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. The Yankees will give us their top prospect and dinner with Rudy Giuliani, can you beat that? Here’s our top prospect and Bobby Grich will do your personal taxes for two years. Deal! On a fantasy note, this is about as lateral of a move Haren owners could’ve hoped for. The league change is a negative, but the park change is a positive. Also, if your pitcher gets traded into the AL, the AL West is the place for them. The M’s and A’s are weak and the Rangers are less strong away from Arlington (the Angels are done playing in Arlington until the last weekend of the season). The Angels do get the Red Sox twice, but also the O’s, Royals and Indians. The only real red flag for Haren is his 1st/2nd half splits, but that was a problem prior to the trade. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Psyche! Before going into the roundup, I wanted to tell everyone our fantasy football site is doing sign ups for their fantasy leagues. Anyway II, here’s the roundup:
Joe Saunders – The move to the NL doesn’t make him more attractive. A move to the Taiwanese Little League team wouldn’t make him more attractive.
Torii Hunter – 2-for-4 with a homer as he pulled off some Multiplicity shizz.
Magglio Ordonez – While he’s shelved for two months, he can work on what’s really important, growing out his jheri curl mullet. Bring back the Soul Glo! Immediately when I saw the Tigers three hole hitter was knocked out for 2 months the first thing I thought was, is Leyland really going to bat the .280 OBP Ryan Raburn third for two months? He did for the first game of the doubleheader. We shall see.
Carlos Guillen – Off to the DL or as they call it in the Guillen household, “Daddy day care.”
Ryan Raburn – The Magglio/Guillen injuries should give a couple new guys regular time, but the only interesting one is Raburn. (Will Rhymes is interesting for his steals, but I don’t think he gets enough playing time. BTW, no relation to Busta.) Raburn hit 16 homers in 261 ABs last year. His homers per fly balls was a bit out of whack, but if he gets hot, he can provide some pop. In AL-Only leagues, obviously you take what you can get. In mixed leagues, I wouldn’t touch him until he starts hitting.
Orlando Hudson – To the DL with yawnstipation. Wait, checking my notes. Oh, he strained his oblique. If he were on the Mets, he would’ve played tomorrow, then sat out for a week, then played, then sat out for five games, then played.
Kevin Slowey – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 2 Ks vs. the O’s. Since this was against a terrible team, it doesn’t instill any confidence.
Jason Kubel – 3-for-5 with a grand slam. I ranked Kubel high in my midseason fantasy rankings because of his propensity for 2nd half thunder. Cust kayin’.
Carlos Gonzalez – 1-for-5 with 3 Ks and has been struggling for the last week. Rockies should trade Brad Hawpe for a new finger for CarGo.
J.A. Happ – 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks. A just okay return for a guy I’m not high on (unlike this glue I’m huffing). Happ has 12 walks and 9 Ks in 15 1/3 IP. You shouldn’t need more.
Coco Crisp – 1-for-3 with 2 steals and 6 steals in the last week. Coco Quik! Gotta love when a player knows how he provides fantasy value and gives it to you.
Ben Sheets – To the DL as he took one for all the Bennis Carpensheeters out there. (BTW, The White Sox middle man, Erick Threets’ name sounds like a portmanteau of injured players too.)
Michael Wuertz – Wuertz has now picked up his 2nd save in four days as Bailey deals with back problems. Though Bailey said he should return on Tuesday, I picked up Wuertz everywhere I could. He’s heavy!
Brett Anderson – Should return on Friday. I’d be careful with the first start back, but I would own Anderson since when he’s healthy, he’s nasty.
R.A. Dickey – 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 baserunners, 6 Ks. He left the game with a strained buttock after stepping in a mound ditch made by Kershaw. Hoping for the NY Post headline, “Dickey In A Hole, Strains Butt.”
Kenley Jansen – This converted catcher is giving herbathrowdites everywhere a good name. He got his first save as Broxton recoups from his two inning outing on Saturday. Leave it to Torre to rest Broxton during save chances because he was overworked then to throw him for two innings. Jansen could be a fun MR pickup for Holds and Ks, but he’s not suddenly the closer.
Buster Posey – 4-for-5 and now batting .371. Pray he doesn’t ask for advice from Soto and Wieters on how to follow up his rookie year.
Barry Enright – 6 IP, 2 ER, 11 baserunners, 2 Ks. Still don’t trust him but he does go into Metco next time out. That’s a decent gamble in some leagues.
Wandy Rodriguez – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners (1 Hit), 7 Ks. Facing the top hitting club in the NL, the Reds, and he does this after getting shelled by the Cubs last time out. The Wandwagon’s shocks are causing for a bumpy ride.
Chris Johnson – 1-for-4 with his 3rd homer this week. Yeah, he’s a mixed league pickup now. As they say in the porn industry, all aboard the Johnson!
Mike Leake – 6 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 10 baserunners, 3 Ks. He was in Friday’s Sell. How did you know, Grey? Please dish. Well, random italicized voice, I didn’t know he’d pitch poorly, but his innings will soon be limited. And maybe he will pitch poorly going forward because he’s young and might be tiring.
Chris Denorfia – 2-for-5 with his fourth homer this week. In the broad sense, he sucks. In the specific as-of-right-now sense, he’s hot and could help you for a few days while he’s hitting and starting.
Joel Hanrahan – Being reported by Buster Olney that he will take over for Dotel if a trade goes down. Olney’s forgotten more than I’ll ever know. Like when he forgot where his keys were to his money green El Dorado, I didn’t even know he had an El Dorado.
Troy Glaus – 1-for-4 as he hits .204 in July with zero homers. Belch.
Curtis Granderson – 2-for-4 with 2 homers and a steal. He has a modest five game hitting streak. Could end the season with a 20 homers and 15 steals. Right now he’s at 9/8. Do the math!
Phil Hughes – 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 3 Ks. This start might’ve been slightly shortened by rain, but, since the Yanks won’t try and push him, you should expect similar lines going forward. Ron Washington, “Someone say lines?!”
Reid Brignac – 1-for-3 with his 4th homer in the last week. Own while hot.
Rick Ankiel – 3-for-4 with his first homer since coming back. In most mixed leagues, I’d wait to see more.
Scott Podsednik – 2 homers and 4 RBIs. After the game, he told a reporter, “And I got a hot wife. WHAT?!” Then again, that’s his answer to everything.
Chone Figgins – 2-for-3 with a steal as he’s played in both games since him and Wakamatsu fought in the dugout. Talks are now underway for Figgy and Wakamatsu to star in the re-remake of The Karate Kid.
