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| Rivera taking advantage of AB | Thursday 7/10, 11:57 PM CT |
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Juan Rivera had three hits and scored two runs as the Angels starter in the outfield in place of the struggling Gary Matthews Jr.
Our View: Rivera had a home run and three RBI on Wednesday and now he has three hits on this night. If he is somehow on the waiver-wire in your AL only league now is the time to pounce as it appears that he will be given a chance to prove his worth. |
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| Young has four hits | Thursday 7/10, 11:54 PM CT |
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Michael Young pushed his average up to .302 thanks to four hits in seven trips to the plate on Thursday night.
Our View: Young is 26-for-60 (.433) over his last 13 games as he has rediscovered the stroke that has enabled him to post 200-hit seasons five years in a row. |
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| Kendrick hits two bombs | Thursday 7/10, 11:51 PM CT |
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Howie Kendrick had a big Thursday night with his first two home runs of the season as he went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI for the Angels.
Our View: Kendrick is hitting .328 in 177 AB for the Angels, though with a lack of pop with solid run production as he has only 22 runs and 22 RBI in 47 games. The average appears to be legit, but until he can shake the injury bug he will continue to underperform his ample talents. |
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| Guardado continues to lower ERA | Thursday 7/10, 11:47 PM CT |
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In a game with 21 runs scored, Eddie Guardado was one of the few hurlers who appeared who escaped unscathed as he worked a scoreless eighth inning on Thursday night.
Our View: Guardado lowered his ERA to 2.73 with this effort as he hasn't allowed a run over 12 appearances spanning 11.2 innings. C.J. Wilson is still the Rangers closer, but if he has a hiccup, Guardado appears ready to pounce. |
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| Lackey lit up by Rangers | Thursday 7/10, 11:43 PM CT |
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John Lackey was given a 10-2 lead on Thursday night but he couldn't hold on to the lead as he allowed an amazing 15 hits over 5.2 innings which led to six runs scored by the Rangers. Lacked also walked five guys on the night for an astronomical total of 20 base runners in 5.2 innings.
Our View: The Angels bullpen went on to blow the rest of the eight run lead, but the big story was Lackey who saw his ERA shoot up to 2.46 with this effort while his WHIP lept from 0.94 to 1.12. After a phenomenal start to the year, Lackey has given up 10 earned runs and 23 hits over his last 11.2 IP so the All-Star break appears to be coming at a great time. |
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| Butler more serious about craft | Thursday 7/10, 10:49 PM CT |
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Billy Butler feels a newfound maturity has come over him after his latest demotion, and the 22 year old is intent on making his mark with a more serious attitude, according to the Kansas City Star. "I&;m trying to be a better teammate," he said. "I think I have a different demeanor."
Our View: Butler, a 2-time minor league batting champ, is batting just .260 with an anemic two home runs in 223 AB with the Royals. He still has about as much potential at the dish as any young hitter in the majors, but it is unclear if he will start to fulfill that potential in the second half of '08. |
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| Liriano dominating in minors | Thursday 7/10, 10:20 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano picked up his seventh victory on Thursday night as he held the Durham Bulls to just three hits and one walk over seven innings. He also struck out eight batters on the night.
Our View: Liriano is just about "back" from his elbow surgery as he has now walked all of six batters in his last seven starts during which time he has 46 K. He will likely be called up to join the Twins rotation at some point shortly after the All-Star break. |
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| Dye hits 20th home run | Thursday 7/10, 10:09 PM CT |
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Jermaine Dye didn't make the All-Star team on Thursday but he continued to produce on the field by going 2-for-4 with his 20th home runs of the season for the Sox.
Our View: Over his last 63 games, Dye has been a run producing monster with 18 home runs and 45 RBI. Dye is now hitting .301 with 20 home runs and 53 RBI as he has clearly returned to the type of hitter he was in 2006, and that means trouble for opposing pitchers. |
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| Teahen hits inside the park HR | Thursday 7/10, 10:06 PM CT |
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Mark Teahen had two hits including his 10th home run, an inside the park job, for the Royals on Thursday night.
