The Lineup
May 30, 2008
Every week, The Lineup will help you figure out who to start, sit and watch. Facts don’t lie and The Lineup is full of ‘em. Here is your weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Projections for the week of June 9-15, 2008. All stats up to and including June 5, 2008.
THREE UP
HITTERS
JASON BAY
Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
Stats: .480 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB
Comment: Has not only enjoyed a bounce-back season, but he’s been clutch for Pittsburgh as well.
San Francisco Giants, C
Stats: .583 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB
Comment: The NL Player of the Week continues to be a reliable source of stats at the backstop position.
Philadelphia Phillies, 2B
Stats: .286 AVG, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 6 R, 1 SB
Comment: Hit his 17th homer of the year on Wednesday as he continues to dominate at the plate.
PITCHERS
Tampa Bay Rays, SP
Stats:2-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 14 SO
Comment: His slider had some nasty bite on it Wednesday against the Rangers, where he struck out 10.
Toronto Blue Jays, SP
Stats: 2-0, 1.06 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 14 SO
Comment: Recorded his major-league leading fifth complete game on Friday and his season ERA now sits under 3.00.
St. Louis Cardinals, SP
Stats: 2-0, 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 13 SO
Comment: Has quietly been one of the best pitchers in the majors this season.
THREE DOWN
HITTERS
Milwaukee Brewers, OF
Stats: .208 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 SB
Comment: A couple of weeks ago he was hitting homers left and right, what gives?
Los Angeles Angels, OF
Stats: .235 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB
Comment: Sure he homered this week, but Vlad’s .258 season average has to make one wonder if he is on the decline.
Baltimore Orioles, OF
Stats: .200 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB Comment: Outside of his Memorial Day performance (3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), Markakis has continued to struggle at the plate in May.
PITCHERS
Philadelphia Phillies, SP
Stats: 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 0 SO
Comment: Failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season in his start on Sunday.
New York Mets, SP
Stats: 0-0, 7.36 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 9 SO
Comment: Has actually allowed more walks (12) than hits (10) in his last 2 starts.
New York Yankees, SP
Stats: 0-0, 7.11 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 2 SO
Comment: Has given up 12 earned runs in his last two starts after allowing 19 in his 9 previous games.
START ‘EM
Seattle Mariners, C
Comment: Has played markedly better in May considering his terrible April: .280 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 1 SB in 75 at-bats.
Florida Marlins, C
Comment: Will be seeing a bulk of the playing time in the near future as his bat is sizzling in May: .339 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R in 16 games.
New York Yankees, 1B
Comment: Starting to heat up with the weather as he has batted .500 over the past week with 3 homers and 6 RBI.
Los Angeles Angels, 1B
Comment: Batting .433 with 1 homer, 7 RBI and 3 runs against Oakland and Seattle in 8 games this season. He’s also hitting .351 on the road in 2008.
Tampa Bay Rays, 2B
Comment: Has put up great numbers this season against Boston and Texas: .368 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB in 9 games.
Atlanta Braves, 2B
Comment: Enjoying a torrid May: .349 AVG, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 13 R, 2 SB in 23 games.
Seattle Mariners, SS
Comment: .311 at home (where he’ll face the Angels) and is hitting .400 against Boston this season.
Cleveland Indians, SS
Comment: Has homered in 3 out of his past 5 games and Peralta may be on the cusp of a trademark hot-streak.
Philadelphia, Phillies, 3B
Comment: Feliz has caught fire in May: .316 AVG, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 12 R in 26 games.
San Diego Padres, 3B
Comment: Is blasting the ball right now as evident by his 5 home runs in his last 9 games.
New York Yankees, OF
Comment: Has gone 7-for-10 in his last 2 games and his average has climbed to .288 on the season.
Cincinnati Reds, OF
Comment: Has been settling in at the top of the order with pretty consistent at-bats recently. The streaky Hairston should be starting in fantasy leagues when he’s hot.
New York Yankees, OF
Comment: Already has a 17 game hit streak under his belt this season and is currently immersed in a 7 game streak in which he has had multiple hits in 5 contests.
Philadelphia Phillies, OF
Comment: Victorino, who became a fantasy after-thought after being injured early in the year, has been stealing bases and scoring runs at a break-neck pace recently.
New York Yankees, SP
Comment: If Chamberlain starts this week, he would be in line for two home match-ups against two weak offenses in Kansas City and Toronto.
Chicago White Sox, SP
Comment: Draws two home starts this week, where he is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 30.2 innings.
Oakland Athletics, SP
Comment: Harden is healthy and getting two starts at home this week, where he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 28 SO in 24 IP.
Los Angeles Angels, SP
Comment: Two starts on the road used to be the kiss of death for Santana, but with his improved play away from home and his 0.61 ERA against the Mariners and Athletics this season, he makes a fine start this week.
Detroit Tigers, C
Comment: Went 0-for-6 in his only game against Cleveland this season and is batting .241 with no homers, 3 RBI and 4 R in 21 road contests.
Cleveland Indians, 1B
Comment: Look, the guy is batting .217 on the season and while it appears he may avoid a DL stint for his shoulder ailment, he should not avoid your bench.
Boston Red Sox, 1B
Comment: Youkilis’ game has been yucky of late as he has failed to register a hit or a walk this past week.
Toronto Blue Jays, 2B
Comment: Hill has endured a forgettable May: .255 AVG, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R in 27 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates, 2B
Comment: The former NL batting champ is batting .208 at home this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers, SS
Comment: Has a decent chance of returning to the field this week but because he’s been out since May 5th and he has a history of back problems, keep Furcal reserved as he figures to have a hard time picking up where he left off.
Detroit Tigers, SS
Comment: May numbers thus far are appalling: .230 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 1 SB in 21 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers, 3B
Comment: Has slowed down considerably over the past week: .125 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB.
