Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Timetable: A Bad Word/Meet the New Guys
“The timetable word is a bad word for me right now.” That was Brendan Donnelly speaking to the media postgame over the weekend, according to the team’s website. Indeed, it seems that the timetable word is a bad word all around the Halos’ locker room, not just with Donnelly, who’s still having trouble coming back with his rehab. And let’s face it, if you had your nose broken in 20 spots, would you feel chipper and bright? As far as--and excuse my French here--timetables go, Garret Anderson: none. He’ll be in the pool and on the bike soon, but post All-Star break is the best guess on his return. Erstad: late June. . .maybe. Donnelly: ditto. Glaus: September is the official line, 2005 is the unofficial (and most probable) one. Salmon: maybe next week. Anyone know the number for 911?
Meet the New Guys: Chone Figgins
Let’s take a look at some players who may not be new to the Angels roster but who are knew on the horizon of fantasy players. Figgy is possibly a candidate for a “breakout” player in AL fantasy this year. He’d only played in 86 games heading into this season, but he’s already logged 35 in ’04. A .310 AVG, 22 R, and 10 SB later, everybody wants a piece of CF. Should you? Well, Figgins stands to get everyday PT until at least the All-Star break and possibly the rest of the season if the Halos don’t deal for a 3B. Multi-position eligibility and the likelihood of 30 SB make him very attractive. I would expect the AVG to come down to maybe the .280 range, and his BB total leaves a lot to be desired for his type of play, but if you need everyday speed and help in runs, Chone can help.
Jeff DaVanon
Jeff DaVanon must have familial ties to Houdini or maybe David Copperfield is a distant cousin. For 2 consecutive years, he’s made us think he can hit .300 or better. He’s also got legit pop and some speed as well, so owners start repeating the words “diamond in the rough” over and over in their mind. Let me tell ya a little something about a stat called hit rate. The good folks over at Baseball HQ taught me about this and DaVanon could be its new poster boy. Right now, JD is getting hits on 38% of his batted balls. That is way above the mean, usually around 30%. Now, hit rate is specific to each batter, and DaVanon is normally right around 28%. Last year’s first half? 41 H%. AVG: .344. 2nd half: 28 H%. AVG: .233. Expect a dip soon. He could go 10/15 though with significant PT.
Casey Kotchman
Kotch already holds the record for the most ABs to begin a career without a whiff (48). He finally fanned last Wednesday and may never stike out again. Okay, that’s a little ridiculous, but this is a future fantasy-viable option. The key word here most likely is future though. While he could develop a great AVG pretty fairly quickly, he is still young and hasn’t had much time in the minors. Also, his strict 1B eligibility doesn’t make him very amenable to fantasy teams, considering his current makeup, unless said team is completely strapped for AVG. Even that will need time to grow because he’s only hitting .277 after starting off hot. Further, hitting in the latter part of the lineup won’t provide as many R and RBI opportunities. If you’re in a keeper, keep an eye on Kotch.
Kevin Gregg
Here’s a guy who can wheel. He can deal. And he’s basically getting no love for it with the likes of K-Rod taking the credit and the statement that he’s just another good arm in an already good bullpen. That’s true, but he’s been great this year. Here’s a guy who could certainly step into the rotation if Sele or Lackey were to falter. He’s got almost a K an inning, and looking good doing it. He’s throwing a lot more groundballs than he has in the past and he’ll help you out in every category except saves. Don’t expect big Ws, but he’ll definitely get some late ones. He’s already thrown 31 innings, so his inning total will be enough to affect your ERA and WHIP totals for the year, and that effect will be nice. Definitely worth a look. Easy to acquire too at 33% in mixed leagues.
Wings to Halos
Each week, I award a pair of wings to the most valuable Halo fantasy player of the week and I’ll do it again this week, but from now on we’re changin’ the prize to silver halos. It’s a switch I can make because it’s my column and they’re nonexistent anyway. So--this week’s halo marks the second time a hurler will pick one up. He threw 11 IP, allowed only 8 H, 2 ER, resulting in a W and a ERA of 2.45 and a WHIP of 1.18. Okay, I’ll say it. I guess I can’t put it off any longer. Aaron Sele gets the nod for the Week 7 Fantasy Silver Halo. I’m still not endorsing him--even this week he only had 5 K along with 5 BB--but he deserves the halo. Totals for the year? Figgins 2; Colon, Anderson, Erstad, Guillen, and Sele all with 1.
Odds and Ends
What a wild finish in Toronto on Monday night. Weird way to lose one and not really troublesome. I think the Halos could still win the series with two straight. Then it’s on to Chicago and back for a long homestand. Nice. . .Guillen called the pitchers out after not “protecting” him when he was hit by a Justin Miller pitch Monday. He must’ve not seen Lackey almost take Simon Ponds’ head off--twice. Maybe he’s expecting the pitcher to come out with a trench coat and a Uzi. Nice show of team unity, JG. . .Jose Molina could be on the block for a 3B. Names named are Randa, Hillenbrand, Spiezio, and Aaron Boone. Wait and see. That means keeping the more talented, more fragile Bengie, but a move that could help defensively at least. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Meet the New Guys: Chone Figgins
Let’s take a look at some players who may not be new to the Angels roster but who are knew on the horizon of fantasy players. Figgy is possibly a candidate for a “breakout” player in AL fantasy this year. He’d only played in 86 games heading into this season, but he’s already logged 35 in ’04. A .310 AVG, 22 R, and 10 SB later, everybody wants a piece of CF. Should you? Well, Figgins stands to get everyday PT until at least the All-Star break and possibly the rest of the season if the Halos don’t deal for a 3B. Multi-position eligibility and the likelihood of 30 SB make him very attractive. I would expect the AVG to come down to maybe the .280 range, and his BB total leaves a lot to be desired for his type of play, but if you need everyday speed and help in runs, Chone can help.
Jeff DaVanon
Jeff DaVanon must have familial ties to Houdini or maybe David Copperfield is a distant cousin. For 2 consecutive years, he’s made us think he can hit .300 or better. He’s also got legit pop and some speed as well, so owners start repeating the words “diamond in the rough” over and over in their mind. Let me tell ya a little something about a stat called hit rate. The good folks over at Baseball HQ taught me about this and DaVanon could be its new poster boy. Right now, JD is getting hits on 38% of his batted balls. That is way above the mean, usually around 30%. Now, hit rate is specific to each batter, and DaVanon is normally right around 28%. Last year’s first half? 41 H%. AVG: .344. 2nd half: 28 H%. AVG: .233. Expect a dip soon. He could go 10/15 though with significant PT.
