Chipper Jones (3B-ATL) - Chipper is back off his latest DL stint and was in Sunday's lineup for the Braves. He's made it known that 2012 will be his final season playing baseball, but it's pretty clear that when healthy, he can still hit. Chipper is batting a solid .307/.377/.485 with five homers and a 1.0 EYE in 101 at-bats. His power has taken a step back the last couple years, as he's posted ISO's of .161, .195, and .178 the past three years after routinely being in the .250ish range in this century's first decade. He still has a good batting eye and some pop, so don't hesitate to put him back in your lineups.
Andrew Cashner (P-SD) - Cashner will attempt to do what Dan Bard (as of yet) could not, and that is to go from reliever to starting pitcher. He's been optioned to Double-A where he'll be stretched out, with the idea he'll be brought back in a couple weeks (guesstimate) and join the San Diego rotation. Cashner averaged an incredible 98.8 mph as a reliever this year, but with a 5.7 BB/9, he had more than his share of outings in which he had no idea where the pitch could go once it left his hand. From what I saw, his fastball could also get straight at times, and no matter how fast he threw it, guys could tee up if they knew it was coming. How will he fare in the rotation? Well, as a Cub prospect, he did post a 59:15 K:BB in 57 innings working as a starter in the minors back in 2010, so the opportunity is there for him to become a solid starter, or with his stuff, much more perhaps. He has an above-average changeup and a solid slider, so the starter's repertoire is there. It just remains to be seen if he is able to throw enough strikes.
Ross Ohlendorf (SP-SD) - While Andrew Cashner is down in the minors attempting to convert to a starting pitching role, Ohlendorf will fill in with the Padres. Normally a guy with his questionable skillset wouldn't merit a write-up, but this is the Padres, and Petco can transform mediocre pitchers into usable fantasy commodities. Ohlendorf, the ex-Pirate, tossed 4.1 innings of one-run ball against the Brewers (on the road no less) on Saturday, so he probably merits an NL-only look. Ohlendorf has shown the ability to maintain an ERA in the low 4's as a starter in the past, so thought he won't miss too many bats (6.2 K/9 career), he's still usable.
Gaby Sanchez (1B-MIA) - If Sanchez was dropped in your NL-only league, you now have the opportunity to upgrade your 1B/CI slot, as he was recalled on Sunday. Sanchez hit just .197/.244/.295 with a single HR in 131 PA's before being sent down, but he predictably hit well in Triple-A to the tune of .310/.494/.483. The .173 ISO is nothing special, but we already knew he was a 15-20 HR guy at best, but with an average that could easily be .300+. He'll push Logan Morrison back to left field and leave CF at-bats for Chris Coghlan and Justin Ruggiano for now.
Brett Wallace (1B-HOU) - Wallace has put himself back in the Astros' future plans, batting .381/.480/.619 entering Sunday's action, and .400/.500/.760 exiting Sunday's action. Okay, so that was in just 26 at-bats and he's fanned in a third of those, but it's still noteworthy given his past as a high draft pick and top prospect. Carlos Lee however is only about a week away from a return, so it would seem that Wallace's time in Houston is going to be limited, but is there a chance he sticks as a part-time player, perhaps seeing at-bats at 1B, 3B, and LF? Toronto moved him to 1B for a reason a couple years ago, but Wallace is notably slimmer this year, so perhaps he can see some at-bats at third, where Chris Johnson is batting a so-so .286/.332/.442.
These are only a few of the players we are covering today. We profile over 100 players everyday in our premium section, become a member today.
Post a comment