What's the Buzz? 4/30/06

I guess I'll start it off with a little Freddy Garcia action here. Freddy got busted....by the committe that drug tests for the World Baseball Classic. According to a Venezuelan newspaper, they found traces of marijuana in his urine sample. He may be suspended from international competition for 2 years, but nothing will happen to him here in the MLB. And I say, good job Freddy. If the guy wants to lay back and smoke a joint on an off night, then let him. It certainly isn't a performance enhancing drug.
Marlins OF Jeremy Hermida will make a couple of rehab starts early this week to determine when he will come off the DL...If all goes well, he could be back by the end of this week.
Moises Alou could be out for a few days with a hip twinge. Look for Steve Finley to get the starts for Monday and possibly Tuesday as well.
Bobby Jenks owners do not need to worry about Neal Cotts getting the save on Sunday. Jenks had pitched 3 out of the last 4 days and we all know how overly cautious Ozzie Guillen is with players that don't have his full confidence.
The Yankees activated P Aaron Small from the DL today. He will start in the bullpen for now, but he could, and probably will, replace Jaret Wright in the rotation.
Nationals reliever Felix Rodriguez will serve his 3 game suspension starting Monday.
Royals OF David DeJesus is still probably 10 - 12 days away according to manager Buddy Bell. We'll still see Esteban German and Kelly Robinson split the time in center with the edge probably going to German, regardless of his day to day status from getting hit in the face with a fly ball.
Angels starter Kelvim Escobar will miss his next scheduled start with a finger blister.
Former super sleeper from 2 years ago, Oliver Perez continues to stink it up for Pittsburgh. I don't recommend using him at all.
Braves starter Kyle Davies continues to prove why I called him a sleeper for this season. His true test comes next when he faces a tough Mets lineup.
Dan Miceli, Tyler Walker, and Shawn Camp -- take your pick. It's a 3 headed monster closing in Tampa this year.
Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit is expected to come off the disabled list on Monday. He will resume the primary catching duties when he returns.
Yankees OF Gary Sheffield's MRI came back and was negative. Consider him day to day with a hand bruise and a knee bruise. A couple of days off will be likely, but you 'll want him for the end of the week.
The same goes for Scott Rolen who is recovering from bronchitis. He'll still mis the first couple of games this week.
The Orioles placed 2B Brian Roberts on the 15 day DL with a starined groin. He should be back as soon as his 15 days are up. Chris Gomez and Brandon Fahey will split the duties in his absence. Ugh...Corey Patterson will hit leadoff in his absence as well.
Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba is still several weeks away from returning from his shoulder injury. If you listened to me and drafted him as a sleeper, then I am sorry. I didn't realize he was such a puss.
Twins DH Ruben Sierra went on the DL with a biceps injury...the same injury that kept him out for a chunk of last year. His presence on your roster is not recommended.
And finally, Pirates 1B Sean Casey says his back is pain free and will be ahead of schedule for his return. Still looks like early June. Another 2 weeks before you have to shop Craig Wilson to get some value.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/29/06

For Eric Gagne owners, a small silver lining, as he threw today for the first time since elbow surgery. It was about 30 tosses from 40 feet away, but hey...baby steps to rehab. He hopes to return in about a month.
The Tampa Bay closer situation remains murky at best with the newly acquired Tyler Walker blowing the save today with a few walks and a single. His pitching line of 4 ER though is the result of incumbent closer Dan Miceli allowing 2 inherited runners to score. This situation will be a train wreck to deal with if you own either or were looking to pick them up. Give it a little while lonnger before making a move.
Texas' new closer Akinori Otsuka picked up his first save today. It started just like a Francisco Cordero type save, but Otsuka rallied from giving up a walk and a single to get the double play to end the game. He will continue to close until Cordero can get back on track. And if you saw his pitching line last night, then you know that could be a while.
More tinkering in the bullpen for Pittsburgh as Jim Tracy again called upon Roberto Hernandez to relieve closer Mike Gonzalez today. We saw Tracy play the matchups before, so don't read into it too much. Gonzalez remains the closer.
While OF Rocco Baldelli probably won't return until mid-May, it looks like the Devil Rays will have both 3B Aubrey Huff and SS Julio Lugo returning at the end of next week. This will mark the end of SS Tomas Perez' starting role and should push Ty Wigginton into a platoon at second with Nick Green until Jorge Cantu returns. Russell Branyan should still see some OF action for the next 2 weeks.
If OF Corey Patterson continues this hot streak, I may have to eat my own words...but don't go serving me up just yet...
Anyone see how sharp Juan Cruz looked in his first start for the Diamondbacks today? He may be worth a look in NL only leagues.
The Orioles let SS Miguel Tejada take the fiels today after hyperextending his knee. He played well going 2 for 4 at the plate, but was removed in the sixth inning with soreness. Look for him to either get the day off on Sunday or be the team's DH.
The Royals put OF Shane Costa on the 15 day DL with a strained hamstring. It looks like Esteban German and Kerry Robinson will fill in until David DeJesus returns at the end of next week. Costa pretty much loses any and all value he had.
A-HA!!!!! Now there's the Glendon Rusch I know...2 1/3 with 7 ER, giving up 4 HR.
Congratulations to Albert Pujols who set a MLB record today with his 14th HR in the month of April. Nationals reliever Jon Rauch served up the honors in the 8th inning of a tie game.
While the rest of the normal world knows that it is probably his back or his knees giving him trouble, Randy Johnson will almost certainly find a way to blame today's debacle on catcher Jorge Posada. That's just Randy.
Blue Jays 1B Shea Hillenbrand will have a CT scan done to see if there are any lingering affects to being kneed in the head by Gary Sheffield today. He probably has a concussion, so look for Eric Hinske to play some first in his absence while Alex Rios gets regular time in right field.
Twins future star Francisco Liriano gave up 5 ER today in 3 2/3 innings today. He just didn't have it and it coincided with a day when the Tigers put up 18 runs. He probably should have been pulled earlier, but the Minnesota pen was spent from bailing out Brad Radke yesterday. We'll have to see how Liriano bounces back from this one, but I'm sure he'll be fine.
As expected, Ken Griffey, Jr. was not activated from the disabled list. He should return to action some time in the next week or so, so keep him reserved for now.
Rumors are swirling around Seattle that Jamie Moyer has asked to not be caught by Kenjii Johijima. Manager Mike Hargrove denies it. What's up with these friggin prima donnas? Do you think Johnny Bench or Thurman Munson or Carlton Fisk would've put up with this kind of crap? If the rumor is true, then Moyer's an idiot in my book. How doesn't a pitcher realize that he is hurting his run support and the respect of his peers by demanding the backup catcher be his personal guy.
Ugh. Ron Gardenhire now has a platoon going at first base as Justin Morneau was sat for the third straight game against a left hander in favor of Michael Cuddyer. Oh please, don't let this last. Cuddyer should be nothing more than a bench player. He has proven that year in year out.
And finally, watch out for Kelvim Escobar; he seems to be developing Beckett-itis. He was removed today after developing a blister on the same finger that has been giving him trouble the past few years.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/28/06

