Congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning the World Series last week. After nine long years of suffering, the Bronx Bombers have again proved that grossly out-spending everyone in the game does in fact work. Well done! Moving on, let’s not disappoint our loyal Kansas City and Pittsburgh readers and take a quick look at some of the recent goings-on in the world of baseball.

The Tampa Rays sent Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez. I’m a bit surprised that the Pirates would take on Iwamura’s $4.85 million salary for 2010, but don’t expect his stay to be long in the Steel City. The 30-year-old is looking at free agency in 2011 and is sure to be shopped to a contender in mid-summer of next year. The Rays now resolve what once was a congested middle-infield situation and can pencil in Ben Zobrist full-time at second base for 2010.

Aroldis Chapman, the 21-year-old southpaw flame thrower, is still making his rounds in an attempt to secure a deal that would make him both the highest paid MLB player — and for that matter the only player — from the Principality of Andorra. Is he ready for the majors? Question marks abound concerning his control, or lack thereof, but the allure of that 100 mph heat from a lefty is going to earn the top prospect a huge payday this winter.

Kenji Johjima exercised his opt-out clause and is returning to Japan for 2010. This lets the Mariners off the hook for that much-criticized April 2008 contract extension. He has since signed on with the Hanshin Tigers for a reported $22.2 million over four years plus performance-related bonuses. Ultimately, Johjima’s desire to play in a full-time capacity — something that was probably not going to occur in the majors — prompted his decision. Johjima was a class act during his time with the Mariners and we wish him nothing but good fortune as he attempts to lead Hanshin to victory in the Japan Series in 2010.

The Twins exercised the $10.5 million option for 2011 on Michael Cuddyer’s contract. Yes, you read that correct, 2011. The Twins had five days to make a decision and after his monster year in 2009 it is a solid move. Injury free in 2009, Cuddyer posted the numbers that many expected after his breakout campaign in 2006. The Twins are going to need a big season out of him in 2010 if they hope to repeat as AL-Central champions, but bear in mind that Target Field is supposed to play more neutral than the Metrodome, a place that really helped Cuddyer this season (910 OPS at home).

Bobby Abreu has reportedly re-signed with the Angels, penning a two-year deal worth $19 million plus an option year. The Halos’ signing of Abreu for $5 million in the 2008 offseason was a huge steal as he enjoyed a great year in 2009 with his seventh consecutive season of 100+ RBI and 11th straight season of 20+ stolen bases. He maintained his great strike zone judgment this year and looks to be a perfect fit for the Angels looking to 2010.

The Twins and Brewers completed a deal in which Carlos Gomez and J.J. Hardy changed teams. This deal is a win-win for both parties with the Brewers filling a hole at the top of their lineup with the young speedster Gomez, and the Twins acquiring a solid defensive shortstop to replace free agent Orlando Cabrera.

The White Sox have sent Chris Getz and Josh Fields to the Royals for Mark Teahen. The interesting news here is that Gordon Beckham, the converted shortstop, now looks to be a converted corner infielder, as the ChiSox are planning on moving him to second base for 2010. From the Royals’ perspective, this deal makes absolutely no sense at all. Getz moves to an already crowded infield with Alberto Callaspo, Yuniesky Betancourt and Mike Aviles currently on the roster. Alex Gordon is currently penciled in at third base so why add Fields? There is a reason the Royals consistently finish at or near the bottom in the AL Central and this deal doesn’t improve their chances for moving up in 2010. The White Sox, on the other hand, buy themselves some time while waiting for 20-year-old Dayan Viciedo to be Major League ready, but Teahen, with just 27 homers and a .263 mark over the last two seasons combined, is far from being all that much of an improvement over Fields.

The Marlins are rumoured to be working towards a $36 million total payroll heading into 2010. In New York, they call that A-Rod and a middle reliever. Florida has already moved Jeremy Hermida to the Red Sox for a pair of pitching prospects, but look for more moves in the coming weeks. If the Fish can find a home for Dan Uggla, outstanding rookie Chris Coghlan could return to his natural position at second base. Fantasy fans should be drooling over the possibility of Coghlan qualifying at second base in 2010.

Cameron Maybin is scheduled for surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but after his strong September is penciled in as the starting centrefielder for Florida in 2010. The 22-year-old is definitely on my “sleeper” list heading into 2010.

To wrap things up, let’s take a quick look at some of the option moves that have occurred over the past several days. In what is probably the biggest no-brainer to date, the Nationals declined the $10 million option on Austin “Lack of Powers Kearns. I guess that .195 BA and three big flies just wasn’t what the Nats were looking for. Kearns walks away with a $1 million buyout, so probably won’t be standing in line for food stamps any time soon. Some of the other player option moves in the past week are as follows:

• Alan Embree, RP: The Rockies declined his $4 million option for 2010, making him a free agent.
• Yorvit Torrealba, C: The Rockies declined the $4 million option for 2010 and are committing to Chris Ianetta for 2010.
• Ross Gload, 1B: The Marlins declined the $2.6 million option for 2010. He could wind up in Houston.
• Mike Pelfrey, SP: The Mets exercised the $500,000 option on Pelfrey for 2010. The 25-year-old is a bargain at that salary.
• J.J. Putz, RP: The Mets declined the $9.1 million option for 2010. An incentive-laden deal is probably in the works, but if he’s healthy, Putz could be a very valuable player in 2010.
• David Weathers, RP: The Brewers declined the $3.7 million option for 2010. Milwaukee is not expected to try to bring the veteran back.
• Coco Crisp, OF: The Royals declined the $8 million option for 2010. Despite his great batting eye, it was a lost year for Crisp.
• Yasuhiko Yabuta, RP: The Royals declined the $4 million option for 2010. A return to Japan in 2010 is a possibility for Yabuta.
• Miguel Olivo, C: The Royals declined the $3.3 million option for 2010. After he swatted 23 homers this year, he should be guaranteed a decent contract this offseason.
• Cliff Lee, SP: The Phillies exercised the $9 million option for 2010. This was another no-brainer as Philly looks to secure a long-term deal with its new ace.
• Brandon Webb, SP: The Diamondbacks exercised the $8.5 million option for 2010. For Zona, it was either roll the dice or lose Webb to free agency. If he’s healthy, he’ll be a bargain at that price.
• Jermaine Dye, OF: The White Sox declined the $12 million option for 2010. Could the Tigers make a play for him?
• Chad Tracy, 1B – The Diamondbacks declined the $7 million option for 2010. With the free agent market for frst basemen thin, Tracy shouldn’t have trouble finding work.
• Jon Garland, SP: The Dodgers declined the $10 million option for 2010. Had a nice little run in September for the Dodgers and will secure a good payday as a free agent.
• Pedro Feliz, 3B: The Phillies declined the $5.5 million option for 2010. Philadelphia appears to be looking for more offense out of third base. Is Adrian Beltre on the off-season shopping list?
• Alex Gonzalez, SS: The Red Sox declined the $6 million option for 2010. Apparently, Boston will be shopping for a new shortstop this winter.

After giving the American League the once over, it’s time to turn our attention to the Senior Circuit.

In the National League this season there were some huge bargains in the pitching department. Not that the bats were all that shabby — with speed being available all over the place — but pitching was where it was at in the NL in 2009.

Without further ado, let’s give those National League players their due accolades.

Catcher

Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks: The progression of Chris Snyder ended this season with the cumulative injuries and ineffectiveness, and Montero stepped it up from his back-up role and enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2009. The 26-year-old hit 16 homers with 59 RBI while posting a great .294 BA. I wonder if the BoSox are regretting not taking the opportunity to acquire Montero last offseason when the rumour mill had it he was available?

First Base

Adam LaRoche, Atlanta Braves: It was truly a bizarre year for LaRoche. He got out of the gate with a decent start, something unusual for him, and then forgot to show up in May. He righted the ship in June and then came an absolutely horrible July where he managed only two homers and a .169 BA, causing many an owner to abandon ship and justifiably so. LaRoche put up his usual solid finish, slugging 12 homers with 40 RBI and a great .325 BA over the final two months. At the end of the day he put together a typical “Adam LaRoche” season with 25 homers, 83 RBI and a .277 BA, but you better have had a “Plan B” for first base during those dry spells.

Second Base

Clint Barmes, Colorado Rockies: Barmes enjoyed a career year in 2009, mashing 23 long balls with 76 RBI. He was also drafted in only 20 per cent of all Yahoo! leagues entering the campaign. This shouldn’t be a huge surprise as he had hit only 30 homers in his career up until this season and Ian Stewart was chasing him for playing time in the middle infield. For those that added “Deer Meat Boy” early, the rewards were huge.

Shortstop

Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres: It was a solid year for the 22-year-old as he managed two homers, 31 RBI, 25 thefts and a .255 BA in 377 at-bats batting out of the lead-off slot for the Padres. Cabrera finished third among NL shortstops in stolen bases despite playing in just a little over half the games. Looking down the road, that 703 OPS and those 80 strikeouts are definitely going to need some work if he wants to continue setting the table for the Padres in 2010.

Third Base

Juan Uribe, San Francisco Giants: The stars were aligned correctly for Uribe in 2009. He was enjoying a typical “Juan Uribe” sort of year, bouncing all over the infield, and then came September. Down the stretch, he was a monster. Uribe hit eight homers, drove in 23, scored 17 runs and chipped in with an unheard, at least by his standards .325 BA in September. He was a huge bonus for those that plucked him from the wire, but do remember that the odds are very long that we will see a repeat of this incredible run anytime in the future.

Outfield

Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins: Coghlan was recalled at the beginning of May to provide some spark to the Marlins lineup, and spark it he did. He managed nine homers, 47 RBI, 84 runs scored, and eight thefts to go along with a stellar .321 BA in 504 ABs. Coghlan showed tremendous poise as a 24-year-old rookie batting at the top of the lineup, finishing sixth in the NL in hitting. Now, if the Marlins move incumbent Dan Uggla this offseason and Coghlan can return to his natural position at second base, his value will only increase heading into 2010.

Nyjer Morgan, Washington Nationals: Despite his season ending prematurely at the end of August due to the fractured left hand, Morgan was a definite plus in the speed department for many a Fantasy squad. In 469 ABs, he managed 42 thefts and a superb .321 BA and appears to have the lead-off slot sewn up for the Nationals entering 2010. Traded from the Pirates to the Nationals at the end of June, Morgan seemed to really like the change of scenery, scorching the ball to the tune of a .351 BA with 24 stolen bases in July and August.

Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies: Commencing in mid-August, Gonzalez went on a tear for the Rockies. He slugged six homers in a span of eight days followed up by a September in which he swatted five more long balls and tossed in seven thefts. The 24-year-old is starting to demonstrated why he was coveted so highly in the deal that sent Matt Holliday to the Oakland A’s.

Cody Ross, Florida Marlins: Sure, he was streaky and struck out 122 times, but for a power bat that was drafted in virtually no leagues this year, Ross was a definite asset. He finished up the 2009 campaign with 24 homers, 90 RBI and a .270 BA. Those numbers were good enough for Top 10 honours in both dingers and RBI among NL outfielders and made him a perfect fourth or fifth outfielder for your Fantasy squad in 2009.

