September 1st may mean autumn is around the corner for meteorologists, but you’re not Sam Champion, are you? No, of course you’re not. He’s handsome. For us in the fantasy baseball trenches, September 1st means rosters expand and rookies are called up. Unlike the September hitter call ups we went over yesterday, I’d use kid gloves with these call ups. As Paula Dean might say, pitchers can hurt you, ya’ll. If you need to take a flier on a rookie pitcher, tread carefully, young Razzball reader. Anyway, here’s some potential September call ups to keep your eye on for fantasy baseball, the pitchers:
Aaron Poreda – I’m crazy for HodgePadres, what can I say? Actually, I just said it. But even I’d be careful with Poreda. In NL-Only leagues, yes, please. Elsewhere, maybe home matchups.
Madison Bumgarner – Scouting the Unknown broke down, Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner will be one of those adds that everyone does and just about everyone regrets (this year). Though I am prepping a giggle for when Bumgarner attacks Pujols with his number 2.
Tim Hudson – I heard this kid’s got good stuff. Hope his call up goes smoothly, he might have a nice career ahead of him. /sarcasm
David Purcey – Blech.
Carlos Carrasco – I was bonkers for him in the preseason. That’s the drawback to working without a net in December. Carrasco’s hype I extolled was obviously a year too early. Don’t worry, I’m go crazy for him again this offseason. You’ve been caveated.
Hector Rondon – Is Wedge trying to get fired? Are the Indians trying to lose? Heffin’ hey in the screw hole, bring up Rondon and see what he can do. Cause right now he do what he do and he do it in Triple A. Over a 9 K/9 and under a 2 BB/9, which comes out to 42 Ks to 7 walks.
Wade Davis – For a while he looked better than David Price, then for a while he stopped striking out hitters. And both “whiles” came in the minors, so there will be some growing pains, Kirk Cameron.
Dana Eveland – Had a long look last year and pitched well enough for AL-Only leagues. Might have some matchup value in September.
Brandon Morrow – Not a rookie, but I think he can make a nice fantasy impact in September. Worth grabbing in all leagues.
Todd Wellemeyer – He wasn’t that great when he was already in the majors.
Daniel McCutchen – What’s the chances the Pirates have another fantasy-worthwhile McCutchen? Okay, combine those odds with the chances the Pirates have a worthwhile pitcher.
this rondon guy looks good and im ready to grab morrow also,
grey: from the last post, sorry should have clarified. Since we keep 9, it would be giving up a 10th rounder next year. But also would eat up 1 of my 9 keeper spots instead of keeping someone like Jeter/Abreu/Pence/Harden
@AL KOHOLIC: Rondon looks very solid, yeah.
@Matt B: So Johan in the 10th round? Yeah, in a vacuum, he’s worth that.
Drop Buchholz for Morrow now while Morrow’s out there and available? Who do you like more to help you out in September H2H playoffs?
@VanHammersly: Morrow’s riskier health-wise, but I think he might be safer WHIP/ERA-wise.
The Sawx got Billy Wagner, after all. Traded two AA players to get him… Apparently, they’ve already forgotten about that Eric Gagne mess.
@Grey: Could you rank the following? Byrd, G. Jones, Snider, C. Gonzalez, Matt Diaz.
My regulars are DTD’s and I’m needing to sub, plus one to fill the UTIL spot.
Thanks
I’m in a 12 team league that limits each teams starting pitchers to 7. I’ve recently been hit by the injury bug as Aaron Harangutan (Appendix) and Kyle Lohse (bum leg) have gone down. I need to pick up two pitchers to replace these bums. Currently (in order of greatness) I have Lincecum, Carpenter, R. Wolf, Nolasco, D. Price and recent replacements J. (nO Hitter) Sanchez and V. Padilla.
It’s a points league where big points are awarded for a win (10) and K’s are rewared with a point a piece. So high strikeout guys on a good team tend to fair well.
My question is; “Is there a clearly better alternative to Sanchez and or Padilla on the waiver wire?”
Waiver fodder includes the likes of: Tommy Hunter, J. Saunders, R. Porcello, Liriano, Kuroda, Latos, N. Blackburn, Garland, Ohlendorf, Carmona, Corriea , M. Parra and a whole other host of Todd Wellemyer clones. Any improvements to be made?
