By Dalton Del Don

It doesn’t get much more impressive than Hiroki Kuroda’s performance Monday night. Facing just 28 batters, Kuroda needed only 91 pitches in the gem. And it’s always more satisfying when that first hit is legit, which Mark Teixeira’s certainly was. Kuroda was facing a Braves team that had flown across the country after waiting through a 1-hour, 50-minute rain delay in a 17-inning victory over Houston on Sunday, but nothing should be taken away from Kuroda, who has two complete game shutouts (17:0 K:BB ratio) in two of his last four starts.

Jacoby Ellsbury has really slowed down, stealing just one base over the past 18 games and having been caught on each of his past three attempts. He’s going to be an extremely valuable fantasy commodity for years to come, but he’s also not exactly a superstar in real baseball. Outside of hitter-friendly Fenway Park, his line sits at .243/.302/.324 on the year.

Speaking of speedy outfielders playing for big markets, Brett Gardner is a must add (and it’s probably too late) for any team looking for help in the stolen base department. With Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui sidelined, there should be plenty of opportunity for the rookie who had racked up 34 SBs in 282 Triple-A at-bats this season. As a 22-year-old, he swiped 58 bases and has a career success rate of 83 percent in the minors. As someone who can take a walk, Gardner could even outplay the disappointing Melky Cabrera.

I’m not sure who looks more pathetic at the plate right now, Wily Mo Pena or Andruw Jones, but either way, it’s ugly.

Not that this is a new fad, but was there a rule passed without my knowledge disallowing the words “Brett” or “Favre” ever to be uttered separately? Speaking of whom, has anyone heard anything about what he’s been up to these days during his retirement?

Since 2003, no major league outfielder has more RBI than Carlos Lee.

After watching Miguel Cabrera this year and J.D. Drew over the last two, I’m more convinced than ever that the impact on hitters switching leagues cannot be underestimated. It’s a definite issue in the short-term.

J.R. Towles needs to be reconsidered now back with Houston. His ceiling won’t be too high if he continues to bat eighth in the lineup, but he did post a .954 OPS with five homers and three steals in 61 at-bats after getting sent down to Triple-A. Sure, his first stint in Houston was dreadful, but since he plays catcher, the pickings are thin, and Towles offers unique HR/SB potential.

Making sense of the Rich Harden deal: I trust Billy Beane fully, but I’m surprised he couldn’t get a bigger prospect in return, instead going with the quantity over quality route. Not to say there’s no quality in return, as the three major properties in the deal have all failed to live up to expectations in no small part because the Cubs have mishandled them. Matt Murton had a .977 OPS in Triple-A last year and possesses very good plate discipline. However, the power has disappeared this year, and it’s unclear how the A’s will use him. One thing’s for sure, it will be an improvement on how Chicago did. Eric Patterson has good speed with some pop, and his .875 OPS in Triple-A this season could translate into an adequate regular, especially if moved to the infield. Sean Gallagher is young enough to develop into the key of this deal, and he also might be the most fantasy relevant right away. As for Harden, his value gets an obvious boost with the move to the NL and to a team with a loaded lineup and excellent bullpen. But after looking at the return the A’s got, my guess is Beane thinks Harden’s arm is about to fall off.

An easy schedule has certainly helped, but watching him pitch (a sometimes dangerous way to evaluate), Ricky Nolasco looks simply fantastic. Where did this stuff come from? I recently wrote about him, so I won’t repeat myself, but would it be crazy to currently treat him like a top-25 starter? Or is that a perfectly sane food to eat?

By Dalton Del Don

At worst, Grady Sizemore is a top-10 fantasy player and probably top-5. Since April ended, he has 19 home runs. While he’s not a big asset in batting average, he can take a walk, and his stolen base success rate has been fantastic (87 percent). Few leadoff/speed guys offer his kind of RBI potential, although poor campaigns from Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez will hurt his otherwise fine runs scored total. Sizemore is going to be baseball’s next 40/40 member.

Johnny Cueto has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts, but because he still lacks command, he rarely pitches deep into games and hasn’t been a big help in WHIP. However, there’s reason for optimism, since he’s allowed just one homer over his last four outings. Cueto’s K rate remains elite, and his LIPS ERA suggests he’s pitching much better than his cosmetic stats indicate. There’s some concern Cueto could be shut down early with the Reds out of contention, but he’s the type of player to gamble on who could help win your league for you over the second half of the season.

I cringed when the Angels gave Torii Hunter a $90 million contract this offseason, and the first year of the deal has only solidified that sentiment. Hunter will turn 33 years old in two weeks, and he sports a career OBP of .324 – and that’s not even factoring in his subpar SB rate. His past production was solid for a Gold Glove centerfielder, but this is a player in decline, both in the field and at the plate. Over the last month, he’s taken one walk.