Casey Kotchman
Kotch already holds the record for the most ABs to begin a career without a whiff (48). He finally fanned last Wednesday and may never stike out again. Okay, that’s a little ridiculous, but this is a future fantasy-viable option. The key word here most likely is future though. While he could develop a great AVG pretty fairly quickly, he is still young and hasn’t had much time in the minors. Also, his strict 1B eligibility doesn’t make him very amenable to fantasy teams, considering his current makeup, unless said team is completely strapped for AVG. Even that will need time to grow because he’s only hitting .277 after starting off hot. Further, hitting in the latter part of the lineup won’t provide as many R and RBI opportunities. If you’re in a keeper, keep an eye on Kotch.
Kevin Gregg
Here’s a guy who can wheel. He can deal. And he’s basically getting no love for it with the likes of K-Rod taking the credit and the statement that he’s just another good arm in an already good bullpen. That’s true, but he’s been great this year. Here’s a guy who could certainly step into the rotation if Sele or Lackey were to falter. He’s got almost a K an inning, and looking good doing it. He’s throwing a lot more groundballs than he has in the past and he’ll help you out in every category except saves. Don’t expect big Ws, but he’ll definitely get some late ones. He’s already thrown 31 innings, so his inning total will be enough to affect your ERA and WHIP totals for the year, and that effect will be nice. Definitely worth a look. Easy to acquire too at 33% in mixed leagues.
Wings to Halos
Each week, I award a pair of wings to the most valuable Halo fantasy player of the week and I’ll do it again this week, but from now on we’re changin’ the prize to silver halos. It’s a switch I can make because it’s my column and they’re nonexistent anyway. So--this week’s halo marks the second time a hurler will pick one up. He threw 11 IP, allowed only 8 H, 2 ER, resulting in a W and a ERA of 2.45 and a WHIP of 1.18. Okay, I’ll say it. I guess I can’t put it off any longer. Aaron Sele gets the nod for the Week 7 Fantasy Silver Halo. I’m still not endorsing him--even this week he only had 5 K along with 5 BB--but he deserves the halo. Totals for the year? Figgins 2; Colon, Anderson, Erstad, Guillen, and Sele all with 1.
Odds and Ends
What a wild finish in Toronto on Monday night. Weird way to lose one and not really troublesome. I think the Halos could still win the series with two straight. Then it’s on to Chicago and back for a long homestand. Nice. . .Guillen called the pitchers out after not “protecting” him when he was hit by a Justin Miller pitch Monday. He must’ve not seen Lackey almost take Simon Ponds’ head off--twice. Maybe he’s expecting the pitcher to come out with a trench coat and a Uzi. Nice show of team unity, JG. . .Jose Molina could be on the block for a 3B. Names named are Randa, Hillenbrand, Spiezio, and Aaron Boone. Wait and see. That means keeping the more talented, more fragile Bengie, but a move that could help defensively at least. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Here's Your. . .McMuffin, Sir
I ordered an Egg McMuffin on the way to work this week as I have been in the habit of doing lately. I paid, I grabbed my grub, and I headed to the car (the drive-thru is ridiculously long . . . zero wait inside. Man, we sure are lazy, aren't we?) I pulled out, turned on talk sports radio, and opened my breakfast. No egg. Just . . . McMuffin. Now, sure I had the ham and cheese that come with it, but I ordered an EGG McMuffin. Did they think I wouldn't notice there wasn't any egg? The name of the sandwich is the EGG McMuffin. Egg. The Yankees must've noticed something missing from the Angels' offensive sandwich, having little trouble holding the Halos to 5 runs in the last 3 games, taking 2 and the series.
I think we all knew that eventually the loss of a World Series MVP, a former Rookie of the Year, 2 Gold Gloves, and 8 All-Star appearances would hurt the roster. Through May 20, the Angels still have the best record in baseball, 1.5 games ahead of NYY, MIN, and HOU. The Halos have lost 15 times and 9 of those 15 are against only two teams--NYY and TEX. As good as the past two series have been, it might behoove the Angels to not have to face the Yankees again until one more three-game set in mid-August. They won't see Texas again until late-July. By then, the team could look a little healthier. Although they haven't played BOS, CHW, CLE, TOR, or KC yet, their only losing records thus far are against NYY (2-4) and TEX (2-5).
GA Finally Diagnosed
In case you hadn't heard (and if you hadn't, you might wanna reach for the cotton lodged in your ears), Garret Anderson has finally been told what's been ailing him. It's called "early undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis." So there you go. We've waited almost a month to hear four words--whatever they mean. According to the team's website, the plan is to get him in the pool and on the exercise bike this week and ultimately construct a timetable for his return based on the results of those workouts. Here's my take: if Garret had been healthy enough, he wouldn't have waited for a diagnosis to work out. He's in pain and I'd be very surprised to see him back before the Break. Scioscia described GA's road back to the field as "long". Hope your IR spot's empty.
The Cold Shoulder
So much for ground balls at first base. Glaus in gone. Gone for surgery. Gone until September--at least. Gone for the year, I'd say. Gone forever, maybe (FA after '04). Looks like the rehab route over the offseason wasn't such a good idea after all, huh? I'm really not bitter as a fantasy owner--I don't own him on any team--I'm bitter as a fan. Look, I know Troy wants to play as much as the next guy, but when you're shoulder is messed up that bad, you probably need surgery. If you're an MD and you see that someone's shoulder is messed up that bad, tell them to get surgery. Now he's blown 2 of his peak years. It's a shame, really. He's a wonderful player. But will he put his halo back on in '05? Time (and his shoulder) will tell. What do you do with Troy? It's called waivers.
Now what?
Are the Angels content to just keep running up guys from Salt Lake and Arkansas until no one's left? Maybe not, with this latest injury. Local media is reporting that the Halos may look for a full-time 3B for Glaus to bridge the gap until next year or maybe until '06, when Dallas McPherson should be completely ready. Names like Joe Randa, Scott Spiezio, Shea Hillenbrand, and Aaron Boone are being thrown around. Any chance of these guys coming to Anaheim? Both SEA & KC have old catchers, meaning they might be interested in Jose Molina, who is apparently now on the block. Arizona is dying to get rid of Hillenbrand, so that could be a possibility. Boone wants to play in ARI, but Chad Tracy is emerging there. He grew up in the OC though. Also, Daddy Boone played in ANA. Stay tuned.
The Fantasy Baseball Show
If you're in the Phoenix area and can operate a radio, I'll be a guest on ESPN Radio 860 KMVP tonight on The Fantasy Baseball Show. I'll be talkin' Halos and answering any other fantasy questions you might have. The show airs at 6:00 tonight Pacific Time. The call-in number is 602-277-KMVP (5687). If you don't live in Arizona, you're still in luck if you want to hear the segment live because it simulcasts on the web at http://www.fantasybaseballshow.com. Tune in and then you can e-mail and tell me how silly I sounded. For extra info, Inside the Halo is always available (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com). Instant polls, trivia, important baseball links and all my columns.
