The Scoop

By Dalton Del Don

I don’t care if it came against the Giants, Clayton Kershaw’s performance last week was special. A one-hitter with a 13:1 K:BB ratio over seven innings? He just turned 21 less than a month ago! He’s had about as easy of a schedule as possible through two starts, but this is an invaluable keeper league property. Kershaw might not be much of a help in WHIP this season as he continues to battle control problems, but he’ll be extremely tough to hit regardless, and his K/9 rate should rank among the best in all of baseball already.  That curveball is simply unfair.

Plenty of my preseason touts have been misses so far, but Chris Duncan certainly isn’t one of them. Finally healthy, the pitching coach’s son has posted a 1.185 OPS and is now a fixture in the Cards’ outfield, especially with an improved stroke against southpaws. Duncan’s defense is brutal, but this power is for real. As for the rest of the St. Louis OF, don’t expect to see Ryan Ludwick on the bench as much as he has been so far, as he’s quickly proving last year was no fluke. Rick Ankiel, who I still like and should not be sold low right now, looks to be the short-term loser in playing time, as he and Colby Rasmus form a semi-platoon. Just realize Tony La Russa changes his mind quite frequently.

Rumors of Tim Lincecum’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

You can do all the studies in the world and match previous dimensions, but predicting how a new baseball stadium will play is impossible. Just ask the Yankees, who appear to have an absolute bandbox on their hands when their intentions were otherwise. Obviously, it would be foolish to develop a conclusion in such a tiny sample size, but the ball appears to just fly out of right field. I honestly think all Yankees need to be adjusted accordingly. This is good news for my man Robinson Cano. Last season, he hit .151 in April and didn’t hit his first homer until the 14th game of the year. In 2009, he’s batting .388 and already has three long balls with a 5:6 K:BB ratio. A career-year should be in store. As for Chien-Ming Wang, I don’t remember ever seeing a worse start. Ever. He’d have to pitch 46 consecutive scoreless innings just to get his ERA under 4.00.

Entering Sunday, Manny Ramirez was on pace to finish the season with 189 walks. His career-high in that department is 100.

Dan Haren has a 17:3 K:BB ratio over 19 innings with a 1.89 ERA and 0.79 WHIP so far this season. And zero wins to show for it. Again, why are “wins” ever even mentioned when evaluating pitching performance? Haren is getting frustrated and showed up everyone by slamming his helmet in the dugout after he was pinch-hit for during Friday’s loss to the Giants, and frankly, I can’t blame him.

All this “are the Redskins risking their relationship with Jason Campbell” rhetoric really drives me crazy. Who cares if they are? They need to find a better quarterback.

After Brad Lidge blew his first save since 2007 on Saturday, surprisingly, Philly fans gave him a standing ovation as he walked off the field. Lidge hasn’t looked right all year, but it’s been mostly a location problem, as the K rate remains strong. Expect him to get it turned around shortly.

Stephen Strasburg update: During his last start, he struck out 14, walked one and tossed a complete game shutout. He also threw more than 120 pitches, which seems unnecessary. It’s been a long time since there’s been such an obvious No. 1 overall pick.

Finally got around to watching “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” and thought it was terrible. It’s safe to say Kevin Smith’s fastball isn’t ever coming back.

During Rich Harden’s three-inning start Wednesday, he recorded zero outs on balls in play – this hasn’t happened ever in the last 50 years.

Derrick Rose is easily a top-10 commodity in the NBA – hands down…As someone who lives close to Sacramento, I pray the Kings get the No. 2 pick in the draft and take Ricky Rubio. This kid could literally save the franchise…Do you realize Jose Calderon shot 98.1 percent from the free throw line this season?!

Freddy Sanchez eventually flied out during a whopping 17-pitch at-bat against Chris Sampson on Thursday.

I think using “percentage owned” as a tool for writers suggesting whom to pick up is fairly ridiculous and pointless. The numbers are simply non-reflective of any league I’ve ever participated in.

