Fantasy Baseblog

After 3-HR night, is it Andruw time?

2009-07-09T23:50:00.001-04:00

Revivals have been started in less obvious places.

But Arlington's hot summer air has been known to defribillate some of baseball's least likely suspects.

Andruw Jones is the latest hitter-left-for-dead, taken off the scrapheap, propped up at home plate and turned into a reliable fantasy player.

In 2007, Sammy Sosa was able to smack 21 HR and drive in 92 runs, albeit while hitting .252, but still finishing higher than anyone thought possible after his swift demise from Wrigley to Camden to the Dominican.

But longtime Braves slugger Andruw Jones is experiencing a stunning turnaround from a 2008 season where he .158 with 3 HR in 209 ABs.

“He’s having a terrific season for them,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s obviously much more comfortable in the batter’s box than he was last year when we saw him with the Dodgers.”

On Wednesday night, Jones matched his total in the span of 5 innings, launching 3 HR in Anaheim, giving him 14 HR and 34 RBI, along with a respectable .250 average in 160 ABs.

“Andruw put us on his back and everyone followed,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Now, the question is will you put Andruw back on your team, after secretly vowing to never trust him again?

My official advice: Be careful.

It's clear Andruw has regained some of his power stroke that led to 368 home runs with the Braves.

The real question: playing time.

Josh Hamilton is back and Nelson Cruz is a fixture in the lineup. That leaves one OF spot for David Murphy, who's been raking lately, and Marlon Byrd.

Fortunately for Jones, the Rangers have grown tired of the K machine Chris Davis and sent him to AAA despite 15 HR in the first half.

Hank Blalock has moved to 1B, opening up the DH spot for Jones, but Davis is bound to come back as soon as he regained his stroke (ala Howie Kendrick), creating a logjam, where Jones may be back to half-time status (he's only on pace for 320 ABs).

Fantasy Spin: If you're starved for power, in an NL or a shallow mixed league, I could endorse the Andruw ticket. As for mixed league pedigree, the RBI and run totals, not to mention the dragging average, should probably be left alone in 10-team leagues or smaller.

If it's any indication, it's been 24 hours since Jones' 3-HR outburst and nobody has taken a flier on Jones in our ultra-competitive 10-team Observer league.

Choo, Lee, Pujols ... and one important holiday

2009-07-04T13:02:00.002-04:00

Fourth of July and baseball. It really doesn't get much better than this.

And in fantasy, this holiday is significant in more ways than one.

Taking a break from the sporting world, Independence Day is truly a significant mark in the history of our country.

Think for a second where we'd be, had it not been for our foresight of our forefathers. Freedom is not cheap and we live in the greatest country there is.

OK, back off my soap box, and onto your fantasy team, which may be struggling mightily in the first half, the 4th of July is very significant.

It's time to take real inventory of where your team is, what categories are lacking, and take action. Whether it's dropping the dead weight, punting categories or trading away excess, the halfway point is your last real chance to make worthwhile change.

Time is running out.

Power surge: In case you've been off-line the past few days, two players have lit the world on fire in one game: the Cubs' Derek Lee and the Indians' Shin Soo-Choo. Both players had a 2-HR, 7-RBI game in the past 48 hours and if somehow you happened to own both, you probably saw a surge in the standings.

Lee was especially disappointing, with just 6 HR and 23 RBI in the first two months of the season. But in the past month, he's racked up 8 HR and 24 RBI and hit over .300, sparking memories of the Triple-Crown-threatening 2005 season. If you gave up on him too early, as I did, shame on you. And if you own him, you might wanna sell high, if you can. Can't imagine him keeping up this pace.

Choo now has 12 HR and 53 RBI. Add in 13 SB and a .301 average and the Indians new cleanup hitter is ranked 20th in the Yahoo! game and is one of the best first-half steals not named Mark Reynolds.

And while we're talking about power surges, The Machine, aka Albert Pujols hit another one last night, this one a grand slam, giving him 31 HR and 82 RBI over the first half, begging one fundamental question:

Why are teams pitching to him?

The Twins said they play the game right and their fans deserve to see them challenge Pujols and not give him a free pass. I say bologna. An intentional walk, when used right, an be the biggest weapon in all of baseball. If managers are afraid to use it, then they deserved to be beaten by arguably the best hitter in the game (and as a Cubs fan, that pains me to say).

Barry Bonds was never pitched to this much in his prime. In 2004, he walked 232 times, most of them intentional. Pujols has just 64 free passes this year at exactly the midway point (81 games).

With no other hitter worth a salt right now in St. Louis, I would walk Pujols every single time, unless the bases were loaded. Make Ryan Ludwick or Chris Duncan beat you. And even then, I'd think about it.

Last year, down two runs, Joe Madden walked the Rangers' Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. And guess what, the Rays retired the next batter and won by a run.

Teams will start to wise up sooner or later and if they don't, pencil the Cardinals in the playoffs.

What's wrong with Big Game James?

2009-07-01T23:40:00.003-04:00

He was dangerously close to becoming the face of the young Rays.

As flashy as Carl Crawford? Well, no? As electric as Scott Kazmir? Not exactly?

As much hype as Evan Longoria? Not even close.

But after James Shields silenced the red-hot Phillies for Tampa Bay's only World Series win last October and finished with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, both the Rays and fantasy nation were taking note.

His specialty, was somehow keeping runners off base in a loaded AL East, posting back-to-back whips of 1.11 and 1.15. That's what happens when you only walk 36 and 40 runners in consecutive seasons.

But it was Shields' moxie, his big-game reputation, the 1-hitter against the Angles, the beam ball to the Red Sox's Coco Crisp that has endeared him to Tampa fans.

They marketing team was even building campaigns around Big Game, who will gladly pose for a photo with fans.

And while Shields hasn't been near the disappointment of teammate Kazmir or World Series hero Cole Hamels, the WHIP has been very normal.

Shields is now 6-6 after giving up 5 runs (4 earned) against Toronto, with a WHIP of 1.27.

"Once May started, everything started clicking," Shields said after a rare gem on May 19 against the offensively-challenged A's, where he retired 17 in a row.

Shields retired the first eight batters he faced on Thursday, but lost focus as he dropped to 1-4 on the road.

And since the end of April, Big Game has given up 7 or more hits nine times in 13 appearances, including double digits on four occasions. That's more than all of 2008.

“I felt great, I thought I batted today,” said a frustrated Shields.

Fantasy spin: The walk and HR rate are about what they were last year and the K projections have crept back to the 150 neighborhood, so there's no real cause for alarm. And this might be the perfect buy-low opportunity, as Shields may get two more home starts before the break (Toronto and Oakland) and then start off the second half at Kansas City. The Rays, 5 games back of the Red Sox, need him to be the staff horse as most of their rotation has been inconsistent at best.

Smoltz back, but worth a pickup?

2009-06-25T23:56:00.002-04:00

No, the line wasn't pretty: 5 IP, 7 hits, 1 BB, 5 K, 5 ER.