So a little bit of fallout from the Rockies/Giants affair a few days ago as Jose Mesa was suspended for 4 games for intentionally throwing as Omar Vizquel. Giants pitcher Matt Morris, who retaliated the next day by hitting Matt Holliday in the first inning, only received a fine and will miss no time at all.
Speaking of the Giants...they traded reliever Tyler Walker to the Devil Rays for RHP Carlos Hines. I don't figure for Hines to do too much....maybe a little middle relief at best if he stays witht he big club. Walker on the other hand may be intriguing. While he has looked like garbage this year, we can't forget his 20+ saves last season. Even better was that Dan Miceli was removed from his second straight save opportunity today and Walker was inserted and got his first save of the year. If you have Miceli, you might want Walker as insurance.
Staying with the D-Rays, manager Joe Maddon has announced that while his starters are out, Russell Branyan, Nick Green and Ty Wigginton will be mixed in regularly. Green will play 2nd against lefties with Branyan getting the start at 3rd and move Wigginton to second against righties.
Word out of Cincinnati is that Ken Griffey, Jr. will not be activated from the disabled list today. It is not clear when he will return, so Ryan Freel will stay in center for now. However, when Junior gets back, don't count on Freel playing 2nd base regularly. He's definitely cooled off from his fast start and there's no reason to bench the surging Brandon Phillips.
Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen will probably miss this weekend's games as weel. He is still recovering from bronchitis and may need a few extra days off to regain his strength.
The Diamondbacks have given their open rotation spot to Juan Cruz who has been very impressive so far this season. Give him a couple of starts to get going, but he could have value in NL only and large mixed leagues.
Contrary to yesterday's reports, the Mets put pitcher Brian Bannister on the DL with his hamstring injury. Victor Diaz was called up with Carlos Beltran injured, but could go back down soon when the Mets need a fifth starter.
Royals DH Mike Sweeney's back is at it again. He is undergoing an MRI to see what's causing the spasms and whether or not he needs to go on the DL. Matt Stairs should take over primary DH duties with an outside chance that the team calls up Justin Huber. Again, it's an outside chance, but if he does come up, Huber makes for a possible pick up.
The Cubs have contacted the Orioles regarding the availability of 1B/OF Jeff Conine. He would make for a nice replacement for Derrek Lee, but it doesn't look like the O's want to deal him just yet.
Congratualtions to Cards 1B Albert Pujols who tied the major league record for most HR in April with his 13th off of Felix Rodriguez. Look for him to break the record this weekend as he has 2 games to do so.
Orioles' SS Miguel Tejada hyperextended his knee chasing down a foul ball tonight. He is listed as questionable for Saturday's game which would put his "ironman" streak of 942 straight games in jeapordy. He says he wants to play so maybe they'll use him as a DH and let Chris Gomez play short.
Pirates OF Chris Duffy has improved as of late and remains the favorite for playing time in center field. Nate McLouth still waits in the wings...
While Royals reliever Mike MacDougal probably won't be back until mid June, center fielder David DeJesus expects to be back by the end of next week. That'll mean more bench time for Shane Costa and Esteban German.
Marlins OF and pre-season ROY candidate Jeremy Hermida has had his return pushed back yet again, to May 5th. The club is debating whether a rehab assignment is necessary before they activate him.
The much hyped Rich Harden will be out for 3 to 6 weeks with a torn muscle in his back. Probably closer to the six. It hasn't been determined whether or not last year's problems from his strained oblique led to the more long term problem. Brad Halsey will probably replace him in the rotation.
Also for the A's, it appears that Huston Street will not return before Saturday now. He is still recovering from a strained pectoral muscle.
The Giants placed 2B Ray Durham on the 15 day DL with a left hamstring injury. Look for Jose Vizcaino and maybe Kevin Frandsen to pick up the slack.
And finally, as expected, the Nationals put SP John Patterson on the DL with a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. The team apparently underestimated this injury and it could be more serious than they thought. Zach Day will take his spot in the rotation, atleast for Sunday. An update on Patterson's condition should come over the weekend.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/27/06

So Rockies pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim looks like Sunday's starter for Colorado if he is healthy. If you are using him, then please allow me to send you a tapestry to decorate the basement your fantasy team is living in.
Look for Victor Diaz to join the Mets lineup this weekend if the team has to put OF Carlos Beltran on the DL for his hamstring injury.
Aubrey Huff could start batting practice this weekend and Rocco Baldelli is in his second rehab game today. The Rays are really going to need these guys back soon. Losing Jorge Cantu makes it even more important.
Owners of Dodgers backstop Dionner Navarro better take heed. The team is not happy with his slow start and are possibly looking to call up prospect Russell Martin soon.
Looks like the platoon in the Twins' right field has come to a close as Lew Ford has started the last 5 games over Michael Cuddyer. This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise as the Twins have always been leary about giving Cuddyer a full time job.
Rumors out of Arizona have Tony Clark willing to waive his no trade clause if it will help the team. The Cubs are supposedly interested with Derrek Lee out. This would be outstanding news for Conor Jackson owners. This would be exactly what he needs to break out this season.
The Mets received some good news today when they learned that pitcher Brian Bannister only had a grade 1 strain of the hamstring. It is the mildest kind so he will probably avoid the DL; maybe miss just one start.
Let the Josh Beckett meltdown begin...
Texas manager Buck Showalter has announced that Francisco Cordero will "receive a break from closing." This just in...Texas Rangers fans will "receive a break from late inning anxiety attacks." Ladies and gentlemen...Akinori Otsuka.
And finally It was announced that Devil Rays prospect Delmon Young has been suspended indefinitely for flipping his bat and hitting the umpire. Indefinitely is going to be quite a long time. You need a pretty deep bench to warrant keeping him on your roster this season.

Catch you next time...

Barry Bonds Rookie Card

Anyone else think he did steroids?

What's the Buzz? 4/26/06

While Jhonny Peralta hit a 3 run shot off of Tim Wakefield tonight, the Indians are thinking of moving the second baseman down in the order. He has an OBP below .300 right now. His overall numbers from last year will certainly drop if he goes from hitting third to seventh.
Astros SS Adam Everett will be sidelined for a few days with a bruised wrist. Chris Burke got the start today over Eric Bruntlett and did very well. Look for them to split time while Everett is out.
Mets manager Willie Randolph has pushed Victor Zambrano's start back to Monday so he misses the Braves. Now if he could only push him out of the rotation. The Mets continue to show everyone that they got hosed by dealing Scott Kazmir to the Rays for Zambrano. What's worse is that they keep Zambrano in the rotation just to prove that they think they got value in the deal. Not even Rick Peterson will be able to fix this one.
More bad news for the Mets as pitcher Brian Bannister had to be helped off the field after suffering a hamstring injury while running the bases. No word yet, but a DL stint is likely. Either Jeremi Gonzalez or John Maine will get called up. Maine could be a nice pickup if it's him.
The Mariners have finally move Jose Lopez and his .287 OBP out of the 2 spot in the lineup. Willie Bloomquist took over and showed that he's not much of an improvement. Lopez went 1-3 with 2 RBI so maybe that helped his cause. I hope not. I still think catcher Kenji Jojihima would be a much better choice.
Devil Rays phenom Delmon Young could be in some serious trouble. After arguing a called third strike in a AAA game, Young was ejected, and then apparently threw his bat and hit the home plate umpire in the chest. This has long term suspension written all over it.
More Rays trouble as 2B Jorge Cantu was placed on the 15 day DL with a non-displaced fracture in his foot. Guess I'm winning that bet with Graeber on who's numbers are better...Cantu's or Felipe Lopez'. Replacing Cantu will be Nick Green and possibly even Ty Wigginton when Aubrey Huff gets back.
711 for Barry Bonds as he belted his 3rd HR of the season off of Billy Wagner in the bottom of the ninth today.
Angels 2B Howie Kendrick made his debut today with an 0-4 performance. He might be an interesting pickup, but he still needs to outhit Adam Kennedy. If you have a bench spot available to stash him away on, you should do so just in case.
Texas closer Francisco Cordero blew yet another save today against the A's. This time it was Dan Johnson hitting his first HR of the season. Back to back blown saves? Grab Akinori Otsuka as fast as you can.
Marlins rookie right fielder Jeremy Hermida will not be activated from the DL this weekend. Instead, the Marlins want him to start a rehab assignment on Monday.
Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit will start his rehab assignment on Thursday and should be back in action on Monday of next week.
The Nationals claimed Zach Day off of waivers from the Rockies today. Back where he started, I guess...well, sort of. Montreal seems so far away doesn't it? In any event, while he still has an unresolved shoulder issue, this might be a great move for him. If it's not serious, then I'm calling Day a nice second half sleeper. Great ballpark for him.
Now I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but check out this article in the Toronto Star regarding the shoulder of A.J. Burnett. Doesn't sound too good.
And finally, if anyone was still counting on Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano, don't expect him to return before June. Apparently, his buttocks injury is pretty serious. I can't even type that with a straight face.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/25/06

