Joel Pineiro- LAA- Hot- After yesterday’s start, Pineiro’s GB% stands at 67.5%. His BABIP is at .245. This explains his 2.77 ERA. The odds of both of those factors being sustained are low. Pineiro’s performance will probably deteriorate.

Joba Chamberlain- NYY- FYI- It was another “meh” performance from Joba yesterday. An inning pitched with a hit and a strikeout, 6 strikes in 9 pitches. With 5 this and 2 walks in 4 IP over 4 appearances so far this year, Joba doesn’t seem to be forcing the issue of when he should go back into the rotation, if at all.

Jose Guillen- KC- Hot- Who is this and what has he done with the real Jose Guillen? Maybe this is more evidence for alien possession. The normally slow starting Guillen is hitting .361 with 5 homers in 39 PAs this season. He only had 9 homers in 312 PAs in all of 2009. Guillen has only struck out 3 times and his K% of 8.3% is half of what it was in his previous best major league season. There is no ready explanation (other than the alien possession one.) For now, chalk this up as an example of the extremes you can see in small sample sizes and enjoy it while it lasts.

Dontrelle Willis- DET- Caution- There seems to be reports of optimism coming out of Comerica Park concerning Willis. Unfortunately, it is likely misplaced. In 2006, he threw at least 110 pitches 16 times and hit the 120-pitch mark 5 times. He went through a stretch of 7 straight starts over 110 pitches and twice in that span broke 120. Willis was 24 years old. Simply, it looks like overusage that season burned him out.

Jonathan Papelbon- BOS- Stats- Papelbon got his 3rd save of the season yesterday, but the two walks he gave up in his inning of work make you go, “hmmmm.” In his last two appearances he has thrown a total of 18 strikes and 18 balls and has 4 walks in 4.1 IP this season. The sample size is too small yet to deem his command inherently suspect, but it does bear watching.

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