But don't discard John Smoltz's first outing of the season and debut with the Red Sox.

Sure, it came in D.C., but the Nats are a pesky-hitting bunch and when you look at the bigger picture, there were several encouraging signs for Smoltz owners (or all you wanna-be's out there who can't quite muster up the nerve).

Rust factor: For starters, 4 of the 5 runs came in the first, as did 4 of the 7 hits and the lone walk. In anyone's first inning, there's bound to be nerves, regardless of the experience level. Giving up just one run and three singles in the next four inning is nothing to sneeze at.
Velocity: Smoltz was in the low-to-mid 90s at times, averaging 91.7 mph, which shows the arm strength is not an issue.
Control: Of the 92 pitches thrown, 62 were for strike (67 percent) and Smoltz's one walk shows he's still got the pin-point accuracy that he famously would paint the corner in Atlanta for a million years.

The next start at Baltimore will be even more telling, but one look at Smoltz's pre-All-Star schedule and it's almost impossible not to pick him up on speculation: at Baltimore, vs. Oakland and vs. Kansas City.

And perhaps most telling is the what the 42-year-old Smoltz, fresh off shoulder surgery, had to say afterward.

"I feel like I can accomplish whatever I want this year," Smoltz said. "That's why I came back and the rehab went the way it did. Now it's just a matter of going out there and doing it like I did before."

And knowing how competitive Smoltz is, I wouldn't count anything impossible.

Fantasy spin: Sure, it's a little risky to add a 42-year-old who pitches half his game at Fenway, but this is no ordinary flame-thrower. Now, that Smoltz has a little of the rust off, it could be the perfect time to add him. All it takes is one gem and he'll be flying off the shelves. Look for an ERA just under 4.00 and a nothing-to-write-home-about 1.25 WHIP, but with plenty of Ks and Ws in the second half.

Sosa steroid news barely raises eyebrows

2009-06-20T10:03:00.007-04:00

After a few days digesting the Sammy Sosa link to PEDs, I'm still a little foggy on where I stand on the steroid issue.

Not that I'm saying it's right. But I think there's shades of grey starting to appear on the issue.

This is what happens when the biggest home run hitters of our generation (Sosa, Arod, Giambi, etc.) are being exposed for testing positive. And we know there's at least 100 more names that haven't been disclosed from the now-infamous 2003 test.

Am I ashamed, as a Cubs - and Sosa - fan that Sammy was caught? To be honest, not really. I'm trying to articulate in my own mind why that is and here's the best I can come up with:

Steroids were legal in baseball. End of story.

Sure, they are horrible for your body. They set an awful precedent to our youth. They've distorted the home run record book forever.

But, folks, they were not illegal.

I wonder if I'm making excuses for Sammy and then I remember thinking the same thing when Mark McGwire was vilified by Congress, and more importantly, public opinion for not answering the steroid question (and later dodging it again by an ESPN reporter).

It would be so much cleaner and tidier, had Sammy not played the language barrier card that day, asking for a translator.

He should've owned up and said, hey, I did it. We all did it. Look at the pictures of me 10 years ago and then today and it's not rocket science (and we all had our suspicions). Nobody gets that big, that fast. Not Barry. Not Mark. Not me.

And then he could've said something like "baseball's been bery, bery good to me."

We all would've chuckled and went about our day.

Think about it. Jason Giambi apologized for his usage (albeit indirectly). Andy Pettitte has admitted to it. Brian Roberts came clean.

What do all these guys have in common? They're forgiven. At least in my mind they are. Maybe yours, too.

We've moved on.

The talking heads this week all say that the 2003 list will eventually come out so let's just tear the Band-Aid off. I'm actually in favor of this. Every time a name is leaked, it sets baseball back a couple years.

"It's a shame baseball keeps going back to the past," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said this week, then admitted about releasing the list. "It might be the best thing."

Those names on the list will have some answering to do, certainly.

But 2009 is a different time than 2006. We're numb to the steroid news now. Once the ARod came out, all other news will just be a footnote.

The Hall of Fame will have to deal with this era at some point. And my guess is eventually McGwire and Sosa and Bonds will all be inducted. Perhaps with an asterisk.

After all. How can the Hall hold against players something that was within the rules of the game?

They can't.

Is Minute Maid hill really a good idea?

2009-06-14T22:24:00.003-04:00

HOUSTON - For a split second, as Michael Bourn fell on his back, you could almost hear the thoughts of Astros fans whisking through Minute Maid Park.

That stupid hill.

Bourn backpedalled faster than most people can frontpedal and had a beat on a towering blast by the Cubs' Micah Hoffpauir on Thursday afternoon.

Nanoseconds before the ball return to earth, Bourn hit the inclined hill in center field and landed square on his back.

That stupid hill.

The name of that hill is Tal's Hill, named after Astros owner Tal Smith, who came up with the idea as a tribute to Cincinnati's Crosley Field. There's a flagpole in fair territory, two feet from the fence, inspired by Tigers Stadium.

A flagpole inside the outfield fence? What is this, a park rec softball field?

Ten years ago, the idea of the pole and hill was novel. In some ways it still is.

But is it really necessary?

The hill, called "The Grassy Knoll" by some players, added some needed character to what is otherwise an ordinary retractable-roof stadium (I'd rank Minute Maid in the middle of the pack of stadiums I've seen, although the brick facade outside is stunning). A Minute Maid experience feels like a night at a Bobcats game:

T-shirt giveaways. Cd-giveaways. Air-guitar cams.

Most of the summer, the roof is closed to keep out the extreme Houston heat, which have to help season-ticket sales.

A wall of windows certainly disguises the fact that you are watching it indoors. It's light years ahead of watching ball at The Trop in Tampa, but indoor baseball is like putting ketchup on a steak.

Regardless, as Bourn laid on his back, he never thought about giving up on the catch, even though he wasn't exactly sure where it was landing.

Watch the catch here.

“I never lost the flight of the ball,” Bourn told the Houston Chronicle. “I lost the sight of it at the end, but I kind of knew where it was at. I just put my glove up to where it was going to be at and I caught it.”

And as the Minute Maid crowd roared, he momentarily forgot about that hill.

That stupid hill.

"I practice going up the hill a little bit," Bourn said. "But in that instance you just have to go on instinct."

But what about the other 29 center fielders in baseball? How often do they practice such a play?

And as my brother-in-law said, "What happens when a $50 million dollar player breaks his leg on that hill?"

My guess is the hill will be leveled the next day.

Stupid or not, the hill is a bit gimmicky, but one of the most unique places in all of sports.

And maybe, just another reason to love baseball.

Peavy may be out for 12 weeks

2009-06-13T03:51:00.004-04:00

A quick update about Jake Peavy, who's been doing a lousy job disguising his hobbled ankle, but gutsy nonetheless...

The Padres are saying Peavy will be out at least a month with a cast on his ankle to help a partially torn tendon heal. Peavy has been dealing with it since May 22.

But a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune late Friday night says that, according to trainer Todd Hutcheson, it could be eight to 12 weeks before Peavy gets back on the mound.