Arizona Diamondbacks, 3B
Comment: Avert your eyes! Reynolds is batting at a horrific .157 clip on the road this season.
Boston Red Sox, OF
Comment: Is hitting .150 over the past week with just 1 swiped bag in 2 attempts.
Seattle Mariners, OF
Comment: Francoeur’s consecutive games streaked ended at 371 this week and for good reason, his bat was ice-cold. He then went 3-for-4 with a home run in the next game, only to go 0-for-4 in the following contest. Reserve him until he shows more consistency.
Kansas City Royals, OF
Comment: Teahen is hitting just .232 away from Kauffman Stadium this season.
Minnesota Twins, OF
Comment: Continues to do a pretty good job of getting on base, but the power bat the Twins were hoping to acquire has not revealed itself as he still has yet to homer this season.
Kansas City Royals, SP
Comment: ERA is over a full run higher on the road and his second start comes against the surging Yankees offense.
Cleveland Indians, SP
Comment: Bloom is bound to fall off the rose this week as Laffey’s road ERA is over a full run higher on the road and he draws to tough offense this week in Texas and Detroit.
Florida Marlins, SP
Comment: Since he came one out shy of a complete game shutout of Milwaukee on May 6, Olsen has gone 0-1 in 4 starts with a 7.08 ERA and 1.92 WHIP.
Tampa Bay Rays, SP
Comment: Last time he played the Red Sox in Fenway, he was tagged for 7 earned runs in 3.2 innings. Keep him reserved.
GO FIGURE
499 Boston Red Sox OF Manny Ramirez is now 1 homer shy of the exclusive 500 home run club after a three-run shot in Boston’s 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
54 Consecutive starts by Oakland Athletics SS Bobby Crosby this season, his longest consecutive games streak since 2005, when he played in 56 straight games.
5 Houston Astros OF Hunter Pence enjoyed his first career 5-hit game this week against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Quite a turnaround considering how awful he looked at the beginning of 2008.
1 For the first time in his last 113 starts, Arizona Diamondbacks SP Brandon Webb failed to pitch at least 5 innings when he was pulled after 4.2 innings against Atlanta on Monday.
PROSPECT WATCH
San Diego Padres, OF
Comment: Now that Jay Bruce has splashed onto the scene with a terrific start to his MLB career, fantasy heads want to know who is the next top outfield prospect to get the call. All signs point to Chase Headly, the Padres 24-year old minor leaguer. He’s almost certain to make the major-league club sooner than later as the team has had all kinds of trouble scoring runs this season. GM Kevin Towers even indicated a couple of weeks ago that some big in-house changes were in store if the Padres could not turn things around. With Jake Peavy and Chris Young on the DL, San Diego is even more desperate for runs and Headley could get the call this week. However, just because he’s the next top prospect to get the call does not mean he will be a fantasy force. He was struggling mightily early in Triple-A this year and is not a major power threat (only 38 homers in 311 minor-league games heading into 2008). He’s not fast either, so he will have trouble generating runs with the Padres’ weak lineup. All in all, he’s worth a look, but not if you have to drop a solid player or someone with higher upside..
KEY MATCHUP
It’s a battle for supremacy of the AL East that (surprise!) does not include the Yankees. The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox have been going back and forth at the top of the division and play a big series this week at Fenway Park. Timely hitting and strong pitching have been the catalysts of success for both squads (though they both may be without two key players in this series as Daisuke Matsuzaka and Troy Percival are both dealing with injuries). So far this season, the two teams have split their head-to-head match-ups at three games apiece. Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester take the hill for Boston while Tampa is scheduled to send Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson and James Shields.
Quest For The Cup
May 23, 2008
I don’t think the NHL could have asked for a better Stanley Cup Final this year. Detroit and Pittsburgh — Hockey Town, USA versus the face of the entire new NHL, Sidney Crosby (not to mention Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury).
These two teams have had almost identical post seasons. Combined, they have only lost six games (Detroit, four; Pitsburgh, two) during these playoffs. Both teams have dominated with their incredibly potent offenses and have shut down with stellar defense and some timely goaltending. The surprise on this one is Pittsburgh’s defense.
We all knew going in that Detroit’s defense was rivaled only by the Anaheim connection of Pronger-Neidermeyer-Schneider but we weren’t expecting Pittsburgh to have the same type of shut-down style.
The series has the potential of going to a Game 7 but something tells me whoever gets on a roll will continue to steam through in five games.
Detroit: The vast majority of Detroit’s offense has come from the Henrik Zetterberg-Pavel Datsyuk tandem, with 21 and 19 points respectively between them in 16 games. Playoff warrior Tomas Holmstrom has been relatively quiet in these playoffs with only 10 points in 16 games. What will hurt them most, however, is the potential absence of Johan Franzen (12 goals in 11 games). Franzen has missed five straight games and is doubtful for Game 1 of the final, but Detroit has managed well without him so time shall tell. After that, the strong checking lines come into play — and these guys can score! Kris Draper(’s face) got the Wings the game winning goal to put Dallas on ice.
Pittsburgh: OK, everybody knows the deal here. Sidney Crosby and Evgen Malkin have held down the fort. Sure, Crosby only has four goals but they look nice beside his 17 assists for 21 points in just 14 games. Malkin has been great as usual with 19 points in as many games but how about deadline-acquired Marian Hossa? Everybody counted this guy out because of his years in Ottawa and the lackluster performance in Atlanta the previous year. Not a playoff threat? How about tied with Malkin with nine goals and 10 assists? The offense drops a bit after the big guns but don’t count out red-hot Ryan Malone, Jordan Staal or the crafty veteran Sykora.
