Yesterday, Alex Cobb threw a 4-hit, 2-walk shutout with 8 Ks vs. the A’s. Cy Cobb? Nah, probably not. Last night though, pretty. Let’s look it how The Tampa Bay Peach got where he is. Earlier this year, The Tampa Bay Peach hit that sweet spot, deciduously ready and he dropped to the ground, rolled about sixteen feet into the River Styx as “Come Sail Away” was playing in the background. Then a little Persian boy, picked him up and said, “Ah, Ma, peche. This is better than Momofuku.” Before he could bite into him, he held him up to the Fruity God, who likes to wear tight rainbow spandex, but no one talks about that, and the Fruity God said, “That’s not a peach; that’s a pitcher, let’s put him through the minor leagues and give him a 4-something ERA going into the A’s game so only the Stream-o-Nator knows to stream him.” And so it was. That’s a tale that Jason Collette tells his nephew when he can’t get him to go to sleep. Cobb’s actually pitched better than his 4.23 ERA shows with his mid-3 xFIP. He’s had some bad luck with men left on base and balls hit into play. He hasn’t reached his K-rates of the minors and with his barely 90′s MPH fastball it may not happen. Next year, he’ll probably be close to a 3.75 ERA with a low 7 K-rate and have around a fantasy four or five value, but, for one night, let’s be glad the Fruity God stopped that little Persian boy. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Collin McHugh – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 9 Ks. Took over for Johan in the Mets rotation and did a bloody good job, McHugh, bloody good. Let’s see what we know about him. He was an 18th round draft pick which means no one was ever clamoring for his affection. ”Hey, guys, I can also hand-under-my-armpit fart ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb.’” That’s McHugh at the MLB draft. He looked solid in every stop in the minors with a high 8+ K-rate and around a 3 walk rate, while his family shortened his last name from McHughjerk. A good call, I say. The problem for right now is he won’t be able to go every fifth day because of an innings restriction. He’s a very low end starter to stash in NL-Only keepers and a streamer candidate in all leagues.
Ivan Nova – Yankees placed him on the 15-day DL with right rotator cuff inflammation. The Yanks are saying it’s a minor problem. Yeah, and the Titanic was a minor iceberg.
Tyson Ross – 6 IP, 5 ER. Aw, shoot, too bad, Ross. Now bring back Straily!
Mike Napoli – Won’t be ready to return on Sunday, but is probably closer to a week away. He’s on Italian People’s Time. Punctual for meals and to call his Mom three times a day, but late for everything else.
Roy Oswalt - 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks to lower his ERA to 5.94. He has 47 Ks and only 10 walks in 50 innings. I’m no pitching coach, but he might want to walk a few more and not challenge as many. Or maybe he’s distracted thinking about the target practice he left behind. Roy, did you have to glue them together in such a demeaning way?
Adrian Beltre – 3-for-5, 2 runs and a solo homer. His fourth in two games. It’s an election year, but I don’t even think El Senator is running.
Denard Span – 2-for-5, a RBI and 2 steals as he returned to the lineup. In the offseason, when he’s traveling overseas, you think he signs off his postcards with, “Span’ing the globe?” Just a thought.
C.J. Wilson – 5 IP, 6 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks. So, you guys had better days and you can’t ever take those away. Though his post-All Star break 6+ ERA sure is doing its best to help take away all of those fond memories. ”Why are you using my old pictures for toilet paper?” That’s you talking to his post-All Star break ERA. I’d lose him in most shallower mixed leagues for a hot hand off waivers. He gets the Sawx again next time out, then he’s in Oakland, who just beat on him a few starts ago.
Mike Trout – 3-for-6, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 steals, 2 legit, 2 quit.
Howie Kendrick – 2-for-5, a run and RBI. He obviously didn’t have the season that I envisioned for him back in March, but he has a hit in every game in August except for one and is hitting .310 since June 1st. The power is admittedly in the can, which stinks. Literally.
Vernon Wells – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and a homer. On the year, he has 8 homers and 21 RBIs. He’s also making $21 million this year. That contract should be nicknamed, “Blackjack Can I Get A Mulligan?”
