D-Backs To Make Playoffs or Strike Out Trying
August 11, 2008
Category: August's Daily Notes
Already sporting 2 of the top 3 NL windmills in Krispie Young and Mark Reynolds, the D-Backs traded for #5 Adam Dunn. Dunn will give you HR. Dunn will give you OBP. Everything else is ugly and it looks like the Reds just couldn’t take looking at it anymore. It’s as if he’s Moneyball on the rocks and everyone prefers to add some tonic or juice. This doesn’t do much for Dunn’s value. He still has home games in a hitter’s park and it’s not like his HRs wouldn’t clear the walls in San Diego and SF. This move adds some offensive punch to the D-Backs lineup, but remember Dunn was never a huge RBI guy. Speaking of huge, there’s a hole in the Reds team now that Kamala, the Ugandan Giant, (or Jim Thome) could walk through. Hairston should benefit from the lineup spot vacancy and Patterson should get most starts in the outfield. But who will the Reds now judge burly against? Their lardstick has left the building. Anyway, here’s what else we saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Evan Longoria - Fractured wrist sends Longoria to the DL. Word around Wisteria Lane is the injury happened from bitch-slapping Nicolette Sheridan. It’s tough being the youngest and prettiest on the block… For the Rays, this is a tough 1-2 after losing Carl Crawford. It’s as if the world realizes something is amiss with the Rays winning and wants to put things back in order. Bad news for Longoria owners. There’s a chance the Rays rush him back for the pennant race, but there’s also a good chance he may not return this year in time to help anyone or he may return and not be the same hitter in the final month. Wrist injuries are often doom for hitters’ short-term production.
CJ Wilson - Done for the season. Guardado will remain the closer until he begins to look more like the real Guardado then Frank Francisco will take over. ETA for real Guardado? 3 days to one month.
Justin Verlander - 4.1 IP, 6 ER. Reports are saying he has a dead arm. That doesn’t mean he’s walking around like a zombie with his arm sticking out. It means Leyland had him throw 130 pitches last week then had him throw 4 days later. Luckily, a dead arm is not as bad as an injured arm. But it’s the first step.
Aaron Heilman - 3 ER, blowing the save. If Heilman’s got Jerry Manuel pulling out his hair, he might want to call Guiseppe Franco. When the best righty closer in your team’s 40+ year history is Armando Benitez, you’ve got to expect the worst. If you’re Double D’d with closers, you might want to punt this whole situation.
John Grabow - Save for Pittsburgh. Might be good for 5-7 more saves the rest of the way which will require 10-12 Tums.
Glen Perkins - Kudos to those of you who had the cajones to start the now 9-3 Perkins against the Yanks as he shut them out for 8 innings. He’s not going to give you K’s or a great WHIP but he might be worth keeping an eye on for spot starts the rest of the way.
Carlos Lee - Had surgery on his pinkie. The operating doctor said, “It had been torn apart like a jigsaw puzzle that we put together.” Okay, but was it like a snow scene puzzle where there’s like 3000 white pieces or was it a dogs playing poker puzzle?
Shaun Marcum - 6 IP, 2 ER. He looks flat-out usable. (Which is, of course, below flat-out dominating and above flat-out awful.)
Nomar Garciaparra - Returns from the DL on Tuesday. Hopefully he doesn’t hurt anyone else reinjuring himself on Wednesday.
Hideki Matsui/Joba Chamberlain - Hideki’s running the bases and Joba’s set to throw on Friday. Everything’s all right in Yankee land, except for getting shutout by the aforementioned Glen Perkins. And batting Justin Christian lead off. And being 9 games behind the Rays. And being closer to the fourth place Jays than the second place Sox. And starting Sidney Ponson every fifth day. And starting Rasner. And relying on Xavier Nady. And still paying Carl Pavano. And thinking Ivan Rodriguez would really matter in the big picture. But other than those things, all is right in Yankee land.
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Tags: Aaron Heilman, Adam Dunn, Carlos Lee, CJ Wilson, dunn fantasy baseball, dunn trade, dunn traded, dunn traded fantasy baseball, Evan Longoria, Glen Perkins, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, John Grabow, Justin Verlander, Nomar Garciaparra, Shaun Marcum
August 12th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Could Bush be for real?
