The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Don't Move Too Slowey On One of The Hottest Pitchers in The Game

Welcome back to another edition of the "Buzz Around the Bullpen". If you are anything like me, it was a little more difficult taking some time to look at your fantasy baseball team this week. Any spare moment I had, I was in the "war room" in anticipation of my upcoming fantasy football draft. By draft day I had my entire draft mapped out in hopes that I would have as few decisions to make as possible during the draft. Unfortunately like it happens so often, I found myself scrambling for each pick throughout the entire draft. The one thing I have learned in both my fantasy baseball and football drafts this year is that regardless of your plan, you have to be willing and able to adapt.

The one thing to remember over the next couple of weeks is that you've worked all summer to keep your fantasy team in it. Now is not the time to put your fantasy baseball team on the back burner. Someone in your league will, so now is your time to make a move in the standings to give yourself a better seed for the playoffs.

Big Hits

Kevin Slowey (P, Minnesota Twins): It seems like just yesterday that yours truly was stepping to the plate against a young right hander from Upper St. Clair High School named Kevin Slowey. Even as a young pitcher, Slowey had a command of his pitches that was almost never seen at the high school level. Now Kevin Slowey is a rising star in the American League and I've resorted to owning him on my fantasy team. My how the mighty have fallen...Well now that I've placed my lettermen's jacket back in the closet, let me tell you why Slowey will help your fantasy team. In his last five starts, Slowey is carrying a ridiculous 2.03 ERA. Often not viewed as a strikeout pitcher, Slowey has also recorded 27 Ks in his last 19 1/3 innings. Along with Glen Perkins and the rest of the Twins' staff, Slowey is helping the Twins make a push for a playoff birth. His ownership is on the rise and if he's available, make your move now. Not that this adds any fantasy value, but Slowey has a great head on his shoulders and his work ethic will keep him in the league for a long time. If you're in a keeper league, take a look at Slowey. I think the comparisons to Brad Radke are right on.

Chris Dickerson (OF, Cincinnatti Reds): The Reds' trades over the past month have opened the door for Dickerson to step right in as an everday outfielder and leadoff guy. In his first month of full time at-bats, Dickerson has not disappointed. After a short slump, Dickerson has rebounded and is now hitting .328 with 4 HRs and 10 RBIs. He has even managed to swipe 4 bags in his short time with the Reds. Although his critics may not like his high strikeout numbers, he has too much upside to be sitting on your waiver wire. Dickerson is one of those guys that finds a way to get on base. Once he's on base, his speed gives him the ability to make things happen. He's worth taking a flier on and he's even still available in over 75% of leagues.

Dave Bush (SP, Milwaukee Brewers): While C.C. Sabathia has stolen most of the headlines in Milwaukee, Dave Bush is putting together a respectable season after a rough start. Bush has improved his overall record to 9-9 by winning four of his last five starts. During those five starts, Bush has held the opposition to 3 or less earned runs. For the past couple of years, Bush was coined as a sleeper on draft day. In the past, he has shown signs of breaking out but his inconsistency has left owners leaving him on the waiver wire. The time might have finally come for Bush to be a consistent starter in this league. It can't hurt watching a Cy Young winner every fifth day to teach you a little something about consistency. Bush is still available in 40% of leagues if you need a back-end starter to strengthen your rotation.

Big Miss

Eddie Guardado (RP, Minnesota Twins): As we've talked about the past couple of weeks, trades often impact a player's fantasy value. With "Everyday" Eddie's move back to the Twins, he has lost any fantasy value that would justify a spot on your fantasy roster. As a Texas Ranger, he had some value as a second-tier closer. However, Guardado is now stuck behind one of the best closers in the game and he will only be used in middle relief situations. Although he was only owned in 40% of leagues while serving as the closer of the Rangers, Guardado was a nice option for owners with a struggling or injured closer. If you are a Guardado owner, monitor Cleveland's closer Jensen Lewis. Prior to his last two outings, he had been rock solid for the Tribe. Hopefully Lewis can recover from his recent struggles and serve as a nice source for saves for you down the stretch.

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": Another Mets Collapse?

Welcome to "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.

