The Buzz Around the Bullpen: The Seven Game Winner that Nobody Knows About

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. This week we saw two of baseball’s brightest young stars finally get their call to the “bigs”. While I would normally focus on the arrival of new fantasy studs, all that needs to be said is if Clayton Kershaw and Jay Bruce are available in your league, pick them up immediately. They are both future stars in the game and if you are in a keeper league, you could hit the jackpot with either one of these guys. Throughout the next two months, look for teams throughout the league to give their hot young prospects a chance to impress at the major league level. The word around baseball is that in the next couple weeks young studs like Andy LaRoche and Chase Headley might also get the call back to the big leagues. These are guys that can definitely have an immediate impact on your team. Do not let their youth scare you but if you are still a little hesitant, just remember what Ryan Braun was able to do in an abbreviated season last year.

Big Hits

Jesse Litsch (SP, Toronto Blue Jays): This is the seven game winner that absolutely no one is talking about. Litsch has been solid for the past month and his numbers have been comparable to some of the league’s best pitchers. However, Litsch is owned in less than 60% of leagues. In his past two starts, Litsch has been dominating. While he only has 37 Ks in 65 IP, Litsch possesses a 3.18 ERA with an impressive 1.15 WHIP. He has already matched his win total from last year when he won 7 games in a little over 100 IP. I would look for Litsch to continue to put up strong numbers. If he is available pick him up immediately.

Ian Stewart (3B, Colorado Rockies): There has not been much in the way of positive news out of Colorado lately with Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitski and Clint Barmes all on the disabled list. As a result, Ian Stewart was promoted from Triple-A where he was hitting .280 with 12 HRs. Stewart struggled in limited time last year with Colorado but with more at-bats under his belt, look for Stewart to put up decent fantasy numbers. Making him even more appealing, Stewart will soon become 2B eligible. Take a flier on Stewart and take advantage of him getting some starts while Colorado’s stars are on the shelf.

Jorge Campillo (SP/RP Atlanta Braves): The Braves has this knack that regardless of who they lose through injury or through free agency, they find someone to step in and put up great numbers. Campillo started the year as a reliever and was virtually unhittable. Since his move to the rotation, his numbers have somehow gotten even better. In his last three starts, Campillo has given up 1 earned run and has struck out 16 batters in only 15 IP. For the year, Campillo is averaging just under a K/INN and also has a miniscule ERA of .99. Maybe more important than any of these stats is that Bobby Cox has stated on several occasion how good Campillo’s stuff has been this year. This is great news for owners of Campillo because it looks as though he might be in the rotation to stay. The only thing to worry about with Campillo is his problem with blisters. Before his last start he was only owned in less than 10% of leagues so he will almost definitely be available in your league. Pick him up now and monitor his health status with his blisters.

Jason Bergmann (SP, Washington Nationals): Bergmann struggled mightily in his first three starts this season and as a result, he was sent down to Triple-A. Whether he tweaked his mechanics are just got a “wake-up call”, Bergmann has been solid since his recall to the big leagues. In his last three starts, Bergmann has not given up an earned run and during that time, he has struck out 22 batters in only 19.2 IP. The only problem with Bergmann is that he plays on a bad team and may lose out on some potential wins because of his team’s lack of run support. However, if you need some help in your Ks category, Bergmann has had only one start this year where he has struck out less than four batters. I would take a chance on Bergmann and at least take advantage of his high K numbers.

Honorable Mention

Kevin Slowey (SP, Minnesota Twins): (2-4, 3.37 ERA, 24 Ks, 1.04 WHIP)
Dan Wheeler (RP, Tampa Bay Rays): (0-3, 2.19 ERA, 18 Ks, 1 save)
Joba Chamberlain (RP/SP, New York Yankees): (1-2, 2.28 ERA, 30 Ks)
Ryan Spilborghs (OF, Colorado Rockies): (.320, 3 HR, 22 RBIs, 17 runs, 4 SBs)

Big Miss

Scott Olsen (SP, Florida Marlins): Olsen has certainly cooled off since starting the season with four wins in his first six starts. His last four starts have been a little troubling because of the amount of hits and earned runs he has given up. If you were to look at his overall numbers, they are still fairly decent because of his great start. This could definitely help if you are trying to trade him. A potential trading partner might be less inclined to look at his last couple starts after seeing decent overall numbers. Over the course of his young career, Olsen has struggled with a high ERA and a below average WHIP. You could definitely still get some decent return with Olsen. I would trade now because I believe Olsen is the pitcher he has been over his last four starts as opposed to the pitcher he was in the beginning of the season.

As with any SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post any questions or comments. Until next time, keep your ears open for the Buzz Around the Bullpen.

"Miranda Warnings": They're Here!

Welcome to Week #9 of "Miranda Warnings", your weekly guide to what's happening in the world of Major League Baseball, from a fantasy baseball perspective. Every Wednesday, throughout baseball's regular season, "Miranda Warnings" will appear on SportsJudge.com. I'm your host Michael Miranda.

The rumbling sound (i.e. similar to that of an oncoming train) that you've been hearing the last few days, those are the footsteps of millions of fantasy baseball GM's racing to acquire Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce (pictured above, left) and LA Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw (pictured above, right). The two mega-prospects (i.e. can't-miss studs) were promoted by their respective clubs this week. This weeks "Miranda Warnings" tells you their short and long-term fantasy baseball values.

American League East: Boston P Daisuke Matsuzaka left his start versus Seattle in the fifth inning on Tuesday night. The team said Dice-K has a tired shoulder. He's leaving the team and headed back to Boston for an MRI. Stay tuned... Yankee P Ian Kennedy (right lat muscle strain) was placed on the DL. Joba Chamberlain will take Kennedy's spot, possibly joining the starting rotation as early as next week against either Minnesota or Toronto... Orioles' OF Luke Scott was in a 1-for-18 slump before homering against the Yankees Tuesday night. Scott has six HR's, with 19 RBIs and a .248 average. He's a decent fourth or fifth fantasy outfielder... Toronto OF Alex Rios has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, but he's still hitting only .265 in 2008. He really needs to step it up while the team is minus OF Vernon Wells (wrist), who won't return until at least late June... The Rays have been relatively healthy in 2008, until Wednesday. One out from a save, closer Troy Percival left the game versus the Rangers with tightness in his left hamstring. Percival has had leg problems before. This could mean a DL stint. If he lands on the DL, P's Dan Wheeler and Al Reyes will be called upon to close.

American League Central: Indians DH Travis Hafner missed his third straight game with right shoulder inflammation Wednesday. Hafner admitted that he has received two cortisone injections this season for his shoulder woes. He hopes the inflammation will subside by this coming weekend. This sounds like a DL stint waiting to happen... Kansas City OF Joey Gathright went 3-for4 with 2 runs scored, one RBI and one SB. Gathright is only hitting .269, but he has 14 SB's and has the wheels to steal 40+ in 2008... Tigers P Armanda Galarraga continues to impress. Galarraga joined the starting rotation in mid-April, replacing the injured Dontrelle Willis' (knee). Willis has since returned, but Galarraga will not relinquish his spot anytime soon. Galarraga allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings Wednesday. He struck out four, while improving to 4-2 in Detroit's 6-2 win over the LA Angels... If your fantasy team is in need of some pitching help, Minnesota's Nick Blackburn might be the answer. He was sharp Tuesday against the Royals, allowing two earned runs on eight hits in 8 1/3 innings, en route to a no-decision. Blackburn is 4-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 2008. I don't expect his success to last though because he's very hittable due to his lack of overpowering stuff... White Sox OF Carlos Quentin's breakthrough 2008 continued Wednesday. Quentin went 1-for-4 with three RBIs, including a game-winning, two-run double, in Chicago's 6-5 win over the Indians. Quentin has 47 RBI, second in the Major Leagues to Texas' Josh Hamilton.

American League West: LA Angels P John Lackey (8 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) was impressive, yet again, while losing to Chicago Sunday. Lackey's been himself since returning from the DL, adding depth to the starting rotation, while retaining his title as Angels stopper... Oakland P Rich Harden (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) was awesome in Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays. This was Harden's third straight quality start (6 or more IP, 3 ER or less) and it appears that he's returned to top-form... Did you know that Seattle 3B Adrian Beltre already has 10 HR's? Beltre has always been a notoriously slow starter, who then turns it on in the second half. For the most part, Beltre has been an overrated, but consistent, premier talent over the course of his career. You can always count on him for a .275+ BA, 20+ HR's and 90+ RBI's... Texas SS Michael Young extended his hitting streak to 13 games Wednesday versus Tampa Bay. Young is hitting .278, with 5 HR's and 24 RBI's.

National League East: Atlanta activated P Rafael Soriano (elbow) from the DL Wednesday. Soriano and John Smoltz (returning in June?) are the leading candidates to be Atlanta's closer. A forgotten man in all of this is former closer Mike Gonzalez. Gonzalez, returning from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to began a rehab assignment this week... One of the reasons for the Mets inconsistent play since late 2007 is P Oliver Perez. Perez (6 IP, 4 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 7 K) was knocked around by the Marlins Wednesday. Perez' immense potential will never be realized unless he learns how to reduce his walks... Washington Nationals C Jesus Flores replaced the injured Paul LoDuca (hand) earlier this month and hasn't looked back, continuing his recent tear Wednesday, hitting a grand slam versus San Diego. Flores is hitting .344, with 2 HR's and 14 RBIs. Flores deserves to be the full-time catcher, even when Lo Duca returns... Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley smashed a three-run homer on Wednesday against Colorado, giving him 17 HR's! Can you say, MVP?... Florida OF Cody Ross has 9 HR's. Yes, 9! On Wednesday, against the Mets, Ross blasted two homers and collected four RBIs. Ross is not known for his power, but if your fantasy team needs power, and he's available in your league, scoop him up and ride the hot streak.