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates: The future has arrived in the Steel City and his name is Andrew McCutchen. The 23-year-old was called up at the beginning of June and didn’t disappoint. Over the balance of the season he hit 12 homers, drove in 54, scored 74 runs, stole 22 bags, and managed a solid .286 BA in 433 at-bats. McCutchen quickly claimed the lead-off role as his own and with that five-category potential, his value is rising rapidly looking down the road to 2010.

Matt Diaz, Atlanta Braves: He could always hit southpaws, but this year — especially in August — he was hitting everything in sight. In August, Diaz clouted six homers, drove in 18 runs and put up a staggering .404 BA. For those that took the plunge early on in August and grabbed him off the wire, the rewards were plentiful.

Starting Pitcher

Randy Wolf, Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodger southpaw has come full circle and just in time as he’ll be a free agent this offseason. In 214 1/3 IP, Wolf allowed only 178 hits and 58 walks, while striking out 160, which accounts for that great 3.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Now if the normally strong Dodger pen had only given him some support he might have managed more than just 11 wins. Finally healthy, Wolf posted a season very reminiscent of that stellar 2002, so he will be highly sought after this winter.

Kevin Correia, San Diego Padres: The 29-year-old former Giant quietly enjoyed a very solid season for the Padres, but does anyone lately enjoy anything other than quiet seasons in San Diego? Correia put up a dozen wins, a 3.91 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts in 198 IP, and was a great addition as a fourth or fifth starter in all formats.

Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies: Let’s take a quick look back to the beginning of June. At the time, De La Rosa was 0-6 with a 5.44 ERA. Fast forward to season’s end and we find him with a 16-9 record, a 4.38 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 185 IP. He didn’t win his first game until June 5, but once he got that under his belt he just didn’t stop. De La Rosa finished the season third in wins behind only St. Louis’ stellar one-two of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, and tied for eighth in strikeouts. De La Rosa was a Wire Troll stud in 2009 and a huge factor in the Rockies earning the NL Wild Card slot.

Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds: The seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft struggled early on, but found a groove down the stretch with six wins in his final nine starts. During that stretch, he struck out 53 in 58 1/3 IP while allowing only 11 earned runs. Is this a temporary aberration or he is finally figuring it out at the ripe old age of 23? Pitchers named “Homer” do cause me some concern, but this late-season surge is going to make Bailey an intriguing prospect heading into 2010 league drafts.

Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds: Arroyo finished the 2009 season with his best numbers since his first full season as a Red back in 2006. He managed a 3.84 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 220 1/3 IP and was very strong over the final two months. Commencing in August, Arroyo pitched at least seven innings in each start through to the end of the year and allowed two or less earned runs in every start except one over that span. He was a horse down the stretch for both the Reds and your Fantasy team.

J.A. Happ, Philadelphia Phillies: At the end of May, the 26-year-old southpaw emerged from a successful stint in the Phillie bullpen, and never looked back. He authored a great rookie campaign with 12 wins, a 2.93 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 199 IP. One trick ponies do cause me some concern, with Chuck James from the Braves immediately coming to mind, but you can’t argue with Happ’s results in 2009.

Joel Pineiro, St. Louis Cardinals: One has to have a very good memory to remember the last time Pineiro posted numbers reminiscent of his 2009 campaign. In 214, he racked up 15 wins and a 3.49 ERA, allowing a scant 27 free passes. I don’t believe anyone could have foreseen this huge turnaround, but those that gambled on the wire — especially in 4X4 formats — reaped the rather large rewards.

Randy Wells, Chicago Cubs: In a year of disappointment and turmoil in Chicago, Wells provided at least some respite from the day-to-day tribulations of being a Cub fan. The 27-year-old righthander moved into the rotation at the beginning of May and showed remarkable poise in posting 12 wins, a 3.05 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 104 strikeouts in 165 1/3 IP. Wells should garner some justified Rookie of the Year votes when the hardware is awarded in November.

Relief Pitcher

Ryan Franklin, St. Louis Cardinals: Looking back to last spring, Franklin was slotted in as part of a closer-by-committee with Jason Motte and Chris Perez. Motte struggled early, Franklin stepped up his game, claimed the job, and the rest is history. Franklin compiled 38 saves to go along with a stellar 1.92 ERA and 1.20 WHIP and was a huge bonus in the saves category for those that gambled early on the wire.

Leo Nunez, Florida Marlins: The former Royal took over when Matt Lindstrom hit the DL with elbow woes at the end of June, and despite some struggles, Nunez held the job over the balance of the season. From September 8-22 he reeled off a string of six consecutive saves, and that were undoubtedly a difference maker in many a Fantasy league. Nunez ended up with 26 saves and has to be considered the front-runner for the closer role for the Fish heading into 2010.

Another regular season is over, so it’s time to take a look back at some of the waiver wire highlights of the 2009 campaign. In this, our second annual waiver wire review, we will highlight some of those prudent acquisitions that were the difference makers for many a Fantasy squad this season. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the American League, to be followed up by the Senior Circuit next week.

Catcher

Kurt Suzuki, Oakland Athletics: Suzuki finished the 2009 campaign with 15 homers, 88 RBI, 74 runs scored, eight thefts and a decent .274 BA. He managed to finish up fourth in RBI and third in runs scored at his position. Not too shabby for a player that was drafted in a scant five per cent of all Yahoo! leagues this spring. It certainly gives cause for one to wonder if investing in a catcher early as a draft strategy is a prudent one.

First Base

Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels: When the Angels and Mark Teixeira parted company in the offseason, it created a huge hole offensively for the Angels. Six months, 34 homers and 108 RBI later, Morales has Angel fans now asking “Mark who?”

Second Base

Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays: Going all the way back to that first Wire Troll of the season pay dirt was hit, and in a huge way. How many of us would have bet that Hill would be the top producer at a position dominated by perennial all-star Chase Utley? A season of 36 homers, 108 RBI, 103 runs scored, six thefts and .286 BA have deservedly vaulted Hill to the top of the charts at second base. He is going to be a very interesting selection come league drafts in 2010.

Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays: The injury to Aki Iwamura opened the door and Zobrist was off and running. Those eight long balls he crushed in the month of June were absolutely huge. Although Zobrist cooled off considerably down the stretch, he still finished the year with 27 homers, 91 RBI, a .297 BA and 17 thefts. Anyone who says that platoon players can’t make a difference obviously didn’t gamble on Zobrist this season.

Alberto Callaspo, Kansas City Royals: Think back to those league drafts in March…wasn’t all the talk coming out of Kansas City centred around Mark Teahen making the switch to second base? So much for the best laid plans of mice and men. Callaspo enjoyed a fine year at the keystone corner, finishing up with 11 homers, 73 RBI and a .300 BA. If he can learn to play some defense, he could be looking at a long run in the middle infield for the Royals.

Shortstop

Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay Rays: Bartlett was available in 96 per cent of all leagues playing at Yahoo! after this Spring’s drafts. He missed three weeks with a sprained ankle at the end of May and still managed career highs in every offensive category in 2009 with 14 long balls, 66 RBI, 90 runs scored and 30 thefts to go along with a superb .320 BA. Toss in Matt Garza, and that trade for Delmon Young is looking like a total steal for the Rays at this stage of the game.

Marco Scutaro, Toronto Blue Jays: Scutaro leapt into the upper echelon of shortstops in 2009 and despite his season ending prematurely on September 20 due to a torn right heel injury, he was one of only five shortstops in the game to reach the magic 100 runs scored plateau. Batting in the lead-off role for the Jays, he also managed 12 homers, 60 RBI, a solid .282 BA and 14 thefts. Not too shabby coming from a career platoon player acquired from the Athletics for a pair of minor league pitchers — one of the few solid moves made during the J. P. Ricciardi regime.

Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels: This season, the 25-year-old finally started showing off some of that great potential we’ve been hearing about seemingly forever. Aybar managed five homers, 58 RBI, 14 thefts and a great .312 BA out — a huge bonus given that many considered shortstop to be a potential area of concern for the Halos heading into the 2009 campaign. He was valued so low by Fantasy owners this Spring he wasn’t even listed as a drafted player in Yahoo! leagues.

Third Base

Gordon Beckham, Chicago White Sox: The 23-year-old got the call back at the beginning of June and after a rather inauspicious 4-for-35 start, Beckham turned up his game and in 367 at-bats managed to slug 14 long balls, drive in 63 runs, and toss in seven thefts for good measure. Chicago’s first round pick in 2008 has not disappointed and you can look forward to big numbers from Beckham in 2010.

Adam Kennedy, Oakland Athletics: I don’t think anyone can lay claim to seeing this one coming. Kennedy managed to hit more homers this year than in his previous four seasons combined. He slugged 11 dingers, drove in 63, and added 20 stolen bases, to boot. Toss in the second base eligibility and Kennedy was a definite difference maker in 2009.

Outfield

Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins: The potential has always been there but, unfortunately, the health hasn’t. Kubel finally managed to stay healthy and enjoyed a superb season, mashing 27 homers and driving in 102 runs while managing to hit an even .300. Those teams that gambled on Kubel were handsomely rewarded in 2009.

Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins: Coming off an abysmal injury-filled 2008 campaign in which he hit only three homers with 36 RBI, this year Cuddyer arguably enjoyed his best season since way back in 2006. The injury to Justin Morneau required a move to first base and Cuddyer responded in fine fashion, leading the Twins with 10 homers and 29 RBI over the final five weeks of the season. Fantasy teams that added Cuddyer around mid-August were undoubtedly ecstatic with the results.

Rajai Davis, Oakland Athletics: The speedy Davis defied all odds this season and with his stellar play literally forced his way into the lineup and never looked back. Three homers, 48 RBI, and those 41 stolen bases in only 390 at-bats were absolutely huge for those Fantasy squads taking a run at the stolen base title in league play. If you project those stolen base numbers over a full season you have a player that’s stock has risen, and should continue to rise heading into the 2010 season.

Marlon Byrd, Texas Rangers: Byrd was the “Rodney Dangerfield” of Fantasy baseball in 2009. He enjoyed a great season and was still getting very little respect heading into the final week of the season, being owned in less than half the leagues playing over at CBS. Those 20 homers, 89 RBI, and solid .283 BA made Byrd a solid option as a fifth outfielder this season. A Byrd on your active roster was worth way more than a Burrell on the bench.

Franklin Gutierrez, Seattle Mariners: The 26-year-old Gutierrez looks to finally have found a home patrolling centrefield for the Mariners. The change of scenery has done nothing but good for his game as he managed to hit 18 big flies, drive in 70, and score 85 runs with a solid .283 BA. Gutierrez also chipped in 16 thefts and contributed his usual stellar defence. You’ve got to love five-category waiver wire additions. He has finally enjoyed that breakout campaign I’ve been anticipating for the past several seasons and I expect more of the same moving in 2010.

Starting Pitcher

Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics: The 21-year-old southpaw has emerged as a solid Rookie of the Year candidate in 2009. For a horrible Oakland team he managed to win 11 games with 150 strikeouts and a solid 4.06 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 175 1/3 IP. The future is looking very bright for the young southpaw and he is going to be a very intriguing pick come next year’s drafts.

Edwin Jackson, Detroit Tigers: Jackson emerged as a solid workhorse in the Tiger rotation. Those 13 wins and 161 strikeouts in 214 IP made the 26-year-old a huge asset as a third or fourth pitcher on many Fantasy teams this season.

