Miranda Warnings: Trade Winds Are Blowing!

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.

Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is Thursday, July 31 at 4 p.m. EST. After July 31, any player on a 40-man roster must clear Major League waivers before being traded.

My best fantasy baseball advice regarding MLB's trade deadline is this: pay very close attention to any/all trades leading up to the July 31 deadline as some (sometimes all) trades have a significant impact on a player(s) role on his real-life team, as well as on your fantasy team.

American League East: The New York Yankees stole a quality bat (OF Xavier Nady) and quality reliever (RP Damaso Marte) in a trade with Pittsburgh last week. In the deal, the Yankees only gave up four marginal prospects. Considering the solid seasons Nady and Marte were having prior to the trade, this deal amounts to nothing less than highway robbery! It's no wonder Pittsburgh stinks, year in and year out!... Toronto management insists SP A.J. Burnett will not be traded before the trade deadline. If Burnett does get traded, it wouldn't be the first time in recent memory that Toronto has lied to its players, its fans and the media. Stay tuned!... Baltimore OF Adam Jones exploded versus the Yankees on Monday, going 3-for-6, with a homer, three runs scored and five RBIs! This game speaks to Jones' potential. Although his overall 2008 numbers (.274 BA, 7 HR's, 48 RBI's, 8 SB's) are average, this guy is a star in the making. Don't forget about him on D-Day 2009... Tampa OF Carl Crawford is not having a good season (.271 BA, 8 HR's, 52 RBI's, 23 SB's). Perhaps you can buy-low on him this year and/or get him cheap at D-Day 2009... Boston SP Clay Buchholz (6 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) got kicked around by the LA Angels on Tuesday. July was ugly for Buchholz (6.75 ERA). He, like Crawford, is a good buy-low candidate for the remainder of 2008 and an ideal candidate to get cheap at D-Day 2009.

American League Central: Cleveland C Victor Martinez (elbow) began baseball-related activities Monday. He's not expected back until mid-August, but he's someone to keep on your radar for the final 6-8 weeks of the season... Teams continue to inquire about the availability of Kansas City SP Zack Greinke and KC continues to say: "not available". On Monday versus Oakland, Greinke (7 1/3 IP, 7 hits, 1 BB, 11K) proved why KC considers him untouchable. Greinke improved to 8-7 with this lights-out performance... I've said it before and I'll say it again: "where would Detroit be without SP Armando Galarraga?". Galarraga (5 1/3 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) defeated Cleveland on Tuesday to raise his record to a stunning 9-4... Minnesota SP Livan Hernandez (4 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) has to be looking over his shoulder, as he struggled again on Wednesday, this time in a critical game versus division-leading Chicago. With SP Francisco Liriano throwing lights-out in the minors, it's only a matter of time before Hernandez is replaced... Chicago White Sox SP Gavin Floyd continues to impress. Floyd (7 2/3 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) defeated Minnesota on Wednesday to improve to 11-6. I'm still not sold on Floyd as he doesn't strikeout many hitters, but walks plenty (89/54 K/BB ratio in 131.1 IP).

American League West: One of the best teams in baseball, just got better! After years of standing-pat at the trading deadline, the LA Angels acquired 1B Mark Teixeira from Atlanta on Tuesday for 1B Casey Kotchman and Minor League RP Steve Marek. Teixeira goes from a good lineup to a great lineup. This trade sends a clear message to all teams: the Angels are going to make a run at the World Series... According to MLB.com, the A's are actively shopping SP Justin Duchscherer, 2B Mark Ellis and closer Huston Street. Stay tuned... Seattle 2B Jose Lopez was 3-for-5, with a homer and three runs run scored versus Texas on Tuesday. Lopez extended his hitting streak to an AL-leading 16 games. Lopez is a decent 2B option in deep fantasy leagues... Texas 1B Chris Davis' offensive assault continued this past Saturday as he went 2-for-4, with a solo home run, an RBI and two runs scored. He has one of the quickest bats through the hitting zone that you will ever see. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, we're looking at the next Ryan Howard.

National League East: Atlanta SP Tim Hudson has significant ligament damage in his elbow. He will, more than likely, need Tommy John surgery and miss all of 2009. Atlanta's pitching staff has been devastated by injuries (John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Hudson, etc.) in 2008... Florida OF Jeremy Hermida went 2-for-4 with one run scored versus the Mets on Wednesday. Hermida has had a decent 2008 (.257 BA, 15 HR's, 47 RBI's), but he's just skimming the surface of his potential. Give him another year or two and he'll be mentioned in the same breath as the better outfielders in baseball... NY Mets 1B Carlos Delgado went 1-for-3, with a two-run homer versus Florida on Tuesday. In mid-June, Mets fans were calling for his head. In July, Delgado has carried the Mets on his back! Delgado had a ten-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday. In his last 11 games, Delgado has five HR's and 14 RBI's!... Washington Nationals OF Willie Harris went 3-for-5, with a home run, against Philadelphia on Wednesday. Harris has been red-hot lately. His greatest asset is his legs (7 SB's), so pick him up if you have the need for speed... Philadelphia has so much fire-power that OF Shane Victorino (.287 BA, 9 HR's, 25 SB's, 69 runs) is often overlooked. Victorino is a underrated stud.