National League Central: Cincinnati came to its senses and promoted OF Jay Bruce earlier this week, after he obliterated Triple-A pitching. According to milb.com, in 49 games, Bruce was hitting .364, with 10 HR's, 37 RBI's, and a scalding 1.023 OPS! ESPN's Peter Gammons calls Bruce, "the next Larry Walker". Bruce is an elite five-tool talent, in every sense, capable of putting up numbers similar to Ryan Braun and Hunter Pence in 2007. In his prime, Bruce is very capable of Larry Walker-type numbers. He's special, for sure. Having said that, temper your expectations. Remember, he needs to adjust to Major League pitching... Houston 2B Kazuo Matsui went 3-for-5, with two runs scored in Tuesday's victory over the St.Louis. Matsui's 11 stolen bases and 27 runs scored make him a strong fantasy 2B... Milwaukee closer Eric Gagne (shoulder) landed on the DL recently (shocker!), with Salomon Torres taking over ninth inning duties... St. Louis P Adam Wainwright (8 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K) was filthy in Wednesday's win over Houston. If Wainwright can have more outings like this, he'll enter 2009 as a Top 20 fantasy baseball pitcher... Cubs closer Kerry Wood earned his 11th save on Monday against the Dodgers. Wood is fifth in the National League in saves... Pittsburgh P Ian Snell was lit up for seven ER's in only five innings, in Tuesday's 9-6 loss to the Reds. Of greater concern was Snell's seven walks! Pittsburgh's "ace" saw his record drop to 2-4, with 5.46 ERA!

National League West: The LA Dodgers promoted phenom left-hander Clayton Kershaw last Sunday and he didn't disappoint. Although he got a no-decision, Kershaw (6 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) had an impressive debut versus St.Louis. Kershaw has the perfect body for a pitcher, 6'3" and 220 pounds. He has three Major League-ready pitches. His fastball consistently hits the mid-90s. His curveball is a knee-buckler that comes in at about 75 mph. His changeup is considered above-average. Like Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce (see NL Central report above), Kershaw is special. Like Bruce, the sky is the limit for Kershaw. Kershaw is very capable of putting together numbers similar to Yovanni Gallardo's 2007 debut season. In his prime, Kershaw could be another version of Johan Santana. Having said that, temper your expectations. Remember, like Bruce, Kershaw needs to adjust to a new level of competition... San Francisco C Bengie Molina was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored on Wednesday versus Arizona, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. During Spring Training, I laughed when I found out that Molina was SF's clean-up hitter. So far, I'm "eating crow"! Molina is having a monster season (.339 BA, 6 HR's, 36 RBI's)!... You can put a nail in San Diego's coffin. In the span of a week, the Padres lost ace Jake Peavy (elbow) and co-ace Chris Young (facial fractures) to injuries. Both pitchers are out indefinitely... As if losing SS Troy Tulowitzki until July wasn't enough, Colorado lost OF Brad Hawpe (hamstring), OF Matt Holliday (hamstring) and SS Clint Barmes (knee) to the DL. Incredibly, the Rockies lost all three within 48 hours! Can you say, ouch?... Arizona OF Justin Upton doubled in Wednesday's loss to the Giants, after entering the game in a 1-for-28 tailspin.

See you next week!

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Will Young Be The Same Pitcher After Being Struck In The Face?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around The Bullpen”. As much as I’d love to jump right in and talk about some baseball, I have to first let you guys in on a little secret. Believe it or not, the Stanley Cup Finals begin tomorrow night. I understand if you are not from Detroit or Pittsburgh this may come as a surprise to you. It is unfortunate that the NHL has taken the back seat to other sports but they have no one else to blame but themselves. It is going to take some time to recover from the strike but I believe the NHL will eventually come back. This series should be extremely exciting with the fresh faces of Sid the Kid and Evgeni Malkin trying to defeat the NHL long-time establishment known as the Detroit Red Wings. Although I think it will be a great series, I have to go with my beloved Penguins in 6. Well before I start growing a mullet like Barry Melrose, lets get back to some baseball talk.

Big Hits

David Murphy (OF, Texas Rangers): Before I start talking about David Murphy’s hot start, I want to make it clear that I do not have a contractual obligation to talk about a Texas Ranger every week. It seems like every week I find myself focusing on at least one Ranger. However, no one can ignore the numbers that Murphy has put up thus far. Murphy is hitting .291 with 6 HRs, 31 RBIs, 24 runs and 4 SBs. Murphy had a hot bat coming out of spring training but owners ignored his numbers and left him undrafted in almost all leagues. Amazingly, he is still available in a little under 50% of leagues. Murphy has been hitting in the 5 spot behind two of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley. As teams start to pitch around Hamilton and Bradley, they will be forced to give Murphy pitches to hit. Also, with Hamilton and Bradley both having impressive OBPs, look for Murphy to continue to knock in some runs. Give Murphy a long look if you need some help in your outfield.

Doug Davis (SP, Arizona Diamondbacks): Sports have a funny way of each year providing us with a great story. Although Jon Lester’s no-hitter this past week stole some of the thunder, Doug Davis is coming back in a little over a month after battling cancer. Although these feel good stories do not give your fantasy team any extra points, I look for Davis to come back and put up some great numbers. Davis won 13 games last year on a Diamondbacks team that was not nearly as good as their team this year. While Davis always compiles a high WHIP, his potential to put up big strikeout and win numbers more than make up for that. Davis is most likely available in your league after he was dropped when he went on the DL for his cancer treatment. Guys this is going to be the story of the year and you heard it here first. Pick up Doug Davis.

Jose A. Contreras (SP, Chicago White Sox): Contreras has won his last three starts and has not given up more than one earned run in any of those starts. The White Sox are one of the hottest teams in the league right now and it looks like their offense has turned around from an absolutely abysmal 2007 season. Contreras already has 5 wins and while he only averages about 3 Ks per start, he owns an impressive 1.14 WHIP. Although Contreras is only getting older by the day, expect Contreras to win 12-15 games. This isn’t too bad for a guy that is most likely still available on your waiver wire.

Honorable Mention

Salomon Torres (RP, Milwaukee Brewers): (3-1, 3.10 ERA, 22 Ks, 1.41 WHIP, 1 save)
Bartolo Colon (SP, Boston Red Sox): (1-0, 3.60 ERA, 4 Ks, 1.60 WHIP)
Troy Glaus (3B, St. Louis Cardinals): (.280 avg, 2 Hrs, 32 RBIs, 17 runs)

A Couple Quick Misses

Ian Snell (SP, Pittsburgh Pirates): At the start of the 2008 season, the Pirates were looking to Snell and fellow starter Tom Gorzelanny to carry their young pitching staff. Neither has been able to stand up to the task. Snell has not won in his past 7 starts and although he had an encouraging start against the Brewers this week, he continues to put up some ugly fantasy numbers. While he only won 9 games last year, his win total would have been a lot higher on a more competitive team. Recently when asked by a member of the Pittsburgh media about his pitching of late, Snell replied, “I stink”. There is nothing worse than a pitcher who is down on himself and lacks confidence. Snell needs to get back on track but there is no reason to let him hurt your team in the meantime. If you are a Snell owner, don’t be afraid to pull the trigger on a trade for a younger less established pitcher on a much better team. (see Aaron Laffey).

Chris Young (SP, San Diego Padres): I know I am going to surprise some readers with this one but if I am a Young owner, I’m trading him now. First off, Young has struggled this year and he is on a really bad team that is only going to get worse with its top two starting pitchers on the shelf. Secondly, as we have seen before, pitchers take some time to get back from being hit in the face with a batted ball. Pitchers who have been hit have a tendency to not finish their pitches as their first reaction is to get themselves in a position to defend themselves. This could be especially dangerous for a pitcher of Young’s size (6-10). Look for Young to cut his follow-through a little short and with that comes flat hanging breaking balls and flat waist level fastballs. Young is not an overpowering pitcher. His height and release point result in the ball traveling on a plane that is difficult for the batter to make solid contact. As Young begins to back away and not finish his pitches, his height advantage will completely be eliminated. I look for Young to be even more ordinary than he has been for the remainder of the season. Find someone that is still willing to pay for Young like he is a front-end starter.

As with any SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post any questions or comments. Until next time, keep your ears open for the Buzz Around the Bullpen.

Down on the Farm: Prospect watch

We are going to have another look at how some of the top prospects in baseball are faring so far this year in the minors.

Mat Gamel-3B Huntsville Stars:

Mat Gamel is entering is third full season of professional ball after the Brewers drafted him in the 4th round back in 2005. He has been a bit of an enigma so far for the Brew Crew in his first couple season of minor league baseball. As he has never been consistent in any part of his game other than his high batting average, he has flashed both power and speed offensively but has never been able to build on his success. He profiles well as a third baseman with good athleticism and a strong arm but has made quite a few errors, prompting questions of whether or not a position change is needed. So far this season, his first in Double-A, Gamel looks like he has put his game together (at least offensively) hitting .364 to go along with 10 home runs and 39 RBI's through 45 games. Which is pretty good considering Gamel hit only 9 home runs all of last season. Gamel is still a bit of a work in progress in the field (committing 10 errors so far this season) but still has time to pull it together.

