Sidney Ponson, New York Yankees, SP: When the Yankees signed Ponson, recently cut by the Texas Rangers, it further illustrated the serious shortage of quality pitching facing most major league ball clubs. Having worn out his welcome at every stop, the 31-year-old Ponson finds himself getting yet another opportunity. In his first start Friday, Ponson held the Mets scoreless over six innings en route to his first victory for the Pinstripers. Will he last? Probably not, but pitching for the Yankees, he has the potential in AL-only formats to be a decent acquisition until the ultimate implosion.

Kurt Suzuki, Oakland, C: Heading into the 2008 season, Suzuki was on many sleeper lists and is starting to demonstrate why. Over his last ten games, he has hit two HR, produced ten RBI and is hitting to the tune of a .432 batting average. The beginning of a trend upwards for the 24-year-old backstop? I believe that to be the case and with Suzuki still sitting on waiver wires in 40 per cent of all CBS leagues at this time, I recommend adding him to your fantasy roster in all formats.

Casey Blake, Cleveland, 1B/3B: Now here’s a nice little bonus I found this past week: Blake, who qualifies at both first and third base, is currently owned by only 50 per cent of all teams in CBS leagues. In his last ten games, he’s hitting .378 and for the season is on pace for a career-high 90 RBI. For those looking to add some power at the corners, Blake is a solid acquisition in all formats.

Eric Stults, Los Angeles Dodgers, SP: Since his promotion June 17 from Triple-A Las Vegas, Eric Stults has been virtually flawless. He’s won both his starts and the key to his success has been his ability to limit the base-on-balls to a total of one in each of his two starts. The Dodgers are apparently going to run with a six-man rotation through to the All-Star break to give the 28-year-old Stults further opportunity to show his stuff. Coming off a complete game, four-hit shutout of the White Sox in his last start,he is a fine option in NL-only leagues and deeper mixed formats.

Chris Davis, Texas, 1B: If I’m not mistaken, didn’t I mention that Hank Blalock, despite the injury woes, would be a fine addition heading into this past week? Well, the woes have continued and it looks like the most recent setback suffered by Blalock (badly bruising his injured wrist diving for a ball) has delayed his return for at least a couple of weeks. The Rangers have decided to give 22-year-old Davis an opportunity to at least temporarily show his stuff. Davis has had a great year at both Double-A and Triple-A , amassing combined stats of 23 homers, 73 RBI, seven steals, and a .333 BA. He will hit for power and in all probability strike out way too often, but with the window of opportunity now open, Davis is a solid grab in AL-only leagues and deep keeper formats.

David Bush, Milwaukee, SP: Bush was thought by many to be a great sleeper pick heading into the 2007 season, and over the the past month or so appears to be finally waking up. A terrible 2007 and start to this year pushed Bush to the bench and waiver wire, but with five quality starts in six tries and only six walks over that same period, Bush is emerging as a viable option in both NL-only and mixed formats. In his past two starts, he has pitched a four-hitter over seven innings and an eight inning, two-hit gem. It looks like the ship has been righted and we might finally be witnessing some of that potential that Bush demonstrated prior to 2007.

Braden Looper, St. Louis, SP: Very quietly, Looper has been putting together a very nice year for the surprising St. Louis Cardinals. The former Mets closer has now amassed nine wins to go along with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Looper is coming off a run of four out of five quality starts and by limiting the free passes is putting himself in position to be successful. Currently owned in 52 per cent of all CBS leagues, Looper is a solid add in NL-only and deeper mixed formats.

J.P. Howell, Tampa Bay, SP/RP: This 25-year-old southpaw is enjoying a very solid year in middle relief for the upstart Rays. In 50 2/3 innings pitched, Howell is currently sporting a 3.02 ERA and 1.34 WHIP to go along with six wins. For those of us playing in leagues that count holds, Howell is a solid addition to our fantasy bullpen.

