The M’s are calling up Trayvon Robinson today. Should be fun for the Dodgers to get a look at their first mistake under Selig. Trayvon’s a high risk/high reward call up which sounds a lot better than Seattle’s low risk/low reward offense. It’s like taking a chance on the next Kurt Cobain or Jimi Hendrix instead of settling on Candlebox. In Triple-A, Trayvon had 26 homers in 416 PAs, which is plate appearances, not how many production assistants Michael Bay had on his last movie. He looks a bit like a Bowden Fluffer. Speed and power and crazy Ks and “athleticism” whatever the eff that means. In AL-Only leagues, you have to jump on him. In some mixed leagues, I like the flyer, as well. You’re looking at a guy that could give you 7-10 steals and some pop in the final two months. (BTW, for all you Real World heads out there, I tried really hard to work an allusion to Shauvon into the title saying Trayvon was the M’s best implant, but I failed you. I will now punish myself by watching back-to-back episodes of My Strange Addiction.) Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Brett Lawrie – I just went over my Lawrie fantasy. I wrote it while impersonating a police officer. BTW, that post is from last week, so if you didn’t get Lawrie in your league, don’t blame me. I gave you ample warning. Ample Warning would also be a great album title.
Travis Snider – Sent down to AAA again. He had a nice stretch in the first half of July but had cooled off since then. He’s a damn tease. If Riccardi was in charge, he’d give him enough time to shine, overpay him, and then trade him to the White Sox or Angels.
Jon Rauch – 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER. Still has an ERA better than Frank Francisco. 4.44 to 4.54. Rauch and Francisco are the new blech. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Snider pluck his wispy, seventeen-strand mustache and try to sneak back onto the club as the closer.
Desmond Jennings – 3-for-6 with his 3rd home run. After the game, he cured cancer, then Roger Ebert gave him a thumbs up.
Evan Longoria – He hit his 16th homer… Yay! He went 1-for-6… Nay!
Shin-Soo Choo – Took batting practice and says he should be able to return in the next two weeks. Considering how he was hitting before the injury, I’m not sure if that’s good news or bad.
Garrett Jones – 2-for-5 after hitting 2 homers two days ago. I’d say he’s going to be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell, but that’s in the can and I only make addendums for guys by the name of Desmond Jennings.
Carlos Pena – On Wednesday he went 2-for-2, yesterday he hit a home run. Here comes another run from Pena of five homers in seven days or my name isn’t Grey Stallion Albright. You can abbreviate Stallion as St. if you wish.
Geovany Soto – 1-for-4 and his 2nd homer in three days. You realize you’ve made me scared to say anything nice about catchers. I’m like a battered shrimp. The small people, not the crustacean.
Blake DeWitt – 1-for-4 with his 3rd homer. Still holding the title “Choice DeWitt” in my back pocket for when this guy actually hits well.
Rodrigo Lopez – 4 IP, 6 ER. He’s such a peg boy.
Ivan Nova – 7 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 10 Ks. He will be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. Just keep hitting refresh and it will magically appear.
Eric Chavez – 2-for-4 and played over Eduardo Nunez. I hope this schmohawk doesn’t take time away from Nunez and his thievery corporation.
Justin Masterson – 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 9 Ks vs. the Sawx. You have nuggets the size of Mr. Met’s head if you started Masterson in Fenway.
Carlos Santana – 3-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 16th homer. Sucks if you own him this year and you’re getting his .232 average, but I hope it stays low so he comes at a bit of a discount in 2012. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him hit .280 next year with 20+ homers as he enters his prime years. Hopefully he just avoids duets with Rob Thomas.
Johan Santana – Diagnosed with shoulder fatigue. Shoot it up with some Red Bull! Actually, they should just shut him down. No idea what the Mets are trying to prove by having him pitch for a few weeks in September.
Brandon Belt – Was sent down. This was a great season to stunt a prospect’s progress. Up, down, up, down, up, down…It’s enough to discombobulate Sandy Duncan’s eye.
Omar Infante – Headed to the DL with a fractured middle finger. I’m sure anyone who just went through the trouble of adding him to their fantasy team has a middle finger for him.
Francisco Liriano – 5 IP, 7 ER. Sorry, but if you still own him, you deserved this start.
Eric Young Jr. – 1-for-2 with his fifth steal in the last week. Someone in the comments asked if Young plays when CarGo returns. Good question, but I’d ferry cross that Mersey when it happens.
Matt Holliday – 1-for-3 with his 17th homer as he laughs at my Ethier comparison. If I knew all he needed was me calling him out, I would’ve back in April.
Yadier Molina – Suspended 5 games for bumping the ump. That’s one game for every minute the Molina family takes to do a Chinese fire drill. “Bengie, you were driving!” “I’m getting there, Yadi! I stopped for lunch by the rear bumper.”
David Freese – Hit in the head by a pitch and left the game. MLB.com said it was a changeup. A changeup from what? Morneau or David Wright getting hit in the head? Freese has a mild concussion. My best guess is he’ll miss at least a week.
Kyle Lohse – 3 IP, 3 ER. He definitely regressed. His ERAs per month: 1.64, 2.57, 4.55, 5.53. That looks like one of those Price is Right games.
