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| Winn goes yard from both sides of plate | Thursday 5/29, 11:58 PM CT |
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Randy Winn entered the game with just two home runs on the season, so of course he went out and hit two, one from each side of the plate, in the Giants comeback victory over the D'backs.
Our View: Winn is a name that will likely be brought up in talks once we get closer to the trade deadline as he brings a professional at-bat night after night, a trait that many teams certainly wouldn't mind having. He continues to be a decent fourth or fifth outfield option in deep mixed leagues. |
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| Upton breaks homerless drought | Thursday 5/29, 11:53 PM CT |
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Justin Upton hit his seventh home run of the season, his first in 17 games, in the D'backs loss to the Giants.
Our View: Upton will likely be a decent outfield option the rest of the way, but he clearly isn't ready to be the hitter he was early in the year. Continue to monitor his progress as he should excel against weaker pitching but struggle against top shelf opponents. |
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| Wilson leads NL in saves | Thursday 5/29, 11:50 PM CT |
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Brian Wilson picked up his 16th save of the season on Thursday night in his 18th attempt for the Giants.
Our View: Wilson leads the NL in saves, and when he throws strikes like he did tonight, he is virtually unbeatable. The Giants basically use him every time they have a close game, so don't be surprised to see him approach 35 saves even if the Giants lose somewhere near 95 games. |
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| Zito continues solid work | Thursday 5/29, 11:47 PM CT |
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Barry Zito hurled a quality start for the Giants allowing the D'backs three runs in six innings on Thursday night as he earned a no-decision.
Our View: Don't look now, but Zito has been a serviceable starter for the month of May as he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his five starts. He isn't lighting the world on fire by any means, but he has given the Giants a chance to win each time out. |
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| Johnson tied for second all-time in K | Thursday 5/29, 11:43 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson fanned nine batters to tie Roger Clemens for second on the all-time strikeout list with 4672. Johnson received a no-decision despite holding the Giants to just two runs over seven innings.
Our View: Johnson looked like the Johnson of old for most of this night, and with the effort he lowered his ERA to 3.83. Johnson isn't the pitcher he once was, but there is no shame in that given his 9.75 K/9 mark which is still top notch. |
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| Bourn steals base, doesn't hit | Thursday 5/29, 11:38 PM CT |
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Michael Bourn went 0-for-3 at the plate but he stole his 24th base of the season for the Astros.
Our View: Bourn has been hitting the ball better of late hitting .281 over his last 14 games, but his OBP is still languishing below .280 on the year which just won't get it done from the leadoff spot. However, Bourn clearly has manager Cecil Cooper's confidence which would seem to mean that Bourn will be out there no matter how poor a job he does of getting on base. |
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| Berkman has two hits including 17th HR | Thursday 5/29, 11:36 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman almost saw his average dip below .380, so in order to avoid that he went out had two hits, including his 17th home run, to push his average back up to .384.
Our View: Berkman continues to glide right along as the best hitter in the known universe. What else can we say? |
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| Pujols goes deep off of Oswalt | Thursday 5/29, 11:32 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went deep for the 13th time this season and he also had a single to end the night gong 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Our View: Pujols continues to defy the wisdom of those who said that he wasn't going to be able to do much of anything this season. Kudos to those of you that grabbed him late in your draft, you are reaping the rewards now. |
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| Lohse extremely solid against the Astros | Thursday 5/29, 11:30 PM CT |
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Kyle Lohse pitched six strong innings on Thursday allowing just a single run to the Astros to earn his fifth victory of the season.
Our View: It's fairly obvious that if you want to rekindle your career as a hurler, you need to head to St. Louis, or shall we start calling it Reclamations R Us? |
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| Oswalt rebounds from slow start, still loses | Thursday 5/29, 11:24 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt allowed two runs in the first and then settled down to permit just one more run over the next six innings though he fell to 4-5 with the loss to the Cardinals.
Our View: Oswalt was bit yet again by the home run, the astonishingly high 16th time in 12 starts he has been taken deep. Once his insanely high HR/F ratio normalizes, its almost 25%, Oswalt's ERA should dive. |
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| Soto falls below .300 | Thursday 5/29, 11:20 PM CT |
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Geovany Soto went 0-for-3 on Thursday to drop his average down to .299, only the second time it has been below .300 since April 18th.
Our View: Soto has gone nine games without a home run during which time he has just three RBI and he has struck out in 11 of the past 12 games. The regression was predictable, the question is how long will it last? |
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| Soriano posts two hits | Thursday 5/29, 11:17 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano had two hits which led to two RBI for the Cubs leadoff hitter on Thursday against the Rockies.