Grant Balfour was a terrific prospect back in the day for Minnesota before he was ravaged by injuries, so his 2007 has to be looked at as more real than mirage. He still walks far too many batters, but it doesn’t get much better than just six hits allowed over 17.2 innings. Few pitchers can match his velocity, evidenced by his remarkable 14.1 K/9 IP mark.

Manny Ramirez is clearly playing hurt right now. He’s seen his slugging percentage drop from .564 on June 10 all the way down to .495 currently. He has just three extra base hits in what nearly amounts to a month.

I wouldn’t exactly be selling my farm system to acquire Matt Holliday if I’m a contending MLB team right now. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fine player and might have even deserved the MVP award last season, but the fact he calls Coors Field home cannot be underestimated. He has a career .790 OPS on the road with just 38 homers over 1,173 at-bats. His slugging drops from .660 to .450. Holliday has improved his hitting away from home over the past couple of years, and his current .873 OPS on the road is a career-high, but it hardly screams elite player either. Additionally, he’s going to command a huge contract in 2010.

They don’t call him Da Meat Hook for nothing. Check out Dmitri Young’s listed weight.

I’m picking up Sean Marshall if available. It looks like he has a chance at sticking in the Cubs’ rotation, was excellent during his start Sunday and has a 12:2 K:BB ratio over his last two outings. He posted a 4.2:1 K:BB ratio in Triple-A this season with a 1.01 WHIP. Moreover, he gets the Giants next time out.

How good was the Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal Wimbledon final? I’m not typically a big tennis watcher, but that match was nothing short of fantastic and one of the best I’ve ever seen.

After a solid April but a down May, Nick Markakis has really turned it on. He hit .339 in June with more walks than Ks and also has 15 RBI and 17 runs over the past two weeks. Remember, this is someone who hit .325/.389/.550 with 14 HR/61 RBI after the break last season, and he’s improved his OPS by 175 points against lefties this year. Markakis has big potential moving forward. And what’s going on with teammate Aubrey Huff? He’s having one of the bigger surprise seasons of anyone in baseball in 2008.

My thoughts on the C.C. Sabathia to Brewers trade? I’m conflicted you see, as it certainly helps my preseason bet I placed on Milwaukee to win the World Series this year (25/1 odds), but also, I blew all my FAAB in NL-LABR, so some team is about to get a whole lot better. Oh, you meant from a fantasy perspective and not selfishly? Sabathia gets a nice bump moving to the NL and there isn’t a pitcher I’d rather own. Also, pick up Matt LaPorta even in mixed medium sized leagues.

Let’s send you off to an eventful Fourth of July weekend with a batch of links – some abut sports, some not:

Great article on “The Freak,” AKA Tim Lincecum. I especially liked the part where Lincecum’s dad throws Mark Prior under the bus. And apparently Dice-K and Jake Peavy are next. And how is Rick Peterson unemployed right now? But someone needs to tell Tom Verducci (and the general media) win/loss records mean nothing in regards to pitching performance. My favorite part was Lincecum’s reasoning for not icing his arm after games: “Never. Like my dad says, ‘Ice is made for two things: injuries and my drinks.’ ”

Help a bald brother out. And stop cancer.

Nice read about Joe Morgan – player versus broadcaster.

Here’s this week’s RotoWire podcast, featuring yours truly.

Bill Simmons gets plenty of backlash and criticism, including from myself once. But after this brilliant Deadspin piece, it’s become more obvious than ever that ESPN’s editors hold him back quite a bit.

Optical illusion helps create fake speed bumps.

Felix Jones No. 17? Thomas Jones ahead of Michael Turner? Calvin Johnson the 35th WR? It’s safe to say Roger Rotter and I differ in opinion when it comes to fantasy football rankings.

That is one ugly dog.

Kristen Bell, on the other hand, is. not. ugly. Neither. is. Bilson.

When I was seven years old, I too only wanted to do some hood rat stuff with my friends.

This movie trailer has left me speechless.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

By Dalton Del Don

There’s a consensus top-5 that’s already been formed this year, with only the exact order up for debate. Personally, I’d actually welcome the sixth or seventh pick, as I don’t see as big of a drop off from the big five to Marion Barber and Frank Gore as most. It doesn’t get quite as easy after that, however.

With a deep quarterback class and no clear-cut No. 1 TE in a group that’s also rich with sleepers late, taking only running backs and wide receivers over the first five rounds makes more sense than ever this year. The top-15 RBs and top-15 WRs are both extremely strong groups compared to year’s past.

The NFC West looks like one of the weakest divisions in years. This isn’t a race to see who’s the fastest, but rather, who’s the least slowest.

