The Scoop

By Dalton Del Don

After tearing the cover off the ball during spring training, it’s safe to say Lastings Milledge hasn’t lived up to the hype so far this season. However, that’s changed recently, as he has two homers and five steals over the past eight games. He’s also improved his contact rate (.81), so there are some signs of progress. Still, he’s been a pretty big liability for the Nationals thus far.

It’s probably not a coincidence Aaron Harang’s worst start of the year on Thursday came just four days after he pitched four innings of relief. His velocity was way down, but hopefully this was just a short-term thing.

I’m more Dr. Van Nostrand than I am James Andrews, but Ryan Church’s prognosis doesn’t sound too good to me.

Despite his affinity of the long ball, I’m starting to like Kevin Slowey more and more. He’s still likely to remain homer-prone, but with excellent command, they are often solo shots, so he should have a strong WHIP regardless. His stuff isn’t overpowering, but his minor league track record is impressive, and remember, he posted a ridiculous 28:2 K:BB ratio last September.

Nice to see Fernando Tatis back in the league. This is the guy who once hit two grand slams in one game. In the same inning! Off the same pitcher!

If health weren’t such an issue, I’d treat Scott Kazmir as a top-5 starter. He’s such an injury risk, I won’t go overboard recommending him, but health is the only thing standing in his way of becoming a monster fantasy pitcher. After the All-Star break last season, he posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a ridiculous 124 strikeouts over 94.1 innings. Even with subpar control (10 walks in 30 innings), Kazmir has a 0.97 WHIP so far in 2008. He’s pretty much unhittable.

There might be some awkward times ahead in Arizona if Doug Davis and Max Scherzer continue to pitch like they are supposed to.

For everyone using the absolutely ridiculous argument that Joba Chamberlain should stay in the bullpen because Kyle Farnsworth sucks, may I ask, what’s wrong with Edwar Ramirez in a setup role? His ERA was terrible during 21 major league innings last year, but that came with 31 strikeouts, and he’s been dominant in 2008. In 190.2 minor league innings during his career, he has 237 strikeouts, a 2.83 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Sure, he’s not a fireballer, but his changeup is filthy.

Speaking of Joba Chamberlain, where would you rank him as a starter right now? I’m personally pretty high on him, but it’s not going to be easy developing a third pitch (a changeup) in the majors.

With his previous lack of strikeouts, it appeared Jose Contreras’ bounce back year was largely due to luck and his low BABIP. However, after racking up 10 Ks during his last start, he now has a 14:0 K:BB ratio over the past two outings. He’s obviously going to regress from his current 3.06 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, but it looks like his career isn’t finished after all. And to think, he might be 50 years old for all we know.


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18 responses to “The Scoop”

  1. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    First of all, how can Mariah be hotter than she was 15 years ago. God bless.

    Secondly, Kevin Slowey or Jose Campillo?

  2. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Slowey.

  3. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Campillo strikes me as someone who will struggle when going through the league as a starter the second time through, but his K:BB ratio is fantastic, and he’d hardly be the first Braves pitcher to come out of nowhere and succeed.

  4. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    I hate having to juggle scrub pitchers. At least I am over Dcab and Ejack.

  5. TheBestFantasyPlayer Avatar
    TheBestFantasyPlayer

    Thanks for telling us that Kazmir is good…LOL…we are all waiting on your go ahead to tell us hes a top 5 pitcher before we try and acquire him in our leagues…Kazmir is good??? wow thats news to us

  6. Captain Obvious Avatar
    Captain Obvious

    Joba already has a third pitch. It’s a nasty curveball. He also throws a 2 seamer from time to time. So technically the change up will be his fifth pitch. He was only ALLOWED to throw the slider and fastball last year out of the pen, though he unleashed a nasty curve against the Indians in the playoffs at one point, which is why you may be mistaken.

