What's the Buzz? 8/31/06

A little waiver trading going on today as yesterday's rumors about David Wells heading to San Diego became reality as the teams pulled the trigger. Wells goes from the Red Sox to the Padres for a player to be named later. A little odd if you ask me. San Diego's still in it...they're making a play for the division....and they get Wells? His health is suspect at best and who can forget that time in the World Series against the Marlins where he left in the first with a bad back? Maybe the Padres see something I don't. We'll see come the end of September.
Also on the trade front, the Nationals got involved with a pair of deals as they sent IF/OF Marlon Anderson to the Dodgers for minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez and they sent OF Daryle Ward to the Braves in exchange for minor league righty Luis Atilano. The Dodgers get a little bench help, although I see Anderson getting very little playing time and the Braves get a power bat for their bench as Ward will find a home as a pinch hitter. The Nationals get a couple of guys who may or may not ever see time in the bigs. Nunez has looked pretty good in short season Single-A ball, but you can't really tell until he goes full season against better players. Atilano is just coming off of Tommy John surgery, so who know's with that one. I cannot recommend picking any of these guys up at any point in time.
In another deal, Phil Nevin moves to his third team of the season as the Twins picked him up from the Cubs for a player to be named later. A much better situation for Nevin here as he has the chance to be the primary DH for a team that is pushing for the playoffs. Really...who is he competing with for the job? Rondell White? Jason Kubel? I like Nevin for the month of September if they leave him in the lineup.
Had enough? Well how about the Red Sox acquiring pitcher Kevin Jarvis from the Diamondbacks for a player to be named. O.K., you can stop laughing now. Who knows if this is for Boston or for Pawtucket, but if it is for the big club, stay away.

In other news...

Besides dealing for Boomer, the Padres did a little bench tweaking as they sent down righty Mike Thompson and brought back OF Termell Sledge to give themselves an additional hitter over the extra reliever for the time being. Sledge should sit on the bench most of the time and give us maybe a bi-weekly plate appearance.
Giants 2B Ray Durham is day to day with a strained lower back. He'll probably miss Friday's game, and we'll see how he's feeling after that. He's having a great year hitting .295 with 20 HR and 80 RBI.
Congratulations to Astros closer Brad Lidge for recording his 100th career save tonight. Hell, congratulations for still getting the opportunity to close out games there Brad.
Hey, remember when I told you two days ago that Ryan Howard tied Mike Schmidt's HR record for the Phillies with his 48th HR? Um..yeah he broke it today. 49 for the season so far. Big surprise, I'm sure. The league leader in home runs and RBI is now in the middle of a 9 game hitting streak which has pushed his average back up to .299. I wish I owned him in a keeper league.
And that's all she wrote for Mark Mulder folks. The Cardinals put him on the DL today with a left shoulder injury and should bring back Anthony Reyes to take his rotation spot. I don't know about you, but for the Cards sake, let's hope this is a permanent move.
A little good news as David Ortiz was released from the hospital today. There's no word on if/when he will return this year, but atleast he's well enough to be out of Massachusetts General.
Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera underwent a precautionary MRI today on his elbow which revealed a minor muscle strain but no structural damage. He'll pitch through it, so don't worry about him missing any time. Maybe he doesn't pitch on back to back days at the worst, until he feels better. Oh...and he picked up his 33rd save today.
Ladies and gentlemen...The Delmon Young Experience!!! 4 for 5 today? Oh baby!!!
And finally, the Twins are bringing back Scott Baker to join their ailing rotation this weekend. Perfect timing as he'll get the Yankees for his first time back. With the possibility of Brad Radke being done for the season, Baker could be a candidate to stay in the rotation until the end of the season. He's had a rough year thsi year in the majors, but you should remember that he did make the rotation out of spring training and he does have great strikeout potential. I'm going to call him my September Sleeper. We'll see where he ends up...

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 8/30/06

Sorry to start here on a solemn note, but I just want to send some good thoughts towards Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester who is back in Boston undergoing tests for various medical issues, including cancer. According to an article in the Boston Herald, Lester has been diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes which can be a symptom for many things, cancer being one of them. I'm sure reports will come out over the next few days, so all I'm gonna do is hope for the best. He's a promising young pitcher and I look forward to heckling him at Yankees games in the near future.

And now for the rest of the news...

Some more Red Sox news...well actually a rumor...as reports have the Sox close to a deal with the Padres that would send David Wells over to San Diego in exchange for prospect George Kottaras. It would be a nice deal for Boston as Kottaras is considered a top prospect, and it's not like Wells is carrying them anywhere this season.
A bittersweet day for Curt Schilling as he records his 3,000th career strikeout in a losing effort against the A's today. He struck out Nick Swisher in the first inning to reach the milestone that only 14 others have attained.
Congratulations to Marlins 2B Dan Uggla who, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is only the 4th player in history to reach the 20 HR-75 RBI plateau in his debut season. He joins Albert Pujols, Orlando Cepeda and Frank Robinson for the distinction. It's just gets better and better. I love hyping this guy still.
The White Sox finally got Jim Thome back into the lineup. He went 2 for 4 with an RBI tonight in a new look batting order that kept Jermaine Dye hitting third, Thome at cleanup and bumped Paul Konerko down to fifth. We may not get a consistent look at the new lineup though as Thome apparently aggravated the hamstring again. He's back to day to day, but probably won't miss more than just Thursday's game...unless it turns out to be more serious. Bench him for tomorrow but check back for reports for the weekend.
So far so good for Delmon Young. Backing up all that talk with another solid performance tonight going 2 for 3 with a sac fly. He's got 4 RBI in his first two games and should continue to produce throughout the rest of the season.
After getting hit on the forearm with a pitch, Marlins 3B Miguel Cabrera left the game and is being called day to day. I'm sure precautionary x-rays but no results were released. I don't think it's anything serious, but I'm no doctor. We'll keep you updated.
Twins 2B Luis Castillo is being called day to day after he left today's game with a sprained ankle. It looks like he'll just need a few days off, so the team will just patch up the infield over the next few games with Nick Punto, Terry Tiffee and Luis Rodriguez. Castillo should be benched in daily leagues, but should be fine for the next scoring period in leagues with weekly roster moves.
Also for the Twins, it looks like starter Brad Radke will miss his next start due to his ongoing shoulder problems. He got a cortisone shot this past weekend, and will probably rest for a few days before he tries to pitch again. There is also a possibility that he may not even come back this season, but let's wait a few days before throwing that out there again. If you have him, you should be benching him immediately. They'll call up Scott Baker to start on Saturday and if he does well, he could remain in the rotation until the end of the year.
Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth is, once again, day to day with a sore back. It's been a chronic problem for him all year, so don't expect anything more to come out of it. He may sit out a few more opportunities, but it's nothing to freak out about...atleast not until the playoffs.
Also for the Yankees, one of the first things told to Carl Pavano by the New York doctors was that he couldn't even resume throwing for atleast 2 weeks. He will not return to the team this season.
While it has absolutley zero fantasy impact this year, it's still news. So I'll tell you the Mets traded minor league OF Victor Diaz to the Texas Rangers for minor league catcher Michael Nickeas. Possible meaning for next season, but not enough to get into.
Apparently Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder is now contemplating season ending shoulder surgery as his return to the rotation has been nothing short of disastrous. Decisions will be made in the next few days, but this has to be a good sign for Anthony Reyes' owners. He should be recalled soon to replace the ailing Mulder in the rotation.
Also for the Cardinals, it has become more likely that Jim Edmonds may not return this season as he is still battling the effects of post-concussion syndrome. After he got hurt he sat out for 10 days and then tried to get back into the lineup. It was obvious that it was too soon as he looked lost at the plate and now his status is unclear. He should be benched in all leagues until further notice.
Reds closer Eddie Guardado is hoping for a Monday return from the disabled list. He'll throw again on Friday and see how it feels then. If all goes well he could be back in the mix for saves next week.
A little waiver move for the Orioles as they picked up catcher Danny Ardoin from the Rockies today. Someone in the organization has psychic powers as Ramon Hernandez becomes day to day after straining a rib cage muscle in tonight's game. It isn't likely that Ardoin will have any value whatsoever. Chris Widger remains the primary backup.
And finally, is Jason Marquis not the worst 14 game winner you've seen? His victory tonight was five innings of 7 hits, 3 walks, 5 earned runs and a pair...yes 2...strikeouts. His ERA is currently sitting at 5.89 and batters have been hitting somewhere around .310 against him since the All Star Break. And yet he continues to win. Now that's a sunburnt dog's ass!!

Catch you next time...

Picking Up and Dropping Off

Picking Up:

1. Delmon Young, OF TB: Finally called up to the big club and immediately inserted into right field. Debuted with a 2 for 3 performance with a 2 run shot. Should remain in the starting lineup for the rest of the season...atleast until he bad-mouths the organization again.

2. Kaz Matsui, 2B/SS COL: Recently called up to aid an infield that uses a mediocre jamey Carroll and a once again slumping Clint Barmes. He seems to be playing like a man out to prove something and manager Clint Hurdle is going to give him every opportunity to do so. Solid stolen base threat.

3. David Ross, C CIN: Has steadily hit his way into the primary catching job for the Reds. Incumbent Jason LaRue will only backstop for Aaron Harang while Javier Valentin gets relegated to pinch hittin gduties.

4. Marco Scutaro, SS OAK: His numbers won't dezzle, but once again Bobby Crosby sits on the disabled list. He'll get the occassional day off, but manager Ken Macha loves his work ethic and effort. If you need someone who plays regularly, he could be a nice stopgap.

5. Florida Marlins pitching: Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco, and Josh Johnson? The team went from having one of the most coveted staffs in the fantasy world to the least desirable, right back to coveted again. Maybe dismantling a team after a World Series isn't such a bad idea after all. This team is loaded with prospects.

