Carlos Guillen

Grey

Logan Morrison Can’t Tiptoe Through His Two Lips

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 117 Comments

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Logan Morrison was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.  Easy to say he was demoted because of his struggles since the All-Star break, but what fun would that be?  He just started to hit again — 4 for his last 11 with a homer and steal.  As Fredi Gonzalez and Dan Uggla before him, Logan’s run out of town by the Han-Man.  Easily having his worst season, it’s pretty incredible the nerve Hanley has putting his full 5-hour energy drink towards getting rid of Morrison.  Billy the Marlin would like to demonstrate the size of Hanley’s cojones.  I imagine Logan won’t be down in New Orleans longer than a couple of weeks so don’t do anything rash in deep keeper leagues.  Hopefully Morrison doesn’t take a bath in that French-influenced city.    Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Brian Wilson – Out with a back pain.  A back issue sent him to the DL in April, so if this a recurrence it could be trouble with a capital beard.  Romo would be the first option out of the bullpen but he has a tender elbow — I always prefer al dente.  Next up, Affeldt, who’s voiced by Gilbert Gottfried, but he’s a lefty so the Giants might just go with matchups as they did yesterday turning to Ramon Ramirez aka Ram-Ram.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Niemann Mark As A Buy

| Fantasy Baseball Buy/Sell | 214 Comments

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Jeff Niemann has always been a sell in your eyes.  The light, the heat… Your eyes.  The low K-rate, the walks… Your eyes.  The luck with homers per fly balls, the tough division… Your eyes.  So why am I saying Niemann’s a buy?  Am I sniffing the devil’s dandruff and just need to talk while I rub my gums?  Am I going through my blue period filled with self-loathing and blueberries?  Nay, horsey.  Niemann’s cut his walks, hasn’t been getting lucky this year and his low K-rate is still low.  Okay, so it’s not all peaches and cream.  But the Rays are also about to go against the A’s, M’s (or the AM’s as in their bats are asleep) and peasant Royals for a few weeks.  He might get the Blue Jays in the middle of that run, but you can pay that bridge toll when you get an E-Z Pass, or whatever that cliche is.  I’m not Niemann’s biggest fan, but for the next month he should look good… In your eyes.  Anyway, here’s some more players to buy or sell this week in fantasy baseball:

BUY

Phil Hughes – Actually pretty surprised all that Noo Yawk hype hasn’t raised Hughes over the 50% ownership mark.  Ya’ll must be still basking in your dirty water dogs and Jeter’s 3,000 hit.  “During Jeter’s tremendous accomplishment, when no one was looking, I chipped off a piece of the Pesci pole.  Now it’s framed above the coke spoon I used with Dale Berra.”

James McDonald – Some smarter-than-thou commenter pointed out to me that McDonald has 23 Ks in his last 24 1/3 innings while lowering his ERA from 4.86 to 4.15 in the last month.  We have the best commenters (except Lance Berkman; he only wants to talk about himself).

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Giants Reclaim The Brandonship Belt

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 211 Comments

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The Giants brought Brandon Belt back up from the minors where he was batting .293 with 3 homers in 12 games in July.  Last time he was recalled it was the Giants doing their best fill-a-Buster and Belt was a bench bat.  The time before that he was promoted and forgot his game back in Fresno.  “A box of sparklers, a Groupon to the Macaroni Grill, Brandon Belt’s game.”  That’s someone going through a lost and found in Fresno.  So those two negatives led to two (stutterer!) positives.  Bochy started Belt at first and he homered.  I’d look at Belt in all leagues for his sweet, sweet upside, but don’t drop anyone too good or it could end up smacking you upside your head.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Psyche!  Before we get into today’s roundup, wanted to mention that the fantasy football leagues are signing up over at our sister site, and I’m using the word sister like in Oz.  You click that linkie-ma-who and it’ll take you there.  It’s magic!  Anyway II, here’s the roundup:

Jeff Keppinger – Of course, Sabean acquired Keppinger.  Rogers Hornsby was unavailable.  Keppinger is a defensive upgrade on the usual flat-footed vet Sabean brings over like Burrell, who plays the mannequin defense.  Most times the defense alignment means moving guys in and out, right and left.  The mannequin defense requires them deciding if they want to play their fielders with their gloves in the air for a fly ball or on the ground because once the ball is hit there is no time for them to move their arms.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Diamondbacks Wash That Ace Right Outta Their Haren

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 81 Comments

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Dan Haren was traded to the Angels for a terrible pitcher and some prospects.  On a real baseball note, the Diamondhacks got had like they were taking cards from Ricky Jay.  I think the desert sun’s baked their brains.  To make a deal in the major leagues, you see what the Yankees will give you then you dangle that deal in front of all other clubs.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Biggest Debut Since Jesus In 0