Ricky Romero, Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays needed someone to step up this year with the departure of A.J. Burnett and injuries to Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch , and Romero was the man for the Jays. Although he tired a bit down the stretch, the 24-year-old southpaw managed 13 wins and a 4.30 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 178 IP. The walks were been high and are certainly cause for some concern, but for a guy literally forced into the Jay rotation, he enjoyed a very solid rookie campaign.

Scott Feldman, Texas Rangers: Quick — name the last pitcher to win at least 17 games for the Rangers and the year he did it.* Feldman enjoyed a solid breakout campaign for the Rangers in 2009, and should be a fine middle-of-the-rotation innings eater going forward. With the addition of Nolan Ryan to the front office, have the Rangers finally figured out they need more than just that high-powered offense to win the division?

Relief Pitcher

David Aardsma, Seattle Mariners: This past season, the waiver wire was again crucial in determining the final outcome in the saves category. Aardsma is a perfect example of why drafting closers in the early rounds is a mistake. Penciled into a set-up role for the Mariners heading into the 2009 campaign, he stepped into the closer job in the wake of the failure of Brandon Morrow and never looked back. In 71 1/3 IP, Aardsma managed 38 saves, 80 strikeouts, a 2.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP and was a definite difference maker for many a Fantasy squad in 2009.

Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics: Undrafted in all formats and starting the season behind both Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine on the depth charts, Bailey jumped out of the gate strong and after a brief duel with Ziegler, he claimed the closer gig and never surrendered it. Bailey racked up 26 saves and 91 strikeouts in 83 1/3 IP and was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal Athletics’ team.

J.P. Howell, Tampa Bay Rays: The 26-year-old southpaw managed to fill the shoes of Troy Percival, who shut it down for the year at the end of May with shoulder tendonitis. Howell put up 17 saves and 79 strikeouts in 66 2/3 IP with his usual great 2.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. A very high workload over the past several seasons led the Rays to shut him down early for the balance of the season, but expect the hard tossing lefty to emerge as an integral component of the Tampa Bay bullpen in 2010.

It has been a while coming, but it is time to take a quick look at how things are shaking down in the RotoRob Regulars 15-team Fantasy baseball league.

In this, our second year of running the site baseball league, we have seen a lot more of the same from last year’s winner Steve Parsons. The proud owner of the Hidalgo All-Stars is currently leading the pack with 122 points. As purveyor of the “Thrash and Dash Strategy,” he has made a whopping 236 moves as of this writing. Do the math, folks. We are looking at close to two transactions daily over the course of the full season.

More importantly, he has managed a great 12-plus point average across the board as he attempts to make it back-to-back titles. I’d list some of his more memorable acquisitions, but unfortunately I do have a 1,000 word limit per article (that I rarely follow) as imposed by RotoRob himself. Great job, Steve!

Cory Humes representing the fine folks over at MVN is currently running in second with 115.5 points, a scant six and a half points behind our current leader. Some rather astute pickups starting with Felix Pie, Matt LaPorta and Garrett Jones have been instrumental in Cory’s great surge that has vaulted him into contention over the past several weeks. Well done, Cory, and good fortunes keeping that Hidalgo guy honest as we head for home.

Next up on the leaderboard we have the sarcastic stylings of Team Razzball who spent most of the summer slugging it out with the Hidalgo crew for first place, only to have fallen back to 111.5 points and tough times over the past several weeks. His team BA has plummeted of late with Brad Hawpe, Raul Ibanez, and Andrew McCutcheon being the main contributors. The second half has not been kind to Grey and Rudy, but they do have a pile of innings to play with and a late charge can certainly not be ruled out.

Bob Sikon from Fantasy Baseball Trade Market is currently manning the fourth slot with 105 points. He has assembled a formidable pitching staff anchored by Justin Verlander, Wandy Rodriguez and Scott Baker. Bob is also one of the bravest men I know, picking up Barry Zito not once, but twice in the same week.

In fifth at 91 points we have none other than the master of mockery himself, Geoff Stein from Mock Draft Central, who has been rolling along at a steady clip right from the get-go. That Ben Zobrist pickup back at the beginning of May was certainly a great one.

Moving down the ladder I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t pass on congratulations to RotoRob writers Todd Habiger and Jordan Frank, who are currently holding their own at sixth and seventh respectively. Team Habiger has bounced back rather nicely after a disappointing 12th-place showing last year. When you’re a life long Royals’ fan, anything outside of the basement is certainly reason for celebration.

Other than our fearless leader Steve, who I find it a bit of a reach to call “regular,” it has been a tough year for our reader challengers. I must mention the great effort put forth by Doug Mitchell from the Cannot Cantu squad who has played it hard right out of the gate and continues to give it 100 per cent as we head for home. I certainly take my hat off to him as he continues to struggle through myriad injuries while striving to improve his lot down the stretch. Good job, Doug!

In ninth we have last year’s runner-up, Dave McBride of Full Mountie fame. Next year, Dave, remember there are more than five categories and I’m sure we’ll see you right back up at the top of the leader board.

Rounding out our Top 10 is Kevin Orris from FantasyPros911, who I personally have to thank for stealing Mike Aviles from under my nose in the 10th round. After fighting for the rights to Aviles through countless mock drafts this spring I can extend my heartfelt congratulations to Kevin for beating me to the punch in the real deal.

Right on the heels of Orris is our half-time substitution, Andrea LaMont from Blogtalkradio. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and trying to right an abandoned ship. Just imagine what those results could have been if you had a full season to fill that roster with your favourite players from Beantown.

Normally I wouldn’t spend much time analyzing the last few stragglers, but this year I’ve had the opportunity to actually be one of them. When your first four picks happen to be Jose Reyes, Aramis Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero and Geovany Soto, it isn’t looking real pretty. Toss in a sprinkling of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Audrey (oops, I meant Aubrey) Huff, and Brandon Morrow and it is easy to see how I’m currently slugging it out in 13th with two inactive teams. Erik frigging Bedard…what was I thinking, or was that not thinking? Adam Jones’ injury just proved to be the icing on the proverbial cake. The game of Fantasy baseball can be a very humbling experience and humbled I most certainly am.

Finally, I’d like to thank all the participants this year. It has been another fun-filled year and in the true spirit of the game I have been very fortunate to continue many good friendships and establish many new ones, playing one of the greatest games known to man. Good fortunes to all as we head into those last few crucial weeks.

As another long season of baseball winds down, I just wanted to thank our readers for your support this past season. Twenty-two Wire Troll articles later with over 250 player reviews and it’s time for a much needed vacation. Good fortunes to you and your Fantasy squad in that crucial stretch run and we’ll catch you back in the spring, ready for another season of trolling the wire.

Jake Fox, 3B/OF, Chicago Cubs: It seems that the ailing left knee currently being suffered by Alfonso Soriano will prematurely bring an end to his season creating an opportunity for Fox to find additional at-bats in September. (By the way, the Cubbies actually make me proud to admit I’m a Maple Leaf fan.) In 177 at-bats, Fox has hit 10 homers, driven in 39 and is currently sporting a .282 BA. If a boost in the power numbers down the stretch meets your needs, Fox makes for a great addition.

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco: The playing time is probably not going to be there, but you have to love this kid heading into 2010. Posey moved from Single-A to Triple-A this season and didn’t skip a beat. His combined numbers down on the farm in 422 at-bats, were 18 dingers, 80 RBI and an outstanding .325 BA. The future is looking awful solid for this 22-year-old phenom, especially with Bengie Molina on the final year of his contract. If Posey is not locked up in your keeper league, resolve this one right smartly.

Brett Myers, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: Saturday night against the Astros we saw Brad Lidge at his finest. A line of 2/3 IP, two hits, two walks, two earned runs and a 10th blown save is not going to cut the mustard for division-leading Philadelphia. Myers, seeing his first action since returning from the DL, pitched a scoreless eighth inning. I congratulate the Phillies on their loyalty to incumbent Lidge, but enough is enough. A repeat of the World Series is not happening unless they can sort out their bullpen woes, and now is the time, not the ninth inning of Game Seven of the NLCS. Myers does have history on his side with those 21 saves back in 2007, and makes for a great addition if you need a push in saves down the stretch.

Brandon McCarthy, SP, Texas Rangers: In his first start since coming off the DL after a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade, McCarthy enjoyed a solid outing against the woeful Jays. In 6 1/3 IP he allowed only three hits, two walks and one earned run in gaining the victory. He is scheduled for two starts this week, with the injury-depleted Indians and the Mariners on the agenda. If the need for streaming pitchers is part of your plan for that final push to get you over the top, McCarthy is a fine addition in all formats.

Michael Brantley, OF, Cleveland Indians: Now that the Indians have finally shut down Grady Sizemore for the season, there should be no shortage of at-bats for the 22-year-old Brantley. What he brings to the table is speed, speed and more speed. At Triple-A Columbus, he was 46-for-51 in the stolen base department and equally as important were those 59 base-on-balls and only 48 strikeouts. It would appear that this kid has a solid knowledge of the strike zone. If your need is speed down the stretch find a spot on your roster for Brantley immediately.

Intriguing Options

Daniel Hudson, SP, Chicago White Sox: Hudson is a possible spot-starter down the stretch for those looking to gain last minute pitching stats.

Chris Perez, RP, Cleveland Indians: He hasn’t allowed an earned run since July 7 and the scoreless streak has now reached 20 2/3 IP. For those that questioned the Mark DeRosa trade the answers are starting to look very positive for the Tribe.

Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins: The injury to Jeremy Hermida should generate at-bats for Maybin down the stretch

Cory Sullivan, OF, New York Mets: Sullivan is taking advantage of that decimated Met roster.

Franklin Morales, RP, Colorado Rockies: Three consecutive games, three saves. Go get him.

Carlos Guillen, 1B/3B/OF, Detroit Tigers: Three long-balls in the past week with position flex makes Guillen a solid addition in all formats.

Tyler Flowers, C, Chicago White Sox: Temper your expectations for 2009, but lock him up in keeper formats.

Freddy Sanchez, 2B, San Francisco Giants: Sanchez is scheduled to return from the DL Monday. Middle infielders that hit for average can be of assistance over those last couple of weeks.

Ah, there’s nothing like the September roster increases to start a steady stream of player influx into the majors and onto our Fantasy rosters. Yes, these callups can and will be of importance to many Fantasy teams but don’t forget about the veteran players. Playing time is always the issue and make sure before you commit to players in redraft leagues that those opportunities will be there.

Without further ado, let’s get to this week’s recommendations.

Chris Davis, 1B, Texas Rangers: In 165 at-bats down on the farm, Davis managed an outstanding .327 BA, six homers and 30 RBI. He also accumulated 25 walks, and while the strikeouts were still a bit on the high side (39), he’s definitely trending in the right direction. The stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City seems to have righted the ship for Davis somewhat, but it is important to remember that he is only 23 and has tremendous potential heading into the future. With the struggling Hank Blalock currently banished to the bench, Davis is going to get the lion’s share of opportunities in September and should be rostered in all formats.

Chris Young, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: There is nothing like a stint down on the farm to get one’s head back into the game. Young was recalled Saturday by the Diamondbacks after posting great numbers in the minors. In 54 at-bats at Triple-A Reno, he managed three homers, nine RBI, and scored 17 runs. He was tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .370 BA and what is even more impressive is that he managed nine walks. Young should get regular playing time down the stretch. Next year, could he be the 2009 version of Mark Reynolds?