Also on the rise: Kyle Davies, Mark Teahen, Geoff Jenkins

Dropping Off:

1. Casey Blake, 1B/OF CLE: Returned to the team after a lengthy DL stint only to find another youth movement for the Tribe. Ryan Garko has looked solid at first and the team is happy with the performance of Shin Soo Choo in the outfield. Looks like Blake will platoon from here on in.

2. Ryan Theriot, 2B CHC: Never had eye-popping stats, but he was set as the Cubs everday second baseman. The activation of Freddie Bynum has caused a bit of a logjam and rather than crowd up the outfield again, they're givin ghim at bats at second. Looks like a platoon here for the rest of the season.

3. The Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Wily Mo Pena all sent back to Beantown for medical examinations. There's no timetable for any of their returns and the team is gradually sliding out of contention. Ever see one of those old WWII movies where the fighter jet is plummetting to the ground in a fiery tailspin?

4. David Dellucci, OF PHI: The trade of Bobby Abreu opened the door for him to play regularly and was incredibly hot starting off the second half. A minor quad injury, a slight cold spell and the new acquisition of Jeff Conine puts him back into a platoon.

5. Justin Verlander, SP DET: Has never pitched this many innings in his career and it's starting to show as he finished out the month of August with a 6.83 ERA. Opposing batter spent the month hitting .359 against him and he's showing signs of wearing down. He slumped like this in June just before the All Star Break, so the outlook isn't good for him to fully pull himself out of this. Rookie stamina is not something you can rely on.

Also on the decline: Jason LaRue, Jonny Gomes, Jim Edmonds

What's the Buzz? 8/29/06

You know...I didn't get a chance to watch him play, but how about that debut for Delmon Young tonight? Tampa Bay's top prospect for, what...3 years now finally gets the call up and doesn't disappoint those that had faith and held onto him. In case you missed it, while hitting in the 8 hole, he went 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored against the White Sox. He started in right field and looks to be a solid play for both you and the Devil Rays. If you can, pick him up. I know he's available in some leagues. Hell, I picked him up early this morning in one of mine. He goes right into the starting lineup.

And now for the rest of the news...

Nothing makes me happier than the chance I get to report that the longest homer hit at the new Busch Stadium was a 449 ft. bomb by none other than Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla. The rookie is now hitting .296 with 21 HR and 79 RBI. Oh yeah...chuck in a half dozen steals too. I love having him on my teams and I hope some of you took my advice and picked him up in the later (probably the last) rounds of your draft this season. Smells like Rookie of the Year to me!!!
How sad is it that Barry Bonds' first multi-homer game in two years (to the day) is news? Big 19 HR on the year. I think I actually forgot he was still playing.
If you're looking for pitching help, the Braves are activating Kyle Davies in time to pitch one of the games of the Saturday double header against the Phillies. Not the best of matchups, but he's looked great in his rehab starts and has some real solid strikeout potential. He might be worth a look.
For those of you waiting patiently for Tom Gordon to return, it looks like Friday or Saturday. He threw well in a 30 pitch session today and reported no pain. He'll make a rehab start on Thursday, and if all goes well we will see him this weekend.
Pirates SS Jack Wilson will remain sidelined atleast until the end of this week, according to manager Jim Tracy. Wilson has been out with an inner ear infection since last Thursday. Keep him reserved until he shows he is at full strength. He's been relatively mediocre when healthy; can you imagine how ugly it would be with him hurt?
Someone get me some condiments!!! I have a little hat eating to do from when I said Aramis Ramirez was going to struggle without Derrek Lee in the lineup. He's hitting .341 since the All Star Break and just looks like a beast up at the plate. He reached base 6 times tonight! 6 times.
The White Sox are expecting Jim Thome to return to the lineup on Wednesday, so get him in if you can. He was actually slated to play tonight but with the wet field, manager Ozzie Guillen didn't want to take any chances.
Just how many records is Ryan Howard going to break this year? With his 48th HR of the season tonight, he tied the all time mark in Phillies history set by Mike Schmidt in 1980. Tonight's shot also breaks the record for most home runs in a month for the Phillies. It was his 13th of August which breaks the previous record, 12, also held by Mike Schmidt. Albert who? Who's Papi? Keeper leaguers who own him...rejoice!!!!!
Speaking of Papi actually, David Ortiz returned to Boston today and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for tests to determine the cause of his irregular heartbeat. We probably won't know anything for a few days but our thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery.
Also sent back to Boston were outfielders Manny Ramirez (knee) and Wily Mo Pena (wrist). Both will have test run as well. With the Red Sox falling 7 1/2 games behind the Yankees and further down in the wild card race, they might not even bother rushing any of these guys back. Could they actually be thinking about giving up? This is potentially huge in the fantasy world. Losing either Ramirez or Ortiz at this point in the season could be seriously damaging to a team trying to climb up the standings or maintain at the top. Let's hope it's not you.
Another strong outing for Matt Garza tonight. He didn't get the win, but he only allowed 2 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings while striking out a career high seven batters. He's looked better and better with each start and should be a fine play for the rest of the season.
Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson is being called day to day after crashing into the wall tonight chasing down a fly ball. It looked a lot worse than it is, but he should only be out for a few games. Recently activated David Newhan will grab some extra at bats in the meantime.
Career highs all around as Indinas DH Travis Hafner hit his 40th HR tonight; the most he's ever hit in a season. With 40 HR and 114 RBI, Hafner continues to be one of the more dominant hitters around.
And finally,the Carl Pavano saga continues as he was scratched by the team from his next scheduled rehab start. Instead, the team is sending him to New York to visit with team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon for a full run of tests. For those who don't know, when it was discovered he had 2 broken ribs the other day, Pavano revealed that he had been in a car accident about a month prior. He did not alert the team to his accident or his injuries. Hmmm. Sounds like a little self-sabotage to me. Maybe Pavano just doesn't want to pitch anymore. His time spent in New York hasn't been good at all and he's constantly dogged by people for his perpetually nagging injuries. Maybe his spirit has been broken. Whatever the outcome, don't expect much out of him at all this year.

Catch you next time...

Morning Buzz Update

Just a couple of quick notes from last night, as I took and early leave...

Reports out of Boston say that David Ortiz was not out of the lineup last night due to a stomach virus, but due to a recurrence of the irregular heartbeat from which he suffered last week. He is headed back to Boston and will undergo tests to see what is going on. Fantasy owners of Ortiz should bench him immediately if you make daily roster moves. I don't even want to speculate, so let's just say he's out until further notice.

Congratulations to Felix Hernandez for tossing his first career shutout last night against the Angels. His strikeouts were low, only four, but it was a great performance in what has been a sea of mediocrity for the ultra-hyped pitcher. He was supposed to be a lights out guy who was the next big thing, but sits right now with a sub-.500 record (11-12) and a 4.54 ERA. Probably not worth what you paid for him on draft day.

What's the Buzz? 8/28/06

Well, what's good news for some is bad news for others. The bad news is that after a second opinion, Tampa Bay OF/DH Jonny Gomes will be put on the DL on Tuesday and have season ending shoulder surgery. The good news? No, it's not that he won't drain your batting average. It's the fact that the D-Rays are finally bringing up Delmon Young to take his spot on the roster. Young should probably see regular playing time for the rest of the season, so it would be wise to try and pick him up immediately.

In other news...

If we want to talk "sinking ships", how about the Boston Red Sox. Manager Terry Francona said that David Ortiz was being scratched today due to a stomach virus and that Manny Ramirez might not even play in the 3 game series vs. the A's. Ortiz should be fine in a day or so, but the Manny thing is getting a little troubling. Bench him in daily leagues and wait to see what happens. There is now a chance that he could find his way onto the DL.
And to add insult to injury, how about more injury woes for the Sox as rookie starter Jon Lester has been put on the DL with a sore back. It was bad enough to scratch him from last night's start and it was bad enough to put him on the DL. Unless the Sox can gain ground in either the divisional or wild card race, it's probably bad enough to shut him down for the year. The team brought up 1B Carlos Pena to take his roster spot and he should fill in while Kevin Youkilis is still hurting. Just don't expect results that are going to be a difference-maker.
The word on Carl Pavano is that it's not an oblique strain, but it's two broken ribs he apparently suffered in a car accident earlier in the month. They say he's still scheduled to make a start in Triple-A this week, and I guess if he's done so thus far, there's not much more you can do for the ribs. He still may come up in September, but really...is he going to even be worth your time?
Hmmm. 30 dingers for Brewers SS Bill Hall. Anyone see that one coming? I didn't.
Marlins rookie SS Hanley Ramirez is getting a day off today and is listed as day to day with a bruised finger. He probably won't miss much more than a game or two, so you shouldn't be too concerned. Ramirez has given his owners so much this season that they can afford to allow him a game off here or there.
Once again the Blue Jays are playing musical infielders as they sent down Ryan Roberts to bring up Russ Adams for a third try. Adams will serve as the backup to Aaron Hill, so don't expect him to have any significant fantasy value. Like you ever did...
Some pitching problems for the Pirates as they lost their closer and a starter to the DL today. Both closer Mike Gonzalez and rookie call up Tom Gorzelanny are down with elbow tendenitis and it looks like Gorzelanny will be shut down for the remainder of the season. Gonzalez could be back when his 15 days are up. In the meantime, Jim Tracy will probably play the matchups with the bulk of the load going to Matt Capps. You might see John Grabow get a save here or there depending on whether or not the lineup they are playing is stocked with lefties, but Capps looks like the guy you should pick up.
And finally, if you're looking for some help behind the dish, you might want to check on the availability of Reds backstop David Ross. Word out of Cincinnati is that he will be the primary catcher for the remainder of the season while Jason LaRue will only catch for Aaron Harang. It looks like Javier Valentin has been relegated to pinch hitting duties from here on in.

A pair of late games still going so if there's any breaking news, I'll hit you with it first thing Tuesday morning!

Catch you next time...