Jim Edmonds, Chicago Cubs, OF: After being released by San Diego, the Cubbies gambled on Edmonds and to date have been rewarded very nicely. Thought to have lost his bat speed after the disaster on the West coast, Edmonds is currently enjoying a renaissance patrolling centrefield in Chicago. He was signed by the Cubs May 15 and is sporting a very nice .293 BA, to go along with seven home runs and 22 RBI since, with five of those long-balls being hit in the past week. Edmonds is a solid acquisition in both NL-only and deep mixed formats.

June 29th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 2 Comments

Well I survived my travels south this past week and it’s now time to get back into the swing of things. Thanks to RotoRob for picking up the slack last week while I was enjoying some quality time with my auction league mates. We had tickets for a game last Saturday in Springfield, MO., home of the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate, and we lucked into a double-header that had both Mark Mulder and Matt Clement starting. Mulder actually looked fairly decent, managing to get his fastball into the low 90s with decent control. Clement, on the other hand, is still a long way from those glory days with the Cubbies. Maxing out at 86 mph, and consistently pitching in the low 80s just isn’t going to get the job done. Anyhow, enough of my adventures in the south, let’s move forward and take a look at some potential wire pickups for this week.

Mike Gonzalez, Atlanta, RP: Now here’s one that totally has me stumped. Currently, Gonzalez is owned in only 36 per cent of all CBS leagues. I realize the Braves’ bullpen has been a mess, but he did come off the DL this past week and straight into the closer’s role didn’t he? Gonzalez picked up his first save this past week and is a must own in all formats.

Ricky Nolasco, Florida, SP: After a rather rough start to the season, with 11 earned runs in his first two starts, Nolasco has managed to reel off a string of ten quality starts in 12 opportunities. Against the hot Tampa Rays, he actually managed 12 punchouts. Currently sporting a rather strong seven wins and a 4.31 ERA, Nolasco is a solid choice in NL-only and deeper mixed formats.

Jason Kubel, Minnesota, OF: Kubel is another player that has seen his stock rising lately. In his past ten games, he’s sporting a .368 BA with four HR and nine RBI. We’ve certainly seen those immense talents in short bursts from him before, so there’s definitely reason to be cautious. Hopefully this is the beginning of a more consistent Jason Kubel. He’s a must own in AL-only leagues and in deeper mixed formats where you have the available bench space.

Elijah Dukes, Washington, OF: Okay folks, this one is just way too easy a target, so I’m going to try to demonstrate some tact. The injury to Austin “(lack of) Powers” Kearns opened the window of opportunity and lately the 23-year-old Dukes is demonstrating the skills that have had scouts drooling for years. He’s managed to get the batting average up into the .270 range with Saturday’s 5-for-6 performance. He still has some work to do on the “other†side of his game, but take advantage of his current streak and get him on your roster in NL-only formats.

Aubrey Huff, Baltimore, 1B/3B: Huff is beginning to bring back memories of the player we all salivated over when he a member of the D-Rays. He’s been tearing the cover off the ball recently, batting .390 with five home runs in his past ten games. Thanks to the sudden burst from his recent hot streak, Huff is currently on pace for a 30-homer, 100-RBI year. If you happen to be playing in a league where he is still available, add him to your roster quick before he is gone.

Jeff Baker, Colorado, 1B/2B/OF: Talk about being on fire, take a look at Baker over the past week. With homers in four of his past five games, it just doesn’t get much better. The 27-year-old has always had the power potential, but this might be a case of too little, too late, with Clint Barmes scheduled to be come off the DL this coming week. The ability to qualify at multiple positions and the current hot streak certainly makes Baker a solid gamble in NL-only leagues.

Daryl Thompson, Cincinnati, SP: This former Expo eighth round pick in 2003 has had a rather rapid ascent to the bigs. Originally a part of the Felipe Lopez/Kearns deal in 2006, at this time last year, Thompson was pitching in the Florida State League. He was called up to replace the ineffective Homer Bailey, and in his debut against the Yankees certainly held his own, allowing four hits and four walks in five scoreless innings. He’s young and with only 14 starts above Single-A, is going to be prone to those growing pains associated with all young pitchers. Thompson is a solid add in NL-only formats at this time.

