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BY CHRIS STARBONELL
Update! Writer

Every week UPDATE! will be putting together a list of note-worthy performances or events that have transpired in baseball. We’ll let you know what to get excited or nervous about while also providing fantasy insight.

 

BULLISH

A.J. BURNETT, Toronto Blue Jays, SP
Comment: When he gave up 18 runs in three games between June 7^th and 19^th, Burnett could not find any answers for his poor 2008 season. He was dejected, quiet and solemn following an 8 run drubbing at the hands of the Brewers, but since that start Burnett has looked like an ace. In his last two starts he has struck out 18 in 15 innings, securing 2 wins with a 0.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His stuff has been dazzling and when one remembers his strong second-half in 2007 (5-2, 3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 70 SO in 71.2 IP), he makes a terrific trade target, especially if he is moved by Toronto to a better team before the trade deadline. He is likely to opt out of his deal following this season, so the rest of 2008 is an audition for a big contract in the off-season. Couple that with the fact that he has remained healthy all year thanks to a couple of mechanical tweaks prior to the season and we may be looking at a fantasy star the rest of the way.

 

BILLY BUTLER, Kansas City Royals, 1B/DH
Comment: After handling Triple-A pitching for a month with the greatest of ease, Billy Butler got the call over the weekend and returned to the Kansas City Royals. In 26 games in the minors, Butler batted .337 with a .417 OBP, 5 HR, 6 doubles and 18 runs. It is important for fantasy owners to keep their expectations in check. He’s not a big-time power hitter and is a plodder on the base-paths which will limit his run-scoring opportunities. That being said, the 22-year old could be of great help to your team in the batting average department and may even be a pretty good RBI producer depending on where he hits in the underrated Royals offense. AL-only leaguers should consider taking a flier on Butler while mixed-league players can probably afford to wait a few games before adding him.

 

CHRIS DAVIS, Texas Rangers, 3B

Comment: Davis made history over the weekend, becoming the first Rangers player to homer in the first two starts of his career. His minor-league stats indicate that Davis’ power is for real as he had 23 homers in 77 games between Triple- A and Double-A this season and 74 total home runs in 275 minor-league games during his professional career. The only problem with Davis is the expected return of Hank Blalock in a couple of weeks. However, if Davis rakes the ball, he could force the Rangers’ hand.

 

KEVIN SLOWEY, Minnesota Twins, SP
Comment: Over his past 4 starts, Slowey has been on an incredible roll. Over that span, he’s earned 3 wins with a 0.93 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 24 whiffs in 29 innings. The most impressive aspect of this streak is the 2 walks allowed (both came on June 18). Slowey had a terrific minor-league career (13-8, 1.94 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 361 SO in 366.2 IP) and the control pitcher has the goods to be a great back of the rotation option for fantasy owners that can be a strong asset in the WHIP category.

 

BEARISH

RYAN FRANKLIN, St. Louis Cardinals, RP
Comment: When Franklin assumed closing duties after Jason Isringhausen hit the disabled list with a lacerated hand, many of us wondered how long it would last. Well if his play of late is any indication, Franklin’s time as the primary ninth-inning option could be coming to a close. Since May 29^th, Franklin has failed to go more than 3 appearances without allowing an earned run and he lacks the type of stuff that most closers possess. His 1.44 WHIP this year suggests that his ERA is going to climb over its current 2.82 mark. Jason Isringhausen, who owns a 1.74 ERA and 9 strikeouts in 10.1 innings since his return from the DL, injured his knee on Thursday but the Cardinals expect him to be back sometime next week. While this may buy Franklin some time, it is probably a good idea to start shopping him around to any fantasy owners in need of saves.