Power Performers

Sorry for the delay today...technical difficulties and all. So let's just get right into it...

AL Hitters

1. Jermaine Dye, OF CHW: .393-8-5-10-0 And people were worried, myself included, that he was doomed to have a bad second half. Pffffft!!!!! He continues to mash the ball and has maintained his place in the AL MVP consideration.

2. Torii Hunter, OF MIN: .320-5-4-6-0 The surging Twins continue to battle for the AL wild card. If Hunter continues to play like this, not only would they be able to topple the White Sox, but they are scarily coming close to the slumping Tigers these days.

3. Nick Markakis, OF BAL: .435-6-4-6-0 He was quietly hitting for average at the start of the week, and then exploded with power towards the end, including a 3 HR performance in one night. He'll continue to play regularly with Jeff Conine out of the picture and can hopefully continue with this momentum.

4. Adrian Beltre, 3B SEA: .308-5-3-4-0 I don't know what my "left coast commentator" would do if I left him off this week. Beltre is having a fantastic August as he continues to produce here in the second half. The only question is whether or not he can keep his play up to these levels throughout September. He hasn't in the past, so we'll wait and see.

5. Mark Teahen, 3B KC: .423-6-2-5-3 Funny, isn't it? That Teahen finds himself here with Beltre after the comparison made by my colleague a few days ago? The Royals youngster has also been on a great second half surge and he's doing it all right now with a great mix of power and speed. My aforementioned friend is having a field day here.

Honorable Mention: Joe Crede, Johnny Damon, Jason Kendall

AL Pitchers

1. Kenny Rogers, SP DET: 2 Wins-5 K-0.64 ERA-1.17 WHIP The Tigers have been slumping lately, but leave it up to the veteran to help right the ship. The Gambler, who usually doesn't fare too well in the second half, is providing stability and veteran leadership to this staff.

2. Josh Beckett, SP BOS: 1 Win-3 K-1.50 ERA-1.00 WHIP Had the best outing the Sox have seen in some time from their rotation and was the only bright spot in a stretch where the team has lost 11 of the last 14 games. The alleged blister is being called a cut, so the team expects him to make his next start. If he can perform the way he should, Boston may just be able to climb back into the playoff race.

3. Justin Duchscherer, RP OAK: 2 Saves-3 K-0.00 ERA-0.00WHIP Doing a fantastic job filling in for the injured Huston Street. And when Street returns, Duchscherer will just go back to being one of the top set-up men in the AL anyway.

4. Tom Mastny, RP CLE: 2 Saves-4 K-0.00 ERA-1.00 WHIP While the Tribe is auditioning new closers since the Bob Wickman trade, dark horse Mastny has pitched his way into the role. Manager Eric Wedge gave a ringing endorsement, and barring any Carmonian like meltdown, he should remain there for the season.

5. Seth McClung, RP TB: 2 Saves-3 K-3.00 ERA-3.00 WHIP Another favorite of the West Coast RotoBuzz following. If you take away yesterday's disaster, he's been as solid a closer as you can find. The organization has wanted him in this role for a little while, so don't expect them to move him out unless yesterday becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Honorable Mention: Danny Haren, Vicente Padilla, Cha Seung Baek

NL Hitters

1. Carlos Delgado, 1B NYM: .389-6-4-11-0 Is someone a little excited that his best friend is on the same team now? Not that he wasn't performing well before, but since the arrival of Shawn Gree, the veteran first baseman is on a tear. It should only get better as the team is now firing on all cylinders.

2. Miguel Cabrera, 3B FLA: .409-8-3-9-0 A fantastic second half for the longest tenured Marlin position player. While he's not matching his usual power numbers, he remains one of the top choices in fantasy baseball for third basemen. Look for him to play like this through the end of the season.

3. Jose Reyes, SS NYM: .375-7-1-5-4 Has established himself as one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game today. He continues to run the bases like a madman and the power displays this year have been a huge bonus.

4. Alfonso Soriano, OF WAS: .346-4-1-2-4 Like the annoying little pink Energizer bunny, he just keeps going and going and going. A relatively quiet week for power easily made up with the action on the basepaths. Most definitely re-established as a first rounder again.

5. Willy Taveras, OF HOU: .400-5-0-0-4 C'mon! You didn;t think I was going to leave off a guy in the midst of a 30 game hitting streak did you? There's really no power to be had, but he's hitting for a tremendous average and his 28 steals on the year are outstanding...especially when you consider the lack of playing time he received earlier in the year.

Honorable Mention: Gary Bennett, Brad Hawpe, Omar Vizquel

NL Pitchers

1. Noah Lowry, SP SF: 2 Wins-9 K-0.53 ERA-0.706 WHIP Picking a great time to get hot as the Giants are starting to pull themselves out from the sub-.500 ditch they are currently in. What's even better is that they're just 3 1/2 games out of first in the ridiculously weak NL West.

2. Matt Cain, SP SF: 1 Win-16 K-0.64 ERA-1.00 WHIP See above for the big picture for the team. If the Giants do contend, Cain should prove to be a very valuable asset down the stretch and complements the like of Lowry and Jason Schmidt. Him and Schmidt? Talk about some strikeouts!!

3. John Smoltz, SP ATL: 2 Wins-17 K-0.56 ERA-0.438 WHIP I know the bullpen is in trouble but how could you think about taking this out of your starting rotation. The veteran continues to dazzle down the stretch. Just a shame he won't make it to the postseason for the first time in who knows how many years.

4. Mike Gonzalez, RP PIT: 3 Saves-6 K-0.00 ERA-0.00 WHIP Just lights out in all three appearances this past week. It's a shame he overdid it on three straight days and currently finds himself on the DL with elbow tendenitis. He should be back closing out games again by mid-September.

5. Trevor Hoffman, RP SD: 3 Saves-2 K-0.00 ERA-1.29 WHIP One of the game's best out there. He will continue to be an integral part of the Padres this year as they too, find themselves in the heat of a race -- only 2 games out of first in the NL West.

Honorable Mention: Chris Capuano, Joe Borowski, Andy Pettitte

What's the Buzz? 8/27/06

A little waiver trading today as the Phillies acquired OF Jeff Conine and some cash to cover his contract from the Orioles in exchange for the infamous player to be named later. It's probably better for Conine's value as he'll move from a seriously crowded Orioles team to being the sole platoon partner for David Dellucci. Sucks for those that picked up Dellucci, but that's the way it goes for a guy who's a perpetual 4th outfielder. He had been doing real well after the Break, but has since cooled down and is still nursing a sore quad. On just a baseball note, it's just good to see the Phillies making some moves to show that they're still fighting this year even after trading off Bobby Abreu.

On to the news...

I have to start it out today with congrats to Astros OF Willy Taveras who extended his hitting streak to 30 games today. He went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and stole another 2 bases today to give himself 28 on the season. This has been a crazy second half for Taveras and you should be riding this wave for a while. No he won't break the record, but his fantasy owners are going to be reaping the benefits while he tries.
So here go...Derrek Lee take two!! Reports are confirmed that the Cubs will activate the first baseman in time for Monday's game against the Pirates. Sure you won't get the same hitter we saw last year, but he should be a huge help for the final month of the season. It looks like Phil Nevin and John Mabry will start seeing less at bats now.
Also for the Cubs, it looks like Ryan Theriot has got himself a platoon partner. Recently activated Freddie Bynum, who was getting at bats earlier this season in the outfield, is now getting time at second base. The two will probably share the time equally until one of them outshines the other.
Congratulations to A's starter Danny Haren who struck out a career high 12 batters in 7 innings tonight. Unfortunately he also gave up 3 runs to take the loss. Haren remains a solid option for your team the rest of the way. He's always had good strikeout potential, so let's hope he rolls with this momentum for his next start.
Apparently Dodgers starter Derek Lowe is saying that his bruised thumb from last night is fine and he and the team expect him to make his next start this week. He should be fine to keep active.
Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez is suffering from a tired arm -- a direct result of throwing three staright days this past week. He'll probably get another day or two off, but should be fine by the middle of this week.
Another ailing closer is Cardinals Jason Isringhausen. He is experiencing some shoulder stiffness, but just like Gonzalez, should be ok for the rest of the week after a day or two off.
Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli is day to day with cramps in his hamstring. It's the same one that put him on the DL for most of the first half so keep a close watch here.
Since I'm just doling out the congratulations tonight, let's hit Miguel Cabrera here. The Marlins third baseman broke a club record tonight with his 31st RBI here in August. He breaks the record of 30 that was held by both Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou. So far in August, Cabrera is hitting .400 with 6 HR and 15 runs to go along with his ever increasing RBI total.
The Red Sox are still without Manny Ramirez who sat again tonight due to his knee problems. He's still being called day to day, but I wonder what's really going on with him. Does the team think he's not hurt? Check out the tirade manager Terry Francona went on in this Boston Herald article.
Also for the Sox, catcher Doug Mirabelli is still out with an ankle injury. He's day to day and Javy Lopez is getting some work behind the plate more and more, but it should be all for naught as the team expects Jason Varitek to return very soon.
If you were waiting for Yankees starter Carl Pavano to come back this week you are sorely mistaken. An oblique strain is the latest setback, so he will probably be a little longer still.
And finally, the Rockies infield is getting a little crowded as manager Clint Hurdle is trying to get Kaz Matsui plenty of playing time. Clint Barmes took a seat again as Matsui played short, but expect to see Jamey Carroll be the guy to lose the most time. Matsui will probably play mostly at second for the remainder of the season. An interesting pickup if you need the help. Sure he stunk with the Mets, but this is Colorado baby!!! How could it be bad?

Sorry if I missed anything...feel free to add in the comment s area. It was a long and grueling football draft and visions of wideouts are still dancing through my head.

Catch you next time...

September Vets Who Can Help

Last week, in my column on Addict Fantasy Sports, I warned you off of trusting the September call ups to help you towards the end.

