Over the course of the baseball season, there are several very important dates that potentially can make a huge difference for your fantasy baseball team. We are currently heading into the one weekend of the year that probably more than any other will shape and determine our fate and destiny over the balance of 2008. No it’s not a trading deadline, the callup of the newest superstar in waiting, or a short week that requires massive pre-planning to max out those at-bats. It would be Mother’s Day!

In my house, if Momma is happy, the whole house is happy. Life is all about priorities and picking them right this coming Sunday will most certainly be a worthwhile investment in not only your fantasy baseball future, but life in general. The right moves at this stage of ones’ season will ensure at least a fighting chance to survive the long haul.

For those playing in weekly transaction leagues, just a reminder that this coming weekend would be the beginning of the annual nightmare that we call inter-league play, and some careful roster planning during this period is essential. Without further ado, let’s move onwards and upwards to the waiver wire options heading into Week Seven.

Matt LaPorta, Milwaukee, OF: LaPorta is probably the premier offensive force currently in the minors. At Double-A, he is batting .331 with ten homers, 36 RBI, and an incredible 1120 OPS. LaPorta’s natural position, first base, is blocked by Prince Fielder and the outfield for the Brewers is a much crowded one. But if LaPorta continues to post numbers like he has to date, something has to give. He obviously doesn’t belong at Double-A, but where does he fit in on the Brewers? For those in keeper leagues, LaPorta should already be owned and at the very least should be on the radar in all formats.

Chase Headley, San Diego, OF: This spring saw Headley hit to the tune of .349 with four homers and 14 RBI before being a late cut and heading off to the Triple-A Portland Beavers. The problem wasn’t the offense, but incumbent Kevin Kouzmanoff blocking him at third base. After a slow start, Headley has picked up the pace, batting .463 with one homer, six RBI and nine runs scored in the last ten games. With the release of Jim Edmonds this past Friday, some felt it would be Headley and not Jody Gerut getting the call. Obviously the Padres feel Headley, a converted infielder, still needs more work on his defense in the outfield, because there is most certainly nothing wrong with his bat at this time. Headley is a must-own in keeper formats with his promotion to the Padres likely not all that far down the road.

Jody Gerut, San Diego, OF: Former Indian Gerut, having suffered through a series of injuries that limited his playing time over the past several years, finally has made it back to the bigs. He got the call this past week, a most deserving one considering his five homers, 18 RBI and four stolen bases for Triple-A Portland. A solid start is going to be important for Gerut with Headley appearing to be almost ready. At this time, Gerut would be a solid play in NL-only leagues.

Ronny Cedeno, Chicago Cubs, 2B/SS: It looks like Cedeno might finally be showing off that potential we’ve been hearing about for what seems like forever. The 25-year-old currently is tied for fourth among major league shortstop with 18 RBI. Middle infield is a very crowded spot in Chicago right now with Mark DeRosa, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Cedeno all fighting for at bats. Cedeno’s numbers certainly warrant increased at bats, but do be cautious as we are dealing with Lou Pinella here. Currently, Cedeno would be a solid acquisition in NL-only leagues and should be on the radar in all formats.

Joey Devine, Oakland, RP: Devine, the former Braves phenom, has adapted very well to his change of scenery and has vultured three wins since his callup April 10. The 24-year-old, considered by many to be the “closer-in-waiting,” is currently demonstrating why he has been so highly touted. In the event that incumbent closer Huston Street either stumbles or is traded, Devine should be first in line for the job. In the interim, Devine is a very solid addition to your fantasy bullpen in all formats at this time.

Blake DeWitt, Los Angeles Dodgers, 3B: Is Nomar Garciaparra ever again going to be healthy enough to play third base? Andy LaRoche, the corner man of the future for the Dodgers, is still a couple weeks away from returning from the torn tendon in his thumb, leaving DeWitt as the corner man of the present. DeWitt has responded very well, posting a .306 BA, two home runs, 18 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Just be wary that this is in all probability a situation that will be short term in nature, but for now DeWitt is a great pick up in NL-only formats.