Eight to 12? At least a month? Maybe it's all the same diagnosis, but if you're an owner (or worse, in multiple leagues), you have my deepest sympathies. I'm feeling your pain. Send yourself some flowers if it'll help.

But it's time to move on. Time to write him off, at least for considerable contributions. The injury probably eliminates any trade talk to the Cubs or another contender. Maybe you'll get 12 starts out of Peavy, but counting on anything more is about as smart as buying stock in GM. In 2006.

Certainly, if you can get 70 cents on the dollar, sell. I'm thinking a John Lackey, Felix Hernandez or Cliff Lee type would all be decent 1-for-1 returns.

What to make of Hanson's debut

2009-06-08T00:32:00.009-04:00

Baseball prediction are as worthless as a Canadian nickel at a soda machine.

Über-prospect Tommy Hanson of Atlanta made his major league debut on Sunday and all week Yahoo! was asking folks to predict the outcome. You know, rub your crystal baseball.

But very few thought it would go like this: 6 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks.

So, what happened??? Isn't this the same guy who posted a 1.49 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 66 1/3 innings in AAA?

In a phrase...welcome to the big leagues, Tommy.

No, the difference isn't usually that stark, but it really shows you how master pitching in the majors takes more than just great stuff.

Hanson was hitting upper 90's in spring training, with a filthy slider. He fanned 90 batters in 11 starts with Gwinnet, but he wasn't facing the Charlotte Knights or the Norfolk Tides.

"Just chalk it up to, today happened, get it behind me, get ready for the next one," Hanson said. "If I keep my command I think it turns out a lot better."

If you're like most fantasy players, you were itching to grab Hanson like a poison ivy patient at a crowded Urgent Care. For some Yahoo! leagues, he's not even on the site yet (that should be happening around 3 a.m. Monday).

I'm still putting all my chips down on this rookie.

You certainly have to temper your expectations down to roughly a Freschetta Pizza plateau. Almost all rookies have rough patches in their rookie campaign, but Hanson's the rest of the way should be better than most.

And on Sunday, he simply mowed through the first 13 batters, striking out the side in the second with a 96-mph heater. Then the wheels fell off, starting with a pair of home runs to Ryan Braun and a Mike Cameron 2-run shot. The first home run pitch was so meaty, it almost was dripping with some marinara. But Hanson will quickly learn where not to throw pitches to one of baseball's Top 5 hitters.

Figure around this sort of production the rest of the way, as you contemplate whether or not to dip your toe into the Hanson waters: 3.65 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 115 Ks, 9 wins.

Glavine update: The Tom Glavine era may be over in Atlanta, but the drama may not be. A report by FoxSports.com says Glavine's agent is looking into filing a grievance over Glavine's $1 million roster bonus. The Braves swear money wasn't an issue, and since it's not a black and white issue, this grievance may not go very far. But stay tuned.

In a flash, Knights lose Beckham

2009-06-05T00:00:00.004-04:00

To call Gordon Beckham's rise through the minors meteoric is almost an insult to the solar system.

The White Sox promoted Beckham from AA Birmingham to Charlotte after just 38 games. Then, after 7 games in Charlotte, Knights manager Chris Chambliss called Beckham into his office after a 3-for-5 night about 10:15 p.m. and told him the news.

You're headed to the bigs.

"It was an unbelievable moment for me," Beckham told the Chicago Tribune. "I couldn't even describe it."

Beckham, 22, was the No. 8 overall pick in 2008 after a stellar career at Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish. With only 58 minor league games, Beckham is the fastest White Sox player since pitcher Alex Fernandez (1990) to get the call.

What can you expect from Beckham?

Well, he doesn't come with a Spice Girl, if that's what you're thinking.

But if his pedigree is plenty spicy (.411 average, 22 HR in 71 college games in 2008; .319, 7 HR, 58 games in the minors). To answer your next question, Beckham's probably worthy of a pickup in all NL-only leagues and some shallow mixed leagues as he'll take over the regular 3B job from Josh Fields if he hits a lick.

Initially, the White Sox might bury Beckham at the bottom of the order, but one thing Ozzie Guillen will do is push the guys who are performing up high. Take one look at scrap-heap castoff Scott Podsednik for proof. (Of course, Beckham went 0-for-3 in his debut, but give him some time).

Unfortunately, for Knights fans, Beckham only played two of his seven games at Knights Castle. But for those in attendance either Tuesday or Wednesday, they may one day be able to say they saw a future baseball all-star.

And on top of his talent, Beckham is a very articulate interview. Here's a bit after he hit a home run in the CWS last June.

Andrew McCutchen: If you missed the fallout of the Nate McClouth-to-Atlanta trade, it's the promotion of McCutchen a 5-tool prospect with more speed than power, but someone who is making immediate impact and should be picked up yesterday. McCutchen could swipe 20-30 bases the rest of the way and hit 5-10 HR and should give you a steady diet of runs as the new Pirates leadoff batter.

Jose Reyes: Late news just in about the rehabbing Mets shortstop is not going. Reyes tore his right hamstring and is behing shut down for a couple days before resuming treatment. For a guy who makes his living on the basepaths, this isn't thrilling news.

Braves release Glavine, trade for McClouth

2009-06-03T20:23:00.002-04:00

Braves fans won't like this one.

In a stunning move that saves the team a $1 million roster bonus, Atlanta released 43-year-old Tom Glavine on Wednesday.

Thanks for the memories, Tom.

Glavine, who had just completed a six-inning shutout with Class-A Rome on Tuesday night, is the final pillar of the pitching trinity of Glavine-John Smoltz-Greg Maddux that anchored 14 straight playoff appearances in Atlanta.

Recovering from shoulder and elbow surgery in the offseason, Glavine's all-time record stands at 305-203. This may be the end of the road for Glavine, although a contender in need of an innings-eater like the Phillies may be send his agent a text message as we speak.

The Braves also traded for Pirates' five-tool OF Nate McClouth, giving up three prospects – OF Gorkys Hernandez, LHP Jeff Locke and RHP Charlie Morton. Hernandez was ranked as the No. 4 Braves prospect, while Locke was No. 7.

Announcing the beginning of a new era, the Braves also made it official that fireballer Tommy Hanson will be called up to start Saturday, with Kris Medlen moved to the bullpen after Jorge Campillo was placed on the DL today.

Hanson had a fine spring, hitting 99 on the radar gun in his debut.

Fantasy spin: The biggest of the three news items is Hanson, who has dominated at AAA Gwinett, compiling a 1.49 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 66 1/3 IP. He's a must-add in every format and while you can't expect these numbers, check back to Tim Lincecum's rookie season for a guideline.

Manny an All-Star? It's possible

2009-06-01T16:25:00.003-04:00

If you watched the Cubs-Dodgers blowout Sunday night, you heard plenty of debate about Manny Ramirez.

Way too much, as it were.

But there were a few interesting topics brought up:

1). Should Manny be allowed to begin a minor league rehab with 10 games left on his suspension?

