Beyond the Boxscore–Fantasy MLB News and Notes 5/2/08

The Reds had two rookie starters going into this season, and it looks like the one with less hype will make the bigger fantasy impact this year. While Johnny Cueto has begun to struggle some now, Edinson Volquez is not. He will take the loss tonight, but it wasn’t all his fault. He was the victim of a horrible drop in the outfield by Corey Patterson (I’m talking right in his glove!), and then gave up a bomb to Brian McCann. And that was it. Volquez final line was six innings, one earned run, and struck out nine in his first loss. Continue to start him with supreme confidence as we keep waiting for him to come back to life, and he keeps mowing down hitters. He obviously can’t keep up the 1.27 ERA, but you can expect him to have a tremendous season as he will be one of the fantasy gems of 2008.

And speaking of Corey Patterson, CAN WE CALL UP JAY BRUCE YET?!?!!???!? PLEASE!!!!!!! Patterson is a bum, and needs to be replaced. He has four home runs, sure, but they all came in a seven day stretch. After an 0 for 4 tonight, he is hitting a lofty .205 while Bruce is making the minor leagues his bitch again. Bruce is now hitting .307 with five homer, 21 ribbies and has stolen six bases. C’mon Cincy, don’t you ever think about us fantasy players?????

Who was that pitching for the Braves tonight in Tim Hudson’s jersey, because it certainly wasn’t him. Hudson went the distance against the Reds while striking out 10. Now no one is going to name the Reds the team with the best plate discipline, but this was the first time since last April. I view Hudson as a low end fantasy starter due to his low strikeout rate, but I might be the minority in that opinion.

I am scouring a bunch of websites to see if there is any reason besides he was sucking, why Rich Hill was pulled in the first inning tonight in St. Louis. Hill only lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up a run on four walks. There is no doubt that the Cubs have lost confidence in him, and he is apparently on the shortest leash in history. If there is a decent option in free agency, it may be time to consider cutting ties with the guy.

Update:  Rich Hill has been pulled from the rotation, although not sure if he is being sent down or going to the pen.  Pinella says Shawn Marshall will most likely take his spot.  Time to cut ties with Mr. Hill.

The Reds have changed their minds again on how their rotation will be set this coming week. Johnny Cueto will now pitch Monday and Aaron Harang is moved back a day to Tuesday. “We saw an opportunity to get Harang an extra day’s rest, so we are going to take advantage of it, that’s why they call them probable pitchers” was the quote from Reds pitching coach Dick Pole. Ok, I gotta stop there because that is the only reason I included this. If your name is Richard Pole, why would you let people call you Dick? Especially if you will have a public-type job like pitching coach of a major league team. Can anyone explain this to me?

The Yankees inched closer to the .500 mark as the Mariners couldn’t handle Wang. Ok, ok, I’m done with the dirty stuff tonight. Chien-Ming did go to 6-0, however, and continues to be one of the more underrated pitchers in fantasy baseball.

When Frank Thomas was released by the Blue Jays, fantasy players went running to the waiver wire for Adam Lind. And why not, Lind has had a fairly successful minor league career. But for some reason his bandwagon has passed me by. Lind may be what is known as a 4A player, too good for Triple A, but doesn’t make it in the big leagues. After another 0-3 tonight, Lind is hitting .062 since being called up on 4/26. Keep tabs on him as he is talented, but I can’t recommend having him on your roster right now.

Why do the Dodgers’ continue to play Andruw Jones? Well, I know there are over 100 million reasons why, but he is killing them, and anyone who still has him on their fantasy team. Through six innings tonight, Jones is 0-3 with another three strikeouts, lowering his average to .154 and he now has 32 K’s in just 29 games. Meanwhile Andre Eithier, Matt Kemp, and even Juan Pierre are performing well. Thanks Scott Boras, you suck! (well, that’s not true, you are awesome at what you do for your players, but you handcuff teams when your players don’t perform; see J.D. Drew, Andruw Jones, Barry Zito, etc.)

Injury News

I hate to tell you this Yovani Gallardo owners, but it looks like your guy is done for the year. After it appeared Gallardo avoided injury in a collision yesterday, word came today that he has a tear in his ACL and if surgery is done, his season will be over. In keeper leagues if you can stash him on your DL all year I would certainly do that, but in yearly leagues, let him go and let’s go searching the waiver wire.

Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins now looks on pace to return to the lineup this coming Thursday. This is good news, because the reports yesterday were looking cloudy as far as when he might be able to return to the field.

It looks like Yanks’ catcher Jorge Posada isn’t going to have surgery until after the season, meaning he will probably miss about 6-8 weeks to heal his inflamed rotator cuff. Great news for Posada owners, because if you need to replace your catcher at this point, you are usually scraping the bottom of an already shallow barrel.

Shane Victorino got his second start since coming back from the DL tonight, and it is now safe to get him back into your lineups. The “Flyin Hawaiian” will hopefully now get on track to repeat his breakout performance from 2007. Victorino was 1-5 in the Phillies comeback win, and stole his first base since returning to the field.

