Randy Wolf- LAD- Cold- Although Wolf got a quality start yesterday, it was by the most minimal of standards (3 runs allowed in 6 IP, on 9 hits, no walks, and 3 strikeouts). Over his last 3 starts, Wolf has seen his WHIP rise from 1.20 to 1.32, his ERA from 3.41 to 4.06, and given up 12 earned runs on 24 hits and 5 walks in 16 IP. His K ratio of 9.11 per 9 IP this season is way above his career norms, but since he is averaging fewer than 6 innings per start the raw totals don't help you as much as they could. Wolf has managed to post an 8-4 record, but given his stamina issues, that is highly dependent on the Dodger offense and bullpen. His Tommy John surgery may not have been as successful as some others.
Shawn Green- NYM- Hot- Green returned from the DL and went 2-for-4 with an RBI, run scored and stolen base to raise his average to .318, 41 points above where he finished last season. He has had a little help this year from a higher-than-usual BHIP of .267, but that is not an outrageously high number, so Green may not fall too far, if he does at all. As a matter of fact, except for last year when a move from Arizona to the Mets sent him from a hitter-friendly to hitter-hostile park, he has boosted his performance in the second half of the season. Green's power numbers are not showing the same boost, however, as his homer ratio is almost identical to 2006, when he ended up with 15 homers. His 54 point boost in slugging is pinned mostly to the higher batting average and a small increase in double ratio. His 5 steals are more than he had all of last year, s he could provide a little bonus in that column also. If batting average is your major concern, Green is a good risk to try and boost it if he can be had at a reasonable price.
Carlos Zambrano- CHN- Hot- Zambrano went 3-0 with an Era of 0.58 against Houston last season and continued his mastery of the Astros yesterday. In 8 IP he allowed just an unearned run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 8. Zambrano's pitch counts give me cold sweats normally (he's topped 110 in 8 of his 14 starts), but the 128 he threw yesterday was excessive even for him. That last time Zambrano broke 125 pitches he got hammered in his following start, so don't be surprised if there is some let down the next time out.
Matt Morris- SF- Hot- Morris threw his second consecutive complete game and 3rd in his last 5 starts. He was most efficient yesterday as he needed just 110 pitches to get through the 9 innings and avoided the letdown he had after his previous followup to a 120+ pitch effort. Morris allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk to beat the Blue Jays. He has been a workhorse in his career, throwing 190+ innings in 5 of the past 6 seasons. The workload does not come without a price, however, as Morris' performance has declined after the All Star break each season. Put him in the sell high column.
San Francisco- SF- Rookie- Nate Schierholtz still needs to develop better plate discipline to turn him into a prospect you'd want to mess with. Sure, he has posted a .347 batting average at AAA Fresno this season in 222 at bats, but he has only walked 9 times, leaving him with an OBP of just .374, low given that gaudy batting average. On the plus side, Schierholtz has cut down his strikeouts, fanning just 26 times this season after whiffing 81 times in 470 AA at bats in 2006. The rare prospect like Howie Kendrick can get by without drawing walks, but Schierholtz has not posted Kendrick-like batting averages on his way up the minor league ladder.
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