Some good news for Eddie Guardado owners today as Mariners' manager Mike Hargrove gave a ringing endorsement for his struggling closer. "Eddie saved 36 games last year and came within one pitch of closing out two games he didn't," Hargrove said. "He's a closer. He's our closer." Sounds great to me, but keep your eyes on J.J. Putz and Rafael Soriano. Both are just sitting like vultures waiting to save a game.
For those in daily leagues, it looks like Scott Rolen will be out for a day or 2 with bronchitis. Make your adjustments accordingly, but don't worry the third base slugger will be back in no time.
Bad news for A.J. Burnett owners as it appears he will be out for about a month now, maybe 6 weeks. There was no structural damage revealed, but considerin gthe contracty they signed him to, caution is necessary.
To go along with Carl Crawford's old wrist injury, he apparently is playing through the pain of a shoulder injury as well. This could certainly affect his numbers as well. Still think he's a first rounder? I think not.
Angels utility infielder Macias Izturis is on the 15 day DL with a hamstring injury. Manager Mike Scioscia said it was a major injury, that Izturis "heard a pop" in his hamstring. Not that he was a great pickup to begin with, but if you need infield help, he is definitely no your guy. The called up Howie Kendrick to take his spot. Kendrick would have to outplay Adam Kennedy if he wants to stay longer. Although it won't last, Kennedy is currently hitting .355 at the moment.
A's closer Huston Street had another mound session postponed today and just did some long toss. It looks like he should be back for the weekend rather than Wednesday as was reported. Justin Duchscherer will act as the closer this week until Street is back.
1B Todd Helton is feeling much better and is scheduled to return to the lineup on May 5, the day he is scheduled to come off the DL. His diagnosis was intestinal inflammation but it seems to have subsided.
John Patterson will miss his next start for the Nationals due to a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. He will be re-evaluated to see when he can legitimately return.
The Devil Rays activated starter Mark Hendrickson from the DL today and sent former prospect Edwin Jackson down to the minors to make room. Feels like I reported this a day or 2 ago....maybe it was a premonition....
The Braves activated 3B Chipper Jones today. He went 2-4 with a 2 run HR. Wilson Betemit just moves over to short while Edgar Renteria is sidelined until Friday with a rib injury. Totally the Braves' M.O. Field a patched up lineup for the first month and lull the Mets into a false sense of security. All of a sudden it's May and the Braves start surging while the Mets come back to earth. Guess who's winning the division...again?
Francisco Cordero blew his 4th save of the season already, giving up 2 runs in the 9th inning against the A's. There were questions about his shoulder but nothing has been substantiated to say that it is the problem here. Maybe he's just not that good. Either way, Showalter says nothing about replacing him. I say Akinori Otsuka looks like a nice pick up if you have the spot available.
Milton Bradley is being considered day to day with a mild knee sprain. Look for both Jay Payton and Nick Swisher to start the next game or two.
So what's up with Brad Lidge? He gives up the grand slam to Nomar and now he blows it with 3 walks issued in the 9th and gives up the lead. Chances are is that he'll be fine and remain an elite fantasy closer. But what if he's the next Mark Wohlers?
And so I guess I should start some sort of a countdown here.....Barry Bonds hit the 710th HR of his career tonight putting him only 4 behind Babe Ruth on the all time list.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/24/06

Kind of a slow news day today...

Tigers DH Dmitri Young took batting practice today with the team, but it still looks like he may be out a little longer. He is eligible to come of the DL on Sunday, but the Tigers will wait until atleast then to make a decision.
Pitcher Chris Young of the Padres has been diagnosed with a blockage of the digital artery on the ulnar side of the thumb. He probably won't make his next start and the team is waiting to see if a trip to the DL is necessary.
And finally, the Arizona Diamondbacks have officially removed Russ Ortiz from the rotation. He's 0-3 with a 6.91 ERA and has really just looked awful so far. They may call up either Kevin Jarvis or Enrique Gonzalez to take his place.

Check later this week as I explore into the latest controversy involving Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez and his treatment of women.....

Catch you next time.

What's the Buzz? 4/23/06

It's not that serious, but A's closer Huston Street remains sidelined with a chest injury, probably until next weekend. The A's have an off day on Thursday, so he should be back shortly thereafter. Justin Duchscherer will rack up any save opportunities until then.
Suspensions will probably come soon as we had more spill-off from the Jose Mesa/Omar Vizquel situation...today, Matt Morris was thrown out of the game after hitting Matt Holliday in the first inning today. Giants manager Felipe Alou and pitching coach Dave Righetti were both ejected as well. This comes from more of last night's shennanigans and the 3 or 4 year ongoing fued when Vizquel, in his book, called Mesa a "choker". This is just the kind of crap Bud Selig loves to get involved in, so we'll see what happens.
So we learned Eric Milton was hurt yesterday and today we find out that he is going to have knee surgery to get the whole thing cleaned out. They say 4 to 6 weeks, but even so, you might want to avoid him all year long.
The Padres activated OF Mike Cameron from the disabled list today. Give him a few games to get back into the swing of things, but he could become a valuable asset later on down the road.
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon picked up his league leading 9th save today and hasn't allowed a run at all this season (11 1/3 innings). If you haven't said your good-byes to Keith Foulke, do so now.....he's middle relief from here on in...officially.
Today, while sitting out the game, Barry Bonds alerted the media to his swollen knee. He says that has been his problem this season; it has nothing to do with his steroid situation. It's just an age thing. I guess Barry doesn't know that steroids deteriorate your body over time. Yes he's getting older, but it's not just normal wear and tear. See Lyle Alzado.
If you're still using Esteban Loaiza, stop. Back spasms? 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings? Keep him on the bench until he can string together even just back to back decent outings. Yeesh.
Giants 2B Ray Durham could be out for most of this week, if not all of it. He is being called day to day with a strained hamstring. Jose Vizcaino will get the at bats as a fill in.
Todd Jones picked up his first save for the Tigers since coming back from the DL. He was supposed to lay low for a bit in middle relief, but he's right back at it. Don't necessarily release Fernando Rodney. He could be useful for WHIP and ERA help and you never know if Jones will stay healthy all year.
Greg Maddux 4-0 0.99 ERA Father Time got nothing on this guy!!!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/22/06

The return of Nomar Garciaparra today...exciting, I know. On a good note, for him, he went 2 for 4 with a double. He apparently made good contact all day, but we all know how this is going to turn out.
Is it just me or does everyone wish they had David Wright on their fantasy team? (deep sigh)
Barry Bonds hit his first home run of the season tonight! Of course, it was Coors Field and it was Aaron Cook lobbing it up to him. Either way, I'm sure there are those hoping that this atleast ignites some sort of return to form for everyone's favorite baseball role model.
Enter Edwin Jackson -- 7 IP, 5 ER, 6 BB -- Exit Edwin Jackson. Remember when this guy was some big time prospect for the Dodgers?
The return of Mike Cameron approaches...he should be active for Sunday's game.
White Sox DH Jim Thome's runs scored streak stretched to 17 games as he hit his 9th home run of the season.
The Angels were forced to put OF Juan Rivera on the 15 day DL with tightness in his rib cage. Tim Salmon will be the beneficiary here as he will probably get the at bats in Rivera's absence.
Some trouble brewing in Texas now as manager Buck Showalter has sat 2B D'Angelo Jimenez the past 2 games in favor of rookie Drew Meyer. Jimenez was supposed to get the at bats, but Showalter doesn't seem to think he is a lock here. Apparently it won't matter as both will be benched as soon as Ian Kinsler or Mark DeRosa come back.
Uh oh. The Rockies placed 1B Todd Helton on the 15 day DL with a stomach ailment. It is uncertain why they have not said what it was which only leads to speculation that it is something reeeeeaaaalllly bad. We'll just have to wait and see.
Not that you were looking forward to using him , but Eric Milton was scratched from his rehular start with a knee problem. Monitor this as he will probably end up on the DL. On a side note, Aaron Harang will take his spot in the rotation, going on 3 days rest.
Corey Patterson's average is back down to .156 as he has dutifully gone 0-8 the past two games. Way to go Corey...I knew you had it in you. 3 days removed from yet another perfect opportunity and you've once again booked a one way ticket to Sh*tsville.
And finally, game...set...match. You were warned on numerous occasions, starting in Spring Training. The Blue Jays placed A.J. Burnett on the 15 day DL with his elbow problems. Knew it was going to happen. This can only mean that we are just a start or two away from Josh Beckett's blisters.

Enjoy your Sunday baseball...

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/21/06

While the final score of the White Sox/Twins game read 7-1 (Sox win), it was actually quite a pitchers' duel between Mark Buehrle and Johann Santana. Santana actually found himself on the losing end of a 2-1 game until Juan Rincon came in and put the game out of reach allowing four runs in 0 innings. Guess Rincon needs those steroids after all (wink, wink). Buehrle remains a solid fantasy pitcher and remember, if you're Santana, "April is the cruelest month..." He'll be fine the rest of the way.
Give it up for White Sox 1B Jim Thome as he has now scored a run in all 16 of the White Sox games. Longest streak to ever start a season and he now has 8 HR with 16 RBI and 20 runs scored. So great that he's the DH in Chicago. The only time it looks like it could get troubling is when interleague play starts. It's going to be hard to have either his or Paul Konerko's bat out of that lineup.
Congrats to Albert Pujols who tied Todd Helton for the 2nd fastest to 1000 hit in MLB. The fastest? Why, Ichiro, of course.
O.K., the waiting is over....Manny Ramirez connected for his first 2 homers tonight against the Blue Jays. Let the flood gates open...
And speaking of the Red Sox/Blue Jays, it was supposed to be another exciting one as former teammates, A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett faced each other for the very first time. Funny how this one turned out as Burnett left after 4 innings (3 ER) with elbow soreness again. He just bought himself a trip to Dr. James Andrews for examination. Possibly just more broken up scar tissue, but possibly more. On the other side, Beckett looked fine until he unraveled in the 8th with a hit batter and 2 home runs. He went 7.1 with 5 ER. Neither factored in the decision.
Marlins rookie 2B Dan Uggla stole home tonight in a double steal for his first career stolen base. That's my boy....that Florida middle infield is looking solid baby!!!
The Royals finally placed OF David DeJesus on the 15 day DL with a strained left hamstring. Shane Costa will see the at bats while DeJesus is out.
It looks like Mike MacDougal will remain out until the beginning of May. Not that there are many saves to be had for Kansas City, but Ambiorix Burgos remains the closer.
The A's sent down OF Bobby Kielty while the Rangers did the with OF Laynce Nix. Neither has done much but show below average platooning. Maybe a tune up will do them good.
And the winner of the "I Get to be Derrek Lee" contest is Michael Restovich. He got the call to come up and should see a lot of action at first if he doesn't screw things up. Journeyman John Mabry will also see some time.
Teh injury report out of the Devil Rays has SS Julio Lugo still slow to recover, OF Rocco Baldelli still a ways away from being hanstrung and 3B Aubrey Huff may actually return in early May which is sooner than expected. If the Rays hope to continue the offensive onslaught they brought out in the second half of last year, they're going to need these guys back soon.
Rockies 1B Todd Helton was hospitalized tonight with major stomach cramps and a fever. No diagnosis yet, but we always hope for the best.
And finally, congratulations to Washington OF Alfonso Soriano for his first career 3 HR game.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/20/06