Outlook: Gamel has shown this year that he is a complete offensive ball player and was even considered as a potential call-up for last week's inter league series at Fenway. He looks to be another impact bat in the Brewers system and projects to hit .300+ with 25-30 HR's when he gets to Milwaukee. He will likely spend the majority of the year in the minors though should be in line for a September call-up. If Gamel keeps hitting the Brewers will have to make a decision to trade Bill Hall to make room at third base.

Max Ramirez-C Frisco RoughRiders:

Each of the last two seasons Ramirez has been part of a deadline deal, in 2006 the Braves used him to acquire Bob Wickman, and last season the Indians gave him up to re-acquire Kenny Lofton for their playoff run. Given his performance so far this season, I think its safe to say that the Rangers are going to hang on to their 23 year old catching prospect. Ramirez has been a hitting machine this year batting .391-10-32, while slugging almost .200 points higher than he did last year at a .689 rate. Ramirez still needs to work on his catching ability but has steadily improved each year. Ramirez is also blessed by having exceptional plate discipline for a young hitter as evidenced by him posting at least a .415 OBP each of the last three seasons.

Outlook: At the beginning of the year it looked like Ramirez may be in line to be traded for the third time in as many seasons, since the Rangers possess the top catching depth of any system. Now with the way he is hitting it may be one or more of the other Rangers catchers on the move come July 31st. With Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia ahead of him on the Major League club and Taylor Teagarden sitting in Triple-A, Ramirez still has some hurdles in the organization. Saltalamacchia isn't likely to go anywhere but could be in for a permanent position change to first base, meaning it is likely that one of either Laird or Teagarden is moved to make room for Ramirez. Look for him to be up with the Rangers for good in 2010, until then he will likely continue his feast on minor league pitching.

Trevor Cahill-SP Stockton Ports:

If after his first full season of minor league ball Cahill looked like a second round steal by the Athletics, after he went 11-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 105 innings pitched, including going 5-0 with a 0.74 ERA down the stretch in August, he should be considered grand larceny after his start to this season. Cahill picked up right where he left off last season as he is 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA in his first 9 starts. He has dominated opposing hitters with 68 K's in 54 innings, and holding batters to a .190 average against. Of his 18 runs given up so far this year 8 were in one start and 5 more in another, outside of those two poor performances Cahill has been almost untouchable.

Outlook: Cahill has advanced faster and better than the A's could have even hoped when the drafted him in 2006. He has dominated Low-A hitters last season and is now giving the same treatment to High-A ballplayers. Cahill should be in line for a promotion to Double-A before the year is out and will likely need one more full year in the minors before he makes his case for the A's starting rotation in 2010. Being that he's only 20 right now the A's won't rush him to Oakland to fast, but it seems like if he continues to overwhelm minor leaguers they won't be able to hold him back. Cahill doesn't profile as a typical staff ace, but he has displayed excellent control and command in his brief career and should only continue to improve as he gets older and stronger.

Matt Wieters-C Frederick Keys:

There were multiple times last year where it didn't seem like the Orioles had any chance of having Matt Wieters ever wear an Orioles uniform, now it seems like a foregone conclusion. Wieters last year was in his Junior year at Georgia Tech and was a legitimate candidate to be the number one overall pick last year for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was widely considered the most polished and all around bat in the draft class while at the same time played a premium position, catcher, at a high level. The Orioles entered the draft picking 5th and it seemed unlikely he would fall to them, but due to the contract demands of Scott Boras his agent and personal team preference, the Orioles drafted Wieters. Though they had been lucky enough to get Wieters to fall to them, one major obstacle stood in the O's way, Scott Boras. Teams had until midnight on August 15th to sign their picks and with an hour to go the Orioles seemed to be no closer to reaching an agreement with Boras than they were on draft day. Then with one minute to go until midnight Wieters signed for a $6 million bonus, the largest in team history. Since he signed late Wieters didn't play in the minors last season, though he did play in the Hawaiian Winter League where he performed fairly well hitting .283 in just over 100 at bats. Wieters opened the year in Class High-A ball for Frederick and has put on quite the impressive hitting display, batting .348-11-30 in just 141 at bats. He leads the Carolina league in home runs, RBI's and OPS and is second in the league in batting average. Wieters is a rare find as a catcher who can hit for average, power and has great plate discipline. Wieters is also a highly refined defensive catcher that possesses an exceptional arm.

Outlook: The outlook is quite bright for Matt Wieters as he is doing everything right in Single-A and will likely be moved up to Double-A Bowie within the next month. He has all the makings of an all-star catcher and should hit in the .320 range with 25+ home runs year in year out. So far he's been worth every penny of that $6 million bonus, and should be on his way to Baltimore before the end of next season.

Hope everyone enjoyed this weeks look at a couple top prospects! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, and keep checking back for more prospect updates!

"Miranda Warnings": Thanks Mike!

Welcome to Week #8 of "Miranda Warnings", your weekly guide to what's happening in the world of Major League Baseball, from a fantasy baseball perspective. Every Wednesday, throughout baseball's regular season, "Miranda Warnings" will appear on SportsJudge.com. I'm your host Michael Miranda.

Mike Piazza, who set the Major League record for home runs by a catcher, formally announced his retirement from baseball on Tuesday. Piazza was a 62nd (yes, 62nd!) round selection by the Dodgers in the 1988 First Year Player Draft (player #1,390 chosen overall!) and the rest, as "they" say, is history! Piazza's 16-year career produced 427 homers (396 as a catcher) , a lifetime .308 BA and countless fantasy baseball championships! Thanks for the memories, Mike!

American League East: The Yankees were bludgeoned by the Orioles on Tuesday night, 12-2. The Yanks are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and dead-last in the AL East, 7 1/2 games behind division-leader Boston. With their pitching staff in ruins, do you think the Yanks regret not acquiring Johan Santana in the off-season?... Orioles P Daniel Cabrera was impressive again on Tuesday, holding the Yankees to two earned runs on five hits, with four strikeouts, over seven innings. Most notably, DC didn't walk a batter in tossing his eighth consecutive quality start (6 or more IP, 3 ER or less) to improve to 5-1 on the year. If your fantasy baseball team(s) need pitching, DC is worth a look... P Bartolo Colon returns to the Major Leagues on Wednesday, for the first time since 2007, this time in a Boston Red Sox uniform. He'll face the light-hitting Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park... Tampa Bay Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura is on a 17-game hitting streak!... Toronto closer B.J. Ryan struck out two as he slammed the door on the Phillies this past Sunday. Ryan is now 9-for-9 in save opportunities in 2008 as he continues his incredible comeback from Tommy John surgery.

American League Central: Tigers 2B Placido Polanco went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI Tuesday. With consecutive multi-hit games, Polanco has raised his average from .265 to .285... Recovering from early season struggles, C.C. Sabathia turned in another strong effort in Tuesday's loss to the White Sox (7 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K's). Sabathia fell to 3-6... In that game, White Sox P Jose Contreras continued to impress. Or, should I say amaze? Contreras allowed only 1 ER, 4 hits, 1 BB, while striking out 4 in 6 IP, defeating the Indians 4-1, to improve to 5-3. Contreras' ERA dropped to 3.17 and he's available in many fantasy leagues... Minnesota P Francisco Liriano had another solid outing (7 IP, 8 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's) for Triple-A Rochester Tuesday. While Liriano was impressive, there is no timetable for his return to the Twins... If the Royals are going to succeed, they need better numbers from their core youth. One of those "core" players is DH Billy Butler. Butler has huge upside, but has struggled in 2008. He has a .269 BA, 1 HR and 18 RBI's, meager numbers compared to his upside (.300 BA, 25+ HR's, 90+ RBI's).

American League West: Angels 1B Casey Kotchman has cooled off after a hot start in April, but his overall numbers (.312 AVG, 6 HR, 9 2B, 21 R, 26 RBIs) indicate that he's a decent 1B option. If your fantasy team is in need of a backup 1B, Kotchman is your man. In future seasons, Kotchman projects to be a solid starting 1B, if he can increase his power numbers... Oakland DH Frank Thomas homered in Tuesday's loss to the Rays and has three homers in the last two games, proving that Toronto made a mistake releasing the slugger in April. Although Thomas is hitting a low .237, he's still got muscle with 6 HR's and 25 RBI's... When a team is going "nowhere", as is the case with the Mariners, they should promote their youth and give them an extended look at the major league level to see what they're capable of. After playing only 15 games, the M's optioned C/DH Jeff Clement to Triple-A Tacoma Sunday. While Clement hit just .167 with two RBIs, four runs scored and 20 strikeouts in 15 games after being called up at the end of April, he is considered a huge part of their future and deserved more than a 15 game trial to prove himself. This is an example of why the M's are a poorly run organization... I recently mentioned that Texas manager Ron Washington was insistent that C.J. Wilson was his closer. Washington may want to reconsider Texas' closer situation after Wilson blew his second save of the season Monday, surrendering 1 hit, 1 ER and 2 BB's versus the Twins. The poor outing raised Wilson's ERA to 5.03. P's Eddie "everyday" Guardado and Joaquin Benoit may see some save opportunities in the near future.