Remember when those who argued against Joba Chamberlain being a starter suggested an eighth inning setup man would be harder to find than a starter? And how “bridging the gap to Marion Rivera” was key? Yeah, that guy was so hard to find, he was already on the team! Brian Bruney has a 2.57 ERA and a 0.428 WHIP with a dominant 12:2 K:BB ratio over 7 innings. And this hardly came out of nowhere, as he posted a 1.83 ERA and 0.99 WHIP last season. Bruney has the stuff to last as a legitimate setup guy, even on a World Series contender. The argument of whether Chamberlain belongs in the rotation should have nothing to do with which role is more important (anyone with a brain should realize 180 innings is more valuable than 70) but whether if Chamberlain is capable of holding up as a starter or not. And finding out if he is has always been the smart strategy.

During August last season, Paul Konerko posted a 1.074 OPS with a 10:19 K:BB ratio. In September, he clobbered nine homers with a .649 slugging percentage. He then hit .364 with four homers during an impressive spring training. Konerko has followed that up by batting .341 with three homers, 11 RBI and a 4:4 K:BB ratio so far this season. It’s safe to say the 33-year-old isn’t quite washed up just yet, and last year’s brutal first half had more to do with injuries than anything else.

Matt Holliday owners sure are hoping his sluggish start is just that and not a bigger sign of life after Coors. There are plenty of stars struggling at the plate (read: Braun, Ryan), but Holliday entered the year with more questions than any other typical second round pick. It could be adjusting to the new league, as his strikeouts are way up. But obviously the ballpark switch is the biggest concern, and zero home runs so far isn’t too comforting. In fact, the A’s as a team have hit a total of just three long balls over their first 12 games. Even the Giants have twice as many, for crying out loud.


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24 responses to “The Scoop”

  1. Real Baseball Intelligence Avatar

    Real Baseball Intelligence (RBI), a leading resource in the evaluation of amateur baseball talent and draft coverage, has ranked Stephen Strasburg the #3 prospect in the 2009 MLB Draft. View his free scouting report (with video) at withthefirstpick.net/stephen-strasburg

  2. matt Avatar
    matt

    I drafted Holliday over Markakis per your rankings. FML.
    But I did grab Kemp!

  3. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Well it’s still early for Holliday, but as for my rankings, I’d be pretty surprised if many lists had Holliday LOWER than I did….Kemp is blowing up.

  4. matt Avatar
    matt

    Your list helped me out through the first 50. I was managing too many basketball teams this season and it effected my preparation for baseball.

    I want to believe there were worse selections than Holliday at No. 30.

    Also: What are your thoughts on these guys – Ricky Romero, Tommy Hansen if and when he gets called up and Morales of Colorado?

    Finally, any success this season in basketball? Let’s hear some stories.

  5. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I wasn’t taking R. Romero too seriously, but after another nice game today, he at least needs to be monitored. Pick him up in deep leagues, but I’d probably still take a wait and see approach in most formats. Same with Franklin Morales.

    As for Tommy Hanson, he was drafted and held onto in every league I was in this year, and for good reason. He def. needs to be owned. He will probably be somewhat inconsistent like most rookies, but he is legit. His time should come soon with Glavine looking done.

    In my main basketball league, I was in second place for 99.9% of the year, and then, on the second to last day of the season, I moved into first and held on to win by one point. Good times.

  6. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    I have no patience, and very tight rosters. I dropped C young for Duncan 2 days ago.

  7. The Jewru Avatar
    The Jewru

    I was successfully able to avoid watching every Knick game this season.

    Love the Campbell comments. lol Hey Jason “Piss off”.

    Not just because I own them in the Scoop league, but having Dodger pitchers in especially valuable this year. I don’t ever, and I mean ever remember a division with less fearsome lineups. Billinglsey will certainly challenge Tiny Tim for the Strikeout title.

