What's the Buzz? 7/31/06

The trading deadline has come and gone and there was quite a bit of player movement. No one really that big went anywhere but there was a lot of roster tweaking going on. You can catch up on all of the latest trades and fantasy analysis by checking out Elliot Madison's Trade Central and Analysis from earlier today. He gives you the scoop on everything that went down today along with what he expects for fantasy fallout.

In other news today...

The Twins boosted their offense today by activating OF Torii Hunter from the disabled list. It couldn't have come at a better time as Rondell White is still sitting with hamstring tightness. Hunter's return was highlighted with a 3 for 5, 3 run, 4 RBI performance with a 3 run shot in the 4th inning as the Twinkies pounded the Rangers today 15-4. There's still no word on exactly when White will return, but when he does, the outfield in Minnesota will look a lot better with him, Hunter and a platoon of Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel.
All you Armando Benitez owners need to be careful for now. Giants GM Brian Sabean seems to be pushing for a closer-by committee these days. I don't know who he's looking to get in there; maybe Kevin Correja? Vinnie Chulk? Steve Kline? I don't know about you guys, but despite some of his struggles, I would take Benitez over any of those guys, any day. Some people are saying Brian Wilson, but in a potential pennant race, his inexperience is working against him.
Most of the Mets news came earlier in all the trade talk, but if you don't know...Lastings Milledge will be called up on Tuesday to take Xavier Nady's spot in right field (platoon with Endy Chavez probably to start) and reliever Duaner Sanchez is done for the season after separating his shoulder in a car accident. Let's see how Milledge does in his second go around, but if he's playing every day, he should have some solid value.
Red Sox catcher and team captain Jason Varitek is day to day after leaving today's game in the third inning with what looked like an ankle injury. He was pulling up into second and seemed to land awkwardly while stepping on the bag. Unless test results reveal anything serious, expect him only to miss a game or two. Doug Mirabelli should get a couple of extra starts this week.
The Sox also lost OF Trot Nixon to the DL today as expected. Reliever Bryan Corey will take his roster spot, but Wily Mo Pena will grab all of the at bats in right field. Pena is someone you should definitely try and grab if you need some OF help. He'll provide some good solid power in that lineup.
Among their wheeling and dealing, the Royals put 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (back) and RHP Brandon Duckworth (elbow) on the 15 day DL. They also activated OF Reggie Sanders today. Sanders will start back at DH and move back into the OF once Mike Sweeney comes back. Newly acquired Ryan Shealy will take over at first base. If you can, grab Shealy. He should provide you with a little pop over the final 2 months of the season.
So I guess as a punishment for railing the organization and mouthing off to the press, the Devil Rays will make B.J. Upton play for the team he seems to hate so much. While placing Ty Wigginton on the DL (fractured hand), the club called up Upton and will use them as their primary third baseman. Recently acquired Ben Zobrist will replace Julio Lugo at shortstop. I don't foresee Zobrist having a lot of value, but if you need speed and stolen bases, then Upton should be your guy.
You read it earlier, but I still feel the need to report it. After acquiring Sean Casey from the Pirates today, the Tigers sent 1B Chris Shelton to the minors. He'll definitely be back when rosters expand in September and maybe even sooner if the oft-injured Casey needs a DL visit, but for now, his value is in the toilet.

That seems to be it for today, so enjoy your waiver hunting over the next few days...

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/30/06

So the Yankees deal for Abreu as we saw earlier today. But there was one other little deal (actually two, but one is so small it might not even count) thrown in there today as the Cleveland Indians traded 2B Ronnie Belliard to the St. Louis Cardinals for 2B Hector Luna. The Indians get a solid role player in Luna and he'll compete for time with Joe Inglett at second. The Cardinals get Belliard for two months at second and will use Aaron Miles off the bench rather than in a platoon. No one's value really changes except for the whole league crossover thing.
In the little little deal, the Red Sox sent reliever Luis Mendoza to the Rangers for reliever Bryan Corey. If this has any fantasy impact...or even MLB impact, I'd be very surprised. Still, it is news and it needs to be said.

In other news today...

Red Sox OF Wily Mo Pena could see an increase in playing time as Trot Nixon left today's game with what is being called an upper arm strain. He's day to day right now but there is some DL speculation. If Nixon does go on the DL, Pena will be worth using in AL only leagues for the short term.
The Marlins activated Brian Moehler from the DL today. He threw 5 1/3 innings with 4 ER in a losing effort today. He really doesn't have much value....even in the deepest of leagues.
As expected, the Angels put Bartolo Colon on the DL with tendenitis in his right triceps. They say that it's just a change in his mechanics to protect his shoulder so he may , in fact, only miss two starts. On the other hand, if he doesn't find a way to pitch without destroying his shoulder or aggravating some other part of his arm, he may not be worth using again. Rookie Joe Saunders will take his place, but I wouldn't rush out to grab him just yet.
It wouldn't be a day in baseball if there wasn't a closer in danger of losing his job. Good ol' Brad Lidge is back at it as he gave up a home run to the first batter he faced in a 5-5 game. It's his 3rd bad outing in his last 4 appearances, so it isn't encouraging. The team may experiment with Dan Wheeler soon in save situations. Hell...they might just trade Lidge altogether!!!
The Phillies appear to be setting themselves up for another trade or two as they brought up P Scott Mathieson and OF Michael Bourn from the minors today. Neither will have any value unless someone like Jon Lieber or Pat Burrell gets traded but it does put you on your toes a little, doesn't it?
The luck might be running out for Rondell White in Minnesota. He's being called day to day with tightness in his hamstring. The Twins really only need him to DH, so hopefully Jason Kubel's knees will be healthy enough soon to play the field.
The Dodgers put 1B Nomar Garciaparra on the DL today with a strained ligament in his right knee. Not so good. Especially when we all thought he would be back already. James Loney and Olmedo Saenz will fill in for him at first, but I can't really see either of them having any real value. Not unless Nomar is out for an extended period of time and one beats out the other.
Just as we thought...the Devil Rays will put Scott Kazmir on the DL with inflammation in his rotator cuff. It doesn't appear serious and the team says they are being overly cautious; they expect him to be ready for an August 9th start. Atleast it's not the Dodgers or Cubs telling us this...then I'd never believe them.
The Braves designate one time closer Jorge Sosa for assignment, so it looks like he's going to be dealt soon. He probably won't be closing anymore, but a lot of contenders are looking for a lot of middle relief help. His value will be determined by where he ends up.
Oh yeah....I almost forgot that the Rangers picked up catcher Miguel Ojeda from the Rockies today for some cash. It does nothing but add to the speculation that Rod Barajas may be traded. If he is, then that's good news for Gerald Laird owners...if there are any. There might be after tomorrow.

Lots of rumors out there: Hank Blalock for Brad Lidge; Miguel Tejada to the Astros for a package that includes Roy Oswalt; Willy Taveras for Ray King; Lieber to the Rangers; Roberto Hernandez or Salomon Torres to the Yankees; Greg Maddux and Livan Hernandez could be on the move; Soriano!!!

We'll be keeping you posted all day tomorrow so check back often for the latest trade news.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/29/06

While I have to say that Chase Utley's 29 game hit streak is very impressive. And the fact that it is the longest hit streak in the majors this year is a nice feat. And that he's hitting .403 in that span is quite good. But please....for the love of baseball....do NOT start talking about Joe DiMaggio's 56 game streak being in danger. Look, I love having Chutley on my roster in my primary league just as much as the next guy, but please....keep some perspective. Come back to me if/when he's nearing 50. In the meantime, if you're in a keeper league and you're at the bottom and the guy who has Chutley is in contention, trade for him. He's really only going to get better.

And now for the news...

San Diego's Chan Ho Park is expected to go on the DL in the next few days after test results showed that he was anemic. Abdominal pain, low energy, lethargy...not the qualities you want in a guy on the mound. He'll have further tests done, but you should count him out for atleast the next two weeks.
The situation in Tampa Bay is getting extremely muddled. We first expected B.J. Upton to get a call up, but then he went and publicly bashed the organization. So you figured it would delay his call-up, right? Well maybe. Problem is that current 3B Ty Wigginton fractured a bone in his hand today when he was hit by a pitch. It looks like he could be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks. And then there's always the potential trade of SS Julio Lugo. The deadline is Monday and he's been rumored to be going to Toronto for some time now. So what do the Devil Rays do? If they decide to punish Upton, then they can go with the combination of Tomas Perez, Greg Norton and Russell Branyan at third. If Lugo gets traded, they can continue with Perez at short with Norton and Branyan splitting time at the hot corner. If they don't punish Upton (but I just can't see how they wouldn't) then he could be up early this week and assume the duties at third with maybe a move to short if Lugo is dealt. Clear as mud? I thought so. We'll have to stay tuned to this soap opera.
Also for the D-Rays...they could be putting Scott Kazmir on the DL as well. He's having another start pushed back after this past week's was as well. An MRI revealed an inflammation around his rotator cuff so the club could shut him down for a little while if it becomes something more. We'll know more in the next few days, but I would consider reserving him this week if you have a solid alternative.
The Astros have sent Morgan Ensberg to Triple-A to finally start his rehab assignment. He should get a few games down there to get his stroke back, but you never know where he could end up after Monday. He's been rumored to be going to a few different teams. You'll want to wait and see where he goes or even if he stays before activating him. He's going to need a few games under his belt.
Also in Houston, it looks like the Taylor Buchholz experiment has come to a close as he was sent down to Triple-A today. Everyone is expecting them to bring up Jason Hirsch the next time the team needs a 5th starter, but if the club feels he's not quite ready, we could see the return of Wandy Rodriguez.
The Blue Jays have already had enough of SS Russ Adams as they shipped him out to the minors yet again. They should bring up Ryan Roberts to act as a backup infielder for now, but again, we're all waiting for them to come to an agreement with Tampa Bay on Julio Lugo. That should push either John McDonald or Aaron Hill to the bench. Wow, Monday's going to be an exciting day! In the meantime, they brought up Dustin McGowan to start today's game. Who knows how long he's here for, so don't worry about picking him up just yet.
The Brewers officially put 2B Rickie Weeks on the DL with inflammation in his wrist. We knew this could happen so it's not that much of a surprise. It gives David Bell a full time job at third for the next two weeks atleast as Jeff Cirillo and Tony Graffanino should split time at second. Careful with Weeks. If this is anything like the thumb injury ruined the end of last season, we could be in for a long wait for his return.
Another "as expected" DL stint as the Braves put Chipper Jones on the DL with a strained oblique. It's only retro to 4 days ago, so expect to miss Chipper for the next 2 scoring periods. Newly acquired Willy Aybar gets thrown in to full time duty immediately so he might be worth a short term look.
The Mariners had to shuffle around their relief corps for a bit as Rafael Soriano was put on the DL today retroactive to July 20. Theoretically he could just be out for this coming scoring period, but we won't know for sure until we get closer to the end of the week. Mark Lowe will take over set-up duties if you're in a league that counts holds.
Baltimore activated Jay Gibbons from the DL today, so watch your Orioles. The outfield and 1st base are looking awfully crowded right now.
Super sluggers Carlos Delgado and Vladimir Guerrero could be looking at some well deserved rest this weekend. Guerrero left the game with fatigue and may need a day or two to recover and recharge his batteries. Delgado was forced out of today's game after being hit by a pitch in the knee. He'll also probably get Sunday off, but both should be ready to go for the upcoming week.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/28/06