Our View: This was the third straight game that Soriano has put up two hits which has helped him to improve his batting average to .287 after a down couple of games. Still not running with only three steal attempts, Soriano continues to underperform despite his incredible week in mid-May. |
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| Francis looking for consistency | Thursday 5/29, 11:13 PM CT |
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Jeff Francis rebounded from a poor outing to allow three runs over five innings on Thursday in yet another average performance.
Our View: Francis exited this outing with a 6.12 ERA, a number that completely reflects his ineffective work for the Rockies this season. Francis has failed to allow three runs or less in back-to-back starts all season, and until he does he shouldn't be in your lineup. |
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| Marmol continues to dominate all opposition | Thursday 5/29, 11:09 PM CT |
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Carlos Marmol pitched another scoreless inning on Thursday night to drop his ERA to 1.59 for the Cubs. Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless ninth with three strikeouts to lower his mark to 3.14.
Our View: Marmol now has 49 K and 12 BB on the year resulting in a 4.08 K/BB ratio which is only bettered by his 12.97 K/9 mark. If there's a more dominating reliever in baseball right now, we'd like to know who it is. |
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| Spilborghs knocks out three more hits | Thursday 5/29, 11:07 PM CT |
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Ryan Spilborghs continued to hit the ball hard on Thursday as he went 3-for-5 with a run scored for the Rockies. He also stole his fourth base of the season.
Our View: Spilborghs hot hitting has left Scott Podsednik on the bench most days since the Rockies placed Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe on the DL. Ryan now has eight hits in his last four games during which time he has also knocked in five RBI. Once Hawpe and Holliday are healthy, the Rockies will have a tough decision to make with too many outfielders and not enough playing time. |
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| Casilla impressing Twins at plate | Thursday 5/29, 11:01 PM CT |
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Alexi Casilla continued a solid run at the plate with three hits in four AB from the second hole in the Twins order on Thursday.
Our View: Casilla is hitting .326 with 12 RBI in 13 games since being called up, and as a result he is obviously playing himself into fantasy lineups across the land possibly relegating Nick Punto as unnecessary once he is healthy. |
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| Gomez has four hits, caught stealing twice | Thursday 5/29, 10:57 PM CT |
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Carlos Gomez went 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI for the Twins. He was also thrown out twice trying to steal.
Our View: Gomez continues to confound conventional wisdom by hitting at a near .300 clip (.293) despite a plethora of K (52) and few walks (five). At some point something will have to change, we would bet on the average falling. |
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| Gordon produces lone run for Royals | Thursday 5/29, 10:52 PM CT |
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Alex Gordon waited until the ninth inning to get his first hit of the game, one that knocked in the Royals only run against Kevin Slowey and the Twins.
Our View: Gordon is hitting a solid .289, but with only 23 RBI through 53 games, the runs production just hasn't been there. Last year he heated up as the season progressed, hopefully he can do the same thing this year. |
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| Hochevar hit hard in loss | Thursday 5/29, 10:50 PM CT |
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Luke Hochevar fell to 3-5 after allowing 12 base runners and five runs over 5.1 innings to the Twins.
Our View: Hochevar continues to struggle with his control walking well over five batters per nine innings, and each ineffective outing finds him closer to being demoted to the minors to work on his location. |
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| Slowey hurls CG gem | Thursday 5/29, 10:48 PM CT |
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Kevin Slowey was magnificent on Thursday as he twirled a complete game victory over the Royals. Slowely allowed six hits, zero walks and only one run while throwing just 101 pitches, 74 of which were strikes.
Our View: Many times we worry about pitch counts for youngsters in complete games, so it was great to see Slowey pumping in strikes and keeping the pitch count low. Slowey has won his last two starts and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his six starts. |
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| Konerko hits first May home run | Thursday 5/29, 10:42 PM CT |
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Paul Konerko hit his sixth home run of the season which just so happened to be his first in 23 games in May.
Our View: Not only has he had no power to speak of thanks to his hand injury, he also hasn't been able to produce any hits either with a .205 average in May. His luck is bound to change sometime soon, his BABIP is just .230, and when it does he figures to go on an extended run of success. |
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| Pena strikes out two more times | Thursday 5/29, 10:38 PM CT |
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Carlos Pena had another 0-for-4 on Thursday night as he struck out twice and left five runners on base.
Our View: Pena may be on pace for 30 home runs this season, but at a great cost considering his pathetic .223 batting average. With 65 K in less than 200 AB, he is basically mini-Ryan Howard, and this year that's not necessarily a good thing to be. |
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| Jackson keeps club in game, still loses | Thursday 5/29, 10:36 PM CT |
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Edwin Jackson wasn't at his best on Thursday allowing 10 hits and two walks in six innings to the White Sox as he also allowed four runs to fall to 3-4.