Our View: Teahen has had a down year with an ordinary .255 average and a middling 32 RBI in 326 AB. He is a fine AL only option as he continues to pile up the at-bats, but you must be pretty desperate if you are relying on him in mixed leagues. |
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| Soria notches 24th save | Thursday 7/10, 10:03 PM CT |
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Another night, another save for Joakim Soria who picked up his 24th of the year on Thursday night.
Our View: Soria continues to prove that you don't have to be on a great team to be a tremendously successful closer. Very few relievers have ever matched the start of Soria who owns a 2.13 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over the first 100 appearances of his career. |
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| Buehrle loses in eighth inning | Thursday 7/10, 9:59 PM CT |
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Mark Buehrle worked seven scoreless innings before the Royals got to him for two runs in the eighth inning as he fell to 6-8 on the year.
Our View: This was a great pitching duel with Zack Greinke, but eventually the veteran faded while the youngster didn't. Buehrle did manage to lower his ERA to 3.83 on the night in a quality start, but he remains nothing more than a mid level starter because of his lack of strikeouts. |
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| Greinke masterful again | Thursday 7/10, 9:56 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke wasn't involved in the decision on Thursday night, but he still dominated the White Sox holding them to just one run over seven innings. On the night Greinke walked one while striking out eight.
Our View: Greinke deserved the win, but the offense didn't get rolling for the Royals until he was removed from the game. Through 19 starts the Royals starter owns a great 3.48 ERA that has him marked as one of the top-20 starters in the American League. |
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| Huff continues role at plate | Thursday 7/10, 9:48 PM CT |
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Another night, another two hits for Aubrey Huff who with this evening's effort pushed his average up to .288.
Our View: Huff has hits in 11 of his last 12 games during which time he has hit four home runs with 13 RBI. Too bad for him the All-Star break is fast approaching. |
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| Sherrill falling on hard times | Thursday 7/10, 9:42 PM CT |
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George Sherrill picked up his sixth blown save of the season and then his fourth loss as the Orioles fell 6-5 on Thursday.
Our View: Sherrill is showing some major cracks of late with four of the blown saves and three of the loses in his last 11 appearances as his ERA has risen from 3.23 to 4.12. He doesn't appear to be close to losing his job, but that doesn't mean you would be dumb to explore his value in a trade, especially since he could be on the move to a team where he might end up serving as a setup man. |
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| Guthrie at top of second tier | Thursday 7/10, 9:37 PM CT |
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Jeremy Guthrie wasn't involved in the decision on Thursday, but he still held the Blue Jays to two runs, one earned, over seven innings.
Our View: Guthrie has only five wins on the year, but he has been one of the most solid AL starting pitchers this season with a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Guthrie continues to operate as a below the radar innings eater worthy of running out there every start. |
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| Parrish has another solid start | Thursday 7/10, 9:33 PM CT |
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John Parrish had a second quality start for the Jays as he held the Orioles to three runs over seven innings in a no-decision on Thursday.
Our View: Parish has given the Jays a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings, and with the recent injury to Dustin McGowan, Parrish should remain in the Jays starting rotation for a while as a viable AL only option. |
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| Mora finally back to hitting | Thursday 7/10, 9:30 PM CT |
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Melvin Mora went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Orioles on Thursday to extend his hitting streak to five games.
Our View: Mora has hits in seven of his last eight games to raise his average from .227 to .237. Mora is best turned to only when hot, and for those of you in deep leagues, now appears to be one of those times. |
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| Lind has game-winning hit | Thursday 7/10, 9:26 PM CT |
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Adam Lind went 3-for-4 on Thursday night as he knocked in the winning run in the ninth inning off of Orioles closer George Sherrill.
Our View: Lind has hits in six of the last eight games with seven RBI in his last nine games. With Vernon Wells going down with that hamstring injury, Lind would seem a lock to remain in the lineup on a daily basis. |
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| Gomes lone bright spot | Thursday 7/10, 9:22 PM CT |
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Jonny Gomes blasted his seventh home run from the eighth hole in the order for the Rays in their humiliating 13-2 loss to the Indians.
