Archive May 2008
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MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/29/2008 8:54:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
It’s probably not a coincidence Aaron Harang’s worst start of the year on Thursday came just four days after he pitched four innings of relief. His velocity was way down, but hopefully this was just a short-term thing.
I’m more Dr. Van Nostrand than I am James Andrews, but Ryan Church’s prognosis doesn’t sound too good to me.
Despite his affinity of the long ball, I’m starting to like Kevin Slowey more and more. He’s still likely to remain homer-prone, but with excellent command, they are often solo shots, so he should have a strong WHIP regardless. His stuff isn’t overpowering, but his minor league track record is impressive, and remember, he posted a ridiculous 28:2 K:BB ratio last September.
Nice to see Fernando Tatis back in the league. This is the guy who once hit two grand slams in one game. In the same inning! Off the same pitcher!
If health weren’t such an issue, I’d treat Scott Kazmir as a top-5 starter. He’s such an injury risk, I won’t go overboard recommending him, but health is the only thing standing in his way of becoming a monster fantasy pitcher. After the All-Star break last season, he posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a ridiculous 124 strikeouts over 94.1 innings. Even with subpar control (10 walks in 30 innings), Kazmir has a 0.97 WHIP so far in 2008. He’s pretty much unhittable.
There might be some awkward times ahead in Arizona if Doug Davis and Max Scherzer continue to pitch like they are supposed to.
For everyone using the absolutely ridiculous argument that Joba Chamberlain should stay in the bullpen because Kyle Farnsworth sucks, may I ask, what’s wrong with Edwar Ramirez in a setup role? His ERA was terrible during 21 major league innings last year, but that came with 31 strikeouts, and he’s been dominant in 2008. In 190.2 minor league innings during his career, he has 237 strikeouts, a 2.83 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Sure, he’s not a fireballer, but his changeup is filthy.
Speaking of Joba Chamberlain, where would you rank him as a starter right now? I’m personally pretty high on him, but it’s not going to be easy developing a third pitch (a changeup) in the majors.
It’s almost as if Dana Eveland is baiting me into bringing back up the recent Staff League trade with his line Thursday night. Nah, I’ve already done enough damage.
With his previous lack of strikeouts, it appeared Jose Contreras’ bounce back year was largely due to luck and his low BABIP. However, after racking up 10 Ks during his last start, he now has a 14:0 K:BB ratio over the past two outings. He’s obviously going to regress from his current 3.06 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, but it looks like his career isn’t finished after all. And to think, he might be 50 years old for all we know.
I only mention this because I’ve reached my apex. There’s nowhere to go but down from here.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/26/2008 6:04:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
What has gotten into Dan Uggla? During 22 games in May, he has 12 HRs, 26 runs scored, 25 RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. He’s always had a knack for racking up runs and RBI despite low OBPs, and at age 28, a career-year is almost certainly in store. Still, his contact rate (.71) is actually worse than his career level (.77), as is his BABIP (.369 vs. .299). He’s someone you should be trying to sell-high.
Clayton Kershaw is without question the best pitching prospect in baseball, with a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a curve that drops all the way to 72 mph. However, it’s good to remember he just turned 20 years old last week, and since he’s already thrown 50 innings this season, he’s probably only going to be allowed to toss around 100-120 more in 2008. Additionally, he averaged just 4.8 innings per start in Double-A this year due to control problems (he threw six wild pitches during nine starts). That said, he’s extremely difficult to hit, so No. 1 waiver priorities have to be used on his upside.
With a .770 OPS, James Loney has been a disappointment in 2008. Still, he’s a guy I’d be trying to buy-low, as it’s only a matter of time until he starts raking. His contact rate (.85) is solid, and most of his struggles have come against southpaws, whom he hit .319 against during 94 at-bats last season. Go get him.
Over the past week, there have been at least six erroneous home run calls.
I admit, I undervalued James Shields entering the year. His K:BB ratio was extremely impressive in 2007, but with such a lucky schedule (five starts against the Orioles, four combined versus the Yankees and Red Sox) and pitching in a tough AL East, I figured some regression was likely. Instead, he’s continued to impress, and now his ERA is matching his component stats. It’s a small sample size that might ultimately mean nothing, but it’s worth noting he’s sporting some extreme splits so far – 1.75 ERA, 0.80 WHIP at home, 6.04 ERA, 1.69 WHIP on the road.
If an outfielder or infielder loses the ball in the lights/sun and it drops in without him touching it, that’s an error – I don’t care what the rulebook says.
With a .283/.421/.602 line, Pat Burrell is having an MVP-type season. Finally over his past health problems and playing for a contract, it’s safe to assume a career-season is in store. He’s always had this type of potential, so unless you get a star in return, might as well hold onto him and enjoy the ride. He’ll never hit better than .280, but 35 homers and 115 RBI are well within reach. And to think, he was getting benched versus righties at one point last season.
Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins and Clint Barmes? It’s safe to say the Rockies are having some injury problems. Scott Podsednik and Seth Smith need to be owned in all deep and/or NL-only leagues.
Over his last five starts, Ben Sheets has a 29:1 K:BB ratio.
Carlos Quentin is on pace to finish with a .301 BA, 46 HRs, 142 RBI, 116 runs and 13 steals. You don’t need me to tell you he’s going to decline some, but Quentin is also showing the best plate discipline of his career and plays in the American League’s best park for power hitters. This talent is for real – his 2007 was ruined by a shoulder injury. Can you imagine the Diamondbacks if they didn’t give up on him so soon?