National League East: On Tuesday, the Mets blew a 7-0 lead and lost to Philadelphia 8-7. Ironically, the Mets blew a 7-game mid-September NL East lead over the Phils in 2007 and failed to the make the playoffs. Will history repeat itself, just one year later? The ingredients are definitely in play for another Mets collapse. P's John Maine (shoulder) and Billy Wagner (elbow) are both, potentially, lost for the year and the Mets bullpen is in shambles. If the Mets stay afloat, it'll be thanks to their high-octane offense. If, however, the Mets take another September nosedive, you can expect the Mets organization to break-up this current roster... Atlanta P Jair Jurrjens (3 IP, 6 hits, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) had a rare bad outing Tuesday, versus Florida. After turning in five straight quality starts (minimum 6 IP, 3 ER or less), Jurrjens has stumbled a bit in his last two starts (12 hits, 10 ER). Jurrjens should bounce back Sunday versus Washington... We're watching the emergance of a stud in Florida. P Ricky Nolasco (7 1/3 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K) was filthy again Sunday, this time versus Arizona. Believe me, filthy is the right word. In his last six starts, Nolasco has a 51/3 K/BB ratio (Yes, 51 to 3 !). Keep Nolasco on your radar on D-Day 2009... More often than not, a player doesn't live up to lofty expectations. Washington OF Austin Kearns fits the bill. The Nats placed Kearns (foot) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 25. This is Kearns' second DL stint this season. He missed 38 games earlier this season after having elbow surgery. Kearns was a highly touted prospect with Cincinnati in 2005, but he's been a bust ever since... Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins was a beast versus the Mets Tuesday. Rollins was 5-for-7, with a homer, three RBI's and three SB's. Wow! Rollins has had a very disappointing 2008, but don't forget about him down the stretch in 2008 and in 2009. J-Ro has plenty of quality seasons left.

National League Central: Houston P Wandy Rodriguez (7 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K) was sensational Tuesday versus Cincinnati. Houston has been very patient with Rodriguez, waiting for him to show his potential. This dominating start is a step in the right direction. Rodriguez has respectable numbers (7-6, 3.94 ERA), but needs to be more consistent and less steaky, to be a reliable fantasy starting pitcher... Milwaukee 1B Prince Fielder went 3-for-6, with two RBIs and a run scored versus St. Louis on Tuesday. Fielder has been cold lately (3-for-25 in his last seven games), but has managed 19 RBI's in August. Fielder is nowhere near his 50-homer 2007 pace, but he's a talented young slugger who can carry the Brewers (and your fantasy team) for weeks at a time... St. Louis closer Chris Perez threw 1 1/3 perfect innings Sunday versus Atlanta, for his fifth save. Perez, who has now converted 5 of 6 save chances, continues to dazzle, while adding stability to a horrid Cardinals bullpen. With injured closer Jason Isringhausen (elbow) potentially done for the year, expect Perez to get lots of save opportunities down the stretch. Speaking of the St. Louis bullpen, I always try to share mind-boggling stats (see Florida P Ricky Nolasco above) with my readers and here's another one: through mid-August, the St. Louis bullpen had blown a major-league high 25 saves. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has also blown 25 saves - in the past seven years (source: sportingnews.com)!... Cubs P Carlos Zambrano (4 1/3 IP, 8 hits, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) was hit hard by the Pirates on Tuesday. While still solid, Big Z is not the pitcher he once was. Zambrano's strikeout rate has decined in each of the last three seasons, indicating that a decline in his overall numbers is imminent... Pittsburgh OF Nate McLouth has had a breakthrough 2008. However, he has been dreadful in August (.262 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBIs). It'll be interesting to see where McLouth gets drafted on D-Day 2009. I say he'll be off the board somewhere between the 7th and 10th rounds... Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto had three straight three-hit games last week and is batting .392, with two homers, six runs scored and 12 RBI's in August. On Day 2009, if you don't draft an elite first basemen, Votto is a solid "plan b". A .280-.290 BA, 20-25 HR's and 90-100 RBI's are well within his reach.

National League West: We've seen vintage Randy Johnson lately. The Arizona pitcher has been downright dominant. Johnson (7 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K) stymied San Diego on Wednesday, but got a no-decision. In August, the Big Unit gave us a glimpse of his dominant past (40 1/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 47/6 K/BB ratio). Do you think the 44 year-old has anything left in the tank?... Dodgers OF Andre Ethier is someone to keep on your radar for the 2009 season. Ethier clubbed his 17th homer versus Washington on Wednesday. And, he's done it while not playing everyday. Ethier has the potential to be a great player, if he receives everyday at-bats... San Francisco P Tim Lincecum won't win the NL Cy Young, but he's gonna get lots of votes. "Franchise" (Lincecum's nickname) dominated Colorado Wednesday (7 2/3 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K) improving to 15-3... San Diego OF Jody Gerut (.297 BA, 14 HR's, 43 RBI's) is a viable pickup in deep fantasy leagues. Gerut went 3-for-4, with an RBI, one run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over Arizona. Gerut has hit safely in his last five games, going 7-for-22, with one HR, and five RBI's... Colorado closer Brian Fuentes was placed on the bereavement list (a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven). The Rockies have announced that Manny Corpas will fill the closer's role in the interim. If you need some saves, pick up Corpas