Don’t get me wrong, Julius Jones was nothing short of terrible last season and has a limited ceiling (doesn’t catch passes), but I see him as a very serviceable RB3 who might be a bit undervalued in 2008. Dallas was a potent offense, but run blocking wasn’t one of its strengths, so although Seattle’s offensive line is a unit in decline, that move is lateral at worst. The Seahawks gave him a contract fit for a starter, and although T.J. Duckett is also in town, Mike Holmgren hates using players in specified roles (at the goal line). For all his faults (no vision, can’t break tackles), Jones is OK in short-yardage work, so he could emerge as Seattle’s primary ballcarrier, including at the goal line. Playing in a defensively challenged division with an emerging defense and a lacking WR corps behind him, Jones is in a pretty good position in 2008.

If there’s one team most likely to disappoint this year, it’s the Browns. Playing with expectations for the first time in a long time, and often in front of the national spotlight, Cleveland still doesn’t have a defense. The team also has a pretty rough looking schedule, at least on paper. Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and the O-line are all legit, but Derek Anderson’s huge second half slide last year better not carryover into this season.

Free Pierre Thomas! We’ve already seen what Reggie Bush can do as an every down back, and it isn’t pretty. Bush isn’t a completely worthless NFL player, but he’s clearly best suited in a situational role, as the next properly read hole he hits hard will be his first. Since Deuce McAllister is coming off two more knee surgeries (one of them microfracture), he’s unlikely the answer, so why not Thomas, who showed more during one Week 17 game last year than Bush has during his entire career? Overrating one game would be foolish, but Thomas impressed every time he stepped on the field last year, albeit in an extremely small sample size. Playing in a high-octane offense that has no chance to succeed unless they run the ball far more than they did last season, there’s big time upside here.

I see no reason why Matt Forte isn’t a top 20-25 fantasy back. There’s little to no competition in Chicago, the coaching staff loves him, and he’s a three-down back who’s a highly capable receiver and blocker. The Bears offense shouldn’t be all that good, but the defense could bounce back, and the team added Chris Williams in the draft to improve the offensive line. Did I mention Forte put up 2,403 yards with 23 TDs on a Tulane team that had defenses 100 percent focused on stopping him last year?

Can someone, anyone, please emerge from Houston’s backfield? The passing game should be tremendous, and Gary Kubiak’s system wasn’t too shabby for the ground game when he was in Denver. Unfortunately, no one currently stands out on its roster. Ahman Green’s carcass isn’t the answer. Chris Brown will probably have 1-2 big games before breaking a bone or ligament. Steve Slaton projects better as a change-of-pace type. My deep sleeper is Chris Taylor, but he’ll have to avoid getting cut first.

How the carries will be divvied out between Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams should be one of the bigger stories heading into the season. On one hand, Brown was fantasy football’s best back before getting injured last year, and Williams is 31 years old and has played in just one game since 2005. On the other hand, Brown is coming off a serious knee injury, and Williams’ career mileage isn’t overly excessive because of his love for yoga and the devil’s lettuce. Bill Parcells is also a big believer in committees. Although Brown may not truly be 100 percent until 2009, he’s clearly the better back at this point, so it’s just a matter of how many touches Williams steals.

By Dalton Del Don

After another brilliant performance Sunday, Kevin Slowey has to be considered a major asset in even the shallowest of mixed leagues. His current 3.47 ERA will likely never be better because of his tendency to give up home runs, but his control is outstanding (1.12 BB/9 IP), so most of the long balls are solo shots, leaving him with an exemplary WHIP (1.04). His last four starts have all come against NL teams, which has certainly helped, but his 6:1 K:BB ratio on the year is elite. Teammate Scott Baker has been similarly impressive.

If a fantasy draft were held today, I’d have no problem whatsoever with C.C. Sabathia being the first pitcher taken. How about a 36:4 K:BB ratio over the past four starts? On May 3, he had a 7.51 ERA – 10 starts later that number is all the way down to 3.78. Sabathia gave up six more runs over the first 18 innings this season than he’s allowed during 96.1 innings since. Last season’s big workload is still a concern, but there’s certainly nothing to worry about the way Sabathia is currently throwing.

There’s not much to like about Pedro Martinez’s 7.12 ERA and 1.75 WHIP, but consider his last three starts came against the Rangers, Rockies (in Coors Field) and Yankees, so I’m not ready to write him off just yet.

It’s safe to say Billy Beane is kicking himself for not dealing Joe Blanton during the offseason. After getting pounded by the Giants on Sunday, Blanton’s ERA is now an ugly 4.97. His BABIP is similar to last season, but he’s walking more batters while striking fewer out. His true skill level is probably somewhere in between last year and this year.

Even though I own him in zero leagues, I hated to see Jacob McGee go down. The Rays are still in place for a big run this decade, but that was a major blow.

