Saturday, June 12, 2004
Halo Daily/Mondesi Math
First thing I want to mention is a new website, administrated by yours truly, called Halo Daily (halodaily.blogspot.com). (There's also a link to the site just to the left of what you're reading now on the sidebar.) Sometimes, in the ever-moving machine that is Fantasy Baseball Information, my weekly (and often bi-weekly) columns don't get the word out to you, the readers, quickly enough. I recognize this and have started Halo Daily. It will give a brief game and fantasy report of each Halo game, posted either in the late evening or the early morning after each game. This will allow ITH readers to have an even more up-to-date feel. You can also leave me and other readers comments at the bottom of each game's report on anything (baseball related) in general. So bookmark it now and be kept in the loop. Of course, ITH (insidethehalo.blogspot.com) will continue to run as normal.
Turn of the Tide
After burning it up through most of May, the Halos have a hit a bit of skid since, going 6-9 in their last 15 games. Maybe not devastating, but when the Elephant Men have won 9 of their last 10, it can cut into a lead. Enough so that Anaheim now resides in second place, a half game behind Oakland, and only a game out of third, in front of the Chuck Norris' Texas Rangers. I've heard several people say that the injuries have finally caught up with this team. Maybe so, but I'd say it's the 4.87 ERA of the pitching staff in June, which is missing absolutely no one--except Donnelly, who's been gone all year and Percival, who with his poor performance, is better off taking a break until he heals anyway. Outside of Escobar, I'd sit Halos starters against bad matchups if you have the luxury.
Speaking of bad pitching...
The OC Register reported recently that Bartolo Colon's troubles in the last month or so could be linked to an old ankle injury that could be causing BC to alter his mechanics, therefore altering his delivery, therefore ruining your ERA and WHIP this fantasy season. Colon hasn't pitched since this big "revelation", so we'll see if anything's different next start (which is tonight). BC's ERA is 6.00, his WHIP is 1.57, and his BB rate is up a little, but in his case it was exceptional before, so now it's just average. His K rate is up, and his K/BB ratio is still in line with career totals, so he's not far off. The problem is his velocity really. It's down just enough for batters to tee off. WATCH this situation; the numbers show he could miss time soon with injury.
Mending Wings: Revolving Door
The new episode finds both Salmon and Anderson back in the lineup, although with Salmon only being able to DH, he's gonna find it hard to get everyday ABs while DaVanon is tearing it up as he is. Eck's hamstring is still not 100%, it looks like he'll only start maybe 4 or 5 times a week for a just a little bit. Scioscy keeps saying Molina will play soon, but then doesn't play him. It really should be soon, though. Trading Jose for offensive help probably won't happen now because that could leave Josh Paul as the regular catcher if Jose were to run out in front of a bus or something. Darin Erstad is back in minor league rehab, meaning Kotchman's everyday ABs are numbered. Percy's out for at least a month. The "Likely Out for the Season" tally is now at 2: Glaus and Mondesi.
Mondesi Math
Let's talk about this signing of Raul Mondesi. Some would say, "Ha! Karma! That's he gets for doing Pittsburgh the way he did!" (I wouldn't be among those. Karma's overrated.) However, it is interesting to note the financial "investment" in Mondesi, as Arte Moreno might put it. Mondesi signed for the remainder of the season for 1.75 mil. His line with the Halos: 4-34 (.118), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R. That's 1.75 mil per HR, per RBI, a half-off deal on runs at $875,000 per run and a steal at $437,500 per base hit. I'm not really a money mind, but that's not that good of a purchase. I mean even when you figure in the 1 outfield assist, that's doesn't really sweeten the deal for me. Not the most fiscally responsible move, you might say. Or--you might just say bad karma.
Is It Time to Get on DaVanWagon?
In 47 games, Jeff DaVanon is hitting .341/3/17 with 17 runs and 8 swipes. That's pretty impressive. I said at the beginning of the year that he wasn't a sleeper, partly because of the lack of PT he would receive. I'm could be wrong for two reasons. One: I just didn't give this 30-year-old with most of his career in the minors enough credit. Two: We all know the Angels' injury situation has provided him with PT aplenty. Is he for real? Well, his hit rate thus far in '04 is 39%, which is way above his mean of 29%. If he were getting hits on 10% less of his batted balls like usual, he'd be batting .261 instead of .341. So yeah, the AVG is quite a bit over his head. The dash of power and SB aren't, though. Now his only problem--again--is PT with Anderson and Salmon back.