National League Central: Houston SP Wandy Rodriguez (4 2/3 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) got lit-up by Cincinnati on Wednesday to drop to 6-4 in 2008. Rodriguez has shown some glimpses of his potential, but he has yet to put it together for any extended period of time... Milwaukee SP Manny Parra (5 1/3 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) struggled mightily against the Cubs on Wednesday, dropping to 9-4. Parra has lots of promise. More experience will eventually make him a solid #2 or #3 starting fantasy pitcher... St. Louis announced that Jason Isringhausen will resume closing duties, with interim closer Ryan Franklin moving back into a setup role. Both Izzy and Franklin have been shaky in 2008. Don't be surprised to see St.Louis make a strong push for Colorado closer Brian Fuentes... Cubs closer Kerry Wood (blister) is not close to returning. Wood's blister is not healing properly and preventing him from getting the proper grip on his pitches. In the meantime, Carlos Marmol and Jeff Samardzija are closing... Pittsburgh OF Nate McLouth went 1-for-3, with a homer, two RBI's and two runs scored versus Colorado on Monday. McLouth continues to produce and should be considered a solid #2 or #3 fantasy outfielder... Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto is showing signs of snapping out of his slump. He went 3-for-4, with two RBI's versus Houston on Wednesday. Votto is hitting just .250 since the All-Star break.

National League West: In a move that was long overdue, Arizona optioned SP Micah Owings to Triple-A on Tuesday. In mid-April, Owings was baseball's only 4-0 pitcher. He's now 6-9 with a 5.93 ERA! How far the mighty have fallen. Yusmeiro Petit moves into Arizona's starting rotation and will start Saturday against the Dodgers... LA Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton notched his fifth save against the Giants on Tuesday. Broxton, filling in for the injured Takashi Saito, has a save in each of his last five appearances... San Francisco SP Matt Cain (7 IP, 8 hits, 1 ER, o BB, 8 K) was lights-out against the Dodgers on Tuesday, but was the hard-luck loser, falling to 6-9. If San Francisco can put together a decent offense in 2009, Cain and fellow SP Tim Lincecum will go from being very, very good to being great!... San Diego SP Chris Young (remember him?) made his first start since suffering a broken nose on May 21. Young (5 IP, 2 hits, 2 BB, 8 K) was solid, but took a tough-luck no-decision against Arizona on Tuesday. If Young can remain healthy, he's a good bet to contribute to the Padres and to your fantasy team for the remainder of 2008... Colorado C Chris Iannetta hit a homer versus Pittsburgh Wednesday. Do not forget about Iannetta for the remainder of 2008 and particularly 2009. He's got huge upside.

I'll be vacationing next week. My first vacation in years! "Miranda Warnings" returns Wednesday, August 13th!

Thanks for your continued support and loyalty.

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: This Guy Might Actually Make Your Fantasy Team Better...Believe It or Not

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. After the Indiana Pacers melee several years ago, I never thought I’d see anything more disgusting in sports. Julio Castillo proved me wrong this past week. If you have not seen it yet, it is worth you checking it out on the internet.

It is well-known that there is a list of unwritten rules in baseball. When one of those rules is violated, any MLB player will tell you it is their duty to back up their teammate. However, Julio Castillo took that about ten steps too far by attempting to throw a baseball into an opposing teams’ dugout. Unfortunately, the ball sailed over the dugout and hit an unsuspecting fan in the forehead. The fan has since been released from the hospital but we definitely have not heard the last from that fan from a legal standpoint.

Obviously what has made this such an egregious act was that an innocent fan was struck in the head by a baseball probably traveling close to 80-90 mph. But no one has addressed the real problem. A professional baseball player threw a baseball with the intention of hitting an opposing player. Pardon my inability to say this any other way but that is the most “bush” move I have seen in the history of sports. By throwing a baseball in the direction of another player your basically saying, “I’m trying to injure you but I don’t have the guts to get anywhere near you”.
Maybe I’m overreacting but I feel this guy should be barred from Major League Baseball. Any GM or owner should be embarrassed to have him as a representative of their organization.

Now that I’ve said my peace, let’s move on to some fantasy talk.

Big Hits

Chris Davis (1B/3B, Texas Rangers): In just around 90 ABs this season, Davis has already left the yard 10 times. In a line-up that includes MVP candidates Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton, Davis has found himself seeing some great pitches to hit. Only a rookie, Davis has also managed to rack up 22 runs and 20 RBIs. Davis caught fire this past week and managed to raise his batting average over .300. As I’ve wrote about on several occasions, there is nothing I like more than a guy with power potential that plays in Texas. It is only going to heat up more in Texas and that can only mean more balls leaving the ballpark. If you need some power potential at one of your corner infield spots, give Davis a look. He is still available in around 50% of leagues.