Over his last four starts, Rocky Nolasco has posted a 27:4 K:BB ratio with a 0.91 WHIP, so he can no longer be ignored. His BABIP and strand rate aren’t flukish, and last year’s awful campaign can be directly related to injury. The former fourth round pick once posted a 2.95 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with a 9.63 K/9 IP mark in Double-A as a 22-year-old, so this isn’t coming completely out of nowhere. Nolasco has also increased his velocity this year. With three upcoming starts against the Nationals, Padres and Dodgers before the All-Star break, he needs to be owned in fantasy leagues.

Gil Meche endured a rough April, but he has a 1.13 WHIP with a 3.1:1 K:BB ratio since then. His terrible first month is still bringing down his overall numbers, but a 7.8 K/9 IP mark over the last two months suggests he’s well worth owning. Contracts like Barry Zito’s and Carlos Silva’s are going to look far worse than the one Meche signed.

So far, my preseason advice to avoid Javier Vazquez at all costs has looked good. He hasn’t allowed fewer than four runs in any of his starts during the month of June. Like the rest of his career (other than last year’s aberration), his fantastic K rate and K:BB ratio don’t match up to his ERA. Vazquez has been unlucky (.345 BABIP), so expect his WHIP to drop, but he still allows too many homers and struggles from the stretch to be a help in the ERA department. And in all fairness, I was also high on Brett Myers entering the year.

Hopefully David DeJesus’ recent rib injury isn’t too bad, because he’s been a nice surprise in 2008, thanks in no small part to a major league leading .463 batting average with runners in scoring position. Don’t mess with the DeJesus.

By Dalton Del Don

Shane Victorino has eight steals over the past eight games and a vastly improving approach at the plate this year (27:27 K:BB ratio). Despite a stint on the disabled list, he’s still on pace to surpass 100 runs scored. And although Victorino has increased both his line-drive and flyball percentages from last year, his slugging has dropped sharply, so look for more extra base hits from here on out.

Despite the lowest K rate and highest walk rate of his career, Francisco Rodriguez has already racked up 31 saves this season, putting him on pace to shatter the major league record. A .233 BABIP and .825 strand rate are big reasons why, as are the copious amount of opportunities. Unless he starts pitching better, Rodriguez’s ratios will rise, but that doesn’t mean he still won’t be elite. It looks like his early season injury worries can be put to bed.

I’m beginning to think this Evan Longoria kid can play some ball. Sure, he strikes out far too often, but with 14 homers in just 245 at-bats, he possesses legit power. And this is all with a .169/.282/.373 line against left-handers.

Kevin Kouzmanoff has been hit by a pitch (10) almost as many times as he’s walked (11) this season.

With an eight-inning, three baserunner, 11 K masterpiece Thursday, Rich Harden continues to tantalize. Even at just 95 pitches, the A’s smartly pulled him, since this is the first time in three years he’s been able to make nine consecutive starts. His 11.2 K 9/IP mark is eye-popping. With Justin Duchscherer also leading the AL in ERA, the A’s have two talented yet extremely injury-prone starters at the front of their rotation. The team ranks second in defensive efficiency, which certainly doesn’t hurt.

With the trade of T.J. Ford, how high do you take Jose Calderon in fantasy drafts next season? He doesn’t score a ton, but few, if any, point guards shoot with such proficiency. Also, no one will turn the ball over less while racking up so many assists. Early third round doesn’t seem too high to me.

Christian Guzman currently leads major league baseball in hits for the 2008 season. I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve got to give a shout out to the Fresno St. Bulldogs, winners of the college baseball world series. The Cinderella run was the equivalent of a 13-seed winning March Madness. In fact, they were the lowest seeded team ever to win an NCAA title. I don’t call it Fresno, I call it Fresyes.

I’m positively dumbfounded by Willie Parker’s current ADP of 30. Even while leading the league in rushing, he wasn’t all that valuable as a fantasy back last year and now has to deal with a more complete runner in Rashard Mendenhall. Since Parker doesn’t catch the ball or get short yardage work, I see no upside, even if Pittsburgh is a good team that is run-heavy. Parker’s 4.1 YPC last season was a problem, and that was before he shattered his fibula. I’d take Darren McFadden (ADP: 47) ahead of him eight days a week.

Brandon Marshall and Ahmad Bradshaw are two of my favorites targets this season. Unfortunately, it’s tough to rack up fantasy points while incarcerated. Get your acts together, fellas!

I’m avoiding Marvin Harrison like the plague this year. The Colts remain a fantastic situation to be in, but this is someone still not practicing after coming off two very serious knee injuries, including the worst “bruise” in the history of bruises. But most concerning of all is that Harrison will enter the season as a 36-year-old. I’d prefer Anthony Gonzalez to him.

