Don Mattingly said that Kenley Jansen is now his closer. His exact words were, “There was a time and a place to put a closer in the setup role and an inferior pitcher in the closer role and that time has past. I will know try to figure out why I ever shaved my mustache. Things were much easier when Joe Torre was in the dugout managing the team and not on speed dial. ‘Ooh, I’m Joe Torre, I take twenty minutes to return a text.’ C’mon, man, I can only ask for a replay review so many times! I wonder if I can get Paul Sorvino to be my bench coach. Or Joe Mantegna, he also kinda looks like Torre.” Jansen will be a $12 Salad in all leagues by July, if not sooner. Yes, he should be owned in all leagues, if he isn’t already. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Jhoulys Chacin – Went to the Disgraceful List when he refused his assignment to Triple-A. If you are gonna suck in your first 5 MLB starts of the year, Jhoulys you can do is report to AAA.
Christian Friedrich – Once top prospect fell off of radars due to injuries and velocity issues. This year, he’s looked solid in Triple-A with 27 Ks and 4 walks. It’s like this Christian is born again! I wouldn’t go near him with a 120 inch pole yet in mixed leagues, but in NL-Only leagues I’d grab him for his start vs. the Padres. Yeah, those Padres. Wait, those were the same Padres that hit Pomenranz so hard PETA was called in.
Alex White – It’s all Rockies pitchers all the time. White is also making Triple-A hitters seem like a bunch of minors (21/8 K/BB). In mixed leagues, I wouldn’t carry White, said in a sultry voice. For now, he’s an NL-Only flyer. (He also gets the Padres. Yup, still those Padres.)
Jayson Werth – As originally announced here after I read it elsewhere, Werth will miss 12 weeks with wrist surgery after breaking it Sunday night. He must be pist. If I didn’t have the DL room, I’d drop Werth. Wrists are kinda important for hitters and there’s a chance, even if he returns this year, he might not be right until next year.
Tyler Moore – Was called up by the Nats and showed a ton of power in the minors, but for now he’s a bench bat on the Nats. So in deep NL-Only leagues, he’s just a temp fill-in, i.e., I wouldn’t marry Tyler Moore.
Kevin Youkilis – On his rehab, he started a walking program. I don’t get it; taking walks was about the only thing he could still do.
Will Middlebrooks – 3-for-5 with 2 homers as the Red Sox contemplate telling Youuuuk to take a long walk. Middlebrooks will cool down at some point, but who cares? Pick him up. Now.
Josh Willingham – Didn’t start yesterday due to a skin condition near his mouth. Sounds like The Other White Meat’s throbbing lardons are getting him in trouble.
Francisco Liriano – 5 IP, 4 ER. Incredible that Liriano is still starting for the Twins, then again there’s players in their starting lineup that probably aren’t on any other team’s roster: Jamey Carroll, Danny Valencia, Brian Dozier, Eric Komastu, Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee. Just because they play in Target Field doesn’t mean they have to only shop in bargain bins.
Giancarlo Stanton – Hit his 6th homer in the last ten games. Rawr, rawr like a Stanton dragon!
Carlos Zambrano – 9 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 9 Ks. As noted in the preseason, “Ozzie will either bond with Zambrano and have him produce his best year since the mid-naughts or their personalities together will become so combustible that Little Havana will break from the union and form the 51st state with Ozzie becoming Supreme Leader of Little Havana and having Zambrano executed.” And that’s me noting me! It looks like the former is coming true. I’d absolutely grab Big Z in the non-sexual way. Could be a solid 4th to 5th fantasy starter in mixed leagues. Crayola Canyon definitely won’t hurt.
Brandon Snyder – 3-for-5, 2 runs and 6 RBIs with his 2nd homer. Now has two homers in his last three starts. Only problem is it took nearly a week to get 3 starts.
Nelson Cruz – 3-for-4, 3 runs. Could the season long drought finally be coming to an end? C’mon, Cruz, make it rain, man.
Aubrey Huff – Returned from the DL for anxiety related reasons. Guess that means he’s back from lunch.
Cole Hamels – Guaranteed himself a suspension by admitting he threw at Bryce Harper. When asked by teammates and management why he couldn’t show more restraint on what he says to the press, Cole replied, “I did show restraint. I didn’t mention how my ‘old school pitching’ is modeled after the Romans and I threw at Harper because his eye black reminded me of that Christ-wannabe, Tim Tebow.”
