Zack Gliding Toward Cy Without A Screech
September 27, 2009
Category: Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes
Zack Greinke won his 16th game yesterday pretty much the same way he won his other 15. In September, he has a .35 ERA. That’s two earned runs through 26 innings. Okay, recent-history lesson aside. The question I’ve been thinking on a lot lately is where will he be drafted next year. I think it’s fair to assume he’s moved in front of Johan and Sabathia. Webb and Peavy hit speedbumps this year and Halladay’s been his usual dominating self, but he never seems to get the fantasy love. I mean, Halladay was better than everyone last year but wasn’t drafted in front of them this year either. So that leaves Greinke and Lincecum. Lincecum’s proven; he’s a top 2nd round pick. So is Greinke a 2nd to 3rd rounder? On one hand, it seems implausible to me that Greinke’s going to go that early (this might be because I don’t draft pitchers that early). On the other hand, he’s earned it. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Psyche! Before we jump into the roundup, and, oh, we will be jumping, Rudy updated the master standings. With 114 points out of 120, Mowses is parting the rest of you Razzballers with his cane and giant beard. Unfortunately, he has no shot at 120 points. Damn. We hoped with 9 leagues that one would get 120. How many leagues do we need to have to foster a perfect season? We feel like Mr. Burns did when those monkeys he had pounding away at typewriters were only able to manage, “It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times.” Anyway, roundup time…
Shawn Camp – Got the save yesterday. Probably a combination of Frasor working two innings the day before, Downs being, well, down and the Blue Jays not having a lead until the tail end of the 8th inning when Camp was already warming up.
Matt Tuiasosopo – HR yesterday. Not much else to say, just wanted to write his last name.
Patrick Misch – 9 IP, 0 ER, 2 Ks. Game before he gave up 8 earned in 1 1/3 innings. Okay then.
Carlos Quentin – HRs in back-to-back games this weekend as he showed a glimpse of the player he was before you wanted to kill him.
Daniel Hudson - 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 Ks, 5 BBs. If only BBs stood for Brian Benben sightings. (1st Dream On reference of the day. There will be another one this afternoon. If you can guess this afternoon’s reference prior to posting, I will buy dinner for you and your family at Friendly’s. *fast, hard to understand voice* Offer available online only. Offer applies to contiguous 48 states. “Family” includes you and one other person. No cousins or nephews. Dinner includes a Fishamajig sandwich and a Fribble. Winner must pay tax and gratuity.)
Mariano Rivera – Got the save yesterday as ESPN reported the Yanks clinched. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hughes gets a save this week.
Chris Tillman – 2 IP, 6 ER. In one of my leagues, I reached 179 starts the other day, so of course I threw eight starts on Sunday. Damn you, Tillman. I hate being roofied.
Matt LaPorta – HR yesterday and he’s batting over .400 in the last week. Andy Marte is even starting to hit (.467 over the last week with a homer) as the Indians have the best record for the last three days, tied with three other teams. Small victories, Tribe fans, small victories.
Asdrubal Cabrera – 4-for-5, 3 RBIs as he finishes up a decent year (79/6/68/.308/17). Yes, it’s only decent because it’s at shortstop. Alcides Escobar, Elvis Andrus and EverCab should make shortstop a bit more interesting next year, but not that much. Asdrubal’s only 23 so I’ll be mildly touting him again next year.
Nick Markakis – Hit a homer on Friday after I put the reverse kavorka on him in Friday’s Buy/Sell. It was his only hit this weekend (1-for-11). (David Wright went 1-for-10 and sat out Sunday. Maybe you can have a 2nd Place Finish But Still Owned David Wright trophy made.)
Edwin Jackson – 7 IP, 5 ER. He’s had an August (4.45 ERA) and September (4.78 ERA) to forget, but you didn’t think he’d even have an April or May or June or July to remember, so don’t hate on him too hard as uncool people who are trying to sound cool would say.
Ryan Madson – 1 1/3 IP, 0 ER as he got the save. I’d say Madson’s going to get every Phillie save this week, but every time I say that Lidge reappears to blow a save.
Mike Cameron – Has hit a homer in the past two games that he’s started. This isn’t a “Hey, look at Cameron” thing as much as a “Hey, Gerut’s playing time is getting pinched by Cameron and Hart” thing. I know, just when you thought you couldn’t dislike Hart any more.
Francisco Liriano – 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER. After the game, Liriano asked for a reversal of his surgery — “I want Johnny Tom surgery!”
Orlando Cabrera – 3-for-5 yesterday, batting near .400 over the last week. If you need a shortstop, here ya go.
Randy Choate – Entered a losing game in the 8th, then Lance Cormier got the save as Maddon played match-ups. The Rays’ closerousel is anyone’s guess for saves.
Huston Street – In case you missed it last week, Street is the closer. To prove it to everyone, he went two innings for the save yesterday.
Derrek Lee – Out three games now with a sore neck. He’s been dealing with this issue most of the season, but this latest flareup was caused when Angel Guzman gave him a celebratory tap on the helmet after a home run Lee scored on. Similar thing happened to Kaz Matsui last year when Berkman patted his ass after a homer.
