-1 against the Angels last season, but finished with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP against them. The WHIP suggests there could be trouble, but Westbrook is on one of his hot streaks.
Tuesday 4/8 - Carlos Silva @ TB - Over the past two years, Silva has pitched 12 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the Rays.
Thursday 4/10 - Kevin Millwood vs. BAL - Millwood allowed just one run in 13 innings against the Orioles last season, finishing with a .069 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Saturday 4/12 - Matt Garza vs. BAL - Garza allowed just 1 run in his five inning appearance against the Orioles last season, but he did finish with a 1.80 WHIP.
Sunday 4/13 - Brian Bannister vs. MIN - If you can add him for only his Saturday start against the Twins, consider it. In 22 innings against Minnesota last season, he finished with a 2.05 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.
National League:
Monday 4/7 - Greg Maddux @ San Francisco - Last year Maddux started three games against the Giants, finishing with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He also had 13 Ks.
Monday 4/7 - Wandy Rodriguez vs St. Louis - In two games against the Cards last year, Wandy pitched fifteen innings of four-run ball with a .73 ERA. He also has another great match-up against the Marlins later in the week, making him a solid add this week.
Wednesday 4/9 - Justin Germano @ SF - Pitched 12 2/3 innings against the Giants last season, allowed just 4 runs and finished with a .71 WHIP.
Sunday 4/13 - Johnny Cueto @ Pittsburgh - His start against Milwaukee on Tuesday could be tough, but if he's on against Pittsburgh - forget about it.
Sunday 4/13 - Wandy Rodriguez vs. Florida - 1.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 5 Ks in lone start against Marlins last summer.
<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: BAL, NYY, SEA, TB
6: BOS, CHW, CLE, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, OAK, TEX, TOR
National League
7: ATL, CIN, COL, PHI, SF, STL
6: CHC, FLA, HOU, LAD, MIL, NYM, PIT, SD, WAS
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
This is how often each team will face left-handed pitchers this week, and how it could affect lineups based on last year's splits:
American League:
Baltimore - 6 vs. Righties, 1 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 - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 7 vs. Righties
Oakland - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Texas - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 4 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Notes: The only AL team with a dramatic split is the Yankees, who aren't scheduled to face a single left-handed pitcher next week. That's good news for Alex Rodriguez (.327 vs. RHP) and Bobby Abreu (.289 vs. RHP).
It's bad news for Johnny Damon (.267 vs. RHP) and Jason Giambi (.235). While Robinson Cano's batting average was 30 points lower against righties, he still hit .296, which can't really be qualified as "bad news."
National League:
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Notes: The Cubs face four lefties, which should help Aramis Ramirez (.395 vs. LHP) get going, along with Derrek Lee (.339 vs. LHP), and Geovani Soto (career .333 vs. LHP). Alfonso Soriano (.254 vs. LHP) could struggle, and Felix Pie (.111 vs. LHP) will likely sit in favor of Reed Johnson (.325 vs. LHP).
Washington also has four games against lefties next week, which is good news for Ryan Zimmerman (.374 vs. LHP), Christian Guzman (.357 vs. LHP), Ronnie Belliard (.329 vs. LHP), and Austin Kearns (.292 vs. LHP). Felipe Lopez (.269 vs. LHP) could also see some more time in the outfield. Willie Harris (.191 vs. LHP) shouldn't be anywhere near the lineup on those days.
Atlanta faces four righties and three lefties next week. The extra at-bats against lefties should help Jeff Francoeur (.317 vs. LHP), Matt Diaz (.356 vs. LHP), Mark Teixeira (.342 vs. LHP) and Yuniel Escobar (.355 vs. LHP). Chipper Jones (.274 vs. LHP) could be negatively affected during those three games.
Cincinnati also faces three lefties next week, which should be good news for Jeff Keppinger (.362 vs. LHP) and Brandon Phillips (.341 vs. LHP). It will be interesting to see how Dusty Baker utilizes left-handed Corey Patterson (.310 vs. LHP) and right-handed Ryan Freel (.143 vs. LHP), considering they both hit better off similar-handed pitchers. Scott Hatteberg (.205 vs. LHP), Joey Votto (.269 vs. LHP) Ken Griffey Jr. (.236 vs. LHP) and Adam Dunn (.239 vs. LHP) could all be adversely affected by seeing three lefties.
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Bug[/SIZE]
For the latest on injuries, check out Rotoworld's handy Injury Page.
Important Injury Updates This Week:
Kaz Matsui - 2B - Should be back by end of the week..
Chad Guadin - SP - Scheduled to return April 12.
B.J. Ryan - RP - Should be back by end of week. Bad news for Jeremy Accardo.
Chuck James - SP - Will fill-in for Mike Hampton.
Randy Johnson - SP - Should debut on April 14 (two starts in Week 3).
Nomar Garciaparra - 3B - Might return this week. Might not.
Omar Vizquel - SS - Targeting April 7.
Jeremy Hermida - OF - Should be back before the start of the week.
Chad Cordero - RP - Expected to be ready on Sunday
Shaun Hill - SP - Should start on April 13.
Jim Edmonds - OF - Should be back before April 6.
Brad Lidge - RP - Should be ready April 5.
Josh Beckett - SP - Will return April 6.
David DeJesus - OF - Uncertain for second week of the season.
Gary Sheffield - DH - Tore his tendon, currently day-to-day
Jerry Owens - OF - Expected to return April 8.
Andy Pettitte - SP - Will pitch on April 5.
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
For this week's top waiver adds, read my opinion in this week's Waiver Wired
1. Johnny Cueto
2. Tony Pena
3. Mark Lowe
4. Nick Johnson
5. Carlos Marmol
[SIZE=+1]The Weather Report[/SIZE]
The following games could be threatened due to rain, but I'm no weather man. Things change.
Thursday, 4/10 - Braves @ Rockies - 60% chance of rain
Thursday, 4/10 - Orioles @ Rangers - 60% chance of rain
Saturday, 4/12 - Twins @ Royals - 60% chance of rain
Sunday, 4/13 - Twins @ Royals - 60% chance of rain
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Full Stream Ahead
After almost one week of baseball it's clear that [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3850"]Matt Holliday[/URL] will suck this season and upstart [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3785"]John Grabow[/URL] is 3 1/3 scoreless innings into what will obviously be a Cy Young season for the middle reliever. Any idiot can see that. They key is making the corresponding roster moves before the other members in your league.
The Week Ahead is primarily a tool for setting weekly lineups, but it also provides plenty of information to those of you who set your lineups daily. Starting this week, it will alert you to pitchers who are probably on the waiver wire, but have great match-ups in the coming week (hip kids call them "streamers"). This should give you a nice head start on your competitors, which is truly the key to a successful fantasy season.
Below is some slightly more reliable information to help you maximize your output next week, and don't forget that there's always plenty of quality discussion happening in the Rotoworld.com Forums.
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League:
Must-starts:
Fausto Carmona - @LAA (Joe Saunders), vs. OAK (Rich Harden)
Felix Hernandez - @BAL (Daniel Cabrera), vs. LAA (Jon Garland)
A.J. Burnett - vs. OAK (Rich Harden), @TEX (Jason Jennings)
Daisuke Matsuzaka - vs. DET (Kenny Rogers), vs. NY (Phil Hughes)
Javier Vazquez - vs. MIN (Nick Blackburn), vs. DET (Kenny Rogers)
Rich Harden - @TOR (A.J. Burnett), @CLE (Fausto Carmona)
Other Options:
Daniel Cabrera - vs. SEA (Felix Hernandez), @TB (Matt Garza)
Steve Trachsel - @TEX (Jason Jennings), @ TB (Andy Sonnanstine)
Kenny Rogers - @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka), @CHW (Javier Vazquez)
Brian Bannister - vs. NYY (Hughes), vs. MIN (Nick Blackburn)
Joe Saunders - vs. CLE (Fausto Carmona), @SEA (Carlos Silva)
Nick Blackburn - @CHW (Javier Vazquez), @KC (Brian Bannister)
Mike Mussina - vs. TB (Matt Garza), @BOS (Josh Beckett)
Phil Hughes - @KC (Brian Bannister), @BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
Carlos Silva - @TB (Andrew Sonnanstine), @LAA (Joe Saunders)
Matt Garza - @NYY (Mike Mussina), vs. BAL (Daniel Cabrera)
Jason Hammel - vs. SEA (Carlos Silva), vs. BAL (Steve Trachsel)
Jason Jennings - vs. BAL (Steve Trachsel), vs. TOR (A.J. Burnett)
National League:
Must-Starts:
Dan Haren - vs. LAD (Derek Lowe), vs. COL (Ubaldo Jimenez)
Ted Lilly - @PIT (Tom Gorzelanny), @PHI (Jamie Moyer)
Bronson Arroyo - vs. PHI (Cole Hamels), @PIT (Ian Snell)
Oliver Perez - vs. PHI (Jamie Moyer), vs. MIL (Jeff Suppan)
Cole Hamels - @CIN (Bronson Arroyo), vs. CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Matt Cain - vs. SD (Greg Maddux), vs. STL (Todd Wellemeyer)
Tim Lincecum - vs. SD (Randy Wolf), vs. STL (Brad Thompson)
atlantabraves.com
Other Options:
Jair Jurrjens - @COL (Aaron Cook), @WAS(Odalis Perez)
Chuck James (for Mike Hampton) - @COL (Ubaldo Jimenez), @WAS(Tim Redding)
Johnny Cueto - @MIL (Jeff Suppan), @PIT(Tom Gorzelanny)
Aaron Cook - vs. ATL (Jair Jurrjens), @ARI (Brandon Webb)
Ubaldo Jimenez - vs. ATL (Undecided), @ARI (Dan Haren)
Andrew Miller - @WAS (Tim Redding), @HOU (Brandon Backe)
Wandy Rodriguez - vs. STL (Todd Wellemeyer), vs. FLA (Ricky Nolasco)
Derek Lowe - @ARI (Dan Haren), vs. SD (Greg Maddux)
Jeff Suppan - vs. CIN (Johnny Cueto), @NYM (Oliver Perez)
Jamie Moyer - @NYM (Oliver Perez), vs. CHC (Ted Lilly)
Tom Gorzelanny - vs. CHC (Ted Lilly), vs. CIN (Johnny Cueto)
Greg Maddux - @SF (Matt Cain), @LAD (Derek Lowe)
Todd Wellemeyer - @HOU (Wandy Rodriguez), @SF (Matt Cain)
Brad Thompson - @HOU (Chacon), @SF (Tim Lincecum)
Tim Redding - vs. FLA (Andrew Miller), vs. ATL (Undecided)
newyorkmets.com
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
The following pitchers have decent match-ups this week and should be available in a number of leagues. Some of these guys have two starts in the coming week, making them nice adds only if you can sit them for their tougher match-up.
American League:
Tuesday 4/8 - Jake Westbrook @ LAA - Westbrook finished 0-1 against the Angels last season, but finished with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP against them. The WHIP suggests there could be trouble, but Westbrook is on one of his hot streaks.
Tuesday 4/8 - Carlos Silva @ TB - Over the past two years, Silva has pitched 12 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the Rays.
Thursday 4/10 - Kevin Millwood vs. BAL - Millwood allowed just one run in 13 innings against the Orioles last season, finishing with a .069 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Saturday 4/12 - Matt Garza vs. BAL - Garza allowed just 1 run in his five inning appearance against the Orioles last season, but he did finish with a 1.80 WHIP.
Sunday 4/13 - Brian Bannister vs. MIN - If you can add him for only his Saturday start against the Twins, consider it. In 22 innings against Minnesota last season, he finished with a 2.05 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.
National League:
Monday 4/7 - Greg Maddux @ San Francisco - Last year Maddux started three games against the Giants, finishing with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He also had 13 Ks.
Monday 4/7 - Wandy Rodriguez vs St. Louis - In two games against the Cards last year, Wandy pitched fifteen innings of four-run ball with a .73 ERA. He also has another great match-up against the Marlins later in the week, making him a solid add this week.
Wednesday 4/9 - Justin Germano @ SF - Pitched 12 2/3 innings against the Giants last season, allowed just 4 runs and finished with a .71 WHIP.
Sunday 4/13 - Johnny Cueto @ Pittsburgh - His start against Milwaukee on Tuesday could be tough, but if he's on against Pittsburgh - forget about it.
Sunday 4/13 - Wandy Rodriguez vs. Florida - 1.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 5 Ks in lone start against Marlins last summer.
<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: BAL, NYY, SEA, TB
6: BOS, CHW, CLE, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, OAK, TEX, TOR
National League
7: ATL, CIN, COL, PHI, SF, STL
6: CHC, FLA, HOU, LAD, MIL, NYM, PIT, SD, WAS
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
This is how often each team will face left-handed pitchers this week, and how it could affect lineups based on last year's splits:
American League:
Baltimore - 6 vs. Righties, 1 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 - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 7 vs. Righties
Oakland - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Texas - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 4 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Notes: The only AL team with a dramatic split is the Yankees, who aren't scheduled to face a single left-handed pitcher next week. That's good news for Alex Rodriguez (.327 vs. RHP) and Bobby Abreu (.289 vs. RHP).
It's bad news for Johnny Damon (.267 vs. RHP) and Jason Giambi (.235). While Robinson Cano's batting average was 30 points lower against righties, he still hit .296, which can't really be qualified as "bad news."
National League:
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Notes: The Cubs face four lefties, which should help Aramis Ramirez (.395 vs. LHP) get going, along with Derrek Lee (.339 vs. LHP), and Geovani Soto (career .333 vs. LHP). Alfonso Soriano (.254 vs. LHP) could struggle, and Felix Pie (.111 vs. LHP) will likely sit in favor of Reed Johnson (.325 vs. LHP).
Washington also has four games against lefties next week, which is good news for Ryan Zimmerman (.374 vs. LHP), Christian Guzman (.357 vs. LHP), Ronnie Belliard (.329 vs. LHP), and Austin Kearns (.292 vs. LHP). Felipe Lopez (.269 vs. LHP) could also see some more time in the outfield. Willie Harris (.191 vs. LHP) shouldn't be anywhere near the lineup on those days.
Atlanta faces four righties and three lefties next week. The extra at-bats against lefties should help Jeff Francoeur (.317 vs. LHP), Matt Diaz (.356 vs. LHP), Mark Teixeira (.342 vs. LHP) and Yuniel Escobar (.355 vs. LHP). Chipper Jones (.274 vs. LHP) could be negatively affected during those three games.
Cincinnati also faces three lefties next week, which should be good news for Jeff Keppinger (.362 vs. LHP) and Brandon Phillips (.341 vs. LHP). It will be interesting to see how Dusty Baker utilizes left-handed Corey Patterson (.310 vs. LHP) and right-handed Ryan Freel (.143 vs. LHP), considering they both hit better off similar-handed pitchers. Scott Hatteberg (.205 vs. LHP), Joey Votto (.269 vs. LHP) Ken Griffey Jr. (.236 vs. LHP) and Adam Dunn (.239 vs. LHP) could all be adversely affected by seeing three lefties.
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Bug[/SIZE]
For the latest on injuries, check out Rotoworld's handy Injury Page.
Important Injury Updates This Week:
Kaz Matsui - 2B - Should be back by end of the week..
Chad Guadin - SP - Scheduled to return April 12.
B.J. Ryan - RP - Should be back by end of week. Bad news for Jeremy Accardo.
Chuck James - SP - Will fill-in for Mike Hampton.
Randy Johnson - SP - Should debut on April 14 (two starts in Week 3).
Nomar Garciaparra - 3B - Might return this week. Might not.
Omar Vizquel - SS - Targeting April 7.
Jeremy Hermida - OF - Should be back before the start of the week.
Chad Cordero - RP - Expected to be ready on Sunday
Shaun Hill - SP - Should start on April 13.
Jim Edmonds - OF - Should be back before April 6.
Brad Lidge - RP - Should be ready April 5.
Josh Beckett - SP - Will return April 6.
David DeJesus - OF - Uncertain for second week of the season.
Gary Sheffield - DH - Tore his tendon, currently day-to-day
Jerry Owens - OF - Expected to return April 8.
Andy Pettitte - SP - Will pitch on April 5.
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
For this week's top waiver adds, read my opinion in this week's Waiver Wired
1. Johnny Cueto
2. Tony Pena
3. Mark Lowe
4. Nick Johnson
5. Carlos Marmol
[SIZE=+1]The Weather Report[/SIZE]
The following games could be threatened due to rain, but I'm no weather man. Things change.
Thursday, 4/10 - Braves @ Rockies - 60% chance of rain
Thursday, 4/10 - Orioles @ Rangers - 60% chance of rain
Saturday, 4/12 - Twins @ Royals - 60% chance of rain
Sunday, 4/13 - Twins @ Royals - 60% chance of rain
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Utley Smokin, LaTroy Sets Fire
Utley on fire, Latroy Hawkins setting fires, early DL trips and more in this week's Week That Was.
Ben Broussard:: Ben Broussard hit a grand slam Friday off of Dustin Moseley to lead the Rangers past the Angels. Broussard makes a very good low price investment in fantasy this year. He is a quality hitter coming off of a bad year that has landed in a hitters' park. While the Rangers, who cannot pitch, will be bad, Broussard could easily go 20-80 with a solid average. Buy.
Hiroki Kuroda: Hiroki Kuroda threw seven innings of one-run ball in his first start in the bigs. But for Brian Giles solo dinger, Kuroda would have thrown all blanks. The plan here for fantasy purposes is simple: hold him for his first time around the league and maybe even until the all-star break. Then you must abandon ship. First, hitters will adjust. Second, Japanese pitchers are not used to the length and rigor of the MLB season. Just ask Dice K ? his second half, marked by almost 5 free passes per nine innings, tells the story.
Dioner Navarro: The Rays (f/k/a Devil Rays) placed Dioner Navarro on the DL after he lacerated his hand in the game at Yankee Stadium. Shawn Riggans made the most of his opportunity, chasing Ian Kennedy with a double. Two points here ? first, do not abandon Navarro. He had a very solid last two months last year and looks ready to make himself into a solid MLB and fantasy catcher (and frankly, a two week respite will not hurt when September rolls around). Second, while Riggans could be lightning in a bottle for two weeks, do not go blowing your FAAB budget here. Navarro will get the bulk of the work all year.
Chase Utley:. Chase Utley hit two dingers against the Reds Friday night to increase his total to three on the young season. While I do not own Utley in either Tout or LABR (because we spent out on Wright and Reyes), Utley is still one of the ultimate scarcity players. He is far and away the best of the NL second basemen. Have no fear going the extra bucks or trading top quality to get him. Ordinarily, I do advocate avoiding players coming off of injuries. However, Utley showed he was healthy in his return late last season, so there seems no reason to worry. Bottom line ? he is just a fun player to own.
Chad Cordero: According to reports, Chad Cordero will go on the DL with his sore right shoulder. Ok, here is the deal, ready? AVOID. Cordero's numbers have gotten worse each of the last three years. Add that to his sore shoulder, decreased velocity and DL stint and you have a disaster in the making. Plus, even if he comes back and shows he can close, he is likely to be traded. Forget the old maxim that even closers on bad teams save games. Remember this one ? closers on bad teams get traded to become set up men on better teams. If you own Cordero, deal him at the first sign of success. If Jon Rauch or even Luis Ayala is available in your league ? get 'em.
Michael Cuddyer: Michael Cuddyer went DL with a dislocated right index finger. The good news is that he should quickly heal and be ready to play in two weeks. If someone in your league is looking to dump him, listen carefully. While Cuddyer may never be as good as the Twins hoped, and while he is less valuable without the old 2B eligibility, he is a solid outfielder in AL only leagues. He is not flashy, but solid numbers await you at the end of the year. In the meantime, the Twins will play both Craig Monroe and Jason Kubel. Of the two, only Kubel can hit. If you own Monroe, deal him now. He will kill your average. Trust me.
Cliff Floyd: Cliff Floyd hit his second blast of the year Friday in the Rays shellacking of the Yankees. While I ordinarily avoid injury prone players, I made an exception for Floyd (cheap of course). He is in a perfect situation in Tampa. He can DH, be spelled against tough LHP and enjoy batting with rabbits such as Crawford and Upton ahead of him. If you are looking for cheap power and RBI with a decent average, Floyd could be your man.
Ryan Doumit: Ryan Doumit has come out of the gate smoking. He is 8 for his first 15 and seems to have curried the favor of the Pirates skipper. This is an interesting situation. Doumit is a poor defensive catcher. However, so is his buddy Ronny Paulino. So, if Doumit hits and neither can field or throw, why not play Doumit? In any event, Doumit will be one of the top half catchers in the NL this year and pay serious dividends for the small price he will garner. Buy.
Freddy Sanchez: Freddy Sanchez sat out again Friday because of his sore right shoulder. Now, here is a prime example of the why we generally avoid players coming off of surgery or injury (especially those who were not ready to start spring training). The "good" outcome here is that he needs a little more time off before producing and sits more often that a starter should. The bad and more likely outcome is that because he tried to rush back despite not being ready, he will be hampered by the shoulder all year. If you drafted Sanchez, shame on you (unless you got a huge discount). Anyway, if you own him, cut bait once he gets his first string of hits and starts. Hint: try picking up and stashing Luis Rivas. Yes, I know he hit poorly in AAA last year. However, he is still relatively young, had success in the majors before, and could very well provide cheap speed if Sanchez is going to suffer as much as I think.
LaTroy Hawkins: LaTroy Hawkins was just plain awful Friday night, giving up six runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief and making sure the Yankees rally would fall short (of course, Kyle Farnsworth did not help). This signing just mystified me and continues to do so. In fact, I announced in the office the other day that if you see LaTroy, turn off the set, the game is over. Watching him melt down last night only confirmed the fears. Here is a guy who has had a WHIP under 1.45 only once since the turn of the century! Why would anyone think he could keep runners off base against the AL East is just beyond me. I admire the fact that he is wearing 21 to honor the great Roberto Clemente. That is the only good thing I have to say. I will finish with this thought ? you would think that the Yankees had learned their "Hawkins" lesson with Andy ? another herky-jerky, throw the ball straight and get hit hard free agent pitcher of an eminently forgettable Yankee era. I hope I am wrong, but I think I have found this year's Kei Igawa.
And not quite last, but quite possibly still least, the inaugural 2008 Schultz Says: "Well Glenn, let's start 2008 right at the point where we left off in 2007. I'll refresh your recollection in case it's gotten hazy. My last thought of our last column was quite simple: Yankee fans should prepare for Joba to blow a game in the ALDS and prepare for the Indians to end their season. As Warner Wolf was fond of saying, let's go the video tape - Game 2, 8th inning, the same bugs that didn't bother Fausto Carmona one bit while he struck out A Rod with Jeter on second and first base open buzzing around Jacobs Field - Joba chokes. Three days later, The Tribe celebrates in Yankee Stadium. I said then "When you sit around and wonder, 'who could have seen this coming?' The answer shall be Schultz did." Let's finish some old business, Yankee fan, before we move into new business: give me my props!!!
Now that Joba's no longer a 21-year-old rookie with unrealistic expectations placed on his young shoulders, I would be a bit more concerned about facing him. For roto purposes though, one of the best pitchers in baseball is without a productive spot. Chamberlain's roto-status reminds me a lot of Johan Santana's early days. The Twins were cautious about inserting the then-young lefty in the rotation and kept using him for long relief - during which he'd strike out 8 or 10 guys in 2 innings (yes, yes, the math doesn't work - it's called an embellishment for dramatic and comedic effect, get over yourself). If you can snag Chamberlain for a reasonable price, he's well worth stashing on your bench until the Yankees decide whether to make him the next Santana or the next Papelbon.
Going back to my Tribe for a second, I'm looking at Travis Hafner to post monster numbers this year. The hand and wrist injury that ended his 2006 season, you recall that one don't you, 42 HR, 117 RBI, hampered him during 2007. Pronk is healthy now and although the Red Sox made him curse Jobu (not to be confused with Joba, no one curses Bug Boy in Ohio) and cause the Indians to think they should have sacrificed that chicken before the ALCS, he should be poised for a huge year. David Ortiz gets all the attention at DH and comes with a hefty price tag. Hafner will come cheaper and produce nearly identical numbers.
Staying in Cleveland, Victor Martinez has made tweaking his hamstring on opening day (or close to it) an annual tradition. Don't worry about him, he does this just to give everyone in Cleveland and everyone who spent a good budget of their roto-salary cap on him a collective heart attack. I believe he thinks it funny. He's already made a pinch hit appearance since walking off the field grabbing his leg and might be back behind the plate as early as next week. In the meantime, grab Kelly Shoppach as insurance. The Tribe's backup backstop has a knack for producing big whenever he has to sub for Vicky Mart and he's a fine one week sub.
Now Colton, make with the crow and praise my Tribe!
Response: When was the last time the Tribe won the World Series? No worries, at least you have the Cubbies to tease.
Now, that we are done with that nonsense, once again, there is a bonus in this space as Bobby Colton provides his baseball wisdom, Texas style:
Hang on to Hamilton by Bobby Colton
When you think of top tier centerfielders during your fantasy draft, you usually think of players like Grady Sizemore, Ichiro Suzuki, Andruw Jones, and Carlos Beltran. According to all-star shortstop Michael Young, it's time to add another name to the elite centerfield list -- Josh Hamilton. Yes, the same Josh Hamilton who finally made it back onto a baseball field after years of drug rehab. Not only is he a great story, he is developing into a great player.
After taking over Ken Griffey Jr.'s position and playing centerfield for the Cincinnati Reds last season, Hamilton was traded this offseason for two pitching prospects. He now will man centerfield for the Texas Rangers. Many thought that last year was Hamilton's breakout season, however, there is still much more on the way. Last season, Hamilton hit .292 along with 19 homers and 47 RBIs, all in only 98 games. This season, if healthy, Hamilton's production could be twice that. Thus far this spring, Hamilton's Rangers teammates have been awed by his hitting, even if it's just in the cage. Michael Young has been quoted as saying "In my lifetime I have played with just one guy who was at that level, and that was Alex Rodriguez." That is pretty serious company. If Hamilton is in fact worthy of mention in the same breath as Alex Rodriguez, then fantasy owners should be even more inclined to include him among their top centerfielders.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Utley Smokin, LaTroy Sets Fire
Utley on fire, Latroy Hawkins setting fires, early DL trips and more in this week's Week That Was.
Ben Broussard:: Ben Broussard hit a grand slam Friday off of Dustin Moseley to lead the Rangers past the Angels. Broussard makes a very good low price investment in fantasy this year. He is a quality hitter coming off of a bad year that has landed in a hitters' park. While the Rangers, who cannot pitch, will be bad, Broussard could easily go 20-80 with a solid average. Buy.
Hiroki Kuroda: Hiroki Kuroda threw seven innings of one-run ball in his first start in the bigs. But for Brian Giles solo dinger, Kuroda would have thrown all blanks. The plan here for fantasy purposes is simple: hold him for his first time around the league and maybe even until the all-star break. Then you must abandon ship. First, hitters will adjust. Second, Japanese pitchers are not used to the length and rigor of the MLB season. Just ask Dice K ? his second half, marked by almost 5 free passes per nine innings, tells the story.
Dioner Navarro: The Rays (f/k/a Devil Rays) placed Dioner Navarro on the DL after he lacerated his hand in the game at Yankee Stadium. Shawn Riggans made the most of his opportunity, chasing Ian Kennedy with a double. Two points here ? first, do not abandon Navarro. He had a very solid last two months last year and looks ready to make himself into a solid MLB and fantasy catcher (and frankly, a two week respite will not hurt when September rolls around). Second, while Riggans could be lightning in a bottle for two weeks, do not go blowing your FAAB budget here. Navarro will get the bulk of the work all year.
Chase Utley:. Chase Utley hit two dingers against the Reds Friday night to increase his total to three on the young season. While I do not own Utley in either Tout or LABR (because we spent out on Wright and Reyes), Utley is still one of the ultimate scarcity players. He is far and away the best of the NL second basemen. Have no fear going the extra bucks or trading top quality to get him. Ordinarily, I do advocate avoiding players coming off of injuries. However, Utley showed he was healthy in his return late last season, so there seems no reason to worry. Bottom line ? he is just a fun player to own.
Chad Cordero: According to reports, Chad Cordero will go on the DL with his sore right shoulder. Ok, here is the deal, ready? AVOID. Cordero's numbers have gotten worse each of the last three years. Add that to his sore shoulder, decreased velocity and DL stint and you have a disaster in the making. Plus, even if he comes back and shows he can close, he is likely to be traded. Forget the old maxim that even closers on bad teams save games. Remember this one ? closers on bad teams get traded to become set up men on better teams. If you own Cordero, deal him at the first sign of success. If Jon Rauch or even Luis Ayala is available in your league ? get 'em.
Michael Cuddyer: Michael Cuddyer went DL with a dislocated right index finger. The good news is that he should quickly heal and be ready to play in two weeks. If someone in your league is looking to dump him, listen carefully. While Cuddyer may never be as good as the Twins hoped, and while he is less valuable without the old 2B eligibility, he is a solid outfielder in AL only leagues. He is not flashy, but solid numbers await you at the end of the year. In the meantime, the Twins will play both Craig Monroe and Jason Kubel. Of the two, only Kubel can hit. If you own Monroe, deal him now. He will kill your average. Trust me.
Cliff Floyd: Cliff Floyd hit his second blast of the year Friday in the Rays shellacking of the Yankees. While I ordinarily avoid injury prone players, I made an exception for Floyd (cheap of course). He is in a perfect situation in Tampa. He can DH, be spelled against tough LHP and enjoy batting with rabbits such as Crawford and Upton ahead of him. If you are looking for cheap power and RBI with a decent average, Floyd could be your man.
Ryan Doumit: Ryan Doumit has come out of the gate smoking. He is 8 for his first 15 and seems to have curried the favor of the Pirates skipper. This is an interesting situation. Doumit is a poor defensive catcher. However, so is his buddy Ronny Paulino. So, if Doumit hits and neither can field or throw, why not play Doumit? In any event, Doumit will be one of the top half catchers in the NL this year and pay serious dividends for the small price he will garner. Buy.
Freddy Sanchez: Freddy Sanchez sat out again Friday because of his sore right shoulder. Now, here is a prime example of the why we generally avoid players coming off of surgery or injury (especially those who were not ready to start spring training). The "good" outcome here is that he needs a little more time off before producing and sits more often that a starter should. The bad and more likely outcome is that because he tried to rush back despite not being ready, he will be hampered by the shoulder all year. If you drafted Sanchez, shame on you (unless you got a huge discount). Anyway, if you own him, cut bait once he gets his first string of hits and starts. Hint: try picking up and stashing Luis Rivas. Yes, I know he hit poorly in AAA last year. However, he is still relatively young, had success in the majors before, and could very well provide cheap speed if Sanchez is going to suffer as much as I think.
LaTroy Hawkins: LaTroy Hawkins was just plain awful Friday night, giving up six runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief and making sure the Yankees rally would fall short (of course, Kyle Farnsworth did not help). This signing just mystified me and continues to do so. In fact, I announced in the office the other day that if you see LaTroy, turn off the set, the game is over. Watching him melt down last night only confirmed the fears. Here is a guy who has had a WHIP under 1.45 only once since the turn of the century! Why would anyone think he could keep runners off base against the AL East is just beyond me. I admire the fact that he is wearing 21 to honor the great Roberto Clemente. That is the only good thing I have to say. I will finish with this thought ? you would think that the Yankees had learned their "Hawkins" lesson with Andy ? another herky-jerky, throw the ball straight and get hit hard free agent pitcher of an eminently forgettable Yankee era. I hope I am wrong, but I think I have found this year's Kei Igawa.
And not quite last, but quite possibly still least, the inaugural 2008 Schultz Says: "Well Glenn, let's start 2008 right at the point where we left off in 2007. I'll refresh your recollection in case it's gotten hazy. My last thought of our last column was quite simple: Yankee fans should prepare for Joba to blow a game in the ALDS and prepare for the Indians to end their season. As Warner Wolf was fond of saying, let's go the video tape - Game 2, 8th inning, the same bugs that didn't bother Fausto Carmona one bit while he struck out A Rod with Jeter on second and first base open buzzing around Jacobs Field - Joba chokes. Three days later, The Tribe celebrates in Yankee Stadium. I said then "When you sit around and wonder, 'who could have seen this coming?' The answer shall be Schultz did." Let's finish some old business, Yankee fan, before we move into new business: give me my props!!!
Now that Joba's no longer a 21-year-old rookie with unrealistic expectations placed on his young shoulders, I would be a bit more concerned about facing him. For roto purposes though, one of the best pitchers in baseball is without a productive spot. Chamberlain's roto-status reminds me a lot of Johan Santana's early days. The Twins were cautious about inserting the then-young lefty in the rotation and kept using him for long relief - during which he'd strike out 8 or 10 guys in 2 innings (yes, yes, the math doesn't work - it's called an embellishment for dramatic and comedic effect, get over yourself). If you can snag Chamberlain for a reasonable price, he's well worth stashing on your bench until the Yankees decide whether to make him the next Santana or the next Papelbon.
Going back to my Tribe for a second, I'm looking at Travis Hafner to post monster numbers this year. The hand and wrist injury that ended his 2006 season, you recall that one don't you, 42 HR, 117 RBI, hampered him during 2007. Pronk is healthy now and although the Red Sox made him curse Jobu (not to be confused with Joba, no one curses Bug Boy in Ohio) and cause the Indians to think they should have sacrificed that chicken before the ALCS, he should be poised for a huge year. David Ortiz gets all the attention at DH and comes with a hefty price tag. Hafner will come cheaper and produce nearly identical numbers.
Staying in Cleveland, Victor Martinez has made tweaking his hamstring on opening day (or close to it) an annual tradition. Don't worry about him, he does this just to give everyone in Cleveland and everyone who spent a good budget of their roto-salary cap on him a collective heart attack. I believe he thinks it funny. He's already made a pinch hit appearance since walking off the field grabbing his leg and might be back behind the plate as early as next week. In the meantime, grab Kelly Shoppach as insurance. The Tribe's backup backstop has a knack for producing big whenever he has to sub for Vicky Mart and he's a fine one week sub.
Now Colton, make with the crow and praise my Tribe!
Response: When was the last time the Tribe won the World Series? No worries, at least you have the Cubbies to tease.
Now, that we are done with that nonsense, once again, there is a bonus in this space as Bobby Colton provides his baseball wisdom, Texas style:
Hang on to Hamilton by Bobby Colton
When you think of top tier centerfielders during your fantasy draft, you usually think of players like Grady Sizemore, Ichiro Suzuki, Andruw Jones, and Carlos Beltran. According to all-star shortstop Michael Young, it's time to add another name to the elite centerfield list -- Josh Hamilton. Yes, the same Josh Hamilton who finally made it back onto a baseball field after years of drug rehab. Not only is he a great story, he is developing into a great player.
After taking over Ken Griffey Jr.'s position and playing centerfield for the Cincinnati Reds last season, Hamilton was traded this offseason for two pitching prospects. He now will man centerfield for the Texas Rangers. Many thought that last year was Hamilton's breakout season, however, there is still much more on the way. Last season, Hamilton hit .292 along with 19 homers and 47 RBIs, all in only 98 games. This season, if healthy, Hamilton's production could be twice that. Thus far this spring, Hamilton's Rangers teammates have been awed by his hitting, even if it's just in the cage. Michael Young has been quoted as saying "In my lifetime I have played with just one guy who was at that level, and that was Alex Rodriguez." That is pretty serious company. If Hamilton is in fact worthy of mention in the same breath as Alex Rodriguez, then fantasy owners should be even more inclined to include him among their top centerfielders.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Beckett Returns
Giants pitcher Keiichi Yabu became the leader in the clubhouse for oddest injury of 2008 by hurting his eyes Saturday when the elastic bands he was working out with snapped across his face. Seriously. Yabu was slated to start Monday, but his status is now uncertain. Rotoworld player news mastermind Matthew Pouliot wrote it best when updating Yabu's situation: "The blurred vision would be a bigger problem, but it prevents him from actually having to watch his team play. Giants fans everywhere will be trying to duplicate the effects."
While the Giants' punchless offense finishes the season's first week with a measly dozen runs in six games after being shut out Sunday for the second time, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Josh Beckett returned from the disabled list Sunday and turned in an uneven outing against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. Beckett looked good early, flashing a mid-90s fastball and decent control, but came unraveled with two outs in the fifth inning. He gave up a single followed by a pair of walks, at which point Beckett exited in favor of Manny Delcarmen after throwing 92 pitches.
Delcarmen proceeded to serve up a grand slam to Frank Thomas on his very first pitch, allowing all three of Beckett's runners to score. Beckett looked solid early on and it's certainly not overly concerning that he faded around 75-80 pitches given the lack of stamina that he's been able to build up thanks to back problems. If the Red Sox keep Beckett on a normal schedule he'll face the Yankees on either Friday or Saturday, so he's not necessarily a must-start this week.
* With Erik Bedard scratched from taking the mound against his former team Sunday because of a hip injury, Felix Hernandez took his place against the Orioles and tossed eight shutout innings. King Felix still doesn't have a win thanks to shoddy bullpen support, but through two outings he has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 15 innings. It's worth noting that Hernandez also got off to a tremendous start last season.
He threw eight shutout innings on Opening Day and then followed that up with an amazing one-hit shutout of the Red Sox in his second start. Unfortunately Hernandez then left his third start with elbow problems, spent time on the disabled list, and posted a 5.26 ERA in his first nine starts back. However, he quietly put together a strong stretch run, finishing the season by going 10-3 with a 3.70 ERA in his final 18 starts, and looks ready to build upon this year's great start.
* Wes Helms had a career-year as a part-time with the Marlins 2006, hitting .329/.390/.575 before inking a two-year deal with the Phillies that offseason. He was predictably a bust in Philadelphia, struggling defensively at third base while hitting just .246/.297/.368, and the Phillies spent all winter trying to deal him. They finally found a taker Sunday, fittingly shipping Helms back to the Marlins for cash considerations.
Needless to say that Helms won't be posting another .965 OPS in Florida this time around, but he has a chance to receive significant playing time at third base. Jorge Cantu started each of the first seven games there while hitting just .250/.250/.292 and might be even worse than Helms defensively. If given a chance to play regularly at third base or even just platoon with the left-handed hitting Mike Jacobs at first base, Helms can be a minor asset in NL-only leagues.
* The Rangers made a lot of fantasy owners angry when they chose Gerald Laird as their starting catcher and sent Jarrod Saltalamacchia back to Triple-A, but Laird made them look smart for one day at least by homering twice and driving in six runs Sunday against the Angels. His numbers were highly disappointing last season and the Rangers likely would have traded him during the winter had they received a decent offer, but Laird is capable of being an asset in AL-only leagues.
He hit .296/.332/.473 while seeing about half of the playing time behind the plate in 2006 and has averaged around a dozen homers and 55 RBIs per 500 at-bats during his career. Laird is also a rare catcher with the ability to some bases, swiping six bags last year. Saltalamacchia will almost surely be back in the majors by midseason and the Rangers may still deal Laird to clear room for him to become a starter, but in the meantime there are far worse options at catcher.
* Even with a strong start to the season Brandon Lyon's grip on the closer job would have been somewhat tenuous, but after following up a brutal spring by blowing his second save of the year Sunday he could be in serious trouble. Lyon has proven to be a very capable late-inning setup man and is certainly far from a disastrous choice for ninth-inning duties, but Tony Pena's chances of claiming the gig were strong to begin with and increased significantly during the first week.
AL Quick Hits: General manager Dave Dombrowski said Sunday that Curtis Granderson (hand) has been cleared to begin baseball activities and could return from the disabled list within two weeks ? Julio Lugo had been off to a decent start while trying to bounce back from a bad first season in Boston, but went hitless Sunday while committing three errors ? After a horrible spring filled with questions about his surgically repaired back, Joe Crede is now 9-for-24 (.375) with six RBIs following a four-hit game Sunday ? John Lackey (triceps) played catch Saturday and could begin throwing off a mound this week ? Chien-Ming Wang improved to 2-0 with six shutout innings Sunday against the Rays, but is scheduled to face the Red Sox in each of his next two starts ? Ben Broussard smacked his AL-leading third homer of the season Sunday and should continue to put up solid numbers if spot started against right-handers ? Dropped from third to sixth in the Royals' lineup Sunday, Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 with two RBIs ? Denard Span isn't much of a hitter, but he'll be a source of short-term speed with Michael Cuddyer (finger) out.
newyorkmets.com
NL Quick Hits: Carlos Zambrano left his first start with forearm cramping, but held the Astros to a pair of runs over seven innings Sunday ? Jeremy Hermida wasn't able to return from the disabled list Sunday because of soreness in his strained hamstring, leaving [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] in the lineup ? Johan Santana pitched well Sunday in his second start for the Mets, holding the Braves to one run over seven innings, but took the loss thanks to Twins-like run support ? Last season Derrek Lee's third homer came in the Cubs' 41st game, but he went deep Sunday for the third time this year ? Ben Sheets tossed a complete-game shutout Sunday against the Giants and has begun the season with 15.1 scoreless innings ? Omar Vizquel hoped to return Tuesday, but his timetable has been pushed back after being scratched from a minor-league rehab appearance due to soreness in his surgically repaired knee ? Franklin Morales shut the Diamondbacks out for six innings Sunday and is scheduled to face Arizona again in his next start ? Tony Gwynn Jr. (hamstring) said Sunday that he hopes to return Tuesday after sitting out three straight games.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Beckett Returns
Giants pitcher Keiichi Yabu became the leader in the clubhouse for oddest injury of 2008 by hurting his eyes Saturday when the elastic bands he was working out with snapped across his face. Seriously. Yabu was slated to start Monday, but his status is now uncertain. Rotoworld player news mastermind Matthew Pouliot wrote it best when updating Yabu's situation: "The blurred vision would be a bigger problem, but it prevents him from actually having to watch his team play. Giants fans everywhere will be trying to duplicate the effects."
While the Giants' punchless offense finishes the season's first week with a measly dozen runs in six games after being shut out Sunday for the second time, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Josh Beckett returned from the disabled list Sunday and turned in an uneven outing against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. Beckett looked good early, flashing a mid-90s fastball and decent control, but came unraveled with two outs in the fifth inning. He gave up a single followed by a pair of walks, at which point Beckett exited in favor of Manny Delcarmen after throwing 92 pitches.
Delcarmen proceeded to serve up a grand slam to Frank Thomas on his very first pitch, allowing all three of Beckett's runners to score. Beckett looked solid early on and it's certainly not overly concerning that he faded around 75-80 pitches given the lack of stamina that he's been able to build up thanks to back problems. If the Red Sox keep Beckett on a normal schedule he'll face the Yankees on either Friday or Saturday, so he's not necessarily a must-start this week.
* With Erik Bedard scratched from taking the mound against his former team Sunday because of a hip injury, Felix Hernandez took his place against the Orioles and tossed eight shutout innings. King Felix still doesn't have a win thanks to shoddy bullpen support, but through two outings he has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 15 innings. It's worth noting that Hernandez also got off to a tremendous start last season.
He threw eight shutout innings on Opening Day and then followed that up with an amazing one-hit shutout of the Red Sox in his second start. Unfortunately Hernandez then left his third start with elbow problems, spent time on the disabled list, and posted a 5.26 ERA in his first nine starts back. However, he quietly put together a strong stretch run, finishing the season by going 10-3 with a 3.70 ERA in his final 18 starts, and looks ready to build upon this year's great start.
* Wes Helms had a career-year as a part-time with the Marlins 2006, hitting .329/.390/.575 before inking a two-year deal with the Phillies that offseason. He was predictably a bust in Philadelphia, struggling defensively at third base while hitting just .246/.297/.368, and the Phillies spent all winter trying to deal him. They finally found a taker Sunday, fittingly shipping Helms back to the Marlins for cash considerations.
Needless to say that Helms won't be posting another .965 OPS in Florida this time around, but he has a chance to receive significant playing time at third base. Jorge Cantu started each of the first seven games there while hitting just .250/.250/.292 and might be even worse than Helms defensively. If given a chance to play regularly at third base or even just platoon with the left-handed hitting Mike Jacobs at first base, Helms can be a minor asset in NL-only leagues.
* The Rangers made a lot of fantasy owners angry when they chose Gerald Laird as their starting catcher and sent Jarrod Saltalamacchia back to Triple-A, but Laird made them look smart for one day at least by homering twice and driving in six runs Sunday against the Angels. His numbers were highly disappointing last season and the Rangers likely would have traded him during the winter had they received a decent offer, but Laird is capable of being an asset in AL-only leagues.
He hit .296/.332/.473 while seeing about half of the playing time behind the plate in 2006 and has averaged around a dozen homers and 55 RBIs per 500 at-bats during his career. Laird is also a rare catcher with the ability to some bases, swiping six bags last year. Saltalamacchia will almost surely be back in the majors by midseason and the Rangers may still deal Laird to clear room for him to become a starter, but in the meantime there are far worse options at catcher.
* Even with a strong start to the season Brandon Lyon's grip on the closer job would have been somewhat tenuous, but after following up a brutal spring by blowing his second save of the year Sunday he could be in serious trouble. Lyon has proven to be a very capable late-inning setup man and is certainly far from a disastrous choice for ninth-inning duties, but Tony Pena's chances of claiming the gig were strong to begin with and increased significantly during the first week.
AL Quick Hits: General manager Dave Dombrowski said Sunday that Curtis Granderson (hand) has been cleared to begin baseball activities and could return from the disabled list within two weeks ? Julio Lugo had been off to a decent start while trying to bounce back from a bad first season in Boston, but went hitless Sunday while committing three errors ? After a horrible spring filled with questions about his surgically repaired back, Joe Crede is now 9-for-24 (.375) with six RBIs following a four-hit game Sunday ? John Lackey (triceps) played catch Saturday and could begin throwing off a mound this week ? Chien-Ming Wang improved to 2-0 with six shutout innings Sunday against the Rays, but is scheduled to face the Red Sox in each of his next two starts ? Ben Broussard smacked his AL-leading third homer of the season Sunday and should continue to put up solid numbers if spot started against right-handers ? Dropped from third to sixth in the Royals' lineup Sunday, Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 with two RBIs ? Denard Span isn't much of a hitter, but he'll be a source of short-term speed with Michael Cuddyer (finger) out.
newyorkmets.com
NL Quick Hits: Carlos Zambrano left his first start with forearm cramping, but held the Astros to a pair of runs over seven innings Sunday ? Jeremy Hermida wasn't able to return from the disabled list Sunday because of soreness in his strained hamstring, leaving [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] in the lineup ? Johan Santana pitched well Sunday in his second start for the Mets, holding the Braves to one run over seven innings, but took the loss thanks to Twins-like run support ? Last season Derrek Lee's third homer came in the Cubs' 41st game, but he went deep Sunday for the third time this year ? Ben Sheets tossed a complete-game shutout Sunday against the Giants and has begun the season with 15.1 scoreless innings ? Omar Vizquel hoped to return Tuesday, but his timetable has been pushed back after being scratched from a minor-league rehab appearance due to soreness in his surgically repaired knee ? Franklin Morales shut the Diamondbacks out for six innings Sunday and is scheduled to face Arizona again in his next start ? Tony Gwynn Jr. (hamstring) said Sunday that he hopes to return Tuesday after sitting out three straight games.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
K-Ankle
Francisco Rodriguez's ongoing ankle problems may have finally boiled over Monday night, as he blew a save against the Indians and then exited the game. Last week Rodriguez admitted that he's been pitching through an injured left ankle since late last season and has had to alter his delivery. That mechanical adjustment seemingly helps explain the drop in velocity that he's experienced this year, as Rodriguez has lost about two miles per hour on his average fastball.
To make matters worse, manager Mike Scioscia revealed Sunday that Rodriguez now also has soreness in his right ankle, saying that "he tweaked it a couple days ago" and the Angels planned to "look at it closely." Despite the bad wheels and decreased velocity Rodriguez began the season with three scoreless innings, but he struggled to throw strikes even while converting three straight saves and it finally caught up to him Monday.
As of this writing there's no word on whether the Angels may place Rodriguez on the disabled list, but either way his situation is obviously concerning. Normally the team might be inclined to give him some time off and hand ninth-inning duties over to long-time setup man Scot Shields, but he just came off the DL himself after dealing with a forearm injury and was a mess down the stretch last season. In fact, if Rodriguez is sidelined, Justin Speier could get the nod as the fill-in closer.
While Torii Hunter temporarily takes the heat off Rodriguez with a walk-off grand slam, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Joe Torre received praise last week in this space for smartly choosing Andre Ethier to start over Juan Pierre in the Dodgers' outfield, but apparently that was speaking too soon. Ethier has indeed been playing regularly, but Torre has still managed to get Pierre into the lineup by inexplicably benching the team's best outfielder, Matt Kemp. Kemp batted .342 with an .894 OPS in 98 games with the Dodgers last season, which was extremely impressive for a 22-year-old.
It never even crossed my mind that Kemp might be benched for Pierre, because that seemed so obviously misguided, yet that's exactly what's happened. Pierre started over Kemp for a third straight game Monday and has forced him to the bench four times in seven games this season. Kemp will likely play Tuesday against left-hander Doug Davis and Pierre's 1-for-15 (.067) start may help Torre come to his senses, but his decision-making is in serious question.
* Derek Jeter left Monday's game after two innings because of a strained left quadriceps, but the early word from the Yankees is that the injury isn't expected to require a stint on the disabled list. However, Jeter has already been scratched from Tuesday's game and the Yankees will likely show their hand regarding how long they expect him to be sidelined depending on whether or not they call up shortstop prospect Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A.
If Jeter looks likely to be back within a few days, the Yankees could simply turn to Wilson Betemit to replace him at shortstop. Betemit started at first base Monday, but moved to shortstop once Jeter exited. He's stretched at the position defensively, but the Yankees don't currently have a true backup middle infielder on the roster and his bat is an asset compared to Gonzalez, who hit just .266 with a .698 OPS in 134 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
* A strained left calf sent Jack Wilson to the 15-day disabled list Sunday for the first time in his eight-year career and the Pirates called up Brian Bixler from Triple-A to take his place on the roster. Despite manager John Russell saying that "we're not bringing him up to sit him" Luis Rivas started at shortstop Monday, but Bixler figures to get most of the playing time there for at least the next two weeks.
Bixler is a decent enough all-around prospect and at 25 years old he's probably as close to being MLB-ready as he's going to get, but other than some speed he's not much of a fantasy option. Bixler hit .274 with a nice .368 on-base percentage in 129 games at Triple-A last season, but managed just five homers and slugged .396 while striking out 131 times. He did swipe 28 bases at an 88-percen clip and has averaged 27 steals per 600 plate appearances during his career.
* Tom Gorzelanny turned in the worst start of his young career Monday, as the Cubs got to him for seven runs in 2.1 innings. Gorzelanny had a solid first start this season, but his ugly second outing is especially concerning given that he struggled down the stretch last year while dealing with shoulder problems. Dating back to last August, Gorzelanny has a 6.33 ERA, 40-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.94 WHIP in his last 59.2 innings spread over 11 starts.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez (hamstring) started at catcher Monday for the first time since Opening Day ? Manager Mike Scioscia said Sunday that Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) is still several weeks from throwing again and no timetable has been established for his return ? After batting cleanup in every game last season despite hitting just .205 with a .694 OPS, Richie Sexson was dropped to sixth in the Mariners' lineup Monday ? Howie Kendrick left Monday's game with a thumb injury and Erick Aybar replaced him at second base ? Rich Harden was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday, but it's not much of a concern given that he's now slated to start Saturday ? After Ivan Rodriguez was removed for a pinch-hitter Sunday, Brandon Inge saw his first action behind the plate since 2004 ? Mike Mussina held the Rays to one run over six innings Monday, giving up just a solo homer to Jonny Gomes, but faces the Red Sox in his next outing ? Facing his former team Monday, George Sherrill tossed a perfect ninth inning against the Mariners to close out a one-run lead for his MLB-leading fourth save.
NL Quick Hits: Lance Berkman returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with back spasms and smacked a solo homer ? Tim Redding was knocked around Monday, but his ERA rose to just 0.82 thanks to six unearned runs ? Cristian Guzman made the error behind Redding's unearned runs, but also went 3-for-4 with two triples and three RBIs ? With the Cubs wanting to avoid using Kerry Wood on three straight days, Carlos Marmol pitched Monday for the fifth time in seven games and tossed a scoreless 12th inning to notch his first save ? Chris Duncan (hamstring) returned to the lineup Monday after missing five straight starts ? Greg Maddux became the latest pitcher to breeze through the Giants' lineup, tossing seven innings of one-run ball Monday ? After blowing a save Monday by coughing up three runs, Jose Valverde has been scored on in each of his three outings this season ? Bronson Arroyo served up a career-high four homers Monday against the Phillies ? Todd Wellemeyer continues to impress as a starter, striking out seven while allowing two runs over seven innings Monday.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
K-Ankle
Francisco Rodriguez's ongoing ankle problems may have finally boiled over Monday night, as he blew a save against the Indians and then exited the game. Last week Rodriguez admitted that he's been pitching through an injured left ankle since late last season and has had to alter his delivery. That mechanical adjustment seemingly helps explain the drop in velocity that he's experienced this year, as Rodriguez has lost about two miles per hour on his average fastball.
To make matters worse, manager Mike Scioscia revealed Sunday that Rodriguez now also has soreness in his right ankle, saying that "he tweaked it a couple days ago" and the Angels planned to "look at it closely." Despite the bad wheels and decreased velocity Rodriguez began the season with three scoreless innings, but he struggled to throw strikes even while converting three straight saves and it finally caught up to him Monday.
As of this writing there's no word on whether the Angels may place Rodriguez on the disabled list, but either way his situation is obviously concerning. Normally the team might be inclined to give him some time off and hand ninth-inning duties over to long-time setup man Scot Shields, but he just came off the DL himself after dealing with a forearm injury and was a mess down the stretch last season. In fact, if Rodriguez is sidelined, Justin Speier could get the nod as the fill-in closer.
While Torii Hunter temporarily takes the heat off Rodriguez with a walk-off grand slam, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Joe Torre received praise last week in this space for smartly choosing Andre Ethier to start over Juan Pierre in the Dodgers' outfield, but apparently that was speaking too soon. Ethier has indeed been playing regularly, but Torre has still managed to get Pierre into the lineup by inexplicably benching the team's best outfielder, Matt Kemp. Kemp batted .342 with an .894 OPS in 98 games with the Dodgers last season, which was extremely impressive for a 22-year-old.
It never even crossed my mind that Kemp might be benched for Pierre, because that seemed so obviously misguided, yet that's exactly what's happened. Pierre started over Kemp for a third straight game Monday and has forced him to the bench four times in seven games this season. Kemp will likely play Tuesday against left-hander Doug Davis and Pierre's 1-for-15 (.067) start may help Torre come to his senses, but his decision-making is in serious question.
* Derek Jeter left Monday's game after two innings because of a strained left quadriceps, but the early word from the Yankees is that the injury isn't expected to require a stint on the disabled list. However, Jeter has already been scratched from Tuesday's game and the Yankees will likely show their hand regarding how long they expect him to be sidelined depending on whether or not they call up shortstop prospect Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A.
If Jeter looks likely to be back within a few days, the Yankees could simply turn to Wilson Betemit to replace him at shortstop. Betemit started at first base Monday, but moved to shortstop once Jeter exited. He's stretched at the position defensively, but the Yankees don't currently have a true backup middle infielder on the roster and his bat is an asset compared to Gonzalez, who hit just .266 with a .698 OPS in 134 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
* A strained left calf sent Jack Wilson to the 15-day disabled list Sunday for the first time in his eight-year career and the Pirates called up Brian Bixler from Triple-A to take his place on the roster. Despite manager John Russell saying that "we're not bringing him up to sit him" Luis Rivas started at shortstop Monday, but Bixler figures to get most of the playing time there for at least the next two weeks.
Bixler is a decent enough all-around prospect and at 25 years old he's probably as close to being MLB-ready as he's going to get, but other than some speed he's not much of a fantasy option. Bixler hit .274 with a nice .368 on-base percentage in 129 games at Triple-A last season, but managed just five homers and slugged .396 while striking out 131 times. He did swipe 28 bases at an 88-percen clip and has averaged 27 steals per 600 plate appearances during his career.
* Tom Gorzelanny turned in the worst start of his young career Monday, as the Cubs got to him for seven runs in 2.1 innings. Gorzelanny had a solid first start this season, but his ugly second outing is especially concerning given that he struggled down the stretch last year while dealing with shoulder problems. Dating back to last August, Gorzelanny has a 6.33 ERA, 40-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.94 WHIP in his last 59.2 innings spread over 11 starts.
AL Quick Hits: Victor Martinez (hamstring) started at catcher Monday for the first time since Opening Day ? Manager Mike Scioscia said Sunday that Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) is still several weeks from throwing again and no timetable has been established for his return ? After batting cleanup in every game last season despite hitting just .205 with a .694 OPS, Richie Sexson was dropped to sixth in the Mariners' lineup Monday ? Howie Kendrick left Monday's game with a thumb injury and Erick Aybar replaced him at second base ? Rich Harden was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday, but it's not much of a concern given that he's now slated to start Saturday ? After Ivan Rodriguez was removed for a pinch-hitter Sunday, Brandon Inge saw his first action behind the plate since 2004 ? Mike Mussina held the Rays to one run over six innings Monday, giving up just a solo homer to Jonny Gomes, but faces the Red Sox in his next outing ? Facing his former team Monday, George Sherrill tossed a perfect ninth inning against the Mariners to close out a one-run lead for his MLB-leading fourth save.
NL Quick Hits: Lance Berkman returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with back spasms and smacked a solo homer ? Tim Redding was knocked around Monday, but his ERA rose to just 0.82 thanks to six unearned runs ? Cristian Guzman made the error behind Redding's unearned runs, but also went 3-for-4 with two triples and three RBIs ? With the Cubs wanting to avoid using Kerry Wood on three straight days, Carlos Marmol pitched Monday for the fifth time in seven games and tossed a scoreless 12th inning to notch his first save ? Chris Duncan (hamstring) returned to the lineup Monday after missing five straight starts ? Greg Maddux became the latest pitcher to breeze through the Giants' lineup, tossing seven innings of one-run ball Monday ? After blowing a save Monday by coughing up three runs, Jose Valverde has been scored on in each of his three outings this season ? Bronson Arroyo served up a career-high four homers Monday against the Phillies ? Todd Wellemeyer continues to impress as a starter, striking out seven while allowing two runs over seven innings Monday.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: Minor Notes
The minor league season kicked off on Thursday, with Prospect Report favorite Matt LaPorta starting things off with a grand slam on the first night of the season. There are plenty of other storylines brewing, and we'll begin to dive into them with a notes-style column this week. Going forward, the column will change a bit from what readers are used to in year's past. In this space I'll profile minor league callups each and every week through the September callups review early in that month. In addition to the callups, I'll also be supplying the annual two-part MLB draft review as well as various other columns once the minor league season shuts down in September.
Rotoworld is also happy to offer additional prospect coverage to Season Pass subscribers. There you'll find a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects, with notes on how players are doing each week and what may be causing a ranking to change. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
And of course, readers are always encouraged to check out the Rotoworld.com Forums for discussion on prospects and all things fantasy sports.
[SIZE=+1]Minor League Notes[/SIZE]
American League
LaPorta wasn't the only star prospect from the 2007 draft making a big splash, as No. 5 overall selection Matt Wieters homered twice in his minor league debut on Friday. The Georgia Tech alum starts the season at High-A Frederick, but both his bat and defense are ready for a bigger challenge. Assuming he keeps hitting, Wieters will move up to Double-A fairly quickly. Continued success might allow for Wieters to reach Triple-A or even the majors during September, and a significant contribution in the big leagues during 2009 is likely. Wieters should have little trouble being an above average regular behind the plate once he's ready, and there are few catching prospects that come along who look as likely to be an All-Star as he does. He enters the season No. 8 in our Season Pass Top 100.
A high school right-hander who slipped to pick No. 27 due to signability issues, Rick Porcello had a strong professional debut for High-A Lakeland by hurling five scoreless innings in a win over the Tampa Yankees. Porcello struck out three, walked two, and allowed just one hit, a single. Porcello is as advanced a high school pitcher as you'll see at age 19, as he already has good command and mixes his pitches well. Throw in a fastball that easily sits in the 93-94 MPH range as well as three plus secondary offerings, and it's easy to see why Porcello gets everyone excited. He should reach Double-A later in the season, which is quite the accomplishment for a 19-year-old. A big league debut late in 2009 seems likely, and Porcello probably won't need much time to realize his potential once getting there. Despite all of the risks inherent in high school pitchers, Porcello's advancement and ace potential allow him to debut as one of baseball's top 15 prospects.
David Price, the first pick in last year's draft, was supposed to make his professional debut when the season opened this week, but instead Price was diagnosed with a strained forearm in late March and was relegated to six weeks of rest. Price has since played catch, but he's still about a month away from true game action. He'll pitch for High-A Vero Beach once ready, and while the news does decrease the chances that we'll see Price in the majors this season, a September debut is possible
Jake Arrieta isn't as big a name as some of the other 2007 draftees mentioned here, but he did sign for a $1.1 million bonus that is a record for a fifth rounder. A standout at TCU as a sophomore, Arrieta slipped some as a junior and saw his draft stock drop. However, the Orioles gave him the big bonus required and then watched as he threw 16 scoreless innings, with 16 strikeouts, in the Arizona Fall League. The right-hander's control still needs work and his changeup isn't MLB-ready, but Arrieta's fastball is a special offering that he'll dial up to 97 MPH when needed and he also has a good curve. The early results were positive, as Arrieta struck out nine and walked one in four innings during his debut for High-A Frederick. Arrieta could move fast if his command holds up, and he's someone to watch for 2009.
Last year I wrote glowingly about the Durham Bulls' rotation and how it was a group I was interested in following given that they had four intriguing prospects, all of whom had the potential to contribute in 2007. This year a similar rotation stands out, though they aren't as close to the majors as last year's group. The High-A Stockton Ports (Oakland A's) rotation is likely the best in the minors to start the year, with three pitchers ranked in my Top 100 and another who isn't that far off. And not surprisingly, Brett Anderson (6 IP, 0 R, 6 K), Fautino De Los Santos (6 IP, 2 R, 6 K), Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 0 R, 4 K), and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1739"]Henry Rodriguez[/URL] (5 IP, 1 R, 8 K) have all started off well. In total, the foursome is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Tigers' first base prospect Jeff Larish is off to a good start for Triple-A Toledo, smacking three home runs in the club's first three games. Larish posted a .267/.390/.515 line in Double-A last season and was once considered a first round talent after a dominant sophomore season at Arizona State, so the ability is there for the 6'2" left-hander. He'll probably strike out too much to be a regular and improvement is unlikely given that Larish is already 25 years old, but he could be a solid platoon player in the mold of Ben Broussard. With the injury-prone Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen ahead of him, Larish could get a shot this year.
One prospect I was very interested to see this year was Chris Tillman, who went from the Mariners to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal. A talented but raw arm who struggled most of the year in High-A last season, Tillman finished the season strong with a 2.50 ERA during his last seven starts. That left some wondering if he had turned a corner, and the Orioles were confident enough to send Tillman to Double-A despite the fact that he's yet to turn 20 years old. Tillman didn't justify the faith in his first start when he gave up two runs while walking three, striking out three, and throwing a wild pitch in just two innings of work. He'll have to do better than that to justify our lofty ranking of the young hurler, but the stuff is there for Tillman to be a star down the road. Still, perhaps some more time in High-A wouldn't have hurt.
National League
Pirates shortstop Brian Bixler was the lone callup of note this week when he replaced the disabled Jack Wilson on the big league roster. Bixler, a second round pick out of Eastern Michigan University in 2004, hit .274/.368/.396 with 28 steals in 475 at-bats for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. He also struck out 131 times, so a high batting average is unlikely despite his lack of power and above average speed. Wilson should be out for a few weeks, so Bixler is worth claiming in NL-only leagues during that time. He'll garner a few steals and add a little in the counting stats by virtue of being the starter.
Homer Bailey was everyone's favorite pitching prospect going into last season, but injuries and some poor performances in the majors got some people down on the right-hander. Bailey seemed poised to redeem himself and win a spot in the Reds' rotation this spring, but instead he posted a 5.21 ERA and walked more batters (16) than he struck out (11) in 19 innings of work. Now back at Triple-A Louisville, Bailey may be turning things around. The right-hander gave up one run while walking one and striking out two in his first outing of the season, then hurled 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball to go with seven strikeouts and one walk last night. Bailey still posses the same ace upside he had last year, and if he can string together a few more good starts he'll be worth stashing away even in one-year leagues.
Cameron Maybin was given a shot to win the Marlins' center field job out of spring training, but he hit just .190 with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 42 at-bats. The power was there, as Maybin smacked three homers, but the ability to lay off bad pitches and make consistent contact was not. Sent down to Double-A Carolina, Maybin is off to an excellent start by going 7-for-15 with two homers, a triple, two steals, and a 4/6 K/BB ratio. The aforementioned issues with plate discipline will rear their ugly head soon enough, but the strong start is a reminder of Maybin's phenomenal raw hitting ability. He may not have to wait long to get another shot in the majors, but it'd be best if he spent a full year in the minors working on his selectivity at the plate. If the Marlins feel differently, Maybin could provide decent power and speed numbers despite a low batting average once called up.
Perhaps the most impressive of all the fast starts, Thomas Hanson threw five no-hit innings and struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced for High-A Myrtle Beach in a game against Wilmington. Hanson didn't make my Top 100 after struggling once reaching High-A last season, but he was close to the list and certainly has plenty of upside. With a very good curve and a fastball that now sits in the low-90s, Hanson has the repertoire to develop into a No. 3 starter. A flyball pitcher who had some long ball problems last year, Hanson only needs to improve his command and avoid mistake pitches with his fastball to become a very intriguing prospect. He's off to one great start, and he'll need to be monitored closely as a result.
A better fantasy prospect than true impact player in the majors, Corey Wimberly looked like a future big leaguer after hitting .325/.404/.383 with 50 steals for High-A Modesto in 2006. The 5'8" switch-hitter took a step back in 2007, watching his average drop to .268 and his other statistics along with it. Now 24 years old and back at Double-A Tulsa, Wimberly needs a big year to give himself a chance of making it to the majors. Thankfully for him, Wimberly is off to a nice start by going 10-for-19 with four steals. Jayson Nix is manning second base for the Rockies right now, but he's unlikely to be very successful in the majors. Jeff Baker isn't a long-term option at the position and Ian Stewart has been moved back to third base, so Wimberly could well be the next option if he keeps playing well. Wimberly would instantly be worth a significant investment in fantasy leagues because of his speed, and he could surprise as a decent regular in the Luis Castillo mold.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: Minor Notes
The minor league season kicked off on Thursday, with Prospect Report favorite Matt LaPorta starting things off with a grand slam on the first night of the season. There are plenty of other storylines brewing, and we'll begin to dive into them with a notes-style column this week. Going forward, the column will change a bit from what readers are used to in year's past. In this space I'll profile minor league callups each and every week through the September callups review early in that month. In addition to the callups, I'll also be supplying the annual two-part MLB draft review as well as various other columns once the minor league season shuts down in September.
Rotoworld is also happy to offer additional prospect coverage to Season Pass subscribers. There you'll find a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects, with notes on how players are doing each week and what may be causing a ranking to change. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
And of course, readers are always encouraged to check out the Rotoworld.com Forums for discussion on prospects and all things fantasy sports.
[SIZE=+1]Minor League Notes[/SIZE]
American League
LaPorta wasn't the only star prospect from the 2007 draft making a big splash, as No. 5 overall selection Matt Wieters homered twice in his minor league debut on Friday. The Georgia Tech alum starts the season at High-A Frederick, but both his bat and defense are ready for a bigger challenge. Assuming he keeps hitting, Wieters will move up to Double-A fairly quickly. Continued success might allow for Wieters to reach Triple-A or even the majors during September, and a significant contribution in the big leagues during 2009 is likely. Wieters should have little trouble being an above average regular behind the plate once he's ready, and there are few catching prospects that come along who look as likely to be an All-Star as he does. He enters the season No. 8 in our Season Pass Top 100.
A high school right-hander who slipped to pick No. 27 due to signability issues, Rick Porcello had a strong professional debut for High-A Lakeland by hurling five scoreless innings in a win over the Tampa Yankees. Porcello struck out three, walked two, and allowed just one hit, a single. Porcello is as advanced a high school pitcher as you'll see at age 19, as he already has good command and mixes his pitches well. Throw in a fastball that easily sits in the 93-94 MPH range as well as three plus secondary offerings, and it's easy to see why Porcello gets everyone excited. He should reach Double-A later in the season, which is quite the accomplishment for a 19-year-old. A big league debut late in 2009 seems likely, and Porcello probably won't need much time to realize his potential once getting there. Despite all of the risks inherent in high school pitchers, Porcello's advancement and ace potential allow him to debut as one of baseball's top 15 prospects.
David Price, the first pick in last year's draft, was supposed to make his professional debut when the season opened this week, but instead Price was diagnosed with a strained forearm in late March and was relegated to six weeks of rest. Price has since played catch, but he's still about a month away from true game action. He'll pitch for High-A Vero Beach once ready, and while the news does decrease the chances that we'll see Price in the majors this season, a September debut is possible
Jake Arrieta isn't as big a name as some of the other 2007 draftees mentioned here, but he did sign for a $1.1 million bonus that is a record for a fifth rounder. A standout at TCU as a sophomore, Arrieta slipped some as a junior and saw his draft stock drop. However, the Orioles gave him the big bonus required and then watched as he threw 16 scoreless innings, with 16 strikeouts, in the Arizona Fall League. The right-hander's control still needs work and his changeup isn't MLB-ready, but Arrieta's fastball is a special offering that he'll dial up to 97 MPH when needed and he also has a good curve. The early results were positive, as Arrieta struck out nine and walked one in four innings during his debut for High-A Frederick. Arrieta could move fast if his command holds up, and he's someone to watch for 2009.
Last year I wrote glowingly about the Durham Bulls' rotation and how it was a group I was interested in following given that they had four intriguing prospects, all of whom had the potential to contribute in 2007. This year a similar rotation stands out, though they aren't as close to the majors as last year's group. The High-A Stockton Ports (Oakland A's) rotation is likely the best in the minors to start the year, with three pitchers ranked in my Top 100 and another who isn't that far off. And not surprisingly, Brett Anderson (6 IP, 0 R, 6 K), Fautino De Los Santos (6 IP, 2 R, 6 K), Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 0 R, 4 K), and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1739"]Henry Rodriguez[/URL] (5 IP, 1 R, 8 K) have all started off well. In total, the foursome is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Tigers' first base prospect Jeff Larish is off to a good start for Triple-A Toledo, smacking three home runs in the club's first three games. Larish posted a .267/.390/.515 line in Double-A last season and was once considered a first round talent after a dominant sophomore season at Arizona State, so the ability is there for the 6'2" left-hander. He'll probably strike out too much to be a regular and improvement is unlikely given that Larish is already 25 years old, but he could be a solid platoon player in the mold of Ben Broussard. With the injury-prone Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen ahead of him, Larish could get a shot this year.
One prospect I was very interested to see this year was Chris Tillman, who went from the Mariners to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal. A talented but raw arm who struggled most of the year in High-A last season, Tillman finished the season strong with a 2.50 ERA during his last seven starts. That left some wondering if he had turned a corner, and the Orioles were confident enough to send Tillman to Double-A despite the fact that he's yet to turn 20 years old. Tillman didn't justify the faith in his first start when he gave up two runs while walking three, striking out three, and throwing a wild pitch in just two innings of work. He'll have to do better than that to justify our lofty ranking of the young hurler, but the stuff is there for Tillman to be a star down the road. Still, perhaps some more time in High-A wouldn't have hurt.
National League
Pirates shortstop Brian Bixler was the lone callup of note this week when he replaced the disabled Jack Wilson on the big league roster. Bixler, a second round pick out of Eastern Michigan University in 2004, hit .274/.368/.396 with 28 steals in 475 at-bats for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. He also struck out 131 times, so a high batting average is unlikely despite his lack of power and above average speed. Wilson should be out for a few weeks, so Bixler is worth claiming in NL-only leagues during that time. He'll garner a few steals and add a little in the counting stats by virtue of being the starter.
Homer Bailey was everyone's favorite pitching prospect going into last season, but injuries and some poor performances in the majors got some people down on the right-hander. Bailey seemed poised to redeem himself and win a spot in the Reds' rotation this spring, but instead he posted a 5.21 ERA and walked more batters (16) than he struck out (11) in 19 innings of work. Now back at Triple-A Louisville, Bailey may be turning things around. The right-hander gave up one run while walking one and striking out two in his first outing of the season, then hurled 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball to go with seven strikeouts and one walk last night. Bailey still posses the same ace upside he had last year, and if he can string together a few more good starts he'll be worth stashing away even in one-year leagues.
Cameron Maybin was given a shot to win the Marlins' center field job out of spring training, but he hit just .190 with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 42 at-bats. The power was there, as Maybin smacked three homers, but the ability to lay off bad pitches and make consistent contact was not. Sent down to Double-A Carolina, Maybin is off to an excellent start by going 7-for-15 with two homers, a triple, two steals, and a 4/6 K/BB ratio. The aforementioned issues with plate discipline will rear their ugly head soon enough, but the strong start is a reminder of Maybin's phenomenal raw hitting ability. He may not have to wait long to get another shot in the majors, but it'd be best if he spent a full year in the minors working on his selectivity at the plate. If the Marlins feel differently, Maybin could provide decent power and speed numbers despite a low batting average once called up.
Perhaps the most impressive of all the fast starts, Thomas Hanson threw five no-hit innings and struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced for High-A Myrtle Beach in a game against Wilmington. Hanson didn't make my Top 100 after struggling once reaching High-A last season, but he was close to the list and certainly has plenty of upside. With a very good curve and a fastball that now sits in the low-90s, Hanson has the repertoire to develop into a No. 3 starter. A flyball pitcher who had some long ball problems last year, Hanson only needs to improve his command and avoid mistake pitches with his fastball to become a very intriguing prospect. He's off to one great start, and he'll need to be monitored closely as a result.
A better fantasy prospect than true impact player in the majors, Corey Wimberly looked like a future big leaguer after hitting .325/.404/.383 with 50 steals for High-A Modesto in 2006. The 5'8" switch-hitter took a step back in 2007, watching his average drop to .268 and his other statistics along with it. Now 24 years old and back at Double-A Tulsa, Wimberly needs a big year to give himself a chance of making it to the majors. Thankfully for him, Wimberly is off to a nice start by going 10-for-19 with four steals. Jayson Nix is manning second base for the Rockies right now, but he's unlikely to be very successful in the majors. Jeff Baker isn't a long-term option at the position and Ian Stewart has been moved back to third base, so Wimberly could well be the next option if he keeps playing well. Wimberly would instantly be worth a significant investment in fantasy leagues because of his speed, and he could surprise as a decent regular in the Luis Castillo mold.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Top 10 Prospects - NL West
Here's the long-awaited NL Top 10 Prospects column. The overall top 150 will follow. It might happen this week, but I'm not promising it. I do guarantee that I'll have notes columns up on Sunday (AL) and Monday (NL).
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Max Scherzer - RHP - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: July 2008
2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 30/2 K/BB in 17 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.91 ERA, 64 H, 76/40 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP (AA Mobile)
1-1, 2.13 ERA, 6 H, 18/5 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (AFL Scottsdale)
It took nearly a full year and $4.3 million in guaranteed money, but the Diamondbacks were able to sign the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft. Scherzer, a Missouri product, got off to a dominant start after finally making his pro debut last June and ended up with 106 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings in the minors. Working out of the pen in the Arizona Fall League, he had three times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. Scherzer could be the same kind of asset that Brandon Morrow was for Seattle last year if the Diamondbacks were to turn to him as a reliever now. However, they plan to keep developing him as a starter and hope that his changeup comes along. He has a wicked slider, and his tops out at 95 mph as a starter, 98 mph as a reliever. He's just as likely to be a closer as a starter by 2010, but he has plenty of upside in either role.
2. Jarrod Parker - RHP - DOB: 11/24/88 - ETA: 2011
If the Diamondbacks hadn't spent big to land Scherzer at the end of May, perhaps they would have taken Rick Porcello with the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft. They instead went for the right-hander widely regarded as the No. 2 high school pitching prospect in the nation in Parker. Already possessing four pitches, including a mid-90s fastball and plus slider, Parker has the same kind of upside as Porcello, though because of his small frame, he might be more susceptible to injury. At least his delivery raises no major red flags. He's advanced enough to open his pro career in full-season ball at low-A South Bend.
3. Gerardo Parra - OF - DOB: 05/06/87 - ETA: 2010
.320/.370/.435, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 51/30 K/BB, 24 SB in 444 AB (A- South Bend)
.284/.303/.382, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 17/4 K/BB, 2 SB in 102 AB (A+ Visalia)
Clearly the best bet in a now weak group of Diamondbacks position prospects, Parra excels at putting the bat on the ball and has hit .318 the last two years. He doesn't offer a lot of power yet, but it's easy to see him becoming a 40-double, 15-homer guy in time. Since he's a fine defensive outfielder, that should be enough to make him a regular. He's a bit stretched in center, but he has plenty of arm for right and could be well above average there in time. He also has an ideal skill set for a fourth outfielder, though he shouldn't have to worry about being typecast in his prime. Since the Diamondbacks hope to be set in the outfield for at least the next three years, they could move Parra in a deadline deal. He should be ready to play for some team in 2010.
4. Brooks Brown - RHP - DOB: 06/20/85 - ETA: May 2009
6-3, 2.81 ERA, 66 H, 74/23 K/BB in 80 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.66 ERA, 64 H, 54/36 K/BB in 66 1/3 IP (AA Mobile)
Brown doesn't have the upside teams usually look for in first-round picks, but the sandwich pick out of Georgia in 2006 should prove useful as a fourth or fifth starter or multi-inning reliever. He has pretty good command of a four-pitch arsenal that includes an 89-90 mph sinking fastball and a quality slider. If he's sent to the pen, he'd likely gain velocity and drop his less effective curve and changeup. Since the Diamondbacks aren't lacking for rotation candidates, he figures to at least break into the majors as a reliever initially. He'll be an option before the end of this year, though with the crowd ahead of him, his opportunity might not come.
5. Juan Gutierrez - RHP - DOB: 07/14/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
5-10, 4.15 ERA, 154 H, 108/63 K/BB in 156 IP (AAA Round Rock)
1-1, 5.91 ERA, 25 H, 16/6 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP (Houston)
An unheralded piece in the Jose Valverde trade, Gutierrez came to the Diamondbacks as one of the most polished prospects left in a barren Houston system. Unfortunately for him, he would have had a much better chance of helping his old team this year. Gutierrez sits in the low-90s with his fastball, and when he gets ahead, both his curveball and changeup become tough to lay off. When he pitches from behind in the count, as he did too often last year, he's pretty hittable. The Astros wanted to keep him in the rotation, but he's probably going to be a reliever if he makes it in Arizona. He'd have setup man potential in that role. Given that other teams still see him as a starter, it'd be no surprise to see him included in another deal this summer.
6. Barry Enright - RHP - DOB: 03/30/86 - ETA: June 2009
0-0, 0 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 12/3 K/BB in 8 IP (SS-A Yakima)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB in 2 IP (A- South Bend)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 4/2 K/BB in 5 IP (A+ Visalia)
The Diamondbacks grabbed Enright out of Pepperdine in the second round of the 2007 draft and used him out of the bullpen the rest of the year in an effort to conserve his arm. He didn't allow a single earned run in 15 innings at three levels, suggesting that he's already on the fast track. Enright wouldn't seem to have a lot of room for growth. His fastball rarely exceeded 90 mph as a starter, but he succeeded by spotting it well and mixing in a plus slider. A very good fielder, he does the little things well enough that he might have a shot at making it as a fourth or fifth starter in the majors. He'll probably finish this year in Double-A.
7. Emilio Bonifacio - 2B - DOB: 04/23/85 - ETA: April 2009
.285/.333/.352, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 105/38 K/BB, 41 SB in 551 AB (AA Mobile)
.217/.333/.261, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 23 AB (Arizona)
Bonifacio isn't really any better of a prospect now than he was when he ranked 14th on the list a year ago, but of the 13 players ahead him then, all but Cyle Hankerd either graduated or got traded.
Bonifacio's main asset remains his outstanding speed. He's capable of bunting for basehits and then getting to second on his own, and his quickness makes him an above average defender at second base. Unfortunately, he rarely drives the ball from either side of the plate and he strikes out far too often for a singles hitter. He'll probably pick up some other positions and have a career as a utility player, but the Diamondbacks will want him to continue to focus on second base for now. He'll be a fallback in 2009 if Orlando Hudson leaves and Chris Burke disappoints as his replacement.