But that doesn't mean there aren't still guys out there who can help you in the final month of the season.

Check out this week's column, "September Vets" for a quick analysis of which veteran players can help and which you should avoid.

Good luck down the stretch!!!

What's the Buzz? 8/26/06

My apologies to all the baseball heads out there, but I have to prepare for my fantasy football draft which is on Sunday, so let's just get right to it...

The Padres are calling infielder Geoff Blum day to day after he was scratched from tonight's game due to tightness in his upper body. He had been getting regular playing time ever since SS Khalil Greene went on the DL and had been contributing with 7 RBI in the past 5 games. He was replaced by Manny Alexander and may not even miss another game, so if you have a hole to fill, he should still get the playing time.
Well, it's official in Cleveland...again. Today manager Eric Wedge announce that Tom Mastny is the official closer for the Indians. He came out today and pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save. Rafael Betancourt and Jason Davis will remain as set up men with maybe the occasional chance if Mastny pitches a few days in a row. Former closer Fausto Carmona has been sent back down to the minors. For now, it looks like Mastny should have decent value in AL only and deep mixed leagues.
Also for the Indians, it appears that rookie Jeremy Sowers will be shut down for the remainder of the season. He has already thrown over 165 innings, more than he has ever thrown, and with the Tribe out of contention, they don't want to overwork him now. He should be on a lot of peoples' radar for next season. Carmona, the former closer, is working as a starter in the minors and should be recalled in September to take Sowers' rotation spot.
And speaking of closing situations, it appears that Brad Lidge is back...again. After being told he was officially in a committee, Lidge has gone 4 scoreless innings with 8 K's while allowing only one hit and no walks. He was given the save chance tonight, excelled and will probably be given the next few save opps as well. Obviously you need to take this with a grain of salt. I'm sure Phil Garner has him on a pretty short leash. Look for Lidge to get the majority of work down the stretch, but if he struggles again (a very good chance), Dan Wheeler will be right there to pick up the pieces.
Tigers rookie Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander continues to show signs of wear and tear as he was pounded for 8 runs in 4 2/3 innings. He started off strong but then struggled in the month of June with a 4.17 ERA. After some time off during the All Star Break he rebounded with a 1.01 ERA in 4 July starts, but has now posted a 5.09 ERA in August. Simple fact: He hasn't thrown this many innings, this many pitches in a season ever in his career. If the Tigers are smart, they will rest him some in September and get him ready for the playoffs. Be careful if you own him. He is definitely breaking down.
Giants starter Noah Lowry is once again showing that he's the guy you want to trade for going into the month of August. After today's victory over the Reds, he's allowed on erun in 17 innings this past week and now has an ERA of 1.91 in 5 starts this month. Last year in August he went 5-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Mental note for 2007.
Moises Alou will continue to remain sidelined, probably until atleast Tuesday. The Giants' outfielder still hasn't recovered from his latest injury, a calf problem, and should remain day to day for the rest of the season.
Also banged up for the Giants is "closer" Armando Benitez. While it had been announced earlier that the closer situation would go to a committee, the team said that the only reason he didn't get the save opp tonight was due to elbow inflammation and a head cold. I'm sure it had everything to do with the fact he got blown out of the water on Tuesday and then completely over did it on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. Mike Stanton got another save in Benitez' absence.
Congratulations to Mets OF Carlos Beltran who hit his 200th career home run tonight. It was his 38th of the season which ties his career high. Throw in 108 RBI (tying another career high)and, unlike last year, he has been well worth the price the Mets paid for him in free agency. He should finish the season pretty strongly and remains a must start in all leagues.
Another positive for the Mets was the performance from Oliver Perez tonight. Atleast encouraging. Before unraveling in the 5th inning, where the capper was a Ryan Howard grand slam, he threw 4 no hit hittings to start the game. He'll need to grab a few more chances before you can even think about picking him up, but I'd say that wasn't too bad for a throw-in in the Xavier Nady/Roberto Hernandez deal.
We're still waiting on confirmation from manager Terry Francona, but Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said that he was going to be able to make his next start. He says the blister...I mean....cut....on his finger won't hold him back. Management should make the decision and announcement by the time the next scoring period begins.
After pitching through injuries, Padres reliever Scott Williamson ended up on the DL today with a right elbow strain. It's the same problem he suffered from in June with the Cubs and it is uncertain whether he will return this season or not.
If you're waiting for Eddie Guardado to come back from his latest DL stint, you may have to wait a little longer than expected. He was still experiencing soreness in his forearm after a throwing session and the club may wait for a little while longer until he is closer to 100%.
With today's 2 run shot, Chipper Jones moved to third on the all time homer list for switch hitters with his 351st. He passed Chili Davis and now sits behind only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray who have 534 and 504 respectively.
Putting another injury blemish on a decent season for himself, Nick Johnson left today's game with whiplash after a collision with Braves OF Jeff Francoeur. He is listed as day to day and will probably miss Sundays' game at the least.
After jumping back into the lineup yesterday and striking out all 5 times he was up, Jim Edmonds was back on the bench again today. He came in as a pinch hitter and struck out, yet again. The road to recovery from a concussion seems to be long and bumpy these days. He'll probably stay on the bench Sunday when the Cubs throw another lefty at the Cards.
Dodgers starter Derek Lowe is being called day to day after he left today's game with a bruised thumb he suffered when he was hit with a line drive. The x-rays were negative but he will be re-evaluated in a few days to see if he can make his next start. If not, Aaron Sele will probably take his place.
And finally, good news for Stephen Drew owners. Arizona manager Bob Melvin says that he will use returning veteran Craig Counsell as a utility player rather than removing Drew from the starting shortstop position. Counsell should still eat into some of Drew's at bats, but atleast he's not moving him to the bench. Drew remains a viable middle infield option in NL only leagues.

By the way, some real nice pitching duels today between Roy Halladay and Runelvys Hernandez in Toronto and Chris Carpenter and Rich Hill in St. Louis. Halladay and Carpenter are always solid options. Hernandez and Hill? Well, the sun shines on a dog's ass atleast once.

And speaking of the sun shining on a dog's ass...yes, I saw Adrian Beltre hit another home run today. We'll wait and see what he does once September officially starts. Ride him now while you still can.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 8/25/06

We'll start it off with congratulations to Alfonso Soriano who became the fastest player ever to reach 200 HR and 200 SB. He did it in his 929th game which beat the previous holder, Eric Davis who did it in 1,053 games. And people were worried about Soriano hitting in that ball park. He remains one of the league's top hitters and as always, remains a fantasy stud.

There are quite a few players on the mend who could impact your team when they return over the next couple of weeks. Here's a look at some of them:

Craig Counsell, SS ARI: expected to return August 26
Derrek Lee, 1B CHC: sometime early next week
Tom Glavine, SP NYM: scheduled to start next Friday's game
Cliff Floyd, OF NYM: by the end of next week
Tom Gordon, RP PHI: Sept. 1
Jason Varitek, C BOS: possibly a week away...more likely 10 days minimum
Casey Blake, 1B/OF CLE: activated from DL today
Kyle Davies, SP ATL: looks like a week and a half away
Carl Pavano, SP NYY: a week maybe...probably more like two


There's also a few day to day guys that you'll need to watch if you're in a league that allows daily roster moves:

Orlando Cabrera, SS ANA: split nail -- possibly out for a game or two
Jack Wilson, SS PIT: viral syndrome -- possibly out for a game or two
Manny Ramirez, OF BOS: knee -- could be back by the end of the weekend
Kevin Youkilis, 1B BOS: stomach virus -- out maybe a game or two
Jim Thome, DH CHW: hamstring -- could be used as pinch hitter this weekend
Pat Burrell, OF PHI: wrist/foot -- could be back on Saturday
Orlando Hernandez, SP NYM: general soreness -- should be ready for next week's start
Chad Cordero, RP WAS: ingrown toenail -- probably just a few day off needed


It looks like it's the end of the road for Royals OF Reggie Sanders. After battling injuries all year long, he will wrap it up with surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He was put on the 15 day DL and will be out for the remainder of the season. The team brought up 2B Jeff Keppinger to take his roster spot, but don't expect any fantasy value out of him.
The closer by committee situation seems to be working for the Phillies right now as Ryan Madson picked up tonight's save, his second. It should be about another week until Tom Gordon returns, so expect Charlie Manuel to continue to play the matchups while using Madson, Geoff Geary and Arthur Rhodes out of the pen to close games.
The Cleveland closer situation is also starting to take shape. While Rafael Betancourt got the save today, he was only in there because Tom Mastny had pitched the previous two days. Mastny should be the number one option there with Betancourt getting the occassional opportunity during times like this.
If you've been following the Josh Beckett story lately, youve learned that they are now saying it was a cut, not a blister, that forced his removal from yesterday's game. Either way, the "injury" is now leaving his next start in question. I'm sure the Sox will anounce his status before the next scoring period begins.
Be careful with Jim Edmonds right now. While it was nice to see him return to the lineup after a 10 day absence, it wasn't so nice watching him strike out all four times he was up. And apparently those were the only 4 K's for the Cubs' staff tonight. Edmonds might still be a game time decision over the next week again.
It looks like Brad Radke is going to be a liability down the stretch if you have him. He was pulled from tonight's game after giving up 3 runs in only 2 innings. No injury has been reported, but Radke has been battling a sore shoulder for some time. You might want to consider reserving him for now if you have a healthier alternative.
The Devil Rays again put Scott Kazmir on the 15 day DL with soreness in his shoulder and could more than likely, put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Wait until official notice is given, but the Rays have no reason to take a chance with their top pitcher. J.P. Howell was called up, but I don't recommend him.
After striking out 7 in 7 shutout innings, Daniel Cabrera is looking a little better these days. He's had 3 great outings in his last 4 starts and has 27 K's in that span. If you can afford to take a little hit in ERA every so often, you might want to think about picking him up. His strikeout potential is almost too good to pass up this time of year.
The Diamondbacks activated Tony Clark from the DL today. He'll probably spell Conor Jackson once a week and serve as a pinch hitter for the most part. His value is very limited. Alberto Collaspo was sent down to make room.
As expected, the Braves put Danys Baez on the DL after his emergency appendectomy and brought back pitcher Lance Cormier. The Braves will give Cormier a start some time next week, but it looks like he'll get bumped from the rotation when Kyle Davies comes back.
The A's were once again forced to put SS Bobby Crosby on the 15 day DL with a lower back strain. The team brought up D'Angelo Jimenez for some depth but it looks like Marco Scutaro will see the majority of playing time in Cosby's absence. Regardless of when/if Crosby comes back, it's pretty safe to dump him, if you haven't already, and look for someone better on the waiver wire.
It looks like Nationals OF Alex Escobar is done for the year after he dislocated his shoulder diving back towards first base tonight. Poor kid just hasn't been able to put it together for a full healthy season. This definitely increases the value of Ryan Chrurch who now becomes the primary centerfielder. He might be a nice option to look into.
Damian Jackson's tenure with the Nationals is over as the team released him today. There is a chance he catches on somewhere else as a bench guy, but really...why bother?
And finally, congrats to Barry Zito who picked up his 100th career win tonight against the Texas Rangers. He took a no hitter into the 8th, but ended up giving up a single to Mark DeRosa to start the inning. He then retired the next three and was allowed to come out for the ninth. It ended after getting just one out as he was removed after then giving up 3 runs. Still, a nice quality outing from him is good to see. Congratulations Barry.