Our View: Gomes is only hitting .190, but he still has averaged a home run every 16.9 AB. It's tough to get down on a guy when he bats only six times a week, and Gomes still is flashing 30-HR potential, though it doesn't appear that he will ever get enough AB to reach that total in Tampa. |
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| Laffey rebounds | Thursday 7/10, 9:18 PM CT |
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Aaron Laffey rebounded from two poor outings to pick up his fifth win on Thursday night as he held the Rays to two runs over six innings.
Our View: Laffey has a 3.45 ERA after 14 starts, and he has been a tremendous waiver-wire pickup this season. Laffey figures to remain in the rotation the rest of the way, and with that he figures to return solid value. |
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| Mussina suffers no decision | Thursday 7/10, 9:17 PM CT |
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The Yanks failed to support the efforts of their pitcher this evening, ruining a good outing to fall 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitcher in question was Mike Mussina , going six innings to allow just two runs (both earned) on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Mussina walks with no decision, but adding to an impressive 11-6 record would have been nice. He has five wins and just two losses over his last nine starts, allowing a total of just four earned runs in those two no-decisions during that span. |
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| Sonnanstine struggles against Indians | Thursday 7/10, 9:15 PM CT |
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Andy Sonnanstine lost his fourth game against 10 victories on Thursday night as he allowed six runs, all earned, over 5.1 innings. On the night, Andy didn't walk a batter, but he also didn't have a single strikeout.
Our View: This outing ended a streak of 8-straight in which he had allowed three or fewer earned runs. Sonnanstine just doesn't miss a lot of bats, so when he is forced to come into the strike zone, he can be hit hard. Still, this guy has given you more than you could have hoped for, even though his ratios are nothing more than average at this point (4.58 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). |
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| Abreu drives in two in Yanks loss | Thursday 7/10, 9:12 PM CT |
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The Yanks managed just seven total hits as a team in taking the 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening, though outfielder Bobby Abreu attempted to get 'em on track. Abreu went 1-for-3 at the dish with one walk, driving in two runs on his single to give the Yanks their only runs.
Our View: Abreu is struggling through a rough July, hitting just .188 coming into tonight with no homers and just four RBIs. He's battling and every little positive note helps. |
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| Francisco has four RBI | Thursday 7/10, 9:09 PM CT |
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Ben Francisco had a career best four RBI on Thursday night as the Indians stopped a 10-game losing streak with a 13-2 victory over the Rays.
Our View: Francisco hit his eighth home run of the year on his way to three hits from the third hole in the order. Francisco has three home runs and seven RBI in his last nine games as he continues to do just enough to continue to pick up regular at-bats. |
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| DeJesus thriving in anonymity | Thursday 7/10, 8:40 PM CT |
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David DeJesus is batting over .300 for the Royals this season (.307) while leading the American League with a .459 batting average with RISP, according to MLB.com. "I just think the same thing," he said. "Just hit a pitch I can do something with. I don't try to do too much.
Our View: Ian Kinsler entered the night second at .403 with RISP. When you are doing anything better than Kinsler, you are doing something right. Expect DeJesus to continue to provide steady numbers across the board for the Royals. |
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| Hafner slowly improving | Thursday 7/10, 8:03 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner's shoulder is slowly improving, but there is still no timetable established as to when he might be healthy enough to return to the Indians lineup, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "For three or four weeks, there was no progress. But the last couple of weeks it's started to come around."
Our View: Hafner is still hopeful of some meaningful contribution later in the year, but at this point it would appear that he would be lucky to return to the lineup by August. |
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| Laird eyeing return to lineup | Thursday 7/10, 7:59 PM CT |
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Gerald Laird, who is currently on the DL with a hamstring injury, will spend the next week at the teams training facility in Surprise with an eye to rejoining his teammates next Thursday or Friday, according to MLB.com. "It's obvious we miss Gerald," manager Ron Washington said. "We miss his experience."
Our View: Laird was hitting well before being struck by injury with a .306 average and 25 RBI in 183 AB. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hasn't established himself as he is still struggling along with a .217 batting average, so a platoon situation could still be in play when Laird returns. |
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| Blalock targetting next Friday | Thursday 7/10, 7:54 PM CT |
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Hank Blalock will play three games at Double-A Frisco starting on Monday, and if all goes well he is hopeful of returning to the starting lineup on Friday, according to MLB.com. "If Hank is ready, I want Hank," manager Ron Washington said.