 

MATT KEMP, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF
Comment: As hard as it is to believe, the Dodgers plan on platooning Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in right-field once Andruw Jones returns to the lineup, opting to keep Juan Pierre in left. While it makes little sense to keep your best outfielder from getting full-time at-bats, Kemp appears headed for a reduction in playing time. He’s been a good all-around player for the Dodgers and fantasy owners alike with 7 HR, 43 RBI, 38 R, 16 SB and a .284 average in 282 at-bats this season. His value would clearly take a hit once the platoon is instituted but there is a glimmer of hope. Pierre injured his left knee on Sunday and while he is currently listed as day-to-day, a scheduled MRI could lead to a possible DL stint and keep Kemp in the starting lineup. Monitor this situation closely but if Kemp moves into a time-share in the outfield, make sure you have an outfielder lined up to replace him for at least his off-days.

 

MAGGLIO ORDONEZ, Detroit Tigers, OF
Comment: Ordonez hit the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a strained oblique, leaving fantasy owners and Detroit with a hole in their outfield. He may not have been killing the ball as well as he was in 2007, when he batted .363 with 28 HR, 139 RBI and 117 runs, but Maggs was still enjoying a productive season, hitting .307 with 12 HR, 50 RBI and 42 runs in 80 games. Oblique injuries can sometimes linger, so one has to hope that Ordonez comes back in a timely manner. Matt Joyce was recalled from Triple-A and had 5 homers in 53 at-bats with Detroit earlier this season, though they came attached to a .208 batting average.

 

EDINSON VOLQUEZ, Cincinnati Reds, SP
Comment: Is the bloom coming off the Volquez rose? That may seem like a prudent question considering his outstanding start to the season but when you look at the poor start he endured on Thursday (when he gave up 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings with 6 hits, 3 walks and 0 strikeouts), one has to wonder if he is going to come back to Earth. Volquez has never pitched more than 144.2 innings in his professional career and is on pace for about 200 this season. He’s thrown over 100 pitches in 12 of his 16 starts this season and do not think that the young-arm destroying Dusty Baker will not continue to extend the talented 24-year old. Now might be a good time to see what you can get for Volquez if you own him as he will likely bring in a decent haul in return. If you can fill a couple of roster needs, pulling the trigger on a Volquez deal makes sense.

 

BUST

KENJI JOHJIMA, Seattle Mariners, C

Comment: Johjima spent a lot of time on the bench during inter-league play so Seattle could get a long look at Jeff Clement. While it is unlikely that Johjima will be a bench player this season, it has become clear that his time in the majors may be done after this season. He’s playing out the final year of his contract, but is batting .233 with a .274 OBP, 3 HR, 20 RBI and 16 runs. Not the type of performance you want to have in a walk year.

 

LASTINGS MILLEDGE, Washington Nationals, OF
Comment: Milledge injured his groin on Saturday and hit the disabled list over the weekend, but that is not why he is a bust. While many fantasy owners have held onto him because of his everyday at-bats and potential, Milledge actually enjoyed a better season in 2007. Despite playing in 21 more games this season than in ’07, Milledge has the same number of homers (7), just three more RBI (29 in 2007, 32 in 2008) and a worse batting average (.272 last year, .245 this season). Sure the 10 more steals in 2008 are a welcome sight, but Milledge should not really have a spot on anyone’s roster in most fantasy leagues.

 

MIKE RABELO, Florida Marlins, C
Comment: When Rabelo was acquired from Detroit; Marlins brass thought that he was capable of being a very good starting catcher. However, after batting .202 with just 10 RBI and 9 runs, Rabelo has been sent down to Triple-A. Besides the poor offensive totals, Rabelo also was a liability with men on base defensively, allowing players to steal successfully in 16 of 22 attempts this year. Even if he gets the call back up to the majors, feel free to pay him no mind in all fantasy leagues.

 

CHRIS SHELTON, Texas Rangers, 1B

Comment: Shelton was designated for assignment on Thursday and his days in the major leagues appear to be over. In April 2006, Shelton came out of nowhere for Detroit and belted 10 homers while batting .326. He was the flavor of the month at that time but in 2008, he found no success. He hit .184 against lefties and struck out 33 times in 97 at-bats this year, forming quite possibly the worst platoon in the history of baseball at first base with Ben Broussard (who was cut by the Rangers earlier in the season).