2). If Manny is voted in as an All-Star starter, should he be allowed to play?

The first issue is not a Manny-specific rule. It's a baseball rule and in the collective bargaining agreement it states that a person suspended for 50 games for violating the drug policy can start a minor league rehab after serving 40 games.

I personally disagree with this, as the suspension should cover his time away from baseball. Sure, a week-long stint in AAA Albuquerque isn't the same as the majors, but it feels more like a 40-game suspension and this penalty should be more severe, if anything, not less.

The second issue may not come into play now, as the latest All-Star voting results have Manny slipping to fifth place in the N.L. outfielder vote behind Ryan Braun, Raul Ibanez, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Beltran. Manny would need to make up 135,000 votes to crack the starting lineup.

And since he's eligible to come off the suspension on July 3 (and the All-Star Game on July 14), it's possible for Manny to play in the mid-summer classic.

Some think Manny should come out with a statement, urging fans to cast his vote for other deserving N.L. outfielders, thus not having to force Bud Selig's hand if he's voted in.

Frankly, I don't want to see Manny there, but by voting him in, this may finally change the way the All-Star voters are selected, which is long overdue. It's simply a popularity contest, having very little reflection of who is deserving.

What do you think about these two issues?

Should Manny be allowed to go on a minor league rehab stint? Should he be allowed to play in the All-Star game?

O's to call up Wieters Friday

2009-05-26T21:50:00.003-04:00

The future is now in Baltimore.

Well, it's Friday, anyway.

Matt Wieters, everybody's rookie of the year favorite before the season started, will start for the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, presumably at catcher.

Wieters, who hit .355 with 27 home runs in 2008, had scuffled in comparison this year, hitting .285 with 5 HR and 26 RBI in 36 games. Striking out 30 times, Wieters also has 10 other extra base hits for AAA Norfolk.

(Check out this earlier blog from Weiters' trip to Knights Castle in mid-April).

So, is Wieters an automatic pickup? Well, not exactly.

It all depends on the makeup of your roster and your league. If you're carrying Joe Mauer or Brian McCann, and you're carrying only one catcher, the answer is probably not. Now, if you have bench spots, and think you can grab and stash and it's a good trading league, then I'd try to get him now. And yes, he's worth a high waiver claim.

For leagues where Wieters won't be put on Yahoo! until 3 a.m. on Saturday, the question becomes, is he worth setting your alarm? Again, only you can be the judge. I'd say it depends on the ratio of young kids that will wake you up before 7 a.m., divided what odd jobs you wanna get accomplished on Saturday, subtracted by any dinner parties you need to bring your "A" game for.

If you're still riding with Geovany Soto or A.J. Pierzynski at catcher, my advice is not only set your alarm for 2:55 a.m., but the phone, too.

Unless, of course, you're getting married on Saturday.

Hard to explain Mauer, Papi

2009-05-26T13:44:00.004-04:00

In an X-Men world, it would appear Joe Mauer has sucked every ounce of power from Big Papi's bat.

Of course, we don't live in a land of superheroes, although if you squint, you may see that that the Minnesota catcher is not actually human.

Monday night, Mauer hit his 11th home run in 23 games. For Babe Ruth, in his prime, this power display would have be impressive.

But this is an extremely light-hitting catcher, who never hit more than 13 home runs in an entire season.

Last year, Mauer hit 9 HR in 536 at-bats. This year, it's 11 jacks in 81, including last night's 2-run pinch-hit job off red sox stud closer Jonathan Papelbon.

So, how do you explain the sudden blast of pop?

"You guys ask me this; I still don't have an answer for you," said Mauer. "I'm just seeing the ball well and tring to keep seeing it well."

For years, fantasy pundits extrapolated that the power would come from Mauer, but we've been waiting and waiting. And for those of you who thought this was the year, congratulations.

Although, I don't believe you. Nothing hinted that the power would develop even half as much as it has this year. But that's the great part (for Mauer owners) of this game and the frustrating part (for the other 9 teams).

And if Mauer is seeing the ball well, David Ortiz needs a new prescription or the quickest Lasik surgery available.

Papi has exactly 1 more home run than everyone reading this today and that came in a 5-HR slugfest off Toronto pitcher Brett Cecil. The Blue Jays were so disappointed that Cecil gave up the Ortiz HR, they demoted him to AAA. OK, that may not be the entire story, but it sure seemed to play out that way.

The bat speed is simply gone, his average is down to .195 and the Red Sox don't know what to do. He's struck out 41 times in 40 games, including three times in an 0-for-7 May 14 outing where he left 11 runners stranded.

Terry Francona sat Ortiz for three games and since his return he's gone 3-for-20 with 9 Ks.

So, what do you do as an owner? Some Yahoo leagues won't physically let you drop him. His trade value has plummeted so far, you might not even be able to get Casey Kotchman in return.

The Red Sox are finally talking about dropping him in the order. It's about 3 weeks too late, but all that they have left. Rumors have them looking at Nick Johnson as a possible replacement.

So, my question to you: What do the Red Sox do with an aging slugger who is suffering a Sammy Sosa-like decline?

What do you do as an owner?

Price to get start Monday; Kazmir DL'd

2009-05-23T17:21:00.005-04:00

The wait is over. Practically.

Tampa Bay playoff hero David Price will get his first start of the year on Monday at Cleveland after the Rays placed LHP Scott Kazmir (right quad strain/no confidence) and closer Troy Percival (shoulder tendinitis/old age) on the disabled list.

And Percival may retire, according to Joe Madden.

The info about Price starting, not made official yet by the Rays can be found in this official Rays blog, which is a good one to book mark, if you own any Tampa players.

Price, from what anyone can figure out, was being held down at AAA Durham to keep his arbitration clock from ticking. Of course, nobody can prove why the Rays thought their best weapon from the ALCS, who was outstanding in spring, was deemed not worthy to make the opening day roster. The only thing that makes sense is it's a money thing.

Price scuffled a couple times in the past few weeks, including his start at Knights Stadium here in Charlotte, but still finished with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP, along with 35 Ks in 34 1/3 IP. His last outing was a no-hitter through five innings, when the Bulls pulled him (via pitch count).

With only 34 1/3 innings through 8 starts, you can expect Price to be freed up to go at least 6 innings a start, after he gets up to full strength. Yanking him after 5 IP will be too taxing on an already depleted bullpen. But Price could get skipped a time or two in the rotation if his innings pile up and the Rays are still in contention.

Fantasy spin: By all means, Price is a must add. If you've held onto him this long, Merry Christmas. I bailed two weeks ago and regret that decision, but fifth starter Jeff Niemann has been solid and Price was going through control problems. Don't expect last year's postseason miracles to translate completely, but he should be a steady source of Ks and wins and he shouldn't hurt your ERA/WHIP, if he can locate the slider and the improved change-up. Price may give you a rookie season comparable to Tim Lincecum, who was dominant, but had his share of blowups in 2007.

What to make of Wood, Felix, Kazmir, Willis

2009-05-20T21:50:00.007-04:00

Some big name pitchers are falling to pieces. Another one is putting them back together.

