"July 2009" Monthly Archives

  • Entertainment
    NL Daily Notes - July 31st, 2009

    Bud Norris - SP HOU: In one of the more unusual occurrences in a baseball season the two starting pitchers in the Cubs-Astros game yesterday were both informed they were no longer with the teams immediately following the game. While...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Report - July 31, 2009

    Josh Anderson: The Royals acquired Anderson from the Tigers for cash. He has outstanding speed, 13 steals in 15 attempts despite having only 175 PA. Without any power, Anderson’s contact skills, 87% Ct5, and ground ball approach, 58% GB%, are...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Commentary- July 30, 2009

    Joaquin Arias- TEX- Rise Value- Arias was called up to the Rangers yesterday due to the injury to Ian Kinsler. He will serve primarily as a backup middle infielder until Kinsler’s hamstring is better. Arias has seen his stock fall...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 30th, 2009

    Mat Latos (SP—Padres) It’s difficult to determine how rookies will do once they come up. Even the rookie “sure thing” will endure struggles. Look at David Price and Matt Weiters. They have hardly been the impact players out of the...

  • Entertainment
    Prospect Spreadsheet Updates - July 30, 2009

    Lots of movement this week with the trade deadline just a day a way. The Pirates look to be the big winners so far, acquiring Jeff Clement, Tim Alderson, and a host of others in return for guys who won't...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - 7.29

    Andy Marte (3B - Indians) - The Indians recalled hot-hitting Andy Marte on Tuesday and he will likely get plenty of ABs right away. The 25-year-old Marte has been on radar screens for a little bit, but it wasn't until...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 29, 2009

    Jason Marquis (SP – Rockies) As has been his style this year, Jason Marquis wiggled his way through 6 effective innings on Tuesday night. As Paul pointed out yesterday, Marquis’ .274 BABIP and 7.7% HR/FB rate are ripe for some...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight

    Melky Cabrera - Let's call this a big up arrow, as Brett Gardner's injury opens the door for Cabrera to get even more playing time to take advantage of his semi-breakout season. Cabrera's stats sell him a bit short I...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight- July 28, 2009

    Adam Wainwright- STL- Caution- Wainwright has performed very well this season but he has been throwing many more pitches than he has done in the past. In his first two seasons as a starter he hit the 110 pitch mark...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 27, 2009

    Todd Wellemeyer (SP-STL) – Wellemeyer might very well find himself out of the St. Louis rotation after Sunday’s performance in Philadelphia. Lasting 5.2 innings, Wellemeyer allowed seven runs (five earned) on a whopping 11 hits, walking one, striking out three,...

  • Entertainment
    AL Daily Notes - July 27th, 2009

    Jason Frasor: Frasor worked a clean 9th inning, striking out 1 in the process, and now has 7 consecutive scoreless appearances. It was a 4 run lead so there is no indication of a switch in the closer’s role but...

  • Entertainment
    Prospect Central 09 Week 16

    Deolis Guerra - RHP Minnesota Twins Yes, he's still around ... and he's still only 20. Deolis Guerra came to the Twins in the Johan Santana trade and I talked at the time about how I feel that despite the...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight

    Jorge de la Rosa - Jorge won his sixth in a row yesterday, holding the Giants to two runs over 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven without a walk. De la Rosa has made great strides this year in almost...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 26th, 2009

    Luke Hochevar (SP—Royals) There is little doubt that Luke Hochevar has plenty of upside and after Saturday’s start against a potent Ranger lineup where he struck out 13, you might suspect that there is a sense that Hochevar might be...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Report - July 25, 2009

    Aaron Rowand: Rowand has missed some time after getting hit with a Tommy Hanson pitch earlier in the week, but he should avoid the DL. His skills are heading in the wrong direction, 2007/2008/2009 BB%’s of 7%/7%/7% and Ct%’s of...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 25, 2009

    Carlos Guillen (OF – Tigers) Carlos Guillen returned from the DL on Friday, and started both games of a double-header. He was used at DH, and batted 5th in both contests. Guillen returns to quite an ugly .200 / .267...

  • Entertainment
    NL Daily Notes - July 24th, 2009

    Mark Reynolds: I continue to be amazed by Reynolds development. Depsite making few improvements to his K:BB Ratio, an area most experts thought he’d need to vastly improve to maintain consistent success, Reynolds has taken giant steps forward in 2009....

