Send El Caballo To The Glue Factory
August 10, 2008
Category: August's Daily Notes
Carlos Lee is hurt. Bad. He broke his left pinkie finger sending him to the DL. This also can’t be good for his Dr. Evil impersonation. Chances are he won’t be back this year. I’ve gone ahead and cut him in a 15-team league. Currently, my Carlos Lee replacement is Mike Cameron/Austin Kearns. Mike Cameron’s been hot and… I can’t even justify Austin Kearns, though he did hit a home run yesterday. This hurts everyone in the Astros lineup and their pitching staff, which will now receive even less run support. Too bad, because, with that Randy Wolf acquisition, they were really looking like legit contenders for fifth place in the Wild Card standings. Now the Braves might have their number. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Carl Crawford - The other “Carl loss” is our good friend, Carl Crawford. Looks like it was a bad year to predict he would finally show some power. However, it was a good year for me to trade him for Ryan Braun about two months ago. Phew. The right hand injury that forced Carl Crawford to the DL could force him out of action for the rest of the season. I would not drop Crawford just yet, because he thinks he’ll be back in 15 days. We’ll see. This opens up a spot for Rocco Baldelli to get quickly injured, Cliff Floyd to throw a tantrum and Gabe Gross to pickup the pieces. Hopefully you have different options than the Rays.
Chris Carpenter - Right triceps strain. At the best, gone for a start. At the worst, gone ’til March. You shouldn’t have been counting on Carpenter for much anyway.
Brad Lidge - Complaining of a sluggish shoulder. Hopefully no one puts salt on it. (Get it? Cause if you put salt on a slug…Oh, forget it.) Ryan Madson got the save yesterday. Chad Durbin got the save on Saturday. Probably will be some combination of the two (or even JC Romero, if the matchup is right) that will fill-in for Lidge. If this doesn’t turn into a 15-day DL stint for Lidge, I’d be shocked. If the Phillies push him through, it could turn into a “Lidge hopes to be ready for spring training”-type deal.
Orlando Hudson - Will need season-ending surgery to fix a dislocated wrist. If you were counting on O-Dog for anything, you have bigger fish to fry. This boosts Conor Jackson’s value a bit because he’ll be inserted into the three hole on a regular basis. Looks like Upton will have to find someone else to carry him around.
Aaron Harang - 4 IP, 8 ER. Good to see him pickup right where he left off.
Scott Rolen - Placed on the DL with a sore shoulder that has caused him problems in the past. Unless you’re in a league that only used aging vets that are drafted on name recognition alone, you probably didn’t have Rolen anyway. And, if you’re in a league like that, grab Aurilla. He’ll suit you just fine.
Cliff Lee - 8 IP, 0 ER, 1 K. The C. Lee that didn’t break any hearts this weekend.
Mike Hampton - 4 IP, 6 ER. After the game, he didn’t say, but should have said, “I sucked, but that shouldn’t surprise you.”
Todd Helton - If you just read his name and said to yourself, “Oh, wow! I totally forgot Todd Helton existed.” You’re not alone. Helton had a minor setback and now might not return this season.
Carlos Quentin - HR yesterday. 10th since the All-Star Break. Making a strong case for AL MVP and being pretty overvalued next year.
Manny Parra - 7 IP, 1 ER, 9 Ks vs. the Nats. Ah, to pitch against the Nats, if only you weren’t followed by Backne. Parra, “Hey, Billingsley, I saw Kuo blew your lead–” “Actually, Alyssa Milano is blowing my lead right now.”
Fernando Rodney - Got the save yesterday, but the Tigers made it a five run game in the bottom of the 8th so it wasn’t a traditional save. As to who would get the ball in a traditional save opportunity, whoever Leyland wants to point his yellow-stained finger towards. My guess is Rodney, Zumaya and Farnsworth, in that order.
Huston Street - Not sure how far down the depth chart Street’s fallen? He entered the 5th inning yesterday and gave up 3 runs. Joey Devine might get a save before Street. (BTW, Street only had 18 saves in three quarters of the season. You gotta ask yourself how badly do you want those other five saves he might get.)
Lastings Milledge - Hit another HR yesterday. Has 5 HRs in the last ten games. Might give Mike Cameron a run for the least owned 20/20 man in the history of fantasy baseball.
Emilio Bonifacio - 0-for-6 and nary a hit all weekend. I’m giving him until the end of the week and then will reevaluate. To try and jumpstart Bonifacio, I’m wearing a rally merkin (Weird Thing of the Day) on my head.