In RotoWire’s Staff Keeper League, Albert Pujols was just traded for Dana Eveland and Jose Vidro. Not to call out this specific owner or even go over this particular deal, but I wanted to use it to highlight just how much better it is to play in redraft leagues. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some added strategy to keeper formats, and I like the fact you can become even more attached to your players over a longer period of time. However, more often than not, trades like this one occur, so unless you’re willing to sell out for one year, you’re either rebuilding or guaranteed to finish behind some powerhouse who traded a minor leaguer for a top-5 talent before even June arrived. Moreover, yearly leagues are better because of the actual draft/auction process, which is the best part anyway.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/22/2008 3:24:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 3
Jack Cust is about the streakiest hitter in major league baseball, so hopefully his recent two-homer game is a sign of big things to come. And speaking of discrepancies, his .254 batting average and .426 on-base percentage is pretty remarkable. He’s produced one of the game’s three true outcomes in a ridiculous 53 percent of his plate appearances in 2008.
You know how everyone refers to the National League as the “minors” and so inferior to the AL? Well, an interesting thing is happening. The top-9 leaders in OPS this season all play in the Senior Circuit. Additionally, the Cubs lead all of baseball in runs scored.
Josh Hamilton is on pace to finish the season with 40 homers and 175 RBI. Only health can stop him from being a clear-cut first round pick in fantasy leagues next year. The Edinson Volquez for Hamilton trade has turned out to be an absolute blockbuster.
I don’t understand the apparent confusion among the media regarding Joba Chamberlain this season. The plan was crystal clear from the very beginning - pitch in relief the first two months, get stretched out and move into the starting rotation for the second half of the season. Obviously, he’s most valuable as a starter, and limiting him to 150-160 innings this season was the right way to go after throwing around 120 last year. That way, it won’t be such an extreme jump to 200-220 when he starts the season in that role in 2009. And I don’t care how poor the rest of New York’s bullpen is; they’ll have a much easier time trading for a setup man than a dominant starter.
If you haven’t seen the TV show “Strangers With Candy,” go rent the DVDs. There isn’t a more underrated comedy.
Anyone who just turned 22 years old last month can’t be expected to be an immediate star, but Billy Butler’s utter lack of power is a little disappointing. He’s shown improved plate discipline, but a .348 slugging percentage isn’t going to cut it. He now sports a .594 OPS during 119 career at-bats versus right-handers. Still, he’s going to be a good one. Eventually.
Pretty scary play when Albert Pujols’ liner hit Chris Young right on the beak Wednesday night, changing his jersey color to red in the process. If he’s not 6-10, the ball is in center field.
Anyone still holding out hope Joe Mauer starts developing more power hasn’t watched his approach at the plate this season. I’d be shocked if he hit more than 10 homers. Such a shame.
I don’t get why everyone views Willie Parker as a better fantasy property than Rashard Mendenhall in 2008. Parker averaged 4.1 YPC last year, doesn’t catch the ball and is coming off a fractured fibula. Mendenhall, meanwhile, is already both the superior blocker and option at the goal line. Parker may very well still see the majority of carries between the 20s, but Pittsburgh had more than 500 rushing attempts last year, so there’s plenty to go around. Mendenhall seems like a no-brainer to me.
Have you ever met anyone who was actually against instant replay in baseball? I certainly haven’t.
For Austin Kearns’ sake, let’s hope his elbow has been bothering him all season and has been a big contributor to his pathetic .267 slugging percentage. Hopefully, he can return in a month and resemble an average player, but I’m not holding my breath. The Nationals outfielders are batting a combined .200 with six homers on the year, putting them on pace to finish as the worst unit in the history of major league baseball.
It’s ironic that the two players who have played in the second most games this year are Bobby Crosby and Troy Glaus.
My Fantasy Football Documentary
- By: Chris Liss
- On: 5/22/2008 12:10:00 PM
- In: Football
- Comments: 1
Hopefully, you'll enjoy it and want to pass it on to anyone you think would like it.
(The video's a bit blurry in some parts, but that's due to YouTube's low data rate - the footage in the actual movie (while not likely to win an award for cinematography) is perfectly clear.
And incidentally, the guy in the scene, Mitchell Whitfield, is a well-known character actor - you might recognize him from "Friends" or "My Cousin Vinny".)
The movie's full running time is 68 minutes.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/20/2008 7:13:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
Speaking of strikeouts, Mark Reynolds is batting just .212/.305/.231 during 52 at-bats in May. He hasn’t homered since April 25. He’s still likely established himself as the team’s No. 1 option at third base for the most part, but he’s picked a bad time to slump with Chad Tracy’s imminent return. That situation could easily turn into a timeshare. And fast.
Where has Alex Rios’ power gone? The nine steals are plenty helpful in fantasy leagues, but he hasn’t left the yard since May 1, leaving him on pace to finish the season with just 10 long balls. At age 27, Rios should be entering his physical prime, but a .376 slugging percentage won’t get it done. When you consider he slugged just .369 last September and hit only four home runs over his final 245 at-bats last season, there’s at least some cause for concern. And to think, the Giants actually entertained dealing Tim Lincecum for him.
If only for the sake of my LABR team, can someone please give Dallas McPherson a chance? He strikes out too much to be a big on-base guy, but his power is legit. A recent three-homer game has left him with a season line of .297/.396/.659 with 15 bombs in just 138 Triple-A at-bats. Admittedly, he’s playing in a terrific environment for hitters, but I find it hard to believe a 27-year-old left-handed hitting third baseman with this kind of power can’t help a major league team. I’m talking to you, Sabean.
Has there ever been a clearer example of addition by subtraction regarding Andruw Jones’ injury?
Since I had Spurs over Celtics as my preseason NBA Finals prediction, I might as well stay the course with the Conference Finals. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if either team lost. And how about the Bulls getting the No. 1 pick in the draft? Who do they take there? This makes Mike D’Antoni’s foolish decision to coach the Knicks instead of the Bulls look even worse. That is, until LeBron goes to NY in a couple of years.
I’m completely unconcerned with Miguel Cabrera’s lackluster start at the plate. Some are worried he’ll become too complacent after signing a long-term deal, but a new set of pitchers in the American League probably has more to do with the slow start. His current .303 BABIP is well below his career level (.358). He needs to be treated like a top-8 player during trade talks.
