Javier Vazquez- FLA- Hot- Vazquez has said he is going to retire after this season. If he keeps pitching the way he has been latterly, though, there will undoubtedly be several million reasons for him to rethink that decision, all of them with dollar signs. He has thrown 10 straight quality starts and allowed only 1 earned run total in his last 4. Yesterday he threw a shutout, needing only 103 pitches to do so. Vazquez would qualify for at least a look at comeback player of the second half and if he plays in 2012 will merit attention.
Adron Chambers- STL- Rookie- Chambers got his first major league hit and RBI after entering the game as a pinch runner and staying in. Chambers primary asset is his speed. He stole 22 bases at AAA this season. He also showed some power, hitting 10 homers. Chambers could already be good enough for a 4th outfield slot in 2012 and could challenge for more.
Ryan Braun- MIL- Great Player- It was only a few years ago that Braun had to be referred to as "Ryan Braun the hitter" to distinguish him form a KC pitching prospect of the same name. No longer. Ryan Braun (no qualifier needed) joined the 30/30 club last night and has a .330 average to go with it. His BABIP is high at .350 but not hugely so compared to his career numbers. Braun has increased his Batting EYE every year he has been in the majors and is in the prime of his career. With his power, speed and average he is a premier fantasy player.
Bronson Arroyo- CIN- Cold- Arroyo gave up only 5 hits in his 6.2 IP. However, 4 of them were homers. That gives him 44 on the season and within striking distance of at least the NL record for homers allowed (48) if not the major league record (50.) His home park is killing him, as 27 of the homers have come there. The thing that has saved him from having a worse year is that he has only allowed as many walks as he has homers. This may actually be an opportunity for 2012. This is such a statistical outlier that it might just be a freak occurrence. If Arroyo is back to his old self next year he could end up being a bargain.
Alex White- COL- Idea- Coors Field might not be a good fit for White. He has had 5 starts for the Rockies since coming over from Cleveland. In those 5 starts, he has allowed 11 homers, a pace that would get Bronson Arroyo off the hook. White has served up 9 of those homers in his 3 Coors Field starts. The sample size is small, but this is going to be a key factor in whether White can live up to his minor league numbers.
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