Andy Marte, 1B/3B, Cleveland Indians: Anyone who managed to see this one coming has to be in the fortune telling racket. At Triple-A Columbus in 300 at-bats, the 25-year-old former top prospect hit 18 homers and drove in 66 runs with a .327 BA. When the Indians traded Ryan Garko to the Giants at the end of July, Marte moved into the first base gig and hasn’t looked back. In his past 10 games, he is hitting .417 with three homers and 12 RBI. Get him rostered in all formats while he’s currently on a tear.

Brian Duensing, SP, Minnesota Twins: The Twin starting rotation is in disarray and if they have any hope of winning their division, the 26-year-old southpaw is going to have to play a major role. Since being inserted into the rotation August 22 against the Royals, Duensing has responded in fine form winning both of his starts. He was particularly brilliant on Friday, shutting down the Rangers with a nifty three-hitter while fanning eight. Heading into September, Duensing is a decent option for both the Twins and your Fantasy squad.

Eric Young, Jr., OF, Colorado Rockies: The 24-year-old converted second baseman got the call to replace the injured Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez. Young put together a solid season for Triple-A Colorado Springs with seven long balls, 43 RBI and 58 stolen bases. In five games since being called up, he’s managed five hits while being caught stealing twice. The name of the game for Young is speed so he has to step it up quickly or he could very well find himself riding the pine as the Rockies are in the thick of a playoff race and patience will not be one of their strong suits. He should be added in all keeper formats and is at least worthy of a look-see in deeper leagues if you need speed down the stretch.

Milton Bradley, OF, Chicago Cubs: He’s currently on fire and earning that big payday he received this past offseason. In the past six games, Bradley is killing the ball to the tune of a .583 BA, with two homers, six RBI, and 10 runs scored. Nice of you to finally show up, Milton, being that the Cubbies are only nine games back of the front running Cardinals heading into September. Better late than never I suppose. And given that he is out there in many 10- and 12-team leagues, grab him while he’s both hot and not on the DL or in Lou Pinella’s doghouse.

Alex Gonzalez, SS, Boston Red Sox: Theo Epstein made another in a series of shrewd moves in acquiring Gonzalez for Kristopher Negron back on August 14. Gonzalez has been hitting for both average and power since being acquired by Boston and is very quickly making the Red Sox faithful forget about both Nick Green and Jed Lowrie. In his past 10 games, Gonzo has hit three homers, driven in six runs and scored another six, very solid production out of a bottom-of-the-order type bat and something that definitely warrants attention in AL-only and deeper formats.

Intriguing Options

Sergio Mitre, SP, New York Yankees: 6 1/3 IP of one-hit ball Saturday against the White Sox should guarantee his roster spot for at least another week.

Michael Aubrey, 1B, Baltimore Orioles: One last chance for the former top prospect to show he belongs.

Brendan Ryan, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: Underrated, under appreciated but not under producing.

Wade Davis, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: Someone at Durham gets the call to replace the recently traded Scott Kazmir and Davis has 135 reasons over 154 2/3 IP why he’s the right man for the job.

Steven Pearce, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates: He’s worth a look in NL-only leagues.

Felix Pie, OF, Baltimore Orioles: Pie filled in nicely while Adam Jones was out with back issues and the potential is there to for him to steal at-bats down the stretch if Jones continues to struggle.

Jack Cust, OF, Oakland Athletics: Does a .406 BA over the past 10 games suggest that Jack is on the Cust of greatness? (Sorry….couldn’t resist cramming one silly pun in there.)

John Smoltz, SP, St. Louis Cardinals: Smoltz has racked up two quality starts with 15 strikeouts and only one earned run and with the Pirates next on his dance card, opportunity is knocking.

Tim Hudson, SP, Atlanta Braves: Hudson returns from the DL in a two-start week, but proceed with caution.

Trevor Cahill, SP, Oakland Athletics: Make that four consecutive quality starts for the 21-year-old and he’s facing the Royals next. Five is a distinct possibility.

Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves: Maybe this is a bit of a reach for this year, but get him rostered in all keeper formats.

Willie Harris, OF, Washington Nationals: Subbing for the injured Nyjer Morgan, Harris will get playing time opportunities in September.

David DeJesus, OF, Kansas City Royals: DeJesus is on a tear with a .366 BA, three homers, eight RBI and 10 runs scored over his past 10 games. Grab him while he’s hot.

Matt LaPorta, OF, Cleveland Indians: Eric Wedge has indicated that LaPorta will receive regular playing time over the balance of the season at both first base and in the outfield in this, his second go-round with the Indians in 2009. It is impossible to ignore those stellar numbers that the 24-year-old produced this year at Triple-A Columbus — 17 homers, 60 RBI and a great .299 BA. LaPorta could potentially be a strong asset down the stretch for both the Indians and your Fantasy squad. Go get him, and quick.

Carlos Marmol, RP, Chicago Cubs: The Cubbies finally said enough is enough and anointed Marmol as their new closer this past week. When he gets the ball over the plate, he’s been unhittable, but with 52 walks in 57 1/3 IP this season he simply hasn’t been finding the plate nearly enough. At this stage in the Fantasy season, his ugly WHIP resulting from too many walks has a very small impact on the overall numbers with most Fantasy teams having so many innings under their belt, so don’t let the high walks scare you off. Just hope that it doesn’t scare Lou Piniella into installing Angel Guzman as his closer, or even — gasp — giving Kevin Gregg another chance.

Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays: The future for the Jay outfield has returned for Round Two in the 2009 season and he’s arrived just in time to possibly bring some life to a team currently devoid of it. Cito Gaston has indicated that the 21-year-old Snider will be getting regular playing time down the stretch, as he should. Snider is coming off a great run at Triple-A Las Vegas where in his last 10 games before getting recalled he was tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .439 BA, with four homers and seven RBI in 41 at bats. How can you not roster this guy in all formats for the September run?

Garrett Mock, SP, Washington Nationals: The Nats have been playing very well as of late and Mock has been a solid contributor. He now has wins in two of his past three starts and on Thursday against the Rockies, he managed a season-high eight strikeouts. Mock still walks way too many, but with those solid strikeout rates he has recently demonstrated, he makes for a solid option in NL-only and H2H leagues.

Drew Stubbs, OF, Cincinnati Reds: The 24-year-old hit a walk off homer in his second game for the Reds, but don’t expect much more in the power department as he only managed three long balls in 411 at bats at Triple-A Louisville this season. What Stubbs does bring to the table is speed, with 46 thefts. He also brings an incredibly high strikeout rate with 104 this season. If speed is your need, Stubbs makes for a decent gamble, but temper your expectations somewhat as he still has to prove he can find a way to get on base.

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies: Over his past 10 games, 23-year-old Gonzalez is demonstrating the skills that made him the key for the Rockies in the deal that sent Matt Holliday to Oakland. Gonzalez has managed six long balls, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored and a great .300 BA. Producing at that level has to garner attention and as long as he continues to swing a hot stick, the opportunities will be there for him at the top of the order for the Rockies. Get Gonzalez rostered in all formats and enjoy the current hot streak.

Intriguing Options

Doug Fister, SP, Seattle Mariners: He has now tossed three quality starts since being recalled August 7. He’s very hittable, but allowed a scant 11 free passes in 106 1/3 IP at Triple-A Tacoma. He’s a solid option in AL-only leagues.

Barry Zito, SP, San Francisco Giants: Zito’s seven quality starts in a row for the Giants simply can’t be ignored.

Anibal Sanchez, SP, Florida Marlins: Is he finally healthy? If so, he will be a huge asset for the Fish as they fight for a Wild Card spot.

Charlie Haeger, SP, Dodgers: What’s this? Another knuckler named Charlie who pitches for the Dodgers (for those of you old enough to remember that Charlie Hough spent the first decade of his 25-year career with LA)? Anyways, when a knuckler is knuckling, it’s unhittable…when it’s not it’s a 70 mph fastball, that is. Ride Haeger while he’s hot, but always remember the hot can turn cold very abruptly.

George Sherrill, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Saturday, he picked up his first save since the trade from the Orioles. He offers a nice little insurance package for a playoff-bound Dodger team that’s closer is dealing with toe problems.

Fernando Tatis, 3B, New York Mets: The Mets still have to field a team, as difficult as it may be on most days, and until David Wright returns from the DL, Tatis is the man at third base.

Kevin Correia, SP, San Diego Padres: Correia has eight wins for the Padres and has been fairly consistent over the past month, making him a solid option for those playing in deeper leagues.

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Texas Rangers: I-Rod has returned home to the scene of his greatest glories, providing a nice little bonus for those playing in two-catcher AL-only leagues.

Franklin Morales, SP/RP, Colorado Rockies: Somebody has to step up and replace the injured Aaron Cook in the Colorado rotation. Might we see a repeat of Morales’ great season ending run from 2007?

Julio Borbon, OF, Texas Rangers: The 23-year-old Borbon was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma to fill the void created when the Rangers put Nelson Cruz on the DL this week with a sprained ankle. Down on the farm, Borbon put up a great .310 BA with 25 thefts. Saturday night against the Red Sox and Brad Penny, the Rangers had him batting in the lead-off slot and he responded in fine fashion, going 4-for-5, scoring two runs, driving in a couple and stealing four bases. Okay, before we pencil him in to break Ricky Henderson’s career stolen base record, let’s just remember it is only one game, but what a game it was. Do the Rangers have a new lead-off bat for the next several weeks? If you have the need for speed, run, don’t walk to your nearest waiver wire and get Borbon rostered.

Pedro Martinez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: The much anticipated debut of Martinez as a Phillie came Wednesday against the Cubs. It certainly was a far cry from the Pedro of old, but he did manage a decent start, limiting the Cubs to three runs over five innings while striking out five. He reached the low-90 with his fastball, so it appears he has some giddy up left in the old heater. This is not your father’s Martinez, but he could be an asset down the stretch nonetheless. He faces the Diamondbacks and the Mets in a two-start week, and is a must start in all formats against those struggling offenses.

Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers finally said enough is enough, and sent the struggling J.J. Hardy to Triple-A Nashville and Wednesday promoted the 22-year-old phenom Escobar. Escobar went 42-for-52 in the stolen base department at Triple-A Nashville with a great .298 BA. If he can manage to get on base, he could bring a plethora of stolen bases and runs scored to your Fantasy squad down the stretch. If you’re sitting on that Number One waiver priority in your Fantasy league this is a good time to use it.

Randy Ruiz, DH, Toronto Blue Jays: Surprise, surprise — Travis Snider is still at Triple-A Las Vegas. Many, including myself, anticipated that Snider would get the call after the Jays moved Alex Rios through waivers in a shocking move this past week, but it appears that we now have to wait a couple more weeks until September call-ups before getting another look at Snider. As for Ruiz, he was having a great year at Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .320 with 25 homers and 106 RBI, making him a strong candidate for the Pacific League’s MVP. The former Twin smacked a homer in each of his first two games as a Jay, demonstrating that the power potential is very real and that he is worthy of a roster addition in AL-only leagues.

Jeff Baker, 2B, Chicago Cubs: The 28-year-old Baker is the current flavour of the week at second base in Chicago. Since being inserted into the lineup on a full-time basis last week, he’s been smacking the ball to the tune of a .500 BA with one homer and six RBI. Baker did manage to hit 12 long balls in 299 at bats for the Rockies in 2008, so he has the potential to generate some solid power numbers at a relatively weak position down the stretch.