By Dalton Del Don

Taking a small break from baseball, I thought now is as good of time as any to compile some (very) preliminary fantasy football rankings. Plenty will change between now and late August, but really, is it ever too early to discuss some football? And before we get started, let me take a moment to recommend purchasing the RotoWire Fantasy Football Magazine, where you can get more than 12,500 words on my running backs section. Although editor Chris Liss botched a few of my rankings with rearrangement, it’s still a good read, if for no other reason than to justify the ridiculous amount of time it took. Hope none of you thought I was above shameless self-promotion. Seriously, Chris does a very good job with the wide receivers, and Mike Salfino is equally impressive with the QB section. I’d probably recommend it regardless based on my involvement, but in this case, I truly believe in the product. And now, onto the rankings – first up is quarterbacks.

1. Tom Brady – Repeat after me: do not take a quarterback in the first round. Last year’s second half stats (7.6 YPA, 20 TDs) is a much better barometer for 2008’s expectations than his first half (9.1 YPA, 30 TDs). That’s still very good.

2. Peyton Manning – There’s probably around a 45 percent chance Manning outscores Brady this year. The consistency is great, but again, let someone else use a high pick on him.

3. Tony Romo - Terrell Owens’ age is concerning, as is Dallas’ improving defense. Still, the offense is a force, and Romo is the real deal.

4. Carson Palmer – Palmer had the worst season since his rookie year in 2007, so he’ll come cheaper. With a bad defense and questionable running game, there’s plenty of potential for a nice campaign from Palmer.

5. Drew Brees – Brees’ weak 6.8 YPA last year didn’t matter because he attempted a staggering 652 passes. The Saints figure to remain pass-heavy, and he did get 8.0 YPA the year before, so there’s nice upside here. A few more weapons would help.

6. Jay Cutler – He’s going to be a star. Cutler’s solid sophomore year (7.5 YPA) looks even better after the revelation he lost 30 pounds while playing with an undiagnosed case of diabetes. He can run and has a rocket for an arm. One caveat – Brandon Marshall needs to avoid incarceration.

7. Ben Roethlisberger – Roethlisberger is one of the five most valuable players in the league, and Santonio Holmes is developing into a Pro Bowler. However, Pittsburgh’s offensive philosophy hurts. It will be extremely difficult for Roethlisberger to approach last year’s 32 TDs while attempting just 404 passes.

8. Matt Schaub – No one else will rank him this high, so feel free to wait. He and Andre Johnson need to stay healthy, but there’s massive potential here. Last season’s 7.8 YPA is an elite number, and the low accompanying TD total was a fluke. Gary Kubiak has installed a great system in Houston, and the defense is shaky, which could lead to a monstrous 2008.

9. David Garrard – He’d be ranked higher if Jacksonville passed more. Garrard developed into a star at the QB position last year, and he can also run. Jerry Porter could help, but the team isn’t great at WR.

10. Matt Hasselbeck – In Mike Holmgren’s system, Hasselbeck doesn’t necessarily need name-brand receivers at his disposal, but still, this will be his weakest group to work with yet. Moreover, the defense is emerging and the running game can only get better with Shaun Alexander jettisoned. Still, the NFC West is a great place for offense.

11. Derek Anderson – Anderson is in a great spot – Cleveland has a poor defense and terrific receivers. He was fantastic over the first half last year (8.2 YPA), but his play fell dramatically afterward (6.2 YPA, 55.6 completion percentage). Another problem is Brady Quinn breathing down his neck. He’ll get drafted too high.

12. Donovan McNabb – McNabb’s best days are behind him, but one more year removed from knee surgery should help, and hopefully it also leads to a few more rushing stats. Health is always an issue, but improved red-zone play should lead to more touchdowns.

13. Eli Manning – Manning’s always been able to post solid TD totals despite low YPAs, and it remains to be seen if his big step forward in the postseason transfers into 2008. He’s a solid, yet unspectacular option.

14. Jake Delhomme – He’s 33 and coming off major elbow surgery. However, all health reports have been overwhelmingly positive so far, and Delhomme posted an 8:1 TD:INT ratio in the three games before he got injured last year. He also has added weapons on offense. It’s simple, if he and Steve Smith can both stay healthy (a big if), QB1 numbers should follow.

15. Aaron Rodgers – This will take a leap of faith, and Rodgers has been anything but durable so far in his career, but the Packers are loaded at wide receiver and the offensive system remains strong. He’ll be a first time starter, but he’s far from a rookie, and Rodgers can also give you rushing stats. He’s a sleeper to target.

If any of you have XM, my new weekly time slot is Tuesdays at 11 am PST (Channel #144). I think it can also be listened to online as well. Here’s this week’s podcast.

By Dalton Del Don

Hong-Chih Kuo is quietly having one of the best seasons as a reliever in major league baseball. Since April ended, he has a 35:3 K:BB ratio over 27 innings. Versus left-handers, he’s posted a 23:0 K:BB ratio. Kuo’s always had dominant stuff, but health and command issues have held him back. A role in middle relief has seemingly kept him off the DL, and a huge step in the control department has left him with a tidy 1.76 ERA on the year. He has a 10.4 K 9/IP mark for his career.

