The Scoop

By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer

Can you name the pitcher who’s given up the second most home runs in baseball this season? If you guessed Johan Santana, you’d be correct. He’s served up 22 long balls so far.

If you have a fringe base stealer on your bench, be sure to play him when he’s facing the Padres. Chris Young and Greg Maddux have given up the most thefts of any pitchers in the game this season, with Young allowing a remarkable 28 SBs with zero caught stealing. Jake Peavy also shows up in the bottom 20, so give your players the green light when pitted against San Diego. Young also “leads” the majors in balks with three. Get rid of the bum.

Justin Verlander has put together a fine season, but his 2.6 K:BB ratio isn’t quite as good as it seems. He is worst in the majors with 13 hit batsmen and easily paces the league with 14 wild pitches. Basically, it just shows he still has room to grow. It’s only going to get better.

Erik Bedard’s 11.08 K/9 IP is nearly two full strikeouts better than the second best (Jake Peavy 9.34 K/9 IP). Despite pitching in the AL East and not for the Blue Jays, Yankees or Red Sox, feel free to treat him like a top-5 fantasy pitcher from here on out.

Felix Hernandez is getting killed in BABIP and currently sports an unsightly 1.45 WHIP. However, he’s really starting to improve as a pitcher underneath the cosmetic numbers. His 3.06 ground out/fly out ratio is the second best in the league, behind only Derek Lowe and even ahead of Brandon Webb, both sinkerballers. Now is the time to target the King in keeper-leagues.

Barry Bonds has more problems to worry about other than breaking the sacred home run record.

Chris B. Young’s .281 OBP isn’t helping the Diamondbacks a whole lot, but the already achieved 15/15 certainly has been a boon to your fantasy team. In 20 games during July, he has four homers and seven steals. It would be nice if he could take a walk every now and again, as it’s not easy stealing bases from the dugout. But since he’s only been caught once all season, look for his SBs to continue to climb as his OBP does.

Top-5 TV Comedies of All-Time

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm
2. Seinfeld
3. Da Ali G Show
4. The Office (British)
5. The Office (American)

Top-5 Bands of All-Time

1. Radiohead
2. Nirvana
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Dave Matthews Band (the live in concert version, not recorded)
5. Tool


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25 responses to “The Scoop”

  1. Mr. Tintle Avatar
    Mr. Tintle

    Led Zep were pretty sick, but many of their best songs were covers. No CCR? No Beatles?

  2. butch Avatar
    butch

    Agree about Zep’s “covers” and agree about the lack of Beatles, plus U2 & Rolling Stones

  3. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I’m actually somehow related to a member of CCR through marriage (name drop alert), and I do like them a good amount. Frankly, I should get more into the Beatles.

  4. butch Avatar

    Gotta ask: what’s your take on Olsen?

    Where’s the kid I saw on the mound last year?

  5. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Good question. I thought he was a prime candidate to really breakout this year after such a promising rookie campaign, but he’s only regressed. He literally has the worst BB/9 IP in baseball this year – not good. The stuff is there, so this seems to come down to between his ears – he appears to be a head case. He’s gotten into numerous fights, and obviously this recent taser incident. I think Florida sells him 40 cents on the dollar during the offseason, and hopefully a fresh start helps him reach his potential next year.

    He might be a good post-hype type sleeper next season, but I wouldn’t want to count on him for the remainder of 2007.

  6. butch Avatar
    butch

    Have him in a keeper league. Just hoping he turns it around next year or soon after thtat. I agree about a change of scenery happening & being good for him.

  7. Jeremy Avatar
    Jeremy

    Dave Mathews? Dave Mathews? so what frat did you pledge again?

    on a more serious question. I’m dying for one last hitter in a 12 team league and I can’t get a decent deal for any of my starters. I’m starting to consider giving up Johan for Sheffield. Am I getting too little back. I’ll still have C.C., Beckett, and Guthrie. I’m also way ahead on svs, but can’t get any action on Jenks and therefore trying to deal K-Rod while holding on to Putz and Capps. What’s a decent return on K-Rod?
    I offered K-Rod and Swisher for Tex and got back an offer of Gary F**king Mathews…ughh

  8. Mr. Tintle Avatar
    Mr. Tintle

    No Guns N Roses? No Pearl Jam? STP at least?

  9. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    no Dylan? Seriously?

  10. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Actually no frat for me…I wouldn’t give up Johan for Sheffield alone normally, but if it makes sense for your specific team, it’s not that crazy. I’m a little worried about Guthrie (crazy lucky BABIP right now), so I wouldn’t be completely sold on your pitching (although C.C. and Beckett are studs). What about K-Rod and Guthrie for Sheffield? I like that deal a lot more, and it’s certainly a fair offer coming from your side. Don’t give K-Rod for Gary Matthews, that’s for sure. He should be able to bring a close to top-tier offensive player in return, ala Carlos Lee if Swisher is thrown in as well.

  11. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I’m into GnR, P Jam and STP, but they are tier 2.

    Honestly, I should listen to Dylan more. Same goes for the Beatles.

  12. Mr. Tintle Avatar
    Mr. Tintle

    I guess I’ll have to burn you a copy of the White Album

  13. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    you can add some Stones to that list as well.

