Blogs: All Sports   Baseball   Football   Basketball   Hockey   Golf  

MLB Notes Posted by Dalton Del Don at 6/12/2008 9:06:00 PM View more posts by this author

I took some heat for spending $30 on Corey Hart in LABR, but after three homers and seven RBI over the last two games, he’s now on pace to finish with a 25/25 season. And after Rickie Weeks’ latest injury, Hart seems to be enjoying the leadoff spot, a place that will only increase his fantasy value. J.D. Drew’s .371 BABIP won’t be easy to sustain, but there’s a lot to like about his current situation. Since a David Ortiz injury moved him into the three-hole, Drew has clobbered four homers over 35 at-bats with a ridiculous 2:11 K:BB ratio. His on-base percentage is also more than .550. Whether he can stay healthy remains to be seen, but last year’s .796 OPS was more of an aberration than this year’s stellar campaign. Make sure Joel Zumaya is owned in your league. Since he’s already approaching 100 mph during his rehab stint, he should be ready to contribute very soon. Todd Jones hasn’t pitched poorly enough to lose the closer’s role, but his 9:11 K:BB ratio is embarrassing and suggests major blowups are likely soon in store. Remember, Zumaya has a career 9.54 K/9 IP mark. For those awaiting Rich Hill’s return to the majors, I wouldn’t hold my breath. The 31 strikeouts over 25.1 innings in Triple-A are nice, but he was sent down to work on his control, which has actually only gotten worse if you can believe it. He’s walked 24 batters, leaving him with an ugly 1.70 WHIP. You get the feeling Jim Thome is going to go on a massive hot streak at some point. Since I normally only complain about the Giants, I’ll go a different direction. Madison Bumgarner, the team’s first round pick last year, is 18 years old and has a 74:10 K:BB ratio with a 1.96 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 64.1 innings in the minors right now. Tim Alderson has also impressed. And after getting the steal of the draft Buster Posey (he’s going to win the college Triple Crown and plays catcher!) and making the shrewd selection of Conor Gilaspie in this year’s draft, things are actually looking up. Four years from now but still. About 40 percent into the season, the Mariners sit with the worst record in all of baseball. It also looks like they’ve lost J.J. Putz for a while. It’s unlikely Erik Bedard would fetch the same return the Orioles got for him right now, but it’s clear Seattle may have to shop him, since he’s a free agent after next season. What a disappointment Curtis Granderson’s been. The home runs are there, and he’s actually improved his contact rate, so the fact his current BABIP (.250) is more than 100 points lower than last year (.362) might even qualify him as a decent buy-low option. Hopefully a higher on-base rate will also lead to more steals, as he’s already been caught more times this year than he did in all of 2007. One thing’s for sure, he’s brutal against lefties. First Travis Hafner and now Victor Martinez, it’s safe to say the Indians season hasn’t gone quite as planned. VMart is going to enter August with zero home runs. I’m happy for Kerry Wood. With a 2.48 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB ratio, he’s been one of baseball’s best relievers in 2008. When healthy, I always thought he had the best pure stuff in the game.

Comments....

3D you're too nice. Good thing I'm not. How's the voodoo doll you have with the pin sticking in the gastroc? Safe to say Ryan Doumit has come off the dl with a vengance. Any feelings on Reggie Abercrombie? Who will close in Atlanta? Do you west coast guys still like the Lakers? Was I right about Donald Sutherland next to Jac ("Anyone wanna smoke some wee*?")-One of my favorite movie quotes. The Drza already should have his money spent..... Posted by kevinccp at 6/12/2008 10:54:00 PM

Not big on Abercrombie at all. Don't expect much...Mike Gonzalez will close in Atlanta...If defense wins championships, consider the Celtics the 2008 NBA title holders. Wow, what a choke job. I don't even know what to say - I'm not a Laker fan by any means. In fact, I usually root against them. But I'm pretty shocked by what's happened. This has been a thorough beat down. Thursday's game was unreal. I'm not ready to live in a world where Doc Rivers outcoaches Phil Jackson. I'm really not. And no, that was 100 percent not Donald Sutherland, although I admit he does resemble him...What movie quote is that? Posted by Dalton Del Don at 6/12/2008 11:27:00 PM