At 9-2 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, Kyle Lohse is having a fine season. He’s hardly the first guy to move to St. Louis and exceed expectations, but Lohse’s component numbers suggest a major regression is soon in store. A 4.2 K 9/IP mark rarely leads to success, and the same is true with his 1.91:1 K:BB ratio. The Cardinals’ defense really helps, but it’s best to proceed with caution.

Matt Cain has a 6.19 ERA during the first inning of games this season. It’s at 3.96 after that. Over the past three starts, he has a 25:3 K:BB ratio, which is a big deal for someone who typically struggles with command. Cain has lost a few mph off his fastball, but his changeup and curveball have improved, and he has a 1.18 WHIP in May and June. More wins should follow.

Randy Johnson gave up seven earned runs during a complete game Friday. Now that’s not easy to do.

Brett Myers is a human launching pad. After going four starts without allowing a home run, he’s served up eight gopher balls over the past three starts, leaving him with a major league high 23 for the season. Despite inducing more groundballs than flyballs, Myers has allowed a staggering 2.08 HR 9/IP.

Billy Butler now has a .382/.455/.640 line at Triple-A this season. He should be recalled within the week and will be worth adding in all but the shallowest of leagues.

Whatever it means, Edgar Renteria has hit .273 as an American Leaguer versus .293 when playing in the Senior Circuit. His home runs have also dropped from one every 55 ABs to one every 67 ABs. And after Renteria recorded a career-low in SBs in Boston in 2005, he’s on pace to finish with even fewer this season in Detroit. It’s safe to say the Braves got the better end of the Jair Jurrjens deal.

This is an interesting article, and one worth discussing.

In a Sports Illustrated survey of 495 Major League Baseball players in its June 23 issue, Derek Jeter was voted the most overrated player with 10 percent of the vote. I’ve heard numerous members of the media question the sanity of this verdict, but really, it seems about right to me. The main argument is calling him a “winner,” since he’s been a part of four World Series titles. Umm, baseball is about as much of a team sport as there is, and he was consistently on the one with the highest payroll. Don’t get me wrong, Jeter’s one of the best hitting shortstops ever. But he’s also been one of the game’s two-to-three worst fielders at his position over his career, and since he’s now lost most of his power (.712 OPS this year), for someone making $21.6 million, he’s a pretty big liability right now.

I wrote an article for BP advocating punting saves. Check it out.

By Dalton Del Don

Over the last week, I’ve heard at least four pundits state the case that Ryan Dempster is pitching much better at home this season than on the road. Huh? There are people still out there who base a pitcher’s performance off record? And they are given a microphone? Dempster is 8-0 at home and 0-2 on the road in 2008, but he sports a lower ERA (.248 to 2.92), lower WHIP (1.05 to 1.11) and better K:BB ratio (2.4:1 to 2.1:1) when away from home.

J.P. Riccardi’s recent bashing of Adam Dunn was wrong, but his reasoning was much worse. He came off like Joe sports fan stating Dunn is passionless and a “.230 to .240 hitter that strikes out a ton.” It’s almost as if a general manager of a major league baseball team doesn’t understand that on-base and slugging percentage are the two most important metrics when evaluating a player.

Sticking with the media theme, I heard the Reds’ radio announcers recently say they thought Edinson Volquez had pitched well enough to make the All-Star team this season, and “they should find some place for him in the bullpen.” This is the opposite of homersim. As of now, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be the starter. The guy’s ERA is 1.64! The funny thing is his BABIP (.281) isn’t all that fluky. However, his strand rate (.87) is, and although he’s drastically improved his G/F rate (1.38), he’s going to start giving up more homers. Still, his 10.74 K/9 IP mark easily leads all of baseball, so Volquez has been about as dominant as any starter in the league this year.

Last media rant (I promise). You cannot, ever, under any circumstances, “reaggravate” an injury. It’s impossible, since it’s not a word and all.

What in the world has gotten into Jason Giambi? He’s batting .322 since April ended, and he’s already up to 17 homers and 40 RBI with more walks than strikeouts on the year. Giambi’s .979 OPS is fourth best in the American League. Ironically, he’s largely doing so by crushing southpaws (.288/.468/.678). What a surprising resurgence by the 37-year-old.

Russell Branyan isn’t going to continue hitting a homer every 6.2 at-bats, but it’s entirely possible he’s a legit power source over the course of the season. He strikes out far too often to not be a batting average drain, but this is someone who has homered once every 14.7 at-bats versus right-handers during his career, so he’s not unfamiliar with the long ball. Since Branyan’s been recalled, no one in all of baseball has a higher slugging percentage. I would say to shop him around, but I doubt you’d find many eager takers. Just sit back and use him if you need power in a deep or NL-only league.

