By Dalton Del Don
Facing a Rockies team batting .245 on the road this year (third worst in baseball), Homer Bailey allowed a ludicrous 15 hits over 4.2 innings Saturday. He now sports a 39:41 K:BB ratio over 74.1 big league innings. Depending on format, of course, Bailey might be worth cutting bait even in keeper leagues at this point.
Carl Crawford has been one of the bigger disappointments in 2008. A .692 OPS? And if that’s not bad enough, he’s stopped running as well, having not recorded a single steal over his last 15 games. He’s not exactly an ideal No. 3 hitter for a team fighting for the playoffs, which is where Tampa Bay is currently batting him.
We’ll give Fausto Carmona a break since Saturday’s shelling came during his first start since May 23, but what happened to the pitcher he was last season? He’s struck out more batters than he’s walked in just two of his 11 starts this year, leaving him with an ugly 24:41 K:BB ratio. Things certainly haven’t gone as planned in Cleveland this season, but I do applaud them acquiring Anthony Reyes for peanuts.
Troy Tulowitzki has been downright awful this year, but he could be a difference maker from here on out. Still available in some shallow leagues, it’s easy to forget just how good Tulowitzki was last season, and he still has Coors Field to his advantage. Over the six games since coming off his most recent trip on the DL, Tulowitzki is 13-for-26, so a move up in the lineup should follow.
Robinson Cano is officially a second half player. Like clockwork, as soon as the All-Star beak ended, Cano is batting .514 (18-for-35) and has multiple hits in seven of eight games. He also has two homers with 10 RBI. This after he hit .365 during the second half of 2006 and .343 post All-Star break in 2007. Maybe there’s nothing to this sample size, and it’s never advisable to time the market, but Cano is certainly someone I’d want on my team from here on out.
As if the B.J. Ryan fiasco wasn’t bad enough, now there’s word Dustin McGowan has been pitching with an undisclosed damaged shoulder all season long. At least it gives reason for McGowan’s disappointing 2008, but this is the latest example of how some underlying cause can contribute to struggles. That and the Blue Jays cannot be trusted. Ever.
The Dodgers’ latest trade is another example of them just not getting it. Casey Blake isn’t horrible or anything, but I doubt he’s a big upgrade over Andy LaRoche, and he’ll be a liability on defense, also having to learn a whole new set of pitchers. Jonathan Meloan has had a poor 2008, but he’s been transitioned to starter in a tough environment for pitchers and entered 2008 as one of the league’s best relief prospects. If he can cut down the walks, he’s a future closer. Carlos Santana is a 22-year-old catcher currently sporting a .994 OPS in High-A. Plus, he’s not bad on the guitar. Bring back Paul DePodesta.
Although Jose Tabata has a bunch of potential, I don’t have a problem with the Yankees’ recent trade, especially since Tabata has been such a discontent. Marte’s proven he can pitch in the AL before, and despite its terrific success, New York’s pen did need a lefty. Xavier Nady isn’t a difference maker, but he’ll be an upgrade over Brett Gardner, so this deal did fill two needs without giving up a major piece. The Pirates certainly came down from their original asking price.
All this talk about Francisco Rodriguez being the AL’s Cy Young is an absolute joke. What does opportunity have to do with performance? Forget the fact Cliff Lee has been way more valuable, since he’s thrown 95.1 innings more and all, but even looking at relievers in the American League, Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon have all outpitched Rodriguez this season, and it’s really not all that close.
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