Albert Pujols - Day-to-day with calf inflammation. He should be fine to go in the next few days. Unless Mike Trout touches his calf, then he’ll be fine immediately.
Jon Jay – 2-for-4, 3 runs, now is hitting near .400 in the last week. He would’ve been in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell, but he didn’t make the imaginary less than 50% owned. Bummer, he’ll also miss the $50,000 Buy/Sell contract bump as negotiated by Boras.
Allen Craig – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs. By this point in the season, I know where most players will be drafted next year and where I’m gonna probably rank them, but Craig’s a bit of a wild card. I think he might go as high as the top 100 overall for some ‘perts and as low as 175 for others. He’ll probably fall somewhere around 130 for me. He’s going to be tricky because if you prorate his stats out over a whole season, he looks great, but is he injury prone? Or were they freak injuries (not injuries sustained by dropping a bong on one’s toe, which is a Freak injury)? Or is he prone to freak injuries? Can someone be prone to freak injuries? Now I feel like I’m writing up a philosophy exam for first year med students. If they had someone who had no business writing up exams, writing them up.
Jake Westbrook – 5 IP, 5 ER, 9 baserunners, 1 K. There was some disagreement in the comments yesterday over whether this was a decent start as predicted by the Stream-o-Nator, where S.O.N. gave it a 120. 5 earned vs. the Astros but with a win? Personally/redundantly, I want more from the Stream-O-Nator than a conshellation prize. Stream-o-Nator, “How about you blow me?” Damn, S.O.N, someone didn’t have their morning coffee.
David Freese – 3-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 17th homer. Another guy that could be tricky to rank. Then throw in Lohse and his 2.61 ERA and 1.08 WHIP and the Cards are a bunch of riddles wrapped in a conundrum asking “What does it all mean” to an old Asian man on a mountain in Tibet.
Tommy Hanson – 4 1/3 IP, 4 ER vs. the Giants. I know Hommy Tanson, and, you sir, are no Hommy Tanson. He has a 4.40 ERA on the year and, if this is the line he puts up while in San Fran, I’d look elsewhere in most mixed leagues.
Sergio Romo – Was the name Bochy pulled out of his hat for the save last night. It also took him about 45 minutes to find one of the folded pieces of paper in his hat.
Devin Mesoraco - The Reds sent him down to the minors. Then next week they plan to call him up again when rosters expand. This is called regifting your prospects to your fans.
Todd Frazier – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs. As I’ve assumed all along, Dusty said Frazier would lose playing time when Votto returns. He said, ”At some point in time, the world is going to be his. Now it’s partially his, which isn’t a bad spot to be in.” At least the Cincinnati Enquirer said that was Dusty, it sounds a lot like one of the last things Kim Jong-il said about his son. Dusty might be taking his team’s name a little too literal.
Alfredo Aceves – 1 IP, 5 ER. He saw eight hitters in the 9th and gave up 3 runs, so, of course, Valentine sent him out there for the 10th inning to give up a lead off homer and a single, which later scored. What we learned from that? Valentine owns Andrew Bailey in a fantasy league. What a mess this game was in its entirety. It was like Vin Mazzaro was pitching for both sides.
Dustin Pedroia – 4-for-6, 3 runs, 5 RBIs and his 11th homer. I get the sense this Sparky Anklebiter is trying to make up for lost time as the season comes into its homestretch. Hitting around .330 in August with five steals while knocking out 2 homers this week. It may take 20 minutes to cook grits, but 5 months of baseball for grit to get going.
Pedro Ciriaco – 4-for-6, 4 runs. I almost put Ciriaco in this afternoon’s Buy, but, well, he’s here now; don’t get greedy. He’s been hitting around .350 in the last week and 35+ steal speed over the course of a season. If you’re struggling at MI, he’s worth a flyer.
David Ortiz - Could be activated today as he was able to run without incident. I didn’t even know running was a part of his game. Call him Usain Bloat.
