Huston Street has stopped throwing due to shoulder soreness. In other news, taco diarrhea burns. I picture Street getting together every offseason with ex-A’s teammate, Rich Harden. They go on a hike to Brokenback Mountain, where they enjoy the outdoors for 5 minutes until one of them pulls up lame. Franklin Morales is the closer now and could be for the foreseeable future. He’ll hold the reins until at least mid-May, according to the Rockies. I’d put the over/under for Street’s reemergence at June 15th. Anyway, here’s what else is going on in fantasy baseball:
Psyche! Before we get into the roundup, Rudy asked me to announce there’s 3 spots left open in the last Fantasy Razzball league. Draft is this Sunday. It’s the league where you vie for the worst possible team and you can win a hot tub. That might help getting away from the dinner table on Easter. Details are here. Email rudy [at] razzball.com if you want in. Okay, back to the festivities.
Jason Frasor – Officially the Jays’ closer. Now the Blue Jays’ announcers can segue the 8th inning to the 9th by saying, “Downs goes… Frasor!” I wouldn’t bother with Gregg and Downs for speculative saves. Though Downs isn’t bad for ratio help.
Lance Berkman – As first reported here (after read somewhere else), Berkman is being placed on the DL to start the season. He says his knee’s barking. Someone take this man to a vet! Berkman should only miss two weeks of the season at most, but it might nag him for a lot longer, which could hurt his production. Yeah, times aren’t great right now to own Berkman.
Brad Lidge – That sound you hear is Philly fans celebrating because Lidge had a setback. Lidge was given a cortisone shot and will now miss the start of 2010. Madson is the pickup. Unlike the Frasor sitch, I’d speculate with Baez if I really needed saves.
Ian Kinsler – Officially starting the year on the DL. Barring any setbacks, the Rangers are aiming for Kinsler to start a rehab assignment on April 8th at Double-A Frisco aka Troubled-Ankle Fiasco. Could mean Kinsler is ready to go by April 10th, but that seems unrealistically optimistic. Tax day would be my optimistic guess.
Alcides Escobar – Sounds like the Brewers are now moving McGehee to the five hole and will bat Alcides or Gomez in the two hole. Since Gomez is bad at, ya know, hitting my guess is Alcides will move from the bottom to the top of the order. It’s all coming together for Alcides… Muahahahahaha… *cough, cough* …ha.
Michael Brantley – Named the starting left fielder. Does nothing for his value if Branyan returns and Brantley’s out of a job. Brantley is SAGNOF for the first week of the season, maybe a little longer.
Carlos Beltran – Officially placed on the DL, retroactive to some time in 2008, I believe.
Jose Reyes – To miss Opening Day, but could be back by the 5th game of the season vs. those pesky Gnats. This shouldn’t change your drafting of Reyes.
Mat Latos – Officially the Padres 5th starter. Okay, I’ve gushed enough. He’s good, grab him. Go.
Marc Rzepczynski – Also known as The RZE is out for six weeks with a fractured finger. Rzepczynski probably fractured his finger typing his last name. The RZE’s first song off his new record can now be, “Shame On A Finga.”
