Eric Young, Jr. was in the September call up post, but it turns out he’s a preemie by a week. Young has so many steals in the minors he’s worth a pickup in every league. How many steals, you ask. Well, I was getting there if you give me a second. In the last four years of the minors, he has 87, 73, 46 and 58 steals, respectively. Or disrespectfully, holy effin hey, are you kidding me? In my never-ending rotation of schmohawks (thanks Beltran!), I dropped Alcides Escobar for Young in one league and chucked Drew Stubbs for him in another. Will Young play every day? Seems doubtful. He has been playing in the outfield for at least a few days and will occasionally spell Barmes — B-A-R-M-E-S. I think he’ll see four to five days a week, but for those needing steals, you know the drill. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Johan Santana – Done for the season. This, and his lackluster (for him) season, might actually help Johan come at a discount in 2010 drafts. I wouldn’t reach for him because I don’t believe in drafting pitchers early, but I could see him falling into the 5th or 6th rounds of early drafts. The reason why I specify early is because once Johan looks good in spring training, he’ll bump up a round or two. Then if Johan looks terrible in March, you’ll want to trade him for Nick Markakis. Oh, and your fly’s open. Don’t ask me how I know.
Billy Wagner – Headed to the Sox before The Curse of the Shirtless Bernazard got him. He’ll back up Papelbon and, as a commenter pointed out yesterday, hopefully he turns out better than The Gagne Experiment™ in 2007.
Hank Blalock – Will be a bench player and will be asked to perform Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. This is good news for Chris Davis. Now for Davis to do something with this vote of confidence.
Freddy Sanchez – Headed to the DL. Postdate this next comment 2011: The Giants trade for Sanchez will cost them dearly.
Jake Peavy – Doode just can’t win. On the next to last batter in his last minor league start, he was hit on the elbow by a comebacker. Cue Kudrow, “I did not need to see that!” Now because of elbow soreness, he might not be able to pitch this Saturday vs. the Yanks.
Joba Chamberlain – 4 IP, 7 ER. He’s going again on regular rest this Sunday vs. the Orioles, so I can kinda understand holding him until then, but he’s really unstartable. Then, on top of that, he’s been skipped here and there. Okay, he’s not unstartable; he’s unownable.
Jorge Posada – Hit his 16th homer yesterday. I’m calling a bogey on February Grey who said Posada was done. He obviously was not done. Being wrong at catcher is the position to be wrong at, but nevertheless still wrong.
Robinson Cano – Hit his 20th homer yesterday. Not wrong here, because in the preseason I put him in the “Good value before we get to total Crapolanco” Tier.
Mat Latos – 7 IP, 2 baserunners, 0 ER in Atlanta. I’m guessing a lot of people were sonavabenched on this one.
Jimmy Rollins – 2 HRs yesterday. Coming up after the break, J. Rolled The Dorf.
Brad Lidge – No outs recorded, 3 earned. Lidge has blown nine games this year, an 0-6 record and a 7.33 ERA. If anyone happens to run into Lidge, give him my regards. And, by regards, I mean the middle finger. (BTW, On one team of mine, I had Lidge, Frank2, Capps and Bell all give up runs and blow three saves. Bad week to quit sniffing glue.)
Ryan Doumit – Obviously just needed the additional push of me putting him in Friday’s Sell. He now has 2 homers in his last three games.
Travis Snider – Hit another homer yesterday and now two in three games. I have an idea, stop Kemping him and move him up the order.
Carlos Pena – 2 HRs. Six homers in the last week and a half. On August 13th, I asked how many homers does Pena have left in his bat? I gave the over/under of 13. That means he has an over/under of 7 left.
Carlos Zambrano – 4 1/3 IP, 8 ER. I admire Big Z for returning from the DL with a mustache, but this start did not make ‘stached men proud. No, sir. Clay Zavada and I may need to have a word with him.
Josh Willingham – 4-for-4, 2 HRs, 5 Runs and 6 RBIs. This is the total production of Jose Reyes’s 2009 season.
Zach Grienke – 8 IP, 2 ER, 15 Ks. *speechless*
Adam Wainwright – 8 IP, 3 baserunners, 5 Ks. His ERA is only .08 away from Greinke. Cust kayin’.
Bronson Arroyo – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 Ks. Continued his post-All-Star break march of excellence. He’ll fool someone next March who thinks he’s going to be good in April, May and June.
Felipe Lopez – 4-for-5 with his 8th homer. He left the game in the ninth and is day-to-day. It’s nice and all that he’s hitting .319, but 6 steals on the year is not buttering the biscuit.
Delmon Young – 4-for-5 yesterday. Wait, Delmon Young actually had a good game yesterday? Glory be! Only 18 months after predicted.
Howie Kendrick – HR yesterday as he started only his third game in the last week. In some ways, I kinda understand what Scioscia is doing with Kendrick’s playing time. I mean, everyone on the Angels is slap-hitting .300 right now. He could run out there Dick Schofield and he’d hit .300.
Laynce Nix/Jayson Nix – 3 HRs combined yesterday. Their older brother, Jaymes Nix got drunk.