Dodgers/D-Backs, Yankees/Angels still going late. Any news breaks from there I'll get it to you first thing in the morning.

Catch you next time...

RotoBuzz -- Fantasy Football is here!!!

The fantasy baseball season is almost coming to a close, but don't worry. You can get your RotoBuzz fix all through the fall and winter as we take on the world of fantasy football. That's right...


RotoBuzz -- Fantasy Football is here!!!


You can get to it via the links over on the right, or you can just click right here.

What's the Buzz? 8/24/06

As if being swept by the Yankees in Fenway wasn't bad enough, there are more problems mounting for the Red Sox. After throwing 6 scoreless innings tonight, starter Josh Beckett was removed from the game due to a blister on his finger. Hmmm. Really? A blister? Did anyone see this coming? And what's worse for the team is that it has now been revealed that David Ortiz was held overnight in the hospital last weekend after experiencing an irregular heartbeat. He didn't miss any time, but it's something the team will be monitoring very closely. Big Papi is the heart and soul of this team right now. Losing him would be devastating. If they were to lose him for any length of time down the stretch and lose their #2 starter to the usual issues, the team would probably have to pack it in for the season. Their depth is already lacking. This would be too much to overcome. Atleast they got some good news when the MRI on Manny Ramirez' knee came back negative. He should be back in a game or two.

Now for the news...

While he might not help you in the wins department, Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn looks like he can definitely help your ratios. After defeating the Yankees tonight, Wasburn has a 3.50 ERA in ten starts since the All Star Break. He may hit a few bumps in the road, but he looks like he could be very helpful through a September run.
It's looking like a September 4th return for Cincinnati closer Eddie Guardado. Of course, nothing is being etched in stone as we'll know more after he throws on Saturday; the first time he's thrown since going on the DL.
So the Mets say goodbye to OF Lastings Milledge and hello to pitcher Brian Bannister today. Milledge, relegated to bench duty with the arrival of Shawn Green, was sent back down the minors and Bannister was activated from the 60 day DL. Bannister was looking pretty good before he got hurt this year, but I would still keep him reserved until after we see him pitch a game. He'll be taking Orlando Hernandez' (being skipped this week) spot on Friday against the Phillies, so that should be a good barometer.
Also for the Mets, it was a short run for Ricky Ledee as he was designated for assignment today. He may pick up as a bench player elsewhere, but he really doesn't have any fantasy value at all.
To bolster the infield reserves, the Padres acquired 3B Russell Branyan from the Devil Rays today for Single-A right hander Evan Meek. Branyan goes from platooner in the AL to bench guy in the NL again. While it may give the Padres a decent left handed bat off the bench, this really does nothing for fantasy owners.
Joe Mauer owners can stop worrying now. He's got his average back above .360 again. Whew!!! Thought he was done there for a second.

::hands readers a towel to wipe sarcasm from their faces::

Astros OF Willy Taveras extended his hit streak to 27 games today, a club record. In that time he's hit .340 and stolen 11 bases as well -- he has 25 on the year now. The streak will certainly come to an end, but for now, and probably through the end of the season, he remains a must-start.
Not that you should have been waiting on him, but Royals 1B Doug Mientkiewicz will undergo season ending back surgery next week.
Careful if you were giving up on Brewers OF Geoff Jenkins. He got his second straight start in right today and has started to hit with the opportunity. If he continued to see more time his owners may be able to recoup some of his lost value.
And finally, it could be all she wrote for Braves reliever Danys Baez. He had an emergency appendectomy and will probably be out for longer than just the minimum 15 days. Kenny Ray and Chad Paronto should take over the set up duties, but unless you're unbelievably desperate for holds, I'd stay away.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 8/23/06

Still a little crowded in Dodgertown these days. Wilson Betemit got the start tonight after sitting yesterday in favor of Julio Lugo and responded by going 1 for 3 with a solo shot, his 15th, in the third inning. Lugo, starting in right field for J.D. Drew (a day off) still played but was ejected in the 4th inning. Manager Grady Little has his hands full trying to get everyone in, but so far, his rotation hasn't been awful. While fantasy owners would rather their players start every day, you can't say that any of these three have lost significant value in NL only leagues since Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent came back from the DL. All are still valuable role players coming down the stretch.

Onto the news...

Well it looks like Kansas City closer Joe Nelson has used up his first "get out of jail free card" as he came in and proceeded to blow a 4 run lead tonight giving up a walk and 3 RBI doubles. He was pulled before he was actually given the blown save, though, as those honors went to...why Ambiorix Burgos of course. Nelson had pitched well previously, so we'll call this just strike one for him. He remains the closer, but tread lightly.
The Padres have moved to within 1 game of first in the NL West and a lot of the credit has to go to pitcher Woody Williams. After another solid performance tonight, Williams is 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 11 K's in his last 3 starts. Ride him while he's hot.
Ryan Howard and David Ortiz continue to battle for the HR lead as Howard hit his 44th to stay within 1 of Ortiz who hit his league leading 45th tonight.
Manny Ramirez should still be considered day to day, whether it's a hamstring cramp or a sore knee as the team reported today. He was pulled in the 4th inning of tonight's game again. Regardless of his condition, if the Sox aren't putting him on the DL then you can't really bench him. Even if he doesn't get a start tomorrow, he is always a candidate to pinch hit. 34 HR and 100 RBI are hard to bench.
The Twins activated Rondell White from the DL today and should have him in a DH platoon with Jason Kubel. White will face lefties only for now, but if he hits well enough, he could see some time against righties. Minimal value in AL only leagues. Josh Rabe was sent down to make room on the roster.
Jim Thome owners need to be wary of the slugger's current health issue. While manager Ozzie Guillen expects him only to miss a game or two, Thome doesn't sound as confident about his strained hamstring. He was removed from tonight's game and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Consider reserving him if you have a healthier alternative.
Congratulations to Marlins 3B Miguel Cabrera who hit his career 100th HR tonight. He smacked 2 tonight and while it's a down year from him in the power department, he continues to have a fantastic second half.
If you want a good September addition, see if someone in your league dropped Derrek Lee -- or if you can still make a trade, see who's got him. There's a possibility he could return to the lineup next week and should make a decent contribution for the final month. A better corner option for the stretch than say...Adrian Beltre.
Another 2 homers for White Sox 3B Joe Crede tonight (27 now?) and his BA is up at .295 for the season. Not only is he having a great breakout season for himself, his average isn't screwing over his fanatsy owners. Way to go Joe!
Six innings of shutout ball tonight against the Orioles? Now that's the Matt Garza we know and love. Sure, we'd like more than just one K, but if he's settling in, now is the time to grab him for the final month of the season. He could prove to be a solid addition and help you with your ratios and wins.
The Angels were without OF Garrett Anderson again today as he sat out with a sore hamstring. He's being called day to day, but his health has been an issue all year. Juan Rivera will continue to play left and Tim Salmon should get the at bats at DH while Anderson is hurting.
The Yankees put starter Mike Mussina on the 15 day DL with his strained groin today. It's been bothering him for some time now so maybe the rest and some treatment will do the trick. Rookie Jeff Karstens will stay on as the 5th starter for now and the team brought back reliever Brian Brunney to take Moose's roster spot. Why not Sidney Ponson you may ask? Well definitely not as 1. he's terrible and 2. he was released today. Maybe an NL team will take a shot on him, but they would have to be super desperate to pick up the Aruban Nightmare.
Also for the Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is day to day after he missed today's game with a throat infection. He could be out again tomorrow, so check his status if you can make daily moves, but it doesn't look like it will keep him out much longer.
Cardinals starter Mark Mulder returned to get pounded by the Mets tonight, giving up 9 runs in a littl emore than 3 innings of work. Keep him reserved for now, but there's still a chance he can be productive over the final month. Be patient for now, but not at the expense of your ratios. If he doesn't perform better his next outing (how could he get worse?) you should probably cut him loose. and look for help elsewhere. On a related note, the demoted Anthony Reyes struck out 9 in six scoreless innings in his Triple-A start today.
Also for the Cards, and not to be repetitive, but as reported the other day, the team officially put SS David Eckstein on the DL today with his oblique strain. It looks like Aaron Miles and the recently signed Jose Vizcaino will platoon at short for atleast the next three weeks.
And finally, the Devil Rays put starter Jae Seo on the 15 day DL with a strained groin. He should be back in the minimum time, but what a shame. He was putting together a real nice August until this injury after getting pounded all through July.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 8/22/06

The Mets are making their move. While maintaining a double digit game lead in the NL East, the boys from Queens are still showing that they can always improve. Understanding that Lastings Milledge just isn't ready for full time major league duty, the Mets acquired OF Shawn Green from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for lefty pitching prospect Evan MacLane. Solid deal for the D-Backs as they've been looking to get rid of Green for some time. Carlos Quentin's and Chris Young's stocks just jumped a bit. Also, Arizona is off the hook for more than half of Green's salary, their main incentive. They'll only pay $6.3 million of the $13.25 million he's owed. Green waived his no-trade clause so one would have to assume that he's happy about playing in New York. He should do well in the New York lineup and, don't worry Mets fans, Yom Kippur does not overlap with the playoffs this year.