Kelly Shoppach, Cleveland, C: Shoppach has the gig for at least the next couple of months with the injury to Victor Martinez. Since being inserted into the lineup, Shoppach has managed three homers, but is still struggling with his strike zone judgment, striking out far to often. He should provide a decent source of power, but just be wary that until he finds a way to cut down on the strikeouts he will be a liability in the batting average category. Shoppach is a decent add at this time in AL-only leagues and all deeper formats requiring two catchers.

Hank Blalock, Texas, 3B: Despite the constant injury woes, this is one potential pickup that I really like. Blalock is expected to come off the DL this coming Tuesday and slide into the first base role for the Rangers. The year before the hamstring and carpal tunnel woes, he managed to show that he still has power potential. In the high-powered Texas offense, Blalock should be in line for some very good RBI opportunities, making him a must-own in AL-only formats and someone who should be on the radar in all mixed formats.

June 22nd, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 2 Comments

Joel Zumaya, Detroit, RP: Assuming Zumaya can stay away from both stacking boxes in attics and sharpening his chops on Guitar Hero, he should be returning to the Tiger bullpen as early as next week. He’s coming off a very strong outing for the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, pitching two scoreless innings and hitting triple digits on the radar gun twice. Anyone that can reach 100 mph can’t be all that far away from a return to the active roster. The Tigers need the heir apparent to 40-year-old Todd Jones active in what has been a very shaky bullpen so far this year. Zumaya is a solid acquisition in AL-only leagues and deep keeper formats at this time.

Scott Linebrink, Chicago White Sox, RP: Linebrink has very quietly been putting up great numbers for the White Sox this year. He’s racked up 14 holds and owns a nifty 1.38 ERA with a very strong 0.92 WHIP pitching in a set-up capacity for Bobby Jenks. With Jenks, seemingly about two cheeseburgers away from a massive coronary and the always volatile Ozzie Guillen at the helm, Linebrink should definitely be on the radar. He is a great pickup at this time for leagues counting holds and all AL-only formats.

Jose Arredondo, Los Angeles Angels, RP: The injury to Scot Shields has opened the door and Jose Arredondo has walked through big time. Since getting promoted on May 13, he has allowed only one run in 11 2/3 innings pitched, and has moved into the set-up role for Francisco Rodriguez. The 24-year-old converted starter is a solid candidate for holds over the balance of the season. Remember, that K-Rod is heading into free agency this offseason, so I’d suggest keeping Arredondo on the radar in deep keeper formats. For now, he is a good choice in AL-only leagues and all formats counting holds.

Homer Bailey, Cincinnati, SP: The 22-year-old top-tier prospect was promoted from Triple-A Louisville this past week. In his first start, Bailey allowed two earned runs against the hot-hitting Phillies. Those 32 walks in 69 1/3 IP at Louisville indicates that there will likely be some struggles this year at the major league level. Until Bailey can demonstrate that he has mastered his control problems, he probably will have limited value in standard 12-team mixed formats. At this time I would recommend Bailey for NL-only leagues, and all deep keeper formats.

Josh Banks, San Diego, SP: Banks was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in April, and found himself inserted into the rotation with the injury to Chris Young. He is off to a great start and has allowed only one earned run in three starts. The 0.39 ERA and 1.04 WHIP are most certainly not sustainable over the long haul, but in NL-only leagues, grab him off the waiver wire and ride him while he’s hot.

Rod Barajas, Toronto, C: For a guy that couldn’t make up his mind two years ago, Barajas seems to be enjoying his time in Toronto these days. The elbow strain suffered by Gregg Zaun at the end of May created an opportunity and Barajas has responded very well. Over the past couple of weeks, he is batting .333 with two homers and nine RBI. Currently owned by only 12 per cent of all teams in CBS leagues, Barajas would be a solid add in AL-only leagues and mixed formats requiring two catchers.

Scott Downs, Toronto, RP: In his past two appearances, both resulting in blown saves and subsequent losses, B.J. Ryan has been rocked to the tune of five earned runs. This should bring the name of Scott Downs into the picture. With Jeremy Accardo currently on the DL with a forearm strain, Downs would be the logical choice to step into the closer’s role for the Jays should Ryan continue to struggle. Downs is currently sporting a 1.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, to go along with the five saves earned while Ryan was on restricted duty earlier in the year. He’s a solid pick in AL-only leagues and someone that should be watched very closely in all formats, depending of course on the health status of Ryan.