National League East: Just when you thought the Mets had turned the corner by sweeping the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, they returned to their lifeless ways, getting swept by the Braves in a double-header Tuesday. On the final play of the second game, OF Ryan Church suffered a mild concussion, taking a knee to the head from SS Yunel Escobar, while attemtping to breakup a double-play. Church's second concussion in as many months will likely lead to a DL stint... Braves P Jorge Campillo put a nail in the Mets coffin, winning the second game of the DH. Campillo, pitching sparingly as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, was brilliant (6 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K's), while registering his first career win... Phillies P Cole Hamels (7 IP, 4 hits, 11 K's) threw seven shutout innings, in a no-decision versus Washington Tuesday. After battling elbow troubles in 2007, Hamels (5-3, 2.61 ERA) has rebounded nicely in 2008. He's a great ace for any fantasy team... Marlins 2B Dan Uggla continued his torrid hitting, launching his 14th home run of the season, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Tuesday versus Arizona. Uggla has six homers in his last nine games!... Washington Nationals P Jon Rauch continues to flourish in the unfamiliar role of closer, while regular closer Chad Cordero rehabs his shoulder. Rauch has recorded eight consecutive save opportunities!

National League Central: Milwaukee OF Mike Cameron was 3-for-4, with a two-run homer, on Tuesday versus Pittsburgh. The three hits lifted Cameron's BA to .230. He also has five homers and 14 RBIs on the year. Nice numbers from a guy who missed the first 25 games serving a suspension, handed down by Major League Baseball last season after a second positive test for a banned stimulant... St. Louis P Joel Pineiro was impressive (5 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K's), despite losing to San Diego 3-2 Tuesday. He's a decent back-of-the-rotation fantasy starter... Cubs P Ryan Dempster made one mistake Tuesday versus Houston, and it cost the Cubs the game. The mistake, a Hunter Pence grand slam. Dempster lost 4-2, giving up four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts Tuesday. It was only the second time in 2008 that Dempster has given up more than three earned runs in an outing... Pittsburgh OF Jason Bay's power resurgence continues. Bay was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer off Brewers closer Eric Gagne on Tuesday. Bay has homered in three of his last five games to give him 10 in 2008... Reds fifth starter Matt Belisle was strong (6 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's), while losing to the Dodgers Tuesday. Despite dropping to 1-4, Belisle's rotation spot is secure as Homer Bailey has struggled mightily in his last two Triple-A starts... Houston OF Michael Bourn stole a base on Monday, giving him 19 SB's in 2008. But, he can't hit a lick (.196 BA!).

National League West: Dodger OF Andruw Jones will likely require surgery for a slight cartilage tear in his right knee. Jones also has a cyst behind that same knee. It's unknown when Jones will undergo surgery for both ailments, but when he does, he'll miss 4-6 weeks. This is a good time for Jones to address his right knee while, at the same time, taking a mental break from his woeful 2008 (.167 BA, 2 HR's, 7 RBI's)... San Francisco OF Randy Winn extended his hitting streak to 15 games Tuesday versus Colorado, going 1-for-4, with a stolen base and two runs scored. Winn is a decent low-end fantasy outfielder... Padres 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff stroked a three-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals. "Kouz" (.269 BA, 4 HR's, 17 RBI's) has struggled a bit in 2008 and the Padres desperately need his bat to get going, in order to get their pathetic offense headed in the right direction... If you're looking for a cheap source of SB's, Colorado OF Scott Podsednik is your man. Pods went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Giants. Pods doesn't play everyday, but he's hitting .293, has 7 SB's in 2008 and is available in most fantasy baseball leagues... The feel-good story of the week (and, perhaps the year!) is Arizona P Doug Davis' return from thyroid cancer. Davis returns later this week (May 23) versus Atlanta, a little more than one month after having surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid. Davis replaces rookie phenom Max Scherzer in Arizona's starting rotation.

See you next week!

Bang the Gavel: SportsJudge.com Announces Docket Highlights

The SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball had a very busy second half of April. Here are some highlights of our recent decisions:

1. In the case Commissioner Gary B. v. Team Sosa & The Doctor Is In, Index No. 1589 (April 11, 2008), the Court of Fantasy Baseball rejected the proposed trade of Hanley Ramirez (SS, Marlins), Matt Kemp (OF Dodgers) and Jorge Cantu (3B Marlins) for Mark Teixeria (1B Braves), Hunter Pence (OF Astros), Edgar Renteria (SS, Tigers), and Huston Street (RP A's). In finding that the proposed trade "is not reasonably likely to benefit both teams," the court rejected Team Sosa's argument that statistics from the first 10 days of the season should be given substantial weight.

2. In the case Teufel Shuffle v. Wally's Back Man, Index No. 1594 (April 17, 2008), the Court of Fantasy Baseball upheld the trade of David Wright for Jose Reyes as "adequately benefiting both teams." The court found that given the season was just three weeks old, the slow start of Jose Reyes was "at most, a very minor factor in the analysis."

3. In the case The Great Cornholio v. Bankers Dozen, Index No. 1596 (April 21, 2008), the Court of Fantasy Baseball ruled that a player placed by his minor league team on the minor league disabled list is not eligible for "disabled" status in a fantasy league with a constitution that states "any player placed on the 15-or 60-day disabled list by his Major League team shall be treated as 'disabled.'"

4. In the case Commissioner Gary B. v. 2 Sweet & Duro Sin Vase, Index No. 1602-T (May 1, 2008), the Court of Fantasy Baseball upheld the trade of Josh Beckett (SP, Red Sox) and Takashi Saito (RP, Dodgers) for Ryan Braun (3B/OF Brewers) and Manuel Copas (RP, Rockies), finding the trade "adequately benefits both teams." The court explained that a trade neither needs to be "even" or "ideal" for it to be "adequately beneficial."

5. In the case ESPN Nueve v. Hot Potato Fantasy League, Index No. 1603 (May 1, 2008), the Court of Fantasy Baseball ruled that all players, including pitchers, are eligible for the league's "utility" slot, meaning that the team ESPN Nueve may play Micah Owings (P Diamondbacks) as a utility player and accumulate his batting statistics. However, if ESPN Nueve uses Owings at utility, it may not on the same day use Owings as a pitcher.

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Is Leyland Going to Hold Back Sheff For A Hot Bat?

Welcome back to another installment of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. We are now at the quarter point of the season and at about this time of the year, owners of Ryan Howard and A-Rod are starting to get restless. In your leagues, good teams are starting to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. However, if your team is struggling, this is not the end of the world and you are only one good trade or free agent acquisition from turning your season around. We have seen before how the acquisition of a guy like Francisco Liriano in 2006 can immediately turn your season in a different direction. Also remember, injuries happen and an elite team in your league might be left scrambling if one of their superstars goes down.
For example, if Jake Peavy goes down to an elbow strain and he is going to be shut down for a couple of weeks, pounce on the opportunity and get some trade offers over to the Peavy owner. I am not saying to necessarily go after Peavy, but the owner of the elite team does not want to lose his position in the standings. As the owner of a struggling team, now is your time to send over a number two starter and get some much needed help to bolster your team. You’ll never get greater return because the Peavy owner is going to be in “panic mode“. Remember this as well, if your team is struggling and there really has not been any bright spots, take a chance. There is nothing worse than the owner who is satisfied by mediocrity and stays in 5th place all year. If you are in a pay-league, 5th place is most likely no different that finishing in last place. You are better off taking a chance and worst case scenario, you probably still finish in 5th place. I call this the Ricky Bobby Rule of Fantasy Baseball. It is real simple, “If you aren’t first, your last.” Before I continue to quote various Will Ferrell movies, lets talk about making some moves on the wire.

Big Hits

Aaron Laffey (SP, Cleveland Indians): With the injury to Jake Westbrook, Laffey has stepped in and has been outstanding. Laffey along with the other members of the Indians’ starting rotation held opponents scoreless over 44 1/3 innings this past week. However, somewhat lost in the scoreless streak, Laffey himself has not given up an earned run over the past 21 innings. While Laffey is not going to be a strikeout artist, he knows how to pitch. Opposing batters are hitting a meager .184 against him and he has an impressive WHIP of .86. Cleveland is now in 1st place and look for their offense to continue to improve. There has not been any word on what will happen when Westbrook comes back but it is going to be difficult to remove Laffey from the rotation. Take a look at your waiver wire and Laffey will most likely be there. Surprisingly, he is only owned in a small percentage of leagues.

Luke Hochevar (SP, Kansas City Royals): After a rough start against Oakland in mid-April, Hochevar has rebounded his last 4 starts. Hochevar came to the “bigs” as a highly-touted prospect after being selected first overall in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He has struck out at least 5 in 4 of his 5 starts since be called up from the minors. Over the course of his last 4 starts, Hochevar has lowered his ERA to 3.94 and his WHIP to 1.38. The Royals are stacked with young pitching and Hochevar with some more experience might prove to be the best of them all. He is slated as a two-start pitcher this coming week. Although he has struggled on the road, give Hochevar a shot. He has dominating stuff and is able to put up a 10 K night for you anytime he toes the rubber.