American League East: Toronto P A.J. Burnett is 6-1, with a 3.66 ERA in the second-half. It's no coincidence that Burnett is turning it on now. He has an "opt-out" in his contract, which allows him to bolt the Blue Jays at the end of the 2008 season... Baltimore 3B Melvin Mora is having a monster season. I never thought I'd use the words "Melvin Mora" and "monster" in the same sentence, but he deserves it. Mora went 3-for-4, with a homer and two runs scored Wednesday against Chicago. Mora has two homers in his last three games and six in his last eleven, with twelve RBI's! Are you ready for this? Mora is batting .427, with eight homers and 32 RBI's in August! In 2008, Mora is hitting .284, with 23 homers and 97 RBI's!... Remember Tampa OF Rocco Baldelli? Well, he's back! Baldelli went 2-for-5, with a homer, in a loss to Chicago Sunday. Baldelli is an interesting fantasy pickup for the final few weeks of the 2008 season. He's hitting .308, with two homers and four RBI's, since returning from the disabled list. Baldelli was once a big-time prospect, before several successive injuries robbed him of playing time... Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia might have put a nail in the Yankees coffin Wednesday. Pedroia went 3-for-5, with a grand slam and three runs scored. Pedroia is hitting .333, with six homers, 20 RBIs and 28 runs scored in August!... Yankees P Joba Chamberlain (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Monday and is close to returning. But, what will Joba's role be when he returns? When Joba returns, don't be surprised to see him in the bullpen, as the Yankees look to reduce the wear and tear on his body and prepare him for 2009.

American League Central: Sometimes, injuries allow backups to shine. Case and point: Cleveland C Kelly Shoppach. Cleveland starting catcher Victor Martinez (elbow) hit the DL in mid-June, which has given Shoppach the opportunity to strut his stuff. Nobody knew that Shoppach was this good. Shoppach was 3-for-5, with a homer (#17), two runs scored and three RBI's Wednesday versus Detroit. Shoppach is now hitting .263, with 17 HR's and 46 RBI's in 2008. Upon his return (perhaps next week), Martinez could shift to first base, while Shoppach remains behind the plate. Stay tuned... I've hyped up Kansas City 3B Alex Gordon on many occasions. However, I'm beginning to lose faith. Gordon went on the disabled list Saturday with a torn right quad and is done for the year. Gordon has seen his stock plummet dramatically in 2008. He could be a buy-cheap candidate in 2009... For years, when he was with Florida, we heard that Detroit P Dontrelle Willis' violent throwing motion would lead to injuries. Willis left his Triple-A start on Monday with tightness in his left forearm. Forearm problems are, more often than not, related to elbow problems... Look for Minnesota to make OF Denard Span a permanent fixture in their everyday lineup for years to come. Span went 3-for-5, with four RBI's Friday versus the LA Angels. Span continues to rake. He's hitting .345, with 14 runs and 15 RBIs in August. The Twins have been patient with Span the last few years. It appears that their patience is now paying off... Chicago 2B Alexei Ramirez is someone to remember on D-Day 2009. Ramirez is on an 11-game tear right now, hitting .370, with five homers, 16 RBIs and 8 runs scored! I'm not completely sold on him though because he strikes out (51) way more than he walks (10), which demonstrates poor plate discipline, which doesn't bode well for long-term production.

American League West: LA Angels 2B Howie Kendrick has a history of leg problems. Kendrick left Wednesday's game with a tight left hamstring. An injury to the same hamstring kept Kendrick on the disabled list for about two months earlier in the year and cost him 42 games. Monitor this situation closely... Just in case you haven't noticed, Huston Street is no longer the Oakland closer. Brad Ziegler, who picked up his sixth save Wednesday versus the LA Angels, is the new Oakland closer... How far the mighty have fallen. Seattle P Erik Bedard (shoulder), one of the better pitchers heading into D-Day 2008, is not throwing off a mound, and there is no timetable on his return. He's had a miserable, injury-filled 2008... Don't forget about Texas C Jarrod Saltalamachia. He remains available in many leagues. Salty went 3-for-4, with an RBI and a run scored on Wednesday versus Kansas City. He's hitting .357 in August.

See you next week!

The Buzz Around The Bullpen: Is It Finally Closing Time in Cleveland?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. The teams atop their respective divisions have made it much more difficult for those teams chasing after them. Beside the Angels, every divisional leader has won at least 6 out of their past 10 games. Even the Tampa Bays Rays have continued to stay hot even after losing Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford to injuries. The perennial powers of the AL East are running out of time and I believe the Rays are going to hang on to the division. Considering they finished 30 games back from the Boston Red Sox last year, you could argue this is one of the greatest turnarounds over two seasons in the history of sports.