So it was the calm before the storm. Little bit of action out there with the Milwaukee Brewers being the big dealers today. They filled their semi-vacant third base job by picking up David Bell from the Phillies in exchange for righty relief prospect Wilfrido Laureano. Bell isn't the most dazzling of third basemen and his average is never anything to write home about, but along with Jeff Cirillo, they should form a servicable platoon. Fantasy-wise, they both take a hit in value with the bigger drop going in Bell's value. As for their earlier trade with the Rangers, everyone pretty much knew that the Brewers were going to trade Carlos Lee after they offered him a 4 year contract when he was asking for 5. I'll leave the fantasy analysis alone as it's been discussed earlier in the day, but I do have one thing to say about it. Texas got itself a nice insurance policy in case they can't/don't sign Lee during the offseason. However they got the Brewers to throw in Nelson Cruz in that deal was genius.
In another deal tonight, the Braves sent infielder Wilson Betemit to the Dodgers for some added relief help, Danys Baez, and some insurance depth with Willy Aybar. I guess the injury to Chipper Jones tonight wasn't as serious as it was originally made out to be (currently being called day to day with a strained oblique), otherwise I don't see how the Braves make this deal right now. This trade sort of works out for fantasy owners as Betemit will regularly play third base in place of the injured Bill Mueller and Aybar goes on to play in Atlanta for as long as Chipper's out. Baez' value remains the same as he will provide some 7th and 8th inning set-up for new Braves close Bob Wickman. Betemit could be an interesting pickup in NL-only leagues.
And one last little tweak deal found the Nationals trading reliever Mike Stanton to the Giants for pitching prospect Shairon Martis. Nothing really of fantasy worthiness, but worth mentioning as the Giants look to shore up their bullpen as they make a push for the division. Too bad they're trying it with Stanton.

In other news today...

While the Brewers are wheeling and dealing, they also have a slight concern with 2B Rickie Weeks. It looks like he could end up on the DL with inflammation in his wrist, an injury that has been bothering him for some time now. With the acquisition of Bell, the Brewers could make this move to keep on the safe side with a youngster like Weeks. Bell would play third while Cirillo moves over to second to platoon with the newly acquired Tony Graffanino. In order to make room for all this player movement onto their roster, the team put reliever Jose Capellan on the DL with a right shoulder strain. We now see why he wasn't being considered an option for saves this past week.
White Sox 1B Paul Konerko is being called day to day with a bruised shin. He fouled it off himself, but should be fine in a day or two. Ross Gload will probably start tomorrow, but Konerko should be back after that.
Welcome to the bigs, Andy Marte!!!! I think we can chalk up tonight's 0 for 3 with an error to first day jitters. If you're looking for help at the corner, Marte is a smart pickup. The Indians will start his at third regularly and he should produce nicely over the next 2 months. Buh-bye Aaron Boone.
It looks like the Dodgers will be without Jeff Kent for a little while longer as he has been slow to recover from his latest injury, a strained oblique. He'll probably miss anywhere from another 10 to 14 days. With the trade of Aybar and Betemit over at third, the team will probably have to go with Cesar Izturis at second being backed up by Ramon Martinez.
The Blue Jays happily welcomed outfielder Alex Rios back from the DL today. He returned the warm feelings with a 2 for 4 performance with 2 RBI, 1 run scored and a stolen base. If he keeps this up he's going to help the other Jays catch fire again. He would also solidify himself as a bona fide keeper in a lot of leagues.
And for the Mets, Pedro Martinez is back finally. He went 6 innings with 4 ER, but actually pitched a decent game. The runs he gave up were all in the first inning and he then settled down. He was kept on a tight pitch count (only 77 thrown) and his K's were down from normal (just 2 tonight), but the Mets still have to be happy with most of what they saw. They still need to trade for Barry Zito if they really want to push for the World Series title. It's a win now mentality in New York, so sacrificing Lastings Milledge isn't that bad of a price to pay; in my opinion, that is.
Sorry folks...no hope of the defecting Cubans having any kind of impact on your fantasy teams this year. Next year, on the other hand...
And finally, was that Brewers manager Ned Yost who said that he still wanted Derrick Turnbow to return to the closers role even after acquiring Francisco Cordero? I thought so. A glimmer of hope? Maybe even a little more than that. Thanks for the good wishes, boys. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!!

What's the Buzz? 7/27/06

It's like the calm before the storm, right? You know things are brewin', people are talkin', trade offers being made...lots going on behind the scenes right now. But for today...all's quiet on the homefront. It was a relatively quiet day today and a short slate of games.

But here's a few things you still should know...

While filling in for the injured Omar Vizquel, Giants shortstop Jose Vizcaino was forced from today's game after injuring his shoulder diving for a ball. He's having an MRI done on Friday morning so it appears to be somewhat serious. A DL stint is a possibility. And benefitting from all this is Kevin Frandsen. He'll fill in at short for now as the team waits on Vizquel's foot.
The results on Jose Vidro's MRI showed that he has a strained hamstring and he will be sidelined for 2 or 3 weeks. Nothing seems to be going right for the Nationals. They pull off an amazing trade with the Reds and then it's all Crap City from then on. Marlon Anderson could get the majority of at bats in the meantime. He's a pretty streaky guy, so he could either kill you or give you a quick little boost. Give it a few games before you really even start to think about it.
And lastly, it looks like Robinson Cano could begin his rehab assignment at the beginning of next week after showing today that he can run the bases. If he starts up soon, he could be back in the majors by the end of next week.

I feel a huge flurry of trades ahead.

4 days and counting.

Catch you next time...

Is Matt Garza That Good?

On the fast track?

Here are the numbers:
Single-A Advanced (04/06/06 - 05/15/06)
5-1 1.42 ERA 0.862 WHIP 53 K's in 44.1 IP
Double-A (05/15 - 07/13)
6-2 2.51 0.946 68 K's in 57.1 IP
Triple-A (07/13 - 07/24)
2-1 2.05 0.773 21 K's in 22 IP

The hard throwing righty has looked dominant throughout the year at all levels. Is he the next to arrive in the bigs? If Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has anything to say about it, the answer is a resounding yes. In his last 3 press conferences coinciding with a start by Garza in the minors, Gardenhire has mentioned the pitching prospect each time; talking about when he will arrive and how much it would help the ball club. Really? Gardenhire? The guy who wanted Francisco Liriano to start in the minors and who has perpetually mishandled Scott Baker? Astounding!!!

Keep your ear to the ground on this one. While the Twins are still in the running, I think it would be tough to put that much pressure on a guy who started the year in Single-A. But if they start to fall out of it, we could see Garza sooner than later. The next 2 weeks for the Twins will be a strong determination, but if you have somwhere to stash him away, you might want to start thinking about it.

What's the Buzz? 7/26/06

A little more trade action today as the Mariners picked up 1B Ben Broussard from the Indians along with cash considerations in exchange for outfielder Shin Soo Choo. From a fantasy standpoint it really doesn't do that much, except for increase Choo's value. Broussard will go back to platooning with Eduardo Perez at DH (Carl Everett was designated for assignment today), so he's not full time still. Safeco is a little better for lefties than Jacob's Field, but that's about it. As for Choo, he'll now platoon in the OF instead of of sitting on the Mariners bench. He'll platoon with Casey Blake when Blake isn't playing first base. The other half of the 1st base platoon will be Victor Martinez, so I guess Kelly Shoppach should see a little more time. Ryan Garko call up? Anyone? Anyone?
And in another small move, the Yankees traded minor league infielder Hector Made to the Phillies for catcher Sal Fasano. Not really the blockbuster we thought from these two teams huh? The Yanks designate Kelly Stinnett for assignment, feeling that Fasano is the better hitter. We all know what Fasano is better at, and being a productive hitter ain't it. The Phillies just wanted something in return as Fasano had been sent to the minors by them and they got back just that in Made. He's probably never going to make it in the majors.

In other news...