Aaron Laffey, Cleveland, SP: We are looking at only three starts, but Laffey looks more than capable of filling in for the injured Jake Westbrook until his scheduled return at the end of May. In his first start, Laffey took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before tiring and allowing four runs. The 23-year-old southpaw is currently sporting a very solid 1.83 ERA and is coming off a strong seven shutout inning performance Saturday against a very depleted Jays’ squad. Laffey is a solid option right now in AL-only leagues and should be on the radar for mixed formats.

Chris Iannetta, Colorado, C: Manager Clint Hurdle finally tired of Yorvit Torrealba and his ugly 670 OPS, opening the door for Iannetta to move up in the pecking order. It would appear that Hurdle plans on going with the hot hand and Iannetta definitely qualifies lately. A .345 BA, three homers, and 14 RBI with a 1067 OPS are certainly solid numbers. Iannetta is looking like a very solid option at this time in NL-only formats and deeper mixed leagues requiring the use of two catchers.

Freddie Bynum, Baltimore, SS: After coming off the DL with a torn meniscus this past week, Bynum was annointed the starter at shortstop by the Orioles, replacing the largely ineffective Luis Hernandez. For those playing in deeper formats, the position of shortstop is starting to get very, very thin. A decent batting-average and the opportunity for stolen bases makes “Fast Freddie” a viable option in AL-only and deep mixed leagues at this time.

Garrett Olson, Baltimore, SP: Olson’s very solid 1.85 ERA in five starts for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides led to a promotion to the big leagues. Since the callup, the 24-year-old southpaw has now pitched two quality starts and has a very nifty 2.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 13 strikeouts. It would appear that with Steve Trachsel being largely ineffective and Adam Loewen scheduled to miss up to a further six weeks due to elbow soreness, the opportunity for Olson to enjoy an extended stay in the Oriole rotation is quite possible, making him a solid pickup in AL-only leagues and deeper mixed leagues at this time.

Mark Kotsay, Atlanta, OF: After a rather slow start for the Braves, Kotsay, acquired from the Athletics this past offseason for Devine, seems to be picking up the pace. Over the past ten games, the 33-year-old outfielder is batting .375 with two homers and ten RBI and has even managed a couple stolen bases. In deeper mixed formats, Kotsay is a decent option in the fifth outfielder slot.

Mike Mussina, New York Yankees, SP: Moose is experiencing a revival of sorts for the Yankees and is now up to five wins on the year. Mussina is no longer the hard-tossing dominant ace, but by utilizing his solid offspeed and breaking stuff, and being consistently in the strike zone, he has managed to keep hitters off balance. Coming off his fourth consecutive victory, Mussina has only allowed two free passes in his last 23 innings pitched. He’s a solid option in AL-only formats and in deeper mixed formats.

Vicente Padilla, Texas, SP: It is very hard recommending a Ranger starting pitcher, but Padilla is definitely a worthy choice this week. In winning his last three starts, he has allowed only one earned run and contributed 16 strikeouts. This coming week, Padilla is looking at starts against both Seattle and Houston, making him a solid acquisition in both AL-only and Head-to-Head formats.

Ryan Franklin, St. Louis, RP: Jason Isringhausen is struggling and coming off his fifth blown save this past Friday night. When the incumbent closer Isringhausen states that “they can’t keep sending me out there when I’m pitching the way I’m pitching”, it should be viewed as a fairly good indicator that change, even if only temporary, is imminent. Franklin, the current set-up man for the Cards, picked up his first save Saturday against the Brewers, and looks to be the closer while Isringhausen sorts himself out. It may be short-lived, but Franklin is a solid option in all formats at this time.