Farewell Mike Piazza. Your 1997 season - .362, 40 HRs, 124 RBI, 104 runs, 5 SBs – has to be considered one of the most valuable in the history of fantasy baseball.
It might be obvious, but Clint Barmes is someone to sell-high right now. There’s plenty to talk up – his extremely hot start, Coors Field, his 2005 season. However, this is someone with a career .753 OPS in the minors and has been caught stealing on 50 of his 147 attempts. Hitting atop the Rockies’ lineup in that ballpark might lead to a solid middle infielder all year long, but with a .386 BABIP, it’s safe to assume his value is peaking.
Free Andy LaRoche! I think his current .300/.506/.560 line at Triple-A proves he’s sufficiently recovered from the fluke thumb injury he suffered during spring training. Problem is, Blake DeWitt is playing out of his head. In the end, it’s a good problem for the Dodgers to have, but at some point, LaRoche needs to get a chance in Los Angeles.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/18/2008 6:35:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
Sunday’s matchup between Cliff Lee and Edinson Volquez featured the lowest combined ERAs of two starters in MLB history (through at least seven starts). Additionally, Volquez entered Sunday having started the season with eight straight games allowing one earned run or fewer, tying a major league record. All those walks will catch up to him eventually, but he’s one of the toughest pitchers to hit in the game. Imagine if he ever becomes more than a two-pitch pitcher.
I’m not ready to call Howie Kendrick the next Rocco Baldelli, but that’s one slow-healing hamstring he’s got there. He has batting title written all over him, but Kendrick simply can’t stay healthy and is extremely slow to heal when hurt. He’s a frustrating talent.
Dating back to last season, Brandon Phillips has four more homers versus left-handers than he does righties, despite 304 fewer at-bats. He’s also batting nearly 100 points higher (.356 vs. .259) when facing southpaws. The end result is really all that should matter, but for some reason, I always feel less comfortable with players who rely so much on splits, especially when it’s the side with fewer opportunities.
It can’t hurt to at least see what Rich Harden brings back in a trade after another dominant start Saturday. Probably not much, but hey, he’s now just 25 innings away from throwing the most he has since 2005.
Game 7 of the Cavs/Celtics series was the first time I got excited this postseason. Paul Pierce deserves a lot of credit, but Boston is not winning the title. It cannot be understated just how bad LeBron James’ supporting cast is. That team is truly awful. Jeff Van Gundy is by far my favorite color commentator in any sport.
With Jeff Clement’s demotion to Triple-A, it’s time to keep your eye on Jeremy Reed in deeper leagues. The former prospect has been tearing up minor league pitching this year, hitting .364/.432/.597 with six homers and six steals. Of course, an opportunity will need to open up, but Reed’s still young enough to not be completely written off.
Ryan Howard arrested?! “The Office” finished an uneven season on a high note with its season finale. The Kevin storyline killed me.
Tough break for Jake Peavy owners. Petco Park aside, he’s one of the game’s three best pitchers, but risk is always there with him. Hopefully, his latest setback isn’t too serious, but it’s definitely worrisome. Manager Bud Black did an excellent job keeping his pitch count down game-to-game last season, but consecutive years with more than 200 innings pitched was bound to catch up to someone as fragile as Peavy.
The Indians have zero home runs from their cleanup hitter this season. Meanwhile, the Marlins lead Major League Baseball in long balls. And who cares if the Yankees are currently in last place? It’s not like they won’t be in contention come September.
With Jason Isringhausen put out to pasture, Chris Perez needs to be closely monitored. With not a lot of top options in the Cardinals’ pen, the 2006 first round pick might emerge as the team’s best relief option over the second half of the season, so there’s some save potential. He had a 2.16 ERA with 21 Ks over 16.2 innings in Triple-A this season before getting called up.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/15/2008 6:54:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
Ted Lilly is officially back. A terrible start has left his ERA still sitting at 5.33, but his WHIP is 1.28, and his 8.8 K/9 IP mark is 12th best in major league baseball. Over his last four starts, he has a sparkling 32:6 K:BB ratio. His velocity has returned, and the Cubs field a terrific offense with a solid back-end to the bullpen. Lilly has never been the most durable pitcher, but he needs to be treated like a top-25 starter right now.
Ian Snell, conversely, is someone to worry about. Snell’s inability to come up with a third pitch has really hindered his development, and all those sliders are taking a toll on his arm. He’s still young enough to turn it around, but after last year’s second half (4.83 ERA, 1.53 WHIP), this season’s 5.05 ERA is disconcerting. The sinking K rate and rising BB rate are particularly discouraging.
For a game that’s played on the same exact dimensions everywhere, it’s pretty crazy just how important homecourt advantage is in NBA basketball.
Nick Johnson’s trip to the disabled list was about as surprising as someone from ESPN using the phrase “by the way.” Cal Ripken Jr. can now rest easy. Johnson was playing much better than his .220 average indicated too. The worst part is the nature of the injury, as there’s no guarantee his wrist won’t be a major problem even when he’s able to return to the field.
Song of the week: “Time to Pretend” by MGMT.
Curtis Granderson is hitless during four at-bats against left-handers this season, one year after batting .160/.225/.269 versus southpaws in 2007. He’s the rare superstar who can be benched at times in daily formats. Staying with the Tigers, Justin Verlander has been one of the five most disappointing players in baseball so far. His 6.05 ERA is accompanied by a .291 BABIP, which is right in line with his career mark, so that can’t be blamed. His .59 strand rate is sure to improve, but the fact his walks are up and his Ks are so down isn’t a great sign at all. After nine starts, his season-high for strikeouts in a game is six. Dating back to last year, he’s now served up 13 homers over his past 12 starts, which isn’t going to cut it. He’s also hit seven batters this season, which is worst in the league. I wouldn’t necessarily be trying to sell Verlander, but I also wouldn’t be aggressively trying to buy-low either.