Blue Jays Alex Rios should officially start his second half this weekend. He's been at AAA-Syracuse playing some rehab games and should get one more in on Thursday before being called up. He was enjoying a career year across the board so hopefully he can bounce back from the infection and continue to produce.
The Indians are going to have to make a decision on Ronnie Belliard soon. He's now missed 6 straight games with a hamstring problem and may have to go on the DL. Joe Inglett has been filling in so far and while the team isn't really competing, they want to start putting together an idea of what next year could start out with and test it out now. Obviously we would hope that the team would come to its senses and use Ryan Garko at first, but who knows what the offseason brings.
Giants SS Omar Vizquel is day to day with a bruised foot he got while running out an infield single tonight. He was replaced by Jose Vizcaino who could fill in for the next few days if Vizquel can't go.
Padres OF Mike Cameron is also day to day with a bruised knee he suffered while breaking up a double play tonight. If he needs to miss any time, Dave Roberts will take over centerfield and Termell Sledge will take over in left. ::shakes head and sighs at thought of Termell Sledge getting playing time::
The Reds activated catcher David Ross from the DL and sent down pitcher Joe Mays to Triple-A. Ross will go back to a straight platoon with Jason LaRue, but unlike the first half, the split should remain a little more even as long as LaRue continues to hit the way he has been the past few weeks.
We have a Bartolo Colon injury alert!!! The Angels are saying that they aren't worried about the elbow irritation that forced him to leave today's game in the first inning, but you have to be cautious. He'll be re-evaluated on Thursday so more will be known then. The obvious choice to replace him in the rotation, if necessary, would be Joe Saunders.
And finally, keep a close eye on Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir. He's experiencing some shoulder soreness and his next start was put off. Instead of seeing the Yankees on Friday he is scheduled to see the Tigers on Tuesday. Unfortunately he may not make even that one if the stiffness doesn't subside. The Rays should be extra cautious as they don't want to lose him in the long term so don't be surprised if he gets shut down for a little bit while he heals.

Crazy trade talk going on and only 5 days left until the deadline!!!!!

We'll keep you posted.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/25/06

Another day, another trade in baseball. Two actually...First off, the Milwaukee Brewers are showing that they want to compete still as they sent pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to the Kansas City Royals for veteran utility infielder Tony Graffanino. Considering Brewers 3B Corey Koskie is still out with post-concussion syndrome and the team has no idea when he'll be back -- if he'll be back -- it was a good move for them. Graffanino will start at third and if Koskie comes back, the team will have great depth behind Koskie, 2B Rickie Weeks and SS Bill Hall. For the short term, he may have a little value, but that'll dissipate the more he becomes just a back-up. De La Rosa, who has been out with a blister problem will end up on the roster in Kansas City and should start in middle relief. He may get into the rotation at some point, but he still won't be worth much. As for Graffanino's spot, the majority of backup time should go to Esteban German, but unless he gets regular at bats, he'll be worth as much as De La Rosa.
The second deal, also involving the Royals, was Kansas City sending reliever Elmer Dessens to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for pitchers Odalis Perez, Blake Johnson, Julio Pimentel and cash considerations. The Royals did pretty well here as Dessens wasn't exactly blowing them away with his skills, and Perez can go right into the rotation. He may have some nice value in AL-only leagues as he looks to get off to a fresh start in a new league. Johnson and Pimental are both Single-A prospects , so don't expect to hear their names again for quite some time.

In other news...

The Braves are still trying to get back in the race, but are having some trouble as both 3B Chipper Jones (foot) and OF Andruw Jones (back) are both still out and still considered day to day. Chipper was able to pinch hit tonight, but Andruw's back seems to be getting a little worse. He probably won't be back until the weekend now.
More injury woes for the Nationals as they placed 2B Jose Vidro on the 15 day DL with a sore hamstring. Ever since this team made that trade with the Reds they have become the walking wounded. Damian Jackson, Marlon Anderson and even recent call up Bernie Castro should all see some time at second. None should have any major value until one starts to outshine the others.
I guess we have to consider Eddie Guardado day to day with forearm tightness. He said it was bothering him a few days ago and was apparently not available to pitch tonight when the Reds were in a save situation. Todd Cofffey and Bill Bray combined to finish off tonight's game. If Guardado needs time off or even a DL stint, the Reds would probably end up in a closer-by-committee. Still, Everyday Eddie declared that he would be ready to go on Wednesday if needed.
The Dodgers are reporting that Nomar Garciaparra will miss 5 games with a sprained knee ligament. I don't know if it's just real minor or if the Dodgers are downplaying it so not to look desperate in the trading market. Either way, an injury to Nomar's knee can't be a good thing. Unfortunately, you're going to have to wait, probably, the full 5 days before finding out if he's going on the DL.
And lastly, "Congratulations!!" to Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson who tied a major league record with four wild pitches in one inning tonight. As bad a feat as it was, and as bad as Madson looked tonight, he now sits in some pretty good company as he joins Walter Johnson, Phil Neikro and Bert Cunningham as the pitchers who are tied for the record. He'll be working on emulating the careers of those guys soon, but for now it looks like 1 more start and then it's bullpen city.

Catch you next time...

Picking Up and Dropping Off

Picking Up:

1. Clint Barmes, SS Rockies -- How about a .450 average with 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 runs scored and 4 stolen bases since the All Star Break? Now this is the Barmes we all remember from last year. Look for him to continue his hot hitting in the second half as long as he avoids the stairs.

2. Rob Quinlan, 1B Angels -- The demotion of Kendry Morales puts Quinlan front and center as the Angels' starting first baseman. He's got average power potential, but he has shown throughout his career in the minors that he can get on base; career .377 OBP since 1999. He won't dazzle, but if you just need some extra help, he might be worth a look.

3. Daniel Cabrera, SP Orioles -- A risk? Yes. But he just might be worth it if you find yourself in need of some K's. If he can find a way to right the ship they way teammate Erik Bedard did, Cabrera could have a solid final two months. He's one to maybe stash away until he shows he's beaten his command problems.

4. Dmitri Young, 1B/DH Tigers -- The Meat Hook is back. After a stint in rehab, Young seems refreshed and ready to go. He's hitting .333 in his last 4 games and if he continues to hit, he'll see more playing time than bench time. He'll consistently be taking away at bats from Craig Monroe, Marcus Thames and Chris Shelton.

5. Ryan Church, OF Nationals -- We all saw him last year and early on in 2006 and were surprised to see him get sent to the minors. But with a hamstring injury to Alex Escobar, season ending surgery for Jose Guillen and the expected trade of Alfonso Soriano, Church is back and should get some solid playing time over the final two months of the season.

Dropping Off:

1. Mike MacDougal, RP White Sox -- He went from having solid value to zero value after being traded to Chicago. He's lost his status as a closer, so you can probably drop him now.

2. Jose Guillen, OF Nationals -- Didn't I say season ending surgery before? How about season ending Tommy John surgery? Dunzo.

3. Reggie Sanders, OF Royals -- Recent injury and current DL stint take away from any real good trade value now. Chances become slim on whether he'll ever make it to a quality lineup.

4. Derrick Turnbow, RP Brewers -- Demoted to middle relief after blowing 8 saves on the season; 4 in a row in the past week and a half. Don't drop him though as his banishment may not last. The team is more confident that he will fix his problems than they do in Danny Kolb holding down the job for the rest of the way.

5. Aramis Ramirez, 3B Cubs -- With Derrek Lee back on the DL, we could be seeing a second half similar to the first half. He's great when Lee's in the lineup, but struggles without him. So much for that 27 year old breakout season of crazy numbers.

What's the Buzz? 7/24/06

So all the trade stuff was handled already so we can just get right to the news...

Well, the Cubs are going to have to spend more time without 1B Derrek Lee as the team was forced to put him back on the 15 day DL with lingering problems in his wrist. There is serious enough inflammation and obvious discomfort to think that maybe he came back too soon. Shocking that the Cubs mishandled another serious injury to a quality player. Lee's value dips even further. Even when he comes back, how much strength will he have there? Could be another rough stretch for Aramis Ramirez who, once again, has zero protection in the lineup. With Lee gone again, the Cubs will go back to the Phil Nevin/Todd Walker platoon using Ryan Theriot at second when Nevin sits.
The Angels sent down 1B Kendry Morales today and brought up OF Curtis Pride for some more flexible bench depth. Rob Quinlan will definitely see more playing time now and may be worth a look if you just need a little short term help.
The Tigers lineup is getting a little crowded now as Dmitri Young has come back and is hitting pretty well; 5 for 15 with 4 RBI in 4 games thus far. If he continues this, you'll see a decrease in at bats for Marcus Thames (sat tonight), Craig Monroe, and even maybe Chris Shelton. Since the Tigers are as close to a lock to the playoffs as you can get right now, you'll have to be understanding as Jim Leyland will want to keep everyone fresh. If your league allows daily moves, you should adjust your lineups as necessary if you have solid alternatives.
So the Mets are activating Pedro Martinez for this Friday's game and are apparently planning on using a 6 man rotation for now. All you Mike Pelfrey fans can breath a sigh of relief as you'll probably get another start out of him before he gets shipped down to the minors again. Or maybe not, if John Maine is disastrous this week. I guess they're both pitching for their proverbial lives this week.
Devil Rays SS Julio Lugo, a top candidate to be the next Blue Jays shortstop, sat out today with a bruised finger. He is being called day to day, and while the team is shopping him, they will sit him and not risk further injury.
And finally, you thought it was low trade value for Jose Guillen? How about no trade value for Jose Guillen. The Nationals announced that he has a torn UCL in his right elbow and will undergo season ending Tommy John surgery. If the Nats thought they could contend for the wild card, they may have to re-think the whole idea of trading Alfonso Soriano.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/23/06

So the White Sox made a little tweak deal to upgrade their backup catcher slot and sent Double-A reliever B. J. LaMura to the Dodgers in exchange for veteran catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr. Hmmm. Interseting. Send Chris Widger down to the minors and bring in a 40 year old almost broken down replacement with over-inflated numbers. I can't say that this really has any kind of a fantasy impact whatsoever. Neither Widger or Alomar has any real value. I'm really just reporting it for the sake of keeping the world aware that Sandy Alomar, Jr. is still alive.

And now for some other news...

