Jayson Werth (OF-PHI) – I don’t get why the Phillies seem so desperate to move Werth. Sure, if they could get prospects to flip for Roy Oswalt, I’d get that, but the report we got Sunday had them considering dealing him for a “No. 4-type starter”. Don’t they already have a couple guys like that in Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ? Werth has just 1 homers this year after bashing 36 a year ago, but his triple-slash lines are nearly identical: 2009 - .268/.373/.506 vs. 2010 - .284/.378/.503. Yes, the ISO is down 19 points and the OBP increase is fueled in part by a .362 BABIP, but Werth is still a top-producing corner outfielder. The Phillies seem ready and willing to turn over right field to Domonic Brown, which is fine as he’s the top position player still in the minors, but why not acquire a SP cheaper, promote Brown, and make Raul Ibanez a fourth outfielder?
Chris Johnson (3B-HOU) – Johnson was 1-for-4 with a solo HR on Sunday and is now hitting a solid .315/.336/.495. The Astros haven’t had a long-term solution at the hot corner since the days of Ken Caminiti, and with Johnson, they likely still don’t. Let’s just say that a 27:3 K:BB in 111 at-bats just isn’t good. Johnson also had a 90:21 K:BB in 384 Triple-A at-bats a year ago, so this is nothing new. The power is there for 25 homers annually, but Johnson simply isn’t anywhere near a .300 hitter as his .405 BABIP indicates. Enjoy the ride, but it’s going to come to an end at some point.
Wandy Rodriguez (SP-HOU) – Rodriguez rebounded from a subpar outing last time (win against the Cubs) to hold the solid Reds offense to one hit over seven shutout innings. Rodriguez was 4-10 with a 6.09 ERA back on June 18, but in his six starts since, he’s 5-1 with a 2.31 ERA despite those five runs in six innings in his last start. Rodriguez also has a 34:9 K:BB in those 39 innings. Rodriguez has seen his fastball velocity drop nearly one mph (90.2 to 89.4) while his change is actually up .2 mph. When a pitcher has just 5.2 mph separation between his fastball and change, that’s just not enough to keep hitters off balance. Let’s hope his last six starts indicate he’s figured things out.
Michael Bourn (OF-HOU) – We haven’t written much about Bourn in recent weeks, and the mediocre results suggest why. Bourn did go 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and his 30th stolen base on Sunday, but he’s still batting just .254/.327/.329 in 350 at-bats. Bourn also entered Sunday’s game batting just .175 in the month of July, so he’s really been scuffling. Bourn’s BB% has stayed constant over last year (9.6% this year vs. 9.4% a year ago), and his EYE is up from 0.45 to 0.51. So what’s changed over his .285/.354/.384 season last year? Bad luck. Last year, Bourn rode a .367 BABIP to the .285 AVG, but this year the number sits at a more average .311. Bourn’s speed and batting style is conducive to a higher than average BABIP, but Bourn also hit under .280 in the minors in 2005 and 2006 before reaching the majors the following season. The steals are nice for fantasy owners, but don’t expect much else.
Ross Detwiler (SP-WAS) – Detwiler’s 0.00 ERA on Sunday will say his 2010 debut was a success, but the 2007 #6 overall pick allowed five unearned runs and walked three while allowing a HR and lasting just 3.2 innings. Detwiler sat in the 89-92 range with his fastball, which for a left-hander is fine, but clearly he wasn’t fooling anybody. Detwiler though deserved better from his defense, but it’s still tough to consider him from a fantasy perspective right now. Going forward, Detwiler’s lofty draft status (wonder if the Nats would have preferred Jason Heyward – picked #14 in that draft?) should keep him on your radar.
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