May 11th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 1 Comment

Should Felix Pie continue to struggle and Reed Johnson remain, well…Reed Johnson, the Cubbies might want to explore the option of promoting Andres Torres. Torres is on a serious roll for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, running his hitting streak to 22 games Wednesday – the fourth-longest in team history. Only Roosevelt Brown (26 games, 1999), Steve Staggs (33, 1977) and Mike Squires (33, 1978) have rung up longer batting streaks as Iowa Cubs. Torres, a fourth-round pick for the Tigers back in 1997, is now in his fifth organization, having appeared in 89 MLB games with Detroit and Texas, but none since 2005. The 30-year-old outfielder was batting .263 when the streak began last month, no big surprise considering in ten minor league seasons his lifetime BA is .268. However, a 31-for-82 run since has him up to .353 for the year. He’s not a power hitter, but with a .525 SLG, Torres is showing more pop than ever before. And I’m impressed with his much improved strike zone judgment (16 BB/19 K). Torres enjoyed his finest Triple-A season in 2007, and appears to have taken the next step so far in 2008. Could we be witnessing a late bloomer?

R.A. Dickey, who was called up last month to fill in for Erik Bedard and predictably took a beating in his couple of appearances with the Mariners, has struggled since his demotion back to Triple-A. He’s lost his last three starts, surrendering 32 hits in 21 innings. Still, his season ERA of 3.25 is impressive, so Dickey could get another look as an injury-fill in, assuming he stops getting tattooed in the minors.

Another pitcher who’s doing pretty well is Iowa starter Randy Keisler. He earned the win Wednesday for his six-inning, six-hit, one-earned run effort that included four Ks against two walks. Keisler wasn’t exactly the tonic the Cardinals needed last year with Chris Carpenter out, and he wasn’t long for the job. But this season his hit rates haven’t been awful, his command has been good, and he’s averaging almost a strikeout per inning with a fine 3.50 ERA for the Cubs. Given Jon Lieber’s rather horrific debut in the rotation, perhaps Keisler, the former Yankee prospect, will get another look in a major league rotation. Of course, he’s never done much with the opportunities that have been presented to him, so maybe this isn’t as juicy a prospect as you think. Still, you never know when lightning will strike, and Keisler’s peripherals do suggest that his improvement may be real, especially given a much higher groundball rate to date.

Should the Cubbies require bullpen help, Jose Ascanio is worth a look. The former Brave farmhand just turned 23, so there’s plenty of upside here. And he’s done a superb job as the Iowa closer, with just 14 hits allowed and 16 strikeouts in 17 1/3 IP. Ascanio, with a 1-0 mark, 2.60 ERA and seven saves, will get another chance in the majors very soon, and he’s got future closer written all over him, although Carlos Marmol looks quite qualified to step up should Kerry Wood falter.

May 8th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, Minor Matters, RotoRob . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 2 Comments

Don’t be so quick to discard veteran hurler Jose Contreras. Although the 36-year-old (ya, right) Cuban took the loss Sunday, with just six hits allowed in eight innings he probably deserved a better fate. Contreras looked just about done last season, but so far this season, he’s pitched at his highest level since putting up a career year in 2005. Okay, the Ks are down, but so are the walks, hits and homers allowed. It all translates into making Contreras someone worth targeting in AL-only leagues.

Another Cuban hurler we shouldn’t be so quick to write off is Livan Hernandez. He started the year like gangbusters, but started winding up on the waiver wire after three straight poor outings. However, did you catch the fact that he limited the Tigers, who’s offense has arisen from its funk, to just one run over seven innings en route to his fourth win of the year on Friday? I still think Hernandez will ultimately be battered like the proverbial step child this year, but right now, he’s a decent AL-only option, especially if you need wins.

Let’s keep the Cuban hurler thread going. Orlando Hernandez is desperately needed by the Mets with Oliver Perez getting rocked his past few starts and Mike Pelfrey still not looking like he’s ready to take the next step. Well, El Duque is still in a protective boot, but he’s scheduled to be examined again this week. He’s someone you may want to take a chance on when he finally returns as he was pretty darned good last year when healthy. Of course, it’s that whole ‘when healthy’ thing that’s a bit disconcerting, isn’t it?

