All posts under "Player Commentary" - Page 82

Elvis Andrus -- The Rangers dropped Elvis Andrus, who has batted second every game this year, down to the ninth spot in the order on Sunday. Andrus is hitting just .217 this year and entered the game 0 for his...

Brandon Belt-Giants-1B Brandon Belt went 1-4 with his 8th homerun of the year Saturday night. Belt has been a pleasant surprise to many so far this season. Belt posted strong numbers in the second half of 2013 and has carried...

Scott Carroll, Chicago White Sox - Scott Carroll picked up the loss Saturday throwing 6.0 innings but his defense allowed two unearned runs which were enough to send Carroll home with the loss. Carroll' stat line is almost baffling, as...

Danny Salazar (SP-CLE). Salazar picked up his first win of the season on Friday night against the White Sox, although the win came at a cost - 3 ER on 5 hits and 3 BBs over 5 innings. -Salazar did...

Justin Morneau (1B-COL) All it took was a move to Colorado to revitalize Justin Morneau's moribund career. He has suffered through a variety of injuries which cost him an entire season of games between 2012 and 2011. The next two...

Grant Balfour (RP-TB): Grant Balfour rebounded to post 2 saves in the doubleheader against Boston. Despite the 2-save special, I'm concerned. He allowed 3 more baserunners in the outings, and now has allowed 18 in 12 and 1/3 innings. He...

It wasn't tendinitis complications in his left knee that knocked Carlos Gonzalez from Thursday's game in the fourth-inning; it was a left index finger contusion. The severity of the injury is unknown, but it is assumed to be a day-to-day...

AL Player Analysis from April 30th

Tony Cingrani (SP-CIN): The Cubs chased Tony Cingrani after 4 innings. The lefty allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings, striking out only 2. While his velocity was down yesterday, the lefty said he...

Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds - Billy Hamilton had a day to remember Tuesday with his 10th steal of the yeah and his first career major league homerun. The homer was surprising, but it was even more of a shock that...

Marcus Semien - Semien should get free rein the next few weeks with Conor Gillaspie out, and although the numbers don't look great just yet, there are some incremental gains being made in Semien's game, particularly on the plate discipline...

Andrew Heaney- MIA- FYI- Heaney has an extra day off before his next start on Thursday, due to an off day in AA Jacksonville's schedule. He will be coming off his first poor performance of the year. Last Friday he...

Edinson Volquez (SP-PIT). Ray Searage's magic wand got its sternest test to date, when Volquez faced off against the potent Cardinals lineup on Sunday afternoon and Volquez failed the test. The Cardinals roughed him up for 6 runs in only...

Robbie Ray -- With Anibal Sanchez on the shelf, it's being reported that Robbie Ray is the most likely candidate to take his spot in the rotation. That spot may not come up until next Tuesday, but it'll be against...

Senior Circuit Player Analysis from April 26th

Phil Hughes (SP-MIN): Phil Hughes tossed 7 strong innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits. The unpredictable veteran struck out 6 Tigers without walking a single one to pick up his 2nd win of the season. His ERA of...

Brandon Philips (2B-Cinn) With a major decline in his speed production over the past few years to only 5 SB's last year, Brandon Philip's value has been refocused on his run production. He knocked in 103 runs last year which...

Dayan Viciedo (OF-CWS). Viciedo went 1 for 4 with a run against the Rays on Friday night, running his season totals to .370/.413/.548. The season-ending injury to Avasail Garcia makes Viciedo potential relevant in at least deep mixed leagues, as...

Ben Zobrist- TB- Hot- After having his first hitless game in almost a week on Wednesday, Zobrist bounced back nicely yesterday. He went 3-for-4 with a walk to raise his average to .310. It was his 4th multi-hit game in...

John Axford (RP-Cleveland) John Axford picked up his league leading 8th save of the young season. Earlier in the year, I talked about a possible resurgence and we are seeing just that so far this year. But as the baseball...

Gregory Polanco, Pittsburgh Pirates - Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco is tearing up AAA and it appears we have now entered the "Polanco Watch" stage of 2014. With another homer Tuesday, he now has three homers and has driven in...

Chris Archer- TB- Hot- Archer pitched very well Saturday, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and walking none while striking out 4 in 6.2 IP. It was his 3rd quality start in his 4 outings this season, making his previous...

Travis Wood - Wood was brilliant on Monday, allowing 6 hits and a run to Arizona over 7 innings, striking out 9 without walking a batter and hitting a 3-run homer to boot. Wood has shown a sharp increase in...

Ivan Nova -- After leaving Saturday's start with a sore elbow, it was revealed yesterday that Ivan Nova has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. He's been placed on the DL and, in all likelihood, will be undergoing Tommy John...

Troy Tulowitzki (SS-COL) - The Colorado shortstop had a great day at the plate on Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored. Through 18 games, he's now hitting an incredible .393/.493/.661 and despite a high...

Player Analysis from the Senior Circuit on April 19th

Jonathan Singleton, Houston Astros: Jonathan Singleton launched a pair of homers in AAA Saturday and with the complete lack of production at first base this year, he could be the next Astros top prospect to get called up to the...

Nate Eovaldi (SP, Miami) Nate Eovaldi is an upside candidate because of his outstanding velocity. His FB Velo near 96 MPH is holding steady early in the season, his K/9 is up, and his walks are artificially low. He pitched...

Yangervis Solarte (3B-NYA). Solarte continued with his hot start to the season, going 1 for 3 with a run scored, to run his season line to .370/.452/.556. If you're a Solarte owner, enjoy the ride while you can. His current...

Chris Colabello (1B-MIN): Chris Colabello had himself quite the doubleheader against the Blue Jays, going 5 for 7 with 1 run, 4 RBI, and 1 BB to push his season line to .357/.410/.571. Stories have emerged about Colabello's adjustments during...

Ben Revere (OF-PHI) - Revere appears to have recovered from a rib injury, as he's started the last two games against the Braves. He was 3-for-4 with an RBI Thursday, driving in the game's only run. The game took Revere...

Dallas Keuchel - Keuchel posted his second straight quality start Wednesday, going 6 innings and allowing 6 hits and 2 runs to KC, walking 1 and striking out 5. Keuchel has had a nice little velocity jump thus far (and...

Julio Teheran (SP-ATL) - Julio Teheran was a popular breakout candidate in 2014 after flashing his ace potential in the second half of 2013. Despite lacking the strikeout rate he showed last year, Teheran has continued his fantastic performance into...

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals - After dominating the Marlins last time out, Stephen Strasburg was roughed up Tuesday by the Fish and lasted just four innings with an ugly line of 6 runs on 8 hits while striking out 5....

Mike Fiers- MIL- Idea- I went to the Nashville Sounds game on Sunday and saw Fiers pitch. He was dominant, throwing 6.2 scoreless IP and allowing 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Of his 96 pitches, 60...

Jesse Chavez - Chavez was brilliant on Monday, showing off the two attributes that have led to his ridiculously hot spring: improved control and a flashy new high GB rate. Lest you think that chavez is feasting on weak offenses,...