Replacing Phil Coke in the Tigers rotation is Charlie Furbush. It’s about time that Leyland gave Furbush a mustache ride. Furbush also sounds like a character description for someone in a Woodstock documentary. Or a character name in a 70’s porn flick made by Leyland called, “The Marlboro Mandingo.” That was co-starring Virginia Slim. Furbush looked great in the minors, posting a solid K-rate while keeping his walks in line. He is not a 2-something ERA pitcher as he’s shown so far this year. He’s leaving 93% of men on base, that won’t continue. He can give you around a 7 K-rate with a 3.75 to 4.00 ERA. I’d grab Furbush in H2H mixed leagues for matchups and in AL-Only leagues. In roto mixed leagues, you can grab him in certain circumstances, but caveat emptor for our Latin readers. (BTW, To all the Googlers who searched for Furbush and weren’t looking for a fantasy baseball site — howdy!) Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Cole Hamels – Hit on his hand by a comebacker, but x-rays came back negative. Speaking of negatives that are positive, yesterday frequent commenter DHill Dragons pointed out the Phillies starting staff in June had a 1.96 ERA. A Philly quartet hasn’t been this hot since Boys II Men.
Mark Ellis – The Rockies acquired him. You know what the Rockies really needed? Another utility infieder. Can’t they save Melvin Mora from retirement while they’re at it? Ellis is 34 and 4 years removed from a solid season. I wouldn’t grab him in anything but NL-Only leagues, and there oekávání, which is me putting expectations in Czech.
Jemile Weeks – 2-for-5, hitting .309 with 6 steals in 21 games since his call-up. With Ellis taking his extraordinarily ordinary talents to Colorado, Weeks is the everyday 2nd baseman for the A’s, and has been leading off. At this point, he’s worth a flyer in all mixed leagues if you’re struggling with your middle infidel.
Jon Lester – 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks. Matthew Berry wrote a post yesterday about how he’d trade Lester for Beachy. “I go big or I go home!” That’s Berry. I like Beachy. March Grey told you to draft Beachy on all your teams, but, uh, has Berry been institutionalized? His posts are too long for a 100 monkeys with a 100 typewriters to put them together, aren’t they? “Mordecai the Monkey, type more fantasy baseball and less Shakespearean sonnets! I’ve got deadlines!” That’s Berry again.
Kevin Youkilis – X-rays came back negative on his ankle, even though he seems more like a cankle person. For now he’s day-to-day. Or Day II Day, if you’re into R&B.
Neil Walker – Sat out with back soreness. Hurdle said, “I’m trying to be proactive with it.” Does he have acne too?
Carlos Lee – 1-for-2 with his 2nd homer in as many games. If someone grew bored of him in your league, I’d take a chance that he’s heating up. If someone didn’t grow bored of him, I worry about the competitiveness of your league.
Carlos Zambrano – Left in the 2nd inning with back soreness. Damnbacko!
CC Sabathia – 7 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 8 baserunners, 13 Ks. That tied his career high in Ks, getting the one man who can get on a seesaw with him, Prince Fielder, three times.
Chris Volstad – 7 IP, 0 ER, 9 baserunners. Two weeks ago, I pointed out he should be much better. Since then, 20 2/3 IP and 3 earned runs, lowering his overall ERA by more than one full run.
Andy Dirks – 2-for-3 with his 6th homer in 34 games and stole his 3rd bag for the always coveted slam & legs. I should’ve mentioned him yesterday when he hit a home run in his 2nd straight game, but everyone homered on Wednesday for the Tigers. Now Dirks has three straight games with dongs (great, now more disappointed Googlers). I don’t trust Leyland to sit Mags for Dirks indefinitely, so playing time appears to be an issue.
Brian Matusz – 3 1/3 IP, 8 ER and optioned to the minors. Or maybe that’s the minorsz.
Jason Kubel – Had a setback during his rehab. Just think of this as a wake-up call that if you’re waiting for Kubel, you have bigger fish to fry.
Aramis Ramirez – 1-for-5 with his 10th home run and his 8th in June. For s’s and g’s, let’s look at what I said on May 30th, “(Aramis) tends to get scolding hot for extended stretches, so if someone dropped him in your league, I’d grab him.” Prescient isn’t just a word you can’t pronounce!
Geovany Soto – Hit his 8th home run yesterday. Will be in this afternoon’s Buy/Sell. I wrote it while jumping Double Dutch.
Pablo Sandoval – He needed thirteen innings but Kung Fu Panda got a slam & legs. Guess it was more like a sous-vide slam & legs.
Lance Berkman – With his 19th and 20th home runs yesterday. Fine, I pulled the plug on him a little too early with my sell at the beginning of May. He did hit .262 in May and .210 in June, but the power doesn’t seem like it’s drying up. Though I still wouldn’t go out and trade for him.
Jon Jay – 3-for-5 and a homer. Has now hit in 6 of the last seven games with 2 homers. It’s something. Or it’something, if you’re in a rush.
Brett Cecil – 6 1/3 IP, 6 ER. Man, that is a spot-on impersonation of Brett Cecil from April. What a gooftard!
Jeff Kartsens – 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 2 Ks. He reminds me of a National League version of Jason Vargas. It’s neither a compliment or an insult.
Justin Morneau – Underwent neck surgery and will be out until the end of August. I will Morneau-more for this schmohawk.
Jake Peavy – 6 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks. Used to be when he was healthy he’d at least pitch well. He’s at a 4.47 ERA and you’re holding onto him for his name value. What, him being on your team is gonna get you a reservation at The French Laundry? Look elsewhere.
Gordon Beckham – 3-for-3 with his 7th home run. He hit .354 last July and had a much better 2nd half of the season. Okay, anyone could’ve had a better 2nd half than his 1st half, but still…
Adam Dunn – Ozzie batted him 3rd yesterday. That’s like the Melrose Place All-Stars hitting Marcia Cross, sans wig, third. BTW, Rudy and I had a fifteen minute conversation on IM yesterday about a Melrose Place All-Star lineup (25 episode minimum). Bisset’s leading off — you always want her to get on base. Courtney Thorne-Smith is hitting 2nd. Solid, reliable and can get the runner over. Locklear’s third, ’nuff said. Alyssa Milano’s hitting cleanup — always gets you to third, sometimes home. Brooke Langton is fifth as an unsung hero that could fall into a slump very easily. Daphne Zuniga’s sixth because she had some better years elsewhere (Spaceballs). Jamie Luner hitting seventh and catching…um…moving on. In the eight hole, Kristin Davis — annoying, pesky hitter. Finally, Kelly Rutherford can turn over the lineup. Laura Leighton did not make the lineup because she’s freakin’ crazy and ruined all team chemistry and keyed my car.
