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
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
posted by Howard Bender at
12:18 PM
