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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

 

JONATHAN BROXTON, Los Angeles Dodgers, RP
Comment: Takashi Saito is having an MRI today, following an early exit from Saturday’s outing due to right elbow tightness. This is why you held onto Broxton all season. This could not have come at a better time either, not only are the Dodgers starting to round into shape as a team (which should result in more save opportunities during the second-half), but in his last 16 appearances, Broxton owns a 1.13 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and has struck out 15 batters in 16 inning. If Saito ends up missing significant time, Broxton should become a high-end fantasy relief option.

 

CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Boston Red Sox, SP
Comment: While his first start for Boston in his return to their starting rotation Friday night did not go swimmingly (5 innings, 4 earned runs, 5 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts), Buchholz still showed why he could be a star in the big-leagues for years to come. He was throwing fastballs in the 95-96 mph range, something he was struggling with in his earlier stint in the majors during this season. His minor-league numbers in 2008 (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 43 SO in 43.2 IP) point to an improved command. Buchholz will undoubtedly still go through some growing pains, particularly with his control, but with a strong supporting cast in Boston and the potential to strikeout about a batter per inning, he could be a great starting pitching option going forward for fantasy teams.

 

MIGUEL CABRERA, Detroit Tigers, 1B
Comment: Plenty of fantasy owners (myself included) have been irritated by the play of Miguel Cabrera. With that Detroit lineup, big things were expected, nay demanded, from the young slugger. Yet, there may be light at the end of the tunnel as Cabrera has been on a roll over his last 18 games: .319 AVG, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R. While these stats do not atone for a first-half filled with disappointment, there is still plenty of time for Cabrera to make up for his early struggles. For this reason, Cabrera makes an excellent buy-low target.

 

ADAM JONES, Baltimore Orioles, OF
Comment: Adam Jones was a bona-fide sleeper pick heading into 2008, but a slow start and the fact that he was hitting 7^th or 8^th in a modest Orioles lineup has led to a lack of fantasy interest. He should have your attention now. Jones has been playing great since the start of June, hitting .329 with 3 homers, 24 RBI, 20 runs and 4 stolen bags. He’s got some untapped power he could dial into in the second-half, as evident by his 25 bombs in 101 Triple-A games last year. The most promising aspect of Jones’ game, however, all has to do with where he’s hitting in the lineup. Baltimore gave him 3 straight starts in the two-hole over the weekend against Boston, a spot sandwiched between run-generator Brian Roberts and the superbly talented Nick Markakis. Jones could be a gem after the All-Star break, so those of you in need of outfield help should invest in his services.

 

 

BEARISH

 

MICHAEL BOURN, Houston Astros, OF
Comment: Can someone please help Bourn out at the plate? The speedy, yet offensively inept, center-fielder has wheels to die for as evident by his 32 swipes in 39 attempts in 2008. But his woeful .218 batting average and atrocious .273 OBP this season could prevent him from becoming a viable everyday player in the majors. The Astros benched Bourn in 4 of his last 6 games because of his weak bat and he is not likely to return to leadoff duties unless he can prove that he is not a liability at the dish. Fantasy owners in rotisserie leagues were holding onto him despite his poor offense simply because he can carry a team in the steals department, though at a cost to your batting average, runs, RBI and home run totals. It seems safe to drop him now as the Astros are not giving him the benefit of the doubt anymore, but keep him in your radar. If he even shows a bit of improvement, Houston could put him out there with regularity again.

 

JESSE LITSCH, Toronto Blue Jays, SP
Comment: Litsch was a popular waiver-add in May, when he twirled a 4-0 record with a 2.08 ERA, but times have been tough lately. Over his past 8 starts, Litsch has gone 1-5 with a 5.56 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 45.1 innings. In 3 of those starts, he has allowed 10 hits. He is more of a control pitcher and while he has issued 2 or more walks just 4 times in 19 starts in 2008, it has become clear that Litsch has had very hittable stuff since June. AL-only leaguers should hang onto him for at least another start or two while mixed leaguer players can feel free to drop Litsch if there is a more attractive option out there on the waiver wire.