Our View: Ron Washington has remained steadfast that when healthy Blalock will be in his lineup which means power-hitting rookie Chris Davis may or may not continue to be an integral part of the daily lineup. |
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| Wilson traded to Mariners | Thursday 7/10, 7:47 PM CT |
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The Seattle Mariners added a right handed bat on Thursday to replace the released Richie Sexson as the club traded a player to be named later to the Pirates in exchange for Craig Wilson, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: Wilson was batting .230-10-27 in Triple-A this season, but with an open roster spot and some highly suspect work at both first base and DH, Wilson could end up picking up enough at-bats to give him some AL only value. |
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| Molina making sixth start | Thursday 7/10, 7:38 PM CT |
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Jose Molina started his sixth straight game at catcher for the Yankees as Jorge Posada continues to strengthen his injured shoulder, according to MLB.com. "Posada threw today to the bases," manager Joe Girardi said. "He threw better, and it's the best his arm strength has been."
Our View: Posada has been in the lineup at DH and first base to protect his shoulder, and according to the report Posada will be back behind the dish on Friday. |
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| Hamilton experiencing slowdown | Thursday 7/10, 7:08 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton hit a game-winning home run on Wednesday night as he continues to mash pitchers at a prolific rate for a player who was out of the game for 3 1/2 years due to personal problems, according to MLB.com.
Our View: For all the good, and that includes a .307-20-89 line in just 89 games, Hamilton has only gone deep once in his last 70 AB. While it is logical to expect a step back in his production, there is no reason to believe he will fall completely apart though there is some concern given that his current AB total of 358 is his highest mark since a career-high 391 in 2000 at Single -A ball. |
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| Brown hits walk-off home run | Thursday 7/10, 6:56 PM CT |
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Emil Brown hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning on Thursday in the Athletics 3-2 victory over the Mariners.
Our View: Brown had 21 RBI in April, but since then his work has been highly ineffective at the plate, especially his .154 batting average in June. If Ryan Sweeney is placed on the DL with his injured pinkie Brown could pick up more work, though a .215 batting average against right handers could force him to continue to be platooned. |
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| Bloomquist picking up playing time | Thursday 7/10, 6:53 PM CT |
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Willie Bloomquist had three hits and a stolen base for the Mariners from the leadoff spot on Thursday.
Our View: Bloomquist has been picking up more work in the field since the Mariners started juggling their lineup, and he certainly has enough speed to be considered a valuable AL only part, especially with his ability to qualify all over the field (2B, 3B, SS, OF). |
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| Sweeney dislocates finger | Thursday 7/10, 6:49 PM CT |
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Ryan Sweeney had two hits on Thursday before he dislocated his left pinkie, an injury that forced him to be removed from the game, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Sweeney has been pretty injury prone this season, but when on the field he has been productive as evidenced by his .351 average over the past 10 games. Consider going with Rajai Davis the rest of the week, as Sweeney might not be back until after the All-Star break. |
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| Dickey shuts out Athletics | Thursday 7/10, 6:38 PM CT |
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R.A. Dickey hurled seven innings of shutout ball at the Athletics on Thursday in the Mariners 3-2, 11 inning loss.
Our View: Dickey owns a 3.86 ERA over 15 appearances this season, and he could continue to hold down a spot in the rotation when Felix Hernandez is activated given the recent injury to Miguel Batista leaving him as a possible starter in AL only leagues. |
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| Morrow blows first save | Thursday 7/10, 6:36 PM CT |
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Brandon Morrow suffered his first blown save of the year when Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki took him deep in the ninth inning with two solo shots that sent the game into extra innings. Eventually the Mariners succumbed 3-2 in 11 innings.
Our View: Morrow had gone 21 appearances without allowing a run, so he was due to slip up. Even with this outing in the books his ERA is still a fantastic 1.23 with a 0.85 WHIP as he has been as dominating a hurler as the American League has seen this season. |
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| Snider could be called up | Thursday 7/10, 6:18 PM CT |
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With the news that Vernon Wells will likely miss at least a month of action due to his injured hamstring, the Jays might be considering calling up former draft pick Travis Snider, according to the Globe and Mail.