Odds and Ends
The Orange Birds are next. Another good series. Start your Halo pitchers though. . .Other injuries I didn't cover--Erstad back late June--we'll see. Salmon back soon. Maybe two weeks at most. . .Next time we'll look at these guys who are gettin' all the PT now in detail. Figgins, DaVanon, Kotchman, Gregg--what you can expect specifically. . .Why won't the rotation throw groundballs? Are they afraid if the infielders bend over the DL list will keep growing? Only TB and SEA have a worse G/F ratio. . .You picked it. 57% percent of you said Sele should stay the Angels' 5th starter at ITH's instant poll. I still say Scot Shields, but I might come around with a couple good starts. I'm not nearly convinced yet. Well, I’m off to find my EGG. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
I think we all knew that eventually the loss of a World Series MVP, a former Rookie of the Year, 2 Gold Gloves, and 8 All-Star appearances would hurt the roster. Through May 20, the Angels still have the best record in baseball, 1.5 games ahead of NYY, MIN, and HOU. The Halos have lost 15 times and 9 of those 15 are against only two teams--NYY and TEX. As good as the past two series have been, it might behoove the Angels to not have to face the Yankees again until one more three-game set in mid-August. They won't see Texas again until late-July. By then, the team could look a little healthier. Although they haven't played BOS, CHW, CLE, TOR, or KC yet, their only losing records thus far are against NYY (2-4) and TEX (2-5).
GA Finally Diagnosed
In case you hadn't heard (and if you hadn't, you might wanna reach for the cotton lodged in your ears), Garret Anderson has finally been told what's been ailing him. It's called "early undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis." So there you go. We've waited almost a month to hear four words--whatever they mean. According to the team's website, the plan is to get him in the pool and on the exercise bike this week and ultimately construct a timetable for his return based on the results of those workouts. Here's my take: if Garret had been healthy enough, he wouldn't have waited for a diagnosis to work out. He's in pain and I'd be very surprised to see him back before the Break. Scioscia described GA's road back to the field as "long". Hope your IR spot's empty.
The Cold Shoulder
So much for ground balls at first base. Glaus in gone. Gone for surgery. Gone until September--at least. Gone for the year, I'd say. Gone forever, maybe (FA after '04). Looks like the rehab route over the offseason wasn't such a good idea after all, huh? I'm really not bitter as a fantasy owner--I don't own him on any team--I'm bitter as a fan. Look, I know Troy wants to play as much as the next guy, but when you're shoulder is messed up that bad, you probably need surgery. If you're an MD and you see that someone's shoulder is messed up that bad, tell them to get surgery. Now he's blown 2 of his peak years. It's a shame, really. He's a wonderful player. But will he put his halo back on in '05? Time (and his shoulder) will tell. What do you do with Troy? It's called waivers.
Now what?
Are the Angels content to just keep running up guys from Salt Lake and Arkansas until no one's left? Maybe not, with this latest injury. Local media is reporting that the Halos may look for a full-time 3B for Glaus to bridge the gap until next year or maybe until '06, when Dallas McPherson should be completely ready. Names like Joe Randa, Scott Spiezio, Shea Hillenbrand, and Aaron Boone are being thrown around. Any chance of these guys coming to Anaheim? Both SEA & KC have old catchers, meaning they might be interested in Jose Molina, who is apparently now on the block. Arizona is dying to get rid of Hillenbrand, so that could be a possibility. Boone wants to play in ARI, but Chad Tracy is emerging there. He grew up in the OC though. Also, Daddy Boone played in ANA. Stay tuned.
The Fantasy Baseball Show
If you're in the Phoenix area and can operate a radio, I'll be a guest on ESPN Radio 860 KMVP tonight on The Fantasy Baseball Show. I'll be talkin' Halos and answering any other fantasy questions you might have. The show airs at 6:00 tonight Pacific Time. The call-in number is 602-277-KMVP (5687). If you don't live in Arizona, you're still in luck if you want to hear the segment live because it simulcasts on the web at http://www.fantasybaseballshow.com. Tune in and then you can e-mail and tell me how silly I sounded. For extra info, Inside the Halo is always available (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com). Instant polls, trivia, important baseball links and all my columns.
Odds and Ends
The Orange Birds are next. Another good series. Start your Halo pitchers though. . .Other injuries I didn't cover--Erstad back late June--we'll see. Salmon back soon. Maybe two weeks at most. . .Next time we'll look at these guys who are gettin' all the PT now in detail. Figgins, DaVanon, Kotchman, Gregg--what you can expect specifically. . .Why won't the rotation throw groundballs? Are they afraid if the infielders bend over the DL list will keep growing? Only TB and SEA have a worse G/F ratio. . .You picked it. 57% percent of you said Sele should stay the Angels' 5th starter at ITH's instant poll. I still say Scot Shields, but I might come around with a couple good starts. I'm not nearly convinced yet. Well, I’m off to find my EGG. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Do You Have to Let It Linger?
Do you have to? Do you have to? I’m dedicating this column to the 1993 Cranberries hit that my middle school friends and I would always sing when someone cut the proverbial cheese in our vicinity. I’m not condoning our stupidity, I’m just being nostalgic, I suppose. The Angels haven’t really had a gas problem to speak of, but they sure are finding ways to let their mounting injuries linger. Sure, they are 12-3 in May, so it hasn’t hurt the bottom line yet, but I and a lot of other Angels fans would feel much better to see more than half the Opening Day lineup on the field. In specific injury news, Garret Anderson is waiting for a doctor who knows how to use his stethoscope and that the Hippocratic oath has nothing to do with that fat animal with the buckteeth.
His back is still tight and no one knows why. The dreaded words “no timetable” still apply. Erstad looks to be out also for quite some time as well with a Double Hammy Strain with Cheese. The positive point there is that this isn’t a reaggravation; they’re in different spots from last year’s. The negative outlook? That’s just two more weak spots in an already torn up hamstring. Tim Salmon suffered a setback with his knee during his minor league rehab stint. He might be back this week, or the Angels may also decide to wait. It’s not like the lineup is starving for runs right now. Bengie Molina left yesterday’s with groin discomfort. Expect word today or early tomorrow on whether he will join the Cranberries Crew.