Cody Ross, Florida, OF: Ross falls into the category of a very one-dimensional player. If one is looking for a cheap source of homers, he could be an asset. With the walk-off homer this past Saturday, Ross has now hit 11 jacks on the year in only 119 at bats. Now, for the bad news: he also is currently sporting a .227 batting average. It seems as if the injury to Josh Willingham is going to be of a long-term nature, thereby providing an opportunity for Ross. However, unless the batting average improves, Ross is limited to being a decent acquistion in only NL-only formats.

Miguel Olivo, Kansas City, C: Olivo found himself in just a bit of a bind this past offseason and, with few takers lining up, he signed on with the Kansas City Royals for the 2008 campaign. He’s been sporting a very hot bat lately and is currently batting .291 with seven homers and 23 RBI. Trey Hillman is currently playing Olivo at both catcher, over the always batting average challenged John Buck, and at DH. As long as Olivo is hitting, the offensively challenged Royals will be taking advantage of it, making him a great grab in both AL-only leagues and all formats requiring two catchers.

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado, SS: What I find very surprising here is that Tulowitzki is currently owned by only 36 per cent of all teams in CBS leagues. We are talking about the same kid that is coming off a 24-homer, 99-RBI rookie campaign, aren’t we? The torn quadriceps injury that sent him to the DL at the end of April is reportedly healing ahead of schedule, and he could possibly be returning to the active roster some time in the next several weeks. Last year at this time Tulowitzki had only three homers, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could very easily vault himself into the top tier of all shortstops in the second half. If he is a free agent in your league, avoid the scramble to pick him up once he is activated and grab him now.

June 8th, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod, Uncategorized . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 1 Comment

Well, fantasy fans and addicts throughtout the land, it’s time to kick back and rejoice! The verdict is in, and with the decision Monday afternoon that the Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal brought forward by MLB and the Players Union, we can officially put this sad chapter in the history of fantasy sports to rest. Thankfully, we won’t have to be using alpha-numberic codes to identify our fantasy teams and players heading into the future.

A spokesperson for the players union responded with the old tried and true, “We’re looking at our options at this time,†and MLB had “no comment.†Someone enlighten me here, because I just can’t see a whole lot of options. Give it up guys, it’s over and done and leave us fantasy fans to the game we love. C.B.C. Distribution and Marketing Inc., which originally launched this suit, has a free-speech right to use the names and performance statistics of professional athletes, as both a federal judge and then a U.S. appeals court in St. Louis had determined in earlier judgments.

Maybe it’s just about time that the game recognized the value of the fantasy player in the grand scheme of things. An article by RotoRob back in August 2006 more than summarizes my feelings on this topic. Have we not gone to games, bought the apparel, and stuck by a sport/industry that has endured more than its fair share of recent problems?

We talk the talk and walk the walk, and maybe, just maybe, the “Business of Baseball†can now without recourse allow the “Fantasy Fans†of baseball to enjoy the game that we hold so near and dear.

June 3rd, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, Fantasy Leagues, Misc., Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 1 Comment

Dan Wheeler, Tampa Bay, RP: Did anyone actually believe that Troy Percival could make it through the 2008 season without at least one trip to the DL? A left hamstring strain on May 28 leaves us with Wheeler being the newest addition to the closer ranks. Wheeler, with 20 saves over the past two seasons, should be first in line for saves in Tampa until Percival returns. For those looking at short-term saves, Wheeler is a must add at this time.

Gregor Blanco, Atlanta, OF: With the injury to Matt Diaz, it looks like Blanco has secured at least four-to-six weeks of playing time in left field for the Braves. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter should provide both a decent average and speed. Blanco stole 23 bases at Triple-A Richmond in 2007 and is a solid acquisition in NL-only leagues at this time.