Switching speeds for a moment, Todd Helton, who had a nice bounce back season in 2007, has never looked this bad. He showed signs of life Monday, with a 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI and a walk, but had gone 4-for-22 prior to that, taking his OPS lower than it’s ever been. Of greater concern is that Helton has been a fast starter the past couple of years, enjoying excellent Aprils, but generally doing his worst in May, June and July. That doesn’t bode well for a turnaround. Yes, Helton is only 34, but he’s an old 34, given all the back woes, etc., he’s endured over the years. If someone’s been sniffing around Helton, looking to buy low, you may want to give the offer some consideration.

May 6th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, Fantasy Notes, RotoRob . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 1 Comment

It was your classic west vs. east matchup Sunday afternoon as the Mariners tried to avoid a sweep against the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Bronx Bombers came to play despite starting the day a tad slow. After scoring only seven runs in their previous four games, the Mariners gave starter Carlos Silva a 2-0 lead after the first inning. But once the third inning arrived, it was all downhill from there as the Yanks cruised to an 8-2 win.

Silva, who had previously shined since signing a four-year contract with the Mariners in the offseason, was clobbered by the Yankees as it appeared Hank Steinbrenner might have injected his whole squad with HGH prior to the third inning. The Pintripers posted six runs in the third and followed that up with two more in the fourth, knocking Silva out in his poorest performance since becoming a Mariner.

After the two-run first inning, the Mariners bats went cold again. Like their previous four contests, they could not get anything started as they managed just five hits over the final eight innings and were stifled by Darrell Rasner, making his first start this season.

In another rare showing, the Mariner bullpen actually held steady, not allowing another run the rest of the contest. But the eight runs tacked on Silva’s stat sheet were more than enough as the Yankees finished off their Seattle sweep.

Fantasy Factor

• Robinson Cano of the Yankees has been mired in a god awful slump to start the season, entering Sunday’s contest batting at a .151 clip. While he only went 1-for-4, he did belt a home run, something that could potentially reestablish some confidence he lost in April. It might be too early to reinsert him into your starting lineup, but keep a close eye on Yankee box scores in case Cano starts to wake up and hit at his usual .300 clip. This dude is way too good for this to continue much longer.
• Third basemen Adrian Beltre has enjoyed a solid start to the season and continued this on Sunday as he belted a two-run homer to account for the Mariner offense. He finished 2-for-4 on the day, and is up to .283 on the season with six home runs. Right now he is one of the few Mariners who is producing consistently. Leave him in your lineups.
• Derek Jeter had a monster afternoon, going 4-for-5 to raise his batting average above the .300 mark (.313). He could be labeled as Mr. Consistent in regards to fantasy baseball, and there’s no reason to not start him right now. It looks as if his injury is all healed up and he is ready to continue to produce good numbers in a powerful Yankee lineup.
• Signing his new three-year contract recently apparently did not cause backstop Kenji Johjima to remember how to hit the ball. He is batting a measly .184, going only 3-for-23 over his last nine games. He has been consistent in his three years in Seattle, but will soon turn 32 years old, which is getting a bit long in the tooth for catchers known for their offense. Maybe the Mariners gave him a contract extension too soon? We will see, but for now keep him on your bench as there are plenty of catchers who will at least bat over .200 for you!
• If you have not done so yet, pick up Rasner. Since Phil Hughes is out until at least July with a broken rib, and Ian Kennedy has not thrown the ball well (earning himself a demotion back to the minors), Rasner is almost guaranteed to stay in the rotation and he pitched great Sunday. Granted, the Mariner offense has been struggling mightily, but Rasner only allowed two runs in six innings on 76 pitches. If you need pitching help, he’s worth taking a look at.
• Ryan Rowland-Smith, who briefly had value when he was getting save chances with J.J. Putz out, has been horribly inconsistent, but he tossed two shutout frames Sunday. This Aussie showed promise as a rookie last year, but his command has been awful so far in 2008, making him a very shaky bet even in deep AL-only leagues.
• Kyle Farnsworth has pitched well this year — especially lately — so it’s surprising more owners aren’t giving him a longer look, particularly in leagues that track holds. After a down year in 2007, Farnsworth has improved his control, and is back to striking out over a batter per inning. Do note, however, that he will be called on the carpet Tuesday to hear his appeal of a three-game suspension he earned after throwing behind the head of Manny Ramirez last month. If Farnsworth’s suspension holds up, he won’t be seeing much action this week.
• Richie Sexson, who looked like he was getting his shit together recently before taking an 0-for-7 in the first two games of this series, was given a day off. Jose Vidro manned first in his place. Sexson has been healthy so far this season, and he’s recovered somewhat from his disastrous 2007 campaign, but he’s still nowhere near the slugger he was when he first arrived in Seattle and the years leading up to that. Still, an improved walk rate has allowed Sexson to lift his BA up to the point where at least he’s not straddling the Mendoza Line anymore. Hey, it’s something.