Perhaps the most interesting (and also the most ominous) lingering injury is that of Troy Glaus. It’s old news that he left the roadie to return to Anaheim for tests. Those tests showed that, “Yeah, you’re knee’s okay, but you know that whole shoulder deal that completely ruined your season a year ago? Well, guess what, your shoulder looks oddly like that again.” Dandy. Most have heard this by now, so you, Fantasy Owner, won’t get full value if you decide to deal. Scioscia has said don’t expect Glaus at 3B anytime remotely soon. He’ll either DH, or here’s something--he took ground balls at 1B over the weekend. He’s only seen action at SS and 3B, so this will be other interesting Scioscia Study. His hitting should remain okay (4 HR since the “re-tweak” in MIN). Stay tuned.
Is That the Way We Stand?
Where does all this leave us for PT? Well, Figgy’s gonna be seeing a whole lot of 3B, so high-five something if you picked him up. DaVanon now becomes the 3rd OF, so get him in AL-leagues. Depending on whether Glaus DHs, Salmon may have to sit. He’s not gonna be able to play OF on a regular basis with that knee. Kotchman? Yeah, he’s looked wonderful so far, but if Glaus can play 1B, who do you think is gonna be sitting the bench? It didn’t bode that well for Kotch anyway when Robb Quinlan came up last week to help out. However, with KC’s start, you figure he’ll get some periodic chances, more than anyone until Glaus can take over at 1B. What about Erstad? I don’t know--1B. . .Coach? Don’t look for him to go anywhere though. He’s signed to an overpriced contract through 2006.
Is It All a Game to You?
If Jarrod Washburn were a catcher, he’d be givin’ the fantasy player some pretty complicated signals out there on the mound right now. Numbers?
ERA: 4.68.
WHIP: 1.36.
HR/9: 1.26.
All bad (HR/9=ugly).
Wins: 7.
K/9: 6.5 (up from 5.1 in ‘03).
K/BB ratio: 3.0.
All very good.
The K/9, K/BB ratio, and JW’s excellent control give his owners hope that if the bats do cool off, he can still be a solid fantasy option. Don’t expect the HRs to cool off though. He’s thrown 5 gopherballs in 3 starts in May. So far, his G/F ratio is a very low 0.77. That’s somewhat disguised at ANA but not on the road. Nonetheless, he’s worth trading a mid-level player for. Recently he’s been traded for MacDougal, Mesa, and Rincon. All good deals. He’s also been traded for Freddy Garcia. Very bad deal.
Oh, I Thought the World of You
Chone Figgins certainly has the fantasy world’s attention this week. Who would’ve thought that six weeks into the regular season that Figgins would have 2 of the 4 pairs of wings awarded here? Not me. Vlad’s gonna get mad at me (not really) for skipping over him on two good weeks, but Figgins’ numbers are just too good to ignore again: 12-29 (.414), 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R. He’s got six 3B, on pace to become only the third hitter since 1950 to finish the season with more than 20. For the answer to who were the other two, you can check out the trivia section at Inside the Halo (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com). So, scoring along at home with our silver pairs of wings? Figgins 2, Guillen 1, Erstad 1.
Inside the Halo
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve changed the e-mail and web address. The e-mail is now insidethehalo@insightbb.com. Use it. ITH’s address is listed just above. There are instant polls, trivia, important fantasy links, as well as all the drivel that I’ve shoveled out this young baseball season. Head over and check it out. Also, if you want to be notified when I’ve updated here at ESPN , click the e-mail notification link toward the top-right corner of the page. Three big ones against the Bronx Bombers comin’ up. Fun series. Then 3 more versus the Orange Birds. Then it’s North of the Border for the end of the AL East run against the Jays. So far 7-3 against what was hyped to be the best division in baseball. Gotta like that. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
His back is still tight and no one knows why. The dreaded words “no timetable” still apply. Erstad looks to be out also for quite some time as well with a Double Hammy Strain with Cheese. The positive point there is that this isn’t a reaggravation; they’re in different spots from last year’s. The negative outlook? That’s just two more weak spots in an already torn up hamstring. Tim Salmon suffered a setback with his knee during his minor league rehab stint. He might be back this week, or the Angels may also decide to wait. It’s not like the lineup is starving for runs right now. Bengie Molina left yesterday’s with groin discomfort. Expect word today or early tomorrow on whether he will join the Cranberries Crew.
Perhaps the most interesting (and also the most ominous) lingering injury is that of Troy Glaus. It’s old news that he left the roadie to return to Anaheim for tests. Those tests showed that, “Yeah, you’re knee’s okay, but you know that whole shoulder deal that completely ruined your season a year ago? Well, guess what, your shoulder looks oddly like that again.” Dandy. Most have heard this by now, so you, Fantasy Owner, won’t get full value if you decide to deal. Scioscia has said don’t expect Glaus at 3B anytime remotely soon. He’ll either DH, or here’s something--he took ground balls at 1B over the weekend. He’s only seen action at SS and 3B, so this will be other interesting Scioscia Study. His hitting should remain okay (4 HR since the “re-tweak” in MIN). Stay tuned.
Is That the Way We Stand?
Where does all this leave us for PT? Well, Figgy’s gonna be seeing a whole lot of 3B, so high-five something if you picked him up. DaVanon now becomes the 3rd OF, so get him in AL-leagues. Depending on whether Glaus DHs, Salmon may have to sit. He’s not gonna be able to play OF on a regular basis with that knee. Kotchman? Yeah, he’s looked wonderful so far, but if Glaus can play 1B, who do you think is gonna be sitting the bench? It didn’t bode that well for Kotch anyway when Robb Quinlan came up last week to help out. However, with KC’s start, you figure he’ll get some periodic chances, more than anyone until Glaus can take over at 1B. What about Erstad? I don’t know--1B. . .Coach? Don’t look for him to go anywhere though. He’s signed to an overpriced contract through 2006.
Is It All a Game to You?
If Jarrod Washburn were a catcher, he’d be givin’ the fantasy player some pretty complicated signals out there on the mound right now. Numbers?
ERA: 4.68.
WHIP: 1.36.
HR/9: 1.26.
All bad (HR/9=ugly).
Wins: 7.
K/9: 6.5 (up from 5.1 in ‘03).
K/BB ratio: 3.0.
All very good.
The K/9, K/BB ratio, and JW’s excellent control give his owners hope that if the bats do cool off, he can still be a solid fantasy option. Don’t expect the HRs to cool off though. He’s thrown 5 gopherballs in 3 starts in May. So far, his G/F ratio is a very low 0.77. That’s somewhat disguised at ANA but not on the road. Nonetheless, he’s worth trading a mid-level player for. Recently he’s been traded for MacDougal, Mesa, and Rincon. All good deals. He’s also been traded for Freddy Garcia. Very bad deal.
