Picking Up and Dropping Off
Picking Up
1. Hideki Matsui, OF NYY: The return of Godzilla to the Bronx was a nice one as he went 4 for 4 with a walk in his first game back. With Jason Giambi back, Matsui should see plenty of time at DH. Don't worry about when Gary Sheffield returns, they'll still find a way to keep him in the lineup.
2. Ryan Garko, 1B CLE: When the Tribe's big slugger, Travis Hafner, was lost for the seaon with a fractured hand, the team inserted their first baseman of the future into the cleanup spot. In the past week, he's hitting .304 with 6 RBI. He'll continue to see some good opportunities and his power will start to come along more over the next 3 weeks.
3. Jose Valverde, RP ARI: The team finally tired of Jorge Julio and brought back Valverder from the minors. He should be a nice source of saves along the way and manager BobMelvin has already said that if he succeeds through the end of the year, then the closer's job his his to lose next spreing.
4. Esteban German, 2B/OF KC: Actually, he's going to start qualifying all over soon enough. The team has been hit with some injuries, some guys have been benched, and manager Buddy Bell says he will get German into the lineup somewhere every game from here on in. He could be a nice stopgap through the end of the season.
5. Chris Iannetta, C COL: He's not going to put up crazy numbers, but if you need a catcher for the end, he will be the primary backstop for the Rockies through the end of the season. He's 5 for 11 with a home run (first of his career), 3 RBI and 6 runs scored in his last 3 games and should be a solid play in NL only leagues.
Dropping Off
1. Jim Edmonds, OF STL: Looks like the concussion could wipe away the whole rest of the season for the veteran slugger. The team won't push him, especially if it means losing his bat for the playoffs.
2. Angel Berroa, SS KC: It's a wonder it took this long. The once heralded Rookie of the Year has been nothing but a disappointment ever since he was handed the award in 2003. He's been officially benched and probably won't be seen too much from now until the season ends.
3. Francisco Liriano, SP MIN: He was removed today in the third inning with what the team is calling elbow stiffness. We know the playoffs could be riding on it, but the team knows it can't be stupid about it. Expect him to be shut down for the rest of the year. Maybe we'll see him out of the bullpen if they make the playoffs.
4. Mike Timlin, RP BOS: Just another load of garbage piled onto the heap we call the Red Sox. He's been awful since taking over for the injured Jonathan Papelbon and the other day he gave up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning when he came in to a 6-1 game. The Sox should remove him from any pressure situations....maybe I should have put Keith Foulke in the "Picking Up" section, but let's not get crazy here.
5. Jhonny Perralta, SS CLE: Someone needs to hit this guy in the head with a brick. He thought last week's benching was just to get him some rest? Puh-leeeeeeeze!! This guy walked into this season being labeled as a top 10 shortstop by most and is walking out like...well, Angel Berroa.
1. Hideki Matsui, OF NYY: The return of Godzilla to the Bronx was a nice one as he went 4 for 4 with a walk in his first game back. With Jason Giambi back, Matsui should see plenty of time at DH. Don't worry about when Gary Sheffield returns, they'll still find a way to keep him in the lineup.
2. Ryan Garko, 1B CLE: When the Tribe's big slugger, Travis Hafner, was lost for the seaon with a fractured hand, the team inserted their first baseman of the future into the cleanup spot. In the past week, he's hitting .304 with 6 RBI. He'll continue to see some good opportunities and his power will start to come along more over the next 3 weeks.
3. Jose Valverde, RP ARI: The team finally tired of Jorge Julio and brought back Valverder from the minors. He should be a nice source of saves along the way and manager BobMelvin has already said that if he succeeds through the end of the year, then the closer's job his his to lose next spreing.
4. Esteban German, 2B/OF KC: Actually, he's going to start qualifying all over soon enough. The team has been hit with some injuries, some guys have been benched, and manager Buddy Bell says he will get German into the lineup somewhere every game from here on in. He could be a nice stopgap through the end of the season.
5. Chris Iannetta, C COL: He's not going to put up crazy numbers, but if you need a catcher for the end, he will be the primary backstop for the Rockies through the end of the season. He's 5 for 11 with a home run (first of his career), 3 RBI and 6 runs scored in his last 3 games and should be a solid play in NL only leagues.
Dropping Off
1. Jim Edmonds, OF STL: Looks like the concussion could wipe away the whole rest of the season for the veteran slugger. The team won't push him, especially if it means losing his bat for the playoffs.
2. Angel Berroa, SS KC: It's a wonder it took this long. The once heralded Rookie of the Year has been nothing but a disappointment ever since he was handed the award in 2003. He's been officially benched and probably won't be seen too much from now until the season ends.
3. Francisco Liriano, SP MIN: He was removed today in the third inning with what the team is calling elbow stiffness. We know the playoffs could be riding on it, but the team knows it can't be stupid about it. Expect him to be shut down for the rest of the year. Maybe we'll see him out of the bullpen if they make the playoffs.
4. Mike Timlin, RP BOS: Just another load of garbage piled onto the heap we call the Red Sox. He's been awful since taking over for the injured Jonathan Papelbon and the other day he gave up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning when he came in to a 6-1 game. The Sox should remove him from any pressure situations....maybe I should have put Keith Foulke in the "Picking Up" section, but let's not get crazy here.
5. Jhonny Perralta, SS CLE: Someone needs to hit this guy in the head with a brick. He thought last week's benching was just to get him some rest? Puh-leeeeeeeze!! This guy walked into this season being labeled as a top 10 shortstop by most and is walking out like...well, Angel Berroa.
posted by Howard Bender at
4:37 PM