Our View: Snider is hitting .286 with 13 home runs in Triple-A. With all of the injuries to the team it is obvious that the Jays will be lucky to finish at .500, so there really is no reason for the team not to give the young up and comer a shot. |
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| Wells placed on 15-day DL | Thursday 7/10, 5:53 PM CT |
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The Toronto Blue Jays have placed outfielder Vernon Wells on the 15-day disabled list due to his strained left hamstring. The injury is expected to keep Wells out of action four to six weeks, according to the AP.
Our View: This is horrible news for Wells' owners, as not only will he miss four to six weeks, but hamstring issues tend to linger and this could effect his production throughout the rest of the season. |
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| Longoria named to All-Star team | Thursday 7/10, 5:35 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria won the fan vote in the American League and was named to the All-Star team on Thursday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Longoria has played great defense at the hot corner, and with a .281-16-53 line at the plate, the fans made a good call here as Longoria just beat out the mustached one, Jason Giambi, for the final spot. |
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| Span has four hits | Thursday 7/10, 5:30 PM CT |
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Denard Span stole his fifth base of the season on Thursday, though it was his 4-for-4 outing at the plate that really opened some eyes.
Our View: Carlos Gomez went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .260, and Span could begin to eat into some of his playing time if Gomez doesn't bring up that sub .300 OBP soon especially considering that since Span has been recalled he has hits in nine of 10 games. |
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| Thames produces three hits | Thursday 7/10, 5:27 PM CT |
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Marcus Thames didn't go deep on Thursday but he did produce three hits to push his average up to .282 for the Tigers.
Our View: .282 and 17 home runs from a guy who hit .242 with 18 long balls last season, not bad production huh? When Magglio Ordonez returns to the lineup it will be interesting to see how many AB Thames continues to pick up. Perhaps the Tigers will send Matt Joyce back down to keep Thames in the lineup, though Joyce has two home runs and five hits the past two days. |
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| Slowey hit hard | Thursday 7/10, 5:23 PM CT |
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Kevin Slowey looked terrible on Thursday permitting nine hits, two walks and six runs over just 3.2 innings again the Tigers.
Our View: Luckily he got some run support and picked up a no-decision as the Twins eventually came back to win the game. Slowly has been torched for 11 runs over his last 9.2 innings as his ERA has risen from 3.47 to 4.26. He should right the ship, but there is little reason to expect him to produce a WHIP of 1.13 the rest of the way, so a bit of correction is likely in order. |
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| Rogers solid yet again | Thursday 7/10, 5:19 PM CT |
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Kenny Rogers had another effective outing on Thursday as he allowed three runs over seven innings against the Twins. Rogers permitted nine hits and two walks, while striking out only one batter.
Our View: Over his last nine starts, Rogers has allowed three or fewer earned runs seven times as he continues to give the Tigers time for the offense to come around to win the game. Despite the stretch of decent pitching, he has only been rewarded with two victories in this stretch. |
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| Griffey goes deep for Reds | Thursday 7/10, 5:11 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 12th home run of the year on Thursday as he went 2-for-5 with four RBI for the Reds.
Our View: Griffey can still swing the stick, and this was his third long ball in 10 games. Griffey, who has been rumored to be on the block, could find himself rejuvenated if he is dealt to a contender. |
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| Mauer extends game | Thursday 7/10, 5:07 PM CT |
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On his originally scheduled day off, Joe Mauer came off the bench in the top of the ninth and hit a sacrifice fly scoring Denard Span and extending the game into extra-innings. The Twins would go on to beat the Tigers 7-6.
Our View: Mauer has been on a tear lately with a 8-game hitting streak. He continues to be a great source for AVG, RBI, and runs, but his power numbers leave something to desire. |
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| Jones blows save | Thursday 7/10, 4:53 PM CT |
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Todd Jones's blew his second save of the year in Thurday's game against the Twins. The Twins got three hits and scored two runs off Jones, before he was removed from the game in the top of the ninth.
Our View: Jones has never been the most effective closer in the game, so expect stuff like this to happen every so often. |
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| Ross goes deep twice | Thursday 7/10, 4:51 PM CT |
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David Ross hit two of the Reds seven home runs on Thursday after entering the game with but a single long ball in 94 games.