Fun stats: Ryan Theriot’s seven caught stealings are by far the most in baseball. David Ortiz has grounded into the most double plays (10) in the league. Albert Pujols has been intentionally walked 12 times, which is almost twice the amount of anyone else. Bengie Molina has been the toughest player to strike out this year, fanning just once every 26 at-bats. Dustin Pedroia and Ryan Zimmerman have recorded the most outs in all of baseball.
Brett Myers’ loss in velocity can help explain his league-leading 15 home runs allowed, but that he’s also maintained an 8.1 K/9 IP mark is a little strange. Maybe the jumping back-and-forth between the rotation, bullpen and then rotation again wasn’t such a great idea after all. There’s pretty good reason for concern here.
Daniel Cabrera’s 3.58 ERA and 1.23 WHIP are great, and so is the fact he’s walked just one batter over the past two starts (16 innings). His newfound ability to induce a bunch of groundballs is another encouraging sign. Still, for someone with his stuff, Cabrera’s K rate (5.5 K/9 IP) is beyond disappointing, and his .240 BABIP suggests he’s been quite lucky. There’s no doubt he’s improving as a pitcher, but as much as I want to believe he’s truly turned the corner, it’s best to remain skeptical.
Chris Duncan is batting just .258 with three homers on the year, but he can be quite useful in daily formats. Injuries curtailed what was looking like a big season last year, and he’s really improved his walk rate in 2008, which could lead to him consistently hitting high in St. Louis’ order. He’s unusable versus left-handers, but Duncan has hit 20 homers in 295 career at-bats against righties, so he’s a fine option against them. However, hopefully he limits his smoking to just photo day and not game days.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/13/2008 2:55:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
While Victor Martinez and Joe Mauer have a combined 228 at-bats with zero homers, Geovany Soto is punishing the baseball, slugging .581 while on pace to finish with 111 RBI. I worried about him entering the year since he was never a big prospect and seemingly came out of nowhere last season at age 24, but he’s been anything but a fluke during his second year in the bigs. The 23 walks are also quite impressive.
Fausto Carmona’s season just keeps getting weirder after a complete game shutout with a 3:4 K:BB ratio Monday. He’s struck out more batters than he’s walked in exactly one of his eight starts this season. All those groundballs mean opponents are going to struggle getting extra base hits, but his current ERA (2.40) and WHIP (1.64) are mutually exclusive.
Despite three walks, Jose Lopez’s average (.312) is currently higher than his on-base percentage (.311). That’s tough to do.
Carlos Zambrano has quietly been one of baseball’s most effective pitchers this season. Entering the year, Zambrano had a rising walk rate, sinking K rate, had accrued a ton of mileage on his right arm and had just signed a lucrative long-term contract; in other words, all signs pointed to the opposite coming true. His strikeout rate is actually continuing to decline, and his strand rate (.84) will regress to the mean, but his improved control is profound. His previous career-best BB/9 IP mark was 3.47. It’s at 2.32 this season.
There’s a zero percent chance I don’t see this movie opening weekend.
Despite facing lefties during just 24 percent of his at-bats last year, Ryan Braun hit 44 percent of his homers against southpaws. This year, he’s hit eight of his nine long balls versus right-handers, which is a good sign for his future. He still strikes out too often, walks too infrequently and the 1-of-4 SB success rate this season is disconcerting, but there’s little reason to worry about his “sophomore slump.” Of course, consecutive multiple homer games probably eased plenty of minds, but this kid is legit and will be a top-15 fantasy player for years to come.
The strikeout rate is great but all those walks make Clay Buchholz pretty much unusable right now. He still needs to be treated like an elite property in keeper-leagues, but there’s going to be some growing pains, especially with the AL East being so unforgiving. Keeper-leaguers might as well throw a low ball offer his owners’ way, because there’s a lot to be encouraged about behind the ugly ERA and WHIP. His BABIP of .376 is sure to drop significantly.
Lance Berkman is as hot as a pistol. How about a line of .393/.470/.800? Would that be something you’d be interested in? Now 32 years old, it’s safe to say I didn’t see this one coming. Here’s what he’s on pace to finish the 2008 season with: 54 HRs, 25 SBs, 174 runs, 158 RBI and a .393 BA. Good thing he ended up on none of my teams.
I randomly caught Buzz Bissinger on XM’s “baseball beat” last week, and let me tell you, this guy does not disappoint. He started the segment by saying he shouldn’t have said “shit” on HBO’s Costas Now and reiterated his distaste for blogs because of their profanity. He then proceeded to drop no less than 15 F-bombs live on the air, as a stunned Charlie Steiner helplessly listened in. The irony ran thick.
What’s up with Erik Bedard? He’s walking too many batters, serving up homers left and right and only has a 3.48 ERA thanks to a .236 BABIP. I was high on him entering the season and still am, but one has to wonder how he’s feeling physically. His 7.22 K/9 IP isn’t bad, but it’s not even in the same area code as last year’s 10.93 K/9 IP mark. And this means absolutely nothing, but except for maybe Barry Bonds, I’ve never heard anyone bashed by local media more than Bedard, who is apparently an asshole.
As a Giants fan, it’s great to see old favorite Armando Benitez back in the major leagues. And by that I mean I wish him nothing but the worst.
To all you Dusty Baker apologists, and I know you’re out there, I’m curious what your thoughts are on David Ross batting out of order Sunday. All the blame can’t totally fall on Baker, but it also doesn’t reflect too greatly on the manager. Moreover, tough break for owners of Corey Patterson, who recorded an out while sitting in the dugout.
Over his last 893 at-bats, Andruw Jones is hitting .217.
