Travis Hafner is coming back. We’re picking him up for our UTIL slot right now…in our 40 team mixed league. Brett Myers, who has been a marginal mixed league starter since returning from a bullpen stint 2 years back, may be out for the year with the latest – or should we say hippest – new injury….the torn labrum in the hip. It’s the new oblique. We had him on the risky list this year, but thought his elbow would be the first to go after throwing so many sliders last year. If any Phillie pitcher was going to get a new hip, we would’ve bet Jamie Moyer. (Incidentally, he’s also first on our list of most likely Phillie pitchers to get a new gall bladder.) Anyway, here’s what else we saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Grady Sizemore – [sarcasm] Huge game for Grady as he went 1-for-3 with no runs or RBIs or steals. Watch out now! [/sarcasm]
Clete Thomas – Batted leadoff for the Tigers yesterday. I’ve figured out Jim Leyland’s master plan! Anderson had been leading off, but he’s the left fielder and he sat out. So Clete Thomas was the left fielder yesterday so he led off. When Clete Thomas was the right fielder, he batted third. Leyland’s got the positions written on his lineup card and only enough Liquid Paper to change names. Mystery solved!
Anthony Swarzak – This guy sounds like a guy everyone went to high school with (Dude, did you hear Swarzak bought a Camaro?!) but he’s in fact another intriguing young Twins starter after 2 solid starts in a row… Well, until you look at his AAA and MLB K totals. 6.5 K/9 in AAA and 6 Ks in 2 starts sounds a lot like Glen Perkins Jr. Avoid him in mixed leagues.
Dan Haren – 8 IP, 2 ER. In the 8th inning, he twisted his ankle and fell. I began to weep. He got up and finished the inning (giving up a run). He looked like he’ll be okay though. Godspeed, Danny!
Ryan Roberts – I swear every time Daron Sutton says his name, I say to myself, “Brian Roberts was finally traded to a different team?” Anyway, forget Ryan Roberts, he’s 29. But that’s what they said about Junior Spivey!
Randy Wells – 4 major league starts now and 4 solid (albeit winless) starts. Nearly a K an inning and a 1.80 ERA / 1.16 WHIP. He spent the last 2 1/2 years hanging in the Cubs AAA with our pal, IowaCubs, alternating between starting and relieving. If you’re in an NL-league, hope for a Dempster ride. In mixed leagues, avoid the Dumpster dive.
David Hernandez – The 4th Baltimore rookie pitcher this year to win his first major league start. We’re naturally weary of any Orioles starter, but Hernandez warrants monitoring. His minor-league K rate is very impressive — over 10 in the past two years in A and AA and 12.5 K/9 (!) in AAA this year. He’s also had some control issues in the minors which extended to his first start (4 walks in 5 IP). He’s not a top prospect, but neither was Daniel Cabrera and look how well…oh, right….
Luke Scott – 2 HRs yesterday. Ring, ring… Who’s there? Cheap power. Hey, c’mon in, you want a seltzer?
Nolan Reimold – HR yesterday. Oh, and, um, PICKUP REIMOLD!!! (Caps and heavy hand on the exclamation marks for emphasis and people reading over your shoulder.)
Matt Kemp – 1-for-4 with 2 steals, while he batted eighth yesterday. Torre said he would’ve batted him ninth but he didn’t like how Wolf matched up with Wells.
Derrek Lee – We had a rare D-Lee sighting last night as he went 2-for-4. He hit two warning track fly outs too. I’m not paying to see if this is a start of something, but if you own him, it might be. Cross your fingers. But cross two you don’t use much like the pinkie and ring. Leave the middle one free in case D-Lee comes down with another case of sucking.
Randy Wolf – 7 IP, 7 Ks, 2 ER, has a 1.80 ERA on the season and 64 Ks in just over 76 innings. No, his ERA won’t stay there, but he could give a 3.50. Pays to go with the boring guys sometimes. Oh, and we were just about to see the Wolf take on the Fox when Troncosco relieved Wolf. This would’ve been the first time we had an all-animal matchup since Paul Byrd threw a tennis ball to his schnauzer, Daisy.