@Lines: Yeah, saw that. True about Gagne.
@Prince: Snider vs. righties, Diaz vs. lefties, Byrd, Jones… This is while Gonzalez recoups.
@Uncle No Pockets: Unfortunately, not really. But I would go with Correia or Latos at home, in that order, over Padilla.
Anibal Sanchez worth a spot start vs the mets?
@ASAOK: I’m not a fan of Anibal, but it’s a decent enough matchup.
Morrow walked 5 and struck out 1 in his last outing. Just when I think it’s safe to dip my toe in the water he beaches himself like a killer whale and swallows a sea lion whole. At this point, I’d rather see 5 er and 1 walk than 5 walks and 1 er
Unfortunately I need pitching to make it to the end in second. Roll them dice baby
@Critter Nagurski:
Good god. I’m still thinking of picking him up. I’d have to drop Chris Davis, Mat Gamel, Lindstrom, or Nunez to get him. Who should I cut?
So johan might still pitch or not? his yahoo note says he’ll be ready for next spring training? LOL does that mean 2009 is over….?
@TYY: Johan’s done for the year, just DL’d in Yahoo. Speaking of…
Arroyo or Smoltz?
@anon: I’d drop Gamel to grab Morrow.
@Dim: Smoltz for wins and Ks.
I would take a flier on Mad-Bum before Poreda and Carrasco. But that is because I have developed an unhealthy obsession with Giant rookie pitchers since I had Lincecum his rookie year (along with Braun).
In order of how I would pick them up would be Hudson (granted he isn’t a rookie, but I’ve been holding him), Bumgarner, Poreda, Carrasco, Davis and then I would look else where.
with the mets so bad, would u keep hold of beltran if your leaguie has one DL spot and you also have kuroda?
@Martin: Nope
@Grey: Ol’ H2H – is it worth dropping Joba to pick up Smoltz?
Elsewhere, would you drop Pineiro or J Sanchez to grab Hudson?
@Steve: Go with Smoltz. I’d hold on the other two.
@Grey: Thanks.
I have some MRs I could drop, but I’m trying to keep my innings under control.
The New York Mets just hired Tommy John as their new spokeman on J Santana
Where is Tim Hudson in scouting the unknow
David Purcey – Blech. – he was the last pitcher I drafted on all my pitching staffs
the mets press conference yesterday – Oh yea one last item I like to address – J Santana will be missing his next srart – got to go
@Grey: Howwwwwwwwwww!!! you feeling about the Wolfman tomorrow?
@mr baseball: Ha!
@Steve: Not excited to start him, but think I have to.
EDIT: Word.
@Grey: He has been incredibly consistent and things do seem to be starting to fall for him.
@Grey: I grabbed Wagner in a few leagues,I hope he can pitch as well as his brother can compose…….Morrow hasn’t exactly been lights out in AAA, do you think he’ll crank it up a notch?
@Steve: Thanks for the heads up!
@Doug Ault: I think he can be solid for 5 to 6 innings a start.
@Grey: I’m at home looking after one of the kids today so I have more time to focus on the important stuff.
@Steve: You got the kid covering the east coast news wire while you watch the west?
@Grey: Yeah – they keep breaking into The Little Mermaid with breaking news alerts.
got a roster spot to kill – Madson, Gregg, or AGuzman worth a shot in case they get save chances later? grab Morrow instead?
@Corey: I’d grab Gregg if you need saves. Morrow if you don’t.
Uh-Oh. Corey is back. Name change for you! Corey # 2 sounds about right?
@Steve: SAGNOF, daddy, SAGNOF!
@Corey: Hehe
@Grey: Is it time to play Kershaw only at home and with good matchups??? Also… drop Danks or Floyd???
@Joe B: Re: Kershaw, Depends on your league’s circumstances. Danks hasn’t been bad. Floyd’s only great at home.
20 team h2h- drop Oeltjen the Horrible for Eric Young Jr.? Either will be occupying the UTIL slot, and I also have Alcides Escobar on the bench.
Oh, also have Gamel taking up a bench spot…
@Grey: What if you had to chose Danks or Floyd to drop???
Borbon with another steal ! SAGNOF. ha.
@royce!: Lose Oeltjen for Young.
