SAGNOF Report: When The Hick Goes Down…

Y’all better be ready.  (Gotta love some fantasy baseball puns that involve some Cypress Hill.)  Well, even if you didn’t like it, I did.  So there’s that.  So A.A. Ron Hicks hit the DL with an oblique injury… but I have to ask: Why is it so oblique if we actually know what it is?  If anything, it’s an un-oblique injury because we know what the injury is.  Regardless, and I am dropping the “ir” because it is not a word, though it should be.  Jacoby Ellsbury has returned like a stallion on a white stallion. Unfortunately for fantasy, Jacoby hasn’t been such since dunkaroos were still a cool snack.  As a Yankee rooter, Hicks’ injury hurts because he is versatile and Ellsbury is just a DL nightmare.  The rewards that you reaped from the waiver wire add of Hicks aren’t lost though, because it is a substitute by substitute principle.  It’s like walking through the store and finding a 20 dollar bill.  Only to realize that a month later it was your money to begin with.  So reinvest that sorta found money to the waiver wire and keep digging.  The expectations for Ellsbury should remain limited, but are boosted by where he bats in the Yankee lineup.  Though in his SAGNOF defense, he did have 8 steals in just 149 plate appearances, so he does have some value as it relates to steals and such.  And with the scuppering Yankees in a fall from fantasy grace, minus Judge, he could ease out some OF 4-5 value.  Stay glued to that chair, more goodies after the jump on swipes, thievery and save-dom.

Howie Kendrick – Let’s just put it out there, the Phillies are a sinking ship, but there’s fantasy value there.  Either now or when they get traded to a contender.  Howie is batting .373 with a team leading 7 steals over the last 30 games.  The reason that this is awesome is that the entire rest of the Philanderers have 3 steals combined over that same period.  So if someone is robbing stuff in Philly it’s HK.

Adam Engel – Got re-promoted.  I just went from 6 to midnight if he stays up.

Michael Taylor – Just for giggles, check his last 30 games compared to Bryce Harper.  If your fantasy draft hasn’t started yet Mike is a first round pick.  He is somehow owned in only 10.2 of ESPN leagues… oh that makes sense never mind.

Eduardo Nunez – He returns from a short stint on the DL and should be up Friday.  he shouldn’t be on anyone’s waiver minus that six-person league you play with all your personalities.

Starlin Castro – Limped off last night.  Paging Mr. Wade, Mr. Tyler Wade.

Raimel Tapia – Cargo, can’t go.  Tapia should get the most of the DL stint by the artist formerly known as Cargo.  And of course his name translated is: the Wall.  Is there a better nickname then that?

Francisco Rodriguez – Signed by the Nats to bolster an already bystander type bullpen.  I am not expecting much… I mean, I am expecting a puppy from Grey for my 500th post that I will name Vito.

Matt Bush – The caution tape is being unfurled. Head away from the mountains of Bush and to the Kela cuddle club.

Luis Garcia – When the dust settles on last place and the pieces that haven’t been shipped elsewhere it could be this guy remaining to gobble up the 2-3 saves a month.  Saves!  How many of us need them.