Jeremy Hermida (OF, Florida Marlins): No one has ever questioned Jeremy Hermida’s ability to be a productive Major League outfielder. However, his history of injuries has caused some owners to shy away from him. When healthy, Hermida has been shown the potential to be guy that could hit 25 HRs a year. In a little over 400 ABs last year, Hermida had 18 HRs, 63 RBIs and hit just below .300. Although his average has plummeted to around .260, I look for Hermida to be much more consistent over the course of the second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, Hermida has been stroking the baseball. In his past 8 games, Hermida has hit 5 HRs and his approach has improved at the plate. If he can stay healthy, look for Hermida to finish the season hitting around .285 with 23-25 HRs. If he’s available take a chance on him.

Bronson Arroyo (SP, Cincinnati Reds): Just as a side note…Maybe it is just me but every time this guy’s name comes up, all I can think about is how bad his CD must really be. There was nothing better than during the playoffs a couple years ago when they reminded you every 10 minutes about what a great singer he was. Regardless of his aspirations to be the next Billy Ray Cyrus, Arroyo has remembered how to pitch in his last five starts. Before his June 29 start, Arroyo was nothing short of awful this year. His inconsistency left most fantasy owners so frustrated that he was almost non-existent in just about every fantasy league. Within the past month, Arroyo has put himself back on the map as a serviceable fantasy starting pitcher. Outside of his July 10 start against the Cubs where he got some help from his offense, Arroyo has been much more consistent. I believe his “funky” delivery is the reason he struggles so much with consistency. For the time being, it looks as though Arroyo is locked in. There’s no telling how long this will last but ride the hot starter and hopefully get a win out of him this week. Arroyo could become a lot more attractive if he’s dealt to a contender at the deadline.

Big Misses

Erik Bedard (SP, Seattle Mariners): As a Bedard owner, I have conceded that this year is officially a “wash”. Although a recent MRI test concluded that there was not any structural damage to his injured shoulder, Bedard has put his owners in a precarious position. Even if Bedard were to start a throwing program soon, chances are he would not be back until September. I would not be surprised if we have seen the last of Bedard for this season. There really is no reason to run him back out onto the mound. First off, the Mariners have been out of the race since it seems about May. Secondly, even when Bedard was “healthy” this season, he was very erratic and inconsistent. The Mariners gave up a ton in acquiring Bedard and there is no reason to risk their investment for 3 or 4 more starts in September. As an owner myself, I am selling him to anyone that is willing to buy and the price will never be lower. If I find myself in a position that I may need to make a move, I may even be inclined to straight drop Bedard. I truly believe there may be more value in a free agent acquisition at this point.

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: A Moose is Loose in the Bronx!

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: Not even the so-called "experts" saw this coming: New York Yankees SP Mike Mussina is the ace, the anchor of the Yankees rotation and one of the best pitchers in baseball! Mussina (8 IP, 6 hits, 0 BB, 7 K) brought his A-game to the mound yet again, this time against Minnesota Wednesday, for his Major League leading 13th win. Mussina has issued zero (yes, zero!) walks in his last three starts! Hard to believe, but Mussina went undrafted in one of the leagues that I'm in! ... I've discussed Toronto OF Adam Lind in previous "Miranda Warnings" and he's worth discussing again. Lind is starting to make some noise and showing up on some fantasy baseball GM's radars! Lind went 4-for-5 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBI's versus Baltimore on Tuesday. Lind is hitting .379 in July! If you need OF help, don't forget about Lind!... Despite not having much protection in the lineup, Baltimore OF Nick Markakis continues to sustain stud status! Markakis went 2-for-4, including his 15th homer, three RBI's and two runs scored Tuesday versus Toronto. Markakis is a #1, or #2, fantasy outfielder and keeper-worthy in keeper leagues... I was skeptical about how soon Tampa 3B Evan Longoria would start producing. I blew it! Longoria went 2-for-5 Monday versus Oakland, with a homer and two RBI's, and now has a .274 BA, 19 HR's and 60 RBI's in 2008. Wow!... For those of you who think that Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia gets too much attention (i.e. overrated) because he plays in the Boston spotlight, think again! Pedroia has a 24-game road hitting streak and he's hitting an unheard of .332 on the road in 2008.

American League Central: Cleveland SS Jhonny Peralta continues to swing a hot stick. Peralta went 3-for-5, with an RBI and three runs scored versus the LA Angels Wednesday. In July, he's hitting .313, with 5 HR's, 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Those are awesome numbers for any player, but for a SS, those numbers are priceless!... Kansas City SS Mike Aviles' hitting streak ended at twelve games Wednesday, with an 0-for-4 against Detroit. However, Aviles' .313 average and surprising power has more than established him as KC's SS... Where would Detroit be without SP Armando Galarraga? Galarraga (7 IP, 3 hits, 1 BB, 7 K) was lights-out Wednesday versus Kansas City, while recording his eighth win!. The impressive youngsters ERA stands at 3.27... Speaking of lights-out, Minnesota SP Francisco Liriano has been tearing it up in the minors. Liriano allowed only two hits and two walks, to go along with 10 strikeouts, over seven shutout innings Tuesday. Liriano is 9-2, with a 3.13 ERA in 104 minor league innings in 2008. Minnesota isn't in need of another starting pitcher, so we may not see Liriano in the Major Leagues until August... Chicago SS Orlando Cabrera went 2-for-3, with two runs scored, an RBI and a SB versus Texas Wednesday. Cabrera isn't having a 2007-type season, but he remains a solid #2 fantasy SS.