@Joe B: Drop Floyd, he won’t be starting at home for about two weeks.
@SamYo: Nice
During the first inning I was glad I whipped Joba out of my lineup for today. Not so sure now.
The night is still young I guess…
Shields up to his old tricks.
@Steve: I hate Shields.
@Steve: Oh, but I’m glad now.
Which OF do you like best for next year: Lind, Rasmus, or Fowler?
@grey- Eric young got called up and is leading off for a good COL lineup. How much do you like him? In yahoo leagues he has 2nd base eligibility even though he’s playing OF today
@Space Cadet: Lind
@Martin: I like him a lot for steals.
@grey- would you drop chris davis, car gon, for him? I already have hill at 2nd
@grey- or i could drop kuroda (DL) or beltran (DL) for him.
@Martin: Drop Kuroda if you need steals.
@Grey: I’m curious as to how February Grey will rank Shields. Hell hath no fury…
Rajai, Borbon or Eric Young for steals ?
@peter: I don’t think we want to bother him with anything about Shields right now, as August Grey just benched him for tonight’s start.
@SamYo: Davis
I can’t say I agree with your advice. Here is my reasoning: Hudson, is not even guaranteed a starting gig. Morrow, who your most high on, is very erratic in the MLB. He walks way to many guys. I had him earlier in the year, and he killed me. The most attractive add, to me, is Bumgarner. He is filthy. K ratio is ridiculous. ERA is ridiculous. He’s so dirty. Fills the job of J Martinez nicely come playoff time. Madison will not let you down….go get him.
Sorry Grey, I know you’re a Lidge owner – but what has happened to that guy?
@MattWaite: I think he will be nasty, just not sure how much this year.
@Steve: Probably his knee.
No F-Cord? Is Rhodes in to get a lefty out?
@Steve: It’s a four run game, no?
@Grey: Indeed. However the tying run was on deck at time of writing.
Here he is!
@Steve: Uh oh.
@Steve: That could have been worse. Not much, but it cold have been.
Bring on the win!
@Steve: For Arroyo owners like me, that could *not* have been worse.
@Ceasar: Quite so. My apologies. A very shoddy effort from the Reds ‘pen.
@Steve: It all evens out in the end: my Twins pulled it out with 2 out in the 9th on Delmon’s bat and Cuddy’s speed. Not sure which piece of that puzzle was more unlikely.
@Ceasar: And got me a win for Mijares.
So everyone’s happy. Well, almost.
@Grey:
what you said a couple of days ago … “if you drafted the rockies starting rotation , you’d be winning your league” (paraphrase) … still resonates in my head .
just witnessed the rockies extra inning win vs the dodgers .
thoughts :
billingsley getting tired and not going deep into games ,
kershaw pushing his innings limit ,
etc ,
maybe the rockies really can pull this off .
what do you think ??
plus , jhoulys , if he gets back up , is better than most on this list (imo) .
dodgers depending on wolf to be the stopper now ?
is the sky falling in ??
meanwhile , the A ‘s are the best last-place team in the majors !!
spin on .
@big o: I think the Dodgers lineup is stronger, but incredibly the Rockies rotation looks better.
Grey,
off topic…better next year Harden or Dice-K
Josh Johnson, repeat or regress?
@Telemachus: Harden, but that’s more about being uninterested in Dice-K than being into Harden. Repeat on JJ, if he can avoid injury.
In h2h, Napoli’s every-other-day starts are annoying. Suzuki’s a fine replacement right?
Also, Chris Davis or Pat Burrell for rest of the year?
@beisbol: Davis because of position. Suzuki’s fine.
@Grey: Thanks, can Harden stay strong the rest of this year?
I have an offer of JJ for my Bruce in a keeper league and deciding whether or not to buy his season and/or worry about the second year after returning from injury season. Also worried about giving up on Bruce’s long term potential. I know you see Bruce as 2011 sleeper…
@Grey: Burrell or Godzilla for rest of year?
@Ceasar: It can be worse: As a Brewer fan and Arroyo owner that was the worst possible ending to the game…ugh
@Telemachus: I’d never say Harden’s going to stay healthy. Can he? Sure. Either way, I don’t want any part of Dice-K. Burrell.
EDIT: Word.