Oh, I Thought the World of You
Chone Figgins certainly has the fantasy world’s attention this week. Who would’ve thought that six weeks into the regular season that Figgins would have 2 of the 4 pairs of wings awarded here? Not me. Vlad’s gonna get mad at me (not really) for skipping over him on two good weeks, but Figgins’ numbers are just too good to ignore again: 12-29 (.414), 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R. He’s got six 3B, on pace to become only the third hitter since 1950 to finish the season with more than 20. For the answer to who were the other two, you can check out the trivia section at Inside the Halo (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com). So, scoring along at home with our silver pairs of wings? Figgins 2, Guillen 1, Erstad 1.
Inside the Halo
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve changed the e-mail and web address. The e-mail is now insidethehalo@insightbb.com. Use it. ITH’s address is listed just above. There are instant polls, trivia, important fantasy links, as well as all the drivel that I’ve shoveled out this young baseball season. Head over and check it out. Also, if you want to be notified when I’ve updated here at ESPN , click the e-mail notification link toward the top-right corner of the page. Three big ones against the Bronx Bombers comin’ up. Fun series. Then 3 more versus the Orange Birds. Then it’s North of the Border for the end of the AL East run against the Jays. So far 7-3 against what was hyped to be the best division in baseball. Gotta like that. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Clipped Wings/An Angel of My Very Own
[Programming note: From here on, I will simultaneously post my current article at ESPN here as well. This makes it easier to just come directly here for the update if you like. So, for the lucky few of you who have this site bookmarked, now you can get all the articles here the minute they're published. Enjoy. Have a wonderful day. Happy baseball.]
Clipped Wings
Sadly, possibly the biggest story around the Halo is not that the good guys had their 9-game winning streak snapped last night in a thriller at the Stadium, but that with all the injuries, Angel fans might think that the lineup featured names like J.D. Drew, Ken Griffey Jr., and Darin Erstad. Oh, wait we do have Erstad--and word is that there is "no timetable" for his return. Two bad words. Of course, if you read my piece on DE at ITH (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com), then you knew he wasn't likely to continue performing anyway--bad hammy or no. Garret Anderson still doesn't know when he'll return, although his prognosis (what little there is) is more positive for the time being than Erstad's. Angel doctors did rule out rheumatoid arthritis, which I mentioned last time.
So what's wrong with his back? Who knows? But until they have a clue, you mark GA down under "no timetable" also. On the positive side, Tim Salmon will do the minor league rehab thing this weekend and be back Tuesday. Jose Guillen may not see the DL at all after being carted off the field after what appeared to be a very severe right knee sprain on Sunday. Great news, if it pans out. He's what they call "sizzling" right now. Troy Glaus can expect to DH a few more days to further mend his ailing shoulder. He's playing, though (and drillin' the ball), so keep him under a yellow flag and you'll be fine.
Super-Subs
I don't know if they're with the Justice League of America, but the Angels are 15-3 without GA and 7-1 without Salmon, so the subs are doing somethin' right. We've talked Figgy and he'll continue to play. I've gotten plenty of mail on him and if you need speed, he's your guy. Only problem? Five triples! That leads the majors, and not that we don't like that, but he can't steal second and third when he gets there immediately. Expect .280 or so from his AVG and good helpin' of Rs and you won't be disappointed. He'll hit 2nd now that Erstad's out. DaVanon is getting some PT too now. Acquire? AL-only, sure (he is hitting 5th). He's not going to jettison you to the top, but he'll help like marginal players do. ML league? Unless it's 12 teams or more, you can do better, I'm sure.
Plus, remember as soon as Guillen's back (which could be this series--he took BP yesterday), DaVanon will be back to his role of knitting more Rally Monkeys on the bench. Hey, what about Casey Kotchman? The buzz is he's good, right? Well, yeah, but there's no way I'd take him on 7 MLB ABs. He hit .179 in 28 AA ABs this year, so this was an interesting call up to be sure. He's only 21 (read: plenty of maturing to do), so I'd wait until he proves himself against MLB pitching before I jumped on this rookie bandwagon. Anyway, if you're in that bad of shape at 1B, your most serious problem may not be fantasy baseball.
The Invisible Guys on the Mound
I was looking at the Angels starter's stats over the last couple of weeks, just to give you an overview of what I see and what you should look for. Surprisingly, I discovered they're incredibly bland. The Angels are 15-3 in their last 18 but you couldn't tell it by the starter's numbers (other than the Ws), which could be a bad sign. The lowest ERA is Colon at 4.09. The only WHIP under 1.30 is Lackey at 1.15. Let's look at one stat that is very promising, though. K/BB ratio. 2.32, which goes for best in the AL. That, of course is helped by the bullpen, but the starters still have a 2.15, which is very good considering those numbers include both Ortiz and Sele. For the millionth time, why isn't Scot Shields starting? The starter's K/BB ratio would be 2.36 if he were.
Odds and Ends
I got some great advice from you on my Correspondents league team (which has since moved back into first). Who said Angel fans weren't FLB savvy? I'm currently plotting what moves I may (or may not) make. Feel free to check the roster out at ITH and give me your feedback. I'll give you monthly updates there on the status of my Louisville Angels. Also, if you don't watch the next two between the Halos and Yanks, you're only robbing yourself. They're on tonight on ESPN2. Sele v. Vazquez. Then Lackey v. Lieber tomorrow. I'll be back this weekend with more Halo talk and another set of wings to bestow for this week's play. E-mail insidethehalo@insightbb.com and let me know who you think should get the 4th set. So far Erstad, Figgins, and Guillen each have one.
An Angel of My Very Own
Finally, on a personal note, my girlfriend became an Angels fan last weekend when I gave her a halo for her finger--with a diamond attached, of course. God really loves Anaheim fans. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Clipped Wings
Sadly, possibly the biggest story around the Halo is not that the good guys had their 9-game winning streak snapped last night in a thriller at the Stadium, but that with all the injuries, Angel fans might think that the lineup featured names like J.D. Drew, Ken Griffey Jr., and Darin Erstad. Oh, wait we do have Erstad--and word is that there is "no timetable" for his return. Two bad words. Of course, if you read my piece on DE at ITH (http://insidethehalo.blogspot.com), then you knew he wasn't likely to continue performing anyway--bad hammy or no. Garret Anderson still doesn't know when he'll return, although his prognosis (what little there is) is more positive for the time being than Erstad's. Angel doctors did rule out rheumatoid arthritis, which I mentioned last time.