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Tags: Aaron Harang, Brad Lidge, Carl Crawford, Carlos Lee, Carlos Quentin, Chris Carpenter, Cliff Lee, Emilio Bonifacio, Fernando Rodney, Huston Street, Lastings Milledge, Manny Parra, Mike Hampton, Orlando Hudson, Scott Rolen, Todd Helton
August 11th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Merkin? And you’re giving me a hard time about New Zealand clothes?
August 11th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I had an offer of McLouth/Atkin for Harden/Soria. I get Atkins side of it.
My other closers are Fuentes and Broxton. Should I look for other closers or nix the deal?
August 11th, 2008 at 5:46 am
HARANG, YOU SCUM! *spits*
August 11th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Merkin’s are actually quite common in Iowa.
“A merkin (first use, according to the OED, 1617) is a pubic wig, originally worn by prostitutes after shaving their genitalia to eliminate lice or disguise the marks of syphilis.”
August 11th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Who to start for this week in my util spot?
Bruce, 6 games
Milledge, 7 games
Marlon Byrd, 6 games
Mike Cameron, 7 games
im looking for overall offensive production, and it is only for this week
whos the hottest? anyone not mentioned here that you’re pimpin?
August 11th, 2008 at 7:20 am
I wonder if Grey got the merkin idea from his girlfriend (whoa nelly!)
August 11th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Pregunta: I’ve had Hafner in my DL spot most of the year in my keeper league (as i foolishly kept him from last year and am now to proud to admit defeat). I also have Carlos Lee who I will definitely be keeping this offseason.
So the question = does anyone think Hafner will provide any useful production if/when he returns this year to warrant my holding on to him, or should I toss him to the waiver wolves since I will not be including him in my offseason keeper plans?
much obliged, rj.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:22 am
@rj: I tossed him in my 12 team mixed league. He wasn’t doing well before the DL stint. And nothing indicates that he’ll do any better after. I guess last year might not have been a fluke. Watch people still take a flier on him next year and draft his 20 HRs waaaay too early.
@Steve: As a New Zealander would say, “Merkin? Only in Yuckland.”
@BSA: I like the deal for you, but will this really hurt you to lose a closer?
@IowaCubs: Why are they common in Iowa?
@SaltyBiscuits: Conor Jackson has a good week ahead too. I like Cameron, Milledge, Bruce then Byrd.
@john: She wears Merkin-socks.
@rj: Wow, you still have Hafner? Toss him back.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:40 am
@Grey: do you take Jeff Karstens against CIN, and Volstad against STL as spot starters ? Both are at home.
@Zebo: Either could be usable, but I’d take Volstad and no on Karstens.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:02 am
ha, socks…and I still have Pronk in my DL spot and I’m not afraid to admit it. He will come back and anchor my team in the playoffs. I believe, I will always believe.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:07 am
@Grey: drop Harang outright?
@john: Pronk doesn’t deserve your belief. He’s a false idol.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:08 am
start markakis who is 0 for 8 against carmona or start delgado who is 1 for 8 against dukes ???
@Zebo: I’m not ready to make that move yet.
@Nick: Markakis
August 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
@Zebo: I’d say he was rushed back to the rotation. dude should’ve had at least one more AA or AAA start before being re-inserted. He looked good in his rehab and just got shelled at Houston - outside of the first inning he wasn’t too terrible*
*though terrible nevertheless.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:49 am
***BEEP BEEP BEEP CJ WILSON DONE LIKE DINNER BEEP BEEP BEEP****
According to Rotoworld, CJ Wilson is having season-ending elbow surgery. Guardado gets the 9th for keeps, at least for now.
FYI
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Thanks for the heads up. Now let’s see how long Guardado can hold onto the closer’s role.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am
@Grey: This could turn out to be one of those Crappy Old Dude Pitches Well Enough to Keep Job, Pile Up Saves situations.
i.e. exactly what I didn’t think would happen last year when I dropped David Weathers in May.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: I guess if Percival can pull off subpar closing all year, anything’s possible. Eddie’s got time on his side, as in he only has a month and a half to screw this up.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:44 am
@Grey: p.s Emilio Bonifacio not starting today. Maybe the 0-for-the-weekend caught up to him.
I also think the Nats finally beat the Jays for ’08s least-major-league-looking lineup. Pete Orr? Really?
@Baron Von Vulturewins: Orr’s a table setter!*
*In the off season, he works as a waiter at Chili’s.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I’ve got to make a choice on who’s going to fill out my pitching staff since Wainwright isn’t going to be a starter when he gets back.
How would you rank these 3 from here on?
Kershaw
Myers
Maine
@Frank Rizzo: Myers, Kershaw, Maine but it could change with the next start. Myers really seems like he’s fixed whatever the problem was for him. Will be interesting to see what Maine can do on his return from the DL, as he could suddenly become the first choice here.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
@Grey: Yeah, these 3 are close right now. Kershaw’s been really good the past few weeks. I’ve got him on the roster for sure through this week because he’s 2 timing and both are at home. You’re right, Myers is starting to seem like he’s getting it now. And honestly, I’m really considering starting Maine against Washington on Wednesday. Come on, it’s AA Washington we’re talking about here.