Keep your eyes on the Phillies newest member of the rotation...well, an old new member, I guess. After rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, veteran lefty Randy Wolf will make his return to the majors next Sunday. It'll be his first outing, so take it with a grain of salt if he struggles with his command a little. An outing or two should get him back in the swing of things. And on a little positive note, look at how many guys come back from this surgery with their arm a little stronger. I'm not saying he's going to be your team's savior, but he could be worth a look for the last 2 months of the season.
No word yet on what's caused the delay on Jose Lopez. He's still in Venezuela tending to a family matter, but the Mariners thought he was coming back on by the end of the weekend. They're being pretty vague about it all, so I say take the chance and leave him active for this week unless you have a strong alternative.
Well, it's all starting to happen to Mike Lamb already. Bench time is coming and it could just be a sign of things to come. When Lance Berkman left today's game with a strained groin, he said that he could still play on Tuesday, but probably not the outfield due to the running. So...where does he go? Why to first, of course. Lamb rides the pine while Berkman is hurting, and either Luke Scott or Willy Taveras will get the starts in right. To complicate it further, once Morgan Ensberg comes back (barring a trade to the Padres?), Aubrey Huff needs another home in the field. Lamb should find himself sitting once again.
Tigers 2B Placido Polanco is day to day after getting hit in the head today with a pitch while attempting to bunt. X-rays were negative and the CT scan showed no damage, but he'll probably be out for a game or two. If he shows any signs of post-concussion though, he could sit for longer.
Taking the day off with hamstring tightness, Pirates first baseman Sean Casey hopes to return to the lineup on Tuesday. He's considered day to day, but he did pinch hit this afternoon.
Keep your eyes on Ryan Church. He was finally brought up by the Nationals in the wake of the injuries to Jose Guillen and Alex Escobar. He's proven he can hit in the majors, albeit a bit streaky, but he could have some nice value in NL only leagues if/when Alfonso Soriano gets traded.
So the Cubs put starter Sean Marshall on the 15 day DL with a strained oblique today and are going to need to replace him in the rotation. On top of that, Carlos Marmol also got hurt during his rocky start this afternoon leaving with a bruised hand. And just when you didn't think the Cubs pitching couldn't possibly be in worse shape...? BAM!!!!! Glendon Rusch's name gets mentioned as a replacement. Ugh!!
And finally, the Twins are making the same mistake with Scott Baker that they did in the beginning of the season. With the off day on Thursday, they will skip Baker in the rotation this week. He'll end up getting his next start on like 8 or 9 days rest, taking him way out of the routine he should be in. Keep him benched until the Ron Gardenhire gets his head out of his ass and stops sticking with Carlos Silva. Someone call Shea Hillenbrand and get him on chalkboard duty in Minnesota.

Catch you next time...

Watch Out for the Overly Cautious

Here's something you should take notice of when it comes to setting your lineup in leagues that allow daily lineup changes...and it's something I noticed last year due to owning too many White Sox...

I'll try and find the rest, because I'm sure there are more out there, but be on the lookout for an overly cautious manager like Ozzie Guillen.

Last season, as a way to limit injuries before going into the playoffs, Guillen rested all of his starters for more than just the average amount of rest time for position players. I saw Tadahito Iguchi sit atleast 2, sometimes 3 games a week in order to keep him well rested. This can be a nightmare if your players are losing at bats just when you need them the most. You'd see Iguchi go on a 4 game hitting streak with multiple HR and RBI and then watch him sit on a Sunday so he could come back on Tuesday after 2 days off. He would then follow it up with a pair of 0 for 5's the next two games as his momentum was gone.

Guillen will probably do it again once the playoff scenario becomes a little clearer. Regulars like Iguchi, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye should all see some "quality R & R" if the Sox pull ahead of the Tigers or stretch out a big wild card lead. And other managers will follow suit. I mean, really...can you blame them? I wouldn't be surprised to see Willie Randolph do it with the Mets if they clinch early enough.

This should become a little clearer as we move closer to September when the contenders contend and the pretenders fade, but it's just good info to keep in the back of your mind; especially while you're still making trades.

Good luck out there.

What's the Buzz? 7/22/06

I guess the big news today was the trade of Scott Williamson from the Cubs, huh? And not even to a team which he was heavily rumored to go to. But apparently, the Padres are looking to take over in the ultra-weak NL West as they traded away pitching prospects Joel Santo and Fabian Jimenez in exchange for the fairly coveted middle reliever. This could be a prelude to another trade soon, whether they flip Williamson or even deal away Scott Linebrink to get some better infield help. But by adding decent depth to their bullpen and cutting loose some dead weight in Vinny Castilla, the Pods are setting themselves up nicely as they try to contend for another divisional title.

In the rest of the news...

Consider Cubbues OF Jacque Jones day to day after fouling a pitch off his leg today. Funny thing is that he did the exact same thing in relatively the exact same spot yesterday. That leg definitely needs atleast Sunday off.
As you already saw earlier today, the Brewers pulled Derrick Turnbow from the closer's role after his eighth blown save yesterday. It was bound to happen and it may only be temporary, atleast until he figures out what his problem is. Manager Ned Yost said that Danny Kolb would be his first choice for saves, so if you're looking for relief help in the short term, he could be worthy of a pick up.
Owners of Alex Rios got some good news today when it was reported that he should begin a 4 or 6 game rehab assignment on Tuesday. Rios was having a breakout year when the whole staph infection started in the Blue Jays' clubhouse and hasn't played since June 27th. Hopefully he will be back by August 1st.
The Phillies designated veteran catcher Sal Fasano today and have decided to go with Chris Coste as the backup to Mike Lieberthal. In even the deepest of leagues, I can't even imagine anyone using Fasano on their fantasy teams, but Coste could provide you with some help later on in the season. C'mon...Lieberthal's only been on the DL once this year. I'm sure another stint is coming soon.
The Royals brought back Shane Costa from the minors to fill in for the injured Reggie Sanders. Costa was pretty medicre when he was up earlier, so don't expect too much. He could, however, have a little value if Sanders ever gets traded, as the Royals would then just leave him in their sad...and slightly pathetic....lineup.
A few dings and dents for the Braves as Andruw Jones is day to day with a sore back and Chipper Jones is still out with his oblique strain. Neither injury seems to be serious so just keep an eye on them if you are allowed daily lineup changes.
Stretch it out a little longer, all you Robinson Cano owners. Whatever stopgap you are using at second base needs to hold you over until atleast August 1st. Cano hasn't even started running the bases yet so another 2 weeks is a legit possibility. Hopefull yit will be sooner, but you never know with hamstrings.
And finally, let's hear it for the Land Of Mediocre Outfielders!!! AKA Minnesota. Yeesh!! In an effort to bolster their current outfield that consists of such greats as Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Jason Tyner, the Twins signed ex-Red Quentin McCracken for some depth in the minor leagues. I can't imagine how bad it would have to get for the Twins to have to call him up and play him as a regular. Yuck!

Catch you next time...

Fantasy Fallout Beyond Your Control?

For some more on what you should know about current trades, rumors and some call-ups that could affect your fantasy teams, whether you're in first or last, you can check out my new article on AddictFantasy Sports.com.

Hope you enjoy...

Lost Closer -- I Guess Nightmares Do Come True

It was just a matter of time. One of two things was going to happen. Either he was going to right the ship and return to his 2005/early 2006 form or he was being replaced, but Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow needed something to happen.

After celebrating a breakout season in 2005 where he went 7-1 with 39 saves and a 1.744 ERA, Turnbow walked into this year as the team's closer and immediately picked up where he left off with 8 saves and a 1.80 ERA for the month of April. But then it got a little rocky. He had a relatively cold May, an average June, and stumbled into the All Star Break with a bloated 4.74 ERA and having blown 2 of his last 3 save opportunities.

The post-Break times have been even worse. Since returning from a decent outing in his first ever All Star appearance, Turnbow has no saves, an 0-3 record and a whopping 47.25 ERA. Including last night's debacle he has blown 5 save opps in a row and 7 of his last 9.

Manager Ned Yost has hung on as long as he could. For the past 2 weeks, all we've heard is that his job is safe due to the fact that the Brewers don't have many options. Matt Wise and Danny Kolb had been average at best, Dana Eveland is too young and inconsistent, and the team didn't want to move a somewhat effective Jose Capellan from his middle relief/set up job.

Well, the end of the rope has arrived. Yost has finally removed Turnbow from the closer's role and has handed over the duties to Danny Kolb. He did hold down the job in 2004 with the Brewers and then went to Atlanta for 2005. He did not find success there and after a dismal year with only 11 saves and a lost job, he came back to Milwaukee. So he's got the experience...maybe not the talent, but he does have the experience.

But don't count Turnbow out just yet. Don't go freaking out and drop him from your roster. If someone in your league does, you may think about grabbing him while he's in exile. Technically, the job is still his. Technically, it's just a temporary move. Maybe he just needs to adjust his mechanics; maybe he's tipping his pitches. Either way, he should hopefully figure things out in the next few weeks.

If you own him, you should probably reserve him for the upcoming scoring period, but don't worry too much. He should be back.

What's the Buzz? 7/21/06

Well, it looks like the Blue Jays have already found a taker for the disgruntled and recently designated Shea Hillenbrand. According to reports, the Jays will send Hillenbrand to the Giants along with reliever Vinnie Chulk for reliever Jeremy Accardo. Hillenbrand should play first for the majority of time, but Mark Sweeney should see some at bats against lefties. Accardo should slide right into the bullpen for the Jays, replacing Chulk, and should prove to be a strong asset. He joins Justin Speier as the lead set-up guys for B.J. Ryan.

In other news...