So what's wrong with his back? Who knows? But until they have a clue, you mark GA down under "no timetable" also. On the positive side, Tim Salmon will do the minor league rehab thing this weekend and be back Tuesday. Jose Guillen may not see the DL at all after being carted off the field after what appeared to be a very severe right knee sprain on Sunday. Great news, if it pans out. He's what they call "sizzling" right now. Troy Glaus can expect to DH a few more days to further mend his ailing shoulder. He's playing, though (and drillin' the ball), so keep him under a yellow flag and you'll be fine.
Super-Subs
I don't know if they're with the Justice League of America, but the Angels are 15-3 without GA and 7-1 without Salmon, so the subs are doing somethin' right. We've talked Figgy and he'll continue to play. I've gotten plenty of mail on him and if you need speed, he's your guy. Only problem? Five triples! That leads the majors, and not that we don't like that, but he can't steal second and third when he gets there immediately. Expect .280 or so from his AVG and good helpin' of Rs and you won't be disappointed. He'll hit 2nd now that Erstad's out. DaVanon is getting some PT too now. Acquire? AL-only, sure (he is hitting 5th). He's not going to jettison you to the top, but he'll help like marginal players do. ML league? Unless it's 12 teams or more, you can do better, I'm sure.
Plus, remember as soon as Guillen's back (which could be this series--he took BP yesterday), DaVanon will be back to his role of knitting more Rally Monkeys on the bench. Hey, what about Casey Kotchman? The buzz is he's good, right? Well, yeah, but there's no way I'd take him on 7 MLB ABs. He hit .179 in 28 AA ABs this year, so this was an interesting call up to be sure. He's only 21 (read: plenty of maturing to do), so I'd wait until he proves himself against MLB pitching before I jumped on this rookie bandwagon. Anyway, if you're in that bad of shape at 1B, your most serious problem may not be fantasy baseball.
The Invisible Guys on the Mound
I was looking at the Angels starter's stats over the last couple of weeks, just to give you an overview of what I see and what you should look for. Surprisingly, I discovered they're incredibly bland. The Angels are 15-3 in their last 18 but you couldn't tell it by the starter's numbers (other than the Ws), which could be a bad sign. The lowest ERA is Colon at 4.09. The only WHIP under 1.30 is Lackey at 1.15. Let's look at one stat that is very promising, though. K/BB ratio. 2.32, which goes for best in the AL. That, of course is helped by the bullpen, but the starters still have a 2.15, which is very good considering those numbers include both Ortiz and Sele. For the millionth time, why isn't Scot Shields starting? The starter's K/BB ratio would be 2.36 if he were.
Odds and Ends
I got some great advice from you on my Correspondents league team (which has since moved back into first). Who said Angel fans weren't FLB savvy? I'm currently plotting what moves I may (or may not) make. Feel free to check the roster out at ITH and give me your feedback. I'll give you monthly updates there on the status of my Louisville Angels. Also, if you don't watch the next two between the Halos and Yanks, you're only robbing yourself. They're on tonight on ESPN2. Sele v. Vazquez. Then Lackey v. Lieber tomorrow. I'll be back this weekend with more Halo talk and another set of wings to bestow for this week's play. E-mail insidethehalo@insightbb.com and let me know who you think should get the 4th set. So far Erstad, Figgins, and Guillen each have one.
An Angel of My Very Own
Finally, on a personal note, my girlfriend became an Angels fan last weekend when I gave her a halo for her finger--with a diamond attached, of course. God really loves Anaheim fans. Reporting for the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Fillin' the Closet/Gettin' Figgy Wit It
A Full Closet Is A Good Closet
No, I don't mean skeletons, I mean brooms--and the Angels accrued another this week sweeping the Tigers in mashing fashion, almost scoring 30 runs in 3 games. That's, of course, after taking 7 of 9 on the road. Two of the three hottest teams in baseball are 1-2 in the AL West--and it's not the A's/Mariners. The Halos finished April 13-10 and are 5-0 thus far in May. How have they done it? How do you think? 162 runs, 2nd only to the Astros, heading into play today. It certainly hasn't been the pitching, which is 8th in the AL even with the bullpen, which is 3rd in AL ERA at 3.18. Starter ERA? 5.41. Lesson? Right now, after Colon, pray that Escobar's nail and Lackey's consistency hold and then, I don't know, hope the bats are warm. This is certainly no way to play all 162 though.
GA not OK
Still no sign of Garret Anderson, but the tests are back and it's nothing serious--we think. That's a relief, 'cause all that "impinging on the nerve" stuff was makin' me nervous. It's still not good though. He's being tested for rheumatoid arthritis now, which is typically chronic, and according to Rotowire, GA says he probably won't go to NY and BAL next week. Don't expect him back when he's eligible. But hey, who needs him? The Angels are 11-2 without him, right? Well, they may not have needed him yet, but they will and GA owners should be a little worried. The last time he didn't play 150 games? 1995. Hurry back, Garret. The Angels would've been 16-0 in those 13 games if they'd had his bat (That's right--he's that good).
Gettin' Figgy Wit It
How could I have gone this far without talkin' about the new Angels sparkplug in the 3 hole (hitting him 3rd is insane--don't care what Scioscia says)? Chone has certainly been gettin' Figgy wit it out in CF--er, at SS--er, at 3B--just where can't this guy play? Dude's got 55 ABs and has already posted 13 plates, 8 bags, and oh yeah, he's hitting .327. He's got 4 triples! Pick him up? With GA's back probs lingering, Salmon out, and Eck another groin "pop" away from trouble--and don't forget Glaus and his shoulder--Figgy is gonna play most days until all of them are healthy. So, yeah, get him, because I think it'll be at least a couple more weeks until that happens. Know this, though, he's behind all those guys I mentioned. When they're healthy, his PT will be sub duty.
Meat out, Meat In
Just when you thought it was safe to not shut your eyes every 5th day when Ramon Ortiz took the hill, Scioscia replaces him with Aaron Sele in the rotation, who will go tonight. Mean anything? Meat out, meat in, I say again. Sure, Sele looked good on Saturday, but that's five innings and his trends the last three years have been more BB, less K, and more HR. That's a recipe for really thick meat--Grade A. Okay, he's been injured and maybe he's finally starting to turn it around, but for now I'd stay about as far away from Sele as you would Pepe Le Pieu. Only when Gregg hits the rotation will I feel safe. Course then, the pen will suffer with both Ortiz and Sele in it. However, I think they'd both (especially Ortiz) be better in a pen role. We'll see, but avoid JS for now. Please.