Our View: Ross had three hits on the day to boost his average to .265. More telling is the fact that perhaps this will signal a power outburst for a backstop who has hit 38 home runs the past two seasons in just 558 AB. |
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| Morneau hits game winning HR | Thursday 7/10, 4:35 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau tied a career high going 5-for-5 with a game winning home run in the 11th inning during Thursday afternoon's thriller against the Detroit Tigers.
Our View: Look for Morneau to stay hot as this is his fourth multi-hit game in a row, and has hit home runs in back-to-back games. |
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| Damon targets monday | Thursday 7/10, 4:14 PM CT |
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According to the AP, Johnny Damon is hoping to start hitting off a tee on Monday. “It depends if the swelling goes down,” Damon said Thursday. “If it feels good, I’ll start hurrying up.”
Our View: Damon is on the disabled list for the first time in his major league career. Look for the Yankees to be eager to reinsert his .319 AVG back into the lineup, as soon as he is activated from the DL. |
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| Johjima could play first | Thursday 7/10, 3:02 PM CT |
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With the release of Richie Sexson, it's possible Kenji Johjima could see some time at first base, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: Johjima wouldn't represent much of an upgrade offensively over Sexson at this point, though he obviously does not strike out nearly as much. Johjima's .219 average and three home runs are poor numbers for a utility infielder, much less a starting first baseman. |
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| Borowski released | Thursday 7/10, 2:54 PM CT |
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According to PA Sports Ticker, the Cleveland Indians have officially released former closer Joe Borowski.
Our View: Even if Borowski is picked up by another MLB team, his days as a closer are most likely over. Its safe to drop Borowski in all formats. |
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| Wells will return to rotation | Thursday 7/10, 2:51 PM CT |
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Kip Wells will return to the Colorado Rockies rotation for the second half of the season after he makes two more rehab starts, according to ColoradoRockies.com.
Our View: Wells was having a good year in relief for the Rockies, but don't let that fool you. His lowest ERA as a starter in the last three seasons is 5.09. |
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| Price impressing | Thursday 7/10, 2:39 PM CT |
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former first overall selection David Price has been impressing scouts, with a mid-90's fastball that has movement, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Price is said to be a candidate to come to the bigs sometime in the second half. If he does, he could be a huge help to fantasy squads, so making a waiver claim on him when he is recalled would be a wise move. |
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| Bullington claimed off waivers | Thursday 7/10, 2:03 PM CT |
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Former first overall pick Bryan Bullington was claimed off of waivers by the Cleveland Indians, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He will be sent to Triple-A Buffalo to work on his game.
Our View: Bullington has never lived up to his high draft status, and maybe a change of scenery will benefit him. Either way, he is not a viable fantasy option. |
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| Kinsler has favorable match-up | Thursday 7/10, 2:00 PM CT |
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When John Lackey pitches for the Angels, it is usually not a good match-up for the opposition, but Ian Kinsler is an exception. In his career, the Rangers second baseman is 5-for-12 with two home runs off the L.A. righty.
Our View: Kinsler has a 21-game hitting streak going, and he could see that reach 22 if his career numbers off Lackey are any indication. Kinsler remains one of the best second baseman in fantasy play. |
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| Rivera could start All-Star Game | Thursday 7/10, 1:52 PM CT |
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Mariano Rivera could start for the American League in the All-Star Game, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: That would be quite a change for the Yankees closer. He started 10 games his rookie year, but has yet to make a start since. |
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| DeJesus struggling | Thursday 7/10, 1:44 PM CT |
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David DeJesus is just 4-for-25 in his last five games, and faces an even bigger challenge tonight in White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle. DeJesus is hitting just .179 for his career off the lefty.
Our View: As noted, DeJesus is struggling recently, so if you have another option on your bench, it might be best to sit the Royals outfielder for tonight's game. |
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| Renteria out of lineup | Thursday 7/10, 1:17 PM CT |
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Edgar Renteria was not in the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers today after suffering a mild hamstring injury on Wednesday, according to Tigers.com. The injury is not thought to be serious and Renteria could be back in the lineup tomorrow.
