While neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees are getting strong overall performances from their respective rotations, it’s pretty clear that Boston has the edge here as we look forward to the remainder of the 2008 campaign.

Both teams are relying on youngsters to fill rotation spots, but in New York’s case, the youth movement is definitely having its hiccups, while for Boston, the results have been mixed.

For the Yanks, Phil Hughes was getting roughed up badly before landing on the DL. Ian Kennedy wasn’t much better before New York opted to send him down to work out his control issues. In Boston, Jon Lester’s peripherals are troubling, but his results to date have been acceptable. Clay Buchholz, the other young starter the team is relying on, has shown tremendous talent at times, but has also been bitch slapped far too often, especially recently (18 hits, 12 runs and six walks over 8 1/3 IP in his last two starts).

The difference here is that Boston has options. While the Yanks have brought in Darrell Rasner and Kei Igawa, the options for the Red Sox are much more palatable. In fairness, Rasner has done very well in his pair of starts, but I have my doubts about his ability to sustain this success over the long haul. Igawa, judging by his season debut, is definitely not the answer.

That leaves the Yankees desperate to get Hughes back and see Kennedy turn things around. I mean, let’s face it – bringing David Wells back, as one rumour suggested, reeks of desperation.

Boston, meanwhile, has a former Cy Young winner nearly ready to step in for their struggling youngster. Bartolo Colon has now recovered from his injury and is toiling in the Pawtucket rotation. Boston needs to promote him by June 1 or Colon can become a free agent. Now that Buchholz has been placed on the DL, expect to see Colon up much sooner than that. Colon takes the mound Thursday, so check on his outing, because he will soon be someone you need to target. If the fat man isn’t ready right away, Boston will likely bring up Justin Masterson to take Buchholz’s next scheduled start.

When Buchholz is eligible to come off the DL, meanwhile, will either be sent down to take Colon’s place at Pawtucket, or kept in Boston to work in long relief. And if the rookie can’t figure it out in the minors, Boston has a rehabbing Curt Schilling waiting in the wings to pitch in down the stretch. But that’s not something he’ll be ready to do until the later stages of the season.

The point is, while neither team is where it wants to be (Boston is sitting a half game behind the surprising Rays in the AL East, while the Yanks are under .500), the BoSox appear to have more legitimate options within the organization compared to the Yankees. And that, I’d suggest, will prove to be the key differentiator in the lastest chapter of this great rivalry.

May 14th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, RotoRob, Rumours . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 2 Comments

Bruce Bowen, right, was up to his old tricks Wednesday. (AP Images)

Bruce Bowen was up to his old tricks Wednesday night, i.e., pissing off opponents. Well, his elbow to the ribs of Amare Stoudemire only succeeded in firing up Stat, who came up big to lead the Suns to an immense 96-79 win over the Spurs. In today’s Daily Dose, we explore the situation.

Rafer Alston made an immediate impact upon his return; Chris Bosh was lights out; Charlie Villanueva had the finest night of his season; usual durable Shane Battier got hurt; Manu Ginobili is just one of many ice cold Spurs; and Tim Duncan is a double-double machine.

Do try to drag yourself away from Dooce long enough to read up on the latest fantasy basketball tidbits. We’ve got you covered in today’s Dose.

April 10th, 2008
Categories: Courtside, Dear RotoRob, Fantasy Notes, On Campus, Rumours, Uncategorized . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 1 Comment

If Joe Nathan and the Twins can’t agree on a contract extension, the closer could become trade bait.

The Pioneer Press has reported that the Minnesota Twins have made a contract extension offer to closer Joe Nathan in the $10 million per year range, but the 33-year-old wants more than that.

Nathan, scheduled to earn $6 million this season, can become a free agent at the end of the year. Talks were held between the Twinkies and Nathan’s people earlier this month and more are scheduled for next month, so this is not an impossible situation. Speculation exists that if Minny ups its offer to $36 million over three years, Nathan will stay on.

If the two sides can’t agree on terms and Nathan enters his walk year without an extension, suddenly Twins relievers like Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier become a lot more intriguing because you’ve got to figure that Nathan won’t last the season in a Minnesota uni, and one of this trio will be elevated into the closer role.

In other Twinkie news, how perfect is it that it is the Angels and Torii Hunter who will visit on Opening Night?

By the way, team owner Carl Pohlad - who is 92 freaking years old - plans to head down to Fort Myers, Fla., in three weeks to watch his team. First of all, how can he plan so far ahead at his age? Second of all, at this time of the year, shouldn’t he already be down in Florida with the rest of the geriatric set, eating dinner at 4 p.m. and getting to bed by 7 p.m.?