First, a moment of silence for Yankees minor league manager Oscar Acosta and team official Humberto Trejo. Both were killed on Wednesday in a car acident in the Dominican Republic.

and now, more bad news...

First real big injury today. Cubs 1B Derrek Lee has 2 broken bones in his wrist after a collision with Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal. This is not something they needed in Chicago, especially after all of their pitching injuries. Look for the Cubbies to make a trade as the most likely possibility is for Todd Walker to move over to first and have Neifi Perez and Jerry Hairston, Jr. take over at second. Another possibility is bringing up either Brandon Sing, Michael Restovich or Ryan Theriot from the minors. Sing looks to be the most likely of the trio to get called.
For Coco Crisp owners, it looks like you'll be without him for another 3 weeks. The Red Sox outfielder was fitted for a new splint today and has resumed some baseball activities. It still keeps him on schedule for the 6-8 weeks we originally thought.
Mets OF Calros Beltran left today's game after what seems to be an aggravation of his previous hamstring injury. No word yet on what it was, so consider him day to day.
So Kevin Mench has solved his toe problems by deciding to wear a shoe that's 1/2 size bigger than what he usually wears. Genius. I hope his baseball schedule doesn't interfere with his MENSA meetings.
Even though he was diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his finger, Marcus Giles is still considered day to day. The Braves think he may be able to play through it.

On the flip side here, closers Armando Benitez and Todd Jones were both activated from the DL today. It also looks like K-Rod is fine after recording another save today.

Very short slate of games today and not a whole lot of news...congrats to the winners and sorry to the losers.

A very happy 4/20 to you all!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/19/06

So Curt Schilling is back. Officially. If you own him, congratulations. Your shot paid off. If not, don't even think about it. You can't even trade for him right now as his value is extremely high.
The MRI on Bartolo Colon came back reporting no new tears. He has experienced swelling from the scarring of a previous strain, but that is all. He is eligible to return from the DL on May 1st and the Angels feel he will only miss two starts.
It's as if the Gods of Baseball just want to pick a fight with me. They won't win. I will not endorse Corey Patterson no matter how many Orioles go on the DL. One day after the publishing of another Patterson bashing, Luis Matos joins the walking wounded as he went on the DL with a sore shoulder. They say Patterson and Jeff Conine will get the majority of playing time. Please...let it be Conine.
The only reason this warrants mentioning is because years ago, regretfully, I was pretty high on this guy -- OF Jody Gerut will undergo his 148th knee operation. Just a shame. Let it go Jody. Go get a job selling Xerox copiers or something...
The Mets, who apparently can beat everyone except the Braves, have swapped out second baseman. Kaz Matsui comes off the DL while Anderson Hernandez goes on. Matsui might be worth a look in mixed leagues that require more than 1 second baseman, but don't expect too much from him.
It didn't take long for the real Tony Womack to show up did it? He's started one game in the last 6. Ryan Freel owners can rest easy when Ken Griffey, Jr. returns and Brandon Phillips probably becomes the bench guy.
Angels closer, Francisco Rodriguez, blew the save tonight giving up 2 hits and two walks before getting out of the inning. No one is saying whether or not there are lingering problems with his hamstring so we'll just have to wait until his next appearance.
And speaking of closers, Todd Jones should be back over the weekend. But don't just throw Fernando Rodney away. He will still be a great set up guy, and hey...Jones is like 86 years old, so you never know.

That's all I've got for you today...

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/18/06

So it looks like the Giants will be bringing closer Armando Benitez back slowly. Not to throw him in the fire immediately, Benitez will probably work out of the pen as a set-up guy for Tim Worrell. This helps a lot of people that used Worrell as a fill in. It gives you a little more time with him while another closer candidate hopefully emerges. I said "emerges" not Matt Herges; he's gonna stink for the Marlins.
Contrary to yesterday's report, the A's will not be moving Esteban Loaiza to the bullpen. Apparently he is making too much money for just relief work, according to manager Ken Macha. Loaiza still remains a very risky pick so look elsewhere if you need another starter.
Anyon esee the ctahces Johnny Damon made out in centerfield tonight? Grab after grab, hitting wall after wall. He was a champ out there tonight. Wish I could say the same thing about Randy Johnson.
The Termell Sledge experiment has com eto an end in San Diego. The Padres finally learned what we all knew anyway -- no stick whatsoever. He'll sit in AAA until the next rash of injuries.
Twins DH Rondell White was moved from the cleanup spot to the 7 hole today. Let the plummetting begin...
The Rangers get some bad news as Mark DeRosa is headed to the disabled list. D'Angelo Jimenez will remain the starting 2B and Brad Whifferson gets to stay in the lineup. Add DeRosa's name to a long list of injured Rangers that includes Ian Kinsler and Kevin Mench. They need to stay healthy if they want to compete this year.
If you own Manny Ramirez, get ready. He is showing blatant signs that his stroke is coming back. This is going to be a lot of HRs and RBI coming up.
Braves 2B Marcus Giles sprained his middle finger on his left hand tonight. He's considered day to day so if you make daily moves, you might need to sit him for a few days.
Give it up for the Florida middle infield!! Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez, a combined 6 for 12 with 3 HR 4 runs scored and 6 RBI. Uggla still needs to bring up that average but these two could be fun to watch this season.
And hey look at that...someone woke up Brad Whifferson tonight...1-3 with a HR so far in the 8th...bet he follows it up tomorrow doing a golden sombrero fashion show.

Catch you next time...

Baseball Joke Contest

Let's hear it everyone....

I need your best jokes involving Nationals GM Jim Bowden and his recent DUI arrest.

There is no line you should be worried about crossing...

The more off-color, the better...