Our View: Renteria is not having the season fantasy owners had hoped for, with a .254 average and .301 on-base percentage. |
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| Wells called up | Thursday 7/10, 1:07 PM CT |
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Pitcher Jared Wells was called up when Erik Bedard was placed on the 15-day DL, according to Mariners.com.
Our View: Wells joined the Seattle organization in a May trade, and had a 4.41 ERA and six saves in Triple-A Tacoma. He does not have fantasy value at this point. |
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| Bedard hits DL | Thursday 7/10, 1:01 PM CT |
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Erik Bedard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his shoulder, according to the Seattle Times.
Our View: Bedard has disappointed the Mariners somewhat, but his numbers are still serviceable in fantasy leagues, with a 1.32 WHIP and 3.67 ERA, though he has notched only six wins. |
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| Sexson released by Mariners | Thursday 7/10, 12:59 PM CT |
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Richie Sexson was released by the Seattle Mariners today, according to the Seattle Times.
Our View: Sexson was having another terrible year, hitting .218, with 76 strikeouts in 252 at-bats. He'll likely find a home somewhere, but he should remain on fantasy league waiver wires. |
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| Holliday will start in All-Star Game | Thursday 7/10, 11:58 AM CT |
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Matt Holliday will be the starting right fielder for the National League in the All-Star Game, according to MLB.com. He will replace the injured Alfonso Soriano in the lineup.
Our View: Holliday is having another great season, and is a better option than Soriano anyway. Holliday's .343 average is fourth in the National League. |
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| Gomez given day off | Thursday 7/10, 11:31 AM CT |
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Carlos Gomez was given a day off yesterday, as he is mired in a 2-for-21 slump, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Our View: Gomez is hitting .263, but his on-base percentage is a sickly .298, which is clearly unacceptable for a leadoff hitter. Gomez has fantasy value due to his stolen base percentage, but it would be nice to see him take a more disciplined approach at the plate. |
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| Burnett likely to stay in Toronto | Thursday 7/10, 11:26 AM CT |
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A.J. Burnett's chances of being traded have waned recently, according to the Toronto Star. With Dustin McGowan's injury, and two teams already acquiring pitchers, Burnett may wind up staying in Toronto this season.
Our View: Burnett is one of the more maddening pitchers in fantasy baseball. He can either mow hitters down , or give up seven runs in five innings, like he did in Wednesday's game. If you have him on your fantasy squad, you'll just have to live with the ups and downs he provides. |
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| Munoz called up | Thursday 7/10, 11:17 AM CT |
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Luis Munoz has been called up from Double-A to take the roster spot of John Van Benschoten, who was demoted, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: Munoz had a 5.36 ERA in the minors, and has a problem with giving up home runs, allowing 14 in under 90 innings. He has no value in fantasy leagues at this point. |
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| Millwood will make next start | Thursday 7/10, 11:09 AM CT |
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Kevin Millwood has a sore right groin, but he will make his next start on either Friday or Saturday, depending on how he feels after today's bullpen session, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Millwood has remained average with Texas since signing with the team. This year is no different, and his 1.66 WHIP is just one reason why he is not a good fantasy option. |
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| Ballard to make debut | Thursday 7/10, 11:04 AM CT |
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Michael Ballard will likely get the start tonight in his major league debut for the Texas Rangers, as they face off against the Los Angeles Angels, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Ballard has mixed results in Double-A. On one hand, he was 8-3 with a 3.97 ERA, but on the other hand, opponents were hitting .304 off of him. |
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| McGowan tears rotator cuff | Thursday 7/10, 10:54 AM CT |
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Dustin McGowan has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will miss a minimum of four weeks, according to the Associated Press. "Right now, we're probably looking at longer than four weeks," said Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi.
Our View: McGowan had fantasy value in deep AL-only leagues, with a respectable 4.37 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Torn rotator cuffs are serious injuries, so expecting him back this season may be wishful thinking. |
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| Vidro will remain hitting cleanup | Thursday 7/10, 9:54 AM CT |
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Despite a .212 average against righties, Jose Vidro will remain as the team's cleanup hitter against right-handed pitchers, hitting behind Raul Ibanez, according to the Seattle Times. "He's still got that reputation that'll make guys think about not giving Ibanez anything to hit," Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said.