    Dalton, Any chance we can get a mock NFL draft from you at least for the first round. After your Oscar near sweep, lets see if you can match that.

  8. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Dodgers are going to run away with the division.

    I could maybe throw a mock draft together. Not sure if I could go a whole round deep. I did top-10 last year I think, and it’s a pretty hard thing to do. I dominated the Oscars this year!

  9. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    And I don’t fault you for that move Trump, as long as you aren’t in a SB crunch.

  10. Geraldo Avatar
    Geraldo

    Any deep sleepers on hitters right now? I’m talking Dexter Fowler deep at a minimum…

  11. Keith Avatar
    Keith

    I was smart enough to draft Duncan in the ‘scoop league, but dumb enough to drop him when he wasn’t getting the PT. Damn.

    The A’s offensive struggles have been disturbing. No HR’s for Holliday or Giambi…ugh. Cust looks good, and the pitching has been solid; not what I expected.

  12. Nat Avatar
    Nat

    Quick Poll: Davies, Zimmermann, Morales, or Romero?

    I really need to get mlb.tv.

  13. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Geraldo – I’ll try to come up with some deep sleepers. Does Ian Stewart count? I still think Jarrd Salty will turn it around. And what about stashing Julio Lugo?

  14. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Keith – Ya the A’s have been the opposite of expected. That young staff will be good.

  15. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Nat – I say Zimmermann, but Davies is making me a believer and real close. He might even be safer since he’s already gone through the rookie struggles.

  16. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    But if Romero does it again, he needs to be grabbed.

  17. Donald Trump Avatar
    Donald Trump

    What are your thoughts about Orlando Hudson reaping the Manny effect and posting a career year? Would he get a meaningful jump if you were to redo your 2b rankings? I have gone from Jose Lopez to Kelly Johnson and am considering another move, but am not sure it is a meaningful difference.

  18. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I would not move O-Dog all that much up my rankings based on his start. I’ve always liked him, but he’s a better real life player than fantasy one. He can certainly be valuable, but his power/speed is somewhat limited. Think 15/15 as his ceiling. Although you do make a good point about how Manny should help him. He’s also quite injury prone. He’s good, but I’d still prefer Kelly Johnson.

  19. Eddie Avatar

    With this hoopla surrounding the new Yankees bandbox, how close in value would you see Johnny Damon coming to Nate McLouth? I got offered Damon and Sabathia for McLouth and James Shields and I wonder if Damon can feasibly hit 25 homers into the right field jetstream.

  20. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Now that’s a close call. Obviously, if Yankee Stadium does continue to play like this and help Damon, it would also hurt CC. Man, I don’t feel strongly either way here – I like McLouth more than Damon, yet CC more than Shields, yet both Damon and Shields are sneaky good values themselves. I think McLouth is for real, and Damon might be a bit riskier with his age, but I think I might accept this deal. Real tough call though.

  21. matt Avatar
    matt

    Is it time to pick up LaRoche? He’s 3-for-3 today against Nolasco and my only first baseman is Carlos Pena (H2H league).

    Thanks.

  22. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Depends on whom you’d drop. For instance, def. don’t drop Pena for LaRoche. But if you have an expendable guy, sure, LaRoche is worth adding. He’s having the best April of his career.

  23. matt Avatar
    matt

    He’d be a backup or my utility guy. Duncan and Teahen are out there as well.

    I have a glut of so-so pitchers and my offense has no bench players. Fowler’s my utility guy.

    Well, here it is. Don’t laugh. 16-team.

    J. Baker
    Pena
    Hudson
    Reyes
    Chipper
    Kemp, Holliday, Ellsbury
    Fowler

    SP – Shields, Joba, Wainwright, A. Sanchez, Romero, Hansen, Smoltz, E. Santana, Escobar and Masterson (stream).
    RP – Capps, Franciso and Motte

  24. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Seems solid to me, especially for a 16-team league. I would say pick up Duncan, but I’m not sure who I’d say to drop instead.

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