8. Wes Roemer - RHP - DOB: 10/07/86 - ETA: 2010
1-0, 4.50 ERA, 11 H, 18/2 K/BB in 12 IP (SS-A Yakima)
A 6-foot right-hander, Roemer seems to pitch with a chip on his shoulder. He was well known for working inside during a successful career at Cal-State Fullerton and actually ended up hitting 20 more batters than he walked during his time in school. After trying to tie up hitters with his low-90s fastball, he tends to use his slider to go for strikeouts. He'll have to polish his change and mix up his pitches a little better if he hopes to make it to the majors as a starter. He might be a better bet out of the pen.
9. Ed Easley - C- DOB; 12/21/85 - ETA: 2010
.250/.319/.419, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 30/9 K/BB, 1 SB in 124 AB (SS-A Yakima)
Even though there were several teams looking for young catchers in last year's draft and few top prospects available, Easley lasted until the 61st pick and went to a team with two catchers in Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero it hopes to employ for a long time. Easley was steady both offensively and defensively at Mississippi State. He has an above average arm and is mechanically sound behind the plate. His bat is in question, and though he has 15-homer power, the on-base skills probably won't be there to make him an ideal everyday option. Still, he should make it as at least a quality backup.
10. Tyrell Worthington - OF - DOB: 08/02/88 - ETA: 2013
.135/.238/.189, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 11/5 K/BB, 1 SB (R Missoula)
Worthington is so raw that he really shouldn't have made the top 10, but with this being the weakest list the Diamondbacks have featured in a long time, his upside gets him a spot Worthington passed on a football scholarship to sign with Arizona after being drafted in the fifth round last year. He has excellent speed and should become a quality defensive center fielder with experience. It's sure to be a couple of years before his bat comes around and he begins putting up quality minor league numbers, but with so many young regulars under control for five or six years, the Diamondbacks can afford to be patient.
Next five: RHP Billy Buckner, RHP Esmerling Vasquez, RHP Dallas Buck, OF Cyle Hankerd, SS Reynoldo Navarro
Buckner, who came over from Kansas City for Alberto Callaspo, has a better chance of making it as a middle reliever than as a starter. The Diamondbacks lost value in that deal. ? Vasquez would have ranked fourth on the list before suffering a torn right labrum diving for a ball in the Arizona Fall League. ? Buck will be one to watch once he returns from Tommy John surgery, though he's not going to be full strength until 2009. ? Hankerd, just the second repeater from 2007, hit .285/.368/.422 in a nice environment for offense at high-A Visalia last year. ? Navarro, a 2007 third-round pick, is a legitimate shortstop with modest offensive potential.
2007 top 15: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL], Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez, Miguel Montero, Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, Alberto Callaspo, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=778"]Chris Carter[/URL], Mark Reynolds, Tony Pena, Greg Smith, Cyle Hankerd, Brett Anderson, Emilio Bonifacio, Gerardo Parra
2006 top 15: Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL], Dustin Nippert, Carlos Gonzalez, Garrett Mock, Miguel Montero, Matt Torra, Micah Owings, Tony Pena, Jon Zeringue, Enrique Gonzalez, Matt Chico
2005 top 10: Carlos Quentin, Conor Jackson, Sergio Santos, Josh Kroeger, Jon Zeringue, Chris Snyder, Tony Pena, Dustin Nippert, Jamie D'Antona, Bill Murphy
2004 top 10: Scott Hairston, Sergio Santos, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], Dustin Nippert, Brian Bruney, Edgar Gonzalez, Tony Pena, Conor Jackson, Josh Kroeger, Mike Gosling
2003 top 10: Scott Hairston, John Patterson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], Lyle Overbay, Mike Gosling, Oscar Villarreal, Sergio Santos, Luis Terrero, Brian Barden, Jesus Cota
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Colorado Rockies
1. Franklin Morales - LHP - DOB: 01/24/86 - ETA: Now
3-4, 3.48 ERA, 77 H, 77/45 K/BB in 95 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
2-0, 3.71 ERA, 20 H, 16/13 K/BB in 17 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
3-2, 3.43 ERA, 34 H, 26/14 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (Colorado)
The Rockies were very lucky twice last season, as both Ubaldo Jimenez and Morales were able to make quick transitions to the majors after arriving in the second half. Morales even went three straight starts in September without allowing a run. He did slump in the postseason, but he showed enough overall that the Rockies had him penciled into their rotation entering the spring. When Morales is at his best, he shows a 92-96 mph heater, a sweeping curveball and a fine changeup. His velocity was down this spring, making him a risky proposition for the short-term. However, he has more upside than anyone on Colorado's pitching staff, Jeff Francis included.
2. Ian Stewart - 3B - DOB: 04/05/85 - ETA: June 2008
.304/.379/.478, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 92/49 K/BB, 11 SB in 414 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.209/.261/.372, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 43 AB (Colorado)
Stewart was supposedly part of the Rockies' second-base competition entering the spring, but he never had a realistic chance of beating out Jayson Nix, and even though he hit well in March, he was sent down. Another year of Triple-A is what he needs anyway. His 857 OPS last year was nothing special considering the conditions at Colorado Springs. In fact, he hasn't put up particularly good numbers at any point since he was at low-A Asheville in 2004. His defense at third base remains rough, though he has the tools to be more than adequate. He was never likely to cut it at second. Even though he's just now turning 23, this is a big year for Stewart. If he goes out and slugs .550, he'll be a hot property in trade talks, while another season like his 2007 would have teams questioning his long-term upside. It'd be a disappointment if he joins the Mike Lamb/Ty Wigginton class of third basemen.
3. Dexter Fowler - OF - DOB: 03/22/86 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.273/.397/.367, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 64/44 K/BB, 20 SB in 245 AB (A+ Modesto)
.224/.325/.308, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 28/14 K/BB, 4 SB in 107 AB (AFL Peoria)
The Rockies have a potentially better version of Willy Taveras on the way in Fowler, who has hit .284/.376/.422 with 81 steals in 226 games as a pro. He has struggled with injuries, missing much of last season with a broken hamate bone, but he's a switch-hitter with impressive on-base skills and plenty of range in center field. Somewhat discouraging was that his power evaporated in high-A ball even before the hamate injury last year. However, he's more than just a slap hitter, especially from the left side, and he should be able to produce doubles and triples in the majors. His patience at the plate could make him a fine leadoff man in time. If he can avoid additional major injuries, he'll be ready to contribute at the start of 2010 or perhaps a little earlier.
4. Greg Reynolds - RHP - DOB: 07/03/85 - ETA: July 2008
4-1, 1.42 ERA, 32 H, 35/9 K/BB in 50 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
Reynolds, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft, was one of the top performers in the minors last year until a sore shoulder shut him down. He ended up undergoing surgery in August, but since nothing serious was found, he proved ready to pitch this spring. A healthy Reynolds is a rock-solid pitcher with a low-90s fastball, a plus curve and an average change. He probably won't be a big strikeout guy in the majors, but his ability to spot his pitches will make him a No. 3 starter anyway. He should be an option for the Rockies as soon as June or July.
5. Casey Weathers - RHP - DOB: 06/10/85 - ETA: July 2008
0-1, 2 Sv, 4.61 ERA, 6 H, 19/7 K/BB in 13 2/3 IP (A- Asheville)
0-0, 0 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 0 H, 2/2 K/BB in 1 IP (A+ Modesto)
Brian Fuentes was still going strong, Manny Corpas has displayed plenty of promise and Juan Morillo had just taken his high-90s fastball with him to the pen, yet the Rockies still used the eighth overall pick in the 2007 draft on a possible closer of the future. Weathers, a teammate of David Price's at Vanderbilt, gets strikeouts with a 95-98 mph fastball and hard slider. His command is spotty, and he doesn't have a third pitch, but he could be a dominant late-inning presence anyway. The Rockies have started him off in Double-A this year and could call him up as soon as June or July. He's probably going to be stuck in a setup role in his first couple of years in the big leagues, but he has more long-term potential than Corpas.
6. Chris Nelson - SS - DOB: 09/03/85 - ETA: 2010
.289/.358/.503, 19 HR, 99 RBI, 92/55 K/BB, 27 SB in 529 AB (A+ Modesto)
Perhaps Dan O'Dowd's best move during his tenure as the Rockies' GM was not passing on Troy Tulowitzki on the 2005 draft even though Nelson hit .347/.432/.510 in Rookie ball after being drafted in the first round in 2004. There was always going to be room for both if they developed as hoped. Nelson went on to disappoint in back-to-back years at low-A Asheville, but he did bounce back last year with an 850 OPS in the California League. He generates enough power with a compact swing to average 15 homers and 30 doubles per year in the majors. Nelson still makes too many miscues at shortstop and would probably face a move to second base even if he didn't have Tulo ahead of him. He has the range to be above average there in time. That his performance record is so checkered suggests he could yet go either way. However, he's always had youth and talent on his side.
7. Hector Gomez - SS - DOB: 03/05/88 - ETA: 2012
.266/.309/.421, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 120/29 K/BB, 20 SB in 534 AB (A- Asheville)
The new young gun at shortstop for Colorado, Gomez has outstanding defensive potential and pretty good pop at the plate. His approach leaves much to be desired. He doesn't wait for his pitch, and he doesn't try to go to the other way when presented with outside fastballs. He can yank the occasional ball out of the park and he'll do so even more frequently once he fills out, but it'd be better if he used his speed more frequently. He'll have to adapt if he's going to fulfill his potential and become a star. A Jack Wilson-type career would the more realistic scenario.
8. Juan Morillo - RHP - DOB: 11/05/83 - ETA: Sept. 2008
6-4, 2.35 ERA, 44 H, 59/27 K/BB in 57 1/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
0-1, 3.72 ERA, 7 H, 12/4 K/BB in 9 2/3 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
0-0, 9.82 ERA, 3 H, 3/1 K/BB in 3 2/3 IP (Colorado)
Morillo put up nice numbers in his first year as a reliever, yet the Rockies still weren't thrilled with his progress as he tries to come up with a more consistent second pitch. Morillo's calling card will always be his fastball. He's hit triple-digits on the gun, and he was often up to 97-98 mph while working an inning at a time last year. Unfortunately, command of the pitch remains a problem, and doesn't give hitters much else to think about when he's throwing it 90 percent of the time. Morillo has a slider and a changeup, but neither has a lot of movement. He'll be out of options next spring, so the Rockies may trade him if they don't see a significant step forward this year.
9. Seth Smith - OF - DOB: 09/30/82 - ETA: April 2009
.317/.381/.528, 17 HR, 82 RBI, 73/39 K/BB, 7 SB in 451 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.625/.625/.875, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 8 AB (Colorado)
Smith really impressed off the bench for the Rockies at the end of last year, making the playoff roster off the strength of eight at-bats, but he wasn't given any chance to make the team this year, even though he doesn't have a lot left to prove in the minors. Smith should have a fair career as a bench player. The 2004 second-round pick can hit for average and has 15-homer power from the left side of the plate. His defense in a corner is above average, and he can play center in a pinch. He's not going to get any better than he is now, but he's already the kind of guy who wouldn't hurt a team very much if pressed into regular duty for a few weeks. The Rockies will put him back on their bench if an injury frees up some playing time.
10. Brandon Hynick - RHP - DOB: 03/07/85 - ETA: June 2009
16-5, 2.52 ERA, 170 H, 136/31 K/BB in 182 1/3 IP (A+ Modesto)
Command and deception helped make Hynick one of the most successful pitchers in the minors last season. The 2006 eighth-round pick only occasionally hits 90 mph on the gun, but he spots his fastball and shows a pretty good splitter and curve. His delivery helps him hide the ball against left-handers for the extra split-second he needs to keep them from lining up his heater. Odds are that he won't have as much luck in the majors, and Coors Field could be an especially bad fit for him. However, he could last as a fourth or fifth starter anyway.
Next five: OF Brian Rike, RHP Chaz Roe, RHP Pedro Strop, C Michael McKenry, 1B Joe Koshansky
Rike, a 2007 second-round pick, hit .296/.404/.441 after being drafted last year. ? Roe has yet to show a great deal of upside as a starter since being drafted with a sandwich pick in 2005, but his fastball-curveball combination could play well in relief. ? Strop, who made the move to the mound two years ago, has displayed setup potential as a reliever. ? McKenry is an offensive-minded catcher with 15- or 20-homer power. Unfortunately, he has a long ways to go with the glove. ? I'll stick with Koshansky over Jayson Nix for the last spot.
2007 top 15: Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Hirsh, Ian Stewart, Chris Iannetta, Franklin Morales, Ubaldo Jimenez Dexter Fowler, Greg Reynolds, Joe Koshansky, Jeff Baker, Chris Nelson, Juan Morillo, Jonathan Herrera, Oscar Rivera, Manny Corpas
2006 top 15: Ian Stewart, Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ryan Shealy, Chris Nelson, Omar Quintanilla, Jeff Salazar, Franklin Morales, Jeff Baker, Chaz Roe, Chris Iannetta, Juan Morillo, Jim Miller, Matt Macri, Shane Lindsay
2005 top 10: Ian Stewart, Jeff Francis, Chris Nelson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Baker, Jeff Salazar, Brad Hawpe, Clint Barmes, Ryan Shealy, Garrett Atkins
2004 top 10: Chin-Hui Tsao, Ian Stewart, Jason Young, Jeff Francis, Jayson Nix, Ubaldo Jimenez, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Ching-Lung Lo, Matt Holliday
2003 top 10: Jack Cust, Aaron Cook, Chin-Hui Tsao, Brad Hawpe, Jason Young, Choo Freeman, Garrett Atkins, Ryan Shealy, Jeff Francis, J.D. Closser
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Los Angeles Dodgers
1. Clayton Kershaw - LHP - DOB: 03/19/88 - ETA: July 2008
7-5, 2.77 ERA, 72 H, 134/50 K/BB in 97 1/3 IP (A- Great Lakes)
1-2, 3.65 ERA, 17 H, 29/17 K/BB in 24 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
The No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect in the minors, Kershaw probably has even more upside than the two right-handers who will rank ahead of him on the overall top 150. However, at the tender age of 20, he does qualify as the biggest injury risk of the group. Kershaw has the ability to be a true ace for the Dodgers. His 91-96 mph fastball, curve and changeup are all quality major league pitches, and he's so tough to hit that he could be effective in the majors right now even though he'd walk five batters per nine innings. He does need to get more efficient with his pitches if he's going to work deep into games. It's very possible the Dodgers will add him to their rotation in June or July, but they'll only have him for five innings per game because he'll certainly be on a pitch count. The caution is warranted. Kershaw isn't always consistent with his delivery, which is why he occasionally struggles to throw strikes. If he gets tired and starts using his arm more than his legs, he could have problems.
2. Andy LaRoche - 3B - DOB: 09/13/83 - ETA: April 2008
.309/.399/.589, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 42/39 K/BB, 2 SB in 265 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.226/.365/.312, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 24/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 93 AB (NL Los Angeles)
A .315 hitter with 28 homers and a 74/64 K/BB ratio in 467 at-bats in Triple-A the last two years, LaRoche has nothing left to prove in the minors. However, he does have to show he can stay healthy. His history of back issues qualified as one reason the Dodgers were afraid to simply hand him a starting job this spring, and while the injury he suffered in March was a fluke -- he suffered a torn UCL in his thumb when he was hit by a thrown ball -- it's just one more to add to the list. A healthy LaRoche has an All-Star-caliber offensive game and a fine glove at third base. Should be beat the injury bug, he could have some .300-30 HR seasons in his prime. The team should be hoping he wins the third-base job outright by June or July.
3. Scott Elbert - LHP - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: July 2009
0-1, 3.86 ERA, 6 H, 24/10 K/BB in 14 IP (AA Jacksonville)
Elbert, a 2004 first-round pick, established himself as one of the game's top lefty prospects in 2006, but was limited to just three starts last season before surgery on his left shoulder. While no tears in his labrum or rotator cuff were discovered, he still wasn't ready to return this spring. If he regains his stuff, Elbert will show three major league pitches in his low-90s fastball, curve and changeup. He does struggle to throw strikes, and his rather violent windup may have led to his shoulder problems. If he could tone it down a bit and still throw 88-91 mph with better command, he might be better off in the long run. He'll probably resume pitching in the minors in May or June. The surgery has backed up his timetable by at least a year.
4. Jonathan Meloan - RHP - DOB: 07/11/84 - ETA: June 2008
5-2, 19 Sv, 2.18 ERA, 24 H, 70/18 K/BB in 45 1/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
2-0, 1 Sv, 1.69 ERA, 12 H, 21/9 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP (AAA Las Vegas)
0-0, 0 Sv, 11.05 ERA, 8 H, 7/8 K/BB in 7 1/3 IP (Los Angeles)
Arguably the game's best relief prospect, Meloan has posted a 182/43 K/BB ratio in 118 2/3 innings in the minors the last two seasons. Batters hit .156 against him last year. Meloan doesn't overwhelm with velocity, but he's consistently in the low-90s. His slider is a top-notch No. 2 pitch, and he also has a curve with pretty good bite. He actually has a starter's arsenal, but he lacks the stamina to throw six or seven innings a night and it's doubtful his arm would hold up for 180-200 innings per year. He'll probably emerge as a big-time setup man for the Dodgers at about the same time that Jonathan Broxton overtakes Takashi Saito for the closer's role.
5. James McDonald - RHP - DOB: 10/19/84 - ETA: May 2009
6-7, 3.95 ERA, 79 H, 104/21 K/BB in 82 IP (A+ Inland Empire)
7-2, 1.71 ERA, 42 H, 64/16 K/BB in 52 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
While falling in love with Kershaw this spring, the Dodgers quickly dismissed a guy who had a 3.07 ERA and a 168/37 K/BB ratio at higher levels last season. McDonald certainly isn't the prospect that Kershaw is, but the converted outfielder looks like a potential middle-of-the-rotation starter with his low-90s fastball, quality curve and decent change. Command isn't a problem. Lefties will occasionally take him deep since he lacks movement on his heater, but that's his only major flaw. The Dodgers may choose to initially break him in as a reliever later this year.
6. Chin-Lung Hu - SS - DOB: 02/02/84 - ETA: Now
.329/.380/.508, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 33/26 K/BB, 33 SB in 325 AB (AA Jacksonville)
.318/.337/.505, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 18/6 K/BB, 3 SB in 192 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.241/.241/.517, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 29 AB (NL Los Angeles)
Hu had to repeat Double-A last year after hitting just .254/.326/.354 in 2006, but he blossomed offensively and made it to the majors in September. Always highly thought of defensively, the native of Taiwan possesses above average range and a strong, accurate arm at shortstop. His bat is still something of a question mark. Hu overswings at times, leading to infield popups, and while he doesn't fan very often, he also has a below average walk rate. His power translates into doubles, not homers. Hu is practically certain to be an everyday major league shortstop, and the Dodgers could turn the position over to him next year if they decline to re-sign Rafael Furcal. His performance this season in a utility role and likely back in Triple-A will aid in determining just what kind of offensive upside he has.
7. Chris Withrow - RHP - DOB: 04/01/89 - ETA: 2011
0-0, 5.00 ERA, 5 H, 13/4 K/BB in 9 IP (R GCL Dodgers)
Withrow was the fifth high school pitcher taken in the 2007 draft, going 20th overall. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Texan throws 90-95 mph, and his curveball has all the makings of a strikeout pitch. He is raw even as far as high school products go, and it'll likely be a long time before his changeup becomes a weapon. He'll be used carefully this year, and it's highly unlikely that he'll move as quickly as Kershaw has.
8. Blake DeWitt - 3B - DOB: 08/20/85 - ETA: July 2009
.298/.338/.466, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 42/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 339 AB (A+ Inland Empire)
.281/.306/.466, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 26/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 178 AB (AA Jacksonville)
.281/.354/.404, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 7/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 57 AB (AFL Peoria)
Despite sporting a pedestrian career line of .279/.332/.443 and never having played in Triple-A, DeWitt got to open this season as the Dodgers' starting third baseman. However, that was a fluke, as three players ahead of him on the depth chart got hurt. DeWitt's one big strength is his sweet line-drive swing. He makes a lot of contact and laces doubles to the gaps with regularity. Still, it hasn't led to strong overall numbers at any level. DeWitt isn't likely to be more than a 15-homer guy and his defense at third base is merely average, so his upside is limited. He would have been a lot more promising if he could have survived at second base, but that didn't work out. Maybe he'll be an average regular anyway, but even though he's holding his own right now, he's at least a year away.
9. Josh Bell - 3B - DOB: 11/13/86 - ETA: 2011
.289/.354/.470, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 109/39 K/BB, 5 SB in 398 AB (A- Great Lakes)
.173/.203/.307, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 19/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 75 AB (A+ Inland Empire)
Bell remains a very raw product nearly three years after being drafted in the fourth round in 2005, but switch-hitters with his power potential don't grow on trees. Bell takes big cuts from both sides of the plate, and should grow up to be a 30-homer guy someday. However, he may not last at third base because of a lack of range and he doesn't yet have a well rounded offensive game. Unless he cuts down on his swing somewhat, he's not going to hit for average at higher levels.
10. Andrew Lambo - OF - DOB: 08/11/88 - ETA: 2012
.343/.440/.519, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 34/29 K/BB, 1 SB in 191 AB (R GCL Dodgers)
Some off-field troubles resulted in Lambo slipping into the fourth round of last year's draft, but the Dodgers might have gotten themselves a steal. The left-handed-hitting Lambo shows an advanced approach at the plate and the possibility of 20-homer power down the line. Perhaps left-handers will always give him trouble, but his bat could carry him to the majors anyway. The Dodgers are hoping he'll make it as an outfielder, though he doesn't run very well. He'd make a lot more sense at first base, but he's unlikely to ever budge James Loney. If he continues to stay out of trouble, he could be the team's top position prospect on next year's list.
Next five: OF Delwyn Young, RHP Bryan Morris, SS Ivan DeJesus Jr., 3B Pedro Baez, LHP James Adkins
Because he was out of options, Young had to make the Dodgers this year. He should be able to hit doubles and singles against major league pitching, but since he's a liability everywhere he's been put on defense, it might be that his long-term future is as a bench player. ? Morris, a 2006 first-round supplemental choice, is returning from Tommy John surgery this year. ? DeJesus looked like the better shortstop prospect than Hu a year ago, but he's probably not going to hit at the major league level. He might be a lower-tier regular anyway. ? Yet another third-base prospect, Baez was signed out of the Dominican Republic last year. He's all tools at this point. ? Adkins, a sandwich pick last year, is a fastball-slider pitcher with the potential to become a fourth starter.
2007 top 15: Andy LaRoche, James Loney, Scott Elbert, Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Meloan, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], Blake DeWitt, Josh Bell, Preston Mattingly, Bryan Morris, Tony Abreu, Justin Orenduff, Ivan DeJesus Jr., Cory Dunlap, Kyle Orr
2006 top 15: Joel Guzman, Chad Billingsley, Andy LaRoche, Russell Martin, James Loney, Jonathan Broxton, Andre Ethier, Scott Elbert, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], Matt Kemp, Hong-Chih Kuo, Willy Aybar, Justin Orenduff, Blake DeWitt, Chin-Lung Hu
2005 top 10: Joel Guzman, Chad Billingsley, Edwin Jackson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], James Loney, Chuck Tiffany, Yhency Brazoban, Jonathan Broxton, Willy Aybar, Dioner Navarro
2004 top 10: Edwin Jackson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], James Loney, Franklin Gutierrez, Joel Guzman, Joel Hanrahan, Chad Billingsley, Reggie Abercrombie, Chin-Feng Chen, Joe Thurston
2003 top 10: James Loney, Joe Thurston, Chin-Feng Chen, Joel Guzman, Johnathan Figueroa, Joel Hanrahan, Koyie Hill, Victor Diaz, Reggie Abercrombie, Andrew Brown
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San Diego Padres
1. Chase Headley - 3B/OF - DOB: 05/09/84 - ETA: June 2008
.330/.437/.580, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 117/74 K/BB, 1 SB in 433 AB (AA San Antonio)
.222/.333/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 18 AB (San Diego)
Headley's long-term potential was questioned when he finished with just 12 homers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2006, but he's a legitimate top prospect now after starting off on fire last year and never cooling off. Headley finished with 20 homers and 63 extra-base hits, showing consistent power from both sides of the plate in the process. The on-base ability has always been there, and he'll keep hitting for fine averages in the minors. On defense, he was only average at third base, though some would say that already makes him an upgrade over Kevin Kouzmanoff. Surprisingly, it's Headley who will make the switch to the outfield. He could be the Padres' left fielder as soon as June. His bat won't make him a star at the position, but he should be a solid regular for several years.
2. Matt Antonelli - 2B - DOB: 04/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
.314/.409/.499, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 58/53 K/BB, 18 SB in 347 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.294/.395/.476, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 36/30 K/BB, 10 SB in 187 AB (AA San Antonio)
.214/.333/.268, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 9/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 56 AB (AFL Peoria)
Antonelli, a 2006 first-round pick out of Wake Forest, went from hitting no homers in 205 at-bats in his pro debut to slugging 21 last year. Especially promising was that his numbers carried over to Double-A without any real decline. He did slump in the AFL, but it was at the end of a long year. The Padres took a look at him in the outfield over the winter, but he's going to be their long-term second baseman, with a full-time job likely to come at the beginning of 2009. His ability to hit for average and draw walks will make him a great fit as a No. 2 hitter. The power probably won't be there to make him an All-Star, but there's nothing else not to like.
3. Will Inman - RHP - DOB: 02/26/87 - ETA: Aug. 2008
4-3, 1.72 ERA, 56 H, 98/23 K/BB in 78 2/3 IP (A+ Brevard County)
1-3, 5.45 ERA, 38 H, 42/16 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (AA Huntsville)
3-3, 4.17 ERA, 33 H, 40/19 K/BB in 41 IP (AA San Antonio)
Short of picking up an extra five mph on his fastball, the best thing that could have happened to further Inman's career was the trade to San Diego. A flyball pitcher with some difficulty against left-handers, he'll benefit a great deal once he makes it to Petco Park. The top prospect of the three the Padres received for Scott Linebrink last summer, Inman throws 89-92 mph with a quality curve and an average changeup. He's aggressive while working right-handed hitters inside and can still paint the outside corner. Left-handers get a longer look at him and can hit him hard on occasion, but a lot of long flies turn into outs in San Diego. He could fit into the Padres' rotation by July or August, and Petco will make him look like a No. 3, even if he's really more of a No. 4.
4. Chad Huffman - OF - DOB: 04/29/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.307/.402/.522, 15 HR, 76 RBI, 56/42 K/BB, 0 SB in 316 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.269/.362/.431, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 44/22 K/BB, 0 SB in 167 AB (AA San Antonio)
Willing to overlook his limited physical skills, the Padres made Huffman a second-round pick in the 2006 draft. He's responded with a .306/.401/.512 line in 695 at-bats as a pro, but his struggles after moving up to Double-A last year only solidified the doubts of some about how his bat will translate versus more advanced pitching. Huffman will occasionally swing from his heels to help make up for his lack of quick wrists and bat speed. Right-handers with big fastball-slider combinations should be able to take advantage. Huffman does do an exceptional job of hitting mistakes, and even if he doesn't prove to be good enough against right-handers to make it as a regular, his ability to pound left-handers would allow him to contribute. What would hold him back as a bench player is his lack of versatility; he's pretty much limited to left field on defense. Unless the Padres are willing to play Headley in right field after Brian Giles goes, Huffman won't figure into the team's plans.
5. Matt Latos - RHP - DOB: 12/09/87 - ETA: 2010
1-4, 3.83 ERA, 58 H, 74/22 K/BB in 56 1/3 (SS-A Eugene)
At $1.25 million, Latos got the biggest bonus last year in what will be the last class of draft-and-follows. The 2006 11th-round pick likely would have been a late first-round pick had he went back into the draft. He can occasionally hit 95-96 mph with his fastball, and he has good feel for his changeup for someone so young. His curve could be a third above average major league pitcher. His command is a little worse than last year's walk rate suggests, but he has plenty of time left to improve. While he ranks behind Inman here, he certainly has the higher ceiling of the two.
6. Kyle Blanks - 1B - DOB: 09/11/86 - ETA: 2010
.301/.380/.540, 24 HR, 100 RBI, 98/44 K/BB, 11 SB in 465 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
A hulking first baseman, Blanks stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 280 pounds. He's developing the power to match his stature, though he's not yet adept at driving the ball the other way. At least he doesn't strike out overly much. On defense, he's surprisingly solid at first base, though that could change if he gets much heavier. He really needs to be careful to stay under 300 pounds if he's going to have a career. Obviously, he's not an option anywhere other than first base, and since the Padres don't expect to have a need there anytime soon, Blanks could become trade bait at some point.
7. Cedric Hunter - OF - DOB: 03/10/88 - ETA: 2011
.282/.344/.373, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 78/47 K/BB, 8 SB in 496 AB (A- Fort Wayne)
.500/.600/1.250, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 4 AB (AAA Portland)
Hunter looked like he had the most upside in the San Diego system after hitting .371/.467/.484 in 213 AB for the Rookie AZL Padres in his pro debut, but the 2006 third-round pick failed to excel in low-A ball last season. A left-handed hitter with a line-drive stroke, Hunter still shows promise. He's mostly a gap hitter now, but he could be a 15- or 20-homer guy in time. Unfortunately, he lacks big-time speed, something that will prove to be a hindrance with the Padres developing him as a center fielder. If he's forced to move to a corner, he'd become a lot less promising in a hurry. He'll continue to be brought along slowly even though the Padres have no idea who is going to play center field for them in 2009.
8. Nick Schmidt - LHP - DOB: 10/10/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
0-1, 6.43 ERA, 8 H, 6/6 K/BB in 7 IP (A- Fort Wayne)
The Padres believed the polished Schmidt would help them quickly after making him the 23rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, but he required Tommy John surgery in October and will miss all of 2008. Never a big upside guy, the 6-foot-5 Schmidt throws 88-90 mph when healthy. His changeup and curveball will both be major league pitches, though neither will result in a lot of strikeouts. With Petco on his side, all of the balls in play he allows will be less of an issue, and he should turn into a legitimate third or fourth starter.
9. Kellen Kulbacki - OF - DOB: 11/21/85 - ETA: 2010
.301/.382/.491, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 56/27 K/BB, 1 SB in 226 AB (SS-A Eugene)
Kulbacki was the 40th overall selection in last year's draft after hitting 43 homers in his final two seasons at James Madison. He doesn't have a lot to offer except his bat, but he should combine quality on-base skills with 25-homer power by the time he's ready for the majors. He handles left-handed pitches especially well for a lefty swinger. His glove is an issue, and like Huffman, he's probably going to be limited to left field in the majors. He could reach Double-A before the end of the season.
10. Wade LeBlanc - LHP - DOB: 08/07/84 - April 2009
6-5, 2.64 ERA, 72 H, 90/17 K/BB in 92 IP (A+ Lake Elsinore)
7-3, 3 .45 ERA, 48 H, 55/19 K/BB in 57 1/3 IP (AA San Antonio)
LeBlanc, a 2006 second-round pick out of Alabama, got talked up a sleeper fifth-starter candidate in spring training. In the end, the Padres correctly decided that he needed more time in the minors. LeBlanc is a true finesse lefty with an 87-mph fastball, an excellent change and a pretty good curve. That he gives up his share of flyballs would be a bigger problem if he wasn't a Padres prospect. He has a chance to be a nice fourth or fifth starter, and Petco will make him look even better than that.
Next five: RHP Drew Miller, RHP Cesar Carrillo, LHP Cory Luebke, SS Drew Cumberland, C Mitch Canham
Miller has more upside than Schmidt or LeBlanc, but the sore shoulder that troubled him last year keeps him out of the top 10. ? Carrillo, the team's No. 1 prospect the last two years, underwent Tommy John surgery in June and doesn't seem like as good of a bet as Schmidt to bounce back. ? The remaining three guys were all 2007 supplemental first-rounders. Luebke is another polished lefty capable of moving quickly. Cumberland has an intriguing bat, but may move to second after playing short in high school. Canham has the potential to move up considerably on next year's list if he proves he can stay behind the plate.
2007 top 15: Cesar Carrillo, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Cedric Hunter, Matt Antonelli, Will Venable, Andrew Brown, Chase Headley, Chad Huffman, Sean Thompson, Paul McAnulty, Kyler Burke, Jared Wells, Cesar Ramos, Nick Hundley, Aaron Breit
2006 top 15: Cesar Carrillo, Josh Barfield, George Kottaras, Chase Headley, Ben Johnson, Clay Hensley, Paul McAnulty, Jared Wells, Freddy Guzman, Sean Thompson, Cesar Ramos, Matt Bush, Kyle Blanks, Steve Andrade, Michael Johnson
2005 top 10: Tim Stauffer, Josh Barfield, Travis Chick, George Kottaras, Matt Bush, Brad Baker, Freddy Guzman, Tagg Bozied, Sean Thompson, Justin Germano
2004 top 10: Khalil ******, Josh Barfield, Tim Stauffer, Ben Howard, Henri Stanley, Javier Martinez, Freddy Guzman, Tagg Bozied, Jon Knott, Jake Gautreau
2003 top 10: Xavier Nady, Khalil ******, Mike Bynum, Mark Phillips, Tagg Bozied, Jake Gautreau, Ben Howard, Brad Baker, Mike Nicolas, Eric Cyr
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San Francisco Giants
1. Angel Villalona - 3B - DOB: 08/13/90 - ETA: 2012
.285/.344/.450, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 42/15 K/BB, 1 SB in 200 AB (R AZL Giants)
.167/.231/.167, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/0 K/BB, 1 SB in 12 AB (SS-A Salem Keiser)
The Giants have a position player as their top prospect for the first time since I've been doing this. The last time Baseball America had a non-pitcher listed at No. 1 for the club was 1995, when P.J. Phillips was the choice.
Villalona is the one hope the Giants have had for developing an offensive superstar in the last 20 years. The native of the Dominican Republic got a $2.1 million bonus to sign as a 16-year-old in Aug. 2006. He made his pro debut last June and put up solid numbers right away. What he didn't do was show much promise at third base. He's making the move to first base this year and probably won't move ever again. Already powerfully built at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Villalona could develop into a 30-homer guy. He doesn't take wild swings at breaking balls, and he shows some willingness to take pitches the other way. It'll probably be a couple of years before he starts putting up big numbers, but he has about as much offensive potential as anyone in the minors.
2. Henry Sosa - RHP - DOB: 07/28/85 - ETA: June 2009
6-0, 0.73 ERA, 30 H, 61/25 K/BB in 62 IP (A- Augusta)
5-5, 4.38 ERA, 66 H, 78/36 K/BB in 63 2/3 IP (A+ San Jose)
Sosa got off to a brilliant start last year, overmatching Sally League hitters with a mid-90s fastball and hard curve. The California League provided more of a challenge, but he sported a great strikeout rate while giving up an earned run every other inning. Sosa doesn't yet have a legitimate third pitch, and command is often an issue. Still, his top two pitches give him the bullpen to fall back on if he doesn't quite develop as hoped. As many swings and misses as he is capable of generating, he may need only to take care of one of his two deficiencies in order to make it as a starter.
3. Tim Alderson - RHP - DOB: 11/03/88 - 2011
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 12/0 K/BB in 5 IP (R AZL Giants)
Alderson had more than enough stuff, very good size at 6-foot-7 and exceptional polish for a high school pitcher, yet some teams still shied away from him in last year's draft. It appeared to be mostly because he worked exclusively from the stretch in school, and no one was sure how he'd respond to a windup. The Giants drafted him 22nd overall and were pleased with the early returns, though they didn't try to change him until after the minor league season was over. Alderson threw in the low-90s from the stretch and still could add some velocity. His curveball is a strikeout pitch, and he's further along with his change than most 19-year-olds. If he grows comfortable working from the windup, he could move rather quickly.
4. Madison Bumgarner - RHP - DOB: 08/01/89 - ETA: 2012
The first of the Giants' six first- and supplemental first-round picks last year was used on Bumgarner, a high school lefty taken 10th overall. With a fastball that peaks at 96 mph, he clearly has top-of-the-rotation upside. However, he's more of a thrower than a pitcher at this point. His curve needs to be tightened up, and his changeup isn't yet a weapon. The Giants will have to hope he harnesses his stuff before he gets hurt.
5. Nick Noonan - 2B - DOB: 05/04/89 - ETA: 2011
.316/.357/.451, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 20/12 K/BB, 18 SB in 206 AB (R AZL Giants)
A rare true second baseman drafted in the first round, Noonan was San Francisco's fourth pick last year, 32nd overall. Noonan offers a steady left-handed bat with 30-double, 15-homer potential. He's probably not going to have particularly good range at second, but he should be able to avoid a move to third. That he makes a lot of contact, rarely strikes out and can steal a base could make him the Giants' No. 2 hitter someday. He should move quickly for a high school product.
6. Nate Schierholtz - OF - DOB: 02/15/84 - ETA: July 2008
.333/.365/.560, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 58/17 K/BB, 10 SB in 411 AB (AAA Fresno)
.304/.316/.402, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 19/2 K/BB, 3 SB in 112 AB (San Francisco)
.348/.363/.596, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 12/1 K/BB, 1 SB in 89 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Schierholtz was the player most disappointed by the Giants' decision to give Aaron Rowand a five-year contract. He was coming off a year in which he hit .333 in Triple-A and then excelled in the AFL, but he was left with no chance of winning a job in spring training after the Giants failed to move any of their veteran outfielders. First base was open, but since the team likes the way he's adapted to right field since moving from third base, he wasn't considered a possibility there. Schierholtz doesn't have a whole lot of projection left. He's hit for average everywhere and cut back on his strikeouts as he's continued to climb the ladder, but he's probably not going to be more than a 20-homer guy and he doesn't walk at all. He does currently look like a better bet than ever to establish himself as an average regular, but he's going to be more of a complimentary piece than someone for the Giants to build around.
7. Eugenio Velez - 2B - DOB: 05/16/82 - ETA: Now
.298/.344/.399, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 66/26 K/BB, 49 SB in 376 AB (AA Connecticut)
.278/.381/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 5 SB in 18 AB (AAA Fresno)
.273/.385/.636, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 4 SB in 11 AB (San Francisco)
.303/.329/.461, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/3 K/BB, 14 SB in 76 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Because he was in his age-24 season, Velez wasn't taken very seriously even after hitting.315/.369/.557 with 64 steals to earn Sally League MVP honors in 2006. The Giants let him play with guys closer to his own age last season, and he put up pretty average numbers in Double-A. Still, that was at a great environment for pitchers, and he continued to raise his stock with a nice showing in the AFL. It was only this spring that he really caught the eyes of most with his awesome display of speed. Both his bat and glove remain question marks. Velez has limited power and little patience at the plate. His infield defense is only adequate, and his best position may be center field, a spot the Giants just spent $60 million to shore up. Velez can pick up infield singles with the best of them and he will line the occasional triple to the gap, so he should be able to stick as a utilityman. He's just not likely to get much better than he is right now.
8. Emmanuel Burriss - SS - DOB: 01/17/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.321/.374/.381, 0 HR, 38 RBI, 49/28 K/BB, 51 SB in 365 AB (A- Augusta)
.165/.237/.180, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 20/12 K/BB, 17 SB in 139 AB (A+ San Jose)
.365/.450/.423, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 3/6 K/BB, 8 SB in 52 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
The Giants thought Burriss was ready for high-A ball at the beginning of last year, but the 2006 supplemental first-round pick out of Kent State was abysmal for San Jose. Fortunately, he did salvage his season with a solid showing after a demotion to low-A ball, and he impressed with a .450 OBP in the Arizona Fall League. Burriss would rank as the fastest player in a lot of organizations, though not in one that also has Velez, and he should prove to be an above average shortstop in time. His offensive potential is quite limited. Burriss switch-hits, but he's prone to having the bat knocked out of his bands from both sides of the plate. He'll never have any power. Still, it's possible that his speed will allow him to hit .280, and since he does walk some and steal bases, that could be enough to make him an adequate regular. The Giants would love to see him put himself in position to replace Omar Vizquel in 2009. However, that's probably pushing it.
9. Wendell Fairley - OF - DOB: 03/17/88 - ETA: 2012
Had the Giants used their only first-round pick last year on a toolsy high school outfielder with a checkered past, it would have been a bad gamble. However, since they had six early picks, it was worth taking a chance on Fairley at No. 29. A top-notch athlete, Fairley was also recruited as a wide receiver. He should prove to be a fine center fielder, and he'll probably develop power with his left-handed swing. Just don't expect to see quality numbers from him before 2010.
10. John Bowker - OF - DOB: 07/08/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
.307/.363/.523, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 103/41 K/BB, 3 SB in 522 AB (AA Connecticut)
Bowker didn't look like much of a prospect in his first 2 ? pro seasons, but the 2004 third-round pick nearly doubled his career homer total last year in a tough environment for hitters at Connecticut. His bat looks legitimate enough now, though he still has trouble with left-handers. Unfortunately, he doesn't help himself with his glove, and being a Giants prospect, he doesn't walk very often. The Giants, though, need someone with his muscle in their lineup. Ideally, they'd move both Randy Winn and Dave Roberts to make room for Schierholtz and Bowker later this year. If they keep two of the veterans, Bowker will probably be the odd man out.
Next five: LHP Clayton Tanner, SS Charlie Culberson, RHP Sergio Romo, OF [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], RHP Merkin Valdez
Tanner has good command of average stuff and could make it as a fourth or fifth starter. ? Culberson was a supplemental first-rounder last year. He's well-rounded, which is a nice way of saying he doesn't stand out offensively or defensively. ? Romo had mind-blowing numbers as an A-ball reliever last year, striking out 106 and allowing 35 hits in 66 innings. No one likes his stuff, but he could be a sixth- and seventh-inning guy anyway. ? Injuries appear to have sapped Martinez-Esteve's potential, but he retains a spot for one more year. At this point, he's a lesser version of Bowker. ? Valdez, who topped this list in 2o04, is back from Tommy John surgery and appears set to have a career as a reliever.
2007 top 15: Tim Lincecum, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Angel Villalona, Emmanuel Burriss, Kevin Frandsen, Marcus Sanders, Billy Sadler, Fred Lewis, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1893"]Brian Anderson[/URL], Nate Schierholtz, Sharlon Schoop, Clayton Tanner, Merkin Valdez, Travis Ishikawa, William Bergolla
2006 top 15: Matt Cain, Marcus Sanders, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Merkin Valdez, Travis Ishikawa, Jonathan Sanchez, Nate Schierholtz, Fred Lewis, Dan Ortmeier, Kevin Frandsen, Craig Whitaker, Waldis Joaquin, Pablo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Shairon Martis
2005 top 10: Matt Cain, Merkin Valdez, Fred Lewis, David Aardsma, Nate Schierholtz, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Craig Whitaker, Todd Linden, Brad Hennessey, Marcus Sanders
2004 top 10: Merkin Valdez, Matt Cain, Todd Linden, David Aardsma, Craig Whitaker, Kevin Correia, Fred Lewis, Jesse English, Noah Lowry, Dan Ortmeier
2003 top 10: Jerome Williams, Jesse Foppert, Kurt Ainsworth, Boof Bonser, Todd Linden, Francisco Liriano, Fred Lewis, Ryan Hannaman, Jesse English, Matt Cain
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Top 10 Prospects - NL West
Here's the long-awaited NL Top 10 Prospects column. The overall top 150 will follow. It might happen this week, but I'm not promising it. I do guarantee that I'll have notes columns up on Sunday (AL) and Monday (NL).
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Max Scherzer - RHP - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: July 2008
2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 30/2 K/BB in 17 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.91 ERA, 64 H, 76/40 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP (AA Mobile)
1-1, 2.13 ERA, 6 H, 18/5 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (AFL Scottsdale)
It took nearly a full year and $4.3 million in guaranteed money, but the Diamondbacks were able to sign the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft. Scherzer, a Missouri product, got off to a dominant start after finally making his pro debut last June and ended up with 106 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings in the minors. Working out of the pen in the Arizona Fall League, he had three times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. Scherzer could be the same kind of asset that Brandon Morrow was for Seattle last year if the Diamondbacks were to turn to him as a reliever now. However, they plan to keep developing him as a starter and hope that his changeup comes along. He has a wicked slider, and his tops out at 95 mph as a starter, 98 mph as a reliever. He's just as likely to be a closer as a starter by 2010, but he has plenty of upside in either role.
2. Jarrod Parker - RHP - DOB: 11/24/88 - ETA: 2011
If the Diamondbacks hadn't spent big to land Scherzer at the end of May, perhaps they would have taken Rick Porcello with the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft. They instead went for the right-hander widely regarded as the No. 2 high school pitching prospect in the nation in Parker. Already possessing four pitches, including a mid-90s fastball and plus slider, Parker has the same kind of upside as Porcello, though because of his small frame, he might be more susceptible to injury. At least his delivery raises no major red flags. He's advanced enough to open his pro career in full-season ball at low-A South Bend.
3. Gerardo Parra - OF - DOB: 05/06/87 - ETA: 2010
.320/.370/.435, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 51/30 K/BB, 24 SB in 444 AB (A- South Bend)
.284/.303/.382, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 17/4 K/BB, 2 SB in 102 AB (A+ Visalia)
Clearly the best bet in a now weak group of Diamondbacks position prospects, Parra excels at putting the bat on the ball and has hit .318 the last two years. He doesn't offer a lot of power yet, but it's easy to see him becoming a 40-double, 15-homer guy in time. Since he's a fine defensive outfielder, that should be enough to make him a regular. He's a bit stretched in center, but he has plenty of arm for right and could be well above average there in time. He also has an ideal skill set for a fourth outfielder, though he shouldn't have to worry about being typecast in his prime. Since the Diamondbacks hope to be set in the outfield for at least the next three years, they could move Parra in a deadline deal. He should be ready to play for some team in 2010.
4. Brooks Brown - RHP - DOB: 06/20/85 - ETA: May 2009
6-3, 2.81 ERA, 66 H, 74/23 K/BB in 80 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.66 ERA, 64 H, 54/36 K/BB in 66 1/3 IP (AA Mobile)
Brown doesn't have the upside teams usually look for in first-round picks, but the sandwich pick out of Georgia in 2006 should prove useful as a fourth or fifth starter or multi-inning reliever. He has pretty good command of a four-pitch arsenal that includes an 89-90 mph sinking fastball and a quality slider. If he's sent to the pen, he'd likely gain velocity and drop his less effective curve and changeup. Since the Diamondbacks aren't lacking for rotation candidates, he figures to at least break into the majors as a reliever initially. He'll be an option before the end of this year, though with the crowd ahead of him, his opportunity might not come.
5. Juan Gutierrez - RHP - DOB: 07/14/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
5-10, 4.15 ERA, 154 H, 108/63 K/BB in 156 IP (AAA Round Rock)
1-1, 5.91 ERA, 25 H, 16/6 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP (Houston)
An unheralded piece in the Jose Valverde trade, Gutierrez came to the Diamondbacks as one of the most polished prospects left in a barren Houston system. Unfortunately for him, he would have had a much better chance of helping his old team this year. Gutierrez sits in the low-90s with his fastball, and when he gets ahead, both his curveball and changeup become tough to lay off. When he pitches from behind in the count, as he did too often last year, he's pretty hittable. The Astros wanted to keep him in the rotation, but he's probably going to be a reliever if he makes it in Arizona. He'd have setup man potential in that role. Given that other teams still see him as a starter, it'd be no surprise to see him included in another deal this summer.
6. Barry Enright - RHP - DOB: 03/30/86 - ETA: June 2009
0-0, 0 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 12/3 K/BB in 8 IP (SS-A Yakima)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB in 2 IP (A- South Bend)
0-0, 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 4/2 K/BB in 5 IP (A+ Visalia)
The Diamondbacks grabbed Enright out of Pepperdine in the second round of the 2007 draft and used him out of the bullpen the rest of the year in an effort to conserve his arm. He didn't allow a single earned run in 15 innings at three levels, suggesting that he's already on the fast track. Enright wouldn't seem to have a lot of room for growth. His fastball rarely exceeded 90 mph as a starter, but he succeeded by spotting it well and mixing in a plus slider. A very good fielder, he does the little things well enough that he might have a shot at making it as a fourth or fifth starter in the majors. He'll probably finish this year in Double-A.
7. Emilio Bonifacio - 2B - DOB: 04/23/85 - ETA: April 2009
.285/.333/.352, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 105/38 K/BB, 41 SB in 551 AB (AA Mobile)
.217/.333/.261, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 23 AB (Arizona)
Bonifacio isn't really any better of a prospect now than he was when he ranked 14th on the list a year ago, but of the 13 players ahead him then, all but Cyle Hankerd either graduated or got traded.
Bonifacio's main asset remains his outstanding speed. He's capable of bunting for basehits and then getting to second on his own, and his quickness makes him an above average defender at second base. Unfortunately, he rarely drives the ball from either side of the plate and he strikes out far too often for a singles hitter. He'll probably pick up some other positions and have a career as a utility player, but the Diamondbacks will want him to continue to focus on second base for now. He'll be a fallback in 2009 if Orlando Hudson leaves and Chris Burke disappoints as his replacement.
8. Wes Roemer - RHP - DOB: 10/07/86 - ETA: 2010
1-0, 4.50 ERA, 11 H, 18/2 K/BB in 12 IP (SS-A Yakima)
A 6-foot right-hander, Roemer seems to pitch with a chip on his shoulder. He was well known for working inside during a successful career at Cal-State Fullerton and actually ended up hitting 20 more batters than he walked during his time in school. After trying to tie up hitters with his low-90s fastball, he tends to use his slider to go for strikeouts. He'll have to polish his change and mix up his pitches a little better if he hopes to make it to the majors as a starter. He might be a better bet out of the pen.
9. Ed Easley - C- DOB; 12/21/85 - ETA: 2010
.250/.319/.419, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 30/9 K/BB, 1 SB in 124 AB (SS-A Yakima)
Even though there were several teams looking for young catchers in last year's draft and few top prospects available, Easley lasted until the 61st pick and went to a team with two catchers in Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero it hopes to employ for a long time. Easley was steady both offensively and defensively at Mississippi State. He has an above average arm and is mechanically sound behind the plate. His bat is in question, and though he has 15-homer power, the on-base skills probably won't be there to make him an ideal everyday option. Still, he should make it as at least a quality backup.
10. Tyrell Worthington - OF - DOB: 08/02/88 - ETA: 2013
.135/.238/.189, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 11/5 K/BB, 1 SB (R Missoula)
Worthington is so raw that he really shouldn't have made the top 10, but with this being the weakest list the Diamondbacks have featured in a long time, his upside gets him a spot Worthington passed on a football scholarship to sign with Arizona after being drafted in the fifth round last year. He has excellent speed and should become a quality defensive center fielder with experience. It's sure to be a couple of years before his bat comes around and he begins putting up quality minor league numbers, but with so many young regulars under control for five or six years, the Diamondbacks can afford to be patient.
Next five: RHP Billy Buckner, RHP Esmerling Vasquez, RHP Dallas Buck, OF Cyle Hankerd, SS Reynoldo Navarro
Buckner, who came over from Kansas City for Alberto Callaspo, has a better chance of making it as a middle reliever than as a starter. The Diamondbacks lost value in that deal. ? Vasquez would have ranked fourth on the list before suffering a torn right labrum diving for a ball in the Arizona Fall League. ? Buck will be one to watch once he returns from Tommy John surgery, though he's not going to be full strength until 2009. ? Hankerd, just the second repeater from 2007, hit .285/.368/.422 in a nice environment for offense at high-A Visalia last year. ? Navarro, a 2007 third-round pick, is a legitimate shortstop with modest offensive potential.
2007 top 15: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL], Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez, Miguel Montero, Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, Alberto Callaspo, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=778"]Chris Carter[/URL], Mark Reynolds, Tony Pena, Greg Smith, Cyle Hankerd, Brett Anderson, Emilio Bonifacio, Gerardo Parra
2006 top 15: Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL], Dustin Nippert, Carlos Gonzalez, Garrett Mock, Miguel Montero, Matt Torra, Micah Owings, Tony Pena, Jon Zeringue, Enrique Gonzalez, Matt Chico
2005 top 10: Carlos Quentin, Conor Jackson, Sergio Santos, Josh Kroeger, Jon Zeringue, Chris Snyder, Tony Pena, Dustin Nippert, Jamie D'Antona, Bill Murphy
2004 top 10: Scott Hairston, Sergio Santos, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], Dustin Nippert, Brian Bruney, Edgar Gonzalez, Tony Pena, Conor Jackson, Josh Kroeger, Mike Gosling
2003 top 10: Scott Hairston, John Patterson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], Lyle Overbay, Mike Gosling, Oscar Villarreal, Sergio Santos, Luis Terrero, Brian Barden, Jesus Cota
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Colorado Rockies
1. Franklin Morales - LHP - DOB: 01/24/86 - ETA: Now
3-4, 3.48 ERA, 77 H, 77/45 K/BB in 95 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
2-0, 3.71 ERA, 20 H, 16/13 K/BB in 17 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
3-2, 3.43 ERA, 34 H, 26/14 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (Colorado)
The Rockies were very lucky twice last season, as both Ubaldo Jimenez and Morales were able to make quick transitions to the majors after arriving in the second half. Morales even went three straight starts in September without allowing a run. He did slump in the postseason, but he showed enough overall that the Rockies had him penciled into their rotation entering the spring. When Morales is at his best, he shows a 92-96 mph heater, a sweeping curveball and a fine changeup. His velocity was down this spring, making him a risky proposition for the short-term. However, he has more upside than anyone on Colorado's pitching staff, Jeff Francis included.
2. Ian Stewart - 3B - DOB: 04/05/85 - ETA: June 2008
.304/.379/.478, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 92/49 K/BB, 11 SB in 414 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.209/.261/.372, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 43 AB (Colorado)
Stewart was supposedly part of the Rockies' second-base competition entering the spring, but he never had a realistic chance of beating out Jayson Nix, and even though he hit well in March, he was sent down. Another year of Triple-A is what he needs anyway. His 857 OPS last year was nothing special considering the conditions at Colorado Springs. In fact, he hasn't put up particularly good numbers at any point since he was at low-A Asheville in 2004. His defense at third base remains rough, though he has the tools to be more than adequate. He was never likely to cut it at second. Even though he's just now turning 23, this is a big year for Stewart. If he goes out and slugs .550, he'll be a hot property in trade talks, while another season like his 2007 would have teams questioning his long-term upside. It'd be a disappointment if he joins the Mike Lamb/Ty Wigginton class of third basemen.
3. Dexter Fowler - OF - DOB: 03/22/86 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.273/.397/.367, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 64/44 K/BB, 20 SB in 245 AB (A+ Modesto)
.224/.325/.308, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 28/14 K/BB, 4 SB in 107 AB (AFL Peoria)
The Rockies have a potentially better version of Willy Taveras on the way in Fowler, who has hit .284/.376/.422 with 81 steals in 226 games as a pro. He has struggled with injuries, missing much of last season with a broken hamate bone, but he's a switch-hitter with impressive on-base skills and plenty of range in center field. Somewhat discouraging was that his power evaporated in high-A ball even before the hamate injury last year. However, he's more than just a slap hitter, especially from the left side, and he should be able to produce doubles and triples in the majors. His patience at the plate could make him a fine leadoff man in time. If he can avoid additional major injuries, he'll be ready to contribute at the start of 2010 or perhaps a little earlier.
4. Greg Reynolds - RHP - DOB: 07/03/85 - ETA: July 2008
4-1, 1.42 ERA, 32 H, 35/9 K/BB in 50 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
Reynolds, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft, was one of the top performers in the minors last year until a sore shoulder shut him down. He ended up undergoing surgery in August, but since nothing serious was found, he proved ready to pitch this spring. A healthy Reynolds is a rock-solid pitcher with a low-90s fastball, a plus curve and an average change. He probably won't be a big strikeout guy in the majors, but his ability to spot his pitches will make him a No. 3 starter anyway. He should be an option for the Rockies as soon as June or July.
5. Casey Weathers - RHP - DOB: 06/10/85 - ETA: July 2008
0-1, 2 Sv, 4.61 ERA, 6 H, 19/7 K/BB in 13 2/3 IP (A- Asheville)
0-0, 0 Sv, 0.00 ERA, 0 H, 2/2 K/BB in 1 IP (A+ Modesto)
Brian Fuentes was still going strong, Manny Corpas has displayed plenty of promise and Juan Morillo had just taken his high-90s fastball with him to the pen, yet the Rockies still used the eighth overall pick in the 2007 draft on a possible closer of the future. Weathers, a teammate of David Price's at Vanderbilt, gets strikeouts with a 95-98 mph fastball and hard slider. His command is spotty, and he doesn't have a third pitch, but he could be a dominant late-inning presence anyway. The Rockies have started him off in Double-A this year and could call him up as soon as June or July. He's probably going to be stuck in a setup role in his first couple of years in the big leagues, but he has more long-term potential than Corpas.
6. Chris Nelson - SS - DOB: 09/03/85 - ETA: 2010
.289/.358/.503, 19 HR, 99 RBI, 92/55 K/BB, 27 SB in 529 AB (A+ Modesto)
Perhaps Dan O'Dowd's best move during his tenure as the Rockies' GM was not passing on Troy Tulowitzki on the 2005 draft even though Nelson hit .347/.432/.510 in Rookie ball after being drafted in the first round in 2004. There was always going to be room for both if they developed as hoped. Nelson went on to disappoint in back-to-back years at low-A Asheville, but he did bounce back last year with an 850 OPS in the California League. He generates enough power with a compact swing to average 15 homers and 30 doubles per year in the majors. Nelson still makes too many miscues at shortstop and would probably face a move to second base even if he didn't have Tulo ahead of him. He has the range to be above average there in time. That his performance record is so checkered suggests he could yet go either way. However, he's always had youth and talent on his side.
7. Hector Gomez - SS - DOB: 03/05/88 - ETA: 2012
.266/.309/.421, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 120/29 K/BB, 20 SB in 534 AB (A- Asheville)
The new young gun at shortstop for Colorado, Gomez has outstanding defensive potential and pretty good pop at the plate. His approach leaves much to be desired. He doesn't wait for his pitch, and he doesn't try to go to the other way when presented with outside fastballs. He can yank the occasional ball out of the park and he'll do so even more frequently once he fills out, but it'd be better if he used his speed more frequently. He'll have to adapt if he's going to fulfill his potential and become a star. A Jack Wilson-type career would the more realistic scenario.
8. Juan Morillo - RHP - DOB: 11/05/83 - ETA: Sept. 2008
6-4, 2.35 ERA, 44 H, 59/27 K/BB in 57 1/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
0-1, 3.72 ERA, 7 H, 12/4 K/BB in 9 2/3 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
0-0, 9.82 ERA, 3 H, 3/1 K/BB in 3 2/3 IP (Colorado)
Morillo put up nice numbers in his first year as a reliever, yet the Rockies still weren't thrilled with his progress as he tries to come up with a more consistent second pitch. Morillo's calling card will always be his fastball. He's hit triple-digits on the gun, and he was often up to 97-98 mph while working an inning at a time last year. Unfortunately, command of the pitch remains a problem, and doesn't give hitters much else to think about when he's throwing it 90 percent of the time. Morillo has a slider and a changeup, but neither has a lot of movement. He'll be out of options next spring, so the Rockies may trade him if they don't see a significant step forward this year.
9. Seth Smith - OF - DOB: 09/30/82 - ETA: April 2009
.317/.381/.528, 17 HR, 82 RBI, 73/39 K/BB, 7 SB in 451 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.625/.625/.875, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 8 AB (Colorado)
Smith really impressed off the bench for the Rockies at the end of last year, making the playoff roster off the strength of eight at-bats, but he wasn't given any chance to make the team this year, even though he doesn't have a lot left to prove in the minors. Smith should have a fair career as a bench player. The 2004 second-round pick can hit for average and has 15-homer power from the left side of the plate. His defense in a corner is above average, and he can play center in a pinch. He's not going to get any better than he is now, but he's already the kind of guy who wouldn't hurt a team very much if pressed into regular duty for a few weeks. The Rockies will put him back on their bench if an injury frees up some playing time.
10. Brandon Hynick - RHP - DOB: 03/07/85 - ETA: June 2009
16-5, 2.52 ERA, 170 H, 136/31 K/BB in 182 1/3 IP (A+ Modesto)
Command and deception helped make Hynick one of the most successful pitchers in the minors last season. The 2006 eighth-round pick only occasionally hits 90 mph on the gun, but he spots his fastball and shows a pretty good splitter and curve. His delivery helps him hide the ball against left-handers for the extra split-second he needs to keep them from lining up his heater. Odds are that he won't have as much luck in the majors, and Coors Field could be an especially bad fit for him. However, he could last as a fourth or fifth starter anyway.
Next five: OF Brian Rike, RHP Chaz Roe, RHP Pedro Strop, C Michael McKenry, 1B Joe Koshansky
Rike, a 2007 second-round pick, hit .296/.404/.441 after being drafted last year. ? Roe has yet to show a great deal of upside as a starter since being drafted with a sandwich pick in 2005, but his fastball-curveball combination could play well in relief. ? Strop, who made the move to the mound two years ago, has displayed setup potential as a reliever. ? McKenry is an offensive-minded catcher with 15- or 20-homer power. Unfortunately, he has a long ways to go with the glove. ? I'll stick with Koshansky over Jayson Nix for the last spot.
2007 top 15: Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Hirsh, Ian Stewart, Chris Iannetta, Franklin Morales, Ubaldo Jimenez Dexter Fowler, Greg Reynolds, Joe Koshansky, Jeff Baker, Chris Nelson, Juan Morillo, Jonathan Herrera, Oscar Rivera, Manny Corpas
2006 top 15: Ian Stewart, Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ryan Shealy, Chris Nelson, Omar Quintanilla, Jeff Salazar, Franklin Morales, Jeff Baker, Chaz Roe, Chris Iannetta, Juan Morillo, Jim Miller, Matt Macri, Shane Lindsay
2005 top 10: Ian Stewart, Jeff Francis, Chris Nelson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Baker, Jeff Salazar, Brad Hawpe, Clint Barmes, Ryan Shealy, Garrett Atkins
2004 top 10: Chin-Hui Tsao, Ian Stewart, Jason Young, Jeff Francis, Jayson Nix, Ubaldo Jimenez, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Ching-Lung Lo, Matt Holliday
2003 top 10: Jack Cust, Aaron Cook, Chin-Hui Tsao, Brad Hawpe, Jason Young, Choo Freeman, Garrett Atkins, Ryan Shealy, Jeff Francis, J.D. Closser
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Los Angeles Dodgers
1. Clayton Kershaw - LHP - DOB: 03/19/88 - ETA: July 2008
7-5, 2.77 ERA, 72 H, 134/50 K/BB in 97 1/3 IP (A- Great Lakes)
1-2, 3.65 ERA, 17 H, 29/17 K/BB in 24 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
The No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect in the minors, Kershaw probably has even more upside than the two right-handers who will rank ahead of him on the overall top 150. However, at the tender age of 20, he does qualify as the biggest injury risk of the group. Kershaw has the ability to be a true ace for the Dodgers. His 91-96 mph fastball, curve and changeup are all quality major league pitches, and he's so tough to hit that he could be effective in the majors right now even though he'd walk five batters per nine innings. He does need to get more efficient with his pitches if he's going to work deep into games. It's very possible the Dodgers will add him to their rotation in June or July, but they'll only have him for five innings per game because he'll certainly be on a pitch count. The caution is warranted. Kershaw isn't always consistent with his delivery, which is why he occasionally struggles to throw strikes. If he gets tired and starts using his arm more than his legs, he could have problems.
2. Andy LaRoche - 3B - DOB: 09/13/83 - ETA: April 2008
.309/.399/.589, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 42/39 K/BB, 2 SB in 265 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.226/.365/.312, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 24/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 93 AB (NL Los Angeles)
A .315 hitter with 28 homers and a 74/64 K/BB ratio in 467 at-bats in Triple-A the last two years, LaRoche has nothing left to prove in the minors. However, he does have to show he can stay healthy. His history of back issues qualified as one reason the Dodgers were afraid to simply hand him a starting job this spring, and while the injury he suffered in March was a fluke -- he suffered a torn UCL in his thumb when he was hit by a thrown ball -- it's just one more to add to the list. A healthy LaRoche has an All-Star-caliber offensive game and a fine glove at third base. Should be beat the injury bug, he could have some .300-30 HR seasons in his prime. The team should be hoping he wins the third-base job outright by June or July.
3. Scott Elbert - LHP - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: July 2009
0-1, 3.86 ERA, 6 H, 24/10 K/BB in 14 IP (AA Jacksonville)
Elbert, a 2004 first-round pick, established himself as one of the game's top lefty prospects in 2006, but was limited to just three starts last season before surgery on his left shoulder. While no tears in his labrum or rotator cuff were discovered, he still wasn't ready to return this spring. If he regains his stuff, Elbert will show three major league pitches in his low-90s fastball, curve and changeup. He does struggle to throw strikes, and his rather violent windup may have led to his shoulder problems. If he could tone it down a bit and still throw 88-91 mph with better command, he might be better off in the long run. He'll probably resume pitching in the minors in May or June. The surgery has backed up his timetable by at least a year.
4. Jonathan Meloan - RHP - DOB: 07/11/84 - ETA: June 2008
5-2, 19 Sv, 2.18 ERA, 24 H, 70/18 K/BB in 45 1/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
2-0, 1 Sv, 1.69 ERA, 12 H, 21/9 K/BB in 21 1/3 IP (AAA Las Vegas)
0-0, 0 Sv, 11.05 ERA, 8 H, 7/8 K/BB in 7 1/3 IP (Los Angeles)
Arguably the game's best relief prospect, Meloan has posted a 182/43 K/BB ratio in 118 2/3 innings in the minors the last two seasons. Batters hit .156 against him last year. Meloan doesn't overwhelm with velocity, but he's consistently in the low-90s. His slider is a top-notch No. 2 pitch, and he also has a curve with pretty good bite. He actually has a starter's arsenal, but he lacks the stamina to throw six or seven innings a night and it's doubtful his arm would hold up for 180-200 innings per year. He'll probably emerge as a big-time setup man for the Dodgers at about the same time that Jonathan Broxton overtakes Takashi Saito for the closer's role.
5. James McDonald - RHP - DOB: 10/19/84 - ETA: May 2009
6-7, 3.95 ERA, 79 H, 104/21 K/BB in 82 IP (A+ Inland Empire)
7-2, 1.71 ERA, 42 H, 64/16 K/BB in 52 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
While falling in love with Kershaw this spring, the Dodgers quickly dismissed a guy who had a 3.07 ERA and a 168/37 K/BB ratio at higher levels last season. McDonald certainly isn't the prospect that Kershaw is, but the converted outfielder looks like a potential middle-of-the-rotation starter with his low-90s fastball, quality curve and decent change. Command isn't a problem. Lefties will occasionally take him deep since he lacks movement on his heater, but that's his only major flaw. The Dodgers may choose to initially break him in as a reliever later this year.
6. Chin-Lung Hu - SS - DOB: 02/02/84 - ETA: Now
.329/.380/.508, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 33/26 K/BB, 33 SB in 325 AB (AA Jacksonville)
.318/.337/.505, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 18/6 K/BB, 3 SB in 192 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.241/.241/.517, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 29 AB (NL Los Angeles)
Hu had to repeat Double-A last year after hitting just .254/.326/.354 in 2006, but he blossomed offensively and made it to the majors in September. Always highly thought of defensively, the native of Taiwan possesses above average range and a strong, accurate arm at shortstop. His bat is still something of a question mark. Hu overswings at times, leading to infield popups, and while he doesn't fan very often, he also has a below average walk rate. His power translates into doubles, not homers. Hu is practically certain to be an everyday major league shortstop, and the Dodgers could turn the position over to him next year if they decline to re-sign Rafael Furcal. His performance this season in a utility role and likely back in Triple-A will aid in determining just what kind of offensive upside he has.
7. Chris Withrow - RHP - DOB: 04/01/89 - ETA: 2011
0-0, 5.00 ERA, 5 H, 13/4 K/BB in 9 IP (R GCL Dodgers)
Withrow was the fifth high school pitcher taken in the 2007 draft, going 20th overall. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Texan throws 90-95 mph, and his curveball has all the makings of a strikeout pitch. He is raw even as far as high school products go, and it'll likely be a long time before his changeup becomes a weapon. He'll be used carefully this year, and it's highly unlikely that he'll move as quickly as Kershaw has.
8. Blake DeWitt - 3B - DOB: 08/20/85 - ETA: July 2009
.298/.338/.466, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 42/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 339 AB (A+ Inland Empire)
.281/.306/.466, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 26/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 178 AB (AA Jacksonville)
.281/.354/.404, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 7/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 57 AB (AFL Peoria)
Despite sporting a pedestrian career line of .279/.332/.443 and never having played in Triple-A, DeWitt got to open this season as the Dodgers' starting third baseman. However, that was a fluke, as three players ahead of him on the depth chart got hurt. DeWitt's one big strength is his sweet line-drive swing. He makes a lot of contact and laces doubles to the gaps with regularity. Still, it hasn't led to strong overall numbers at any level. DeWitt isn't likely to be more than a 15-homer guy and his defense at third base is merely average, so his upside is limited. He would have been a lot more promising if he could have survived at second base, but that didn't work out. Maybe he'll be an average regular anyway, but even though he's holding his own right now, he's at least a year away.
9. Josh Bell - 3B - DOB: 11/13/86 - ETA: 2011
.289/.354/.470, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 109/39 K/BB, 5 SB in 398 AB (A- Great Lakes)
.173/.203/.307, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 19/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 75 AB (A+ Inland Empire)
Bell remains a very raw product nearly three years after being drafted in the fourth round in 2005, but switch-hitters with his power potential don't grow on trees. Bell takes big cuts from both sides of the plate, and should grow up to be a 30-homer guy someday. However, he may not last at third base because of a lack of range and he doesn't yet have a well rounded offensive game. Unless he cuts down on his swing somewhat, he's not going to hit for average at higher levels.
10. Andrew Lambo - OF - DOB: 08/11/88 - ETA: 2012
.343/.440/.519, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 34/29 K/BB, 1 SB in 191 AB (R GCL Dodgers)
Some off-field troubles resulted in Lambo slipping into the fourth round of last year's draft, but the Dodgers might have gotten themselves a steal. The left-handed-hitting Lambo shows an advanced approach at the plate and the possibility of 20-homer power down the line. Perhaps left-handers will always give him trouble, but his bat could carry him to the majors anyway. The Dodgers are hoping he'll make it as an outfielder, though he doesn't run very well. He'd make a lot more sense at first base, but he's unlikely to ever budge James Loney. If he continues to stay out of trouble, he could be the team's top position prospect on next year's list.
Next five: OF Delwyn Young, RHP Bryan Morris, SS Ivan DeJesus Jr., 3B Pedro Baez, LHP James Adkins
Because he was out of options, Young had to make the Dodgers this year. He should be able to hit doubles and singles against major league pitching, but since he's a liability everywhere he's been put on defense, it might be that his long-term future is as a bench player. ? Morris, a 2006 first-round supplemental choice, is returning from Tommy John surgery this year. ? DeJesus looked like the better shortstop prospect than Hu a year ago, but he's probably not going to hit at the major league level. He might be a lower-tier regular anyway. ? Yet another third-base prospect, Baez was signed out of the Dominican Republic last year. He's all tools at this point. ? Adkins, a sandwich pick last year, is a fastball-slider pitcher with the potential to become a fourth starter.
2007 top 15: Andy LaRoche, James Loney, Scott Elbert, Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Meloan, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], Blake DeWitt, Josh Bell, Preston Mattingly, Bryan Morris, Tony Abreu, Justin Orenduff, Ivan DeJesus Jr., Cory Dunlap, Kyle Orr
2006 top 15: Joel Guzman, Chad Billingsley, Andy LaRoche, Russell Martin, James Loney, Jonathan Broxton, Andre Ethier, Scott Elbert, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], Matt Kemp, Hong-Chih Kuo, Willy Aybar, Justin Orenduff, Blake DeWitt, Chin-Lung Hu
2005 top 10: Joel Guzman, Chad Billingsley, Edwin Jackson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], James Loney, Chuck Tiffany, Yhency Brazoban, Jonathan Broxton, Willy Aybar, Dioner Navarro
2004 top 10: Edwin Jackson, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3828"]Greg Miller[/URL], James Loney, Franklin Gutierrez, Joel Guzman, Joel Hanrahan, Chad Billingsley, Reggie Abercrombie, Chin-Feng Chen, Joe Thurston
2003 top 10: James Loney, Joe Thurston, Chin-Feng Chen, Joel Guzman, Johnathan Figueroa, Joel Hanrahan, Koyie Hill, Victor Diaz, Reggie Abercrombie, Andrew Brown
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San Diego Padres
1. Chase Headley - 3B/OF - DOB: 05/09/84 - ETA: June 2008
.330/.437/.580, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 117/74 K/BB, 1 SB in 433 AB (AA San Antonio)
.222/.333/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 18 AB (San Diego)
Headley's long-term potential was questioned when he finished with just 12 homers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2006, but he's a legitimate top prospect now after starting off on fire last year and never cooling off. Headley finished with 20 homers and 63 extra-base hits, showing consistent power from both sides of the plate in the process. The on-base ability has always been there, and he'll keep hitting for fine averages in the minors. On defense, he was only average at third base, though some would say that already makes him an upgrade over Kevin Kouzmanoff. Surprisingly, it's Headley who will make the switch to the outfield. He could be the Padres' left fielder as soon as June. His bat won't make him a star at the position, but he should be a solid regular for several years.
2. Matt Antonelli - 2B - DOB: 04/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
.314/.409/.499, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 58/53 K/BB, 18 SB in 347 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.294/.395/.476, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 36/30 K/BB, 10 SB in 187 AB (AA San Antonio)
.214/.333/.268, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 9/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 56 AB (AFL Peoria)
Antonelli, a 2006 first-round pick out of Wake Forest, went from hitting no homers in 205 at-bats in his pro debut to slugging 21 last year. Especially promising was that his numbers carried over to Double-A without any real decline. He did slump in the AFL, but it was at the end of a long year. The Padres took a look at him in the outfield over the winter, but he's going to be their long-term second baseman, with a full-time job likely to come at the beginning of 2009. His ability to hit for average and draw walks will make him a great fit as a No. 2 hitter. The power probably won't be there to make him an All-Star, but there's nothing else not to like.
3. Will Inman - RHP - DOB: 02/26/87 - ETA: Aug. 2008
4-3, 1.72 ERA, 56 H, 98/23 K/BB in 78 2/3 IP (A+ Brevard County)
1-3, 5.45 ERA, 38 H, 42/16 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (AA Huntsville)
3-3, 4.17 ERA, 33 H, 40/19 K/BB in 41 IP (AA San Antonio)
Short of picking up an extra five mph on his fastball, the best thing that could have happened to further Inman's career was the trade to San Diego. A flyball pitcher with some difficulty against left-handers, he'll benefit a great deal once he makes it to Petco Park. The top prospect of the three the Padres received for Scott Linebrink last summer, Inman throws 89-92 mph with a quality curve and an average changeup. He's aggressive while working right-handed hitters inside and can still paint the outside corner. Left-handers get a longer look at him and can hit him hard on occasion, but a lot of long flies turn into outs in San Diego. He could fit into the Padres' rotation by July or August, and Petco will make him look like a No. 3, even if he's really more of a No. 4.
4. Chad Huffman - OF - DOB: 04/29/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.307/.402/.522, 15 HR, 76 RBI, 56/42 K/BB, 0 SB in 316 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.269/.362/.431, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 44/22 K/BB, 0 SB in 167 AB (AA San Antonio)
Willing to overlook his limited physical skills, the Padres made Huffman a second-round pick in the 2006 draft. He's responded with a .306/.401/.512 line in 695 at-bats as a pro, but his struggles after moving up to Double-A last year only solidified the doubts of some about how his bat will translate versus more advanced pitching. Huffman will occasionally swing from his heels to help make up for his lack of quick wrists and bat speed. Right-handers with big fastball-slider combinations should be able to take advantage. Huffman does do an exceptional job of hitting mistakes, and even if he doesn't prove to be good enough against right-handers to make it as a regular, his ability to pound left-handers would allow him to contribute. What would hold him back as a bench player is his lack of versatility; he's pretty much limited to left field on defense. Unless the Padres are willing to play Headley in right field after Brian Giles goes, Huffman won't figure into the team's plans.
5. Matt Latos - RHP - DOB: 12/09/87 - ETA: 2010
1-4, 3.83 ERA, 58 H, 74/22 K/BB in 56 1/3 (SS-A Eugene)
At $1.25 million, Latos got the biggest bonus last year in what will be the last class of draft-and-follows. The 2006 11th-round pick likely would have been a late first-round pick had he went back into the draft. He can occasionally hit 95-96 mph with his fastball, and he has good feel for his changeup for someone so young. His curve could be a third above average major league pitcher. His command is a little worse than last year's walk rate suggests, but he has plenty of time left to improve. While he ranks behind Inman here, he certainly has the higher ceiling of the two.
6. Kyle Blanks - 1B - DOB: 09/11/86 - ETA: 2010
.301/.380/.540, 24 HR, 100 RBI, 98/44 K/BB, 11 SB in 465 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
A hulking first baseman, Blanks stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 280 pounds. He's developing the power to match his stature, though he's not yet adept at driving the ball the other way. At least he doesn't strike out overly much. On defense, he's surprisingly solid at first base, though that could change if he gets much heavier. He really needs to be careful to stay under 300 pounds if he's going to have a career. Obviously, he's not an option anywhere other than first base, and since the Padres don't expect to have a need there anytime soon, Blanks could become trade bait at some point.
7. Cedric Hunter - OF - DOB: 03/10/88 - ETA: 2011
.282/.344/.373, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 78/47 K/BB, 8 SB in 496 AB (A- Fort Wayne)
.500/.600/1.250, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 4 AB (AAA Portland)
Hunter looked like he had the most upside in the San Diego system after hitting .371/.467/.484 in 213 AB for the Rookie AZL Padres in his pro debut, but the 2006 third-round pick failed to excel in low-A ball last season. A left-handed hitter with a line-drive stroke, Hunter still shows promise. He's mostly a gap hitter now, but he could be a 15- or 20-homer guy in time. Unfortunately, he lacks big-time speed, something that will prove to be a hindrance with the Padres developing him as a center fielder. If he's forced to move to a corner, he'd become a lot less promising in a hurry. He'll continue to be brought along slowly even though the Padres have no idea who is going to play center field for them in 2009.
8. Nick Schmidt - LHP - DOB: 10/10/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
0-1, 6.43 ERA, 8 H, 6/6 K/BB in 7 IP (A- Fort Wayne)
The Padres believed the polished Schmidt would help them quickly after making him the 23rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, but he required Tommy John surgery in October and will miss all of 2008. Never a big upside guy, the 6-foot-5 Schmidt throws 88-90 mph when healthy. His changeup and curveball will both be major league pitches, though neither will result in a lot of strikeouts. With Petco on his side, all of the balls in play he allows will be less of an issue, and he should turn into a legitimate third or fourth starter.
9. Kellen Kulbacki - OF - DOB: 11/21/85 - ETA: 2010
.301/.382/.491, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 56/27 K/BB, 1 SB in 226 AB (SS-A Eugene)
Kulbacki was the 40th overall selection in last year's draft after hitting 43 homers in his final two seasons at James Madison. He doesn't have a lot to offer except his bat, but he should combine quality on-base skills with 25-homer power by the time he's ready for the majors. He handles left-handed pitches especially well for a lefty swinger. His glove is an issue, and like Huffman, he's probably going to be limited to left field in the majors. He could reach Double-A before the end of the season.
10. Wade LeBlanc - LHP - DOB: 08/07/84 - April 2009
6-5, 2.64 ERA, 72 H, 90/17 K/BB in 92 IP (A+ Lake Elsinore)
7-3, 3 .45 ERA, 48 H, 55/19 K/BB in 57 1/3 IP (AA San Antonio)
LeBlanc, a 2006 second-round pick out of Alabama, got talked up a sleeper fifth-starter candidate in spring training. In the end, the Padres correctly decided that he needed more time in the minors. LeBlanc is a true finesse lefty with an 87-mph fastball, an excellent change and a pretty good curve. That he gives up his share of flyballs would be a bigger problem if he wasn't a Padres prospect. He has a chance to be a nice fourth or fifth starter, and Petco will make him look even better than that.
Next five: RHP Drew Miller, RHP Cesar Carrillo, LHP Cory Luebke, SS Drew Cumberland, C Mitch Canham
Miller has more upside than Schmidt or LeBlanc, but the sore shoulder that troubled him last year keeps him out of the top 10. ? Carrillo, the team's No. 1 prospect the last two years, underwent Tommy John surgery in June and doesn't seem like as good of a bet as Schmidt to bounce back. ? The remaining three guys were all 2007 supplemental first-rounders. Luebke is another polished lefty capable of moving quickly. Cumberland has an intriguing bat, but may move to second after playing short in high school. Canham has the potential to move up considerably on next year's list if he proves he can stay behind the plate.