Odds and Ends
Vlad won the Silver Fantasy Halo in week 9 with this line: 8-25 (.320), 2HR, 12RBI, 2R, 3SB. The man's just great. He stole another base last night. Vlad owners like that (me too). . .I'm gonna have to start calling John Lackey "The Riddler", 'cause he's just an enigma. 3-7 record with a terrible ERA, making me look foolish for praising him, then he goes 7IP, 7H, 2ER, 6K, and only 1BB last night against the Cubs, who've been hitting well. Go figure. . .Don't forget to check Halo Daily. Also the e-mail is insidethehalo@insightbb.com. Enjoy interleague play this week as we get to see all those AL pitchers looking really silly swingin' a bat. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
Turn of the Tide
After burning it up through most of May, the Halos have a hit a bit of skid since, going 6-9 in their last 15 games. Maybe not devastating, but when the Elephant Men have won 9 of their last 10, it can cut into a lead. Enough so that Anaheim now resides in second place, a half game behind Oakland, and only a game out of third, in front of the Chuck Norris' Texas Rangers. I've heard several people say that the injuries have finally caught up with this team. Maybe so, but I'd say it's the 4.87 ERA of the pitching staff in June, which is missing absolutely no one--except Donnelly, who's been gone all year and Percival, who with his poor performance, is better off taking a break until he heals anyway. Outside of Escobar, I'd sit Halos starters against bad matchups if you have the luxury.
Speaking of bad pitching...
The OC Register reported recently that Bartolo Colon's troubles in the last month or so could be linked to an old ankle injury that could be causing BC to alter his mechanics, therefore altering his delivery, therefore ruining your ERA and WHIP this fantasy season. Colon hasn't pitched since this big "revelation", so we'll see if anything's different next start (which is tonight). BC's ERA is 6.00, his WHIP is 1.57, and his BB rate is up a little, but in his case it was exceptional before, so now it's just average. His K rate is up, and his K/BB ratio is still in line with career totals, so he's not far off. The problem is his velocity really. It's down just enough for batters to tee off. WATCH this situation; the numbers show he could miss time soon with injury.
Mending Wings: Revolving Door
The new episode finds both Salmon and Anderson back in the lineup, although with Salmon only being able to DH, he's gonna find it hard to get everyday ABs while DaVanon is tearing it up as he is. Eck's hamstring is still not 100%, it looks like he'll only start maybe 4 or 5 times a week for a just a little bit. Scioscy keeps saying Molina will play soon, but then doesn't play him. It really should be soon, though. Trading Jose for offensive help probably won't happen now because that could leave Josh Paul as the regular catcher if Jose were to run out in front of a bus or something. Darin Erstad is back in minor league rehab, meaning Kotchman's everyday ABs are numbered. Percy's out for at least a month. The "Likely Out for the Season" tally is now at 2: Glaus and Mondesi.
Mondesi Math
Let's talk about this signing of Raul Mondesi. Some would say, "Ha! Karma! That's he gets for doing Pittsburgh the way he did!" (I wouldn't be among those. Karma's overrated.) However, it is interesting to note the financial "investment" in Mondesi, as Arte Moreno might put it. Mondesi signed for the remainder of the season for 1.75 mil. His line with the Halos: 4-34 (.118), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R. That's 1.75 mil per HR, per RBI, a half-off deal on runs at $875,000 per run and a steal at $437,500 per base hit. I'm not really a money mind, but that's not that good of a purchase. I mean even when you figure in the 1 outfield assist, that's doesn't really sweeten the deal for me. Not the most fiscally responsible move, you might say. Or--you might just say bad karma.
Is It Time to Get on DaVanWagon?
In 47 games, Jeff DaVanon is hitting .341/3/17 with 17 runs and 8 swipes. That's pretty impressive. I said at the beginning of the year that he wasn't a sleeper, partly because of the lack of PT he would receive. I'm could be wrong for two reasons. One: I just didn't give this 30-year-old with most of his career in the minors enough credit. Two: We all know the Angels' injury situation has provided him with PT aplenty. Is he for real? Well, his hit rate thus far in '04 is 39%, which is way above his mean of 29%. If he were getting hits on 10% less of his batted balls like usual, he'd be batting .261 instead of .341. So yeah, the AVG is quite a bit over his head. The dash of power and SB aren't, though. Now his only problem--again--is PT with Anderson and Salmon back.
Odds and Ends
Vlad won the Silver Fantasy Halo in week 9 with this line: 8-25 (.320), 2HR, 12RBI, 2R, 3SB. The man's just great. He stole another base last night. Vlad owners like that (me too). . .I'm gonna have to start calling John Lackey "The Riddler", 'cause he's just an enigma. 3-7 record with a terrible ERA, making me look foolish for praising him, then he goes 7IP, 7H, 2ER, 6K, and only 1BB last night against the Cubs, who've been hitting well. Go figure. . .Don't forget to check Halo Daily. Also the e-mail is insidethehalo@insightbb.com. Enjoy interleague play this week as we get to see all those AL pitchers looking really silly swingin' a bat. For the Angels, Matt Allen--ESPN.