May 5th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, Daniel Olson, Game report . Author: Daniel Olson . Comments: 2 Comments

With a little more than a month gone in the 2008 season, most leagues and fantasy owners should be at the stage where some semblance of order is starting to appear. The waiver wire is undoubtedly an integral part of the game we play, but in competitive situations we must also look to the trading process as a way of addressing our needs.

The age old question, and one of my biggest pet peeves commences to rear its ugly head again: “Did I win this trade?” Shouldn’t the question be, “Did I successfully fill a statistical void on my fantasy squad that leads to overall improved results moving forward?” Hopefully both teams win the deal, as without a doubt that is the key to successful trading. Winning trades per se should not be the primary focus; identifying needs and filling those needs should be the question we ask and review.

Sometimes what we give up to secure those needs becomes a moot issue. If a trade addresses the statistical deficiencies facing your squad and your trading partner, then it can be considered both a good deal and a winning one. ‘Nuff said.

Moving forward, let’s take a look at some of the waiver wire options heading into Week Six.

Jeff Clement, Seattle, C: There is very little doubt that Clement is ready to display his immense talents at the big league level. The problem in Seattle was finding the opportunity for regular playing time. A .397 batting average with five home runs and 20 RBI certainly qualified the 23-year-old Clement for the promotion. It would appear at this time that a combination of backing up the slumping Kenji Johjima and stealing at bats from DH Jose Vidro should provide more than enough opportunities for Clement to be an asset in 2008 for both the Mariners and your fantasy squad. A must-own in all formats at this time.

Max Scherzer, Arizona, SP: Having the all important first waiver wire priority this weekend means you get the opportunity to click on Scherzer and smile. He made his debut this past week and retired 13 consecutive Astros, seven via the strikeout. The middle-relief role looks to have lasted all of one game with Scherzer being penciled in to start Monday against the Phillies. The current level of hype for this former 2006 first round draft pick seems more than justified when one looks at both his MLB debut, and those 38 strikeouts with only three walks in 23 innings pitched for the Triple-A Sidewinders. For those fortunate enough to own Scherzer, enjoy the ride.

Wladimir Balentien, Seattle, OF: The Brad Wilkerson experiment officially concluded April 30, when he was designated for assignment and Balentien was called up from Triple-A Tacoma. It would appear at this time that the Mariners are committed to Balentien for the long haul as their everyday right fielder. The power potential is definitely there, but I believe his .254 BA for Tacoma is a good indicator that he still needs some polishing as an overall hitter. Balentien is a solid choice in AL-only leagues at this time and worthy of a bench slot in deep keeper formats.

Taylor Buchholz, Colorado, RP: The recent demotion of Manny Corpas not only opened the door for Brian Fuentes to assume the closer role, but for Buchholz to very neatly slide into the set-up position. After watching Corpas give up four runs to get one out this past Friday, it would appear that Buchholz’s role as a set-up guy could be a rather lengthy one. The 1.65 earned run average and 0.92 WHIP qualify this converted starting-pitcher for the job. For those of us looking for holds and the all-important first in line for saves, the mere 5 per cent of all CBS owners who have nabbed Buchholz would seem to be on the right track.