The door seems to be sneaking open for Nationals OF Luis Matos. With Jose Guillen having gone on the DL the other day and Alex Escobar tweaking his hamstring today, Matos could see a significant increase in playing time. Just more bad timing for some guys. Escobar was going to get a chance to play every day, but may now lose time with this injury. Consider him day to day, though, until a further evaluation is made.
The pitching depth for the Red Sox thins out even more as rookie Kyle Snyder left today's game in the sixth inning after hurting his leg during warm ups. This almost clinches the call up of Kason Gabbard, and probably also an impending trade. Craig Hansen could move up for a start maybe, depending on the injury, but the Sox rotation is looking pretty bleak these days now.
The Mets may have to deal with yet another Pedro Martinez setback as he checked himself into the hospital again today after lingering effects from his food poisoning. The weather pushed back his bullpen session to tomorrow, but no word yet on whether his strength has returned from his illness. He's still considered day to day. If the team gets more spot starts from guys like John Maine did today, they may not even miss him...but I doubt it.
Word out of Atlanta has Marcus Giles possibly going on the DL with his thumb injury. The MRI he had on Thrusday revealed no ligament damage, but he's still been out for the last 5 games. He's still being called day to day, but if he still can't go by the end of this weekend, the team's going to have to make a decision.
And another guy killing his trade value with a stint on the DL is Kansas City outfielder Reggie Sanders. His name has been linked to several teams, including the Yankees and Angels, but talks have cooled as of late with this latest thigh problem. Teams in need of a veteran bat will still keep an eye on him, but a deal while hurt now seems unlikely.
Hmmm...Mark Prior...only 3 1/3 today with 4 runs. I pushed overall with the under on the innings but losing on the over with the runs allowed. I put 2 1/2 weeks on how long before the next injury, so we'll see where I finish up then.
And finally, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez collected his 2000th hit today, a home run that made him the youngest in MLB history to reach 450 HR. Love him or hate him, this guy is just a tremendous ballplayer. Congratulations A-Rod!!!

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/20/06

So, to me, the big news of the day has to be the trade between the Indians and the Braves. In a straight up deal, the Braves get closer Bob Wickman in exchange for minor league catcher Max Ramirez. Great deal for the Braves here, great deal. They gave up nothing. I won't steal Elliot's thunder for Monday's article, but it has to be discussed here a little. NL-only leaguers should probably try and pick up Wickman as he will immediately take over the closer's job in Atlanta, sending Kenny Ray back to set-up duties. For AL-only leaguers, Fausto Carmona is the pickup to make. Word out of Cleveland is that he will take over as the team's new go to guy for finishing games.

In other news today...

Apparently, Nationals pitcher John Patterson's surgery was a success. I'd go into details, but I'd need to look up a bunch of stuff on WebMD before I could give a full evaluation. Long story short, they went in, poked around, moved this, moved that, decompressed the nerve, and Patterson seems to be doing well. They said he could feasibly come back this year, but unless the Nationals are contending for the wild card, why bother? Better safe than sorry...let him wait until 2007.
Also, as expected, the Nationals put Of Jose Guillen on the 15 day DL with elbow soreness. Talk about bad timing. It's goin gto be nearly impossible for the team to trade him now before the deadline. Either way, this puts Austin Kearns in right field and Alex Escobar gets first shot at the starting center field job. Luis Matos will hang around as the 4th outfielder.
While Joe Borowski is being shopped around the league, Marlins manager Joe Girardi is auditioning new closers. While he's got two possible candidates in Logan Kensing and Taylor Tankersley, neither seems to be out-shining the other. The evil committee word sounds like the likely solution.
On the rehab front, Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui was told that the bones fused together perfectly and he may be able to start batting practice in a few days. If an August 15 return date becomes more likely, and it looks like it may well be, the Yankees could remove themselves from an awful lot of trade speculation.
Speaking of rehabbing Yankees, push the clock back on Octavio Dotel. He was supposed to make one last rehab appearance and be called up this weekend, but he suffered a setback today when he experienced soreness in his triceps after his session. He'll be re-evaluated on Friday and a decision will be made then.
If you thought Diamondbacks' OF Luis Gonzalez was losing value in fantasy leagues before, wait til you see him now. Hot shot prospect Carlos Quentin has been called up and is already hitting. The two players could end up in a platoon in Arizon'a outfield. Atleast until Gonzo is shipped out somewhere.
After failing in the Houston bullpen since being bumped from the rotation, Wandy Rodriguez has been optioned to the minors today. Overall, it's better for Rodriguez as he will get to pitch more consistently and on the 5 day rest of normal starters. He can compete for a job again next season. But, if the Astros are in need of another starter later on, Rodriguez should be the first one called upon.
Tigers OF Craig Monroe is being called day to day after suffering a hamstring injury in today's game. Manager jim Leyland says he should only miss a couple of days, so it doesn't sound too serious. What does sound serious is that we could be seeing the return of "The Meat Hook". Rumor has it that Dmitri Young could come off the DL this weekend to take over DH duties.
As expected, the Red Sox officially put Tim Wakefield on the DL with a stress fracture in one of his ribs. He should miss 3 or 4 weeks and they've already used a lot of that minor league depth with guys such as Jon Lester and Kyle Snyder. While Kason Gabbard is a possibility, I still think the Sox will look to make a deal.
Anyone know the over/under on the number of innings Mark Prior will pitch on Friday? How about on the number of runs he gives up? How about the number of days before he goes back on the DL with another injury? Careful with this guy. Doesn't matter if he has a great outing or not...he is not someone to rely on.
And finally, does anyone still think the Blue Jays could even remotely contend with the current state of their clubhouse? Check out this article in the Toronto Star for the latest on the soap opera. What a joke!!!

Catch you next time...

Closing Nightmares!!!!!

You know you need to take a break from fantasy baseball when your dreams are haunted by your players.

I just woke up from the most horrible dream ever!!!

I dreamt that Derrick Turnbow blew his eighth save -- his fourth blown save in his last five chances maybe. It was just awful. He gave up a hit and then another hit and then a walk and then another hit...next thing I know he's got 2 earned runs in a third of an inning and his sixth loss of the season. Needless to say I was a bit freaked out.
But then all of a sudden I was in San Diego and instead of Trevor Hoffman, the Padres had Mark Wohlers on the mound. Well, maybe not Mark Wohlers, but it sure felt like him. It seems that ever since the All Star Game, Hoffman hasn't been able to close out a game anymore.
I was frantic!!! WHIPs and ERAs were skyrocketing; my fantasy points were diminishing; I woke up in a cold sweat dripping from head to toe.

Phew!!! It was all a dream...

wasn't it?

What's the Buzz? 7/19/06

Hmmm...Old Timers' Day at Wrigley huh? Roger Clemens vs. Greg Maddux Part II -- round 1 went to Maddux last year, this season it went to Clemens. I'd scream for a rubber match here, but have you really sat and watched a Cubs game? They're just not very good, are they? A needless swipe, yes. Sorry Chicago.

So then just to the news here...

In a not so somewhat surprising move, the Blue Jays designated Shea Hillenbrand for assignment. With him running his mouth about the team and its management coupled with his slowly decling power numbers, the Jays have had enough. Not good Shea, not good. Unemployed is not the way you want to start off as a new daddy. Eric Hinske becomes the primary DH and they'll also be able to use the DH slot to rotate guys for periodic rests...sort of the way NL managers used the DH slot during interleague.
Also for the Jays, Troy Glaus missed his third straight game with a sore knee. The team says they expect him to play on Thursday, so it doesn't look like a DL stint is coming.
Get ready to reserve Ronnie Belliard, folks! He left today's game and is being called day to day with a mild hamstring strain. They're going to wait over night and see how he responds Thursday morning before making a decision. Could be a few days, could be 15.
Some more dings and dents and bumps and bruises here for the Yankees as Jorge Posada is day to day with a bruised index finger and Alex Rodriguez may still miss a game this weekend with his bruised toe. If you make daily lineup changes, just keep an eye on their staus game by game through this weekend.
So the Mets made a little deal sending minor league second baseman Jeff Keppinger over to the Royals in exchange for second baseman Ruben Gotay. Maintaing quality depth at the team's weakest position is a solid move and Gotay is definitely an upgrade over Keppinger. He should stay in Triple-A for now, as Jose Valentin and Chris Woodward are doing a fine job, but you never know in Spetember. If the Mets lock up the division early enough they may get a chance to rest some guys before the playoffs. Gotay may see some time when rosters expand.
I know this isn't much of a news flash here, but...Ichiro is a stud!! If you're in a keeper league and floundering somewhere at the bottom of your standings, trade for this guy. The numbers he provides your fantasy team with are consistently fabulous.
The Nationals aren't saying that he's done for the year just yet, but pitcher John Patterson is undergoing exploratory surgery to examine nerves in his right forearm. Like a hot rock here, folks...like a hot rock.
Word out of Boston is that pitcher Tim Wakefield actually has a fractured rib and will end up on the disabled list. If this is 100% accurate...the team hasn't confirmed it...then it looks like he could miss around three weeks or so. Expect the Red Sox to be trading for a starting pitcher sooner rather than later.
An dfinally, as you saw in this week's Picking Up and Dropping Off, Mark Bellhorn is someone you should think about picking up if you need corner infield help. The Padres placed 3B Vinny Castilla on waivers with the intention of giving him his unconditional release. Bellhorn should get the bulk of time with Geoff Blum making some appearances here and there.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 7/18/06

So here you go Mets fans....we'll lead it off with something nice for you. Give it up for your All Star center fielder tonight. After not hitting one since 2002, Carlos Beltran has 2 grand slams in his last 2 games. 3 for 8 with 2 HR, 9 RBI and 3 runs scored the past 2 games and 13 RBI in his past 7 games. Now this is what you want your stars to do after the Break. He's notorious for being a strong second half player so this should make you feel pretty comfortable if he's on your roster. Sure, he could run a little more but let's not get greedy.

In the news today...