Garret Anderson (OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim): Garret Anderson is one guy that seems to get lost in the shuffle every year. This was true even from 2000-2003 when he had years of 35, 28, 29 and 29 homeruns. Anderson has one of the sweetest strokes in baseball and right now he is on fire. While I’m not saying he is going to put up similar power numbers to his 2000-2003 seasons, Anderson will most likely finish with around 20 HR’s and 80-90 RBI’s. In a year where HR totals are down throughout the entire league, Anderson might be a nice addition to your outfield. With Anderson, you are guaranteed to get one thing…Consistency. Anderson is a professional hitter and if you look at his numbers over the past 4 years, they are almost identical. I’m usually a huge fan of taking the young guy with star potential over the older guy. However, Anderson could be a nice acquisition if you are getting inconsistent numbers out of some of your other outfielders. Anderson is extremely hot right now so grab him now and ride the streak. After he cools off, you’re still going to get the consistency you might not find elsewhere.

Daniel Cabrera (SP, Baltimore Orioles): I have been a believer in Cabrera for the past couple of years. Unfortunately, the year that he finally realizes his potential, I don’t draft him. I have been buying into the hype and for the past several years, I have gotten burnt….bad. Cabrera has always been a great strikeout guy but his losses and ERA would always make him a tough start. But this year it seems like Cabrera is finally understanding you have to pitch and not throw to be successful at the major league level. In the past, Cabrera was all arms and legs with his delivery and he was unable to repeat his delivery. Hence, this is why Cabrera would be lights out some starts and then he would walk 7 batters his next start. Finally it looks like Cabrera has established a tempo with his delivery and his numbers are a direct product. For a power guy like Cabrera, simple is good. His delivery looks clean and consistent and he is finally just relying on his stuff. I do not want to speak too soon but I believe this isn’t just a couple good starts for Cabrera. If he is available definitely pick him up. Although his strikeout numbers are down from prior years, I’d rather have him pile up some W’s and keep his ERA down as opposed to striking out 8 and walking 6 every start.

Honorable Mention

If you have to fill a need, take a look at a couple of these guys.

Masa Kobayashi (RP, Cleveland Indians): (2-0, 1.86 ERA, 13 Ks, 1.09 WHIP, 2 saves)
Matt Joyce (OF, Detroit Tigers): (.292 avg, 3 HR’s, 5 RBI’s, 4 runs)
Leo Nunez (RP, Kansas City Royals): (3-0, 1.62 ERA, 13 Ks)

A Couple Quick Misses

Gary Sheffield: (OF/DH, Detroit Tigers): Sheffield has been really bad this year. Detroit’s offense as a whole is struggling and don’t be surprised to see Jimmy Leyland sit down some veterans in favor of some hot bats ( see Matt Joyce above). If you have him, drop him. You can get much better numbers out on the wire.

Jason Isringhausen: (RP, St. Louis Cardinals): Izzy was awful this past week. St. Louis demoted him from his closer role and he has blown 3 saves in the past week. I’m not saying to drop Izzy but if you have any potential buyers who believe he can reclaim his role, take a look at what you might be able to get for him. His value is low right now but like we’ve talked about before, there are always people that are willing to pay big for saves.

As with any SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post any questions or comments. Until next time, keep your ears open for the Buzz Around the Bullpen.

"Miranda Warnings": How 'bout them Rays!

Welcome to Week #7 of "Miranda Warnings", your weekly guide to what's happening in the world of Major League Baseball, from a fantasy baseball perspective. Every Wednesday morning, throughout baseball's regular season, "Miranda Warnings" will appear on SportsJudge.com. I'm your host Michael Miranda.

American League East: The Tampa Bay Rays are for real! At press time, the Rays were in 1st place in the AL East! For years they've had enough offense to win, but haven't had enough pitching (starting and/or relief). Now, their pitching is the envy of all baseball teams as they have five, count 'em five, solid starting pitchers: Scott Kazmir, James Shields (pictured), Edwin Jackson, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine. The bullpen is anchored by veteran closer Troy Percival, who is not only a presence on the mound, but also in the clubhouse. All these pitchers bring value to a fantasy baseball team, especially Kazmir and Shields. If the Rays pitching continues to progress, dare I say they could make the playoffs!... After giving up three runs and ten hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none, in a 6-3 defeat of Boston, Baltimore right-hander Daniel Cabrera is in cruise-control. Cabrera has thrown an unheard of seven consecutive quality starts (6 or more IP, 3 ER or less) and is now 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA. I'm still not sold on him. He's been a fantasy disappointment for years and remember that it was only four starts ago that he walked seven!... Yankee 3B Alex Rodriguez (quad) will miss the Yankees-Mets "subway series". A Monday MRI revealed that A-Rod still isn't fully healed. He's targeting a Tuesday return versus Baltimore... Toronto's playoff chances suffered a huge blow this past weekend when OF Vernon Wells broke his left wrist making a diving catch versus Cleveland. Wells was just getting hot at the time he was injured, as he was riding an eight-game hitting streak. Wells isn't expected back before July. Ouch!... Speaking of injuries, Boston P Clay Buchholz landed on the disabled list with, of all things, a broken fingernail on his right middle finger. The Red Sox will probably call up top prospect P Justin Masterson to pitch a game or two while Buchholz heals. If your fantasy team needs pitching help and Masterson gets promoted, he's worth a look.

American League Central: If you haven't noticed, White Sox OF Carlos Quentin leads the AL with 10 HR's, is 2nd in the AL with 34 RBI's (Texas OF Josh Hamilton is 1st with 44) and leads the AL with a .988 OPS! Wow! This guy went undrafted in most fantasy leagues! Again, wow! Speaking of undrafted, White Sox P Jose Contreras went undrafted in most leagues. He's currently at 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA!... Pre-season AL pennant-favorite Detroit continues to look for answers. The Tigers have no bite as they sputter along at 16-24. They still find themselves in last-place in the AL Central and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Things are going so bad for the Tigers that even solid pitching performances are being wasted. After tossing six strong innings in a 2-0 loss to Kansas City, ace P Justin Verlander stands at 1-7, with a 6.05 ERA! P Dontrelle Willis (knee) is rehabbing and is expected back next week. If you have Tiger hitters on your fantasy squad, I recommend keeping the faith because you gotta figure that Detroit's potent offense will eventually wake up... Cleveland P Cliff Lee is pitching out of his mind! If you have any appreciation for stats, you have to bow to Lee because his numbers are off-the-charts ridiculous. Are you sitting? Lee is 6-0 with a 0.67 ERA! In 53 2/3 innings, he's allowed an unreal 32 hits, a measly 4 ER and, get this, 4 BB's versus 44 K's! That, my friends, is called, in one word, dominance!... Kansas City P Zack Greinke is right up there with Lee and is a real sweet feel-good story. Greinke was out of baseball for most of 2006 as he dealt with personal problems. He returned in 2007 and worked primarily as a reliever, before making several starts late in the season. In 2008, he's become the anchor of KC's starting rotation. Greinke is downright filthy, sporting a 4-1 record, and a 1.93 ERA... Those who thought that Minnesota got swindled when they traded P Johan Santana to the Mets for four prospects (OF prospect Carlos Gomez, plus pitching prospects Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra) are eating their words. Last week, Gomez hit for the cycle versus Chicago. Gomez is hitting a respectable .275, with 16 SB's. He is an elite talent, who projects to someday be a Carl Crawford-type player, with more speed than Crawford. Think 70-80 SB's in Gomez' prime!

American League West: Oakland P Greg Smith continues to surprise (2-2, 3.00 ERA). He joined the starting rotation in place of injured P Rich Harden and has been so impressive that he remains in the rotation, though Harden has returned. If your fantasy squad needs pitching help and Smith is available (unlikely), give him a look... Last week, I discussed the Rangers Ron Washington and the Mets Willie Randolph as sooner, rather than later, managing casualties in 2008. Add Seattle's John McLaren to this list. Seattle had big expectations heading into 2008, especially after acquiring P Erik Bedard from Baltimore, to strengthen the starting rotation. The Mariners offense is weak and their defense is even weaker. Seattle is 16-26, the AL's worst record, and the wheels appear to be coming off as the M's already find themselves eight games behind division leader Los Angeles. Hoping to infuse some life into the team, the M's recently promoted C Jeff Clement and OF Wladimir Balentien from Triple-A. Balentien already has 4 HR's. Both players have good upside and will see regular AB's... LA Angels 2B Howie Kendrick (hamstring) continues to be plagued by the injury-bug. He recently tweaked his hamstring while rehabbing and is out indefinitely. Kendrick has been on the DL three times in the last two seasons... According to mlb.com, there's no closer controversy in Texas. Although P Eddie Guardado recorded the save Tuesday night versus the Seattle Mariners, Manager Ron Washington insists that CJ Wilson remains the closer. Considering Wilson's ERA is 5.40, this is a situation that bears watching.