Was glad to see Grey call out the Lidge sitch. Other rotosites were way behind. If just one, Durbin or Madson?
August 12th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Longoria going down is a major bummer - for the Rays, for his ROY chances, and most importantly for my 2nd place AL-only team! Here’s hoping he can return relatively quickly and be effective. Here’s a quote from Rays Exec VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman: “It’s non-displaced, which is good news. As we’re looking at it now, we don’t think it will be too long after that two-week period,” Friedman said. “Whether it’s three weeks, or a little bit sooner than that, or a little bit later, I’m not sure.”
As for Dave Bush, dude IS for real. It’s amazing that only Haren and Hamels have a better WHIP in the NL.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:57 am
better 3B for last 2 months Double E or Joe Crede (when he returns) ?
August 12th, 2008 at 6:03 am
@wakeNbake: I grabbed EE to holdover for Longoria. There’s also Ian Stewart out there (in my league anyway) that might be worth a flier. Also check out Mora, he probably won’t keep it up, but play the hot hand for now - it wasn’t long ago that he was a top 10 3B. He finally has some protection with Markakis in front and Huff hitting really well behind him. If it really comes to it then Kouzmanoff has been usable lately, Casey Blake might have a nice month, and Jerry Hairston has 3B eligibility (at least in Yahoo!) with playing time coming up now that Dunn is traded… What I’m trying to tell you is stay away from Crede.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:18 am
What about Chase Headley over EE? Both are available in my league…
August 12th, 2008 at 7:21 am
It’s interesting that Giuseppe Franco cuts the hair of Erik Estrada and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:28 am
i need cheap saves who can i pick up
August 12th, 2008 at 7:30 am
@Martin: who’s available?
August 12th, 2008 at 7:39 am
@Denys: Why are you sour on Crede? Is it the injury?
August 12th, 2008 at 8:12 am
@iowa madson, r perez, heilman, rauch, t jones, rodney, grabow.
@Nicky B: At the Dodgers isn’t an awful matchup for most, but Bush has a 6.19 ERA away from Miller Park. I wouldn’t risk it.
@RotoAdvantage: He wins the ROY even if he doesn’t play another game this year, doesn’t he?
@wakeNbake: I’d go EE.
@whigs: I’d go EE if you can only go with one. If you have room, I’d go EE at home and Headley away.
@Martin: Saves and only saves, I’d go Rodney, Grabow, Madson, Heilman, R. Perez, punt.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:51 am
After losing Crawford as my LF, does it make sense to deal Lincecum for Holliday? It’s a keeper league, and I’d definitely hold on to either next year. My remaining SPs after the trade would be E. Santana, Baker, Meche, Zambrano, Campillo, Jurrjens, and J. Shields.
@VanHammersly: I’d trade Lincecum for Holliday, sure.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
@Grey: I figured just as much; both are playing for underachieving teams, but ‘cum is only there to help once or twice a week. Thanks for the advice.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Kershaw at home tonight or Ubaldo at home?
@agarthered: Kershaw
August 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
@Grey: I also lost Longo. Hesitated on Headley with a homestand looming but looked at his splits, they’re not too dramatic. I think it’s 4 HRs at home, 4 away in roughly equal ABs.
I hate this time of the year when breaks and strains can be season-ending. One guy in my league was making a nice run at first then lost Carlos Lee. That ain’t right, even it helps my team.
I lost Hafner for September two years back, nearly killed me. It was a similar “X-Rays negative — PSYCH!” situation. GET BETTER X-RAY MACHINES.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:48 am
@Grey: It’s Kershaw v. Hamels, and I was thinking of sitting Kersh (I have both). Start both instead?
Also, Longo’s injury has stepped up my passing interest in A-Rod. The owner wants Holliday plus Ks. If I can get him for Holliday/Cain or H/C/Kershaw, is it worth doing? I’d probably get him to throw in Fuentes, since Heilman left a gift in the sheets last night.
Or maybe the difference between Holliday and A-Rod isn’t a difference maker for two months. Unless A-Rod goes nuke like he did in April ‘07.