And staying with the Mets....it looks like you can expect Pedro Martinez back on the mound sometime in the middle of next week. The team wants him to throw another bullpen session and a simulated game before going back out there; he needs to build up his strength again after losing all those fluids with the food poisoning and all. John Maine will stay in the rotation for now and take Pedro's place on Saturday.
The Reds Ryan Freel should be back in action either Wednesday or Thursday after being out since the All Star Break with a bum shoulder. If he's healthy and can start getting on base, then he'll play...atleast in a platoon. If he struggles, then it'll be real easy to keep him on the bench in favor of Chris Denorfia.
I bet all you Braves owners wish they could play the Cardinals every day huh? Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann have been lighting it up. Between the three of them, in the past 2 days, they are a collective 14 for 28 with 5 HR, 14 RBI and 9 runs scored. Who loves the new Busch Stadium more than these guys?!?!
You know...I was calling for Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba to be a nice sleeper this year and he got hit with the old shoulder injury to start the year in the hole. He's the primary guy here in the second half and, if healthy, could be a nice little pickup for you if you need help behind the dish.
After hitting another home run, his third straight game with one, Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez left the game with knee soreness and is bein glisted as day to day. He may get another day off tomorrow, but hopefully he won't miss much time and lose his momentum here.
The Diamondbacks put Tony Clark on the DL with a strained right shoulder and will be forced to move Shawn Green to first until Conor Jackson is ready to come back. It should only be a day or two more so don't go running out to pick up Jeff DaVannon just yet. This should be a nice showcase for Green who has been a big part of the trade rumors these days.
The Dodgers put 2B Jeff Kent on the 15 day DL with a strained oblique muscle -- the injury of the year here apparently. Kent missed about a week just before the Break and is still struggling to recover. Ramon Martinez and Willy Aybar should fill in for now with Aybar probably getting the bulk of the load.
If the Nationals thought Jose Guillen was tough to trade before, it's going to be even harder now. He left tonight in the second inning with elbow soreness, the same injury that's been naggin him all month. No word on whether or not he will need a stint on the DL, but atleast we get to see some fresh blood in center with Alex Escobar as Austin Kearns shifts over to replace Guillen. Escobar played well tonight and if he continues he could have an increased value in NL only leagues. He'll begin to get the starts in center once the Nats trade either Guillen or Alfonso Soriano.
The Red Sox finally activated Wily Mo Pena from the DL as he had been out since late may with a broken hamate bone. He'll move into an immediate platoon with Trot Nixon and play against lefties. Nixon's overall numbers will suffer again with the lack of a full time job, so if you have another alternative, maybe think about using him instead. Pena's return also marks the end of Willie Harris' tenure with the team. He was sent to the minors and may end up somewhere else this season.
The Indians and the Padres swapped relievers as Cleveland acquired Brian Sikorski in exchange for Mike Adams. Maybe I'll let Elliot evaluate this one but I don't think this is having any kind of impact on your fantasy teams. Sikorski will go right into the Indians' pen and Adams should probably go down to Triple-A.
Well, if you own Bill Hall and were afraid that he was going to lose time when J.J. Hardy returned from his broken ankle, you can relax now. Can you see the sarcasm dripping from the words here? In any event, Hardy will have season ending ankle surgery after consulting several specialists and Hall, barring a trade for Julio Lugo, should remain in the starting lineup fo rthe rest of the Brewers' season.
Do I really need to mention that the Royals put Scott Elarton on the DL and may call up Runelvys Hernandez to take his spot in the rotation? Is anybody even going to use these guys? I don't recommend it.
And finally, the Padres got some good news today when they found out that pitcher Chris Young does not have a stress fracture in his foot; that it only seems to be a stress reaction. He'll most likely miss his next start (the club will insist, I'm sure), but he should avoid the disabled list.

Trade rumors are swirling all over the place.....there seems to be a lot of potential player movement so keep checking back. We'll keep you up to date on all the action as it comes.

Catch you next time...

Picking Up and Dropping Off

We're going to try and make this one a weekly special for you as well.

Based on performance, projections and MLB activity, we're going to list, each week, 5 guys you should see about buying low and 5 guys you should consider dropping or trading away as quick as possible.

Picking Up:

1. Robinson Cano -- The stay on the DL for his hamstring was longer than expected, but all the better for a hamstring to heal. He'll be back in about a week and a half and should resume his steady hitting with an average around .300.

2. Adam Jones -- The rookie is now starting in center field for the Mariners and has also been mentioned in trade talks for Alfonso Soriano. Has a good combination of power and speed as evidenced by his .277 average with 14 HR and 13 SB in 328 AB at AAA-Tacoma. If he goes to the Nats, he should battle with Luis Matos for playing time in center and that's no too difficult.

3. Reggie Sanders -- Trade rumors are swirling and all of them have Sanders going to a contender. If he finds his way into a solid lineup, another 12 -15 HRs could be found in the second half for him.

4. Brandon McCarthy -- Pretty much a win-win situation with him. If the White Sox deal away either Javier Vazquez or Freddy Garcia, then he slides into the rotation. If they trade him for help of their own, he slides right into the rotation. He's ready.

5. Adrian Gonzalez -- Quietly putting up solid numbers as the Padres 1st baseman and they aren't considering moving him at all. They're even trying to shop Ryan Klesko. Recent HR surge could raise the price a little.

Dropping Off:

1. Trot Nixon -- Definite decrease in playing time up ahead as Wily Mo Pena is finally activated from the disabled list.

2. Aaron Boone -- Poor hitting and mediocre defense has the Indians ready to bring up Andy Marte to take over the hot corner. Ronnie Belliard is getting a few starts over there as well.

3. Mike Lamb -- Has very strong bench potential if/when Morgan Ensberg returns to hitting and goes back to third. Chris Burke is staying in center which leaves right field and 1st base for the trio of Lance Berkman, Aubrey Huff and Lamb. Hmmm....which one's sitting?

4. Tom Gordon -- Any trade out of Philadelphia will certainly put Gordon back into a set-up role rather than remaining a closer.

5. Corey Patterson -- .191 average with 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs and 1 SB for all of July so far. The decline has begun and David Newhan's return is just around the corner to crowd up the Orioles outfield again. Sucker someone else with those bloated first half numbers.

What's the Buzz? 7/17/06

Remember yesterday when I said it didn't look like it could get any worse for the Twins outfield this year? Well....I was wrong. Word out of Minnesota is that Shannon Stewart could actually be done for the season after re-aggravating his heel injury and going out with another bout of plantar fasciitis. Further tests and more rest are necessary, but he wouldn't be back until September at the earliest. The only good thing the Twins have heard lately is that the MRI on Jason Kubel's knee showed no structural damage, just some fluid build up. He should be ready to return to the field in a day or so.

In other news...

It looks like it's one guy on and one guy off the DL for the Nationals again as Jose Vidro could find himself out of action with a hamstring injury. They're calling him day to day right now, but you never know with Vidro, let alone hamstrings. On the positive side, Tony Armas, Jr. was activated and looked pretty good out there. The defense let him down tonight against the Marlins as he took the loss.
The Cardinals, the fans and fantasy owners all held their breath a little tonight as Albert Pujols left today's game after the sixth inning. They are speculating a leg muscle cramp or his recurring foot problem, but I'm sure they're doing everything in their power to make sure he's ok. The game was a huge blowout at that point, so it could just be Tony LaRussa being extra cautious.
The Red Sox could be looking at putting Tim Wakefield on the DL after he left tonight's start after 4 innings with his chronic back problems. It started flaring up on him real bad before the break but the team thought that with some rest over the next 10 days, he would be fine. They thought wrong. Looks like the Sox have to stick with Jason Johnson in the rotation for a while...and that's never good.
Remember A's star Rich Harden? Difficult considering how much time he's missed. Well, he apparently won't have surgery, but the team won't let him resume throwing for atleast another two weeks. Harden won't return until late August/early September at the earliest. Maybe he and Mark Prior should quit baseball and form a wrestling tag team called "The Breakables".
Royals SS Angel Berroa has now missed 3 straight games with bruised ribs. Maybe picking up Tony Graffanino isn't such a bad thing considering how much playing time he's been getting. Between Berroa's ribs and Mark Grudzielanek's back, Tony G. could be looking at a lot of ABs in the second half.
Get your waiver money ready...Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf is coming. He'll make two more rehab starts and then should be ready to re-join the rotation. Call me crazy, but I've always been a huge fan. Either Ryan Madson gets bumped back to the bullpen or rookie Cole Hamels goes back to the minors. Something tells me Madson to the pen is most likely, especially if the team is really considering trading Tom Gordon.
Some concern for Chris Young owners...that's the Padres pitcher, not the Arizona outfield prospect. Already out with the flu, Young will have an MRI on his foot to see if there is a stress fracture there. He's dealt with some soreness and the club wants to be careful with him. If there is a fracture, expect him to go on the DL immediately. Results when I get them...
And finally, the Yankees are calling Alex Rodriguez day to day with a bruised foot. He hasn't had any x-rays yet and still thinks he's playing tomorrow, so maybe today's exit was more about his 0 for 4 and 3 errors tonight than it was his foot. I wouldn't worry about him missing any time.

Speacial thanks again to Keith and Elliot for jumping on board here.

Catch you next time...

'Buzz Still Growing...

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome another new writer to RotoBuzz...

Elliot Madison has been doing fantasy baseball since the days of hand-written stat pages and says that it's time he took his knowledge and fantasy championships and used them to help others "beat down their obnoxious braggart friends and screw over their bosses that join leagues they know nothing about."

With Elliot on board, along with newly acquired writer, Keith Giordano, RotoBuzz should be better than ever. Check for all of us on a daily basis and hopefully we can lead you to the top of your standings.

See you all in the money this year!!!

Sincerely,
Howard Bender

What's the Buzz? 7/16/06

So just to show you that it's not the Mets, but their fans that I hate, I'll start off tonight with some props for the team and their 11 run sixth inning today. When starter Orlando Hernandez put them in an immediate 5-0 hole after two innings, the team started to claw it's way back a little and then BAM!! An explosive 6th inning that featured grand slams by Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd (his 2nd HR of the night) and a 2 run shot by potential NL MVP David Wright. That inning alone was worth watching that entire game.

And now for the news...