Center: The edge goes to Pittsburgh on this one. Nothing against Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Draper and Filppula-it’s just how they are used. Datsyuk has turned into a winger during these playoffs and has turned this offense, primarily, into a one-line team with Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom. Pittsburgh is just too deep at center with Crosby, Malkin and Staal and the highly underrated Maxime Talbot playing pivot.
Left Wing: The edge here will go to Detroit for one main reason: Johan Franzen’s potential return. If and when Franzen gets back he could be the catalyst in these playoffs. However, aside from that, you still have the aforementioned Pavel Datsyuk playing winger to Zetterberg, Jiri Hudler and the grinding pains that are Dallas Drake and Kirk Maltby. For Pittsburgh, their only big threat on the wing is the talented Ryan Malone. Pascal Dupuis and Jarkko Ruutu are quality character guys but don’t carry the firepower of a Datsyuk, Hudler or Franzen.
Right Wing: I’ll give the edge to Pittsburgh on this one. Marian Hossa has the talent to swing a game his team’s way, especially with Sidney Crosby passing him the puck. Petr Sykora is no slouch either and has found some terrific chemistry with Malkin and Malone. The puck stops there with undeniable talent but it is enough to best Detroit. If Tomas Holmstrom were playing to his playoff-potential it might be different but after Holmstrom the Wings become speedy grinders on the right side. However, watch out for Daniel Cleary to do some damage this round.
Detroit: The Wings’ D was overshadowed by Anaheim’s big names. When all was said and down, however, they proved that they really are the best defense in all of hockey. Nik Lidstrom is too good and Brian Rafalski proved that it wasn’t New Jersey that made him look good–it was his talent. My friend and all-knowing Schwab-stumper, SeannyC, said it best: “Rafalski would have looked just as good in Atlanta as he did in New Jersey.” But this team doesn’t stop after those big names; Niklas Kronwall has been absolutely phenomenal, quietly putting together a consistent, quality game with some MAJOR hits. And how can we forget that the Wings acquired Brad Stuart, giving them the depth that Pittsburgh could only dream of? Oh, and remember Chris Chelios? Yeah, he’s not too shabby either.
Pittsburgh: Highly underrated is what I would call this defense. They are no Detroit, that’s for sure, but they have shutdown some quality offenses (The Flyers and Rangers were no slouches). Sergei Gonchar has proven that he is not just a one-sided player, upping his defensive game in these playoffs and proving to be the go-to, shutdown guy that Pittsburgh needed. The acquisition of Hal Gill at the deadline was a brilliant move seeing as how he is a one-man penalty killing machine. What he lacks in speed and movement (and boy does he lack), he makes up for in range, reach and smarts in his own end. The big disappointment here is Ryan Whitney who has struggled all season to reach the same heights he reached last year. Hopefully he can find his game in this final series.
Edge: Hands down, Detroit wins the battle of the defense. When you have Nik Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski manning your blue line you have nothing to worry about. That is, however, until Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin come knocking at your door.
Detroit: Chris Osgood stepped in to fill Dominik Hasek’s shoes after the Dominator stumbled mightily against the Predators. Since then, Osgood has been nearly perfect.
Pittsburgh: The Pens proved during the season that they could win without Marc-Andre Fleury with Ty Conklin backing them up but then again, they did ride the Fleury bus well into the post season.
Edge: Both goalies have similar numbers — a 12-2 record, 1.70 GAA for Fleury, a 10-2 record, 1.60 for Osgood — however, the thing to pay attention to is saves. There is a staggering difference between the two squads. While Osgood has looked amazing he also has the best defense in the league to help him out. He has only had to make 268 saves compared to Fleury’s 364. Add three shutouts to Fleury’s growing playoff legend and you’ve got one hell of a career ahead of you.
The edge goes to Pittsburgh between the pipes.
Detroit:The experience factor goes to Detroit’s Mike Babcock who found himself in the Finals in 2003, coaching the underdog Anaheim Ducks to a Game 7 loss against New Jersey. You’ll rarely see him getting riled up behind the bench, especially when compared to Pittsburgh’s fiery French-Canadian, Michel Therrien.
Pittsburgh:Therrien’s experience in the playoffs is limited, only making it with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2001-02 season and last season with the Penguins. This is his first trip to the final and will have to find a way to stay competitive against the quiet motivator that is Mike Babcock.
Edge: I’d give my vote to Babcock on this one simply because he’s felt the sting of a loss before and did so with a much, much, muuuuccch weaker team. He has the backing of his entire team and his the veterans love him. Therrien is good with the youngsters on his team but he can easily get under his player’s skin with his brash attitude and penchant for using the media to start a fire beneath underperforming players.
Will this battle of the titans see two of the league’s best teams all season long scrape, grind and claw its way to seven games or will one team take the ball and roll with it? I don’t see too much blood in this one — just a lot of free flowing skating and some of the prettiest goals (or saves) of the playoffs.
The winner of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs (drumroll please)…The Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. Enjoy the last round of the fastest game on ice!
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League editor.
The Lineup
May 22, 2008
Our weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Facts don’t lie and The Lineup is full of ‘em. Here is your weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Projections for the week of May 19-25. Stats through and including May 16:
THREE UP
Texas Rangers, 2B
Stats: 333 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 4 SB
Comment: Quietly playing at an elite level at the second base position this season.
Chicago White Sox, OF
Stats: .357 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R, 0 SB
Comment: Quentin’s bat has resulted in him being moved to the three-hole..
Chicago Cubs, OF
Stats: .464 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB
Comment: Has come back with guns blazing since returning from the DL.
Cincinnati Reds, SP
Stats:1-0, 0.60 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 14 SO
Comment: Two dominant performances this week, the second one coming on three days rest against the Marlins on Thursday.
Chicago White Sox, SP
Stats: 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 7 SO
Comment: Contreras looked impressive in two road starts this week against the Angels and Mariners.