Big Hits

Adam Lind (OF, Toronto Blue Jays): If you need a bat to sure up your outfield, take a look at Adam Lind’s numbers since the All-Star break. Since the break, Lind is batting .328 with 6 HRs and 20 RBIs. In an outfield full of fantasy disappointments, Lind has supplied far better offensive numbers than both Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. If Lind is available, make a move now and reap the benefits of one of the hottest bats in baseball. Over his past 7 games, Lind has 11 hits and has managed to ship 3 of those hits over the fence. During this hot streak, Lind has also raised his overall average to an impressive .306. While he won’t be stealing any highlights any time soon, Lind has proved to be a reliable outfield option.

Jensen Lewis (RP, Cleveland Indians): The closer role in Cleveland has seemed like a revolving door this season. Manager Eric Wedge has given everyone except the ball boy a shot at closing and no one has been able to give Wedge consistent work in the ninth. Since his early July call-up, Jensen Lewis has been a serviceable reliever but his recent promotion to the closer role has left fantasy owners scrambling to make a move. In his past 11 games, Lewis has accumulated 5 saves and has managed to lock down the closer role. There are even some reports that if Lewis continues to save games, he will be the favorite to start next year as the Indians’ closer. This is good news because it shows that Eric Wedge is committed to Lewis until he gives him a reason not to be. Fantasy owners are recognizing Lewis’ work and his ownership has doubled over the past week. If you need a closer down the stretch, Lewis could be a nice sleeper. As I’ve said so many times, Jensen Lewis is just another example of why you shouldn’t draft a closer early.

Yusmeiro Petit (SP, Arizona Diamondbacks): It isn’t very often that you can pick up a starting pitcher for a divisional leader in late-August. Yusmeiro Petit is one of those rare exceptions. Manager Bob Melvin had said a couple weeks ago that Petit would serve as a “spot starter”. However, each time Petit has been given the ball, he has given the D-Backs an opportunity to win. In the midst of a divisional race, all you can ask your starting pitcher is to keep your team in the game. As Petit continues to pile up quality starts, look for Melvin to continue play the hot hand every 5th day. In his last 5 starts Petit is 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA. His most impressive start came this past Saturday as he held the Marlins to 2 hits over 6 innings. He also showed his ability to miss bats by recording 6 Ks. For the time being, Petit will most likely remain a “spot starter”. There is no reason why he can’t play the same role on your fantasy team. If you’re in a head-to-head league and you need a start to put your past your opponent, Petit should be a guy you could go out and grab on your waiver wire.

Big Miss

Fernando Tatis (OF, New York Mets): Fernando Tatis has been demoted back to the bench with the return of outfield Ryan Church. Considering the last time Tatis had any fantasy value was in 2002, his numbers for the Mets this summer were completely unexpected. In just 229 ABs this season, Tatis hit 11 HRs with 38 RBIs. Although owners were hesitant at first, Tatis was owned in over 40% of leagues before Church’s return this week. He was a nice stop-gap for the Mets and many of your fantasy teams. Tatis may steal some ABs against some lefties and to occasionally give Church a day off but he no longer has enough value for you to keep him on your team. If you act quickly enough, you might even be able to pick up Church. Many of Church’s owners dropped him after reports that his concussions would cost him the remainder of his 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.

The Buzz Around The Bullpen: Could Johnson Help Keep the Fish and Your Fantasy Team Afloat?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. While this week’s sports news was dominated by Olympic highlights and Michael Phelps’ gold medals, Major League baseball continued to roll on. With only a little more than a month left in the season, the playoff race continues to be just as tight. Just this week, we saw how injuries with Tampa Bay and a trade by Arizona can immediately impact a divisional race. There is still plenty of time left in the season and with the races so close, some of these divisional races could be turned upside down before the end of the season. Let’s take a look at some fantasy moves that might put a step ahead in your divisional race.

Big Hits

Josh Johnson (SP, Florida Marlins): Luckily for the Florida Marlins, Josh Johnson is defying the odds in his return from Tommy John surgery. As we’ve seen with other pitchers like Francisco Liriano, it often takes 18-24 months for a pitcher to return to form after the dreaded elbow surgery. Johnson has returned in under 12 months and has been putting up numbers that rival his rookie campaign. Through his past three starts, Johnson has possessed an impressive 2.37 ERA and has even dominated at times. In his last start against the Cubs, Johnson tied his career high of 8 Ks. Johnson is definitely worth a waiver move if you’re looking to bolster your starting rotation. If you need some convincing, look at his rookie numbers where he was 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA and 133 Ks in only 157 IP.