Our View: Jackson continues to be a solid arm for the Rays though he continues to be an enigma based on his stuff since it doesn't always lead to the desired result. |
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| Danks does it again | Thursday 5/29, 10:33 PM CT |
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John Danks lowered his ERA to 2.86 by permitting just one earned run over six innings on Thursday as he evened his record at 4-4.
Our View: Danks has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine appearances, and he continues to be one of the better starting pitcher option in the AL. Given his uneven performance last season we are dubious that he will be able to continue his current run, but he has been on the money so far this year. |
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| Stewart hits first home run | Thursday 5/29, 10:30 PM CT |
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Shannon Stewart hit his first home run of the season on Thursday amidst a three hit, two RBI day for the Jays.
Our View: It only took 148 AB for Stewart to go deep, though his game isn't about power. Unfortunately it isn't about speed anymore either as he has only three steals, so Stewart is only really a stop gap measure when you need an extra bat due to injury. |
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| Barajas over .300 | Thursday 5/29, 10:27 PM CT |
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Rod Barajas had three hits which led to three RBI for the Jays catcher. With this effort, Barajas is now hitting .301 on the year.
Our View: Baragas has been swinging a hot stick in May with a .391 average in 46 AB. Greg Zaun continues to take at-bats away from Barajas, but Rod is looking like a great AL Only play at the moment. |
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| Chavez returns to DH role | Thursday 5/29, 10:25 PM CT |
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Eric Chavez started for the first time all season on Thursday and went 0-for-4 from the DH spot, according to the Associated Press. “I was just a little lethargic. I need to catch up on some sleep,” Chavez said. “I’ll feel better tomorrow I’m assuming.”
Our View: With Frank Thomas on the DL, the A's would love to have Chavez find his stroke the next couple of weeks as he is worked back into a more regular role at third base. Keep an eye on how he progresses, but with the ability to DH he might be in their quite frequently as he finds his game. |
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| Eveland shelled in loss | Thursday 5/29, 10:22 PM CT |
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Dana Eveland had his worst outing of the season on Thursday as he allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings against the Blue Jays. Eveland allowed 11 hits and two walks in the outing.
Our View: Eveland saw his ERA climb to 3.66 from 2.90, and while his owners will certainly be disappointed in this effort, you really have no room to complain when looking at the overall body of work considering he threw only five innings in the majors last season. |
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| Litsch improves to 7-1 | Thursday 5/29, 10:19 PM CT |
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Jesse Litsch improved to 7-1 on Thursday by limiting the A's to just seven hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings.
Our View: Litsch has done a great job this season with only nine BB in 11 appearances, but he still allows too many home runs and doesn't miss enough bats. You might consider trading him now before the wheels fall off. |
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| Reyes extends hitting streak | Thursday 5/29, 10:15 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes continued his recent spell of hot hitting with another two hits for the Mets on Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 14-games.
Our View: Reyes has raised his average from .258 to .282 with the streak, though he does have seven games with just one hit. With David Wright also heating up, the Mets offense could be ready to make some noise. |
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| Kent goes yard in first game back | Thursday 5/29, 10:11 PM CT |
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Jeff Kent had a nice return to the lineup as he went deep for the fifth time of the year to knock in his 23rd run of the season. Blake DeWitt also went deep for the Dodgers.
Our View: Kent may no longer be a sexy name, but you can pretty much be certain that a 20 HR, 75 RBI season will be the end result no matter what the struggles, and there just aren't many second baseman you can say that about. |
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| Vargas hangs on for win | Thursday 5/29, 10:08 PM CT |
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Claudio Vargas wasn't pretty on Thursday but he held on long enough to pick up his second win of the season. Vargas allowed four runs over 5.2 innings as he allowed two home runs in the win.
Our View: Vargas has been about what the Mets expected when they brought him into the fold, and that is a solid 5th starter. He doesn't deserve a look unless you are in an NL Only league. |
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| Penny continues to flounder | Thursday 5/29, 10:03 PM CT |
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Brad Penny was roughed up yet again Thursday as he allowed eight hits, three walks, and five runs over four innings to fall to 5-6.
Our View: If you have children, tell them to avert their eyes. Over his last five starts Penny is 0-4 with a 9.43 ERA and 1.92 WHIP. He is clearly injured or so far messed up mechanically that he would take a Barry Zito line, and that isn't good. Penny should have been on your bench for at least the last three starts, and he should remain there until he hurls at least one gem, preferably two. |
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| Wright goes yard, twice | Thursday 5/29, 9:59 PM CT |
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David Wright went deep twice off Brad Penny on his way to a four RBI day on Thursday for the Metropolitans.