Here's a quick 2-minute drill on some pitchers who may be weighing your staff down:

Kerry Wood: Cubs fans have been here before. Talk about summer rerun season...

Wood entered with a 5-2 lead in the 9th, after Cliff Lee pitched a masterful game (some think he should've been allowed to come back in the 9th after 101 pitches, but that's another blog for another day).

Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen launch back-to-back homers before a walk, triple and sac fly completed a 6-5 Royals comeback.

“Since I’ve been here, I haven’t seen a comeback like this in our home ball park,” said Royals manager Trey Hillman. “As soon as the ball left the bat with Teahen, I think the whole dugout felt like we’re going to do this.”

Confidence is a tricky thing and K-Wood might be a little shy these days. It's only his second blown save, but his ERA ballooned to 8.31, his WHIP is up to 1.77 and probably most worrisome for Wood owners (and Tribe fans) is he's surrendered 9 earned runs in the past 6 2/3 IP.

Not much you can do if you're an owner but sit and hope Wood corrects himself. And remember, he went through a couple of these stretches with the Cubs last year (and don't be surprised if he ends up on the DL soon). You should have been prepared for at least one DL stint, but as soon as he looks right again, try to unload.

You're on borrowed time here.

Felix Hernandez: He flirts with you, throwing impressive outing after impressive out, making big league hitters look silly with that nasty hook.

Then, he'll blow you off, not return your calls and texts....as he did Wednesday night: 6 ER, 11 hits, 3 BB and only 3 Ks.

Felix may never fully figure it out. His ERA/WHIP are up to 4.13 and 1.34 with 56 Ks in 56 2/3.

When the dust clears in Seattle, this is what you're left with. An exciting guy to watch with average ERA/WHIP numbers and above average Ks. But he's not elite and in his 5th season (including an abbreviated first year), you'd think Felix would learn how to minimize damage with such good stuff and more than one out pitch.

Maybe one day, we'll all sit around the fantasy campfire and laugh at the times when nobody could own Felix for a full season as the heartburn was too painful and how now he's the right-handed Johan Santana.

But don't go buying the smores any time soon.

Scott Kazmir: His second consecutive seven-run massacre tonight tells me one thing: The Kaz will be on the shelf soon.

I don't have any inside info, but a pitcher with Kazmir's stuff just doesn't go south without something being physically wrong. And you know the Rays are just dying for an excuse to finally promote David Price now that 1). It's past mid-May and 2). He pitched five no-hit innings his last Durham outing.

This makes his fourth outing in six where he's given up 6 or more ER. Not to mention, he's walked 25 guys in 41 1/3 IP and has a 6.97 ERA ... it's really time to pull the cord.

And stash Price while you're at it (if he's available).

Dontrelle Willis: I asked a trusted colleague what he thought of Willis' outing and his first words: "Don't you dare go after him."

Needless to say, he wasn't buying the comeback gem Willis whirled Wednesday night. I'm not exactly buying it yet either, but I am picking it up off the shelf and checking the nutritional contents on the back label.

Here's the deal with Willis. It was just 2005 when Willis went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Those ERA numbers seem very other-world-like (aka Peavish), but there is some inner talent somewhere, if Willis can just figure out how to master his anxiety issues.

But the psychologically-challenged lefty could very well catch a fresh batch of confidence and parlay it into a comeback season of the ages, if he can just figure out his loose wires.

If there's a spot on your bench, Willis is worth a speculative add. Maybe this turns out to be just a false alarm, but the next couple outings will tell us a lot about Willis' recovery.

Yes, you'll take some flack in your league for making the move.

But you may be laughing last.

Just don't tell them I told you to do it. I've got a reputation to uphold.

Lackey's 2-pitch debut baffling

2009-05-17T01:52:00.007-04:00

When a pitcher has been on the DL all season, then lasts just 2 pitches, you're allowed to jump to conclusions.

Saturday events in Arlington, however, had nothing to do with John Lackey's right elbow inflammation.

Lackey's first pitched sailed behind Ian Kinsler's head. This is the same Kinsler who just so happened to tag the Angels the night before for a couple home runs, his 10th and 11th of the season, in the Rangers' 10-8 victory.

So, he threw one behind his head. Understandable, I guess. Hasn't pitched in six weeks.

The next pitch landed squarely in Kinsler's ribs.

The rest was history. And that included Lackey's first start of the season. If you're keeping score at home, that's two pitches, one hit-batter, one earned run in 0.0 IP.

Yes, the ol' INF score line registered next to Lackey's name. As the owner in one of my leagues put it, pitching your first game at Texas probably wasn't a great time to come back. Especially how the ball is starting to fly out of Arlington (6 dingers the night before when the wind was allegedly blowing IN 18 mph).

I was obviously trying to come in on him but there was no intention to hit him or to come in behind him,” Lackey said. “It was definitely surprising.”

Lackey owners, fear not. With all his warm-up pitches, today just turned out to be a glorified side session, something owners have been reading about for weeks now. It's possible, the Angels will move him up to start before his next turn, so long as no suspension comes his way.

Seems pretty bizarre for a guy to risk sending a message in his first start after missing six weeks of the season already.

There's probably a 96 percent chance it was just lack of control. But after two straight pitches, the umps couldn't take that chance. A warning seemed fair, but instead, Lackey got an early visit to the showers.

Here's crew chief Tim Tschida's version of what happened:

“When the first pitch of the next game to that hitter is behind him, that’s a red flag,” Tschida said. “We gave (Lackey) the benefit of the doubt because maybe he was a little amped up coming off the DL. When he hit him with the second pitch, that was something else.”

Good news for Lackey enthusiasts, his next turn is at Sleepless (Offense) in Seattle.

Might wanna start out a bit outside on Ichiro for starters.

Where's Murphy: Everyone's New York darling Daniel Murphy has almost overnight turned into just a pinch hitting specialist for the Mets. Gary Sheffield has actually been swinging a warm bat, causing Murphy to log four pinch-hit at-bats in four games. If you picked him up, hoping for an oil spring of runs and decent numbers everywhere else, it might be time to bail. I can't believe Sheff is stealing at-bats, but they're both defensive liabilities, so the PT will probably go to whoever's got the hot hand.

Ibanez the pickup of the year? I'll admit it. When the Cubs were linked to Raul Ibanez's name in the off-season, I cringed. He's out of gas. Nothing left in the tank. I didn't want Milton Bradley, but would've taken Ibanez over Bradley and definitely Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu. Well, after a 3-HR day, Ibanez is hitting .368 with 13 jacks and 35 RBI. (Don't ask me to look up Bradley's numbers). Dealt straight-up for Dice-K in the first week of the season, owners thought Ibanez wasn't enough of a hitter to justify that trade. Five weeks later, it's looking just the opposite. Think about selling high. He can't keep this up.

