I’m bitter. I dropped Brennan Boesch in one league on Wednesday night for Russell Branyan. Branyan DNP yesterday. Boesch hit a homer off CC. All my ex-classmates at the College of Fantasy Baseball at Charleston are going get on my case. That’s Waiver Wire 101, man! I’m chagrined. The problem is someone like Branyan will continue to play after Carlos Guillen comes back. For one, they don’t play on the same team. I can’t say the same about Boesch. I mean, I can, but it would be a lie. Boesch can hit; I like the little meister. If Guillen has a setback, I’ll want to own Boesch from H-to-T. Or if the Tigers make Guillen the backup, I’m all in on Boesch, but I’m going on the assumption that he won’t have everyday playing time when Guillen returns. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Justin Verlander – 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks. Imagine if he ever got his April act together. But then maybe his September pitching would be a holy eff bomb. Not sure. Something to think about while your significant other is talking about their day.
Scott Sizemore – 0-for-3, Lost in the haze of Gordon Beckham’s awfulness is this guy. Who knew a meth’d out Tom Sizemore would be the most reliable Sizemore this year?
Felix Hernandez – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks as he got Greinke’d. The next sentence will be typed with my tears. I can’t buy a Win.
Michael Saunders – 2-for-4 with a home run. He’ll be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. Now go to the Razzball homepage and don’t blink for five hours.
Chone Figgins – 0-for-3, batting .185 on the year. The good news is it’ll be easy to go back to hating this schmohawk next year.
Zack Greinke – 6 IP, 3 ER, 10 baserunners, 8 Ks as he finally got his first win. Just like the Royals to fire their manager after a Win. How dare you raise our fan’s expectations!
Alfredo Simon – Recorded his 5th save yesterday. Now has more saves than Broxton. Zoinks!
Corey Patterson – 2-for-4 with a homer from the leadoff spot. He was hitting in the minors when he was called up and he’s capable of getting hot for a week or two at a time. In the big picture, Patterson is not a good hitter, so if you want in, you get in now. You’ll need to get out soon though. To put it in New Jersey terms, you pass through Patterson, you don’t stay there.
Ryan Zimmerman – 3-for-5, 6 RBIs and 2 homers. Now has 8 homers in only 27 games since he missed just over a week with injuries. “If he stays healthy, he appears to be headed for a huge season,” Mr. Obvious says.
Jhoulys Chacin – 5 IP, 6 ER, 7 baserunners, 3 Ks. I blame the weather. No, I blame Coors. No, I blame Ryan Zimmerman. Actually, I blame Chacin and the fact he’s a rookie. Inconsistency is to be expected when you play with rookie fire. And Jhoulys is Aztec for fire. No, that’s not true. I don’t know what a Jhoulys is. Could mean pants.
Huston Street – Supposed to be a week away from returning, but Huston Street is paved with a lot of injury setbacks, so keep your excitement in check.
Hank Blalock – Scott Boras is telling anyone that will listen that Blalock can still play in the majors and he wants in now. Though, it’s probably Boras’s assistant; can’t imagine S.B. has time to worry about Blalock. Put Teixeira on hold, Blalock is on the line! Riiiiight. Blalock did hit last year and should be capable of producing in the majors, but he needs an everyday job. I’m not adding him anywhere. If you’re in a very deep league, I could see it. Like an 18 team league that only uses Scott Boras clients.
Bud Norris – 8 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 8 Ks. Wait, was he pitching against the Astros? Norris has upside, but he’s far too inconsistent to trust in mixed leagues at this point.
Hunter Pence – 1-for-4, as he hit his 5th homer and his third in four games. Your time to buy low is 4 PM, three days ago.
Jorge Cantu – 0-for-4 as he bats .146 in May. Member when I told you to sell him at the end of April? Member all of the people who commented that Cantu can keep this up? Wha’ happened?
Jake Fox – 3-for-5 as he got his 2nd straight start after only getting one start in the previous two weeks. I realize Landon Powell is awesome and all on the Real World/Road Rules Challenge and Josh Donaldson is related to Colby, but can’t someone figure out how to play Jake Fox every day? He has catcher eligibility!
Mat Latos – 9 IP, 1 hit, zero walks, 6 Ks. The only player to get a hit was Eli Whiteside, who I would think looks like Hyman Roth if I didn’t know any better. The good news on Latos, he’s cut his walks dramatically so far this year, which was a bugaboo last year. It’still early, but he has a 0.97 WHIP on the year. A very nice sign. BTW, the “s” I saved in “It’still,” I’m passing that on to you. You’re welcome.
Jonathan Sanchez – 8 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks and now has a 2.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP on the year. I’d be thrilled if he stays on this course all year. Okay, a Win would be nice, but if I wanted Wins I’d own Tyler Clippard.
Mark DeRosa – Could be headed to the DL. If it happens, John Bowker will get his third chance to fail in three years. If only the very forgiving Giants had Jake Fox…
Brad Lidge – The MRI showed no problems with his right elbow. After the test, Lidge said he felt so good he could go for another three MRIs.
