Yesterday, Shane Victorino went 4-for-5, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs scored and his 6th homer. For anyone who read the roundups last year, you’re probably wondering where my Victorino love went. Last year, Victorino was my ’09 Mark Reynolds. I saw good value in Victorino last year and pushed him on everyone. Unfortunately, he met expectations, performed well, his value skyrocketed and I don’t have him on any team this year. This will be the story next year when I rarely mention Reynolds. I won’t own him because he’ll be drafted too high in 2010. Alas, the story of the fantasy baseball ‘pert. Your loves are forever changing. One year Jeremy Guthrie, the next year Wandy Rodriguez. Behind the ‘stache lies a fickle man! But I still gots love for Victorino. My only concern is how low his steals are this year. Sitting — literally — on 13 steals. So run. You’re The Flying Hawaiian for a reason, not The Taro Masher, poi! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Ryan Howard – The Phils scored 22 runs. Howard went 1-for-4, no Runs and one RBI. Ticker Tease!
Jimmy Rollins – 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 4 Runs scored. Batting near .400 in July. Let’s not call him fixed yet, but we’re heading in the right direction.
Jayson Werth – Hit his 17th homer yesterday and drove in his 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50th RBIs. Have I mentioned the Phils scored a lot of runs yesterday?
Cole Hamels – 7 IP, 1 ER, only 2 Ks. A start against a team that isn’t scoring many runs and is down ten runs after the first inning is a nice place to be pitching from. This could be the confidence boost Hamels needs moving forward.
Johnny Cueto – 2/3 IP, 9 ER. The pimple-faced teenager tried to warn you. I’m thinking it might be hard to Sell him now. I wouldn’t panic and drop him out of spite. He won’t be this bad the rest of the year. In fact, he gets the Mets in Metco next.
Paul Janish – In relief he went, one inning and gave up 6 runs. He still pitched better than Cueto.
Jonny Gomes – HR yesterday. Reds face four lefties this week. Play the matchups, dear Razzball reader.
Randy Johnson – Hit the DL with a case of Old.
Kevin Slowey – He has a strained wrist. This was the best case scenario. No, that’s not right. Best case scenario would be he’s healthy… Actually, best case scenario is he was healthy and pitching well. So the good news is Slowey received the 3rd best best case scenario.
Rick Porcello – Now his spot in the rotation is getting skipped. Next thing, he’ll be pitching out of the bullpen in August. Then shutdown in September. Finally, buying Leyland Camels in March. It’s the circle of life.
Randy Wells – 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 Ks, no BBs. Has a 2.48 ERA on the year. I was worried after his start vs. the Twins when he went 3 2/3 IP and gave 4 runs. I’m still hestitant about a young pitcher in Wrigley, but he’s done little to not trust him. Fall backwards into his arms. He’ll catch you. At least for another start or two, then we’ll have to reevualate.
Aramis Ramirez – Returned and went 0-for-4. This is unconfirmed, but Cubs fans are saying he would’ve had four hits, but Bradley forgot to run in front of him.
Jair Jurrjens – 6 IP, 4 ER, one K. Meesa tinks Jar-Jar’s got a few more of these yawnstipating starts in him.
Willie Bloomquist – Hit his 2nd homer yesterday. He dedicated the shot to Jay Buhner.
John Smoltz – 6 IP, 5 ER. I don’t own Smoltz anywhere, because, well, there’s NL fish in the sea, but if I did own him, I’d be concerned. These weren’t exactly the Gene Tenace A’s he was facing. He gets the Willie Bloomquist Royals next time out, if that goes poorly, might be time to pull the ripcord.
Orlando Cabrera – Now here’s an exciting name! He’s hit two homers in the last two games. Do with that info what you must, but if you ask me if you should pick him up, I’m going to say, “Bleh.”
Brett Anderson – 9 IP, 9 Ks as he two-hit the Sawx. I still wouldn’t pick him up, but you know what’s fun? The first three months of any relationship. Yes, but besides that, the way the A’s call up just about anyone. Anderson would be pitching in Double-A right now for just about any other organization. No expectations is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Mike Hampton – 7 IP, 1 ER. Took care of the Pirates yesterday, will get the Nats next time out. That’s a decent spot start, assuming he doesn’t end up on the DL by this weekend.
Kevin Millwood – 5 IP, 9 ER. Well, we both knew it was coming. As my Polish neighbor from my childhood would say, “What can do?”
Josh Hamilton – Returned and went 2-for-4. See, he does deserve to be in the All-Star Game!
Jarrod Washburn – Threw a one-hitter shutout yesterday vs. the Orioles. On the positives, showing great command with only 26 walks in 105 1/3 IP and a spacious park. On the flip side, not a lot of Ks and very little run support. Potatoes to chips, Washburn is worth a flier if your team is struggling on WHIP.
Franklin Gutierrez – The Big FraGu has been out of his mind lately batting nearly .500 over his last 7 games. After hitting .304 in June with 4 homers and 3 steals. Project that out over the entire season and you have numbers The Big FraGu won’t get. But Schlemiel! Schlimazel! He’s worth a pickup while he’s hot.
Justin Upton – 1-for-3, HR and steal yesterday. Was good to see him do something after going into yesterday’s game 0 for his last 18.
Everth Cabrera – 0-for-3 with two steals. To say he’s lighting the world on fire would be a lie, but SAGNOF!
Albert Pujols – Over at Rotoworld, they referred to Pujols as Prince Albert. (If you look up Prince Albert, it’s perhaps the only Wikipedia page not safe for work.) Guess when your last name is Pujols, you get used to harsh nicknames. With a two ball count, Prince Albert gets the head of the bat in the zone and pierces it up the middle.