Send your jokes to me at hbender26@yahoo.com

What's the Buzz? 4/17/06

So it was Patriot's Day in Boston and the Sox, due to a full slate of games this week and the injury to David Wells, had rookie call-up Lenny DiNardo take the mound. Sounds like a character from Laverne and Shirley doesn't it? In any event, he put forth a solid effort giving up just 1 run in 5 innings. The bullpen, however, did not fare as well. But the hero of the day was 2B Mark Loretta who hit a walk-off HR off of "Everyday" Eddie Guardado in the bottom of the ninth for the victory. He needed it to as he has been in an awful slump ever since Coco Crisp went down. Look for Loretta to build some momentum from today.
The Marlins have lost OF Jeremy Hermida to the 15 day DL with a strained hip flexor. Another ROY candidate off to a slow start and then out with an injury. Good for you if you didn't buy into his pre-season hype. Chris Aguila becomes the primary RF with former Nationals reserve, Matt Cepicky acting as a backup.
Seriously...what is Jim Leyland's problem? Chris Shelton hit his league leading 9th HR today batting from the 6 hole behind today's DH Alexis Gomez. With Gomez and Magglio Ordonez going a combined 0-8, there were no chances for Shelton to knock anyone in. At this rate he'll have like 40 HRs and 50 RBI for the season...c'mon Jim...everyone sees it but you, gramps.
So while Joey Gathright does everything in his power to lose the job he was handed at the start of the season, OF Delmon Young is doing everything he can to force the Rays to bring him up. He's hitting .400 and already has 7 SB. He may not have any home runs yet, but they will come soon. Regardless, Gathright isn't playing because of his power so id Young any worse of a choice?
Rumor has it that we may have a Nomar Garciaparra sighting this weekend. I wonder how long after his return will we lose him again...
According to an article in the Dallas Morning News today, Gary Matthews, Jr. will now be the Rangers starting center fielder and new leadoff hitter. This certainly raises his value if he can produce and stay healthy while once again lowering the value of Brad Whifferson (I'm sticking with this until he proves otherwise). Brad still has a job, but only because of injuries right now. If Kevin Mench comes back strong and Laynce Nix (who just lost CF) can find a groove, then Whifferson could be seeing some platoon action.
With his velocity down and some early season struggles, Oakland SP Esteban Loaiza will be shuffled to the bullpen. He needs to prove something before Ken Macha even considers putting him back in the rotation.
Even though Tigers closer Todd Jones is returning this weeken, I recommend you hold onto Fernando Rodney if you have the space available. Jones is like 136 years old and could go down again at any moment. Rodney will continue to act as a setup guy for him, but will definitely help you in WHIP and ERA.
So it looks like Cardinals OF Jim Edmonds will miss the upcoming 3 game series against the Pirates, which begins today. Edmonds took a cortisone shot in the shoulder over the weekend and is not ready for game action just yet. Hopefully this will put the slugger back on track for later in the week.
Anyone catch Preston Wilson's line tonight? 0-5 with 5 K's...guess that golden sombrero came with a couple of maracas this time...
The Orioles lose OF David Newhan to a broken right fibula he got while sliding into second tonight. Luis Matos, Jeff Conine and even the beloved Corey Patterson should see an increase in playing time.
Barely making it through two weeks. If you thought the Griffey magic was back after last year's performance and you threw out a bid for him, tough luck here. Ken Griffey, Jr. goes on the 15 day DL for an inflamed tendon behind his right knee. The Reds say it's just being careful at this time of year, but the truth is yet to be seen, I think. Ryan Freel continues to get regular time in center field.
And finally, if the Hermida injury doesn't hurt the Marlins enough, they need to keep a short leash on their CF platoon. If Reggie Abercrombie doesn't improve on his 0-20, we should be seeing Eric Reed by himself in center field for the Marlins soon.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/16/06

Seems like some injuries are piling up again...

A CT scan on 2B Jeff Kent revealed a slight concussion after he got beaned by Brad Hennessey in tonight's game. He is considered day to day, but you might want to use an alternative for the beginning of the week if you can make daily moves.
Angels' DH Tim Salmon had groin problems today and is also considered day to day. This actually benefits Juan Rivera owners as, with Garrett Anderson back, Rivera and Salmon were sharing time.
Also, Angels' closer Francisco Rodriguez is another day to day guy as he was removed from todays' game with a hamstring cramp.. Everyone thought it was worse, but it just looks like he needs a few days off to rest it. Scot Shields will fill in if the Angels need a closer over the next few days.
The Pirates placed catcher Ryan Doumit on the DL with a strained hamstring. Humberto Cota will see the majority of playing time along with newly recalled Ronny Paulino.
The Royals placed pitcher Denny Bautista on the DL with a problem with his pectoral muscle.
And the Braves are debating whether or no tto put SS Edgar Renteria on the DL for his ribs. They're going to give it another day or two before deciding.

In other news...

While Dan Miceli remains the closer of choice in Tampa, the Rays called up Chad Orvella from AAA today. Orvella was once considered the future closer of the team, so he might be worth considering if Miceli falters.
The platoon in RF for the Twins has been trimmed to just 2 as Jason Kubel was sent back to the minors. Michael Cuddyer and Lew Ford have both played well enough for Ron Gardenhire to leave it to them. Problem isn't RF though....maybe they should take a look at their DH. Rondell White has looked awful at the plate and has been a major disappointment thus far.
Marlins' RP Matt Herges made a strong argument for being taken out of consideration for saves. One day after manager Joe Girardi said both Herges and Joe Borowski would share closing duties, Herges blew the save and took the loss allowing 3 runs in the top of the ninth today.
Albert Pujols flexed his muscles today going 3-4 with 3 HR today. Yep...3 HR. What more can you say? He's a stud...wish I had him on even one of my fantasy teams. Incidentally, Pujols 3 dingers ties him for the major league lead with Tigers' 1B Chris Shelton who also hit his 8th today.
And finally, White Sox DH Jim Thome extended his on base/runs scored streak to 12 games today with his 7th HR of the season.

Catch you next time...

Thought of the Day

really more of a question here...

Should Brad Wilkerson legally change his name to Brad Whifferson?

this guy swings and misses more times than a one-armed monkey going from tree to tree.

What's the Buzz? 4/15/06

We can start today with a tough loss for the Yankees. They were facing Twins' ace Johann Santana today and quickly found themselves in a quick 4-0 hole as Yankees' starter Jaret Wright continues to disappoint the New York fans. But the Yanks came back with some tough hitting and even tougher pitching from Scott Proctor and overtook the Twins 5-4. Unfortunately it didn't last as the real Sandman, Mariano Rivera blew his first save of the season. Credit where credit is due, regardless of Hideki Matsui's defensive blunder (second runner shouldn't have been on 2nd), Twins' 1B Justin Morneau came through with a clutch hit to win it in the end. On a side note, while Santana looked pretty good to start, he wore down a little in the 5th and 6th and showed some vulnerability. Did his overthrowing in the WBC have some hand in it? We'll see...
Sticking with the Yankees, they have signed underachieving 1B Carlos Pena to a minor league contract. He could be an intriguing addition if he can get his bat going again. He may push Andy Phillips out of his backup role, so keep tabs on him.
Dodgers manager Grady Little says that Nomar Garciaparra is at about 85% right now. I still don't recommend starting him. Find some sucker that is still looking to trade for him based on what he used to do.
Don't worry about Devil Rays' RP Shawn Camp. While you might see him and his 2 inning save again later on this season, he is by no means the closer or should be counted on as one. Dan Miceli still has the job here.
Cubs' OF Juan Pierre is off to a similarly slow start as last year. If his owners are down on him again, buy low on him. He will find his groove and turn it around. 40-50 SBs remain within his reach.
Braves' starter Horacio Ramirez threw off a mound today and looks like he could be back in a couple of weeks depending on Sunday's bullpen session. I still like him, so I'm going to have faith in my scouting of 3rd year guys and hold onto him for now. C'mon...the Erik Bedard pick has looked genius so far...
The Vicente Padilla Explosion countdown officially began today when he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings including back to back to back HRs to Eric Chavez, Frank Thomas, and Milton Bradley. Can't say I told you so fast enough...
Rangers' slugger Phil Nevin raised his average today to .273 and now has 3 HR and 11 RBI. With Gary Matthews returning and Nevin surging, Brad Wilkerson could find himself losing at bats if he doesn't pick it up.
If Cardinals 2B Aaron Miles wants to know what that is breathing down his neck, it's Hector Luna. Miles is playing well for now, but one bad slump and a surge from Luna and we could be seeing some changes in St. Louis. If Luna ever overtakes him, you should definitely pick him up. He could be an excellent stolen base threat with a respectable amount of power.
Another Jorge Julio disaster today at Shea Stadium. Maybe they should've just kept Kris Benson after all. I'm sure Anna Benson likes N.Y better than Baltimore anyway.
So the Indians' Fausto Carmona made his long awaited debut today giving up 1 run in 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks with 4 K's. He apparently had more fly outs than ground outs which goes against his minor league numbers, but he still remains a viable option while fat boy C.C. Sabathia recovers from his strained oblique and oversized gut.
It was announced today that Pirates' 1B Sean Casey will miss the next 6-8 weeks with 2 fractures in his lower back. Maybe this was the chance Craig Wilson needed to prove he is worthy of a fantasy roster spot.
Last but not least, P David Wells and 1B/DH Dmitri Young were both placed on the disabled list by their respective clubs. I think with the time off these two should take some acting lessons. I's tune in for CBS' newest crime drama Boomer and the Meathook.

Catch you next time...

State of the Marlins: Are They Really That Bad?

On Opening Day, the Vegas line on the Florida Marlins was 500-1 to win the World Series this year. Can I argue with that? Definitely not. They just don't have the overall team to compete, especially in the NL East with the Mets, Phillies and the Braves. But does that mean that there can be no value found on the Marlins' roster? Definitely not, again. The savvy fantasy owner will sift through and find paydirt here while his competition sits and hopes that Jason Kubel finds at bats somewhere or that Aaron Miles will hold onto the job in St. Louis. These guys on the Marlins will play every day; they are not in danger of losing their jobs . And while they may not win 50 games this year, these guys will produce some respectable and probably very helpful, fantasy numbers. Let's go through the starting lineup and see....

C Miguel Olivo -- once a high rated prospect with the Chicago White Sox, Olivo never really reached his potential and has bounced around the left coast the past three years between Seattle and San Diego. He's off to a slow start this season, but he will be the primary guy for this team. He's the guy you pick up when your second catcher goes down with an injury.