Sutherland - Animal House Posted by spianow at 6/13/2008 12:48:00 AM

I forgot how much the 2-3-2 format helps the favorite. It's hard for anybody to win 3 games in a row (even at home). I still think it goes to a game 7 though. Posted by MPStopa at 6/13/2008 4:45:00 AM

Really Mark? I think it helps the dog. If the Laks had won one of the first two in Boston, you gotta figure they take two of three at home, giving them a 3-2 advantage. My opinion. Posted by kevinccp at 6/13/2008 5:04:00 AM

Here's a pic of the guy next to Jack, not sure who he is.... http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/57491188.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE57D274635C1188A2A40A659CEC4C8CB6 Posted by kevinccp at 6/13/2008 5:10:00 AM

Ok found it, his name is Lou Adler he is the executive producer of the Cheech and Chong movies, I wasn't too far off with the quote then. Posted by kevinccp at 6/13/2008 5:11:00 AM

Ah, it's been far too long since I've seen Animal House...I agree with Mark that the 2-3-2 format makes it wayy harder on the team without homecourt advantage. Only 1 team in NBA history has won all three middle home games. Even in your scenario Kevin, that means LA would have to win two road games to win the series...Great investigative work with the Jack/Lou Adler thing. Posted by Dalton Del Don at 6/13/2008 7:38:00 AM

Seattle needs to clean house..GM, Manager. Keep Brandon Morrow, Felix Hernandez, and Ichiro (for marketing purposes) and offer up the rest of the bunch. No one is going to want guys like Silva and Washburn, but there may be some interest in Adrian Beltre, Raul Ibanez and perhaps a few others. Posted by vtadave at 6/13/2008 10:47:00 AM

Turns out the blonde next to Jack during Game 3 was his daughter. For a very underrated Sutherland performance, see "Without Limits." Posted by spianow at 6/13/2008 1:05:00 PM

HEY, LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD ADVICE ON A TRADE THAT WAS OFFERED TO ME, I HAVE GOOD PITCHING, BUT MY team lacks a good HR hitter. That is why I'm considering it. Offered to me Dan Haren, Arron Harrang, R. Ludwick, Players asking for Santana, Wellemeyer, Pierre. Note: this is also a keeper league looking for carry over cheap players so I have a bigger amount for next year auction so it make Ludwick look a little better he is only $.70. $26 roster limit Posted by cmahn13 at 6/13/2008 3:25:00 PM

cman13, as the commissioner in your league, I suggest you turn it down, so that I can pull off a trade for Ludwick, since I am the Cards fan, and you can retain your Cubbie loyalty. Posted by slobr at 6/13/2008 7:34:00 PM

Well there's a pretty good indicator that Isringhausen is going to close again right away... Cardinals down 17 - 2 in the 8th inning 2 outs - Springer gets ejected, and LaRussa in the midst of a ridiculous hissy fit puts Franklin out there to pitch in mop-up duty with no warmup whatsoever. You don't do that to a closer - period. Posted by billgoofnow at 6/13/2008 8:08:00 PM

lol Aaron Miles in to pitch the 9th (that's who LaRussa should have put on the mound with 2 outs in the 8th by the way... not HIS CLOSER!!!!) and he gets the phillies 1 - 2 - 3 - the only Cardinals pitcher tonight to not give up a run.... Posted by billgoofnow at 6/13/2008 8:24:00 PM

cmahn - That trade is close enough for me to say it's team specific. Can you afford to give up Pierre's steals? Ludwick has been great, but he's a definite sell-high, and while I expect Santana to only get better, getting both Haren and Harang (and Ludwick looks like he'll be solid at least) makes me think you should do the deal. Posted by Dalton Del Don at 6/13/2008 10:31:00 PM

Scott, I lost then. The worst case of robbing the cradle *Shark*. He's 61 now, gf is 22. http://rosiedemario.blogspot.com/2006/06/james-woods-has-20-year-old-girlfriend.html Bastard. Posted by kevinccp at 6/13/2008 11:10:00 PM

You must be logged in to post a comment. Click here to log in or register with RotoWire.com.