  14.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Don’t forget Janis Joplin and Skynard as long as we are turning back the clock

  15. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Def. burn me a copy.

    For sure the Stones.

  16. Jeremy Avatar
    Jeremy

    thanks for the feedback.
    Yeah I’ve offered K-Rod and Guthrie or something similar and he wouldn’t bite for approx. the same reasons you offered above. Its a tough league to trade in, that’s for sure.

  17. Dreamweapon Avatar
    Dreamweapon

    Dave Matthews Band? Tool? This, from a Radiohead fan?

    God good, man, get ye to the record store (it such a thing still exists in your town). Here is a brief list of better acts:

    Spacemen 3
    Pavement
    Guided By Voices
    Pixies
    Flying Saucer Attack
    Galaxie 500
    The Velvet Underground
    The Stooges
    Spiritualized
    Chavez
    Joy Division
    New Order
    The Wedding Present
    The Fall
    Spoon
    Yo La Tengo
    The Verve
    Trail of Dead
    Van Halen (NOT Van Haggar, they sucked)
    Unwound
    Uncle Tupelo
    Wilco
    TV on the Radio
    Soundgarden
    Slowdive
    My Bloody Valentine
    Popol Vuh
    Silver Jews
    Crazy Horse
    My Morning Jacket
    Mountain Goats
    Mogwai
    Explosions in the Sky
    Godspeed You Black Emperor
    Modest Mouse
    M83
    Fugazi
    Lightning Bolt
    Low
    Fugazi
    Killdozer
    The Replacements
    Husker Du
    Guitar Wolf
    Flaming Lips
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    Don Caballero
    The Cure
    Cocteau Twins
    Built to Spill
    British Sea Power
    Air

    and about 10,000 others….. [g]

  18. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I really like TV on the Radio, Soundgarden and Explosions in the Sky, but need to do some listening to catch up to that list.

    I also really like The Shins and Arcade Fire.

    To be really honest, there’s Radiohead…and then everything else. They are on a plain all by themselves.

  19. Mr. Tintle Avatar
    Mr. Tintle

    Wha a li’l cryyyybaby

  20. djpegleg Avatar

    BANDS:
    1) Sly & The Family Stone
    2) Kinks
    3) Pixies
    4) MC5
    5) ‘Mats

    TV COMEDIES:
    1) It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia*
    2) The Larry Sanders Show
    3) Freaks & Geeks
    4) The Office (US)
    5) Cupid

    Losing Utley is a drag, but I got Freel and was thinking about Gotay…what’s your take on the injury/impact? Also, I was thinking about trading Andruw Jones for Juan Pierre, any thoughts?

  21. djpegleg Avatar

    Forgot the footnote:

    * Yes it’s really that funny. Also, honorable mentions to two UK shows; Spaced and Peep Show.

    And Dreamweapon is right, you do need to get yourself into a record store or P2P file sharing network, or at the very least befriend a music geek.

    And, finally, because I can’t quit writing this stupid comment: Switch out the Replacements at #5 and insert either the Wailers or the Booker T & The MGs.

  22. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Haha. Thanks for the comments guys. I may have misrepresented myself with the DMB ranking. Like I said, it’s a concert thing – they are good live. I have a few music geek friends, and do myself listen to indie stuff above all else.

    But. There are definitely options listed above I have not heard, and all recommendations are welcome and appreciated.

    The Larry Sanders Show is toward the very top of my netflix queue. I typically like FX shows, but never watched Always Sunny in Philly. Maybe I’ll have to check that out as well.

    I’m fine with the music criticism, but I wouldn’t stand for such nonsense if someone had beef with the CURB ranking.

  23. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Losing Utley is a killer with so few options on the waiver wire at 2B. I think Freel will pick it up (I’m counting on it). Not only is he not getting on base, but he’s also getting caught stealing at an alarming rate. I think he’ll be worth using moving forward tho. Until his next injury at least.

    I think the Mets will go out and trade for help, but it’s tough to argue against Gotay’s #s so far. He might not be a bad fill-in, but I could see Randolph not using him full-time. Hopefully Utley is only out a month, but it’s a devastating injury to an arguably top-5 fantasy player. He might even be top-3.

    I could see Andruw Jones having a monster 2nd half, but that type of deal comes down to specific team needs. If you need help in the runs scored and SBs cats, then it’s a fine move. But if HRs and RBI are important, don’t do it.

  24. Keith Avatar
    Keith

    The 15 minute instrumentals at DMB shows kinda kill me sometimes. Maybe it’s because I’m not stoned out of my mind. I did get 5th row seats at Shoreline once (basically like Sleep Train, in case you haven’t made it down to Mtn. View), and that was pretty sweet. But just like Phish, I don’t quite understand the obsession with the shows. I can’t help but think the Simpson’s could warrant a spot up there, for mere longevity alone. I haven’t seen that many Curb’s, but I know a ton of people who love it.

    Milton Bradley is tearing it up for the damn Padres. I wish I could say I was surprised.

  25. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Been to Shoreline a million times…Ya, I hear ya about the excessive instrumentals…For some reason I was never into The Simpson’s like most, but that’s obviously a fair argument…You need to check out Curb more…..Don’t worry, Bradley will get hurt within a day or two….

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