Now for the news...

The Phillies also made a move as they picked up infielder Jose Hernandez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a fistful of cash. I guess they don't trust Abraham Nunez at third all by himself as they try to sneak their way back into contention. The two will likely platoon with Nunez getting the better end.
Also, as expected, the Phillies placed OF Aaron Rowand on the DL with a fractured ankle. They say four to six weeks, so it's pretty much season ending for Rowand. Shane Victorino becomes the new centerfielder and it's definitely recommended that you pick him up in NL only leagues. He's been solid for them all year and he thrived as Rowand's replacement earlier in the year.
And going back to player movement, guess who's not going anywhere...again. That's right, Alfonso Soriano. Apparently he had been claimed of waivers by the Astros and when the two sides broke off negotiations, the Nationals pulled him back. Soriano is officially ineligible to be traded this season.
Well if you're a Ryan Garko owner, look out. You might need a replacement soon. It looks like Casey Blake, who's been out almost this whole month, is coming back on Friday according to manager Eric Wedge. Blake will also play the outfield some , so Garko should still see some at bats. Just not as many as we'd all like.
As suspected, the Padres put pitcher Chan Ho Park on the 15 day DL with his...intestinal bleeding. I still can't believe this was almost not an option.
Orioles OF Nick Markakis gave his stock a bit of a boost today when he jacked 3 home runs in his first 3 at bats. He's having a nice second half so far and may warrant some consideration if he remains consistent over the next week.
It became official today as the Red Sox put SS Alex Gonzalez on the DL with his strained oblique and called up rookie Dustin Pedroia. He should definitely have some value playing regularly in the Sox lineup...how much value should depend on his bat and Gonzalez' recovery time.
The Sox also swapped out some relief help as they sent down Javier Lopez and brought up Kason Gabbard. While normally a starter, they will begin Gabbard in the bullpen and maybe try him out for a start in a week or two if he performs well.
Since the move will be retroactive, the Cardinals will wait to put David Eckstein (strained oblique) officially on the DL on Wednesday when they call up pitcher Mark Mulder who will get the start against the Mets. This is a potential matchup for the NL Pennant so both teams should be on their game -- round 1 to the Mets tonight on Carlos Beltran's game winning home run.
The Admiral's back!! The A's recalled lefty Brad Halsey today and gave him the start against the Blue Jays tonight. He went 6 innings giving up 4 runs in the loss, but it wasn't a terrible start by any means. If he stays in the rotation, and he most likely will, he should have some decent value in AL only leagues.
And lastly, I almost forgot....more good news for the Mets as it was learned that Tom Glavine's got a blood clot in his shoulder and it can be treated with aspirin and a blood thinner. He should only miss a little more than a week which means he should only miss one start. Baseball aside, it's good to see that it wasn't the worst end of the spectrum. Season ending surgery may have been career ending as well. Good to see Glavine can still go out the way he wants.

Catch you next time...

Picking Up and Dropping Off

Picking Up:

1. Shane Victorino, OF PHI: Will remain in center field for probably the remainder of the season as Aaron Rowand breaks his ankle in on-field collision. Solid combination of power, speed, and now...consistent at bats. Should be picked up in all NL only and most mixed leagues.

2. Neifi Perez, 2B DET: Traded over to Detroit after the Placido Polanco injury and manager Jim Leyland says he's starting over Omar Infante. He won't give you very much but if you're desperate for middle infield help, he'll probably be playing every day.

3. Kaz Matsui, 2B COL: The team waited until after the Mets series in Shea to bring him up to help his transition. They also sent Jason Smith down so it looks like Matsui should get most of the starts at second base. It'll probably take him a little time to get into a groove, but the Colorado air should be a nice help.

4. Joe Nelson, RP KC: The revolving door continues, but until he blows a few opportunities, the closer's job for the Royals is his. He's got decent stuff to make it work for the next month and a half, and really...who's his competition? Are the Royals really going to give Ambiorix Burgos a third chance to screw up?

5. Willy Taveras, OF HOU: Currently in the midst of a 24 game hitting streak and he swiped 4 bags last week. With Preston Wilson gone and Chris Burke coming back down to earth, Taveras is getting the playing time and making the most of it. Nice cheap steals here.

Also on the rise: 2B Dustin Pedroia, 2B Ryan Theriot, RP Arthur Rhodes, RP Justin Duchscherer

Dropping Off:

1. Coco Crisp, OF BOS: Went 1 for 19 in the series against the Yankees while watching Johnny Damon steal the show. Was hitting around .300 going in as the leadoff guy, but with that performance, we're sure to see him back down in the 7 hole.

2. Josh Johnson, SP FLA: Posted a 2.21 ERA in the first half, but only a 4.17 ERA in 7 starts since the All Star Break. He'll still be better than a lot out there, but the amount of innings and the general workload are wearing on him.

3. Stephen Drew, SS ARI: With the imminent return of Craig Counsell and the current slump, Drew could be looking at some lost at bats. There's even a strong chance he goes from regular player to platoon/utility status.

4. Moises Alou, OF SF: Missing another stretch of games due to a leg injury this time. He'll be day to day for the rest of the season, I'm sure, so you might want to look elsewhere for a regular outfielder. Hmmm. Maybe check out that Victorino character.

5. Tom Gordon, RP PHI: Suffering from shoulder soreness he took a few days off. When he came back and tested his shoulder, it still wasn't looking good. He's now on the 15 day DL and the club isn't entirely sure of exactly when he could return.

Also on the decline: OF Aaron Rowand, RP Huston Street, SS Cesar Izturis

What's the Buzz? 8/21/06

So let's see if I have this straight here...a little ways back Shea Hillenbrand was portrayed as a selfish baby who was mad at the organization for not recognizing the adoption of his daughter. Unprovoked, he wrote "this is a sinking ship" on the blackboard and the next thing you know manager John Gibbons is challenging him to a fist fight. Today, unprovoked (apparently mad at himself for lousy pitching), Ted Lilly says something to Gibbons on the mound and we have a heated exchange. The next thing you know, Gibbons and Lilly are in a fist fight in the tunnel to the clubhouse. Coincidence? I think not. Some Canadian photographer says Gibbons charged at Lilly once they were in the tunnel together.
Someone in the Toronto front office needs to either change managers or get Gibbons some anger management classes. What is he, the schoolyard bully? You ever see this guy get worked up just from the dugout? Eyes come popping out, forehead veins bulge, gets all flushed in the face. If the ship is really sinking in Toronto I bet is has everything to do with the guy steering the boat.

On to the news...

Seth McClung officially became Tampa Bay's flavor of the month when he pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season. Grab him now while you can. His value is probably at it's highest. Just make sure you're ready to grab Dan Miceli if McClung stumbles in a little while.
In a somewhat surprising move, Tigers manager Jim Leyland says he'll be using recently acquired Neifi Perez as his starting second baseman over Omar Infante. This should boost Perez' value, but did his value really have anywhere to go but up? He's still not really worth too much. Ramon Santiago was sent down to make room for Perez on the roster.
Phillies OF Aaron Rowand is day to day right now after a collision with Chase Utley in today's game. It looked like he hurt his ankle the most, but it just looked like it hurt all over as he flipped over after impact. We'll get test results tomorrow but expect to see Shane Victorino back in center field on Tuesday and possibly longer.
The Cubs made a few small moves today first by activating OF Freddie Bynum (Matt Murton and Angel Pagan owners are thrilled) and secondly by putting pitcher Chris Marmol on the DL with shoulder fatigue. The team brought back...wait....you better sit down....Glendon Rusch... to take Marmol's spot. There aren't enough bells, whistles or sirens for me to set off to say don't even think about it. Don't!!

::rolls up newspaper, hits guy who picks up Rusch on the nose::

Also for the Cubs, the team will be going with Ryan Theriot at second and Ronny Cedeno at short for a little while as Cesar Izturis is being called day to day after straining his hamstring. Now talk about a sinking ship...
Apparently Chan Ho Park was scratched from today's start with intestinal bleeding. Really??? Intestinal bleeding? Now normally you'd think a DL stint and probably some hospitalization, but not in San Diego. The club doesn't think it's that serious and he should be fine within a few days. Did anyone hear it? I'll say it again...intestinal bleeding!!!
Once again the injury prone Marcus Giles is hurting. He didn't start today's game and apparently the club is calling up Martin Prado as insurance. Not a good sign. Here's to another bust of a year for Giles. With Prado's call up, the team sent down pitcher Lance Cormier. When they need to fill that hole in the rotation, Kyle Davies will probably be ready to be called up. I've always liked Davies...good strikeout potential...so keep an eye on him.
Problems still arising for Cardinals OF Jim Edmonds. He missed another start today after experiencing more post-concussion symptoms shortly after pinch hitting on Sunday. No word yet, but a DL stint seems likely.
The Red Sox were a little reluctant to do this, but the injury to Alex Gonzalez (strained oblique -- possible DL stint) has forced the team to call up rookie Dustin Pedroia. Since he should be seeing most of the starts at short for a little while so he could be a nice pick up in AL only leagues.
Also for the Red Sox, Manny Ramirez is day to day after he left today's game in the 4th inning with a hamstring cramp. If he misses tomorrow, Gabe Kapler should fill in, but my hunch is that he didn't want any part of today's losing effort. Just Manny being Manny, right?
And finally, it appears that Mike Mussina will miss his next start due to the sore groin that kept him from returning to the game the other day after the rain stopped. It's actually something that's been bothering him for some time or it's just a coincidence that this always happens when he needs to stop his routine because of a rain delay. He's a creature of habit and any deviation from his routine upsets the balance in his universe.