Is there anyone more worthless than Wily Mo Pena?

Don’t look now, but there’s been a Rocco Baldelli sighting. My favorite whipping boy has two homers with three walks and no Ks during his first two games of action, and it’s looking like there’s a real possibility he contributes this season. Of course, he’ll need to avoid further injury for it to happen, which is a long shot.

“I told him next time he does that I’m going to get my blade out and cut him. I’m a gangster. You go gangster on me, I’m going to have to get you. You do that again, I’m going to cut you right on the field.” - Jerry Manuel…I’m speechless.

How weird is it that the correct term is trade “chits,” not chips? Can someone help me out here?

A.J. Burnett is costing himself millions with his recent implosions. Usually, he’s either effective or hurt, but he’s been healthy (at least ostensibly) and currently sports a 5.42 ERA this season. Since Burnett’s pitching in hopes of getting a big contract at year’s end, it’s possible he’s doing so through some sort injury. Either way, his control has been horrible (4.5 BB/9 IP).

Congratulations to the Celtics, who flat-out whipped an inferior Lakers squad. That series was closer to being a sweep than it was Los Angeles winning. Phil Jackson was asleep at the wheel, Paul Pierce was simply fantastic, especially defensively, and I’m not entirely sure Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol realize the series has started (and ended). If one watched only the postseason, they’d come away thinking LeBron James is clearly better than Kobe Bryant.

By Dalton Del Don

Ryan Howard is currently on pace to strike out an MLB-record 218 times this season. Despite a .224 batting average, he’s also on pace to drive in 140 runs. Howard is hitting .337 with RISP and .170 with the bases empty. He currently has more RBI (62) than hits (60)!

Ryan Doumit is quietly having a fantastic season and is fast becoming one of the game’s best hitting catchers. Finally healthy, he has nine homers with a 1.005 OPS over 136 at-bats this year. Doumit had a 1.210 OPS when he played at Triple-A last year, so this isn’t a complete fluke.

Over his last four starts in the minors, Francisco Liriano has a 2.86 ERA with a 26:6 K:BB ratio. Most importantly, he’s walked more than one batter during just one of his past seven outings, including none in his most recent start. He’s not going to come back and dominate like he did pre-injury, but it looks like Liriano will definitely be an asset soon enough, and his 2009 outlook is looking much brighter.

If you’re a fly on my wall, you’re sick of the new My Morning Jacket album by now.

Ian Kinsler has simply been one of fantasy baseball’s best players in 2008. He’s on pace to finish with a .305 BA, 23 homers, 39 steals, 96 RBI and 135 runs, all while playing second base. And while he’s still hitting much better at home, eight of his 10 homers have come on the road, which is an encouraging sign.

If I own Rich Harden, I’m shopping him aggressively. Maybe turning into a primarily fastball/changeup pitcher will lead to continued health, but he was already complaining of a sore arm after his start last week. While the numbers will be great when he’s on the mound, it’s best to realize just how serious of an injury risk Harden is. And with the A’s well aware of this, he’s also unlikely to go very deep in games.

Chase Headley is a no-brainer pickup, but those who play in deep leagues should also consider Charlie Morton and to a lesser extent, Brandon Jones. And for those with patience, stashing Jaime Garcia might prove to be prudent down the road, especially with the Cardinals’ pitching staff dropping like flies.

Comcast’s TV gun clocked Brian Wilson’s fastball at 103 mph Monday. He’s got a good heater, but I’m guessing that was inaccurate.

Despite flashing his best strikeout rate in four years, Roy Oswalt’s run as a front-line starter appears to be ending. His 3:1 K:BB rate is very good, so his current 5.04 ERA is bound to decrease, but his 1.62 HR/9 IP mark is a big problem. He’s also pitched drastically worse from the stretch, as his career .767 strand rate is down to .700.

Could the Mets have botched the Willie Randolph firing any worse? They waited until he flew across the country because it was Father’s Day on Sunday? Announcing it at 3:12 a.m. EST? It’s clear a change was needed, but why draw it out like this? Pretty questionable handling by Minaya and the Wilpons.

This Javon Walker story has to be one of the most bizarre ever. I mean, where to begin? The thought of Floyd Mayweather (or an entourage member) knocking him unconscious with a potentially life-changing injury after getting into a battle over who can buy more champagne is just insane. Welcome to the world of sports in the 21st Century! Yes, that aspect of it is just a rumor that will probably turn false, but either way, it’s a crazy situation.

Carlos Zambrano or Felix Hernandez?

LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?

Natalie Portman or Rachel Bilson?

Tiger Woods or Roger Federer?

Babe Ruth or Barry Bonds?

Satellite dish or Digital cable?

By Dalton Del Don

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.

