with Chris from Atlanta
League 17
Week #21
If you squint hard enough, you can see the finish line ahead. If you are clinging to the lead in your league, the end can’t get here soon enough. If you are battling for the lead, you still have plenty of time. If you are out of it, you are just going through the motions and starting to focus more on the upcoming football season.
Kinsler shelved for rest of season? - He left last Sunday’s game with a sore groin that was later diagnosed as a sports hernia. The Rangers still aren’t sure if the injury will require season-ending surgery. Even if he avoids surgery, there is a good chance that he may not return in 2008. Kinsler was in a dogfight with Utley for the title of best fantasy 2B.
Kinsler - 518 AB - .319/375/517 - 18 HR - 71 RBI - 102 R - 26 SB
Utley - 484 AB - .285/368/560 - 31 HR - 85 RBI - 83 R - 10 SB
Texas will use a combination of three players to fill 2B and 3B while Kinsler is out.
Vazquez - 276 AB - .304/378/453 - 6 HR - 39 RBI - 0 SB
Metcalf - 42 AB - .214/250/524 - 4 HR - 8 RBI - 0 SB
Arias (AAA) - 390 AB - .287/320/397 - 4 HR - 41 RBI - 23 SB
Arias was called up from AAA Oklahoma to replace Kinsler on the 40-man roster. The player that stands to gain the most is Vazquez. When he plays 2B, Metcalf will play 3B; and when Vazquez plays 3B, look for Arias to play 2B. Kinsler’s injury comes at a bad time for he and his owners. Undoubtedly, he was helping many fantasy squads enjoy a successful season. If you are one of those teams, you just have to stash him on your DL and wait for 2009.
Stars battling nagging injuries - The baseball season is the longest of the four major sports (yeah, I still consider hockey a major sport). Do you know how many Major Leaguers played in all 162 games last season? Here’s a hint: you can count them on two hands. Whether it be the occasional day off to keep him fresh (good); or the nagging injury (bad); you have to expect your studs to miss some time.
Ryan Braun is currently battling a rib injury that has forced him to miss eight games over the past two weeks. The injury doesn’t seem to affect his numbers when he does play (.333/375/667 with 1 HR in 4 games). Gabe Kapler has started just about every game that Braun has missed with the injury. In 211 ABs, Kapler is batting .299/332/488 with 7 HRs and 34 RBIs. If the injury forces Braun to miss an extended period of time, Kapler might be a good fit.
Hanley Ramirez left Wednesday’s game with a thumb injury. On Thursday, the X-rays came back negative, but he was held out of the lineup for at least two days. It is too soon to say how the injury will affect his hitting. Alfredo Amezaga filled in at shortstop while Hanley was out. Amezaga is hitting .257/311/343 with 2 HRs, 16 RBIs and 6 SBs in 245 ABs. Much like Kapler, if Hanley is going to miss an extended period of time, you might want to take a look at Amezaga.
The Sherrill show on hiatus - On August 15th, Sherrill was claimed through waivers by at least one unnamed AL team and was pulled back by the Orioles. This means that he will be staying with Baltimore for the rest of the season. To make matters worse, he was placed on the 15-day DL on August 19th with an inflamed throwing shoulder. He had been struggling prior to the injury. In his last six games, he had one loss, one save, a 9.45 ERA, a 2.10 WHIP and a 1.33 K/BB rate.
Johnson - 65.2 IP - 2.33 ERA - 1.16 WHIP - 1.33 K/BB
Castillo - 19.0 IP - 2.84 ERA - 1.05 WHIP - 4.00 K/BB
Bierd - 24.0 IP - 3.38 - 1.79 WHIP - 1.15 K/BB
Mickolio (AAA) - 18.0 IP - 1.50 ERA - 1.00 WHIP - 2.86 K/BB
All signs point to Johnson taking over the closer duties until Sherrill returns. If he should falter, look for Castillo or Mickolio to get a shot.
Maddux traded to Dodgers - The cagey veteran returns to Los Angeles, where he was 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and a 2.57 K/BB rate in 12 starts in 2007. In 22 career games in Dodger Stadium, he has a 3.09 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and a 2.09 K/BB rate. Since 2003, he has been right around a 4.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. I would look for that to continue in Dodger-land. Much like he was with San Diego, he is a pitch-or-ditch candidate … depending on the matchup.
Dirk Hayhurst will get the first shot at Maddux’s San Diego rotation spot. In 84 minor league innings this year, the 27-year old has a 3.75 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a 3.50 K/BB rate. If Hayhurst doesn’t pan out, look for Brett Tomko to take the mound.
Who’s Hot
Brett Myers. His six starts since his trip to the minors: 3-1, 1.94 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 3.00 K/BB
Brad Hawpe’s last 141 plate appearances: .378/.433/.646, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 0 SB
Who’s Not
Dan Haren’s last four starts: 3-1, 6.04 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 5.20 K/BB
Dan Uggla’s last 141 plate appearances: .189/.298/.336, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB
Let’s hope your week is more Myers/Hawpe and a little less Haren/Uggla! Until next week …