Chris Perez (RP, St. Louis Cardinals): Just a couple weeks ago, I tried convincing you that Jason Isringhausen would be the closer in St. Louis regardless of the circumstances. Well…I was wrong. The good news is that a lot of other people were as well and there is still an opportunity to pick up their new closer Chris Perez. While there is a chance Adam Wainwright may take over the role when he comes off the DL, my guess is that Perez will keep the job. This bullpen has been awful this year and I would be surprised if manager Tony LaRussa would mix things up after finally getting some production out of his bullpen. Perez has been given the save opportunities of late and has converted four of his five save chances over the course of the season. Surprisingly, Perez is still available in close to 60% of leagues.

Jeff Kent (2B, Los Angeles Dodgers): As we talked about last week, every acquisition causes a fantasy reaction. Jeff Kent has shown over the past couple of weeks that you don’t necessarily have to be involved in a trade in order to benefit from it. In a year that second basemen have dominated fantasy baseball, Kent had found himself lost in the shuffle. Shortly after the Manny trade, Kent was moved into the three spot of the lineup. With Manny batting behind him, Kent is now seeing pitches to hit and has taken advantage of his new found protection. His average has gone up over around 20 points and his run and RBI production have also increased. If you weren’t lucky enough to get one of the elite second basemen, Jeff Kent might be a nice stop-gap for the rest of the season.

Big Miss

Greg Smith (SP, Oakland Athletics): Unfortunately for the Oakland Athletics, the Buzz Around the Bullpen has focused on two of their young pitchers in the “Big Miss”. Section over the past two weeks. This week comes with a little “swallowing of my pride”. Earlier in the year, I predicted that Greg Smith would be much more than a serviceable fantasy pitcher. However, over the past couple of months, Smith’s ownership has significantly declined with good reason. Smith has shown the inability to pitch more than 5 innings on a consistent basis. Making him an even more unattractive option right now is the fact that Smith plays for the Athletics. The A’s have been offensively inept of late. As we’ve seen over the past couple of years, pitchers like Rich Harden and Dan Haren were often robbed of victories because of the A’s inability to provide their pitchers with any run support.

If you look at Smith’s numbers for the season, his 3.91 ERA and 1.33 are respectable. Unfortunately, they haven’t been enough to help him win games. Over his last 8 starts, Smith is 0-6. With Oakland clearly out of the playoff race, I don’t see things improving for Smith. It’s time to let Smith go and pick up a pitcher that might steal you a couple of victories before the end of the season. (See Paul Byrd)

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: Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay

Welcome to "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.

American League East: Boston OF Manny Ramirez (pictured, right) takes his act to the LA Dodgers, as part of a three-team trade (Boston, LA Dodgers, Pittsburgh). While Boston will miss his bat, his poor attitude and lackadaisical play will not be missed. His replacement, stud OF Jayson Bay (pictured, left), has posted a few impressive seasons in Pittsburgh. You may not have known that Bay had solid seasons in Pittsburgh because he played for the lowly Pirates. If Bay can put up nice numbers for the Pirates, he'll have the opportunity to do some serious damage for Boston. Bay is signed through 2009, making '09 his "contract year". Bay is my dark-horse 2009 AL MVP! Don't laugh! Bay is a big-time talent with a great skill-set. He'll have the opportunity to strut his stuff in a great lineup and great hitters ballpark for the remainder of 2008 and all of 2009... As Yankee Universe continues to drown in misery (12 loses in 18 games), not landing Johan Santana during the past off-season becomes more glaring. The Yankee rotation (Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain) has been devastated by injuries, lack of performance or both. The result: the Yankees have used P's Sidney Ponson, Darrell Rasner, etc. to unsuccessfully stop the bleeding... Toronto OF Vernon Wells smacked a grand slam Wednesday to lift the Blue Jays over the Tigers. Wells is now hitting .333, with one home run and seven RBI's since his return from the disabled list Sunday... Baltimore OF Nick Markakis is putting together another solid season. Markakis was 3-for-4, with two RBIs and a run scored in a win over the Indians Wednesday. Markakis is making quite a name for himself. If he didn't play in Baltimore, you'd hear much more about this soon-to-be megastar. Markakis is hitting a ridiculous .417 in August, with two homers and 19 RBI's!... Tampa OF Carl Crawford had surgery to repair a subluxation of his right middle finger tendon. There is no definitive word on a timetable for Crawford's return, but he's most likely done for the season. Tampa also lost 3B Evan Longoria to a broken wrist. The Rays are hopeful that he'll be able to return by September 1.