American League West: LA Angels C Jeff Mathis went bonkers Wednesday, going 4-for-5, with a grand slam, two runs scored and six RBI's. Mathis will continue to see the bulk of playing-time for LA with regular C Mike Napoli on the disabled list... Oakland C Kurt Suzuki continues to struggle, going 0-for-4 in Monday's loss to Tampa. Suzuki is hitting just .252 in July and is, at best, a #2 fantasy catcher... There are several reasons why Seattle has struggled in 2008 and one reason is Miguel Batista. Batista (2 IP, 7 hits, 8 ER, 1 BB) was rocked Saturday against Cleveland. Batista's 2008 numbers are ghastly, 4-11 and a 6.89 ERA... Texas 1B/3B rookie Chris Davis has gone about his business quietly and effectively in 2008. He mashed the ball in Triple-A, earning a promotion to Texas in late June, where he's continued to mash the ball. Davis went 2-for-4, with a run scored Wednesday versus Chicago. In his last 10 games, Davis is batting .368, with three HR's and six RBI's. In 2008, Davis is hitting .278, with 8 HR's and 16 RBI's. Davis has ridiculous upside. He has Ryan Howard-type power potential, if he can limit his strikeouts.

National League East: Atlanta SP Mike Hampton (groin) threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday. The Braves believe he could return as early as next week. Hampton has missed the past two seasons recovering from elbow operations, as well as groin and hamstring issues. If you're counting on anything from Hampton in 2008 (or ever, for that matter!), you need to find a hobby other than fantasy baseball... Florida SP Ricky Nolasco has had as solid 2008, but has struggled lately. Nolasco (5 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) was roughed-up by Atlanta on Wednesday, his second consecutive tough outing. He needs to get it going soon, if Florida (and your fantasy team) are going to contend in August and September... Mets SP John Maine (7 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) defeated Philadelphia Wednesday to improve to 9-7 in 2008. This was a huge win for Maine, who has struggled in July... After missing June and most of July, Washington Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder) has returned. Zimmerman went 3-for-5 Wednesday versus San Francisco. He seems healthy and a good bet to have a solid second-half... Philadelphia SP Brett Myers returned to the Phillies after spending several weeks in the minors working on his mechanics. Myers wasn't sharp (5 IP, 3 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K) against the Mets Wednesday, but he has lots of upside. Don't give up on him.

National League Central: Houston acquired SP Randy Wolf from San Diego. I'm calling it: Wolf is doomed! He goes from spacious Petco Park to cozy Minute Maid Park. Consider Wolf's home/road splits and you'll understand why I says Wolf is doomed. In San Diego, a 3.17 ERA. On the road, a 6.63 ERA. Enough said!... Just when it looked like Milwaukee 2B Rickie Weeks was going to lose playing time to newly acquired 2B Ray Durham, Weeks gets hot. Weeks went 3-for-4, with an RBI, versus St. Louis Wednesday. Weeks is 6-for-13, with five RBI's since Durham's arrival... When St.Louis SP Adam Wainwright (finger) sprained a finger on his throwing hand in early June, there was talk he wouldn't even require going on the disabled list. It's now been almost two months since he last pitched! St. Louis is saying they're hopeful he'll return by mid-August!... Did you really think that Chicago closer Kerry Wood would last an entire season without spending time on the DL? Wood will see a hand specialist on Thursday to determine why a blister on his right hand isn't healing properly. Wood has not pitched since July 11. Expect a DL-stint... Pittsburgh 2B Freddy Sanchez went 2-for-5, with an RBI Wednesday versus Houston. Sanchez has turned it on lately, going 9-for-17, with two homers and eight RBI's in his last five games... Cincinnati 3B Edwin Encarnacion is white-hot! Get him if you can! Encarnacion went 1-for-4, with a two-run homer Wednesday against San Diego. With more than two months still remaining in the 2008 season, Encarnacion already has a career-high 19 HR's!

National League West: Returning from a fractured testicle, Arizona C Chris Snyder went 1-for-4, with a three-run HR on Wednesday versus Chicago. Snyder is hitting .241, with 8 HR's and 37 RBIs in 2008. He's a solid #2 fantasy catcher... LA Dodgers OF Juan Pierre (knee) will begin a Minor League rehab assignment Wednesday. Pierre could be activated by the weekend. The Dodgers, and your fantasy team, can use his speed... San Francisco SP Tim Lincecum (6 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 8 K) struggled in a loss to Milwaukee Sunday. If SF can field a respectable offense in 2009, Tiny Tim will pay huge, huge dividends... Who leads NL rookies in BA? Just give up, cause you won't get it. It's San Diego 2B Edgar Gonzalez, with a .326 BA!... Colorado SP Ubaldo Jimenez (CG, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) was lights-out at home Tuesday, versus the LA Dodgers, improving to 6-9 in 2008. Jimenez is one of the very few pitchers who knows how to pitch at Coors Field. Jimenez' ERA at Coors Field is a hard-to-believe, rock-solid 2.58!