Upton's bat no longer hitting snooze alarm? B.J. Upton, with home runs in back to back games (and a pair of steals in a 9-0 contest on Friday) is proving he might end up being the fantasy commodity that caused folks to grab him in the 2nd or 3rd round (and $24 in our auction draft). Some think the window to buy low has officially slammed shut with today's HR. I disagree. I dealt him awhile back for an equally-struggling Jimmy Rollins, but there's still questions with the shoulder and I bet you can get him for a 15-20 percent discount still. If he has fully recovered, you could have yourself a deal. If Upton hits 9 HR again, well, you should at least get 30+ steals from the speedster the rest of the way.

Reimold, Gamel are names to know now

2009-05-15T00:59:00.003-04:00

The call has been made.

No, it's not David Price. Or Matt Wieters. Or even Tommy Hanson. But keep your eye on all three.

Two other minor league studs got the call to the bigs on Thursday, mostly to infuse some life into struggling offenses.

Nolan Reimold, Orioles, OF: Adam Jones' hammy and Luke Scott's shoulder are two reasons why Reimold was called up from Triple-A Norfolk, where he was hitting the stitches off the ball.

Check out these numbers: .394 avg., .485 obp., 9 HR, 27 RBI, 6 SB in 31 games.

There's no question Reimold can rake. The question is PT. But with former Cubs flameout Felix Pie still getting regular at-bats, you have to think that Reimold will find his way in the lineup once Jones and Scott are no the mend. All he has to do is perform, to a modest degree.

The future is, well, a year or two away in Baltimore. The O's are enjoying an OK start (15-20), but in the AL East, it's almost time to scrap 2009.

Add Reimold and expect semi-regular starts from here on out and 15-18 HR the rest of the way is very possible.

Mat Gamel, 3B, Brewers: Ranked as a slightly higher prospect than Reimold, the Brew Crew's hot hitter at the hot corner may not make near the fantasy impact as the O's rookie, as Milwaukee is very much alive and well in the playoff race.

The Brewers' problem is their bench has hit around .100 in pinch-hit at-bats and they're looking for a punch. Interleague at Minnesota is around the corner, so DHing that series is likely for the man with a one-T first name.

Word on the street is Gamel would be invited to the Ryan Braun fielding clinic as an guest teacher, committing a whopping 40 errors between this year and last. So, Bill Hall's job as the primary 3B is probably safe for now. But spot starts (ala Cleveland's Matt LaPorta) will trickle in and the more Gamel hits, the more you'll want him on your team.

If your league is one of those with bench spots (or is a keeper league), make the move now and your patience will be rewarded. With 8 HR, 19 extra-base hits, 31 ribbies and a .336 avg. in 119 AAA at-bats, there's a lot of life in Gamel's stick.

Mannywood tainted; Melvin fired; Price rocked

2009-05-07T22:51:00.006-04:00

The legend that was Manny Ramirez took a huge hit Thursday. And he has no one to blame but himself

When Manny failed a drug test and was suspended 50 games, you could picture all the Hollywood billboard being taken down and painted over.

I mean, Mannywood billboards.

Most reactions around baseball hold court with previous suspensions: Not surprised.

But folks in Mannyland must feel deceived today. One fan said it felt like his dog died.

The Dodgers gave him $45 million for two years, promoted Manny as the face of the franchise, his voice is on commercials in between innings and they even built a Mannywood section (for $99, Manny's number, you get two tickets in the Manny section along with two Manny T-Shirts).

One Mannywood fan calling in on XM today said he paid $40 to have two anti-Manny shirts custom-made to show his hatred for the dreadlocked one in the Manny section.

Manny issued an apology statement, said he only took what his doctor thought was legal. Sorry, Manny, that doesn't hold water. You are responsible for what you put in your body. End of story.

GM Ned Colletti came out and said all the right things, that they do not condoned Manny's actions and are disappointed. None of that is surprising.

A little shocking is that Manny failed the drug text because he took HCG (or human chorionic gonadotropin), which is used as a sexual booster and to build testosterone production. It's banned because it is also used as a masking agent after a player comes down off a steroid cycle.

This doesn't incriminate Manny, but public opinion will. Perhaps, with each Arod and Manny that get caught, the bar on what will be acceptable to Hall of Fame voters comes down a small notch.

Fantasy Spin: Juan Pierre owners (if there were any left out there) are the biggest winners. If he's still on your wire and you need steals, he's a must-add, as he'll get most of the starts as Manny sits until July 3. Losers include most of the Dodgers lineup, albeit not much, but taking one big bat can have a way of affecting everyone's production. Starting pitchers also take a small hit, as each will have 10 starts without Manny, which may translate to 1-2 less wins apiece.

Melvin Fired: The Arizona Diamondbacks (who fell to 12-17 after today's loss at San Diego) have just fired their manager Bob Melvin, according to a source. No official announcement has been made.

Price rocked in Charlotte: For the second straight game, ALCS hero David Price was roughed up, this time giving 4 runs, 5 walks and 6 hits in 4 innings at Knights Stadium. The wind was blowing 11 mph to right, but no HRs were hit. Most disturbing, if you're holding onto Price for what was believed a May call-up, is he didn't strike out a single batter after 79 pitches. It's too early to give up on him in keeper leagues, but if you're holding a warm spot (and that includes yours truly) in a mixed league, it might be send him back into the waiver wire wilderness. The only glimmer of hope is Rays fifth pitcher Jeff Niemann struggled again tonight, yanked in the fourth inning. I'm guessing a mid-June call-up at this point, but it's only speculation.

Ankiel out of hospital after scary crash (video)

2009-05-05T11:28:00.002-04:00

Certain highlights physically make you cringe.

Rick Ankiel's neck-twisting crash into the wall Monday was one of them.

Ankiel tripped over the warning track, making another spectacular catch, but ended up head-first into the Busch Stadium's outfield wall.

Here's it is in case you missed it:

Ankiel laid motionless when teammate Chris Duncan got to him, the brim of his hat in a V-shape from the impact. But he was conscious and able to answer Duncan's question.

Carted off the field, Ankiel gave a thumbs-up and was released from the hospital today after all tests were negative. Tony LaRussa compared the injury to a bad whip-lash and Ankiel will be back at the park tonight, although his return is in question.

Fantasy Spin: Even the staunchest of Cubs fans hates to see this. Ankiel's comeback story has been nothing short of remarkable and it appears he avoided what looked like a catastrophic injury. Get him out of your lineups in the short-term in daily leagues, until you see him back in the lineup and hitting again. This injury could derail his recent offensive burst. Long-term, Ankiel's value should be fine, so long as LaRussa gets him enough starts.

Zambrano Update: Cubs pitcher/wannabe slugger Carlos Zambrano, who injured his hamstring trying to leg out a bunt (yes, a bunt ... I couldn't make that up if I tried), has been put on the DL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain (on a 1-3 scale). Jim Hendry says Big Z will probably need 2 1/2 weeks to recover so expect him back, shortly after his 15 days are up.