2007 top 15: Cesar Carrillo, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Cedric Hunter, Matt Antonelli, Will Venable, Andrew Brown, Chase Headley, Chad Huffman, Sean Thompson, Paul McAnulty, Kyler Burke, Jared Wells, Cesar Ramos, Nick Hundley, Aaron Breit
2006 top 15: Cesar Carrillo, Josh Barfield, George Kottaras, Chase Headley, Ben Johnson, Clay Hensley, Paul McAnulty, Jared Wells, Freddy Guzman, Sean Thompson, Cesar Ramos, Matt Bush, Kyle Blanks, Steve Andrade, Michael Johnson
2005 top 10: Tim Stauffer, Josh Barfield, Travis Chick, George Kottaras, Matt Bush, Brad Baker, Freddy Guzman, Tagg Bozied, Sean Thompson, Justin Germano
2004 top 10: Khalil ******, Josh Barfield, Tim Stauffer, Ben Howard, Henri Stanley, Javier Martinez, Freddy Guzman, Tagg Bozied, Jon Knott, Jake Gautreau
2003 top 10: Xavier Nady, Khalil ******, Mike Bynum, Mark Phillips, Tagg Bozied, Jake Gautreau, Ben Howard, Brad Baker, Mike Nicolas, Eric Cyr
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San Francisco Giants
1. Angel Villalona - 3B - DOB: 08/13/90 - ETA: 2012
.285/.344/.450, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 42/15 K/BB, 1 SB in 200 AB (R AZL Giants)
.167/.231/.167, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/0 K/BB, 1 SB in 12 AB (SS-A Salem Keiser)
The Giants have a position player as their top prospect for the first time since I've been doing this. The last time Baseball America had a non-pitcher listed at No. 1 for the club was 1995, when P.J. Phillips was the choice.
Villalona is the one hope the Giants have had for developing an offensive superstar in the last 20 years. The native of the Dominican Republic got a $2.1 million bonus to sign as a 16-year-old in Aug. 2006. He made his pro debut last June and put up solid numbers right away. What he didn't do was show much promise at third base. He's making the move to first base this year and probably won't move ever again. Already powerfully built at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Villalona could develop into a 30-homer guy. He doesn't take wild swings at breaking balls, and he shows some willingness to take pitches the other way. It'll probably be a couple of years before he starts putting up big numbers, but he has about as much offensive potential as anyone in the minors.
2. Henry Sosa - RHP - DOB: 07/28/85 - ETA: June 2009
6-0, 0.73 ERA, 30 H, 61/25 K/BB in 62 IP (A- Augusta)
5-5, 4.38 ERA, 66 H, 78/36 K/BB in 63 2/3 IP (A+ San Jose)
Sosa got off to a brilliant start last year, overmatching Sally League hitters with a mid-90s fastball and hard curve. The California League provided more of a challenge, but he sported a great strikeout rate while giving up an earned run every other inning. Sosa doesn't yet have a legitimate third pitch, and command is often an issue. Still, his top two pitches give him the bullpen to fall back on if he doesn't quite develop as hoped. As many swings and misses as he is capable of generating, he may need only to take care of one of his two deficiencies in order to make it as a starter.
3. Tim Alderson - RHP - DOB: 11/03/88 - 2011
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 12/0 K/BB in 5 IP (R AZL Giants)
Alderson had more than enough stuff, very good size at 6-foot-7 and exceptional polish for a high school pitcher, yet some teams still shied away from him in last year's draft. It appeared to be mostly because he worked exclusively from the stretch in school, and no one was sure how he'd respond to a windup. The Giants drafted him 22nd overall and were pleased with the early returns, though they didn't try to change him until after the minor league season was over. Alderson threw in the low-90s from the stretch and still could add some velocity. His curveball is a strikeout pitch, and he's further along with his change than most 19-year-olds. If he grows comfortable working from the windup, he could move rather quickly.
4. Madison Bumgarner - RHP - DOB: 08/01/89 - ETA: 2012
The first of the Giants' six first- and supplemental first-round picks last year was used on Bumgarner, a high school lefty taken 10th overall. With a fastball that peaks at 96 mph, he clearly has top-of-the-rotation upside. However, he's more of a thrower than a pitcher at this point. His curve needs to be tightened up, and his changeup isn't yet a weapon. The Giants will have to hope he harnesses his stuff before he gets hurt.
5. Nick Noonan - 2B - DOB: 05/04/89 - ETA: 2011
.316/.357/.451, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 20/12 K/BB, 18 SB in 206 AB (R AZL Giants)
A rare true second baseman drafted in the first round, Noonan was San Francisco's fourth pick last year, 32nd overall. Noonan offers a steady left-handed bat with 30-double, 15-homer potential. He's probably not going to have particularly good range at second, but he should be able to avoid a move to third. That he makes a lot of contact, rarely strikes out and can steal a base could make him the Giants' No. 2 hitter someday. He should move quickly for a high school product.
6. Nate Schierholtz - OF - DOB: 02/15/84 - ETA: July 2008
.333/.365/.560, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 58/17 K/BB, 10 SB in 411 AB (AAA Fresno)
.304/.316/.402, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 19/2 K/BB, 3 SB in 112 AB (San Francisco)
.348/.363/.596, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 12/1 K/BB, 1 SB in 89 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Schierholtz was the player most disappointed by the Giants' decision to give Aaron Rowand a five-year contract. He was coming off a year in which he hit .333 in Triple-A and then excelled in the AFL, but he was left with no chance of winning a job in spring training after the Giants failed to move any of their veteran outfielders. First base was open, but since the team likes the way he's adapted to right field since moving from third base, he wasn't considered a possibility there. Schierholtz doesn't have a whole lot of projection left. He's hit for average everywhere and cut back on his strikeouts as he's continued to climb the ladder, but he's probably not going to be more than a 20-homer guy and he doesn't walk at all. He does currently look like a better bet than ever to establish himself as an average regular, but he's going to be more of a complimentary piece than someone for the Giants to build around.
7. Eugenio Velez - 2B - DOB: 05/16/82 - ETA: Now
.298/.344/.399, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 66/26 K/BB, 49 SB in 376 AB (AA Connecticut)
.278/.381/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 5 SB in 18 AB (AAA Fresno)
.273/.385/.636, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 4 SB in 11 AB (San Francisco)
.303/.329/.461, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/3 K/BB, 14 SB in 76 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Because he was in his age-24 season, Velez wasn't taken very seriously even after hitting.315/.369/.557 with 64 steals to earn Sally League MVP honors in 2006. The Giants let him play with guys closer to his own age last season, and he put up pretty average numbers in Double-A. Still, that was at a great environment for pitchers, and he continued to raise his stock with a nice showing in the AFL. It was only this spring that he really caught the eyes of most with his awesome display of speed. Both his bat and glove remain question marks. Velez has limited power and little patience at the plate. His infield defense is only adequate, and his best position may be center field, a spot the Giants just spent $60 million to shore up. Velez can pick up infield singles with the best of them and he will line the occasional triple to the gap, so he should be able to stick as a utilityman. He's just not likely to get much better than he is right now.
8. Emmanuel Burriss - SS - DOB: 01/17/85 - ETA: Aug. 2009
.321/.374/.381, 0 HR, 38 RBI, 49/28 K/BB, 51 SB in 365 AB (A- Augusta)
.165/.237/.180, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 20/12 K/BB, 17 SB in 139 AB (A+ San Jose)
.365/.450/.423, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 3/6 K/BB, 8 SB in 52 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
The Giants thought Burriss was ready for high-A ball at the beginning of last year, but the 2006 supplemental first-round pick out of Kent State was abysmal for San Jose. Fortunately, he did salvage his season with a solid showing after a demotion to low-A ball, and he impressed with a .450 OBP in the Arizona Fall League. Burriss would rank as the fastest player in a lot of organizations, though not in one that also has Velez, and he should prove to be an above average shortstop in time. His offensive potential is quite limited. Burriss switch-hits, but he's prone to having the bat knocked out of his bands from both sides of the plate. He'll never have any power. Still, it's possible that his speed will allow him to hit .280, and since he does walk some and steal bases, that could be enough to make him an adequate regular. The Giants would love to see him put himself in position to replace Omar Vizquel in 2009. However, that's probably pushing it.
9. Wendell Fairley - OF - DOB: 03/17/88 - ETA: 2012
Had the Giants used their only first-round pick last year on a toolsy high school outfielder with a checkered past, it would have been a bad gamble. However, since they had six early picks, it was worth taking a chance on Fairley at No. 29. A top-notch athlete, Fairley was also recruited as a wide receiver. He should prove to be a fine center fielder, and he'll probably develop power with his left-handed swing. Just don't expect to see quality numbers from him before 2010.
10. John Bowker - OF - DOB: 07/08/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
.307/.363/.523, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 103/41 K/BB, 3 SB in 522 AB (AA Connecticut)
Bowker didn't look like much of a prospect in his first 2 ? pro seasons, but the 2004 third-round pick nearly doubled his career homer total last year in a tough environment for hitters at Connecticut. His bat looks legitimate enough now, though he still has trouble with left-handers. Unfortunately, he doesn't help himself with his glove, and being a Giants prospect, he doesn't walk very often. The Giants, though, need someone with his muscle in their lineup. Ideally, they'd move both Randy Winn and Dave Roberts to make room for Schierholtz and Bowker later this year. If they keep two of the veterans, Bowker will probably be the odd man out.
Next five: LHP Clayton Tanner, SS Charlie Culberson, RHP Sergio Romo, OF [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], RHP Merkin Valdez
Tanner has good command of average stuff and could make it as a fourth or fifth starter. ? Culberson was a supplemental first-rounder last year. He's well-rounded, which is a nice way of saying he doesn't stand out offensively or defensively. ? Romo had mind-blowing numbers as an A-ball reliever last year, striking out 106 and allowing 35 hits in 66 innings. No one likes his stuff, but he could be a sixth- and seventh-inning guy anyway. ? Injuries appear to have sapped Martinez-Esteve's potential, but he retains a spot for one more year. At this point, he's a lesser version of Bowker. ? Valdez, who topped this list in 2o04, is back from Tommy John surgery and appears set to have a career as a reliever.
2007 top 15: Tim Lincecum, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Angel Villalona, Emmanuel Burriss, Kevin Frandsen, Marcus Sanders, Billy Sadler, Fred Lewis, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1893"]Brian Anderson[/URL], Nate Schierholtz, Sharlon Schoop, Clayton Tanner, Merkin Valdez, Travis Ishikawa, William Bergolla
2006 top 15: Matt Cain, Marcus Sanders, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Merkin Valdez, Travis Ishikawa, Jonathan Sanchez, Nate Schierholtz, Fred Lewis, Dan Ortmeier, Kevin Frandsen, Craig Whitaker, Waldis Joaquin, Pablo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Shairon Martis
2005 top 10: Matt Cain, Merkin Valdez, Fred Lewis, David Aardsma, Nate Schierholtz, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1290"]Eddy Martinez-Esteve[/URL], Craig Whitaker, Todd Linden, Brad Hennessey, Marcus Sanders
2004 top 10: Merkin Valdez, Matt Cain, Todd Linden, David Aardsma, Craig Whitaker, Kevin Correia, Fred Lewis, Jesse English, Noah Lowry, Dan Ortmeier
2003 top 10: Jerome Williams, Jesse Foppert, Kurt Ainsworth, Boof Bonser, Todd Linden, Francisco Liriano, Fred Lewis, Ryan Hannaman, Jesse English, Matt Cain
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Welcome Back, Vernon
Vernon Wells was one of fantasy baseball's biggest disappointments last season, going from .302-32-106 to .245-16-80 while losing a massive 193 points of OPS. Much of Wells' struggles can be blamed on shoulder problems that plagued him throughout the season and finally forced him to shut things down in September before undergoing surgery. Shoulder injuries can be tricky things for power hitters, but Wells has gotten off to a tremendous start this year.
After going 2-for-5 with a homer Tuesday, he's now 8-for-26 (.308) with three homers and eight RBIs through seven games. Wells managed a grand total of three homers in 65 games after the All-Star break last season, so it's safe to say that his power has returned. Prior to last year Wells put together five straight 20-homer seasons and topped the 100-RBI mark in three of them, so he's a good bet to provide outstanding value to the owners who took a draft-day risk on him.
While Wells pretends that last season never happened while his fantasy owners wish that they could do the same, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Manager Ron Gardenhire said Monday that Francisco Liriano could be an option to replace the injured Kevin Slowey in the Twins' rotation Sunday, but that possibility was likely squashed when he allowed three runs over four innings in a Triple-A start Tuesday night. A pair of Alexi Casilla errors didn't help, but Liriano needed 88 pitches to record just a dozen outs and gave up five hits while handing out three walks against a weak group of Orioles minor leaguers.
Liriano finished spring training on a high note with back-to-back solid starts and racked up eight strikeouts in his first minor-league outing, but shaky command suggests that he's not yet ready to return. Making another start or two in the minors won't hurt, but it's concerning that he hasn't induced many grounders so far. By relying less on his amazing slider and more on his developing changeup, Liriano may be moving away from being the ground-ball machine that he was in 2006.
* Francisco Rodriguez said Tuesday that he expects to avoid the disabled list, but warned that he "might need to give it a couple days" before pitching again on his sore ankles. Sure enough, Justin Speier took his place Tuesday night and initially rescued the Angels by pitching out of the bases-loaded jam that he inherited. He then got two outs in the ninth inning, but ended up with a blown save when Travis Hafner took him deep for a two-run homer.
It's unclear if Speier is manager Mike Scioscia's top choice to replace Rodriguez or if he got the call because Scot Shields was unavailable after working on back-to-back days. Speier would be my pick, because he's quietly posted sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the past three years and Shields followed a brutal second half with a season-opening injury. However, given Scioscia's loyalties it wouldn't be surprising to see Shields get the nod next time if Rodriguez remains sidelined.
* Matt Garza looked like a nice breakout candidate this season, but that'll have to wait after he left Tuesday's game with what the Rays are calling radial nerve irritation. It's unclear yet whether the injury is expected to be a serious one, but Garza will be placed on the disabled list and it wouldn't be surprising if the Rays play it very safe with the 24-year-old who headlined the winter deal for Delmon Young. Jeff Niemann is likely to be called up from Triple-A to take Garza's rotation spot.
Niemann was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft, but like most pitchers from Rice University he's had major arm problems as a pro. He stayed healthy last season and put together a good year at Triple-A, and like Garza has No. 2 starter potential down the road if he can somehow avoid more injuries. A 6-foot-9 right-hander who works with a mid-90s fastball, Niemann has the stuff to succeed in the majors right now and should be snatched up in AL-only leagues.
* Brandon Lyon has followed up an ugly spring with two early blown saves, but manager Bob Melvin gave him a vote of confidence Tuesday. "A couple outings isn't going to take away from the fact that this is a guy we expect to pitch the ninth inning for us," Melvin said. "That's the way it remains right now." Lyon is capable of getting the job done as closer "right now," but Tony Pena has tossed four scoreless innings and is probably 50-50 to be closing by midseason.
AL Quick Hits: Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that Derek Jeter (quadriceps) isn't expected to rejoin the lineup until at least Friday, adding that Wilson Betemit will fill in at shortstop and shifting Alex Rodriguez back to his old position was never an option ? Curtis Granderson (finger) hit off a tee and threw from 90 feet Tuesday, participating in baseball activities for the first time since March 22 ? Manager Ozzie Guillen smartly announced Tuesday that Nick Swisher will remain in the leadoff spot ? B.J. Ryan (elbow) made a minor-league rehab appearance Monday, pitching a scoreless inning at Single-A, but his return from the DL doesn't appear imminent ? Ryan Rowland-Smith picked up his first career save Tuesday, retiring all five batters he faced despite pitching for just the second time this season ? After posting a 2.70 ERA and 24 strikeouts through three starts last season, Daisuke Matsuzaka has a 1.47 ERA and 22 strikeouts through three outings this year ? Placido Polanco made a throwing miscue Tuesday, snapping his streak of 187 straight errorless games.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins left Tuesday's game with a sprained left ankle, but said afterward that he "could've stayed in the game" ? Chad Cordero (shoulder) is slated to pitch in a minor-league game Wednesday and barring a setback will come off the disabled list Friday ? Brad Lidge received Tuesday off after pitching on back-to-back days, with Tom Gordon pitching a perfect ninth inning to close out a three-run lead and pick up a save in his place ? Orlando Hernandez complained of additional soreness in his injured right foot Tuesday and has reportedly been sent back to New York to undergo an MRI ? Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) is scheduled to return from the DL on Wednesday and figures to slide right back into the starting lineup ? Mike Gonzalez is making his way back from elbow surgery and the Braves are said to be hoping for a return in early June ? Miguel Montero (finger) homered Monday in an extended spring training game, but is not expected back until at least May 1 ? With Dmitri Young (back) headed to the DL, Nick Johnson's playing time at first base is safe for at least the rest of the month.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Welcome Back, Vernon
Vernon Wells was one of fantasy baseball's biggest disappointments last season, going from .302-32-106 to .245-16-80 while losing a massive 193 points of OPS. Much of Wells' struggles can be blamed on shoulder problems that plagued him throughout the season and finally forced him to shut things down in September before undergoing surgery. Shoulder injuries can be tricky things for power hitters, but Wells has gotten off to a tremendous start this year.
After going 2-for-5 with a homer Tuesday, he's now 8-for-26 (.308) with three homers and eight RBIs through seven games. Wells managed a grand total of three homers in 65 games after the All-Star break last season, so it's safe to say that his power has returned. Prior to last year Wells put together five straight 20-homer seasons and topped the 100-RBI mark in three of them, so he's a good bet to provide outstanding value to the owners who took a draft-day risk on him.
While Wells pretends that last season never happened while his fantasy owners wish that they could do the same, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Manager Ron Gardenhire said Monday that Francisco Liriano could be an option to replace the injured Kevin Slowey in the Twins' rotation Sunday, but that possibility was likely squashed when he allowed three runs over four innings in a Triple-A start Tuesday night. A pair of Alexi Casilla errors didn't help, but Liriano needed 88 pitches to record just a dozen outs and gave up five hits while handing out three walks against a weak group of Orioles minor leaguers.
Liriano finished spring training on a high note with back-to-back solid starts and racked up eight strikeouts in his first minor-league outing, but shaky command suggests that he's not yet ready to return. Making another start or two in the minors won't hurt, but it's concerning that he hasn't induced many grounders so far. By relying less on his amazing slider and more on his developing changeup, Liriano may be moving away from being the ground-ball machine that he was in 2006.
* Francisco Rodriguez said Tuesday that he expects to avoid the disabled list, but warned that he "might need to give it a couple days" before pitching again on his sore ankles. Sure enough, Justin Speier took his place Tuesday night and initially rescued the Angels by pitching out of the bases-loaded jam that he inherited. He then got two outs in the ninth inning, but ended up with a blown save when Travis Hafner took him deep for a two-run homer.
It's unclear if Speier is manager Mike Scioscia's top choice to replace Rodriguez or if he got the call because Scot Shields was unavailable after working on back-to-back days. Speier would be my pick, because he's quietly posted sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the past three years and Shields followed a brutal second half with a season-opening injury. However, given Scioscia's loyalties it wouldn't be surprising to see Shields get the nod next time if Rodriguez remains sidelined.
* Matt Garza looked like a nice breakout candidate this season, but that'll have to wait after he left Tuesday's game with what the Rays are calling radial nerve irritation. It's unclear yet whether the injury is expected to be a serious one, but Garza will be placed on the disabled list and it wouldn't be surprising if the Rays play it very safe with the 24-year-old who headlined the winter deal for Delmon Young. Jeff Niemann is likely to be called up from Triple-A to take Garza's rotation spot.
Niemann was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft, but like most pitchers from Rice University he's had major arm problems as a pro. He stayed healthy last season and put together a good year at Triple-A, and like Garza has No. 2 starter potential down the road if he can somehow avoid more injuries. A 6-foot-9 right-hander who works with a mid-90s fastball, Niemann has the stuff to succeed in the majors right now and should be snatched up in AL-only leagues.
* Brandon Lyon has followed up an ugly spring with two early blown saves, but manager Bob Melvin gave him a vote of confidence Tuesday. "A couple outings isn't going to take away from the fact that this is a guy we expect to pitch the ninth inning for us," Melvin said. "That's the way it remains right now." Lyon is capable of getting the job done as closer "right now," but Tony Pena has tossed four scoreless innings and is probably 50-50 to be closing by midseason.
AL Quick Hits: Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that Derek Jeter (quadriceps) isn't expected to rejoin the lineup until at least Friday, adding that Wilson Betemit will fill in at shortstop and shifting Alex Rodriguez back to his old position was never an option ? Curtis Granderson (finger) hit off a tee and threw from 90 feet Tuesday, participating in baseball activities for the first time since March 22 ? Manager Ozzie Guillen smartly announced Tuesday that Nick Swisher will remain in the leadoff spot ? B.J. Ryan (elbow) made a minor-league rehab appearance Monday, pitching a scoreless inning at Single-A, but his return from the DL doesn't appear imminent ? Ryan Rowland-Smith picked up his first career save Tuesday, retiring all five batters he faced despite pitching for just the second time this season ? After posting a 2.70 ERA and 24 strikeouts through three starts last season, Daisuke Matsuzaka has a 1.47 ERA and 22 strikeouts through three outings this year ? Placido Polanco made a throwing miscue Tuesday, snapping his streak of 187 straight errorless games.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins left Tuesday's game with a sprained left ankle, but said afterward that he "could've stayed in the game" ? Chad Cordero (shoulder) is slated to pitch in a minor-league game Wednesday and barring a setback will come off the disabled list Friday ? Brad Lidge received Tuesday off after pitching on back-to-back days, with Tom Gordon pitching a perfect ninth inning to close out a three-run lead and pick up a save in his place ? Orlando Hernandez complained of additional soreness in his injured right foot Tuesday and has reportedly been sent back to New York to undergo an MRI ? Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) is scheduled to return from the DL on Wednesday and figures to slide right back into the starting lineup ? Mike Gonzalez is making his way back from elbow surgery and the Braves are said to be hoping for a return in early June ? Miguel Montero (finger) homered Monday in an extended spring training game, but is not expected back until at least May 1 ? With Dmitri Young (back) headed to the DL, Nick Johnson's playing time at first base is safe for at least the rest of the month.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Injured or Just Not Very Good?
After sticking with Joe Borowski at closer last season despite a 5.07 ERA and AL-leading eight blown saves, it's no surprise that the Indians are showing patience with him again this year. Borowski blew a save Monday by serving up a grand slam and looked so bad in the process that manager Eric Wedge was peppered with questions about a possible injury. "There's nothing to indicate he's not healthy," Wedge said. "As long as he feels good, he's our guy."
Wedge's quote is a bit like someone assuring you the next day that they were totally sober when they made a fool of themselves at a party. Not being drunk is nice and all, but now there's no excuse for their behavior. In Borowski's case, if he's truly fine physically that just means what was already marginal stuff has declined even further. His average fastball clocked in at 88 miles per hour last season, but so far this year it's at 84.
His slider has experienced a similar dip in velocity, going from 80 to 77. Not many guys can afford to lose 3-4 miles per hour off their two primary pitches and still succeed, and Borowski can afford that loss even less than most. Expect the Indians to stick with him for a while, but if he can't get a little more heat on his offerings the always tempting option of handing ninth-inning duties to elite setup man Rafael Betancourt may become too overwhelming to avoid for another year.
While the Indians inexplicably do everything they can to avoid taking the closer job away from a guy who might be their fourth-best reliever if you feel like being kind, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Cliff Floyd's career filled with injuries continued Wednesday, as he was placed on the disabled list with torn cartilage in his right knee. Floyd is expected to undergo surgery Friday and could be back within a month, although he's never shown himself to be an especially quick healer and at 35 years old will probably stretch out any timetable. To replace Floyd on the roster Tampa Bay called up Justin Ruggiano from Triple-A.
Ruggiano will compete for playing time with Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes between right field and designated hitter, and could emerge with solid value in AL-only leagues if manager Joe Maddon decides to platoon the two veterans. Turning 26 years old soon means that Ruggiano is far from a great prospect, but he hit .309/.386/.502 with 20 homers and 26 steals in 127 games at Triple-A last season and sports a .904 OPS in nearly 1,700 career trips to the plate in the minors.
* Manager Bobby Cox described Rafael Soriano as having "a tiny bit" of elbow soreness Tuesday night, but the Braves placed their oft-injured closer on the disabled list Wednesday with what is now being called elbow tendonitis. Arm problems are nothing new for Soriano, who missed most of 2004 and 2005 while in Seattle. He was fantastic in 2006, posting a 2.25 ERA in 60 innings, but the Mariners reportedly soured on him because he wasn't always available to pitch.
Atlanta gladly swapped Horacio Ramirez for him and got themselves one of the NL's top setup men last season, watching as Soriano posted a 3.00 ERA and 70-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio while appearing in 71 games. He took over ninth-inning duties this year and looked capable of becoming one of the league's elite closers, but will instead give way to Peter Moylan for at least the next two weeks. Given Soriano's long injury history, Moylan suddenly has a ton of value. atlantabraves.com
* Not so long ago Dan Johnson was seemingly in the A's long-term plans, but he struggled in each of the past two seasons, has been glued to the bench for all but one at-bat this year, and was designated for assignment Wednesday. As a 28-year-old, minimum-salaried hitter with a decent .763 career OPS, Johnson will almost surely be claimed off waivers if the A's aren't able to trade him within the next 10 days. Whatever the case, he's likely done in Oakland.
Johnson hasn't lived up to a great minor-league track record that included batting .308 with a .950 OPS in 238 games at Triple-A, largely because he's hit just .249 with the A's. He has managed to show solid power and very good plate discipline, and even duplicating his modest .249/.344/.419 career hitting line would make him one of the Giants' better hitters. The A's typically acquire hitters like Johnson rather than give them up, so it'll be interesting to see where he lands.
AL Quick Hits: Scott Kazmir (elbow) threw a 42-pitch batting practice session Tuesday, facing live hitters for the first time since March 13 ? After being scratched from his start Tuesday due to a strained lat, Rich Harden played catch Wednesday and said afterward that he's not counting on taking the mound as scheduled Saturday ? If Mike Lowell misses time after suffering a thumb injury Wednesday, Sean Casey will replace him at first base with Kevin Youkilis sliding across the diamond ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL]'s 15-day suspension has been put on hold through at least this weekend and the chances of it being wiped away continue to improve ? Paul Byrd walked just 28 batters in 192.1 innings last season, but has already handed out five free passes in just 7.1 frames after being knocked around Wednesday by the Angels ? J.J. Putz (ribs) threw from flat ground Wednesday and manager John McLaren said afterward that "everything was a positive" ? Not willing to move Alex Rodriguez away from third base or trust Wilson Betemit's glove with Derek Jeter (quadriceps) hurting, the Yankees called up light-hitting prospect Alberto Gonzalez.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins (ankle) was a late scratch Wednesday and Eric Bruntlett committed a pair of errors starting in his place ? Brandon Lyon shook off two early blown saves this season to close out a one-run lead Wednesday with a 1-2-3 ninth inning ? Orlando Hernandez (foot) experienced a setback and is now unlikely to return for at least a month, so the Mets are said to be reconsidering signing Claudio Vargas ? Andy LaRoche (thumb) has begun hitting off a tee, but figures to remain sidelined into May ? Meanwhile, Nomar Garciaparra (wrist) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday and could return from the disabled list as soon as Monday ? Doug Davis headed to the DL on Wednesday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks while undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer ? Rather than come off the DL this weekend, Shawn Hill (forearm) will make a second rehab start at Triple-A ? Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) returned from the DL and went 2-for-5 with two doubles in his season debut Wednesday ? After missing two games, Adam LaRoche (thumb) was back in the lineup Wednesday and homered.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Injured or Just Not Very Good?
After sticking with Joe Borowski at closer last season despite a 5.07 ERA and AL-leading eight blown saves, it's no surprise that the Indians are showing patience with him again this year. Borowski blew a save Monday by serving up a grand slam and looked so bad in the process that manager Eric Wedge was peppered with questions about a possible injury. "There's nothing to indicate he's not healthy," Wedge said. "As long as he feels good, he's our guy."
Wedge's quote is a bit like someone assuring you the next day that they were totally sober when they made a fool of themselves at a party. Not being drunk is nice and all, but now there's no excuse for their behavior. In Borowski's case, if he's truly fine physically that just means what was already marginal stuff has declined even further. His average fastball clocked in at 88 miles per hour last season, but so far this year it's at 84.
His slider has experienced a similar dip in velocity, going from 80 to 77. Not many guys can afford to lose 3-4 miles per hour off their two primary pitches and still succeed, and Borowski can afford that loss even less than most. Expect the Indians to stick with him for a while, but if he can't get a little more heat on his offerings the always tempting option of handing ninth-inning duties to elite setup man Rafael Betancourt may become too overwhelming to avoid for another year.
While the Indians inexplicably do everything they can to avoid taking the closer job away from a guy who might be their fourth-best reliever if you feel like being kind, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Cliff Floyd's career filled with injuries continued Wednesday, as he was placed on the disabled list with torn cartilage in his right knee. Floyd is expected to undergo surgery Friday and could be back within a month, although he's never shown himself to be an especially quick healer and at 35 years old will probably stretch out any timetable. To replace Floyd on the roster Tampa Bay called up Justin Ruggiano from Triple-A.
Ruggiano will compete for playing time with Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes between right field and designated hitter, and could emerge with solid value in AL-only leagues if manager Joe Maddon decides to platoon the two veterans. Turning 26 years old soon means that Ruggiano is far from a great prospect, but he hit .309/.386/.502 with 20 homers and 26 steals in 127 games at Triple-A last season and sports a .904 OPS in nearly 1,700 career trips to the plate in the minors.
* Manager Bobby Cox described Rafael Soriano as having "a tiny bit" of elbow soreness Tuesday night, but the Braves placed their oft-injured closer on the disabled list Wednesday with what is now being called elbow tendonitis. Arm problems are nothing new for Soriano, who missed most of 2004 and 2005 while in Seattle. He was fantastic in 2006, posting a 2.25 ERA in 60 innings, but the Mariners reportedly soured on him because he wasn't always available to pitch.
Atlanta gladly swapped Horacio Ramirez for him and got themselves one of the NL's top setup men last season, watching as Soriano posted a 3.00 ERA and 70-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio while appearing in 71 games. He took over ninth-inning duties this year and looked capable of becoming one of the league's elite closers, but will instead give way to Peter Moylan for at least the next two weeks. Given Soriano's long injury history, Moylan suddenly has a ton of value. atlantabraves.com
* Not so long ago Dan Johnson was seemingly in the A's long-term plans, but he struggled in each of the past two seasons, has been glued to the bench for all but one at-bat this year, and was designated for assignment Wednesday. As a 28-year-old, minimum-salaried hitter with a decent .763 career OPS, Johnson will almost surely be claimed off waivers if the A's aren't able to trade him within the next 10 days. Whatever the case, he's likely done in Oakland.
Johnson hasn't lived up to a great minor-league track record that included batting .308 with a .950 OPS in 238 games at Triple-A, largely because he's hit just .249 with the A's. He has managed to show solid power and very good plate discipline, and even duplicating his modest .249/.344/.419 career hitting line would make him one of the Giants' better hitters. The A's typically acquire hitters like Johnson rather than give them up, so it'll be interesting to see where he lands.
AL Quick Hits: Scott Kazmir (elbow) threw a 42-pitch batting practice session Tuesday, facing live hitters for the first time since March 13 ? After being scratched from his start Tuesday due to a strained lat, Rich Harden played catch Wednesday and said afterward that he's not counting on taking the mound as scheduled Saturday ? If Mike Lowell misses time after suffering a thumb injury Wednesday, Sean Casey will replace him at first base with Kevin Youkilis sliding across the diamond ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL]'s 15-day suspension has been put on hold through at least this weekend and the chances of it being wiped away continue to improve ? Paul Byrd walked just 28 batters in 192.1 innings last season, but has already handed out five free passes in just 7.1 frames after being knocked around Wednesday by the Angels ? J.J. Putz (ribs) threw from flat ground Wednesday and manager John McLaren said afterward that "everything was a positive" ? Not willing to move Alex Rodriguez away from third base or trust Wilson Betemit's glove with Derek Jeter (quadriceps) hurting, the Yankees called up light-hitting prospect Alberto Gonzalez.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins (ankle) was a late scratch Wednesday and Eric Bruntlett committed a pair of errors starting in his place ? Brandon Lyon shook off two early blown saves this season to close out a one-run lead Wednesday with a 1-2-3 ninth inning ? Orlando Hernandez (foot) experienced a setback and is now unlikely to return for at least a month, so the Mets are said to be reconsidering signing Claudio Vargas ? Andy LaRoche (thumb) has begun hitting off a tee, but figures to remain sidelined into May ? Meanwhile, Nomar Garciaparra (wrist) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday and could return from the disabled list as soon as Monday ? Doug Davis headed to the DL on Wednesday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks while undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer ? Rather than come off the DL this weekend, Shawn Hill (forearm) will make a second rehab start at Triple-A ? Jeremy Hermida (hamstring) returned from the DL and went 2-for-5 with two doubles in his season debut Wednesday ? After missing two games, Adam LaRoche (thumb) was back in the lineup Wednesday and homered.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: Minor Notes
The minor league season kicked off on Thursday, with Prospect Report favorite Matt LaPorta starting things off with a grand slam on the first night of the season. There are plenty of other storylines brewing, and we'll begin to dive into them with a notes-style column this week. Going forward, the column will change a bit from what readers are used to in year's past. In this space I'll profile minor league callups each and every week through the September callups review early in that month. In addition to the callups, I'll also be supplying the annual two-part MLB draft review as well as various other columns once the minor league season shuts down in September.
Rotoworld is also happy to offer additional prospect coverage to Season Pass subscribers. There you'll find a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects, with notes on how players are doing each week and what may be causing a ranking to change. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
And of course, readers are always encouraged to check out the Rotoworld.com Forums for discussion on prospects and all things fantasy sports.
[SIZE=+1]Minor League Notes[/SIZE]
American League
LaPorta wasn't the only star prospect from the 2007 draft making a big splash, as No. 5 overall selection Matt Wieters homered twice in his minor league debut on Friday. The Georgia Tech alum starts the season at High-A Frederick, but both his bat and defense are ready for a bigger challenge. Assuming he keeps hitting, Wieters will move up to Double-A fairly quickly. Continued success might allow for Wieters to reach Triple-A or even the majors during September, and a significant contribution in the big leagues during 2009 is likely. Wieters should have little trouble being an above average regular behind the plate once he's ready, and there are few catching prospects that come along who look as likely to be an All-Star as he does. He enters the season No. 8 in our Season Pass Top 100.
A high school right-hander who slipped to pick No. 27 due to signability issues, Rick Porcello had a strong professional debut for High-A Lakeland by hurling five scoreless innings in a win over the Tampa Yankees. Porcello struck out three, walked two, and allowed just one hit, a single. Porcello is as advanced a high school pitcher as you'll see at age 19, as he already has good command and mixes his pitches well. Throw in a fastball that easily sits in the 93-94 MPH range as well as three plus secondary offerings, and it's easy to see why Porcello gets everyone excited. He should reach Double-A later in the season, which is quite the accomplishment for a 19-year-old. A big league debut late in 2009 seems likely, and Porcello probably won't need much time to realize his potential once getting there. Despite all of the risks inherent in high school pitchers, Porcello's advancement and ace potential allow him to debut as one of baseball's top 15 prospects.
David Price, the first pick in last year's draft, was supposed to make his professional debut when the season opened this week, but instead Price was diagnosed with a strained forearm in late March and was relegated to six weeks of rest. Price has since played catch, but he's still about a month away from true game action. He'll pitch for High-A Vero Beach once ready, and while the news does decrease the chances that we'll see Price in the majors this season, a September debut is possible
Jake Arrieta isn't as big a name as some of the other 2007 draftees mentioned here, but he did sign for a $1.1 million bonus that is a record for a fifth rounder. A standout at TCU as a sophomore, Arrieta slipped some as a junior and saw his draft stock drop. However, the Orioles gave him the big bonus required and then watched as he threw 16 scoreless innings, with 16 strikeouts, in the Arizona Fall League. The right-hander's control still needs work and his changeup isn't MLB-ready, but Arrieta's fastball is a special offering that he'll dial up to 97 MPH when needed and he also has a good curve. The early results were positive, as Arrieta struck out nine and walked one in four innings during his debut for High-A Frederick. Arrieta could move fast if his command holds up, and he's someone to watch for 2009.
Last year I wrote glowingly about the Durham Bulls' rotation and how it was a group I was interested in following given that they had four intriguing prospects, all of whom had the potential to contribute in 2007. This year a similar rotation stands out, though they aren't as close to the majors as last year's group. The High-A Stockton Ports (Oakland A's) rotation is likely the best in the minors to start the year, with three pitchers ranked in my Top 100 and another who isn't that far off. And not surprisingly, Brett Anderson (6 IP, 0 R, 6 K), Fautino De Los Santos (6 IP, 2 R, 6 K), Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 0 R, 4 K), and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1739"]Henry Rodriguez[/URL] (5 IP, 1 R, 8 K) have all started off well. In total, the foursome is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Tigers' first base prospect Jeff Larish is off to a good start for Triple-A Toledo, smacking three home runs in the club's first three games. Larish posted a .267/.390/.515 line in Double-A last season and was once considered a first round talent after a dominant sophomore season at Arizona State, so the ability is there for the 6'2" left-hander. He'll probably strike out too much to be a regular and improvement is unlikely given that Larish is already 25 years old, but he could be a solid platoon player in the mold of Ben Broussard. With the injury-prone Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen ahead of him, Larish could get a shot this year.
One prospect I was very interested to see this year was Chris Tillman, who went from the Mariners to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal. A talented but raw arm who struggled most of the year in High-A last season, Tillman finished the season strong with a 2.50 ERA during his last seven starts. That left some wondering if he had turned a corner, and the Orioles were confident enough to send Tillman to Double-A despite the fact that he's yet to turn 20 years old. Tillman didn't justify the faith in his first start when he gave up two runs while walking three, striking out three, and throwing a wild pitch in just two innings of work. He'll have to do better than that to justify our lofty ranking of the young hurler, but the stuff is there for Tillman to be a star down the road. Still, perhaps some more time in High-A wouldn't have hurt.
National League
Pirates shortstop Brian Bixler was the lone callup of note this week when he replaced the disabled Jack Wilson on the big league roster. Bixler, a second round pick out of Eastern Michigan University in 2004, hit .274/.368/.396 with 28 steals in 475 at-bats for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. He also struck out 131 times, so a high batting average is unlikely despite his lack of power and above average speed. Wilson should be out for a few weeks, so Bixler is worth claiming in NL-only leagues during that time. He'll garner a few steals and add a little in the counting stats by virtue of being the starter.
Homer Bailey was everyone's favorite pitching prospect going into last season, but injuries and some poor performances in the majors got some people down on the right-hander. Bailey seemed poised to redeem himself and win a spot in the Reds' rotation this spring, but instead he posted a 5.21 ERA and walked more batters (16) than he struck out (11) in 19 innings of work. Now back at Triple-A Louisville, Bailey may be turning things around. The right-hander gave up one run while walking one and striking out two in his first outing of the season, then hurled 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball to go with seven strikeouts and one walk last night. Bailey still posses the same ace upside he had last year, and if he can string together a few more good starts he'll be worth stashing away even in one-year leagues.
Cameron Maybin was given a shot to win the Marlins' center field job out of spring training, but he hit just .190 with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 42 at-bats. The power was there, as Maybin smacked three homers, but the ability to lay off bad pitches and make consistent contact was not. Sent down to Double-A Carolina, Maybin is off to an excellent start by going 7-for-15 with two homers, a triple, two steals, and a 4/6 K/BB ratio. The aforementioned issues with plate discipline will rear their ugly head soon enough, but the strong start is a reminder of Maybin's phenomenal raw hitting ability. He may not have to wait long to get another shot in the majors, but it'd be best if he spent a full year in the minors working on his selectivity at the plate. If the Marlins feel differently, Maybin could provide decent power and speed numbers despite a low batting average once called up.
Perhaps the most impressive of all the fast starts, Thomas Hanson threw five no-hit innings and struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced for High-A Myrtle Beach in a game against Wilmington. Hanson didn't make my Top 100 after struggling once reaching High-A last season, but he was close to the list and certainly has plenty of upside. With a very good curve and a fastball that now sits in the low-90s, Hanson has the repertoire to develop into a No. 3 starter. A flyball pitcher who had some long ball problems last year, Hanson only needs to improve his command and avoid mistake pitches with his fastball to become a very intriguing prospect. He's off to one great start, and he'll need to be monitored closely as a result.
A better fantasy prospect than true impact player in the majors, Corey Wimberly looked like a future big leaguer after hitting .325/.404/.383 with 50 steals for High-A Modesto in 2006. The 5'8" switch-hitter took a step back in 2007, watching his average drop to .268 and his other statistics along with it. Now 24 years old and back at Double-A Tulsa, Wimberly needs a big year to give himself a chance of making it to the majors. Thankfully for him, Wimberly is off to a nice start by going 10-for-19 with four steals. Jayson Nix is manning second base for the Rockies right now, but he's unlikely to be very successful in the majors. Jeff Baker isn't a long-term option at the position and Ian Stewart has been moved back to third base, so Wimberly could well be the next option if he keeps playing well. Wimberly would instantly be worth a significant investment in fantasy leagues because of his speed, and he could surprise as a decent regular in the Luis Castillo mold.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospect Report: Minor Notes
The minor league season kicked off on Thursday, with Prospect Report favorite Matt LaPorta starting things off with a grand slam on the first night of the season. There are plenty of other storylines brewing, and we'll begin to dive into them with a notes-style column this week. Going forward, the column will change a bit from what readers are used to in year's past. In this space I'll profile minor league callups each and every week through the September callups review early in that month. In addition to the callups, I'll also be supplying the annual two-part MLB draft review as well as various other columns once the minor league season shuts down in September.
Rotoworld is also happy to offer additional prospect coverage to Season Pass subscribers. There you'll find a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects, with notes on how players are doing each week and what may be causing a ranking to change. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
And of course, readers are always encouraged to check out the Rotoworld.com Forums for discussion on prospects and all things fantasy sports.
[SIZE=+1]Minor League Notes[/SIZE]
American League
LaPorta wasn't the only star prospect from the 2007 draft making a big splash, as No. 5 overall selection Matt Wieters homered twice in his minor league debut on Friday. The Georgia Tech alum starts the season at High-A Frederick, but both his bat and defense are ready for a bigger challenge. Assuming he keeps hitting, Wieters will move up to Double-A fairly quickly. Continued success might allow for Wieters to reach Triple-A or even the majors during September, and a significant contribution in the big leagues during 2009 is likely. Wieters should have little trouble being an above average regular behind the plate once he's ready, and there are few catching prospects that come along who look as likely to be an All-Star as he does. He enters the season No. 8 in our Season Pass Top 100.
A high school right-hander who slipped to pick No. 27 due to signability issues, Rick Porcello had a strong professional debut for High-A Lakeland by hurling five scoreless innings in a win over the Tampa Yankees. Porcello struck out three, walked two, and allowed just one hit, a single. Porcello is as advanced a high school pitcher as you'll see at age 19, as he already has good command and mixes his pitches well. Throw in a fastball that easily sits in the 93-94 MPH range as well as three plus secondary offerings, and it's easy to see why Porcello gets everyone excited. He should reach Double-A later in the season, which is quite the accomplishment for a 19-year-old. A big league debut late in 2009 seems likely, and Porcello probably won't need much time to realize his potential once getting there. Despite all of the risks inherent in high school pitchers, Porcello's advancement and ace potential allow him to debut as one of baseball's top 15 prospects.
David Price, the first pick in last year's draft, was supposed to make his professional debut when the season opened this week, but instead Price was diagnosed with a strained forearm in late March and was relegated to six weeks of rest. Price has since played catch, but he's still about a month away from true game action. He'll pitch for High-A Vero Beach once ready, and while the news does decrease the chances that we'll see Price in the majors this season, a September debut is possible
Jake Arrieta isn't as big a name as some of the other 2007 draftees mentioned here, but he did sign for a $1.1 million bonus that is a record for a fifth rounder. A standout at TCU as a sophomore, Arrieta slipped some as a junior and saw his draft stock drop. However, the Orioles gave him the big bonus required and then watched as he threw 16 scoreless innings, with 16 strikeouts, in the Arizona Fall League. The right-hander's control still needs work and his changeup isn't MLB-ready, but Arrieta's fastball is a special offering that he'll dial up to 97 MPH when needed and he also has a good curve. The early results were positive, as Arrieta struck out nine and walked one in four innings during his debut for High-A Frederick. Arrieta could move fast if his command holds up, and he's someone to watch for 2009.
Last year I wrote glowingly about the Durham Bulls' rotation and how it was a group I was interested in following given that they had four intriguing prospects, all of whom had the potential to contribute in 2007. This year a similar rotation stands out, though they aren't as close to the majors as last year's group. The High-A Stockton Ports (Oakland A's) rotation is likely the best in the minors to start the year, with three pitchers ranked in my Top 100 and another who isn't that far off. And not surprisingly, Brett Anderson (6 IP, 0 R, 6 K), Fautino De Los Santos (6 IP, 2 R, 6 K), Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 0 R, 4 K), and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1739"]Henry Rodriguez[/URL] (5 IP, 1 R, 8 K) have all started off well. In total, the foursome is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Tigers' first base prospect Jeff Larish is off to a good start for Triple-A Toledo, smacking three home runs in the club's first three games. Larish posted a .267/.390/.515 line in Double-A last season and was once considered a first round talent after a dominant sophomore season at Arizona State, so the ability is there for the 6'2" left-hander. He'll probably strike out too much to be a regular and improvement is unlikely given that Larish is already 25 years old, but he could be a solid platoon player in the mold of Ben Broussard. With the injury-prone Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen ahead of him, Larish could get a shot this year.
One prospect I was very interested to see this year was Chris Tillman, who went from the Mariners to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal. A talented but raw arm who struggled most of the year in High-A last season, Tillman finished the season strong with a 2.50 ERA during his last seven starts. That left some wondering if he had turned a corner, and the Orioles were confident enough to send Tillman to Double-A despite the fact that he's yet to turn 20 years old. Tillman didn't justify the faith in his first start when he gave up two runs while walking three, striking out three, and throwing a wild pitch in just two innings of work. He'll have to do better than that to justify our lofty ranking of the young hurler, but the stuff is there for Tillman to be a star down the road. Still, perhaps some more time in High-A wouldn't have hurt.
National League
Pirates shortstop Brian Bixler was the lone callup of note this week when he replaced the disabled Jack Wilson on the big league roster. Bixler, a second round pick out of Eastern Michigan University in 2004, hit .274/.368/.396 with 28 steals in 475 at-bats for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. He also struck out 131 times, so a high batting average is unlikely despite his lack of power and above average speed. Wilson should be out for a few weeks, so Bixler is worth claiming in NL-only leagues during that time. He'll garner a few steals and add a little in the counting stats by virtue of being the starter.
Homer Bailey was everyone's favorite pitching prospect going into last season, but injuries and some poor performances in the majors got some people down on the right-hander. Bailey seemed poised to redeem himself and win a spot in the Reds' rotation this spring, but instead he posted a 5.21 ERA and walked more batters (16) than he struck out (11) in 19 innings of work. Now back at Triple-A Louisville, Bailey may be turning things around. The right-hander gave up one run while walking one and striking out two in his first outing of the season, then hurled 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball to go with seven strikeouts and one walk last night. Bailey still posses the same ace upside he had last year, and if he can string together a few more good starts he'll be worth stashing away even in one-year leagues.
Cameron Maybin was given a shot to win the Marlins' center field job out of spring training, but he hit just .190 with 15 strikeouts and two walks in 42 at-bats. The power was there, as Maybin smacked three homers, but the ability to lay off bad pitches and make consistent contact was not. Sent down to Double-A Carolina, Maybin is off to an excellent start by going 7-for-15 with two homers, a triple, two steals, and a 4/6 K/BB ratio. The aforementioned issues with plate discipline will rear their ugly head soon enough, but the strong start is a reminder of Maybin's phenomenal raw hitting ability. He may not have to wait long to get another shot in the majors, but it'd be best if he spent a full year in the minors working on his selectivity at the plate. If the Marlins feel differently, Maybin could provide decent power and speed numbers despite a low batting average once called up.
Perhaps the most impressive of all the fast starts, Thomas Hanson threw five no-hit innings and struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced for High-A Myrtle Beach in a game against Wilmington. Hanson didn't make my Top 100 after struggling once reaching High-A last season, but he was close to the list and certainly has plenty of upside. With a very good curve and a fastball that now sits in the low-90s, Hanson has the repertoire to develop into a No. 3 starter. A flyball pitcher who had some long ball problems last year, Hanson only needs to improve his command and avoid mistake pitches with his fastball to become a very intriguing prospect. He's off to one great start, and he'll need to be monitored closely as a result.
A better fantasy prospect than true impact player in the majors, Corey Wimberly looked like a future big leaguer after hitting .325/.404/.383 with 50 steals for High-A Modesto in 2006. The 5'8" switch-hitter took a step back in 2007, watching his average drop to .268 and his other statistics along with it. Now 24 years old and back at Double-A Tulsa, Wimberly needs a big year to give himself a chance of making it to the majors. Thankfully for him, Wimberly is off to a nice start by going 10-for-19 with four steals. Jayson Nix is manning second base for the Rockies right now, but he's unlikely to be very successful in the majors. Jeff Baker isn't a long-term option at the position and Ian Stewart has been moved back to third base, so Wimberly could well be the next option if he keeps playing well. Wimberly would instantly be worth a significant investment in fantasy leagues because of his speed, and he could surprise as a decent regular in the Luis Castillo mold.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
2008 Tuffy Awards
One of the annual rites of the first week of the season for baseball fans is watching several players seemingly come out of nowhere to post eye-popping stats. Then, just as quickly as they arrive on the scene, they fade into oblivion.
The classic case came in 1994, when journeyman outfielder Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes hit three homers off Dwight Gooden on opening day, sending fantasy owners falling all over each other to pick him up. The rush didn't last long. Rhodes hit only five more homers that season and finished with a .234 average. He was out of the major leagues by 1996.
The early-season flashes often make for good stories but not so good fantasy futures. In picking up that hot starter, you might have already missed out on his best week of the season.
So in the spirit of Rhodes, we present the 2008 edition of the Sports Weekly Tuffy Awards, in which we recognize players off to sizzling starts who are unlikely to continue that success.
Before we get to the finalists, a quick nod to a couple of hot starters who should contribute all season long.
Non-Tuffys
* Xavier Nady, OF, Pirates: Nady always seems to do something spectacular on opening day. This season he hit a pair of homers, one of them a game-winner, to finish 4-for-7 with four RBI. Last year, he had a dramatic ninth-inning home run off Brad Lidge, and two years ago he went 4-for-4.
It could be an omen. Nady slugged a career-high 20 homers a year ago and, at age 29, should be hitting his peak.
* Carlos Gomez, OF, Twins: Gomez struggled at the plate in limited action last season with the Mets, but once the Twins acquired him in the Johan Santana deal this offseason it was clear he was going to get a chance to play full time. Through Sunday, the rookie was hitting .357 and leading the American League with four stolen bases.
The high average won't last, but Gomez has already established himself as an everyday starter and leadoff man. Even if his average drops into the .250-.260 range, he'll still steal enough bases and score enough runs to be a fantasy asset.
Near-Tuffys
* Marco Scutaro, IF, Blue Jays: When third baseman Scott Rolen broke his finger late in training camp, the Blue Jays were forced to turn to Scutaro. Like the Twins' Gomez, Scutaro made an instant impression with his legs, swiping a pair of bases in his first game this season.
But unlike Gomez, Scutaro doesn't have any history of thievery. Those two steals in the opener matched his total for all of last season, and his career high is five.
Although he's among the early leaders in steals, he's a career .258 hitter. With Rolen expected back in May, Scutaro should soon return to his normal roles as utility man and fantasy free agent.
* Tim Redding, SP, Nationals: It's dangerous to read too much into a pitcher's first start of the season, but Redding's seven shutout innings against the Phillies in which he only allowed one hit are worth noting.
Still, Redding's career ERA of 4.85 and the back spasms that bothered him for a couple of weeks before his stellar first start are more important factors.
Plenty of fantasy owners will be attracted to Redding's stats the way bugs are attracted to bug zappers. Resist the temptation ? or your ERA and WHIP will get zapped.
* Blake DeWitt, 3B, Dodgers: Entering spring training, the Dodgers figured to have third base covered between veteran Nomar Garciaparra and highly regarded prospect Andy LaRoche. When both were injured on opening day, the job went to a 22-year-old who had never played a game above Class AA.
DeWitt hit safely in his first three games with a double, three walks and a stolen base. The 2004 first-round pick is a nice line-drive hitter who batted .292 with 42 doubles in Class A and Class AA last season.
DeWitt was hit in the arm by a Jake Peavy fastball Saturday, but he expects to play on, and he has incentive to do so. Garciaparra is still uncomfortable swinging while recovering from a broken hand. LaRoche isn't expected back until next month. The return of either player would send DeWitt back to the minors.
And the Tuffy goes to ?
* Jason Kendall, C, Brewers: Taking a page from the Tony La Russa managerial manual, Milwaukee's Ned Yost started the season with the pitcher hitting in the No. 8 spot in his lineup. The merits of having the ninth-place hitter serve as a second leadoff man are open for debate. However, it's hard to argue that hitting last is ever a good thing from a fantasy standpoint.
In the season's first week, Kendall, the Brewers catcher and No. 9 hitter, did his best to prove his manager right and fantasy experts wrong. Through Wednesday, he was leading the majors with a .522 average with five doubles, six runs scored, five RBI and a stolen base. It was a flashback to the Kendall who hit .320 or better and stole more than 20 bases each season from 1998-2000.
But those days are long gone. Kendall will turn 34 in June and, while some catchers experience a power surge late in their careers, Kendall and his four homers the past three seasons don't fit that profile. His speed isn't an asset anymore, either, as he only stole three bases last year.
The catcher position can often be a dead spot in a fantasy lineup, so the temptation to grab the majors' leading hitter off the waiver wire and leave him in your lineup the rest of the season could be great. But remember the lesson of Tuffy Rhodes: The first day (or week) doesn't make a season.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
2008 Tuffy Awards
One of the annual rites of the first week of the season for baseball fans is watching several players seemingly come out of nowhere to post eye-popping stats. Then, just as quickly as they arrive on the scene, they fade into oblivion.
The classic case came in 1994, when journeyman outfielder Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes hit three homers off Dwight Gooden on opening day, sending fantasy owners falling all over each other to pick him up. The rush didn't last long. Rhodes hit only five more homers that season and finished with a .234 average. He was out of the major leagues by 1996.
The early-season flashes often make for good stories but not so good fantasy futures. In picking up that hot starter, you might have already missed out on his best week of the season.
So in the spirit of Rhodes, we present the 2008 edition of the Sports Weekly Tuffy Awards, in which we recognize players off to sizzling starts who are unlikely to continue that success.
Before we get to the finalists, a quick nod to a couple of hot starters who should contribute all season long.
Non-Tuffys
* Xavier Nady, OF, Pirates: Nady always seems to do something spectacular on opening day. This season he hit a pair of homers, one of them a game-winner, to finish 4-for-7 with four RBI. Last year, he had a dramatic ninth-inning home run off Brad Lidge, and two years ago he went 4-for-4.
It could be an omen. Nady slugged a career-high 20 homers a year ago and, at age 29, should be hitting his peak.
* Carlos Gomez, OF, Twins: Gomez struggled at the plate in limited action last season with the Mets, but once the Twins acquired him in the Johan Santana deal this offseason it was clear he was going to get a chance to play full time. Through Sunday, the rookie was hitting .357 and leading the American League with four stolen bases.
The high average won't last, but Gomez has already established himself as an everyday starter and leadoff man. Even if his average drops into the .250-.260 range, he'll still steal enough bases and score enough runs to be a fantasy asset.
Near-Tuffys
* Marco Scutaro, IF, Blue Jays: When third baseman Scott Rolen broke his finger late in training camp, the Blue Jays were forced to turn to Scutaro. Like the Twins' Gomez, Scutaro made an instant impression with his legs, swiping a pair of bases in his first game this season.
But unlike Gomez, Scutaro doesn't have any history of thievery. Those two steals in the opener matched his total for all of last season, and his career high is five.
Although he's among the early leaders in steals, he's a career .258 hitter. With Rolen expected back in May, Scutaro should soon return to his normal roles as utility man and fantasy free agent.
* Tim Redding, SP, Nationals: It's dangerous to read too much into a pitcher's first start of the season, but Redding's seven shutout innings against the Phillies in which he only allowed one hit are worth noting.
Still, Redding's career ERA of 4.85 and the back spasms that bothered him for a couple of weeks before his stellar first start are more important factors.
Plenty of fantasy owners will be attracted to Redding's stats the way bugs are attracted to bug zappers. Resist the temptation ? or your ERA and WHIP will get zapped.
* Blake DeWitt, 3B, Dodgers: Entering spring training, the Dodgers figured to have third base covered between veteran Nomar Garciaparra and highly regarded prospect Andy LaRoche. When both were injured on opening day, the job went to a 22-year-old who had never played a game above Class AA.
DeWitt hit safely in his first three games with a double, three walks and a stolen base. The 2004 first-round pick is a nice line-drive hitter who batted .292 with 42 doubles in Class A and Class AA last season.
DeWitt was hit in the arm by a Jake Peavy fastball Saturday, but he expects to play on, and he has incentive to do so. Garciaparra is still uncomfortable swinging while recovering from a broken hand. LaRoche isn't expected back until next month. The return of either player would send DeWitt back to the minors.
And the Tuffy goes to ?
* Jason Kendall, C, Brewers: Taking a page from the Tony La Russa managerial manual, Milwaukee's Ned Yost started the season with the pitcher hitting in the No. 8 spot in his lineup. The merits of having the ninth-place hitter serve as a second leadoff man are open for debate. However, it's hard to argue that hitting last is ever a good thing from a fantasy standpoint.
In the season's first week, Kendall, the Brewers catcher and No. 9 hitter, did his best to prove his manager right and fantasy experts wrong. Through Wednesday, he was leading the majors with a .522 average with five doubles, six runs scored, five RBI and a stolen base. It was a flashback to the Kendall who hit .320 or better and stole more than 20 bases each season from 1998-2000.
But those days are long gone. Kendall will turn 34 in June and, while some catchers experience a power surge late in their careers, Kendall and his four homers the past three seasons don't fit that profile. His speed isn't an asset anymore, either, as he only stole three bases last year.
The catcher position can often be a dead spot in a fantasy lineup, so the temptation to grab the majors' leading hitter off the waiver wire and leave him in your lineup the rest of the season could be great. But remember the lesson of Tuffy Rhodes: The first day (or week) doesn't make a season.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Getting greedy with Crede
Halfway through the second week of the 2008 season, there is one pickup that every fantasy team must make: Snyder's of Hanover's Hot Buffalo Wing Pieces. They're delicious, they're life-changing, and they might just be enough to help you forget that Russell Martin is batting .103 on the season.
If you don't cope with pretzels, try these potential roster additions: [Ranked in order of value over the rest of the season, by league]
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
1. Joe Crede - Prior to undergoing back surgery in 2007, Crede's average and power numbers were both trending upwards. Despite a miserable spring, he's currently hitting .406 with three home runs and 11 RBI. If the 29-year-old's back proves healthy, there's no reason he can't approach or even surpass the .283 average and 30 home runs he hit in 2006. It'd help if he gets moved up from the No. 8 spot in Chicago's lineup, but he's also a prime trade candidate, meaning he could end up in a less homer-friendly ballpark.
2. Carlos Quentin - With Jerry Owens on the DL, Quentin seems to have settled in as the left fielder in Chicago, with Nick Swisher moving over to center. Ozzie Guillen said this week that he plans on keeping Swisher in the leadoff spot for the foreseeable future, lessening the need for Owens' speed at the top of the lineup. Quentin was a career .312 hitter in the minor leagues who has been hampered by shoulder troubles since reaching the majors, but if he can hold on to the job and stay healthy, we see him threatening 25 home runs. His downfall for fantasy purposes is that he's never hit lefties well, which could lead to Owens seeing significant time against southpaws when he returns. Still, Quentin makes a fine addition to outfields in standard-sized mixed leagues.
3. Dana Eveland - Eveland was outstanding this spring, finishing with a 1.29 ERA and 17 strikeouts to just five walks. His performance carried over to his 2008 debut against the Indians, in which Eveland struck out seven while walking just one. His walk totals were incredibly improved throughout the spring, which could signify that the 24-year-old has turned the corner. He's worth stashing and makes a prime breakout candidate this season.
4. Nick Blackburn - Blackburn was supposed to be a placeholder until Francisco Liriano returned, but he's pitched 12 innings of three-run baseball in his two starts this season. Never much of a strikeout pitcher, the key to his early success might be found in his 11 strikeouts thus far. His minor league career and spring training both suggest he should have about half the strikeout rate, and it's unlikely that he suddenly discovered how to strike people out, although it's possible. Regardless, Blackburn managed a 2.11 ERA in Triple-A last season and had an equally impressive 1.64 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. Following his strong start, he could stick in the Minnesota rotation - even if Kevin Slowey is healthy.
5. Edwin Jackson - After another strong effort on Thursday, Edwin Jackson has now pitched 14 innings of one-run baseball. Over the course of those 14 innings, he has ten strikeouts, and has allowed just seven hits. The only dent in his armor thus far has been the six walks allowed in the same period, a walk rate that has plagued his entire career. Jackson has pitched similarly impressive games in the past, but his wildness makes him inconsistent, and that's the way he should remain this season. Still, he's just 24, so there's no reason he can't show marked improvement over his numbers from last year.
6. Joe Saunders - After two starts, Saunders is sitting on a 0.56 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP. He doesn't have over-powering stuff, but rather relies on mixing up his pitches and keeping hitters off balance. One key to success for Saunders is making sure he locates these pitches, and he's done a good job so far, with just three walks in 16 innings. Saunders started 18 games last season and had a 3.82 ERA heading into his final two appearances, but proceeded to give up 12 runs in just 10 2/3 innings, taking his final ERA up to 4.44. With two starts scheduled against the Mariners next week, Saunders is worth serious consideration.
7. Justin Speier/Scot Shields - It's unclear exactly who the Angels will turn to in Francisco Rodriguez's absence, but all sights point to Speier assuming the closer role for now. He's already blown one save, but he put up better numbers than Shields last year and probably has the better stuff between the two. Also, Shields just finished a DL stint himself, and has given up three hits in his 1 2/3 innings of work since returning. All indications suggest that K-Rod's ankles just need a little rest, so for now Speier looks like the better short-term option.
8. David Murphy - David Murphy was thought to be the Rangers' fourth outfielder when the season started, but he's started every game for them. Richard Durrett, who covers the Rangers for the Dallas Morning News and contributes at the paper's informative Rangers Blog, told Rotoworld the following:
9.Ryan Rowland-Smith - With J.J. Putz still on the disabled list, Mark Lowe blew his first save opportunity on Monday, opening the door for Ryan Rowland-Smith to notch his first save on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Rowland-Smith entered the game in the eighth inning with a six-run lead, although three of those runs were scored in the top of the frame. While the Mariners could have been counting on Rowland-Smith to notch a two-inning save, it's hard to tell exactly where things in Seattle stand since each of their three save opportunities since Putz went down have gone to a different pitcher. With Mark Lowe having blown his first chance, Rowland-Smith certainly has a chance at earning a few more saves.
10. Aubrey Huff - Huff is a traditionally slow starter, with a .240 lifetime average in April, but thus far finds himself hitting .333 with eleven runs batted in (a 4-for-4 effort on Tuesday raised his average over 100 points). If he keeps this up, he might get shipped out of town sooner than he thought. When Huff is on, he's a solid fantasy asset, but the problem is the switch is seldom flipped until after the halfway point in the season. Don't expect this year to be the exception, despite the quick start. <!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
1. Peter Moylan - On Tuesday, Braves closer Rafael Soriano was described as having a "tiny bit" of pain in his right elbow. On Wednesday, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis. Soriano missed two weeks of spring training with the sore elbow, and also missed most of 2004 and 2005 after having Tommy John surgery. While he might be back in two weeks, it's possible this could be a lingering issue. Peter Moylan, who has allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings this season, will get the first shot at the closer role. He could continue to see the occasional save opportunity if the Braves want to limit Soriano when/if he returns, giving Moylan plenty of value in mixed leagues.
2. Mark Reynolds - Reynolds is off to a blistering start this season, having bashed five homers and driven in 13 runs in just ten games. It's impressive, but Reynolds tends to be a bit of a streaky hitter, as evidenced by his 1-for-10 start to the season. He possesses the power to hit 30 home runs this season, but he still has to hone his approach at the plate. Reynolds' .279 average from last season was boosted by a somewhat lucky hit rate, so one shouldn't expect him to keep his average over .300, especially since he's striking out almost every third time he comes to bat. Although his playing time could be negatively affected by the return of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], there's no reason not to ride him while he's hot. [He's been added in over 40% off all leagues this week, making it unlikely he's available in yours]
3. Shawn Hill - Shawn Hill is expected to make one more minor league start before rejoining the Nationals rotation. Hill has proven he'll seldom be healthy, never having finished with over 100 innings in a season. In his 97 innings of work from 2007, though, he flashed a glimpse of his immense potential, finishing with a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He can be counted on to contribute in both those areas when he returns, but he's not going to get you a lot of wins or strikeouts. Still, considering he's available in just about every league right now, Hill should make a cheap addition to the back of fantasy lineups.
4. Jeff Keppinger - Keppinger has gotten off to a hot start, and could be hitting his way into a more prominent spot in the Reds' lineup even after [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] returns. Keppinger was a career .322 hitter in the minor leagues, so his average is for real, but with the possible exception of RBI, that's about the only place he'll help fantasy leaguers as he bounces between the second and sixth spot in Cincinnati's lineup. If you need the percentage points, he's a fine option.
5. Todd Wellemeyer - Since joining St. Louis' rotation last season, Wellemeyer has looked like a new man, with an ERA just under 3.50 after thirteen starts. Wellemeyer is 29 years old, but it's possible that pitching coach Dave Duncan may have helped something click to prompt Wellemeyer's success. That something might just be Wellemeyer's control - the righty has averaged a walked batter in every two innings he's pitched since joining the Cardinals, but that's actually a significant improvement. It's not guaranteed that Wellemeyer will stick in the rotation once Joel Pineiro returns, but he's certainly worth starting against the Giants next week, and perhaps beyond.
6. Jonathan Sanchez - Sanchez got off to a rocky start this season, allowing seven runs in four innings against the Brewers. He still managed eight strikeouts. Facing the Padres at home, Sanchez settled down and struck out ten in six scoreless innings. He's competing with Kevin Correia for a spot in the Giants rotation once Noah Lowry returns, but for now he's appears likely to be sent to the pen. Still, he has the skills to be significantly better than his 5.88 ERA from 2007, and a closer examination of his numbers from last year reveal that he finished with a .367 BABIP, meaning balls put in play against him fell in for hits at an unusually high rate. Sanchez has a lot of maturing to do, but if you're looking for a cheap source of strikeouts, it's worth taking a flier on him,.
7. Kyle Lohse - Kyle Lohse has gotten off to a great start after signing a last-minute contract with the Cardinals, but the stats will tell you that's primarily a result of good luck on the balls hit into play against him. Lohse will probably wind up with league-average numbers, and he's striking people out right at his historically mediocre rate. That being said, he faces the Giants next week and should be used in NL-only leagues.
8. Ricky Nolasco - The Marlins' new No. 4 starter, Nolasco finished spring training with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP, but most of the damage came in one terrible start. Since then, he's pitched 5.2 scoreless innings out of the Florida bullpen this season. Nolasco won 11 games with the Marlins in 2006, but has been slowed by elbow problems. He has an excellent curve ball, but his success will depend on being able to throw his fastball in his regular 91-94 mph range. If so, he could be a nice back-of-the-rotation starter in NL-only leagues.
9. Mike Pelfrey - Pelfrey made his season debut on Wednesday, earning the win in a solid effort against the Phillies. Still, Pelfrey really only has a rotation spot due to injuries, and he finished with a 8.14 ERA this spring while trying to win himself a job. The 24-year-old could eventually be worth consideration in fantasy leagues, but don't jump on the bandwagon after just one start.
10. Cristian Guzman - Guzman is off to a hot start this season, hitting .326 through his first 43 at-bats. After hitting .328 in 174 at-bats last season, there might be those who think he hit over .300 for the first time since 2001. Unfortunately for Guzman, most of his success can be attributed to a lucky hit rate. If he stays healthy, Guzman's average will probably wind up around .280, and while figures to steal 5-10 bases hitting at the top of the Nationals lineup, he won't hit home runs or score very many runs.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Getting greedy with Crede
Halfway through the second week of the 2008 season, there is one pickup that every fantasy team must make: Snyder's of Hanover's Hot Buffalo Wing Pieces. They're delicious, they're life-changing, and they might just be enough to help you forget that Russell Martin is batting .103 on the season.
If you don't cope with pretzels, try these potential roster additions: [Ranked in order of value over the rest of the season, by league]
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
1. Joe Crede - Prior to undergoing back surgery in 2007, Crede's average and power numbers were both trending upwards. Despite a miserable spring, he's currently hitting .406 with three home runs and 11 RBI. If the 29-year-old's back proves healthy, there's no reason he can't approach or even surpass the .283 average and 30 home runs he hit in 2006. It'd help if he gets moved up from the No. 8 spot in Chicago's lineup, but he's also a prime trade candidate, meaning he could end up in a less homer-friendly ballpark.
2. Carlos Quentin - With Jerry Owens on the DL, Quentin seems to have settled in as the left fielder in Chicago, with Nick Swisher moving over to center. Ozzie Guillen said this week that he plans on keeping Swisher in the leadoff spot for the foreseeable future, lessening the need for Owens' speed at the top of the lineup. Quentin was a career .312 hitter in the minor leagues who has been hampered by shoulder troubles since reaching the majors, but if he can hold on to the job and stay healthy, we see him threatening 25 home runs. His downfall for fantasy purposes is that he's never hit lefties well, which could lead to Owens seeing significant time against southpaws when he returns. Still, Quentin makes a fine addition to outfields in standard-sized mixed leagues.
3. Dana Eveland - Eveland was outstanding this spring, finishing with a 1.29 ERA and 17 strikeouts to just five walks. His performance carried over to his 2008 debut against the Indians, in which Eveland struck out seven while walking just one. His walk totals were incredibly improved throughout the spring, which could signify that the 24-year-old has turned the corner. He's worth stashing and makes a prime breakout candidate this season.
4. Nick Blackburn - Blackburn was supposed to be a placeholder until Francisco Liriano returned, but he's pitched 12 innings of three-run baseball in his two starts this season. Never much of a strikeout pitcher, the key to his early success might be found in his 11 strikeouts thus far. His minor league career and spring training both suggest he should have about half the strikeout rate, and it's unlikely that he suddenly discovered how to strike people out, although it's possible. Regardless, Blackburn managed a 2.11 ERA in Triple-A last season and had an equally impressive 1.64 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. Following his strong start, he could stick in the Minnesota rotation - even if Kevin Slowey is healthy.
5. Edwin Jackson - After another strong effort on Thursday, Edwin Jackson has now pitched 14 innings of one-run baseball. Over the course of those 14 innings, he has ten strikeouts, and has allowed just seven hits. The only dent in his armor thus far has been the six walks allowed in the same period, a walk rate that has plagued his entire career. Jackson has pitched similarly impressive games in the past, but his wildness makes him inconsistent, and that's the way he should remain this season. Still, he's just 24, so there's no reason he can't show marked improvement over his numbers from last year.
6. Joe Saunders - After two starts, Saunders is sitting on a 0.56 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP. He doesn't have over-powering stuff, but rather relies on mixing up his pitches and keeping hitters off balance. One key to success for Saunders is making sure he locates these pitches, and he's done a good job so far, with just three walks in 16 innings. Saunders started 18 games last season and had a 3.82 ERA heading into his final two appearances, but proceeded to give up 12 runs in just 10 2/3 innings, taking his final ERA up to 4.44. With two starts scheduled against the Mariners next week, Saunders is worth serious consideration.
7. Justin Speier/Scot Shields - It's unclear exactly who the Angels will turn to in Francisco Rodriguez's absence, but all sights point to Speier assuming the closer role for now. He's already blown one save, but he put up better numbers than Shields last year and probably has the better stuff between the two. Also, Shields just finished a DL stint himself, and has given up three hits in his 1 2/3 innings of work since returning. All indications suggest that K-Rod's ankles just need a little rest, so for now Speier looks like the better short-term option.
8. David Murphy - David Murphy was thought to be the Rangers' fourth outfielder when the season started, but he's started every game for them. Richard Durrett, who covers the Rangers for the Dallas Morning News and contributes at the paper's informative Rangers Blog, told Rotoworld the following:
"Manager Ron Washington seems to like to go with the hot hand and Murphy is certainly hot right now. I think he'll be in the lineup nearly every day until he hits a rough patch, but right now he's hitting well enough that Washington can't afford to take sit him."
It seems like Murphy will get significant playing time, but what can we expect from him? He has hit .333 in 153 at-bats scattered over the past three seasons, but he only put up a .273 average in over 1900 minor league at-bats. While he's gotten off to a hot start, he will likely end up closer to his minor league norms. Bid cautiously, but if he can maintain consistent playing time, Murphy could wind up with 10-15 home runs and about 60 runs and 60 RBI.9.Ryan Rowland-Smith - With J.J. Putz still on the disabled list, Mark Lowe blew his first save opportunity on Monday, opening the door for Ryan Rowland-Smith to notch his first save on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Rowland-Smith entered the game in the eighth inning with a six-run lead, although three of those runs were scored in the top of the frame. While the Mariners could have been counting on Rowland-Smith to notch a two-inning save, it's hard to tell exactly where things in Seattle stand since each of their three save opportunities since Putz went down have gone to a different pitcher. With Mark Lowe having blown his first chance, Rowland-Smith certainly has a chance at earning a few more saves.
10. Aubrey Huff - Huff is a traditionally slow starter, with a .240 lifetime average in April, but thus far finds himself hitting .333 with eleven runs batted in (a 4-for-4 effort on Tuesday raised his average over 100 points). If he keeps this up, he might get shipped out of town sooner than he thought. When Huff is on, he's a solid fantasy asset, but the problem is the switch is seldom flipped until after the halfway point in the season. Don't expect this year to be the exception, despite the quick start. <!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
1. Peter Moylan - On Tuesday, Braves closer Rafael Soriano was described as having a "tiny bit" of pain in his right elbow. On Wednesday, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis. Soriano missed two weeks of spring training with the sore elbow, and also missed most of 2004 and 2005 after having Tommy John surgery. While he might be back in two weeks, it's possible this could be a lingering issue. Peter Moylan, who has allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings this season, will get the first shot at the closer role. He could continue to see the occasional save opportunity if the Braves want to limit Soriano when/if he returns, giving Moylan plenty of value in mixed leagues.
2. Mark Reynolds - Reynolds is off to a blistering start this season, having bashed five homers and driven in 13 runs in just ten games. It's impressive, but Reynolds tends to be a bit of a streaky hitter, as evidenced by his 1-for-10 start to the season. He possesses the power to hit 30 home runs this season, but he still has to hone his approach at the plate. Reynolds' .279 average from last season was boosted by a somewhat lucky hit rate, so one shouldn't expect him to keep his average over .300, especially since he's striking out almost every third time he comes to bat. Although his playing time could be negatively affected by the return of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL], there's no reason not to ride him while he's hot. [He's been added in over 40% off all leagues this week, making it unlikely he's available in yours]
3. Shawn Hill - Shawn Hill is expected to make one more minor league start before rejoining the Nationals rotation. Hill has proven he'll seldom be healthy, never having finished with over 100 innings in a season. In his 97 innings of work from 2007, though, he flashed a glimpse of his immense potential, finishing with a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He can be counted on to contribute in both those areas when he returns, but he's not going to get you a lot of wins or strikeouts. Still, considering he's available in just about every league right now, Hill should make a cheap addition to the back of fantasy lineups.
4. Jeff Keppinger - Keppinger has gotten off to a hot start, and could be hitting his way into a more prominent spot in the Reds' lineup even after [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] returns. Keppinger was a career .322 hitter in the minor leagues, so his average is for real, but with the possible exception of RBI, that's about the only place he'll help fantasy leaguers as he bounces between the second and sixth spot in Cincinnati's lineup. If you need the percentage points, he's a fine option.
5. Todd Wellemeyer - Since joining St. Louis' rotation last season, Wellemeyer has looked like a new man, with an ERA just under 3.50 after thirteen starts. Wellemeyer is 29 years old, but it's possible that pitching coach Dave Duncan may have helped something click to prompt Wellemeyer's success. That something might just be Wellemeyer's control - the righty has averaged a walked batter in every two innings he's pitched since joining the Cardinals, but that's actually a significant improvement. It's not guaranteed that Wellemeyer will stick in the rotation once Joel Pineiro returns, but he's certainly worth starting against the Giants next week, and perhaps beyond.
6. Jonathan Sanchez - Sanchez got off to a rocky start this season, allowing seven runs in four innings against the Brewers. He still managed eight strikeouts. Facing the Padres at home, Sanchez settled down and struck out ten in six scoreless innings. He's competing with Kevin Correia for a spot in the Giants rotation once Noah Lowry returns, but for now he's appears likely to be sent to the pen. Still, he has the skills to be significantly better than his 5.88 ERA from 2007, and a closer examination of his numbers from last year reveal that he finished with a .367 BABIP, meaning balls put in play against him fell in for hits at an unusually high rate. Sanchez has a lot of maturing to do, but if you're looking for a cheap source of strikeouts, it's worth taking a flier on him,.
7. Kyle Lohse - Kyle Lohse has gotten off to a great start after signing a last-minute contract with the Cardinals, but the stats will tell you that's primarily a result of good luck on the balls hit into play against him. Lohse will probably wind up with league-average numbers, and he's striking people out right at his historically mediocre rate. That being said, he faces the Giants next week and should be used in NL-only leagues.
8. Ricky Nolasco - The Marlins' new No. 4 starter, Nolasco finished spring training with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP, but most of the damage came in one terrible start. Since then, he's pitched 5.2 scoreless innings out of the Florida bullpen this season. Nolasco won 11 games with the Marlins in 2006, but has been slowed by elbow problems. He has an excellent curve ball, but his success will depend on being able to throw his fastball in his regular 91-94 mph range. If so, he could be a nice back-of-the-rotation starter in NL-only leagues.
9. Mike Pelfrey - Pelfrey made his season debut on Wednesday, earning the win in a solid effort against the Phillies. Still, Pelfrey really only has a rotation spot due to injuries, and he finished with a 8.14 ERA this spring while trying to win himself a job. The 24-year-old could eventually be worth consideration in fantasy leagues, but don't jump on the bandwagon after just one start.
10. Cristian Guzman - Guzman is off to a hot start this season, hitting .326 through his first 43 at-bats. After hitting .328 in 174 at-bats last season, there might be those who think he hit over .300 for the first time since 2001. Unfortunately for Guzman, most of his success can be attributed to a lucky hit rate. If he stays healthy, Guzman's average will probably wind up around .280, and while figures to steal 5-10 bases hitting at the top of the Nationals lineup, he won't hit home runs or score very many runs.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Losing Lowell
Mike Lowell exited Wednesday's game with a left thumb injury that has since been diagnosed as a sprain, and the Red Sox placed him on the disabled list Thursday after initially listing him as day-to-day. There are no indications yet that the injury is especially serious, but Lowell's return timetable will depend upon how much damage was done to the ligament and it's possible that he could be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days.
For however long he's out, the Red Sox figure to slide Kevin Youkilis across the diamond to third base and replace him at first base with Sean Casey. Another option against left-handers is to leave Youkilis at first base and start Jed Lowrie at third base after calling him up from Triple-A to replace Lowell on the roster. Lowrie is a good all-around prospect, but has been almost strictly a middle infielder in the minors, and is more of an on-base guy and gap hitter than homer threat.
Moving into Lowell's lineup spot gives Youkilis more RBI chances, but the big change in his value won't come until he sees enough action at third base to be eligible there, at which point he'll get a boost by joining a lesser player pool. Casey benefits most from Lowell's injury, although he doesn't have enough power to fully take advantage of the sudden increase in playing time. He's worth grabbing in AL-only leagues and should hit for a solid batting average, but that's about it.