February 25th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, RotoRob, Rumours . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 1 Comment

Will the arrival of Jay Bruce expedite Adam Dunn’s departure from Cincy?

Adam Dunn’s tenure as a Red could be nearing an end.

While the team picked up his 2008 option on Halloween, the veteran outfielder says that there have been no discussions about a contract extension that will keep him in Cincinnati beyond the end of this season, when he becomes a free agent.

GM Wayne Krivsky admitted that the two sides aren’t talking about it.

Given that most players prefer not to engage in extension talks during the season, it’s looking very possible that Dunn could be playing out the string with the Reds.

After nearly crashing to the bottom of the NL Central last season, the Reds may be thinking about a rebuilding program soon. If this team isn’t a .500 club by the All-Star break, and Dunn still hasn’t been inked to an extension, chances are he’ll be on the trading block.

Despite dealing with a balky knee that required arthroscopic surgery on September 26 - he’s doing very well now, thank you very much - Dunn enjoyed his finest season last year since 2004. He cranked out 40 dingers for the fourth straight season and even cut his prodigious strikeout rates a bit.

But with top prospect Jay Bruce knocking on the door and Joey Votto (who can play the outfield as well as first base) in need of PT, Cincy will likely be tempted to part with Dunn should this season begin to look like a write-off as last year was.

Dunn owners should be aware of this development considering his OPS over the past three years is 95 points higher at home - something to worry about should he get dealt away from one of the best hitting parks in the majors, and the second best home run park in baseball.

February 19th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, RotoRob, Rumours . Author: RotoRob . Comments: 3 Comments

Scott Skiles paid the price for the Bulls’ lame-ass start.

Kobe Bryant needed just 20 points Sunday to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000. Well, he made it with plenty to spare, pouring in 39 points - his highest total since Opening Night - and adding 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and five 3-pointers in one of his finest games of the year.

Now the question is, how many more gems like this will Kobe put up in a Laker uniform?

Talk persists that Bryant will be dealt, perhaps to the Knicks. Chicago, of course, has long been rumoured as a possible destination for Bryant.

For the second straight season, Kobe’s touches are down, but what’s really hurt his scoring this year is the fact that his shooting percentage has dropped to 44 per cent after he sunk better than 46 per cent last season. His Sunday showing - 14-for-28 from the field - was sweet, but there have been too many runs like his 21-for-61 slump in the previous three games to maintain a strong percentage.

On the plus side, Bryant’s rebounding, steals and blocks are all up.

Speaking of veteran guards who may be on the move, does Scott Skiles’ firing from the Bulls open the door for Chicago to acquire Jason Kidd? Kidd, coming off his seventh triple-double of the season, has shot the ball a bit better this month, but overall he’s struggled with his accuracy this season - especially from downtown. On the flipside, Kidd’s rebounding - always a major strength - has never been better.

Of course, the Lakers have been a candidate to get Kidd seemingly forever.

Hell, we’re on a roll with veteran guards that could soon have new homes, so how about Larry Hughes? Cleveland would like to part with him, and there’s talk that Washington - desperate for backcourt help - might want him back.

Hughes has gotten progressively worse since arriving in Cleveland, and apparently has never been able to develop chemistry with LeBron James - a sure ticket out of town.

Ben Wallace is back for the Bulls, but he still sucks, going scoreless with just five boards on Saturday. Wallace’s rebounding work - especially cleaning up under the Bulls’ bucket - has declined dramatically this season.

Chicago looked to be turning things around with a 7-4 run, but after getting spanked by Boston and - gasp - Houston - Skiles is out on his ass. The Bulls are 9-16 and need a shaking up if they hope to make it back to the playoffs. A trip to San Antonio on Boxing Day won’t likely help matters.

Speaking of Eastern teams with high expectations that are flopping, Miami needs to do something quick to save its season. The Heat beat Utah, but is tied with the Knicks as the worst team in the conference.

There’s talk that Jason Williams could be dealt for Mike Miller. Houston is also interested in White Chocolate, who has failed to reach double digits in points in two and a half weeks.

He’s been healthy enough to play heavier minutes this year, not that Miami has much in the way of options to spell Williams. Having said that, although he’s shot decently from long distance, Williams’ touches are down this year, rendering him as a very low-level fantasy option.

As for Miller, he’s been playing seriously heavy minutes of late, and has picked up his scoring with 19.4 PPG in the past five games. He’s a top notch free-throw shooter and, as always, is deadly from outside. A move to the Heat would really boost his value.

December 25th, 2007
Categories: BASKETBALL, RotoRob, Rumours . Author: RotoRob . Comments: No Comments