Emil Brown, Oakland, OF: It would appear that the fantasy world is starting to catch up to Brown these days, with his ownership in CBS leagues jumping from seven to 33 per cent over the past couple weeks, as it should. Currently, Brown is on pace for a 100+ RBI season and decent batting average. Looking back several years to those days he toiled in Kansas City, the ability to drive in runs has never been a problem; it’s just been getting the opportunities that’s been a challenge. And it would appear as if this year in Oakland those chances will be there. Brown is currently a must own in AL-only formats and a solid asset as a fifth outfielder in mixed formats.

Jo-Jo Reyes, Atlanta, SP: The Braves’ pitching staff is hurting to say the least and Reyes was the beneficiary of these woes, being called up this past week. With John Smoltz currently on the DL and rumoured to be heading back to the bullpen, and Chuck James sporting the ongoing rotator cuff woes, the opportunity is there for Reyes to stake his claim. In his first start since the promotion, the 23-year-old limited the Reds to four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings pitched. The key to his potential success, as it is with most young pitchers, is to limit those free passes. With Reyes scheduled to face the Pirates in his second start this coming week, he’s a solid pick up in NL-only formats and somone to watch in deeper mixed formats.

Darrell Rasner, New York Yankees, SP: My NPB bias kicked in again last week when I mentioned that Kei Igawa was possibly looking at a promotion back to the Yankees. It is still a good possibility (especially now that the Yanks demoted Ian Kennedy), but with Phil Hughes going on the DL this past week with a stress fracture in his rib cage that will knock him out until the All-Star break, the Yankees are turning to Rasner for that first opportunity. Rasner posted a 4-0 record with a 0.87 ERA and only six walks for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and is definitely very deserving of the first shot at replacing Hughes. Rasner looks like a decent option in AL-only leagues at this time.

Jon Lieber, Chicago Cubs, SP: Lou Pinella and the Cubs, finally tired of watching his control problems, finally demoted Rich Hill and inserted the veteran presence of Lieber into the rotation. For those in NL-only leagues, this presents an opportunity to look at a pitcher that should, at the very least, make the opposition swing the bat. The Cubbies also promoted Sean Gallagher from Triple-A Iowa and have inserted him into the bullpen in long relief. Should Lieber struggle, keep an eye on Gallagher, as he is currently coming off a Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week award, after striking out 12 in 7 2/3 innings pitched on April 22.

Francisco Cruceta, Detroit, RP: Cruteta’s start to the 2008 season was a much delayed one. Securing the proper paperwork for his visa meant a very late reporting date. But an amazing 15 strikeouts in only seven innings pitched at Triple-A Toledo bodes well with him heading into a bullpen sorely missing both Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. Currently only Aquilino Lopez stands in his way to becoming the set-up guy in the Tiger pen, making Cruceta a potential asset in deep formats at this time and a relief pitcher that should be at least on the radar.

Jesse Carlson, Toronto, RP: For those looking at adding a quality relief pitcher and solid situational lefty, Carlson could be your man. Since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, Carlson has posted a very solid 1.29 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in only 14 innings pitched. With B.J. Ryan currently not pitching on back-to-back days, Carlson picked up his first save last Sunday and, as a situational lefty, he has the potential to garner holds and the occasional save going forward.

David DeJesus, Kansas City, OF: DeJesus, suffering through an early season ankle sprain, didn’t make it back into the everyday lineup for the Royals until April 14. Dropped early in most formats, he is currently tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .354 batting average, two homers and 12 RBI. If the Kansas City offense starts picking up the pace, he might also start showing some decent run totals. The opportunity to have DeJesus improve our fantasy outfields is definitely there, as he is owned in a scant 26 per cent of all CBS leagues at this time. He’s a definite asset in all formats currently.

May 4th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 12 Comments