While the Red Sox welcome the Yankees to Fenway Park for a three-game series without the World Series MVP, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Geovany Soto batted .353 with 26 homers and an amazing 1.076 OPS last season at Triple-A to claim Pacific Coast League MVP honors, but had plenty of skeptics even after that monster campaign because it stuck out so clearly from the rest of his career. Soto failed to post an OPS above .750 in any of his first five seasons in the minors, but since being called up by the Cubs last year he's shown that the breakout was for real.
Soto went 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles Thursday night, and is now hitting .368 with five homers and nine doubles in 26 games with the Cubs dating back to last season. He obviously won't keep that sort of pace up for long, but Soto is very capable of emerging as a top-10 fantasy catcher this season and at 25 years old has tons of long-term value. He'll get 400-450 at-bats if healthy and should be able to hit .280 or so with 15-20 homers and strong run production.
* Fred Lewis is one of my favorite under-the-radar prospects and with Dave Roberts heading to the disabled list Thursday he should be in line for regular playing time in the Giants' outfield. Roberts is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus and could miss two months, which opens up left field and the leadoff spot for Lewis. He's a career .282/.377/.420 hitter in the minors and has nearly duplicated that by batting .283/.368/.391 through his first 80 MLB games.
Like Roberts, Lewis is a speedy left-handed hitter whose primary asset is hitting for a solid batting average, drawing walks, and getting on base. Lewis' speed isn't quite at Roberts' level, but he's capable of swiping 20-25 bases over the course of a full season and has shown significantly more pop in his bat by smacking 21 homers and 67 total extra-base hits in 168 games at Triple-A. At 27 years old he's more or less reached his potential, but is worth grabbing in NL-only leagues.
AL Quick Hits: Fausto Carmona and the Indians agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract with team options for 2012, 2013, and 2014 that could push the deal as high as $48 million ? Rather than begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Scott Kazmir (elbow) is slated to throw live batting practice Saturday for the second time ? Rich Harden (back) headed to his familiar place on the disabled list Thursday and early indications are that he may not be ready to return when eligible next Friday ? Rain washing away the Twins-White Sox game Thursday removed any chance of Minnesota calling up Francisco Liriano this weekend ? Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that doctors "don't seem highly concerned" about Matt Garza's nerve irritation ? As expected, Jeff Niemann reportedly will be called up from Triple-A to take Garza's place Sunday against the Orioles ? With the A's not wanting to use Huston Street for a third straight game Thursday, Keith Foulke notched his first save since 2005 ? Tony Pena Jr. smacked a game-winning single in the 11th inning on Opening Day, but is hitless in his other 26 at-bats this season.
NL Quick Hits: Through two starts, 22-year-old Reds phenom Johnny Cueto has 18 strikeouts, zero walks, and a .136 opponent's batting average ? Jimmy Rollins (ankle) missed his second straight start Thursday, but did strike out as a pinch-hitter ? Doing his best to hold off the newly acquired Wes Helms, Jorge Cantu smacked his first homer of the season Wednesday and went 3-for-4 while knocking in a pair of runs Thursday ? Brad Ausmus is no longer expected to serve as Roy Oswalt's personal catcher and J.R. Towles is scheduled to catch the Astros' ace Friday, which could add up to an extra 50 at-bats for the rookie ? Chuck James returned from the disabled list Wednesday without first going on a minor-league rehab assignment and now the Braves have sent him to Triple-A following his rough outing ? After taking Wednesday off to do "extensive work in the batting cage" following a 2-for-24 start, Edwin Encarnacion returned to the lineup Thursday with a homer ? As expected, the Mets signed Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract and will prep him to join the rotation while Orlando Hernandez (foot) remains out.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Losing Lowell
Mike Lowell exited Wednesday's game with a left thumb injury that has since been diagnosed as a sprain, and the Red Sox placed him on the disabled list Thursday after initially listing him as day-to-day. There are no indications yet that the injury is especially serious, but Lowell's return timetable will depend upon how much damage was done to the ligament and it's possible that he could be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days.
For however long he's out, the Red Sox figure to slide Kevin Youkilis across the diamond to third base and replace him at first base with Sean Casey. Another option against left-handers is to leave Youkilis at first base and start Jed Lowrie at third base after calling him up from Triple-A to replace Lowell on the roster. Lowrie is a good all-around prospect, but has been almost strictly a middle infielder in the minors, and is more of an on-base guy and gap hitter than homer threat.
Moving into Lowell's lineup spot gives Youkilis more RBI chances, but the big change in his value won't come until he sees enough action at third base to be eligible there, at which point he'll get a boost by joining a lesser player pool. Casey benefits most from Lowell's injury, although he doesn't have enough power to fully take advantage of the sudden increase in playing time. He's worth grabbing in AL-only leagues and should hit for a solid batting average, but that's about it.
While the Red Sox welcome the Yankees to Fenway Park for a three-game series without the World Series MVP, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Geovany Soto batted .353 with 26 homers and an amazing 1.076 OPS last season at Triple-A to claim Pacific Coast League MVP honors, but had plenty of skeptics even after that monster campaign because it stuck out so clearly from the rest of his career. Soto failed to post an OPS above .750 in any of his first five seasons in the minors, but since being called up by the Cubs last year he's shown that the breakout was for real.
Soto went 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles Thursday night, and is now hitting .368 with five homers and nine doubles in 26 games with the Cubs dating back to last season. He obviously won't keep that sort of pace up for long, but Soto is very capable of emerging as a top-10 fantasy catcher this season and at 25 years old has tons of long-term value. He'll get 400-450 at-bats if healthy and should be able to hit .280 or so with 15-20 homers and strong run production.
* Fred Lewis is one of my favorite under-the-radar prospects and with Dave Roberts heading to the disabled list Thursday he should be in line for regular playing time in the Giants' outfield. Roberts is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus and could miss two months, which opens up left field and the leadoff spot for Lewis. He's a career .282/.377/.420 hitter in the minors and has nearly duplicated that by batting .283/.368/.391 through his first 80 MLB games.
Like Roberts, Lewis is a speedy left-handed hitter whose primary asset is hitting for a solid batting average, drawing walks, and getting on base. Lewis' speed isn't quite at Roberts' level, but he's capable of swiping 20-25 bases over the course of a full season and has shown significantly more pop in his bat by smacking 21 homers and 67 total extra-base hits in 168 games at Triple-A. At 27 years old he's more or less reached his potential, but is worth grabbing in NL-only leagues.
AL Quick Hits: Fausto Carmona and the Indians agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract with team options for 2012, 2013, and 2014 that could push the deal as high as $48 million ? Rather than begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Scott Kazmir (elbow) is slated to throw live batting practice Saturday for the second time ? Rich Harden (back) headed to his familiar place on the disabled list Thursday and early indications are that he may not be ready to return when eligible next Friday ? Rain washing away the Twins-White Sox game Thursday removed any chance of Minnesota calling up Francisco Liriano this weekend ? Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that doctors "don't seem highly concerned" about Matt Garza's nerve irritation ? As expected, Jeff Niemann reportedly will be called up from Triple-A to take Garza's place Sunday against the Orioles ? With the A's not wanting to use Huston Street for a third straight game Thursday, Keith Foulke notched his first save since 2005 ? Tony Pena Jr. smacked a game-winning single in the 11th inning on Opening Day, but is hitless in his other 26 at-bats this season.
NL Quick Hits: Through two starts, 22-year-old Reds phenom Johnny Cueto has 18 strikeouts, zero walks, and a .136 opponent's batting average ? Jimmy Rollins (ankle) missed his second straight start Thursday, but did strike out as a pinch-hitter ? Doing his best to hold off the newly acquired Wes Helms, Jorge Cantu smacked his first homer of the season Wednesday and went 3-for-4 while knocking in a pair of runs Thursday ? Brad Ausmus is no longer expected to serve as Roy Oswalt's personal catcher and J.R. Towles is scheduled to catch the Astros' ace Friday, which could add up to an extra 50 at-bats for the rookie ? Chuck James returned from the disabled list Wednesday without first going on a minor-league rehab assignment and now the Braves have sent him to Triple-A following his rough outing ? After taking Wednesday off to do "extensive work in the batting cage" following a 2-for-24 start, Edwin Encarnacion returned to the lineup Thursday with a homer ? As expected, the Mets signed Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract and will prep him to join the rotation while Orlando Hernandez (foot) remains out.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Cano and Guillen -- Buy Now!
Longoria up, Cano cold, Reyes hurt, rantings from Schultz and more all in this week's Week That Was.
Evan Longoria: Tampa called up third baseman Evan Longoria to take over for the injured Willy Aybar. This will cause a tremendous uproar with fantasy players and pundits, many of whom are already anointing Longoria the next Mike Schmidt or Graig Nettles. Well, let me buck the trend. I have seen no reason to doubt Evan will be a very good major league player. However, I am not so sure it will be this year. Longoria has never even hit .270 at the highest level he achieved in a season. So, why would anyone expect a good major league average from him this year? Certainly, his record in AAA this year is not the reason ? he was at the Mendoza line when summoned from Durham. In the end, think Alex Gordon 2007 ? hype, hype, hype, and a sub .250 batting average.
Barr Zito: Barry Zito lost again this week. Get used to it Barry. Not only has Zito posted very weak WHIP's for a "top" starter over the last two years, he is playing for a dreadful team. His strikeouts are down and he shows no signs of regaining the stuff he had when he pitched across the way in Oakland. Bottom line ? at best, he is the third best pitcher on the worst team in the game regardless of what his paycheck may say. Avoid. If you got suckered in and drafted Zito, sell at the first sign of life. I cannot picture a world in which he wins 10 games this year.
Jose Reyes: Jose Reyes was removed from the game last night with "hamstring tightness". As someone who has pinned many roto-hopes on Jose this year, I hope the Mets are as smart with Reyes as the Yankees have been with Derek Jeter. In other words, I am using this space to beg Willie Randolph to sit Reyes for a day or two longer than it seems he might need just to make sure the crown jewel is healthy. Willie ? do not let this injury become chronic. The Mets are a team where only 3 of the 8 starters are indisputably above average. If Reyes is not at full speed, the Mets hopes (and my roto hopes) will surely be dashed. newyorkmets.com
Roy Oswalt: Roy Oswalt was tattooed on Friday night, giving up eight runs in four innings against the Marlins ? yes, the Marlins. I guess it could have been worse if he allowed the Giants to spank him so soundly, but I digress. Coming into this year, Oswalt had a three year trend of rising ERAs and declining strikeouts. Add in that the Astros will not be that good, the ballpark is a launching pad, and he pitches in front of an infield defense that well, really should not be called defense, and you have a prescription for pitching immolation. Sell Oswalt as soon as he posts his next solid start (there will be a few, just nowhere near enough).
Livan Hernandez: Livan Hernandez went to 3-0 with a solid performance against the Royals on Friday. Let me use this space to say ? Rick, you were right. My LABR partner Rick Wolf wanted to activate Livan and I protested. My bad. It certainly seems like he is a hot pitcher you can ride for at least a little while. He should be active for his next start ? home against the f/k/a Devil Rays.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL]: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] is cold as ice so far. However, one can hardly blame him. It has to be hard trying to play and figure out if you are going to be suspended even though you never even tested positive for performance enhancing substances. Well, the news is out now ? he will not be suspended. Now Jose can settle in and do what Jose does ? hit. Guillen has hit 20+ HR and has hit over .280 in four of the last five seasons. Expect more of the same by the time this year ends. A serious buy low candidate if there ever was one. atlantabraves.com
Nathan Haynes: Former minor league journeyman Nathan Haynes smacked three hits Friday night and added another swipe in the Rays win over the O's. Given the injuries to Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli (yeah, who would have guessed those two guys would get hurt?) and the iron gloves of Johnny Gomes and Eric Hinske in the outfield, Haynes should see sufficient playing time to really help swipes-deprived teams. Buy in deep leagues if you need a jolt of speed.
Peter Moylan: Peter Moylan notched his first save as the Braves closer while striking out two Friday against the Nats. Moylan proves the point further pushed by Schultzie further down the page ? invest in next-in-line closers ? especially those behind weak or injury prone closers such as Soriano (injury prone) or Chad Cordero (growing weaker). Of course, those are the two that have already panned out. There will be more. Trust me.
Yunel Escobar: Yunel Escobar garnered two more hits Friday, upping his average to .333. That Escobar is hitting for a high average and producing should surprise no one. Last year, Yunel hit .333 at AAA and then .326 in the bigs. Given his position hitting in front of Chipper and Big Tex and his ability (in roto) to play all three infield positions, Escobar is a great addition to any roto team. Buy if you still can.
Robinson Cano: Robinson Cano went 0-5 Friday night, including a weak slap at a ball with the infield in and a key run on third with less than two outs. So far this year, Cano is hitting (if you can call it that) a meager .159. What to do if you own him? Nothing! Cano is a pure hitter who will hit. (Those out there who worship Cano thought I was going to diss him, didn't you? You know who you are and you know you did!) Anyway, enough of that. At 25 years old, Cano already has three full seasons under his belt ? in the worst of which he raked at a .297 clip. Bottom line ? on the Yankees with his talent, he will have a great year. If there is someone foolish enough in your league to part with him, happily fleece the sucker. As Mr. T. has been heard to say: "I pity the fool!"
Speaking of fools (ok, that is not fair or accurate ? but funny), here is another installment from the baron of the bottom of the page himself. Schultz Says: "Glenn, as of the turn of this century it seems the Indians and Yankees have won the same number of World Series titles. I suppose if Yankee fans want to live in the past, they have a lot of 20th Century memories at their disposal. As for myself and most other Indians fans, we want to emulate a true 21st Century dynasty . . . like the Red Sox. Time to put the Yankee mystique out to pasture, it's grown old and tiresome and now withers when it's TRIBE TIME.
On to new business: With Willy Aybar about to head on the disabled list, the (don't call them Devil) Rays are ready to commence the Evan Longoria era in Tampa. Anyone looking for this year's [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] or Hunter Pence need look no further than the oddest person to inspire confusion with Tony Parker's wife. Longoria's potential is hardly a secret, so unless you play in a league full of idiots, you're unlikely to get him for a bargain. Since he could post excellent numbers right off the bat, he's worth grabbing at any cost. Only Clayton Kershaw, Steven Pearce and Jay Bruce are going to cause this much of a stir when they are called up to the bigs.
Free agent wires are abuzz with roto-owner trying to benefit from the recent troubles of Eric Gagne, Joe Borowski and Brandon Lyon. Now if you're targeting guys like Derrick Turnbow and Tony Pena - pitchers with a high probability of actually closing if a change is made - you're acting prudently, If you're angling for Guillermo Mota or Chad Qualls in the hopes that they may be third in line, you're wasting a roster spot that could be better spent on someone who might help you out in the present. Notice I left Rafael Betancourt out of this discussion (until now). The Tribe is in love with Rafael Betancourt in the 8th inning, they do not envision him as a closer. Borowski is not on a tight leash and will have to be beyond dreadful for the Indians to make a change. If they do, look for Masa Kobayashi to get first crack at saves.
I always feel the need to remind people of the greatest roto-advice out there for teams struggling at the beginning of the season. It's emblazoned right on The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: "Don't Panic."
Response: Once you get past the nonsensical dribble like "Tribe Time", the advice is actually cogent, well-thought out and useful. I say that even though I obviously disagree with the Longoria analysis. In the end, it sort of reminds me of the first time Joe Pesci makes a legitimate legal objection in "My Cousin Vinny" when Judge Haller says, in essence, "well, Mr. Gambini, that is a well-thought out, cogent objection ? DENIED!" Why, I am not sure, but it just seems apt.
Have a great weekend all. Enjoy baseball and hopefully, even some spring weather.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Cano and Guillen -- Buy Now!
Longoria up, Cano cold, Reyes hurt, rantings from Schultz and more all in this week's Week That Was.
Evan Longoria: Tampa called up third baseman Evan Longoria to take over for the injured Willy Aybar. This will cause a tremendous uproar with fantasy players and pundits, many of whom are already anointing Longoria the next Mike Schmidt or Graig Nettles. Well, let me buck the trend. I have seen no reason to doubt Evan will be a very good major league player. However, I am not so sure it will be this year. Longoria has never even hit .270 at the highest level he achieved in a season. So, why would anyone expect a good major league average from him this year? Certainly, his record in AAA this year is not the reason ? he was at the Mendoza line when summoned from Durham. In the end, think Alex Gordon 2007 ? hype, hype, hype, and a sub .250 batting average.
Barr Zito: Barry Zito lost again this week. Get used to it Barry. Not only has Zito posted very weak WHIP's for a "top" starter over the last two years, he is playing for a dreadful team. His strikeouts are down and he shows no signs of regaining the stuff he had when he pitched across the way in Oakland. Bottom line ? at best, he is the third best pitcher on the worst team in the game regardless of what his paycheck may say. Avoid. If you got suckered in and drafted Zito, sell at the first sign of life. I cannot picture a world in which he wins 10 games this year.
Jose Reyes: Jose Reyes was removed from the game last night with "hamstring tightness". As someone who has pinned many roto-hopes on Jose this year, I hope the Mets are as smart with Reyes as the Yankees have been with Derek Jeter. In other words, I am using this space to beg Willie Randolph to sit Reyes for a day or two longer than it seems he might need just to make sure the crown jewel is healthy. Willie ? do not let this injury become chronic. The Mets are a team where only 3 of the 8 starters are indisputably above average. If Reyes is not at full speed, the Mets hopes (and my roto hopes) will surely be dashed. newyorkmets.com
Roy Oswalt: Roy Oswalt was tattooed on Friday night, giving up eight runs in four innings against the Marlins ? yes, the Marlins. I guess it could have been worse if he allowed the Giants to spank him so soundly, but I digress. Coming into this year, Oswalt had a three year trend of rising ERAs and declining strikeouts. Add in that the Astros will not be that good, the ballpark is a launching pad, and he pitches in front of an infield defense that well, really should not be called defense, and you have a prescription for pitching immolation. Sell Oswalt as soon as he posts his next solid start (there will be a few, just nowhere near enough).
Livan Hernandez: Livan Hernandez went to 3-0 with a solid performance against the Royals on Friday. Let me use this space to say ? Rick, you were right. My LABR partner Rick Wolf wanted to activate Livan and I protested. My bad. It certainly seems like he is a hot pitcher you can ride for at least a little while. He should be active for his next start ? home against the f/k/a Devil Rays.
[URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL]: [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL] is cold as ice so far. However, one can hardly blame him. It has to be hard trying to play and figure out if you are going to be suspended even though you never even tested positive for performance enhancing substances. Well, the news is out now ? he will not be suspended. Now Jose can settle in and do what Jose does ? hit. Guillen has hit 20+ HR and has hit over .280 in four of the last five seasons. Expect more of the same by the time this year ends. A serious buy low candidate if there ever was one. atlantabraves.com
Nathan Haynes: Former minor league journeyman Nathan Haynes smacked three hits Friday night and added another swipe in the Rays win over the O's. Given the injuries to Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli (yeah, who would have guessed those two guys would get hurt?) and the iron gloves of Johnny Gomes and Eric Hinske in the outfield, Haynes should see sufficient playing time to really help swipes-deprived teams. Buy in deep leagues if you need a jolt of speed.
Peter Moylan: Peter Moylan notched his first save as the Braves closer while striking out two Friday against the Nats. Moylan proves the point further pushed by Schultzie further down the page ? invest in next-in-line closers ? especially those behind weak or injury prone closers such as Soriano (injury prone) or Chad Cordero (growing weaker). Of course, those are the two that have already panned out. There will be more. Trust me.
Yunel Escobar: Yunel Escobar garnered two more hits Friday, upping his average to .333. That Escobar is hitting for a high average and producing should surprise no one. Last year, Yunel hit .333 at AAA and then .326 in the bigs. Given his position hitting in front of Chipper and Big Tex and his ability (in roto) to play all three infield positions, Escobar is a great addition to any roto team. Buy if you still can.
Robinson Cano: Robinson Cano went 0-5 Friday night, including a weak slap at a ball with the infield in and a key run on third with less than two outs. So far this year, Cano is hitting (if you can call it that) a meager .159. What to do if you own him? Nothing! Cano is a pure hitter who will hit. (Those out there who worship Cano thought I was going to diss him, didn't you? You know who you are and you know you did!) Anyway, enough of that. At 25 years old, Cano already has three full seasons under his belt ? in the worst of which he raked at a .297 clip. Bottom line ? on the Yankees with his talent, he will have a great year. If there is someone foolish enough in your league to part with him, happily fleece the sucker. As Mr. T. has been heard to say: "I pity the fool!"
Speaking of fools (ok, that is not fair or accurate ? but funny), here is another installment from the baron of the bottom of the page himself. Schultz Says: "Glenn, as of the turn of this century it seems the Indians and Yankees have won the same number of World Series titles. I suppose if Yankee fans want to live in the past, they have a lot of 20th Century memories at their disposal. As for myself and most other Indians fans, we want to emulate a true 21st Century dynasty . . . like the Red Sox. Time to put the Yankee mystique out to pasture, it's grown old and tiresome and now withers when it's TRIBE TIME.
On to new business: With Willy Aybar about to head on the disabled list, the (don't call them Devil) Rays are ready to commence the Evan Longoria era in Tampa. Anyone looking for this year's [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] or Hunter Pence need look no further than the oddest person to inspire confusion with Tony Parker's wife. Longoria's potential is hardly a secret, so unless you play in a league full of idiots, you're unlikely to get him for a bargain. Since he could post excellent numbers right off the bat, he's worth grabbing at any cost. Only Clayton Kershaw, Steven Pearce and Jay Bruce are going to cause this much of a stir when they are called up to the bigs.
Free agent wires are abuzz with roto-owner trying to benefit from the recent troubles of Eric Gagne, Joe Borowski and Brandon Lyon. Now if you're targeting guys like Derrick Turnbow and Tony Pena - pitchers with a high probability of actually closing if a change is made - you're acting prudently, If you're angling for Guillermo Mota or Chad Qualls in the hopes that they may be third in line, you're wasting a roster spot that could be better spent on someone who might help you out in the present. Notice I left Rafael Betancourt out of this discussion (until now). The Tribe is in love with Rafael Betancourt in the 8th inning, they do not envision him as a closer. Borowski is not on a tight leash and will have to be beyond dreadful for the Indians to make a change. If they do, look for Masa Kobayashi to get first crack at saves.
I always feel the need to remind people of the greatest roto-advice out there for teams struggling at the beginning of the season. It's emblazoned right on The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: "Don't Panic."
Response: Once you get past the nonsensical dribble like "Tribe Time", the advice is actually cogent, well-thought out and useful. I say that even though I obviously disagree with the Longoria analysis. In the end, it sort of reminds me of the first time Joe Pesci makes a legitimate legal objection in "My Cousin Vinny" when Judge Haller says, in essence, "well, Mr. Gambini, that is a well-thought out, cogent objection ? DENIED!" Why, I am not sure, but it just seems apt.
Have a great weekend all. Enjoy baseball and hopefully, even some spring weather.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Bringing Sexy Back
Week three is shaping up to be an interesting one. There's a rematch of the ALCS. Randy Johnson, Francisco Liriano and Yovani Gallardo are all expected to make their first starts of the season. Big name shortstops like Reyes, Rollins and Jeter are dropping like flies. And perhaps most importantly, Kaz Matsui's anus seems to be just about healed!
Dive right into the The Week Ahead and see what else is on the docket:
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League
Must-starts:
Dustin McGowan - @BAL (Undecided), DET (Jeremy Bonderman)
Jarrod Washburn - KC (Zack Greinke), @LAA (Ervin Santana)
Jake Westbrook - BOS (Jon Lester), @MIN (Nick Blackburn)
Zack Greinke - @SEA (Jarrod Washburn), @OAK (Greg Smith)
Andy Pettitte - @TB (Edwin Jackson), @BAL (Steve Trachsel)
Mark Buehrle - OAK (Greg Smith), @TB (Andy Sonnanstine)
Shaun Marcum - @BAL (Steve Trachsel), DET (Nate Robertson)
Jeremy Bonderman - MIN (Nick Blackburn), @TOR (Dustin McGowan)
Other Options
Steve Trachsel - TOR (Shaun Marcum), NYC (Andy Pettitte)
Jon Lester - @CLE (Jake Westbrook), TEX (Jennings)
Tim Wakefield - @CLE(Paul Byrd), TEX (Kevin Millwood)
Javier Vazquez - OAK (Dana Eveland), @TB (Edwin Jackson)
Paul Byrd - BOS (Tim Wakefield), @MIN (Scott Baker)
Nate Robertson - MIN (Scott Baker), @TOR (Shaun Marcum)
John Bale - @SEA (Miguel Batista), @OAK (Dana Eveland)
Ervin Santana - @TEX (Jason Jennings), SEA (Jarrod Washburn)
Dustin Moseley - @TEX (Kevin Millwood), SEA (Miguel Batista)
Nick Blackburn - @DET (Jeremy Bonderman), CLE (Jake Westbrook)
Scott Baker - @DET (Nate Robertson), CLE (Paul Byrd)
Ian Kennedy - @TB (Andy Sonnanstine), @BAL (Brian Burres)
*Greg Smith - @CHW (Mark Buehrle), KC (Zack Greinke)
Dana Eveland - @CHW (Javier Vazquez), KC (John Bale)
Miguel Batista - KC (John Bale), @LAA (Dustin Moseley)
Andy Sonnanstine - NYY (Ian Kennedy), CHI (Mark Buehrle)
Edwin Jackson - NYY (Andy Pettitte), CHW (John Danks)
Jason Jennings - LAA (Ervin Santana), @BOS (Jon Lester)
Kevin Millwood - LAA (Dustin Moseley), @BOS (Tim Wakefield)
National League
Must-starts:
Randy Johnson - @SF (Jonathan Sanchez), SD (Randy Wolf) (slow week)
Hiroki Kuroda - PIT (Zach Duke), @ATL (Jair Jurrjens) atlantabraves.com
Braden Looper - MIL (Dave Bush), SF (Jonathan Sanchez)
Ryan Dempster - CIN (Josh Fogg), PIT (Zach Duke)
Other Options:
Jair Jurrjens - @FLA (Scott Olsen), LAD (Hiroki Kuroda)
Josh Fogg - @CHC (Ryan Dempster), MIL (Dave Bush)
Ubaldo Jimenez - @SD (Randy Wolf), @HOU (Shawn Chacon)
Scott Olsen - ATL (Jair Jurrjens), WAS (Jason Bergmann)
Shawn Chacon - @PHI (Kyle Kendrick), COL (Ubaldo Jimenez)
Dave Bush - @STL (Braden Looper), @CIN (Josh Fogg)
Mike Pelfrey - WAS (Jason Bergmann), @PHI (Kyle Kendrick)
Zach Duke - @LAD (Hiroki Kuroda), @CHC (Ryan Dempster)
Randy Wolf - COL (Ubaldo Jimenez), @ARI (Randy Johnson)
Jonathan Sanchez - ARI (Randy Johnson), @STL (Braden Looper)
Jason Bergmann - @NYM (Mike Pelfrey), @FLA (Scott Olsen) newyorkmets.com
Kyle Kendrick - HOU (Shawn Chacon), NYM (Mike Pelfrey)
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
The following pitchers are owned in less than half of mixed leagues and have favorable match-ups next week:
American League
Monday 4/14 - Jarrod Washburn vs. KC - Washburn started two games against the Royals last year, winning both and allowing just three runs in 15 innings.
Thursday 4/17 - Carlos Silva @OAK - Silva compiled a 2.46 ERA against Oakland in two starts last season, with the Athletics hitting just .149 off him.
Sunday 4/20 - Tim Wakefield vs. TEX - Wakefield started three games against the Rangers last season and finished with a 2.75 ERA in 19.2 innings.
National League
There are slim pickings in terms of National League streamers this week. Here are four options to consider, but they're probably only available in mixed leagues:
Wednesday 4/16 - Kyle Lohse @ CIN - Lohse has started the season hot, and allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Reds last season. He's owned in almost half of mixed leagues.
Friday 4/18 - Todd Wellemeyer vs. SF - First off, it's San Francisco. Second off, in Wellemeyer's only start against the Giants last year he allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings.
Saturday 4/19 - Wandy Rodriguez vs. COL - In his lone home start against Colorado last year, Rodriguez pitched seven innings of three-run ball last year.
Sunday 4/20 - Ryan Dempster vs. PIT - Dempster is owned in just under half of all mixed leagues, and he threw seven scoreless innings against the Pirates on April 9.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: Everyone.
National League
6: Everyone.
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
This is how often each team will face left-handed pitchers this week, and how it could affect lineups based on last year's splits:
American League
Baltimore - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Boston - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Texas - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided
Notes:
The White Sox face three left-handed pitches this week, which is bad news for Jim Thome (.196 vs. LHP). It could also mean that A.J. Pierzynski (.252 vs. LHP) gets a couple days off in favor of Toby Hall (.288 vs. LHP). Carlos Quentin (.173 lifetime vs. LHP) could also get a couple extra days off.
The Royals face three lefties, which is bad news for John Buck ( vs. LHP), Alex Gordon (.211 vs. LHP), and Mark Teahan (.244 vs. LHP). It's should provide a nice boost for Billy Butler (.343 vs. LHP).
The Rays also face three southpaws, which should help Jonny Gomes (.291 vs. LHP) and Akinori Iwamura (.321 vs. LHP) have a nice week.
The Blue Jays will face at least three left-handed pitchers, which should help Frank Thomas (.326 vs. LHP) and give a slight boost to Greg Zaun (.272 vs. LHP).
National League
Arizona - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 5 vs. Righties, 1 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, 2 vs. Lefties
Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks face three lefties, which won't help Orlando Hudson (.255 vs. LHP), but should give a nice boost to [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] (.270 vs. LHP)
Dodgers - The Dodgers are also scheduled to square off with three southpaws, which should help Russell Martin (.356 vs. LHP) heat up. It could also help get Matt Kemp (.333 vs. LHP) some playing time.
Mets - The Mets have a whopping four games against left-handed pitchers this week, which is tough news for Angel Pagan (.236 vs. LHP). It's not great news for Carlos Delgado (.263 vs. LHP), but he's been hitting lefties well thus far this season.
Padres - The Padres are scheduled to face three lefties this week, which hurts Jim Edmonds (.255 vs. LHP), Adrian Gonzalez (.268 vs. LHP) and Tadahito Iguchi (.259 vs. LHP) It should help really help Kevin Kouzmanoff (.343 vs. LHP) have a productive week, and also benefit Scott Hairston (.271 vs. LHP).
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Report[/SIZE]
For a more detailed look at injuries around the league, check out Rotoworld's injury page: Injuries!
Francisco Rodriguez - RP - Should be back in action by Monday.
Howie Kendrick - 2B - Should be back by Monday.
Kaz Matsui - 2B - Should return early in the week, unless setback proves serious.
B.J. Ryan - RP - Could return on Friday
Randy Johnson - SP - Scheduled to start on Monday.
Nomar Garciaparra - 3B - Should return during the week
Jose Reyes - SS - Should be fine by Monday, monitor
Chad Cordero - RP - Likely activated by Monday
Wily Mo Pena - OF - Scheduled to return by Monday
Shawn Hill - SP - Scheduled to start April 18
Carlos Guillen - 1B - Day-to-day
Derek Jeter - SS - Should be back on Monday
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
Check out this week's top waiver options here.
AL:
Joe Crede
Carlos Quentin
Dana Eveland
Nick Blackburn
Edwin Jackson
NL:
Peter Moylan
Mark Reynolds
Shawn Hill
Jeff Keppinger
Todd Wellemeyer
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Bringing Sexy Back
Week three is shaping up to be an interesting one. There's a rematch of the ALCS. Randy Johnson, Francisco Liriano and Yovani Gallardo are all expected to make their first starts of the season. Big name shortstops like Reyes, Rollins and Jeter are dropping like flies. And perhaps most importantly, Kaz Matsui's anus seems to be just about healed!
Dive right into the The Week Ahead and see what else is on the docket:
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League
Must-starts:
Dustin McGowan - @BAL (Undecided), DET (Jeremy Bonderman)
Jarrod Washburn - KC (Zack Greinke), @LAA (Ervin Santana)
Jake Westbrook - BOS (Jon Lester), @MIN (Nick Blackburn)
Zack Greinke - @SEA (Jarrod Washburn), @OAK (Greg Smith)
Andy Pettitte - @TB (Edwin Jackson), @BAL (Steve Trachsel)
Mark Buehrle - OAK (Greg Smith), @TB (Andy Sonnanstine)
Shaun Marcum - @BAL (Steve Trachsel), DET (Nate Robertson)
Jeremy Bonderman - MIN (Nick Blackburn), @TOR (Dustin McGowan)
Other Options
Steve Trachsel - TOR (Shaun Marcum), NYC (Andy Pettitte)
Jon Lester - @CLE (Jake Westbrook), TEX (Jennings)
Tim Wakefield - @CLE(Paul Byrd), TEX (Kevin Millwood)
Javier Vazquez - OAK (Dana Eveland), @TB (Edwin Jackson)
Paul Byrd - BOS (Tim Wakefield), @MIN (Scott Baker)
Nate Robertson - MIN (Scott Baker), @TOR (Shaun Marcum)
John Bale - @SEA (Miguel Batista), @OAK (Dana Eveland)
Ervin Santana - @TEX (Jason Jennings), SEA (Jarrod Washburn)
Dustin Moseley - @TEX (Kevin Millwood), SEA (Miguel Batista)
Nick Blackburn - @DET (Jeremy Bonderman), CLE (Jake Westbrook)
Scott Baker - @DET (Nate Robertson), CLE (Paul Byrd)
Ian Kennedy - @TB (Andy Sonnanstine), @BAL (Brian Burres)
*Greg Smith - @CHW (Mark Buehrle), KC (Zack Greinke)
Dana Eveland - @CHW (Javier Vazquez), KC (John Bale)
Miguel Batista - KC (John Bale), @LAA (Dustin Moseley)
Andy Sonnanstine - NYY (Ian Kennedy), CHI (Mark Buehrle)
Edwin Jackson - NYY (Andy Pettitte), CHW (John Danks)
Jason Jennings - LAA (Ervin Santana), @BOS (Jon Lester)
Kevin Millwood - LAA (Dustin Moseley), @BOS (Tim Wakefield)
National League
Must-starts:
Randy Johnson - @SF (Jonathan Sanchez), SD (Randy Wolf) (slow week)
Hiroki Kuroda - PIT (Zach Duke), @ATL (Jair Jurrjens) atlantabraves.com
Braden Looper - MIL (Dave Bush), SF (Jonathan Sanchez)
Ryan Dempster - CIN (Josh Fogg), PIT (Zach Duke)
Other Options:
Jair Jurrjens - @FLA (Scott Olsen), LAD (Hiroki Kuroda)
Josh Fogg - @CHC (Ryan Dempster), MIL (Dave Bush)
Ubaldo Jimenez - @SD (Randy Wolf), @HOU (Shawn Chacon)
Scott Olsen - ATL (Jair Jurrjens), WAS (Jason Bergmann)
Shawn Chacon - @PHI (Kyle Kendrick), COL (Ubaldo Jimenez)
Dave Bush - @STL (Braden Looper), @CIN (Josh Fogg)
Mike Pelfrey - WAS (Jason Bergmann), @PHI (Kyle Kendrick)
Zach Duke - @LAD (Hiroki Kuroda), @CHC (Ryan Dempster)
Randy Wolf - COL (Ubaldo Jimenez), @ARI (Randy Johnson)
Jonathan Sanchez - ARI (Randy Johnson), @STL (Braden Looper)
Jason Bergmann - @NYM (Mike Pelfrey), @FLA (Scott Olsen) newyorkmets.com
Kyle Kendrick - HOU (Shawn Chacon), NYM (Mike Pelfrey)
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
The following pitchers are owned in less than half of mixed leagues and have favorable match-ups next week:
American League
Monday 4/14 - Jarrod Washburn vs. KC - Washburn started two games against the Royals last year, winning both and allowing just three runs in 15 innings.
Thursday 4/17 - Carlos Silva @OAK - Silva compiled a 2.46 ERA against Oakland in two starts last season, with the Athletics hitting just .149 off him.
Sunday 4/20 - Tim Wakefield vs. TEX - Wakefield started three games against the Rangers last season and finished with a 2.75 ERA in 19.2 innings.
National League
There are slim pickings in terms of National League streamers this week. Here are four options to consider, but they're probably only available in mixed leagues:
Wednesday 4/16 - Kyle Lohse @ CIN - Lohse has started the season hot, and allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Reds last season. He's owned in almost half of mixed leagues.
Friday 4/18 - Todd Wellemeyer vs. SF - First off, it's San Francisco. Second off, in Wellemeyer's only start against the Giants last year he allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings.
Saturday 4/19 - Wandy Rodriguez vs. COL - In his lone home start against Colorado last year, Rodriguez pitched seven innings of three-run ball last year.
Sunday 4/20 - Ryan Dempster vs. PIT - Dempster is owned in just under half of all mixed leagues, and he threw seven scoreless innings against the Pirates on April 9.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: Everyone.
National League
6: Everyone.
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
This is how often each team will face left-handed pitchers this week, and how it could affect lineups based on last year's splits:
American League
Baltimore - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Boston - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Texas - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided
Notes:
The White Sox face three left-handed pitches this week, which is bad news for Jim Thome (.196 vs. LHP). It could also mean that A.J. Pierzynski (.252 vs. LHP) gets a couple days off in favor of Toby Hall (.288 vs. LHP). Carlos Quentin (.173 lifetime vs. LHP) could also get a couple extra days off.
The Royals face three lefties, which is bad news for John Buck ( vs. LHP), Alex Gordon (.211 vs. LHP), and Mark Teahan (.244 vs. LHP). It's should provide a nice boost for Billy Butler (.343 vs. LHP).
The Rays also face three southpaws, which should help Jonny Gomes (.291 vs. LHP) and Akinori Iwamura (.321 vs. LHP) have a nice week.
The Blue Jays will face at least three left-handed pitchers, which should help Frank Thomas (.326 vs. LHP) and give a slight boost to Greg Zaun (.272 vs. LHP).
National League
Arizona - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 5 vs. Righties, 1 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, 2 vs. Lefties
Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks face three lefties, which won't help Orlando Hudson (.255 vs. LHP), but should give a nice boost to [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] (.270 vs. LHP)
Dodgers - The Dodgers are also scheduled to square off with three southpaws, which should help Russell Martin (.356 vs. LHP) heat up. It could also help get Matt Kemp (.333 vs. LHP) some playing time.
Mets - The Mets have a whopping four games against left-handed pitchers this week, which is tough news for Angel Pagan (.236 vs. LHP). It's not great news for Carlos Delgado (.263 vs. LHP), but he's been hitting lefties well thus far this season.
Padres - The Padres are scheduled to face three lefties this week, which hurts Jim Edmonds (.255 vs. LHP), Adrian Gonzalez (.268 vs. LHP) and Tadahito Iguchi (.259 vs. LHP) It should help really help Kevin Kouzmanoff (.343 vs. LHP) have a productive week, and also benefit Scott Hairston (.271 vs. LHP).
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Report[/SIZE]
For a more detailed look at injuries around the league, check out Rotoworld's injury page: Injuries!
Francisco Rodriguez - RP - Should be back in action by Monday.
Howie Kendrick - 2B - Should be back by Monday.
Kaz Matsui - 2B - Should return early in the week, unless setback proves serious.
B.J. Ryan - RP - Could return on Friday
Randy Johnson - SP - Scheduled to start on Monday.
Nomar Garciaparra - 3B - Should return during the week
Jose Reyes - SS - Should be fine by Monday, monitor
Chad Cordero - RP - Likely activated by Monday
Wily Mo Pena - OF - Scheduled to return by Monday
Shawn Hill - SP - Scheduled to start April 18
Carlos Guillen - 1B - Day-to-day
Derek Jeter - SS - Should be back on Monday
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
Check out this week's top waiver options here.
AL:
Joe Crede
Carlos Quentin
Dana Eveland
Nick Blackburn
Edwin Jackson
NL:
Peter Moylan
Mark Reynolds
Shawn Hill
Jeff Keppinger
Todd Wellemeyer
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
AL Team-by-Team Notes
American League notes today. National League notes Monday. Top 150 Prospects Wednesday.
David Ortiz looks positively dreadful, but what can be read into it? Everyone seems to agree that his right knee remains a factor, but that it's also not nearly as painful as it was when he hit .332/.445/.621 in what was arguably the best season of his career last year. He seems to be adjusting his stance slightly every day, which suggests that he's trying to find the most comfortable spot for his knee. However, it's nothing new for him to alter how upright he is on any given day. I'm not yet convinced it's anything more than an ugly slump. He's definitely been picking the wrong pitches to swing at, especially the last few days, and being a DH, he has a long time for every failed at-bat to weigh on him before he goes back to the plate again. There's good reason to believe Ortiz is going to slow down dramatically in his mid-30s -- players with his body type just don't hold up very well -- but there's not going to be any sudden collapse unless he falls victim to a major injury. I don't think that's what's going on now. Remain patient.
American League Notes
Baltimore - The Orioles' fast start could be a blessing or a curse for the franchise. On the one hand, it'd be great news if Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill and Luke Scott continued to excel, giving them a lot more trade value in June and July. On the other hand, it might cause some in the organization to favor keeping the team together. I have more faith that things will work out now that Andy MacPhail is running the club (hopefully with only modest interference). Brian Roberts, Sherrill, Melvin Mora, Huff, Ramon Hernandez, Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar and Steve Trachsel are all obvious candidates for trades, and Scott and Daniel Cabrera could be available in the right deals. Scott is a nice player, but this is his age-30 season, and the Orioles already have two outfield spots spoken for going forward. ? The Orioles sent down Scott Moore to temporarily make room for a 13th pitcher, but he's still a pretty good bet in AL-only leagues. A Mora, Huff or Millar trade would create an opening for him to play regularly.
Boston - Sharing time evenly doesn't seem to be helping either Jacoby Ellsbury or Coco Crisp. It's not like starting every other day is making Crisp happy anyway, so what's the difference if he plays once or twice a week instead? Ellsbury will eventually have some value in mixed leagues, but it won't happen until the situation is resolved. ? Mike Lowell's DL trip will give Kevin Youkilis third-base eligibility for the rest of 2008 and perhaps 2009 as well. The Red Sox will go with Sean Casey at first base versus righties until Lowell returns from a strained thumb, giving him some value in AL-only leagues. The newly recalled Jed Lowrie could see action at third against lefties if he shows he's comfortable at the position. Most of his experience has come at shortstop and second base. The Red Sox should give him a couple of starts in place of the struggling Julio Lugo as long as he's up. If this is the best Lugo can do, then he could be in real danger of losing his job to Lowrie come July or August.
Chicago - Alexei Ramirez started the first two games of the season, but has been a non-factor since, as Carlos Quentin has stepped up and claimed the outfield vacancy created by Jerry Owens' groin injury. Ideally, Quentin would remain a fixture in left following Owens' return, though for that to happen, he'll have to stay hot. Ramirez's best chance of getting back into the lineup is probably at second base. Juan Uribe is off to a poor start and could find himself on the bench if Ramirez improves his infield play. ? Gavin Floyd took a no-hitter into the eighth on Saturday. A 2.03 ERA in two starts versus the Tigers no longer seems quite as impressive as it would have a couple of weeks ago, but they're still a major league team and Floyd has now turned in seven quality starts in eight tries dating back to last season. Still, he's not getting many strikeouts or keeping the ball on the ground. Once it warms up, some of those flyballs he's giving up will resume turning into homers. I'm not recommending him.
Cleveland - While Jake Westbrook looks better than ever, the Indians currently have two starters with ERAs over 11.00 and another with an 8/17 K/BB ratio. I'm not particularly worried about C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona just yet. Paul Byrd could be done, but that's not of much concern for fantasy purposes, as he shouldn't have been drafted in 5x5 AL-only leagues anyway. Sabathia's velocity is there and his command hasn't been that bad. He hasn't found his slider yet, but it should happen soon enough. Carmona is the one with the horrible K/BB ratio after walking eight Saturday, but he has a 2.20 ERA anyway. I worry a little more about him than Sabathia, mainly because of his huge innings jump last year, but since his stuff is fine, there's no reason yet to think his command problems won't turn around. ? That Casey Blake is batting .143/.211/.200 and Andy Marte has just three at-bats anyway surely isn't a good sign for the 24-year-old. The Indians could eventually find a way to stash him on the DL to open up a spot for Ben Francisco or Josh Barfield. ? Joe Borowski has some margin for error despite his poor start. Odds are that he'll be just good enough to keep his job, much like last year. If not, Rafael Betancourt remains next in line. However, it's possible the team could turn to Masa Kobayashi instead if Kobayashi proves effective over the first couple of months.
Detroit - That Dontrelle Willis is on the DL for the first time of his career doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, it's a knee injury, not the rumored arm problem, that's going to keep him out for at least two weeks. It might be for the best if Willis makes at least one rehab start before retuning. He had a successful first outing despite a rather extreme lack of command, but he's a poor bet right now. ? Armando Galarraga will be picked over Virgil Vasquez to take the open rotation spot. He hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 at any level since he was pitching in the Carolina League in 2005. Ideally, he would have opened the season eighth or ninth on the Tigers' starting-pitching depth chart, not sixth. Yorman Bazardo would have been a significantly better bet if the team didn't overreact to two bad relief appearances and designate him for assignment last week. ? Justin Verlander looked just fine on Saturday. It might be time to start scoping out opportunities to buy low. ? Curtis Granderson (hand) could be back before the end of the week, though the chances aren't as good now as they seemed to be a few days ago. Keep him reserved. .... Carlos Guillen (hamstring) should be fine to leave active. He wasn't forced to leave after getting hurt Saturday, and while he did sit out Sunday's game, it didn't appear that he was particularly concerned by the injury.
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Kansas City - The Royals have gotten nice starts from Alex Gordon and Billy Butler as hoped, but the offense as a whole has been disappointing. The club has hit just four homers, two of which came off Gordon's bat. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL], Ross Gload, Mark Grudzielanek, Josh Buck, Tony Pena and Joey Gathright have combined for seven extra-base hits in 219 at-bats. Power isn't Gathright's game at all, but he has a .244 OBP filling in for David DeJesus (ankle). Pena has been benched in favor of Alberto Callaspo the last two days, something that probably wouldn't have happened if the Royals were getting more production from the top eight spots in the lineup. Guillen's lack of production is of special concern. Perhaps it has something to with his on-again, off-again (now repealed) 15-day suspension, but he's generally looked awful. It's possible that whole not-cheating thing is taking a toll. I can't see playing him in mixed leagues right now. ? Since he's being asked to act as an everyday first baseman, Gload's lack of power is an issue. He'll get his singles and doubles, but he better come up with them in big situations like he did last year. He's the one member of the lineup most prone to being dropped into a reserve role. However, with Ryan Shealy off to a poor start in Triple-A, he's probably safe for now.
Los Angeles - The Angels' two-through-five hitters are making a combined $54 million this year, yet it's the guys who are batting first, sixth and seventh leading the offense. Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman rank first, second and third in OBP, and Kendrick and Kotchman top the team in slugging. If it keeps up -- and there's every reason to believe Kendrick and Kotchman will outproduce Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson over the full season -- manager Mike Scioscia should rearrange the lineup to take advantage. Inserting Kendrick into the No. 2 spot is something the Angels should have done the moment Orlando Cabrera was traded. He has just one strikeout in 32 at-bats, while Matthews leads the team with 11. ? Joe Saunders' fast start is enough to justify a pickup in mixed leagues, especially with two starts against the Mariners on deck. ? Francisco Rodriguez is back available to close, though his ankles clearly aren't going to be 100 percent. His owners should be looking at Justin Speier as better protection than Scot Shields at this point.
Minnesota - Francisco Liriano's return on Sunday will be one to watch. Expectations should be kept well in check initially. He'll be the Liriano of old again eventually, but he's not hitting his spots right now and likely will be pretty inconsistent for a while. Mixed leaguers should keep him reserved until he puts together a couple of solid outings. AL-only leaguers can gamble on bringing him back right away. Fortunately, he is going to face a struggling Royals offense in his first game back. ? Carlos Gomez has already been the deciding factor in a couple of wins, but he also has a 12/1 K/BB ratio from the leadoff spot. Odds are that he'll struggle more often than not this year. However, he may swipe 50 bases anyway, making him a decent play in mixed leagues for those in need of steals. ?. Matt Tolbert is a tough one to get excited about -- he had a career 749 OPS in the minors, and he never had more than seven homers or 12 steals in a season -- but manager Ron Gardenhire is clearly fond of his scrappiness and could give him more time at second, third and short. AL-only leaguers could do worse for now. So could the Twins. Every at-bat given to Tolbert is one that won't go to Nick Punto.
New York - The Yankees' pitching has been fine, but the offense hasn't clicked yet. Jason Giambi is hitting .080. Robinson Cano has gone the first 12 games without scoring a run and has combined with Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon for four RBI in 113 at-bats. Still, there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. The players that there were genuine concerns about going in have played well. Hideki Matsui is showing ample power and has been able to roam the outfield following his knee surgery. Melky Cabrera has gotten off to a much better start than he did in a somewhat disappointing 2007. Giambi's slow start is an issue, but he was certain to be streaky. He'll probably be worth using again in mixed leagues eventually. ? Jeter (quad) and Jorge Posada (shoulder) should be OK to use this week. ? It'll be interesting to see what the Yankees decide to do with Wilson Betemit once Shelley Duncan can return from the minors. They obviously don't trust him to play shortstop or second, and they already have a fine backup at the corners in Morgan Ensberg. Since Betemit is never going to find his swing while playing once per week, the Yankees might as well trade him, even though his value is at an all-time low. The Giants could do a whole lot worse.
Oakland - The picture in Oakland has started to clear up. With Emil Brown now beginning to claim his rightful spot on the bench against righties and Dan Johnson off the roster and awaiting a trade, Mike Sweeney seems to be settling in as the starting DH. It's not a position he'll hold all year long, but he's a decent enough play in AL-only leagues. ? Ryan Sweeney has played well enough to create a straight platoon in center, though the strained quad he suffered Saturday could complicate things. If he lands on the DL, then Chris Denorfia could get a chance to play regularly after all. The other option would be to haul up Carlos Gonzalez from Triple-A. It seems highly unlikely that they'd go that route already, though. With Jeff Fiorentino sidelined with fractures of his nose and cheek, Todd Linden would be the logical callup to replace Sweeney. ? Reports indicate that the Giants aren't interested in Johnson, even though he'd be an obvious upgrade. Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Atlanta also look like possible destinations. The Mets could use him as Carlos Delgado insurance, but they can't afford to use a bench spot on a pure first baseman. The Braves can. ? Rich Harden (back) is back in familiar territory, but it's not supposed to be a very serious problem. He'll be eligible to return from the DL on Friday and might make it back then. Still, it's not something anyone can count on. ? Dana Eveland looks like this year's Chad Gaudin, only he's a better bet for long-term success as a starter. That's not to say he's an emerging ace, but he is worth using in AL-only leagues.
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Seattle - The Mariners aren't going to wait forever for Brad Wilkerson to start hitting. The encouraging thing about Wilkerson's start is his 8/7 K/BB ratio in 32 at-bats (he finished at 107/43 in 338 AB last year and 116/37 in 320 AB in 2006). However, he's slugging just .191 and those walks haven't resulted in even one run scored with the guys behind him in the order doing just as poorly as he is. I still think Wilkerson has something left, but much of his fantasy upside disappeared when he signed on to play in Safeco. AL-only leaguers shouldn't be relying on him. They should, however, be keeping a close eye on Wladimir Balentien's numbers in Triple-A. ? Kenji Johjima is someone fantasy leaguers thought they could count on. However, well-hit balls from him have been a rarity. I can't remember ever seeing him take as many bad swings as he has the three times I've watched him this year. The power numbers probably won't be there like they were the last two seasons, and those in one-catcher mixed leagues should be able to do better. ? Mark Lowe got a save on Friday after blowing his first opportunity after J.J. Putz (ribs) went down. He remains the best option to close in the Seattle pen. Putz still hasn't gotten back on the mound, so it's doubtful that he'll return this week.
Tampa Bay - With Cliff Floyd (knee) and Willy Aybar (hamstring) on the DL, the Rays have already reached down for Evan Longoria, even though the superprospect was off to a slow start in Triple-A. The Rays delayed the callup long enough to guarantee that Longoria wouldn't be a free agent until after 2014. However, they'd like to get him another five or six weeks of minor league time to guarantee that he won't be a super-two player after 2010. My guess is that it will still work out that way, allowing Aybar to reclaim his spot in two weeks. However, if Longoria can get hot, the third-base job could be his for good. Those in keeper mixed leagues should wait as long as possible before activating him. Single-year mixed leaguers can do better for the short-term. ? Quietly off to an abysmal start: Carl Crawford (.204/.235/.204 in 49 at-bats). It's not particularly worrisome, but it'd be nice to see a little power soon. ? Jeff Niemann will make his major league debut Sunday after Matt Garza (arm) joined Scott Kazmir (elbow) on the DL. It will probably be a short-term promotion, and I don't see him helping out in AL-only leagues right now. He still has some upside, but his stuff isn't the same as it was before his shoulder issues. ? Nathan Haynes' speed should give him a little short-term value as he helps fill in for Floyd. Ideally, more of those at-bats would go to Jonny Gomes. However, this is still Joe Maddon's team.
Texas - Jason Jennings managed a nice ERA this spring anyway, but he just doesn't have enough on his fastball to get through major league lineups three times per night right now. The Rangers will have to think about making a change if he doesn't pick up a couple of mph by the end of the month. Eric Hurley is one option to replace him, but he's been mediocre in two starts in Triple-A so far and won't be called up until he puts together a run of strong outings. ? David Murphy was thought to be the Rangers' fourth outfielder, but he has played regularly, while Marlon Byrd and Frank Catalanotto have split time in the early going. Meanwhile, Jason Botts, who figured to play over Catalanotto versus lefties, has been a complete non-factor. Murphy doesn't have the power or speed to be a major asset in fantasy leagues, but he can do a little bit of everything. Even if he proves to be just the long-term fourth outfielder he's looked like for a couple of years now, that makes him at least as worthy of playing time as Byrd.
Toronto - Vernon Wells' fast start is the best thing that could have happened to the Jays in the early going. Wells is paid like a superstar, but he's only played like one twice in his career (2003 and 2006). He hasn't had a .340 OBP or a .480 SLG in any other season. If it all comes together for him this year and he turns in his third .300-30-100 season, then the Jays could well finish in the top five in the AL in runs. I had Wells at .287-28-100, making him a borderline top-20 outfielder. If this keeps up, he'll quickly move up several spots. ? B.J. Ryan (elbow) could come off the DL by the end of the week, but since it's hardly a given, the smart move would be to leave him reserved. Jeremy Accardo hasn't impressed lately in the closer's role, so Ryan will be a fine play after he returns. Accardo hasn't been throwing his splitter like he did last year and just isn't a particularly good pitcher without it.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
AL Team-by-Team Notes
American League notes today. National League notes Monday. Top 150 Prospects Wednesday.
David Ortiz looks positively dreadful, but what can be read into it? Everyone seems to agree that his right knee remains a factor, but that it's also not nearly as painful as it was when he hit .332/.445/.621 in what was arguably the best season of his career last year. He seems to be adjusting his stance slightly every day, which suggests that he's trying to find the most comfortable spot for his knee. However, it's nothing new for him to alter how upright he is on any given day. I'm not yet convinced it's anything more than an ugly slump. He's definitely been picking the wrong pitches to swing at, especially the last few days, and being a DH, he has a long time for every failed at-bat to weigh on him before he goes back to the plate again. There's good reason to believe Ortiz is going to slow down dramatically in his mid-30s -- players with his body type just don't hold up very well -- but there's not going to be any sudden collapse unless he falls victim to a major injury. I don't think that's what's going on now. Remain patient.
American League Notes
Baltimore - The Orioles' fast start could be a blessing or a curse for the franchise. On the one hand, it'd be great news if Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill and Luke Scott continued to excel, giving them a lot more trade value in June and July. On the other hand, it might cause some in the organization to favor keeping the team together. I have more faith that things will work out now that Andy MacPhail is running the club (hopefully with only modest interference). Brian Roberts, Sherrill, Melvin Mora, Huff, Ramon Hernandez, Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar and Steve Trachsel are all obvious candidates for trades, and Scott and Daniel Cabrera could be available in the right deals. Scott is a nice player, but this is his age-30 season, and the Orioles already have two outfield spots spoken for going forward. ? The Orioles sent down Scott Moore to temporarily make room for a 13th pitcher, but he's still a pretty good bet in AL-only leagues. A Mora, Huff or Millar trade would create an opening for him to play regularly.
Boston - Sharing time evenly doesn't seem to be helping either Jacoby Ellsbury or Coco Crisp. It's not like starting every other day is making Crisp happy anyway, so what's the difference if he plays once or twice a week instead? Ellsbury will eventually have some value in mixed leagues, but it won't happen until the situation is resolved. ? Mike Lowell's DL trip will give Kevin Youkilis third-base eligibility for the rest of 2008 and perhaps 2009 as well. The Red Sox will go with Sean Casey at first base versus righties until Lowell returns from a strained thumb, giving him some value in AL-only leagues. The newly recalled Jed Lowrie could see action at third against lefties if he shows he's comfortable at the position. Most of his experience has come at shortstop and second base. The Red Sox should give him a couple of starts in place of the struggling Julio Lugo as long as he's up. If this is the best Lugo can do, then he could be in real danger of losing his job to Lowrie come July or August.
Chicago - Alexei Ramirez started the first two games of the season, but has been a non-factor since, as Carlos Quentin has stepped up and claimed the outfield vacancy created by Jerry Owens' groin injury. Ideally, Quentin would remain a fixture in left following Owens' return, though for that to happen, he'll have to stay hot. Ramirez's best chance of getting back into the lineup is probably at second base. Juan Uribe is off to a poor start and could find himself on the bench if Ramirez improves his infield play. ? Gavin Floyd took a no-hitter into the eighth on Saturday. A 2.03 ERA in two starts versus the Tigers no longer seems quite as impressive as it would have a couple of weeks ago, but they're still a major league team and Floyd has now turned in seven quality starts in eight tries dating back to last season. Still, he's not getting many strikeouts or keeping the ball on the ground. Once it warms up, some of those flyballs he's giving up will resume turning into homers. I'm not recommending him.
Cleveland - While Jake Westbrook looks better than ever, the Indians currently have two starters with ERAs over 11.00 and another with an 8/17 K/BB ratio. I'm not particularly worried about C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona just yet. Paul Byrd could be done, but that's not of much concern for fantasy purposes, as he shouldn't have been drafted in 5x5 AL-only leagues anyway. Sabathia's velocity is there and his command hasn't been that bad. He hasn't found his slider yet, but it should happen soon enough. Carmona is the one with the horrible K/BB ratio after walking eight Saturday, but he has a 2.20 ERA anyway. I worry a little more about him than Sabathia, mainly because of his huge innings jump last year, but since his stuff is fine, there's no reason yet to think his command problems won't turn around. ? That Casey Blake is batting .143/.211/.200 and Andy Marte has just three at-bats anyway surely isn't a good sign for the 24-year-old. The Indians could eventually find a way to stash him on the DL to open up a spot for Ben Francisco or Josh Barfield. ? Joe Borowski has some margin for error despite his poor start. Odds are that he'll be just good enough to keep his job, much like last year. If not, Rafael Betancourt remains next in line. However, it's possible the team could turn to Masa Kobayashi instead if Kobayashi proves effective over the first couple of months.
Detroit - That Dontrelle Willis is on the DL for the first time of his career doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, it's a knee injury, not the rumored arm problem, that's going to keep him out for at least two weeks. It might be for the best if Willis makes at least one rehab start before retuning. He had a successful first outing despite a rather extreme lack of command, but he's a poor bet right now. ? Armando Galarraga will be picked over Virgil Vasquez to take the open rotation spot. He hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 at any level since he was pitching in the Carolina League in 2005. Ideally, he would have opened the season eighth or ninth on the Tigers' starting-pitching depth chart, not sixth. Yorman Bazardo would have been a significantly better bet if the team didn't overreact to two bad relief appearances and designate him for assignment last week. ? Justin Verlander looked just fine on Saturday. It might be time to start scoping out opportunities to buy low. ? Curtis Granderson (hand) could be back before the end of the week, though the chances aren't as good now as they seemed to be a few days ago. Keep him reserved. .... Carlos Guillen (hamstring) should be fine to leave active. He wasn't forced to leave after getting hurt Saturday, and while he did sit out Sunday's game, it didn't appear that he was particularly concerned by the injury.
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Kansas City - The Royals have gotten nice starts from Alex Gordon and Billy Butler as hoped, but the offense as a whole has been disappointing. The club has hit just four homers, two of which came off Gordon's bat. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2353"]Jose Guillen[/URL], Ross Gload, Mark Grudzielanek, Josh Buck, Tony Pena and Joey Gathright have combined for seven extra-base hits in 219 at-bats. Power isn't Gathright's game at all, but he has a .244 OBP filling in for David DeJesus (ankle). Pena has been benched in favor of Alberto Callaspo the last two days, something that probably wouldn't have happened if the Royals were getting more production from the top eight spots in the lineup. Guillen's lack of production is of special concern. Perhaps it has something to with his on-again, off-again (now repealed) 15-day suspension, but he's generally looked awful. It's possible that whole not-cheating thing is taking a toll. I can't see playing him in mixed leagues right now. ? Since he's being asked to act as an everyday first baseman, Gload's lack of power is an issue. He'll get his singles and doubles, but he better come up with them in big situations like he did last year. He's the one member of the lineup most prone to being dropped into a reserve role. However, with Ryan Shealy off to a poor start in Triple-A, he's probably safe for now.
Los Angeles - The Angels' two-through-five hitters are making a combined $54 million this year, yet it's the guys who are batting first, sixth and seventh leading the offense. Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman rank first, second and third in OBP, and Kendrick and Kotchman top the team in slugging. If it keeps up -- and there's every reason to believe Kendrick and Kotchman will outproduce Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson over the full season -- manager Mike Scioscia should rearrange the lineup to take advantage. Inserting Kendrick into the No. 2 spot is something the Angels should have done the moment Orlando Cabrera was traded. He has just one strikeout in 32 at-bats, while Matthews leads the team with 11. ? Joe Saunders' fast start is enough to justify a pickup in mixed leagues, especially with two starts against the Mariners on deck. ? Francisco Rodriguez is back available to close, though his ankles clearly aren't going to be 100 percent. His owners should be looking at Justin Speier as better protection than Scot Shields at this point.
Minnesota - Francisco Liriano's return on Sunday will be one to watch. Expectations should be kept well in check initially. He'll be the Liriano of old again eventually, but he's not hitting his spots right now and likely will be pretty inconsistent for a while. Mixed leaguers should keep him reserved until he puts together a couple of solid outings. AL-only leaguers can gamble on bringing him back right away. Fortunately, he is going to face a struggling Royals offense in his first game back. ? Carlos Gomez has already been the deciding factor in a couple of wins, but he also has a 12/1 K/BB ratio from the leadoff spot. Odds are that he'll struggle more often than not this year. However, he may swipe 50 bases anyway, making him a decent play in mixed leagues for those in need of steals. ?. Matt Tolbert is a tough one to get excited about -- he had a career 749 OPS in the minors, and he never had more than seven homers or 12 steals in a season -- but manager Ron Gardenhire is clearly fond of his scrappiness and could give him more time at second, third and short. AL-only leaguers could do worse for now. So could the Twins. Every at-bat given to Tolbert is one that won't go to Nick Punto.
New York - The Yankees' pitching has been fine, but the offense hasn't clicked yet. Jason Giambi is hitting .080. Robinson Cano has gone the first 12 games without scoring a run and has combined with Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon for four RBI in 113 at-bats. Still, there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. The players that there were genuine concerns about going in have played well. Hideki Matsui is showing ample power and has been able to roam the outfield following his knee surgery. Melky Cabrera has gotten off to a much better start than he did in a somewhat disappointing 2007. Giambi's slow start is an issue, but he was certain to be streaky. He'll probably be worth using again in mixed leagues eventually. ? Jeter (quad) and Jorge Posada (shoulder) should be OK to use this week. ? It'll be interesting to see what the Yankees decide to do with Wilson Betemit once Shelley Duncan can return from the minors. They obviously don't trust him to play shortstop or second, and they already have a fine backup at the corners in Morgan Ensberg. Since Betemit is never going to find his swing while playing once per week, the Yankees might as well trade him, even though his value is at an all-time low. The Giants could do a whole lot worse.
Oakland - The picture in Oakland has started to clear up. With Emil Brown now beginning to claim his rightful spot on the bench against righties and Dan Johnson off the roster and awaiting a trade, Mike Sweeney seems to be settling in as the starting DH. It's not a position he'll hold all year long, but he's a decent enough play in AL-only leagues. ? Ryan Sweeney has played well enough to create a straight platoon in center, though the strained quad he suffered Saturday could complicate things. If he lands on the DL, then Chris Denorfia could get a chance to play regularly after all. The other option would be to haul up Carlos Gonzalez from Triple-A. It seems highly unlikely that they'd go that route already, though. With Jeff Fiorentino sidelined with fractures of his nose and cheek, Todd Linden would be the logical callup to replace Sweeney. ? Reports indicate that the Giants aren't interested in Johnson, even though he'd be an obvious upgrade. Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Atlanta also look like possible destinations. The Mets could use him as Carlos Delgado insurance, but they can't afford to use a bench spot on a pure first baseman. The Braves can. ? Rich Harden (back) is back in familiar territory, but it's not supposed to be a very serious problem. He'll be eligible to return from the DL on Friday and might make it back then. Still, it's not something anyone can count on. ? Dana Eveland looks like this year's Chad Gaudin, only he's a better bet for long-term success as a starter. That's not to say he's an emerging ace, but he is worth using in AL-only leagues.
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Seattle - The Mariners aren't going to wait forever for Brad Wilkerson to start hitting. The encouraging thing about Wilkerson's start is his 8/7 K/BB ratio in 32 at-bats (he finished at 107/43 in 338 AB last year and 116/37 in 320 AB in 2006). However, he's slugging just .191 and those walks haven't resulted in even one run scored with the guys behind him in the order doing just as poorly as he is. I still think Wilkerson has something left, but much of his fantasy upside disappeared when he signed on to play in Safeco. AL-only leaguers shouldn't be relying on him. They should, however, be keeping a close eye on Wladimir Balentien's numbers in Triple-A. ? Kenji Johjima is someone fantasy leaguers thought they could count on. However, well-hit balls from him have been a rarity. I can't remember ever seeing him take as many bad swings as he has the three times I've watched him this year. The power numbers probably won't be there like they were the last two seasons, and those in one-catcher mixed leagues should be able to do better. ? Mark Lowe got a save on Friday after blowing his first opportunity after J.J. Putz (ribs) went down. He remains the best option to close in the Seattle pen. Putz still hasn't gotten back on the mound, so it's doubtful that he'll return this week.
Tampa Bay - With Cliff Floyd (knee) and Willy Aybar (hamstring) on the DL, the Rays have already reached down for Evan Longoria, even though the superprospect was off to a slow start in Triple-A. The Rays delayed the callup long enough to guarantee that Longoria wouldn't be a free agent until after 2014. However, they'd like to get him another five or six weeks of minor league time to guarantee that he won't be a super-two player after 2010. My guess is that it will still work out that way, allowing Aybar to reclaim his spot in two weeks. However, if Longoria can get hot, the third-base job could be his for good. Those in keeper mixed leagues should wait as long as possible before activating him. Single-year mixed leaguers can do better for the short-term. ? Quietly off to an abysmal start: Carl Crawford (.204/.235/.204 in 49 at-bats). It's not particularly worrisome, but it'd be nice to see a little power soon. ? Jeff Niemann will make his major league debut Sunday after Matt Garza (arm) joined Scott Kazmir (elbow) on the DL. It will probably be a short-term promotion, and I don't see him helping out in AL-only leagues right now. He still has some upside, but his stuff isn't the same as it was before his shoulder issues. ? Nathan Haynes' speed should give him a little short-term value as he helps fill in for Floyd. Ideally, more of those at-bats would go to Jonny Gomes. However, this is still Joe Maddon's team.
Texas - Jason Jennings managed a nice ERA this spring anyway, but he just doesn't have enough on his fastball to get through major league lineups three times per night right now. The Rangers will have to think about making a change if he doesn't pick up a couple of mph by the end of the month. Eric Hurley is one option to replace him, but he's been mediocre in two starts in Triple-A so far and won't be called up until he puts together a run of strong outings. ? David Murphy was thought to be the Rangers' fourth outfielder, but he has played regularly, while Marlon Byrd and Frank Catalanotto have split time in the early going. Meanwhile, Jason Botts, who figured to play over Catalanotto versus lefties, has been a complete non-factor. Murphy doesn't have the power or speed to be a major asset in fantasy leagues, but he can do a little bit of everything. Even if he proves to be just the long-term fourth outfielder he's looked like for a couple of years now, that makes him at least as worthy of playing time as Byrd.
Toronto - Vernon Wells' fast start is the best thing that could have happened to the Jays in the early going. Wells is paid like a superstar, but he's only played like one twice in his career (2003 and 2006). He hasn't had a .340 OBP or a .480 SLG in any other season. If it all comes together for him this year and he turns in his third .300-30-100 season, then the Jays could well finish in the top five in the AL in runs. I had Wells at .287-28-100, making him a borderline top-20 outfielder. If this keeps up, he'll quickly move up several spots. ? B.J. Ryan (elbow) could come off the DL by the end of the week, but since it's hardly a given, the smart move would be to leave him reserved. Jeremy Accardo hasn't impressed lately in the closer's role, so Ryan will be a fine play after he returns. Accardo hasn't been throwing his splitter like he did last year and just isn't a particularly good pitcher without it.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Arrivals and Returns
Evan Longoria is this year's most-hyped fantasy prospect, so the Rays calling him up from Triple-A over the weekend qualifies as huge news. With Willy Aybar sidelined by a hamstring injury, Longoria made his debut Saturday?going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI?and will start at third base for at least the next couple weeks. As a stud third-base prospect being called up after Opening Day, Longoria's fantasy owners no doubt have visions of a [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL]-like debut
However, Alex Gordon perhaps provides a more realistic example of what to expect from Longoria's first taste of the majors. A year ago at this time Gordon was the elite third-base prospect in baseball?yes, even ahead of Braun?and had fantasy owners drooling like Longoria does now. Drafted No. 2 overall in 2005 after winning college Player of the Year honors, he hit .325/.427/.588 with 29 homers and 22 steals at Double-A during his lone minor-league action.
He entered last season as baseball's consensus No. 1 prospect and if any prospect was ready to thrive right away it was Gordon. Instead, he got off to a brutal start?hitting just .173 in April and .195 in May?before finishing strong to end the year at .247/.314/.411 overall. Normally a .725 OPS from a 23-year-old rookie is decent enough, but from Gordon it was hugely disappointing. Longoria is fairly similar to Gordon, starting with the fact that they're both third basemen
Gordon starred at Nebraska, was drafted No. 2 overall in 2005, and made it to the majors after posting a 1.015 OPS in 130 minor-league games. Longoria starred at Long Beach State, was drafted No. 3 overall in 2006, and made it to the majors after posting a .930 OPS in 205 minor-league games. Jay Bruce, Joba Chamberlain, and Clay Buchholz kept Longoria from following in Gordon's footsteps as a consensus No. 1 prospect, but he's clearly thought of an elite prospect.
All of which is why the expectations for Longoria should be held somewhat in check, at least initially. He's a great long-term prospect and looks ready to have success in the majors right now, but as Gordon showed that's far from a guarantee. Longoria's minor-league track record suggests that he's capable of immediately hitting .275 or so with 20-homer power and an OPS in the .800-.850 range, but he may go through Gordon-like growing pains before that production arrives.
Gordon was the Royals' Opening Day third baseman and was given a long leash, which allowed him to remain in the majors all year despite early struggles. Longoria would still be in the minors if not for Aybar's injury, so it's possible that the Rays won't be nearly as patient if he struggles like Gordon did. The good news is that assuming Longoria at least holds his own right away, fighting off Aybar to keep the job doesn't figure to be especially difficult.
While Longoria's owners hope that he's more Braun than Gordon, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* After missing all of last season following Tommy John elbow surgery, Francisco Liriano took the mound Sunday afternoon against the Royals and struggled in his first major-league action since September 13, 2006, allowing four runs on six hits and a career-high five walks. His velocity was down significantly, he rarely threw the slider that dominated hitters in 2006, and he had a tough time finding the strike zone with any of his offerings, missing on 39 of 90 pitches.
Over at my blog there's an in-depth breakdown of Liriano's return outing, but the short version is that he looked nothing like the pitcher who took the league by storm as a rookie. What he threw was different, how he threw was different, and the results weren't pretty. Liriano said afterward that he had trouble gripping the ball in the cold Kansas City weather and his stuff figures to return gradually following nearly 18 months off, but for now he's not worth trusting in mixed leagues.
* Sunday afternoon also saw B.J. Ryan return from a year off following Tommy John surgery and his first outing back went much smoother than Liriano's. Manager John Gibbons made it clear beforehand that Ryan would immediately reclaim ninth-inning duties, and sure enough Ryan picked up a save in his first post-surgery appearance by tossing a scoreless inning against the Rangers.
Gibbons indicated that Ryan won't work on back-to-back days right away, so Jeremy Accardo retains some of his save-related value for a little while. Of course, Accardo's struggles may have motivated the Blue Jays to push up Ryan's return, so he's no lock to receive any random save chances while Ryan is limited. Scott Downs is also an option, especially if a lefty-heavy portion of the batting order is due up. Ryan should be in your lineup, but don't be shocked if he struggles.
AL Quick Hits: Erik Bedard was scratched from his second straight start Sunday and there are growing concerns that his hip injury is serious ? After beginning the season in a 3-for-43 slump, David Ortiz received Sunday night off ? J.J. Putz (ribs) threw off a mound Sunday for the first time and reported no problems, but still looks unlikely to return from the disabled list when eligible Thursday ? Joe Crede hit his second grand slam of the season Sunday, giving him four homers and 15 RBIs through 11 games after a spring filled with questions about his injured back ? After being recommended in this space last week, Jeff Niemann made his big-league debut Sunday and tossed six innings of one-run ball to beat the Orioles ? Pitching Sunday for the first time in nearly a week, Francisco Rodriguez (ankle) tossed one inning and allowed one run in a non-save situation ? Doing his best to show that last year's struggles are behind him, Cliff Lee beat the A's on Sunday for the second time, giving him a 0.61 ERA and 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ? John Lackey (triceps) threw 47 pitches off a mound Sunday, using breaking balls for the first time.
NL Quick Hits: Johnny Cueto showed that he's human Sunday, giving up five runs in six innings against the Pirates, but still looked pretty solid while striking out six and walking one ? Jose Reyes (hamstring) missed Sunday's game, but said afterward that he expects to be back in the lineup Tuesday ? Gabe Kapler's amazing comeback continued Sunday with a homer and three RBIs, and he's now hitting .423 with four homers after sitting out last season while managing in the minors ? Tom Gorzelanny eased some concerns about his struggles and shoulder soreness Sunday, holding the Reds to one run over 6.1 innings ? Tim Lincecum reached double-digit strikeouts Sunday for the third time in 26 career starts, striking out 11 over six innings of two-run ball for a win against the Cardinals ? Nomar Garciaprra (wrist) began a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, going 0-for-3 with a walk at Triple-A ? Greg Maddux picked up career win No. 349 by shutting out the Dodgers for five innings Sunday ? Joel Pineiro (shoulder) made his season debut Sunday, allowing six runs on 10 hits against the normally punchless Giants.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Arrivals and Returns
Evan Longoria is this year's most-hyped fantasy prospect, so the Rays calling him up from Triple-A over the weekend qualifies as huge news. With Willy Aybar sidelined by a hamstring injury, Longoria made his debut Saturday?going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI?and will start at third base for at least the next couple weeks. As a stud third-base prospect being called up after Opening Day, Longoria's fantasy owners no doubt have visions of a [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL]-like debut
However, Alex Gordon perhaps provides a more realistic example of what to expect from Longoria's first taste of the majors. A year ago at this time Gordon was the elite third-base prospect in baseball?yes, even ahead of Braun?and had fantasy owners drooling like Longoria does now. Drafted No. 2 overall in 2005 after winning college Player of the Year honors, he hit .325/.427/.588 with 29 homers and 22 steals at Double-A during his lone minor-league action.
He entered last season as baseball's consensus No. 1 prospect and if any prospect was ready to thrive right away it was Gordon. Instead, he got off to a brutal start?hitting just .173 in April and .195 in May?before finishing strong to end the year at .247/.314/.411 overall. Normally a .725 OPS from a 23-year-old rookie is decent enough, but from Gordon it was hugely disappointing. Longoria is fairly similar to Gordon, starting with the fact that they're both third basemen
Gordon starred at Nebraska, was drafted No. 2 overall in 2005, and made it to the majors after posting a 1.015 OPS in 130 minor-league games. Longoria starred at Long Beach State, was drafted No. 3 overall in 2006, and made it to the majors after posting a .930 OPS in 205 minor-league games. Jay Bruce, Joba Chamberlain, and Clay Buchholz kept Longoria from following in Gordon's footsteps as a consensus No. 1 prospect, but he's clearly thought of an elite prospect.
All of which is why the expectations for Longoria should be held somewhat in check, at least initially. He's a great long-term prospect and looks ready to have success in the majors right now, but as Gordon showed that's far from a guarantee. Longoria's minor-league track record suggests that he's capable of immediately hitting .275 or so with 20-homer power and an OPS in the .800-.850 range, but he may go through Gordon-like growing pains before that production arrives.
Gordon was the Royals' Opening Day third baseman and was given a long leash, which allowed him to remain in the majors all year despite early struggles. Longoria would still be in the minors if not for Aybar's injury, so it's possible that the Rays won't be nearly as patient if he struggles like Gordon did. The good news is that assuming Longoria at least holds his own right away, fighting off Aybar to keep the job doesn't figure to be especially difficult.
While Longoria's owners hope that he's more Braun than Gordon, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* After missing all of last season following Tommy John elbow surgery, Francisco Liriano took the mound Sunday afternoon against the Royals and struggled in his first major-league action since September 13, 2006, allowing four runs on six hits and a career-high five walks. His velocity was down significantly, he rarely threw the slider that dominated hitters in 2006, and he had a tough time finding the strike zone with any of his offerings, missing on 39 of 90 pitches.
Over at my blog there's an in-depth breakdown of Liriano's return outing, but the short version is that he looked nothing like the pitcher who took the league by storm as a rookie. What he threw was different, how he threw was different, and the results weren't pretty. Liriano said afterward that he had trouble gripping the ball in the cold Kansas City weather and his stuff figures to return gradually following nearly 18 months off, but for now he's not worth trusting in mixed leagues.
* Sunday afternoon also saw B.J. Ryan return from a year off following Tommy John surgery and his first outing back went much smoother than Liriano's. Manager John Gibbons made it clear beforehand that Ryan would immediately reclaim ninth-inning duties, and sure enough Ryan picked up a save in his first post-surgery appearance by tossing a scoreless inning against the Rangers.
Gibbons indicated that Ryan won't work on back-to-back days right away, so Jeremy Accardo retains some of his save-related value for a little while. Of course, Accardo's struggles may have motivated the Blue Jays to push up Ryan's return, so he's no lock to receive any random save chances while Ryan is limited. Scott Downs is also an option, especially if a lefty-heavy portion of the batting order is due up. Ryan should be in your lineup, but don't be shocked if he struggles.
AL Quick Hits: Erik Bedard was scratched from his second straight start Sunday and there are growing concerns that his hip injury is serious ? After beginning the season in a 3-for-43 slump, David Ortiz received Sunday night off ? J.J. Putz (ribs) threw off a mound Sunday for the first time and reported no problems, but still looks unlikely to return from the disabled list when eligible Thursday ? Joe Crede hit his second grand slam of the season Sunday, giving him four homers and 15 RBIs through 11 games after a spring filled with questions about his injured back ? After being recommended in this space last week, Jeff Niemann made his big-league debut Sunday and tossed six innings of one-run ball to beat the Orioles ? Pitching Sunday for the first time in nearly a week, Francisco Rodriguez (ankle) tossed one inning and allowed one run in a non-save situation ? Doing his best to show that last year's struggles are behind him, Cliff Lee beat the A's on Sunday for the second time, giving him a 0.61 ERA and 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ? John Lackey (triceps) threw 47 pitches off a mound Sunday, using breaking balls for the first time.