Miguel Cabrera - Left yesterday’s game with a sore ankle. The Tigers’ doctor declared him fine going forward after they had him walk a straight line and then touch his nose while standing on one foot.
Justin Verlander – 9 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 12 Ks. He’s been as terrific as advertised in the preseason. I still see no reason to own a pitcher this good in most mixed leagues. Right now, I’m rocking Medlen, Gio, Bumgarner, Vogelsong and Straily in the RCL (after dropping Lynn, Peavy, Latos and Minor, to name a few) and, trust me, pitching isn’t the issue for my team (with 50 out of a possible 60 pitching points). There is just so much pitching in these 12 team mixed leagues. I could throw a rock and hit 5 waiver wire pitchers to pick up.
J.A. Happ - 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks. Wikipedia says J.A. pronounces his name “Jay.” Not to be an ass, but then your name is J. Happ or Jay Happ. If you’re gonna go through the trouble of J.A., then your name is Jay A. I’d even accept Jay Alpha. Any the hoo! He’s actually been much better this year than in 2011 or according to his ERA (4.68). His xFIP is around 4 and his K-rate is almost at a 9 with only 49 walks in 134 2/3 IP (129 Ks). Could be interesting for next year.
Edwin Encarnacion - 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 33rd homer. Not even Momma Encarnacion believes the season her little one is having.
Jose Bautista - Hit two homers in his last rehab game. As of today, he’s your starting 3rd baseman and if he has a good September to help you win your league, you will name your firstborn after him. ”Jose Kapowitz, nice to meet you. What an interesting first name for a Jew.”
“Unless Mike Trout touches his calf, then he’ll be fine immediately.” -Does this apply to that specific trout, or will any ol’ trout do?
@darkdragon88, Just Mike, sorry… Hope your calves get better…
Cobb or Skaggs going forward?
@Mr. Duck Fat, Matchups and will Skaggs in the rotation are big factors… Skaggs…
Some crappy options here, but for Saturday are your all interested in a recalled Smyly v LAA or Steve Johnson v TOR?
Or even Guthrie in Fenway?
This is H2H where there’s not much stream-worthy stuff left…
@Steve, Scratch Guthrie. He’s gone.
@Steve, These are terrible… Smyly if I had to choose one…
Thanks to the Stream-o-Nator, I will have a Cobb salad with extra cheeese!
@the hungarian hippo, Nice!
@Grey, I like my Cobb salad with Streamy dressing
Ha… It’s the best!
Was not expecting chipmunks…. Haha!
@Prezii, Ha…They’re prairie dogs!
@Grey, ohhh, this they are.. still wasnt expecting anything small and furry!
Hehe… They’re cute… I’m going all I Can Haz Cheeseburger…
@Grey, little fur action never hurt anybody! Haha besides, chicks dig prairie dogs! Or anything small and furry for that matter.. why do you think they love the stache!?
Very true!
SON liking Vogelsong a lot. Would you start him in a 12 team mixed league tonight with confidence?
@Grey’s da man!, Same question here. He sharted the bed the last 2 times out, so I’m a little scared….
@Grey’s da man!, Yeah, I’m starting him, not thrilled about it…
you say Verlander isnt worth owning in 12 team mixed, where is it acceptable to own him then?
@Balls deep in Bumgarner, In an AL-Only and deep mixed leagues, he can buoy an entire staff…
Michael Chabon, move over. There’s a new sheriff in town writing baseball magical realism. “Weirdly fantastic!” –LA Times “Informative and yet bonkers!” –Sporting News “Better than Summerland (though that’s not saying much)!” –Random Guy from Goodreads
Now… I can start my day.
@The Miracles, Ha, thanks!
Brown or Saunders?
@chunk, Saunders
Do you like Jaime Garcia to stream tomorrow? @CIN doesn’t seem too enticing..
@JTR, Yeah, I’d start him…
pick up Brett Anderson or Dan Straily?
@Jermo, Anderson
With Wells back, do you think Trout starts to lose some playing time too?
@Wake Up, Really?