After three weeks into the season, Johnny Cueto qualified as a sell-high candidate. After six weeks into the season, he’s an option to buy-low. A 22-year-old rookie being inconsistent should surprise no one, but there’s still plenty to like with Cueto. Even Kevin Slowey thinks Cueto’s nine homers allowed are embarrassing, but 46 Ks over 45.1 innings and a 1.25 WHIP suggest he’s going to be just fine long-term. It’s only a matter of time before those flyballs start turning into outs and his terrible .56 strand rate improves. He should still be treated like a top-30 fantasy pitcher.
Ichiro Suzuki currently has the lowest average (.287), OBP (.335) and SLG (.389) of his career, despite sporting his best contact rate (.92) ever. Still, he’s maintained his fantasy value by running like crazy, swiping 16 of 17 stolen base attempts on the year. Ichiro established a career-high when he stole 56 bases his rookie year, but he’s on pace for 65 this season. It also appears he hits .350-plus on three-year cycles.
Cliff Lee is simply a man possessed right now. It’s silly to say he won’t maintain this pace – oh really, he’s not going to finish with a 0.67 ERA?! But he’s clearly proven himself not to be a fluke, flashing a brilliant 44:4 K:BB ratio in 53.2 innings. Monday’s nine shutout innings may not have gotten him a victory, and it was the first time he walked a batter in four starts, but what he’s doing so far this season is unprecedented. It’s one of the bigger out of nowhere campaigns I’ve ever witnessed.
Fantasy Football Index Draft
- By: Chris Liss
- On: 5/10/2008 10:38:00 AM
- In: Football
- Comments: 0
The scoring is 4/6, 20/10. It's a 12-team league. 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D.
I picked ninth. Here's my team:
| Round | Player | Position |
| 1 | Marshawn Lynch | RB |
| 2 | Randy Moss | WR |
| 3 | Darren McFadden | RB |
| 4 | Brandon Marshall | WR |
| 5 | Rudi Johnson | RB |
| 6 | Calvin Johnson | WR |
| 7 | David Garrard | QB |
| 8 | Vince Young | QB |
| 9 | Chris Johnson | RB |
| 10 | Ahmad Bradshaw | RB |
| 11 | Ronald Curry | WR |
| 12 | Owen Daniels | TE |
| 13 | Alge Crumpler | TE |
| 14 | Reggie Williams | WR |
| 15 | Kellen Clemens | QB |
| 16 | Oakland Raiders | Team D |
| 17 | Jacob Hester | RB |
| 18 | Derrick Ward | RB |
| 19 | Kris Brown | K |
| 20 | Roydell Williams | WR |
| 21 | San Francisco 49ers | Team D |
| 22 | John Kasay | K |
A couple notes about this format: QBs fly off the board early because there's no waiver wire - you really need two or three of them at least, and preferably four, though I only got three.
And you really need two Ks and two Ds, because if your kicker gets hurt, you'll have zeroes (plus there's the bye week). And defense can't get hurt, but it fluctuates so much from week to week, it's good to have two and take the best performance.
The Perfect Game
- By: Chris Liss
- On: 5/9/2008 6:49:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 0
Usually, it'll be like 2-1 in the fourth, and you're feeling pretty good, but then it's 5-2 in the fifth, and they chase the guy who gave up 5. Then your other pitcher has two outs in the inning, the shortstop makes an error to keep it alive, and the next batter hits a two-run homer. Your pitcher leaves after six up 5-4 and you waste another hour watching a game you don't otherwise care about before the bullpen blows it in the eighth or ninth.
Or maybe you'll get an 8-4 win when one of your guys gets shelled, and the other gives up four runs in five and a third.
But tonight, I had Jon Garland going in the Staff League and James Shields, who I just traded for, in my home league. (Losing Yovani Gallardo forced my hand).
And it's not just that Shields won 2-0 - it's that Garland left after going eight scoreless innings himself. It doesn't get much better.
I'm sure something else disastrous will happen any minute now, but you have to savor the good fortune once in a while.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/8/2008 1:01:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
He’ll never help in batting average, but Mike Cameron is consistently one of the more underrated 20/20 threats in baseball. He’s not going to have the best season of his career at age 35, but remember his numbers from the past two years were suppressed by Petco Park, and the top of Milwaukee’s lineup is an excellent place to bat.
I’m going to go on record and state the Spurs will still win their series against the Hornets.
The pride of Carmel, California, Xavier Nady is off to a blistering start this season, batting .349 with five home runs. His 34 RBI leads the National League. He’s always been somewhat of an underachiever after being taken in the second round of the 2000 draft, so a career-season looks to be in store. However, Nady’s obviously not this good, has a .402 BABIP and has clubbed 75 percent of his homers throughout his career before the All-Star break. He’s someone you should be shopping.
Francisco Rodriguez’s 10:9 K:BB ratio is ugly, and his huge drop in strikeout rate is concerning for the future, but he’s still somehow on pace to finish with 63 saves this season.
After Tuesday’s near no-hitter, let me reiterate, trade Gavin Floyd. If all of your league members remain skeptical, I’d still think a 2.50 ERA and 0.96 WHIP would look good in a packaged deal. No one has been luckier in 2008 than Floyd, who boasts a 4.3 K/9 IP mark, a 1.06:1 K:BB ratio, a 4.08 BB/9 IP line, a 0.66 G/F ratio and a .147 BABIP that leads major league baseball.
Coldplay came correct with their new single. Can’t wait for the new album. No joke.
Only Dusty Baker would leave a 24-year-old pitcher in to throw 118 pitches in a 9-0 game. In life, I’ve found it’s often a good idea to learn from past mistakes. Edinson Volquez may very well lead the majors in both walks and strikeouts this season. Speaking of Cincinnati, tough to have a better fantasy game than Joey Votto’s three homers and a steal Wednesday.
How many setbacks can Mark Mulder possibly have?
I really like Sidney Ponson this year. After three starts, he has a 1.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 2.75:1 K:BB ratio. He’s in the best shape of his career and should get good run support from Texas’ lineup. He’s flashing a highly impressive 2.13 groundball to flyball rate and has really improved pitching out of the stretch, stranding a remarkable 87.5 percent of baserunners. Additionally, he’s gone six consecutive months without being arrested. OK, I’ll stop now.