Our View: This move just goes to show how pathetic the Mariners lineup is. Vidro is hitting .214 on the season with a .262 on-base percentage, and would have to rank as the single worst cleanup hitter in all of baseball. |
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| Inge recalled | Thursday 7/10, 9:38 AM CT |
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Brandon Inge was recalled from his rehab assignment and will re-join the Tigers, according to the Detroit News.
Our View: Inge returns from his unfortunate pillow accident, and maybe his numbers will improve with the time off. He has little fantasy value, with a .215 average and 45 strikeouts in 144 at-bats. |
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| Posada will need surgery after the season | Thursday 7/10, 9:26 AM CT |
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Jorge Posada said he will need another shoulder surgery after the season, according to the New York Times. He has been the designated hitter if four of the last five games, as Jose Molina continues defensive duties behind the plate.
Our View: Posada has only caught three of a potential 33 runners attempting to steal, while Molina has nabbed 24 of 50. For fantasy purposes, Posada remains a decent play, even with only three home runs. He still retains a .365 on-base percentage, and .282 average. |
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| Crosby won't need rehab assignment | Thursday 7/10, 9:08 AM CT |
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Bobby Crosby worked out, taking batting practice and running on Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper reports he will probably not go on a rehab assignment and could return a week from Friday.
Our View: Crosby isn't a fantasy option in mixed leagues, but in deep AL-only leagues, he has some value. He has shown power in the past, and if he can stay healthy, he could be a second-half sleeper. |
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| Gallagher to start Friday | Thursday 7/10, 9:04 AM CT |
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Sean Gallagher will start on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is an amazing opportunity for me, considering what this organization has accomplished in the past with their pitchers," he said.
Our View: Gallagher was the main piece of the Rich Harden deal, and he has fared pretty well this season, striking out 7.5 batters per nine innings to go along with a 1.36 WHIP. He could potentially be an asset in AL-only leagues. |
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| LaPorta starts out hot | Thursday 7/10, 8:46 AM CT |
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Matt LaPorta, the key piece in the CC Sabathia trade, went 3-for-6 in a doubleheader in his first action with the Indians Double-A affiliate, the Akron Aeros, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Our View: LaPorta can flat-out hit, and it would not be a surprise to see him get big league action in September. |
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| Varitek snaps slump | Thursday 7/10, 8:29 AM CT |
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Jason Varitek got out of a 6-for-63 slump by going 2-for-4 with an RBI, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Regardless of his All-Star berth, Varitek is now hitting just .220, and his OPS is a meager .660. There is no reason for him to be on a fantasy roster of any kind. |
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| Matthews, Jr. to sit | Thursday 7/10, 8:15 AM CT |
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Gary Matthews Jr. will be sitting on the bench for the time being, according to the Los Angeles Times. Juan Rivera will continue to start in his place.
Our View: Matthews is not having a good year, with a .236 average and .313 on-base percentage. If you are in an AL-only league and have him on your squad, it's time to look elsewhere. |
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| Thornton a candidate to close | Thursday 7/10, 8:09 AM CT |
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Matt Thornton, along with Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink, could handle some closing duties, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The paper stated that Linebrink is option 1A, Thornton 1B and Dotel 1C.
Our View: Thornton does have one save on the year, and has a fantastic WHIP of 0.85. Along with Dotel, he could provide fantasy owners with a few saves while Jenks recovers. |
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| Dotel an option to close | Thursday 7/10, 8:06 AM CT |
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Octavio Dotel is an option to close out ballgames while Bobby Jenks is on the DL, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he will mix and match closers depending on the situation.
Our View: Dotel got the save in Wednesday's game, his first of the season, by striking out the side. He is still striking out batters at a rate of nearly 13 per nine innings, and if he is on the waiver wire and you need saves, picking him up could be a good idea. |
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| Halladay pushed back | Thursday 7/10, 7:43 AM CT |
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Roy Halladay will not pitch tonight against the Orioles as scheduled. Instead, the team is pushing his start back to tomorrow so he can face the Yankees, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Halladay is having another outstanding year, and fantasy owners should obviously still start him, even against a tougher Yankees lineup. |
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