Lackey Not Lacking
Last week, I allowed myself to take a little heat for not giving Washburn enough credit this year (although his numbers are flimsy, to put it lightly). Now it's your turn, Halos readers. I got a grand total of zero e-mails agreeing (and plenty in disagreement) with my faith that John Lackey can be a quality starter. Okay, he started 0-3 with an 8+ ERA. Fine. His last two starts? 2-0, 2.63 ERA, 7 K, The Ks are a little low, but I said quality starter, not ace. If Lackey gets the kind of run support Wash has been gettin', he's gonna look golden but really be bronze. Lackey is good, people. Not great. Good. In AL leagues above 8 teams, he'd be a solid number 3 or 4 guy. Any other place, he's a pretty good stream.
It's Wing Time
It's really not even that close. Jose Guillen must not like me comparing him to the DLed Tim Salmon. Check out his line: 12-25 (.480), 3 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R--but maybe the best sign? 4 BB, 3 K. That's the kind of discipline we need to see on a regular basis. Can he do it? I'm not optimistic, but this week is clearly a good start. And, of course, the Guillen/Salmon Watch will have to be put on hiatus until Timmy can't get back into the lineup. My only disclaimer was that I made my projection based on equal playing time, but Salmon may not be able to get his bones to go enough. Scoring Wings at home? Erstad 1, Figgins 1, now Guillen 1.
Odds and Ends
Has anyone seen the D that Adam Kennedy has been sportin' lately? He's been givin' all Angels' fans some serious glovin'. It's only May, but his glove lookin' awful shiny so far--kinda goldish. . . The Correspondents league is in full swing. I'm two points out of first, after spending at least a week in the top spot in April. More info on that at Inside the Halo, because I'm asking for your help to bring me the mighty banner for our league. . . Erstad has 20 RBI, 17 R, and 4 SB, but is he worth owning? More at ITH (http://angelsflb.blogspot.com). . . The Angels get their first taste (of 19 straight) against the loaded AL East starting right now. Important tests ahead. Reporting of the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
No, I don't mean skeletons, I mean brooms--and the Angels accrued another this week sweeping the Tigers in mashing fashion, almost scoring 30 runs in 3 games. That's, of course, after taking 7 of 9 on the road. Two of the three hottest teams in baseball are 1-2 in the AL West--and it's not the A's/Mariners. The Halos finished April 13-10 and are 5-0 thus far in May. How have they done it? How do you think? 162 runs, 2nd only to the Astros, heading into play today. It certainly hasn't been the pitching, which is 8th in the AL even with the bullpen, which is 3rd in AL ERA at 3.18. Starter ERA? 5.41. Lesson? Right now, after Colon, pray that Escobar's nail and Lackey's consistency hold and then, I don't know, hope the bats are warm. This is certainly no way to play all 162 though.
GA not OK
Still no sign of Garret Anderson, but the tests are back and it's nothing serious--we think. That's a relief, 'cause all that "impinging on the nerve" stuff was makin' me nervous. It's still not good though. He's being tested for rheumatoid arthritis now, which is typically chronic, and according to Rotowire, GA says he probably won't go to NY and BAL next week. Don't expect him back when he's eligible. But hey, who needs him? The Angels are 11-2 without him, right? Well, they may not have needed him yet, but they will and GA owners should be a little worried. The last time he didn't play 150 games? 1995. Hurry back, Garret. The Angels would've been 16-0 in those 13 games if they'd had his bat (That's right--he's that good).
Gettin' Figgy Wit It
How could I have gone this far without talkin' about the new Angels sparkplug in the 3 hole (hitting him 3rd is insane--don't care what Scioscia says)? Chone has certainly been gettin' Figgy wit it out in CF--er, at SS--er, at 3B--just where can't this guy play? Dude's got 55 ABs and has already posted 13 plates, 8 bags, and oh yeah, he's hitting .327. He's got 4 triples! Pick him up? With GA's back probs lingering, Salmon out, and Eck another groin "pop" away from trouble--and don't forget Glaus and his shoulder--Figgy is gonna play most days until all of them are healthy. So, yeah, get him, because I think it'll be at least a couple more weeks until that happens. Know this, though, he's behind all those guys I mentioned. When they're healthy, his PT will be sub duty.
Meat out, Meat In
Just when you thought it was safe to not shut your eyes every 5th day when Ramon Ortiz took the hill, Scioscia replaces him with Aaron Sele in the rotation, who will go tonight. Mean anything? Meat out, meat in, I say again. Sure, Sele looked good on Saturday, but that's five innings and his trends the last three years have been more BB, less K, and more HR. That's a recipe for really thick meat--Grade A. Okay, he's been injured and maybe he's finally starting to turn it around, but for now I'd stay about as far away from Sele as you would Pepe Le Pieu. Only when Gregg hits the rotation will I feel safe. Course then, the pen will suffer with both Ortiz and Sele in it. However, I think they'd both (especially Ortiz) be better in a pen role. We'll see, but avoid JS for now. Please.
Lackey Not Lacking
Last week, I allowed myself to take a little heat for not giving Washburn enough credit this year (although his numbers are flimsy, to put it lightly). Now it's your turn, Halos readers. I got a grand total of zero e-mails agreeing (and plenty in disagreement) with my faith that John Lackey can be a quality starter. Okay, he started 0-3 with an 8+ ERA. Fine. His last two starts? 2-0, 2.63 ERA, 7 K, The Ks are a little low, but I said quality starter, not ace. If Lackey gets the kind of run support Wash has been gettin', he's gonna look golden but really be bronze. Lackey is good, people. Not great. Good. In AL leagues above 8 teams, he'd be a solid number 3 or 4 guy. Any other place, he's a pretty good stream.
It's Wing Time
It's really not even that close. Jose Guillen must not like me comparing him to the DLed Tim Salmon. Check out his line: 12-25 (.480), 3 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R--but maybe the best sign? 4 BB, 3 K. That's the kind of discipline we need to see on a regular basis. Can he do it? I'm not optimistic, but this week is clearly a good start. And, of course, the Guillen/Salmon Watch will have to be put on hiatus until Timmy can't get back into the lineup. My only disclaimer was that I made my projection based on equal playing time, but Salmon may not be able to get his bones to go enough. Scoring Wings at home? Erstad 1, Figgins 1, now Guillen 1.
Odds and Ends
Has anyone seen the D that Adam Kennedy has been sportin' lately? He's been givin' all Angels' fans some serious glovin'. It's only May, but his glove lookin' awful shiny so far--kinda goldish. . . The Correspondents league is in full swing. I'm two points out of first, after spending at least a week in the top spot in April. More info on that at Inside the Halo, because I'm asking for your help to bring me the mighty banner for our league. . . Erstad has 20 RBI, 17 R, and 4 SB, but is he worth owning? More at ITH (http://angelsflb.blogspot.com). . . The Angels get their first taste (of 19 straight) against the loaded AL East starting right now. Important tests ahead. Reporting of the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Louisville Angels/Darin Erstad: A Closer Look
Let's take a look at my team in the Correspondents League. It's a 10-team roto with the correspondents from NYY, BOS, TOR, CHW, BAL, CHC, SF, SD, and PIT. As of tonight, I'm in 2nd place with 69.5 points, 2 points back.