Our View: Wright hit more home runs in this game than he had over his last 11. Hopefully this is the start of an extended run for Wright who has done well this year, but not to the level of a top-5 pick that he was in most drafts. |
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| Dumatrait dominates Reds | Thursday 5/29, 9:55 PM CT |
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Phil Dumatrait evened his record at 2-2 after a masterful performance on Thursday. Dumatrait allowed only one unearned run over seven innings while picking up nine K against the Reds, who just so happen to be his former employers.
Our View: It's tough to recommend starting a guy who has averaged 5.03 BB/9, so temper your enthusiasm with this effort until he exhibits an ability to continually throw strikes. |
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| Hairston continues hit parade | Thursday 5/29, 9:51 PM CT |
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Jerry Hairston Jr. had two more hits on Thursday from the second hole in the order to push his batting average to .345.
Our View: Hairston continues a remarkable resurgence after batting .198 over his previous two seasons, and with SS and OF eligibility he is a wonderful play in NL Only leagues. It remains to bee seen how much playing time he will receive once Jeff Keppinger returns, but Hairston will likely end up in a utility role at that point. |
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| Harang falls to 2-7 | Thursday 5/29, 9:47 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang, pitching on just three days rest after appearing in relief in the Reds 18 inning game on Sunday, was beaten around for six runs on 10 hits to pick up his seventh loss of the year.
Our View: Harang still owns a 3.81 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP, so he certainly doesn't at all deserve his awful 2-7 record. Harang makes a perfect buy low hurler if his current owner is fixated on his won-loss record. |
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| Nady hits ninth homer | Thursday 5/29, 9:40 PM CT |
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Xavier Nady went deep and had a double to account for two runs and two RBI for the Pirates.
Our View: Nady continues to perform like an all-star with a .321-9-42 line serving as the NL version of Carlos Quentin giving his fantasy owners a huge return on what was likely a late round grab. |
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| Bay goes deep for 13th time | Thursday 5/29, 9:32 PM CT |
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Jason Bay went deep for the 13th time this season and also hit his ninth double off the year off of Reds starer Aaron Harang on Thursday.
Our View: Bay has been blazing of late with four home runs and 10 RBI in his last nine games and has two or more hits in six of the last seven games to once again resemble the fantasy stud he has been in years past. |
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| Young might need surgery | Thursday 5/29, 9:27 PM CT |
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Chris Young has a small fracture in his skull and will probably need to have surgery to straighten out his septum, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Young should be fine once the procedure is completed, but this news will almost certainly mean that Young will be out until at least the all-star break. Stay tuned for further updates, but don't expect him back on the hill any time soon. |
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| Milledge steals two bases | Thursday 5/29, 9:13 PM CT |
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Lastings Milledge went 1-for-3 and is still hitting only .244, but on this day he stole two bases giving him eight on the year.
Our View: Milledge, much like Delmon Young in the AL, continues to be a disappointment this season as both are really only providing value in the stolen base category. Speaking of steals, Millege has five in his last eight games. |
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| Lannan pitches well | Thursday 5/29, 9:10 PM CT |
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John Lannan worked six solid innings against the Padres though the result was a no-decision. Lannan allowed five hits, three walks and two runs on the day.
Our View: Lannan continues to keep his ERA in the mid 3's, but his WHIP is still 1.39 speaking to the fact that he is still far from a great bet to start in certain matchups. |
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| Ledezma punches out seven | Thursday 5/29, 9:07 PM CT |
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Wilfredo Ledezma had a solid start for the Padres on Thursday as he held the Nationals in check by allowing them only one run over five innings. Ledezma had seven K and allowed just two hits on the day.
Our View: With the injuries in the Padres rotation, Ledezma figures to continue to receive starting assignments if he puts forth efforts like this one, though he still is a marginal fantasy play. |
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| Gerut goes deep in win | Thursday 5/29, 9:04 PM CT |
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Jody Gerut hit his second home run of the season, a three run shot, to lead the Padres to a 5-2 victory over the Nationals.
Our View: Gerut is hitting only .227 since replacing Jim Edmonds, not exactly the type of production the Padres were hoping for. Gerut hasn't been fantasy worthy since 2004, but he does possesses the skills to garner double digits in steals and home runs. |
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| Aurilia miss game due to kidney stones | Thursday 5/29, 8:43 PM CT |
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Rich Aurilia was not with the team on Thursday night as he was forced to go the hospital to pass a kidney stone, according to Rototimes.com sources.
Our View: It doesn't sound too serious, but anyone who has spent any time dealing with this issue likely would disagree with that assessment. Look for Aurilia to be back in action in a couple of days. |
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| Schneider still starter at catcher | Thursday 5/29, 8:39 PM CT |
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Brian Schneider is the Mets starting catcher and there will be no catching platoon in New York if you ask Mets manager Willie Randolph, according to MLB.com. "That could eventually happen," Randolph said. "But I'm not ready to do that yet because I think that Brian, when he catches, is more of an asset to us than worrying about his offense. We like what he does behind the plate, and that, to me, is first and foremost on our team."