@Grey: fair enough…thanks
any idea what the deal is with Furcal? sleeper next year or worse than craplonco?
@Telemachus: I wouldn’t go near him. Though not worse than Crapolanco.
@Grey: H2H, just keeping the seat warm for J-Up:
Car-Go of the Rox, Snider or Willingham?
Some days I wonder why I even play this stupid game. After being patient with Willingham for 4 days, I finally sit him for one game, and pronto he sonavabenches me in the worst possible way.
Of all the pitching prospects listed, who besides Baumgarner has the highest ceiling you think?
@chris: For next year? Someone who is already in the majors. From this list? Carrasco, Rondon and Poreda look solid, but it’s a long road to being a productive major league starter.
yeah im just in this dyansty league so picking up rookies at the end of the year off waivers is crucial so i just wanted your opinion
I have Haren, Verlander, Carpenter, J. Vasquez, Gallardo, Tillman, Masterson, Volstad, and Tazawa. I’m 16-4, and am coasting into the playoffs with a 1st round bye. I have 4 moves left. I’m debating on picking up M. Bumgarner. First of all, will he definitely be up when rosters expand? Then is he worth dropping either Masterson, Volstad, or Tazawa? Finally, if he is worth dropping one of the aformentioned, which one should I drop?
Is Hudson going to replace Kawakami? He’s getting hit pretty hard in his rehab stint.
@MattWaite: No, he won’t definitely be up. I would lose Tazawa for him though. Hudson may, or he may just work middle relief to get some innings.
And what about Jake Arrieta? I heard he will be pitching in the majors when the rosters expand…is he worth a pick up, with only 4 moves left?
@MattWaite: I wouldn’t go near him.
So within my last 2 postings, what do you recommend I do? Keep everything the way it is or pick someone up for the playoff push? And who out of everyone available, should it be…if need be?
@MattWaite:Can you make drops and adds during the playoffs? If so, then hold tight in case you need to make one then.
And sorry man, last question…you forgot timothy alderson. The other monster that the Giants HANDED to the Pirates. He suppose to have the highest ceiling of all prospects…along with Bumgarner. It’s looking more and more that he will pitch for Pittsburg in sept….do you forsee that happening, and is he worth a move with 4 left?
Yes you can ONLY if a pitcher goes on the DL. We are allowed 10 starts per opponent. And a relief picther counts as 2 starts. Kind of arbitrary I know. So, I guess my moves arent as crucial to save.
@MattWaite: These seem like all moves that are way riskier than you need. If you really want, drop Tazawa and Masterson for Mad Bum and Hudson. But these are completely unnecessary, though I wouldn’t own those two pitchers that you own either.
Just found this blog via Yahoo. Great site. Couple questions…
Last week to make any kind of transactions before playoffs.
Lidge or JP Howell as my 2nd closer (R Franklin)?
Pick up Rowland-Smith and drop Garza or Lowe?
Taking your advice on dropping Joba for Smoltz.
BTW…H2H League.
@David: Howell, keep Garza and Lowe.
Madson just got and blew a save opportunity. Who do you think gets the next save op in Phillie?
@Bob: Lidge
@Lidge sucks. I believe he has more blown saves than anybody in MLB. I’m thinking the Phils must know if they want to repeat, they’ve got to come up with someone besides Lidge. What do you think?
So about that Howell or Lidge question….haha.
@Bob: I think Lidge stays in the role for the most part. Meaning, he’s the #1 guy but might lose a chance here and there.
@David: Yeah, neither’s burning up right now.
Grey, discovered this place recently. Love the site, I can always count on a laugh reading the daily notes. Glossary is the shizz although I didn’t get to see the Jokey Smurf’d video.
Couple of questions:
I need saves and I’m holding both Myers and Madson. Is Madson a cuddle boy? I think he can actually do the job but played the AL east earlier in the year (everyone’s basis for dismissing him) and got unlucky tonight. HR’s happen. Who gets the saves?
David Price: At this time of year all the young guns suffer from premature epitchulation where teams get too excited about a guys future at which point September comes too early. With that said does he sniff any saves in September or drop em like it’s hot?
@Weezie: Thanks for the kind words! I think Lidge keeps the job. Madson might get a few here and there.
re: Price — It’s an interesting theory, but I don’t think Price gets saves.