By Dalton Del Don

Anyone surprised by Jeremy Bonderman’s season-ending surgery hasn’t been paying attention to him over the past year. Something had clearly not been right with him for a while now. A loss in velocity is a sign of injury, but so is lack of command, which Bonderman struggled with mightily this season.

J.R. Towles is one of the bigger 2008 disappointments. With a .145/.270./.282 line, his demotion to the minors was well warranted. Over 157 at-bats, 31 percent of his career RBI total came in one game.

I was critical of the Aaron Rowand signing at the time and targeted him as a potential fantasy bust, but so far, I’ve been wrong. His defense has slipped some, but he’s still one of the best center fielders in the game. His current .912 OPS is actually more than 20 points better than last year, and he’s downgraded home ballparks drastically. In fact, Rowand’s .393 batting average on the road leads major league baseball. Of course, an injury is probably right around the corner, and he’s already on the wrong side of 30, but he’s certainly not let the big contract slow him down.

What has happened to Rafael Betancourt? His numbers were bound to regress after last season’s remarkable campaign, but a current 7.0 ERA and 1.67 WHIP is a bit extreme. Digging deeper, his 3.1:1 K:BB ratio and 28 Ks over 27 innings suggest he’s not pitching nearly as poorly as the numbers indicate. He’s already given up six homers and walked as many batters this year as he did all last season, so it’s not all bad luck, but his .384 BABIP and .615 strand rate will regress to the mean. He’ll improve, but it’s too bad he couldn’t take advantage of Joe Borowski’s absence.

Mark Ellis doesn’t deserve a .234 average with a 24:27 K:BB ratio. Speaking of ridiculous plate discipline, Joe Mauer is flashing an awesome 15:30 K:BB ratio, so another run at the AL batting crown looks to be in store.

Gavin Floyd is an interesting case study. A former top prospect, his hot start to the season could easily be brushed off as a fluke, as his .211 BABIP, low K rate and 1.61:1 K:BB ratio were far from commensurate to his sparkling ERA and WHIP. But then over his last three starts, he’s started pitching much better, recording a 20:1 K:BB rate over 20 innings. Did the luck breed confidence that led to improved pitching ability? I don’t have the answers, but I remain skeptical.

The baseball season just hasn’t started until Rickie Weeks suffers an injury.

If the Lakers would have won Sunday, that would have been the best comeback I’ve ever witnessed. NBA teams are 3-29 after starting 0-2 in the Finals, but I still see the Lakers winning this series. And the switch to the 2-3-2 format is unconscionable, especially since the travel excuse is such a blatant lie (there were two days off between Games 1 & 2, one day off between Games 2 & 3).

Garrett Atkins has been hitting lefties at a .514/.537/.865 clip this season. That’s a 1.401 OPS if you’re counting at home. Last year, his OPS was 100 points lower (.782) versus southpaws than it was against right-handers. Yes, baseball isn’t all that easy to predict.

After giving up four runs on a whopping 10 hits in Petco Park against possibly the worst offense in baseball Sunday, Pedro Martinez may seem done. However, he had solid velocity, and all 10 hits were singles, so there were some encouraging signs to take out of it. I still think he’ll be an asset in even shallow leagues this year in between injuries.

Bad news regarding Shaun Livingston, who is looking more and more unlikely to ever play NBA basketball again.

Any talk of the Yankees rebuilding is beyond laughable. The Rays and A’s are the only two teams in front of them in the wild card standings, so naturally, they should blow it up and start from scratch. Especially with their payroll. And lineup. Speaking of which, Johnny Damon is having one of the better bounce back seasons no one is talking about. His current .900 OPS is easily a career-high. Also, the window to buy Joba Chamberlain may soon be closing.

Since Aaron Harang pitched four innings of relief on May 25, he’s allowed 16 runs over 15.1 innings. That’s still come with a nice 10:1 K:BB ratio, and he’s certainly pitched better than his 2-9 record suggests, but Harang’s also given up more hits (105) than any pitcher in the National League.

Nothing will ever consume me more than the Scott Peterson trial, since he lived about 15 minutes from where I do right now and was both guilty as sin yet convicted on circumstantial evidence. And with news of a new civil trial – with the prosecutor being my dad’s lawyer (don’t ask), let’s just say I’ll be following this one as well.

The Mets’ handling of Ryan Church is reprehensible. On May 29, I wrote “I’m more Dr. Van Nostrand than I am James Andrews, but Ryan Church’s prognosis doesn’t sound too good to me.” This statement was based purely on quotes from Church. Yet somehow, the Mets decided it would be a good idea to put him out in the field two days later. After suffering two concussions in such a short time span, it was obvious from the beginning he should have immediately landed on the DL. Now, they are more worried about his life in the long-term than baseball. Even Dr. Van Nostrand couldn’t have botched this worse.

I defy you to come up with a player more jacked than Brian Wilson. He’s absolutely swoll.