Philip Humber – 2 1/3 IP, 8 ER. Reminds me of the time I went through a perfect fartless vacation weekend with a girlfriend and then woke up the next morning back at my apartment and nearly Dutch Oven’d myself to death.
Doug Fister – 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 3 Ks. Sure, it doesn’t hurt to return to a matchup against the M’s, but I’d still give Fister a fighting chance on a mixed league team.
Ernesto Frieri – Scioscia announced that Frieri or Walden will get saves while Downs is, uh, down. Welcome, Frieri, to saver town. Hopefully, Frieri will enter each game in a red 1967 convertible Chevy Camaro, and when he leans in to get the signal from the catcher, he does The Hunch.
Mike Trout – Sat out yesterday for Bourjos. They need Morales to hurt himself (while hurting Vernon Wells). The Sciosciapath doesn’t have cojones to start Pujols at 3rd base. Somewhere, La Russa’s reading that and his feathered hair is feeling a little bouncier.
Jonathan Papelbon – 1 IP, 3 ER. Kazaam!
Jordany Valdespin – Hit the game winning homer. He has great speed and some decent power (15 homers, 33 steals last year in Double-A), but I’m not sure the Mets will play him (they should, but not sure they will). Plus, his name sounds like it’s from a Harry Potter Character Name Generator.
Cody Ransom – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer, as he bats .351. Yes, he should be playing every day. No, he’s not. Yes, he’s old so this sudden burst won’t continue. No, it doesn’t matter.
Guillermo Mota – 100 games for a second positive PED test. PEDS are just his M.O. (Mota Operandi).
Jered Weaver – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 2 Ks. Well, Johnny Vander Meer’s family can stop following him around now.
Lance Lynn – 5 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners (4 BBs), 7 Ks, lowering his ERA to 1.40. Okay, but now I’m officially concerned about an upcoming correction. 4 walks in 5 innings is not good and 1.40 ERA won’t stay that low.
Allen Craig – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 2nd homer. I told you to grab him yesterday. What’s changed? The day.
Jeff Samardzija – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks. You know that guy that you invited last second to join your league who you really don’t like and is currently in first? He’s going to pick up Samardzija if you don’t.
Bryan LaHair – 1-for-3 as LaHair moussed his 8th homer.
Ian Stewart – 1-for-3 with his 3rd homer. Does he have a section of Wrigley that dresses up like Cubs with Stewart jerseys called Stewart’s Root Bears?
Adrian Cardenas – The Cubs called up the ex A’s prospect to be the UTIL after Blake DeWitt was DFA’d (unfortunately his mom Joyce never hooked up with Theo’s dad, Juan, at the 70’s Battle of the Network Stars). He’s played 2nd in the minors and delivers high average, average speed, and a below average glove. Given that the Cubs have a dinosaur playing second, he could see some ABs if he’s hitting. Stash for NL-only.
Wilson Betemit – 1-for-3 with his 4th homer (and third in the last ten games). He also has a hit in nine of his last ten games while batting .357. There, folks, is your hot schmotato.
J.J. Hardy – 3-for-4. Actually, more impressed with a three hit night from Hardy than I would be with a 1-for-4 with a homer night. As my ex-girlfriends will tell you, I’m a small ball kinda guy.
Edinson Volquez – 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 5 Ks. A hodgepadre that was pitchslapped by Pomeranz. (I can only imagine if this is someone’s first time reading the site. Did he say ‘A hodgepadre that was pitchslapped?’ Where am I and how do I get back to ESPN?)
Dale Thayer – Thayer throwing pills for the save yesterday — what a relief! Since Cashner threw 39 pitches the day before, he wasn’t available. I’d hold Cashner, but this also proves that Gregerson is nowhere near getting saves.
Zack Cozart – 1-for-5 with his 3rd homer, but only his 7th RBI. Could the pitcher’s spot get on base once in a while? Geez…
Alex Gonzalez – Tore his ACL, which comes just days after Gamel also tore his ACL. The last time a Milwaukee duo tore up joints like that, it was Laverne & Shirley after Lenny & Squiggy slipped some Spanish Fly in their Schlitzes.