National League East: The Mets look lifeless, except when P Johan Santana is on the mound (no surprise!). They've lost two out of three at home to the doormat Nats, heading into Thursday's series finale. This team needs a jolt, a jolt that Manager Willie Randolph can't provide. What will it take for Mets brass to realize that Willie is not the man for this job?... Marlins 2B Dan Uggla has a .299 average (33 points higher than his career BA) and is ripping the cover off the ball with five straight multi-hit games... Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins (ankle) went 2-for-5 in Wednesday's loss to Atlanta. A nice night for a guy who is a bit rusty from three weeks on the DL. Of greater importance to fantasy baseball GM's is the SB Rollins recorded in the game. If Rollins is running, then Rollins is healthy!... Here are some ridiculous numbers for you stat fans: a Major League-leading .418 BA, 11 HR's, 31 RBI's, and a .683 SLG %. These numbers belong to Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones... Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman seems to be coming around. He smacked his 6th and 7th HR's in back-to-back games versus the Mets and he's hit safely in four straight games.

National League Central: Is anyone in the Reds front office conscious? Top OF prospect Jay Bruce is obliterating the baseball at Triple-A Louisville, to the tune of a .366 BA, 8 HR's, 33 RBI's and 7 SB's. Meanwhile, Reds OF Corey Patterson and his .282 OBP continue to patrol the Reds outfield! Yes, that's correct, Patterson's OBP is .282! LOL! Please, someone, get Bruce where he belongs, in a Reds uniform! Please!... Astros P Jose Valverde recorded his 10th save Wednesday versus the Giants. Valverde has really come on strong after some early-season struggles... OF Jim Edmonds is a Chicago Cub. Edmonds (recently waived by the Padres) addition comes at the expense of OF Felix Pie. What a joke! For years, we've been hearing about the five-tool Pie. The Cubs have sufficient talent to allow Pie to learn on-the-fly, at the major league level. Yet, the Cubs have never given Pie an extended look. The Cubs should let Pie play, for an extended period of time, and see what he can do!... I'm convinced Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols is not human. Doctors have confirmed that Pujols needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Don't tell that to Pujols who has 8 HR's, 27 RBIs and a .355 BA!... Pirate C Ryan Doumit's solid season has been interrupted by a fractured left thumb. He'll miss 4-6 weeks... Two days after being removed from the closer role, Milwaukee P Eric Gagne reappeared as the Brewers closer on Tuesday against the Dodgers. Although he saved his 10th game, Gagne is unreliable. It's only a matter of time before he implodes again.

National League West: Dodger 3B Blake DeWitt (filling-in for the injured Nomar Garciaparra) hit his third homer of the season on Wednesday against the Brewers. He's clearly playing above his head, but he has earned playing time, even after Garciaparra returns... Heading into 2008, most "experts" (me included) felt that P Tony Pena was better suited for Arizona's closer role, but P Brandon Lyon has proven everyone wrong, in a very big way. Lyon has 11 saves, with a 2.00 ERA... With Jim Edmonds gone, the Padres may turn to prized OF prospect Chase Headley. San Diego desperately needs to get their offense going, so they may look for help in-house, before looking for help outside the organization. Headley is a power-hitter, with lots of upside. Fantasy league GM's should consider giving Headley a look, if the Padres promote him... Giants closer Brian Wilson, surprisingly, recorded his 12th save this week. Surprising because the Giants are not a good baseball team and, as a result, weren't expected to provide many save opportunities for their bullpen... Rockies C Chris Iannetta has been stealing starts from regular C Yorvit Torrealba. Iannetta has a .306 BA, in limited action. Meanwhile, Yorvit Torrealba is only batting .228.

See you next week!

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Studs or Duds?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. There have been some major “risers” and “fallers” during my two-week hiatus. While guys like Chipper Jones continue to mash and put up extraordinary numbers, we’ve seen guys like Mark Reynolds and Joe Crede come back to earth. This is typical every year and as we pass through the month of May, the studs will continue to distinguish themselves from the fantasy duds. Last time, I talked about guys like Greg Smith and Joey Votto. I hope you took a flier on these guys. Both of these guys had two good weeks and they could be on the verge of establishing themselves as consistent fantasy contributors. However, I cannot ignore my huge miss with Rich Hill. It is hard to believe Hill has fallen so hard, so fast. This guy was the future of the Cubbies staff and at times last year, he certainly looked like he could pitch in the front-end of that staff. His last outing before his demotion was difficult to watch. Something tells me this is not the last we hear of Rich Hill. He has entirely too much potential and after some bullpen sessions and some tinkering with his delivery, look for Hill to end up in the Bigs by the end of the year. But for now, let’s focus on some guys that could help you in the immediate future.

Big Hits

Milton Bradley (OF, Texas Rangers): Before talking about any of his fantasy numbers, I cannot ignore the irony in Milton Bradley being one of the “peacemakers” in the Richie Sexson brawl last night. This is the same guy who managed to tear his ACL while arguing a call with an umpire last year. While no one has ever doubted Bradley’s ability, his attitude has always been what has held him back. Still recovering from his knee injury last year, Bradley has found a home in Texas. The first thing I love about Bradley is he is a hitter with some power potential and he plays in Texas. If you take a look at his numbers last year, in a little over 200 ABs, he had 13 HRs, 30 RBIs and was hitting right around .300. Although Bradley has only 4HRs in 111 ABs this year, look for him to heat up as we roll into the summer in Texas. According to reports, he knee still is not 100% yet and when he does fully recover, that can only help his power numbers. Take a chance on Milton if you need some help in the OF. Assuming he can stay out of trouble, Bradley would be a nice addition that could pay huge dividends as his power numbers increase.

Brad Hawpe (OF, Colorado Rockies): I have been a Hawpe owner the past two years and actually went out this week and made a move for him. Hawpe is often overshadowed in Colorado by superstar Matt Holliday. His numbers have been very ordinary thus far but look for Hawpe to heat up in May. Last year, Hawpe hit .256 with 1 HR and 10 RBIs in April. Those are very similar numbers to this April when he hit .239 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs. After he struggled in April last year, he recovered to finish the year hitting .291 with 29 HRs and 116 RBIs. If you take away the national attention he got as a result of his team’s amazing run last season, Hawpe hit the most “overlooked” 29 HRs in the league last year. Try and make a move now before the casual owner realizes he was not just a “one hit wonder”.

Robinson Cano (2B, New York Yankees): This guy has been one of the biggest surprises in the league thus far. After last night’s HR, Cano is right on pace for his 18-22HRs that most people expected. However, his owners could not have expected his .172 AVG. In the past two years, Cano has hit .342 and .306. As much as I’d love to take credit for seeing this, “Baseball Tonight” broke down his swing the other night and it made perfect sense. Right now, Cano is lifting his front leg and before he gets his front foot back on the ground, his hands are already drifting away from him and he is committing to the ball. Basically, Cano is hitting off one leg and on top of that, he is virtually guessing on every pitch. This would explain why his pitch selection has been so poor. A guy that hits over .300 just doesn’t forget the strike zone along with his approach at the plate. Once Cano can get his swing in sync again, his pitch selection and approach at the plate will vastly improve. If Cano is able to get his front side down, he can keep his hands back longer and be a little more selective. With that, look for Cano’s numbers to rise significantly.

Honorable Mention

Take a look at a couple of these guys…and no, Paul Bako is not a typo.

Freddie Sanchez (2B, Pittsburgh Pirates): (.254, 1 HR, 13 RBIs, 14 runs)
Paul Bako (C, Cincinnati Reds): (.310, 4 HR, 12 RBIs, 11 runs)
Garrett Olson (SP, Baltimore Orioles): (1-0, 2.08 ERA, 13 Ks, 1.08 WHIP)
Fred Lewis (OF, San Francisco Giants): (.303, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 20 runs, 5 SBs)
Ronny Cedano (SS/2B, Chicago Cubs): (.345, 1 HR, 18 RBIs, 14 runs, 2 SBs)
Blake DeWitt (3B, Los Angeles Dodgers): (.306, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs, 15 runs, 1 SB)

Big Misses

Barry Zito (SP, San Francisco Giants): Normally I’d see a guy like Barry Zito on the waiver wire and jump all over him. After seeing Zito pitch the other night against Pittsburgh, I’d avoid him like the plague. Some were saying that he had an encouraging start and maybe this was a sign of things to come. The Pirates have a knack for always giving an opposing pitcher that “encouraging start”. Although his numbers were not bad, it was not his line that I was concerned with. As much as I hate to say it, Zito is done. Unless Zito can reinvent himself, his current approach just won’t work anymore. Whether his work ethic changed after his big pay-day or he has simply lost arm strength, his velocity is awful. Zito was never a power pitcher in Oakland but he relied on a consistent fastball that was enough to keep hitters off balance with that ridiculous curveball. The other night in Pittsburgh, Zito was occasionally hitting 86-87 mph but was pitching at about 83-85 mph. Unless your name is Greg Maddux or Mike Myers, that is not going to cut it. His lack of arm speed has also made his once dominant breaking-ball a bit more ordinary. Stay away at all costs and unless Zito can reinvent himself, I believe Zito’s best days are well behind him.

Nick Swisher (1B,OF Chicago White Sox): While no one ever thought Nick Swisher would challenge for a batting title, talk about another guy who left his best days in Oakland. Swisher’s decline started last year in Oakland where his game dropped off and he did not come close to his 2006 numbers. Once again, Swisher has started slow hitting .200 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. Even during his best season in 2006, Swisher only hit .254 but he made up for that with 35 HRs. Now that his power numbers have fallen off, that .254 AVG is a little tougher to deal with as a fantasy owner. Assuming Swisher will most likely hit around his 22 HRs from last year, you’re going to be able to find someone who can put up similar or better power numbers with a much better average. Although he is stroking this year, someone like Xavier Nady who had a very modest season last year hit 20HRs with a .278 AVG. There are many examples out there but don’t be sold on the Swisher name. Go out and find someone a little less talked about that will actually give you more bang for your buck.