NL Quick Hits: Johnny Cueto showed that he's human Sunday, giving up five runs in six innings against the Pirates, but still looked pretty solid while striking out six and walking one ? Jose Reyes (hamstring) missed Sunday's game, but said afterward that he expects to be back in the lineup Tuesday ? Gabe Kapler's amazing comeback continued Sunday with a homer and three RBIs, and he's now hitting .423 with four homers after sitting out last season while managing in the minors ? Tom Gorzelanny eased some concerns about his struggles and shoulder soreness Sunday, holding the Reds to one run over 6.1 innings ? Tim Lincecum reached double-digit strikeouts Sunday for the third time in 26 career starts, striking out 11 over six innings of two-run ball for a win against the Cardinals ? Nomar Garciaprra (wrist) began a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, going 0-for-3 with a walk at Triple-A ? Greg Maddux picked up career win No. 349 by shutting out the Dodgers for five innings Sunday ? Joel Pineiro (shoulder) made his season debut Sunday, allowing six runs on 10 hits against the normally punchless Giants.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
NL Team-by-Team Notes
Sunday's AL notes can be found on the sidebar. I'm going to post the Top 150 Prospects column on Wednesday.
At least one of my World Series teams is off to a good start (the Indians were the other). Mark Reynolds has made Diamondbacks fans forget Chad?umm? whatever his name was, Justin Upton is looking like a star at least one or two years earlier than expected and the starting pitchers have a 2.54 ERA headed into Randy Johnson's return Monday. The only regular off to a poor start is Chris Snyder, and since he had a monster spring, that's not much of a concern. Last-game relief is an issue. I still don't think Jose Valverde will prove to be a huge loss, but Tony Pena has yet to step up and prove that he should overtake Brandon Lyon. The Diamondbacks should be hoping it works out that way. If it doesn't, they'll be in the market for a closer in July. Giving top prospect Max Scherzer a look in relief before then could be an option.
National League Notes
Arizona - [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) is still obviously weeks away, and the Diamondbacks certainly have no need to rush him now. When he does return, it will probably be as a bench player initially, assuming that the streaky Reynolds doesn't fall off entirely. ? Miguel Montero (thumb) could be back this week, but he'll only play once or twice per week unless Snyder's slump lingers. There won't be any radical changes in the short term. ? Johnson surely won't be at his best initially, but with the Giants and back-to-back starts against the Padres first up on the schedule, he should be activated in most formats. Only mixed leaguers with exceptional pitching staffs can afford to leave him reserved.
Atlanta - No one should be concerned about Mark Teixeira's slow start. He's always had subpar Aprils. In fact, his 778 OPS is more than 100 points lower than his mark from every other month. His home totals have also increased with each month of the season, peaking in September. ? The one Braves hitter to be worried about is Kelly Johnson, mostly because of his sore knee. He'll play as long as he's able, but if he doesn't start doing a better job of getting on base, he'll probably be dropped in the order, with Mark Kotsay moving up. He's not 100 percent, and he's probably not going to be as long as he keeps playing on the knee. ? It took barely more than a week for the Braves' most injury-prone pitchers to land on the DL. Mike Hampton was hurt warming up for his first start, and since Chuck James appeared anything but ready in his season debut last week, Jo-Jo Reyes could get the call this week. It's possible they'll need both Reyes and Buddy Carlyle if the hamstring injury Tom Glavine suffered Sunday is serious. ? Rafael Soriano's sore elbow shifted Peter Moylan into the closer's role. Moylan should be more than adequate there for as long as he's needed. However, if Soriano goes down again later this year, then it could very well be Mike Gonzalez chosen to take over.
Chicago - Ted Lilly and Rich Hill are supposed to be healthy, but the results haven't been there so far for the Cubs' two lefty starters. Lilly's velocity has been down while he's amassed a 9.95 ERA through three starts. If it's a dead-arm phase, as the Cubs have suggested, then it should be about over by now. It'll be time to start getting anxious if he fails to bounce back this week. ? Hill's command problems date back to the beginning of the spring, and the Cubs have weighed replacing him with either Jon Lieber or Sean Marshall. It appears to be a mechanical issue for him. He'll likely resume having value in mixed leagues soon, but he's too risky to play right now. ? Poor Felix Pie sat out the series against the Phillies. Since starting the first four games of the year, he's been in the lineup just twice, and in one of those games, he was removed in a double-switch after three innings. If this is what Lou Piniella thinks of him, then the Cubs should just send him down and call up Matt Murton. Or simply trade him. Endlessly jerking him around isn't helping anyone. ? Kosuke Fukudome's big three-run game-tying homer in the ninth inning on Opening Day may have created unrealistic expectations from Cubs fans. He's pretty good, but it doesn't look like he'll hit more than 18-20 homers this season.
Cincinnati - While Scott Hatteberg was the Opening Day first baseman, Joey Votto has seen the bulk of the action since. It figures to be hard for either player to get hot while sharing at-bats, but at least it's become clear that the job is available for Votto to win. He'll probably separate himself from the veteran eventually. ? Edwin Encarnacion's two key homers have kept him in the lineup even though he's hitting .179 and playing very shaky defense. He's another player who has the worst OPS of his career in April (though this is just his third April as a big leaguer). He does have 10 walks already, so he's been anything but an automatic out. Still, those walks only further his case so much. It would be interesting to see how he'd fare as a No. 2 hitter once [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] comes back and takes time away from Jeff Keppinger. Of course, if Encarnacion isn't hitting better by then, then Keppinger will start taking at-bats away from him. ? Even after his "poor" outing Sunday, Johnny Cueto has a 24/1 K/BB ratio. That's the kind of figure that should keep him owned in mixed leagues even if he turns in a couple of more mediocre performances this month.
Colorado - Troy Tulowitzki still doesn't have an RBI and is just one or two more weeks away from being a nice buy-low candidate. Like the rest of the Rockies, he's had to deal with poor hitting conditions, especially in the team's limited time at Coors Field. Only Matt Holliday has overcome them to hit above his career averages. Tulo also would like to face some lefties soon. He hit them quite a bit better than righties last year, but he has just two official at-bats versus southpaws this season. ? The struggles of Jeff Francis are of greater concern. He's given up six homers already. His fastball is down a couple of mph, and his curve doesn't have the same break as it did last year. Again, it could be a dead-arm issue. That's what the Rockies have to be hoping for. I'm definitely a little worried.
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Florida - The Marlins have already demoted Rick VandenHurk and may soon have to do the same thing to Andrew Miller. Miller is getting plenty of strikeouts despite diminished velocity, but he's given up 24 hits in 12 2/3 innings anyway and his command is as poor as ever. It'll be a long time before he's an option in fantasy leagues. The Marlins would just as soon wait until June or so to try top prospect Chris Volstad, but at this rate, it's at least 50/50 that he'll be up by the end of the month. NL-only leaguers should have him stashed away. ? Burke Badenhop was the choice to replace VandenHurk. The least known player in the Miguel Cabrera deal, he jumped over several superior prospects with his strong spring. He has a pretty good sinker, but not a lot else. Since he'll be working in front of the game's worst defensive infield, he's not worth trying. ? Incredibly, the Marlins managed to pick up an infielder and not help that aforementioned defense at all. Wes Helms was acquired to act as an alternative to Jorge Cantu at third base. It remains Cantu's job for now, and he's looked OK offensively so far. However, he's really struggled at his new position. The Marlins should think about turning to Dallas McPherson at some point. He's no above average defender himself, but he should be a little more reliable, and he offers additional offensive potential as well.
Houston - Roy Oswalt hasn't completely lost it, but he may very well be finished as one of the NL's top-10 pitchers. I suggested staying away at the beginning of the year, and I'm not changing that recommendation now. ? Hunter Pence has joined Tulo and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] in their sophomore slumps. I have a little more concern about Pence than the other two. All three are guilty of chasing more bad pitches than the typical above average hitter, but Pence does it especially frequently and will see more and more breaking balls because of the lack of quality behind him in the lineup. The Astros started him off hitting him second because of Kaz Matsui's absence, but he'll return to the sixth spot soon enough. He'll be hitting behind two guys known more for driving in runs than getting on base in Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada and hitting ahead of some combination of Ty Wigginton, Mark Loretta, J.R. Towles and Brad Ausmus. He may fall short of expectations, at least for fantasy purposes. ? Matsui (anal fissure) probably won't be back until the weekend. Wigginton (thumb) will have to miss at least one more full week.
Los Angeles - The Yankees under Joe Torre for a long time carried fourth outfielders that would never get off the bench. The Dodgers under Joe Torre never sit their fourth outfielder down. Juan Pierre started over Matt Kemp in all three games against the Padres. It happened even though Pierre is hitting .250/.276/.286 with one run scored in 28 at-bats. Perhaps that's the scariest thing. Despite his abysmal spring, Pierre is the same player he's been the last three years. When he's back hitting an empty .290, Torre will probably resume penciling him into the lineup without thought. It's too risky to drop Kemp in a mixed league already -- the kid hit .342 in 292 at-bats as a 22-year-old last season -- but as durable as the rest of the Dodgers outfield is, it's possible he'll remain worthless for the bulk of the season. ? Torre obviously didn't bring any fondness for Esteban Loaiza with him from their time together in New York. Loaiza has been bounced from the rotation after just one start. Hong-Chih Kuo definitely has more upside in that role, but he'll likely be on the DL within a month. If Jason Schmidt (shoulder) isn't back by that point, then the Dodgers will face a decision on whether to go back to Loaiza or haul up top prospect Clayton Kershaw. Kuo should have some fantasy value in the meantime, but he's not someone who can be counted on.
Milwaukee - Yovani Gallardo (knee) will make his final rehab start Monday and then likely rejoin Milwaukee's rotation on Sunday. That's Dave Bush's day to pitch, though whether he's going to be the choice to get bumped is still to be determined. It may come down to how he pitches Tuesday. Carlos Villanueva appears to be in the best position of the three possibilities to go. Either Villanueva or Manny Parra would likely be sent down to make room for Gallardo. If Bush is the choice, then he'd probably go into the pen, costing Seth McClung his job. ? Eric Gagne hasn't looked bad since an ugly Opening Day outing against the Cubs. He pitched on back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday and didn't allow a baserunner either time. Those mixed leaguers who grabbed David Riske after Gagne's shaky start may want to go in a different direction now. ? I wasn't expecting Gabe Kapler to be leading the Brewers in RBI two weeks into the season. He hasn't slugged .400 in a season since 2001, but he's at .962 in 26 at-bats so far this year. The Brewers will have to go with him as a regular until Mike Cameron returns at the end of the month, so Gabe Gross should be dropped in NL-only leagues. Kapler still doesn't figure to have any long-term value at all.
New York - The Mets have five homers, three of them coming off the bat of David Wright. Jose Reyes has looked no better than he did at the tail end of last year, Luis Castillo's legs are a major issue already and Carlos Delgado is struggling to get the ball into the air. It's in large part thanks to Angel Pagan that the Mets have sported an average offense anyway. I'm not lowering expectations for Reyes just yet. The Mets knew what they were getting when they re-signed Castillo. He'll be solid enough to help a major league team when he's in the lineup, but he's through as a difference-maker in fantasy leagues. Delgado remains the big question mark. At this point, it doesn't look like he'll rebound from last year's totals. He'll get his 20 homers and 90 RBI, but I'm starting to think he'll fall short of my modest $15 projection. ? Another strong outing or two from Nelson Figueroa could delay the expected arrival of Claudio Vargas. Figueroa is a standard finesse right-hander, but few NL hitters have any real experience against him. It might lead to some additional short-term success. He could be an option as a spot starter.
Philadelphia - Adam Eaton might not be the weak link in the Phillies' rotation after all. Kyle Kendrick didn't impress this spring, and he's opened the regular season by allowing 11 runs -- five earned -- in 7 1/3 innings. His 1/8 K/BB ratio is particularly disgusting. Kendrick defied the expectations of most when he made the jump from Double-A and experienced such success last year. He was never a great bet for the long haul, and it appears as though his luck may have already run out. If he struggles again this week, look for Chad Durbin to take his place. ? Shane Victorino will miss at least two weeks with a strained calf. Jayson Werth figures to get most of the time filling in. He's off to a fast enough start that he should be considered for a short-term pickup in deeper mixed leagues. ? Jimmy Rollins appears set to return Tuesday from a sprained ankle.
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Pittsburgh - The Pirates have benefitted from great starts from their three starting outfielders, but their infield has been terrible to date. Adam LaRoche is traditionally a slow starter, but a .105 average is still pretty extreme. Freddy Sanchez has a 504 OPS at second. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3803"]Jose Bautista[/URL] is at 462 and has committed four errors. Jack Wilson (calf) is on the DL, and his primary replacement, Luis Rivas, has made four errors in his five starts at shortstop. Wilson could be back this weekend, taking care of one problem. Brian Bixler figures to head back to Triple-A to make room for him. LaRoche and Sanchez are sure to heat up with the weather. Bautista is the one who should be in danger of losing at-bats. He's displayed ample pop and a surprisingly strong walk rate, but he's 27 and still hasn't hit for average at all. Ideally, the Pirates could wait until 2009 before replacing him with top prospect Neil Walker. However, a change could come this summer if Bautista doesn't pick it up. ? Ryan Doumit has been the fourth stud in the Pittsburgh lineup so far. I was worried about new manager John Russell when his first move this spring was to put Wilson back into the second spot in the order. However, he's done a nice job with his regular-season lineups, particularly in deciding to give Doumit an extended trial over Ronny Paulino behind the plate. Doumit is capable of remaining a top-10 catcher all year long. However, there is the danger that his poor glove will eventually get him replaced. At least he's getting the opportunity.
St. Louis - All of the Cards' outfielders besides new Tony La Russa favorite Skip Schumaker are off to fantastic starts. Rick Ankiel has a 952 OPS and is showing that his success against lefties last year was no fluke. Chris Duncan was hurt for a while, but he has a 924 OPS in 26 at-bats. Ryan Ludwick is at 1210 thanks to his eight extra-base hits in 35 at-bats. Even Rule-5 pick Brian Barton is at 1082 in 19 at-bats. That leaves Schumaker, who is hitting .250/.348/.375, but has picked it up lately. It's not that bad of a line anyway. I'd argue for Ludwick playing over him most of the time, even if it does leave the Cards without anyone who looks like a leadoff hitter. In truth, Ludwick would likely score at least as many runs from the spot as Schumaker. ? Brad Thompson did well in his two starts, but he was still the choice to go to the pen to make room for Joel Pineiro on Sunday. That buys Todd Wellemeyer more time to establish himself. He's showing better command than he ever did as a reliever, so I like his chances of remaining a contributor in NL-only leagues for as long as he retains a spot. As for Pineiro, well, it's pretty iffy whether he's really a better bet than Thompson was. Stay away.
San Diego - With one very notable exception, the Padres are precisely where they're supposed to be at this point in the season. They've had just one bad outing from a starter (that from [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] on Saturday) and no one in the lineup is off to a particularly strong or disappointing start. But there is the exception. Trevor Hoffman has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings and has already taken a blown save and two losses. On it's own, it wouldn't be a major source of concern. However, on the heels of the way he ended 2007 -- he blew consecutive playoff clinchers on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 -- there's some definite gnashing of teeth. I'm not alarmed. Hoffman's velocity is right where it's been for years. His command is off, probably more off than I've ever seen it, but he is healthy and the movement on his changeup is still there. Even if he doesn't manage to bring his ERA under 3.00 over the remaining 5 ? months, he'll be a quality fantasy closer all of the way through. ? Michael Barrett's elbow injury makes Josh Bard a decent No. 2 catcher in mixed leagues. Whereas Bard figured to sit out two or three times per week with Barrett as his backup, he will play the vast majority of the time over Colt Morton.
San Francisco - Not to wish anything bad on Dave Roberts, who is out for at least two months following knee surgery, but the Giants are better off giving his at-bats to Fred Lewis, John Bowker, Eugenio Velez and Rajai Davis. Lewis will get most of the starts in left field against right-handers and should prove to be a pretty useful player in NL-only leagues. He doesn't have Davis' basestealing ability, but he can do a little bit of everything. Davis will continue to play against left-handers, something he figured to do even with Roberts healthy. ? The plan was to keep the top prospects like Bowker and Nate Schierholtz in the minors when Roberts went down, but with Aaron Rowand (ribs) also limited, Bowker was brought up to take Clay Timpner's spot. Unlike Timpner, Bowker is too young and promising to sit on the bench. That likely means he'll head back to the minors at some point, but he'll be worth using in the meantime. I'd still take Lewis over him for now. ? Rowand was available off the bench over the weekend. NL-only leaguers should keep him active this week. There's little reason to use him in mixed leagues right now.
Washington - The struggling Nationals have already made a panic move, demoting Jason Bergmann after just two starts. Stability has never been the trademark of Jim Bowden's teams. I like Bergmann more as a reliever anyway, so I don't see it making much of a difference. It means John Lannan will stay in the rotation following Shawn Hill's return this week. I'd be more interested to see what Tyler Clippard could do as the fifth starter. Lannan isn't worth using in NL-only leagues. ? Chad Cordero was awfully shaky in his return Sunday. His velocity is down slightly from where it was last year, which was already down from when he first arrived in the majors. He'll be an adequate enough NL closer anyway, but the Nationals should regret not trading him earlier. Since a deal this summer remains a possibility, Jon Rauch is still a pretty good bet going forward. ? Felipe Lopez did nothing to take advantage of his opportunity to fill in for Wily Mo Pena and Elijah Dukes in left field. Ronnie Belliard hasn't been particularly good, either, but Lopez should spend most of his time on the bench now that Pena is back.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
NL Team-by-Team Notes
Sunday's AL notes can be found on the sidebar. I'm going to post the Top 150 Prospects column on Wednesday.
At least one of my World Series teams is off to a good start (the Indians were the other). Mark Reynolds has made Diamondbacks fans forget Chad?umm? whatever his name was, Justin Upton is looking like a star at least one or two years earlier than expected and the starting pitchers have a 2.54 ERA headed into Randy Johnson's return Monday. The only regular off to a poor start is Chris Snyder, and since he had a monster spring, that's not much of a concern. Last-game relief is an issue. I still don't think Jose Valverde will prove to be a huge loss, but Tony Pena has yet to step up and prove that he should overtake Brandon Lyon. The Diamondbacks should be hoping it works out that way. If it doesn't, they'll be in the market for a closer in July. Giving top prospect Max Scherzer a look in relief before then could be an option.
National League Notes
Arizona - [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) is still obviously weeks away, and the Diamondbacks certainly have no need to rush him now. When he does return, it will probably be as a bench player initially, assuming that the streaky Reynolds doesn't fall off entirely. ? Miguel Montero (thumb) could be back this week, but he'll only play once or twice per week unless Snyder's slump lingers. There won't be any radical changes in the short term. ? Johnson surely won't be at his best initially, but with the Giants and back-to-back starts against the Padres first up on the schedule, he should be activated in most formats. Only mixed leaguers with exceptional pitching staffs can afford to leave him reserved.
Atlanta - No one should be concerned about Mark Teixeira's slow start. He's always had subpar Aprils. In fact, his 778 OPS is more than 100 points lower than his mark from every other month. His home totals have also increased with each month of the season, peaking in September. ? The one Braves hitter to be worried about is Kelly Johnson, mostly because of his sore knee. He'll play as long as he's able, but if he doesn't start doing a better job of getting on base, he'll probably be dropped in the order, with Mark Kotsay moving up. He's not 100 percent, and he's probably not going to be as long as he keeps playing on the knee. ? It took barely more than a week for the Braves' most injury-prone pitchers to land on the DL. Mike Hampton was hurt warming up for his first start, and since Chuck James appeared anything but ready in his season debut last week, Jo-Jo Reyes could get the call this week. It's possible they'll need both Reyes and Buddy Carlyle if the hamstring injury Tom Glavine suffered Sunday is serious. ? Rafael Soriano's sore elbow shifted Peter Moylan into the closer's role. Moylan should be more than adequate there for as long as he's needed. However, if Soriano goes down again later this year, then it could very well be Mike Gonzalez chosen to take over.
Chicago - Ted Lilly and Rich Hill are supposed to be healthy, but the results haven't been there so far for the Cubs' two lefty starters. Lilly's velocity has been down while he's amassed a 9.95 ERA through three starts. If it's a dead-arm phase, as the Cubs have suggested, then it should be about over by now. It'll be time to start getting anxious if he fails to bounce back this week. ? Hill's command problems date back to the beginning of the spring, and the Cubs have weighed replacing him with either Jon Lieber or Sean Marshall. It appears to be a mechanical issue for him. He'll likely resume having value in mixed leagues soon, but he's too risky to play right now. ? Poor Felix Pie sat out the series against the Phillies. Since starting the first four games of the year, he's been in the lineup just twice, and in one of those games, he was removed in a double-switch after three innings. If this is what Lou Piniella thinks of him, then the Cubs should just send him down and call up Matt Murton. Or simply trade him. Endlessly jerking him around isn't helping anyone. ? Kosuke Fukudome's big three-run game-tying homer in the ninth inning on Opening Day may have created unrealistic expectations from Cubs fans. He's pretty good, but it doesn't look like he'll hit more than 18-20 homers this season.
Cincinnati - While Scott Hatteberg was the Opening Day first baseman, Joey Votto has seen the bulk of the action since. It figures to be hard for either player to get hot while sharing at-bats, but at least it's become clear that the job is available for Votto to win. He'll probably separate himself from the veteran eventually. ? Edwin Encarnacion's two key homers have kept him in the lineup even though he's hitting .179 and playing very shaky defense. He's another player who has the worst OPS of his career in April (though this is just his third April as a big leaguer). He does have 10 walks already, so he's been anything but an automatic out. Still, those walks only further his case so much. It would be interesting to see how he'd fare as a No. 2 hitter once [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2653"]Alex Gonzalez[/URL] comes back and takes time away from Jeff Keppinger. Of course, if Encarnacion isn't hitting better by then, then Keppinger will start taking at-bats away from him. ? Even after his "poor" outing Sunday, Johnny Cueto has a 24/1 K/BB ratio. That's the kind of figure that should keep him owned in mixed leagues even if he turns in a couple of more mediocre performances this month.
Colorado - Troy Tulowitzki still doesn't have an RBI and is just one or two more weeks away from being a nice buy-low candidate. Like the rest of the Rockies, he's had to deal with poor hitting conditions, especially in the team's limited time at Coors Field. Only Matt Holliday has overcome them to hit above his career averages. Tulo also would like to face some lefties soon. He hit them quite a bit better than righties last year, but he has just two official at-bats versus southpaws this season. ? The struggles of Jeff Francis are of greater concern. He's given up six homers already. His fastball is down a couple of mph, and his curve doesn't have the same break as it did last year. Again, it could be a dead-arm issue. That's what the Rockies have to be hoping for. I'm definitely a little worried.
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Florida - The Marlins have already demoted Rick VandenHurk and may soon have to do the same thing to Andrew Miller. Miller is getting plenty of strikeouts despite diminished velocity, but he's given up 24 hits in 12 2/3 innings anyway and his command is as poor as ever. It'll be a long time before he's an option in fantasy leagues. The Marlins would just as soon wait until June or so to try top prospect Chris Volstad, but at this rate, it's at least 50/50 that he'll be up by the end of the month. NL-only leaguers should have him stashed away. ? Burke Badenhop was the choice to replace VandenHurk. The least known player in the Miguel Cabrera deal, he jumped over several superior prospects with his strong spring. He has a pretty good sinker, but not a lot else. Since he'll be working in front of the game's worst defensive infield, he's not worth trying. ? Incredibly, the Marlins managed to pick up an infielder and not help that aforementioned defense at all. Wes Helms was acquired to act as an alternative to Jorge Cantu at third base. It remains Cantu's job for now, and he's looked OK offensively so far. However, he's really struggled at his new position. The Marlins should think about turning to Dallas McPherson at some point. He's no above average defender himself, but he should be a little more reliable, and he offers additional offensive potential as well.
Houston - Roy Oswalt hasn't completely lost it, but he may very well be finished as one of the NL's top-10 pitchers. I suggested staying away at the beginning of the year, and I'm not changing that recommendation now. ? Hunter Pence has joined Tulo and [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] in their sophomore slumps. I have a little more concern about Pence than the other two. All three are guilty of chasing more bad pitches than the typical above average hitter, but Pence does it especially frequently and will see more and more breaking balls because of the lack of quality behind him in the lineup. The Astros started him off hitting him second because of Kaz Matsui's absence, but he'll return to the sixth spot soon enough. He'll be hitting behind two guys known more for driving in runs than getting on base in Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada and hitting ahead of some combination of Ty Wigginton, Mark Loretta, J.R. Towles and Brad Ausmus. He may fall short of expectations, at least for fantasy purposes. ? Matsui (anal fissure) probably won't be back until the weekend. Wigginton (thumb) will have to miss at least one more full week.
Los Angeles - The Yankees under Joe Torre for a long time carried fourth outfielders that would never get off the bench. The Dodgers under Joe Torre never sit their fourth outfielder down. Juan Pierre started over Matt Kemp in all three games against the Padres. It happened even though Pierre is hitting .250/.276/.286 with one run scored in 28 at-bats. Perhaps that's the scariest thing. Despite his abysmal spring, Pierre is the same player he's been the last three years. When he's back hitting an empty .290, Torre will probably resume penciling him into the lineup without thought. It's too risky to drop Kemp in a mixed league already -- the kid hit .342 in 292 at-bats as a 22-year-old last season -- but as durable as the rest of the Dodgers outfield is, it's possible he'll remain worthless for the bulk of the season. ? Torre obviously didn't bring any fondness for Esteban Loaiza with him from their time together in New York. Loaiza has been bounced from the rotation after just one start. Hong-Chih Kuo definitely has more upside in that role, but he'll likely be on the DL within a month. If Jason Schmidt (shoulder) isn't back by that point, then the Dodgers will face a decision on whether to go back to Loaiza or haul up top prospect Clayton Kershaw. Kuo should have some fantasy value in the meantime, but he's not someone who can be counted on.
Milwaukee - Yovani Gallardo (knee) will make his final rehab start Monday and then likely rejoin Milwaukee's rotation on Sunday. That's Dave Bush's day to pitch, though whether he's going to be the choice to get bumped is still to be determined. It may come down to how he pitches Tuesday. Carlos Villanueva appears to be in the best position of the three possibilities to go. Either Villanueva or Manny Parra would likely be sent down to make room for Gallardo. If Bush is the choice, then he'd probably go into the pen, costing Seth McClung his job. ? Eric Gagne hasn't looked bad since an ugly Opening Day outing against the Cubs. He pitched on back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday and didn't allow a baserunner either time. Those mixed leaguers who grabbed David Riske after Gagne's shaky start may want to go in a different direction now. ? I wasn't expecting Gabe Kapler to be leading the Brewers in RBI two weeks into the season. He hasn't slugged .400 in a season since 2001, but he's at .962 in 26 at-bats so far this year. The Brewers will have to go with him as a regular until Mike Cameron returns at the end of the month, so Gabe Gross should be dropped in NL-only leagues. Kapler still doesn't figure to have any long-term value at all.
New York - The Mets have five homers, three of them coming off the bat of David Wright. Jose Reyes has looked no better than he did at the tail end of last year, Luis Castillo's legs are a major issue already and Carlos Delgado is struggling to get the ball into the air. It's in large part thanks to Angel Pagan that the Mets have sported an average offense anyway. I'm not lowering expectations for Reyes just yet. The Mets knew what they were getting when they re-signed Castillo. He'll be solid enough to help a major league team when he's in the lineup, but he's through as a difference-maker in fantasy leagues. Delgado remains the big question mark. At this point, it doesn't look like he'll rebound from last year's totals. He'll get his 20 homers and 90 RBI, but I'm starting to think he'll fall short of my modest $15 projection. ? Another strong outing or two from Nelson Figueroa could delay the expected arrival of Claudio Vargas. Figueroa is a standard finesse right-hander, but few NL hitters have any real experience against him. It might lead to some additional short-term success. He could be an option as a spot starter.
Philadelphia - Adam Eaton might not be the weak link in the Phillies' rotation after all. Kyle Kendrick didn't impress this spring, and he's opened the regular season by allowing 11 runs -- five earned -- in 7 1/3 innings. His 1/8 K/BB ratio is particularly disgusting. Kendrick defied the expectations of most when he made the jump from Double-A and experienced such success last year. He was never a great bet for the long haul, and it appears as though his luck may have already run out. If he struggles again this week, look for Chad Durbin to take his place. ? Shane Victorino will miss at least two weeks with a strained calf. Jayson Werth figures to get most of the time filling in. He's off to a fast enough start that he should be considered for a short-term pickup in deeper mixed leagues. ? Jimmy Rollins appears set to return Tuesday from a sprained ankle.
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Pittsburgh - The Pirates have benefitted from great starts from their three starting outfielders, but their infield has been terrible to date. Adam LaRoche is traditionally a slow starter, but a .105 average is still pretty extreme. Freddy Sanchez has a 504 OPS at second. [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3803"]Jose Bautista[/URL] is at 462 and has committed four errors. Jack Wilson (calf) is on the DL, and his primary replacement, Luis Rivas, has made four errors in his five starts at shortstop. Wilson could be back this weekend, taking care of one problem. Brian Bixler figures to head back to Triple-A to make room for him. LaRoche and Sanchez are sure to heat up with the weather. Bautista is the one who should be in danger of losing at-bats. He's displayed ample pop and a surprisingly strong walk rate, but he's 27 and still hasn't hit for average at all. Ideally, the Pirates could wait until 2009 before replacing him with top prospect Neil Walker. However, a change could come this summer if Bautista doesn't pick it up. ? Ryan Doumit has been the fourth stud in the Pittsburgh lineup so far. I was worried about new manager John Russell when his first move this spring was to put Wilson back into the second spot in the order. However, he's done a nice job with his regular-season lineups, particularly in deciding to give Doumit an extended trial over Ronny Paulino behind the plate. Doumit is capable of remaining a top-10 catcher all year long. However, there is the danger that his poor glove will eventually get him replaced. At least he's getting the opportunity.
St. Louis - All of the Cards' outfielders besides new Tony La Russa favorite Skip Schumaker are off to fantastic starts. Rick Ankiel has a 952 OPS and is showing that his success against lefties last year was no fluke. Chris Duncan was hurt for a while, but he has a 924 OPS in 26 at-bats. Ryan Ludwick is at 1210 thanks to his eight extra-base hits in 35 at-bats. Even Rule-5 pick Brian Barton is at 1082 in 19 at-bats. That leaves Schumaker, who is hitting .250/.348/.375, but has picked it up lately. It's not that bad of a line anyway. I'd argue for Ludwick playing over him most of the time, even if it does leave the Cards without anyone who looks like a leadoff hitter. In truth, Ludwick would likely score at least as many runs from the spot as Schumaker. ? Brad Thompson did well in his two starts, but he was still the choice to go to the pen to make room for Joel Pineiro on Sunday. That buys Todd Wellemeyer more time to establish himself. He's showing better command than he ever did as a reliever, so I like his chances of remaining a contributor in NL-only leagues for as long as he retains a spot. As for Pineiro, well, it's pretty iffy whether he's really a better bet than Thompson was. Stay away.
San Diego - With one very notable exception, the Padres are precisely where they're supposed to be at this point in the season. They've had just one bad outing from a starter (that from [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=194"]Chris Young[/URL] on Saturday) and no one in the lineup is off to a particularly strong or disappointing start. But there is the exception. Trevor Hoffman has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings and has already taken a blown save and two losses. On it's own, it wouldn't be a major source of concern. However, on the heels of the way he ended 2007 -- he blew consecutive playoff clinchers on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 -- there's some definite gnashing of teeth. I'm not alarmed. Hoffman's velocity is right where it's been for years. His command is off, probably more off than I've ever seen it, but he is healthy and the movement on his changeup is still there. Even if he doesn't manage to bring his ERA under 3.00 over the remaining 5 ? months, he'll be a quality fantasy closer all of the way through. ? Michael Barrett's elbow injury makes Josh Bard a decent No. 2 catcher in mixed leagues. Whereas Bard figured to sit out two or three times per week with Barrett as his backup, he will play the vast majority of the time over Colt Morton.
San Francisco - Not to wish anything bad on Dave Roberts, who is out for at least two months following knee surgery, but the Giants are better off giving his at-bats to Fred Lewis, John Bowker, Eugenio Velez and Rajai Davis. Lewis will get most of the starts in left field against right-handers and should prove to be a pretty useful player in NL-only leagues. He doesn't have Davis' basestealing ability, but he can do a little bit of everything. Davis will continue to play against left-handers, something he figured to do even with Roberts healthy. ? The plan was to keep the top prospects like Bowker and Nate Schierholtz in the minors when Roberts went down, but with Aaron Rowand (ribs) also limited, Bowker was brought up to take Clay Timpner's spot. Unlike Timpner, Bowker is too young and promising to sit on the bench. That likely means he'll head back to the minors at some point, but he'll be worth using in the meantime. I'd still take Lewis over him for now. ? Rowand was available off the bench over the weekend. NL-only leaguers should keep him active this week. There's little reason to use him in mixed leagues right now.
Washington - The struggling Nationals have already made a panic move, demoting Jason Bergmann after just two starts. Stability has never been the trademark of Jim Bowden's teams. I like Bergmann more as a reliever anyway, so I don't see it making much of a difference. It means John Lannan will stay in the rotation following Shawn Hill's return this week. I'd be more interested to see what Tyler Clippard could do as the fifth starter. Lannan isn't worth using in NL-only leagues. ? Chad Cordero was awfully shaky in his return Sunday. His velocity is down slightly from where it was last year, which was already down from when he first arrived in the majors. He'll be an adequate enough NL closer anyway, but the Nationals should regret not trading him earlier. Since a deal this summer remains a possibility, Jon Rauch is still a pretty good bet going forward. ? Felipe Lopez did nothing to take advantage of his opportunity to fill in for Wily Mo Pena and Elijah Dukes in left field. Ronnie Belliard hasn't been particularly good, either, but Lopez should spend most of his time on the bench now that Pena is back.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Betancourt's Big Chance
Thursday's Daily Dose included a discussion of Joe Borowski's struggles, because following what was then his latest blown save manager Eric Wedge commented that there was "nothing to indicate he's not healthy." My point at the time was that Borowski's outlook would actually be more positive if he was hurt. The situation struck me as being similar to someone making a fool of himself at a party and then insisting the next day that he was completely sober.
Not being drunk is nice and all, but being sober takes away the most reasonable explanation for the behavior. In Borowski's case, being fine physically would have simply meant that his already marginal stuff was declining even further, because his fastball was clocking in at just 84 miles per hour after averaging 88 last season and his slider had also lost a few MPH. All of which is why it wasn't surprising to see the Indians place Borowski on the disabled list Tuesday.
After blowing another save Monday, Borowski told reporters that he "had nothing" on his pitches and felt like he was "throwing through water." Now he'll spend at least 15 days on the sidelines with what the team is calling a strained triceps. Borowski was walking a tight rope already, so he'll need to regain that lost velocity to have any shot of being a decent late-inning reliever again. Of course, even if Borowski finds his lost stuff and returns in two weeks, the closer gig may be taken.
Wedge announced Tuesday that Rafael Betancourt will assume ninth-inning duties, which finally gives one of baseball's elite setup men a chance to show that he can handle save chances. Much is made of the unique mentality that's supposedly required to be a good closer, but for the most part great setup men handle the job just fine and regardless of role few relievers were able to keep up with Betancourt last season (1.47 ERA in 79.1 innings) or over the past five years.
Since debuting in 2003, Betancourt has a 2.85 ERA, 320/69 K/BB ratio, and 1.07 WHIP in 315 innings while holding opponents to a .228 AVG and .631 OPS. He's thrived pitching in huge spots?coming into tie games and wriggling out of jams with multiple runners on base?so getting three outs to slam the door on a late lead shouldn't be a problem. Of course, regardless of how well he pitches the wild card is whether or not Wedge will simply hand Borowski the job back.
That may sound crazy, but it's been obvious for a long time now that Betancourt is the Indians' best reliever and Borowski probably isn't in the top three, yet it took a major drop in velocity and arm problems to rip the job from his hands despite 10 blown saves and a 5.81 ERA dating back to last season. For now, Betancourt is without question a must-grab in every league and suddenly has a chance to be one of the dozen or so most valuable relievers in all of fantasy baseball.
While Betancourt gets his long-deserved chance to become a household fantasy name, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* General manager Omar Minaya said Monday that Pedro Martinez will remain out until at least mid-May and could possibly be sidelined into June. Martinez was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring on April 2, but team doctors have apparently nixed that timetable. "We're definitely going to be more conservative with him," Minaya said. "With hamstrings, you just never know. We've got to be careful."
Nelson Figuera will continue to fill in for Martinez, because Minaya indicated that the Mets have no plans to call up Claudio Vargas despite signing him to a minor-league contract last week. Meanwhile, with the pressure to hang onto a rotation spot lessened thanks to both Martinez and Orlando Hernandez being sidelined, Mike Pelfrey has thrived. He tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Nationals, improving to 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA.
* Alfonso Soriano left Tuesday's game with a calf injury and manager Lou Piniella said afterward that the Cubs expect him to be out for "a while." Results of an MRI will be available at some point Wednesday, giving the Cubs a clearer picture of Soriano's status. At the very least a trip to the disabled list seems likely, in which case Matt Murton would probably be called up from Triple-A to take over as the starting left fielder.
Sending Murton back to the minors was a slap in the face to begin with given the success that he's had in the majors and he'd emerge with solid value in NL-only leagues if given an opportunity for regular work. He won't come close to replacing Soriano's unique power-speed combination from a fantasy standpoint, but Murton has hit .293 with an .820 OPS in 289 career MLB games. By comparison, Soriano has hit .288 with an .863 OPS since signing with the Cubs last winter.
* With speculation swirling that Erik Bedard's hip injury may be serious, the Mariners placed him on the disabled list Tuesday with what they're calling inflammation. Because the move was backdated Bedard will be eligible to come off the shelf next Thursday and the team remains hopeful that he'll be able to return then. For now, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will start in his place Friday against the Angels and isn't worth going after even in AL-only leagues.
AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz (ribs) is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, but manager John McLaren said Monday that there's no timetable for his return ? Matt Garza (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and said afterward that he's aiming for an April 24 return ? Nate Robertson left Tuesday's game due to a shoulder injury and with Dontrelle Willis (knee) already on the DL the Tigers' rotation is suddenly very thin ? According to the Los Angeles Times, Howie Kendrick (hamstring) "isn't expected to return until this weekend, at the earliest" ? Fernando Rodney (shoulder) is scheduled to be examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, which is usually bad news and often leads to surgery ? Michael Cuddyer had stitches removed from his injured finger Monday, but had trouble throwing prior to Tuesday's game and may not be ready to come off the shelf when eligible Sunday ? John Patterson has been working out in extended spring training and threw a bullpen session Monday, but likely won't be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this month ? Ben Zobrist is scheduled to have pins removed from his fractured thumb on April 28, which makes it unlikely that he'll return from the DL before mid-May.
NL Quick Hits: Jose Reyes (hamstring) returned to the lineup Tuesday and collected four hits to raise his batting average from .205 to .273, but was thrown out on a steal attempt ? With Peter Moylan (elbow) joining Rafael Soriano (elbow) on the disabled list Tuesday, Manny Acosta is now the default favorite for saves in Atlanta ? Micah Owings made headlines for his hitting more than his pitching last season, but he's now 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 19-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year after becoming the latest pitcher to shut down the Giants ? Yovani Gallardo (knee) allowed four runs over 6.1 innings in a minor-league rehab start Monday at Triple-A, but racked up seven strikeouts and remains on track to rejoin the Brewers' rotation Sunday ? Jeff Weaver can earn up to $5 million via incentives from the minor-league contract that he signed Tuesday with the Brewers and will be able to become a free agent again if he's not in the majors by June ? Jose Valentin's (neck) agent said Monday that his client is 2-4 weeks from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment ? Ken Griffey Jr.'s two-run homer Tuesday was the 595th bomb of his career.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Betancourt's Big Chance
Thursday's Daily Dose included a discussion of Joe Borowski's struggles, because following what was then his latest blown save manager Eric Wedge commented that there was "nothing to indicate he's not healthy." My point at the time was that Borowski's outlook would actually be more positive if he was hurt. The situation struck me as being similar to someone making a fool of himself at a party and then insisting the next day that he was completely sober.
Not being drunk is nice and all, but being sober takes away the most reasonable explanation for the behavior. In Borowski's case, being fine physically would have simply meant that his already marginal stuff was declining even further, because his fastball was clocking in at just 84 miles per hour after averaging 88 last season and his slider had also lost a few MPH. All of which is why it wasn't surprising to see the Indians place Borowski on the disabled list Tuesday.
After blowing another save Monday, Borowski told reporters that he "had nothing" on his pitches and felt like he was "throwing through water." Now he'll spend at least 15 days on the sidelines with what the team is calling a strained triceps. Borowski was walking a tight rope already, so he'll need to regain that lost velocity to have any shot of being a decent late-inning reliever again. Of course, even if Borowski finds his lost stuff and returns in two weeks, the closer gig may be taken.
Wedge announced Tuesday that Rafael Betancourt will assume ninth-inning duties, which finally gives one of baseball's elite setup men a chance to show that he can handle save chances. Much is made of the unique mentality that's supposedly required to be a good closer, but for the most part great setup men handle the job just fine and regardless of role few relievers were able to keep up with Betancourt last season (1.47 ERA in 79.1 innings) or over the past five years.
Since debuting in 2003, Betancourt has a 2.85 ERA, 320/69 K/BB ratio, and 1.07 WHIP in 315 innings while holding opponents to a .228 AVG and .631 OPS. He's thrived pitching in huge spots?coming into tie games and wriggling out of jams with multiple runners on base?so getting three outs to slam the door on a late lead shouldn't be a problem. Of course, regardless of how well he pitches the wild card is whether or not Wedge will simply hand Borowski the job back.
That may sound crazy, but it's been obvious for a long time now that Betancourt is the Indians' best reliever and Borowski probably isn't in the top three, yet it took a major drop in velocity and arm problems to rip the job from his hands despite 10 blown saves and a 5.81 ERA dating back to last season. For now, Betancourt is without question a must-grab in every league and suddenly has a chance to be one of the dozen or so most valuable relievers in all of fantasy baseball.
While Betancourt gets his long-deserved chance to become a household fantasy name, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* General manager Omar Minaya said Monday that Pedro Martinez will remain out until at least mid-May and could possibly be sidelined into June. Martinez was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring on April 2, but team doctors have apparently nixed that timetable. "We're definitely going to be more conservative with him," Minaya said. "With hamstrings, you just never know. We've got to be careful."
Nelson Figuera will continue to fill in for Martinez, because Minaya indicated that the Mets have no plans to call up Claudio Vargas despite signing him to a minor-league contract last week. Meanwhile, with the pressure to hang onto a rotation spot lessened thanks to both Martinez and Orlando Hernandez being sidelined, Mike Pelfrey has thrived. He tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Nationals, improving to 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA.
* Alfonso Soriano left Tuesday's game with a calf injury and manager Lou Piniella said afterward that the Cubs expect him to be out for "a while." Results of an MRI will be available at some point Wednesday, giving the Cubs a clearer picture of Soriano's status. At the very least a trip to the disabled list seems likely, in which case Matt Murton would probably be called up from Triple-A to take over as the starting left fielder.
Sending Murton back to the minors was a slap in the face to begin with given the success that he's had in the majors and he'd emerge with solid value in NL-only leagues if given an opportunity for regular work. He won't come close to replacing Soriano's unique power-speed combination from a fantasy standpoint, but Murton has hit .293 with an .820 OPS in 289 career MLB games. By comparison, Soriano has hit .288 with an .863 OPS since signing with the Cubs last winter.
* With speculation swirling that Erik Bedard's hip injury may be serious, the Mariners placed him on the disabled list Tuesday with what they're calling inflammation. Because the move was backdated Bedard will be eligible to come off the shelf next Thursday and the team remains hopeful that he'll be able to return then. For now, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will start in his place Friday against the Angels and isn't worth going after even in AL-only leagues.
AL Quick Hits: J.J. Putz (ribs) is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, but manager John McLaren said Monday that there's no timetable for his return ? Matt Garza (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and said afterward that he's aiming for an April 24 return ? Nate Robertson left Tuesday's game due to a shoulder injury and with Dontrelle Willis (knee) already on the DL the Tigers' rotation is suddenly very thin ? According to the Los Angeles Times, Howie Kendrick (hamstring) "isn't expected to return until this weekend, at the earliest" ? Fernando Rodney (shoulder) is scheduled to be examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, which is usually bad news and often leads to surgery ? Michael Cuddyer had stitches removed from his injured finger Monday, but had trouble throwing prior to Tuesday's game and may not be ready to come off the shelf when eligible Sunday ? John Patterson has been working out in extended spring training and threw a bullpen session Monday, but likely won't be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this month ? Ben Zobrist is scheduled to have pins removed from his fractured thumb on April 28, which makes it unlikely that he'll return from the DL before mid-May.
NL Quick Hits: Jose Reyes (hamstring) returned to the lineup Tuesday and collected four hits to raise his batting average from .205 to .273, but was thrown out on a steal attempt ? With Peter Moylan (elbow) joining Rafael Soriano (elbow) on the disabled list Tuesday, Manny Acosta is now the default favorite for saves in Atlanta ? Micah Owings made headlines for his hitting more than his pitching last season, but he's now 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 19-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year after becoming the latest pitcher to shut down the Giants ? Yovani Gallardo (knee) allowed four runs over 6.1 innings in a minor-league rehab start Monday at Triple-A, but racked up seven strikeouts and remains on track to rejoin the Brewers' rotation Sunday ? Jeff Weaver can earn up to $5 million via incentives from the minor-league contract that he signed Tuesday with the Brewers and will be able to become a free agent again if he's not in the majors by June ? Jose Valentin's (neck) agent said Monday that his client is 2-4 weeks from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment ? Ken Griffey Jr.'s two-run homer Tuesday was the 595th bomb of his career.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospects: Week 2 Callups
I'll get into Evan Longoria's fantasy prospects down below, but it's worth noting that the Rays quickly changed course after their controversial decision to send Longoria down to the minors to start the season. The Willy Aybar injury gave them an excuse to do so and they already succeeded in delaying his free agency a year, but the club had other options like moving Akinori Iwamura back to third base and installing Elliot Johnson. That's admittedly a very poor option, but if all the Rays care about is Longoria's contract status than they would have gone that route. Instead, it seems likely that all of the negative publicity they got played at least a small part in Longoria getting his just promotion.
And before I get to the weekly callups, I'll reiterate one last time what's going on with Rotoworld's Season Pass. While we'll have plenty of analysis on callups here, Season Pass will offer additional prospect coverage. The main draw is a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects with notes on how players are doing and other observations regarding their ranking. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]
Evan Longoria ? 3B Rays ? Since he was a prospect with tons of hype and expected to compete for a starting job this spring, there's been plenty of coverage on Longoria over the last four months. In short, Longoria was the third overall pick in the 2006 draft and proceeded to put up dominant numbers after debuting that summer. Moved up to Double-A to begin the 2007 season, Longoria had little trouble with more advanced pitching and made it all the way to Triple-A before the season was out. Overall, the 6'2" right-hander put up a .299/.402/.520 line that included 26 homers and a 110/73 K/BB ratio.
Longoria's production in the minors last year was excellent, but it's important to remember that he's got a good chance to be even better in the pros. Longoria was just 21 years old all of last season, and he was performing at a very high level just a year out of college. When players adapt that quickly and at that young of an age, you have the potential for a true superstar on your hands. Throw in good plate discipline and a powerful yet balanced swing without many holes, and Longoria seems as good a bet as any to make a number of All-Star teams.
The big question with Longoria is how good he'll be initially. Given how quickly he's adjusted to new levels before, I wouldn't expect a typical minors-to-majors conversion to be applicable. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Longoria put up a 880 OPS or so as a rookie. Looking at how various projection systems have Longoria pegged for 2008, I appear to be among the most optimistic along with Bill James (who is almost always optimistic on young players translating quickly). He's off to a good start in that regard, going 4-for-12 with a homer and 4 walks in four games. Longoria doesn't have any speed to give his value a nice boost, but his bat says he's still very capable of providing $20+ of value and being a fixture in mixed leagues even as a rookie.
Recommendation: Pursue aggressively in all leagues.
Jeff Niemann ? RHP Rays ? Part of Rice's vaunted big three in college, Niemann went fourth overall to the Rays in the 2004 draft. He wasn't quite as effective as a junior as he was as a sophomore and teams questioned the health of his right arm, but he was still a very appealing option even at the top of the draft. Those health questions surfaced the very next season, as Niemann battled shoulder problems all year before finally undergoing surgery that winter. He returned during the middle of the 2006 season and looked excellent, posting a 2.68 ERA and 84/29 K/BB ratio in 77 1/3 innings in Double-A. Niemann wasn't hitting the high-90s as he had in the past and his curveball wasn't quite as good, but he still had enough stuff to look like a future No. 3 starter.
Moved up to Triple-A Durham last season, Niemann disappointed some in his age 24 season by posting a pedestrian 3.98 ERA. His strikeout rate also dropped from 9.78 per nine to 8.45, but the biggest culprit was Niemann allowing more hits on balls in play. His BABIP was a bit too low in 2006 at .267, but it corrected to the high side of expectations at .342 last season. If he settled in around the average of .300 his ERA would have comfortably been in the mid-to-low 3.00s, so the 2007 campaign wasn't as disappointing as at first glance.
Niemann is a very big individual, coming in at 6'9" and 280 pounds. He uses his height to his advantage while getting a nice downward plane on his low-90s fastball, and he can get the heater up to 94 or 95 when absolutely necessary. He also has a plus slider and a passable off-speed pitch to keep hitters honest, though his fastball-slider combination may profile best in relief.
For now, Niemann is up in the majors due to injuries to Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza. He looked good with six innings of one-run ball in his debut, and he'll have some value in AL-only leagues while he makes another couple of starts. Barring additional injuries or a complete meltdown by Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson, there won't be room for Niemann once those two veterans come off the DL. That means he's likely headed back to the minors at some point, though value later in the season is rather likely. Since he could still be a No. 3 starter, those in both AL-only and mixed leagues can keep an eye on him.
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues; monitor in mixed leagues.
Jed Lowrie ? INF Red Sox ? One of my favorite prospects to follow, Lowrie has been on scout's radars since even before a dominant sophomore campaign that saw him hit .399/.505/.734 with a 40/50 K/BB ratio for Stanford. Lowrie wasn't quite as good as a junior and there were concerns about his bat translating to wood, but he was still promising enough to go in the supplemental first round in 2005. A debut in the New York-Penn League went well, but Lowrie had a disappointing 2006 campaign in High-A. Moved up to Double-A Portland to start the 2007 season anyway, Lowrie re-established himself as a top prospect with a .297/.410/.501 line that included a 58/65 K/BB ratio. A move up to Pawtucket went similarly well, though Lowrie's plate discipline eroded some.
The 6'0" switch-hitting Lowrie is by no means an imposing physical specimen, and he's unlikely to be a big home run hitter in the majors. However, he's got enough pop to keep pitchers honest and smack 15 per year in his prime, and his line drive stroke should lead to plenty of doubles (47 last season). His selectivity at the plate and good bat control mean he should also post a high average and a good walk rate, making him a similar player to current Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia. Lowrie's lack of speed and home run power make him a weaker fantasy play, but as a regular he'd still be a solid enough option in AL-only leagues. He'll get a few starts at third base with Mike Lowell out, but his real chance for value will be overtaking a still struggling Julio Lugo mid-season. Either way, Lowrie should be starting in 2009.
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues.
Joey Devine ? RHP Athletics ? Devine, a college closer from NC State, was supposed to move quickly through the minors and be an impact late-inning reliever after being drafted 27th overall in 2005. And while the right-hander has had good success in the minors most of the time (2.73 ERA, 13 K/9), that hasn't been able to translate in the majors. Devine has been up in each of the previous three seasons, but he hasn't been able to stick at any point thanks to a 6.86 ERA and 20/22 K/BB ratio.
Devine has a solid, sinking fastball and a good, big-breaking slider, so he has the stuff to succeed. Perhaps he just needs a longer leash to find a groove, if any team were willing to give that to him it'd be the Athletics. If his command can mirror his minor league numbers (4 BB/9) or even improve he can be a very useful reliever in AL-only leagues. A career as a closer isn't completely out of the picture yet.
Recommendation: Monitor in AL-only formats.
Greg Smith ? LHP Athletics ? The least interesting prospect sent from the Diamondbacks to the Athletics in the Dan Haren trade, Smith has made more noise than any of his teammates in the deal so far. That's because the left-hander has posted a 2.08 ERA through two starts in the majors after injuries to Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer struck. Smith, a sixth round pick out of LSU in 2005, is your typical finesse left-hander, working in the high-80s to go with a good curve and above average command. Right-handers gave him trouble in the minors by posting an OPS north of 800 last season, and his strikeout rate has typically been only modest.
Smith is solid enough to have some success while pitching half his games at McAfee Coliseum, but his debut has probably set expectations too high. He profiles to be a solid No. 4/5 starter in the majors, and he may work best as primarily a left-handed specialist. He'll have to continue pitching well to stay in the rotation over Chad Gaudin when one of Harden or Duchscherer is ready. Once both are ready they're simply won't be any room in the A's rotation, barring another opening due to injury, so a trip back to the minors seems almost inevitable. However, he'll probably notch two starts before then, and AL-only leaguers could do worse than snag him when he faces the Royals and Mariners.
Recommendation: Decent short-term play in AL-only leagues; keeper leagues should only monitor.
Justin Ruggiano ? OF Rays ? A 24th round pick by the Dodgers in the 2004 draft after a disappointing, though injury-aided, final season for Texas A&M, Ruggiano has done nothing but hit since breaking in to professional baseball. The 6"2" right-hander has posted an OPS of 900 or greater at every level of the minors prior to 2007, and he continued to succeed at Triple-A Durham with a .309/.386/.502 line last season. Ruggiano has played some center field in the minors and is a solid defender, though he profiles much better in a corner. He also has solid speed, and he posted a career-best 26 stolen bases last season.
The big issue with Ruggiano is that he takes a bit cut to generate all the power he does. It's a large reason why he's posted poor strikeout rates in the past, and it was an issue that got even worse when he struck out 151 times in 482 at-bats last season. Ruggiano hasn't been that bad in the past and the rest of his skills are intriguing, so a reduction in strikeouts would make him a pretty nice prospect despite already being 26 years old. As is he looks more like a reserve, but one that's worth watching closely. He'll get a fair amount of playing time with Cliff Floyd out and it's quite possible he'll force his way into the lineup more often with a strong start, so AL-only leaguers should roll the dice here. br>
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only leagues.
John Bowker ? OF/1B Giants ? No big names were called up in the NL this week, but Bowker is one player I've been intrigued with for awhile and I think is well worth watching. A third-rounder out of Long Beach State University in 2004, Bowker was considered to have a good but inconsistent swing that lead to very mediocre results in college. He went on to have a nice debut in the low minors after signing, but two seasons at High-A San Jose in 2005 and 2006 were big disappointments with little improvement.
The Giants moved Bowker up to Double-A in 2007 anyway, and the 6'2" left-hander responded with an incredible .307/.363/.523 line that included 35 doubles, six triples, and 22 homers. Perhaps that line doesn't look "incredible", but once you adjust for the fact that he was playing at one of the worst parks for power hitters in the minors (Dodd Stadium) it does look quite nice. His line away from Dodd Stadium was .345/.397/.629, further cementing his season as an outstanding one.
I wrote about Bowker after attending last year's Eastern League All-Star Game, highlighting how the now 24 year-old had a quick swing that generated plenty of power. That power has been evident so far with the Giants, as Bowker has smacked a homer in each of his first two games. Since Bowker also has solid plate discipline and is adept at handling left-handed pitchers, he could prove to be a real sleeper for those in NL-only leagues. That the Giants are again working him out at first base after doing so this spring is encouraging, as first is a big position of need for the Giants both now and in the future (until Angel Villalona is ready). If Bowker can keep hitting, and I like his chances, it wouldn't be surprising to see him claim the first base job and perform admirably while doing so. A .270-15-60 season with 450+ at-bats isn't out of the question.
Recommendation: Go the extra dollar for him in NL-only one-year and keeper leagues; only those in very deep mixed leagues should monitor.
Hernan Iribarren ? 2B Brewers ? Signed out of Venezuela in 2002, Iribarren made his debut stateside in 2004. He hit well in short-season ball, posting an OPS over 1000 at two different stops and getting some attention as a prospect to monitor. Iribarren moved up to Single-A the next season and posted respectable but unexciting numbers in 2005, and he's continued that trend over each of the last two seasons as well. His .303/.363/.430 line for Double-A Huntsville in 2007, at the age of 23, exemplifies his career fairly nicely.
Iribarren should hit for average in the majors and his defense at second base is solid, but he lacks any secondary skills and he's not adept at stealing bases (54% success rate from 2006-2007). The Brewers will use him as a reserve for now, and it's a role he should settle into over the long-term. Iribarren could have a little use in NL-only leagues if he ever started, but that will only happen if injuries open up a spot.
Recommendation: Ignore in all formats.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Prospects: Week 2 Callups
I'll get into Evan Longoria's fantasy prospects down below, but it's worth noting that the Rays quickly changed course after their controversial decision to send Longoria down to the minors to start the season. The Willy Aybar injury gave them an excuse to do so and they already succeeded in delaying his free agency a year, but the club had other options like moving Akinori Iwamura back to third base and installing Elliot Johnson. That's admittedly a very poor option, but if all the Rays care about is Longoria's contract status than they would have gone that route. Instead, it seems likely that all of the negative publicity they got played at least a small part in Longoria getting his just promotion.
And before I get to the weekly callups, I'll reiterate one last time what's going on with Rotoworld's Season Pass. While we'll have plenty of analysis on callups here, Season Pass will offer additional prospect coverage. The main draw is a weekly updated Top 100 Prospects with notes on how players are doing and other observations regarding their ranking. Readers will also see a weekly column profiling current minor leaguers in more depth, including players from both inside and outside of the Top 100. Season Pass has plenty of other great columns and useful tools, so I strongly recommend signing up for the relatively small price of admission.
[SIZE=+1]Major League Callups[/SIZE]
Evan Longoria ? 3B Rays ? Since he was a prospect with tons of hype and expected to compete for a starting job this spring, there's been plenty of coverage on Longoria over the last four months. In short, Longoria was the third overall pick in the 2006 draft and proceeded to put up dominant numbers after debuting that summer. Moved up to Double-A to begin the 2007 season, Longoria had little trouble with more advanced pitching and made it all the way to Triple-A before the season was out. Overall, the 6'2" right-hander put up a .299/.402/.520 line that included 26 homers and a 110/73 K/BB ratio.
Longoria's production in the minors last year was excellent, but it's important to remember that he's got a good chance to be even better in the pros. Longoria was just 21 years old all of last season, and he was performing at a very high level just a year out of college. When players adapt that quickly and at that young of an age, you have the potential for a true superstar on your hands. Throw in good plate discipline and a powerful yet balanced swing without many holes, and Longoria seems as good a bet as any to make a number of All-Star teams.
The big question with Longoria is how good he'll be initially. Given how quickly he's adjusted to new levels before, I wouldn't expect a typical minors-to-majors conversion to be applicable. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Longoria put up a 880 OPS or so as a rookie. Looking at how various projection systems have Longoria pegged for 2008, I appear to be among the most optimistic along with Bill James (who is almost always optimistic on young players translating quickly). He's off to a good start in that regard, going 4-for-12 with a homer and 4 walks in four games. Longoria doesn't have any speed to give his value a nice boost, but his bat says he's still very capable of providing $20+ of value and being a fixture in mixed leagues even as a rookie.
Recommendation: Pursue aggressively in all leagues.
Jeff Niemann ? RHP Rays ? Part of Rice's vaunted big three in college, Niemann went fourth overall to the Rays in the 2004 draft. He wasn't quite as effective as a junior as he was as a sophomore and teams questioned the health of his right arm, but he was still a very appealing option even at the top of the draft. Those health questions surfaced the very next season, as Niemann battled shoulder problems all year before finally undergoing surgery that winter. He returned during the middle of the 2006 season and looked excellent, posting a 2.68 ERA and 84/29 K/BB ratio in 77 1/3 innings in Double-A. Niemann wasn't hitting the high-90s as he had in the past and his curveball wasn't quite as good, but he still had enough stuff to look like a future No. 3 starter.
Moved up to Triple-A Durham last season, Niemann disappointed some in his age 24 season by posting a pedestrian 3.98 ERA. His strikeout rate also dropped from 9.78 per nine to 8.45, but the biggest culprit was Niemann allowing more hits on balls in play. His BABIP was a bit too low in 2006 at .267, but it corrected to the high side of expectations at .342 last season. If he settled in around the average of .300 his ERA would have comfortably been in the mid-to-low 3.00s, so the 2007 campaign wasn't as disappointing as at first glance.
Niemann is a very big individual, coming in at 6'9" and 280 pounds. He uses his height to his advantage while getting a nice downward plane on his low-90s fastball, and he can get the heater up to 94 or 95 when absolutely necessary. He also has a plus slider and a passable off-speed pitch to keep hitters honest, though his fastball-slider combination may profile best in relief.
For now, Niemann is up in the majors due to injuries to Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza. He looked good with six innings of one-run ball in his debut, and he'll have some value in AL-only leagues while he makes another couple of starts. Barring additional injuries or a complete meltdown by Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson, there won't be room for Niemann once those two veterans come off the DL. That means he's likely headed back to the minors at some point, though value later in the season is rather likely. Since he could still be a No. 3 starter, those in both AL-only and mixed leagues can keep an eye on him.
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues; monitor in mixed leagues.
Jed Lowrie ? INF Red Sox ? One of my favorite prospects to follow, Lowrie has been on scout's radars since even before a dominant sophomore campaign that saw him hit .399/.505/.734 with a 40/50 K/BB ratio for Stanford. Lowrie wasn't quite as good as a junior and there were concerns about his bat translating to wood, but he was still promising enough to go in the supplemental first round in 2005. A debut in the New York-Penn League went well, but Lowrie had a disappointing 2006 campaign in High-A. Moved up to Double-A Portland to start the 2007 season anyway, Lowrie re-established himself as a top prospect with a .297/.410/.501 line that included a 58/65 K/BB ratio. A move up to Pawtucket went similarly well, though Lowrie's plate discipline eroded some.
The 6'0" switch-hitting Lowrie is by no means an imposing physical specimen, and he's unlikely to be a big home run hitter in the majors. However, he's got enough pop to keep pitchers honest and smack 15 per year in his prime, and his line drive stroke should lead to plenty of doubles (47 last season). His selectivity at the plate and good bat control mean he should also post a high average and a good walk rate, making him a similar player to current Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia. Lowrie's lack of speed and home run power make him a weaker fantasy play, but as a regular he'd still be a solid enough option in AL-only leagues. He'll get a few starts at third base with Mike Lowell out, but his real chance for value will be overtaking a still struggling Julio Lugo mid-season. Either way, Lowrie should be starting in 2009.
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only one-year and keeper leagues.
Joey Devine ? RHP Athletics ? Devine, a college closer from NC State, was supposed to move quickly through the minors and be an impact late-inning reliever after being drafted 27th overall in 2005. And while the right-hander has had good success in the minors most of the time (2.73 ERA, 13 K/9), that hasn't been able to translate in the majors. Devine has been up in each of the previous three seasons, but he hasn't been able to stick at any point thanks to a 6.86 ERA and 20/22 K/BB ratio.
Devine has a solid, sinking fastball and a good, big-breaking slider, so he has the stuff to succeed. Perhaps he just needs a longer leash to find a groove, if any team were willing to give that to him it'd be the Athletics. If his command can mirror his minor league numbers (4 BB/9) or even improve he can be a very useful reliever in AL-only leagues. A career as a closer isn't completely out of the picture yet.
Recommendation: Monitor in AL-only formats.
Greg Smith ? LHP Athletics ? The least interesting prospect sent from the Diamondbacks to the Athletics in the Dan Haren trade, Smith has made more noise than any of his teammates in the deal so far. That's because the left-hander has posted a 2.08 ERA through two starts in the majors after injuries to Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer struck. Smith, a sixth round pick out of LSU in 2005, is your typical finesse left-hander, working in the high-80s to go with a good curve and above average command. Right-handers gave him trouble in the minors by posting an OPS north of 800 last season, and his strikeout rate has typically been only modest.
Smith is solid enough to have some success while pitching half his games at McAfee Coliseum, but his debut has probably set expectations too high. He profiles to be a solid No. 4/5 starter in the majors, and he may work best as primarily a left-handed specialist. He'll have to continue pitching well to stay in the rotation over Chad Gaudin when one of Harden or Duchscherer is ready. Once both are ready they're simply won't be any room in the A's rotation, barring another opening due to injury, so a trip back to the minors seems almost inevitable. However, he'll probably notch two starts before then, and AL-only leaguers could do worse than snag him when he faces the Royals and Mariners.
Recommendation: Decent short-term play in AL-only leagues; keeper leagues should only monitor.
Justin Ruggiano ? OF Rays ? A 24th round pick by the Dodgers in the 2004 draft after a disappointing, though injury-aided, final season for Texas A&M, Ruggiano has done nothing but hit since breaking in to professional baseball. The 6"2" right-hander has posted an OPS of 900 or greater at every level of the minors prior to 2007, and he continued to succeed at Triple-A Durham with a .309/.386/.502 line last season. Ruggiano has played some center field in the minors and is a solid defender, though he profiles much better in a corner. He also has solid speed, and he posted a career-best 26 stolen bases last season.
The big issue with Ruggiano is that he takes a bit cut to generate all the power he does. It's a large reason why he's posted poor strikeout rates in the past, and it was an issue that got even worse when he struck out 151 times in 482 at-bats last season. Ruggiano hasn't been that bad in the past and the rest of his skills are intriguing, so a reduction in strikeouts would make him a pretty nice prospect despite already being 26 years old. As is he looks more like a reserve, but one that's worth watching closely. He'll get a fair amount of playing time with Cliff Floyd out and it's quite possible he'll force his way into the lineup more often with a strong start, so AL-only leaguers should roll the dice here. br>
Recommendation: Claim in AL-only leagues.
John Bowker ? OF/1B Giants ? No big names were called up in the NL this week, but Bowker is one player I've been intrigued with for awhile and I think is well worth watching. A third-rounder out of Long Beach State University in 2004, Bowker was considered to have a good but inconsistent swing that lead to very mediocre results in college. He went on to have a nice debut in the low minors after signing, but two seasons at High-A San Jose in 2005 and 2006 were big disappointments with little improvement.
The Giants moved Bowker up to Double-A in 2007 anyway, and the 6'2" left-hander responded with an incredible .307/.363/.523 line that included 35 doubles, six triples, and 22 homers. Perhaps that line doesn't look "incredible", but once you adjust for the fact that he was playing at one of the worst parks for power hitters in the minors (Dodd Stadium) it does look quite nice. His line away from Dodd Stadium was .345/.397/.629, further cementing his season as an outstanding one.
I wrote about Bowker after attending last year's Eastern League All-Star Game, highlighting how the now 24 year-old had a quick swing that generated plenty of power. That power has been evident so far with the Giants, as Bowker has smacked a homer in each of his first two games. Since Bowker also has solid plate discipline and is adept at handling left-handed pitchers, he could prove to be a real sleeper for those in NL-only leagues. That the Giants are again working him out at first base after doing so this spring is encouraging, as first is a big position of need for the Giants both now and in the future (until Angel Villalona is ready). If Bowker can keep hitting, and I like his chances, it wouldn't be surprising to see him claim the first base job and perform admirably while doing so. A .270-15-60 season with 450+ at-bats isn't out of the question.
Recommendation: Go the extra dollar for him in NL-only one-year and keeper leagues; only those in very deep mixed leagues should monitor.
Hernan Iribarren ? 2B Brewers ? Signed out of Venezuela in 2002, Iribarren made his debut stateside in 2004. He hit well in short-season ball, posting an OPS over 1000 at two different stops and getting some attention as a prospect to monitor. Iribarren moved up to Single-A the next season and posted respectable but unexciting numbers in 2005, and he's continued that trend over each of the last two seasons as well. His .303/.363/.430 line for Double-A Huntsville in 2007, at the age of 23, exemplifies his career fairly nicely.
Iribarren should hit for average in the majors and his defense at second base is solid, but he lacks any secondary skills and he's not adept at stealing bases (54% success rate from 2006-2007). The Brewers will use him as a reserve for now, and it's a role he should settle into over the long-term. Iribarren could have a little use in NL-only leagues if he ever started, but that will only happen if injuries open up a spot.
Recommendation: Ignore in all formats.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
2008 Top 150 Prospects
Presented this week is this year's Top 150 Prospects column. In order to be eligible, players must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors. Also, they cannot have spent more than 45 non-September days on an active roster. At the end of the article is a listing of where some of the key ineligibles would have ranked.
The writeup presented with each player is the same from the divisional prospects columns. That means most are one or two months old and may contain some obsolete data. Please try not to be too unkind.
I didn't want to changes much based on anything that's happened since the start of spring training, but there are a few alterations. The most notable is Jordan Schafer, who has been dropped about 50 spots from where he would have been before the hGH suspension. I also pushed Eric Hurley down about 10 spots. Houston's Josh Flores, who would have come in around No. 140, fell off because of the knee injury that will cost him the season. No one gained very much, but Johnny Cueto might have been more in the 15-20 range before his fantastic start.
2008 Top 150 Prospects
1. Jay Bruce - OF Reds - DOB: 04/03/87 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #130, mid-2006 #23, 2007 #8, mid-2007 #2
.325/.379/.586, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 67/24 K/BB, 4 SB in 268 AB (A+ Sarasota)
.333/.405/.652, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 20/8 K/BB, 2 SB in 66 AB (AA Chattanooga)
.305/.358/.567, 11 HR, 25 RBI, 48/15 K/BB, 2 SB in 187 AB (AAA Louisville)
Add it all up and Bruce hit .319/.375/.587 with 26 homers in his second full pro season. A 2005 first-round pick out a Texas high school, Bruce has drawn comparisons to Larry Walker because his build and powerful left-handed stroke. He's athletic enough to play center now, but he projects as a long-term right fielder. The only real concern about his game is his big strikeout totals. He fanned 135 times in 133 games last season. However, he's no more vulnerable to quality breaking balls than most, and while he can struggle some against hard heaters up and in, that hardly makes him unusual for a left-handed hitter. He crushes mistakes and is still capable of turning pitches at his knees into line-drive singles and doubles. With his durability never having come into question, he seems certain to establish himself as an above average regular. If his K/BB ratio goes from 3:1 to 2:1 or even 3:2, he'll go multiple All-Star Games and contend for MVP awards in his best years.
2. Colby Rasmus - OF Cardinals - DOB: 08/11/86 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #135, mid-2006 #47, 2007 #27, mid-2007 #11
.275/.381/.551, 29 HR, 72 RBI, 108/70 K/BB, 18 SB in 472 AB (AA Springfield)
Rasmus seemed destined to return to the FSL after hitting .254/.351/.404 in 193 at-bats following a midseason promotion to Palm Beach in 2006, but the Cardinals aggressively pushed him up to Double-A and he responded even better than they could have hoped. His 29-homer campaign would have made him a circuit MVP a lot of years, but he ended up losing out to Chase Headley. The 28th overall pick in the outfield-rich 2005 draft, Rasmus has 30-homer ability and impressive on-base skills. He's already answered questions about his ability to stay in center field for the long-term, and the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds to San Diego to clear the spot for him. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll win the job this spring, but the opportunity appears to be there if he turns in a Hunter Pence-type performance. If the chance comes this year, Rasmus will probably struggle against left-handers and find that some of his balls that traveled out of Texas League parks turn into warning track flyouts in the majors. He's a future All-Star, most likely, but he's probably a year away from being a real asset.
3. Evan Longoria - 3B Rays - DOB: 10/07/85 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #19, mid-2007 #5
.307/.403/.528, 21 HR, 76 RBI, 81/51 K/BB, 4 SB in 381 AB (AA Montgomery)
.269/.398/.490, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 29/22 K/BB, 0 SB in 104 AB (AAA Durham)
.318/.380/.682, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 13/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 44 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Longoria finished with a pedestrian 789 OPS in his first of two seasons at Long Beach St., but he started hitting in the Cape Cod League in 2005 and hasn't stopped since. He had a 1070 OPS for the Dirtbags in 2006, a 957 mark at three levels after being drafted third overall and a 921 OPS in the high minors last season. He's already on the verge of taking over as Tampa Bay's third baseman, though it's possible the team will send him down for the first month or two of the season. Longoria will be a 30-homer guy by 2009 or 2010. His defense at the hot corner isn't stellar, but he should be able to stay at the position for at least the first half of his career. Since he probably won't hit .300 except for in his best years, he could fall short of being a perennial All-Star. Still, he'll be a well above average regular for a long time.
4. Clay Buchholz - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 08/14/84 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #122, 2007 #45, mid-2007 #4
7-2, 1.77 ERA, 55 H, 116/22 K/BB in 86 2/3 IP (AA Portland)
1-3, 3.96 ERA, 32 H, 55/13 K/BB in 38 2/3 IP (AAA Pawtucket)
3-1, 1.59 ERA, 14 H, 22/10 K/BB in 22 2/3 IP (Red Sox)
A 2005 supplemental first-round earned through the loss of Pedro Martinez to the Mets, Buchholz emerged as the game's top pitching prospect during the middle of last season, only to be challenged by Joba Chamberlain by year's end. Using a 91-95 mph fastball and two outstanding complimentary pitches in his curve and changeup, the Texas native was able to pitch a no-hitter versus the Orioles in just his second major league start. He was shut down in late September because of some arm fatigue, but it was nothing that was expected to linger. Assuming that the rest of Boston's starters make it through the spring healthy, Buchholz is probably going to get some additional minor league time early on. He hardly needs it, but it could serve to keep his innings total down. He's still sure to have a chance to make a big impact this year, and he could prove to be an ace two or three years from now.
5. Joba Chamberlain - RHP Yankees - DOB: 09/23/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2007 #130, mid-2007 #19
4-0, 2.03 ERA, 25 H, 51/11 K/BB in 40 IP (A Tampa)
4-2, 3.35 ERA, 32 H, 66/15 K/BB in 40 1/3 IP (AA Trenton)
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 H, 18/1 K/BB in 8 IP (AAA Scranton)
2-0, 0.38 ERA, 12 H, 34/6 K/BB in 24 IP (AL New York)
Perhaps the game's most dominant reliever after being called up last season, Chamberlain is everything the Yankees could ask for in an heir to Mariano Rivera in the closer's role. Still, the rotation is likely where he belongs long-term and he's expected to spend most of 2008 starting, even if he begins the year in the bullpen in an effort to restrict his innings total. Chamberlain used a 96-100 mph heater and outstanding slider to succeed as a reliever. He'll return his curveball and changeup to the mix as a starter, though he may not need to use either a lot even if he loses three or four mph off his fastball. Just how strong those two pitches are will determine whether he develops into a legitimate ace. The curve has drawn the better reviews of the two.
6. Clayton Kershaw - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 03/19/88 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #40, mid-2007 #9
7-5, 2.77 ERA, 72 H, 134/50 K/BB in 97 1/3 IP (A- Great Lakes)
1-2, 3.65 ERA, 17 H, 29/17 K/BB in 24 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
The No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect in the minors, Kershaw probably has even more upside than the two right-handers who will rank ahead of him on the overall top 150. However, at the tender age of 20, he does qualify as the biggest injury risk of the group. Kershaw has the ability to be a true ace for the Dodgers. His 91-96 mph fastball, curve and changeup are all quality major league pitches, and he's so tough to hit that he could be effective in the majors right now even though he'd walk five batters per nine innings. He does need to get more efficient with his pitches if he's going to work deep into games. It's very possible the Dodgers will add him to their rotation in June or July, but they'll only have him for five innings per game because he'll certainly be on a pitch count. The caution is warranted. Kershaw isn't always consistent with his delivery, which is why he occasionally struggles to throw strikes. If he gets tired and starts using his arm more than his legs, he could have problems.
7. David Price - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/26/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none
The Rays haven't let bonus demands scare them away from top talents lately. They used the first overall pick in the 2007 draft to select Price and then gave him a major league deal worth $8.5 million. With a mid-90s fastball, an excellent slider and a track record of success against top collegiate talent, Price has to be regarded as one of the game's top pitching prospects, even if he hasn't thrown a pitch as a pro. He went 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 95 H and a 194/31 K/BB ratio in 133 1/3 innings as a junior at Vanderbilt. The Rays waited until August to sign him, as they didn't want him adding to an already heavy workload. He'll be in major league camp this spring, and while he's not being mentioned as a possibility for the Opening Day rotation, he could leap over several other notable youngsters and debut before the end of the year. He might prove to be a legitimate ace in time.
8. Daric Barton - 1B Athletics - DOB: 08/16/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #102, 2005 #23, mid-2005 #3, 2006 #4, mid-2006 #10, 2007 #20, mid-2007 #7
.293/.389/.438, 9 HR, 70 RBI, 69/78 K/BB, 3 SB in 516 AB (AAA Sacramento)
.347/.429/.639, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 11/10 K/BB, 1 SB in 72 AB (Oakland)
Barton is no longer alone as an elite prospect in the A's system, but he still claims the top spot after staying healthy in his second year at Sacramento and showing surprising pop in his late-season audition with the A's. The former catcher has always employed the disciplined approach the A's prefer, and there's now increased reason for optimism that he'll be a 15- or 20-homer guy down the line. His swing promises that he'll always hit for average, and he might have some .400-OBP seasons because of patience. His glove isn't yet an asset at first base, and it is possible that he'll spend the bulk of his career as a DH, although the A's are planning on playing him in the field for now. His bat alone should make him an All-Star in his best years, though since the power isn't quite there yet, it's going to be a while before he's a stud in fantasy leagues.
9. Cameron Maybin - OF Marlins - DOB: 04/04/87 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2006 #79, mid-2006 #36, 2007 #18, mid-2007 #6
.571/.667/.571, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 7 AB (R GCL Tigers)
.304/.393/.486, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 83/43 K/BB, 25 SB in 296 AB (A Lakeland)
.400/.538/1.050, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 20 AB (AA Erie)
.143/.208/.265, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 21/3 K/BB, 5 SB in 49 AB (Detroit)
.219/.286/.438, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 5/3 K/BB, 2 SB in 32 AB (AFL Peoria)
In the market for a center fielder from the day they sent Juan Pierre to the Cubs, the Marlins picked up an excellent long-term choice when they acquired Maybin the Miguel Cabrera deal. Unfortunately, for them, the long-term may last only four or five years before he gets dealt for the next big-time prospect. Even though he has just 69 at-bats above A-ball, Maybin is the heavy favorite to take over the starting job to begin this year. He has the swing to eventually generate 30-homer power, though that's going to be a few years in coming. He currently strikes out an awful lot for someone who is going to be looked at as a top-of-the-order guy. He does offer very good speed on the basepaths and great defense in center field. I'm not convinced he'll reach his ceiling, but he shouldn't need to in order to turn in a fairly lengthy career as a regular. He'd be a better bet going forward if he spent 2008 continuing to hone his game in the minors.
10. Jacoby Ellsbury - OF Red Sox - DOB: 09/11/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2006 #138, mid-2006 #67, 2007 #42, mid-2007 #15
.453/.518/.644, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 7/6 K/BB, 8 SB in 73 AB (AA Portland)
.298/.360/.380, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 47/32 K/BB, 33 SB in 363 AB (AAA Pawtucket)
.353/.394/.509, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 15/8 K/BB, 9 SB in 116 AB (Red Sox)
Ellsbury failed to excel in Triple-A after a red-hot start in Double-A last season, but he helped make up for that by hitting more homers during a 116-at-bat audition with the Red Sox than he had in 436 at-bats in the minors. Ellsbury already offers excellent defense and exceptional basestealing ability. He doesn't walk a whole lot, but his ability to make contact should see to it that he's at least a fair leadoff hitter. Whether he's truly the 10- or 15-homer guy he appeared to be during the final month of last year will determine if he's merely an above average regular or a future All-Star. Like Johnny Damon, he takes a completely different approach when he wants drive the ball. Most of the time, he's an inside-out guy. Since it seems to work for him, he could prove to be a better all-around hitter than the minor league numbers suggest. Either way, he should be a very good fantasy outfielder for the foreseeable future.