See you next week!

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: Jorge Is Finding His Way On Everyone's Bench

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. Well if the All-Star break was good for one thing, it was that it provided a forum for Josh Hamilton to become a national superstar. Just for a second think about all of the guys that have participated in the homerun derby over the past ten years. McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Ortiz…the list goes on. None of them have even come close to putting on the show that Hamilton did last Monday night. With his performance on Monday night, Hamilton solidified himself as a legitimate superstar. Let’s hope that for both baseball and Hamilton's sake that he can stay focused and away from the off the field distractions.

Big Hits

Sean Gallagher (SP, Oakland Athletics): If there is one thing Billy Beane has proven, it’s that he knows young pitching as well as anyone in baseball. Gallagher might just be the next pitcher in a long line of young aces that has began their dominance in Oakland. Gallagher was a part of the package that the Cubbies sent to acquire Rich Harden. That in itself should tell you how highly Billy Beane thought of Gallagher. Since joining the A’s, Gallagher has lived up to his reputation. He was once viewed as a top prospect in the Cubs organization. In two starts, Gallagher is 1-0, with 14 Ks in 12 IP. Gallagher is still available in most leagues and I would definitely take a flier on him. As a young pitcher, he’ll have some rough starts. However, his upside makes him worth a waiver move.

Glen Perkins (SP, Minnesota Twins): Perkins has quietly won seven games in just 14 starts this year. While he won’t strikeout a ton of batters, his consistency makes him worth a look if you’re in need of some pitching depth. In 12 of his 14 starts this season, he has allowed three or fewer earned runs. Perkins has also maintained a decent 3.84 ERA. With Minnesota still in the hunt, look for Perkins to play an important role down the stretch. I’m a huge believer in guys that can put up high K numbers; however, they are often the same guys that have erratic numbers. A guy like Perkins won’t win a week for you but he will add some consistency to your staff.

Chris Iannetta (C, Colorado Rockies): This year in fantasy there are about 4-5 elite catchers that are head and shoulders above the rest. If your aren’t an owner of one of these elite guys, you better be ready to pay a huge price to get them via trade. If you’re willing to settle for a next tier catcher, look no further than Chris Iannetta. In just 175 ABs this season, Iannetta is hitting around .280 with 10 HRs. He also has 37 RBIs and carries an impressive .377 OBP. Many of the catchers that were drafted early this year have disappointed their owners. If you are still hanging onto your struggling highly drafted catcher, now is the time to give Iannetta a look. Somehow Iannetta is still available in over 40% of leagues.

Big Misses

Jorge Posada (C, New York Yankees): Speaking of underperforming catchers, Posada has been a huge disappointment this season. After spending some time on the DL earlier in the season, it is clear that Posada is still struggling with his right shoulder injury. While his defensive numbers have declined dramatically, it is his offensive numbers that have left his fantasy owners out to dry. From an offensive standpoint, Posada cannot generate the bat speed that is necessary to drive the ball. It also doesn’t help that Posada is in the twilight of his career as a 36-year-old catcher.

The problem for his owners is that his defense is now making him a liability in the line-up. It is rumored that the Yanks are looking to give Jose Molina more time behind the plate. In the Yanks game on Saturday, Posada was pulled in favor of Molina after allowing two stolen bases in the ninth inning. This is not good news for Posada owners. Even if he does continue to get a decent number of ABs, Posada’s days as an elite offensive catcher are over.

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: Liriano Is Ready to Anchor Your Staff in the Second Half

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. Because we are heading into an abbreviated fantasy week, the Buzz like the rest of baseball will be taking it a little easy. However, I’d like to give you a couple of players that I like not just for this week, but for the start of the second half of the season.

Before we talk about a couple of these players, I’d like to take a minute to vent about the MLB All-Star Game. It continues to amaze me that Major League Baseball puts such weight on the mid-summer classic. As I’m sure you all are aware of, the league that wins the All-Star Game is awarded with home-field advantage for the World Series. Just for a second think of this scenario.

The Cubbies stay hot through the second half and find themselves in contention for their first World Series title in 100 years. In the American League, the Rays rebound from their recent struggles and continue their improbable run all the way into the World Series. The Cubbies were the top seed from the NL and the Rays were the bottom seed from the AL.

Now fast forward even a little further. It is now Game 7 of the World Series and Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs are on the road at Tropicana Field despite having a better regular season record than the Rays. The reason why…because the AL pulled out yet another victory in the All-Star game.