Jorge Campillo, Atlanta, SP/RP: This former Mariner has been nothing short of outstanding for the Braves in 2008. Since his promotion from the bullpen, Campillo has now gone three starts without allowing a free pass. In 15 innings in a starting capacity, he has allowed only nine hits and has struck out 16. Campillo has been battling blister problems and is on a limited pitch count, but he’s definitely got the job done so far, making him a solid option in NL-only and deep mixed formats.

Russell Branyan, Milwaukee, 3B: The struggles of Bill Hall have forced the Brewers into a platoon situation for now at third base. Enter into the picture a perfect mate for Hall in none other than Branyan. The Brewers purchased his contract from Triple-A Nashville on May 25 and he has already managed to go deep twice in his first six games. Don’t be misled by those strong Triple-A numbers; at 32, Branyan hasn’t figured out how to hit major league southpaws and there is no reason to believe he is going to suddenly get it. At the same time, in a platoon role, Branyan could be an asset in very deep mixed leagues at a corner infield slot and a definite asset for those playing in NL-only formats.

Chad Tracy, Arizona, 1B/3B: Activated off the DL this past week, it looks like Tracy is fully recovered from the microfracture surgery he underwent last fall. It would appear that Tracy will garner most of his playing time between first and third base at this time, but the injury to Eric Byrnes could provide some additional at bats for him left field, especially with Chris Burke struggling. Are the Diamondbacks going to turn Tracy into a super sub? As recently as 2005, Tracy has played in the outfield, so it certainly shouldn’t be ruled out at this time. For someone currently owned by only 8 per cent of teams in CBS leagues, Tracy is a must own in NL-only leagues and on the radar in deeper mixed formats.

Randy Winn, San Francisco, OF: Very quietly, Winn is putting together a very solid 2008 season. In the past week alone, he is batting a solid .310 with two homers and two steals. With ten steals already, Winn is on pace to have his best stolen base season since 2004. In most formats, he is still out there on waivers and if you’re in need of a nice power-speed mix, he’s a must own in NL-only leagues and a solid asset in deeper mixed formats as a fifth outfielder.

Justin Masterson, Boston, SP: The shoulder fatigue that has currently put Daisuke Matsuzaka on the DL has created another opportunity for Masterson to show off his talents. In two spot starts this year, Masterson has allowed only five hits and contributed nine strikeouts. This looks to be a very short-term fix for Boston, but if Masterson can continue to shine, there is no doubt future opportunities will be there. He is a solid option in AL-only leagues at this time and certainly a name that should be filed away for future reference in all formats.

Joey Gathright, Kansas City, OF: Without a doubt, Gathright is about as one-dimensional a player as one can find, but that dimension does happen to represent a category that starts getting harder to find as we pass the one-third mark in the year. The demotion of Billy Butler has opened up an opportunity for increased playing time, and for those looking to fill a void in the stolen base category, Gathright (with 14 already) could very well be the solution.

Alexi Casilla, Minnesota, 2B: Since his promotion from Triple-A, the 23-year-old Casilla has been on fire. He is currently sporting a .340 BA to go along with a couple of homers and stolen bases. There is no doubt that he can run, but the batting average is very unlikely to be maintained. At this time, Casilla is a decent gamble as a short-term injury replacement in mixed formats and a must have in AL-only formats.

Carlos Gonzalez, Oakland, OF: Just because Gonzalez’s promotion has to take a back seat this week to the Jay Bruce show in Cincinnati, doesn’t mean that we should ignore it. Acquired from Arizona in the Dan Haren deal, the 22-year-old Gonzalez has shown moderate power and a decent average at Triple-A Sacramento this year. Like many youngsters, he still strikes out too often, but Gonzalez could be an asset in AL-only leagues and is a must own in deep keeper formats.

Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh, C/OF: Doumit was off to a great start until sidelined with a broken thumb on May 13. Originally thought to be out until the end of June, he could be activated as early as this coming week. If Doumit is available, get the jump on your league mates and acquire him before the obvious rush. The five homers and .350 batting average he’s sporting, along with the flexibility of being able to qualify at both catcher and outfield is definitely reason to jump on this one. Grab him quick before he’s gone.

June 1st, 2008
Categories: BASEBALL, The Wire Troll, Tim McLeod . Author: Tim McLeod . Comments: 4 Comments