Picking Up and Dropping Off
Picking Up:
1. Ryan Garko, 1B Indians -- The injury to Casey Blake has opened up the door once again for Garko. He didn't get much of an opportunity his first trip up so he's going to want to make this one count. He'll begin in a platoon with Victor Martinez, but if he starts to hit the team will want to put Martinez back behind the dish and leave Garko in full-time. When Blake returns from the DL the team can use him out in right field if they want to leave the youngster in at first.
2. Matt Garza, SP Twins -- Do I really need to say much more? If so then take a look here. Oh yeah...and he was called up today.
3. Randy Wolf, SP Phillies -- Kind of a longshot here, but he may be worth a look soon. He's had two starts since returning from surgery and has looked about average right now. But, his second start looked a little bit better than his first, and it was against a better team. Baby steps, folks. Baby steps.
4. Coco Crisp, OF Red Sox -- injuries in the Sox lineup has forced the team to use Kevin Youkilis further down in the order to protect David Ortiz. Crisp has since been moved back into the leadoff role and has hit over .300 in that time. If he gets hot, you can expect a few home runs to go along with some decent stolen bases. Remember how well he started off the season?
5. Francisco Cordero, RP Brewers -- It wasn't too difficult, but he has apparently won manager Ned Yost's confidence and it the official closer in Milwaukee. Derrick Turnbow should stay as a set up man for the duration of the season, which leaves pretty much no competition for Cordero.
Also on the rise: Blue Jays SS John McDonald and Devil Rays RP Seth McClung
Dropping Off:
1. Julio Lugo/Wilson Betemit, IF Dodgers -- It's one or the other, so you'll have to keep a close eye on this situation. Jeff Kent has already returned to the lineup to play first and Nomar Garciaparra apparently isn't too far behind. Once he comes back, Kent moves back to second, Nomar goes in at first and with Rafael Furcal entrenched at short, one of these guys may be headed for utility duty.
2. Fausto Carmona, RP Indians -- Three straight blown save opportuinities and 4 losses has him already losing the closer's job. Manager Eric Wedge says he needs to just clear his head, so there is a slight chance he returns to closing duties. However, for now and probably the next few weeks, Jason Davis and Rafael Betancourt will carry the load.
3. Juan Cruz, SP Diamondbacks -- The acquisition of Livan Hernandez meant that someon ehad to be bumped from the rotation and with his ineffectiveness as of late, Cruz gets middle relief duty. He needs to string together a few good outings before he gets the opportunity to return, and even then, might be suspect since he's been having trouble getting out of the 5th inning. While tonight's outing looked promising, it was by no means a guarantee that he would retain his spot.
4. Preston Wilson, OF Astros -- Some lackluster play has pushed him into a platoon for now with the hot hitting Luke Scott and it might stay that way for the rest of the season. The 'Stros have a full plate with Morgan Ensberg, Lance Berkman and Aubrey Huff all vying for playing time and since they like Mike Lamb's bat in the lineup, Wilson seems to be the odd man out.
5. Mark Bellhorn, 3B Padres -- He looked like he was getting the starts at third, but his bat has gone super cold while platooning with newly acquired Todd Walker. If he doesn't turn it up soon, Geoff Blum could take his spot in the starting lineup and push Bellhorn to the bench for good.
Also on the downslide: Twins SP Francisco Liriano
1. Ryan Garko, 1B Indians -- The injury to Casey Blake has opened up the door once again for Garko. He didn't get much of an opportunity his first trip up so he's going to want to make this one count. He'll begin in a platoon with Victor Martinez, but if he starts to hit the team will want to put Martinez back behind the dish and leave Garko in full-time. When Blake returns from the DL the team can use him out in right field if they want to leave the youngster in at first.
2. Matt Garza, SP Twins -- Do I really need to say much more? If so then take a look here. Oh yeah...and he was called up today.
3. Randy Wolf, SP Phillies -- Kind of a longshot here, but he may be worth a look soon. He's had two starts since returning from surgery and has looked about average right now. But, his second start looked a little bit better than his first, and it was against a better team. Baby steps, folks. Baby steps.
4. Coco Crisp, OF Red Sox -- injuries in the Sox lineup has forced the team to use Kevin Youkilis further down in the order to protect David Ortiz. Crisp has since been moved back into the leadoff role and has hit over .300 in that time. If he gets hot, you can expect a few home runs to go along with some decent stolen bases. Remember how well he started off the season?
5. Francisco Cordero, RP Brewers -- It wasn't too difficult, but he has apparently won manager Ned Yost's confidence and it the official closer in Milwaukee. Derrick Turnbow should stay as a set up man for the duration of the season, which leaves pretty much no competition for Cordero.
Also on the rise: Blue Jays SS John McDonald and Devil Rays RP Seth McClung
Dropping Off:
1. Julio Lugo/Wilson Betemit, IF Dodgers -- It's one or the other, so you'll have to keep a close eye on this situation. Jeff Kent has already returned to the lineup to play first and Nomar Garciaparra apparently isn't too far behind. Once he comes back, Kent moves back to second, Nomar goes in at first and with Rafael Furcal entrenched at short, one of these guys may be headed for utility duty.
2. Fausto Carmona, RP Indians -- Three straight blown save opportuinities and 4 losses has him already losing the closer's job. Manager Eric Wedge says he needs to just clear his head, so there is a slight chance he returns to closing duties. However, for now and probably the next few weeks, Jason Davis and Rafael Betancourt will carry the load.
3. Juan Cruz, SP Diamondbacks -- The acquisition of Livan Hernandez meant that someon ehad to be bumped from the rotation and with his ineffectiveness as of late, Cruz gets middle relief duty. He needs to string together a few good outings before he gets the opportunity to return, and even then, might be suspect since he's been having trouble getting out of the 5th inning. While tonight's outing looked promising, it was by no means a guarantee that he would retain his spot.
4. Preston Wilson, OF Astros -- Some lackluster play has pushed him into a platoon for now with the hot hitting Luke Scott and it might stay that way for the rest of the season. The 'Stros have a full plate with Morgan Ensberg, Lance Berkman and Aubrey Huff all vying for playing time and since they like Mike Lamb's bat in the lineup, Wilson seems to be the odd man out.
5. Mark Bellhorn, 3B Padres -- He looked like he was getting the starts at third, but his bat has gone super cold while platooning with newly acquired Todd Walker. If he doesn't turn it up soon, Geoff Blum could take his spot in the starting lineup and push Bellhorn to the bench for good.
Also on the downslide: Twins SP Francisco Liriano
posted by Howard Bender at
9:16 PM
