Jeremy Bonderman (SP - DET) Jeremy Bonderman was relatively sharp last night against the Rangers allowing 4 runs in 5.2 IP on 6 hits and a BB with 3 Ks. I say relatively because Bonderman gave up 11 runs in 10 IP over his previous two starts against Seattle and Anaheim on 12 hits and 6 BB with 9 K. Let’s not panic. His 8.4 K rate and .235 OBA (.298 BHIP%) entering last night are solid. His 1.40 WHIP suggested an ERA closer to 4.30 than his actual ERA of 7.20. The culprit has been, to this point, a ridiculously unfavorable 35.7% strand percentage. Sure, it’s not pretty right now, but I don’t think Jeremy has been quite as bad as his numbers indicate. He lowers his ERA to 6.90 on the year but wasn’t involved in the decision as the Tigers’ pen couldn’t hold the 6-4 lead he gave them. The Angels are up next. Bonderman is 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA over 11 career starts against LAA. He hasn’t pitched well enough to earn your loyalty if you have a comparable alternative and frankly almost any reasonable NL starter in mixed leagues would serve the purpose, but there’s no reason to cut bait yet.
Adalberto Ibarra (C - BOS) The Red Sox obviously have catching problems and apparently Cuba isn’t too far to go to try and find a solution. Red Sox agreed to terms with Cuban catcher Adalberto Ibarra on a five-year, $4.3 million contract with a $1.5 million signing bonus. The 23 year old is 5-9 and a nicely conditioned 200 pounds. He immediately becomes the Red Sox top catching prospect, at least offensively, even though the Sox are still very much enamored with Mark Wagner, Luis Exposito, Tim Federowicz, and Ryan Lavarnway. Unfortunately he’s not ready to help where the Red Sox need it most … the actual catching part of the job, more specifically, throwing runners out. The Sox now have surplus at catching in their system which could lead to inclusion of a catcher in a summer package. Ibarra is in the DR now waiting for a visa so he can head the Sox complex in Fort Myers. No word yet where he will be assigned when he’s ready but AA Portland isn’t out of the question.
Josh Beckett (SP - BOS) Josh Beckett was 3-5 with a 6.62 ERA in 12 career starts against the Blue Jays entering last night’s start. He was also 1-2, 7.76 in five starts at the Rogers Centre. In 10.1 innings against Toronto last season, Josh allowed 12 earned runs. So it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to watch him allow 8 earned runs last night in 3 IP on 9 hits, 3 walks and 3 K. Worse than that though, Josh handed back Red Sox leads of 5-0 and 8-6 thanks to a 6-run 3rd inning, and 2 runs allowed in the 4th before he left. Fortunately for him, the Sox pounded the Jays’ staff and Josh escaped with a no-decision. Beckett has allowed 15 runs in 10 IP over his last two starts against the Rangers and now the Jays. He’s allowed 16 hits in those 10 IP with 8 walks and 7 K … Scary … His K rate was down to 5.9 entering last night’s start, vs. 8.5 career, and his walk rate was up to 3.5 as opposed to 2.75 over his career. Opponents are hitting .279 off of him this year (.245 career) with a .311 BHIP (which isn’t terribly out of line). There are reasons for concern, even this early. Still, Josh starts next against the O’s in Baltimore on Sunday. He’s 5-1 with a 3.04 ERA at Camden Yards and the O’s are dreadful. Keep him in for Sunday’s start and we’ll see where we are at that point.
Daric Barton (1B - OAK) Daric Barton did in fact travel with the A’s to Tampa to open the team’s road trip against the Rays. Barton fractured his right middle finger on Sunday and originally it was felt he’d be evaluated in Oakland but that evaluation will happen Tuesday in St. Petersburg. This is obviously a good sign but there’s every chance that he misses some time, which makes him a questionable play for the week, especially if you have a comparable replacement. All of us will know more when he reaches the clubhouse on Tuesday.