Our View: Ramon Castro is 6-for-18 so far on the year, and Schneider has struggled in May hitting .207 after a .333 April. Still, Brian's .257 average is right on par with his career mark (.253), so it's not as if he has underperformed at the plate. He is what he is, and that is no more than a starter in deep NL only leagues or a bottom tier #2 option in leagues that start two backstops. |
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| Geary close to return from DL | Thursday 5/29, 8:34 PM CT |
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Geoff Geary continues to progress well in his comeback from a strained right groin and he appears to be on track to be activated from the DL next Tuesday, according to MLB.com. "I don't feel my groin anymore," Geary said. "Now, it's just a matter of getting used to throwing 30-pitch bullpens."
Our View: Hopefully he hasn't lost all feeling in that region. Geary was one of the unsung relievers in the NL prior to his injury as he has limited the long ball while striking out almost a batter per inning giving him value in NL Only leagues. |
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| DeJesus overcomes hives | Thursday 5/29, 8:28 PM CT |
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David DeJesus returned to action on Thursday after being forced out of the lineup on Wednesday night due to hives, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He must have taken too many of those Flintstones vitamins. |
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| Smoltz throws two innings, no discomfort | Thursday 5/29, 8:25 PM CT |
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John Smoltz threw 27 pitches while throwing two scoreless innings for Single-A Rome on Thursday, according to MLB.com. Smotlz was only scheduled for one inning, but after just 13 pitches he came back out for a second frame.
Our View: Smoltz could return to the Braves this weekend and he will likely slide right into the closers role provided his injured shoulder doesn't flare up again. |
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| Francoeur looking to hit stride | Thursday 5/29, 7:57 PM CT |
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Jeff Francoeur is only 3-for-18 since last Saturday dropping his average to .255, according to MLB.com. "I'm still working on some things, and hopefully I can start getting some consistency soon," Francoeur said.
Our View: Francoeur's slump actually extends out to the entire month of May as he is hitting just .235 with two home runs over his last 25 games. Even worse, the strikeouts have returned as he has 25 punchouts in his last 25 games after just seven in 25 April contests. He will produce runs, but the average will continue to fluctuate if he continues to swing and miss as often as he has over the past month. |
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| Furcal still not cleared to return | Thursday 5/29, 7:48 PM CT |
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Rafael Furcal still has no definitive date for a return from his lower back injury, according to MLB.com. Even when healthy, manager Joe Torre believes that he will need several minor league games to get back up to game speed.
Our View: What started out so fabulously for Furcal has quickly devolved into a very serious situation. Given the fact that he has suffered a couple of setbacks, one would assume that even when activated he could potentially be limited at least on the base paths which would obviously limit his value. Ching-lung Hu will likely continue to fill in, albeit with pathetic results at the plate. |
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| Schmidt to pitch on normal rest | Thursday 5/29, 7:40 PM CT |
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According to manager Joe Torre, Jason Schmidt will make his fourth minor league start on Friday on a normal five day cycle, the first time he will be asked to do that since resuming his comeback, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Schmidt has until June 10th on his rehab assignment before the team has to make a decision on whether or not to activate him. Even when activated, Schmidt may not be inserted into the starting rotation immediately. |
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| Kent back in the lineup | Thursday 5/29, 7:36 PM CT |
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Jeff Kent returned to the Dodgers lineup on Thursday after missing the past couple of games due to lower back tightness, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Kent has been languishing at the plate for most of the year with just four home runs and a .242 batting average, but he still has 22 RBI in 43 games as he continues to be one of the better run producers from the second base position. |
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| Freel still filling utility role | Thursday 5/29, 7:32 PM CT |
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Ryan Freel hoped to have a full-time spot in the lineup this year, but even with the recent demotion of Corey Patterson, Freel is still in his familiar utility role, according to MLB.com. "Putting a guy like Jay Bruce out there, I can't put up those kinds of numbers," Freel said. "It's a lot easier to accept putting a guy like that out there. I know they're trying to improve this ball club up top and trying to put in the best people..."
Our View: Reading between the lines, Freel was saying what we have previously noted, that he is the superior option to Patterson and should have been playing over him all year long. Regardless, Freel will continue to fill the role of fourth outfielder and depth infielder despite a .319 average and the ability to steal bases. |
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| Davies replaces Tomko in rotation | Thursday 5/29, 7:22 PM CT |
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Kyle Davies will replace Brett Tomko in the starting rotation beginning on Saturday night, according to MLB.com. "We appreciate everything that Brett's done but, in light of what we're going through right now, obviously the numbers are what they are," manager Trey Hillman said.