1B Mike Jacobs -- he's a big lefty with massively untapped power. He will be the power guy for this squad. Obviously, the home ballpark is a disadvantage but don't be surprised to see him still mash 20 HR this year. If the guys in front of him in the lineup can set the table right, he could also be looking at 80+ RBI.

2B Dan Uggla -- what are the chances that this guy never got teased because of his last name? Probably about the same as his chances of losing the starting job in Florida. The team had high hopes for Frank Moore, but he's now a 27 year old sitting in AA Carolina these days. Uggla is off to an average start right now, but hopefully he will be able to bring that average up to .270 where it belongs. He should also kick in 10 HR and maybe 50+RBI, so I'd rather be secure with him than worry about, let's say a Josh Barfield slump.

SS Hanley Ramirez -- For the past two years, he was an untouchable prospect for Boston, but became the price tag the Sox paid to grab Josh Beckett. This one's going to burn Boston. Ramirez has taken to the leadoff spot and is hitting .389 with 10 runs scored and 3 SB. With over 600 AB, he could conceivably steal 35+ bases if he can maintain his solid OBP. I like his chances of being the "sleeper of the year".

3B Miguel Cabrera -- really...what more needs to be said about this guy. Returning to the hot corner, he will produce solid numbers with a probable 30 dingers. The only problem I can forsee is that maybe his RBI numbers take a small dip, but again, that will be determined by the guys in front of him. I still see him knocking in over 100 though.

LF Josh Willingham -- he was supposed to be the primary guy behind the plate, and may have catcher eligibility in some of your leagues. He is already starting the charge for Rookie of the Year with his .344-3-11-5 batting line. If he continues, then he could be good for atleast 20 HR with 70+ RBI. Not bad if you have him behind the plate.

CF Reggie Abercrombie/Chris Aguila/Eric Reed -- O.K., so here's where it gets a little shakey. These guys have split some time in the OF equally and none of them have really done anything. Aguila looks the hottest right now with his .294 average [insert sarcastic eye roll here]. It could be a revolving door all season, so let's just get away from it now.

RF Jeremy Hermida -- a slow start and a hip injury have stalled Hermida who was actually a pre-season pick for Rookie of the Year. He still has 20 HR potential, so if you have him, stash him away for a little bit. If you don't, he could be a great candidate to buy low.

SP Dontrelle Willis -- The D Train will most certainly have his ups and down as always, but his numbers should remain consistent to years past. His wins total could drop as this team is still very green, but he should be a solid starter for your fantasy team all year long.

SP Jason Vargas -- not to slight Sergio Mitre, Brian Moehler, or Scott Olsen, but Vargas, to me, is the only other stable fantasy pick. This young lefty has a good arsenal of pitches not always found in today's younger guys and he's got excellent control. He will find some bumps in the road this year, but how about 10 wins and 135 K's and and ERA under 4.00? I have him in 2 leagues and I plan to keep him active all season long.

CL Joe Borowski -- he won't get many save opportunities this year, but he's a wily veteran who has closing experience. With Travis Bowyer in the minors, Borowski has a firm hold on the job and could end up with 20+ saves this year. Definitely respectable for a second or third closer on your team.

So they're not the New York Yankees...they're not even the Cincinnati Reds, really. But they will be able to help you out in fantasy this year. Guys like Ramirez, Hermida and Willingham all have the ability and potential to out-produce most other guys at their positions in the majors. Don't sit back and watch. Be the guy your rival GMs curse for finding some real significant talent in a team they scoffed at on draft day.

Just Some Thoughts on the Blue Jays vs. White Sox Game Today...

A lot going on in this game for me today...

Mark Buehrle vs A.J. Burnett, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome's on base streak, and the latest display of power from Alexis Rios....

Let's start with the pitchers...

So I have Mark Buehrle on 3 of my fantasy teams . Since the 2001 season he has averaged 16 wins with an ERA of 3.60 and yet still doesn't get the draft respect he deserves in most fantasy leagues. I love guys that just quietly fly under the radar. Sort of like Garrett Anderson before the Angels made their run and he got all that media attention. But the media didn't focus like that on Buehrle and for that reason, I targetted him for all of my teams. He certainly hasn't disappointed. Look at today's game: He goes 8 innings, strikes out 4, walks 2 and the only blemish was a 2 run HR to Alexis Rios (which we'll get to in a second) in the first inning. After that he allowed only 1 runner to reach second base. C'mon...5 hits he gave up....look for him to put up the same old numbers....the same old solid 16 win sub 4.00 ERA numbers.
And now it's on to A.J. Burnett. Not one of my favorites, as you know. Well, starting the season on the DL because of a scar tissue problem just solidified my thoughts. And now today he gets to make his season debut -- his Blue Jay debut -- against the World Champs from Chicago. His line of 6 innings, 7 hits 4 runs with 1 walk and 5 K's is decent. He didn't look awful out there as the four runs came off a pair of Paul Konerko HRs. That's right baby....Paul's power is back. 40-100 again!!!! He got off to a slow start but has really started to turn it on. Enjoy this all season long.
In any event, while Burnett's line was respectable, I still don't think it's going to get much better than that for the year. I still think he's going to have trouble with AL sluggers like Konerko and the injury bug could be looming still.
O.K. So Alexis Rios.....what to do with this guy!?! He was a highly touted prospect a few years ago and people talked about him being a 5 tool guy. But we never saw the power from him. He didn't show it in the minors and he definitely didn't show it the past 2 years; 11 major league HR to be exact. Now all of a sudden he's got 4 in 35 AB!?! I just don't buy it with him yet. If you have him, wait until he gets the RF job all to himself and then trade him. His value probably won't be higher for this season. However, keep him in mind for the next 2 years. If he continues to progress, he will be primed for a 27 year old breakout season. He's just not ready yet.
Jim Thome extended his streak to 11 games that he has successfully reached base. Oh yeah...THE DUDE HAS 6 HR!!!!!!!!!! I love this guy. If you were fortunate enough on draft day to have picked him up in spite of the injury risk, then great job. He and Konerko are going to make life miserable for AL pitchers.

Keep your eyes on both these clubs...they may be playing hard through October.

Birthday Wishes...

An official

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to
Benjamin Diamond

You're going to make a great Yankee someday...


From all of us here at RotoBuzz

What's the Buzz? 4/14/06

So we're going to run through real quick here....long night and there wasn't anything too life changing going on today...

The Dodgers removed Brad Penny after a solid outing where he allowed one run and 2 hits in 6 innings tonight. It might be a little elbow stiffness, but I wouldn't worry about it. Penny is going to be a solid choice all season long.
Don't be fooled by Rangers' pitcher Kevin Millwood's performance tonight. While he will have the occassional flashes of "brilliance" (and I use that term verrrrrrry loosely), he will not be a reliable starter for you this season. The Texas heat will get him eventually.
Phillies 2B Chase Utley had another 2 HR game today....need I say more? He's putting it all together and will be the top rated 2B in the league by the end of the season.
Anyone else see Twins starter, Scott Baker make the Yankees look silly tonight?
Listen...I know he used steroids...everyone knows he used steroids...does Barry Bonds really need an excuse to explain his ridiculously slow start? I wouldn't be at my top form if idiots in the stands were throwing syringes at me either...
Pirates 1B Sean Casey was pulled from today's game with back issues. Craig Wilson will take his place while he is out.
The Marlins did it again tonight with a win for pitcher Dontrelle Willis...I have an article coming out tomorrow regarding the state of the Marlins this year. They are not as bad as people think, and if given the chance, they could play a serious spoiler role this year.
Watch your lineups this week as the Meat Hook, Dmitri Young will go on the DL soon with a strained right quad. If Chris Shelton plays the same, we won't miss the big afro for a long while...
In his only hit tonight, Rays' 2B Jorge Cantu had a 3 run RBI double. It was a lucky break as he should've gone down on strikes earlier. Injury or not, I'm still not a fan.

Scary as it seems, that's all I have for you right now...

Catch you next time...

Official Corey Patterson Warning!!!

I tried to warn you during Spring Training...

Corey Patterson blows. It's as simple as that. If you're one of those people that's still holding on to a shred of hope that he will once again be a 20/20 player, give it up. He's started twice in the first 10 games and is losing even more ground to Luis Matos for the centerfield job.

While he hasn't been completely benched, it doesn't sound like manager Sam Perlozzo is too thrilled with his performance to date. "What these guys have to realize is I am not looking for a guy to step in there and have three hits," Perlozzo said. "You just want to see a guy go in and have some good at-bats. If he lines out three times and he's 0-for-4, that's a good sign. But you can't go out and strike out three times. ... I still like him. I have high hopes for him." [from "Monster Year..." Baltimore Sun 4/14/06]

The high hopes part is probably just lip service, as he probably already knows Patterson's persona. If the situation stays like this, then Patterson's attitude will start to resurface. He'll start mouthing off and they'll ship him to the minors, hopefully. Buh-bye!