If that isn’t illogical enough, the players that are starting in this game are chosen by the fans. While I’d love to believe that everyone that voted was well-informed, at times it seems like it is nothing more than a popularity contest. Although the fans did get some of the starters right, there are several players that should not even be on the team let alone starting. I believe MLB needs to make some changes to their current system. The fan vote should count for something but it should not be the deciding factor. I’d argue that we could even call it the Kosuke Fukudome rule. There just doesn’t seem to be anything special about hitting .280, with 7 HRs, 36 RBIs and 8 SBs.

Now that I’ve expressed my distain with the All-Star game, let’s talk about some players that could help you to start the second-half.

Second-Half Studs

Francisco Liriano (SP, Minnesota Twins): I can’t say it enough. I love this guy in the second half. If you can get him, do it immediately because once he makes a couple starts in the bigs, his price tag will go up in a hurry.

Jonathan Broxton (RP, Los Angeles Dodgers): It doesn’t sound too good for Saito. You have to love the opportunity he might have to put up some save numbers.

Adam LaRoche (1B, Pittsburgh Pirates): It’s starting to look like LaRoche is slowly remembering how to hit a baseball. Look for a repeat of last year’s strong second-half. Maybe next year LaRoche should just skip March-June.

Adam Jones (OF, Baltimore Orioles): He’s starting to get a hang of this whole Major League Baseball thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes with around 15-20 HRs

Evan Longoria (3B, Tampa Bay Rays): He’s only going to get better. That’s scary.

Gio Gonzalez (SP, Oakland A’s): Another young Oakland pitching stud. The recent trade with the Cubs paved the way for a second-half call-up.

J.J. Hardy (SS, Milwaukee Brewers): His latest hot streak has everyone believing this is the player he truly is. His early season struggles look to be over. He is going to be an integral player in the second-half as the Brew Crew make a second-half push for the Central Division.

A.J. Burnett (SP, Toronto Blue Jays): He plays for the Jays now but don’t expect to see him in that uniform come early August. Although the Jays are hovering around .500, I believe they are going to get an offer they can’t refuse. He will be the guy that teams will be vying to trade for in the last days before the deadline. I look for a contender to overpay but this is good news for his fantasy owners. If he can stay healthy, look for Burnett to benefit from a trade to a better team.

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: Give Me a "Break"!

Welcome to Week #15 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.

"Miranda Warnings" is getting an early (and much-needed) start to the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star break. I will use the next two weeks to "recharge" my batteries for the second-half of the season.

Thanks for your continued support and loyalty.

"Miranda Warnings" returns Wednesday, July 23! See you July 23!

The Buzz Around the Bullpen: C.C. Says Farewell to Cleveland

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. As I write this latest edition, the word around baseball is that the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Indians have agreed in principle to a trade involving C.C. Sabathia. The trade would also include the Brewers sending outfield prospect Matt LaPorta to the Indians. In terms of fantasy impact, I believe C.C. Sabathia’s value has increased significantly. As much as I was down on C.C. earlier in the year, I believe this move to the National League can only benefit him.

Sabathia will be going to a team that has the ability to provide him with decent run support. Sabathia’s record has been tarnished of late by the lackluster Cleveland offense. The Indians’ offense has left C.C. out to dry scoring only 3 runs or more in 7 of his last 18 starts.

It will also be interesting to watch how Cleveland deals with LaPorta. He has been an offensive machine at Double-A Huntsville hitting around .300 with 20 HRs. He may be worth a flier in deeper leagues and a he’s a must add for keeper leagues where he is still available.

The trade deadline is still over three weeks away but this trade will definitely cause teams to alter their strategy leading up to the July 31st deadline. My guess is that the Toronto Blue Jays have to be thrilled that this trade has happened so early before the deadline. This gives them almost a month to shop A.J. Burnett around while teams fight to be the highest bidder. It should be an interesting deadline with some new “buyers” such as the Tampa Bay Rays. For right now, let’s focus on some guys you might want to make a move for to better your squad.

Big Hits

Aubrey Huff (1B/3B, Baltimore Orioles): It is no wonder why Aubrey Huff is still available in a percentage of leagues. I tried to include Huff in a trade early this year and the owner responded by saying, “I’d rather not start a 1B”. Now about 14 HRs later and still hitting just below .300, Huff has continued to build on his stellar offensive year. Huff has stroked 17 HRs this season and is on pace to match his 2003 season where he hit a career-high 34 HRs. Huff’s power numbers had dropped off significantly in the past three years and it was looking as though Huff was on the down-swing of his career. However, Huff has found a home in the O’s lineup and has been a pleasant surprise for his owners as well. Although I like Huff’s numbers, his trade value will never be higher. If you’re looking to fill a need, now’s the time to pull the trigger on Huff.

Alexei Ramirez (2B, Chicago White Sox): Since taking over full-time duties at second base, Ramirez has shown the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark. With 7 HRs in 200 ABs, Ramirez projects to be a 20-23 HRs a year type hitter. Even with well over 100 less ABs than the rest of the starting second basemen, Ramirez is already 11th in HRs. More impressive than his power numbers, Ramirez continues to hover around .300 in his rookie campaign. He is available in over 50% of leagues and he would be a nice replacement if you are still hanging on to a struggling Freddy Sanchez.