Sticking with the Mets for just a quick second, the latest news on the return of Pedro Martinez remaims murky at best. They want him to throw atleast 2 bullpen sessions and one simulated game before he comes back from his bout with food poisoning. Apparently that 100 lb. frame took a beating and needed to have a lot of fluids replenished. Maybe middle of next week...maybe next Sunday. No one quite knows for sure. Perhaps benching him this week is a wise move.
The Diamondbacks are calling rookie 1B Conor Jackson day to day with a strained shoulder he suffered today. He'll be sent for a precautionary MRI, but the team seems to think he will avoid the DL. The infamous Tony Clark waits in the wings.
So the bad news for the Twins just got worse as the x-rays on Torii Hunter revealed a stress fracture in his left foot. He was put on the 15 day DL, and was originally expected to miss atleast a month, but manager Ron Gardenhire says he hopes to have him back when his 15 days are up. I'm not so confident. I guess it depends on how "in the race" the Twins are in 2 weeks. Looks like we're going to see a lot of Terry Tiffe and Nick Punto these days. Just because recently activated Rondell White hit a homer today doesn't mean anything. Hey! Maybe we'll even see Erubiel Durazo. Any way you slice it, it's trouble for the Twinkies.
And a bigger HEY!! Brett Myers came back today! Looks like he spared his wife this afternoon and threw the beat-down on the Giants instead, holding them to 2 runs in 7 innings for the victory.
One day after being told he was going to play regularly at first by manager Felipe Alou, Lance Niekro was shipped down to the minors. Mark Sweeney remains the team's best option, but they did bring up Chad Santos who may be given the opportunity at some point as well.
Uh-oh!! Is the Big Hurt hurt...again? Frank Thomas left today's game after the third inning with an undisclosed injury. They're saying it's nothing new....just more of the same ankle problems that have plagued him the past few years. If that's the case, a DL stint may be necessary.
As expected, the Reds put catcher David Ross on the 15 day DL, retro to July 8, with a lower abdominal strain. Jason LaRue, a much weaker bat, will pick up the slack in the meantime, but hopefully not for too long. The team will likely get Ross back by next Sunday.
And finally, I wonder how Ozzie Guillen feels about reliever Sean Tracey being brought back to take Cliff Pollitte's roster spot? Remember it was Tracey who Guillen reprimanded and later had shipped out of town for not hitting Hank Blalock as ordered. Old time hockey?

Anything else?

How about "Congratulations!" to Mariano Rivera for recording his 400th career save today? He becomes only the 4th player in history to record that many saves, joining Lee Smith, John Franco and current Padres closer Trevor Hoffman. Way to go Mo!!!

Catch you next time...

I Got Your Cheap Saves Right Here!!

So let's talk about closers for a moment here. I'm sure some people will disagree with me, but I have to stand by the fact that closers are one of the most precious assets you can have. You grab yourself a top notch closer, and you're looking at help in , not just the saves category, but WHIP, ERA and even strikeouts.
Take a guy like B.J. Ryan...he's on pace for 80+ innings with 43 saves, 99 K's, a 0.784 ERA and a .710 WHIP. Now if you take a look at the fact that only 50 pitchers threw 200 or more innings and the next 95 threw 100+, Ryan's 80 innings are looking pretty good for your overall numbers. How about the fact that only 94 pitchers cleared 100 K's in 2005?
Now, you could probably eliminate roughly 30 guys from that list of 100 innings or more, seeing as how very few people would even think about using someone like Kirk Reuter (107.3 IP-5.953-1.658 in 2005) or Jose Lima (168.7-6.990-1.660). That leaves roughly 110 pitchers realistically available to you. If the average league has 12 teams and the average # of pitchers you need in a lineup is 9 in a standard roto league, that's 108 pitchers being used overall.

Do you see where I'm going here? It's all about averages and proportions. To me, having a guy like Ryan on your roster is a thousand times more valuable than a Byung Hyun Kim with his 148-4.865-1.534 and 115 K's. OK, so a thousand may be an exaggeration for you sticklers out there, but you get my point. There is no doubt that he holds a much greater value.

But...

As we are now in the second half, guys like Ryan or Mariano Rivera or Jonathan Papelbon are rarely going anywhere. They are either locked on a contender's team or sitting on the roster as someone's keeper for next year. So where to go? Take a look at some of the guys below and try them out if you need help in the saves department. Some may be available, some not. But the ones that aren't can still be had pretty cheaply I'm sure. And if some of the names make you nervous, don't worry...you're only looking at what? Maybe 40 innings for the whole second half? If they do tank, you'll know it early enough to pull them before they can do even the remotest of damage to your ratios.

Locked In:

Eddie Guardado -- Old friend, former Asst. GM of the Twins and current GM of the Cincinnati Reds Wayne Krivsky rescued Everyday Eddie from the scrap heap in Seattle and brought him in to revamp a dismal bullpen. Krivsky (you might hate him from the Kearns/Lopez trade) said that he loves this guy; that he "lives for the ninth inning". You gotta love that vote of confidence. And manager Jerry Narron immediately followed suit. Their reward? 3 for 3 in save chances so far with the only blemish being a garbage 2 out solo shot to Clint Barmes today. He's going to get every opportunity the Reds have and with Krivsky's support, the hook won't come that quickly if he stumbles a bit.

Mike MacDougal -- He's back baby!!! Sure he closes for the Royals and sure he's been on the DL all season so far. But who cares? He's still there. Even if he only notches you maybe a dozen saves this half, it's still going to be a big help. And if the save opp is unavailable on a regualr basis, he'll still get the work in and will probably have a solid second half. He picked up his first save tonight, so if you want him, you better make a move fast. The longer you wait, the pricier he'll be.

Looking Over Their Shoulder:

Brian Meadows -- So Tyler Walker goes down for the season and all the usual suspects in Tampa Bay came out to audition for the closer's role once again. But it's the former Pirates/Royals/Padres/Marlins starter that came out on top and has 5 saves for the Rays since June 21st. He's looked pretty good so far and doesn't appear to have much competition just yet, but remember who he is. Ruddy Lugo just came off the DL and is a strong candidate to fill in if Meadows stumbles. Oh yeah....and there's always Shawn Camp.

Jorge Sosa -- He's listed here because, technically, he still has the job. But manager Bobby Cox is leaning towards the old "closer-by-committee" special. After blowing a 5 run lead the other day, Sosa remains on shaky ground. Kenny Ray could come back in the mix and then Macay McBride has been on a few sleeper lists as well. If you go after one, get ready to grab one of the other's at a moment's notice.

Ready to Pounce:

Arthur Rhodes -- The Phillies have come out and said that they are ready, willing and able to deal away current closer Tom Gordon. If that's the case, then either Rhodes or Rheal Cormier needs to step up and take over the role. My guess is Rhodes will get the first opportunity just based on previous experiences in Baltimore and Seattle. If he does step up then he will make for a nice little bargain for you. But if he does and you do get him, grab Cormier as an insurance policy.

Jeremy Accardo -- If you can guarantee me that the oft-injured Armando Benitez will stay healthy for the rest of the season, well then, I'll be quiet here. But this is Benitez we're talking about and usual backup Tim Worrell is on the DL and is stinking it up with a 7.52 ERA when he is healthy. Accardo filled in between Worrell's injury and Benitez' return and looked pretty good doing it. Just a name to keep in mind.

Joel Zumaya -- Another name to just keep in mind for now. I mean, c'mon...Todd Jones? Isn't he someone's grandpa? Sure he's got 24 saves, but he's also got a 5.50 ERA. With the Tigers playing as well as they are and playing as many close games, the wear and tear on Jones will start to show even more. Zumaya has an unbelievable arm, consistently can hit mid to high 90's on the gun (we've seen triple digits a few time as well), and has fantastic strikeout potential. Forget about his last outing...it was a fluke. Don't be surprised if they use him to spell Jones at times during the second half. Obviously, teammate Fernando Rodney could fall into the mix as well, but he's been going through a rough patch lately.

What's the Buzz? 7/15/06

Before I get started here, let me just make note of some things for some readers just joining us. The daily "What's the Buzz?" articles are designed specifically to give basic MLB info, with a few opinionated notes here and there. I realize that the news may be the same as you may find in MLB.com or Rotoworld, but that's what news is...information with minimal bias. That being said, I also realize that the articles and insights have not been as abundant as they should be and therefore changes will be made. "What's the Buzz?" will maintain it's news style, but with the help of some new writers, there will be plenty more articles and insights to help you in your quest for a fantasy championship. Thanks for your input, folks! Keep those comments coming.

And now for the news...