Cleveland Indians, SP
Stats:2-0, 0.56 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 20 SO
Comment:Not including his 4-run effort against the Royals on May 3rd, Sabathia has allowed just 2 earned runs in his last 30 innings.
THREE DOWN
Arizona Diamondbacks, OF
Stats: .063 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB
Comment: Byrnes was moved down the order this week and fantasy owners should bench him until he snaps out of his funk.
Detroit Tigers, OF
Stats: .167 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 1 SB
Comment: Pitchers are throwing more breaking stuff to Granderson since his hot return from the DL and he has had a hard time adjusting.
Toronto Blue Jays, OF
Stats: .133 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0 SB Comment: Now hitting in the three-hole due to the injury to Vernon Wells. Really has no supporting cast at the moment.
Boston Red Sox, SP
Stats: 0-1, 14.54 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: Before landing on the DL with a broken fingernail, Buchholz treated fantasy owners to a dreadful start against the Twins on Monday.
Colorado Rockies, SP
Stats:0-1, 15.43 ERA, 2.79 WHIP, 3 SO
Comment: Francis has now gone winless in his first 8 starts of the season, just one year after winning 17 games in 2007.
Philadelphia Phillies, SP
Stats:0-1, 12.46 ERA, 2.77 WHIP, 6 SO
Comment: At this rate, the Phillies may have to cut their losses and send him back to the bullpen, where he thrived last season.
START ‘EM
Texas Rangers, C
Comment: Saltala-who? Laird has been streaking at the plate recently, even scoring 3 runs in Texas’ win over Seattle on Tuesday.
, Los Angeles Angels, C
Comment: Napoli has bashed 5 home runs in 10 road starts this season while batting a respectable .278.
Chicago White Sox, 1B
Comment: While the .246 average at home could be better, Konerko’s your man for power this week as he has 4 HR and 14 RBI in 17 games at US Cellular Field.
Tampa Bay Rays
Comment: 4 of his 8 home runs this season have come against Baltimore (in 8 games) and he batted .320 against Oakland in 2007.
Kansas City Royals, 2B
Comment: Those of you in need of batting average help should call upon the services of Grudzielanek, who is batting .474 in his last 7 games.
Houston Astros, 2B
Comment: Matsui has 14 runs and 5 stolen bases in 11 home games this season.
Los Angeles Angels, SS
Comment: On the road this season, Aybar is batting .343 with 3 steals and 11 runs in 18 games.
Chicago Cubs, SS
Comment: Theriot was comfortable at the dish last season versus Houston and Pittsburgh: .340 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 15 R, 6 SB in 103 at-bats.
Cincinnati Reds, 3B
Comment: Hit .375 against the Dodgers in the Reds’ first series of this season and is a better performer on the road anyway in 2008 (.286 on road, .229 at home).
Minnesota Twins, 3B
Comment: Lamb is on a roll right now and fantasy owners should look to him for some stopgap help at the hot corner.
Florida Marlins, OF
Comment: Has been hammering the ball recently and the streaky Ross should see regular at-bats in the short-term as a result.
Atlanta Braves, OF
Comment: Kotsay’s swinging a hot stick and his home numbers are worthy of a start this week: .349 AVG, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 13 R, 1 SB in 16 games.
Houston Astros, OF
Comment: Pence’s lost bat seems to have found life and he needs to get plugged back into lineups pronto.
San Francisco Giants, OF
Comment: Can’t argue with his numbers of late. He’s even leading the Giants in homers this season.
Baltimore Orioles, SP
Comment: For the first time in The Lineup’s history, Cabrera is getting a Start ‘Em endorsement. The reason? His road numbers this season: 2-1, 2.17 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 24 SO in 37.1 IP.
Tampa Bay Rays, SP
Comment: Coming off a strong start, Garza hurls against the Orioles this week, a team he is 3-0 against lifetime with a 3.68 ERA
Kansas City Royals, SP
Comment:Meche gets two starts this week on the road this week, where he owns a respectable 4.01 ERA on the road this year (as opposed to a 9.00 at home). He draws the Red Sox (whom he is 4-1 against lifetime with a 3.86 ERA) and the Blue Jays offense.
Houston Astros, SP
Comment: Oswalt’s career stats versus Philadelphia make him a must-start option this week: 6-1, 2.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 50 SO in 51.2 IP.
SIT ‘EM
Comment: Laird has stepped up his game since the Rangers turned to a two-catcher platoon, while Salty has underachieved.
Comment: Just 1 road home run with a .239 batting average in 20 games away from Milwaukee this season.
Comment: With Nick Johnson out, fantasy owners should not automatically expect Young to repeat his .320 batting average from 2007 given that his career average sits below .300.
Comment: Has picked up his play a lot on this road-trip, but he returns home this week, where he he’s batting .232 on the season.
Comment: He’s mired in a horrible offensive funk right now and his .181 batting average on the road won’t help matters.
Comment: Batting a paltry .226 at home this year with just 1 RBI in 16 games.
Comment: Crosby owns a measly .223 career batting average against the Red Sox and Rays.
Comment: Since his hot start Crede has really cooled down. Don’t expect him to heat back up with a .246 home batting average in 2008.
Comment: Wigginton’s banged up ribs have kept him from playing regularly and fantasy owners would be wise to avoid him this week because even if he gets a full share of at-bats, he could still be limited physically.
Comment: Just because he’s switched uniforms does not mean that he’ll all of a sudden recapture the magic. Remember, the anemic Padres offense thought they would improve by cutting him.
Comment: He started 2008 off strongly, but has worn down considerably. His numbers this May have been brutal: .178 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB in 12 games.
Comment: Nady’s sizzling bat has predictably cooled down considerably in May following a huge April.