Lastings Milledge (OF, Washington Nationals): Once the golden boy of the New York Mets organization, Milledge has been extremely mediocre this season. Milledge was viewed as a “sexy” pick in both of my drafts this year. Owners thought maybe he was a guy that just needed a change of scenery. While his potential cannot be argued with, as long as he has his attitude he’ll never be a star. His effort to catch the “walk off” line drive the other night was nothing short of disgusting. This guy truly believes he is bigger than the game and the New York Mets made a great move by trading Milledge for Ryan Church an Brian Schneider. With over 7 HRs in less than 200 ABs last year, owners projected Milledge to be a 20-25 HR guy this season. Right now, this kid has a hard enough time showing up to the ballpark on time so don’t expect too much out of Milledge. Maybe someone in your league believes this kid can turn it around. That’s perfect…let him be dead weight on their team.

As with all SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post some comments. Until next time, make sure you listen for the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”.

Down on the Farm: Prospect watch

We are going to take a look at how some of the top prospects in the minors are doing so far this season and what it might mean for them in the future. This isn't just going to be a look at career minor leaguers tearing it up, or a list of the guys most likely to be called up. Rather it will focus on legit MLB prospects regardless of their ETA to the big leagues.

Jay Bruce-OF Louisville Bats:

Now with Evan Longoria called up Jay Bruce is the best prospect in the all the Minor Leagues. We have mentioned Bruce before in talking about top outfield prospects looking to make their big league club out of Spring Training. Lacking a lead-off hitter and needing a center fielder the Reds signed Corey Patterson instead of keeping Bruce with the team, making their loss the Louisville Bats gain. Bruce has been tearing up AAA pitching so far hitting .325-5-24 while adding 7 steals in just 126 at bats. Bruce is a great outfield prospect and while he profiles more as a long-term corner outfielder, Bruce can handle center for a year adding both power and speed to the Reds line-up.

Outlook: When the season started Corey Patterson went on a hot streak and it seemed like the Reds made the right choice. Now one month later the Reds sit in the cellar of the NL-Central and Patterson's average has dropped to .200. It is the perfect time to shake things up with the team and inject some energy into the batting order. I think the Reds will call Bruce up before the end of the month, look for Bruce to put up some quality numbers and help the Reds in the standings.

Homer Bailey-SP Louisville Bats:

Homer Bailey is another Reds top prospect that we've talked about before. Bailey had mixed results in his two stints in Cincinnati last season but finished strong. He seemed like a lock for the Reds rotation heading into Spring Training, but mediocre results led to Bailey being passed on the depth chart by two fellow prospects, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. Bailey went back to Louisville and has looked pretty sharp so far compiling a 4-3 record with a 2.72 ERA in 46 innings pitched. Due to his up and down performance last season and his inability to secure a spot in the rotation this year, some have began to question whether Bailey will ever be a top pitcher. I think those questions are a bit premature as Bailey just turned 22 last week and has been dominate at level in the minors.

Outlook: Bailey has front of the rotation talent and should be there for the Reds for a number of years. Aaron Harang and Volquez have their spots secure in the rotation, and Cueto should have another spot locked down even though he has had some recent struggles. Bronson Arroyo and Matt Belisle on the other hand haven't been getting the job done for the Reds. While Arroyo's large contract may prevent the Reds from pulling him from the rotation, Bailey seems like a perfect fit for Belisle's spot. While he might not make it to Cincinnati as quickly as Bruce, Bailey has nothing left to prove in the minors and could be exactly what the last place Reds need (see above). Look for Bailey to join fellow youngsters Volquez and Cueto in the Reds rotation by the All-star break and for him to remain there for the next few years.

Matt LaPorta-OF Huntsville Stars:

Matt LaPorta was the 7th overall pick in the 2007 Draft by the Brewers. A college senior at the time LaPorta seemed like an odd pick for the Brewers as he had only ever been a first-baseman in college for the Florida Gators. The Brewers already having Prince Fielder at first made the decision to move LaPorta to the outfield. So far the results have been pretty good, last year in just 115 at bats LaPorta hit .304-12-31. This season moving up to Double-A, LaPorta has continued his assault on opposing pitchers, batting .330-10-36 through 32 games. LaPorta has 40 home run power easily and though he won't win batting titles should hit consistently around .300.

Outlook: While LaPorta has crushed minor league pitchers so far, he's probably not ready for the big leagues yet as he is just 23 and has only 230 professional at bats under his belt. Unless the Brewers get desperate I wouldn't expect to see LaPorta in Milwaukee this season unless its as a September call-up. Look for him to continue his monster year in the minors and force the Brewers to free up a corner outfield spot next season by moving either Ryan Braun or Corey Hart to center. He is a classic middle of the order hitter that has 40 home run, 100 RBI potential every season.

Clayton Kershaw-SP Jacksonville Suns:

The Los Angeles Dodgers made Kershaw their 1st round pick in 2006, almost two years later he has done nothing to disappoint them in their decision. He is arguably the best left-handed pitcher in the minors if not the best pitcher overall. In his professional debut out of high school in 2006, Kershaw went 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in 37 innings. In that span he struckout 54 batters while only surrendering 4 walks. He continued his success in '07 by going 8-7 with a 2.95 ERA between two levels. He held opposing batters to a .201 average, with striking out 163 in just 122 innings. This season the Dodgers promoted Kershaw to Double-A and while just looking at at his 0-3 record it would seem as though he has struggled but a look deeper in to his stat line shows that he is still overpowering hitters. Kershaw lost his first three decisions by giving up one, two and one run respectively. He hasn't given up a run since April 15th dropping his season ERA to 1.08. Through 33 innings he has walked 11 and struck out 37, while holding batters to a .192 average.

Outlook: Kershaw, though only 20 years old, is on the fast track to LA, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him as a September call-up. Outside of that though Kershaw should spend the entire year in the minors as he had only 159 professional innings pitched going into this season. Due to injury and ineffectiveness there are calls for the Dodgers to move Kershaw up as soon as mid season. This could be a risky move as moving him too fast could hinder Kershaw's development. If the Dodgers are smart they will give Kershaw the entire year in the minors and give him a shot to win a rotation spot next season. Once he's there though he has the talent to be among the most dominate lefties in the game.

Hope everyone has a good week! Check back next week for more updates on top prospects.

Deep in The Rough: The Players Championship

Don’t say I didn’t tell you so last week. Anthony Kim finally busted out for a big win on the PGA Tour. This guy has great talent, and this win could be just what the doctor ordered in order for him to gain the confidence needed to compete for a major. He could end up being one of the top players in the world sooner rather than later. Even so, I would not pick him this week. More about that below.

While the Wachovia Championship is considered a rather large event, no regular tour event is greater than The Players Championship. This tournament is often referred to as “The Fifth Major” as it has a monstrous purse and a very strong field. For those of you not as familiar with golf, this tourney is played at the course with the island green on the 17th hole. It is always fun to watch, and many of us remember Freddy Couples's multiple holes in one here.

That being said, let’s get into this week’s field.

Players to Consider

Adam Scott: Since his recent win at the Byron Nelson, Scott followed with an 8th place finish at the Wachovia. This guy has a hot hand, and has finished in the top 10 three of the last four years here. Look for Scott to be on the leader board come Sunday.

Stewart Cink: Mr. Reliable proved again that he can be in contention all week and sputter at the end. He is still a great fantasy pick, however, as he turns in great scores, but consider pulling him out on Sunday. He also came in 3rd here last year.

Phil Mickelson: Phil won here last year and was not playing his best golf. He’s in a similar spot here, so I would expect him to still turn in a pretty strong week.

Sean O’Hair: Sean has missed the cut in his last two events following a 14th place finish at The Masters, but he has faired well at TPC in the past and is certainly a great rebound play.

Matthew Goggin: Who? Yeah, not a big name, but he might be the best C List choice this week. The guy has finished in the top 20 in his last 4 events and finished in 12th at the TPC last year. Give him a throw.

Players to Avoid

Trevor Immelman: While Trevor was brilliant at the Masters, he’s really fallen off the map in his next events. He has never made the cut at TPC, so don’t expect him to this week.

Anthony Kim: Really? The guy who I have been praising for the past two weeks coming off of a victory? Yeah. Stay away. He came in 5th last year at Wachovia and then shot 78 – 83 and missed the cut at TPC. Couple that with the first PGA win hangover, and he is a guy you don’t want. I still think Kim will have a fantastic, breakout year, but this is the week to stay away from him.

Fred Couples: I love Freddy. Everyone loves Freddy. But don not pick him this week. Why? He finished tied for 8th last week, Dave! I know. But his recent track record here has been quite poor and he is still not at the top of his game. He is a tempting pick, but stick with Goggin and Donald, trust me.


My Team:

A List:

*Adam Scott
Phil Mickelson

B List:

*Stewart Cink
*Sean O’Hair
Stuart Appleby
Miguel Angel Jiminez

C List:

*Matthew Goggin
Luke Donald

Scott and Phil are a strong pair, and Cink will be in my lineup for the first 3 rounds. I’m getting a little aggressive with O’Hair and the start, but I really believe a bounce-back is in order. Appleby is another solid, reliable guy here, and Miguel, better known as “The Mechanic” always shows up for the big events. Goggin is my sleeper C Lister this week, and I have to have Donald on there, because he’s tough.