Our View: Tomko is 2-6 with a 6.11 ERA leaving little question that this is th best move for the club (moving him to the bullpen). Davies will be recalled from Triple-A where he was 6-2 with a 2.06 ERA in 10 starts. Davies is a marginal pickup in AL Only leagues, while Tomko's value is almost nil. |
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| King signs minor league deal | Thursday 5/29, 7:16 PM CT |
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Ray King, who was released after just a week with the White Sox, has resurfaced again signing a minor league contract with the Houston Astros, according to MLB.com. King will report to the Round Rock Express of Triple-A and could be pitching by Saturday.
Our View: A completely irrelevant move from a fantasy perspective, that is unless your league has a category for grossly overweight left-handed pitchers who average 0.70 innings per appearance. |
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| Ellsbury on way to steals mark | Thursday 5/29, 7:10 PM CT |
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Jacoby Ellsbury is 20-for-22 on stolen bases putting him on pace to challenge the Red Sox single season stolen base record of 54, according to MLB.com. The record was set by Tommy Harper in 1974.
Our View: Ellsbury's stolen base skills are why he is so valued an addition to a fantasy squad. Hitting at the top of the Sox lineup also doesn't hurt as all those big bats have pushed him across the plate 39 times in 49 games. |
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| Church hopes to resume activity on Friday | Thursday 5/29, 7:04 PM CT |
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Ryan Church (concussion) hopes to be able to return to baseball activities on Friday, according to MLB.com. "They didn't do anything wrong," he said of the Mets. "When it came down to it, they asked me. I was the final say, and I told them, basically, that I couldn't go out on the field and play, but I could pinch-hit."
Our View: The Mets have been roundly criticized for allowing Church to play despite the fact that he was still suffering from concussion related symptoms. Though he has improved, he isn't out of the woods yet, so keep an eye on reports before you decide whether or not to activate him next week. |
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| Baldelli returns to field | Thursday 5/29, 6:58 PM CT |
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Rocco Baldelli returned to the field on Thursday going 1-for-5 in extended spring training in his first step toward reclaiming a once promising career, according to the St. Petersberg Times.
Our View: Baldelli isn't likely to see a major league field anytime soon, but given the dire nature of his prognosis mere months ago, its a great day to hear that he is back on the field regardless of the results. |
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| Mulder looking for an end to the uncertainty | Thursday 5/29, 6:04 PM CT |
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Mark Mulder still can't physically perform the way that he used to despite two years of rehab and two shoulder operations, according to the St. Louis Dispatch. “When your arm doesn’t rotate up — mine rotates down,” Mulder said. ”It doesn’t rotate up the way it should be. There is no way to get on top of the ball and get any downward angle on the ball. Could I go out and pitch? Yeah. I don’t have the command because (of) when your release point is different. Could I go out and throw strikes? Yeah. But they aren’t going to be very good pitches."
Our View: Mulder had a second cortisone shot in the shoulder and he will try to throw again over the weekend. However there seems to be a growing possibility that Mulder will not pitch in the majors this season, and the specter of his career being at an end is certainly possible given the continuing setbacks. |
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| Cabrera continues maturation on hill | Thursday 5/29, 5:58 PM CT |
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Daniel Cabrera is working on an extended run of some of the best work in his career and it's largely through the work he has put in to hone his considerable skills, according to MLB.com. "I think his work ethic is improved," added manager Dave Trembley. "He's a lot more consistent with his effort. I think it's just a matter that he's matured, he's grown up and he's gotten a taste of some success, which he's never had before."
Our View: Cabrera still brings with his tremendous right arm considerable risk given his propensity to walk too many batters, but it really seems like he might have turned the corner. Of course, we have thought that before, so if someone presents you a solid offer for the tall righty, you might still want to listen. |
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| Merker activated from DL | Thursday 5/29, 5:52 PM CT |
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Kent Mercker has been reinstated from the DL, according to the Miami Herald. Mercker has been out since May 9th due to a sore lower back. As reported earlier, Matt Belisle was demoted to make room on the roster for Mercker.
Our View: Mercker is nothing more than a warm body who has zero fantasy value unless your league counts holds. |
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| Encarnacion out of lineup | Thursday 5/29, 5:47 PM CT |
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Like teammate Ken Griffey Jr., Edwin Encarnacion will be given the night off on Thursday to help rest his body and mind, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Edwin is hitting only .234 this season, partially the result of a recent 5-for-37 spell. Encarnacion has long been a boom or bust option, and right now it's been mostly a bust for him. |
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| Griffey resting on Thursday | Thursday 5/29, 5:44 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. will not be in the lineup for the Reds on Thursday as he will be given the night off to rest his weary body, according to the Associated Press. “I’ve got to keep him healthy and not let him get fatigued,” manager Dusty Baker said.