  7. TheBestFantasyPlayer Avatar
    TheBestFantasyPlayer

    Captain Obvious Says:

    May 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
    Joba already has a third pitch. It’s a nasty curveball. He also throws a 2 seamer from time to time. So technically the change up will be his fifth pitch. He was only ALLOWED to throw the slider and fastball last year out of the pen, though he unleashed a nasty curve against the Indians in the playoffs at one point, which is why you may be mistaken.

    ROTOSCOOP MISTAKEN??? NOOOO…LOL…OF COURSE HE IS MISTAKEN…EVERYTIME HE WRITES SOMETHING MORE RIDICULOUS COMES OUT…

    CAMPILLO WAS TERRIBLE IN THE MINORS..CANT PITCH MORE THEN 5 INNINGS..AND NEVER WAS A BIG PROSPECT..HE WONT EVEN MAKE IT THRU THE SEASON IN THE ROTATION

    MARIAH IS NOTHING SPECIAL…

    THEBESTFANTASYPLAYER IS SOMETHING SPECIAL..

  8. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Captain Obvious – It’s true Joba can throw a curveball, but he throws a fastball or a slider more than 90 percent of the time. This is from MLB.com:

    “Chamberlain didn’t need to last year, when he believes he compiled an 0.38 ERA down the stretch using 98 percent fastballs and sliders. To the best of his recollection, Chamberlain threw only four curveballs and three changeups in regular-season duty, and one of those changeups was by accident.”

    Now, he’s been mixing in tertiary pitches more this season in order to prepare to start, but he’s got plenty of work to do before they are effective. And don’t get me wrong – I’m very high on the guy.

  9. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    FantasyPlayer – Looks like I’m going to have to just start deleting your comments. I’m all for people disagreeing with me – love some healthy debate, but it would be far too time consuming responding to all of your misinformed comments that are mainly an attempt to antagonize.

    I’m not big on Campillo at all – but he did have a 3.10 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 2.9:1 K:BB ratio over 264 minor league innings – not exactly “terrible.”

    My favorite part about you is when you keep bringing up Sidney Ponson, when I made a comment below that article insinuating anyone would have to be a moron if they didn’t catch that joke. There’s irony there.

    And I’m not trying to be a dick, I’m really not. I always welcome differing opinions. But seriously, you’re just not worth the time or energy. So if you think my site is terrible, by all means, I encourage you to stop reading and move on to other sites. In fact, I implore you to. Later bro – I wish you all the best.

  10. Todd Avatar
    Todd

    Amen!

  11. The Jewru Avatar
    The Jewru

    As a diehard Mets fan. I know in my gut that one day Kazmir will be the best pitcher in the league. Thats how things work in Mets Land. lol

    My friend told me that DBack fans were booing Davis last time out. That is harsh. I have a feeling Scherzer will be in the DBacks rotation come playoff time. Damn that team is strong.

  12. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    It is hilarious that the dumbass posting under bestfantasyplayer is the same dumbass who thought you were serious about ponson. That IS ironic.
    My guess is that this is some 13 year old kid who just started reading blogs and is amazed at how he is allowed to actually make posts.

  13. Tyler Durden Avatar
    Tyler Durden

    12-year old. You give him too much credit.

  14. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    I’m pretty high on Joba as a starter, too. Even if he doesn’t live up to expectations, he could be the Yankees’ #2 starter overnight. But here’s an unexpected rub: how much run support will he get? Hmm.. and how much will he need?

  15. randy Avatar
    randy

    hi, would you trade johan santanna in a keeper league, my gut says yes, but for what——–or do i just sit———-also same feeling on pat burrell——thanks randy

  16. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Peter – I fully expect Joba to be their No. 2 starter before long. And I also expect that offense to get going. It’s too good not to.

  17. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I wouldn’t necessarily be shopping Johan, but I also wouldn’t consider him untouchable either. Remember, he almost always pitches better after the All-Star break. But if you can get a top-10 player in return, I’d probably do so. Did you have anyone in particular in mind?

    Burrell is someone to consider selling-high. The power is for real, but he’s injury prone, typically a .250 hitter and might leave Philadelphia after the season.

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