Good luck this week guys!

"Miranda Warnings": Randolph on the Hot Seat?

Welcome to Week #6 of "Miranda Warnings", your weekly guide to what's happening in the world of Major League Baseball, from a fantasy baseball perspective. Every Wednesday morning, throughout baseball's regular season, "Miranda Warnings" will appear on SportsJudge.com. I'm your host Michael Miranda.

National League East: The general consensus is that Texas Manager Ron Washington will be the first managing casualty of 2008. If Washington tops this list, Met Manager Willie Randolph (pictured) has to be a close second. I haven't heard any rumors (nor do I want to start any) about Willie's demise. However, Willie has been at the helm long enough for us to sit back, reflect and see if he should continue as Mets manager. Except for an impressive 2005, Willie's three-plus years as manager have yielded mostly disappointing results. In the 2006 NLCS, the Mets lost to the eventual (but clearly inferior) World Series champions, the St.Louis Cardinals. In 2007, "the meltdown" (as it has come to be known) saw the Mets miss the playoffs by blowing a seven game September NL East lead to Philadelphia! Willie is a "nice guy" and that's part of the problem. He's a very easy-going, laid-back (nothing wrong with that) kind of guy. Unfortunately, the Mets have been underachieving for the last two seasons and need someone to "light a fire" under them, so that they can play up to their potential. The last thing that Willie's "nice guy" persona is going to do is "light a fire" under this team. Following their current west coast road trip, the Mets have a "soft" seven-game homestand (3 versus Cincinnati, 4 versus Washington) coming up. If the Mets don't end that homestand, at the very least, 5-2, you're going to start to hear, moreso than ever, that it's time to remove Willie. So, you're asking: "What does Willie Randolph's managerial status have to do with fantasy baseball?" Answer: "everything!". If Willie's job becomes tenuous, or if he's fired, maybe underachievers like SS Jose Reyes, P's Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman can start playing up to their potential for the Mets and for our fantasy baseball teams... Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins (ankle) has been playing well in extended Spring Training in Clearwater, FL and hopes to return to action this week... Atlanta SP John Smoltz, currently on the DL with shoulder fatigue, says that when he returns, it will be as a reliever. Look for him to become the new Braves closer, if P Rafael Soriano is unable to get over his elbow woes. The many miles on Smoltz's shoulder have caught up to him and he has become a 1-2 inning pitcher. Keep in mind that it was not too long ago (2002) that Smoltz posted a sick 55 saves coming out of the Braves pen!... Washington P Jon Rauch is firmly entrenched as closer, with P Chad Cordero (shoulder) going on the disabled list... Along with Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley (.350 BA, 13 HR's), Florida SS Hanley Ramirez (.318 BA, 8 HR's, 19 RBI's, 11 SB's) is, arguable, fantasy baseball's best player.

National League Central: After hitting two more HR's Tuesday night, Pittsburgh CF Nate McLouth (.333 BA, 30 runs, 9 HR's, 28 RBI's) is on a rampage!... Entering Tuesday's night games, guess who leads all of Major League Baseball in hitting with runners in scoring position? Cincinnati SS Jeff Keppinger (.444 BA)! Unfortunately, Keppinger is one of the few Reds bright spots lately as their offense has been sputtering. This means that we might see super-prospect OF Jay Bruce, in the near future. Bruce is hitting .292 with 5 HR's and 7 SB's at Triple A. If, for some reason, Bruce remains available in your fantasy league, scoop him up ASAP!... Despite high expectations, expect a long, long season in Milwaukee. The player that Milwaukee could least to afford to lose for an extended period of time is P Ben Sheets. Second on this list is young phenom P Yovanni Gallardo. Gallardo (torn ACL) is, most likely, out for the season. Although Gallardo is not the heart of the Brewers (he might be some day), his injury has torn the heart out of this team. Since putting Gallardo on the DL, the Brew Crew is 0-4... On Tuesday night, St.Louis Cardinal OF Rick Ankiel made two of the most incredible throws (or should I say missiles!) that you will ever see. On both plays, Ankiel threw the ball about 200 feet, on the fly, to nail base runners trying to make it to third base! Both plays were critical, as St.Louis edged Colorado 6-5. Make certain that you see footage of these plays. No doubt, you will be as impressed as I was... Here's the stat-line of the week, perhaps of the year! On Tuesday night versus Washington, Houston 1B Lance Berkman was 5-for-5, with 4 runs scored, 1 RBI and 2 SB's! For the season, Berkman is hitting .353!... Attemtping to spark both pitcher and team, Cubs Manager Lou Piniella sent P Rich Hill to Triple A. Hill didn't make it out of the first inning in his final start (versus St.Louis) before being demoted. Hill walked four in 2/3's of an inning!

National League West: After his 1-for-4 Tuesday versus the Mets, Dodger OF Andruw Jones is at .162 (that is not a typo) and shows no signs of getting out of his season-long slump. In the meantime, the three other Dodger OF's (Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier) are flourishing... Arizona phenom P Max Scherzer was shaky in his first major league start. Philadelphia got to him for 5 runs in an 11-4 Phillies win. With P Doug Davis' (thyroid cancer surgery) pending return, Scherzer's stay in the majors could be short-lived or he could be sent to the D-back's bullpen to work in long-relief. For those of you in rare fantasy baseball leagues that count pitchers hitting stats, try this on for size: Arizona P Micah Owings has a career OPS of 1.058! Owings recently hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer to help Arizona rally to an 8-7 win over Houston... Barely into May, Colorado (2007 NL Champs!) and San Diego, both considered, by most, to be 2008 contenders, find themselves tied for last-place in the NL West, a whopping 10 games behind division-leading Arizona! If both teams don't pick up the pace in the next few weeks, they'll be out of contention by Memorial Day!... In the "how far the mighty have fallen" department, San Francisco P Barry Zito (0-6, 7.53 ERA, 1.95 WHIP!) was removed from the starting rotation and banished to the bullpen to work out his problems.

American League East: The Yankees starting rotation is one big mess and fans are regretting the teams commitment to youth. P Phil Hughes (fractured rib) is not expected to return until July, at the earliest. Meanwhile, P Ian Kennedy was sent to Triple A after several ineffective starts. Both Hughes and Kennedy were horrible and won't be missed. However, they both need to regroup and show their potential. P Darrell Rasner (6 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 4 K's) was recalled from Triple A to help the starting rotation and he did just that, defeating the light-hitting Mariners this past Sunday, 8-2. A real test for Rasner comes later this week when he takes on Detroit... Despite issuing 8 BB's in 5 IP's, Boston P Daisuke Matsuzaka defeated Detroit this past Monday, 6-3... In an era where starting pitchers are babied, coddled and usually don't go more than six or seven innings, Toronto P Roy Halladay is a workhorse. He already has four complete games in 2008! Yes, four!... Scott Kazmir (elbow) returned from the DL this past Sunday versus Boston and looked shaky. Kazmir (4 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 BB's, 5 K's) must remain healthy if the Rays have any chance of competing in the AL East... Baltimore P Adam Loewen (elbow) is expected to begin a throwing program (according to mlb.com) and should be back in the O's starting rotation by late May or early June.

American League Central: Detroit released OF Jacque Jones (.165 BA) and will play Gary Sheffield in LF, for the foreseeable future. Or, so they say! Could free agent Barry Bonds be lurking in the background? Don't discount it. In the early 90's, Bonds played LF in Pittsburgh for current Detroit Manager (then, Pittsburgh Manager), Jim Leyland. The two remain best of friends. However, Bonds comes with a ton of baggage and Detroit has problems of its own with a current five-game losing streak. Detroit is dead-last in the AL Central... For the second time this season, Chicago White Sox P Gavin Floyd came within a few outs of a no-hitter. His most recent attempt at baseball immortality was broken up with one out in the ninth inning by Minnesota C Joe Mauer. Floyd and the White Sox went on to win, 7-1... Speaking of Mauer, despite no HR's, he is currently hitting a healthy .336!... Who says "nobody's perfect!" Kansas City closer Joakim Soria is just that. In 13 IP's, Soria's ERA is o.oo!... As of 5/7, Cleveland C Victor Martinez leads the AL in hitting with a .347 BA!

American League West: Injured A's right-hander Rich Harden (6 IP, 3 hits, 9 K's) had a dominating rehab start Tuesday. The always-injured pitcher is schedule to start on Sunday at Texas... Speaking of Texas, it's only of matter of when, not if, Manager Ron Washington gets canned. Texas' main culprit, for years, has been pitching (both, starting and relief) and 2008 is no different. As I've said many times before, no Texas pitcher has any business being on a fantasy baseball roster, even in the deepest of leagues! Don't expect P Sidney Ponson (2-0, 1.33 ERA) to continue to baffle hitters. It's only a matter of time before he comes back down to earth.... LA Angels starting pitchers Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana have both stepped up their games admirably as LA deals with injuries to P's John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar. Saunders and Santana are both 6-0! Lackey is scheduled to return later this month... Seattle has begun a mini youth-movement, promoting C Jeff Clement and OF Wladimir Balentien from Triple-A. Both players have good upside and will see regular AB's.

See you next week!