Tags: Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Quentin, Chris Tillman, Daniel Hudson, Derrek Lee, Edwin Jackson, fantasy baseball, Francisco Liriano, Huston Street, Mariano Rivera, Matt Laporta, Matt Tuiasosopo, Mike Cameron, Nick Markakis, Orlando Cabrera, Patrick Misch, Randy Choate, Ryan Madson, Shawn Camp, Zack Greinke
September 28th, 2009 at 1:56 am
That, Grey, was my favorite headline so far. (Beat out the others not that I loved Saved By The Bell – my brother and I watched our fare share of it because it was soooo bad – but because how often do you see Screech references these days?!)
September 28th, 2009 at 4:21 am
post-season play and the new york fan base will have sabathia drafted in front of zack next year .
johan is still toast … (think $8 garlic bread , to go with that $12 salad) .
September 28th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Any chance you’ll do another Borderline Starters post this week? Was super helpful.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Wonder what DLee’s playing time would look like if he were getting up at night with the new baby? Waaaaah!
September 28th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Definitely interested in borderline SP’s this week. Just added Correia for a grudge match against the Giants. Other interesting options out there?
September 28th, 2009 at 6:35 am
@ Grey, I’m also trolling for catchers … have Olivo, but see Torealba, Montero, and Pierzynski are out there. Rank the 4 of them for remainder of the week in a daily H2H league?
September 28th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Clinging to a lead and need R/RBI/OBP to finish strong. I have Victorino and Dunn in the OF and need two more. Which of these for the final week:
Carlos Gonzalez, Stubbs, Ryan Sweeny, LaPorta, Span, Gerut, Diaz, David Murphy or Juan Rivera
September 28th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Tight race in saves and Bourn is going through an identity crisis. (Get it? Bourn? Identity? That’s why you’re the man, Grey.) He’s stolen 1 bag in the last week when guys like Punto are stealing 4… E. Patterson, Gwynn Jr… Think Bourn has some juice left in his legs the last week, or should I drop him for one of the above?
Thanks for all your advice, Grey. I’m a few SB from a championship.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:46 am
I know saves are wildly unpredictable, BUT if you were starting two this week, who do you have?
F. Cordero [6: StL (3), Pit (3)],
H. Street [6: Mil (3), @LAD (3)],
or T. Hoffman [6: @Col (3), @StL (3)] ?
@mikeisalegend: Cool
@big o: Hmm… Maybe on CC.
@Charlie: It’s coming in a few hours for the afternoon post.
@BSA: Hehe
@Big Mike: It’s coming in a few hours for the afternoon post.
@Big Mike: Go with Montero.
@Mr. Rickey: LaPorta and CarGo.
@Razzin: Hold Bourn.
@CocoPoolies: Cordero and Street.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Grey, H2H league championship, I think I want to sit Wright. I have Chris Davis or Encarcion to choose, what do you guys think?
@madballs: Davis
September 28th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Grey: Just noticed Hundley is still there too. Still Mad Dog Montero?
@Big Mike: Montero
September 28th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Am I crazy: dropped Headley (SD is back to playing at home) and picked up Rios, who has been playing better of late.
@DrEasy: That’s not terrible with Headley’s short week.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:17 am
First off: Great headline. They’re usually good, but this one’s excellent.
Also, I hate it when the guy you expected to be good starts to play well at the end of the season. Just when you thought he made himself a possible bargain for next year, the Toolbag decides to use his tools and give everyone hope for next year. Eff Hope. We don’t need it in non-keeper leagues.
So Markakis, you better suck bad this week. As you watch TV highlights of Furcal and Quentin pretending that they weren’t lousy for 4 months, don’t get any ideas. And Quentin, what the hell? This 2 HR thing better not become a habit til April.
@Tom: Ha, nice rant.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Grey,
I think, er I know, that I speak for EVERYONE when I say “Thank You” for all you have done this year. Not only is the info actually usefull, unlike some other “bloggers”, but hilarious. I can’t recall how many times I laughed out loud at some of the comments, just to have my co-workers ask “what was so funny?” Granted I had to lie and say it was something relevant to the work I do. Who am I kidding, what other types of people can laugh at the humor of a fantasy baseball antecdote?
As a recap, 3 leagues, 2 Championships and a 3rd place finish. I will definitely buy you another daquiri for all your hard work.
@Nate Marcum: Thanks! Glad it’s worked out for you.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Robot Jones continues to hit well. Do you think he is legit? I wonder how much he will cost next year? Probably $10-15 range.
@GTS: Might cost that in a mixed league. Probably will hit for power, but I think the average comes down some and the steals could evaporate. He may be good, he may be Ludwick of 2009.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
@GTS: 2 for 3, with a HR, a SB and 2 RBI so far today. But don’t let a quick glance at the box score fool you – the HR was a solo shot, natch.
I’m also curious about the conventional razzball wisdom on Jones for 2010. That his power is for real, but the average isn’t sustainable? I’ll try to remember to ask February Grey about this when I see him.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:05 am
@Grey: And there you have it (sorry – I was writing my previous comment before your answer went up).
@peter: No problem.
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