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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Noted and famed Baseball Statistician Bill James recently opened up on the Steroid controversy.  He takes quite an interesting take on the subject (Cooperstown and the ‘Roids), and his conclusion is diametric to what you would expect from the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

Russell Branyan: With a BHIP% over 90 points higher than Branyan’s career average in the middle of June, some significant batting average regression was expected. Here in July we’re seeing it come fast and furious. Branyan’s in the midst of...

Miguel Montero - Montero hit in his eighth straight, dragging his AVG up 20 points during that stretch to .273. The 26 year old backstop isn't showing as much power growth as I would have expected this year, but his...

Brandon Wood (3B - Angels) Brandon Wood was called up yesterday; but, with Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter landing on the DL, he still does not have a consistent place to find at bats. Wood ripped up Triple-A last year...

Livian Hernandez: After a poor outing on Thursday, 8 ER in 4 innings, Hernandez’s spot in the Mets starting rotation could be in jeopardy. With his skill set, 4.7 K/9, 3.4, and a 40% GB, Hernandez is lucky just to...

Joel Pineiro: Pineiro’s resurrection as an extreme control/ground ball specialist continued on Thursday as he manhandled the Brewers on Thursday with ease. He needed just 100 pitches to finish off the Brewers in a complete game effort and rolled 19...

Marco Scuturo: As the Jays starting shortstop, Scuturo is having a good season, 6/37/.283 with 62 runs scored in 410 PA. With a great approach at the plate, 14% BB and an 88% Ct%, Scuturo has no problem getting on...

Alfredo Aceves- NYA- FYI- Aceves takes the mound for a spot start today and will have a limit of about 65 pitches. That may or may not give him enough to stick around for a potential win, but his performance...

Oliver Perez (SP--Mets)—Dim the lights, cue scary music. Yes, Oliver Perez is back. And were you thinking that now would be a good time to add Perez to your lineup? The “New and Improved” Oliver Perez? Did the notion enter...

In case you're wondering, I'm not adding 2009 draftees until they sign a pro contract. Stephen Strasburg for example, isn't likely to sign until just prior to the August 15 deadline. American League 30 Lars Anderson BOS 1B B .299...

AL Player Profiles - July 8, 2009 1. Jason Bay (OF - Red Sox) - Bay finally broke out of his month-long slump in a big way on Tuesday night, going 2-for-3 with a HR, a double, and 2 stolen...

Angel Pagan (OF – Mets) Angel Pagan is nearing a return to the majors, and with the Mets outfield desperate for some warm bodies, I see some real value here. Pagan does not offer much at the plate (.713 career...

Hi folks, as we all know the second portion of the season is pivotal in our quest to have an admirable finish. I always say that you need two things to win a fantasy championship: Skill & the absence...

Casey Kotchman- ATL- Stats- Looking at Kotchman’s Fantistics Player Charts, certain numbers are almost identical between 2008 and so far in 2009. His batting average, singles average and Batting EYE are all just about the same. The thing that kills...

Ricky Romero - Romero tossed his seventh straight quality start yesterday against the Yanks, holding the Bombers to three runs over 6 1/3 innings to keep his ERA under 3.00. The high groundball/high strikeout combination that he's flashing is a...

With the half way point here, it's time to look at the production (rankings) we expect from the top 300 position players in the second half of 2009. Subscribing to the regression to the mean concept (the statistical term referring...

Victor Martinez (C—Indians)—Cheer up Victor Martinez owners. You knew that at some point he was going to have to slow down. You didn’t think he was going to bat .350 the whole season, did you? A huge bonus compared to...

Ryan Hanigan (C-CIN) – Hanigan was 1-for-2 with a walk Sunday after not starting the previous two days after a 3-for-3 effort. Hanigan is now batting a fine .338/.428/.404 in 126 at-bats with a very impressive 12:22 K:BB (1.83 EYE)....

Joe Saunders: Back at the beginning of June I outlined the plan of attack with Joe Saunders, against bottom-half OPS teams in the league, he’s dominant, against top-half OPS teams in the league, he’s below average. Simply start him against...

Alcides Escobar - Shortstop, Milwaukee Brewers Alcides Escobar, Baseball America's Top Brewers prospect will be playing SS for the World Team in the Futures game coming up in St Louis on July 12th. The 6-1, 175 Venezuela native was signed...

Fernando Martinez: Martinez is day-to-day with a sore knee. The 20-year-old is suffering from horrible luck, a .143 BHIP%, which is contributing to his poor numbers, 1/8/.176 in 91 AB. However, he is also not generating much power or plate...

Daisuke Matsuzaka (SP – Red Sox) Dice-K left yesterday for Florida where he will commence a conditioning program. The Sox are essentially treating this as a do-over, and have likened it to Spring Training, which Dice-K missed due to the...

Felipe Paulino (SP-HOU) – Paulino returned from a groin injury to post a very impressive 7-3-1-1-0-9 against the Tigers in his last start, seemingly securing the No. 5 rotation spot. Flash forward to Friday and now we’re not so sure....

Scott Hairston: Hairston continues to be an underrated commodity in fantasy. Hairston’s owned in an astoundingly low 9% of ESPN leagues despite posting a .914 OPS while on pace for a 20-20 season. Hairston’s bounced around quite a bit at...

Vicente Padilla: Padilla’s next start has been pushed back to Tuesday because of some minor soreness in his shoulder. With below average skills, 4.9 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, and a 50% GB%, Padilla has been mediocre, 6-4 with a 4.75 ERA....

Alexei Ramirez- CHA- Injury- Ramirez will be out of today’s game, but it has nothing to do with the beaning he took on Monday. He is apparently fully recovered from that, going 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Ramirez injured...

David Wright (3B--Mets)--Is David Wright having a terrific season? I guess it depends on who you ask. I will say it’s a very unique season. Yes, his BA is in the .340 area, which is wonderful, but where has all...

American League 18 Jesus Montero NYY C A- .304/.377/.478 in 69 AA AB. Doesn't turn 20 until November. Can he stick at C though? 19 Eric Hosmer KC 1B A- ,896 OPS in May but dropped to .590 in June....

1. Jason Bay (OF - Red Sox) - Nobody is happier to see June end than Jason Bay. He ended the month hitting just .230 with a .301 OBP and 4 HR. Over the last week, Bay has just 2...