Comment: The Chef hasn’t been cooking up anything appetizing since his return to the outfield and fantasy owners need to keep his bat on the bench until (unless?) he breaks out.
Comment: Carmona draws the White Sox this week and his career numbers against them make him a sit candidate: 2-6, 5.09 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 26 SO in 35.1 IP.
Comment: Glavine has been a bum at home this season (6.40 ERA) and the ex-Met gets his first start against New York and then faces Arizona, two tough offenses.
Comment: Pettite does not have favorable lifetime numbers versus Seattle: 8-10, 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 77 SO in 119.2 IP.
Comment: While his lone win has come at home, his 6.14 ERA and 4 home runs allowed at Comerica Park this year make Verlander a must-sit.
4 Number of triples hit by Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Conor Jackson so far this season. Heading into 2008, Jackson had just 2 triples in his MLB career.
3 Relief wins earned by Kansas City Royals RP Leo Nunez, who has dominated as the team’s set-up man. Should anything happen to closer Joakim Soria, Nunez would make an outstanding relief option for fantasy purposes.
2 Milwaukee Brewers OF Ryan Braun had 2 consecutive 2 home run games against St. Louis this week.
Comment:While fantasy owners have a microscope on the playing time of Rockies back-stop Chris Iannetta, another Colorado youngster has been tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A. Stewart has not been showered with attention in fantasy circles for one major reason, the Rockies already have a top-notch third baseman on their big-league club by the name of Garrett Atkins, so unless Atkins gets hurt, Stewart will likely remain in Triple-A all season. The one caveat here with Stewart is his potential to get dealt mid-season. The Rockies are floundering this season and can use all the help they can get, Stewart could bring in a decent haul if moved. Should that happen, he could instantly go from Triple-A hero to everyday major-leaguer.
KEY MATCHUP
2008 Eastern Conference Finals
May 20, 2008
Well, the conference finals are both official. A playoff that started off with 16 teams is now down to four. Only one will be left standing when all is said and done, and there will be a lot of emotions that fly before we find out who the best truly is. First, the Detroit Pistons will go to battle with the “Big Three” in Boston. In the West, Phil Jackson’s Lakers are going to do battle with Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. In this preview, I am going to look at each match up in a position versus position manner. The end result will be my prediction.
Comment: MyDyess’ numbers don’t exactly jump off of the page, but he proves to be important for a team that isn’t particularly deep in the position. He outrebounds Perkins by about two per game and is scoring slightly more than him as well. I don’t expect this position to be the deciding factor in which team wins, but rebounding will be huge in this series, and McDyess is the superior in that respect.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: Garnett has been awesome in the playoffs, averaging over 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds per game as well. Wallace has been a little bit disappointing in the playoffs thus far, averaging 13.9 points and just over six rebounds per game. Wallace has to be able to keep himself in check with his temper in this series. These teams are very evenly matched, and one point from a technical could be the ultimate difference. Defensively, there is no competition, and Garnett is the reigning defensive player of the year. Advantage goes to the Celtics on this one.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was actually a harder decision for me than most would expect. Pierce has been huge in the playoffs for the Celtics, and he has been the rock in this organization. Prince has averaged 16 points and six rebounds throughout the playoffs so far, and has been one of the most consistent players for the Pistons. Pierce’s 19 points, five rebounds and four assists have proven to be important in the Celtics’ hopeful trip to the NBA championship.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was an easy call for me. Hamilton may be the MVP of this Pistons team right now with the way that he is currently producing in the post season. He is averaging over 21 points, almost five boards and two assists. He has attracted the attention away from Chauncey Billups and that has allowed the other players to get more into the action. Allen has been a disappointment in the playoffs with his 12 points per game, but don’t be surprised if he breaks out in the clutch. I expect this to be a big matchup in this series.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: This was a tough decision for me because Rondo has really performed well in the playoffs. Along with his 11 points per game, he has averaged 6.6 dimes and four rebounds as well. Billups averages more in points, but is not exceeding as well as Rondo in the other areas. I think his experience is going to be the major difference here. Billups knows what it is like to win, and he knows how to deal with everything that comes with it. I want to know whether or not Rondo will be able to keep his composure when it comes down to the pivotal play in the fourth quarter. Who would you rather? I think the answer to that question is painfully obvious.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: For me, this is much like my Joe Torre philosophy in baseball. With all of those stacked Yankees teams, I never believed Torre was the genius that everyone made him out to be. The same applies for Doc Rivers. You can give Dennis Rodman the helm to that team and they would probably be in the same position that they are in today. The Pistons, on the other hand, execute fundamentals, and that is something that Saunders very much believes in. He is known to be excellent with time management, and has proved to be one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: Originally, I thought there was no way that the Celtics could be defeated by any other team in the Eastern Conference, but it is painfully obvious that the team that executed the fundamentals of basketball will be the team that advances to the NBA championship. As long as they can get Rasheed Wallace to maintain his composure, I think the Pistons are golden.
Prediction: Pistons in Six Games.
2008 Western Conference Finals
May 20, 2008
Well, the conference finals are both official. A playoff that started off with 16 teams is now down to four. Only one will be left standing when all is said and done, and there will be a lot of emotions that fly before we find out who the best truly is. First, the Detroit Pistons will go to battle with the “Big Three” in Boston. In the West, Phil Jackson’s Lakers are going to do battle with Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. In this preview, I am going to look at each match up in a position versus position manner. The end result will be my prediction.