As expected, the Braves put pitcher John Thompson on the DL retroactive to July 10th. The team expects him to be out a little longer than the 15 days, so they should be bringing someone up early next week when they need a 5th starter.
The Diamondbacks officially put Craig Counsell on the disabled list with a fractured rib and brought up SS Stephen Drew from the minors. Manager Bob Melvin immediately announced that Drew would be his everyday guy and the hope, I'm sure, is that he does well enough to keep Counsell in a reserve role for the remainder of the season.
More problems in the Twins OF as Torii Hunter left the game early and was immediately taken to the hospital for x-rays on his foot. More lingering issues from the ankle he broke last year. There is no word on whether or not he's going on the DL but if he does, the team is in trouble. Lew Ford just went on the disabled list, Jason Kubel is still banged up, Shannon Stewart left tonight's game with an undisclosed injury, Rondell White sucks, and Erubiel Durazo isn't ready yet. Of course, all this worry could be for naught....Hunter may only need a few days of rest.
The Brewers put 3B Corey Koskie on the 15 day DL today, retro to July 6th, with post-concussion syndrome. Koskie ws still experiencing headaches with the occassional dizzy spell. The team will use Jeff Cirillo at third for the time being and hope that Koskie is ready to return by the end of the month. Just hope it's not the same as Mike Matheny, who is now rumored to be out for the season with the same condition. The team called up Tony Gwynn, Jr. to take his roster spot, but he's really only going to be used as a pinch runner, maybe a reserve outfielder at best.
The Yankees pulled Johnny Damon from the game today in the 6th inning, citing leg cramps. He's being called day to day, but at that point, the game was turning into a blowout anyway. The team may just be being over-cautious here. If he does sit on Sunday, Bubba Crosby should get the start.
Also for the Yankees, 2B Robinson Cano will likely start his rehab assignment early next week while Octavio Dotel started his today in Single-A ball putting them both on track for a return in two weeks. The hope is that Cano can come back a little sooner, but with all the injuries to the team, they don't want to rush anything. Both will be welcomed additions to the Bombers.
The Blue Jays are saying no again to Russ Adams. He just hasn't done anything to warrant staying up with the Jays right now, so the team is going with Aaron Hill at second and John McDonald at short. If Toronto hopes to make any kind of a push this season, they are going to need to trade for some infield help. Maybe they'll re-enter talks with the Angels once Adam Kennedy goes on the trading block.
More on the Blue Jays as pitcher Ty Taubenheim was placed on the DL with...guess what? A staph infection in his foot!! C'mon Toronto...Pine Sol? Mr. Clean? Formula 409? Who cares? Just clean it up already!
Rumors out of Los Angeles have Brett Tomko coming back soon, but as a reliever rather than a starter. This would definitely speed up his rehab pace, if they only needed him for no more than 2 innings, and it would also keep rookie Chad Billingsley in the rotation. Tomko's value wasn't that high to begin with, but if he finds success in the pen, he may be useful in leagues that use 'holds' as a category.
Looks like the Mets are really trying to re-kindle that 1986 magic as the team signed 2B Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract. Perhaps he wanted to retire with his original team, because I don't see him coming up and doing any better than Jose Valentin is right now.
And finally, the White Sox are listing Paul Konerko as day to day after he left today's game with a stomach virus. Seriously...what's this? How many case of food poisoning and stomach viruses have we seen here? Someone really needs to check the expiration dates on the tuna fish sandwiches left sitting in the clubhouses.

Catch you next time...

Who the Hell Are You and What Have You Done With Mark Buehrle???

27 years old this year....breakout time for most players right? Not if your name is Mark Buehrle. What's going on with this guy? Now I know that the AL Central has really picked up its game and the Tigers are no longer a punching bag for White Sox, but really.

Before this season, Buehrle's career numbers were 94-59 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The opposition was hitting .263 against him.

This year? How about 9-6 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP? How about the fact that opponents are hitting .286 against him these days? And this is all before his ridiculous 3 innings and 7 ER against the Yankees today, defensive lapses aside.

I'm almost at a loss here, but I can say that maybe it's time to see what kind of value you can get for him. If you look at the 3 year average of his split stats, you'll see that he is almost the same pitcher in the first half as he is in the second half (Pre: 20-17 3.85 vs Post: 26-15 3.61). Better you say? Maybe a little. But if you look at last year's splits alone you might think otherwise. Before the break in '05 he was 10-3 with a 2.58 and after he was a mediocre 6-5 with a 3.84 ERA. Is he on the downslide or can he turn it around?

Fantasy Impact -- The Ups and Downs

As we move into the second half of the season, teams are starting to make some major adjustments and trades to determine whether they are still in contention or not. With the exception of the Mets and the NL East, all of the divisions are fairly wide open. With that, and the non-waiver trade deadline approaching, teams are making moves all over the place; promoting young guys, getting hurt players back, and best of all, making crazy trades. So lets take a look at some of the guys you might be looking for to help your fantasy team...

Rising Values:

B.J. Upton -- Fantasy players have been waiting for his promotion to the majors for some time now and are licking their chops at the prospect of another big time stolen base guy. Unfortunately, he has as much trouble fielding a ground ball as I would have hitting a Johann Santana fastball. But the trade of Aubrey Huff and a move over to the hot corner may just be what the doctor ordered. He starts at third for the first itme this weekend in Triple-A and is looking at a possible August 1st promotion. If the move is successful and they bring him up to play everyday, he could be the boost in steals you've been craving.

Chris Denorfia -- After a successful spring, this youngster out of small Division III Wheaton College was hoping to make the Reds as a 4th outfielder. They sent him down to Triple-A though, opting for a guy like Quentin McCracken to come off the bench. He did have a small stint with the club in the first half, but despite his consistent hitting, found himself back in the minors. Well, with the trade of Austin Kearns, the kid is back. He provides more pop than a guy like Ryan Freel, so he should get a lot of regular playing time in the outfield. If you need help in the batting average department, Denorfia could be a huge help. If you look at his numbers, his average and OBP have climbed steadily since 2003.

Mike MacDougal -- A more established and well known player, MacDougal spent the whole first half of the season recovering from a torn shoulder muscle. He was penciled in as the Royals closer at the start and will now assume the role again upon his return. He may not get the number of opportunities you'd like, but if you're looking for some saves help, this looks like your guy.

Andy Marte -- Here's a guy that's been on a lot of people's radar for some time now. And now that he won the Triple-A Home Run Derby, he's been put front and center even more. He has been an on-base machine and has solid developing power as a corner infielder. The Indians are frustrated with Aaron Boone and are starting to give Ronnie Belliard some time at the hot corner. Expect an August 1st promotion and if you get him, a nice boost in your power numbers.

Stephen Drew -- Another guy people were high on in the pre-season, Drew is immediately being promoted by the Diamondbacks with Craig Counsell fracturing a rib yesterday. So far he's been hitting .284 in 342 AB with 13 HR and a .340 OBP in Triple-A and if you look at last year's numbers for him you'll see an even higher average and on-base percentage. He can definitely hit and has 20 HR potential for a full season.

Scott Baker -- I was big on Baker from the start of the year as all of the attention was on Francisco Liriano. He struggled a little going 2-5 with a 6.06 ERA, but he also had 41 K's in 49 innings and only issued 8 walks. He needed to adjust his control a little in the minors and definitely found success as he has gone 3-2 with a 2.92 and another 41 K's in another 49 innings. If the Twins really pitch him every 5 games and don't skip him in the rotation too much, he could be a great pick-up in AL only leagues.

Even Money:

Howie Kendrick -- The Angels brought up their second baseman of the future late this past week and if he gets the regular playing time he needs, he could be a big boost for your fantasy squad. The reason I list him here though is that so far, Adam Kennedy isn't going anywhere. There are trade rumors swirling about, but nothing concrete just yet. Kendrick is one of those guys to stash away though. If the Angels find themselves out of the playoff hunt, they will shop Kennedy to every contender they can. Only then will Kendrick's current value rise.

Milton Bradley -- On again, off again for the beleaguered outfielder. Bradley has struggled to entrench himself as a regular in Oakland's OF mostly due to hard luck injuries. Well, he's back and the team is looking to play him full time. Unfortunately, they do have somewhat capable outfielders in Bobby Kielty and Jay Payton that could push Bradley for at bats if he doesn't come back and immediately start hitting.

Erubiel Durazo -- His value doesn't change really, but the switch to Minnesota could be a blessing in disguise. The team is struggling with outfield injuries (Jason Kubel and Lew Ford), and their original DH, Rondell White is stuck in the minors and just looks awful. If Durazo can strat to hit, he could be a late season call up with a little bit of power.

Sidney Ponson -- Despite my loyalty to the Yankees, I don't think the Aruban Nightmare's value automatically increases once he dons the legendary pinstripes. He's struggled mightily the past few years, but he is definitely familiar with the AL East hitters. Unless he goes on some crazy hot streak, beware. On the upside, he really has nowhere to go but up.

Adam Loewen -- He had a rocky first go-around in the majors this year going 0-2 with a 7.12 ERA and 21 BB in 30+ innings. But he did show some flashes of brilliance in June just before his demotion and has been great in the minors since then with a 2-0 record with a 1.27 ERA, 21 K's and only 3 walks in 21.1 innings. Let him get his feet wet though. If he succumbs to the major league pressure again, he could hurt more than help.

Luis Matos -- He didn't have much value in the first half after losing his job to Corey Patterson while he played in the World Baseball Classic, and really doesn't have much now. But it could increase with the move to Washington if/when the Nationals deal away Alfonso Soriano and/or Jose Guillen. He will have to outplay Alex Escobar to win the playing time, but really...should that be too hard?

Going in the Tank:

Mark Prior -- On the DL yet again, this time with a strained oblique. You can hope all you want for a return to those 2003 numbers, but c'mon...this guy is just one health problem after another. Trade him to your league idiot who thinks that he'll be a monster next year.

Kerry Wood -- see above

Daniel Cabrera -- Shipped out to the minors finally, Cabrera needs to really work on his mechanics. A little bit of brilliance when he throws 10 K's is completely erased when he issues 10 walks in the same game. There's just no consistency here yet. He'll probably be back later on, but until he shows that he can keep his WHIP below 1.76 (really...it's that high) he is not going to help you out.

Todd Coffey/David Weathers -- I can lump them together here becasue the exact same thing has happened to them. Both attempted to close games for the Reds and both ultimately failed...miserably. With the addition of Eddie Guardado to close games and Bill Bray and Gary Majewski coming over from the Nationals, these guys just don't have the value...or even potential value...anymore.

Chad Billingsley -- It could have been a nice ride for the youngster, but his demotion is imminent. Brett Tomko is on his way back and Billingsley has struggled with his command since coming up (26 walks in 32.1 innings). He needs more time to hone his skills and will find himself doing just that in Triple-A again.

Dan Johnson -- Despite a mini-surge, the lumbering red-head is back in the minors with the activation of the aforementioned Bradley. Simple fact...he has been outhit by almost everyone else on the A's, and the club would rather go with the hot hitting Nick Swisher at first. Look for the kid to come back if/when Frank Thomas finds himself hurt again, but no sooner than that...atleast until maybe rosters expand.

Morgan Ensberg -- Oh how the mighty have fallen!! He goes from being on eof the hottest rising stars to being a Houston afterthought now. His shoulder problems have landed him on the DL and with the trade for Aubrey Huff, it doesn't look like he fits in anymore with the team. There's always the chance that he regains his form and they move Huff to the outfield, but really..is that what you were looking for when you drafted him?