Our View: The good news is that there is no specific injury that he is being rested for, but the bad news is that he just hasn't been a productive hitter for the majority of the season including a recent stretch of 90 AB without a home run. |
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| Hill leaves game with injury | Thursday 5/29, 5:42 PM CT |
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Aaron Hill was removed from the game in the seventh inning after a hard collision with David Eckstein appeared to result in some sort of head injury, according to the Associated Press. It appears that Eckstein's arm hit Hill in the head as they went for a popup.
Our View: There is no word yet on the severity of the injury, so we will have to wait and see if he is able to play over the weekend. Joe Inglett entered the game to replace Hill. |
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| Bush improves mechanics | Thursday 5/29, 5:39 PM CT |
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Dave Bush made a mechanical adjustment which led to his best outing of the season on Tuesday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He's been working on some things," said manager Ned Yost. "It was evident (Tuesday) the things he's been working on are working. He increased velocity 2-3 mph on his fastball. That was good."
Our View: Bush makes a nice waiver wire pick up for those of you looking to add a starter in deep mixed leagues as his expected ERA is often below the level of his actual ERA signaling that he has room for growth. |
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| Soriano's elbow appears alright | Thursday 5/29, 5:33 PM CT |
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Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Thursday and the news after was that his elbow was fine, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. . "I'm going to be all right," Soriano said. "I'm not worried about that right now because I know I've got my fastball. Sometimes it takes a while to come back [at] 97, 98. Right now to come back and throw 94, 92, I'll be all right."
Our View: Soriano figures to be the team's primary setup man to John Smoltz, though of course that is predicated on Smoltz being healthy and in the closers role. Soriano could still pick up some saves given the uncertain outlay of the Braves pen right now, that is if he too can stay healthy. |
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| Lindstrom continues to impress in Florida | Thursday 5/29, 5:26 PM CT |
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Matt Lindstrom continues to impress the Marlins with his near 100 mph fastball, and though Kevin Gregg is clearly the teams closer, Lidstrom's days of pitching in the setup role could be coming to an end sometime in the near future, according to MLB.com. "He could be a closer, yes," Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley said. "There are not too many who have a better arm than he has."
Our View: Lidstrom will continue to work as a setup arm in the Marlins pen, but if Gregg were to struggle or be injured, it is clear that Lindstrom would be in the mix for saves. |
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| Cotts recalled | Thursday 5/29, 5:18 PM CT |
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Neal Cotts was recalled on Thursday to join the Cubs, according to the Miami Herald. To make room on the roster, Jose Ascanio was sent down.
Our View: Cotts had a rough 2007 season, but he has looked very good at Triple-A this year with a 2.00 ERA and three saves in 19 appearances with Iowa. He figures to be nothing more than another arm in the Cubs bullpen with little fantasy value. |
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| Young to get night off | Thursday 5/29, 5:15 PM CT |
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Delmon Young will not be in the starting lineup for the Twins on Thursday night putting his 217 consecutive games played streak in jeopardy, according to the Star Tribune.
Our View: Young certainly could use a day off as his production this season has been simply awful. Drafted for his power and speed combination, Young has come through with eight SB, but he has gone 198 AB without a home run and is batting a poor .258. The talent is still there, and Young makes an attractive buy low candidate, but it's clear that a breakout will not occur until at least 2009. |
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| Johnson stars in pen | Thursday 5/29, 5:10 PM CT |
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Jim Johnson continues to excel in the bullpen for the Orioles leading the club with 29.1 relief innings and a 1.23 ERA, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Johnson certainly isn't someone who was targeted early in the year, and while he still may only have value in very deep leagues, he has been a welcomed addition to those clubs looking to improve their ratios. |
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| Butler demoted to work on stroke | Thursday 5/29, 5:01 PM CT |
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In a somewhat shocking development, Royals DH Billy Butler has been sent back to Triple-A to find his lost stroke at the plate, according to MLB.com. Mike Aviles, Triple-A Omaha's hottest hitter with a .338 average and 42 RBI, was called up for the first time in his career to take the open roster spot.
Our View: Butler has only one home run in 186 AB, but given that he has been in the lineup for the Royals on an almost daily basis since last June, this is still a shock. However, with a .231 average over his last 31 games, it's clear that something needs to be done. Ross Gload likely gets a short-term boost with this move while Aviles figures to be used somewhat sparingly. |
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| Metcalf called up, Duran sent down | Thursday 5/29, 4:54 PM CT |
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Travis Metcalf has been recalled to join the Rangers while the team has demoted German Duran, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Metcalf has only one AB this season with the Rangers, but he hit .255 with five home runs last season for the Rangers. He figures to fill a reserve role behind Ramon Vazquez at third base now that the decision has been made to shift Hank Blalock to first base. |
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| Millwood activated from DL | Thursday 5/29, 4:49 PM CT |
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Kevin Millwood, out due to a strained right groin, has been activated from the DL, according to the Associated Press. to make room for Millwood, Kameron Loe was demoted. Millwood will pitch against Oakland on Friday.