One thing I wanted to mention was that you can’t just assume a pitcher’s BABIP will return to the norm, as that stat is also largely a reflection of team defense. If you really want to get specific, you should compare pitchers’ BABIPs among teammates.
Considering that I have both Conor Jackson and Shane Victorino in LABR, watching them violently collide Wednesday night, which ended with Jackson lying motionless on the ground, was no fun. Get well soon CoJack!
Emmitt Smith is a gift that keeps on giving. Check out this recent quote he made in regards to the Cowboys trading for Pacman Jones: “You can be with the guy and in his ear 24 hours a day, but at the end of the day you can’t be there the whole time.” Without a doubt, he’s easily my favorite analyst in any sport.
Despite a 4.74 ERA, Jose Valverde is on pace to finish with 19 wins and 33 saves. I’m not sure he’ll keep that pace in both categories, but 25 saves are within reach. In all seriousness, over his last 11.2 innings, he’s allowed zero runs with a 14:3 K:BB ratio. Valverde’s still not exactly the safest closer around, but this is someone with a staggering 11.4 K/9 IP mark throughout his career.
Fausto Carmona is having one of the more fascinating seasons in memory. His 2.95 ERA and 3-1 record are rock solid, but his WHIP is 1.79, he’s not striking anyone out, and he’s walked at least four batters in all of his seven starts but one. His 4.05 groundball to flyball rate is by far the best in baseball, and he doesn’t have a lucky BABIP (.287) either. Still, his 7.03 BB/9 IP mark is easily the worst in the league, and he’s looked nothing like the pitcher he was last season. All those free passes are going to catch up to him eventually.
Players I Don't Own
- By: Chris Liss
- On: 5/7/2008 3:11:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 0
- Chase Utley
- Lance Berkman
- Justin Upton
- Nate McLouth
- Ervin Santana
- Jake Peavy
- Brandon Webb
- Joe Saunders
- Chipper Jones
- Joey Votto
- Conor Jackson
- Derrek Lee
- Geovany Soto
- Hanley Ramirez
- Rafael Furcal
- Joakim Soria
- Carlos Quentin
- Eric Hinske
- Pat Burrell
- Carlos Zambrano
- Edison Volquez
I have to be honest - I'm getting a bit sick of seeing the results from this group in the box scores. You never want to root for an injury - after all, it's a person's livelihood and just your fantasy team, but if five or six of them found the Lord and quit baseball to spread the Word (don't care which Lord or which Word), I'd be fine with that.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/6/2008 1:09:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
I cautioned owners to not aggressively draft Chad Billingsley in non-keeper leagues this year, and so far, his lack of command has backed up my claim. However, his 11.76 K/9 IP leads major league baseball and by a fairly wide margin. His .371 BABIP suggests a decrease in ERA is soon to come, even if his control remains spotty. He’s at least a year away from becoming a truly consistent fantasy option, but he’s also likely to win a Cy Young someday.
It’s Ervin Santana’s world, and the rest of us are just paying rent. How about a 2.54 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with a 22:5 K:BB ratio in four road starts this season? With his strikeout potential and the Angels’ offense behind him, Santana has the upside of a top-25 starter. He’s obviously not quite this good, but I wouldn’t be looking to sell, either.
Keeper leaguers don’t give up on Andrew Miller. He’s suffered the worst luck in all of baseball this season (.416 BABIP). Of course, his 4.26 B/9 IP mark is atrocious, so he’s currently unusable, but patience is likely to pay off down the road.
Max Scherzer’s debut as a starter was disappointing Monday, but his defense did let him down. A Stephen Drew error led to three unearned runs, and there was another hit that a healthy Orlando Hudson would have normally gotten to with ease. His release point and arm angle are very unorthodox, making his already live fastball that much harder to pick up. The kid’s stuff is downright dirty.
During the Reds’ radio broadcast Monday, someone suggested Adam Dunn move to the second spot in the order, and Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley nearly had coronaries while scoffing at the idea. Listen, all those strikeouts aren’t ideal for a top of the order hitter, but Dunn has a career .380 on-base percentage with a .222 batting average with runners in scoring position and once went more than a full calendar year without a sac fly. He’s actually a perfect fit for the two-hole. In fact, he’s hit .278 in 392 career ABs batting second, which is by far the best of any spot in the order. But you’d hate to let those pesky stats get in the way.
The Hornets haven’t just beaten the Spurs during the first two games, they have thoroughly dominated them. San Antonio is by no means finished, but Chris Paul continues to amaze. The Lakers’ path to a title just might have gotten a little easier.
Daisuke Matsuzaka cannot maintain a 2.43 ERA with a 5.98 BB/9 IP mark, which is the fourth worst in baseball. Monday’s line – five innings, one run, 1:8 K:BB ratio – was one of the bigger anomalies you’ll ever see. Like Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, Dice-K is a frustrating power pitcher who nibbles the strike zone and refuses to attack hitters with his above average stuff.
Jason Giambi’s .113 BABIP is almost unfathomable - by far the worst in baseball. Justin Upton, meanwhile, leads the league with a .443 mark.
Despite playing for a seemingly mediocre St. Louis team, Albert Pujols leads MLB in plate appearances with runners on base (80). Maybe that whole batting the pitcher eighth thing is working, after all. Troy Glaus leads the league while batting with 120 runners on base this season, and Mark DeRosa surprisingly comes in second with 117.
Score another one for Billy Beane: Sure, Mark Kotsay has an OK .804 OPS, but he’s still got the bad back and his defense is also deteriorating. Joey Devine, on the other hand, has allowed just one run with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings, looking like the future closer the Braves thought he’d become when they took him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
John Maine has had the third toughest schedule of any starting pitcher in baseball this season, as his opponents have an aggregate OPS of .773. Chris Young is sixth, Jake Peavy is eighth and Roy Halladay is 10th, so it’s nice to know these elite hurlers’ numbers could improve as the schedule eases up.