Comment: Duncan has proven that he may be the most fundamental player in all of basketball by being the most boring superstar ever to grace the NBA. That is not an insult, but he doesn’t seem to glow when he excels, if that makes any sense. Gasol has been very good in the playoffs, averaging 20 points to go along with nine rebounds per game. Another impressive result from him has been his 4.5 assists. This has been the biggest pickup for the Lakers, and he has filled the void and then some that was left when Andrew Bynum was floored with an injury. Duncan is just the classy veteran who gets it done. He is averaging 19 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game. He just knows how to be the well-rounded player that everyone in San Antonio has watched him be for so long. This is close, but I like Duncan in the clutch. He is a winner, and people would be foolish to bet against him.
Advantage: Spurs
Comment: Odom is by far the more valuable of these two players. Thomas is known for his defensive expertise, and is not counted on by the Spurs for much scoring. Thomas has scores only 4.2 points per game compared to Odom’s 15.6. While Thomas will probably rebound more, Odom’s versatility makes him more valuable for the Lakers. I look for Odom to control this battle, but I don’t think it will be enough to propel the Lakers into the next round..
Advantage: Lakers
Comment:While many of you may be screaming at me because Radmanovic scores more, think about the big picture. Bowen has been known as one of the masterminds of defense in this league for years. As the phrase says, defense wins championships. In that respect, Bowen is your ideal player.
Advantage: Even
Comment: Well, you can’t say that the advantage does not lie with the best player in the NBA, but these two guys give him a pretty good run, and I believe having Manu Ginobili as the sixth man will be the difference in this series. Ginobili averaged 20 points per game and Finley averages seven, but Kobe is outdueling them with 33 of his own per game. Possibly the best thing about Kobe is his ability to take attention away from his teammates. That opens up the floor for the other guys to create plays. Containing Kobe will be the biggest obstacle for the Spurs.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: Parker may be the MVP of the post season thus far. He has dazed and dazzled opponents thus far with his ability to score and create plays for his teammates. Fisher has 11 points per game, but Parker has been sensational. The numbers explain it all. 23.7 points and six assists per game have catapulted his team into this round. He has been the best point guard and maybe even the best player in the playoffs, and many of the people who underestimated him are not looking smart because of it.
Advantage: Spurs
Comment: I know Phil Jackson is very accomplished with the Bulls teams and the Lakers teams that he has coached, but I think it all goes back to fundamentals. I feel like Jackson’s teams were more loaded with stars, and Popovich’s teams were taught the fundamentals by their head coach. There is not a more fundamental coach in sports, and his teams prove that fact true. It’s evidenced by their play, and will continue to be into the next round.
Advantage: Spurs
Comment: The x-factor in this series is going to be Manu Ginobili. I don’t think the Lakers have the equivalent sixth man. If Andrew Bynum was healthy and playing, I may think differently. But, the fact is that Bynum is unavailable, and this is going to be a solid series, but I think the Spurs will win it, and then advance to the NBA finals. This will be one for the ages.
Prediction: Spurs in Seven Games.
Stock Watch
May 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Every week Update! will be putting together a list of noteworthy performances, events and going-ons in the baseball world. We’ll get you up to speed on what to get excited (or nervous) about while providing useful fantasy insight:
Comment: Colon, who inked a minor-league deal with Boston during the off-season, has been named the no. 5 starter in Boston’s rotation. After allowing just one hit over six innings in his last minor-league start, Colon earned a place on the major-league roster and fantasy owners have an intriguing option here. He’s injury-prone and has not been an effective big-leaguer since 2005, when he won the AL Cy Young Award, however, because he’ll have a superb offense giving him plenty of run support, the tubby veteran is worth the add in most leagues. His first start will come Wednesday against the Royals.
Comment: Lackey returned from the DL this past week and showed no signs of rust in his 2008 debut, earning a no-decision against the White Sox while allowing 6 hits, 1 walk and just 1 earned run in 7 innings while striking out 4. Those of you who bought-low on him early in the season should be in for a huge reward. Prior to this year, Lackey had gone at least 198 innings every season for five years and as long as his strained triceps is not aggravated, Lackey should turn in another stellar campaign.
Comment: Fantasy owners in need of offensive help at the catcher position should jump all over Navarro, who is batting .368 through 26 games this season. The former top catching prospect looks like he is finally living up to his potential. The Rays offense has been very impressive in the early goings of the season and since Navarro is a part of this potent lineup, he could emerge as one of the top fantasy back-stops this year.
Comment: The Yankees’ offense is sputtering right now, but they are going to get a giant boost this week as Alex Rodriguez is set to rejoin the team on Tuesday. Rodriguez, the 2007 AL MVP, has had no issues with the injured quad that forced him to the disabled list and should be immediately activated by fantasy owners everywhere.
Comment: After a stand-out 2007, Byrnes has been a flat-out bum in 2008. Yes he banged out a homer on Friday, but he went on to go 0-for-6 in his next two games. It is important to note that an injured hamstring may be the culprit here. Byrnes has a history of playing through pain and he could be hurting more than he’s letting on. Fantasy owners need to keep Byrnes on their bench until he starts to put together a nice streak of games.
Comment: After months of speculating if and when he would make the transition to the starting rotation, Joba Chamberlain’s electric presence appears as if it will be relegated strictly to bullpen duty in 2008. While the Yankees were non-committal either way, manager Joe Girardi seemed to lean towards keeping the beefy hurler in the set-up role this year. It makes sense, even with all of the problems in the starting rotation, the risk involved with grooming Chamberlain into a starter mid-season combined with the possibility of losing him for a few weeks to the minors in order to build up his arm strength could hurt the Yankees more than help them. Fantasy owners who have held onto Chamberlain all season may want to consider cutting ties with him if he’s taking up a roster spot that could be better served for their squad. That being said, if your team’s championship blueprint includes owning a dominant middle-reliever for ERA, WHIP and strikeout help, you should hang onto him as he should continue to be a force in the bullpen.