What's the Buzz? 4/13/06

So i'm going to start it off with our latest phenom in baseball, Felix Hernandez; dubbed by some as "King Felix". He is supposed to be a can't miss. Well guess what? Our "can't miss", our "King" was pulled today after giving up 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. Everyone says not to worry. He'll be fine. Well I say hold up. He walked 4 today and has had serious control issues that date back to spring training. What if he's not fine? What if he's the next Rick Ankiel? Mark Wohlers, anyone? I'm just saying...
Tampa 3B Sean Burroughs will be activated this week creating an even more disgusting corner situation for the Devil Rays. He'll join Russell Branyan and Ty Wiggington in a trio of awfulness.
Sticking with the Rays here...good ol' Joey Gathright is making all of us that started his bandwagon, look like fools. He catches every break he needs to get the starting job and he's blowing it. He better start picking it up or he's getting demoted...forget traded too as he's showing nothing of value so far.
The Nationals demoted catcher Wiki Gonzalez today and manager Frank Robinson said that Brian Schneider will "start almost every day." The obvious here is that either he'll be a solid option at catcher, or he breaks down and his knees fall off in June. Take your pick for now.
Also in Washington, the Nationals demoted OF Brandon Watson and recalled Ryan Church. This should have been the way they started the season, but better late than never. Wait for Church to play himself into the lineup before making any moves.
Jim Thome is ridiculous. What more can I say? Ridiculous.
And hopefully Phillies 2B Chase Utley has broken out of his slump after cracking two dingers today.
And speaking of Utley, let's just do a quick shout out to all my guys that hit me a HR today in my primary league: Chase Utley, Chris Shelton, Dan Uggla, Felipe Lopez, Johnny Damon, and Matt Murton.
Yeah that's right....7 in total...23 RBI on the day...you don't want none of this!!!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/12/06

Holy crap!! What's up with Daniel Cabrera? Touted as a breakout candidate for this year, he gets shellacked in his first outing. Now today he strikes out 10 but walks 9 in 5 innings? This is a bit nerve-wracking. He should go to the bench until he can string together a few solid starts...especially since he has the Yankees and Angels coming up next.
In his season debut, David Wells got rocked for 7 runs in 4+ innings today. The only thing this guy can do right is berate Bud Selig. Adios fatty!
Blue Jays OF Alexis Rios hit his 3rd HR of the season today. Trade him now!!! Get value while you can. He probably won't hit another until June.
Is it just me or is Dustan Mohr every fantasy owners' nightmare? Every year it's the same thing....he just hangs around enough to force a platoon situation somewhere but sucks enough to never get a full time job. He's now screwing Adam Stern out of regular at bats in Boston while Coco Crisp is out.
No one got beaned and no fights in the Mets/Nationals game tonight...good job guys...just play the game.
The Rangers lose 2B Ian Kinsler to a dislocated thumb for a few weeks. D'Angelo Jimenez and Mark DeRosa will platoon in the meantime. DeRosa gets the edge here for now but Jimenez, if he can whiff less than say, Brad Wilkerson, could be intriguing in Texas. Keep your eyes on it.
Uh oh...Ken Griffey, Jr. left tonight's game with knee stiffness.....here we go....tread lightly....this could either be nothing or it could suck big time....nothing in the middle. It's a shame that this will be the kick Jerry Narron needs to get Ryan Freel a starting job.
The Devil Rays throw 3B Aubrey Huff on the DL today....can you think of an uglier platoon than Russell Branyan and Ty Wiggington to replace him?
And lastly, major props to Jim Thome. This guy's an animal!!!!! DHing all year on his way to mashing 40+ for the White Sox. Wooo hooo!!!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/11/06

Day games, night games...more "opening days"...I love April baseball...not as much as I love October baseball, but we'll get to that soon enough.

We're going to have to start in my hometown, as the Yankees won their home opener in dramatic fashion. The Royals were the guest for this year's first game in the Bronx and for anyone who thought this was a "gimme", they were sorely mistaken. After jumping out to a 4-0 lead, the Yanks sat back and watched Kansas City scratch and claw their way back to a 7-4 lead. But in the bottom of the 8th, The Bombers woke up and rallied for 5 runs, capped off with a 3 run shot from their captain, SS Derek Jeter. Say what you want...love him or hate him....the guy comes through.
Did anyone notice that out of the 11 runs scored in the Reds/Cubs game, only 1 came across with out a home run? Even Reds starter Bronson Arroyo got in on the action again. Fantasy folks love when the wind blows out in Wrigley.
Red Sox hurler Josh Beckett continues to try to prove me wrong with another strong outing against the Blue Jays. I won't be backing down anytime soon here. I give it one more start before we have our first blister sighting.
For those that grabbed Adam Stern in the wake of the Coco Crisp injury, here's some "good news...Trot Nixon will be out for a week with a strained groin, so Wily Mo Pena will be in right instead of a platoon in center. It'll be a good time for him to entrench himself at the position while Crisp is out.
A little unexpected power surge from Padres SS Khalil Greene today with a pair of HRs....get it while you can before his fingers fall off.
Dodgers manager Grady Little says that Nomar Garciaparra is ahead of schedule in his recovery...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrreeeeeee's Fausto!!!!!! The Carmona Watch starts this Saturday.

OF Mike Cameron's return date is in question as he is slow to recover. He could be several weeks away from returning.
The Pirates are back from Bizzarro World, Roberto Hernandez was the setup man and Mike Gonzalez closed for the save today.
If you're fishing on the waiver wire and have an available bench spot, you might want to think about Rangers set up guy Akinori Otsuka. Francisco Cordero has blown 2 saves already and it might be an indication of a lingering shoulder injury.
Tampa Bay 2B Jorge Cantu again sat today but came in and struck out as a pinch hitter. His foot might be more of a problem than they are letting on.
And finally let's give a quick nod to today's members of the 2 HR game today club: Hank Blalock, Eric Chavez, Khalil Greene, Adam Dunn and Bill Mueller. Nice work boys!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/10/06

A shame to have to start this off with another injury after the earlier report, but apparently Tampa Bay's Mark Hendrickson is going on the DL with left shoulder tightness. This just after pitching a complete game shutout in his season debut.
Also for the Rays, 2B Jorge Cantu returned to action tonight as a pinch hitter. He went 0-2 with a strikeout and a line out (HA HA!!!). He should return to the starting lineup tomorrow.
The Orioles outfield is geting even more crowded as Dave Newhan has played himself into an equal platoon with Corey Patterson and Luis Matos. The one I think that will come out ahead is Matos, although I wouldn't run out to pick him up just yet. This one is going to take some time to sort out.
Braves' 3B Chipper Jones will be put on the DL tomorrow. Get ready to grab Wilson Betemit!
And finally, kudos to Chicago 1B Paul Konerko....he became the first guy in a White Sox uniform not named Jim Thome to hit a HR this season. Yeesh! Slow start for the defending champs.

The rest is business as usual or already in the earlier injury report.

More "opening days" tomorrow, but a full slate of games Wednesday, so we'll see a little more action then.

Catch you next time...

Injury Update

Red Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp has a fractured index finger. It will be splinted and re-evaluated in 10 days, but there is speculation that he could be out for a month. Adam Stern and Wily Mo Pena will get the starts in his absence, with the majority probably going to Stern. Crisp should end up on the 15 day DL, but he bounced back last year from a "broken" thumb quicker than expected.

Braves' 3B Chipper Jones has been diagnosed with a lateral sprain in his right ankle, but also tweaked his right knee. They're going to see how he responds today before ordering the MRI. Consider him day to day, but adding Wilson Betemit might not be a bad idea.

Cubs pitchers, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are still rehabbing in the minors right now. Both were expected back by the end of April and there has been no word on any changes to that.

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba remains on the 15 day DL with a shoulder issue. An MRI revealed no structural damage but he will not throw at all for atleast 2 weeks.

Nomar Garciaparra is on the 15 day DL with a strained rib muscle. This is probably just the beginning of his injuries this year, so stay away.

Padres' 1B Ryan Klesko will undergo shoulder surgery to repair the AC joint. His age is a huge factor in his ability to rehab, so Adrian Gonzalez looks like a wise choice for both you and the Pods.

OF Mike Cameron is recovering from an oblique strain and should be ready to go by id April when he is eligible to come off the DL.

For the Giants, it appears to be one on, one off as Noah Lowry will be on the DL until late April with an oblique strain while closer Armando Benitez says he will be back on April 17th when he is eligible to come off the DL.