First Onterrio Smith and now Cedric Benson. Remember folks, if you’re not wasted, the night is.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/4/2008 7:21:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 0
How about Victor Martinez and Joe Mauer combining for zero homers five weeks into the season? Neither is actually hitting poorly, but the power outage is noteworthy. VMart’s is sure to return, but Mauer is officially a singles hitter. Brian McCann, on the other hand, looks like fantasy baseball’s most valuable backstop.
Just for fun: Chase Utley is on pace to finish the season with 66 homers, 15 steals, 142 runs, 132 RBI and a .357 BA. If that’s not enough, consider how massive the drop off is at second base after him.
Cedric Benson just got bumped down from 67th to 68th on my RB list.
Joakim Soria is a robot. It doesn’t get any better than starting a season with 13 scoreless innings and a 15:1 K:BB ratio. If you’re striking out nearly four times the amount of baserunners allowed, then you’re pitching pretty well. Last season proved this is no fluke. He’s a top-5 closer.
It is becoming increasingly more difficult to get charged with an error in the game of baseball. As if pitchers don’t already have the cards stacked against them enough already. I don’t like it one bit.
Scott Podsednik is no friend of Willy Taveras’ fantasy owners.
I’m buying low on Manny Parra. Make no mistake, he’s not pitching well, highlighted by the 17 walks, but the strikeout rate is solid and all those hits allowed can partially be blamed on his .385 BABIP. This is someone who had a 9K/9 IP mark with a 2.45 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in the minors last season and should receive plenty of run support in Milwaukee. Additionally, with Yovani Gallardo going down, he actually has job security. Sure, there’s Jeff Weaver to deal with down the road, but David Bush isn’t the answer, and Ben Sheets is hardly a lock to stay healthy. Parra will turn it around.
The Dallas Mavericks are leaning toward hiring Rick Carlisle? Really? Why go with proven mediocrity? What more proof do you need other than his teams consistently underachieving or him always coming across like he knows little about basketball when on TV? And for the record, I’m predicting Spurs 4-2, Lakers 4-3, Pistons 4-3 and Celtics 4-3.
Greg Smith can’t possibly keep this up, but Sunday’s performance (10 strikeouts, two walks) was eye-opening. He needs to be owned in all deep leagues. Carlos Marmol is on pace to pitch 112 innings this season, which might be another way of saying Lou Piniella is overworking him a tad. Kerry Wood is pitching much better than his ERA indicates, but he’s still a time bomb, so Marmol owners better hope he’s been blessed with a rubber arm or Piniella comes to his senses.
I always knew Marvin Harrison was sinister! I already had Anthony Gonzalez ahead of him on my WR rankings, and now that gap has widened.
I thought this was a poignant look at the tireless bloggers versus journalists debate.
Call me immature, but I found “Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay” extremely funny. Sure, plenty of jokes fall flat, but I’m also someone who finds this picture humorous.
MLB Notes
- By: Dalton Del Don
- On: 5/1/2008 6:41:00 PM
- In: Baseball
- Comments: 1
Tim Lincecum has to be treated like a top-10 pitcher, regardless of his teammates. He’s still walking too many batters, but it’s not often you’ll find someone with a 1.73 ERA and a .352 BABIP. His 9.9 K/9 IP is elite, and the improved 1.72 groundball to flyball ratio really portends future success. After getting touched up for 12 homers over 146 innings last season, Lincecum has allowed just one long ball in 2008.
Shane Victorino’s owners have to be a little concerned watching him on the bench during his first two games back from the DL. It’s fine keeping Jayson Werth in the lineup, but there’s really no reason to be playing Geoff Jenkins over the Flyin Hawaiian. Hopefully it’s just a minor blip and a platoon doesn’t emerge.
I recommended Brian Wilson as a cheap closer before the season, but I hardly expected nine saves through April. It’s a good reminder why not to avoid closers on bad teams or predict big save numbers from those on good teams.
Rickie Weeks is an excellent guy to target in trade talks right now. Talk up the fact he’s never played in 120 games and is a .245 career hitter who is batting .204 on the season. Hidden beneath those stats lies a sleeping giant, as the perceived disappointment is currently sporting the best contact rate (.77) of his career (by far) and is walking at an extremely high rate as well. Even while hovering around the Mendoza line, Weeks is on pace to finish with 18 homers, 30 steals and 144 runs scored. Oh, and his BABIP is .228, which is .312 for his career. Get him before it’s too late.
Don’t look now, but Edwin Encarnacion is on pace to hit 42 homers.
I’d treat Matt Kemp as a top-25 outfielder. He’s not guaranteed full-time at-bats still, but the upside is immense. The K:BB ratio isn’t pretty, but Kemp hits so many line drives, his average doesn’t suffer as much as it would most. There’s legitimate 25/25 potential this season, and it looks like he’s securing his role as the team’s No. 3 hitter.
Watching Yovani Gallardo injure his knee during Thursday’s game, I thought he was sure to miss multiple months. Seeing him stand and walk (after 10 minutes on the ground) was surprising as is, but the fact he stayed in the game and recorded five more outs (while giving up two runs) was downright shocking. It wasn’t the same knee that sidelined him this spring, so as long as he doesn’t compensate (he was still limping pretty badly), leading to an arm problem, he should be fine moving forward.
My main man Carlos Pena has been in a brutal slump, failing to record multiple hits in a game over his last 10 contests, bringing his season BA to an ugly .200. He also hasn’t homered in 16 games. Still, that’s largely due to a crazy low .226 BABIP, so he’s going to improve. He strikes out too much to ever hit better than .275, but he’s still a major threat to reach 40 homers, so now is the time to pursue him.
Is that really Chris Shelton I see back in the big leagues?