American League Central: A trio of injured Cleveland players are nearing return. You need to keep these guys on your radar as they could make a difference down the stretch in 2008. 2B Josh Barfield (sprained left middle finger), Victor Martinez (right elbow inflammation and sore left hamstring) and Travis Hafner (sore right shoulder) will all begin rehab assignments within the next several days... Every season, without fail, several players come out of "nowhere" to put up ridiculous numbers. In 2008, Nate McLouth, Carlos Quentin and Ryan Ludwick have gotten the most attention. However, those players were on fantasy baseball radars heading into 2008. Mike Aviles was not. Aviles went 2-for-4, with a stolen base Saturday versus Minnesota. That was Aviles' eighth multi-hit game in his last twelve. The 27-year-old rookie shortstop is batting .455 with one homer, six runs scored and three RBI's in 33 at-bats in August, and an incredible/totally unexpected .343 in 2008!... While Detroit barely stays afloat, P Armando Galarraga continues to astound. Galarraga (8 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) tossed a gem, defeating Toronto Thursday. Galarraga is now 4-0 over his last five starts and 11-4 in 2008!... Minnesota closer Joe Nathan is lights-out and doesn't receive the credit that he deserves. Nathan hasn't allowed a run in his last nine innings, lowering his ERA to an absurd 1.05!... Chicago 1B Paul Konerko went 3-for-5, with a homer and a stolen base versus Kansas City on Thursday. It's been a tough 2008 for Konerko, but he's hitting .333 in August. He's apparently healthy and perhaps has something to offer fantasy owners down the stretch.

American League West: LA Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero is heating up. He's had an off-year, but went 1-for-4, with a two-run homer on Tuesday versus Seattle. In August, Vladdy is hitting .389, with four homers and 11 RBI's!... Former fantasy stud, Oakland 3B Eric Chavez' career could be over. Chavez underwent surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for at least six months... Seattle OF Jeremy Reed isn't owned in most fantasy leagues, but he's someone to keep an eye on. A former top prospect, Reed went 2-for-6, with two RBI's and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Angels. Reed continues to rake, hitting .372 in August, with eight runs scored, while hitting safely in 13 of his last 14 games!... For the second straight season, Texas OF Marlon Byrd has heated up during the late summer. Byrd went 5-for-6, with three RBI's and four runs scored versus Boston on Tuesday. Listen to these softball-like numbers: Byrd is hitting .618, with two homers, 11 RBI's and 13 runs scored over his last eight games! He won't keep this up, but you might want to consider riding him while he's hot.

National League East: An unlikely source produced the rare cycle (single, double, triple and HR) Thursday. Atlanta OF Mark Kotsay went 5-for-5, with two RBI's, while accomplishing the rare feat. Do not let this performance fool you. Kotsay isn't much of a fantasy contributor... Florida 1B Mike Jacobs was 2-for-4, with two RBI's on Wednesday versus St. Louis. Jacobs is stroking it recently, hitting .421, with two homers and seven RBI's in his last five games... Mets closer Billy Wagner will make two rehab appearances to test his strained left forearm, before rejoining the team next week. Boy, do the Mets need him! Their bullpen has been horrific of late, with nobody stepping up during Wagner's DL-stint... Washington C Jesus Flores went 2-for-4, with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Mets. Flores has been a welcomed addition to a team in dire straits. If you're searching for a catcher in the late rounds on D-Day 2009, look no further than Flores. Flores is hitting a solid .272, with 8 HR's and 52 RBI's and has proven worthy of being the Nats future at the catcher position... Philadelphia SP Brett Myers (7 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) was solid again Thursday, this time versus LA. Myers dropped to 5-10 in 2008, but is 2-1, with a 1.82 ERA in his last four trips to the mound. Myers is a solid buy-low candidate for the remainder of 2008 and 2009.

National League Central: Houston OF Carlos Lee underwent surgery on his left pinkie. Lee's finger was broken in six different places when he was hit by a Bronson Arroyo pitch. Lee was having another typical Lee year, batting .314, with 28 HR's and 100 RBI's. Lee is likely done for the season... Milwaukee starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia is pitching for one of the largest contracts in sports history. Sabathia (7 IP, 9 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K), a free agent at years end, was lights-out again Wednesday, this time against the Padres, improving to 13-8. C.C. is 7-0, with a 1.55 ERA since joining the Brewers! Can you say: "Show me the money"?... St. Louis OF Ryan Ludwick continues to play out of his mind. Ludwick went 2-for-4, with a homer and three RBI's Thursday. Ludwick is hitting .363, with 7 HR's and 16 RBI's in August! Ludwick is hitting .304, with 30 HR's and 90 RBI's in 2008 and will receive strong consideration for NL MVP... Cubs SP Rich Harden has, surprisingly, remained healthy in 2008. Harden (5 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 5 BB, 2 K) beat the Braves Wednesday, while improving to 7-2. Harden likes the NL, as he now sports a 1.80 ERA through his six starts with the Cubs... Pittsburgh SP Ian Snell (6 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 5 BB, 2 K) was solid in Thursday's loss to Cincinnati. It's been a tough season for Snell (4-10, 5.91 ERA), but he's better than he's shown in 2008. He was an up-and-comer heading into 2008, is still only 26 years old and has decent upside. Chart his progress over the final weeks of the 2008 season and don't forget about him on D-Day 2009... Another pitcher to chart over the final weeks of the 2008 season, and not forget about on D-Day 2009, is Cincinnati SP Johnny Cueto. Cueto (5 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) defeated the Pirates Thursday to improve to 8-11 in 2008. Cueto's poor record and high ERA (4.90) is misleading. Cueto has electric stuff and will one day live up to his "baby Pedro" nickname.