Tom Gorzelanny, SP, Chiago Cubs: Since the trade to the Cubs, the ex-Pirate Gorzelanny has now pitched two gems wrapped around one total disaster. Saturday, against his former team, he pitched five strong innings, allowing only three hits and striking out eight in getting the victory. With that strong start Saturday he has earned at least another start as the Cubs try to play catch up in the NL Central. If Gorzelanny can return to that strong 2007 level of play, he would be an asset to both the Cubbies and your Fantasy squad down the stretch. However, with potential reward comes risk and there is no shortage of risk with Gorzelanny.

Bobby Parnell, SP, New York Mets: There has to be something to cheer about at Citi Field this year and Parnell might be the reason for optimism over the final six weeks of 2009 for the injury-ravaged Mets. Friday night against the Giants, the 24-year-old hurled six shutout innings with seven strikeouts. In his second start since being moved from the pen to the rotation, he was hitting the mid-90s on the radar gun into the sixth inning, a very good sign. Parnell should be rostered in AL-only and keeper formats.

Intriguing Options

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox could use a return to form for the September run. This is worth a roll of the Dice.

Tim Hudson, SP, Atlanta Braves: With four rehab starts under his belt, a return to the Braves’ rotation is not that far away.

Justin Duchscherer, SP, Oakland Athletics: He completed his final rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento and was in fine form, tossing five scoreless innings. He could return to the rotation Tuesday against the Yankees, but could take a serious beat-down against a very strong offense.

Freddy Garcia, SP, Chicago White Sox: Didn’t he retire already?

Aki Iwamura, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays: He is currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A. Ben Zobrist is hitting .159 in August. Is it time for a change in Tampa?

Mike Gonzalez, RP, Atlanta Braves: You really don’t think that Rafael Soriano can stay healthy for a full six weeks, do you?

Neftali Feliz, RP, Texas Rangers: Count those strikeouts and smile. A save or two before year’s end is not out of the question.

Matt Diaz, OF, Atlanta Braves: He has three thefts since the beginning of August and is hitting lefties a ton as he always does. Diaz is the ultimate platoon bat and with Nate McLouth currently suffering through a left hamstring strain, playing time should be a lock.

Elijah Dukes, OF, Washington Nationals: He has 15 RBI in August and is owned in just 22 per cent of CBS Leagues. Opportunity is knocking.

Gil Meche, SP, Kansas City Royals: He managed a win in rather shaky fashion in his first start off the DL. Will things mesh for Gil down the stretch?

Taylor Teagarden, C, Texas Rangers: Jarrod Saltalamacchi hit the DL so Teagarden has moved into a starting role for at least the next couple of weeks.

Jayson Nix, 2B, Chicago White Sox: He has eight homers and seven stolen bases in 156 AB and is temporarily replacing the injured Chris Getz. One could find much worse short-term solutions in the middle infield.

David Ortiz is denying he ever used ‘roids, but we’re here to inject a little life into your Fantasy lineups with our waiver wire recommendations, which grow more important as the season’s end closes in.

Angel Pagan, OF, New York Mets: The 28-year-old journeyman has done an admirable job filling in for the injured Carlos Beltran. In his past 10 games, Pagan has smacked two homers, driven in 12, and chipped in with two thefts and a .310 BA. It appears that Beltran is at least another couple of weeks away from returning, making Pagan a solid addition in NL-only leagues in the interim.

Will Venable, OF, San Diego Padres: In his past 10 games, the 26-year-old has gone deep five times with 14 RBI, and is hitting at a .395 clip. In 200 at bats at Triple-A Portland, he managed 12 homers so the power potential is very real. The Padres have stated they plan on giving their younger outfielders the opportunities down the stretch, so playing time should not be an issue. Good call, San Diego (which is more than we can say for the team’s decision to extend Bud Black, who has guided the team to wins in less than 40 per cent of its games in the past two years). We’d hate to think that you’re relying on Brian Giles and that .191 BA to save your season. Venable has also managed to contribute three thefts thus far in 2009 and as recently as 2007 at Double-A San Antonio he stole 21 bases. He is a solid addition in NL-only formats and deeper mixed leagues.

Trevor Crowe, OF, Cleveland Indians: The 25-year-old has moved into the slot vacated by the trade of Ben Francisco to the Phillies. Crowe brings great contact rates and a solid batting average along with stolen base potential to the Indian lineup. Since being recalled, he’s now managed three thefts in eight games. Crowe did swipe 14 at Triple-A Columbus so expect more of the same with him hitting at the bottom of the order for the Tribe. Eventually Grady Sizemore will move into the three slot in the Indian batting order, won’t he? In Crowe, we could be looking at a potential lead-off bat down the road, making him a solid addition in both keeper and Al-only formats.

Jeremy Sowers, SP, Cleveland Indians: The 26-year-old southpaw was recalled July 25 and has now completed a run of three very solid outings in which he’s only allowed a total of only four earned runs in 20 IP. Has he finally turned the corner and will now show off some of that consistent potential that he demonstrated in his fine 2006 rookie season or is this just more of the same that we’ve witnessed in brief spurts over the past several years? The kid’s on a roll right now and worthy of your attention in AL-only leagues and he should be on the radar in mixed formats pending the outcome of his next several starts.

Ryan Roberts, 2B/3B, Arizona Diamondbacks: The former Jay was called up to replace Felipe Lopez who was traded to the Brewers July 19. Roberts, 28, was drafted 530th overall in the 2003 amateur entry draft and has the distinction of hitting a homer in his first major league at bat. He now has hit five long balls since replacing Lopez at second base with four coming against the Pirates, and one against the Phillies. Roberts is a solid option in NL-only leagues and in mixed leagues when playing against teams from Pennsylvania. Just when exactly are they planning to add a major league team in Scranton?

Carl Pavano, SP, Minnesota Twins: The Twins traded for Pavano last week in an attempt to help stabilize a rotation still reeling from the loss of Kevin Slowey for the balance of the 2009 campaign. Pavano has had a roller coaster season, but enjoyed a great debut for the Twins Saturday, tossing seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball with five strikeouts. Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, Anthony Swarzak and “ace” Francisco Liriano are all struggling as of late, so Pavano has to be at least some help in that rotation down the stretch. He is a solid addition in AL-only leagues at this time and should be kept on the radar in deeper mixed formats.

Trent Oeltjen, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Arizona must be getting close to exhausting its supply of outfielders at all levels in the organization. Justin Upton is the latest casualty, hitting the DL this week with a right oblique strain. Oeltjen, 26, was recalled Thursday and had a great debut, smacking a homer and stealing two bases. Down on the farm at Triple-A Reno, he hit 10 homers with 61 RBI, a great .300 BA and chipped in with 19 thefts. Has Arizona finally run out of patience with Chris Young , he of the 94 strikeouts in 311 at bats and .193 BA? Oeltjen is a solid addition in NL-only leagues.

Tommy Everidge, 1B, Oakland Athletics: At Triple-A Sacramento, Everidge hit nine homers with 32 RBI and a staggering .382 BA. His OPS was 1068. Everidge is not your typical A’s bat in that he’s not a walk factory, but it’s hard not to like that power potential. In his past 10 games, he’s hitting .343 with one homer, five RBI, and seven runs scored. On Friday, the Athletics released Jason Giambi, and Daric Barton is still at least a week away from returning from the strained hamstring injury, making Everidge a solid option in AL-only and H2H formats for at least the next week.

Intriguing Options

Yusmeiro Petit, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks: The streak is now at two.

David Murphy, OF, Texas Rangers: The ankle injury to Nelson Cruz will guarantee more at bats.

Junichi Tazawa, SP, Boston Red Sox: Have I mentioned before that I really like this kid?

Alex Romero, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Potential increase in playing time in the injury-ravaged Diamondback outfield.

Chris Couglan, OF, Florida Marlins: He has seven consecutive multi-hit games hitting in the lead-off role for the Marlins and is owned in only 12 per cent of CBS leagues.

Oliver Perez, SP, New York Mets: Back-to-back solid starts against San Diego and Arizona. Well, at least it’s a start.

Eugenio Velez, 2B/OF, San Francisco: Has now homered in back-to-back games.

Jake Fox, 3B, Chicago Cubs: Aramis Ramirez is reporting shoulder pain issues. Fox could be looking at full-time at bats at third base.

Do the Phillies have a potential controversy brewing? Wednesday evening, J.A. Happ pitched a complete game shutout gem, allowing four hits and striking out 10 in moving to 8-2 on the season. His ERA on the year is now a superb 2.74. Down the road in Double-A Reading, recent Phillie signing Pedro Martinez was striking out 11 over six tidy innings. Unless we see a six-man rotation, somebody is heading to the bullpen in the not-so-distant future. Good luck sorting that one out, Charlie Manuel.

Tommy Hunter of the Rangers keeps making a liar out of me. Thursday afternoon, he held the Athletics in check to the tune of three hits and two walks over seven strong innings in winning his fourth game. Finally, after many years of frustration, Ranger fans might actually have the opportunity to witness a credible rotation. Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz, and Tommy Hunter are a great looking group of young starters to build around heading into the 2010 campaign.

Junichi Tazawa now has two starts under his belt since his recent promotion to Triple-A and he’s sporting a 0-2 record. It’s probably one of the best 0-2 records you could find anywhere in the game. In 11 1/3 IP he’s only allowed seven hits and one free pass, to go along with three earned runs. He has been particularly dominant against right-handed hitting having only allowed one hit. Yes, that’s correct, one hit against righties. After watching John Smoltz get rocked again Thursday by the Yankees (that’s four starts in a row for those counting) and with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield both currently on the DL, Tazawa might not be all that far away from seeing his first action with the parent club.

The Diamondbacks placed Justin Upton on the DL with a strained right oblique, another large blow to a team already reeling from a continuous string of injuries. Conor Jackson, Eric Byrnes, and now Upton make for a fairly decent outfield all currently occupying spots on the injured list. The utter lack of confidence in Chris Young was aptly demonstrated Thursday when they shifted Geraldo Parra to centrefield and inserted the recently called up Trent Oeltjen into the lineup. Oeltjen responded by going 2-for-6 and smashing a game-tying homer in the eighth. He also managed to swipe a couple of bases. Stay tuned for more on this development in Sunday’s Wire Troll.

Rajai Davis just keeps on getting it done for Oakland. This week, he’s 3-for-11 with three runs scored, one RBI and an impressive three stolen bases. If you’re looking for a serious boost in your stolen base numbers down the stretch, don’t walk, but run to your waiver wire and get Davis rostered immediately.

Wrapping things up for today, let’s get a quick rant in for good measure. What has Matt Kemp done to piss you off, Joe Torre? Thursday night, Kemp found himself riding the pine while Juan Pierre hits in the ninth slot. Kemp has bounced all over the line-up card, mainly batting in the bottom third of the order this year. Have you looked at the numbers lately, Joe? Kemp is currently hitting to the tune of a .320 BA with 15 homers, 69 RBI and 63 runs scored and he’s swiped 22 bags. In his past four games, all he’s managed to do is hit two homers and drive in 10 runs. Might he not be a better option than Pierre? Who knows, maybe another couple of those five RBI games and Kemp might actually manage to make it into the fifth or sixth slot in that batting order. Sorry Joe, but having one of your hottest bats riding the pine for Juan Pierre just doesn’t make sense and is more than deserving of the wrath of baseball fans throughout the land.