Marlins’ OF Josh Willingham was placed on the 15 day DL with a stiff back. He had been missing some time with the injury, and now he will get a couple of weeks to try to rest it. Back injuries are tricky and tend to linger for a while, so this could really cool off the hot start that Josh got off to. Put him in your injury slots, and hope that the rest cures what’s ailing him.

The only man to play in 12 different decades, Moises Alou returned to the Mets’ lineup after missing the beginning of the season after hernia surgery. If he can stay on the field, Alou isn’t a bad option to have on your bench to play in case of emergencies, but he shouldn’t be more than an injury replacement on your roster.

Quick Hitters

I’m watching my beloved Cardinals against the hated Cubs and Alfonso Soriano looks LOST in left field. He has completely misplayed two balls in the outfield tonight, and you can bet that Lou Pinella will have a press conference tonight that will be NSFW.

Aramis Ramirez was hit on the wrist by a pitch by Adam Wainwright tonight, but he stayed in the game initially, but was lifted shortly after. Damn it, Soriano just atoned for his sins and hit a two run homer in the 9^th to tie the game.

As much as I have been bashing him, Aaron Rowand is starting to heat up a little for the Giants. Rowand had his fourth consecutive two hit game and connected on his third homer of the year (his second in four days). I can’t see him repeating 2007 statistics, but perhaps he will be better than I thought. A decent fourth outfielder, but don’t expect great production.

Ichiro is also hitting a bunch of singles. The speedy slap hitter had two hits and stole three bases tonight to bring his season total to 10. He has hit in 10 of his last 11 games and has 15 hits during that time. He has got to be on the downside of his career, but should have a few more productive seasons left.

I am so tired of writing about Nate McLouth, but the guy keeps on producing. McLouth was 2-3 with a double and a stolen base, and looks to be single handedly costing me my matchup in my head-to-head league. Thanks Nate!

Marlins’ 2B Dan Uggla is doing exactly what we figured, hitting with some pop, and an average that is poop. After his two taters tonight Uggla now has six on the season and is on pace to hit his 23-28 HRs, and at .245 his average is right where you expect it to be.

After hitting 27 HRs and nearing 100 RBI many had hopes that Khalil Greene would finally put it together…..but they were wrong. Greene finally hit his first homer of the year tonight and is batting an awful .217. If you own Tulowitzki, Greene may be an option to look at, he should improve some from this terrible start.

Mark Hendrickson continues to pitch out of his butt. With seven strong innings on Friday, Hendrickson ran his record to an improbable 5-1 and kept the Marlins around the lead in the NL East. A lifetime 47-56 pitcher, Hendrickson is the poster boy for selling high. Hurry, before it’s too late.

Shawn Marcum continues to pitch well in Toronto when nothing else is going right. Marcum went 6.2 gave up no runs and struck out nine. He has given up two runs or less in four of his six starts and is trying to prove that 2007 was no fluke.

As always, your questions about your team (adds, drops, trades, etc) and comments are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee an answer within 18 hours.

Beyond the Boxscore–Fantasy MLB News and Notes 4/24/08 Rockies closer, Liriano, Sell High, Hidden Gems, more

The top story of the day I guess is the change in the bullpen in Colorado. It was made official today that Brian Fuentes would be reinstated as Rockies closer, so all of you with Manny Corpas on your roster had better act fast (I already did). We covered in our article yesterday Corpas’ recent struggles, and they appeared to be too much for Manager Clint Hurdle to overlook. It doesn’t hurt when you have a former All-Star closer in the 8^th inning role to make that decision any easier. My guess is that Fuentes will have a pretty long leash, and unless he has a stretch like Corpas (not only blowing games, but blowing big leads), Fuentes has a good chance to close for the rest of the season.

Francisco Liriano is back????? Even a huge Liriano fan like myself is starting to have some doubts. Francisco had his worst outing as a professional as he didn’t even get out of the third inning. The A’s were piling up hits faster than Tony Soprano before Liriano was mercifully pulled from the game. I still think he will be a productive pitcher before the end of the season, but don’t expect those lights out numbers that we saw in 2006. Possibly further down the line, but for those who own him, I wouldn’t drop him yet, but you have to consider not starting him until he puts a good start up.

The Big Hurt has returned to the Bay Area. Four days after being cut by the Toronto Blue Jays Frank Thomas found a new home, or I guess it’s his old home. Thomas returns to a place where he had a very productive season of 39 HRs and 114 RBI. Not saying that I expect him to return to those numbers, but if he is somewhere that he feels comfortable, it is possible for Thomas to come close to 30 bombs and 90 ribs. If he was dropped in your league when he was dropped by the Jays, stash him if you can and see if Oakland brings out the best in him again.

