Kendrys returns (or is the verb singular there?) this year, but can’t play every day, and when he does, he needs to DH. So, since Mark Trumbo fields about as well as Dalton Trumbo fielded commie accusations, it seemed like Trumbo (Mark) would be benched a lot. In years past, Scioscia would’ve went with some variation of a light-hitting middle infielder with a good glove — “You can’t teach moxie! Moxie’s innate! Chone Figgins had so much moxie. He could’ve played 3rd base, 2nd base and waitressed at a diner from midnight to 8 AM.” That’s a direct quote from Scioscia’s autobiography, “Crouching Angel, Hidden Drag Bunt.” But maybe Scioscia learned himself something because Trumbo is playing every day, and hitting well. Yesterday, he went 2-for-3, 2 runs, 6 RBIs and his 13th and 14th homers. Right now, Trumbo’s hitting .326. That’s probably through his ceiling for average, through the ceiling above it and out the roof. He could hit 50 to 60 points below that. There’s still plenty of value here. He’s on his way to 30-plus homers, solid counting stats and 10-plus steals. Basically, what you hope you get from Pujols at this point. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Scott Downs – And just when you think The Sciosciapath has his harsh mellowed over the closer sitch, he goes and flips the script. Colvin and CarGo, two lefties, were due up in the ninth, so I’m guessing he went with Downs there for that reason. I’d continue to hold Frieri, but obviously Downs isn’t out of the picture completely. He’s kinda photobombing the closer picture, actually.
Torii Hunter – 9 for his last 15 with three homers and a steal. After he hits a homer, he should proclaim, “The eyes have it!”
Nelson Cruz – Out yesterday with a sore Achilles, an injury he sustained breaking in new cleats, and now Greek goddess Nike drops her endorsement.
Alexi Ogando – Combined on a three-hitter….Unfortch, he was removed after three innings because he pulled his groin. Right there on the mound? Gross!
Carlos Zambrano – Bothered by a sore back. That’s the last time he carries Joey Cora to the ballpark in a Baby Björn. Big Z says he shouldn’t miss his next start. After giving up seven earned runs in two and a third innings, not sure what you’re rooting for here. Missing a start isn’t a bad option. Having him make his start but dropping him to waivers doesn’t sound terrible either.
Gaby Sanchez – Returned from Triple-A New Orleans with a .310 average, 3 homers and almost seven pounds of beads. As Eddie Murphy will tell you, a pretty girl first name is as good as a pretty girl. I’d grab Gaby in NL-Only and some deeper mixed leagues. I’d wait to see him hit in the majors before adding him across most leagues. Now for his sister from a different mother…
Anibal Sanchez – 6 IP, 4 ER, 10 baserunners, 2 Ks. This start was actually made more palatable by a few key double plays. Anibal gets the Rays again and then the Blue Jays. The other day Rudy said that you gotta bet on starters during interleague play. It’s like betting on brothels during Fleet Week. I agree, but I’d prefer my NL East starters go against the NL East.
Logan Morrison – 3-for-4 after a mental break. If being out to lunch is going mental, then he seemed to play well on a full stomach. And that’s how you mix metaphors!
Ben Zobrist – 7 for his last 11 with two homers. This weekend Zobrist was like watching any Batman movie not directed by Joel Schumacher.
Matt Joyce – Hit 2 homers this weekend as the Rays played down in Miami away from all of those North Florida Yankee fans and in front of all those South Florida Yankee fans.
Brandon League – In the landmark case of sooner vs. later, Eric Wedge said League will get the closer job back, then League went out and gave up 2 runs yesterday. Not sure what the Ikea-named Wilhelmsen did to bother Wedge. Maybe he’s more of a futon man. Might just be a case of management wanting to build up League’s value for a trade. Kinda sad to think Wedge is managing a terrible team and can’t even make key decisions on his own. In related news, Eric Wedge would like to connect with you on LinkedIn.
Doug Fister – After a bullpen session on Saturday, Leyland said Fister could return to the rotation on Wednesday. Fantasy-wise, a rotating Fister makes me want to crawl into a ball and cry. Thankfully, on Sunday, Leyland said Fister wasn’t ready for Wednesday.
Paul Goldschmidt – 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. He also stole a base yesterday. And he named his schnauzer, Grey. So he’s a good guy.
Brian Fuentes – Billy Beane, through his interpreter Bob Melvin, announced that Fuentes would move into a closer-by-committee with Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour. It’s always weird when a closer moves into a committee. On its face, the move means Fuentes should still see saves, but it never seems to work out that way. It’s the gentle way a closer is replaced. It’s the baseball equivalent of ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’ So the A’s go with the guy that is flat-out dominant, Ryan Cook, or the guy that has already Mr. Bungled the closer job, Balfour? I’m guessing Balfour gets more saves because Cook’s better. That’s not a joke. Cook will be used in tough eighth inning situations and Balfour will be, uh, saved. Cook’s obviously better, so I’d just grab him first where available and hope the A’s do the right thing, Radio Raheem. I also grabbed Balfour where I really needed saves, but I wouldn’t grab both. To coin a phrase, “Too much of a bad thing is a bad thing.”
Alex Presley – 2-for-5 with 2 steals on Saturday; 1-for-4 with a steal on Sunday. Since he returned from the minors, Presley’s karate kicked through a five song medley starting with “Here’s the Sleeper I Dreamt Of, ” and ending with, “Pirates and Fools Plunder Booty.” If Presley’s available in deeper mixed leagues, I’d take a flyer. Here’s my preseason Alex Presley fantasy. I wrote it while protesting Sean Penn as a director.