Dear RotoRob,

Team 1 sends Matt Cain and Ryan Zimmerman to Team 2 for Dan Haren and Troy Tulowitzki.

Which team gets the better deal?

Taylor

Hi Taylor,

Not having all the specifics, I have to assume this is a redraft league and not a keeper format. I’ve also assumed even though all four player are playing in the NL that it is a mixed league.
 
Let’s take a quick look at the numbers for the two pitchers involved.
 
Haren: 155 IP, 11 W, 6 L, 149 K, 23 BB, 2.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP
Cain: 148 IP, 12 W, 3 L, 117 K, 54 BB, 2.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
 
At first glance, it appears that Haren has the edge, but we all know that he has a history when it comes to fading down the stretch. Cain is pitching in a situation where, although his offense is a bit weaker than the Diamondbacks, he has the support of a far superior pen heading down the stretch. I see some regression for Haren in every category except strikeouts where he should maintain an edge over the balance of the year. Straight up I give Cain a slight edge.
 
Now let’s move on to the two bats involved in this deal.
 
Tulowitzki: 341 AB, 61 R, 20 HR, 52 RBI, 51 BB, 76 K, 14 SB, .270
Zimmerman: 412 AB, 77 R, 21 HR, 70 RBI, 46 BB, 81 K, 0 SB, .294

This is another tough call. Currently, Tulo is leading all shortstops in homers with 20, he’s fourth in RBI and eighth in stolen bases with 14. At the hot corner, Zimmerman is second in homers, third in RBI, and carries a solid .294 BA. It appears that Zimmerman is the better choice looking at the numbers with homers being a draw and steals being the only category that Tulowitzki has the edge in.

The one intangible here would be the replacement factor. The replacement options at third base/corner infield are far deeper than at shortstop. Kyle Blanks, Adrian Beltre and Kevin Kouzmanoff — just to mention a few – are all possibly available on your league waiver wire. What is currently out there for shortstops? My guess would be nothing that will contribute significantly over the balance of the year. I’ll give the edge to Tulowitzki for that reason alone. Tulowitzki plus replacement at 3B is likely to outperform Zimmerman plus replacement at SS over the balance of 2009.

Overall, this is a great trade. Both parties are getting solid value in all the players involved and it would boil down to the specific needs of your team heading down the stretch. If you need the strikeouts and stolen base numbers and are looking to fill a short position at shortstop, with ERA/WHIP not a concern go with Haren and Tulowitzki. If your needs fall into the BA/RBI categories and ERA/WHIP/W from a pitching perspective I’d go with Cain and Zimmerman. The key from my perspective would be the unknown replacement players that are available to fill in the blanks at both shortstop and third base after this deal has been completed.

In what has been a very active trading week, let’s get straight to it and review some of the waiver wire options heading into the dog days of summer.

Justin Masterson, SP/RP, Cleveland Indians: The 24-year-old Masterson, the prize catch in the Victor Martinez deadline deal, is looking at a future in the Indian rotation. They will probably stretch him out over the next couple of weeks as he has been pitching out of the bullpen recently in Boston. Masterson’s year-to-date numbers have not been outstanding, but four terrible outings have been responsible for 22 of the 36 earned runs he has surrendered. Even with that quartet of poor performances, he is still sporting a 4.50 ERA in 72 IP with 67 strikeouts. Masterson is young and does have considerable upside so is worthy of a wire addition in AL-only and keeper formats.

Rajai Davis, OF, Oakland Athletics: The playing time opportunities should abound if Davis can carry forward his outstanding July (.405 BA) into August. Over the past two and a half seasons, in 546 at bats he has managed a stolen base every 8.3 at bats. In his past four games, he has managed 10 RBI — yes, 10 – a very nice bonus for those Fantasy owners that had already invested in his speed potential. Hitting in the two-hole for the Athletics will provide plenty of opportunities for him to help you in both stolen bases and runs scored down the stretch.

Kyle Blanks, OF, San Diego Padres: We took the opportunity to review the 22-year-old Blanks in the June 21 edition of The Wire Troll and the slugging outfielder has recently stepped it up and is worthy of further mention. The “future” appears to be right now: in the past 10 games, Blanks is hitting .355 with four homers, eight RBI and eight runs scored. It is now time to start looking at this kid in 12-team mixed leagues.

Rick VandenHurk, SP, Florida Marlins: VandenHurk is coming off a solid outing Thursday against the Braves, allowing only two earned runs in six innings in a no-decision. What should catch your attention is the nine strikeouts he chalked up. Since his most recent promotion on July 20, the 24-year-old righty is three-for-three in the quality starts department. It’s time to get him rostered in NL-only and H2H formats and he should be on the radar in mixed formats.

Tommy Hunter, SP, Texas Rangers: In his past four starts, Hunter has allowed a scant three earned runs in amassing three wins. The 23-year-old is currently sporting a 2.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP on the season. He has been a very hot commodity as of late with his ownership in leagues playing at CBS skyrocketing from six to 43 per cent over the past three weeks. The fact that Hunter is posting far better numbers since his promotion than earlier in the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City does have me concerned. Proceed with caution as some regression can be expected, but for now he is a fine option in AL-only and keeper formats.

Brian Matusz, SP, Baltimore Orioles: News flash! Right on the heels of the Chris Tillman promotion, the Orioles are looking to show off the vaunted skills of Matusz, another one of their other young stud pitchers. The 22-year-old phenom was pulled early from his Saturday start at Double-A Bowie after just one inning, so it looks like he makes his much anticipated debut Tuesday against the Tigers. He managed a perfect 7-0 record in eight starts down on the farm and was totally dominant. In 46 1/3 IP, he allowed only 31 hits, with 11 free passes. Toss in 46 strikeouts and the fact that he held the opposition to a meagre .189 BA and it’s no wonder that Fantasy players with the Number One waiver priority are smiling this week. Matusz has the potential to be an impact pitcher right from the get-go so grab him quick before he’s long gone.

Cliff Pennington, SS, Oakland Athletics: The trade of Orlando Cabrera to the Twins has opened up an opportunity for the 25-year-old Pennington, a 2005 first-round selection who managed 27 thefts in 31 attempts at Triple-A Sacramento. He will get the majority of the playing time opportunities down the stretch, so if your Fantasy squad is in need of a middle-infielder with great speed, an acquisition is in order.

Intriguing Investments

Chris Getz, 2B, Chicago White Sox: Four thefts in the past week. What Chris wants, Chris Getz.

Josh Roenicke, RP, Toronto Blue Jays: A potential closer-in-waiting acquired in the Scott Rolen deal.

Bud Norris, SP, Houston Astros: With 112 strikeouts in 120 IP at Triple-A Round Rock, is this Bud for you?

Aaron Poreda, SP, San Diego Padres: Keeper league material acquired from the White Sox. The opportunities will be there sooner rather than later in San Diego.

Fausto Carmona, SP, Cleveland Indians: It’s Fausto time, again! All 14 fans at Regressive Field rejoice.

Yusmeiro Petit, SP/RP, Arizona Diamondbacks: One in a row is a streak isn’t it?

Joe Beimel, RP, Colorado Rockies: Escapes the Gnathouse and “holds” down the fort for the Rockies down the stretch.

Derek Holland, SP, Texas Rangers: Thursday against the Mariners we caught an early preview of 2010. Yes, the kid is that good.

Michael Saunders, OF, Seattle Mariners: The 22-year-old with five-tool potential was not called up to sit, and being blocked by only Ryan Langerhans should make playing time opportunities a rather safe bet.

The Orioles Bullpen: Jimmy Johnson is first in line for the duration of 2009 with Chris Ray a good bet to be back closing in 2010.

Tony La Russa got the bat he was looking for last week when the Cardinals acquired soon-to-be free agent Matt Holliday from the Athletics. This acquisition has created a set of circumstances that Fantasy players in single league formats both love and hate. The FAAB that you have been sitting on in hopes of seeing a star player change leagues has now occurred and you can be guaranteed the dollars will be flowing this weekend in NL-only leagues throughout the land. That being said, my condolences go out to those playing in AL-only leagues. Brett Wallace has the potential to be a solid player down the road, but isn’t going to be a difference maker in 2009.

There are certainly going to be more players moving, but it is hard to imagine — other than possibly Roy “Doc” Halladay heading to the National League — a situation more warranting of going all-in with the FAAB dollars than Holliday. The Cardinals also acquired Julio Lugo this past week and, although not nearly Holliday-quality, he is still worthy of attention if you do happen to lose out in the Holliday sweepstakes. Middle infielders with his stolen base potential are always valued.

It is undoubtedly going to be an interesting week heading into the July 31 trading deadline. Now on to some waiver wire picks for the upcoming week.

Julio Lugo, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: The Red Sox finally found a home for the $36-million man in the Cardinals, who are loading up for a stretch run in the NL Central. In two starts for the Cardinals since the trade, Lugo is six-for-10 with one homer, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. The change of scenery has done him some good, at least initially. The potential for a solid stretch run from the fleet-of-foot Lugo makes him a great acquisition in all formats.

Scott Hairston, OF, Oakland Athletics: The former Padre was acquired by the Athletics on July 5. The A’s are in full blown sell mode heading into the trade deadline and this should create plenty of opportunities for Hairston. The power potential is there as demonstrated in 2008 when he hit 17 long balls in 326 at bats for the Padres. In deeper formats and AL-only leagues that pop could be a huge bonus for your Fantasy squad over the balance of the 2009 campaign.

Seth Smith, OF, Colorado Rockies: Now here’s a guy that is definitely flying under the radar. Smith has quietly managed to slug eight homers, with 28 RBI, 35 runs scored, and three thefts with a .291 BA in only 179 at bats for the Rockies. The outfield in Colorado is a bit crowded, but it appears that Smith has earned his playing time opportunities and should be rostered in all deeper formats and NL-only leagues.

Gio Gonzalez, SP, Oakland Athletics: Last week, the 23-year-old southpaw clearly demonstrated the many reasons that young pitching is a huge risk. Monday, at home against the Twins, he was hammered to the tune of 11 earned runs in 2 2/3 IP. He then proceeds to march into home run heaven Saturday in New York and promptly shuts down the vaunted Yankee offense to the tune of two hits, one earned run and six strikeouts over 6 2/3 IP. He is definitely not for the feint of heart, but the potential is such that he should be rostered in all keeper formats and AL-only leagues. After all, for the long-haul, wouldn’t you rather drive a Gio?

Kyle Drabek, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: The 21-year-old has bounced back exceptionally strong from the Tommy John surgery that cost him most of the 2008 season. Drabek is currently at the centre of trade discussions with the Blue Jays and their ace Halladay, and for very good reasons. His combined numbers this year in the minors in 122 1/3 IP are 10 wins and a 2.80 ERA. He’s allowed only 104 hits and 38 walks while managing to accumulate almost a strikeout per inning, with 118 on the year. The son of former Cy Young winner Doug Drabek is looking at a bright future and should be rostered in all keeper formats and on the radar in mixed leagues. In the event that he is traded to the Blue Jays or for that matter almost any other club, Drabek has the potential to step right into the starting rotation for the balance of the 2009 campaign.