Big Miss

Darrell Rasner (SP, New York Yankees): Rasner has been roughed up of late and his record is a reflection of that. He has lost seven of his last eight starts and at times he has looked to be throwing batting practice to his opposition. He has been touched up for eight or more hits in six of his last seven starts. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a demotion in the near future for Rasner. While Rasner isn’t much of a fantasy stud even when he is on, some owners still believe in the strategy to start a pitcher in hopes of his offense earning him a cheap win. In the past couple of weeks, Rasner has made that next that to impossible for the Yanks offense. Drop Rasner immediately and pick up someone that doesn’t need an “L Screen” when they pitch.

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: "Manny, Just Being Manny." Enough Already!

Welcome to Week #14 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.

American League East: I am sick and tired of certain players receiving preferential treatment! Case and point: Boston OF Manny Ramirez (pictured, above). For years, it has been well-documented that Ramirez could do no wrong. No matter what Ramirez did (lackadaisical play, temper-tantrums, etc.), it was always swept under the rug and/or ignored. In every instance, no matter what Ramirez did, management summed up his actions by saying it's "Manny, Just Being Manny." After the latest Manny incident, I say: "enough already!". Somebody, anybody, please discipline this prima donna! During Boston's visit to Houston this past weekend, Ramirez pushed 64 year-old Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground, following a dispute over tickets. Manny, just being Manny, wanted sixteen tickets on very short notice. When McCormick expressed concern that he could not meet the request, Manny, just being Manny, shoved him to the ground! Ramirez apologized. However, the apology doesn't excuse him for pushing McCormick. The Red Sox have said that they handled the matter internally. Read between the lines and this means one thing, and only one thing: Ramirez received a slap on the wrist! Two recent incidents involving player conduct reveal just how poorly Boston has dealt with Ramirez' latest antics. In May, Texas released SP Sidney Ponson for "behavior that was detrimental to the team". In June, Houston released SP Shawn Chacon after a physical altercation with GM Ed Wade. I give Texas and Houston lots of credit for not tolerating unacceptable behavior. However, Boston should be ashamed of itself for allowing the latest Ramirez incident to go unpunished. Boston allows Manny to get away with "murder" because he's, well, Manny, a sure-fire Hall of Famer, who is one of Boston's offensive focal-points and a fan favorite. Sure, Ramirez will someday land in baseball's Hall of Fame. However, Ramirez' latest embarrassment lands him and Boston management in "Miranda Warnings" Hall of Shame!... Toronto youngster, OF Adam Lind, is getting more playing time under new manager Cito Gaston, and he's taking advantage of it. Lind hit a two-run homer in Wednesday's loss to Seattle. Lind has gotten off to a great start in July with two HR's and seven RBIs. If your fantasy team needs outfield help, grab Lind... Ridiculously inconsistent Orioles SP Daniel Cabrera was it again Wednesday night, this time on the positive side. Cabrera threw a complete-game victory (9 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) versus Kansas City to improve to 6-9 in 2008... After sweeping Boston Wednesday night, Tampa is in first-place by 3 1/2 games and I'm not the least bit surprised (see 5/14 edition of "Miranda Warnings"). Standing-out for Tampa is 3B Evan Longoria. Longoria went 3-for-4, with three RBIs and one run scored on Wednesday. Longoria has hit safely in nine of his last ten games, raising his BA from .248 to .275... Why in the world is Yankees SP Sidney Ponson on a major league pitching staff? Ponson was lit-up by his former employer, Texas, Wednesday (5 IP, 9 hits, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 K).

American League Central: Who leads the AL in HR's? Cleveland OF Grady Sizemore, of course! Sizemore hit two bombs against the White Sox Wednesday, going 3-for-4, with two RBI's and four runs scored. Sizemore is doing his best to keep the Indians afloat in the AL Central (21 HR, 47 RBIs, 20 SB). Sizemore is at 20-20 and we're not even at the All-Star Break! Wow!... In Kansas City, the Butler did it! 1B/DH Billy Butler has returned from his Triple-A demotion earlier this season and is taking full advantage. Butler went 3-for-5 versus Baltimore Monday. Butler was promoted after tearing it up in the minors, hitting .337, with five HR's and 13 RBI's... Speaking of returns, Detroit P Joel Zumaya (shoulder) has returned. Zumaya (1 2/3 IP innings, 3 hits) recorded his first save of the season versus Minnesota Monday. It's only a matter of time before Zumaya replaces current inconsistent closer Todd Jones... Minnesota C Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's win over the Tigers. Mauer is having a bounce-back season (.326 BA, 36 RBI's)... Chicago 1B Nick Swisher continues to rake, going 2-for-4 with an RBI against Cleveland Wednesday. Swisher has hit safely in four of his last six games, with three HR's, four runs scored and 10 RBI's. Hopefully, you didn't give up on him when he was struggling in April and May.