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 330 Comments

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Virginia is renaming a city for Stephen Strasburg.  An old Yankee reliever is renaming himself Myke Stanton so he shows up again in Google.  It’s a brand new day, Sting.  You stink POO-holes, however you spell your name.  Hanley, don’t wanna run out a pop-up?  Have a good life!  Change came, nephew.  The mollywhopping, pony stick carrying, Mike Stanton is in town.  No homers though.  Sad trombone.  3-for-5 and a rope to right in his fourth at-bat.  He looked fast down the line and absolutely gigantic.  Like Frank Thomas big.  Maybe it was the 3-D glasses I was wearing.  Rudy and I were speaking about Stanton.  We agreed.  He could hit 15-20 homers and .280.  Or he could hit .220.  It’s rookie nookie, you gotta decide if it’s worth the blisters.  Now for Big Baby Jesus, Stephen Strasburg.  He had his last tune up tonight against minor league hitters… Oh, wait, that was the Pirates.  My bad.   Strasburg was introduced, “Last name:  Ever.  First name:  Greatest.”  For a nifty trick, in the 2nd inning he threw a 98 MPH fastball and also caught it.  He looked flat-out dominating at times.  Towards the end of the game, he really started heating up — maybe he put his arm in the microwave for 15 seconds on both sides — and he looked unhittable.  He did after all strikeout 14 hitters.  And he homered three times.  Once off himself.  At other times, he looked like a rookie making mistakes.  I mean, he did give up a homer to Delwyn “I Don’t Even Know How To Spell My First Name” Young.  I think there’s going to be a bunch of 6 inning, 2-3 earned run, 8-10 K games and some wins.  Fantastic, for sure.  He could win the Rookie of the Year over Heyward.  But you didn’t just back into owning 1999 Pedro.  Not yet at least.  Maybe next year.  Yesterday, one of our three girl readers got Sabathia, Dunn and Ervin for Strasburg.  That’s tremendous value for Big Baby Jesus.  I’d explore how hyped he is in your league too.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Cameron Maybin – Will sit in favor of Stanton.  That’s so Maybin!  Oh, wait.  No, it’s not.  In NL-Only keeper leagues, I would hold onto Maybin.  Elsewhere… Well, if you worried your team can’t continue without Maybin, you have bigger fish to fry.  Marlin pun!  Kinda!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

The Limp-Off Home Run

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 184 Comments

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Kendry Morales could miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg during the celebration of his walk-off grand slam.  Too bad the Wide World of Sports isn’t still on.  They could’ve covered the agony and the ecstasy all in one full swoop.  This injury reminds me of the time Justin Duchscherer heard The Hokey Pokey and in celebration put his right hip out.  And didn’t put his right hip back in for six to eight months later.  In place of Kendry, the Angels could call up Mark Trumbo.  In AL-Only leagues, he’s worth grabbing for his power potential.  In 47 games, he has 11 homers, but it’s also in the PCL, so there’s your grain of salt.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Howie Kendrick – 2-for-5, 4 RBIs and two home runs.  Second home run was a game winner but there was no need for pylons around yesterday’s pile-on.  The celebration was kept in check by Scioscia.  He said under no circumstances is anyone supposed to injury another teammate in a celebration unless that player is Mike Napoli.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Hey Ya! Andre’s Out, Cast?

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 142 Comments

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No, there’s probably no cast in Andre’s future.  I’m not even sure they make casts small enough for the pinkie finger.  That was Pingping‘s downfall, that and the chain smoking.  After Andre Ethier broke a bone in his pinkie, he said something was seriously wrong.  Seriously?  You got a boo-boo on your pinkie!  What, you can’t make shadow animals now?  When he found out what it was, he said that it’s the leverage point of his swing and it would prevent him from holding the bat the way he normally does.  Who’s leverage point is their freakin’ pinkie?!  This is like the pea under the princess’s mattress.  His biggest concern is probably how he can stick his pinkie out while drinking tea.  Ethier could be out for a few weeks or he can play through it.  So he’s damned if he does or a half dozen of the other… Or however that cliché goes.  If it is his leverage point, you don’t want him playing through it.  If he doesn’t play through it, he could be out at least a few weeks.  And here I thought the only time Ethier and the word pinkie would be associated would be from this picture.  Draw your own conclusions, but I’m guessing he’s in Key West.  Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Chad Billingsley – 7 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks.  What every pitcher needs, a trip to Petco.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey / Rudy

Davis Not Laughing At ‘Up In Smoak’

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 190 Comments

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Chris Davis was sent down as a tear rolls down Bill James’ cheek.  Coming up to take his place, Justin Smoak.  Back in June, Stephen took out his incisors, chewed up and spit out some Justin Smoak fantasy value.  For those too lazy to go back and read that post, it says, “(Smoak) has a great swing because his hands move together with his body producing a short, solid swing with few holes (his plate coverage is great).

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Top 60 Outfielders for 2010 Fantasy Baseball

| 2010 Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 50 Comments

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With more outfielders than G-Unit feuds, we take it to the top 60 outfielders for 2010 fantasy baseball.  These guys may seem like they’re not worth the effort, but remember last year Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz and Justin Upton were found here.  As with the other 2010 fantasy baseball rankings, where tiers start and stop are mentioned and my projections.  Anyway, here’s the top 60 outfielders for 2010 fantasy baseball:

41.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Going Back To Furcali

| Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 26 Comments

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Yesterday, Rafael Furcal went 2-for-4 with a steal.  I thought Furcal was overvalued in the preseason because I thought he was more fragile than Alanis after a breakup.  Well, he’s actually played the whole season, albeit terribly.  He’s been on base over 200 times.  He has 10 steals with 6 times caught.  Who gave him Kirk Gibson’s fist-pumping legs for five months?  But, and here’s the head turner, he has 4 steals in the last seven games.  Not sure what happened to Furcal the first 95% of the season, 10 steals used to be a good month for him.  Maybe he’s a Latin 31.  But never us mind, he’s hot right now.  If he was dropped anywhere, he’s currently hitting over .500 in the last week with 4 steals.  Go fur it!  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Bobby Jenks – I might’ve misspoke when I said Linebrink would be the closer.  Grey wrong?  Get outta here this instant!

Please, blog, may I have some more?