It's time to trade for Alex Gordon, especially in keeper leagues. After an abysmal year last year, his K:BB rate is down to 2:1. He's starting to "get it." Then you factor in that third base is getting shallower (Miguel Cabrera and Ryan Braun won't be 3B eligible next year in most leagues, Atkins could get traded out of Coors, and Ryan Zimmerman is falling through the floor), and Gordon's looking more appealing to me each day.
I think Smoltz is done. Does he really expect he can just change his arm angle and succeed? If I owned him (which I don't), I'd be sellling, and fast. And in medium to deep leagues, I wouldn't give up on Soriano, Boyer, and Acosta.
Brandon Morrow is looking like a good speculative closer pick. Putz is really struggling and I think a DL stint is in his immediate future. I'd rather have Morrow than Scott Downs, for example.
Hanley Ramirez hasn't stolen a base in nearly a month. Does he have a lower body injury? Is he saving himself for a long season? I'm starting to get concerned.
Ben Francisco has really cemented himself in the Indians' lineup. He should be owned in most all leagues.
Ian Stewart is going to be 2B eligible soon. And it's not like the Rockies are making the playoffs this year, so if he hits at all, he should get PT.
Carlos Gomez's speed hasn't surprised me. But who would have thought he'd be hitting .280 on June 3? Not me. (No, you didn't think so, either.) But his BB:K rate suggests a slump is coming. Though it's hard to replace his speed, in yearly leagues, I'd sell high.
If you own Brian Fuentes and don't own Taylor Buchholz, then you are going to have a problem at some point, perhaps soon. Handcuffs are tough in shallow leagues, but if you can afford stashing Buchholz on the bench, do so.
I bet you didn't know that Jason Bergmann's K:BB rate is more than five to one. Chances are that he's the only starting pitcher who's available in shallow to medium leagues who you can say that about.
I don't think Delmon Young forgot how to hit. The recent doubles are a good sign.
Let me say it again: the time to buy Prince Fielder at less than full value is about to expire, if it hasn't already. Yesterday he even stole a base. (BTW, how sweet is it when a player hits a HR and steals a base in the same game? Love that.)
The more Ks he racks up this year, the more Carlos Pena's 2007 looks like that year Adrian Beltre went crazy for the Dodgers. He's still serviceable, but, just as Beltre never came close to duplicating that season, it doesn't look like Pena will, either.
Don't go overboard bidding on Russell Branyan. He's been down this road before.
I'm exhausted speculating on potential closers in Oakland. Devine, Casilla, Foulke, Brown, Embree, and now Calero pitched the eighth inning recently.
What's the fallout from Big Papi's injury in Boston? My gut reaction is that Coco Crisp stands the most to gain. He's worth thinking about, depending on the size of your league.
