Recent Articles from this Column
May 19, 2013
MLB Barometer: The Dangers of Micromanaging
Daniel Murphy gets a positive mention in Howard Bender's column this week.
May 12, 2013
MLB Barometer: Read the Other Players
Howard Bender suggests to read the other players in your league when trying to get an edge. Among his recommendations this week is to hold steady on Allen Craig.
May 5, 2013
MLB Barometer: Time For Change
RotoWire's Howard Bender is losing patience with the Giants' Brandon Belt, who has been batting down in the eighth spot in the order lately.
April 28, 2013
MLB Barometer: Chooch Returns
Carlos Ruiz is back from his season-beginning suspension. Howard Bender discusses him among his 10 players of interest this week.
April 21, 2013
MLB Barometer: Push Through the Wall
Howard Bender advises Jason Heyward's owners to ride out his slow start to the season.
April 14, 2013
MLB Barometer: Opportunities Abound in Toronto
Jose Reyes' awkward slide has created a handful of changes for the Blue Jays. Howard Bender details those changes and more in this week's Barometer.
April 7, 2013
MLB Barometer: All the Right Moves
In many mixed leagues last year, Edwin Encarnacion was a very profitable early season free agent pickup. Who will bring a lot of value from the waiver wire this year?
March 29, 2013
MLB Barometer: The Waiting Game
Howard Bender preaches patience to start the season but there's reason to be concerned about Pablo Sandoval. Check out his solid pickup options for those who just can't wait for the regular season to begin to make moves.
March 22, 2013
MLB Barometer: Smoke Signals
In some instances, spring training smoke means fire. Howard Bender takes a look at Nolan Arenado and others who are an opportunity away from making an impact.
March 15, 2013
MLB Barometer: The Jerk
Jedd Gyorko is one of the big risers this spring as he's closing in on the starting job at second base for the Padres.
October 1, 2012
MLB Barometer: Regression or Rebound
Eric Nehs discusses what to make of Ian Kennedy for next season.
September 24, 2012
MLB Barometer: A Look Towards 2013
Eric Nehs starts his first look towards 2013 with this week's column.
September 16, 2012
MLB Barometer: September Surgers
B.J. Upton has been making this home run trot a lot more lately to salvage his overall numbers.
September 9, 2012
MLB Barometer: Not So Grand
Curtis Granderson is among the downgrades in this week's Barometer.
September 2, 2012
MLB Barometer: A's Anderson Acing the Test
Brett Anderson has looked great upon his return to the big leagues.
August 27, 2012
MLB Barometer: Harper's Slump
Bryce Harper has had a difficult last couple of weeks.
August 20, 2012
MLB Barometer: Tough Sledding For Santana
Johan Santana has struggled since his return from the DL.
August 12, 2012
MLB Barometer: Debut of a Prodigy
The Orioles surprised many by calling up Manny Machado this weekend.
August 5, 2012
MLB Barometer: Overdue Downgrade
Carlos Pena has had three miserable months in a row.
July 29, 2012
MLB Barometer: Vote of Confidence
Dan Uggla is going through a big slump, but we're staying patient with him still.
July 22, 2012
MLB Barometer: Time to Cut Losses?
Ryan Roberts is Among This Week's Downgrades.
July 15, 2012
MLB Barometer: Heyward Aloft
Jason Heyward is hitting more flyballs, much to his advantage.
July 12, 2012
MLB Barometer: Chase This Light
If the Padres deal Chase Headley before the end of July, he should see a significant increase in value moving out of Petco Park.
July 1, 2012
MLB Barometer: Big Erv in Big Trouble?
Ervin Santana keeps struggling with the gopher balls - can he recover?
June 5, 2012
MLB Barometer: Why Manny?
Why did the A's sign Manny Ramirez anyhow? His potential debut with them is going to cause a huge playing time concern with little palpable payoff.
May 27, 2012
MLB Barometer: Giancarlo Stanton Powering Up
Giancarlo Stanton looked downright tame to start the season, but a wild May has his power numbers among the league's best.
April 8, 2012
MLB Barometer: Change-Up Calvalcade
Johan Santana's filthy change-up is still making batters swing and miss.
April 1, 2012
MLB Barometer: Spring Training Risers and Fallers
Matt Thornton appears to have won the White Sox closer job, and RotoWire's Eric Nehs believes that Thornton will keep the job all season.
September 25, 2011
MLB Barometer: Reviewing Payne's Picks, Pans
Justin Masterson's strong finish last year carried over to 2011.
September 18, 2011
MLB Barometer: Be Wary of September Sits
Ryan Howard is among the veterans that could sit out multiple games over the last 10 days to get healthy for the playoffs.