11. Johnny Cueto - RHP Reds - DOB: 02/15/86 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #33
4-5, 3.33 ERA, 72 H, 72/21 K/BB in 78 1/3 IP (A Sarasota)
6-3, 3.10 ERA, 52 H, 77/11 K/BB in 61 IP (AA Chattanooga)
2-1, 2.05 ERA, 22 H, 21/2 K/BB in 22 IP (AAA Louisville)
One of last year's fastest risers, Cueto went 12-9 with a 3.07 ERA, 146 H and 170/34 K/BB in 161 1/3 IP at three levels. As if that wasn't enough, he finished 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA, 31 H and 37/7 K/BB in 31 2/3 IP in the Dominican Republic over the winter. Cueto throws 91-94 mph. After his improved changeup helped establish him as a quality prospect in 2006, he worked on perfecting his slider last year, turning it into more of a strikeout pitch. The likelihood of injury still plays some role in his ranking. On the one hand, it was encouraging that he lasted over 190 innings without incident last year. On the other hand, that he was allowed to throw 190 innings as a 21-year-old seems like a very bad sign for the future. Cueto doesn't have a maximum-effort delivery, but he is a short right-hander with a modest build. If his arm holds up, he'll prove to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
12. Fernando Martinez - OF Mets - DOB: 10/10/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #80, 2007 #10, mid-2007 #8
.111/.200/.333, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 9 AB (R GCL Mets)
.271/.336/.377, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 51/20 K/BB, 3 SB in 236 AB (AA Binghamton) newyorkmets.com
Martinez, who received a $1.4 million bonus to sign at age 16, quickly established himself as a top prospect by hitting .333/.389/.505 in 192 at-bats at low-A Hagerstown in his pro debut in 2006. Moved up in August, he proceeded to bat .193/.254/.387 in 119 AB for high-A St. Lucie. Still, the Mets opted to get extremely aggressive and send him to Double-A for his age-18 season. He barely held his own in 60 games when he wasn't sidelined with hand injuries, but even that was rather impressive. Martinez is an enormous talent with 35-homer potential and the ability to hit for average. He should also prove to be an above average defender in right field with experience. He's at least one and probably two years away, but he's a star in the making.
13. Homer Bailey - RHP Reds - DOB: 05/03/86 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2005 #73, mid-2005 #91, 2006 #65, mid-2006 #11, 2007 #4, mid-2007 (in majors)
0-1, 10.13 ERA, 15 H, 7/5 K/BB in 8 IP (A Sarasota)
6-3, 3.07 ERA, 49 H, 59/32 K/BB in 67 1/3 IP (AAA Louisville)
4-2, 5.76 ERA, 43 H, 28/28 K/BB in 45 1/3 IP (Cincinnati)
It didn't look like Bailey was far away when he finished 10-6 with a 2.47 ERA, 99 H and 156/50 K/BB in 138 2/3 IP between Single-A Sarasota and Double-A Chattanooga in 2006, but he made no progress at all in his age-21 season. In fact, he regressed in the command department. The off year doesn't qualify as a huge black mark against him. He didn't have any arm problems, and he continued to show the 93-96 mph fastball and curveball that could make him an ace in the future. In order to fulfill his potential, he'll need to do a better job of spotting his heater and come up with an improved changeup, but even if he doesn't get there, his ability to generate swings and misses with his top two pitches should make him a quality starter, albeit one who is more inconsistent than most. He's not a great bet for the short-term, but his long-term potential is intact.
14. Matt LaPorta - OF Brewers - DOB: 01/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: none
.259/.286/.519, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 8/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 27 AB (R Helena)
.318/.392/.750, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 22/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 88 AB (A- West Virginia)
.241/.351/.500, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 28/17 K/BB, 1 SB in 112 AB (AFL Mesa)
The Brewers didn't let Richie Sexson's presence prevent them from drafting Prince Fielder in 2002 and that worked out well enough. They again went with the best available player last summer and made LaPorta the seventh overall pick after he hit .402/.582/.817 as a senior at Florida. The right-handed slugger should combine 30- or 35-homer power with strong OBPs driven by high walk totals after reaching the majors. What remains to be seen is whether he'll be able to help the Brewers as anything more than a really nice piece of trade bait. LaPorta moved from first base to the outfield after being drafted and worked hard to make it a successful switch, but he just doesn't have the range to be an asset there. At best, he'll be below average. Complicating things even further was Milwaukee's move of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] to left field. Both Braun and Corey Hart have the raw speed to play center, but the Brewers didn't want to put either there this year. Unless they're willing to have one of the two replace Mike Cameron next season, LaPorta could be the odd man out. Whether the Brewers have room for him or not, he should be ready for a job by Opening Day 2009.
15. Andy LaRoche - 3B Dodgers - DOB: 09/13/83 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #17, 2006 #26, mid-2006 #17, 2007 #13, mid-2007 #17
.309/.399/.589, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 42/39 K/BB, 2 SB in 265 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.226/.365/.312, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 24/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 93 AB (NL Los Angeles)
A .315 hitter with 28 homers and a 74/64 K/BB ratio in 467 at-bats in Triple-A the last two years, LaRoche has nothing left to prove in the minors. However, he does have to show he can stay healthy. His history of back issues qualified as one reason the Dodgers were afraid to simply hand him a starting job this spring, and while the injury he suffered in March was a fluke -- he suffered a torn UCL in his thumb when he was hit by a thrown ball -- it's just one more to add to the list. A healthy LaRoche has an All-Star-caliber offensive game and a fine glove at third base. Should be beat the injury bug, he could have some .300-30 HR seasons in his prime. The team should be hoping he wins the third-base job outright by June or July.
16. Matt Wieters - C Orioles - DOB: 05/21/86 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: none
.283/.364/.415, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 15/12 K/BB, 0 SB in 106 AB (HWL Honolulu)
Wieters, the fifth overall pick, immediately became the class of Baltimore's system after signing just minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline. He's compared to Jason Varitek because he's a switch-hitter out of Georgia Tech. During his college career, he hit .359 with 35 homers and a 108/152 K/BB ratio in 704 at-bats. He should be able to muscle at least 20 homers per years in the majors. Hitting for average might be an issue, but his patient approach will lead to solid OBPs even if he bats .250-.260. On defense, he'll be solidly above average, but probably less than a Gold Glover. He's polished enough that he could survive in the majors this year if necessary. He figures to see action by September at the latest, and Ramon Hernandez could be cleared out of the way so that he can take over as a regular in 2009.
17. Rick Porcello - RHP Tigers - DOB: 12/27/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none</B>
The one top prospect left in the Tigers' organization following the Miguel Cabrera deal, Porcello was viewed by many as the No. 2 talent in the 2007 draft behind first overall selection David Price. He fell to Detroit at No. 27 because of his bonus demands and got $7.3 million from the Tigers in August. It was too late then for him to make his pro debut in 2007, but that's not a bad thing. Porcello throws in the mid-90s consistently, and his curve was one of the best breaking balls in the draft. He also has a slider and a changeup. The Tigers are likely to be pretty aggressive with him after giving him a major league deal, so he could split this season between low-A West Michigan and high-A Lakeland. He has ace potential.
18. [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
.272/.338/.497, 23 HR, 77 RBI, 120/45 K/BB, 10 SB in 437 AB (AAA Salt Lake)
.152/.152/.273, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 12/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 33 AB (AL Los Angeles)
Wood's .321/.383/.672 season in the California League in 2005 really stands out now after he hit right around .270 with 25 homers for a second straight season last year. He did go from 149 strikeouts in Double-A in 2006 to 120 in about the same number of plate appearances last season, but he fanned in more than a third of his major league at-bats and didn't work a single walk. Wood may already be at a crossroads, at least as far as his Angels career goes. With Orlando Cabrera gone, the team is planning on shifting him back to shortstop, putting him in a position to land a starting job if Erick Aybar struggles. There's still good reason to think he'll be a 30-homer guy in the majors someday, and if he is something close to an average shortstop ? as it appeared he would be before the logjam resulted in his move -- he won't need to put up very good OBPs to be a quality regular. As a third baseman, more would be expected of him offensively. He'd be a regular anyway, but he'd be a Joe Crede-type, not a star. Considering that he doesn't quite fit the Angels' mold, there's a good chance he'll be traded if he doesn't step up this year.
19. Andrew McCutchen - OF Pirates - DOB: 10/10/86 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #87, mid-2006 #64, 2007 #25, mid-2007 #18
.258/.327/.383, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 83/44 K/BB, 17 SB in 446 AB (AA Altoona)
.313/.347/.418, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 11/4 K/BB, 4 SB in 67 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
.286/.381/.378, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 12/14 K/BB, 8 SB in 98 AB (AFL Phoenix)
It'd be unfair to say McCutchen hasn't met expectations since being drafted 11th overall in 2005, but he definitely had some rough patches last season and his numbers were more distressing that his overall 717 OPS suggests because of his huge righty-lefty splits. Against right-handers, McCutchen finished with OPSs of 642 in Double-A, 583 in Triple-A and 612 in the AFL. He gets overpowered by both big fastballs and hard sliders. McCutchen is a terrific athlete, and he still has plenty of time left to improve. His defense in center field will make him a regular even if he doesn't live up to expectations offensively. Still, the Pirates may regret pushing him through their system as quickly as they have. The new regime is more likely to back off and give him the additional full year in the minors he clearly needs. If he reaches his ceiling, he'll hit .300 with 15 homers and 30-40 steals per year.
20. Chase Headley - OF/3B Padres - DOB: 05/09/84 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #26
.330/.437/.580, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 117/74 K/BB, 1 SB in 433 AB (AA San Antonio)
.222/.333/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 18 AB (San Diego)
Headley's long-term potential was questioned when he finished with just 12 homers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2006, but he's a legitimate top prospect now after starting off on fire last year and never cooling off. Headley finished with 20 homers and 63 extra-base hits, showing consistent power from both sides of the plate in the process. The on-base ability has always been there, and he'll keep hitting for fine averages in the minors. On defense, he was only average at third base, though some would say that already makes him an upgrade over Kevin Kouzmanoff. Surprisingly, it's Headley who will make the switch to the outfield. He could be the Padres' left fielder as soon as June. His bat won't make him a star at the position, but he should be a solid regular for several years.
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21. Joey Votto - 1B Reds - DOB: 09/10/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #144, 2005 #105, mid-2005 #130, 2006 ---, mid-2006 #63, 2007 #48, mid-2007 #20
.294/.381/.478, 22 HR, 92 RBI, 110/70 K/BB, 17 SB in 496 AB (AAA Louisville)
.321/.360/.548, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 15/5 K/BB, 1 SB in 84 AB (Cincinnati)
Votto's promotion to the majors came later than expected, but he made the most of Scott Hatteberg's injury in September, amassing a 908 OPS in 84 at-bats. Now he has to contend with Dusty Baker's strong preference for veterans as he attempts to win a starting job at first base this year. He's also turned himself into an option in left field, but first is where he'll stay for the long-term. With 25-homer power and pretty good on-base skills, he seems ready for regular duty versus righties. Lefties give him trouble when they come inside on him, but he handles fastballs from right-handers especially well. In time, he should prove to be a solid everyday player. Given 450 at-bats as a starter against righties this year, he could hit .280 with 20 homers.
22. Wade Davis - RHP Rays - DOB: 09/07/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #79, 2007 #83, mid-2007 #24
3-0, 1.84 ERA, 54 H, 88/21 K/BB in 78 1/3 IP (A Vero Beach)
7-3, 3.15 ERA, 74 H, 81/30 K/BB in 80 IP (AA Montgomery)
Once the Rays sort through some of their less talented youngsters, Davis figures to be the first of their top pitching prospects to reach the majors this year. Possessing a fastball in the 91-94 mph range, three complimentary pitches that should all prove useful and command that's improving each year, he could peak as a No. 2 starter. He also has an ideal pitcher's build and a delivery that would seem to help his chances of staying healthy. His changeup keeps left-handers honest, and he induces a fair number of grounders, allowing him to keep his home run rate down. Davis still needs to work on pitching inside, but he isn't far off.
23. Jake McGee - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/06/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #114, 2007 #91, mid-2007 #26
5-4, 2.93 ERA, 86 H, 145/39 K/BB in 116 2/3 IP (A Vero Beach)
3-2, 4.24 ERA, 19 H, 30/13 K/BB in 23 1/3 IP (AA Montgomery)
One of the hardest throwing lefties in the minors, McGee is capable of reaching 98 mph with his fastball and typically averages right around 93-95 mph. He also offers a true strikeout curveball, and his changeup has come pretty quickly considering where it was when he was drafted in the fifth round in 2004. He does have trouble in the command department, something that will become more apparent as he faces hitters less willing to chase the curve. Still, he possesses about as much upside as any pitcher in the minors, Price included. Hurting his ranking a bit is that he's the most likely of the Rays' three elite pitching prospects to begin experiencing arm woes.
24. Travis Snider - OF Blue Jays - DOB: 02/02/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #71, mid-2007 #43
.313/.377/.525, 16 HR, 93 RBI, 129/49 K/BB, 3 SB in 457 AB (A- Lansing)
.316/.404/.541, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 29/15 K/BB, 1 SB in 98 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
One of the most talented hitters in the minors and the Jays' only top-100 prospect, Snider has the potential to be the one star drafted in the first round by Toronto this decade. The team found Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios and Shannon Stewart in the first round in 90s, but the best they have to show for the 2000s so far is Aaron Hill, with Gabe Gross a distant second. A stocky left-handed hitter, Snider would be compared to Matt Stairs even if the two weren't in the same organization. It looks like he'll last in the outfield for at least a few years, and he figures to surpass Stairs offensively because of his ability to hit for average. He might advance quickly enough to reach the majors as a 21-year-old in 2009.
25. Franklin Morales - LHP Rockies - DOB: 01/24/86 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #81, 2007 #67, mid-2007 #36
3-4, 3.48 ERA, 77 H, 77/45 K/BB in 95 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
2-0, 3.71 ERA, 20 H, 16/13 K/BB in 17 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
3-2, 3.43 ERA, 34 H, 26/14 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (Colorado)
The Rockies were very lucky twice last season, as both Ubaldo Jimenez and Morales were able to make quick transitions to the majors after arriving in the second half. Morales even went three straight starts in September without allowing a run. He did slump in the postseason, but he showed enough overall that the Rockies had him penciled into their rotation entering the spring. When Morales is at his best, he shows a 92-96 mph heater, a sweeping curveball and a fine changeup. His velocity was down this spring, making him a risky proposition for the short-term. However, he has more upside than anyone on Colorado's pitching staff, Jeff Francis included.
26. Carlos Triunfel - SS Mariners - DOB: 02/27/90 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #28
.273/.231/.273, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 11 AB (R AZL Mariners)
.309/.342/.388, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 23/5 K/BB, 4 SB in 152 AB (A- Wisconsin)
.288/.333/.356, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 31/12 K/BB, 3 SB in 208 AB (A+ High Desert)
While the Mariners had no choice but to part with Adam Jones in an Erik Bedard trade, they stuck to their guns and held on to Triunfel, their new No. 1 prospect. Playing in full-season ball at age 17, Triunfel was able to hit .309 at Wisconsin last year before going down with a broken hand at the end of May. The uber-aggressive Mariners opted to bump up to high-A ball following his return in July, and he continued to hit for a decent average, though without any power at all. While Triunfel still doesn't have a professional homer, he's sure to develop power soon. If anything, he's filling out more than expected, something that's probably going to result in a move to third down the line. He has legitimate star potential anyway. He figures to need three more years in the minors, but he could be a .300 hitter and 25-homer guy someday.
27. Jose Tabata - OF Yankees - DOB: 08/12/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #136, mid-2006 #18, 2007 #17, mid-2007 #13
.307/.371/.392, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 70/33 K/BB, 15 SB in 411 AB (A Tampa)
The numbers Tabata has put up at such a young age relative to his competition the last two years make him look like a truly special player. However, his right wrist problems have to be taken into account. He's had issues for two years now, and it was reported by Baseball America last season that the Yankees had sent him to five different hand specialists. In August, he had the hamate bone removed. If it turns out that it was a cure-all, then Tabata should put in a nice showing as perhaps the youngest player in Double-A this season. If not, it'll be time to start getting very worried. Tabata projects as a quality defensive right fielder capable of hitting for average and displaying 20-homer, 40-double power.
28. Nick Adenhart - RHP Angels - DOB: 08/24/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #21, 2007 #21, mid-2007 #22
10-8, 3.65 ERA, 158 H, 116/65 K/BB in 153 IP (AA Arkansas)
Even though he had just nine starts in high-A ball under his belt, it didn't take Adenhart any time to adjust to Double-A last year, as he went 3-1 with a 0.80 ERA in his first five starts. He was inconsistent most of the rest of the season, and the way his stuff came and went suggested he wasn't always completely healthy. He ended up striking out 116 batters, down from 145 in 158 1/3 innings in 2006. When he's on, Adenhart is consistently in the low-90s with his fastball and shows a great hard curve. His changeup has turned into a very respectable third pitch. His velocity might be more of a constant if he did a better job of repeating his delivery. He'll open this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, and he projects as a long-term No. 2 starter for the Angels.
29. Ian Kennedy - RHP Yankees - DOB: 12/19/84 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #50
6-1, 1.29 ERA, 39 H, 72/22 K/BB in 63 IP (A Tampa)
5-1, 2.59 ERA, 27 H, 57/17 K/BB in 48 2/3 IP (AA Trenton)
1-1, 2.08 ERA, 25 H, 34/11 K/BB in 34 2/3 IP (AAA Scranton)
1-0, 1.89 ERA, 13 H, 15/9 K/BB in 19 IP (AL New York)
Kennedy made some teams nervous when his velocity fell into the high-80s as a junior in college, but the Yankees took him 21st overall in the 2006 draft anyway and were pleasantly surprised when he resumed averaging about 90 mph with his fastball last season. As strong as his curveball and changeup are, he doesn't need to throw any harder than that to last as a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the majors. The Yankees will likely go into the season with him as their fifth starter if they decide to stick Chamberlain in the pen initially. An alternative would be for Kennedy to pitch in middle relief while waiting for a rotation spot to open up.
30. Elvis Andrus - SS Rangers - DOB: 08/26/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #110, mid-2006 #96, 2007 #129, mid-2007 #109
.244/.330/.335, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 88/44 K/BB, 25 SB in 385 AB (A+ Myrtle Beach)
.300/.369/.373, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 19/10 K/BB, 15 SB in 110 AB (A+ Bakersfield)
.353/.411/.471, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 10/5 K/BB, 5 SB in 51 AB (AFL Surprise)
Andrus spent most of last year merely holding his own as an 18-year-old in high-A ball, but he improved considerably after joining the Rangers in the Mark Teixeira deal, even if ballpark effects were partially responsible, and he experienced his most success to date in the Arizona Fall League in October and November. Andrus is a natural at shortstop with above average range and a strong arm. His approach at the plate still leaves something to be desired, but he's rarely overmatched by big fastballs or tough breaking balls and he's going to keep getting stronger as he fills out. Perhaps the power won't be there to make him a superstar, but he might be an above average major leaguer in every other respect and he's moving quickly enough that he could be an option for the Rangers as soon as the middle of 2009, when he'll still be just 20 years old. Ideally, they'll shift Michael Young to third base to make room for him once he proves he's ready.
31. Max Scherzer - RHP Diamondbacks - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #12
2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 30/2 K/BB in 17 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.91 ERA, 64 H, 76/40 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP (AA Mobile)
1-1, 2.13 ERA, 6 H, 18/5 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (AFL Scottsdale)
It took nearly a full year and $4.3 million in guaranteed money, but the Diamondbacks were able to sign the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft. Scherzer, a Missouri product, got off to a dominant start after finally making his pro debut last June and ended up with 106 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings in the minors. Working out of the pen in the Arizona Fall League, he had three times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. Scherzer could be the same kind of asset that Brandon Morrow was for Seattle last year if the Diamondbacks were to turn to him as a reliever now. However, they plan to keep developing him as a starter and hope that his changeup comes along. He has a wicked slider, and his tops out at 95 mph as a starter, 98 mph as a reliever. He's just as likely to be a closer as a starter by 2010, but he has plenty of upside in either role.
32. Matt Antonelli - 2B Padres - DOB: 04/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #63
.314/.409/.499, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 58/53 K/BB, 18 SB in 347 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.294/.395/.476, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 36/30 K/BB, 10 SB in 187 AB (AA San Antonio)
.214/.333/.268, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 9/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 56 AB (AFL Peoria)
Antonelli, a 2006 first-round pick out of Wake Forest, went from hitting no homers in 205 at-bats in his pro debut to slugging 21 last year. Especially promising was that his numbers carried over to Double-A without any real decline. He did slump in the AFL, but it was at the end of a long year. The Padres took a look at him in the outfield over the winter, but he's going to be their long-term second baseman, with a full-time job likely to come at the beginning of 2009. His ability to hit for average and draw walks will make him a great fit as a No. 2 hitter. The power probably won't be there to make him an All-Star, but there's nothing else not to like.
33. Gio Gonzalez - LHP Athletics - DOB: 09/19/85 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #81, 2006 #84, mid-2006 #62, 2007 #78, mid-2007 #21
9-7, 3.18 ERA, 116 H, 185/57 K/BB in 150 IP (AA Birmingham)
Gonzalez was at one point kicked off his high school baseball team and has now been traded three times as a minor leaguer, suggesting that red flags are warranted. However, one of the trades had the White Sox reacquiring him after giving him up for Jim Thome and in none of them has he been undersold at all. It's mostly a case of lefties with huge strikeout rates always being in demand. Gonzalez does have some clear flaws. His velocity can dip from the usual low-90s to the 85-88 range on any given night, and his command is a little below average. When he's at his best, he dominates lefties and righties alike with his fastball, plus curve and solid changeup. Also, he's remained healthy throughout his minor league career despite his unimposing frame. He's never pitched in Triple-A, so the A's will probably have him start the season at Sacramento. However, he should be an option for their rotation by May or June. He currently projects as a No. 3, but if the command comes, he could be a No. 2.
34. Taylor Teagarden - C Rangers - DOB: 12/21/83 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #135
.315/.448/.606, 20 HR, 67 RBI, 89/65 K/BB, 2 SB in 292 AB (A+ Bakersfield)
.294/.357/.529, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 39/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 102 AB (AA Frisco)
.271/.345/.479, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 18/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 48 AB (AFL Surprise)
Depending on how much one wants to penalize Jeff Clement for his glove, Teagarden ranks as the game's No. 2 or 3 catching prospect behind Baltimore's Matt Wieters. Dating back to his days at the University of Texas, his defense has never been in question, though Tommy John surgery did limit him to just 38 games in his first year and a half as pro. His showing last year proved that he has the bat of a regular. He may not hit for average in the majors because of a rather long swing, but he should be a 15- or 20-homer guy and he'll draw enough walks to result in respectable OBPs. Now the Rangers just need to decide what to do with him. He's nearly ready to play in the majors, but he's stuck behind both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Gerald Laird. He'd be wasted as a backup, so the Rangers will either need to trade him or move Salty to first base to make room for him in 2009.
35. Austin Jackson - OF Yankees - DOB: 02/01/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none
.260/.336/.374, 3 HR, 25 BI, 59/24 K/BB, 19 SB in 235 AB (A- Charleston)
.345/.398/.566, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 48/22 K/BB, 13 SB in 258 AB (A Tampa)
.333/.600/.667, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 3 AB (AAA Scranton)
When Jackson was moved up to the FSL in late June despite a 710 OPS in the Sally League, it seemed to be just another case of the Yankees being way too aggressive with a prospect. However, Jackson responded to the challenge right away and upped his stock more than any other prospect in baseball during the second half of the season. Still something of a raw talent, Jackson could blossom into a 25-homer guy despite his modest build. He's continuing to learn how to play center field, but he has the speed to last there, and it looks like he'll be a pretty good OBP guy after cutting well back on the strikeouts last season. Expecting him to make Melky Cabrera expendable after this season might be pushing it a little, but there's a good chance he'll prove to be the Yankees' long-term center fielder.
36. Chris Marrero - 1B/OF Nationals - DOB: 07/02/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #117, mid-2007 #45
.293/.337/.545, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 39/14 K/BB, 0 SB in 222 AB (A- Hagerstown)
.259/.338/.431, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 63/32 K/BB, 0 SB in 255 AB (A Potomac)
Marrero showed exciting power in what was technically his age-18 season, delivering 23 homers, and it didn't take a ton of strikeouts for him to get there. The 15th overall pick in the 2006 draft was selected as a third baseman, but it was a given he wouldn't stay there. The Nationals used him in left field last year, but since he lacks range, they're probably going to move him to first this year. Marrero has star potential as a hitter, so the Nationals will find a spot for him when he's ready. He doesn't get himself out on bad breaking balls, and he dramatically improved his walk rate after moving up last year. He does need to learn which balls to pull and which to try to send back up the middle, but that could come with time.
37. Carlos Gonzalez - OF Athletics - DOB: 10/17/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #139, 2006 #92, mid-2006 #19, 2007 #34, mid-2007 #49
.286/.330/.476, 16 HR, 75 RBI, 103/32 K/BB, 9 SB in 458 AB (AA Mobile)
.310/.396/.500, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 6/6 K/BB, 1 SB in 42 AB (AAA Tucson)
Gonzalez isn't at all the kind of player the A's usually look for when trading for prospects, but he has the raw talent to make the Dan Haren deal a winner for Oakland. There are few minor leaguers who excite scouts as much as Gonzalez does when he's in the box. His lightning quick swing should make him a 30-homer guy after he finishes filling out, and he's hit for average everywhere he's played. That he doesn't walk is a problem, but at least his strikeout totals aren't overly excessive. He's better against breaking balls from right-handers than most players his age. Curves and sliders from left-handers have been known to make him look bad. While there's been talk that Gonzalez could win a spot coming out of spring training, he clearly needs a year in Triple-A. The A's will keep him and hope he develops into the same kind of offensive force as another player who didn't fit their mold, Miguel Tejada.
38. Reid Brignac - SS Rays - DOB: 01/16/86 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #83, 2007 #31, mid-2003 #23
.260/.328/.433, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 94/55 K/BB, 15 SB in 527 AB (AA Montgomery)
.177/.218/.248, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 16/3 K/BB, 1 SB in 113 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Brignac secured a spot as one of the game's top shortstop prospects while hitting .321/.376/.539 between Single-A Visalia and Double-A Montgomery in 2006, but he couldn't keep it going last season. He did improve as the year went on, though that was versus diluted talent in the Southern League. In the AFL, he managed just four extra-base hits and three walks in 113 at-bats. He was even caught stealing four times in five attempts. Brignac's left-handed swing promises 25-homer potential, and he likely will show the ability to hit for average once he settles into the majors. He still might be more of a bottom-half-of-the-order guy, like Khalil ******, but he will have a lengthy career as a regular. Helping his case is that he's answered every question about his ability to stay at shortstop. The Rays will go with Jason Bartlett this year and then consider turning the position over to Brignac in 2009.
39. Eric Hurley - RHP Rangers - DOB: 09/17/85 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #56, 2007 #44, mid-2007 #16
7-2, 3.25 ERA, 71 H, 76/27 K/BB in 88 2/3 IP (AA Frisco)
4-7, 4.91 ERA, 65 H, 59/28 K/BB in 73 1/3 IP (AAA Oklahoma)
Hurley didn't handle the in-season jump to Triple-A last season as well as he did his first taste of Double-A in the second half of 2006, but he still allowed under a hit an inning and struck out two for every batter he walked. The real problem is that he continued to give up a homer a start. In all, he allowed 26 in 162 innings, a scary total considering he's set to pitch half his games in Arlington upon reaching the majors. Hurley's low-90s fastball, slider and changeup are all quality pitches, but none generate a lot of groundballs. He'll be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers anyway, but he may never post a sub-4.00 ERA until he makes his way elsewhere. He'll likely spend a couple of more months in Triple-A this year and then move into the Texas rotation in June or July.
40. Jeff Clement - C Mariners - DOB: 08/21/83 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #63, mid-2006 #43, 2007 #58, mid-2007 #34
.275/.370/.497, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 88/61 K/BB, 0 SB in 455 AB (AAA Tacoma)
.375/.474/.813, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 16 AB (Seattle)
.269/.367/.481, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 13/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 52 AB (AFL Peoria)
Clement, the third overall selection in the 2005 draft, solidified his status as an offensive force last season, hitting 20 homers in Triple-A and a pair of clutch bombs in a brief look in September. He's strong enough against right-handers that he'd most likely be an upgrade for the Mariners in the DH spot right away. However, the team is expected to continue developing him as a catcher, possibly with the intention of having him replace free-agent-to-be Kenji Johjima in 2009. The Mariners like how he's come along as a receiver, but he lacks quickness behind the plate and he'll be a liability trying to throw out basestealers. He could survive as a catcher anyway, but he might be more valuable as a first baseman. Clement doesn't fan a lot for a power hitter, and he retains his good approach versus lefties. In another ballpark, he'd be a candidate for 25 or 30 homers per year, though he figures to fall short of that at Safeco. The Mariners are expected to send him back to Triple-A to start this year, but if they're in contention in the second half, they'll want him around as a part-time player or maybe even as their primary DH.
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41. Chris Volstad - RHP Marlins - DOB: 09/23/86 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #128, mid-2007 #51
8-9, 4.50 ERA, 152 H, 93/37 K/BB in 126 IP (A Jupiter)
4-2, 3.16 ERA, 41 H, 25/10 K/BB in 42 2/3 IP (AA Carolina)
The first of the Marlins' five first- or supplemental first-round picks in 2005, Volstad has done almost exactly what was expected of him so far. While he allowed 193 hits and struck out just 118 batters in his 168 2/3 innings last season, his sinker still made him pretty effective, and he managed to improve after being promoted to Double-A. In fact, nine of the 15 earned runs he allowed there came in one of his seven starts. The 6-foot-7 Volstad could continue adding velocity as he fills out, and he's showing a most consistent curveball to go along with his sinker. If his changeup develops, he could be a No. 2 starter. Expect him to make at least a dozen starts for Florida this season.
42. Adam Miller - RHP Indians - DOB: 11/26/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #101, 2005 #8, mid-2005 #26, 2006 #35, mid-2006 #31, 2007 #22, mid-2007 #14
5-4, 4.82 ERA, 68 H, 68/21 K/BB in 65 1/3 IP (AAA Buffalo)
0-2, 9.00 ERA, 18 H, 11/3 K/BB in 13 IP (AFL Surprise)
This is going to be a big year for Miller after he missed time with more elbow problems and a finger injury last season. One of the most talented pitchers in the minors, Miller can dominate with mid-90s heat and a hard slider. The changeup that helped establish him as a top prospect has suffered due to the time he's missed the last three seasons. Still, if his arm holds up, he's not going to need an above average change to become a successful big leaguer. Miller needs to put his elbow problems behind him once and for all. The strained tendon in his finger that shut him down last season probably isn't going to be a major concern going forward, but the elbow has held him back since 2005. If healthy, he'll force his way into the Indians' plans before the end of the season, perhaps as a reliever at first.
43. Josh Vitters - 3B Cubs - DOB: 08/27/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none
.067/.094/.067, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 9/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 30 AB (AZL Cubs)
.190/.361/.190, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 21 AB (SS-A Boise)
Vitters didn't hit at all after being drafted third overall by the Cubs last season, but that's sure to prove to be an aberration. Vitters can spray liners all over the park, and he should turn into a 25-homer guy capable of hitting for high averages. Like the slugger he could replace in Chicago someday, Aramis Ramirez, he probably won't walk or strikeout a whole bunch. A shaky defender at third base, he'll face a move to left field unless he dramatically improves his footwork and his throwing accuracy. Ideally, he'd stay at the hot corner and take over after Ramirez's contract expires in four years (though Ramirez can opt out after 2010). Logic suggests he'd have a better chance of becoming an All-Star there, though David Wright will have something to say about it.
44. Neil Walker - 3B Pirates - DOB: 09/10/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #129, 2006 #114, mid-2006 #107, 2007 #105, mid-2007 #30
.288/.362/.462, 13 HR, 66 RBI, 73/53 K/BB, 9 SB in 431 AB (AA Altoona)
.203/.261/.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 13/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 64 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
Walker has received unnecessary late-season promotions four years running since being drafted in the first round in 2004 and flopped each of the last three times. Though the Pirates have been aggressive, it's not like he's ever hit particularly well while being pushed through the system. Last year's 800 OPS in Double-A was the first time he reached that mark at any stop. Walker made clear gains in the power department and showed more patience at the plate. A converted catcher, it looks like he'll be an average third baseman in time, though he still needs to cut down on the miscues. A likely .290-.300 hitter in his better years, he should prove to be a solid long-term regular. It remains to be seen whether he'll continue taking walks and he'll probably top out at 20 homers, so stardom figures to elude him.
45. Wladimir Balentien - OF Mariners - DOB: 07/02/84 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #39
.291/.362/.509, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 105/54 K/BB, 15 SB in 477 AB (AAA Tacoma)
.666/.500/2.000, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 3 AB (Seattle)
Triunfel is awfully intriguing and Clement is no slouch, but Balentien has the best power potential in the Seattle organization. The native of Curacao made terrific progress in his first year in Triple-A, though he did fade as the season went on. A shorter swing allowed him to make contact more frequently without robbing him of the ability to yank pitches out of the park. Balentien does make mistakes in the outfield, but since he's a fine athlete with a very good arm, he could be an above average right fielder in time. He still needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls, but he looks like a much better bet to make it as a quality regular than he did a year ago. One more year in Triple-A should be sufficient, and the Mariners can afford to give it to him after signing Brad Wilkerson.
46. Lars Anderson - 1B Red Sox - DOB: 09/25/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #74
.288/.385/.443, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 112/71 K/BB, 2 SB in 458 AB (A- Greenville)
.343/.489/.486, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9/11 K/BB, 0 SB in 35 AB (A Lancaster)
The Red Sox gambled on several big-ticket players in the 2006 draft, and while they couldn't land Matt LaPorta after selecting him in the 14th round, they did get Anderson, an 18th-rounder, to forgo his college scholarship by giving him supplemental first-round money. It looks like an outstanding investment so far. Anderson has an advanced approach and a swing that promises 30-homer power after he fills out. His glove lags behind his bat, but he'll be an adequate first baseman in time. He could prove to be a No. 3 or No. 4 hitter in a major league lineup.
47. Jason Heyward - OF Braves - DOB: 08/09/89 - ETA: 2013
Previous rankings: none
.296/.355/.556, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 27 AB (R GCL Braves)
.313/.353/.375, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 16 AB (R Danville)
The Braves went with history and selected a Georgia high school product 14th overall in the 2007 draft. In this case, it didn't look like a reach at all. In fact, they might have gotten the bargain of the first round, Rick Porcello excepted. Heyward's build and powerful swing suggest he'll be a 35-homer guy someday, and he's quite disciplined for a high school product. The Braves moved him from center to right after drafting him. He should be above average there in time, but he still figures to end up in left if Jeff Francoeur proves to be a permanent fixture in Atlanta. He's the best bet of any of Atlanta's prospects to develop into a star.
48. Carlos Carrasco - RHP Phillies - DOB: 03/21/87 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #93, mid-2007 #29
6-2, 2.84 ERA, 49 H, 53/22 K/BB in 69 2/3 IP (A Clearwater)
6-4, 4.86 ERA, 65 H, 49/46 K/BB in 70 1/3 IP (AA Reading)
With the way he was rolling at Clearwater, it appeared for a time as though Carrasco had a chance to follow Kyle Kendrick to the majors last season. However, he ran into a speed bump at Double-A Reading, where he barely managed more strikeouts than walks in 70 innings. Even in the FSL, he was giving up more homers than expected. Overall, he allowed 17, which figures to be a problem for a guy set to pitch in Citizens Bank Park someday. Carrasco has no shortage of stuff. He can dial his fastball up to 94 mph, and he has a lot of movement on his changeup. That his curveball hasn't turned into a strikeout pitch has lowered his ceiling a bit, but he still figures to be a No. 3 or maybe a No. 2.
49. Jed Lowrie - SS Red Sox - DOB: 04/17/84 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #71
.297/.410/.501, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 58/65 K/BB, 5 SB in 337 AB (AA Portland)
.300/.356/.506, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 33/12 K/BB, 0 SB in 160 AB (AAA Pawtucket)
.163/.236/.245, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 14/10 K/BB, 3 SB in 98 AB (AFL Mesa)
Lowrie isn't the new Dustin Pedroia, but the two share some similarities. Both put up great numbers at top college programs (Arizona State and Stanford, respectively), yet neither was looked at as a true first-rounder coming out of school because of a perceived lack of athleticism. The Red Sox drafted both and used them at shortstop, even though neither figured to stay there for long. Lowrie has displayed surprisingly strong range at the position, but since he doesn't have a great arm, he still projects better at second. One of the best hitters in the minors over the final four months of last season, Lowrie could be a doubles machine at Fenway. He's also strong enough to hit 10 homers per year, and he knows the value of a walk. Because they have no place to play him, the Red Sox are open to trading him. However, they're not going to let a potential above average regular go cheap.
50. J.R. Towles - C Astros - DOB: 02/11/84 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2007 #135, mid-2007 #112
.200/.339/.278, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 15/12 K/BB, 3 SB in 90 AB (A+ Salem)
.324/.425/.551, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 35/23 K/BB, 9 SB in 216 AB (AA Corpus Christi)
.279/.354/.279, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7/4 K/BB, 2 SB in 43 AB (AAA Round Rock)
.375/.432/.575, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 40 AB (Houston)
Towles, a 2004 20th-round pick out of a Texas junior college, got his first ever in-season promotion last year as a result of fellow prospect Lou Santangelo's 50-game PED suspension. He earned two more on his own and is poised to be Houston's primary catcher this season, a scenario that seemed highly unlikely a year ago. Because of injuries, Towles has just 950 professional at-bats to his credit and he wasn't very productive in three of his six minor league stops. There's a lot to like about Towles' all-around offensive game and he's made a lot of strides defensively, but if it wasn't for his highly successful 40-AB stint last September, there's little chance the Astros would have given him a job over the winter. If he's turned the corner health-wise, he should prove to be a fine long-term regular capable of several .280-15 HR seasons. Still, growing pains are likely in store for 2008.
51. Mike Moustakas - SS Royals - DOB: 09/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none
.293/.383/.439, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 8/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 41 AB (R Idaho Falls)
Moustakas might have been a first-rounder as a pitcher, but everyone agreed his bat was even more promising and the Royals took him second overall last year. Signed just before the deadline for $4 million, he began his pro career as a shortstop, though few expect him to stay there. His build and arm would seem to make him an ideal candidate to become a catcher if he were less promising offensively. The Royals, though, aren't going to jeopardize his star potential. On another team, he'd probably end up at third base. However, with Alex Gordon entrenched there in Kansas City, it's at least as likely that Moustakas will shift to the outfield at some point. Moustakas could develop into a .300 hitter and a 25-homer guy in time. He'll likely open this year at low-A Burlington.
52. Steve Pearce - 1B Pirates - DOB: 04/13/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #104
.347/.412/.867, 11 HR, 24 RBI, 13/8 K/BB, 2 SB in 75 AB (A+ Lynchburg)
.334/.400/.586, 14 HR, 72 RBI, 45/33 K/BB, 7 SB in 290 AB (AA Altoona)
.320/.366/.557, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 12/6 K/BB, 5 SB in 122 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
.294/.342/.397, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 12/5 K/BB, 2 SB in 68 AB (Pittsburgh)
Pearce looks like more than just the new Brad Eldred after slamming 31 homers and posting a 1000 OPS in the minors last season. Not a hulking slugger, Pearce checks in at 5-foot-11 and 200-210 pounds. Quick wrists allow him to generate his power, and he doesn't have a long swing that would make him prone to big strikeout numbers. The Pirates didn't realize what they had in him when they pursued Adam LaRoche so heavily, and they opted to try him in right field in the majors last season with first base cut off for the foreseeable future. He doesn't belong out there, but he's not such a downgrade from Xavier Nady that'd it make a huge difference if he was plugged in as a regular right now. He'll be more of a 25- than a 30-35 homer guy in the majors, but he should be a nice asset when he's cheap. The Pirates will probably send him back to Triple-A to begin this year.
53. Ian Stewart - 3B Rockies - DOB: 04/05/85 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: 2004 #98, mid-2004 #29, 2005 #7, mid-2005 #11, 2006 #20, mid-2006 #27, 2007 #50, mid-2007 #37
.304/.379/.478, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 92/49 K/BB, 11 SB in 414 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.209/.261/.372, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 43 AB (Colorado)
Stewart was supposedly part of the Rockies' second-base competition entering the spring, but he never had a realistic chance of beating out Jayson Nix, and even though he hit well in March, he was sent down. Another year of Triple-A is what he needs anyway. His 857 OPS last year was nothing special considering the conditions at Colorado Springs. In fact, he hasn't put up particularly good numbers at any point since he was at low-A Asheville in 2004. His defense at third base remains rough, though he has the tools to be more than adequate. He was never likely to cut it at second. Even though he's just now turning 23, this is a big year for Stewart. If he goes out and slugs .550, he'll be a hot property in trade talks, while another season like his 2007 would have teams questioning his long-term upside. It'd be a disappointment if he joins the Mike Lamb/Ty Wigginton class of third basemen.
54. Luke Hochevar - RHP Royals - DOB: 09/15/83 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #38, mid-2007 #31
3-6, 4.69 ERA, 110 H, 94/26 K/BB in 94 IP (AA Wichita)
1-3, 5.12 ERA, 53 H, 44/21 K/BB in 58 IP (AAA Omaha)
0-1, 2.13 ERA, 11 H, 5/4 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (Kansas City)
Hochevar, the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, reached the majors in his first full pro season and tasted success in one start and three relief appearances for the Royals, but his ceiling just doesn't seem as high as it once did. While he occasionally touched 95 mph on the gun at the University of Tennessee, he peaks at around 93 mph now, and he doesn't induce many grounders with the pitch. As a result, he allowed 24 homers in the minors last season. He can get strikeouts with his curve, and both his changeup and slider show promise. Still, after calling him a No. 2 or No. 3 in last year's top 10, I'd label him a No. 3 or No. 4 now. He'll contend for a rotation spot this spring, and the Royals are also looking at him as a possible short-term reliever.
55. Ryan Sweeney - OF Athletics - DOB: 02/20/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #124, 2005 #80, mid-2005 #94, 2006 #85, mid-2006 #52, 2007 #23, mid-2007 #25
.270/.348/.398, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 71/48 K/BB, 8 SB in 397 AB (AAA Charlotte)
.200/.265/.333, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 45 AB (Chicago - AL)
.286/.347/.345, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 18/9 K/BB, 5 SB in 84 AB (AFL Phoenix)
The White Sox put Sweeney in high-A ball in his first full pro season and later got discouraged when he still wasn't ready for the majors at age 21. His genuine lack of progress in his age-22 season seemed to be the final straw, and it was no longer a matter of if he'd be traded by the time he was included in the Nick Swisher deal. The change of scenery should be good for Sweeney. Despite always being among the youngest players in his leagues, Sweeney has hit .289 as a minor leaguer. The power has yet to come and probably never will in the quantity that the White Sox expected, but he has enough strength to average 15-20 homers per year. On defense, he's a potential top-notch right fielder with enough speed to play center, though that'll probably be gone by the time he reaches his prime. The A's could keep him as a fourth outfielder for now or send him down to play regularly. He doesn't possess Carlos Gonzalez's offensive potential, so if he's going to be a starter for the A's in 2009, it may have to be in center.
56. Adrian Cardenas - 2B Phillies - DOB: 10/10/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #93
.295/.354/.417, 9 HR, 79 RBI, 80/47 K/BB, 20 SB in 499 AB (A- Lakewood)
Cardenas, a 2006 supplemental first-round pick, hardly posted eye-catching numbers in his first full pro season, yet he fared quite well for a high school product in the Sally League. Excluding his poor April, he had a .366 OBP, and he finished with a .301 average in lefty-lefty matchups. It remains a mystery where Cardenas will end up on the diamond. He was drafted as a shortstop, but he would have needed to move even if not for Jimmy Rollins' presence. He should prove to be an average second baseman, though he faces a similar obstacle there. His below average arm would make him less than ideal at third, and he probably wouldn't have the range for center field. It'd be a real shame if he ended up in left, though he may have the bat to carry the position. It's possible that he'll be trade bait for the Phillies before he's ready for the majors in 2010 or 2011.
57. Desmond Jennings - OF Rays - DOB: 10/30/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #88
.315/.401/.465, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 53/45 K/BB, 45 SB in 387 AB (A- Columbus)
The Rays hardly seemed to need another top-flight outfield prospect, but they got one last year, as Jennings blossomed less than a year after he was stolen in the 10th round. Now that Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes are gone, with Rocco Baldelli a possibility to follow at some point in the next year, there's actually a pretty clear path for Jennings to the majors, though he's going to need another two seasons in the minors first. Jennings has terrific speed and should develop into an excellent center fielder in time, though he doesn't have a great arm. He shows leadoff potential in the batter's box, and it looks like he's already well on his way to developing modest power. If he can handle more advanced breaking balls, he could become a star.
58. Scott Elbert - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #118, mid-2006 #37, 2007 #35, mid-2007 #46
0-1, 3.86 ERA, 6 H, 24/10 K/BB in 14 IP (AA Jacksonville)
Elbert, a 2004 first-round pick, established himself as one of the game's top lefty prospects in 2006, but was limited to just three starts last season before surgery on his left shoulder. While no tears in his labrum or rotator cuff were discovered, he still wasn't ready to return this spring. If he regains his stuff, Elbert will show three major league pitches in his low-90s fastball, curve and changeup. He does struggle to throw strikes, and his rather violent windup may have led to his shoulder problems. If he could tone it down a bit and still throw 88-91 mph with better command, he might be better off in the long run. He'll probably resume pitching in the minors in May or June. The surgery has backed up his timetable by at least a year.
59. Geovany Soto - C Cubs - DOB: 01/20/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: none
.353/.424/.652, 26 HR, 109 RBI, 94/53 K/BB, 0 SB in 385 AB (AAA Iowa)
.389/.433/.667, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 14/5 K/BB, 0 SB in 54 AB (NL Chicago)
Soto entered 2007 as a .262/.344/.371 hitter in 1,574 minor league at-bats. He hit four homers in 292 at-bats at Iowa in 2005 and six homers in 342 at-bats in 2006. His sudden emergence as arguably the top performer in the minors was surprising to say the least. The weight he dropped over the previous winter certainly played some role. Soto continued to excel in 54 at-bats for the Cubs, leaving no doubt that the team would go forward with him as a regular this year. Soto has always been solid defensively. His slow release takes away from a strong arm behind the plate, but he's average at cutting down baserunners anyway. He was a candidate for a long career as a backup even when he wasn't showing much offensively. He can't possibly be as good going forward as he was last year, but he was so impressive that he has to be looked at as an above average offensive catcher for now. It's really anyone's guess what kind of player he'll be in three years.
60. Jeff Niemann - RHP Rays - DOB: 02/28/83 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2005 #60, mid-2005 #74, 2006 #83, mid-2006 #49, 2007 #53, mid-2007 #32
12-6, 3.98 ERA, 144 H, 123/46 K/BB in 131 IP (AAA Durham)
Niemann finally managed to stay healthy last year, with his only missed time coming in early August because of shoulder fatigue. Still, the 6-foot-9 right-hander didn't display the same kind of velocity that made him the fourth overall selection in the 2004 draft. He still peaks in the mid-90s with his heater, but he was often under that, and neither his curve nor his slider resulted in as many strikeouts as hoped. He's going to have to adapt in order to begin fulfilling his potential and a legitimate changeup would help. He still has above average stuff, so there will be no giving up on him anytime soon. There's a good chance he'll be one of the first starters called up by the Rays this season.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
2008 Top 150 Prospects
Presented this week is this year's Top 150 Prospects column. In order to be eligible, players must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors. Also, they cannot have spent more than 45 non-September days on an active roster. At the end of the article is a listing of where some of the key ineligibles would have ranked.
The writeup presented with each player is the same from the divisional prospects columns. That means most are one or two months old and may contain some obsolete data. Please try not to be too unkind.
I didn't want to changes much based on anything that's happened since the start of spring training, but there are a few alterations. The most notable is Jordan Schafer, who has been dropped about 50 spots from where he would have been before the hGH suspension. I also pushed Eric Hurley down about 10 spots. Houston's Josh Flores, who would have come in around No. 140, fell off because of the knee injury that will cost him the season. No one gained very much, but Johnny Cueto might have been more in the 15-20 range before his fantastic start.
2008 Top 150 Prospects
1. Jay Bruce - OF Reds - DOB: 04/03/87 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #130, mid-2006 #23, 2007 #8, mid-2007 #2
.325/.379/.586, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 67/24 K/BB, 4 SB in 268 AB (A+ Sarasota)
.333/.405/.652, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 20/8 K/BB, 2 SB in 66 AB (AA Chattanooga)
.305/.358/.567, 11 HR, 25 RBI, 48/15 K/BB, 2 SB in 187 AB (AAA Louisville)
Add it all up and Bruce hit .319/.375/.587 with 26 homers in his second full pro season. A 2005 first-round pick out a Texas high school, Bruce has drawn comparisons to Larry Walker because his build and powerful left-handed stroke. He's athletic enough to play center now, but he projects as a long-term right fielder. The only real concern about his game is his big strikeout totals. He fanned 135 times in 133 games last season. However, he's no more vulnerable to quality breaking balls than most, and while he can struggle some against hard heaters up and in, that hardly makes him unusual for a left-handed hitter. He crushes mistakes and is still capable of turning pitches at his knees into line-drive singles and doubles. With his durability never having come into question, he seems certain to establish himself as an above average regular. If his K/BB ratio goes from 3:1 to 2:1 or even 3:2, he'll go multiple All-Star Games and contend for MVP awards in his best years.
2. Colby Rasmus - OF Cardinals - DOB: 08/11/86 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #135, mid-2006 #47, 2007 #27, mid-2007 #11
.275/.381/.551, 29 HR, 72 RBI, 108/70 K/BB, 18 SB in 472 AB (AA Springfield)
Rasmus seemed destined to return to the FSL after hitting .254/.351/.404 in 193 at-bats following a midseason promotion to Palm Beach in 2006, but the Cardinals aggressively pushed him up to Double-A and he responded even better than they could have hoped. His 29-homer campaign would have made him a circuit MVP a lot of years, but he ended up losing out to Chase Headley. The 28th overall pick in the outfield-rich 2005 draft, Rasmus has 30-homer ability and impressive on-base skills. He's already answered questions about his ability to stay in center field for the long-term, and the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds to San Diego to clear the spot for him. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll win the job this spring, but the opportunity appears to be there if he turns in a Hunter Pence-type performance. If the chance comes this year, Rasmus will probably struggle against left-handers and find that some of his balls that traveled out of Texas League parks turn into warning track flyouts in the majors. He's a future All-Star, most likely, but he's probably a year away from being a real asset.
3. Evan Longoria - 3B Rays - DOB: 10/07/85 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #19, mid-2007 #5
.307/.403/.528, 21 HR, 76 RBI, 81/51 K/BB, 4 SB in 381 AB (AA Montgomery)
.269/.398/.490, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 29/22 K/BB, 0 SB in 104 AB (AAA Durham)
.318/.380/.682, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 13/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 44 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Longoria finished with a pedestrian 789 OPS in his first of two seasons at Long Beach St., but he started hitting in the Cape Cod League in 2005 and hasn't stopped since. He had a 1070 OPS for the Dirtbags in 2006, a 957 mark at three levels after being drafted third overall and a 921 OPS in the high minors last season. He's already on the verge of taking over as Tampa Bay's third baseman, though it's possible the team will send him down for the first month or two of the season. Longoria will be a 30-homer guy by 2009 or 2010. His defense at the hot corner isn't stellar, but he should be able to stay at the position for at least the first half of his career. Since he probably won't hit .300 except for in his best years, he could fall short of being a perennial All-Star. Still, he'll be a well above average regular for a long time.
4. Clay Buchholz - RHP Red Sox - DOB: 08/14/84 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #122, 2007 #45, mid-2007 #4
7-2, 1.77 ERA, 55 H, 116/22 K/BB in 86 2/3 IP (AA Portland)
1-3, 3.96 ERA, 32 H, 55/13 K/BB in 38 2/3 IP (AAA Pawtucket)
3-1, 1.59 ERA, 14 H, 22/10 K/BB in 22 2/3 IP (Red Sox)
A 2005 supplemental first-round earned through the loss of Pedro Martinez to the Mets, Buchholz emerged as the game's top pitching prospect during the middle of last season, only to be challenged by Joba Chamberlain by year's end. Using a 91-95 mph fastball and two outstanding complimentary pitches in his curve and changeup, the Texas native was able to pitch a no-hitter versus the Orioles in just his second major league start. He was shut down in late September because of some arm fatigue, but it was nothing that was expected to linger. Assuming that the rest of Boston's starters make it through the spring healthy, Buchholz is probably going to get some additional minor league time early on. He hardly needs it, but it could serve to keep his innings total down. He's still sure to have a chance to make a big impact this year, and he could prove to be an ace two or three years from now.
5. Joba Chamberlain - RHP Yankees - DOB: 09/23/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2007 #130, mid-2007 #19
4-0, 2.03 ERA, 25 H, 51/11 K/BB in 40 IP (A Tampa)
4-2, 3.35 ERA, 32 H, 66/15 K/BB in 40 1/3 IP (AA Trenton)
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 H, 18/1 K/BB in 8 IP (AAA Scranton)
2-0, 0.38 ERA, 12 H, 34/6 K/BB in 24 IP (AL New York)
Perhaps the game's most dominant reliever after being called up last season, Chamberlain is everything the Yankees could ask for in an heir to Mariano Rivera in the closer's role. Still, the rotation is likely where he belongs long-term and he's expected to spend most of 2008 starting, even if he begins the year in the bullpen in an effort to restrict his innings total. Chamberlain used a 96-100 mph heater and outstanding slider to succeed as a reliever. He'll return his curveball and changeup to the mix as a starter, though he may not need to use either a lot even if he loses three or four mph off his fastball. Just how strong those two pitches are will determine whether he develops into a legitimate ace. The curve has drawn the better reviews of the two.
6. Clayton Kershaw - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 03/19/88 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #40, mid-2007 #9
7-5, 2.77 ERA, 72 H, 134/50 K/BB in 97 1/3 IP (A- Great Lakes)
1-2, 3.65 ERA, 17 H, 29/17 K/BB in 24 2/3 IP (AA Jacksonville)
The No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect in the minors, Kershaw probably has even more upside than the two right-handers who will rank ahead of him on the overall top 150. However, at the tender age of 20, he does qualify as the biggest injury risk of the group. Kershaw has the ability to be a true ace for the Dodgers. His 91-96 mph fastball, curve and changeup are all quality major league pitches, and he's so tough to hit that he could be effective in the majors right now even though he'd walk five batters per nine innings. He does need to get more efficient with his pitches if he's going to work deep into games. It's very possible the Dodgers will add him to their rotation in June or July, but they'll only have him for five innings per game because he'll certainly be on a pitch count. The caution is warranted. Kershaw isn't always consistent with his delivery, which is why he occasionally struggles to throw strikes. If he gets tired and starts using his arm more than his legs, he could have problems.
7. David Price - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/26/85 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: none
The Rays haven't let bonus demands scare them away from top talents lately. They used the first overall pick in the 2007 draft to select Price and then gave him a major league deal worth $8.5 million. With a mid-90s fastball, an excellent slider and a track record of success against top collegiate talent, Price has to be regarded as one of the game's top pitching prospects, even if he hasn't thrown a pitch as a pro. He went 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 95 H and a 194/31 K/BB ratio in 133 1/3 innings as a junior at Vanderbilt. The Rays waited until August to sign him, as they didn't want him adding to an already heavy workload. He'll be in major league camp this spring, and while he's not being mentioned as a possibility for the Opening Day rotation, he could leap over several other notable youngsters and debut before the end of the year. He might prove to be a legitimate ace in time.
8. Daric Barton - 1B Athletics - DOB: 08/16/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #102, 2005 #23, mid-2005 #3, 2006 #4, mid-2006 #10, 2007 #20, mid-2007 #7
.293/.389/.438, 9 HR, 70 RBI, 69/78 K/BB, 3 SB in 516 AB (AAA Sacramento)
.347/.429/.639, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 11/10 K/BB, 1 SB in 72 AB (Oakland)
Barton is no longer alone as an elite prospect in the A's system, but he still claims the top spot after staying healthy in his second year at Sacramento and showing surprising pop in his late-season audition with the A's. The former catcher has always employed the disciplined approach the A's prefer, and there's now increased reason for optimism that he'll be a 15- or 20-homer guy down the line. His swing promises that he'll always hit for average, and he might have some .400-OBP seasons because of patience. His glove isn't yet an asset at first base, and it is possible that he'll spend the bulk of his career as a DH, although the A's are planning on playing him in the field for now. His bat alone should make him an All-Star in his best years, though since the power isn't quite there yet, it's going to be a while before he's a stud in fantasy leagues.
9. Cameron Maybin - OF Marlins - DOB: 04/04/87 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2006 #79, mid-2006 #36, 2007 #18, mid-2007 #6
.571/.667/.571, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 7 AB (R GCL Tigers)
.304/.393/.486, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 83/43 K/BB, 25 SB in 296 AB (A Lakeland)
.400/.538/1.050, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 20 AB (AA Erie)
.143/.208/.265, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 21/3 K/BB, 5 SB in 49 AB (Detroit)
.219/.286/.438, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 5/3 K/BB, 2 SB in 32 AB (AFL Peoria)
In the market for a center fielder from the day they sent Juan Pierre to the Cubs, the Marlins picked up an excellent long-term choice when they acquired Maybin the Miguel Cabrera deal. Unfortunately, for them, the long-term may last only four or five years before he gets dealt for the next big-time prospect. Even though he has just 69 at-bats above A-ball, Maybin is the heavy favorite to take over the starting job to begin this year. He has the swing to eventually generate 30-homer power, though that's going to be a few years in coming. He currently strikes out an awful lot for someone who is going to be looked at as a top-of-the-order guy. He does offer very good speed on the basepaths and great defense in center field. I'm not convinced he'll reach his ceiling, but he shouldn't need to in order to turn in a fairly lengthy career as a regular. He'd be a better bet going forward if he spent 2008 continuing to hone his game in the minors.
10. Jacoby Ellsbury - OF Red Sox - DOB: 09/11/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2006 #138, mid-2006 #67, 2007 #42, mid-2007 #15
.453/.518/.644, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 7/6 K/BB, 8 SB in 73 AB (AA Portland)
.298/.360/.380, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 47/32 K/BB, 33 SB in 363 AB (AAA Pawtucket)
.353/.394/.509, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 15/8 K/BB, 9 SB in 116 AB (Red Sox)
Ellsbury failed to excel in Triple-A after a red-hot start in Double-A last season, but he helped make up for that by hitting more homers during a 116-at-bat audition with the Red Sox than he had in 436 at-bats in the minors. Ellsbury already offers excellent defense and exceptional basestealing ability. He doesn't walk a whole lot, but his ability to make contact should see to it that he's at least a fair leadoff hitter. Whether he's truly the 10- or 15-homer guy he appeared to be during the final month of last year will determine if he's merely an above average regular or a future All-Star. Like Johnny Damon, he takes a completely different approach when he wants drive the ball. Most of the time, he's an inside-out guy. Since it seems to work for him, he could prove to be a better all-around hitter than the minor league numbers suggest. Either way, he should be a very good fantasy outfielder for the foreseeable future.
11. Johnny Cueto - RHP Reds - DOB: 02/15/86 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #33
4-5, 3.33 ERA, 72 H, 72/21 K/BB in 78 1/3 IP (A Sarasota)
6-3, 3.10 ERA, 52 H, 77/11 K/BB in 61 IP (AA Chattanooga)
2-1, 2.05 ERA, 22 H, 21/2 K/BB in 22 IP (AAA Louisville)
One of last year's fastest risers, Cueto went 12-9 with a 3.07 ERA, 146 H and 170/34 K/BB in 161 1/3 IP at three levels. As if that wasn't enough, he finished 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA, 31 H and 37/7 K/BB in 31 2/3 IP in the Dominican Republic over the winter. Cueto throws 91-94 mph. After his improved changeup helped establish him as a quality prospect in 2006, he worked on perfecting his slider last year, turning it into more of a strikeout pitch. The likelihood of injury still plays some role in his ranking. On the one hand, it was encouraging that he lasted over 190 innings without incident last year. On the other hand, that he was allowed to throw 190 innings as a 21-year-old seems like a very bad sign for the future. Cueto doesn't have a maximum-effort delivery, but he is a short right-hander with a modest build. If his arm holds up, he'll prove to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
12. Fernando Martinez - OF Mets - DOB: 10/10/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #80, 2007 #10, mid-2007 #8
.111/.200/.333, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 9 AB (R GCL Mets)
.271/.336/.377, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 51/20 K/BB, 3 SB in 236 AB (AA Binghamton) newyorkmets.com
Martinez, who received a $1.4 million bonus to sign at age 16, quickly established himself as a top prospect by hitting .333/.389/.505 in 192 at-bats at low-A Hagerstown in his pro debut in 2006. Moved up in August, he proceeded to bat .193/.254/.387 in 119 AB for high-A St. Lucie. Still, the Mets opted to get extremely aggressive and send him to Double-A for his age-18 season. He barely held his own in 60 games when he wasn't sidelined with hand injuries, but even that was rather impressive. Martinez is an enormous talent with 35-homer potential and the ability to hit for average. He should also prove to be an above average defender in right field with experience. He's at least one and probably two years away, but he's a star in the making.
13. Homer Bailey - RHP Reds - DOB: 05/03/86 - ETA: May 2008
Previous rankings: 2005 #73, mid-2005 #91, 2006 #65, mid-2006 #11, 2007 #4, mid-2007 (in majors)
0-1, 10.13 ERA, 15 H, 7/5 K/BB in 8 IP (A Sarasota)
6-3, 3.07 ERA, 49 H, 59/32 K/BB in 67 1/3 IP (AAA Louisville)
4-2, 5.76 ERA, 43 H, 28/28 K/BB in 45 1/3 IP (Cincinnati)
It didn't look like Bailey was far away when he finished 10-6 with a 2.47 ERA, 99 H and 156/50 K/BB in 138 2/3 IP between Single-A Sarasota and Double-A Chattanooga in 2006, but he made no progress at all in his age-21 season. In fact, he regressed in the command department. The off year doesn't qualify as a huge black mark against him. He didn't have any arm problems, and he continued to show the 93-96 mph fastball and curveball that could make him an ace in the future. In order to fulfill his potential, he'll need to do a better job of spotting his heater and come up with an improved changeup, but even if he doesn't get there, his ability to generate swings and misses with his top two pitches should make him a quality starter, albeit one who is more inconsistent than most. He's not a great bet for the short-term, but his long-term potential is intact.
14. Matt LaPorta - OF Brewers - DOB: 01/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: none
.259/.286/.519, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 8/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 27 AB (R Helena)
.318/.392/.750, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 22/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 88 AB (A- West Virginia)
.241/.351/.500, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 28/17 K/BB, 1 SB in 112 AB (AFL Mesa)
The Brewers didn't let Richie Sexson's presence prevent them from drafting Prince Fielder in 2002 and that worked out well enough. They again went with the best available player last summer and made LaPorta the seventh overall pick after he hit .402/.582/.817 as a senior at Florida. The right-handed slugger should combine 30- or 35-homer power with strong OBPs driven by high walk totals after reaching the majors. What remains to be seen is whether he'll be able to help the Brewers as anything more than a really nice piece of trade bait. LaPorta moved from first base to the outfield after being drafted and worked hard to make it a successful switch, but he just doesn't have the range to be an asset there. At best, he'll be below average. Complicating things even further was Milwaukee's move of [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] to left field. Both Braun and Corey Hart have the raw speed to play center, but the Brewers didn't want to put either there this year. Unless they're willing to have one of the two replace Mike Cameron next season, LaPorta could be the odd man out. Whether the Brewers have room for him or not, he should be ready for a job by Opening Day 2009.
15. Andy LaRoche - 3B Dodgers - DOB: 09/13/83 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #17, 2006 #26, mid-2006 #17, 2007 #13, mid-2007 #17
.309/.399/.589, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 42/39 K/BB, 2 SB in 265 AB (AAA Las Vegas)
.226/.365/.312, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 24/20 K/BB, 2 SB in 93 AB (NL Los Angeles)
A .315 hitter with 28 homers and a 74/64 K/BB ratio in 467 at-bats in Triple-A the last two years, LaRoche has nothing left to prove in the minors. However, he does have to show he can stay healthy. His history of back issues qualified as one reason the Dodgers were afraid to simply hand him a starting job this spring, and while the injury he suffered in March was a fluke -- he suffered a torn UCL in his thumb when he was hit by a thrown ball -- it's just one more to add to the list. A healthy LaRoche has an All-Star-caliber offensive game and a fine glove at third base. Should be beat the injury bug, he could have some .300-30 HR seasons in his prime. The team should be hoping he wins the third-base job outright by June or July.
16. Matt Wieters - C Orioles - DOB: 05/21/86 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: none
.283/.364/.415, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 15/12 K/BB, 0 SB in 106 AB (HWL Honolulu)
Wieters, the fifth overall pick, immediately became the class of Baltimore's system after signing just minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline. He's compared to Jason Varitek because he's a switch-hitter out of Georgia Tech. During his college career, he hit .359 with 35 homers and a 108/152 K/BB ratio in 704 at-bats. He should be able to muscle at least 20 homers per years in the majors. Hitting for average might be an issue, but his patient approach will lead to solid OBPs even if he bats .250-.260. On defense, he'll be solidly above average, but probably less than a Gold Glover. He's polished enough that he could survive in the majors this year if necessary. He figures to see action by September at the latest, and Ramon Hernandez could be cleared out of the way so that he can take over as a regular in 2009.
17. Rick Porcello - RHP Tigers - DOB: 12/27/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none</B>
The one top prospect left in the Tigers' organization following the Miguel Cabrera deal, Porcello was viewed by many as the No. 2 talent in the 2007 draft behind first overall selection David Price. He fell to Detroit at No. 27 because of his bonus demands and got $7.3 million from the Tigers in August. It was too late then for him to make his pro debut in 2007, but that's not a bad thing. Porcello throws in the mid-90s consistently, and his curve was one of the best breaking balls in the draft. He also has a slider and a changeup. The Tigers are likely to be pretty aggressive with him after giving him a major league deal, so he could split this season between low-A West Michigan and high-A Lakeland. He has ace potential.
18. [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
.272/.338/.497, 23 HR, 77 RBI, 120/45 K/BB, 10 SB in 437 AB (AAA Salt Lake)
.152/.152/.273, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 12/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 33 AB (AL Los Angeles)
Wood's .321/.383/.672 season in the California League in 2005 really stands out now after he hit right around .270 with 25 homers for a second straight season last year. He did go from 149 strikeouts in Double-A in 2006 to 120 in about the same number of plate appearances last season, but he fanned in more than a third of his major league at-bats and didn't work a single walk. Wood may already be at a crossroads, at least as far as his Angels career goes. With Orlando Cabrera gone, the team is planning on shifting him back to shortstop, putting him in a position to land a starting job if Erick Aybar struggles. There's still good reason to think he'll be a 30-homer guy in the majors someday, and if he is something close to an average shortstop ? as it appeared he would be before the logjam resulted in his move -- he won't need to put up very good OBPs to be a quality regular. As a third baseman, more would be expected of him offensively. He'd be a regular anyway, but he'd be a Joe Crede-type, not a star. Considering that he doesn't quite fit the Angels' mold, there's a good chance he'll be traded if he doesn't step up this year.
19. Andrew McCutchen - OF Pirates - DOB: 10/10/86 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #87, mid-2006 #64, 2007 #25, mid-2007 #18
.258/.327/.383, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 83/44 K/BB, 17 SB in 446 AB (AA Altoona)
.313/.347/.418, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 11/4 K/BB, 4 SB in 67 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
.286/.381/.378, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 12/14 K/BB, 8 SB in 98 AB (AFL Phoenix)
It'd be unfair to say McCutchen hasn't met expectations since being drafted 11th overall in 2005, but he definitely had some rough patches last season and his numbers were more distressing that his overall 717 OPS suggests because of his huge righty-lefty splits. Against right-handers, McCutchen finished with OPSs of 642 in Double-A, 583 in Triple-A and 612 in the AFL. He gets overpowered by both big fastballs and hard sliders. McCutchen is a terrific athlete, and he still has plenty of time left to improve. His defense in center field will make him a regular even if he doesn't live up to expectations offensively. Still, the Pirates may regret pushing him through their system as quickly as they have. The new regime is more likely to back off and give him the additional full year in the minors he clearly needs. If he reaches his ceiling, he'll hit .300 with 15 homers and 30-40 steals per year.
20. Chase Headley - OF/3B Padres - DOB: 05/09/84 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #26
.330/.437/.580, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 117/74 K/BB, 1 SB in 433 AB (AA San Antonio)
.222/.333/.278, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 18 AB (San Diego)
Headley's long-term potential was questioned when he finished with just 12 homers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2006, but he's a legitimate top prospect now after starting off on fire last year and never cooling off. Headley finished with 20 homers and 63 extra-base hits, showing consistent power from both sides of the plate in the process. The on-base ability has always been there, and he'll keep hitting for fine averages in the minors. On defense, he was only average at third base, though some would say that already makes him an upgrade over Kevin Kouzmanoff. Surprisingly, it's Headley who will make the switch to the outfield. He could be the Padres' left fielder as soon as June. His bat won't make him a star at the position, but he should be a solid regular for several years.
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21. Joey Votto - 1B Reds - DOB: 09/10/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #144, 2005 #105, mid-2005 #130, 2006 ---, mid-2006 #63, 2007 #48, mid-2007 #20
.294/.381/.478, 22 HR, 92 RBI, 110/70 K/BB, 17 SB in 496 AB (AAA Louisville)
.321/.360/.548, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 15/5 K/BB, 1 SB in 84 AB (Cincinnati)
Votto's promotion to the majors came later than expected, but he made the most of Scott Hatteberg's injury in September, amassing a 908 OPS in 84 at-bats. Now he has to contend with Dusty Baker's strong preference for veterans as he attempts to win a starting job at first base this year. He's also turned himself into an option in left field, but first is where he'll stay for the long-term. With 25-homer power and pretty good on-base skills, he seems ready for regular duty versus righties. Lefties give him trouble when they come inside on him, but he handles fastballs from right-handers especially well. In time, he should prove to be a solid everyday player. Given 450 at-bats as a starter against righties this year, he could hit .280 with 20 homers.
22. Wade Davis - RHP Rays - DOB: 09/07/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #79, 2007 #83, mid-2007 #24
3-0, 1.84 ERA, 54 H, 88/21 K/BB in 78 1/3 IP (A Vero Beach)
7-3, 3.15 ERA, 74 H, 81/30 K/BB in 80 IP (AA Montgomery)
Once the Rays sort through some of their less talented youngsters, Davis figures to be the first of their top pitching prospects to reach the majors this year. Possessing a fastball in the 91-94 mph range, three complimentary pitches that should all prove useful and command that's improving each year, he could peak as a No. 2 starter. He also has an ideal pitcher's build and a delivery that would seem to help his chances of staying healthy. His changeup keeps left-handers honest, and he induces a fair number of grounders, allowing him to keep his home run rate down. Davis still needs to work on pitching inside, but he isn't far off.
23. Jake McGee - LHP Rays - DOB: 08/06/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #114, 2007 #91, mid-2007 #26
5-4, 2.93 ERA, 86 H, 145/39 K/BB in 116 2/3 IP (A Vero Beach)
3-2, 4.24 ERA, 19 H, 30/13 K/BB in 23 1/3 IP (AA Montgomery)
One of the hardest throwing lefties in the minors, McGee is capable of reaching 98 mph with his fastball and typically averages right around 93-95 mph. He also offers a true strikeout curveball, and his changeup has come pretty quickly considering where it was when he was drafted in the fifth round in 2004. He does have trouble in the command department, something that will become more apparent as he faces hitters less willing to chase the curve. Still, he possesses about as much upside as any pitcher in the minors, Price included. Hurting his ranking a bit is that he's the most likely of the Rays' three elite pitching prospects to begin experiencing arm woes.
24. Travis Snider - OF Blue Jays - DOB: 02/02/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: 2007 #71, mid-2007 #43
.313/.377/.525, 16 HR, 93 RBI, 129/49 K/BB, 3 SB in 457 AB (A- Lansing)
.316/.404/.541, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 29/15 K/BB, 1 SB in 98 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
One of the most talented hitters in the minors and the Jays' only top-100 prospect, Snider has the potential to be the one star drafted in the first round by Toronto this decade. The team found Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios and Shannon Stewart in the first round in 90s, but the best they have to show for the 2000s so far is Aaron Hill, with Gabe Gross a distant second. A stocky left-handed hitter, Snider would be compared to Matt Stairs even if the two weren't in the same organization. It looks like he'll last in the outfield for at least a few years, and he figures to surpass Stairs offensively because of his ability to hit for average. He might advance quickly enough to reach the majors as a 21-year-old in 2009.
25. Franklin Morales - LHP Rockies - DOB: 01/24/86 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #81, 2007 #67, mid-2007 #36
3-4, 3.48 ERA, 77 H, 77/45 K/BB in 95 2/3 IP (AA Tulsa)
2-0, 3.71 ERA, 20 H, 16/13 K/BB in 17 IP (AAA Colorado Springs)
3-2, 3.43 ERA, 34 H, 26/14 K/BB in 39 1/3 IP (Colorado)
The Rockies were very lucky twice last season, as both Ubaldo Jimenez and Morales were able to make quick transitions to the majors after arriving in the second half. Morales even went three straight starts in September without allowing a run. He did slump in the postseason, but he showed enough overall that the Rockies had him penciled into their rotation entering the spring. When Morales is at his best, he shows a 92-96 mph heater, a sweeping curveball and a fine changeup. His velocity was down this spring, making him a risky proposition for the short-term. However, he has more upside than anyone on Colorado's pitching staff, Jeff Francis included.
26. Carlos Triunfel - SS Mariners - DOB: 02/27/90 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #28
.273/.231/.273, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 11 AB (R AZL Mariners)
.309/.342/.388, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 23/5 K/BB, 4 SB in 152 AB (A- Wisconsin)
.288/.333/.356, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 31/12 K/BB, 3 SB in 208 AB (A+ High Desert)
While the Mariners had no choice but to part with Adam Jones in an Erik Bedard trade, they stuck to their guns and held on to Triunfel, their new No. 1 prospect. Playing in full-season ball at age 17, Triunfel was able to hit .309 at Wisconsin last year before going down with a broken hand at the end of May. The uber-aggressive Mariners opted to bump up to high-A ball following his return in July, and he continued to hit for a decent average, though without any power at all. While Triunfel still doesn't have a professional homer, he's sure to develop power soon. If anything, he's filling out more than expected, something that's probably going to result in a move to third down the line. He has legitimate star potential anyway. He figures to need three more years in the minors, but he could be a .300 hitter and 25-homer guy someday.
27. Jose Tabata - OF Yankees - DOB: 08/12/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #136, mid-2006 #18, 2007 #17, mid-2007 #13
.307/.371/.392, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 70/33 K/BB, 15 SB in 411 AB (A Tampa)
The numbers Tabata has put up at such a young age relative to his competition the last two years make him look like a truly special player. However, his right wrist problems have to be taken into account. He's had issues for two years now, and it was reported by Baseball America last season that the Yankees had sent him to five different hand specialists. In August, he had the hamate bone removed. If it turns out that it was a cure-all, then Tabata should put in a nice showing as perhaps the youngest player in Double-A this season. If not, it'll be time to start getting very worried. Tabata projects as a quality defensive right fielder capable of hitting for average and displaying 20-homer, 40-double power.
28. Nick Adenhart - RHP Angels - DOB: 08/24/86 - ETA: May 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #21, 2007 #21, mid-2007 #22
10-8, 3.65 ERA, 158 H, 116/65 K/BB in 153 IP (AA Arkansas)
Even though he had just nine starts in high-A ball under his belt, it didn't take Adenhart any time to adjust to Double-A last year, as he went 3-1 with a 0.80 ERA in his first five starts. He was inconsistent most of the rest of the season, and the way his stuff came and went suggested he wasn't always completely healthy. He ended up striking out 116 batters, down from 145 in 158 1/3 innings in 2006. When he's on, Adenhart is consistently in the low-90s with his fastball and shows a great hard curve. His changeup has turned into a very respectable third pitch. His velocity might be more of a constant if he did a better job of repeating his delivery. He'll open this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, and he projects as a long-term No. 2 starter for the Angels.
29. Ian Kennedy - RHP Yankees - DOB: 12/19/84 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #50
6-1, 1.29 ERA, 39 H, 72/22 K/BB in 63 IP (A Tampa)
5-1, 2.59 ERA, 27 H, 57/17 K/BB in 48 2/3 IP (AA Trenton)
1-1, 2.08 ERA, 25 H, 34/11 K/BB in 34 2/3 IP (AAA Scranton)
1-0, 1.89 ERA, 13 H, 15/9 K/BB in 19 IP (AL New York)
Kennedy made some teams nervous when his velocity fell into the high-80s as a junior in college, but the Yankees took him 21st overall in the 2006 draft anyway and were pleasantly surprised when he resumed averaging about 90 mph with his fastball last season. As strong as his curveball and changeup are, he doesn't need to throw any harder than that to last as a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the majors. The Yankees will likely go into the season with him as their fifth starter if they decide to stick Chamberlain in the pen initially. An alternative would be for Kennedy to pitch in middle relief while waiting for a rotation spot to open up.
30. Elvis Andrus - SS Rangers - DOB: 08/26/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #110, mid-2006 #96, 2007 #129, mid-2007 #109
.244/.330/.335, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 88/44 K/BB, 25 SB in 385 AB (A+ Myrtle Beach)
.300/.369/.373, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 19/10 K/BB, 15 SB in 110 AB (A+ Bakersfield)
.353/.411/.471, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 10/5 K/BB, 5 SB in 51 AB (AFL Surprise)
Andrus spent most of last year merely holding his own as an 18-year-old in high-A ball, but he improved considerably after joining the Rangers in the Mark Teixeira deal, even if ballpark effects were partially responsible, and he experienced his most success to date in the Arizona Fall League in October and November. Andrus is a natural at shortstop with above average range and a strong arm. His approach at the plate still leaves something to be desired, but he's rarely overmatched by big fastballs or tough breaking balls and he's going to keep getting stronger as he fills out. Perhaps the power won't be there to make him a superstar, but he might be an above average major leaguer in every other respect and he's moving quickly enough that he could be an option for the Rangers as soon as the middle of 2009, when he'll still be just 20 years old. Ideally, they'll shift Michael Young to third base to make room for him once he proves he's ready.
31. Max Scherzer - RHP Diamondbacks - DOB: 07/27/84 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #12
2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 30/2 K/BB in 17 IP (A+ Visalia)
4-4, 3.91 ERA, 64 H, 76/40 K/BB in 73 2/3 IP (AA Mobile)
1-1, 2.13 ERA, 6 H, 18/5 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (AFL Scottsdale)
It took nearly a full year and $4.3 million in guaranteed money, but the Diamondbacks were able to sign the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft. Scherzer, a Missouri product, got off to a dominant start after finally making his pro debut last June and ended up with 106 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings in the minors. Working out of the pen in the Arizona Fall League, he had three times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. Scherzer could be the same kind of asset that Brandon Morrow was for Seattle last year if the Diamondbacks were to turn to him as a reliever now. However, they plan to keep developing him as a starter and hope that his changeup comes along. He has a wicked slider, and his tops out at 95 mph as a starter, 98 mph as a reliever. He's just as likely to be a closer as a starter by 2010, but he has plenty of upside in either role.
32. Matt Antonelli - 2B Padres - DOB: 04/08/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #63
.314/.409/.499, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 58/53 K/BB, 18 SB in 347 AB (A+ Lake Elsinore)
.294/.395/.476, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 36/30 K/BB, 10 SB in 187 AB (AA San Antonio)
.214/.333/.268, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 9/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 56 AB (AFL Peoria)
Antonelli, a 2006 first-round pick out of Wake Forest, went from hitting no homers in 205 at-bats in his pro debut to slugging 21 last year. Especially promising was that his numbers carried over to Double-A without any real decline. He did slump in the AFL, but it was at the end of a long year. The Padres took a look at him in the outfield over the winter, but he's going to be their long-term second baseman, with a full-time job likely to come at the beginning of 2009. His ability to hit for average and draw walks will make him a great fit as a No. 2 hitter. The power probably won't be there to make him an All-Star, but there's nothing else not to like.
33. Gio Gonzalez - LHP Athletics - DOB: 09/19/85 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #81, 2006 #84, mid-2006 #62, 2007 #78, mid-2007 #21
9-7, 3.18 ERA, 116 H, 185/57 K/BB in 150 IP (AA Birmingham)
Gonzalez was at one point kicked off his high school baseball team and has now been traded three times as a minor leaguer, suggesting that red flags are warranted. However, one of the trades had the White Sox reacquiring him after giving him up for Jim Thome and in none of them has he been undersold at all. It's mostly a case of lefties with huge strikeout rates always being in demand. Gonzalez does have some clear flaws. His velocity can dip from the usual low-90s to the 85-88 range on any given night, and his command is a little below average. When he's at his best, he dominates lefties and righties alike with his fastball, plus curve and solid changeup. Also, he's remained healthy throughout his minor league career despite his unimposing frame. He's never pitched in Triple-A, so the A's will probably have him start the season at Sacramento. However, he should be an option for their rotation by May or June. He currently projects as a No. 3, but if the command comes, he could be a No. 2.