@Wake Up, Knowing Scioscia… Nah, he can’t be that crazy…
@Grey, never underestimate the poor judgement of the Sciosiapath….Izturis, Mathis, McPherson, shall I continue?
Not to mention the ones he didn’t play… Jeff Mathis is all that needs to be said for the ones that did play…
@Grey, when was the last time a manager held a job for a decade of under-achievement after winning a world series? And in that fact, a world series against Dusty which is like playing golf with a 15 handicap against a scratch player.
I’m surprised Moreno didn’t make a play for Ozzie…
@Grey, Moreno is a little too conservative and you know the orange Counters would not be pleased with Ozzie’s personality. I know too many angel fans that are all starry eyed when you speak of the Sciosiapath. And in all seriousness the Angels try so hard to mimic what the Dodgers experience use to be. They brought in Farmer John dogs, the ushers have the exact straw hats the Dodgers ushers use to wear, and they are actually friendly and helpful, like the Dodgers stadium staff use to be. And you know he wants to move them into actual LA county.
And they put Los Angeles in their name… Yeah, you’re right, Ozzie probably wouldn’t fit… But, yeah, Scioscia’s been by on good vibes and bad farts for a while now…
@Grey, I can’t believe I talk so much smack about him. When i was a kid he came to our little league for opening day and we thought it was the coolest thing ever. And now i shame him for not being able to manage. Oh how the times they are a changin.
Love it how Todd Frazier is one of the top ranked players in the entire league for the last 30 days and Dusty plans to cut into his playing time.. He’d also pitch Strasburg every 3rd day for 295 innings this year so Im not surprised.
@2 Cups 1 Braun, Ha, exactly…
Hey Grey, Rutledge or Cozart until Bonifacio gets back? Thanks.
@Watson, Cozart
Is Billy Hamilton a realistic option in a 16 team league if he gets called up, or as a pinch runner is he not worth it despite the speed.
Worth stashing? All depends whether Tulo comes back healthy, if he doesnt Id have a need for a middling infielder.
@TheNewGuy, Yeah, he’s worth a flyer…
shiiiiiiit, Greinke has been so bad in the AL. what kind of line do you expect from him tonight? is he even worth a start
@Matt, 6 IP, 4 ER? I’d start him…
I need to find me a MLB Steroid pool that works along the lines of a celeb death pool. At least then Encarnacion would be a legit 1st round pick…if Toronto was in contention like the Giants/A’s, Edwin would have started counting down his 50 games by now.
I’ve been taking to calling Trout “Magic Mike”, but love the Hammer reference.
@fri-guy, Nice… Who else is first round? I think Pujols is a perennial first round pick… Braun is a gimme since he tested positive once already sorta…. Big Papi…. Joey Bats…
@Grey, I got Johan Santana, Mo Rivera as 1st rounders and possible sleeper picks in Carols Ruiz and Ben Sheets for later rounds.
Nice picks, fri-guy…
@Grey, Clemens might be coming back… could be a decent late round flyer.
Good call!
@Grey, Braun is a wasted pick. even if he didn’t learn his lesson in the offseason, he just set the entire porn industry back 6 months when they used his backup sample in a recent production.
Do you know what happened to Andrew Miller? I have him as a guy with SP eligibility for HLDs. He was good for a while but now he is not even pitching in meaningful situations anymore despite still pitching pretty well.
He hasn’t even pitched since Sunday. Arm probs? In Bobby V’s doghouse?
@papasmurf, I think he took some time off to write a book: http://www.smashinglists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Andrew-Miller-Top-Ten-Historical-Novels_thumb.jpg
@papasmurf, Doghouse maybe, haven’t read anything about him… Did read something by him though…
@Grey, Someone needs to get some plastic surgery or take some anti-aging pills… LOL
Ha….
