NL Player Spotlight - August 24, 2007
Chad
Billingsley
collected his first win in a month with 7 strong innings against the
Phillies
on Thursday. He held Philadelphia
to 1 run in 7 IP on 4 hits, 2 walks and he struck out 7. Chad also
posted a nice 8-5 GB?FB
split and did it all in a fairly efficient 93 pitches. Since July 23rd,
Chad
had been 0-4 in 5 starts, but lost two 1-0 games in that span. He had
made 13
starts and 36 appearances for the Dodgers this year posting a 8.53 K
rate and
.254 OBA. He has however walked almost 4 per 9 (3.98) and both his
BHIP% (.285)
and strand% (80.1%) have been favorable. This is also his second start
in which
he made it through 7 IP in his last 5 tries. Chad had made
himself into a viable
starting option in most formats and he is capable of this type of start
anytime
he goes. His next scheduled start is Tuesday against the Nats.
Fabio
Castro was
sound in his first MLB start last night, holding the Dodgers to 1 run
in 5 IP
on 2 hits with four strikeouts. He did walk 6 however including walking
the
bases loaded in the second although he escaped that jam. In 6
appearances for
the Phillies this year Fabio has walked 11.4 batters per nine
… 11.4. In 52.2
AAA IP this year (20 apps, 6 starts) Fabio walked 5.1/9.
That’s obviously an
issue. His walks have resulted in a 1.96 WHIP which have resulted in a
6.23 ERA
despite a .197 OBA (which is the result of a very favorable .245
BHIP%). His
inability to locate makes the 22-year-old LHP volatile.
“Flash” Fabio will not
get a second start, he was optioned to Ottawa
after the game.
Paul
Maholm
improved to 10-14 on the year after seven strong innings against the Rockies on
Thursday. He allowed just 1 run on 7 hits and
2 walks while striking out 5. You have to remember that Paul started
the season
3-10, but he has won for the 5th time in 7
starts and he has allowed
2 or fewer runs in 4 of his last 7, with just his last start (6 runs in
7 IP)
ringing the disaster start bell. Maholm is 5-3, 3.59 for the Bucs since
the
ASB, making him a late season sleeper. Paul could go Tuesday in one of
the
games against the Reds and therefore get a second start against Milwaukee next week,
or he
could be pushed to Wednesday against the Reds.
Before
yesterday’s game the Cubs acquired Craig Monroe from
the Tigers for a player to be named. He is expected to join the team
today in Arizona. Craig
will
likely supplant Matt Murton in LF while Alfonso Soriano remains on the
sidelines. After Soriano returns Craig’s outlook gets a
little murkier but he
should find some ABs against LHP. Craig
can be summed up in two indicators. He has some pop as his .448 career
SLG%
indicates (.482 last year in Comerica), but he has broken off
diplomatic
relations with the strike zone as his 6.2 career walk rate indicates
(5.5% this
year, under Leyland). There
will be days when
you wish you had pulled the trigger and claimed him going forward, but
the days
you will forget he exists will be far greater in number.
The
Astros are expected to start top prospect Troy Patten Saturday
against the
Pirates. Troy is 4-2,
4.59 for our friends down
at Dell Diamond in Round Rock a 1.12 WHIP despite and unfavorable BHIP%
(.256)
and Strand% (62.75).
The lefty throws in the
low-to-mid 90s with outstanding life on his fastball. He follows with a
change
and an advanced curve. His short-term contribution is of course and
open
question but he has definite long-term value. Troy should be
claimed in keeper leagues
where he is newly eligible with the promotion. Look for more in
Prospect
Central this Sunday.
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