Reds rookie Johnny Cueto continues to do what most rookie pitchers do. He will look like a world beater one start, and then look like he just got beaten up the next. Cueto gave up five runs and struck out only two on Thursday and his record fell to 1-2. Two things give me confidence that Cueto will be a solid starter now and beyond, and they are things you don’t normally see with rookies. He is going deep into games (he has gone at least six innings in every start), and he doesn’t walk many hitters (has walked just five in 33 innings). These are the things that get young guys into trouble, and if Cueto continues to stay away from them, he will be a strong guy to have on your roster, don’t give up on him yet.

Sell High

Josh Willingham is having quite a season for himself. After a 3-4 day on Thursday that included his fifth double and sixth homer, Willingham pushed his average to an unheard of (for him) .329. Willingham has been a solid contributor since he came into the league, but nothing like this, especially with his batting average. See if you can get a fellow owner to buy into his fast start and turn him into someone that will maintain this all season.

Angels starter Joe Saunders has been one of my sleeper picks in my drafts this year, and so far he has been paying dividends. But now I’m thinking, he’s paying off way more than I expected, can I flip him into someone more steady? After moving his record to 4-0 today, the answer may now be yes. I’m not saying I’m going to try to trade Saunders for Cole Hamels or anything, but you put a decent package together, and Saunders can no longer be just a throw away guy. But can you sweeten the pot some and get someone like Yovani Gallardo, Oliver Perez, or Roy Halladay? Not straight up, but probably not as much as you would’ve given when the season started when Saunders had little value.

Finally, Pat Burrell can not POSSIBLY keep this production going. With another double and two RBI Thursday, Burrell is now hitting .355 with eight homers and a league leading 25 batted in. Ok, his power is legit (although I still think he will just fall short of thirty for the season), but there is no way this guy is going to all of a sudden hit 100 points higher than his career average. His value will never be higher, so be smart and deal Burrell for maximum return now.

Keep An Eye On

Making his major league debut today due to illness, was Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. He has never pitched above AA ball, but was very effective Thursday. Masterson went six solid innings, giving up just one run and striking out four. He did walk four batters, but considering this was his first start, and it was against the Angels, he must have made a good impression with the organization if they have a need for a starter due to injury. His minor league numbers aren’t spectacular, but he looked pretty good today.

Oakland starter Greg Smith has now put four good starts together. Smith has yet to give up more than three runs, and with his easy win over the Twins today he is now 2-0. Smith went seven strong, giving up just two runs and struck out three. If you are in need of a pitcher in the short term, give him a try. I doubt he will pitch this well all season, but if you have someone injured and need a fill in, Smith could be a good choice.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a crowded outfield with capable players, but one who is showing his worth, although doesn’t play all the time is Brian Barton. Barton was the Cardinals selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which means they have to keep him on the roster all year, or else they have to give him back to the Indians. So far, Barton has given the Cards no reason to think about doing that. Barton got the start today and went 2-4 with two RBI, bringing his average to .343. With Rick Ankiel struggling, keep an eye on Barton’s playing time, if he starts getting regular playing time he would be worth adding to your roster.

Rangers’ 1B/DH Jason Botts is getting another chance in the majors. Botts is getting some at bats at DH, but also getting some starts at first for the struggling Ben Broussard. Botts has long been looked at as a good prospect because he showed great power in the minors. However, he has yet to have that transition to the big show. I wouldn’t go out and add Botts at this point, but keep an eye on that Rangers’ box score and see if he starts hitting bombs. As of right now Botts is hitting just .138 so it looks like this is just another chapter in his unfulfilled potential, he looks like he might be a 4-A guy (too good for triple A, not good enough for the majors).

Quick Hitters

Toronto 3B Scott Rolen (boy, that’s weird) is due to return to the Blue Jays lineup on Friday. I would temper my expectations right off the bat, but if you own Rolen, get him back into your lineup, just don’t look for his past production.

After being a fairly effective pitcher for St. Louis last year, Joel Piniero has been a dud this season. On Thursday, however, he showed that he belongs in the rotation. Piniero went seven, gave up just one run and K’d six. He is only to be owned by those looking for a spot start, a two-start pitcher, or in an injury emergency.

Ryan Braun might be swinging himself back into shape. Braun has eight hits in his last four games including four doubles and four ribs. Braun also stole his first base of the season and has his average up to .270. Maybe your first round pick is rounding into shape.

Sucking in Cincinnati, centerfielder Corey Patterson is hitting a robust .227 (wasn’t that an 80’s sitcom?). I’m sure they are real happy they sent Jay Bruce down to the minors to start the season, no way he could’ve helped more than Patterson. Hopefully the new GM will wise up and we will see Bruce in the near future.

Astros’ slugger Lance Berkman is having a great start to ’08. He is batting close to his weight at .325, and has six homers, 20 RBI, and four steals. He was almost in my sell high portion of the article, but he is fully capable of some big time fantasy numbers.

As always, your questions about your team (adds, drops, trades, etc) and comments are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee an answer within 18 hours.