SON rocked my fantasy world yesterday. I was admittedly hesitant, but Cobb’s 112 rating translated to success. I can only make two roster moves before Sunday, so I plan to drop Cobb to stream two more pitchers. Of the following three starts, who would be your 1st and 2nd picks?:
Friday: Patrick Corbin vs. San Diego (SON says: 102)
Saturday: Jeff Karstens vs. Milwaukee (SON says: 113)
Sunday: Aaron Harang vs. Miami (SON says: 117)
Obviously, if I blindly trust the SON, then I’m going Karstens and Harang. But because it’s Jeff freakin’ Karstens we’re talking about, it’s hard to blindly trust anything…which is why I’m asking the question. Help, please. Thank you!
@Chillmodious, I’d go Corbin and Harang…
Offered Bedard, Pagan, Butler and Pedrioa for Trout, Jarrod
Parker and Kendrick.. Should I consider it?
@Jessegeeeee, Nope
Hi Grey,
What would you expect from Stephen Drew going forward?
Thanks,
Brian
@Brian, 3 homers, .250 average… Nothing good… I did see he had some hits last night in the top of the order, but I’d like to see more first…
@Grey,
Thanks Grey. I am in an AL only league and have a hole at 2B. I can slot my MI at 2B and debating on picking up Drew.
Currently I am 3rd in Avg and 2nd in SB but 9th in HR, RBI, Runs. there is a chance to move up a bit in those cats but i am worried about him dropping my avg.
Not sure who you’re dropping for him… Take followups to the newest post…
With three weeks (after this week) left for until a two week playoffs in a 10 team H2H.
Would it be a prudent decision to put a waiver claim on Tommy Hanson and cut either Jamie Garcia, Shaun Marcum, or James McDonald?
@Pokey Reese, Nope
Hey Grey.
I’m allowed only two more moves until the end of the season in my Yahoo league and I can still grab Brandon Morrow. Who should I dump for him: Hanson or Fiers ?
Wait for tonight’s game before making a move, then if Fiers is terrible go with him…
S
Sit 2:
Hosmer, Rasmus, Aybar, Carter, Espinosa, Frazier, Jennings, Victorino
@Jon, Carter, Rasmus
Start Jeff Samardzija vs Pomeranz (Col) ?
Start Niese vs Lyles (Hou)?
Thanks
I’d start both…
Who gets the bench?
Colvin at Samardzija
C Young Stults
C Ross vs Chen
?
Thanks as always
Krispie
Drop one of these for Straily? Thanks
Niese
Vargas
Samardzija
Medlen
Scherzer
Harvey
McCarthy
Anderson
I’d hold for right now…
Is Bautista definitely going to be in the Lineup today? Trying to set my roster.
That’s the word…
Start E. Jackson today @ PHI?
12 team H2H pts playoffs with plenty of starts available.
I would…
Could you get Trout to touch Votto’s leg for me? “Sure” is the preferred response, but “How about you blow me” is also an acceptable reply.
Are any of these ROS type guys, or should I keep streaming? 12 team HTH.
Anderson, Harvey, Parker, Cobb, Straily
Thanks!
Ha! I’ll see what I can do… Anderson and Straily (when called up), then stream…
It sounds like Trout could walk on water.
He can’t?
@Grey, I should never doubt the second coming of Christ, have you seen all those fish symbols on cars, they had been telling us this whole time that a fish will save us from eternal damnation. I guess Salmon and Bass were just false profits…..And that makes Harper the anti-christ, it really makes sense, he is heavily promoted by the devil (E$PN) who entices us with it’s 24 hour cycle and catchy coolness, people worship them so much that they have named their kids after a network, Its worshiping a false idol. The end of days are coming and will you be saved by the trout or be given eternal damnation by the Bryce….who knew god would have chosen baseball as his communication tool with us.
Didn’t you see Field of Dreams? Of course He chose baseball… Take followups to the newest post…
what do you project from Clemens, ROS? do you see him getting save chances in Houston or is he more likely to solidify their rotation?
He’s just to draw some fans as a circus attraction…
****THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.****
@Grey
Would you stream Karstens v. MIL tomorrow? SON likes him but I’m not sure. 10 team mixed.
I’d streaming in a 12 team league, not crazy about it in a 10 team one… Take followups to the newest post…