Jason Grilli – Got the save as Hanrahananananan had gone three in a row. Fun fact alert! Jason Grilli in Australia is Jason Barbie.
Andrew McCutchen – 2-for-3, 3 RBIs and a slam (11) and legs (11). He has a perfectly balanced scale on his vision board.
Colby Rasmus – 3-for-6, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and a homer. I think I’ve talked enough about him for a few weeks. I’m a fan, you’re a fan, Ginger over Mary-Ann.
Julio Teheran – 4 1/3 IP, 4 ER. Transitioning from getting the Blue Jay Colb-Ra in your clutches to how I ran to grab the new, chic Teheran, only to watch him shipped back to the minors. To keep this Blassie half full, Medlen is the Braves starter to stash.
Ryan Dempster – 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks in Minnesota. Cubs had the benefit of not having their pitchers bat, but the Twins were forced to have their hitters hit.
Francisco Liriano – 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER. His last name translates to “the year of being leery.”
Ben Revere – 1-for-4 with a steal yesterday. Has 6 steals in the last ten games and is batting .440 over the last week. Ben Revere sounds like Affleck’s alias when he checks into hotels. “When Matt Saugus shows up, send him up to my room.” That’s Affleck talking to the front desk manager. Revere is your SAGNOF of the week. I grabbed him in one league for s’s and g’s while hoping the s’s are steals.
Ubaldo Jimenez – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks. After the game, Ubaldo, his agent and his fantasy owners requested a trade back to the NL.
Jason Kipnis – 3-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 10th homer and 15th steal for the slam and legs. Wow, I was so high on him in the preseason, but didn’t end up with him anywhere while his owners are celebrating with shots of whiskey and a chicken broth back. It’s like whatever player the Indians put into the 3 hole performs. Last year, Asdrubal, this year The Nosh. They’d give Shelley Duncan a run in the three hole, but they can’t afford the high-five injuries.
Jon Lester – 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 9 Ks. Since my ‘Buy’ article on him ten days ago, he’s gone 13 innings, 5 earned runs and 14 Ks. Can’t make this stuff up! Well, you can, but it’s pretty easy to fact check.
Dustin Pedroia – 1-for-4 and 3 for his last 24 since he returned with a torn abductor muscle. And that’s why clams don’t play baseball.
Zack Cozart – 2-for-5 and his 7th homer. Todd Frazier also hit his 7th homer in this game. None of it matters though, because Aroldis Chapman blew the game– Wait, check that, I don’t own Aroldis, but do own Cozart and Frazier. Yay, non-real baseball! I will now wear my fantasy team jersey with 26 names on the back that has room for one on the DL!
Tyler Colvin – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and three homers in the last two games. Definitely worth looking at sing/songwriter/home run hitter Colvin in deeper mixed leagues, but you can’t count on him playing every day. But, Part II: The More But’s The Better; I’d be surprised the Rockies bench him in the near near future because of the power surge he’s on.
Norichika Aoki – 1-for-2, 2 runs and his 2nd steal in as many games. Bee tee dubya, when he hit the walk-off homer the other day, they cream pie’d him and his translator. I would’ve lifted him, but I have a soft spot for carry Aoki.
Martin Maldonado – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 3rd homer. He doesn’t profile as a big power guy or much speed or much average, but he does have catcher eligibility. Could see grabbing him in two catcher leagues or deep NL-Only leagues. Also, I appreciate that he celebrates like an irate 80-year-old Italian grandmother.
Cliff Lee – 6 IP, 4 ER, 9 baserunners, 8 Ks to keep his record at 0-3. To put this in perspective, every game he goes without a win, the longer the posts are gonna be in twelve years about his Cooperstown bid, so let’s see if we can’t get him a win soon. Maybe Ivan Nova can donate a win. Cliff Lee accepts PayPal.
Russell Martin – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and two homers with the second one being a game winner off (and just over) Jon Rauch. This is his 4th home run this week and 8th on the year. He’s been a whole lot of nothing, then he muddled that together with mint and gave you a HeSucksjito, but he’s been hot recently.
Brett Gardner – Had another setback with his elbow. Hayzeus Cristo, he was only supposed to be out a few days with his elbow whackaroni. I just need your legs, doode! Can’t you throw your fubar’d bow in a sling and run the bases? He’s going to meet with a specialist today, but it sounds like he could be out a while. It’s fair to drop him from your teams if you need the DL room. Backdate that news two months.
Tim Lincecum – 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 13 baserunners, 5 Ks. That looks solid. Oops, meant soiled. Stupid autocorrect.
Drew Smyly – Left yesterday’s game with a blister on his hand. That reminds me of the time in high school I drew a smiling girl’s face on my hand– You know, forget that.
Brett Wallace – 2-for-4 with his 2nd homer in his last three games. He’s hitting .400 since his call up with a hit in every game. In Triple-A, he hit 10 homers in fifty games this year. He also had a hideous walk and K-rate in Triple-A, was lucky to bat .259 and he looks like Warren’s stand-in from There’s Something About Mary’s, which is a good fit for Jose Altuve, who looks like he medaled in the Special Olympics. In NL-Only or deep mixed leagues, I could see trying Wallace for a little bit while Carlos Lee is out.
Adam Dunn – Hit his 20th homer yesterday. Okay, I get it. The entire White Sox organization conspired last year to get rid of Ozzie. Well played poor playing, fellas (say that fast 117 times!).
Philip Humber – 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER. Ventura said Humber would have one more shot to stay in the White Sox rotation. Philip said, “I’ve been trying to be too fine with my pitches since the perfect game.” #Humberbrag