National League West: Newly acquired Arizona OF Adam Dunn went 1-for-4, with two RBI's, leading the D'backs to a 6-2 victory over Colorado Thursday. If you can deal with Dunn's putrid BA (.234), he'll put up some really nice power numbers for your fantasy team... LA Dodgers OF Andruw Jones (knee) was placed on the 15-day DL. Jones' numbers (.161 BA, 3 HR's, 14 RBI's) are staggeringly (and historically) bad. Jones is signed through 2009, for $18 million! Ouch!... San Francisco SP Tim Lincecum left Tuesday game against Houston in the fifth inning after a line drive struck him in the right knee. Lincecum was diagnosed with a bone bruise and will be able to make his next scheduled start Sunday, Aug. 17 in Atlanta... San Diego SP Chris Young (strained right forearm) landed on the 15-day disabled list. This is the second DL stint of 2008 for Young. He'll most likely be shut down for the year... After tossing 12 straight scoreless innings, Colorado closer Brian Fuentes surrendered earned runs in each of his last two appearances. Despite his recent struggles and despite the fact that Colorado is a mediocre team, Fuentes has posted 22 saves and is a legit #2 or #3 fantasy closer.

See you next week.

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Will Ziegler Steal Some Opportunities Right Off the Street?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. One thing has come apparent over the past two weeks. As much as we may question some General Managers throughout the league, it is clear that these guys know exactly what they are doing. While fans questioned whether Jason Bay could fill the shoes of superstar Manny Ramirez, he has answered by hitting an impressive .343 with a .410 OBP. The only guy that has benefited from a change of scenery more than Bay is the guy he was traded for. Since his trade to the Dodgers, Manny Ramirez has been nothing short of outstanding. He is hitting a ridiculous .485 with an astronomical .528 OBP. It’s good to see Manny finally getting back to doing what he does best. As a fan, it was getting old watching “Manny being Manny” as opposed to watching him build on his resume as one of the greatest hitters of all-time.

Big Hits

Denard Span (OF, Minnesota Twins): Span has officially played his way into the Twins’ starting lineup. After his recent offensive tear this past week, manager Ron Gardenhire stated that Span would continue to lead-off and play “somewhere” even after the return of Michael Cuddyer. Over Span’s last four games, he has 7 hits and 6 RBIs and has continued to play strong defensively. While Span has bounced between the minors and the bigs this year, it seems as though he is in Minnesota to stay. Since his most recent call to the big leagues, Span has hit .330 and has added 2 HRs and 14 RBIs. Span would be a nice pickup down the stretch and would be an even nicer addition if you’re in a keeper league. This guy has star potential and could be an anchor in your outfield for years to come.

Jeff Karstens (SP, Pittsburgh Pirates): The national media immediately focused on how awful the Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte trade was for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, Karstens has made new Buccos’ GM Neal Huntington look like a genius in just his first two starts. Karstens has pitched 15 scoreless innings against two elite NL teams. In his last start against Arizona, he pitched 7 2/3 perfect innings. Since his arrival in Pittsburgh, Karstens has been everything and more that the Pirates starting rotation has desperately needed. It will be interesting to see how Karstens pitches for the remainder of the season. As we’ve seen before, young pitchers sometimes struggle under the bright lights of New York City. The move to Pittsburgh might be just what Karstens needed to flourish as a productive major league starter. In the past two weeks, Karstens’ ownership has gone up by over 40%. He is a two start pitcher this week so be sure to make a move now and hope that Karstens continues to stay hot.

Brad Ziegler (RP, Oakland Athletics): Ziegler has been one of the most underrated stories of this season. In 37 innings pitched this season, Ziegler has not given up an earned run. It is even more impressive that Ziegler is just a rookie. With the recent struggles of closer Huston Street, Ziegler may be in line for some more save opportunities. This past Friday, Ziegler recorded his first major league save by pitching a scoreless 8th and 9th inning. I would look for the A’s to continue to give Ziegler more opportunities as Street struggled once again on Sunday against the Tigers. Like Karstans, his ownership increased significantly this week but he is still available in most leagues. If he is on your radar, get him now because after another save opportunity, it might be too late.