Catch you next time...


O.K., fine.....really...I'm only human here so...

5 game sweep!!!! Woooo Hoooo!!!!

O.K., I'll stop now.

Power Performers

A big week all around for a lot of guys, I wish I could name them all. The AL this week reads like an All-Star roster while the NL looks like you should be doing some diving into the waiver wire pool. Check out who finished strongest for this last scoring period.

AL Hitters

1. Johnny Damon, OF NYY: .390-11-4-12-1 Just finished out the week showing Boston exactly what they're missing this year. The catalyst for the Yankees lineup is already a 20-20 guy.

2. Carl Crawford, OF TB: .583-3-0-6-7 Flipped on the speed switch this week, let's hope next week the power gets turned on too. How does a guy with a .630 OBP for the week cross the plate just 3 times? He needs help.

3. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B KC: .433-5-2-6-0 A nice way to say thank you to the club for his new contract extension. Strong play and a great attitude are keeping the Royals from auditioning up and comer Jeff Keppinger.

4. Travis Hafner, DH CLE: .364-5-3-6-0 Just a hitting machine. He gives to the Indians what David Ortiz gives to the Red Sox. The only thing that could make him stronger is better position eligibility.

5. Robinson Cano, 2B NYY: .306-5-2-13-1 Comes off the DL and plays just as strong as he did before he went on. If it wasn't for the injury, we'd be talking about him with Alfonso Soriano and Chase Utley as the big 3 at second base.

Honorable Mention: Vladimir Guerrero, Bengie Molina, Bobby Abreu


AL Pitchers

1. Jon Garland, SP CHW: 2 Wins-10 K-0.61 ERA-0.955 WHIP The White Sox pitching is turning it up for their late season Wild Card push and Garland is leading the way. Big divisional matchup with the Tigers next week.

2. Roy Halladay, SP TOR: 2 W-5 K- 2.57 ERA-0.857 WHIP Sure the strikeouts could be higher, but his continued dominance shows why he's the league's first 16 game winner this season.

3. Johann Santana, SP MIN: 2 W-14 K-0.60 ERA-0.667 WHIP Someone needs to get his number over to Josh Beckett and fast. Even with a blister Santana continues to prove why he's the best in the game right now.

4. Francisco Rodriguez, RP LAA: 4 Saves-5 K-0.00 ERA-0.900 WHIP While the Angels continue their pursuit of an AL West title again, K-Rod continues to be there to shut the door for them.

5. Todd Jones, RP DET: 3 S-3 K-0.00 ERA-0.333 WHIP Like every closer he's had his ups and downs. Right now he's up and the oldest closer in the game is looking sharper than ever.

Honorable Mention: Akinori Otsuka, Joe Nelson, Nate Robertson


NL Hitters

1. Chris Duncan, 1B/OF STL: .583-6-4-6-0 Platooning his way right into the starting lineup until the arrival of Preston Wilson. But we all know how Tony LaRussa likes to ride the hot bat and keep his regulars freshwith rest. Duncan will see plenty of time from now until season's end.

2. Kenny Lofton, OF LA: .471-6-0-1-4 Making the most of his playing time and will continue to run the bases for the Dodgers. Even if he's platooning, he'll be the first one off the bench when the team needs a pinch runner to swipe a bag or two.

3. Willie Taveras, OF HOU: .286-4-0-1-4 With the departure of Preston Wilson and the cooling down of Chris Burke and Luke Scott, Taveras is getting the at bats in center he's needed to get you those cheap steals you thought you were getting when you picked him up. He'll continue to steal as long as he continues to play.

4. Shane Victorino, OF PHI: .310-5-2-9-0 Outstanding when he filled in earlier this year and doing great when given an opportunity to play. With David Dellucci's quad problem and Pat Burrell's foot ailment the Phillies won't have trouble getting this kid some at bats. Now if they could just trade Burrell away...

5. Corey Hart, OF MIL: .333-7-3-4-0 With Geoff Jenkins riding the pine, Hart is getting a solid amount of playing time and he's not disappointing. The club should keep him in the everyday lineup from here on in.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Delgado, Abraham Nunez, Edwin Encarnacion


NL Pitchers

1. Chris Carpenter, SP STL: 2 W-13 K-1.06 ERA-0.647 WHIP Pitching lights out when the Cardinals need him most right now. Complete game against the Reds, a solid win against the Cubs and he gets the softies from Wrigley again his next time out.

2. Cole Hamels, SP PHI: 2 W-16 K-1.29 ERA-0.714 WHIP So all the hype was legit after all. If you stuck with the young phenom, you're reaping the benefits well in the second half. Careful though...a stron gfinish puts him on everyone's radar next year.

3. Chuck James, SP ATL: 2 W-10 K-2.08 ERA-1.385 WHIP We'd obviously like to see him give up less hits and walks, but for a guy who was only supposed to fill in every once in a while, he's had himself quite a nice little August.

4. Derek Lowe, SP LAD: 2 W-8 K-1.20 ERA-0.800 WHIP Injuries have hampered him a bit this year, but he's healthy now and doing what he does best. A very consistent ground ball pitcher. As long as the defense stays strong he's going to win a bunch of games down the stretch.

5. Francisco Cordero, RP MIL: 3 S-3 K-0.00 ERA-1.500 WHIP He'll always make it interesting for you but for now he's still closing out the games for the Brewers. He's established himself there well enough to not have to worry about Derrick Turnbow anymore.

Honorable Mention: Billy Wagner, Chad Cordero, Doug Davis

What's the Buzz? 8/20/06

Wow!!! This Yankees/Red Sox series is keeping me up all night again! With the Yankees taking their 4th straight from Boston in Boston, I'm going to put aside my attempt to remain an unbiased journalist and say, "Wooo hooo!!!!! The only thing better than great late season baseball is watching the Yankees beat down the Sox during great late season baseball! Putting it together when it counts!!! 2005 was a glich in the system!!!! Go Yanks!!!

::washes off blue and white face paint::

::takes off #20 pinstripe jersey::

::clears extremely hoarse throat::

And now for the news...

Once again, Giants OF Moises Alou is day to day after leaving today's game with tightness in his calf. Alou's constant nagging injuries will impede his production from now until the end of the year. If you can find a healthier alternative to him, one who plays regualrly, you might want to consider making a change.
It appears that Astros hurler Roy Oswalt, who was scratched from Saturday's start, is slated to take the mound on Wednesday. Too bad...one day sooner and he might have been a two-start pitcher this week.
Also for the Astros, we knew it was turning into a closer by committee, but with Dan Wheeler getting the save opportunity over Brad Lidge, it became official today. Lidge has been a huge bust this year and there's no guarantee he'll even have the opportunity to reclaim the job either this year or next. Wheeler might be a good option if you're looking for some relief help.
And speaking of closing out games, with Tom Gordon ailing and not coming back until the end of the week, the Phillies have turned it over to Arthur Rhodes who may be worth a short term look.
After getting pasted for 5 runs in one inning, it appears that Brian Meadows' run as the Devil Rays' closer has come to an end. Seth McClung should get the save opps for now...possibly some chances for Dan Miceli, but if you're looking to pick someone up, McClung is the guy.
If you're hanging on waiting for Francisco Liriano to come back and save your pitching staff, it doesn't look like you'll have him for another two to three weeks. He was evaluated today by team doctors and they will start him on a throwing program on Tuesday. Although, for him to be back in three weeks, he can't have any serious setbacks at all.
It looks like Padres starter Chris Young could be heading back to the disabled list after he left today's game with a strained back, after only facing 3 hitters. Mike Thompson may be recalled to take his place, if necessary, but we'll wait for another evaluation from team doctors. A real shame he can't stay healthy as he has shown some flashes of brilliance in between DL stints.
In a little deal, the Mets picked up Guillermo Mota from the Indians in exchange for cash. Mota should slide right into the bullpen, an area the Mets have been concerned with since Duaner Sanchez' injury. His value is pretty limited though.
Even worse for the Mets though is Tom Glavine is scheduled for a CT scan on Monday and an angiogram on Wednesday to determine if he has a blood clot or a "knot" in the artery near his left shoulder. If it's a clot, then it may be treatable with a blood thinner and he'll only miss a few starts. If it's a "knot" though, then season ending surgery will probably be the course of action. The Mets will probably call up Oliver Perez to take his place in the rotation. Now that'll be the true test for that Xavier Nady trade. If Perez succeeds, then the trade was an absolute steal for New York.
The Mariners have swapped out relievers as they recalled Sean Green from the minors to take the place of Mark Lowe who was put on the DL with tendenitis in his left elbow.
In the wake of the Placido Polanco injury, the Tigers picked up infielder Neifi Perez from the Cubs in exchange for catcher Chris Robinson (guess he left the Black Crowes to fufill his baseball dream). Perez may see some action, maybe a game or two a week as he should sit behind Omar Infante on the depth chart.
It looks like the elbow tendenitis and the forearm stiffness has caught up to Eddie Guardado finally as he went on the 15 day DL today. Word is that he should be back after the minimum 15 days and resume his role then. In the meantime, Bill Bray looks like the guy to pick up for saves right now. David Weathers may see a chance here or there, but manager Jerry Narron has already said that he will leave Todd Coffey in his set up role.
And finally, as expected the A's put closer Huston Street on the DL with his strained groin. Justin Duchscherer will be the choice for saves with Kiko Calero maybe getting a chance or two.