@Frank Rizzo: Maine against the Nats seems like the way to go, but if you’ve just been burnt by Harang, you might be gun shy.
******BTW, Dunn was traded to the Diamondbacks. For Dallas Buck, a pitching prospect.
DUNN DISCUSSION:
http://razzball.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=873
August 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Wow. Dunn to the D-backs. I love that move for them. Not as good as Teixeira, but a great consolation prize. Take that Manny loving LA fans.
@Frank Rizzo: That’s the number two club in all of baseball in Ks acquiring Dunn.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
@Grey: I’ll bet the D-backs will take 2 K’s and a HR every day from Dunn. The team K’s a lot but look at where they are in the division. It hasn’t spelled doom for them yet.
I like this being a CoJack owner. Bet he sees some nice pitches batting 3rd.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
@Grey: “Rally merkin” - awesome!
It’s especially funny for me because last weekend a buddy and I saw merkins being featured in the recent “period piece,” The Bank Job, in which the actresses had to wear merkins to emulate 1970s bushes because they all had shaven pubes. Before watching The Bank Job, I had never heard the term, but I was immediately taken with it and my buddy and I made “merkin” our word of the weekend after that. You know, “jerkin’ the merkin,” “wearing merkinstocks,” etc. So it’s nice to see it appear here.
Just traded Carlos Guillen, Tim Lincecum, and Francisco Liriano for Josh Hamilton. I had a stacked pitching staff, good pitching options on waivers, and a major need for a bat. Do you think this was a good deal?
August 11th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Campillo or Nolasco as a two start pitcher. Who would you grab?
@Frank Rizzo: Just being devil’s advocate. I like it for the D-backs, their lineup and Dunn. Definitely a step up from Orlando Hudson.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
@Shogun: Holy hell, I need to know who else is on your pitching staff. You gave the farm for Hamilton.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
@Frank Rizzo: My staff is now: Billingsley, Hamels, Verlander, Kazmir, and Nolasco (and some closers).
@Shogun: Ha! It is a great word. I was surprised to see it dates back almost 400 years.
Wow, that’s a lot of pieces for Hamilton. Not sure why you couldn’t have just sent two of those guys, but if your staff is that stacked, I guess I can’t fault it too much.
@BSA: I don’t show either being two start pitchers this week. Do you mean next?
August 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Yeah, I was sick of Guillen at SS and replaced him with Aviles, and I was worried about Lincey getting shut down and god-knows-what going wrong with Liriano. I rationalize it by figuring that I’m basically replacing Liriano with Nolasco (whom I picked up on waivers), and getting Aviles and Hamilton for Lincecum and Liriano. I guess the success or failure of the trade depends, as any does, on how my team does in the playoffs.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Yeah sorry, next week! Jumping before competition since I play against a bunch of two start whores.
@BSA: I like Campillo’s starts a bit more. But they’re both good 2 start starters.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
@Grey: Yuckland?
True story - about 20 years ago dude gets off a plane in AUCKLAND wondering where the hell he was and why it had taken him so long to get here as he’d only wanted to go to the city (admittedly with a similar sounding name) that’s across the bay from San Francisco.
He’d misheard the flight call.
Anyway - with Hanley, Markakis, Bonifacio and A-Ram, I’m giving up too many steals to trade Rios for Burrell aren’t I?
@Steve: Didn’t he think the $5000 plane ticket was a bit excessive?
@Steve: Rios for Burrell is fair if you need HRs/RBIs.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
@Grey: My league is H2H, but I’m near the bottom in both those categories so I could do with ‘em. So you think I have enough steals without Rios? (And I meant Al-Ram, not A-Ram).
BTW I’d move Nady/Bruce to CF, if I did this trade.
And I think he’d already bought the ticket for Oakland but was somehow able to get on an Auckland flight.
@Steve: Didn’t he realize something was a bit off when the plane flight was 12 hours longer than it shouldn’t have been?
I think you’ll be fine making that move, as long as you need HRs more than steals.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
In a ten-team league, I’m currently sitting in fourth and 12 points out of first.
I’m last in the league in Wins and Ks, but I’m getting 9/9/10 from ERA/WHIP/SV, so I decided to stock up on starters and sit my closers (Lidge, Soria, Fuentes) b/c I have a 20-save lead.
I’m now starting: Harden, Mussina, Meche, Guthrie, Harang, Parra, and Buehrle.