 

ROY OSWALT, Houston Astros, SP
Comment: Roy Oswalt just cannot catch a break. Prior to his shortened July 11^th start against the Nationals, when he left after just one inning of work due to pain in his left hip, Oswalt had last pitched on June 30^th, when he left that start early with a strained left abductor. Now he will not pitch until July 22^nd at the earliest and may even be headed for the disabled list if things do not improve. It’s a shame that he is enduring all these injury woes, Oswalt was looking like his old-self since May 29^th, going 3-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 47.1 innings. If you can afford to take a chance on him, he makes an advisable trade target that could pay big dividends in the second-half. On the flip-side, this season could end up being a lost cause as the Astros are way out of the playoff race and they could decide to shut him down indefinitely in preparation for 2009.

 

JAVIER VAZQUEZ, Chicago White Sox, SP
Comment: Following a solid 2007 season, where he posted a 15-8 record with a 3.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 213 whiffs in 216.2 innings, fantasy owners were hoping he would be a reliable anchor to their staff in 2008. Things were going well for Vazquez in the beginning of the season, but over his past 7 starts, he is 2-3 with a 6.80 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. While fantasy owners will happily take those strikeout totals, the unsavory ratios harkens back to Vazquez’s 2006 season with Chicago, when he went 11-12 with a 4.85 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He’s a tough one to figure out as his career has been one big roller-coaster during which he has looked both brilliant and overmatched. His fantasy owners are just going to have to ride this one out for now as trading him now will probably bring back little in return.

 

 

BUST

JOE BOROWSKI, Free Agent, RP
Comment: Borowski received his walking papers on Thursday as the Indians designated him for assignment. This was a long time coming. Since the start of 2007, Borowski has totaled 51 saves for the Indians, but has also pitched to the tune of a 5.57 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 82.1 innings as one of the biggest heart-attack inducing closers in the game. He’s likely to not earn another job as a ninth-inning reliever and for that reason, he will probably never be fantasy relevant again.

 

GARY MATTHEWS Jr., Los Angeles Angels, OF

Comment: Matthews is a spectacular playmaker in the field with his glove, but at the plate, he’s been disastrous in 2008. Batting .235 with 7 homers, 34 RBI, 34 runs and 6 stolen bags, his numbers are down across the board from seasons past. He has just one multi-hit game since June 11^th and has batted .189 over that span with just 1 homer, 4 RBI, 7 runs scored and 1 stolen base. His playing time has been cut recently and if he does not pick things up, he may even end up in a reserve role on this team as the Angels have plenty of outfield talent available to step in and produce. Keep Matthews away from your fantasy roster.

 

MICAH OWINGS, Arizona Diamondbacks, SP
Comment: After his first four starts, when he went 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 23 whiffs in 26 innings, it looked like Owings was on the fast track to a breakthrough season. Injuries and big-time struggles in the rotation, however, have put the kibosh on those thoughts. He’s lost his last 6 decisions and has posted a 7.71 ERA in his last 7 starts. Owings may even lose his rotation spot as his starting pitching struggles, coupled with his strong relief outings on July 4^th and 12^th (where he pitched a total of 2.2 innings allowing no runs, 1 walk and striking out 4), could put him in the bullpen where the D-backs may need him more. As of right now, Owings should be sitting on waiver-wires in fantasy leagues everywhere.

 

EDGAR RENTERIA, Detroit Tigers, SS
Comment: Renteria left Wednesday’s game with a hamstring injury and I’m sure he was dropped by plenty of fantasy owners as well. While manager Jim Leyland expects Renteria to be ready to play when the Tigers season resumes, we all know hamstring injuries can linger and last all season. Even when he was healthy, it was not as if Renteria was doing much good. Heading into the All-Star break Renteria was hitting .254 with 5 homers, 33 RBI, 39 runs and 3 steals in 82 contests. Some of you may be holding on to hope that because he is hitting in a potentially explosive Tigers lineup, he is worth holding onto. If you feel that way, good luck having Renteria lead you to a fantasy championship this season.