American League West: LA Angels SP Joe Saunders continues to astound! After defeating Oakland Wednesday, Saunders (6 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K versus Oakland) has an AL-leading 12 wins. He was/is considered, at best, a middle of the rotation starting pitcher, but is pitching like an ace in 2008 and exceeding all expectations... Another AL West pitcher that continues to astound is Oakland SP Justin Duchscherer. Duchscherer was nearly unhittable Saturday (8 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K). Unfortunately, he was outpitched by Tim Lincecum and took the loss to fall to 8-5. Listen to this unbelievable stat: Duchscherer has allowed more than two earned runs in one (yes, 1) outing this season! Damn impressive! Duchscherer's record is 8-5 and his ERA stands at a ridiculous 1.91!... Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki was a perfect 3-for-3, with two runs scored in Wednesday's win over Toronto. Don't be surprised if Seattle, in its efforts to rebuild, unloads the stud, if it can receive 2-3 top-notch prospects in return. Ichiro is currently in pursuit of 200 hits for an unreal eighth straight year!... Texas 2B Ian Kinsler continues to narrow the distance between himself and Chase Utley for best 2B in baseball. Kinsler extended his hitting streak to 15 games Wednesday against the Yankees. Kinsler is putting up huge 2008 numbers (.323 BA, 13 HR's, 23 SB's).

National League East: Atlanta 1B Mark Teixeira continues to smash the baseball. On Saturday, Teixeira blasted his 16th homer, with two RBIs and two runs scored. It'll be interesting to see what Atlanta does with its free-agent-to-be. Does Atlanta trade Teixeira for prospects or let him walk away as a free agent during the off-season. Stay tuned!... Florida 2B Dan Uggla (ankle) was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game Wednesday. If Uggla doesn't return by the weekend, a DL-stint might be possible... NY Mets SP Pedro Martinez continues to disappoint. He was roughed-up by St.Louis (5 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) on Wednesday. Pedro has surrendered at least 5 ER in three straight outings. Could Pedro be nearing "the end"?... Washington OF Elijah Dukes continues to show flashes of his immense talent. Dukes went 3-for-5, with a solo home run, three runs scored and a SB versus Florida on Tuesday. He's fantasy-worthy in deep mixed leagues... Surprisingly, Philadelphia SP Brett Myers accepted a demotion to Triple-A, in an attempt to iron-out his problems (3-9, 5.84 ERA, a major league-leading 24 HR's allowed). If being sent to the minors wasn't bad enough, now comes word that Myers will be checked out by a team doctor in the next few days to see if his problems are physical. Stay tuned!.

National League Central: If you're looking for a 2B option, check out Houston's Ty Wigginton. Wiggy launched his sixth homer of the season, with three RBI's, versus the Dodgers Tuesday. Wiggy will never be confused with studs Chase Utley or Ian Kinsler, but he has some pop (15-20 HR's is possible) and he's also 3B-eligible. He's an above-average, backup fantasy 2B... Milwaukee SP Manny Parra (6 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) had another strong performance in a tough-luck no-decision versus Arizona Thursday. Parra, and fellow SP Seth McClung, have allowed Milwaukee to compensate for the loss of SP Yovanni Gallardo (knee), while remaining competitive in the NL Central... If you believe in miracles, then you probably believe in St.Louis SP Kyle Lohse. After pitching seven strong innings (7 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) versus the Mets Monday, Lohse is now 10-2 in 2008. Yes, Kyle Lohse is 10-2! Absolutely stunning!... Cubs SP Carlos Zambrano (strained right shoulder) returns Friday against division rival St.Louis. Big Z threw a bullpen session this past weekend and says he's ready to go... Shocking news from Pittsburgh, as the Pirates announced they'll be without closer Matt Capps (shoulder) for at least eight weeks. Relievers Damaso Marte or Tyler Yates will help fill the ninth-inning void... Cincinnati phenom OF Jay Bruce snapped out of his recent slump in a big way versus Pittsburgh Wednesday. Bruce went 2-for-3, with two HR's and four RBI's. Bruce is a mega-talented rookie who, in the not-to-distant future, will put up Larry Walker-type numbers!

National League West: The saga surrounding the return of LA Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal (back) has been chronicled in several "Miranda Warnings" (as recently as 6/18). Wednesday, the Dodgers announced that Furcal will undergo surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said that Furcal will "probably miss a minimum of eight weeks"... San Francisco closer Brian Wilson notched his 23rd save against the Cubs Tuesday. Wilson is not dominant, but 23 saves speaks to his potential... San Diego SP Randy Wolf (4 IP, 6 hits, 7 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) was lit-up, again. This time, by the Rockies. Wolf has failed to pitch more than four innings in three of his last four starts and is a very risky proposition right now... Colorado OF Willy Taveras (left quadriceps) missed his second straight game versus Florida Thursday. This is the same quad that landed Taveras on the disabled list twice in 2007... It pains me to write this, but here goes. Arizona placed C Chris Snyder on the DL with a left testicular fracture. Ouch, to the highest power! Snyder was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Milwaukee OF Corey Hart on Monday and the rest, as "they" say, is history. Snyder is out indefinitely.

See you next week!