Tigers' closer Todd Jones is on schedule to return on the 16th or 17th so look for Fernando Rodney to return to his setup duties. It also delays the arrival of Joel Zumaya as a potential closer in Motown.

The Royals are saying that pitcher Zack Grienke is close to returning, but really....do you think you want him on your roster? Say yes if you want to see an increase in your WHIP and ERA.

The Devil Rays won't see OF Rocco Baldelli until May but they will see SS Julio Lugo return by the 20th of April.

What's the Buzz? 4/9/06

We can start off today with a little forgotten acknowledgement from yesterday as Astros 2B Craig Biggio became the 43rd player to reach 2800 hits. He's from my hometown so I've tracked him his whole career....excellent job Craig....3000 and a ticket to the Hall is just around the corner.

In today's news...

Devil Rays' 2B Jorge Cantu remained sidelined today but expect to see him this week. He should be back so he should remain in your active lineup.
OF Coco Crisp missed today with a jammed index finger from the other day. It happened in a failed attempt to steal third but hey.....he'll be back on Tuesday and he's doing a lot of running.
Both Jermaine Dye and Chad Tracy were back in their respective lineups, so both look to be ok for this week.
Reds' catcher Jason LaRue will not be activated until Thursday of this week.
Astros' Eric Munson will apparently start catching Wandy Rodriguez regularly. It gives him added eligibility but it's still really not enough to be starting him at all.
Several closer situations are getting interesting although managers are saying not to read too much into it -- Pirates' Mike Gonzalez and Cardinals' Jason Isringhausen were both brought in in the eighth; Gonazalez because they needed a lefty and didn't have one in the pen and Izzy because they were up by one and had a man on. Gonzalez gave up a "meaningless" run and Roberto Hernandez got the save. Izzy proceeded to load the bases and give up a grand slam. Both are still expected to close, but it still doesn't make owners comfortable to see their guys come in that early.
In Tampa Bay, Dan Miceli got another save and appears to have a "lock" on the job and Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon got his third save while Keith Foulke came in in the eighth. If Papelbon continues, there's no reason to change. This is not good if you took a chance on Foulke in the draft.
And also, in Atlanta, Chris Reitsma blew another save and has struggled in 2 of his 3 opportunities. He'll need a few more mistakes, though, before they start making any changes so he's still safe for now.
Twins' ace Johann Santana had another less than stellar outing today. While he remains a top flight pitcher, consecutive bad outings just reinforce my pitching argument in fantasy baseball. For even more evidence, please check out the pitching line for Padres' ace Jake Peavy today.
Braves' 3B Chipper Jones was helped off of the field today after jamming his right knee. They say he should be back by Wednesday, but if you have him you should get ready to grab Wilson Betemit for insurance. For the record , the countdown has begun on how long it will take before my friend Hiro tries to trade him.
And finally, as a remote possible sleeper, check out Dodgers' 1B James Loney. He's looking ok as a replacement for the perrennially injured Nomar Garciaparra. Just keep your eye on him...don't just grab him yet. It isn't very difficult for him to outplay Olmedo Saenz.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 4/8/06

Welcome back to "What's the Buzz". Now that Spring Training is over and your fantasy drafts are complete, this daily article will be devoted to select highlights, managerial moves that may affect players' fantasy values, rumors and possible roster moves for teams.

So for now, here's what's going on...

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel says that his move of Bobby Abreu to CF as part of a double switch was not just a one time thing. With hope of getting OF David Dellucci at bats and playing time, Manuel plans on sitting Aaron Rowand and playing Abreu in center more. This does not bode well for Rowand owners as we all know Dellucci is a fast starter in April and could find Rowand on the bench a little more than we'd like in the beginning of the season.
Mariners 3B Adrian Beltre who had x-rays taken on his wrist found no broken bones and remains day to day. Atleast he'll have an excuse for his usual slow start.
Rocco Baldelli is now looking at a possible May return; Joey Gathright owners just jumped and clicked their heel...now if he can only get off to a better start.
Nationals' reliever Felix Rodriguez is looking at a 3 game suspension soon for his part in the Mets/Nationals Beanball 2006.
The Blue Jays activated Greg Zaun from the disabled list today and is scheduled to catch 2 to 3 times a week. This definitely affects Bengie Molina's playing time now as he will not be used to DH on days he's not catching.
Andy Marte is looking real good at Triple A Buffalo. Unfortunately, Aaron Boone is off to an equally hot start delaying Marte's major league debut. It is, however, just a matter of time here.
It appears that Gary Matthews, Jr. will return to the crowded Rangers' outfield next week. I don't know if Matthews is the answer, but something has to jump start this mediocre Texas offense. They are not looking as good at home as they should.
Reds catcher Jason LaRue is expected back by Thursday of this coming week rejoining Javier Valentin in a platoon behind the plate.
The Diamondbacks gave Chad Tracy a day off today after he twisted his ankle. Strictly precautionary, so there's nothing to worry about.
The Ryan Freel/Tony Womack situation remains the same. They are both off to solid starts so the Reds have no need to make an immediate change. However, Womack will certainly cool off and Freel needs to be playing every day; also he's 5 for 5 in SB attempts so far.
The new closer in K.C., Ambiorix Burgos, recorded his first save today. He hasn't allowed a run in three innings so far. If he continues, then it could spell trouble for those hopin gfor a speedy Mike MacDougal return.
The Dodgers expect Kenny Lofton to return on Friday when he is eligible to come off the DL which means an increase in bench time once again for Jason Repko.
A.J. Burnett is still on schedule for his (gulp!) April 16 debut against the White Sox.
Now would be the perfect time to try and trade for Braves starter Tim Hudson as he was shellacked again in his start against the Giants. He'll bounce back from this awful beginning, so if his current owner is prone to panicking, make the deal.
In Minnesota, 5th starter Scott Baker looked less than stellar in his 4 1/3 3 run 9 hit performance. Francisco Liriano followed him with a near perfect 2 2/3 so I suppose the clock has just begun on when these two could switch spots on the staff. I think Baker should rebound nicely -- he wasn't just given the job after all...
And finally, in Boston, Jonatan Papelbon nailed his second save down tonight against the Orioles. There's been no official word yet, but it looks like Keith Foulke has one foot out the door and the other on a banana peel.

Catch you next time...

Don't Panic!!! It's Just the First Week...

I think one of the things I love most about this time of year is that the fantasy pretenders actaully feel like they have a chance this year. By "fantasy pretender", I mean those guys who brag about their hot starts, see themselves at the top of the standings, and are constantly making waiver moves to pick up the hot player of the day. They're offering you Vicente Padilla for Paul Konerko and are shocked when you laugh at the offer. Well, I've got news for all of them...it's a marathon, not a sprint. The season is 162 games long and we're barely past 5 games here. If your guys are off to a hot start, you better hope they can maintain throughout the season. If they don't, you better have a plan B.

For the rest of us, while it is annoying to watch your boys get off to a slow start, you know it's not insurmountable. You don't have to panic and worry that you're going to finish last in WHIP and ERA. The numbers should and will balance out. Do you really think guys like Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, or Carlos Zambrano will sit with ERA's in double digits? Will Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and the highly touted Daniel Cabrera continue to toss underhanded to AL hitters? Probably not. Conversely, do we think the aforementioned Vicente Padilla will pitch lights out all year in Texas? What about Josh Beckett? Sure they had great first outings, but these are the guys that should have the question marks next to their names. The others will begin to whittle those numbers down closer to their 3 year averages, while guys like Padilla and Beckett still have something to prove.

The same goes for hitters as well. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have a combined 1 HR between the two of them while Detroit's Chris Shelton has 5 already. Does that mean that Shelton will outhit them both? Angel Berroa and Casey Blake are hitting .444 and .385 respectively, while Jason Giambi and Carlos Beltran are at .154 and .143. What about the fact that Juan Pierre and Scott Podsednik have 0 SBs between them? But hey...Jose Cruz is mashing the ball with a .438 BA, so he must be better than them [insert sarcastic eye roll here].

I'm not saying that the guys producing now won't produce later. I'm just saying that to be a successful fantasy owner, you need to know patience. You need to give time to evaluate your team. You can keep your eyes on the hot starters and hopefully end up with this year's Brian Robert or Clint Barmes, but don't go after them at the expense of your proven talent. On the other hand, if you have one of the hot guys right now, it doesn't hurt to shop them a little. The smart owner will turn you away, but the inexperienced one may have an itchy trigger finger.

Enjoy your first week and don't worry about your standings just yet...no one gets a trophy for having the best April...

Return from Sin City

To the RotoBuzz faithful...

Thank you all for your understanding this past week as my updates were absent in this first week of baseball. My wedding was fantastic and the time spent in Vegas was well worth it. Updates will begin again soon; probably over the weekend.

Thank you again for reading...

Howard