Hamels Update: Phillies lefty Cole Hamels is scheduled to make his next start on Friday at home against the Braves. Hamels is trying to put a rough April behind him. After two awful starts, Hamels finally looked like Hamels again, when he was struck in the left shoulder with a Prince Fielder line drive. The next start Hamels twisted his left ankle in the fifth, after breezing through the first four innings. Originally slated for Tuesday, Hamels was pushed back three days after a rainout on Sunday helped tweak the rotation. Owners, start him with confidence as he looks to have turned the corner.

Crawford stealing spree ignites Tampa (video)

2009-05-04T12:24:00.007-04:00

A frenzy from a stolen base?

It happened Sunday at the Trop, after Carl Crawford stole his MLB record-tying sixth steal against the hated Red Sox.

Six steals. That's a decent season for most of baseball.

And only four other players in the modern era have matched this high burglary honor, with Colorado's Eric Young the last to pull it off in 1996.

But Crawford was on a mission. And the 32,332 in attendance exploded after Crawford's fleet feet tied the feat, although the speedster claims it didn't register what he had done.

“I wish I had known during the game,” said Crawford. “I probably would have broken it if I knew. I’d have definitely tried."

Watch the scene for yourself. Apologies for the shaky video. And the fact that it looks like it could have been taken from the moon.

But what's most interesting about the moment, was the fan reaction from a stolen base, as if it was a game-winning HR in Game 7 of the World Series:

Say what you want about Rays fans, but there's something real building in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay. Who would've thunk it.

Fantasy Spin: After only 25 swipes in 109 games last year, Crawford already has 17 in 26 games. A trusted source of speed for years, the fantasy world has waited and waited for the promised power to come through. In 2006, Crawford belted 18 round-trippers, but only parked 11 and 8 the past two seasons. So far this year, he's failed to leave the park, but five doubles and a triple show he's at least swinging that way. Still, this might be the perfect sell-high opportunity if you have speed to burn. Expect Crawford to break 60 for the first time, maybe even 70, but he'll barely reach double digit dingers.

Josh hits the DL; Hanely, Aramis avoid it

2009-05-01T15:43:00.008-04:00

This is the fantasy equivalent of The Perfect Storm.

You have Josh Hamilton, Aramis Ramirez and Hanley Ramirez on your team and they're all not playing. The infamous day-to-day, which is a fantasy player's worst nightmare.

Meanwhile, your team is plummeting in the standings worse than newspaper stock. All you can do is click on the little red update box and day after day after lousy day, you see they are not in the lineup.

Maybe this weekend. Maybe Monday. Possibly next week.

But the kicker: (Insert name here) will appear to avoid the DL.

Personally, I'd much rather one of my stud hitters hit the disabled list if they are going to miss more than one or two days. Otherwise, they hold you hostage if you are in a league without a bench spot.

Currently, I'm a Josh and Aramis owner in a no-bench league. My power is being zapped. Even if I could put a warm body in for these two, I could make a little dent on the sagging power numbers.

Your only viable option is to trade at a discount. But I say don't do it.

Unless you can get fair value for your stud hitter, try to hold on. As the PGA campaign used to preach "These Guys are Good." And a panic trade in April can cost you a chance at any success.

Josh Hamilton (updated): Breaking news out of Arlington, where the Rangers have finally put Hamilton on the DL. Hamilton's rib injury was the most serious of the three as Hamilton injured it running the bases on Sunday. But the day after, he was lobbying to manager Ron Washington for 20 minutes before the game to play. Two days later, he told trainers he was in "extreme pain." Now, he's feeling better, but said he's still not ready to play and today, Texas decided to pull the trigger, which should give fantasy owners closure.

Aramis Ramirez: If you've had Aramis on your team, it's no surprise he's dinged up. Seems like 3-4 times a year, he's dealing with something. Usually it's the back or the quad. But the calf thing seems to be a little more serious than originally thought. An MRI yesterday showed no tear (just a strain), but the Cubs had Iowa's Bobby Scales at the ballpark, ready to call up, pending the MRI results, it was that close. The team is hopeful Ramirez can suit up this weekend, but based on verbage I'm reading, my money is on a Monday return.

Hanley Ramirez: Suffering from a bruised right wrist. Obviously, the Fish are being cautious. Hanley wants to play bad. That's a good sign from a guy who has been dogging it a bit on deep fly balls lately. He was 80/20 to play on Thursday and now, he's out of the lineup again today. Get him back in the lineup tomorrow in daily moves. I'm almost certain he'll be back.

Phillies, Nats cash in at Citzens Bank

2009-04-28T14:04:00.008-04:00

What do you get when you mix a 12-mph gust to center with Citzens Bank Park? Roughly 24 on 26 hits, including 7 HR and 2 grand slams.

Just your typical night in Philly.

Let's look at some of the movers and shakers in last night's 13-11 Philadelphia victory.

Ryan Howard: Always a slow starter (last year, I trade him for Derek Lee a month into the season and there was an outcry that I was getting ripped off), Howard seems to be hitting his groove a bit earlier with his 4th HR and 15 RBI (after last night's grand salami). The window to buy low isn't slammed shut, but expect to pay closer to retail to get him now. With 47 and 48 HR the past two years, 50 and 150 isn't out of the question, especially in a re-loaded Phillies lineup that is averaging 6.2 runs a game.

Raul Ibanez: This guy just keeps hitting the ball. Earlier this year, he was swapped in one of my leagues for Dice-K straight-up and a couple owners raised an eye brow, thinking Ibanez wasn't fair value. But with 6 HR, 16 RBI and a .342 average, it's becoming clear that Ibanez's move to Philadelphia has increased his worth and we may be getting returns of the 2006 Ibanez (33-123-.289).

Adam Dunn: The move to Washington seems to be fitting Dunn swimmingly, launching his 5th HR and plating RBIs 13 and 14 last night. You know exactly what Dunn is: 40 HR, 100 RBI, .245. It might be a good time to sell high with his .311 average. But the good news is (for Dunn owners), the move out of the small Cincy park doesn't seem to diminish his value.

Ryan Zimmerman: Asked who hits a longer ball between him, Dunn and Elijah Dukes, Zim could only tip his cap to the other two, but last night's 457-foot bomb shows there's a lot of moxie in the 24-year-old's bat. That's right, he's still just a kid and the promising power numbers are just getting started. Look for 28-30 bombs this year, if he stays healthy and 100 RBI is a good bet. Hitting ahead of Dunn will definitely improve his diet of steady fastballs.

Elijah Dukes: The big question for Dukes' owners is how much will Elijah run. Hitting fifth, he's in a surprisingly good spot. With 3 attempts already, Dukes is showing 20-SB potential (although he's only been successful one time). There's gobs of talent here. With 2 HR and 13 RBI already, there's 25-100 potential. This year. But the real question with Dukes, still 24, is where his head will be. Disciplined once for being 5 minutes late to a team meeting, because he was making an appearance at a local little league parade, the Nats are playing hardball with Dukes, who has had plenty of off-season trouble. A good guy to trade for, as his value (and checkered past) makes him still a buy-low candidate. But do it quick before those steals start rolling in.