  • Entertainment
    Cooperstown and the ‘Roids - Bill James

    Cooperstown and the Roids

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Report - July 24, 2009

    Chris Duncan: The Red Sox sent the newly acquired Duncan to Triple-A. Prior to the deal, Duncan had been mired in a horrible slump, just 1 hit in his last 31 AB, so a stint in Triple-A to regain his...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight- July 23, 2009

    Jarrod Washburn- SEA- Caution- A couple of things have come together for Washburn in this career (so far) year. One is under his control and one is not. First, Washburn has put together his best K rate EVAR! Second, he...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 23rd, 2009

    Miguel Montero (C-Diamondbacks) –Generally, fantasy owners fall into three different categories. You’ve got one type who have assembled their All-Star team and will ride that team ‘til the end, win or lose, with the belief that the cream will rise...

  • Entertainment
    Prospect Spreadsheet Updates - July 23, 2009

    American League 10 Desmond Jennings TAM OF A- On fire: .485 in last 10. .328/.412/.510 with 36 SB and 1.02 EYE. Crawford's replacement? 11 Jesus Montero NYY C A- Just .211 in last 10 games but HR in 2 of...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 22, 2009

    Jason Bay (OF - Red Sox) - Bay just can't seem to get it together. He was 0-for-1 with 3 BB and a run scored on Tuesday, bringing his average for the month of July to .184 and OBP to...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 22, 2009

    Gaby Sanchez (1B – Marlins) Gaby Sanchez was called up on Tuesday. Sanchez’s defensive skills are ideally suited for 1B, but he has shown the ability to handle the hot corner adequately in Triple-A this year. It is way, way...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight- July 21, 2009

    Doug Davis- ARI- Cold- Davis was crushed yesterday, giving up 8 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks in just 2-1/3 IP. Since a run of 4 consecutive starts in which he threw 110 or more pitches he has gone...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 21, 2009

    Sean O'Sullivan (SP - Angels) Sean O’Sullivan was scheduled to start on Monday night, but the game was postponed due to rain. Since the game never even started, it would seem logical to have O’Sullivan get the start Tuesday night...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - 7/20

    Jose Contreras (SP - White Sox) - Contreras had been pitching well.... until Sunday. He was 5-for-6 in QS entering Sunday's game. Pitching against the Orioles, Contreras just couldn't get into a rhythm and had no feel or control. Baltimore...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 20, 2009

    Matt Kemp (OF-LAD) – It was encouraging to see Kemp in the fifth spot in the order Saturday against left-hander Mike Hampton, but Kemp was two slots lower Sunday against the right-hander Russ Ortiz. Just a thought, but Joe Torre...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 19th, 2009

    Marc Rzepczynski (SP—Blue Jays) Marc Rzepczynski nailed down the first victory of his career and did it impressive fashion against a tough team in the Red Sox. Rzepczynski has only logged 18 innings in 3 starts this season but he...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Report - July 19, 2009

    Ted Lilly: Lilly missed his start yesterday due to inflammation in his left knee, but may start tomorrow in Philadelphia. He always had the dominance to succeed, 2006/2007/2008/2009 K/9’s of 7.9/7.6/8.1/7.6, but it was not until Lilly improved his control,...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 18, 2009

    Fausto Carmona (SP – Indians) Carmona has certainly surprised with his immediate effectiveness in the minors. He was dominant in his lone Single-A and lone Double-A start, and now has looked very solid in his three starts at Triple-A (3.79...

  • Entertainment
    NL Daily Notes - July 18th, 2009

    Bronson Arroyo: Arroyo’s struggled all season battling a declining K Rate, increasing BB Rate and general overall decline, but for the last 2 outings; he’s been spectacular. Arroyo started off the 2nd half right where he left the first half...

  • Entertainment
    NL Daily Notes - July 17th, 2009

    Seth Smith: Seth Smith continues to get the raw end of the Colorado OF rotation. A commitment to get youngsters Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler AB’s and Ryan Spilborghs dominance against LHP leaves Smith as the odd man out in...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Report - July 17, 2009

    Jose Bautista: Bautista’s powerless .266 batting average, just 2 home runs in 143 AB, is even worse than it appears. With a 69% Ct%, an inflated .310 BHIP%, and a history of low BHIP%’s, 2006/2007/2008 BHIP%’s of .221/.217.227, expect Bautista’s...

  • Entertainment
    NL Player Spotlight - July 13, 2009

    Ryan Franklin (Closer – Cardinals) – I’ve been in St. Louis for the All-Star festivities since Thursday and I’ve been happy to see that at least some people have recognized how awesome Ryan Franklin has been this season. Of course,...

  • Entertainment
    AL Player Spotlight - July 12th, 2009

    John Smoltz (SP—Red Sox) – There are a lot of red flags where John Smoltz is concerned. First, he’s 42; he’s no spring chicken and is certainly in the twilight of a hall of fame career. Second, he’s returning for...