Miguel Montero, C, Arizona Diamondbacks: The injury to Chris Snyder opened the door and Montero has stepped through it in a huge way. In his past 10 games, the 26-year-old is hitting .390, with five long balls and 13 RBI. It appears that he has staked a solid claim to the position and will get the majority of at bats down the stretch even when Snyder returns. If Montero is still available in your league, don’t hesitate to make a move and get him rostered quick.

Kevin Hart, SP/RP, Chicago Cubs: The news over at Wrigley just keeps getting better. Ted Lilly has hit the DL with both shoulder and left knee inflammation and is scheduled to have his knee scoped this coming week. Hart has been promoted from the bullpen, and in two starts he has managed wins over both Washington and Cincinnati. He won Saturday against the Reds by pitching six very solid innings, allowing only five hits with one free pass while striking out four. Since his recall from Triple-A Iowa June 21, Hart has been effective working out of the pen, but has allowed 16 walks with only nine strikeouts. Normally I’d be concerned with these stats, but Hart had 63 punchouts in 57 2/3 IP in 2008, and this year at Triple-A Iowa managed 57 strikeouts in 52 1/3 IP. Those early stats appear to be an aberration and I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Hart makes for a solid addition in NL-only and H2H formats and should be on the radar in standard mixed leagues.

Carlos Guillen, 1B/3B/OF, Detroit Tigers: Guillen has been on the DL and out of action since May 4 with shoulder inflammation. He was activated last week and in two games since his return he has five hits in 12 at bats including a home run Friday night against the White Sox. The health issues are too numerous to mention, but the offensive potential is such that at this stage of the season he is more than worthy of a claim in all formats. Guillen has the potential to be a solid offensive spark for both the Tigers and your Fantasy squad down the stretch.

Pedro Feliz, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies: The power is way down this season with only six homers, but with 51 RBI he is on pace to have one of his best seasons, surpassed only by that 2006 season with the Giants when he drove in 98. What has been impressive this year is that Feliz has obviously made some adjustments in his swing and is batting .295 on the year (and .333 in the past 10 games). The improved batting average and RBI potential at the corner makes Feliz a solid addition in all formats.

Jeremy Affeldt, RP, San Francisco Giants: Affeldt has been quietly going about his business for the Giants and has now put together an incredible run of no earned runs in 28 appearances dating back to May 7. He is currently second in the majors in holds with 21, behind only Carlos Marmol of the Cubs who has 23. For leagues using holds, Affledt should have been rostered a long time ago, but in the event he’s snuck in under the radar he should be added immediately. Brian Wilson is entrenched as closer for the Giants, so the save opportunities aren’t there, but in the event of injury Affeldt would be next in line.

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle Mariners: The 2009 campaign has been a huge disappointment for both Beltre and his Fantasy owners. He not only struggled early, but then hit the DL with shoulder woes at the end of June. The soon-to-be free agent is scheduled to commence hitting off a tee this coming week and appears to be on schedule for an early return from the DL. Beltre could possibly be back in the Mariner lineup as early as mid-August. For those playing in leagues where he was dropped it is time to find a spot on either your team’s bench or DL in anticipation of his return. He has a lot to prove in a relatively short period of time as he heads towards free agency this offseason.

A recent conversation with my good friend Steve Parsons reminded me of the cyclical nature that we see so often in this great game. Our chat veered into a discussion on some of the great group of kids displaying their catching prowess down on the farm. Tyler Flowers, Carlos Santana, and Buster Posey are now all playing at the Triple-A level and all should be forces behind the plate heading into the 2010 season. Those playing in dynasty keeper formats would be best advised to give each of these youngsters a serious look-see and make plans accordingly heading into the 2010 season.

What once was a veritable wasteland position — catcher — could in fact soon be one of strength and not all that far down the road. Toss Oriole phenom Matt Wieters into the mix and we have even more potential at the catcher position just down the road.

Moving on, let’s take a look at some picks to click heading into the first full week of play after the mid-season classic.

Mat Latos, SP, San Diego Padres: The 21-year-old Latos has enjoyed a stellar season for Double-A San Antonio and has been recalled by the Padres. He is penciled in to get his first big league start Monday at home against the Fish. Down on the farm, Latos compiled a 5-1 record and 1.91 ERA in 47 IP. He allowed a scant 32 hits and only nine free passes in limiting the opposition to a .192 BAA. This kid has demonstrated he is ready for his first shot at the show, but be modest in your expectations as Latos is barely out of diapers and pitching for the offensively-challenged Padres. He is the type of player that is not going to stay a free agent on waiver wires for very long and it would be prudent to move early in all keeper formats, H2H and NL-only leagues.

Marc Rzepczynski, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: The 23-year-old southpaw earned his first victory as a Jay Saturday with a fine effort against the Boston Red Sox. In three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, he has limited the opposition to only five earned runs and has struck out 16 in 18 IP. Now for the bad news, Rzepczynski has also allowed 11 walks in this stretch. He has managed to pitch out of numerous jams, but unless he finds a way to limit the free passes one should be just a tad concerned looking forward. Those walks will eventually lead to some ugly lines if Rzepczynski doesn’t find a way to harness them. That being said, find a home for him in AL-only leagues and keep him filed away for future reference in standard 12-team mixed formats.

Shaun Marcum, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: Last year, Marcum was well on his way to his finest season as a Jay until Tommy John surgery ended his 2008 campaign in September. He has now finished his third successful rehab start, the most recent of which was at Double-A New Hampshire, and looks to be on schedule for an early August return to the Toronto rotation. The 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP he racked up prior to surgery should be a reminder of his great potential, so now is the time to gamble and find a spot on your bench, before he gets that first start or two under his belt.

Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Seattle Mariners: It appears that I was a year early and a dollar short on Gutierrez. In his past 10 games, he’s been on fire hitting to the tune of a .342 BA with four homers and 11 RBI. The 26-year-old former Indian seems to adapting to life on the West Coast extremely well. Then again, escaping the mess in the Cleveland organization had to be enough incentive all on its own. Ride the Gutierrez wave in all formats until it finds shore.

John Baker, C, Florida Marlins: Since the beginning of July, Baker has turned it up a notch and has put together a great .344 BA. On the season, he is batting .256 with seven homers and 26 RBI and makes for a fine acquisition in Fantasy leagues requiring two catchers and NL-only formats. Ask not what he will do for you, but what he won’t, and that would be occupying the catcher slot with a sub .200 BA.

Garrett Jones, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: The 28-year-old was called up July 1 and, in 13 games, has now amassed seven homers, including five in his past five games. Those Ruthonian numbers are certainly not sustainable, but Jones was putting up great numbers at Triple-A Indianapolis before his promotion to the Pirates. Get him rostered in all formats and enjoy the late bloomer’s current hot streak.

Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox: This guy just keeps Red Sox fans begging for more. In a spot start Friday night against the Blue Jays he allowed four hits, three walks and one earned run in 5 2/3 IP, earning his first victory of the season. This will further fuel the Brad Penny trade rumours in Beantown. Buchholz has been absolutely dominating at Triple-A Pawtucket, where in 99 IP he has seven wins, a 2.36 ERA, and has allowed only 67 hits and 30 walks while racking up 89 strikeouts. We haven’t seen the last of Buchholz this season and in any format where you have the bench space he is a solid addition.

Erick Aybar, SS, Los Angeles Angels: In his past 10 games, the 25-year-old Aybar has been on fire. He has hit to the tune of a .486 BA with one homer and seven RBI over that stretch. Is that untapped potential we’ve been expecting for the past couple of years finally coming to fruition? It is going to be difficult for Mike Scioscia to keep him in the eighth slot in that batting order if he continues producing at this level. Aybar is a solid acquisition in all formats at this time.

Jason Schmidt, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Okay, this pick is a bit of a reach, but Schmidt is scheduled for two starts this week and has posted decent numbers down on the farm during his recent rehab stint. In his last four starts and 24 2/3 IP at Triple-A Albuquerque, he has managed 23 strikeouts and gone at least five innings in each of those starts. Schmidt hasn’t pitched in the bigs since the 2007 campaign and only made six starts that season before going under the knife for shoulder surgery. The Dodgers are going to need another arm for the stretch run, and if he has put those shoulder woes behind him, he could prove to be an asset to both the Dodgers and your Fantasy squad.

The results from Friday’s one day free-for-all Draftbug Blogger Invitational are in and I managed a mid-pack finish. Congratulations to Lester’s Legends who ended their day in first with 68 points and a slim one-point victory over the Sports Idiot crew. I totaled 45 points, good for a share of seventh place in the 12-team event.

The top scoring pitchers for the day were:

Felix Hernandez - 34
Ubaldo Jimenez – 31
Tim Lincecum – 24
Carlos Zambrano – 23
Clay Buchholz – 22

On offense, the top performers were:

Brian McCann – 14
Albert Pujols – 12
Orlando Cabrera – 10
Mark Teixeira – 10
Adam Jones – 9
Chase Utley – 8

I decided that Buchholz was just too much of a bargain to pass on at starting pitcher and then converted those dollar savings into Hanley Ramirez who promptly earned me the grand total of two points. I built strong up the middle with Utley and Joe Mauer in addition to Ramirez and then went cheap on my outfield and that pretty much doomed me. Franklin Gutierrez was a solid pick who earned me six points, but Andrew McCutchen and Michael Cuddyer amassed the whopping total of minus three points and it was all over. I should have spent a bit more time researching, but with the point scoring system in place, strikeout pitching is a must in this format. Lincecum earned 24 points and that was without getting the win, which is worth an additional 10 points.

It was an interesting day and a great learning experience so I’d have to recommend Draftbug for those interested in getting that one-day Fantasy fix. Thanks to Alex from Draftbug for the invite and we wish him continued good fortunes with the site.

On Friday, I’ll be competing against 11 other bloggers in the Second Blogger Fantasy Baseball Invitational Contest at Draftbug.

For those who aren’t familiar with Draftbug contests, the concept is simple — Fantasy baseball contests lasting just one day. For those that want to play the game, but aren’t prepared to make the long-term commitment it is certainly an interesting option. Each participant picks a team of players within a salary cap, and wins (or loses) based on the performance of their players in that night’s games. Cash contests range from $1 up to $55, and a freeroll (with no entry fee and small cash prizes) is offered every day.

The format allows players to obsess over all the same details as in full season salary cap games (park, opponent, lefty/right matchups, home/away splits, weather, injuries, etc.), while not imposing any future time commitments on participants beyond the current day’s contests. One and you’re done!

The format we’re using in this instance basically mimics that of the daily freerolls, where the top five finishers each win $1, which can then be used to enter real money contests on future days. The contest participants are as follows.

Alex – Daily Baseball Data
Sean – 27 Pitches
Dave H. – Rotoguru2
Dave R. – Dinks and Dunks
Charlie – FantasyBaseball 365
Josh – Future of Fantasy
Jay – Cardinals Front Office
Ryan – Lesters Legends
Mark – Poker Bankroll Blog
Tim – RotoRob
Troy – Roto Savants
Carl – Five Tool Fantasy Baseball

Stay tuned for the final results which will be posted tomorrow and a brief strategy discussion. Good luck to all the participants in this one day free-for-all at Draftbug.

Jeff Erickson from RotoWire.com got things rolling for the first half of the show followed by yours truly heading into the second half of a two-hour show. We took the opportunity to review the latest edition of our weekly column The Wire Troll and discussed up and coming phenom Madison Bumgarner and the potential for Manny Parra to repeat his fine pitching performance from last week.