34. Taylor Teagarden - C Rangers - DOB: 12/21/83 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #135
.315/.448/.606, 20 HR, 67 RBI, 89/65 K/BB, 2 SB in 292 AB (A+ Bakersfield)
.294/.357/.529, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 39/10 K/BB, 0 SB in 102 AB (AA Frisco)
.271/.345/.479, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 18/6 K/BB, 0 SB in 48 AB (AFL Surprise)
Depending on how much one wants to penalize Jeff Clement for his glove, Teagarden ranks as the game's No. 2 or 3 catching prospect behind Baltimore's Matt Wieters. Dating back to his days at the University of Texas, his defense has never been in question, though Tommy John surgery did limit him to just 38 games in his first year and a half as pro. His showing last year proved that he has the bat of a regular. He may not hit for average in the majors because of a rather long swing, but he should be a 15- or 20-homer guy and he'll draw enough walks to result in respectable OBPs. Now the Rangers just need to decide what to do with him. He's nearly ready to play in the majors, but he's stuck behind both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Gerald Laird. He'd be wasted as a backup, so the Rangers will either need to trade him or move Salty to first base to make room for him in 2009.
35. Austin Jackson - OF Yankees - DOB: 02/01/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: none
.260/.336/.374, 3 HR, 25 BI, 59/24 K/BB, 19 SB in 235 AB (A- Charleston)
.345/.398/.566, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 48/22 K/BB, 13 SB in 258 AB (A Tampa)
.333/.600/.667, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 3 AB (AAA Scranton)
When Jackson was moved up to the FSL in late June despite a 710 OPS in the Sally League, it seemed to be just another case of the Yankees being way too aggressive with a prospect. However, Jackson responded to the challenge right away and upped his stock more than any other prospect in baseball during the second half of the season. Still something of a raw talent, Jackson could blossom into a 25-homer guy despite his modest build. He's continuing to learn how to play center field, but he has the speed to last there, and it looks like he'll be a pretty good OBP guy after cutting well back on the strikeouts last season. Expecting him to make Melky Cabrera expendable after this season might be pushing it a little, but there's a good chance he'll prove to be the Yankees' long-term center fielder.
36. Chris Marrero - 1B/OF Nationals - DOB: 07/02/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #117, mid-2007 #45
.293/.337/.545, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 39/14 K/BB, 0 SB in 222 AB (A- Hagerstown)
.259/.338/.431, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 63/32 K/BB, 0 SB in 255 AB (A Potomac)
Marrero showed exciting power in what was technically his age-18 season, delivering 23 homers, and it didn't take a ton of strikeouts for him to get there. The 15th overall pick in the 2006 draft was selected as a third baseman, but it was a given he wouldn't stay there. The Nationals used him in left field last year, but since he lacks range, they're probably going to move him to first this year. Marrero has star potential as a hitter, so the Nationals will find a spot for him when he's ready. He doesn't get himself out on bad breaking balls, and he dramatically improved his walk rate after moving up last year. He does need to learn which balls to pull and which to try to send back up the middle, but that could come with time.
37. Carlos Gonzalez - OF Athletics - DOB: 10/17/85 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #139, 2006 #92, mid-2006 #19, 2007 #34, mid-2007 #49
.286/.330/.476, 16 HR, 75 RBI, 103/32 K/BB, 9 SB in 458 AB (AA Mobile)
.310/.396/.500, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 6/6 K/BB, 1 SB in 42 AB (AAA Tucson)
Gonzalez isn't at all the kind of player the A's usually look for when trading for prospects, but he has the raw talent to make the Dan Haren deal a winner for Oakland. There are few minor leaguers who excite scouts as much as Gonzalez does when he's in the box. His lightning quick swing should make him a 30-homer guy after he finishes filling out, and he's hit for average everywhere he's played. That he doesn't walk is a problem, but at least his strikeout totals aren't overly excessive. He's better against breaking balls from right-handers than most players his age. Curves and sliders from left-handers have been known to make him look bad. While there's been talk that Gonzalez could win a spot coming out of spring training, he clearly needs a year in Triple-A. The A's will keep him and hope he develops into the same kind of offensive force as another player who didn't fit their mold, Miguel Tejada.
38. Reid Brignac - SS Rays - DOB: 01/16/86 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #83, 2007 #31, mid-2003 #23
.260/.328/.433, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 94/55 K/BB, 15 SB in 527 AB (AA Montgomery)
.177/.218/.248, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 16/3 K/BB, 1 SB in 113 AB (AFL Scottsdale)
Brignac secured a spot as one of the game's top shortstop prospects while hitting .321/.376/.539 between Single-A Visalia and Double-A Montgomery in 2006, but he couldn't keep it going last season. He did improve as the year went on, though that was versus diluted talent in the Southern League. In the AFL, he managed just four extra-base hits and three walks in 113 at-bats. He was even caught stealing four times in five attempts. Brignac's left-handed swing promises 25-homer potential, and he likely will show the ability to hit for average once he settles into the majors. He still might be more of a bottom-half-of-the-order guy, like Khalil ******, but he will have a lengthy career as a regular. Helping his case is that he's answered every question about his ability to stay at shortstop. The Rays will go with Jason Bartlett this year and then consider turning the position over to Brignac in 2009.
39. Eric Hurley - RHP Rangers - DOB: 09/17/85 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #56, 2007 #44, mid-2007 #16
7-2, 3.25 ERA, 71 H, 76/27 K/BB in 88 2/3 IP (AA Frisco)
4-7, 4.91 ERA, 65 H, 59/28 K/BB in 73 1/3 IP (AAA Oklahoma)
Hurley didn't handle the in-season jump to Triple-A last season as well as he did his first taste of Double-A in the second half of 2006, but he still allowed under a hit an inning and struck out two for every batter he walked. The real problem is that he continued to give up a homer a start. In all, he allowed 26 in 162 innings, a scary total considering he's set to pitch half his games in Arlington upon reaching the majors. Hurley's low-90s fastball, slider and changeup are all quality pitches, but none generate a lot of groundballs. He'll be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers anyway, but he may never post a sub-4.00 ERA until he makes his way elsewhere. He'll likely spend a couple of more months in Triple-A this year and then move into the Texas rotation in June or July.
40. Jeff Clement - C Mariners - DOB: 08/21/83 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #63, mid-2006 #43, 2007 #58, mid-2007 #34
.275/.370/.497, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 88/61 K/BB, 0 SB in 455 AB (AAA Tacoma)
.375/.474/.813, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 16 AB (Seattle)
.269/.367/.481, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 13/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 52 AB (AFL Peoria)
Clement, the third overall selection in the 2005 draft, solidified his status as an offensive force last season, hitting 20 homers in Triple-A and a pair of clutch bombs in a brief look in September. He's strong enough against right-handers that he'd most likely be an upgrade for the Mariners in the DH spot right away. However, the team is expected to continue developing him as a catcher, possibly with the intention of having him replace free-agent-to-be Kenji Johjima in 2009. The Mariners like how he's come along as a receiver, but he lacks quickness behind the plate and he'll be a liability trying to throw out basestealers. He could survive as a catcher anyway, but he might be more valuable as a first baseman. Clement doesn't fan a lot for a power hitter, and he retains his good approach versus lefties. In another ballpark, he'd be a candidate for 25 or 30 homers per year, though he figures to fall short of that at Safeco. The Mariners are expected to send him back to Triple-A to start this year, but if they're in contention in the second half, they'll want him around as a part-time player or maybe even as their primary DH.
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41. Chris Volstad - RHP Marlins - DOB: 09/23/86 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #128, mid-2007 #51
8-9, 4.50 ERA, 152 H, 93/37 K/BB in 126 IP (A Jupiter)
4-2, 3.16 ERA, 41 H, 25/10 K/BB in 42 2/3 IP (AA Carolina)
The first of the Marlins' five first- or supplemental first-round picks in 2005, Volstad has done almost exactly what was expected of him so far. While he allowed 193 hits and struck out just 118 batters in his 168 2/3 innings last season, his sinker still made him pretty effective, and he managed to improve after being promoted to Double-A. In fact, nine of the 15 earned runs he allowed there came in one of his seven starts. The 6-foot-7 Volstad could continue adding velocity as he fills out, and he's showing a most consistent curveball to go along with his sinker. If his changeup develops, he could be a No. 2 starter. Expect him to make at least a dozen starts for Florida this season.
42. Adam Miller - RHP Indians - DOB: 11/26/84 - ETA: Sept. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #101, 2005 #8, mid-2005 #26, 2006 #35, mid-2006 #31, 2007 #22, mid-2007 #14
5-4, 4.82 ERA, 68 H, 68/21 K/BB in 65 1/3 IP (AAA Buffalo)
0-2, 9.00 ERA, 18 H, 11/3 K/BB in 13 IP (AFL Surprise)
This is going to be a big year for Miller after he missed time with more elbow problems and a finger injury last season. One of the most talented pitchers in the minors, Miller can dominate with mid-90s heat and a hard slider. The changeup that helped establish him as a top prospect has suffered due to the time he's missed the last three seasons. Still, if his arm holds up, he's not going to need an above average change to become a successful big leaguer. Miller needs to put his elbow problems behind him once and for all. The strained tendon in his finger that shut him down last season probably isn't going to be a major concern going forward, but the elbow has held him back since 2005. If healthy, he'll force his way into the Indians' plans before the end of the season, perhaps as a reliever at first.
43. Josh Vitters - 3B Cubs - DOB: 08/27/89 - ETA: 2012
Previous rankings: none
.067/.094/.067, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 9/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 30 AB (AZL Cubs)
.190/.361/.190, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 21 AB (SS-A Boise)
Vitters didn't hit at all after being drafted third overall by the Cubs last season, but that's sure to prove to be an aberration. Vitters can spray liners all over the park, and he should turn into a 25-homer guy capable of hitting for high averages. Like the slugger he could replace in Chicago someday, Aramis Ramirez, he probably won't walk or strikeout a whole bunch. A shaky defender at third base, he'll face a move to left field unless he dramatically improves his footwork and his throwing accuracy. Ideally, he'd stay at the hot corner and take over after Ramirez's contract expires in four years (though Ramirez can opt out after 2010). Logic suggests he'd have a better chance of becoming an All-Star there, though David Wright will have something to say about it.
44. Neil Walker - 3B Pirates - DOB: 09/10/85 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2005 #129, 2006 #114, mid-2006 #107, 2007 #105, mid-2007 #30
.288/.362/.462, 13 HR, 66 RBI, 73/53 K/BB, 9 SB in 431 AB (AA Altoona)
.203/.261/.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 13/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 64 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
Walker has received unnecessary late-season promotions four years running since being drafted in the first round in 2004 and flopped each of the last three times. Though the Pirates have been aggressive, it's not like he's ever hit particularly well while being pushed through the system. Last year's 800 OPS in Double-A was the first time he reached that mark at any stop. Walker made clear gains in the power department and showed more patience at the plate. A converted catcher, it looks like he'll be an average third baseman in time, though he still needs to cut down on the miscues. A likely .290-.300 hitter in his better years, he should prove to be a solid long-term regular. It remains to be seen whether he'll continue taking walks and he'll probably top out at 20 homers, so stardom figures to elude him.
45. Wladimir Balentien - OF Mariners - DOB: 07/02/84 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #39
.291/.362/.509, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 105/54 K/BB, 15 SB in 477 AB (AAA Tacoma)
.666/.500/2.000, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0/0 K/BB, 0 SB in 3 AB (Seattle)
Triunfel is awfully intriguing and Clement is no slouch, but Balentien has the best power potential in the Seattle organization. The native of Curacao made terrific progress in his first year in Triple-A, though he did fade as the season went on. A shorter swing allowed him to make contact more frequently without robbing him of the ability to yank pitches out of the park. Balentien does make mistakes in the outfield, but since he's a fine athlete with a very good arm, he could be an above average right fielder in time. He still needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls, but he looks like a much better bet to make it as a quality regular than he did a year ago. One more year in Triple-A should be sufficient, and the Mariners can afford to give it to him after signing Brad Wilkerson.
46. Lars Anderson - 1B Red Sox - DOB: 09/25/87 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #74
.288/.385/.443, 10 HR, 69 RBI, 112/71 K/BB, 2 SB in 458 AB (A- Greenville)
.343/.489/.486, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9/11 K/BB, 0 SB in 35 AB (A Lancaster)
The Red Sox gambled on several big-ticket players in the 2006 draft, and while they couldn't land Matt LaPorta after selecting him in the 14th round, they did get Anderson, an 18th-rounder, to forgo his college scholarship by giving him supplemental first-round money. It looks like an outstanding investment so far. Anderson has an advanced approach and a swing that promises 30-homer power after he fills out. His glove lags behind his bat, but he'll be an adequate first baseman in time. He could prove to be a No. 3 or No. 4 hitter in a major league lineup.
47. Jason Heyward - OF Braves - DOB: 08/09/89 - ETA: 2013
Previous rankings: none
.296/.355/.556, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, 1 SB in 27 AB (R GCL Braves)
.313/.353/.375, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 16 AB (R Danville)
The Braves went with history and selected a Georgia high school product 14th overall in the 2007 draft. In this case, it didn't look like a reach at all. In fact, they might have gotten the bargain of the first round, Rick Porcello excepted. Heyward's build and powerful swing suggest he'll be a 35-homer guy someday, and he's quite disciplined for a high school product. The Braves moved him from center to right after drafting him. He should be above average there in time, but he still figures to end up in left if Jeff Francoeur proves to be a permanent fixture in Atlanta. He's the best bet of any of Atlanta's prospects to develop into a star.
48. Carlos Carrasco - RHP Phillies - DOB: 03/21/87 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #93, mid-2007 #29
6-2, 2.84 ERA, 49 H, 53/22 K/BB in 69 2/3 IP (A Clearwater)
6-4, 4.86 ERA, 65 H, 49/46 K/BB in 70 1/3 IP (AA Reading)
With the way he was rolling at Clearwater, it appeared for a time as though Carrasco had a chance to follow Kyle Kendrick to the majors last season. However, he ran into a speed bump at Double-A Reading, where he barely managed more strikeouts than walks in 70 innings. Even in the FSL, he was giving up more homers than expected. Overall, he allowed 17, which figures to be a problem for a guy set to pitch in Citizens Bank Park someday. Carrasco has no shortage of stuff. He can dial his fastball up to 94 mph, and he has a lot of movement on his changeup. That his curveball hasn't turned into a strikeout pitch has lowered his ceiling a bit, but he still figures to be a No. 3 or maybe a No. 2.
49. Jed Lowrie - SS Red Sox - DOB: 04/17/84 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #71
.297/.410/.501, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 58/65 K/BB, 5 SB in 337 AB (AA Portland)
.300/.356/.506, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 33/12 K/BB, 0 SB in 160 AB (AAA Pawtucket)
.163/.236/.245, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 14/10 K/BB, 3 SB in 98 AB (AFL Mesa)
Lowrie isn't the new Dustin Pedroia, but the two share some similarities. Both put up great numbers at top college programs (Arizona State and Stanford, respectively), yet neither was looked at as a true first-rounder coming out of school because of a perceived lack of athleticism. The Red Sox drafted both and used them at shortstop, even though neither figured to stay there for long. Lowrie has displayed surprisingly strong range at the position, but since he doesn't have a great arm, he still projects better at second. One of the best hitters in the minors over the final four months of last season, Lowrie could be a doubles machine at Fenway. He's also strong enough to hit 10 homers per year, and he knows the value of a walk. Because they have no place to play him, the Red Sox are open to trading him. However, they're not going to let a potential above average regular go cheap.
50. J.R. Towles - C Astros - DOB: 02/11/84 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: 2007 #135, mid-2007 #112
.200/.339/.278, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 15/12 K/BB, 3 SB in 90 AB (A+ Salem)
.324/.425/.551, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 35/23 K/BB, 9 SB in 216 AB (AA Corpus Christi)
.279/.354/.279, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7/4 K/BB, 2 SB in 43 AB (AAA Round Rock)
.375/.432/.575, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 40 AB (Houston)
Towles, a 2004 20th-round pick out of a Texas junior college, got his first ever in-season promotion last year as a result of fellow prospect Lou Santangelo's 50-game PED suspension. He earned two more on his own and is poised to be Houston's primary catcher this season, a scenario that seemed highly unlikely a year ago. Because of injuries, Towles has just 950 professional at-bats to his credit and he wasn't very productive in three of his six minor league stops. There's a lot to like about Towles' all-around offensive game and he's made a lot of strides defensively, but if it wasn't for his highly successful 40-AB stint last September, there's little chance the Astros would have given him a job over the winter. If he's turned the corner health-wise, he should prove to be a fine long-term regular capable of several .280-15 HR seasons. Still, growing pains are likely in store for 2008.
51. Mike Moustakas - SS Royals - DOB: 09/11/88 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: none
.293/.383/.439, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 8/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 41 AB (R Idaho Falls)
Moustakas might have been a first-rounder as a pitcher, but everyone agreed his bat was even more promising and the Royals took him second overall last year. Signed just before the deadline for $4 million, he began his pro career as a shortstop, though few expect him to stay there. His build and arm would seem to make him an ideal candidate to become a catcher if he were less promising offensively. The Royals, though, aren't going to jeopardize his star potential. On another team, he'd probably end up at third base. However, with Alex Gordon entrenched there in Kansas City, it's at least as likely that Moustakas will shift to the outfield at some point. Moustakas could develop into a .300 hitter and a 25-homer guy in time. He'll likely open this year at low-A Burlington.
52. Steve Pearce - 1B Pirates - DOB: 04/13/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #104
.347/.412/.867, 11 HR, 24 RBI, 13/8 K/BB, 2 SB in 75 AB (A+ Lynchburg)
.334/.400/.586, 14 HR, 72 RBI, 45/33 K/BB, 7 SB in 290 AB (AA Altoona)
.320/.366/.557, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 12/6 K/BB, 5 SB in 122 AB (AAA Indianapolis)
.294/.342/.397, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 12/5 K/BB, 2 SB in 68 AB (Pittsburgh)
Pearce looks like more than just the new Brad Eldred after slamming 31 homers and posting a 1000 OPS in the minors last season. Not a hulking slugger, Pearce checks in at 5-foot-11 and 200-210 pounds. Quick wrists allow him to generate his power, and he doesn't have a long swing that would make him prone to big strikeout numbers. The Pirates didn't realize what they had in him when they pursued Adam LaRoche so heavily, and they opted to try him in right field in the majors last season with first base cut off for the foreseeable future. He doesn't belong out there, but he's not such a downgrade from Xavier Nady that'd it make a huge difference if he was plugged in as a regular right now. He'll be more of a 25- than a 30-35 homer guy in the majors, but he should be a nice asset when he's cheap. The Pirates will probably send him back to Triple-A to begin this year.
53. Ian Stewart - 3B Rockies - DOB: 04/05/85 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: 2004 #98, mid-2004 #29, 2005 #7, mid-2005 #11, 2006 #20, mid-2006 #27, 2007 #50, mid-2007 #37
.304/.379/.478, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 92/49 K/BB, 11 SB in 414 AB (AAA Colorado Springs)
.209/.261/.372, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17/1 K/BB, 0 SB in 43 AB (Colorado)
Stewart was supposedly part of the Rockies' second-base competition entering the spring, but he never had a realistic chance of beating out Jayson Nix, and even though he hit well in March, he was sent down. Another year of Triple-A is what he needs anyway. His 857 OPS last year was nothing special considering the conditions at Colorado Springs. In fact, he hasn't put up particularly good numbers at any point since he was at low-A Asheville in 2004. His defense at third base remains rough, though he has the tools to be more than adequate. He was never likely to cut it at second. Even though he's just now turning 23, this is a big year for Stewart. If he goes out and slugs .550, he'll be a hot property in trade talks, while another season like his 2007 would have teams questioning his long-term upside. It'd be a disappointment if he joins the Mike Lamb/Ty Wigginton class of third basemen.
54. Luke Hochevar - RHP Royals - DOB: 09/15/83 - ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #38, mid-2007 #31
3-6, 4.69 ERA, 110 H, 94/26 K/BB in 94 IP (AA Wichita)
1-3, 5.12 ERA, 53 H, 44/21 K/BB in 58 IP (AAA Omaha)
0-1, 2.13 ERA, 11 H, 5/4 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP (Kansas City)
Hochevar, the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, reached the majors in his first full pro season and tasted success in one start and three relief appearances for the Royals, but his ceiling just doesn't seem as high as it once did. While he occasionally touched 95 mph on the gun at the University of Tennessee, he peaks at around 93 mph now, and he doesn't induce many grounders with the pitch. As a result, he allowed 24 homers in the minors last season. He can get strikeouts with his curve, and both his changeup and slider show promise. Still, after calling him a No. 2 or No. 3 in last year's top 10, I'd label him a No. 3 or No. 4 now. He'll contend for a rotation spot this spring, and the Royals are also looking at him as a possible short-term reliever.
55. Ryan Sweeney - OF Athletics - DOB: 02/20/85 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: mid-2004 #124, 2005 #80, mid-2005 #94, 2006 #85, mid-2006 #52, 2007 #23, mid-2007 #25
.270/.348/.398, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 71/48 K/BB, 8 SB in 397 AB (AAA Charlotte)
.200/.265/.333, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5/4 K/BB, 0 SB in 45 AB (Chicago - AL)
.286/.347/.345, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 18/9 K/BB, 5 SB in 84 AB (AFL Phoenix)
The White Sox put Sweeney in high-A ball in his first full pro season and later got discouraged when he still wasn't ready for the majors at age 21. His genuine lack of progress in his age-22 season seemed to be the final straw, and it was no longer a matter of if he'd be traded by the time he was included in the Nick Swisher deal. The change of scenery should be good for Sweeney. Despite always being among the youngest players in his leagues, Sweeney has hit .289 as a minor leaguer. The power has yet to come and probably never will in the quantity that the White Sox expected, but he has enough strength to average 15-20 homers per year. On defense, he's a potential top-notch right fielder with enough speed to play center, though that'll probably be gone by the time he reaches his prime. The A's could keep him as a fourth outfielder for now or send him down to play regularly. He doesn't possess Carlos Gonzalez's offensive potential, so if he's going to be a starter for the A's in 2009, it may have to be in center.
56. Adrian Cardenas - 2B Phillies - DOB: 10/10/87 - ETA: 2011
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #93
.295/.354/.417, 9 HR, 79 RBI, 80/47 K/BB, 20 SB in 499 AB (A- Lakewood)
Cardenas, a 2006 supplemental first-round pick, hardly posted eye-catching numbers in his first full pro season, yet he fared quite well for a high school product in the Sally League. Excluding his poor April, he had a .366 OBP, and he finished with a .301 average in lefty-lefty matchups. It remains a mystery where Cardenas will end up on the diamond. He was drafted as a shortstop, but he would have needed to move even if not for Jimmy Rollins' presence. He should prove to be an average second baseman, though he faces a similar obstacle there. His below average arm would make him less than ideal at third, and he probably wouldn't have the range for center field. It'd be a real shame if he ended up in left, though he may have the bat to carry the position. It's possible that he'll be trade bait for the Phillies before he's ready for the majors in 2010 or 2011.
57. Desmond Jennings - OF Rays - DOB: 10/30/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #88
.315/.401/.465, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 53/45 K/BB, 45 SB in 387 AB (A- Columbus)
The Rays hardly seemed to need another top-flight outfield prospect, but they got one last year, as Jennings blossomed less than a year after he was stolen in the 10th round. Now that Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes are gone, with Rocco Baldelli a possibility to follow at some point in the next year, there's actually a pretty clear path for Jennings to the majors, though he's going to need another two seasons in the minors first. Jennings has terrific speed and should develop into an excellent center fielder in time, though he doesn't have a great arm. He shows leadoff potential in the batter's box, and it looks like he's already well on his way to developing modest power. If he can handle more advanced breaking balls, he could become a star.
58. Scott Elbert - LHP Dodgers - DOB: 05/13/85 - ETA: July 2009
Previous rankings: 2006 #118, mid-2006 #37, 2007 #35, mid-2007 #46
0-1, 3.86 ERA, 6 H, 24/10 K/BB in 14 IP (AA Jacksonville)
Elbert, a 2004 first-round pick, established himself as one of the game's top lefty prospects in 2006, but was limited to just three starts last season before surgery on his left shoulder. While no tears in his labrum or rotator cuff were discovered, he still wasn't ready to return this spring. If he regains his stuff, Elbert will show three major league pitches in his low-90s fastball, curve and changeup. He does struggle to throw strikes, and his rather violent windup may have led to his shoulder problems. If he could tone it down a bit and still throw 88-91 mph with better command, he might be better off in the long run. He'll probably resume pitching in the minors in May or June. The surgery has backed up his timetable by at least a year.
59. Geovany Soto - C Cubs - DOB: 01/20/83 - ETA: Now
Previous rankings: none
.353/.424/.652, 26 HR, 109 RBI, 94/53 K/BB, 0 SB in 385 AB (AAA Iowa)
.389/.433/.667, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 14/5 K/BB, 0 SB in 54 AB (NL Chicago)
Soto entered 2007 as a .262/.344/.371 hitter in 1,574 minor league at-bats. He hit four homers in 292 at-bats at Iowa in 2005 and six homers in 342 at-bats in 2006. His sudden emergence as arguably the top performer in the minors was surprising to say the least. The weight he dropped over the previous winter certainly played some role. Soto continued to excel in 54 at-bats for the Cubs, leaving no doubt that the team would go forward with him as a regular this year. Soto has always been solid defensively. His slow release takes away from a strong arm behind the plate, but he's average at cutting down baserunners anyway. He was a candidate for a long career as a backup even when he wasn't showing much offensively. He can't possibly be as good going forward as he was last year, but he was so impressive that he has to be looked at as an above average offensive catcher for now. It's really anyone's guess what kind of player he'll be in three years.
60. Jeff Niemann - RHP Rays - DOB: 02/28/83 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2005 #60, mid-2005 #74, 2006 #83, mid-2006 #49, 2007 #53, mid-2007 #32
12-6, 3.98 ERA, 144 H, 123/46 K/BB in 131 IP (AAA Durham)
Niemann finally managed to stay healthy last year, with his only missed time coming in early August because of shoulder fatigue. Still, the 6-foot-9 right-hander didn't display the same kind of velocity that made him the fourth overall selection in the 2004 draft. He still peaks in the mid-90s with his heater, but he was often under that, and neither his curve nor his slider resulted in as many strikeouts as hoped. He's going to have to adapt in order to begin fulfilling his potential and a legitimate changeup would help. He still has above average stuff, so there will be no giving up on him anytime soon. There's a good chance he'll be one of the first starters called up by the Rays this season.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Calf Injury Knocks Soriano Out
It seemed reasonable to assume that the Cubs would call up Matt Murton if they placed Alfonso Soriano on the disabled list following a calf injury Tuesday night, because Murton should never have been demoted to Triple-A in the first place after batting .296/.365/.455 in 289 career MLB games. Instead, Soriano headed to the DL on Wednesday and the Cubs left Murton to rot in Iowa while calling up Eric Patterson.
Patterson is a good prospect with solid long-term fantasy potential because of his power-speed combination, but the Cubs refused to play him when they called him up last year and he figures to spend much of his time on the bench this time around too. While Patterson watches from the dugout and Murton continues to waste away in the minors, expect Mark DeRosa to see most of the starts in left field and Mike Fontenot to take over for him as the regular second baseman.
DeRosa was already playing nearly every day, so his value won't change much, but Fontenot is now a solid NL-only option. He started at second base and led off Wednesday, going 1-for-5 with an RBI. Fontenot isn't nearly as strong a hitter as Murton and can't compete with Patterson in the steals department, but has batted .277/.338/.410 through his first 285 plate appearances in the majors after putting up similarly decent numbers in the minors.
Patterson is worth grabbing in deeper leagues and remains a quality keeper-league option, while Felix Pie, Ronny Cedeno, and Reed Johnson should also receive small value boosts. As for Soriano, no timetable has been established yet for his return, but it's safe to assume that he'll be out for longer than the 15-day minimum. Following up last year's quadriceps problems with a calf injury can't be good news for his speed, so don't expect many steals when he does return.
While the Cubs do everything they can to ruin the career of a perfectly solid hitter in Murton, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* He's made me look like the boy who cried wolf before, but Felix Hernandez finally appears to be making The Leap. King Felix tossed a complete game Wednesday, holding the A's to two runs while racking up eight strikeouts versus one walk. He allowed a run in the eighth inning to trim the Mariners' lead to 4-2 and finished the frame with over 100 pitches, but manager John McLaren let him go back out for the ninth inning rather than turn to fill-in closer Mark Lowe.
Allowing Hernandez to throw 115 pitches in April isn't the smartest move in the world given that he turned 22 years old last week. Plus, he got off to a similarly outstanding start last year, tossing 17 straight scoreless innings before being slowed by arm problems. This time around Hernandez is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and 1.17 WHIP through four outings, and looks capable of long last living up to all the hype that he's received in this space. He has Cy Young potential.
* Nomar Garciaparra returned from the disabled list Wednesday, one day earlier than expected, and went 1-for-2 with two walks as the Dodgers' starting third baseman. Rookie Blake DeWitt did a decent job filling in for Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche, batting .261/.382/.348 with eight walks in 14 games, but has zero chance of continuing to play regularly now that manager Joe Torre has another veteran to stick in the lineup.
Garciaparra went 3-for-10 during a three-game minor-league rehab assignment and shouldn't be counted on as an immediate asset after saying Tuesday that he'll "never be pain-free" because "it would probably take a lot longer than that" for his wrist to completely heal. He'll have reasonable value in NL-only leagues, but will have to play his way into being a mixed-league option after batting just .283/.328/.371 last season and will have to hurry with LaRoche on the way back.
* Carlos Gomez went 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases Wednesday, giving him nine steals through 15 games. That puts him on pace to swipe about 95 bases, which would make him the first player to crack the 90-steal mark since Rickey Henderson stole 93 bags in 1988. Amazingly, all of that thievery has come despite Gomez getting on base just 28 percent of the time and his lone caught stealing came via pickoff. Never before has .262/.284/.369 been such fun to watch.
AL Quick Hits: Barring a setback, Curtis Granderson (hand) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Friday ? Manager John Gibbons said Tuesday that the best-case scenario for Scott Rolen's (finger) return is another two weeks ? Jorge Posada (shoulder) hasn't caught since April 8, but was in the lineup Wednesday at designated hitter ? Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-6 with a homer Wednesday, making him 12-for-33 (.363) with two homers and nine RBIs since beginning the season 2-for-20 ? His ill father is reportedly feeling better, but there's no timetable yet for Joba Chamberlain's return ? Kevin Youkilis left Wednesday's game with a bruised foot, but X-rays were negative and he's considered day-to-day ? Alex Rodriguez's homer Wednesday was No. 522 of his career, moving him past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 15th place on the all-time list ? A.J. Burnett came on in relief Wednesday in the 14th inning and took the loss as the Blue Jays' ninth pitcher of the night ? With Al "Don't Tase Me, Bro!" Reyes (shoulder) going on the disabled list Wednesday, Dan Wheeler will take over as the Rays' primary setup man.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins (ankle) pinch-hit Wednesday, but was clearly hobbled and will now be away from the Phillies until at least Saturday while attending his uncle's funeral ? Mike Jacobs smacked his MLB-leading sixth homer Wednesday and has a dozen hits during the past six games ? With youngsters Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez already thriving in the Reds' rotation, the Homer Bailey Watch officially began once the Cubs got to Josh Fogg for nine runs Wednesday ? After saying that he fixed a flaw in his delivery that had contributed to his rough start, Roy Oswalt held the Phillies to one run over seven innings Wednesday ? Doug Brocail closed out the win for Oswalt, but the struggling Jose Valverde working on three of the past four days may explain why he got the save chance ? Off to a .309/.361/.455 start, Lastings Milledge was shifted to the fifth spot in the Nationals' batting order Wednesday ? Looking like the NL version of Gomez, Michael Bourn swiped his league-leading seventh base Wednesday and also went deep for the second time after homering just once in 133 plate appearances last season.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Calf Injury Knocks Soriano Out
It seemed reasonable to assume that the Cubs would call up Matt Murton if they placed Alfonso Soriano on the disabled list following a calf injury Tuesday night, because Murton should never have been demoted to Triple-A in the first place after batting .296/.365/.455 in 289 career MLB games. Instead, Soriano headed to the DL on Wednesday and the Cubs left Murton to rot in Iowa while calling up Eric Patterson.
Patterson is a good prospect with solid long-term fantasy potential because of his power-speed combination, but the Cubs refused to play him when they called him up last year and he figures to spend much of his time on the bench this time around too. While Patterson watches from the dugout and Murton continues to waste away in the minors, expect Mark DeRosa to see most of the starts in left field and Mike Fontenot to take over for him as the regular second baseman.
DeRosa was already playing nearly every day, so his value won't change much, but Fontenot is now a solid NL-only option. He started at second base and led off Wednesday, going 1-for-5 with an RBI. Fontenot isn't nearly as strong a hitter as Murton and can't compete with Patterson in the steals department, but has batted .277/.338/.410 through his first 285 plate appearances in the majors after putting up similarly decent numbers in the minors.
Patterson is worth grabbing in deeper leagues and remains a quality keeper-league option, while Felix Pie, Ronny Cedeno, and Reed Johnson should also receive small value boosts. As for Soriano, no timetable has been established yet for his return, but it's safe to assume that he'll be out for longer than the 15-day minimum. Following up last year's quadriceps problems with a calf injury can't be good news for his speed, so don't expect many steals when he does return.
While the Cubs do everything they can to ruin the career of a perfectly solid hitter in Murton, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* He's made me look like the boy who cried wolf before, but Felix Hernandez finally appears to be making The Leap. King Felix tossed a complete game Wednesday, holding the A's to two runs while racking up eight strikeouts versus one walk. He allowed a run in the eighth inning to trim the Mariners' lead to 4-2 and finished the frame with over 100 pitches, but manager John McLaren let him go back out for the ninth inning rather than turn to fill-in closer Mark Lowe.
Allowing Hernandez to throw 115 pitches in April isn't the smartest move in the world given that he turned 22 years old last week. Plus, he got off to a similarly outstanding start last year, tossing 17 straight scoreless innings before being slowed by arm problems. This time around Hernandez is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and 1.17 WHIP through four outings, and looks capable of long last living up to all the hype that he's received in this space. He has Cy Young potential.
* Nomar Garciaparra returned from the disabled list Wednesday, one day earlier than expected, and went 1-for-2 with two walks as the Dodgers' starting third baseman. Rookie Blake DeWitt did a decent job filling in for Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche, batting .261/.382/.348 with eight walks in 14 games, but has zero chance of continuing to play regularly now that manager Joe Torre has another veteran to stick in the lineup.
Garciaparra went 3-for-10 during a three-game minor-league rehab assignment and shouldn't be counted on as an immediate asset after saying Tuesday that he'll "never be pain-free" because "it would probably take a lot longer than that" for his wrist to completely heal. He'll have reasonable value in NL-only leagues, but will have to play his way into being a mixed-league option after batting just .283/.328/.371 last season and will have to hurry with LaRoche on the way back.
* Carlos Gomez went 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases Wednesday, giving him nine steals through 15 games. That puts him on pace to swipe about 95 bases, which would make him the first player to crack the 90-steal mark since Rickey Henderson stole 93 bags in 1988. Amazingly, all of that thievery has come despite Gomez getting on base just 28 percent of the time and his lone caught stealing came via pickoff. Never before has .262/.284/.369 been such fun to watch.
AL Quick Hits: Barring a setback, Curtis Granderson (hand) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Friday ? Manager John Gibbons said Tuesday that the best-case scenario for Scott Rolen's (finger) return is another two weeks ? Jorge Posada (shoulder) hasn't caught since April 8, but was in the lineup Wednesday at designated hitter ? Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-6 with a homer Wednesday, making him 12-for-33 (.363) with two homers and nine RBIs since beginning the season 2-for-20 ? His ill father is reportedly feeling better, but there's no timetable yet for Joba Chamberlain's return ? Kevin Youkilis left Wednesday's game with a bruised foot, but X-rays were negative and he's considered day-to-day ? Alex Rodriguez's homer Wednesday was No. 522 of his career, moving him past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 15th place on the all-time list ? A.J. Burnett came on in relief Wednesday in the 14th inning and took the loss as the Blue Jays' ninth pitcher of the night ? With Al "Don't Tase Me, Bro!" Reyes (shoulder) going on the disabled list Wednesday, Dan Wheeler will take over as the Rays' primary setup man.
NL Quick Hits: Jimmy Rollins (ankle) pinch-hit Wednesday, but was clearly hobbled and will now be away from the Phillies until at least Saturday while attending his uncle's funeral ? Mike Jacobs smacked his MLB-leading sixth homer Wednesday and has a dozen hits during the past six games ? With youngsters Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez already thriving in the Reds' rotation, the Homer Bailey Watch officially began once the Cubs got to Josh Fogg for nine runs Wednesday ? After saying that he fixed a flaw in his delivery that had contributed to his rough start, Roy Oswalt held the Phillies to one run over seven innings Wednesday ? Doug Brocail closed out the win for Oswalt, but the struggling Jose Valverde working on three of the past four days may explain why he got the save chance ? Off to a .309/.361/.455 start, Lastings Milledge was shifted to the fifth spot in the Nationals' batting order Wednesday ? Looking like the NL version of Gomez, Michael Bourn swiped his league-leading seventh base Wednesday and also went deep for the second time after homering just once in 133 plate appearances last season.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Definite-Lee looking good
If the Yankees gave Billy Crystal an at-bat during spring training, doesn't it make sense that they should give the Pope at least one plate appearance when he's in New York later this week? Certainly there's a reason he wears that funny hat around, and I'm guessing it has to do with protection against 90 mph fastballs. Besides, he's just as likely to get on base as Johnny Damon.
Here are some options if your fantasy team needs divine intervention:
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
1. Cliff Lee ? In Lee's first full season in the majors, he averaged almost a strikeout per inning. Since then, his inning totals have increased annually and his strikeouts have decreased. So far this year, Lee has a 12/1 K/BB ratio with just six hits allowed in 14 2/3 innings. There's no denying that Lee's 2007 was brutal, but much of that could be the result of an abdominal strain that forced him to miss the first week of the season. He'll struggle to match his numbers from 2005, but if he continues to make batters miss, pitching for Cleveland will give him plenty of value. His upcoming schedule makes him especially attractive.
2. Milton Bradley ? Bradley, who is supposed to be recovering from knee surgery, is currently sitting on a nine-game hitting streak. He's yet to hit a home run, though, and his run and RBI totals have been hindered by the lineup around him. Still, Bradley displayed plenty of power last season despite playing at Petco, and hitting at Ameriquest Field could help him approach 25 home runs if he can net around 400 at-bats. That's a huge "if," however, as Bradley has only topped 377 at-bats once in his career. He'll contribute to your fantasy team as long as he's healthy, and is a worthy option until disaster strikes.
3. Gavin Floyd ? The most important thing to remember when looking at Gavin Floyd's 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball from Saturday is that it was on a cold and rainy day in which there were only two hits through the first seven innings. Floyd's brief time in the majors has been highlighted by a tendency to give up a ton of home runs, and thus far the weather seems to be helping him keep that problem in check. Floyd was also lucky enough to face the Tigers offense before they caught fire, although that turns into a bit of a chicken or the egg argument. Still, Floyd is a former first-round draft pick with plenty of potential ? just don't go assuming he's over the hump to quality fantasy material just yet.
4. Sean Casey ? With Mike Lowell sidelined due to a sprained left thumb, Kevin Youkilis has taken over at third with Casey stepping in at first. Casey is a singles hitter at this point in his career, but hitting around .300 in Boston's vaunted lineup should give him a decent number of RBI opportunities. In 28 at-bats this season he already has knocked in seven, but he's stuck in the eighth spot and could start losing more time if the Red Sox look to get Jed Lowrie more involved. Casey's numbers have been trending downward since his monster 2004, and he's not a great option for anything but the deepest AL-only leagues.
5. Livan Hernandez ? Hernandez has great numbers through four games, as he sports a 3.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Most of the credit belongs to the inordinately high number of ground balls he's been able to induce, but there's reason for concern. After allowing one walk in his first three games, Hernandez issued three in his fourth start. He allowed three home runs in his that start, suggesting that he's returning to the pedestrian numbers he's put up in the past three seasons. If he can continue to induce ground balls at his current rate, pitching in Minnesota should help Hernandez improve slightly on his numbers from last season. Still, he's still not someone to be relied upon in fantasy leagues.
6. Justin Ruggiano ? With Cliff Floyd being placed on the disabled list, the Rays recalled Justin Ruggiano to platoon against left-handed pitchers. Ruggiano hit .309 in Triple-A last season, with 20 home runs and 26 stolen bases, so he brings a lot of talent to the table. That said, he also brings a propensity to strike out often and is only going to play a few times a week, giving him severely limited immediate value in mixed leagues. Still, Ruggiano projects to have a bright future if he is ever given the chance to play every day, which could ultimately end up happening at some point this season.
7. Nathan Haynes ? Haynes possesses two primary talents: the ability to steal bases and superior defense. With Willy Aybar missing a few games before being put on the DL due to hamstring stightness, Eric Hinske moved to third, giving Haynes a few games in right field. Since Evan Longoria's promotion, though, Haynes has played in just two games and doesn't appear to be in line for much more. Haynes has four stolen bases in just 24 at-bats this season, but there's no telling how long it will take him to get his next couple dozen plate appearances. He's only an option if you're desperate for speed and in a very deep league.
8. Joe Inglett ? Since being called up last week, Inglett has played in five games and amassed 16 at-bats. He's hitting .375 in this brief period, but that number should come down to around .260 if Inglett continues to hit regularly. Inglett offers little in the way of speed or power, making him a poor addition to fantasy teams.
9. Armando Galarraga ? Filling in for Dontrelle Willis, Galarraga allowed just one hit in 6 2/3 innings of work on Wednesday night while striking out six and not walking a batter. He allowed two runs, the second coming as a result of a hit batter that Jason Grilli allowed to score. Still, if Galarraga is going to sustain this type of success, he's got to do a little more work on honing his game in the minor leagues. He'll likely get a chance to resume doing that after his next start against the Blue Jays. He makes a risky AL-only start at Toronto.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
1. Manny Acosta/Blaine Boyer/Will Ohman ? With Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan now on the disabled list, Braves manager Bobby Cox says he'll use a closer-by-committee approach featuring the three guys listed above. Acosta has been used in more high-pressure situations thus far, but Boyer has displayed more of the high strikeout/low walk ratio that tends to indicate a solid closer. He also has a better ERA, although neither has a great one. Also, before being hampered by shoulder issues in 2006, Boyer was considered a candidate to close over Chris Reitsma for the Braves. Acosta has the most immediate value, but those in deeper leagues might want to stash Boyer if it seems like Soriano will be out for longer than the minimum 15-days on the disabled list.
2. Hong-Chi Kuo ? Kuo has taken Esteban Loaiza's spot in the rotation, and while his talent has always been evident, his health remains his biggest problem. In three injury-plagued seasons he's never been able to bring his WHIP into the respectable range, and he already had to miss time this spring due to arm issues. He's always had great stuff, though, and thus far this season has a 0.84 ERA with 14 strikeouts in just 10 2/3 innings. He also continues to be haunted by shaky control, having given up seven walks. Still, Kuo possesses the stuff to make him an asset in fantasy leagues, and his K-rate makes him worth gambling on despite the fact that he'll likely wind up back on the disabled list at some point.
3. Randy Wolf ? Through three games, Randy Wolf is sitting on a 1.42 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. His three games have all been in pitcher-friendly parks, but that's one of the benefits of calling Petco home. For Wolf, it should have an immediate impact on the number of home runs he gives up, and thus limit the damage done by his moderately high walk rate. Wolf has been bothered by arm injuries since 2004, and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005, but so far he appears to be fully recovered. If so, he will be a nice addition for as long as he stays healthy.
4. Doug Brocail ? Brocail got his first save of the season on Wednesday night, but Jose Valverde had pitched in three of the previous four nights and clearly needed a rest after a messy meltdown on Tuesday night. After the game, the Astros confirmed that Valverde remained their closer, and it makes sense, as he's really the best suited for the job. Still, Brocail is the clear Plan B, and could see significant saves if Valverde continues to struggle. He's still speculative at this point.
5. Kaz Matsui ? Matsui is scheduled to come off the disabled list on Friday, and he's currently owned in about half of all fantasy leagues. Matsui's anal fissure shouldn't affect our original projections for him: he'll likely net you 20 steals over the rest of the season while not dragging down your average. Besides that, his contributions will be just about league average. Still, he's a decent option if you're looking for steals.
6. Scott Olsen ? Much like Zack Greinke, Olsen's problems on the field have often been linked to issues off the field. Heading into spring training, there were plenty of feature stories written about how hard Olsen was working to overcome his personal issues in hopes that it would translate to a better numbers. After three starts, he has a 3.05 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP, hinting that he could be close to finally pitching to the potential his plus slider hints at. He's already a decent option in NL-only leagues, and his upside makes him worthy of consideration in mixed leagues.
7. Jayson Werth ? With Shane Victorino on the disabled list, Jayson Werth is seeing significant playing time in center field. He's gotten off to a great start, raising his average to .370 on the season and stealing two quick bases. Still, Werth's batting average is bound to come back to Earth, and he's not a huge speed threat, making him a better play in NL-only leagues than mixed ones. Ride out his hot streak, but don't get attached.
8. Wily Mo Pena ? Wily Mo is back in left field after suffering an oblique injury halfway through spring training. His numbers from last season are pedestrian, but it wasn't until the trade to Washington that he really took off, smacking eight home runs in just 133 at-bats. Pena has legitimate power, but he strikes out a ton and he struggles against right-handed pitchers. If he can lay claim to consistent work in left field, he could approach thirty home runs, but he'll do it while hitting around .260.
9. Mike Fontenot ? With Alfonso Soriano hopping his way onto the disabled list, Fontenot appears poised to see significant work at second base for as long as Felix Pie is struggling in center (thus leaving Mark DeRosa in left). He has the potential to steal a few bases and hit a few home runs, but his main contribution is an average that should hover around .300. He should have decent NL-only value for as long as he has a regular job.
10. Skip Schumaker ? Schumaker had a brutal start to the season, but a recent hot streak has him seeing consistent time at the top of the St. Louis batting order. While he could finish with a decent average, he doesn't have the power or speed to contribute to fantasy lineups. He'll have some value as a run-scorer as long as he's hitting in the top spot in the lineup, but even that gig is only guaranteed for as long as his hot streak lasts.
11. John Bowker ? To say Bowker has gotten off to a fast start would be an understatement. In his first four games, the 24-year-old is hitting .538 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBI. It's a solid start, but nothing about Bowker's minor league stats suggest that he'll hit home runs at anything close to this rate. Expect a solid average, but Bowker should only hit about 10 home runs even if he manages to see 400 at-bats. It's not a given that will happen, either, but the Giants have already said they're planning on sitting Randy Winn more often in order to get Bowker more involved.
12. Shawn Chacon ? Chacon pitched eight innings of shutout baseball on Tuesday to lower his ERA to 2.25 on the season. With a WHIP of 1.15, Chacon might be getting fantasy consideration from players who have forgotten that he's still Shawn Chacon. He's walked 10 batters in 20 innings, while only striking out 11, suggesting that his ERA is destined to start climbing. If one wants to find the underlying cause of his success, the BABIP that's just over .200 could be a place to start. Avoid.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Definite-Lee looking good
If the Yankees gave Billy Crystal an at-bat during spring training, doesn't it make sense that they should give the Pope at least one plate appearance when he's in New York later this week? Certainly there's a reason he wears that funny hat around, and I'm guessing it has to do with protection against 90 mph fastballs. Besides, he's just as likely to get on base as Johnny Damon.
Here are some options if your fantasy team needs divine intervention:
[SIZE=+1]American League[/SIZE]
1. Cliff Lee ? In Lee's first full season in the majors, he averaged almost a strikeout per inning. Since then, his inning totals have increased annually and his strikeouts have decreased. So far this year, Lee has a 12/1 K/BB ratio with just six hits allowed in 14 2/3 innings. There's no denying that Lee's 2007 was brutal, but much of that could be the result of an abdominal strain that forced him to miss the first week of the season. He'll struggle to match his numbers from 2005, but if he continues to make batters miss, pitching for Cleveland will give him plenty of value. His upcoming schedule makes him especially attractive.
2. Milton Bradley ? Bradley, who is supposed to be recovering from knee surgery, is currently sitting on a nine-game hitting streak. He's yet to hit a home run, though, and his run and RBI totals have been hindered by the lineup around him. Still, Bradley displayed plenty of power last season despite playing at Petco, and hitting at Ameriquest Field could help him approach 25 home runs if he can net around 400 at-bats. That's a huge "if," however, as Bradley has only topped 377 at-bats once in his career. He'll contribute to your fantasy team as long as he's healthy, and is a worthy option until disaster strikes.
3. Gavin Floyd ? The most important thing to remember when looking at Gavin Floyd's 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball from Saturday is that it was on a cold and rainy day in which there were only two hits through the first seven innings. Floyd's brief time in the majors has been highlighted by a tendency to give up a ton of home runs, and thus far the weather seems to be helping him keep that problem in check. Floyd was also lucky enough to face the Tigers offense before they caught fire, although that turns into a bit of a chicken or the egg argument. Still, Floyd is a former first-round draft pick with plenty of potential ? just don't go assuming he's over the hump to quality fantasy material just yet.
4. Sean Casey ? With Mike Lowell sidelined due to a sprained left thumb, Kevin Youkilis has taken over at third with Casey stepping in at first. Casey is a singles hitter at this point in his career, but hitting around .300 in Boston's vaunted lineup should give him a decent number of RBI opportunities. In 28 at-bats this season he already has knocked in seven, but he's stuck in the eighth spot and could start losing more time if the Red Sox look to get Jed Lowrie more involved. Casey's numbers have been trending downward since his monster 2004, and he's not a great option for anything but the deepest AL-only leagues.
5. Livan Hernandez ? Hernandez has great numbers through four games, as he sports a 3.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Most of the credit belongs to the inordinately high number of ground balls he's been able to induce, but there's reason for concern. After allowing one walk in his first three games, Hernandez issued three in his fourth start. He allowed three home runs in his that start, suggesting that he's returning to the pedestrian numbers he's put up in the past three seasons. If he can continue to induce ground balls at his current rate, pitching in Minnesota should help Hernandez improve slightly on his numbers from last season. Still, he's still not someone to be relied upon in fantasy leagues.
6. Justin Ruggiano ? With Cliff Floyd being placed on the disabled list, the Rays recalled Justin Ruggiano to platoon against left-handed pitchers. Ruggiano hit .309 in Triple-A last season, with 20 home runs and 26 stolen bases, so he brings a lot of talent to the table. That said, he also brings a propensity to strike out often and is only going to play a few times a week, giving him severely limited immediate value in mixed leagues. Still, Ruggiano projects to have a bright future if he is ever given the chance to play every day, which could ultimately end up happening at some point this season.
7. Nathan Haynes ? Haynes possesses two primary talents: the ability to steal bases and superior defense. With Willy Aybar missing a few games before being put on the DL due to hamstring stightness, Eric Hinske moved to third, giving Haynes a few games in right field. Since Evan Longoria's promotion, though, Haynes has played in just two games and doesn't appear to be in line for much more. Haynes has four stolen bases in just 24 at-bats this season, but there's no telling how long it will take him to get his next couple dozen plate appearances. He's only an option if you're desperate for speed and in a very deep league.
8. Joe Inglett ? Since being called up last week, Inglett has played in five games and amassed 16 at-bats. He's hitting .375 in this brief period, but that number should come down to around .260 if Inglett continues to hit regularly. Inglett offers little in the way of speed or power, making him a poor addition to fantasy teams.
9. Armando Galarraga ? Filling in for Dontrelle Willis, Galarraga allowed just one hit in 6 2/3 innings of work on Wednesday night while striking out six and not walking a batter. He allowed two runs, the second coming as a result of a hit batter that Jason Grilli allowed to score. Still, if Galarraga is going to sustain this type of success, he's got to do a little more work on honing his game in the minor leagues. He'll likely get a chance to resume doing that after his next start against the Blue Jays. He makes a risky AL-only start at Toronto.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]National League[/SIZE]
1. Manny Acosta/Blaine Boyer/Will Ohman ? With Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan now on the disabled list, Braves manager Bobby Cox says he'll use a closer-by-committee approach featuring the three guys listed above. Acosta has been used in more high-pressure situations thus far, but Boyer has displayed more of the high strikeout/low walk ratio that tends to indicate a solid closer. He also has a better ERA, although neither has a great one. Also, before being hampered by shoulder issues in 2006, Boyer was considered a candidate to close over Chris Reitsma for the Braves. Acosta has the most immediate value, but those in deeper leagues might want to stash Boyer if it seems like Soriano will be out for longer than the minimum 15-days on the disabled list.
2. Hong-Chi Kuo ? Kuo has taken Esteban Loaiza's spot in the rotation, and while his talent has always been evident, his health remains his biggest problem. In three injury-plagued seasons he's never been able to bring his WHIP into the respectable range, and he already had to miss time this spring due to arm issues. He's always had great stuff, though, and thus far this season has a 0.84 ERA with 14 strikeouts in just 10 2/3 innings. He also continues to be haunted by shaky control, having given up seven walks. Still, Kuo possesses the stuff to make him an asset in fantasy leagues, and his K-rate makes him worth gambling on despite the fact that he'll likely wind up back on the disabled list at some point.
3. Randy Wolf ? Through three games, Randy Wolf is sitting on a 1.42 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. His three games have all been in pitcher-friendly parks, but that's one of the benefits of calling Petco home. For Wolf, it should have an immediate impact on the number of home runs he gives up, and thus limit the damage done by his moderately high walk rate. Wolf has been bothered by arm injuries since 2004, and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005, but so far he appears to be fully recovered. If so, he will be a nice addition for as long as he stays healthy.
4. Doug Brocail ? Brocail got his first save of the season on Wednesday night, but Jose Valverde had pitched in three of the previous four nights and clearly needed a rest after a messy meltdown on Tuesday night. After the game, the Astros confirmed that Valverde remained their closer, and it makes sense, as he's really the best suited for the job. Still, Brocail is the clear Plan B, and could see significant saves if Valverde continues to struggle. He's still speculative at this point.
5. Kaz Matsui ? Matsui is scheduled to come off the disabled list on Friday, and he's currently owned in about half of all fantasy leagues. Matsui's anal fissure shouldn't affect our original projections for him: he'll likely net you 20 steals over the rest of the season while not dragging down your average. Besides that, his contributions will be just about league average. Still, he's a decent option if you're looking for steals.
6. Scott Olsen ? Much like Zack Greinke, Olsen's problems on the field have often been linked to issues off the field. Heading into spring training, there were plenty of feature stories written about how hard Olsen was working to overcome his personal issues in hopes that it would translate to a better numbers. After three starts, he has a 3.05 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP, hinting that he could be close to finally pitching to the potential his plus slider hints at. He's already a decent option in NL-only leagues, and his upside makes him worthy of consideration in mixed leagues.
7. Jayson Werth ? With Shane Victorino on the disabled list, Jayson Werth is seeing significant playing time in center field. He's gotten off to a great start, raising his average to .370 on the season and stealing two quick bases. Still, Werth's batting average is bound to come back to Earth, and he's not a huge speed threat, making him a better play in NL-only leagues than mixed ones. Ride out his hot streak, but don't get attached.
8. Wily Mo Pena ? Wily Mo is back in left field after suffering an oblique injury halfway through spring training. His numbers from last season are pedestrian, but it wasn't until the trade to Washington that he really took off, smacking eight home runs in just 133 at-bats. Pena has legitimate power, but he strikes out a ton and he struggles against right-handed pitchers. If he can lay claim to consistent work in left field, he could approach thirty home runs, but he'll do it while hitting around .260.
9. Mike Fontenot ? With Alfonso Soriano hopping his way onto the disabled list, Fontenot appears poised to see significant work at second base for as long as Felix Pie is struggling in center (thus leaving Mark DeRosa in left). He has the potential to steal a few bases and hit a few home runs, but his main contribution is an average that should hover around .300. He should have decent NL-only value for as long as he has a regular job.
10. Skip Schumaker ? Schumaker had a brutal start to the season, but a recent hot streak has him seeing consistent time at the top of the St. Louis batting order. While he could finish with a decent average, he doesn't have the power or speed to contribute to fantasy lineups. He'll have some value as a run-scorer as long as he's hitting in the top spot in the lineup, but even that gig is only guaranteed for as long as his hot streak lasts.
11. John Bowker ? To say Bowker has gotten off to a fast start would be an understatement. In his first four games, the 24-year-old is hitting .538 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBI. It's a solid start, but nothing about Bowker's minor league stats suggest that he'll hit home runs at anything close to this rate. Expect a solid average, but Bowker should only hit about 10 home runs even if he manages to see 400 at-bats. It's not a given that will happen, either, but the Giants have already said they're planning on sitting Randy Winn more often in order to get Bowker more involved.
12. Shawn Chacon ? Chacon pitched eight innings of shutout baseball on Tuesday to lower his ERA to 2.25 on the season. With a WHIP of 1.15, Chacon might be getting fantasy consideration from players who have forgotten that he's still Shawn Chacon. He's walked 10 batters in 20 innings, while only striking out 11, suggesting that his ERA is destined to start climbing. If one wants to find the underlying cause of his success, the BABIP that's just over .200 could be a place to start. Avoid.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Does hitting pitcher 8th work?
Last season, it was not unusual for current Milwaukee Brewer Jason Kendall to find his name listed ninth in the batting order. However, at the time, he was playing for the Oakland A's in the American League.
This season, his regular appearance at the bottom of the Brewers lineup card seems to defy common logic. Shouldn't a lineup's weakest hitter ? almost always the pitcher ? own the No. 9 slot?
The St. Louis Cardinals started routinely batting their pitcher eighth last season. Manager Tony La Russa has said this arrangement potentially gets the team's best hitters more RBI opportunities later in the game. Now Milwaukee's Ned Yost has jumped on the bandwagon.
Our first question is whether the No. 9 slot in the batting order leads off more than the No. 8 slot does. Tom Ruane of Retrosheet.org performed some analysis of games and composite lineups for every National League game for the past 10 years. He determined that the likelihood in any given NL game of the No. 8 slot or the No. 9 slot leading off is exactly the same: 11.1%, which is very symmetrical considering 11.1% is 100% divided by 9.
Looking at composite No. 8- and No. 9-hitter data over that 10-year period, Ruane determined No. 8 hitters got on base at a .322 clip, compared to a .234 clip for No. 9 hitters. Yet, in innings in which those poor-hitting No. 9 hitters led off, teams averaged 0.519 of a run, 0.05 more than when No. 8 hitters led off.
In fact, that 0.519 average is higher than for any other batters leading off except for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 slots. This data demonstrates the importance of La Russa's thinking ? that having top RBI men available in a row might be more important than the on-base percentage of the leadoff hitter.
Moving a hitter such as Kendall into the No. 9 slot will almost certainly raise that 0.519-run average. However, it follows that this tactic will also reduce the number of runs scored when the Nos. 5, 6 and 7 hitters lead off.
Essentially, the gain in those innings that Kendall leads off is washed out by those innings in which regular No. 6 hitter Corey Hart or No. 7 hitter J.J. Hardy leads off. Furthermore, batting in the No. 9 slot instead of the No. 8 slot means an average of 48 fewer plate appearances a season.
So, in real terms, this quirky move neither helps the team very much (as La Russa and Yost believe it does) nor hurts the team very much (as many pundits have decided without really looking at the data).
However, if these hitters remain in the same slots all season, there might be a real impact on individual contributions. There will be more RBI chances for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 hitters on the Cardinals and Brewers and fewer runs scored for those teams' Nos. 5, 6 and 7 hitters. The position players in the No. 9 slot will get roughly 30 fewer at-bats than they would have otherwise, but those players are more likely to score runs in that No. 9 slot.
For fantasy baseball purposes, the Cardinals' Cesar Izturis and Aaron Miles would split an incremental increase of about eight to 10 runs from the No. 9 slot, while Kendall would get most of that incremental increase. That additional eight to 10 runs per team would be driven in by a combination of Nos. 1-3 hitters, such as the Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, Chris Duncan and Albert Pujols and the Brewers' top-of-the-order hitters Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (Braun batted third Sunday) and eventually Mike Cameron, who's sitting out the first 25 games of the season after testing positive for a banned stimulant. They would get perhaps an additional three RBI apiece.
Correspondingly, regular No. 6 and No. 7 hitters ? such as the Cardinals' Adam Kennedy and Yadier Molina and the Brewers' Hart and Hardy ? can expect a drop of about three to five runs scored apiece.
As neat and symmetrical as this all sounds, things are rarely equal. These players likely will not always hit in the same slot in the order, and the team composition is likely to change over the course of the season. The truth is, while these changes could add or subtract a handful of runs scored or RBI for one player slot or another, the difference should end up being negligible for most players.
The lone exception, perhaps, might be for Kendall. If he stays in the No. 9 slot for all of 2008, he could potentially score 10 more runs over the course of the season. That would be a hefty 22% increase over his 2007 total of 45.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Does hitting pitcher 8th work?
Last season, it was not unusual for current Milwaukee Brewer Jason Kendall to find his name listed ninth in the batting order. However, at the time, he was playing for the Oakland A's in the American League.
This season, his regular appearance at the bottom of the Brewers lineup card seems to defy common logic. Shouldn't a lineup's weakest hitter ? almost always the pitcher ? own the No. 9 slot?
The St. Louis Cardinals started routinely batting their pitcher eighth last season. Manager Tony La Russa has said this arrangement potentially gets the team's best hitters more RBI opportunities later in the game. Now Milwaukee's Ned Yost has jumped on the bandwagon.
Our first question is whether the No. 9 slot in the batting order leads off more than the No. 8 slot does. Tom Ruane of Retrosheet.org performed some analysis of games and composite lineups for every National League game for the past 10 years. He determined that the likelihood in any given NL game of the No. 8 slot or the No. 9 slot leading off is exactly the same: 11.1%, which is very symmetrical considering 11.1% is 100% divided by 9.
Looking at composite No. 8- and No. 9-hitter data over that 10-year period, Ruane determined No. 8 hitters got on base at a .322 clip, compared to a .234 clip for No. 9 hitters. Yet, in innings in which those poor-hitting No. 9 hitters led off, teams averaged 0.519 of a run, 0.05 more than when No. 8 hitters led off.
In fact, that 0.519 average is higher than for any other batters leading off except for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 slots. This data demonstrates the importance of La Russa's thinking ? that having top RBI men available in a row might be more important than the on-base percentage of the leadoff hitter.
Moving a hitter such as Kendall into the No. 9 slot will almost certainly raise that 0.519-run average. However, it follows that this tactic will also reduce the number of runs scored when the Nos. 5, 6 and 7 hitters lead off.
Essentially, the gain in those innings that Kendall leads off is washed out by those innings in which regular No. 6 hitter Corey Hart or No. 7 hitter J.J. Hardy leads off. Furthermore, batting in the No. 9 slot instead of the No. 8 slot means an average of 48 fewer plate appearances a season.
So, in real terms, this quirky move neither helps the team very much (as La Russa and Yost believe it does) nor hurts the team very much (as many pundits have decided without really looking at the data).
However, if these hitters remain in the same slots all season, there might be a real impact on individual contributions. There will be more RBI chances for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 hitters on the Cardinals and Brewers and fewer runs scored for those teams' Nos. 5, 6 and 7 hitters. The position players in the No. 9 slot will get roughly 30 fewer at-bats than they would have otherwise, but those players are more likely to score runs in that No. 9 slot.
For fantasy baseball purposes, the Cardinals' Cesar Izturis and Aaron Miles would split an incremental increase of about eight to 10 runs from the No. 9 slot, while Kendall would get most of that incremental increase. That additional eight to 10 runs per team would be driven in by a combination of Nos. 1-3 hitters, such as the Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, Chris Duncan and Albert Pujols and the Brewers' top-of-the-order hitters Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (Braun batted third Sunday) and eventually Mike Cameron, who's sitting out the first 25 games of the season after testing positive for a banned stimulant. They would get perhaps an additional three RBI apiece.
Correspondingly, regular No. 6 and No. 7 hitters ? such as the Cardinals' Adam Kennedy and Yadier Molina and the Brewers' Hart and Hardy ? can expect a drop of about three to five runs scored apiece.
As neat and symmetrical as this all sounds, things are rarely equal. These players likely will not always hit in the same slot in the order, and the team composition is likely to change over the course of the season. The truth is, while these changes could add or subtract a handful of runs scored or RBI for one player slot or another, the difference should end up being negligible for most players.
The lone exception, perhaps, might be for Kendall. If he stays in the No. 9 slot for all of 2008, he could potentially score 10 more runs over the course of the season. That would be a hefty 22% increase over his 2007 total of 45.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Key cogs off to slow starts
One of the oft-repeated axioms in baseball is that when the season starts, pitchers generally have the upper hand against hitters. Players go from the warmth (and lofty batting averages) of spring training to colder and wetter conditions in much of the country.
Slow starts might be part of the game, but it's hard to sit back and watch while your top hitters struggle, especially if you've invested a large part of your payroll on a few players using the Stars & Scrubs approach ? and your stars are playing like scrubs.
In other words, your fantasy team has turned into the 2008 Detroit Tigers.
If that's the case, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than give your players a Jim Leyland-like tongue-lashing and hope they respond.
Outside of a season-ending injury, the greatest fear fantasy owners have at this time of year is that the one or two players who are supposed to be carrying their team will end up being nothing but dead weight.
It's quite a shock to see David Ortiz hitting .070, Prince Fielder without a home run and Jose Reyes with one stolen base.
But how quickly we forget that a year ago David Wright was hitting .244 with no homers at the end of April. He ended up with a .325 average, 30 homers and 34 stolen bases.
Mark Teixeira went the first 11 games of last season without an extra-base hit. Even with a midseason stint on the disabled list, he finished with 30 homers and 33 doubles.
If you're waiting for superstars such as "Big Papi" (Ortiz), Miguel Cabrera or Alfonso Soriano to turn things around, don't despair. The early trends of April are soon forgotten.
Need reassurance? Then ask yourself how many of these early trends (as last week ended) were likely to continue:
* Two catchers (A.J. Pierzynski and Jason Kendall) were leading their leagues in hitting.
* The Colorado Rockies and Tigers were tied for last in the majors in runs scored.
* The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals were thriving because of their outstanding pitching. (Kansas City's relievers have a collective ERA of 1.16, a full run better than any other team.)
* The New York Yankees had a total of zero stolen bases (until Sunday night).
Every year, a few statistical quirks such as these will send fantasy owners scrambling ? even if the season is only a couple of weeks old. But unless there's an injury, April is no time to start dealing your underperforming stars for below-market value.
As difficult as it is seeing your team at the bottom of the standings, the best course of action during the season's first month is to hang on to your core players and look to reinforce your weak spots through the waiver wire.
Poor pitching performances can be even more of a headache.
If pitchers usually have the upper hand in April, what does that mean for the ones who struggle early?
With hitters, breaking out of a slump can be as simple as going 4-for-4 in the next day's game. But for pitchers who are off to bad starts, the five-day wait until they take the mound again can be torture.
C.C. Sabathia has looked terrible in his first four starts, failing to get out of the sixth inning in any of them. After issuing 37 walks in 241 innings last season (1.38 per nine innings), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has 14 walks in 18 innings this year.
Until he shut down the Phillies over seven innings Wednesday night, Roy Oswalt had been hammered in his first three starts and complained of a twinge in his pitching arm after the second one. While that's a concern, his ratio of 16 strikeouts to four walks is among the majors' best.
Established stars such as Sabathia and Oswalt will be given every chance to get back on track, but managers are far less patient with their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 starters.
Just last week, the Chicago Cubs sent left-hander Rich Hill (who won 11 games for them last season with 183 strikeouts, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP) to the bullpen to work out his control problems. The move is only temporary since the Cubs were able to use an off day to keep their other pitchers on regular rest, but it does demonstrate how volatile rotation spots can be.
Hitters usually have several opportunities to rebound if they have a bad month to start the season. But lower-tier pitchers who struggle in April sometimes don't get that same opportunity to work things out. After all the talk of patience, this is one area where moving quickly isn't a bad idea after all.
If you have Andrew Miller or Jose Contreras in your lineup, don't be afraid to make changes before you suffer serious damage to your ERA and WHIP. Their roster spots can be used to fish for breakout candidates or under-the-radar finds.
If one pickup doesn't work, you don't lose a whole lot by looking somewhere else. Perhaps you'll stumble across this season's version of Brian Bannister. The Royals righty went undrafted in all but the deepest leagues in 2007, yet he won 12 games with a 3.87 ERA and is off to a 2-0 start this season.
Remember, it's a long way to September and there are plenty of moves to be made along the way. The goal is to have the best team when the long road ends.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Key cogs off to slow starts
One of the oft-repeated axioms in baseball is that when the season starts, pitchers generally have the upper hand against hitters. Players go from the warmth (and lofty batting averages) of spring training to colder and wetter conditions in much of the country.
Slow starts might be part of the game, but it's hard to sit back and watch while your top hitters struggle, especially if you've invested a large part of your payroll on a few players using the Stars & Scrubs approach ? and your stars are playing like scrubs.
In other words, your fantasy team has turned into the 2008 Detroit Tigers.
If that's the case, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than give your players a Jim Leyland-like tongue-lashing and hope they respond.
Outside of a season-ending injury, the greatest fear fantasy owners have at this time of year is that the one or two players who are supposed to be carrying their team will end up being nothing but dead weight.
It's quite a shock to see David Ortiz hitting .070, Prince Fielder without a home run and Jose Reyes with one stolen base.
But how quickly we forget that a year ago David Wright was hitting .244 with no homers at the end of April. He ended up with a .325 average, 30 homers and 34 stolen bases.
Mark Teixeira went the first 11 games of last season without an extra-base hit. Even with a midseason stint on the disabled list, he finished with 30 homers and 33 doubles.
If you're waiting for superstars such as "Big Papi" (Ortiz), Miguel Cabrera or Alfonso Soriano to turn things around, don't despair. The early trends of April are soon forgotten.
Need reassurance? Then ask yourself how many of these early trends (as last week ended) were likely to continue:
* Two catchers (A.J. Pierzynski and Jason Kendall) were leading their leagues in hitting.
* The Colorado Rockies and Tigers were tied for last in the majors in runs scored.
* The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals were thriving because of their outstanding pitching. (Kansas City's relievers have a collective ERA of 1.16, a full run better than any other team.)
* The New York Yankees had a total of zero stolen bases (until Sunday night).
Every year, a few statistical quirks such as these will send fantasy owners scrambling ? even if the season is only a couple of weeks old. But unless there's an injury, April is no time to start dealing your underperforming stars for below-market value.
As difficult as it is seeing your team at the bottom of the standings, the best course of action during the season's first month is to hang on to your core players and look to reinforce your weak spots through the waiver wire.
Poor pitching performances can be even more of a headache.
If pitchers usually have the upper hand in April, what does that mean for the ones who struggle early?
With hitters, breaking out of a slump can be as simple as going 4-for-4 in the next day's game. But for pitchers who are off to bad starts, the five-day wait until they take the mound again can be torture.
C.C. Sabathia has looked terrible in his first four starts, failing to get out of the sixth inning in any of them. After issuing 37 walks in 241 innings last season (1.38 per nine innings), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has 14 walks in 18 innings this year.
Until he shut down the Phillies over seven innings Wednesday night, Roy Oswalt had been hammered in his first three starts and complained of a twinge in his pitching arm after the second one. While that's a concern, his ratio of 16 strikeouts to four walks is among the majors' best.
Established stars such as Sabathia and Oswalt will be given every chance to get back on track, but managers are far less patient with their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 starters.
Just last week, the Chicago Cubs sent left-hander Rich Hill (who won 11 games for them last season with 183 strikeouts, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP) to the bullpen to work out his control problems. The move is only temporary since the Cubs were able to use an off day to keep their other pitchers on regular rest, but it does demonstrate how volatile rotation spots can be.
Hitters usually have several opportunities to rebound if they have a bad month to start the season. But lower-tier pitchers who struggle in April sometimes don't get that same opportunity to work things out. After all the talk of patience, this is one area where moving quickly isn't a bad idea after all.
If you have Andrew Miller or Jose Contreras in your lineup, don't be afraid to make changes before you suffer serious damage to your ERA and WHIP. Their roster spots can be used to fish for breakout candidates or under-the-radar finds.
If one pickup doesn't work, you don't lose a whole lot by looking somewhere else. Perhaps you'll stumble across this season's version of Brian Bannister. The Royals righty went undrafted in all but the deepest leagues in 2007, yet he won 12 games with a 3.87 ERA and is off to a 2-0 start this season.
Remember, it's a long way to September and there are plenty of moves to be made along the way. The goal is to have the best team when the long road ends.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Missing MPH
While Miguel Tejada ages two years in one day and then celebrates by going 3-for-4 with a homer at night, here are some notes from around baseball ...
* Ted Lilly posted a hideous 9.95 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through his first three starts, at which point pitching coach Larry Rothschild said that he was experiencing a "mysterious" drop in velocity. Asked about his lack of arm strength, Lilly said Wednesday that he wasn't overly concerned because "there are a lot of guys throughout this league who are winning games without velocity." Then he took the mound Thursday against the Reds and struggled again.
atlantabraves.com
Lilly averaged 88-90 miles per hour with his fastball from 2005-2007, but worked primarily in the 85-87 range during his first three starts and wasn't much better Thursday while allowing five runs over six innings. He occasionally reached 88-89, but was more often around 85-86. The good news is that he still managed six strikeouts despite throwing in the mid-80s, but the bad news is that his 9.16 ERA can be blamed on a clear lack of stuff rather than a simple slow start.
* Justin Verlander has also lacked his usual velocity while beginning the year 0-3 with a 7.03 ERA through four starts. Few pitchers threw harder than Verlander over the past two seasons, but his mid-90s fastball has been clocked around 92 MPH this year and after being knocked around Thursday by the Indians he's allowed 24 total runs in 24.1 innings, including at least four runs in each start. Unless injuries are revealed, both Lilly and Verlander are decent buy-low targets.
* Peter Moylan was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a sore elbow and Thursday the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that he may need season-ending surgery. No decision will be made on his status for a couple weeks, but it's clear that Moylan won't be back any time soon. Losing Moylan and his 2.20 career ERA is a big blow to the Braves' already shaky bullpen, but the good news is that Rafael Soriano is now hoping to come off the DL when eligible Tuesday.
* Chad Cordero blamed his poor velocity Wednesday on not having enough time to warm up prior to coming into the game, but the Washington Post reports that "there's widespread concern about Cordero within the organization" and he tellingly went unused in a 14-inning lost Thursday night. Manager Manny Acta has made it clear that he simply doesn't feel comfortable trusting Cordero in key spots right now, saying that "we're going to have to pick and choose our spots" to use him.
"What do you do?" Acta said. "He says he's fine. He has no pain. He's going to continue to pitch. I really don't feel right now, the way he's throwing the ball, I should trust him to save a game here." Don't be surprised if Cordero lands on the disabled list, because keeping him around as a mop-up man when something clearly isn't right with his arm makes little sense. Whatever happens, it seems clear that Jon Rauch will be the Nationals' closer for the foreseeable future.
* David Ortiz's brutal slump has overshadowed Manny Ramirez's fantastic start, which continued Thursday with two homers against the Yankees. Ramirez has been great in every month during his career, but his lowest OPS has come in April and he didn't hit his first homer until April 19 last year while batting just .202 with three homers, 13 RBIs, and a .629 OPS for the month. This April he already has five homers and an AL-leading 18 RBIs, along with a .343 AVG and 1.106 OPS.
AL Quick Hits: Curtis Granderson (hand) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday, but is expected to get 20-25 at-bats before coming off the disabled list ... After picking up a victory in extra innings Thursday, new Orioles closer George Sherrill has six saves and one win in seven appearances ... Vladimir Guerrero was out of the lineup Thursday with a bruised finger, giving Juan Rivera a rare start ... David DeJesus left Thursday's game with a jammed toe, which could push Joey Gathright back into the lineup ... Gavin Floyd turned in another impressive outing Thursday, holding the Orioles to a pair of unearned runs over six innings, but isn't worth trusting quite yet with the Yankees next on the schedule ... Richie Sexson was benched Thursday in favor of Greg Norton because of what manager John McLaren called "a sore leg and sore shoulder" ... Roy Halladay tossed his second straight complete game Thursday, but lost while allowing four runs on 11 hits against the Rangers ... Carlos Pena is day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game with a hamstring injury.
NL Quick Hits: According to the Cubs, Alfonso Soriano (calf) is likely to return from the disabled list when eligible in two weeks, which is great news after manager Lou Piniella initially guessed that he'd be out for "a while" ... Jose Valverde mopped up Thursday and gave up two more runs, meaning that he's now been scored upon in five of seven appearances ... Responding to reports that he's likely to miss at least another month, Pedro Martinez (hamstring) said Wednesday that he hopes to be back within two weeks ... Tim Hudson's velocity was down about five miles per hour in Wednesday's loss, but he called it "just one of those nights" and said that he "felt fine physically" ... Reed Johnson went 4-for-4 with a double Thursday, raising his batting average to .361 and putting a big dent in Felix Pie's fantasy stock ... Carlos Beltran was absent from the lineup Thursday because of a stiff neck ... Gabe Kapler (shoulder) was out of the lineup Thursday for a third straight game, but did pinch-hit ... John Lannan came into Thursday's game with 16 career strikeouts in 45.1 innings, but racked up 11 strikeouts against the Mets. newyorkmets.com
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Missing MPH
While Miguel Tejada ages two years in one day and then celebrates by going 3-for-4 with a homer at night, here are some notes from around baseball ...
* Ted Lilly posted a hideous 9.95 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through his first three starts, at which point pitching coach Larry Rothschild said that he was experiencing a "mysterious" drop in velocity. Asked about his lack of arm strength, Lilly said Wednesday that he wasn't overly concerned because "there are a lot of guys throughout this league who are winning games without velocity." Then he took the mound Thursday against the Reds and struggled again.
atlantabraves.com
Lilly averaged 88-90 miles per hour with his fastball from 2005-2007, but worked primarily in the 85-87 range during his first three starts and wasn't much better Thursday while allowing five runs over six innings. He occasionally reached 88-89, but was more often around 85-86. The good news is that he still managed six strikeouts despite throwing in the mid-80s, but the bad news is that his 9.16 ERA can be blamed on a clear lack of stuff rather than a simple slow start.
* Justin Verlander has also lacked his usual velocity while beginning the year 0-3 with a 7.03 ERA through four starts. Few pitchers threw harder than Verlander over the past two seasons, but his mid-90s fastball has been clocked around 92 MPH this year and after being knocked around Thursday by the Indians he's allowed 24 total runs in 24.1 innings, including at least four runs in each start. Unless injuries are revealed, both Lilly and Verlander are decent buy-low targets.
* Peter Moylan was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a sore elbow and Thursday the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that he may need season-ending surgery. No decision will be made on his status for a couple weeks, but it's clear that Moylan won't be back any time soon. Losing Moylan and his 2.20 career ERA is a big blow to the Braves' already shaky bullpen, but the good news is that Rafael Soriano is now hoping to come off the DL when eligible Tuesday.
* Chad Cordero blamed his poor velocity Wednesday on not having enough time to warm up prior to coming into the game, but the Washington Post reports that "there's widespread concern about Cordero within the organization" and he tellingly went unused in a 14-inning lost Thursday night. Manager Manny Acta has made it clear that he simply doesn't feel comfortable trusting Cordero in key spots right now, saying that "we're going to have to pick and choose our spots" to use him.
"What do you do?" Acta said. "He says he's fine. He has no pain. He's going to continue to pitch. I really don't feel right now, the way he's throwing the ball, I should trust him to save a game here." Don't be surprised if Cordero lands on the disabled list, because keeping him around as a mop-up man when something clearly isn't right with his arm makes little sense. Whatever happens, it seems clear that Jon Rauch will be the Nationals' closer for the foreseeable future.
* David Ortiz's brutal slump has overshadowed Manny Ramirez's fantastic start, which continued Thursday with two homers against the Yankees. Ramirez has been great in every month during his career, but his lowest OPS has come in April and he didn't hit his first homer until April 19 last year while batting just .202 with three homers, 13 RBIs, and a .629 OPS for the month. This April he already has five homers and an AL-leading 18 RBIs, along with a .343 AVG and 1.106 OPS.
