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.
Leave a Reply