Our View: Millwood was hopeful of regaining his past glory this season, but he has been unable to stay healthy short circuiting that plan. At this point of his career he is merely an AL Only play, and even that is a bit of a stretch for a guy with an ERA approaching five (4.88) with a 1.69 WHIP. |
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| McClung brutal in loss | Thursday 5/29, 4:40 PM CT |
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Seth McClung backed up a solid first start this year with a brutal outing on Thursday allowing eight hits, six walks and six runs in 4.2 innings to pick up the loss against the Braves.
Our View: So much for that experiment. McClung has always failed to live up to his considerable talents because of a lack of control of the strike zone as today's six walks, and 19 in 30 IP this season, attest. Stay far, far away from him. |
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| Johnson has nice afternoon | Thursday 5/29, 4:37 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson had two hits, two RBI and his fifth stolen base of the season for the Braves on Thursday.
Our View: Johnson is pushing .300 with his average (.294), and seems ideally suited to the second spot in the order where he hit today. It remains to be seen if Yunel Escobar will remain in the leadoff spot, but the duo should make a combo at the top of the order. |
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| Peavy could throw off mound by Sun. | Thursday 5/29, 3:56 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy could throw off a mound as early as Sunday if his flat ground throwing session on Friday goes favorably, according to MLB.com. Peavy is recovering from a right elbow strain, and said he is excited about the way his elbow feels after a second throwing session Wednesday. Manager Bud Black would ideally like to see Peavy throw a couple of bullpen sessions, possibly followed by a simulated game. But Black said Peavy might not have to go on a Minor League rehab assignment before returning to the Padres' starting rotation.
Our View: Peavy was placed on the DL on May 20, retroactive to May 15, and would be eligible to come off the DL on Friday. Peavy previously hoped to return by the weekend, but that was deemed as unrealistic. |
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| Branyan registers lone RBI in loss | Thursday 5/29, 3:45 PM CT |
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Russell Branyan went 1-for-2 with a home run, and recorded the Brewers' only RBI in Thursday's 8-1 loss to Atlanta.
Our View: That was Branyan's first home run and RBI over four games played this season. He started the game at third base, and should earn more playing time with today's solid effort. He has good power and plays his home games at hitter-friendly Miller Park, meaning he is worth a look in NL-only leagues if you need some help in the home run department. |
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| Belisle sent back to minors | Thursday 5/29, 3:38 PM CT |
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Pitcher Matt Belisle is headed back to Triple-A Louisville to pitch in relief, according to the AP. Righty Josh Fogg moves back into the rotation and will start Saturday against Atlanta.
Our View: Belisle was 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA and 1.79 WHIP over six starts this season, and held no fantasy value prior to his demotion. He pitched in relief two years ago, and is better suited for that role. |
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| Campillo claims second win | Thursday 5/29, 3:33 PM CT |
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Jorge Campillo only allowed one run on four hits over five innings of work in Thursday's 8-1 win over the Brewers, with no walks and six strikeouts. The sole run came on a homer by Russell Branyan. Campillo also went 1-for-3 at the plate, with two RBI.
Our View: Campillo moves to 2-0 for the season, with 33 strikeouts over 36.1 innings. |
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| Teixeira collects four RBI | Thursday 5/29, 3:28 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira went 2-for-3 and collected four RBI in Thursday's 8-1 win over Milwaukee. Most of the damage came on a three-run homer, his sixth of the season.
Our View: That was his eighth multi-hit game in May, and the second time he reached four RBI over his last four games. |
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| Posada didn't throw Thursday | Thursday 5/29, 3:22 PM CT |
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Jorge Posada played in an extended spring training game in Tampa against the Blue Jays, and went 1-for-2 with two walks, according to the Journal News. He served as the catcher, but did not throw to the bases during the game. He participated in his throwing program before the game, and threw from 90, 120 and 150 feet and then to the bases.
Our View: Posada will be cleared to throw to the bases in an extended spring game on Saturday in St. Petersburg against the Rays. The Rays will be asked to run so Posada can test his arm. He could be expected back with the Yankees next week, likely Thursday or Friday, barring a setback.
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| Aybar activated from DL | Thursday 5/29, 3:12 PM CT |
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| Infielder Willy Aybar has been activated from the DL, according to the | |