Here's the roster:
Starters:
Ben Sheets
Roger Clemens
Livan Hernandez
Roy Halladay
Estaban Loaiza
Jose Acevedo
Middle Relief:
Akinori Otsuka
Scott Williamson
Closers:
Keith Foulke
Danny Kolb
Rocky Biddle
C: Jorge Posada
1B: David Ortiz
2B: Jose Vidro
3B: Joe Randa
SS: Orlando Cabrera
OF: Barry Bonds
OF: Magglio Ordonez
OF: Reggie Sanders
OF: Steve Finley
OF: Luis Gonzalez
2B/SS: Adam Kennedy
1B/3B: Paul Konerko
UTIL: Johnny Damon
Bench: Randy Winn
IR: Dmitri Young
Here's where you come in. I could upgrade need at 3B and could use some closer help. What moves do you see that could put me over the top? Any? I really like this team, but I'd feel better about filling those two holes I mentioned. Any "sell highs" in here? If you have any thoughts, feel free to e-mail me at angelsflb@insightbb.com. Maybe you'll save my season, who knows?
Darin Erstad is Posting the Numbers, But . . .
Should you have him on your team? Raw stats don't lie--17 R, 20 RBI, 4 SB with a .266 AVG in the first week of May--and a 14 game hitting streak! Among 1B in MLB, that's 9th in runs, 5th in RBIs, and 1st in SB. Quite a bit better than the "least productive 1B in the MLB" tag I put on him in the preseason, huh? Well, I'll agree that 1B seems to be agreeing with him, now that he doesn't have to do all that runnin' around in the grass. And you hear that when a hitter has his legs under him and completely healthy, it makes a huge difference. I'll agree.
However, let's look closer. Other numbers, which don't count in fantasy directly but affect the ones that do, show some serious warning signs. Another fantasy gamer once told me that the only numbers that matter are the one that count. That sounds like a real good way to lose your fantasy league.
Here are the less obvious numbers to fantasy gamers. I've posted Erstad's totals and where he ranks among the 26 first basemen who qualify as regulars (average 3.1 plate appearances per game):
OBP: .292 (25th) Only Jason Phillips is worse.
SLG: .339 (24th) Only ahead of the powerful JT Snow and Phillips.
OPS: .631 (24th) Again, only Snow and Phillips are worse.
BB/K: 0.17 (26th) Dead last. 4 BB, 23 K.
Obviously, none of this bodes well for DE. He may be 16th among 1B eligible players in the MLB on ESPN's Player Rater, but if he was ever trade bait, it's now. His success has strictly been provided by the hot bats (Guerrero, Guillen, Glaus) behind him. If they were to cool off, watch out. It may look like he's being really productive--and he is, really--but it's a house of cards. He could continue to be adequate, but one tough wind will bring it all down.
One more thing to note: JT Snow and Jason Phillips are currently 61st and 75th respectively among those 1B eligible on the Player Rater with similar peripheral stats. Erstad, again--16th. Do you see how far he could fall? Snow's ESPN ownership 0.4% Phillips 12.4%--and that's mainly because he's C eligible. Erstad? 82.3% People are buying into his hot streak here. Maybe someone in your league will too.
Here's the roster:
Starters:
Ben Sheets
Roger Clemens
Livan Hernandez
Roy Halladay
Estaban Loaiza
Jose Acevedo
Middle Relief:
Akinori Otsuka
Scott Williamson
Closers:
Keith Foulke
Danny Kolb
Rocky Biddle
C: Jorge Posada
1B: David Ortiz
2B: Jose Vidro
3B: Joe Randa
SS: Orlando Cabrera
OF: Barry Bonds
OF: Magglio Ordonez
OF: Reggie Sanders
OF: Steve Finley
OF: Luis Gonzalez
2B/SS: Adam Kennedy
1B/3B: Paul Konerko
UTIL: Johnny Damon
Bench: Randy Winn
IR: Dmitri Young
Here's where you come in. I could upgrade need at 3B and could use some closer help. What moves do you see that could put me over the top? Any? I really like this team, but I'd feel better about filling those two holes I mentioned. Any "sell highs" in here? If you have any thoughts, feel free to e-mail me at angelsflb@insightbb.com. Maybe you'll save my season, who knows?
Darin Erstad is Posting the Numbers, But . . .
Should you have him on your team? Raw stats don't lie--17 R, 20 RBI, 4 SB with a .266 AVG in the first week of May--and a 14 game hitting streak! Among 1B in MLB, that's 9th in runs, 5th in RBIs, and 1st in SB. Quite a bit better than the "least productive 1B in the MLB" tag I put on him in the preseason, huh? Well, I'll agree that 1B seems to be agreeing with him, now that he doesn't have to do all that runnin' around in the grass. And you hear that when a hitter has his legs under him and completely healthy, it makes a huge difference. I'll agree.
However, let's look closer. Other numbers, which don't count in fantasy directly but affect the ones that do, show some serious warning signs. Another fantasy gamer once told me that the only numbers that matter are the one that count. That sounds like a real good way to lose your fantasy league.
Here are the less obvious numbers to fantasy gamers. I've posted Erstad's totals and where he ranks among the 26 first basemen who qualify as regulars (average 3.1 plate appearances per game):
OBP: .292 (25th) Only Jason Phillips is worse.
SLG: .339 (24th) Only ahead of the powerful JT Snow and Phillips.
OPS: .631 (24th) Again, only Snow and Phillips are worse.
BB/K: 0.17 (26th) Dead last. 4 BB, 23 K.
Obviously, none of this bodes well for DE. He may be 16th among 1B eligible players in the MLB on ESPN's Player Rater, but if he was ever trade bait, it's now. His success has strictly been provided by the hot bats (Guerrero, Guillen, Glaus) behind him. If they were to cool off, watch out. It may look like he's being really productive--and he is, really--but it's a house of cards. He could continue to be adequate, but one tough wind will bring it all down.
One more thing to note: JT Snow and Jason Phillips are currently 61st and 75th respectively among those 1B eligible on the Player Rater with similar peripheral stats. Erstad, again--16th. Do you see how far he could fall? Snow's ESPN ownership 0.4% Phillips 12.4%--and that's mainly because he's C eligible. Erstad? 82.3% People are buying into his hot streak here. Maybe someone in your league will too.