Hamels' charmed life drilled by line drive

2009-04-23T14:05:00.010-04:00

By all accounts, Cole Hamels is living the life.

The Phillies 6-foot-3 lefty was named World Series MVP last fall and since, then it's been a whirlwind of public appearances.

He also signed a 3-year, $20.5 million deal in January, some three years after marrying former Survivor legend Heidi Strobel, who along with Jenna Morasca, made a splash by taking off their clothes for some Oreos and Peanut Butter. Oh, yeah, that Heidi.

But things have been anything but paradise for Hamels this season. It started in spring training, when elbow soreness and inflammation required a cortisone shot on March 17 and cost him an opening day start.

Then, Hamels was rocked in his first two starts, leaving him with an 11.17 ERA and 2.17 WHIP. Thanks, a lot, fantasy owners grumbled, desperately trying to be patient with Hamels, who logged over 260 pitches in the Phillies' World Series run.

Then, came Thursday's outing in Milwaukee. Hamels was starting to look like Hamels again and fantasy owners were breathing a sigh of relief. Their third-round pick was not turning into a bust. Hamels breezed through the first three innings, striking out 6 of the first 9 batters he faced before giving up a 2-run HR to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun. No biggie.

Then, on the next pitch, Prince Fielders smacked a line drive that hit Hamels' left shoulder. Hamels doubled over and was immediately pulled from the game. All the team is saying is it's a shoulder contusion. As their Phillies announcers aptly put it, "Why don't they just say he was hit in the shoulder and is really sore and is going to ice and it and we'll see what happens."

Essentially, that's what a contusion can be translated as.

Good news for Hamels, is he's playing at home, so maybe he can get Heidi to help him ice it.

For those of you who don't know their story, Heidi and Cole met at a Clearwater Phillies game in 2004. Heidi was throwing out the first pitch and signing autographs, fulfilling her post-Survivor contract of traveling to 30-some baseball parks. The mild-mannered Cole, still a relatively unknown pitching prospect, got in line to get her autograph and asked her out.

Heidi had just moved back to Missouri from L.A. and jokingly told him, "unless you plan on flying to Missouri to take me out."

Two weeks later, Cole flew to Missouri for their first date and less than 3 years later, the couple married on New Year's Eve, 2006.

Their latest endeavor is to adopt an Aids orphan in Africa and possibly build a girls school in Malawi.

Weekend Wrap: Wandy, Edwin or Ricky?

2009-04-20T18:00:00.003-04:00

So, your pitching staff's taken a beating. There's more red DL marks than Red Cross.

Fear not. Help is here.

Three pitchers have risen from Waiver Wire mediocrity to pickup worthy status in just about every format, except the shallowest.

Your wire will vary, depending on how many folks are in an early-season comma, but here are three names to look at, currently ranked 15-17 by Yahoo! scoring, if you need armed reinforcements. (Listed in order of preference:)

Wandy Rodriguez, LHP, Astros (1-1, 1.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 18Ks, 19 IP): Time to wave the magic Wandy? You bet. OK, so I'm a bit biased, as a Wandy owner in the Observer mixed-league, but after flirting with the left-handed Minute Maid strikeout artist in previous seasons, Wandy is proving himself early to be someone you can trust. Will this short-term relationship last more than a few spring dates? We shall see. But after mowing down the Reds with 7 innings of 2-hit, 2-BB, 10K wizardry, there's a sneaky feeling this one could go the distance.

Edwin Jackson, RHP, Tigers (1-0, 2.14 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 13 Ks, 21 IP): The first time I heard about Jackson was in 2003, working for the Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla. After moving up to the No. 4 ranked prospect in all of baseball in 2004, Jackson battled injury and inconsistency (where have we heard that before), before landing with the Rays and putting together a nice, but pedestrian season as Tampa Bay's fifth starter. With too many cooks in the Rays' kitchen (namely David Price), Jackson became expendable and sent packing for OF Matt Joyce. Playing in spacious Comerica, this could be year his 4-pitch arsenal, including a 95 mph fastball and lethal 89 mph slider all come together. He's especially tempting in a 4x4, as the 6.1 K rate will keep you above water in strikeouts, but just barely.

Ricky Romero, LHP, Blue Jays (2-0), 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 13Ks, 21 IP): Romero and Jackson are almost waiver wire twins. Only with Jackson, we've seen what he can do pitching a couple years in the AL East, while Romero is a virtual unknown. Both have the same K rate this year, and both have checkered minor league pedigree. Romero has never been that highly-touted (ranked just 8th best prospect in Toronto's system in 2009), but injuries to Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan have opened the door. Control has always been an issue with Ricky (3.8 BB rate in the minors), but so far, just 4 walks in 21 IP has Romero sounding like a real estate agent: Location, location, location. His latest gem against the A's is not exactly like facing the '27 Yankees. We don't really know what to expect from Romero, but he just got snapped up in our 10-team mixed league and he's worth rostering in yours, too.

Grab a Ranger - any Ranger

2009-04-15T23:27:00.007-04:00

Yeah, I know, they say things are bigger in Texas.

But that doesn't include the baseball parks.

If there was ever any doubt that the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington was a fantasy baseball launching pad, Wednesday night's 19-6 slugfest proved you can never sleep on any Texas hitter.

(And you may want to Rip Van Winkle on each and every Texas hurler).

Exhibit A: Ian Kinsler (above)

All Kinsler did was hit for the cycle, on a 6-for-6 night with a HR, 4 RBI, 5 runs scored and a SB. Kinsler is batting .474 with 2 HR and 13 RBI.

Exhibit B: Nelson Cruz

Cruz went 2-for-5 with a grand slam, 6 RBI on the night, and now has 12 RBI for the season, one off Kinsler's team-leading mark.
Exhibit C: Marlon Byrd

Byrd was more than just the word. How's 5-for-6 with 3 RBI sound for a platoon outfielder? Byrd's hitting .417, which may give David Murphy and his owners more splinters and headaches than they had planned on.

Exhibit D: Andruw Jones

The former Braves/Dodgers flameout only had 1 hit, but walked twice and scored 4 runs, proving his worth in all AL-only leagues, even on the wrong side of a platoon.

I won't even go into the Rangers best two pure hitters (Michael Young and Josh Hamilton). Both were relatively quiet, although each stole a base early on when it was still a game.

Probably the most intriguing thing about Arlington on Wednesday was the wind was blowing in 14 MPH.

This place has long been a crackerjack box, where pitchers go to die. And now, with the emergence of Kinsler and Hamilton, the upcoming stars, including Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus and steady cornerstones like Michael Young and Hank Blalock, the 2009 Rangers could easily lead the league in runs scored. As the summers heat up, the ball keeps flying further and further off the bats.

Hopefully your buddy isn't reading this. Not that it's top secret info, but the Rangers haven't had this promising a lineup in quite some time. Sure, there's no guarantee all their prospects will produce as advertised, but even at 70 percent, you might be looking a Texas team that plates 1,000 runs.

Get a piece of this pie while it's still affordable.