Is this a worthwhile strategy going forward to try to make up some points? I figured it was time for desperation . . . Ultimately, I feel like this strategy is break even with me picking up Ws and Ks and dropping the same points in ERA/WHIP.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
@Grey: You know these Americans, Grey. Some of them aren’t all that bright
That said, some of them are Albright. Boom-tish!
I’m here all week.
@sean: It’s not an awful strategy, per se. The problem is the starters you’re choosing to use. Meche, Harang and Guthrie aren’t bad starters but they’re not necessarily the most likeliest candidates for wins.
August 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Nooooooooo! Longoriaaaa!
Well this sucks…
August 11th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
If false idols are good enough for Pagans then Pronk is good enough for me, Grey. All hail Sir Pronk, Master of Disaster, King of the Swing, and soon to be Recovering Suckaholic.
In all seriousness, I’m keepin Pronk cause I have an open DL and I think (err..hope) his suckage this year was due to trying to hide this shoulder injury.
@Denys: Wow, the Rays had some tough luck in the last two days. (And you too if you had Crawford, as well.)
@john: Okay, just don’t expect him to return this year or be at all productive.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
@Grey: no just Longo. Encarnacion is on the waivers. might go for him but have to decide who to drop…
August 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
So I just noticed Greinke’s O-rank/Season-rank is 138/257. Now I’m not one to run my team based on #’s but is he worth holding onto for the rest of the season or is someone like Campillo, Nolasco, Lester worth more or will produce better #’s for the rest of the season?
@Nick: In the league where I traded Rudy for Greinke, I dropped Greinke about a week and a half ago. I’d go Nolasco, Campillo then Lester.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
rank these dudes that throw baseballs meche, parra, cueto, garza. Also what 3b do you pick up for longoria going down?
@dan: Garza, Parra, Meche then Cueto.
What 3rd basemen options do you have?
August 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Ah yes, Ian Stewart, Itzurus, Chase Headley, Infante, and Geoff Blum
@dan: Ok, must be a pretty deep league. I’d go with Stewart in Coors and Headley in away games.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I am Spark’clearthebases’akis…
August 11th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
out of Melvin Mora, Ty Wiggington, Double E and Zimmerman which 3B has the best last month and a half??
August 11th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I’m looking to tweak before the deadline and was hoping to trade some power (11/11 in HR so Fielder or Howard) for runs (6) and avg (2). I’ve offered Fielder for Reyes to the guy who never responds so I expect that’ll go nowhere. Who would you rank as the Top-5 hitters if you needed stuff in the following order: avg, runs, rbi, SB, HR?
***Rant alert***
To all you Canucks out there, anyone else as disgusted as I am with our solid zero medals in the Olympics so far? Fuck you “atheletes”. We sent (I think) 300 people to China to finish 27th in balance beam and get congratulated because they give it their all. We’re breeding a generation of losers. When does hockey season start anyway?
@Denys: Hehe
@wakeNbake: Double E, Mora, Zimmerman, punt.
@knighttown: Reyes, Hanley, Ichiro, Holliday, Utley.
Nice rant.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
hey i have a HUGE question. My closers need some upgrades. Originally i had soria, saito, mike gonzalez as my closers but with saito out and gonzalez practically useless i have gone through a series of closers such as heilman, madson, farnsworth, rodney. I was wondering which 2 relievers i should try to use. Im sick and tierd of relievers killing my ERA and WHIP, it happens every week. I
August 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
@Martin: Ziegler. Perez (CLE). Guardado (eh…). Broxton (also eh…). Buccholz (COL - nice ratios). Kuo (also nice ratios). there’s probably 3-5 others I’d use.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
@Denys: J.P. Howell… just to throw another name out there for ya
@Martin:Ziegler, R. Perez, C. Perez, Buchholz and Howell are good options.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
@Martin: Agree with all that Grey and Denys said. I’ve had Buchholz for months, and while he’s been great he has been a bit ragged lately. Same with Kuo, although I trust him a bit more that Buccholz right now. Ziegler has been great, obviously, and C Perez got the save today so he’s a real good option too.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
My SPs have been taking a beating lately, and I’m thinking some changes are in order. My possible expendables are: Verlander, Harang, Guthrie, Kershaw, and Gio Gonzalez. FAs I am considering: Brett Myers, Scott Baker, Josh Johnson, Nolasco, Slowey, Parra, Ollie Perez. Should I move any of mine for any of these?
@royce!: Guthrie’s taking a beating? I’d move Kershaw for Baker, Gonzalez for Nolasco and would consider Harang, but I’d hold him for one more start.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
@Grey: No, I meant that overall my pitching has suffered lately, and Guthrie is a pitcher I would consider dropping if I’d be better off with one of the SPs on the wire. I like those other moves and will implement them immediately.