@Baron Von Vulturewins: I’d start both.
I don’t think Holliday to Arod really makes that big of a difference to throw in Cain or Cain and Kershaw.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Who’s starting Kershaw tonight against Philly? I don’t want to, but will anyway.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Alright so Pence is definitely a mistake. I need another OF as backup to Quentin, Lee, Markakis & Delgado (utility). After trading away Figgins for E. Santana a month or so back, Figgins has now been dropped to waivers. Do I pick him up, or go to H Matsui? Or, is there someone hot you recommend right now?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I’m starting Kershaw, Volquez, Vasquez, and Lincecum tonight, quite nervous as the whip and era catagories are pretty close at the top in my league, but I need the wins and k’s.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
@IowaCubs: Pretty much. Back surgery is no joke. Now he’s had an epidural because of it. Sounds like it’ll be a reoccuring thing. I’m just not the one to take the risk.
That and EE is just plain better.
@Nick: Figgins has been hot, but you should only pick him up if you need what he gives (steals/runs, decent average). Conor Jackson has a good week of matchups. Is he available? Who’s available?
@agarthered: I’d be most worried about Vazquez.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I watched Vazquez’s last game against Detroit, Besides the two Hr’s(one which barely stayed fair from Miggy) he looked good, now he’s facing KC today so I have to give him the go ahead.
Im concerned about Volquez when I watched him against the brewers, he looked very hittable.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Yeah CoJack is available. Everyone is available 8team league…ill probably just go back to Jack
@agarthered: Don’t get me wrong, all of your guys are risky — Volquez, as well. But if you start three, the one you bench will have the nice game.
@Nick: Gotcha. Then I’d look at Jackson while in Coors.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Yeah that happened last week with Kershaw against the cards.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
who is better pelfrey or new red sox paul byrd
@Martin: If those are my only choices, I’ll take Pelfrey.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
oh man ortiz 2 hr’s in same inning
@agar: Damn, I wish I had Feldman in my Razzball league. Ortiz did have a big September last season, so it might be the start of something.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
@Grey: Don’t be too disappointed - only four of the runs were earned. now imagine how robbed you’d feel if you DID have him on your team.
My opponent this week has Papi, though
August 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
HA, The perils of teams with no manager - Ortiz is on a team in my league whose manager has quit. The kicker for me is that that team is playing my nemesis.
Change of topic: Is there a site where they tell you who is lining up to be a two start pitcher two weeks out? CBS allows you to click on stats, two start pitchers, and they show for the coming week only. Anyone go two weeks out?
August 12th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Did they move Boston to Colorado?
@BSA: I love that Texas is now winning that game. I doubt it ends 15-14 though. Or even stays that way long enough for me to type this comment. ESPN carries two start pitchers too.
EDIT: The 2 start pitcher link: http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=forecaster08week20
August 12th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Sounds like Atkins is out a few days with strep throat, so need a sub. Rate the candidates:
EE, Stewart, Gordon, Zimmerman. Stewart has to be good in Coors, right?
August 12th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
@Grey: Shaddap!
I am not computer illiterate but where are the 2 sp listed and how far out do they go?
Oh yeah just saw that Lincee had to come out of the game with a knee injury. Trading him last week for Billingsley and Ankiel looks pretty good.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Lewis closing in Cleveland?
August 12th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Michael Phelps is a MONSTER.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
screw you baron - all I had to do was drop someone.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Youk and Ortiz two dongs each - now a great football game.
@Steve: I’d go with Stewart for a few days, yeah.
@BSA: Lewis is not someone you want to invest too much in, unless you’re really desperate for saves.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Dude I am just plain desperate in the RCL.
@BSA: Go for it then. Perez is gone?
August 12th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
@Grey: Thanks. Is Zumaya good for anything anymore? Your Razzball team maybe?
August 12th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
look at comment 42 for your answer and the Hippo sat on Perez.
@Steve: Good for nothing.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
@Grey: Bye-bye Joel, hello Jensen, then.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
@Grey: He’s good for pissing me off in the RCL - I thought I had something. Bring out the Wii in Detroit.