September 11, 2011
MLB Barometer: Weeks' Week
Rickie Weeks is back in the starting lineup for the Brewers.
September 4, 2011
MLB Barometer: Beard Not Feared
Brian Wilson might not return this season.
August 28, 2011
MLB Barometer: Hanson's Rotator Cuff
Andrew Martinez downgrades Tommy Hanson this week - Hanson may not need surgery, but he still has a tear in his rotator cuff.
August 21, 2011
MLB Barometer: Nobody (Messes) With the Jesus
Jesus Guzman is tearing it up for the Padres at first base.
August 14, 2011
MLB Barometer: Shut Down Warning
Young pitchers like Michael Pineda could get shut down early as their innings totals rise.
August 7, 2011
MLB Barometer: Hip To Have Kipnis
Jason Kipnis has thrived upon getting the full-time second base job for the Tribe.
July 31, 2011
MLB Barometer: Reach the Bourgeois
Michael Bourn ran off to Atlanta, leaving behind in Houston one of the best free agent options for the rest of the season.
July 24, 2011
MLB Barometer: Bargain Bin Maybin
Cameron Maybin is really finding his way with the Padres, at least on the road.
July 17, 2011
MLB Barometer: Closer Carousel
Between trades and blowups, we have multiple closer jobs changing hands this week. Also, Phil Hughes appears to be back on track.
July 10, 2011
MLB Barometer: E5 On the Rise
Edwin Encarnacion has come alive in the last few weeks.
July 3, 2011
MLB Barometer: Albatross!
Vernon Wells' contract remains terrible, but at least he's raised his game in the last month since returning from the DL.
June 26, 2011
MLB Barometer: Backed Into a Corner
The news on Roy Oswalt's back doesn't sound encouraging.
June 12, 2011
MLB Barometer: Slip-Sliding Away
Did Brett Anderson's reliance on the slider create his current elbow problems?
June 5, 2011
MLB Barometer: Selling Off Soriano
RotoWire's Kevin Payne intends to sell Soriano from his teams once he returns from the DL.
May 29, 2011
MLB Barometer: Blocking the Plate
Kevin Payne weighs in on the concept of blocking the plate in the wake of Buster Posey's injuries.
May 22, 2011
MLB Barometer: Stanton's Scary Power
Mike Stanton is on a power heater for the Marlins.
May 15, 2011
MLB Barometer: Yo Adrian!
If you're drafting today, where would Adrian Gonzalez go?
May 8, 2011
MLB Barometer: Thumbs Up
Carlos Pena is finally starting to hit for power after a thumb injury derailed him in April.
May 1, 2011
MLB Barometer: Too Late to Buy Low
Carlos Santana has homered in each of the last three games.
April 24, 2011
MLB Barometer: Tattooing the Ball
Ryan Roberts has gotten extra playing time at third base for the Diamondbacks and has thrived.
April 17, 2011
MLB Barometer: Changes In Minnesota
The Twins are off to a bad start - Joe Mauer is on the DL, and Joe Nathan just lost his closing job to Matt Capps after blowing the save Saturday against the Rays.
April 10, 2011
MLB Barometer: Job in Jeopardy?
Ryan Franklin suffered his third blown save Saturday night. Is his job in jeopardy?
April 3, 2011
MLB Barometer: Tough Day At the Jake
Did this Fausto Carmona pitch get tagged as badly as his Opening Day offerings against the White Sox?
March 27, 2011
MLB Barometer: Injury Issues Resolving
Brian Roberts has played extensively in the past week, alleviating concerns about his back and neck.
March 20, 2011
MLB Barometer: Question Marks on Closers
Can Joe Nathan bounce all the way back from his elbow surgery?
March 13, 2011
MLB Barometer: Silva Sliding in Spring
Carlos Silva appears to be losing a job battle for the Cubs' fifth starter slot.
March 6, 2011
MLB Barometer: Healthy Kinsler
Ian Kinsler looks fully healed this spring and is tearing it up so far.
February 27, 2011
MLB Barometer: Early Movers
Joel Hanrahan was named the Pirates' closer at the start of spring training.
February 13, 2011
MLB Barometer: A First Look At Changing Values
Do the advanced metrics accurately suggest that Justin Masterson is about to take off?
August 15, 2010
MLB Barometer: Panda Watch!
Has Pablo Sandoval's poor showing this season been the result of a changing skill set, or just plain bad luck?
July 11, 2010
MLB Barometer: Nationals Will Limit the Greatness
The Nationals have decided how many innings they will let Stephen Strasburg throw this season. Find out what effect that decision has on his fantasy value.
July 4, 2010
MLB Barometer: Don't Give Up on Berkman
A Closer look at Berkman's line drive and fly ball rates suggest a turnaround.