Comment: Roy Oswalt exited the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers with a hip injury, one that could knock him out of his next scheduled start. Oswalt has not been his normal consistent self this season, posting a 5.43 ERA in 10 starts. He looked as if he was getting back on track, turning in 6 straight quality starts prior to this weekend’s contest (though he still sported a 3.97 in his last 5 outings), but the fact is he has declined over the past couple of seasons and may now be more suited as a no. 3 fantasy pitcher. Track his status this week to see if he’ll miss any time, but try to build some depth in your rotation just in case.
Comment: Anytime you hear the words “elbow discomfort” and “MRI” being associated with a star pitcher, it usually means trouble. Peavy, last year’s NL Cy Young winner, is an elite fantasy pitcher in any format, but if he misses significant time with an arm injury, it could dash the title hopes of his owners. Right now, you should just bench him and have some plans in place to add pitching depth in case Peavy is put on the shelf. Hopefully, the MRI will determine that some rest will be all he needs.
Comment: It took 9 starts, but Francis finally earned a win this season, besting the Twins on Sunday by allowing just 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings. While it is nice to see his name in the win column, I think it has become pretty clear that Francis was overvalued in fantasy drafts heading into this season. He owns a career 4.77 ERA and 1.44 WHIP and has never really showed that he can be a fantasy ace or even a no. 2. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fine pitcher capable of having some strong starts. But for fantasy purposes, his game just does not translate.
Comment:When Jason Isringhausen was removed from the closer’s role, his fantasy owners were hoping this was a temporary thing, a mental break for the veteran reliever. Well he’ll be out of the bullpen completely for the next couple of weeks following a DL stint for—get this—an injured right hand that was hurt punching a television in manager Tony LaRussa’s office. Ryan Franklin has done well in the ninth-inning role since Izzy was removed from closer duties and the Cardinals have an elite rookie reliever in Chris Perez who has a filthy repertoire built for closing. If you own Isringhausen, you have to prepare for the worst and target another closer just in case he doesn’t sniff another save this season.
Comment: Normally a very hot starter, Penny has looked awful in his recent starts and is now dealing with arm issues. Last year, Penny owned a sparkling 2.39 ERA before slipping in the second-half (4.23 career second-half ERA) so fantasy owners were banking on a dominant start to the season when they drafted him. But his poor start to the season, combined with his eventual second-half decline, makes it seem as if Penny’s 2008 may be a lost cause. You can’t drop him yet, but you should try to package him in a deal to attempt to get something valuable back for him while you can.
Chicago Cubs, OF
Comment: Felix Pie is never going to get a fair shake in Chicago. For some odd reason, the Cubs seemed to think that Jim Edmonds (the guy who was not good enough to stick around on the Padres’ bumbling offense) is a potential answer to their outfield problems and that means that Pie’s talent will have to once again take a back-seat in Chi-town. Pie was once considered a can’t-miss prospect, but the Cubs have been very inpatient with him and it may be better for all parties if they trade him now while he still has value.
Stock Watch
May 12, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Every week Update! will be putting together a list of noteworthy performances, events and going-ons in the baseball world. We’ll get you up to speed on what to get excited (or nervous) about while providing useful fantasy insight:
BULLISH
Comment: A collective groan was let out in Dodger-land and in fantasy circles when Los Angeles announced that Blake DeWitt would remain the team’s starting third-baseman despite the team’s activation of Andy LaRoche from the disabled list. We all thought this was a temporary move until LaRoche worked his way back after setting the minors on fire or DeWitt lost control of the job with sub-par play. But DeWitt, who has 4 multi-hit game and 2 home runs (including an inside the park job) since May 4, has done nothing to warrant such a move. He?s made himself worth owning in NL-only leagues and is even worth a look in mixed leagues for owners with ailing third basemen.
Comment: After pitching 7.1 shutout innings of one-hit ball in his first Triple-A start, Kennedy, who also struck out 8 and walked none in the minor league contest, made his case to return to the major league club. With Kei Igawa currently throwing as the Yankees no. 5 starter, New York is probably itching to get Kennedy back into the rotation. Due to Sunday’s rainout at Detroit, the Yankees can skip Igawa on his next turn. If that happens, a decision on Kennedy could come by the end of the week.
Comment: B.J. Ryan was cleared this week to pitch consecutive days for the Blue Jays and that’s music to his fantasy owners’ ears. Ryan was losing some save opportunities to Jeremy Accardo, who just landed on the DL, but now that he?s getting a more normal workload, expect Ryan’s numbers to be in line with some of the better ninth-inning guys in baseball as long as he remains healthy.
Comment: Fantasy owners shouldn’t necessarily be racing to the waiver wire to add him, but Curt Schilling upped his fantasy stock this week by starting to throw in his rehabilitation program. You should take this news with a grain of salt as it is still possible that Schilling might be a shell of his former self when he returns (if he even makes it back) after the All-Star break. But he is now worth monitoring in all fantasy leagues.
Comment: Adenhart, a top pitching prospect, had the opportunity to show the Angels that he belongs in the majors this season. He fell on his face in his first two starts, however, giving up 8 earned runs, 9 hits and issuing 10 walks in just 6.1 total innings. Needless to say, he is getting sent down to the minors quick, presumably after his start on Monday. Adenhart is still someone to keep on your radar in case he gets another shot, but for now, let him sit on the waiver wire.
Comment: Just when he looked primed for a career season, Rafael Furcal’s back slows him down. His back has been a problem throughout his career and it is possible that it could derail what looked liked a big-time contract year. Furcal appeared poised for a potential MVP run this season, but now that his back is barking, fantasy owners just have to hope he can stay on the field. If you own him, it would be wise to have a contingency plan in place.