Lenny Melnick from FantasyPros911.com and Bob Sikon from FBTM.com joined in later on in the show and we got into a rather interesting discussion on auction leagues and the changing face of the game.

The full show can be heard here.

It is that time of the year again, with the mid-season classic just around the corner, and the Futures Game, Home Run Derby and the game itself are events that should not be missed. Enjoy the festivities, but don’t relax too much as we are entering a very volatile period of time in baseball with the trading deadline fast approaching. The contenders and pretenders over the next several weeks will be sorting themselves out and making the required moves to shore up their weaknesses heading into the stretch run. One doesn’t want to be caught off guard from a Fantasy perspective as it can certainly either make or break one’s chances to claim victory.

Without further ado let’s take a look at this weeks recommendations.

Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants: The Giants are in the process of building one of the finest starting rotations in the game, and the next piece to that puzzle was recently promoted to Double-A Connecticut. Bumgarner, a 19-year-old phenom, has made the move without skipping a beat. Since the promotion he has a stellar 1.74 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 57 IP. That’s not too shabby for a kid that doesn’t turn 20 until August 1 of this year. He should be rostered in all keeper formats and a guy that everyone should be watching for down the road.

Guillermo Mota, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton is hurting with a toe injury and it appears that the cortisone injection he got back in mid-June has not gotten the job done. This explains the five earned runs Broxton has allowed in his past two outings. Joe Torre has given the All-Star the weekend off and Mota has temporarily been handed the job of closer for the Dodgers. Mota has been on a roll and toe injuries can be notoriously slow to heal, so an investment in Mota is a solid move in all formats for those Fantasy squads in search of saves.

Drew Stubbs, OF, Cincinnati Reds: The injury to Jay Bruce Saturday is being reported as a fractured right wrist, but we are still waiting for a timeline as to how long he’ll be missing from the lineup. The Reds have already announced that Stubbs would be the first guy they look at to replace Bruce in the lineup. Can you imagine an outfield consisting of Chris Dickerson, Willy Taveras, and Drew Stubbs? Not a lot of power potential out of that lot. Stubbs has managed 33 stolen bases at Triple-A Louisville with very little in the way of power. Jonny Gomes, who has stepped up his game recently, could also figure into the mix for increased playing time. If you’re looking at gambling in the stolen base category, Stubbs should be rostered awaiting, of course, further news on the Bruce situation.

John Grabow, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Matt Capps turned a non-save situation into a loss Saturday with one of the ugliest outings of his career. He allowed six hits, two walks, and was charged with five earned runs in one-third of an inning. Capps has already suffered through minor discomfort in his right elbow this season and missed some time at the end of May while missing seven weeks with bursitis and internal rotational deficit last summer. It appears that a trend has developed and Grabow is next in line for saves for the Pirates and a solid addition in all formats.

Kyle Lohse, SP, St. Louis Cardinals: Lohse has been sidelined since June 3 with a forearm strain and is scheduled to return to the rotation Sunday against the Cubs. In his last rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis, he tossed six innings of two-hit ball, allowing no runs with six strikeouts. Lohse is pitching for a solid offensive club that will give him the opportunity to win every time he takes the hill. If he’s available in your league, now is the time to make a move.

Josh Willingham, OF, Washington Nationals: In his past 10 games, Willingham has hit three homers, driven in 10 runs, swiped two bags and, more importantly, is playing on a regular basis. The former Marlin has always had the potential to be a strong force with the stick, but with his defensive skills he is probably more suited to life in the AL as a DH. Are the Nationals showcasing Willingham as potential trade material? Elijah Dukes is at Triple-A Syracuse and Austin (lack of powers) Kearns is currently riding the pine and this should guarantee solid opportunities for both Willingham and your Fantasy squad to boost those power numbers in the immediate future.

Jose Contreras, SP, Chicago White Sox: A horrendous start to the 2009 campaign had many wondering if this might possibly be the end of the road for Contreras. He was sent to Triple-A Charlotte to get his game back on track and since being recalled at the beginning of June has pitched like the Contreras of old. In 43 2/3 IP, he has allowed only 10 earned runs and in his past three starts has an amazing 25/3 K-to-BB ratio. It is time to start believing and get him rostered in all formats.

Manny Parra, SP, Milwaukee Brewers: Those 42 walks in 64 2/3 IP pretty well tells the story for the poor start to the 2009 campaign for Parra and his subsequent demotion to Triple-A Nashville. He was recalled this past week and on Thursday, against a strong offensive club (the Cardinals), he allowed only three hits, one walk and racked up seven strikeouts with no earned runs in seven IP. It’s all about limiting the walks for Parra. The 147 strikeouts in 166 IP in 2008 had a lot of Fantasy owners anticipating a potential break-out year for the 26-year-old southpaw this season. Parra is certainly worthy of a pick up in NL-only leagues and should be on the radar in mixed formats.

Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, Cincinnati Reds: This situation caught me completely off guard. Encarnacion was sidelined for May and June with a wrist fracture and is currently available in nearly 60 per cent of the leagues playing at CBS. He returned this past week and hit a three-run homer Thursday against the Phillies. This is the same 26-year-old that hit 26 long balls in 2008. It’s worth a quick scan to see if he’s out there on your league waiver wire and, if so, make a move and get him rostered quick.

Bob Sikon from Fantasy Baseball Trade Market, guest hosting the Johnny Archive show over on Blogtalk Radio, extended an invitation to both myself and Kelly Pfleiger from FantasyGameday to spend some time chatting Wednesday. How could I refuse? Over the course of the hour, we had the opportunity to discuss numerous topics of interest to the Fantasy player.

Some of the topics covered included trade evaluation and strategies. One of my biggest pet peeves involves the trading partner that wants something for nothing and further to that doesn’t take the time to address the needs of their respective trading partner. My “battleship for battleship” approach to trading was a topic of conversation.

We also took the opportunity to review several players including Nick Markakis and Shin-Soo Choo, and got out the crystal ball to look at their potential as we head into the second half of the 2009 campaign.

A fun time was had by all and the answers to these and many more questions can be found by listening to the Johnny Archive show.

Another road trip comes to an end and now it’s time to play catch up. During my break, the Giants found their offense in a big way. The Rangers are still tied for first with the injury-riddled Angels. The Mets continue to struggle, buried under a slew of injured and underperforming players, and the Nationals are, well, still the Nationals. The Blue Jays have finally came back down to earth with a thud and, in what is probably the tightest division in baseball, the logjam in the NL Central sees even the Pirates only six games back at the beginning of July. It truly is a great game.

My thanks to RotoRob for carrying the torch last week while I was gallivanting through the American Midwest and, without further ado, let’s take a look at some potential wire acquisitions for the upcoming week.

Casey McGehee, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers: After a rather slow and inauspicious start, McGehee has been on fire as of late. Over the past 10 games he has four homers, 13 RBI and a solid .289 BA. He’s pushed uber-prospect Mat Gamel to the bench and, with interleague play now completed, probably back to Triple-A. McGehee is currently hitting in the fifth slot behind Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, meaning plenty of RBI opportunities and making him is a solid acquisition in all formats.

Aroldis Chapman, SP, F/A: Yes, I’m rather bullish on the young Cuban, but with his history and relative youth why shouldn’t I be? Those Fantasy players in dynasty keeper leagues should be rushing to the waiver wire to get this kid rostered before the mad dash to acquire his services commences.

Everth Cabrera, SS, San Diego Padres: The 22-year-old Cabrera, a Rule Five pick from the Rockies, is an intriguing option. He has only 27 at bats above the Single-A level, but what a season he had at Lake Elsinore in the California League. This kid has some serious speed, with 73 stolen bases in 89 attempts in 2008, and even flashed some power (six homers and 38 RBI). If filling a hole in your Fantasy squads’ middle infield is a priority and you feel the need for speed, Cabrera is a decent gamble.

Martin Prado,1B/3B/2B, Atlanta Braves: Okay, he’s no Kelly Johnson, but is that really such a bad thing? Until Johnson finds a way to get healthy and crawl past the Mendoza line, Prado has the gig at second base for the Braves. He is currently the hot hand in a rather anemic offense with one homer, six RBI, and a .500 BA over his past five games. The position flexibility also helps make him a very nice option in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

Lastings Milledge, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates didn’t trade for Milledge to not give him a shot. He’s currently on the DL rehabbing the effects of a broken finger, but a return to active status is rumoured to be imminent. The 24-year-old outfielder hit 14 homers with 61 RBI and 24 thefts in 2008 in a lead-off role with the Nationals before falling into Manny Acta’s doghouse to start the 2009 campaign. The Nats do have a plan, they’re just keeping it a secret from everyone, including themselves. How do you just give up on a kid with this much potential? Enough Tim, we don’t need another rant on Acta even though he is such an easy target. If Milledge is available in your league get him rostered and stashed away on your bench in the hopes he can continue to build on that solid 2008 for his new club in the Steel City.

Chris Woodward, 3B, Seattle Mariners: If you are currently in desperate-times-require-desperate-measures mode, the injury to Adrian Beltre opens a window of opportunity for Woodward. He’s off to a rather hot start since replacing Beltre, but his career numbers speak loudly of utility/role player at best. There appears to be no relief forthcoming from the Mariner farm system so it looks like the job is his making him worthy of a pickup in AL-only leagues.

Kevin Correia, SP, San Diego Padres: The former Giant is quietly enjoying a solid season for the Padres. He’s been remarkedly consistent other than that last start against the Astros and is heading into a two-start week. On the year he has a 4.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 92 1/3 IP. He’s currently owned by only 44 per cent of the teams playing over at CBS. Correia makes for a solid addition heading into the break in both NL-only and H2H leagues.

Ryan Sadowski, SP, San Francisco Giants: The 26-year-old didn’t have stellar numbers at Triple-A Fresno this year, but nonetheless has turned in two great starts for the surging Giants since being recalled June 28. Two starts, two wins, and 13 scoreless innings later it looks like it might be time to give the kid some props. It’s time to make a move on Sadowski in all dynasty, H2H, and NL-only formats and keep him on the radar in mixed 12-team leagues. One more solid start out of the righty and he will very quickly turn into a hot commodity in all formats.

Nate Schierholtz, OF, San Francisco Giants: In his past 10 games, 25-year-old Schierholtz is batting .421 with two homers, six RBI and 11 runs scored. He provides a very solid mix of moderate power and speed potential, and appears to have replaced the struggling Fred Lewis as a regular in the Giant lineup. He’s getting the opportunities, playing well, and the Giants are currently on a roll. What more does one need to make a player a valuable commodity? Absolutely nothing.

Travis Ishikawa, 1B, San Francisco Giants: In the past month Ishikawa has hit five homers and 13 RBI, but more importantly it appears as if he has settled into the job at first base on a full-time basis. Not bad for a guy that didn’t hit that first long ball until May 25. Now that Pablo Sandoval is solidly entrenched at third base, the at bats are going to be there, making Ishikawa worthy of a look-see in deep mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

Mark Ellis, 2B, Oakland Athletics: Since returning this past week from a calf strain that sidelined him for virtually all of May and June, Ellis has hit two homers and driven in four runs. He does have intriguing power potential, but remember to temper your expectations from a BA perspective. If you currently have a hole to fill in your Fantasy squad’s middle-infield and are looking to boost those power numbers, Ellis could be just what the doctor ordered.