Big Miss

Huston Street (RP, Oakland Athletics): Every fantasy performance has an equal and opposite fantasy reaction. It is something that I have found to be true in any fantasy sport that I have participated in. If a player struggles, someone else will benefit from an opportunity. Unfortunately, Street is the player that has been awful and Brad Ziegler has been a beneficiary. Once viewed as a rising young closer, Street has been inconsistent over his past two seasons. Last year Street was plagued by injuries and was only able to record 16 saves. This season Street has never been more ordinary. Before giving up 3 earned runs in only 1 IP Sunday, Street had blown 4 of his last 15 save opportunities. I look for Street to begin to lose more opportunities to Ziegler. His ownership has dropped almost 10% in leagues and as his opportunities diminish, look for Street to continue to be dropped/traded.

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.

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Can Kershaw Live Up to Expections in His Second Shot at the Bigs

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. With the passing of the trade deadline, we are coming down the stretch in what looks to be shaping up as a great playoff race. Other than the AL West, each division could potentially be decided in the final week of the season.

While some teams made news by making some deals before the deadline, I believe the real story were the teams that chose not to make a move. Amongst the teams that I feel should have made some sort of move were the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets. The Rays could have used another right-handed bat and the Mets could have used another quality starter. Now with the injury to Billy Wagner, the Mets are probably kicking themselves for not getting a little help in the bullpen as well. These next two months should be interesting to see which teams can distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack.

Big Hits

Eddie Kunz (RP, New York Mets): If you have no idea who this guy is, you are not alone. Chances are the rest of the owners in your league may not know either so use this as your opportunity to grab him before they do. My feelings are that Billy Wagner is done for the season. His forearm tightness is a telling sign of the dreaded tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. I have a feeling you are going to be hearing about Billy Wagner needing season-ending Tommy John surgery. If Wagner is in need of Tommy John, it will extremely interesting to see how the Mets fill their closer role. It is quite possible Kunz will be thrust immediately into that role. At Double-A this year, Kunz recorded 27 saves with an ERA of 2.79. He is owned in less than 20% o f leagues and is definitely worth a flier. The opportunity to snag a closer on a winning team is well worth dropping one of your bottom-end starters or middle relievers.

Anibal Sanchez (SP, Florida Marlins): This past week Sanchez returned to the rotation with an impressive start. It was Sanchez’s first start since recovering from shoulder surgery which kept him off the mound for the past 15 months. While Sanchez may be somewhat inconsistent because of the extended amount of time he was off, he will definitely have some fantasy value down the stretch. When he was healthy in 2006, Sanchez won 10 games in only 17 starts. As the Marlins continue to battle for a playoff spot, I look for Sanchez to step-up with some quality starts. He’s still available in over 60% of leagues and I would definitely take a chance on him. Just like Kunz, his upside is too much to ignore and he will definitely give you more than most other pitchers that are currently available on the waiver-wire.

Clayton Kershaw (SP, Los Angeles Dodgers): If you were looking to pick-up that young stud that would carry your pitching stud for the rest of the season, you probably were obsessed with Kershaw in June.. Unfortunately Kershaw struggled and was unable to come close to the expectations that most owners had for him. He was eventually sent back to the minors but was once again recalled in late July. Since his recall, Kershaw has been much more consistent. It seems as though owners are still hesitant to jump back on the bandwagon because he is still available in around 50% of leagues. There is no need to wait any longer on adding Kershaw to your roster. Like we’ve talked about with the two prior players, Kershaw’s upside is too much to pass up. He still has the potential to be dominant and he could play an integral role in the Dodgers playoff run. The saying is that “big time players make big time plays” in big games. Don’t be surprised if Kershaw’s stuff gets better when there is more on the line. If he’s still available in your league, jump all over him.

Big Miss

Ryan Franklin (RP, St. Louis Cardinals): In case you missed it, Ryan Franklin came back down to earth in a hurry these past two weeks. Before relinquishing the closer role back to Jason Isringhausen, Franklin blew three consecutive saves. While Franklin may be able to help you out in the Holds category, his time as the closer is over.. Even if Isringhausen struggles, look for the Cards to stick with the veteran for the remainder of the season. Surprisingly, the Cards are in the middle of the race for the NL Central Division with the Brewers and Cubbies. If you have two guys that are both struggling, I would imagine they’ll go with the guy who has 293 career saves. For Franklin owners, you got your money’s worth but I believe the run is over. Franklin is the type of guy I’d be willing to drop for one of the players mentioned above.

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.