Comment: In April 2007, Hernandez owned a 1.56 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 3 starts before sporting a 6.30 ERA in May. In his first 5 games this season, Felix held a 1.67 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. However, in his last 3 starts, Hernandez has put up a 7.13 ERA and 1.92 WHIP. Notice a trend? It may be time to sell high on Hernandez, whose control issues continue to dog him. He’s earned a pretty high price tag with his hot start, so you could probably pull in a decent haul of value if you move him before his stock continues to fall.
Comment: The stiff neck that has been bothering him does not appear to be a serious injury, but fantasy owners still have to be concerned about V-Mart’s 2008 season thus far. Yes he’s batting well over .300, but the power drought (0 home runs through 28 games) is a bit alarming considering he had 25 bombs and 114 RBI. Fantasy owners drafted Martinez to give them a leg up over other catchers in the HR and RBI departments and so far he has been disappointing in those cateogories.
Comment: First they delayed his return from the disabled list, then they optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Buck, a popular sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this season, really just has nowhere to play in Oakland’s lineup. Since Emil Brown is killing the ball, it likely made the decision easy for the A’s brass. If an injury befalls Oakland’s outfield, Buck will surely get the call to the major-league roster, but unless someone struggles mightily, Buck could be spending a decent chunk of time in the minors.
Comment: We all knew Gagne was playing terribly, but for him to come out and admit that he doesn’t deserve the ball in the ninth-inning just goes to show you how far this former Cy Young winner has fallen. To make matters worse, fantasy owners have no idea who they should pick up as the Brewers have decided to roll with a hodge-podge of a committee led by the likes of Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres and David Riske. Avoid this situation entirely.
Comment: Heading into this season, Neshek was one of the more valuable set-up men in fantasy baseball. He had sparkling numbers last year (7-2, 2.94 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 74 SO in 70.1 IP) and if anything happened to Joe Nathan, Neshek would have been next in line to close. But after a poor start to his 2008 campaign (4.73 ERA in 13.1 IP), Neshek’s season was put to rest after it was discovered that he had a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He won’t need surgery, yet, but Neshek’s season is officially over.
Comment: Speaking of finished seasons, Mark Prior’s attempt at a comeback hit a road-block this week. He experienced discomfort in his surgically-repaired shoulder on Saturday and was sent back to San Diego to be examined by doctors. While we here at UPDATE! would like to think that none of you were holding out hope that Prior would come back and be an effective hurler, those of you that were keeping the faith should abandon the Mark Prior comeback train immediately.
April Shakeout
May 2, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
It’s rather amusing how stead-fast some people are in letting you know that, since it is only April, the first month of fantasy baseball is rather insignificant. Last I checked, if you miss the playoffs by one game, that loss you suffered in the first week of the season matters just as much as the one in Sept. Sure some hot / cold starts can become straightened out and injuries, tough schedules and poor weather certainly have an impact on the early goings of the baseball season, but let’s not act as if the month of April should be tossed out the window. This first month has shown us a lot about the landscape of the sport in 2008 and Update! selected some of the more lasting impressions from the first few weeks of the season:
Comment: The D-backs have such a great balance of offense and pitching, that it’s hard to imagine them not running away with National League crown. They have a nasty one-two starting pitching punch in Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, a lineup filled with emerging young superstars (Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Chris Young), solid veteran leadership (Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson) and a stable bullpen (Brandon Lyon and Chad Qualls). Add a healthy Randy Johnson to mix, along with the development of pitchers Micah Owings and super-prospect Max Scherzer, and you have a recipe for success. The NL West division is theirs for the taking. The only concern with this team is seeing if their young lineup (average age of team is 26.6) can sustain consistent production over an entire season.
Comment: Yes, they have a loaded offense, but manager Jim Leyland’s team has some major problems too glaring to ignore. Dontrelle Willis has been a major bust and Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson and Kenny Rogers all have ERAs over 6.00. Entering Tuesday, the team defense had 15 errors, five of which have come from prized slugger Miguel Cabrera, whose play in the field has been so bad, the team moved him over to first base. Their bullpen, surprisingly, has held up well, but do you really expect Todd Jones (1.80 ERA) and Aquilino Lopez (0.49 ERA) to pitch this well all season? The Tigers don’t have the starting pitching to match up against AL Central teams like Cleveland, Chicago or even Kansas City and that’s going to cost them a playoff berth in 2008.
Comment: Fantasy owners that took a chance on him after his sub-par 2007 must be patting themselves on the back. If the Dodgers make the post-season, expect Furcal to be a serious candidate for an NL MVP award. Los Angeles has been underwhelming this season, but you can’t blame any of it on their starting shortstop, who has a .363 batting average through 25 games to complement his six stolen bases and 22 runs. The most impressive aspect of his game is the fact that he’s been so hot so early despite having a long history of atrociously poor starts.
Comment: He came into 2008 with a career .241 April batting average, so a slow start was to be anticipated. What was not expected, however, is his appalling line through 27 games: .153 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R. Cano has looked like a rookie at the plate thus far this season, being far too aggressive at the plate as pitchers abuse him virtually every at-bat. He makes a pretty good buy-low candidate for fantasy owners because of this awful start, but just hope that this funk isn’t so bad that he can’t recover in 2008.
Comment: Once touted as the second coming of Pedro Martinez, Volquez had been plagued by control issues his whole career. After putting together some strong performances late last season for Texas, Cincinnati took a chance on him by trading for his services in the off-season. So far it has paid off big time as Volquez has been stellar, going 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. He’s looked like the real deal on the mound and should continue to dominate in 2008.
Detroit Tigers, SP
Comment: Despite good, not great, ratios in 2007 (3.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), fantasy owners were enamored with Verlander heading into 2008 based on his potential to win 20-plus games on a potent Tigers offense. Well, he’s been a terrible option thus far for fantasy owners and while his high WHIP and ERA will surely come down, it has become quite obvious that he is not going to be the elite pitcher many thought he would this season.
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