The seven homers over 25 games are impressive, but Carlos Quentin’s 15:14 K:BB ratio is also notable. Of course, he’s not quite this good, but Quentin’s disastrous 2007, which included leaving Chris Liss hanging on a live radio show after not showing up, was largely due to a serious shoulder injury. Quentin’s a legit prospect who now finds himself hitting in the league’s most homer-friendly park. He’s for real.
Nate McLouth has been unconscious this season. Before Thursday, he smacked four homers with nine RBI over the last four games, bringing his season line to a remarkable .342/.425/.658. He’s showed solid plate discipline as well (14:15 K:BB). The one disappointing facet is that he’s been caught on three of his five stolen base attempts, but while the power is sure to drop, he still possesses 30 steal potential. He’s simply been on fire. Not quite as hot as the Snorg Tees girl but still scorching.
RotoWire NFL Mock Draft
- By: Chris Liss
- On: 5/1/2008 11:14:00 AM
- In: Football
- Comments: 0
| Brandon Funston | Chris Liss | Mike Doria | Brad Evans | Lenny Pappano | Kyle Fisher | |
| Yahoo! Sports | RotoWire.com | RotoWire.com | Yahoo! Sports | DraftSharks.com | RotoWire.com | |
| 1 | LaDainian Tomlinson | Joseph Addai | Adrian Peterson | Brian Westbrook | Steven Jackson | Marion Barber |
| 2 | Steve Smith | Braylon Edwards | Michael Turner | Ronnie Brown | Reggie Wayne | Terrell Owens |
| 3 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Larry Fitzgerald | T.J Houshmandzadeh | Marques Colston | Jamal Lewis | Torry Holt |
| 4 | Drew Brees | Carson Palmer | Roy Williams | Wes Welker | Anquan Boldin | LenDale White |
| 5 | Antonio Gates | Reggie Bush | Thomas Jones | Rashard Mendenhall | Jason Witten | Derek Anderson |
| 6 | Travis Henry | Rudi Johnson | Hines Ward | Ben Roethlisberger | Julius Jones | Kevin Curtis |
| 7 | Laveranues Coles | Ahmad Bradshaw | Dallas Clark | DeAngelo Williams | Jerry Porter | Chris Cooley |
| 8 | Jerious Norwood | Chris Johnson | Donovan McNabb | D.J. Hackett | Vincent Jackson | Donald Driver |
| 9 | Bobby Engram | Reggie Williams | Donte Stallworth | Selvin Young | Justin Fargas | Chester Taylor |
| 10 | Ted Ginn Jr. | Nate Burleson | Ray Rice | Steve Slaton | David Garrard | Ronald Curry |
| 11 | Devin Hester | Jeremy Shockey | Vince Young | Todd Heap | Bryant Johnson | Kenny Watson |
| 12 | Aaron Rodgers | New York Giants | Limas Sweed | Jamaal Charles | Jake Delhomme | Cadillac Williams |
| 13 | Minnesota Vikings | Kenton Keith | New England Patriots | Green Bay Packers | Kevin Jones | Jason Campbell |
| 14 | Michael Bush | Shaun Alexander | Jacob Hester | Marty Booker | Tony Scheffler | Indianapolis Colts |
| 15 | Ben Watson | Kellen Clemens | Early Doucet | DeShaun Foster | Buffalo Bills | Alge Crumpler |
| 16 | Brandon Coutu | Lawrence Tynes | Neil Rackers | Josh Brown | Nate Kaeding | Robbie Gould |
| Erik Siegrist | Jeff Erickson | Andy Behrens | Dalton Del Don | Derek Van Riper | Michael Beller | |
| RotoWire.com | RotoWire.com | Yahoo! Sports | RotoWire.com | RotoWire.com | RotoWire.com | |
| 1 | Laurence Maroney | Randy Moss | Larry Johnson | Ryan Grant | Marshawn Lynch | Frank Gore |
| 2 | Darren McFadden | Willis McGahee | Brandon Jacobs | Andre Johnson | Clinton Portis | Tom Brady |
| 3 | Tony Romo | Earnest Graham | Peyton Manning | Jonathan Stewart | Chad Johnson | Brandon Marshall |
| 4 | Calvin Johnson | Greg Jennings | Santonio Holmes | Plaxico Burress | Marvin Harrison | Willie Parker |
| 5 | Lee Evans | Kevin Smith | Matt Forte | Roddy White | Tony Gonzalez | Dwayne Bowe |
| 6 | Fred Taylor | Jerricho Cotchery | Joey Galloway | Kellen Winslow | Edgerrin James | Felix Jones |
| 7 | Chris Chambers | Heath Miller | Anthony Gonzalez | Jay Cutler | Santana Moss | Javon Walker |
| 8 | Bernard Berrian | Eli Manning | Marc Bulger | Reggie Brown | Matt Hasselbeck | Cedric Benson |
| 9 | Patrick Crayton | Sammy Morris | Derrick Mason | Matt Schaub | Sidney Rice | Deuce McAllister |
| 10 | Greg Olsen | Mark Clayton | Kolby Smith | Ryan Torain | Ahman Green | Vernon Davis |
| 11 | Maurice Morris | Darrell Jackson | Owen Daniels | Pierre Thomas | Laurent Robinson | Tatum Bell |
| 12 | Chicago Bears | Leon Washington | Derrick Ward | Brandon Jackson | James Hardy | DeSean Jackson |
| 13 | Philip Rivers | San Diego Charg | Jacksonville Jaguars | Baltimore Ravens | Dallas Cowboys | Chris Brown |
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | Jon Kitna | Ladell Betts | Devin Thomas | Mike Hart | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 15 | Jeff King | Roydell Williams | Jacoby Jones | Matt Leinart | JaMarcus Russell | Mark Bradley |
| 16 | Rob Bironas | Shayne Graham | Nick Folk | Adam Vinatieri | Mason Crosby | Stephen Gostkowski |
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