AL Quick Hits: Curtis Granderson (hand) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday, but is expected to get 20-25 at-bats before coming off the disabled list ... After picking up a victory in extra innings Thursday, new Orioles closer George Sherrill has six saves and one win in seven appearances ... Vladimir Guerrero was out of the lineup Thursday with a bruised finger, giving Juan Rivera a rare start ... David DeJesus left Thursday's game with a jammed toe, which could push Joey Gathright back into the lineup ... Gavin Floyd turned in another impressive outing Thursday, holding the Orioles to a pair of unearned runs over six innings, but isn't worth trusting quite yet with the Yankees next on the schedule ... Richie Sexson was benched Thursday in favor of Greg Norton because of what manager John McLaren called "a sore leg and sore shoulder" ... Roy Halladay tossed his second straight complete game Thursday, but lost while allowing four runs on 11 hits against the Rangers ... Carlos Pena is day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game with a hamstring injury.
NL Quick Hits: According to the Cubs, Alfonso Soriano (calf) is likely to return from the disabled list when eligible in two weeks, which is great news after manager Lou Piniella initially guessed that he'd be out for "a while" ... Jose Valverde mopped up Thursday and gave up two more runs, meaning that he's now been scored upon in five of seven appearances ... Responding to reports that he's likely to miss at least another month, Pedro Martinez (hamstring) said Wednesday that he hopes to be back within two weeks ... Tim Hudson's velocity was down about five miles per hour in Wednesday's loss, but he called it "just one of those nights" and said that he "felt fine physically" ... Reed Johnson went 4-for-4 with a double Thursday, raising his batting average to .361 and putting a big dent in Felix Pie's fantasy stock ... Carlos Beltran was absent from the lineup Thursday because of a stiff neck ... Gabe Kapler (shoulder) was out of the lineup Thursday for a third straight game, but did pinch-hit ... John Lannan came into Thursday's game with 16 career strikeouts in 45.1 innings, but racked up 11 strikeouts against the Mets. newyorkmets.com
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
"Cy Beckett" and Sayonara CC?
Beckett looking like the Cy Young he should have been and Sabathia pitching like anything but. That and more in this week's Week That Was.
Nelson Figueroa: Nelson Figueroa looked good again this week, allowing just two runs in seven innings against the Nats while striking out seven. While this is a feel good story, it is also a textbook sell high story. Was I clear? SELL. Why? Well, Figueroa has not pitched in the majors in four years and even when healthy in the minors, posted ERAs over 4. Add in the fact that El Duque, Pedro and Claudio Vargas all wait in the wings and you have a SELL HIGH candidate. You have been warned.
newyorkmets.com
Josh Beckett: Josh Beckett was smokin' again this week, pitching eight strong innings against the Yankees. Watching the game, you just got the feeling that had the Red Sox only scored 1, Beckett would have pitched a shut out. Frankly, the 96 mph heater together with the nasty 78 mph hook is simply unfair. If you own Beckett, sit back and enjoy the ride. If there is a Beckett owner in your league who is looking at his first start and worrying about blisters of old, take advantage of the sucker. Beckett is well on his way to another Cy Young caliber season.
Jayson Nix: Jayson Nix is spending more time on the bench as April plods along. The fact that Nix is looking up at the Mendoza line and Clint Barmes is on fire means what it should mean ? Barmes will play more and Nix less. The question is how long is this likely to last. Answer ? quite some time. I did not even have Nix on my draft lists (other than maybe NL only taxi). Before last year in the minors, Nix posted MINOR league batting averages of .212, .235, and .251. Those are hardly numbers that say major league success. Clint Barmes, on the other hand, has hit around .300 in his last 3 minors seasons and had success in 05 in the bigs. You know what to do.
Brett Myers: Brett Myers struck out 8 in seven solid innings on Thursday. After a slow start, Myers is now dealing. If you own him, do not panic --180-200 strikeouts will be yours by the end of the year. On the other hand, if you can fleece a Myers owner who is still worried about the effect of being shifted from the pen back to the rotation, do it. Myers is the real deal and will be a top 10 NL pitcher this year.
Gil Meche: Gil Meche allowed two runs in six innings this week to win for the first time. Thus far, Meche has not shown either the strikeout numbers or control that made him successful last year. That said, veteran observers say he looks healthy and that there is no reason to believe he will not come around. Bottom line ? he will never be mistaken for Josh Beckett, but with Zack Greinke stealing the headlines in KC, Meche could fly under the radar and provide solid value from here on in.
Chris Iannetta: Chris Iannetta had a big game Wednesday, going 3-4, an RBI and two runs. Here is another buy-low candidate. Yes, Iannetta did not hit in his first year in the bigs. However, that is very common for young catchers who must devote so much of their time to defense, learning hitters and getting into grooves with their pitchers. Now, in his second year in the show, Iannetta should hit like the minor league stud he was -- CI hit .351 in AAA in 06. If you need another reason to buy here, remember that Yorvit Torrealba failed his Met physical before returning to Colorado. That cannot be good.
Skip Schumaker: Skip Schumaker went 2-4 with a home run on Wednesday night to up his average to over .290. No one will mistake Skip for Willie McGee or Andy Van Slyke, however, the manager loves him, he does the little things a team needs and he is the only legitimate lead off hitter on the Cards. You can probably still get him for a song from a non-believer. That will not be possible when he is still leading off most days and the calendar says June, not April.
C.C. Sabathia: C.C. Sabathia was tattooed again Wednesday, giving up nine runs in four innings. Oh my, what a mess. I remember when Sparky Lyle won the 1977 Cy Young only to be replaced as Yankee closer the next year. Graig Nettles remarked "from Cy Young to Sayonara". That seems apt for CC and fantasy. CC, never known for his conditioning, threw around 260 innings last year. That workload is coming back to haunt him. If you own CC, you should have discounted. That said, wait for the next good performance, crow about how Cy Young is back and SELL!
Mike Jacobs: Mike Jacobs' hot start continued this week as he continues to hit for power and average. Can this continue? No. Will Jacobs be a worthy CI in NL only leagues? Yes. However, it is very important to temper expectations. Jacobs hit in the.260-.265 range in his only two years in the majors and never really played at AAA. Sell high. There is just no reason to think he will hit much above .270.
Nomar Garciaparra: Joe Torre's Dodgers activated third baseman Nomar Garciaparra from the 15-day disabled list this week. Do not spend too much here and do not put too much faith in Ramon backwards. He was once a great player, but now he is a backup in waiting ? one without power, speed or consistent health. You have been warned ? again.
And finally, more wisdom from the Carlton the Doorman of fantasy sports -- Schultz Says: "Howie Kendrick owners have every right to be beside themselves with apoplexy at this point in time. So far, Kendrick has been nothing short of a rotisserie force of nature when he plays. Those last three words are a dagger to the heart of those who have Kendrick as their 2B. He opened the season hitting .429 over the first 8 games, jammed his thumb and missed 5 days before raising his average to .500 . . . and then tweaking a hamstring. He may not have hit a home run but he did steal a couple bases. What is frustrating about Kendrick's injury hiatuses is the Angels refuse to put him on the DL. He's too valuable to sit so keep monitoring the injury reports to see how he's progressing. If his owner seems whiny and impatient with him, pry him away cheaply. He's high maintenance but he's worth the effort.
The Joe Borowski era in Cleveland ended sooner than any attentive Tribe fan would have imagined. On the bright side, at least Jo Bo's poor performance has a rational explanation. Last week, I said that I thought Rafael Betancourt would be a poor investment as the Indians don't envision him as a closer. That's still true. Masahide Kobayashi is still learning the American version of the game and recalling how wonderful the "Fausto Carmona - unprepared closer" experiment worked out, aren't looking for a repeat performance. If you have Betancourt, enjoy your good fortune but don't break your arm patting yourself on the back just yet. (It really is a shame you can't quote Winston Wolf in respectable media).
It's probably no surprise that one of Seattle's new starters is 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP; that it's Carlos Silva and Eric Bedard is the real head scratcher. Bedard has followed up a horrible spring with a less-than-stellar start to the regular season. Much like Borowski, his owners have to be breathing a sigh of relief that his troubles seem to be related to a hip injury and have some sort of explanation. You don't need me to tell you to hang on to Bedard and wait this out. His potential for monster numbers is too great to abandon. You also don't need me to tell you that if someone will give you something valuable for Silva, you should take it before they sober up and your league vetoes the deal. Maybe next week I'll tell you all some things you need me to tell you.
This Sunday is Earth Day. Go do something nice for the environment this weekend.
Response: Hard to know what to make of that other than to say Kendrick is good, Borowski was on borrowed time and Carlos Silva is an implosion waiting to happen. Duh! (Though I did like the use of "apoplexy").
Enjoy Earth day and hopefully some quality baseball this weekend.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
"Cy Beckett" and Sayonara CC?
Beckett looking like the Cy Young he should have been and Sabathia pitching like anything but. That and more in this week's Week That Was.
Nelson Figueroa: Nelson Figueroa looked good again this week, allowing just two runs in seven innings against the Nats while striking out seven. While this is a feel good story, it is also a textbook sell high story. Was I clear? SELL. Why? Well, Figueroa has not pitched in the majors in four years and even when healthy in the minors, posted ERAs over 4. Add in the fact that El Duque, Pedro and Claudio Vargas all wait in the wings and you have a SELL HIGH candidate. You have been warned.
newyorkmets.com
Josh Beckett: Josh Beckett was smokin' again this week, pitching eight strong innings against the Yankees. Watching the game, you just got the feeling that had the Red Sox only scored 1, Beckett would have pitched a shut out. Frankly, the 96 mph heater together with the nasty 78 mph hook is simply unfair. If you own Beckett, sit back and enjoy the ride. If there is a Beckett owner in your league who is looking at his first start and worrying about blisters of old, take advantage of the sucker. Beckett is well on his way to another Cy Young caliber season.
Jayson Nix: Jayson Nix is spending more time on the bench as April plods along. The fact that Nix is looking up at the Mendoza line and Clint Barmes is on fire means what it should mean ? Barmes will play more and Nix less. The question is how long is this likely to last. Answer ? quite some time. I did not even have Nix on my draft lists (other than maybe NL only taxi). Before last year in the minors, Nix posted MINOR league batting averages of .212, .235, and .251. Those are hardly numbers that say major league success. Clint Barmes, on the other hand, has hit around .300 in his last 3 minors seasons and had success in 05 in the bigs. You know what to do.
Brett Myers: Brett Myers struck out 8 in seven solid innings on Thursday. After a slow start, Myers is now dealing. If you own him, do not panic --180-200 strikeouts will be yours by the end of the year. On the other hand, if you can fleece a Myers owner who is still worried about the effect of being shifted from the pen back to the rotation, do it. Myers is the real deal and will be a top 10 NL pitcher this year.
Gil Meche: Gil Meche allowed two runs in six innings this week to win for the first time. Thus far, Meche has not shown either the strikeout numbers or control that made him successful last year. That said, veteran observers say he looks healthy and that there is no reason to believe he will not come around. Bottom line ? he will never be mistaken for Josh Beckett, but with Zack Greinke stealing the headlines in KC, Meche could fly under the radar and provide solid value from here on in.
Chris Iannetta: Chris Iannetta had a big game Wednesday, going 3-4, an RBI and two runs. Here is another buy-low candidate. Yes, Iannetta did not hit in his first year in the bigs. However, that is very common for young catchers who must devote so much of their time to defense, learning hitters and getting into grooves with their pitchers. Now, in his second year in the show, Iannetta should hit like the minor league stud he was -- CI hit .351 in AAA in 06. If you need another reason to buy here, remember that Yorvit Torrealba failed his Met physical before returning to Colorado. That cannot be good.
Skip Schumaker: Skip Schumaker went 2-4 with a home run on Wednesday night to up his average to over .290. No one will mistake Skip for Willie McGee or Andy Van Slyke, however, the manager loves him, he does the little things a team needs and he is the only legitimate lead off hitter on the Cards. You can probably still get him for a song from a non-believer. That will not be possible when he is still leading off most days and the calendar says June, not April.
C.C. Sabathia: C.C. Sabathia was tattooed again Wednesday, giving up nine runs in four innings. Oh my, what a mess. I remember when Sparky Lyle won the 1977 Cy Young only to be replaced as Yankee closer the next year. Graig Nettles remarked "from Cy Young to Sayonara". That seems apt for CC and fantasy. CC, never known for his conditioning, threw around 260 innings last year. That workload is coming back to haunt him. If you own CC, you should have discounted. That said, wait for the next good performance, crow about how Cy Young is back and SELL!
Mike Jacobs: Mike Jacobs' hot start continued this week as he continues to hit for power and average. Can this continue? No. Will Jacobs be a worthy CI in NL only leagues? Yes. However, it is very important to temper expectations. Jacobs hit in the.260-.265 range in his only two years in the majors and never really played at AAA. Sell high. There is just no reason to think he will hit much above .270.
Nomar Garciaparra: Joe Torre's Dodgers activated third baseman Nomar Garciaparra from the 15-day disabled list this week. Do not spend too much here and do not put too much faith in Ramon backwards. He was once a great player, but now he is a backup in waiting ? one without power, speed or consistent health. You have been warned ? again.
And finally, more wisdom from the Carlton the Doorman of fantasy sports -- Schultz Says: "Howie Kendrick owners have every right to be beside themselves with apoplexy at this point in time. So far, Kendrick has been nothing short of a rotisserie force of nature when he plays. Those last three words are a dagger to the heart of those who have Kendrick as their 2B. He opened the season hitting .429 over the first 8 games, jammed his thumb and missed 5 days before raising his average to .500 . . . and then tweaking a hamstring. He may not have hit a home run but he did steal a couple bases. What is frustrating about Kendrick's injury hiatuses is the Angels refuse to put him on the DL. He's too valuable to sit so keep monitoring the injury reports to see how he's progressing. If his owner seems whiny and impatient with him, pry him away cheaply. He's high maintenance but he's worth the effort.
The Joe Borowski era in Cleveland ended sooner than any attentive Tribe fan would have imagined. On the bright side, at least Jo Bo's poor performance has a rational explanation. Last week, I said that I thought Rafael Betancourt would be a poor investment as the Indians don't envision him as a closer. That's still true. Masahide Kobayashi is still learning the American version of the game and recalling how wonderful the "Fausto Carmona - unprepared closer" experiment worked out, aren't looking for a repeat performance. If you have Betancourt, enjoy your good fortune but don't break your arm patting yourself on the back just yet. (It really is a shame you can't quote Winston Wolf in respectable media).
It's probably no surprise that one of Seattle's new starters is 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP; that it's Carlos Silva and Eric Bedard is the real head scratcher. Bedard has followed up a horrible spring with a less-than-stellar start to the regular season. Much like Borowski, his owners have to be breathing a sigh of relief that his troubles seem to be related to a hip injury and have some sort of explanation. You don't need me to tell you to hang on to Bedard and wait this out. His potential for monster numbers is too great to abandon. You also don't need me to tell you that if someone will give you something valuable for Silva, you should take it before they sober up and your league vetoes the deal. Maybe next week I'll tell you all some things you need me to tell you.
This Sunday is Earth Day. Go do something nice for the environment this weekend.
Response: Hard to know what to make of that other than to say Kendrick is good, Borowski was on borrowed time and Carlos Silva is an implosion waiting to happen. Duh! (Though I did like the use of "apoplexy").
Enjoy Earth day and hopefully some quality baseball this weekend.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Lies, Popes and Death, oh my!
Miguel Tejada was caught lying about his age, Manny Acta had a special officemate and Shea Stadium likely experienced its last death ever. It's just another week in the world of baseball.
Here are some notes on the next one:
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League
Must Starts
Felix Hernandez ? BAL (Adam Loewen), OAK (Joe Blanton)
Justin Verlander - TEX (Vicente Padilla), LAA (Jered Weaver)
Josh Beckett - LAA (Jered Weaver), @TB (James Shields)
Joe Blanton - MIN (Livan Hernandez), @SEA (Felix Hernandez)
Shaun Marcum - DET (Armando Galarraga), @KC (Luke Hochevar)
James Shields - TOR (Jesse Litsch), BOS (Josh Beckett)
Other Options
Jered Weaver - @BOS (Josh Beckett), @DET (Justin Verlander)
Chien-Ming Wang - @CHA (Jose Contreras), @CLE (C.C. Sabathia)
Jesse Litsch ? @TB (James Shields), @KC (Gil Meche)
C.C. Sabathia - @KC (Gil Meche), NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
Gil Meche ? CLE (C.C. Sabathia), TOR (Jesse Litsch)
Clay Buchholz ? TEX (Kason Gabbard), @TB (Edwin Jackson)
Adam Loewen - @SEA (Felix Hernandez), @CHW (Jose Contreras)
Livan Hernandez - @OAK (Joe Blanton), @TEX (Vicente Padilla)
Jose Contreras - NYY (Chien-Ming Wang), BAL (Adam Loewen)
Vicente Padilla - @DET (Justin Verlander), MIN (Livan Hernandez)
Kason Gabbard - @BOS (Clay Buchholz), MIN (Scott Baker)
Armando Galarraga - @TOR (Shaun Marcum), LAA (Dustin Moseley)
National League
Must Start
Brandon Webb ? SF (Barry Zito), @SD (Jake Peavy)
Jake Peavy ? @HOU (Brandon Backe), ARI (Brandon Webb)
John Smoltz - WAS (John Lannan), @NYM (Nelson Figueroa)
Carlos Zambrano - NYM (John Maine), @WAS (Matt Chico)
Tim Hudson - WAS (Matt Chico), @NYM (John Maine) newyorkmets.com
Brad Penny - @CIN (Matt Belisle), COL (Mark Redman)
Micah Owings - SF (Kevin Correia), @SD (Justin Germano)
Roy Oswalt ? SD (Justin Germano), @STL (Adam Wainwright)
Brett Myers - @COL (Jeff Francis), @PIT (Paul Maholm)
John Maine ? @CHC (Carlos Zambrano), ATL (Tim Hudson) atlantabraves.com
Adam Wainwright - @MIL (Carlos Villanueva), HOU (Roy Oswalt)
Edinson Volquez ? LAD (Hong-Chih Kuo), @SF (Barry Zito)
Other Options
Jeff Francis ? PHI (Brett Myers), @LAD (Hong-Chih Kuo)
Kyle Lohse - @MIL (Manny Parra), HOU (Brandon Backe)
Manny Parra - STL (Kyle Lohse), FLA (Ricky Nolasco)
Hong-Chih Kuo - @CIN (Edinson Volquez), COL (Jeff Francis)
Justin Germano - @HOU (Roy Oswalt), ARI (Micah Owings)
Kyle Kendrick - @COL (Mark Redman), @PIT (Matt Morris)
Nelson Figueroa - @CHC (Ted Lilly), ATL (John Smoltz)
Ted Lilly - NYM (Nelson Figueroa), @WAS (John Lannan)
John Lannan - @ATL (John Smoltz), CHC (Ted Lilly)
Kevin Correia - @ARI (Micah Owings), CIN (Matt Belisle)
Carlos Villanueva - STL (Adam Wainwright), FLA (Mark Hendrickson)
Paul Maholm - FLA (Ricky Nolasco), PHI (Brett Myers)
Mark Redman - PHI (Kyle Kendrick), @LAD (Brad Penny)
Matt Belisle - LAD (Brad Penny), @SF (Kevin Correia)
Matt Morris - FLA (Mark Hendrickson), PHI (Kyle Kendrick)
Matt Chico - @ATL (Tim Hudson), CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Brandon Backe ? SD (Jake Peavy), @STL (Kyle Lohse)
Ricky Nolasco - @PIT (Paul Maholm), @MIL (Manny Parra)
Mark Hendrickson - @PIT (Matt Morris), @MIL (Carlos Villanueva)
Barry Zito
Barry Zito - @ARI (Brandon Webb), CIN (Edinson Volquez)
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
American League:
Tuesday 4/22 ? Jesse Litsch @TB ? Litsch finished with a 2.04 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 17.2 innings against the Rays last season. He's a fine add in weekly leagues, too, as his second match-up is with the Royals.
Friday 4/25 ? Tim Wakefield @TB ? Wakefield has a career 2.41 ERA and 1.09 WHIP at Tropicana field, and had a 4.08 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP against the Devil Rays last season.
Saturday 4/26 ? Dana Eveland @SEA ? Eveland has gotten off to a great start, and one home run did all the damage against him against the Sox. He's facing Miguel Batista, so it's a nice match-up if you need a win.
National League:
Tuesday 4/22 ? Ricky Nolasco @ PIT ? In 16 2/3 career innings against the Pirates, Nolasco has a 1.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. And they're the Pirates.
Thursday 4/24 ? Greg Maddux vs. SD ? Maddux might start getting dropped because of his disastrous outing on Friday, but he's already shown what he can do against the Giants this season.
Friday 4/25 ? Adam Eaton @ PIT ? In his lone start against the Pirates last year, Adam Eaton allowed one run in seven innings. It's a terribly small sample size, but risk-takers should consider it.
Friday 4/25 ? Ryan Dempster @ WAS ? Depending on how Dempster fares against the Pirates on Sunday, he might be worth consideration against the Nationals on Thursday, or even as one of your back-end starters.
<!--RW-->
[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: BOS, DET, TEX, TOR
6: BAL, CHW, CLE, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB
National League
7: Everyone
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
American League
Baltimore - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Boston - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 2 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Texas - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Notes (based on career numbers):
Baltimore faces three lefties this week, which should provide a nice boost for Adam Jones (.320 vs. LHP).
The Tigers face seven right-handed pitchers, which should really only affect Brandon Inge (.229 vs. RHP).
Seattle is matched-up against three left-handed pitchers, which could mean Raul Ibanez (.262 vs. LHP) is negatively impacted, while Jose Lopez (.282 vs. LHP) and Kenji Johjima (.292 vs. LHP) should benefit.
The Rays don't face a lefty all week, which can't have Jason Bartlett (.306 vs. LHP), Akinori Iwamura (.316 vs. LHP) or Jonny Gomes (.291 vs. LHP) excited, but should benefit Eric Hinske (.224 vs. LHP) and Carlos Pena (.237 vs. LHP).
The Blue Jays don't face any lefties this week, which shouldn't help Frank Thomas get off the bench, and won't help Gregg Zaun (.271 vs. LHP) either.
National League
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Houston - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Notes (based on career numbers):
The Cubs face four left-handed pitchers, which is good news for Mark DeRosa (.298 vs. LHP) and Ryan Theriot (.297 vs. LHP). It's good news for Reed Johnson (.308 vs. LHP), who should play over Felix Pie (.122 vs LHP). Kosuke Fukudome (.385 vs. LHP) has hammered lefties so far this season.
The Reds are scheduled to go up against four lefties, which is good news for Edwin Encarnacion (.267 vs. LHP), Brandon Phillips (.296 vs. LHP) and Jeff Keppinger (.338 vs. LHP). It's bad news for Ryan Freel (.250 vs. LHP), Scott Hatteberg (.235 vs. LHP). It could have a slightly negative effect on Ken Griffey Jr. (.274 vs. LHP), who has really struggled against lefties this season.
The Brewers also face four left-handed pitchers, which is great news for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (.430 vs. LHP), not that you'd ever sit him anyway. Other players that should benefit are J.J. Hardy (.294 vs. LHP), Corey Hart (.322 vs. LHP) and Gabe Kapler (.291 vs. LHP).
The Phillies are the fourth team in the National League facing four lefties, which is a positive for Eric Bruntlett (.273 vs. LHP) and Jayson Werth (.286 vs. LHP).
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Report[/SIZE]
For a more detailed look at injuries around the league, check out Rotoworld's injury page: Injuries!
Justin Duchscherer ? OAK ? SP ? Could be back April 26
Rich Harden ? OAK ? SP ? Could be back by end of the month
Tom Glavine ? ATL ? SP ? Should return on April 29
Peter Moylan ? ATL ? RP ? Could be out for season
Rafael Soriano ? ATL ? RP ? Expected to return Tuesday
Ben Sheets ? MIL ? SP ? Could miss starts this week
Yovani Gallardo ? MIL ? SP ? Should be back on April 20
Erik Bedard ? SEA ? SP ? Could return Thursday
J.J. Putz ? SEA ? RP ? Could return on Tuesday
Moises Alou ? NYM ? OF ? Could return this week
Dmitri Young ? WAS ? 1B ? Could return this week
Jimmy Rollins ? PHI ? SS ? Should be starting all week
Jack Wilson ? PIT ? SS ? Could be back by end of the week
Mike Lowell ? BOS ? 3B ? Unlikely to be back this week
David Ross ? CIN ? C ? Should be back this week
Matt Belisle ? CIN ? SP ? Expected to start on Monday
Dontrelle Willis ? DET ? SP ? Not expected to return this week
Michael Cuddyer ? MIN ? OF ? Not expected back this week
Joba Chamberlain ? NYY ? RP ? Should be back by start of the week
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
Check out over twenty of this week's top waiver options here. Here is an abbreviated list:
American League:
1. Cliff Lee
2. Milton Bradley
3. Gavin Floyd
National League:
1. Manny Acosta
2. Randy Wolf
3. Hong-Chi Kuo
[SIZE=+1]The Weather Report[/SIZE]
The following games have a 50% or greater chance of being rained out:
Sunday April 20 ? Yankees @ Baltimore ? 70% -- This game could be replayed on Monday if it ends up being rained out.
Sunday, April 27 ? Yankees @ Indians ? 60%
Sunday, April 27 ? Phillies @ Pirates ? 60%
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Lies, Popes and Death, oh my!
Miguel Tejada was caught lying about his age, Manny Acta had a special officemate and Shea Stadium likely experienced its last death ever. It's just another week in the world of baseball.
Here are some notes on the next one:
[SIZE=+1]Two-Start Pitchers[/SIZE]
American League
Must Starts
Felix Hernandez ? BAL (Adam Loewen), OAK (Joe Blanton)
Justin Verlander - TEX (Vicente Padilla), LAA (Jered Weaver)
Josh Beckett - LAA (Jered Weaver), @TB (James Shields)
Joe Blanton - MIN (Livan Hernandez), @SEA (Felix Hernandez)
Shaun Marcum - DET (Armando Galarraga), @KC (Luke Hochevar)
James Shields - TOR (Jesse Litsch), BOS (Josh Beckett)
Other Options
Jered Weaver - @BOS (Josh Beckett), @DET (Justin Verlander)
Chien-Ming Wang - @CHA (Jose Contreras), @CLE (C.C. Sabathia)
Jesse Litsch ? @TB (James Shields), @KC (Gil Meche)
C.C. Sabathia - @KC (Gil Meche), NYY (Chien-Ming Wang)
Gil Meche ? CLE (C.C. Sabathia), TOR (Jesse Litsch)
Clay Buchholz ? TEX (Kason Gabbard), @TB (Edwin Jackson)
Adam Loewen - @SEA (Felix Hernandez), @CHW (Jose Contreras)
Livan Hernandez - @OAK (Joe Blanton), @TEX (Vicente Padilla)
Jose Contreras - NYY (Chien-Ming Wang), BAL (Adam Loewen)
Vicente Padilla - @DET (Justin Verlander), MIN (Livan Hernandez)
Kason Gabbard - @BOS (Clay Buchholz), MIN (Scott Baker)
Armando Galarraga - @TOR (Shaun Marcum), LAA (Dustin Moseley)
National League
Must Start
Brandon Webb ? SF (Barry Zito), @SD (Jake Peavy)
Jake Peavy ? @HOU (Brandon Backe), ARI (Brandon Webb)
John Smoltz - WAS (John Lannan), @NYM (Nelson Figueroa)
Carlos Zambrano - NYM (John Maine), @WAS (Matt Chico)
Tim Hudson - WAS (Matt Chico), @NYM (John Maine) newyorkmets.com
Brad Penny - @CIN (Matt Belisle), COL (Mark Redman)
Micah Owings - SF (Kevin Correia), @SD (Justin Germano)
Roy Oswalt ? SD (Justin Germano), @STL (Adam Wainwright)
Brett Myers - @COL (Jeff Francis), @PIT (Paul Maholm)
John Maine ? @CHC (Carlos Zambrano), ATL (Tim Hudson) atlantabraves.com
Adam Wainwright - @MIL (Carlos Villanueva), HOU (Roy Oswalt)
Edinson Volquez ? LAD (Hong-Chih Kuo), @SF (Barry Zito)
Other Options
Jeff Francis ? PHI (Brett Myers), @LAD (Hong-Chih Kuo)
Kyle Lohse - @MIL (Manny Parra), HOU (Brandon Backe)
Manny Parra - STL (Kyle Lohse), FLA (Ricky Nolasco)
Hong-Chih Kuo - @CIN (Edinson Volquez), COL (Jeff Francis)
Justin Germano - @HOU (Roy Oswalt), ARI (Micah Owings)
Kyle Kendrick - @COL (Mark Redman), @PIT (Matt Morris)
Nelson Figueroa - @CHC (Ted Lilly), ATL (John Smoltz)
Ted Lilly - NYM (Nelson Figueroa), @WAS (John Lannan)
John Lannan - @ATL (John Smoltz), CHC (Ted Lilly)
Kevin Correia - @ARI (Micah Owings), CIN (Matt Belisle)
Carlos Villanueva - STL (Adam Wainwright), FLA (Mark Hendrickson)
Paul Maholm - FLA (Ricky Nolasco), PHI (Brett Myers)
Mark Redman - PHI (Kyle Kendrick), @LAD (Brad Penny)
Matt Belisle - LAD (Brad Penny), @SF (Kevin Correia)
Matt Morris - FLA (Mark Hendrickson), PHI (Kyle Kendrick)
Matt Chico - @ATL (Tim Hudson), CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Brandon Backe ? SD (Jake Peavy), @STL (Kyle Lohse)
Ricky Nolasco - @PIT (Paul Maholm), @MIL (Manny Parra)
Mark Hendrickson - @PIT (Matt Morris), @MIL (Carlos Villanueva)
Barry Zito
Barry Zito - @ARI (Brandon Webb), CIN (Edinson Volquez)
[SIZE=+1]Possible Streamers[/SIZE]
American League:
Tuesday 4/22 ? Jesse Litsch @TB ? Litsch finished with a 2.04 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 17.2 innings against the Rays last season. He's a fine add in weekly leagues, too, as his second match-up is with the Royals.
Friday 4/25 ? Tim Wakefield @TB ? Wakefield has a career 2.41 ERA and 1.09 WHIP at Tropicana field, and had a 4.08 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP against the Devil Rays last season.
Saturday 4/26 ? Dana Eveland @SEA ? Eveland has gotten off to a great start, and one home run did all the damage against him against the Sox. He's facing Miguel Batista, so it's a nice match-up if you need a win.
National League:
Tuesday 4/22 ? Ricky Nolasco @ PIT ? In 16 2/3 career innings against the Pirates, Nolasco has a 1.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. And they're the Pirates.
Thursday 4/24 ? Greg Maddux vs. SD ? Maddux might start getting dropped because of his disastrous outing on Friday, but he's already shown what he can do against the Giants this season.
Friday 4/25 ? Adam Eaton @ PIT ? In his lone start against the Pirates last year, Adam Eaton allowed one run in seven innings. It's a terribly small sample size, but risk-takers should consider it.
Friday 4/25 ? Ryan Dempster @ WAS ? Depending on how Dempster fares against the Pirates on Sunday, he might be worth consideration against the Nationals on Thursday, or even as one of your back-end starters.
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[SIZE=+1]Total Games[/SIZE]
American League
7: BOS, DET, TEX, TOR
6: BAL, CHW, CLE, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB
National League
7: Everyone
[SIZE=+1]Lefty vs. Righty Match-ups[/SIZE]
American League
Baltimore - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Boston - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 2 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Texas - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Notes (based on career numbers):
Baltimore faces three lefties this week, which should provide a nice boost for Adam Jones (.320 vs. LHP).
The Tigers face seven right-handed pitchers, which should really only affect Brandon Inge (.229 vs. RHP).
Seattle is matched-up against three left-handed pitchers, which could mean Raul Ibanez (.262 vs. LHP) is negatively impacted, while Jose Lopez (.282 vs. LHP) and Kenji Johjima (.292 vs. LHP) should benefit.
The Rays don't face a lefty all week, which can't have Jason Bartlett (.306 vs. LHP), Akinori Iwamura (.316 vs. LHP) or Jonny Gomes (.291 vs. LHP) excited, but should benefit Eric Hinske (.224 vs. LHP) and Carlos Pena (.237 vs. LHP).
The Blue Jays don't face any lefties this week, which shouldn't help Frank Thomas get off the bench, and won't help Gregg Zaun (.271 vs. LHP) either.
National League
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Houston - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 3 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Notes (based on career numbers):
The Cubs face four left-handed pitchers, which is good news for Mark DeRosa (.298 vs. LHP) and Ryan Theriot (.297 vs. LHP). It's good news for Reed Johnson (.308 vs. LHP), who should play over Felix Pie (.122 vs LHP). Kosuke Fukudome (.385 vs. LHP) has hammered lefties so far this season.
The Reds are scheduled to go up against four lefties, which is good news for Edwin Encarnacion (.267 vs. LHP), Brandon Phillips (.296 vs. LHP) and Jeff Keppinger (.338 vs. LHP). It's bad news for Ryan Freel (.250 vs. LHP), Scott Hatteberg (.235 vs. LHP). It could have a slightly negative effect on Ken Griffey Jr. (.274 vs. LHP), who has really struggled against lefties this season.
The Brewers also face four left-handed pitchers, which is great news for [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4048"]Ryan Braun[/URL] (.430 vs. LHP), not that you'd ever sit him anyway. Other players that should benefit are J.J. Hardy (.294 vs. LHP), Corey Hart (.322 vs. LHP) and Gabe Kapler (.291 vs. LHP).
The Phillies are the fourth team in the National League facing four lefties, which is a positive for Eric Bruntlett (.273 vs. LHP) and Jayson Werth (.286 vs. LHP).
[SIZE=+1]The Injury Report[/SIZE]
For a more detailed look at injuries around the league, check out Rotoworld's injury page: Injuries!
Justin Duchscherer ? OAK ? SP ? Could be back April 26
Rich Harden ? OAK ? SP ? Could be back by end of the month
Tom Glavine ? ATL ? SP ? Should return on April 29
Peter Moylan ? ATL ? RP ? Could be out for season
Rafael Soriano ? ATL ? RP ? Expected to return Tuesday
Ben Sheets ? MIL ? SP ? Could miss starts this week
Yovani Gallardo ? MIL ? SP ? Should be back on April 20
Erik Bedard ? SEA ? SP ? Could return Thursday
J.J. Putz ? SEA ? RP ? Could return on Tuesday
Moises Alou ? NYM ? OF ? Could return this week
Dmitri Young ? WAS ? 1B ? Could return this week
Jimmy Rollins ? PHI ? SS ? Should be starting all week
Jack Wilson ? PIT ? SS ? Could be back by end of the week
Mike Lowell ? BOS ? 3B ? Unlikely to be back this week
David Ross ? CIN ? C ? Should be back this week
Matt Belisle ? CIN ? SP ? Expected to start on Monday
Dontrelle Willis ? DET ? SP ? Not expected to return this week
Michael Cuddyer ? MIN ? OF ? Not expected back this week
Joba Chamberlain ? NYY ? RP ? Should be back by start of the week
[SIZE=+1]Waiver Wired[/SIZE]
Check out over twenty of this week's top waiver options here. Here is an abbreviated list:
American League:
1. Cliff Lee
2. Milton Bradley
3. Gavin Floyd
National League:
1. Manny Acosta
2. Randy Wolf
3. Hong-Chi Kuo
[SIZE=+1]The Weather Report[/SIZE]
The following games have a 50% or greater chance of being rained out:
Sunday April 20 ? Yankees @ Baltimore ? 70% -- This game could be replayed on Monday if it ends up being rained out.
Sunday, April 27 ? Yankees @ Indians ? 60%
Sunday, April 27 ? Phillies @ Pirates ? 60%
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
AL Team-by-Team Notes
The surprising decision Saturday to bench Frank Thomas was certainly financially driven for the Blue Jays. The Big Hurt is 304 plate appearances away from having his $10 million vesting option for 2009 kick in, and Toronto would prefer not to pay him that much even if he bounces back and matches his 2007 numbers. The best-case scenario for the Jays would be a two-month injury for Thomas, after which he'd come back and immediately start hitting. However, since even Thomas is unlikely to get hurt if he's not playing, that seems like a long shot. With no room on the roster for both Thomas and Adam Lind, the Jays will probably go with Matt Stairs at DH and Shannon Stewart in left field for now. Unless they give Thomas his release, they'll have to put him back into the mix in a week or two. However, it could be quite some time before he's a regular again. There's no reason to own him in mixed leagues right now.
American League Notes
Baltimore - Relying overwhelmingly on his fastball, Daniel Cabrera has turned in two nice outings in a row. He threw heaters about 90 percent of the time while limiting the Rays to one run in 6 2/3 innings on April 12. In Friday's win over the Yankees, he kept up that same kind of pace his first two times through the lineup before mixing in more sliders and changeups his third time through. The strategy has helped Cabrera generate more grounders than usual, and he's also less apt to walk batters while concentrating on his best pitch. It's not all that likely that he's truly turned the corner, but he could be somewhat more reliable in AL-only leagues going forward. It doesn't hurt that his schedule over the next month looks pretty favorable. ? It's probably not going to happen before July, but since there's a good chance the Orioles will part with George Sherrill at some point during the summer, it's worth paying attention to the rest of the team's pen. The standout so far has been Rule-5 pick Randor Bierd, who has thrown 10 2/3 scoreless innings in six appearances. He's probably not going to be a long-term closer, but with impressive command of a nice sinking fastball, he could set up for Chris Ray in 2009. Because he'll be a possibility for saves in the second half, he'd be worth adding in AL-only leagues if he remains effective over the next few weeks.
Boston - With neither Clay Buchholz nor Jon Lester off to very good starts, it seems like only a matter of time until Bartolo Colon gets his rotation spot. It probably would have happened this week if not for the veteran's strained oblique. As is, the switch could take place right around May 1, which is the date that Colon can opt out of his contract if he's not in the majors. Buchholz looks like the favorite to head back to the minors. However, Lester has a 5.06 ERA and a 15/17 K/BB ratio in his five starts, and he hasn't had to face the same caliber of opponents as Buchholz, who has taken on the Yankees twice and the Blue Jays while amassing a 6.75 ERA in three starts. I still think Buchholz goes, as the Red Sox will want to keep his innings count down anyway, but Buchholz will be the better bet of the two for the rest of the season regardless. ? Jed Lowrie has a limited opportunity to show what he can do with Mike Lowell (thumb) on the disabled list. Ideally, he'd prove he's a legitimate alternative at shortstop if Julio Lugo is truly washed up. It's not a switch the Red Sox figure to make anytime soon, so Lowrie will probably spend at least another month or two in Triple-A after Lowell returns. However, the Red Sox could always consider making a transition at shortstop much like they did in center field at the end of last year. Like Dustin Pedroia, Lowrie doesn't have the power or speed to become a fantasy star. However, he'd hit for average and he could collect plenty of runs scored and RBI if he somehow becomes a fixture in Boston's lineup.
Chicago - With Jerry Owens getting optioned to Triple-A, Carlos Quentin's spot is secure. It's great news for the White Sox offense as a whole. However, Quentin might yet turn into a sell-high candidate sometime soon. The former Diamondback has a significant injury history, and his tendency to leave himself open to HBPs increases the chances that he'll get hurt. He probably won't hit for a particularly strong average and he's not a basestealer, so he even if he gets 550 at-bats and hits 25 homers, he won't be more than a $16-$17 player in AL-only leagues. It will be time to think about shopping him if he keeps this up for a few more weeks. ? The only position the White Sox have struggled to get production from is second base. Juan Uribe continues to be run out there every day even though he's hitting .161/.217/.268. There's been no update on Danny Richar's status since he went on the DL with a stress fracture in his rib cage, making it unclear whether he'll still be a possibility to take over in mid-to-late May. The White Sox clearly don't trust Alexei Ramirez on defense yet, though they continue to have him take grounders at second. Realistically, they may need to go outside of the organization. Unfortunately, neither Ray Durham nor Felipe Lopez presents an obvious upgrade. If Marcus Giles is still interested, giving him a minor league deal would make sense. The White Sox will probably make a run at Brian Roberts before the deadline if they remain in contention, but they don't have a whole lot to offer. As much luck as the team has had making deals with the A's, Mark Ellis might prove to be the ultimate solution.
Cleveland - Everyone knows that Rafael Betancourt is the Indians' best reliever, but that doesn't necessarily mean Joe Borowski (triceps) won't get his job back in a couple of weeks. Manager Eric Wedge prefers the way his bullpen sets up when Borowski is closing. I wouldn't rank Betancourt as a top-10 AL reliever just yet. ? Fausto Carmona found his command last week. C.C. Sabathia still figures to do the same soon enough. He's been at 94-95 mph with his fastball once he gets past the first inning in games, and he insists there's nothing wrong with his arm. This being his walk year, he might have incentive to cover up an arm problem, but maybe in August or September, not in April. It's time to start looking into opportunities to buy low. ? Cliff Lee has been the Indians' savior so far, and there has to be several teams upset with themselves over not pursuing him when he was very much available in trade talks over the winter. Still, his current run doesn't figure to last. He's feasted on two lineups that figure to have problems with lefties all year. Incredibly, he's going to have missed all four series this month against the Angels, Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees. Barring a schedule change, his first outing against an above average offense will come May 10 against the Jays. ? David Dellucci, who looked completely hideous at times this spring, has been Cleveland's one productive corner outfielder to date, though that's still barely given him any fantasy value. It's doubtful Ben Francisco will be called up to help out while he's struggling in Triple-A just as much as Franklin Gutierrez and Jason Michaels are in the majors. Giving Casey Blake some outfield time isn't something that's being considered, so it looks like the Indians will stand pat. I still have plenty of faith that Gutierrez will snap out of it soon. Michaels, on the other hand, might need to be replaced once Francisco heats up.
Detroit - Excluding Armando Galarraga's first turn in place of Dontrelle Willis, the Tigers' five starters have a 6.20 ERA and a 49/52 K/BB ratio to date. Jeremy Bonderman is the only one with an ERA under 6.00, and his WHIP stands at 1.76. I'm not particularly concerned about Justin Verlander's off month, and Nate Robertson has been fairly unlucky on his way to 7.02 ERA. Still, this just isn't a very good pitching staff that GM Dave Dombrowski has assembled. Kenny Rogers' rough start is truly disturbing given his age and peripherals, and Willis might be a lost cause, at least for 2008. Both Bonderman and Willis appear to be pitching with damaged arms. The Tigers will hit, but they're in real trouble. ? Clete Thomas has cooled off considerably, so he'll probably head back to the minors when Curtis Granderson (hand) returns on Monday or Tuesday. However, there will be more pressure on Jacque Jones to produce with Brandon Inge available to play left field. Jones is hitting .184/.220/.184 through 38 at-bats. He'll probably be in the lineup less than half of the time until he shows signs of life. ? Placido Polanco's sore back appears to have been a factor in his slow start. Mixed leaguers shouldn't be afraid to look elsewhere. He wasn't going to hit anywhere near .340 again anyway, and he's pretty much a two-category player even when he's swinging well.
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Kansas City - Luke Hochevar, who made one start and three relief appearances for the Royals last September, will take over for John Bale (tired arm) and make his 2008 debut Sunday against the A's. Hochevar was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, but that was a reach and he's been a disappointment both in terms of numbers and stuff since being selected. He has a 4.62 ERA in 169 1/3 innings in the high minors the last two years. His 90-94 mph fastball is decent, but hardly unhittable, and he struggles to throw his curveball for strikes. Unless he makes a lot of progress with his changeup, he probably won't be much more than a No. 4 starter. AL-only leaguers shouldn't use him right away. ? The strikeouts haven't been there for Zack Greinke, but he's been terrific anyway and should be picked up in mixed leagues. He's a better bet than Brian Bannister going forward. ? Tony Pena Jr. is probably the AL's best defensive shortstop, but that doesn't make him an adequate regular when he's hitting .120/.135/.140 in 50 at-bats. The Royals should continue surrendering more playing time to Alberto Callaspo. Callaspo is worth considering in AL-only leagues.
Los Angeles - Howie Kendrick wound up back on the disabled list after Friday's game due to a strained hamstring. He's hitting .500 in 36 at-bats this season, but this makes three DL stays in the last year for him, and his inability to stay in the lineup is becoming a real cause for concern. The Angels have called up Sean Rodriguez to split time with Maicer Izturis until Kendrick returns. What Kendrick's injuries have done is given Erick Aybar a chance to take over as the everyday shortstop. He seems primed to hold on to the job all year long, making 30 steals a real possibility. ? He's still a hard guy to trust, but Ervin Santana appears to have taken a legitimate step forward this year. He's been consistently in the mid-90s with his fastball, something that rarely happened in 2007, and he also has a little something extra on his slider. It'd be nice to see a better changeup, but he barely needs it when he has command of his top-two pitchers. I don't see it keeping up for 32-34 starts, but he can't be left unowned in any mixed leagues at this point.
Minnesota - Francisco Liriano's fastball was a little better in his second start back, but he's walked 10 in 9 2/3 innings since returning. Frankly, I thought he looked better the time I saw him this spring than he has in either of his major league outings. Liriano's delivery isn't the same as it used to be, and one has to wonder if he'll ever throw 95 mph again unless he goes back to his old arm slot. The command will probably come, and once it does, he'll be a fine major league pitcher while throwing in the low-90s. However, I'm backing down from my prediction that he'll be the best pitcher in baseball during the second half of the season. ? Matt Tolbert should see most of the action at shortstop over Nick Punto while Adam Everett spends a couple of weeks resting a sore shoulder. That gives him a little value in AL-only leagues, but due to a lack of speed and power, his upside is quite limited. ? One of the most incredible stats of the season: after 18 games, just two Twins have hit homers. Justin Morneau has five and Jason Kubel has chipped in with three, but the team hasn't gotten any power from Joe Mauer or its winter acquisitions. I'm most concerned about Mike Lamb, who was already a poor bet while making the transition to the tougher league and a worse park for homers. Since he's a below average defender, his job should be on the line if he doesn't hit soon. If Tolbert stays hot, he could stay in the lineup after Everett comes back. In that scenario, it'd make sense to play him at second and Brendan Harris at third.
New York - Phil Hughes has an 8.82 ERA despite not allowing a homer in four starts. He's throwing about as hard this year as he did in 2007, but he's not getting swings and misses with his curveball and his changeup might as well not exist. Left-handed hitters don't have to look for anything besides the heater, and they're simply lighting him up as a result. I'm genuinely concerned. Hughes is still a fine bet for the long-term, but it looks like he could use some time in the minors to work on his offspeed pitches. His curveball is a great pitch when he's able to put it where wants to, and he's showed plenty of promise with the changeup in the past. If he gets the right coaching, he might be a quality option again in a month or two. ? Ian Kennedy also has awful numbers at the moment, but I don't think he's as far away from where he needs to be as Hughes is. He should prove to be a reliable AL-only pitcher. It's not yet the time to bench him. ? Jorge Posada (shoulder) says he'll be back behind the plate on Sunday or Tuesday. That'd be good news for Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi, both of whom would continue to lose at-bats with Posada at DH.
Oakland - Mike Sweeney has fanned just once in 51 at-bats this season, but he's also driven in all of three runs. Time will tell if jettisoning Dan Johnson will come back to haunt the A's. Sweeney certainly isn't a long-term option, and he might not be a short-term asset. He's already losing some playing time to Emil Brown. By the time June or July rolls around, it'd be no surprise if Jack Cust is an everyday DH with Carlos Gonzalez and Travis Buck starting in the outfield corners. ?. Of course, neither Cust nor Buck has shown much so far, either. Cust is 5-for-18 with eight walks and five runs scored in his last six games, so the worst of his slump may be over. Still, he hasn't homered since April 1. It's not a major concern. Streakiness is part of the package with him. Buck may need to show something soon or risk getting replaced by Gonzalez next month. He's 2-for-49 when not facing Toronto this season (he did go 8-for-16 in a series against the Jays). The A's have already dropped him in the order, and they've never been afraid to send young players back down if they think it's necessary. ? The A's are hopeful that Justin Duchscherer (biceps) will return Saturday. If that happens, Lenny DiNardo will shift to the pen. Rich Harden (back) isn't expected back during April, so Greg Smith will make at least a couple of more starts. He's a decent play this week.
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Seattle - As little information about the injury as there is available, it's very hard to tell just how concerned owners should be about Erik Bedard's hip injury. Bedard is barely talking, but that's par for the course for him. The Mariners are calling the problem inflammation, though they won't even say what they think caused it. If they decide against bringing Bedard back this week after he's eligible to return Thursday, I'll start getting especially worried. Bedard is an outstanding pitcher, but no one has ever called him a quick healer. ? Fortunately, the Mariners do seem poised to gt J.J. Putz (ribs) back, probably on Tuesday. ? It would hardly be a surprise to see Wladimir Balentien called up and made the primary right fielder this week. He's hitting .260/.350/.540 in Triple-A, while Brad Wilkerson is at .150/.292/.175 in 40 at-bats in the majors.
Tampa Bay - Long-term contracts for young players typically don't have fantasy implications, but the one Evan Longoria just signed certainly does. Now that he's in the fold for up to nine years, it matters little whether he's going to be a super-two player (there is a clause in the contract giving him an extra $500,000 if he's arbitration eligible after 2010, but that's the only difference it will make). As a result, there's no longer very much incentive to return him to Triple-A once Willy Aybar returns from a strained hamstring. As long as his play warrants it -- and the early returns are quite positive -- he should remain a regular for the rest of the year. That makes him worth trying in shallow mixed leagues. ? Since the Giants made it clear they were passing on another chance to upgrade, Tampa Bay became the most obvious destination for Dan Johnson. He'll see action as a DH against right-handers, at least until Cliff Floyd (knee) returns. Jonny Gomes still figures to see some action versus righties, but not as much as he would have otherwise. Anyone who picked up Nathan Haynes in an AL-only league can probably go ahead and drop him. Justin Ruggiano figures to be sent down to open up a spot on the roster. ? Scott Kazmir (elbow) is out until the beginning of May, but Matt Garza (arm) could be back to take Jeff Niemann's rotation spot on Friday or Saturday. All he needs to do is turn in an effective outing in a rehab start Sunday. ? Dioner Navarro (hand) is set to return Tuesday.
Texas - The power has been absent so far, but Ian Kinsler has six steals in six attempts. He's someone fantasy leaguers looking to upgrade at second base should target. He'll get his 20 homers, and it looks like he's making it a priority to swipe 30-40 bases. ? Hank Blalock's quick return from a back problem that was rumored to have him DL bound was a nice surprise. He's currently batting .339 with three homers and just five strikeouts in 62 at-bats. It hasn't resulted in many RBI yet, but he'll prove to be a major asset in mixed leagues if he continues to swing like this. ? Marlon Byrd's lack of production was a real problem, and the DL might be the best place for him right now. Ideally, he'll return from a sore knee as the true fourth outfielder he should have been all along. David Murphy and Jason Botts will keep picking up at-bats in his place.
Toronto - On the off chance that the Jays do release Thomas, Adam Lind would likely DH against right-handers. They could temporarily put both on the roster in Joe Inglett's place, but that'd only work until Scott Rolen (finger) gets back. Lind is worth having stashed away in AL-only leagues. Power is his game, but he's opened the year with a .360 average in 50 at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse. ? Jeremy Accardo's struggles played a definite role in the decision to bring B.J. Ryan back early. Ryan's velocity is well down from where it should be, but since he's pain-free, the Jays might as well let him pitch in major league games. Besides, he can succeed at 88-90 mph. He'll have off days, but he should be an adequate closer anyway. ? Accardo's velocity is just fine, but he hasn't found his splitter this year. Reduced to being a one-pitch pitcher, he's sporting a 10.29 ERA in seven innings. He'll probably figure it out soon enough, but there's little reason to play him in fantasy leagues right now. Ryan can't be used on back-to-back days, but when he's unavailable, the Jays figure to go to Scott Downs in save opportunities.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
AL Team-by-Team Notes
The surprising decision Saturday to bench Frank Thomas was certainly financially driven for the Blue Jays. The Big Hurt is 304 plate appearances away from having his $10 million vesting option for 2009 kick in, and Toronto would prefer not to pay him that much even if he bounces back and matches his 2007 numbers. The best-case scenario for the Jays would be a two-month injury for Thomas, after which he'd come back and immediately start hitting. However, since even Thomas is unlikely to get hurt if he's not playing, that seems like a long shot. With no room on the roster for both Thomas and Adam Lind, the Jays will probably go with Matt Stairs at DH and Shannon Stewart in left field for now. Unless they give Thomas his release, they'll have to put him back into the mix in a week or two. However, it could be quite some time before he's a regular again. There's no reason to own him in mixed leagues right now.
American League Notes
Baltimore - Relying overwhelmingly on his fastball, Daniel Cabrera has turned in two nice outings in a row. He threw heaters about 90 percent of the time while limiting the Rays to one run in 6 2/3 innings on April 12. In Friday's win over the Yankees, he kept up that same kind of pace his first two times through the lineup before mixing in more sliders and changeups his third time through. The strategy has helped Cabrera generate more grounders than usual, and he's also less apt to walk batters while concentrating on his best pitch. It's not all that likely that he's truly turned the corner, but he could be somewhat more reliable in AL-only leagues going forward. It doesn't hurt that his schedule over the next month looks pretty favorable. ? It's probably not going to happen before July, but since there's a good chance the Orioles will part with George Sherrill at some point during the summer, it's worth paying attention to the rest of the team's pen. The standout so far has been Rule-5 pick Randor Bierd, who has thrown 10 2/3 scoreless innings in six appearances. He's probably not going to be a long-term closer, but with impressive command of a nice sinking fastball, he could set up for Chris Ray in 2009. Because he'll be a possibility for saves in the second half, he'd be worth adding in AL-only leagues if he remains effective over the next few weeks.
Boston - With neither Clay Buchholz nor Jon Lester off to very good starts, it seems like only a matter of time until Bartolo Colon gets his rotation spot. It probably would have happened this week if not for the veteran's strained oblique. As is, the switch could take place right around May 1, which is the date that Colon can opt out of his contract if he's not in the majors. Buchholz looks like the favorite to head back to the minors. However, Lester has a 5.06 ERA and a 15/17 K/BB ratio in his five starts, and he hasn't had to face the same caliber of opponents as Buchholz, who has taken on the Yankees twice and the Blue Jays while amassing a 6.75 ERA in three starts. I still think Buchholz goes, as the Red Sox will want to keep his innings count down anyway, but Buchholz will be the better bet of the two for the rest of the season regardless. ? Jed Lowrie has a limited opportunity to show what he can do with Mike Lowell (thumb) on the disabled list. Ideally, he'd prove he's a legitimate alternative at shortstop if Julio Lugo is truly washed up. It's not a switch the Red Sox figure to make anytime soon, so Lowrie will probably spend at least another month or two in Triple-A after Lowell returns. However, the Red Sox could always consider making a transition at shortstop much like they did in center field at the end of last year. Like Dustin Pedroia, Lowrie doesn't have the power or speed to become a fantasy star. However, he'd hit for average and he could collect plenty of runs scored and RBI if he somehow becomes a fixture in Boston's lineup.
Chicago - With Jerry Owens getting optioned to Triple-A, Carlos Quentin's spot is secure. It's great news for the White Sox offense as a whole. However, Quentin might yet turn into a sell-high candidate sometime soon. The former Diamondback has a significant injury history, and his tendency to leave himself open to HBPs increases the chances that he'll get hurt. He probably won't hit for a particularly strong average and he's not a basestealer, so he even if he gets 550 at-bats and hits 25 homers, he won't be more than a $16-$17 player in AL-only leagues. It will be time to think about shopping him if he keeps this up for a few more weeks. ? The only position the White Sox have struggled to get production from is second base. Juan Uribe continues to be run out there every day even though he's hitting .161/.217/.268. There's been no update on Danny Richar's status since he went on the DL with a stress fracture in his rib cage, making it unclear whether he'll still be a possibility to take over in mid-to-late May. The White Sox clearly don't trust Alexei Ramirez on defense yet, though they continue to have him take grounders at second. Realistically, they may need to go outside of the organization. Unfortunately, neither Ray Durham nor Felipe Lopez presents an obvious upgrade. If Marcus Giles is still interested, giving him a minor league deal would make sense. The White Sox will probably make a run at Brian Roberts before the deadline if they remain in contention, but they don't have a whole lot to offer. As much luck as the team has had making deals with the A's, Mark Ellis might prove to be the ultimate solution.
Cleveland - Everyone knows that Rafael Betancourt is the Indians' best reliever, but that doesn't necessarily mean Joe Borowski (triceps) won't get his job back in a couple of weeks. Manager Eric Wedge prefers the way his bullpen sets up when Borowski is closing. I wouldn't rank Betancourt as a top-10 AL reliever just yet. ? Fausto Carmona found his command last week. C.C. Sabathia still figures to do the same soon enough. He's been at 94-95 mph with his fastball once he gets past the first inning in games, and he insists there's nothing wrong with his arm. This being his walk year, he might have incentive to cover up an arm problem, but maybe in August or September, not in April. It's time to start looking into opportunities to buy low. ? Cliff Lee has been the Indians' savior so far, and there has to be several teams upset with themselves over not pursuing him when he was very much available in trade talks over the winter. Still, his current run doesn't figure to last. He's feasted on two lineups that figure to have problems with lefties all year. Incredibly, he's going to have missed all four series this month against the Angels, Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees. Barring a schedule change, his first outing against an above average offense will come May 10 against the Jays. ? David Dellucci, who looked completely hideous at times this spring, has been Cleveland's one productive corner outfielder to date, though that's still barely given him any fantasy value. It's doubtful Ben Francisco will be called up to help out while he's struggling in Triple-A just as much as Franklin Gutierrez and Jason Michaels are in the majors. Giving Casey Blake some outfield time isn't something that's being considered, so it looks like the Indians will stand pat. I still have plenty of faith that Gutierrez will snap out of it soon. Michaels, on the other hand, might need to be replaced once Francisco heats up.
Detroit - Excluding Armando Galarraga's first turn in place of Dontrelle Willis, the Tigers' five starters have a 6.20 ERA and a 49/52 K/BB ratio to date. Jeremy Bonderman is the only one with an ERA under 6.00, and his WHIP stands at 1.76. I'm not particularly concerned about Justin Verlander's off month, and Nate Robertson has been fairly unlucky on his way to 7.02 ERA. Still, this just isn't a very good pitching staff that GM Dave Dombrowski has assembled. Kenny Rogers' rough start is truly disturbing given his age and peripherals, and Willis might be a lost cause, at least for 2008. Both Bonderman and Willis appear to be pitching with damaged arms. The Tigers will hit, but they're in real trouble. ? Clete Thomas has cooled off considerably, so he'll probably head back to the minors when Curtis Granderson (hand) returns on Monday or Tuesday. However, there will be more pressure on Jacque Jones to produce with Brandon Inge available to play left field. Jones is hitting .184/.220/.184 through 38 at-bats. He'll probably be in the lineup less than half of the time until he shows signs of life. ? Placido Polanco's sore back appears to have been a factor in his slow start. Mixed leaguers shouldn't be afraid to look elsewhere. He wasn't going to hit anywhere near .340 again anyway, and he's pretty much a two-category player even when he's swinging well.
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Kansas City - Luke Hochevar, who made one start and three relief appearances for the Royals last September, will take over for John Bale (tired arm) and make his 2008 debut Sunday against the A's. Hochevar was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, but that was a reach and he's been a disappointment both in terms of numbers and stuff since being selected. He has a 4.62 ERA in 169 1/3 innings in the high minors the last two years. His 90-94 mph fastball is decent, but hardly unhittable, and he struggles to throw his curveball for strikes. Unless he makes a lot of progress with his changeup, he probably won't be much more than a No. 4 starter. AL-only leaguers shouldn't use him right away. ? The strikeouts haven't been there for Zack Greinke, but he's been terrific anyway and should be picked up in mixed leagues. He's a better bet than Brian Bannister going forward. ? Tony Pena Jr. is probably the AL's best defensive shortstop, but that doesn't make him an adequate regular when he's hitting .120/.135/.140 in 50 at-bats. The Royals should continue surrendering more playing time to Alberto Callaspo. Callaspo is worth considering in AL-only leagues.
Los Angeles - Howie Kendrick wound up back on the disabled list after Friday's game due to a strained hamstring. He's hitting .500 in 36 at-bats this season, but this makes three DL stays in the last year for him, and his inability to stay in the lineup is becoming a real cause for concern. The Angels have called up Sean Rodriguez to split time with Maicer Izturis until Kendrick returns. What Kendrick's injuries have done is given Erick Aybar a chance to take over as the everyday shortstop. He seems primed to hold on to the job all year long, making 30 steals a real possibility. ? He's still a hard guy to trust, but Ervin Santana appears to have taken a legitimate step forward this year. He's been consistently in the mid-90s with his fastball, something that rarely happened in 2007, and he also has a little something extra on his slider. It'd be nice to see a better changeup, but he barely needs it when he has command of his top-two pitchers. I don't see it keeping up for 32-34 starts, but he can't be left unowned in any mixed leagues at this point.
Minnesota - Francisco Liriano's fastball was a little better in his second start back, but he's walked 10 in 9 2/3 innings since returning. Frankly, I thought he looked better the time I saw him this spring than he has in either of his major league outings. Liriano's delivery isn't the same as it used to be, and one has to wonder if he'll ever throw 95 mph again unless he goes back to his old arm slot. The command will probably come, and once it does, he'll be a fine major league pitcher while throwing in the low-90s. However, I'm backing down from my prediction that he'll be the best pitcher in baseball during the second half of the season. ? Matt Tolbert should see most of the action at shortstop over Nick Punto while Adam Everett spends a couple of weeks resting a sore shoulder. That gives him a little value in AL-only leagues, but due to a lack of speed and power, his upside is quite limited. ? One of the most incredible stats of the season: after 18 games, just two Twins have hit homers. Justin Morneau has five and Jason Kubel has chipped in with three, but the team hasn't gotten any power from Joe Mauer or its winter acquisitions. I'm most concerned about Mike Lamb, who was already a poor bet while making the transition to the tougher league and a worse park for homers. Since he's a below average defender, his job should be on the line if he doesn't hit soon. If Tolbert stays hot, he could stay in the lineup after Everett comes back. In that scenario, it'd make sense to play him at second and Brendan Harris at third.
New York - Phil Hughes has an 8.82 ERA despite not allowing a homer in four starts. He's throwing about as hard this year as he did in 2007, but he's not getting swings and misses with his curveball and his changeup might as well not exist. Left-handed hitters don't have to look for anything besides the heater, and they're simply lighting him up as a result. I'm genuinely concerned. Hughes is still a fine bet for the long-term, but it looks like he could use some time in the minors to work on his offspeed pitches. His curveball is a great pitch when he's able to put it where wants to, and he's showed plenty of promise with the changeup in the past. If he gets the right coaching, he might be a quality option again in a month or two. ? Ian Kennedy also has awful numbers at the moment, but I don't think he's as far away from where he needs to be as Hughes is. He should prove to be a reliable AL-only pitcher. It's not yet the time to bench him. ? Jorge Posada (shoulder) says he'll be back behind the plate on Sunday or Tuesday. That'd be good news for Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi, both of whom would continue to lose at-bats with Posada at DH.
Oakland - Mike Sweeney has fanned just once in 51 at-bats this season, but he's also driven in all of three runs. Time will tell if jettisoning Dan Johnson will come back to haunt the A's. Sweeney certainly isn't a long-term option, and he might not be a short-term asset. He's already losing some playing time to Emil Brown. By the time June or July rolls around, it'd be no surprise if Jack Cust is an everyday DH with Carlos Gonzalez and Travis Buck starting in the outfield corners. ?. Of course, neither Cust nor Buck has shown much so far, either. Cust is 5-for-18 with eight walks and five runs scored in his last six games, so the worst of his slump may be over. Still, he hasn't homered since April 1. It's not a major concern. Streakiness is part of the package with him. Buck may need to show something soon or risk getting replaced by Gonzalez next month. He's 2-for-49 when not facing Toronto this season (he did go 8-for-16 in a series against the Jays). The A's have already dropped him in the order, and they've never been afraid to send young players back down if they think it's necessary. ? The A's are hopeful that Justin Duchscherer (biceps) will return Saturday. If that happens, Lenny DiNardo will shift to the pen. Rich Harden (back) isn't expected back during April, so Greg Smith will make at least a couple of more starts. He's a decent play this week.
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Seattle - As little information about the injury as there is available, it's very hard to tell just how concerned owners should be about Erik Bedard's hip injury. Bedard is barely talking, but that's par for the course for him. The Mariners are calling the problem inflammation, though they won't even say what they think caused it. If they decide against bringing Bedard back this week after he's eligible to return Thursday, I'll start getting especially worried. Bedard is an outstanding pitcher, but no one has ever called him a quick healer. ? Fortunately, the Mariners do seem poised to gt J.J. Putz (ribs) back, probably on Tuesday. ? It would hardly be a surprise to see Wladimir Balentien called up and made the primary right fielder this week. He's hitting .260/.350/.540 in Triple-A, while Brad Wilkerson is at .150/.292/.175 in 40 at-bats in the majors.
Tampa Bay - Long-term contracts for young players typically don't have fantasy implications, but the one Evan Longoria just signed certainly does. Now that he's in the fold for up to nine years, it matters little whether he's going to be a super-two player (there is a clause in the contract giving him an extra $500,000 if he's arbitration eligible after 2010, but that's the only difference it will make). As a result, there's no longer very much incentive to return him to Triple-A once Willy Aybar returns from a strained hamstring. As long as his play warrants it -- and the early returns are quite positive -- he should remain a regular for the rest of the year. That makes him worth trying in shallow mixed leagues. ? Since the Giants made it clear they were passing on another chance to upgrade, Tampa Bay became the most obvious destination for Dan Johnson. He'll see action as a DH against right-handers, at least until Cliff Floyd (knee) returns. Jonny Gomes still figures to see some action versus righties, but not as much as he would have otherwise. Anyone who picked up Nathan Haynes in an AL-only league can probably go ahead and drop him. Justin Ruggiano figures to be sent down to open up a spot on the roster. ? Scott Kazmir (elbow) is out until the beginning of May, but Matt Garza (arm) could be back to take Jeff Niemann's rotation spot on Friday or Saturday. All he needs to do is turn in an effective outing in a rehab start Sunday. ? Dioner Navarro (hand) is set to return Tuesday.
Texas - The power has been absent so far, but Ian Kinsler has six steals in six attempts. He's someone fantasy leaguers looking to upgrade at second base should target. He'll get his 20 homers, and it looks like he's making it a priority to swipe 30-40 bases. ? Hank Blalock's quick return from a back problem that was rumored to have him DL bound was a nice surprise. He's currently batting .339 with three homers and just five strikeouts in 62 at-bats. It hasn't resulted in many RBI yet, but he'll prove to be a major asset in mixed leagues if he continues to swing like this. ? Marlon Byrd's lack of production was a real problem, and the DL might be the best place for him right now. Ideally, he'll return from a sore knee as the true fourth outfielder he should have been all along. David Murphy and Jason Botts will keep picking up at-bats in his place.
Toronto - On the off chance that the Jays do release Thomas, Adam Lind would likely DH against right-handers. They could temporarily put both on the roster in Joe Inglett's place, but that'd only work until Scott Rolen (finger) gets back. Lind is worth having stashed away in AL-only leagues. Power is his game, but he's opened the year with a .360 average in 50 at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse. ? Jeremy Accardo's struggles played a definite role in the decision to bring B.J. Ryan back early. Ryan's velocity is well down from where it should be, but since he's pain-free, the Jays might as well let him pitch in major league games. Besides, he can succeed at 88-90 mph. He'll have off days, but he should be an adequate closer anyway. ? Accardo's velocity is just fine, but he hasn't found his splitter this year. Reduced to being a one-pitch pitcher, he's sporting a 10.29 ERA in seven innings. He'll probably figure it out soon enough, but there's little reason to play him in fantasy leagues right now. Ryan can't be used on back-to-back days, but when he's unavailable, the Jays figure to go to Scott Downs in save opportunities.
Hache Man
"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Big Hurting
When Frank Thomas signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the Blue Jays last winter, the deal included a $10 million option for 2009 that kicked in if he reached 376 plate appearances this season. Thomas' seemingly annual slow start convinced the Blue Jays that they wanted nothing to do with paying him that much for his age-41 season, so they announced Saturday that Thomas would be spending some time on the bench.
That understandably didn't sit well with the future Hall of Famer, so he complained publicly about the way things were being handled and was released Sunday. Toronto is still on the hook to Thomas for about $7 million, which makes the decision to give up on him after three weeks an odd one. His .176/.306/.333 hitting line this season certainly isn't pretty, but 16 games isn't a very telling sample size and he's rebounded from similarly slow starts in each of the past two seasons.
Thomas hit just .190 in April while playing for the A's in 2006, but ended up at .270/.381/.545 with 39 homers and 114 RBIs. He also batted just .223 through the end of May last season before hitting .303/.387/.520 with 18 homers and 73 RBIs over the final four months. If he was worth signing to a two-year contract last offseason and was worth starting on Opening Day, he was certainly worth sticking with for longer than three weeks.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi explained the decision by saying that the team doesn't "have the luxury of waiting 2-3 months" for Thomas to get on track, but their options to replace him aren't exactly inspiring at the moment thanks to Adam Lind being sidelined at Triple-A by a sore neck. Rod Barajas started at designated hitter Sunday, which is laughable given that he's not even an especially good hitter for a catcher and is a huge dropoff from Thomas.
Aside from any misguided starts given to Barajas or Gregg Zaun the DH spot figures to be filled by Matt Stairs, which is fine except that he could have played left field anyway. Instead, Shannon Stewart will keep playing regularly despite the fact that his .235/.341/.294 start is no better than Thomas' and unlike Thomas he hasn't been a significant asset at the plate since 2004. Once healthy, Lind will get the biggest value boost and is worth grabbing in AL-only leagues.
As for Thomas, he's now looking for work in a job market where Barry Bonds hasn't been able to find a gig. He's limited to AL teams and there are only a handful of possible destinations, without a single obvious landing spot. Seattle has already been mentioned as a possible fit and Detroit might get interested if Gary Sheffield's ongoing shoulder problems prove serious, but most of the contenders are pretty well set at DH for now unless Thomas feels like taking on a part-time role.
While two of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport look for work, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Yovani Gallardo returned from the disabled list Sunday and tossed seven innings of one-run ball against the Reds in his season debut. Gallardo's knee surgery ended up costing him just three starts and the Brewers letting him throw 112 pitches in his return is a pretty strong indication that he's fully healthy. He'll face the Marlins on Friday, clearly should be in both NL-only and mixed-league lineups, and is capable of being among the NL's top 15 starters going forward.
Poor run support left Gallardo without a victory and when the Brewers finally scored twice to take a 10th-inning lead Eric Gagne coughed up three runs in the bottom of the inning. It was Gagne's third blown save of the early season and he's been shaky since the middle of last year, but some of the blame for his ugly outing Sunday goes to manager Ned Yost for asking him to pitch on a fourth straight day. His ERA is up to 8.22, but Gagne does have 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
* John Danks posted an ugly 5.50 ERA last season even though his 109-to-54 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 139 innings wasn't bad for a 22-year-old rookie. His biggest problem was that an extreme fly-ball pitcher is a horrible fit for the White Sox's power-inflating home ballpark, which led to his allowing 28 homers and 38 doubles in just 26 starts. Danks worked on adding a cutter to his repertoire this offseason and the early results from his new approach are extremely encouraging.
He tossed seven shutout innings Sunday against the Rays to slice his ERA to 3.04, inducing eight ground-ball outs to go along with eight strikeouts. Last season just 34.8 percent of Danks' balls in play were on the ground, which would have ranked as the lowest percentage among AL starters if he had enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. This year he's coaxed a grounder on over 50 percent of his balls in play, which if sustained would drastically improve his long-term outlook.
* Jimmy Rollins' sprained ankle finally pushed him to the disabled list Sunday and because of his pinch-hitting appearance Saturday he'll be sidelined for the full 15 days. Run-of-the-mill utility man Eric Bruntlett has started 11 straight games in Rollins' place while batting just .186 overall and has a .245/.318/.356 career hitting line, but with 21 steals in 586 plate appearances he has enough speed to be a passable middle-infield option in NL-only leagues for the rest of the month.
AL Quick Hits: Alex Rodriguez left Sunday's game with a strained quadriceps, but the Yankees have Monday off anyway and he's considered day-to-day ? John Lackey (triceps) is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday, with an eye toward coming off the disabled list on May 13 ? Scott Rolen (finger) made his first rehab appearance Sunday at Single-A, going 0-for-3 while playing designated hitter ? Sending Jeff Niemann back to the minors Sunday signals that the Rays are confident in Matt Garza (elbow) returning this weekend ? Jim Thome went 4-for-4 with his 512th career homer Sunday, moving into a tie for 19th place on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks ? Mike Lowell (thumb) hit off a tee Saturday and could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment this week ? With B.J. Ryan unavailable Sunday after throwing 24 pitches Saturday, Jeremy Accardo picked up a save against the Tigers ? No. 1 overall pick David Price (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, but is still several weeks from making his pro debut ? Already scheduled to receive a day off Monday, Manny Ramirez was ejected from Sunday's game in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.
NL Quick Hits: Chipper Jones is questionable to play Monday after leaving Sunday's game with a strained quadriceps, but manager Bobby Cox called the injury "nothing that's going to have him out any length at all" ? Randy Johnson struggled Sunday in his second start, allowing six runs (four earned) against the Padres, but totaled six strikeouts before serving up a three-run homer to Justin Huber ? With Rafael Soriano (elbow) still having soreness, Manny Acosta figures to be the Braves' closer for at least another week ? Hanley Ramirez went deep twice Sunday, giving him five homers and five steals to go with a .366 batting average through 18 games ? Kosuke Fukudome was scratched from the lineup Sunday because of a cyst above his eye, but manager Lou Piniella called it "only a one-day thing" ? Jonathan Sanchez shut the Cardinals out for five innings Sunday and the 25-year-old southpaw now has 26 strikeouts in 20 innings ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) ran the bases at full speed over the weekend and looks ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week ? Homer Bailey tossed seven shutout innings Saturday at Triple-A, dropping his ERA to 1.03.
Re: Fantasy Baseball News 2008
Big Hurting
When Frank Thomas signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the Blue Jays last winter, the deal included a $10 million option for 2009 that kicked in if he reached 376 plate appearances this season. Thomas' seemingly annual slow start convinced the Blue Jays that they wanted nothing to do with paying him that much for his age-41 season, so they announced Saturday that Thomas would be spending some time on the bench.
That understandably didn't sit well with the future Hall of Famer, so he complained publicly about the way things were being handled and was released Sunday. Toronto is still on the hook to Thomas for about $7 million, which makes the decision to give up on him after three weeks an odd one. His .176/.306/.333 hitting line this season certainly isn't pretty, but 16 games isn't a very telling sample size and he's rebounded from similarly slow starts in each of the past two seasons.
Thomas hit just .190 in April while playing for the A's in 2006, but ended up at .270/.381/.545 with 39 homers and 114 RBIs. He also batted just .223 through the end of May last season before hitting .303/.387/.520 with 18 homers and 73 RBIs over the final four months. If he was worth signing to a two-year contract last offseason and was worth starting on Opening Day, he was certainly worth sticking with for longer than three weeks.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi explained the decision by saying that the team doesn't "have the luxury of waiting 2-3 months" for Thomas to get on track, but their options to replace him aren't exactly inspiring at the moment thanks to Adam Lind being sidelined at Triple-A by a sore neck. Rod Barajas started at designated hitter Sunday, which is laughable given that he's not even an especially good hitter for a catcher and is a huge dropoff from Thomas.
Aside from any misguided starts given to Barajas or Gregg Zaun the DH spot figures to be filled by Matt Stairs, which is fine except that he could have played left field anyway. Instead, Shannon Stewart will keep playing regularly despite the fact that his .235/.341/.294 start is no better than Thomas' and unlike Thomas he hasn't been a significant asset at the plate since 2004. Once healthy, Lind will get the biggest value boost and is worth grabbing in AL-only leagues.
As for Thomas, he's now looking for work in a job market where Barry Bonds hasn't been able to find a gig. He's limited to AL teams and there are only a handful of possible destinations, without a single obvious landing spot. Seattle has already been mentioned as a possible fit and Detroit might get interested if Gary Sheffield's ongoing shoulder problems prove serious, but most of the contenders are pretty well set at DH for now unless Thomas feels like taking on a part-time role.
While two of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport look for work, here are some other notes from around baseball ?
* Yovani Gallardo returned from the disabled list Sunday and tossed seven innings of one-run ball against the Reds in his season debut. Gallardo's knee surgery ended up costing him just three starts and the Brewers letting him throw 112 pitches in his return is a pretty strong indication that he's fully healthy. He'll face the Marlins on Friday, clearly should be in both NL-only and mixed-league lineups, and is capable of being among the NL's top 15 starters going forward.
Poor run support left Gallardo without a victory and when the Brewers finally scored twice to take a 10th-inning lead Eric Gagne coughed up three runs in the bottom of the inning. It was Gagne's third blown save of the early season and he's been shaky since the middle of last year, but some of the blame for his ugly outing Sunday goes to manager Ned Yost for asking him to pitch on a fourth straight day. His ERA is up to 8.22, but Gagne does have 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
* John Danks posted an ugly 5.50 ERA last season even though his 109-to-54 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 139 innings wasn't bad for a 22-year-old rookie. His biggest problem was that an extreme fly-ball pitcher is a horrible fit for the White Sox's power-inflating home ballpark, which led to his allowing 28 homers and 38 doubles in just 26 starts. Danks worked on adding a cutter to his repertoire this offseason and the early results from his new approach are extremely encouraging.
He tossed seven shutout innings Sunday against the Rays to slice his ERA to 3.04, inducing eight ground-ball outs to go along with eight strikeouts. Last season just 34.8 percent of Danks' balls in play were on the ground, which would have ranked as the lowest percentage among AL starters if he had enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. This year he's coaxed a grounder on over 50 percent of his balls in play, which if sustained would drastically improve his long-term outlook.
* Jimmy Rollins' sprained ankle finally pushed him to the disabled list Sunday and because of his pinch-hitting appearance Saturday he'll be sidelined for the full 15 days. Run-of-the-mill utility man Eric Bruntlett has started 11 straight games in Rollins' place while batting just .186 overall and has a .245/.318/.356 career hitting line, but with 21 steals in 586 plate appearances he has enough speed to be a passable middle-infield option in NL-only leagues for the rest of the month.
AL Quick Hits: Alex Rodriguez left Sunday's game with a strained quadriceps, but the Yankees have Monday off anyway and he's considered day-to-day ? John Lackey (triceps) is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday, with an eye toward coming off the disabled list on May 13 ? Scott Rolen (finger) made his first rehab appearance Sunday at Single-A, going 0-for-3 while playing designated hitter ? Sending Jeff Niemann back to the minors Sunday signals that the Rays are confident in Matt Garza (elbow) returning this weekend ? Jim Thome went 4-for-4 with his 512th career homer Sunday, moving into a tie for 19th place on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks ? Mike Lowell (thumb) hit off a tee Saturday and could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment this week ? With B.J. Ryan unavailable Sunday after throwing 24 pitches Saturday, Jeremy Accardo picked up a save against the Tigers ? No. 1 overall pick David Price (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, but is still several weeks from making his pro debut ? Already scheduled to receive a day off Monday, Manny Ramirez was ejected from Sunday's game in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.
NL Quick Hits: Chipper Jones is questionable to play Monday after leaving Sunday's game with a strained quadriceps, but manager Bobby Cox called the injury "nothing that's going to have him out any length at all" ? Randy Johnson struggled Sunday in his second start, allowing six runs (four earned) against the Padres, but totaled six strikeouts before serving up a three-run homer to Justin Huber ? With Rafael Soriano (elbow) still having soreness, Manny Acosta figures to be the Braves' closer for at least another week ? Hanley Ramirez went deep twice Sunday, giving him five homers and five steals to go with a .366 batting average through 18 games ? Kosuke Fukudome was scratched from the lineup Sunday because of a cyst above his eye, but manager Lou Piniella called it "only a one-day thing" ? Jonathan Sanchez shut the Cardinals out for five innings Sunday and the 25-year-old southpaw now has 26 strikeouts in 20 innings ? [URL="http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3586"]Chad Tracy[/URL] (knee) ran the bases at full speed over the weekend and looks ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week ? Homer Bailey tossed seven shutout innings Saturday at Triple-A, dropping his ERA to 1.03.