Catch you next time...

Looking for Some September Help?

We're a little more than a week away from rosters expanding on Sept. 1 and fantasy owners everywhere are gearing up for the next wave of players to arrive on the waiver wire.

Think you're getting someone to really help your team? I'm not so sure.

Check out my latest article, "September Call Ups? Who Needs 'Em!!" on Addict Fantasy Sports.

What's the Buzz? 8/19/06

Congratulations to Greg Maddux for cracking the top 10 on the "all-time wins" list after getting his 329th to tie Steve Carlton. It wasn't the prettiest of outings, but with 10 runs of support from the Dodgers he was able to walk away with the win over the Giants. He should be getting the Diamondbacks his next time out so maybe he can continue to climb the ladder.

In the news today...

Just when you thought the Phillies were selling off this year, they go and take 3 of 4 from the Mets and are suddenly back in contention for the wild card. So what do they do? They go for some pitching help and pick up Jamie Moyer from the Mariners in exchange for two prospects, Andrew Baldwin and Andrew Barb. It appears that Seattle didn't really care what they were getting back as neither Baldwin nor Barb are expected to even break into the majors, which then poses the question, "How bad is Moyer these days?" He's a fly ball pitcher moving to a great hitter's park. AL to NL move aside, this doesn't look good for his overall numbers.
Rumors out of Cincinnati have closer Eddie Guardado as a possible candidate for the disabled list. He came in for some mop-up duty to get a little work in but only faced 2 batters, one a K and the other a single. He is likely still bothered by the forearm soreness and the Reds may not believe that just a few days off will help. Keep your ears open if you are using Everyday Eddie. Kansas City's Joe Nelson is looking better and better as an option these days.
And speaking of the Royals, 1B/DH Mike Sweeney is being called day to day already with soreness in his knee. These past few years have been marred with injuries. If the Royals were smart, they'd start bringing up and playing some of their rookies. Justin Huber would look great at DH right now while Ryan Shealy continues to play a solid first base.
A's manager Ken Macha says that he expects closer Huston Street to avoid the DL with his sore right groing. He says he won't pitch on Sunday and may need a few days off, but not the mandatory 15 if he went on the DL. Once again, Justin Duchscherer remains the next option for saves for, apparently, just the next few days.
There could be a little closer controversy in Arizona as the Diamondbacks were forced to pull closer Jorge Julio from the game after issuing 3 walks when he came in with a 4 run lead. Tony Pena was then brought in to replace him. Sure Pena let two inherited runnes score, but he finished off the ninth and grabbed his first save. Pena may be an interesting option if Julio continues to struggle.
It looks like Tomas De La Rosa is the new utility infielder with the Giants as the team put Kevin Frandsen on the DL today. For now De La Rosa has minimal value as a backup, but you know how old and frail that Giants infield can be.
So with Brandon Backe going back on the DL with a sprained UCL and rumors of Tommy John surgery circulate, it looks like rookie Jason Hirsh will continue to stay in the Astros rotation for the year. The team has also brought up Wandy Rodriguez again to do the emergency start today, but that didn't last too long. Not sure what's up with Wandy....he started the year so strongly. Maybe watch him if they use him again, but only if you're desperate for a starter at this point.
Hey, by the way...if you stuck it out and left Cardinals starter Mark Mulder on your bench all this time, he's coming back on Wednesday of this week. He didn't have very strong rehab starts and he looked like his command was off, but he should always be considered, especially if he comes back decently this week. He gets the Mets his first time out, so maybe keep him benched on emore week and see how he fares. After all, you waited this long...
The Yankees mad ea few minor moves today as they brought back OF Aaron Guiel and reliever Jeff Karstens. To make room the team sent down reliever Brian Brunney and "starter" Sidney Ponson. Brunney wasn't going to be available to pitch anyway for a few days due to his immense workload on Friday, and Ponson wasn't going to be available because the Yankees have a desire to win.
And finally, it's official...again. Padres SS Khalil Greene is back on the DL with his sprained middle finger. This guy just can't catch a break....well maybe a break, but not the one he was really looking for. His brittle fingers are keeping him out way too much for him to remain an everyday ball player. Geoff Blum's stock just shot up as he will take ovewr at short for atleast a month.
Oh yeah...one more thing....watch out for Johann Santana's next start. His blister problem, while it won't hold him out, hasn't fully healed and could affect him on his next start.

Catch you next time...

What's the Buzz? 8/18/06

Now that was some marathon baseball tonight. Two double headers, one game -- the Yankees/Red Sox second game -- broke the record for the longest 9 inning game in MLB history. Nothing like walking into a pitchers' duel with rookie Jon Lester and perrenial punching bag Sidney "Chubbs" Ponson. Ugh-lee!!!
Anyway, K.C. took both games of their double header to grab a sweep against Oakland while the Yankees took both from Boston by a combined score of 26 to 15. Great offensive fantasy days from all Yankees and Red Sox not named Coco Crisp or Wily Mo Pena and a nice 5 for 8 night for Royals' 3B Mark Teahen.

Now for the news...

Staying with the Yanks for a second here...the team got quite a scare when a Wily Mo comebacker hit Kyle Farnsworth on the shin and put him out of the game after only recording one out. Fortunately the x-rays were negative and it's just a bruise, however, he probably won't be available tomorrow afternoon once it has the night to swell.
Also for the Yanks, 1B Andy Phillips was put on the 15 day DL with a strained oblique. He really doesn't have much value at all since the acquisitions of Craig Wilson and Bobby Abreu. He'll get a spot in September, but probably stay relegated to pinch running duties.
Astros starter Roy Oswalt has been officially scratched for Saturday's start. The team will keep him on his regualr schedule afterwards, so it doesn't look like he'll be a 2 start guy next week after all. Dave Borkowski will take the ball in his place.
The Mets are calling up Dave Williams to take the start for Pedro Martinez this weekend. It doesn't look like he'll hang around for much after so he really has about the same fanatsy value as Borkowski...none.
It looks like A's closer Huston Street is day to day after suffering a strained groin in tonight's second game of the doubleheader against the Royals. If Street needs some time off, which he probably will, then Justin Duchscherer should take over as the closer. Wait to see Street's condition after a weekend evaluation before thinking about picking up his replacement.
Also for the A's, the team activated shortstop Bobby Crosby and sent D'Angelo Jimenez back to the minors. Crosby, another fantasy disappointment this year, remains a strong injury risk every time he steps onto the field.
And speaking of infielder who can never stay healthy anymore, the Nationals activated 2B Jose Vidro from the DL today. They'll probably play him as much as possible with the hopes of sliding him through waivers and into a trade somewhere else. If he's still available, tread lightly. No sense in wasting waiver priority on a guy like Vidro.
No doubt tonight's meltdown again has cost Brad Lidge any chance of re-establishing himself as the team's closer. Dan Wheeler's value is slowly climbing.
Minor bullpen adjustment for the Dodgers as they activated Elmer Dessens from the disabled list today. He is not recommended though. To make room the team sent down 1B James Loney, who should be back again when rosters expand. He won't have much value though unless another injury hits the Dodger infield.
Braves 2B Marcus Giles, who missed another game today with a bruised hand is being listed as day to day. He may miss Saturday's game as well. Giles, who should be back by the end of the weekend, has once again disappointed his fantasy owners this year.
It looks like Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton will be sidelined for the entire weekend with the shoulder strain he suffered yesterday. So far Upton has been a disappointment since his call up, but we're still keeping our fingers crossed.
Congratualtions to Indians rookie 3B Andy Marte for hitting his first home run tonight. Hopefully this is the spark he's needed to get going. If he gets on a roll, he could be very helpful over the next month and a half.
Keep an eye on the Diamondbacks outfield situation. They called up prospect Chris Young today and the team is still looking to trade Shawn Green. If Young can supplant journeyman Eric Byrnes in center, we could see a nice preview of the D-Backs' 2007 outfield with Young and fellow rookie Carlos Quentin. We'll leave the third up to the team and/or your imagination. If these two kids can get some quality playing time, they both would be worth a look, especially in keeper leagues with rookie clauses.
The Cardinals might be losing SS David Eckstein who left today's game with a strained left oblique. He'll be out tomorrow for certain, and will be re-evaluated over the weekend to determine if a DL stint is necessary or if a few days off are all he needs. Aaron Miles should fill in, but your team and the waiver wire would have to be hurting pretty badly to pick him up.
Cubs SS Cesar Izturis is day to day after leaving today's game with tightness in his hamstring. He'll probably just miss a game or two, so picking up his replacement, Neifi Perez, is not necessary.
After being hit by a pitch on the left shoulder, Royals SS Angel Berroa left the game and was rushed to the hospital for x-rays. No results yet, but does it really matter? Please don;t tell me you were using Berroa on your team. It just isn't right. The newly recalled Andres Blanco took over for him today. If you lose Berroa to the Dl, you might as well take a chance on Blanco. How much worse than Berroa could he be?
And finally, Preston Wilson has finally found a home and that home is St. Louis. While Jim Edmonds is out with post-concussion syndrome and Juan Encarnacion is filling in at center field, Wilson will play left field with So Taguchi and Chris Duncan platooning in right. When Edmonds comes back, look for Taguchi and Duncan to hit the bench as Wilson takes over in left and Encarnacion moves back to right. He was struggling in Houston, but you would have to think that with a move to St. Louis and a move to the middle of a more powerful lineup, would help increase Wilson's overall fantasy value right now. It's almost a shame though. Duncan was looking like a real nice pickup for outfield help. Oh well. To make it worse for fantasy owners, to make room for Wilson, the Cards sent down pitcher Anthony Reyes. They get Mark Mulder back next week, but really...isn't Reyes a better option than say...Jason Marquis? Once again...oh well.

Catch you next time...