Key Starts of the Day
By Jay the Technical Advisor
By The Jersey HitmanSomething `screwie’ is going on in `St. Louie’: The Cardinals are winning! Who knew? How are they doing it? Can they keep it up? Are there any players on this team that can help my fantasy team? Hmmmm.This situation is one I need to look into a little more deeply.More »
Key Starts of the Day, 9/26/2007
by Evan “the Censor” Dickens
Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for our final Wire
Tap of the regular season!
DOMINANT:
Jon Garland v KC (W, CGSHO, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K)
Garland’s fantasy value has long since passed–now
it’s a matter of the White Sox trying to get some
trade value in the offseason. His August was so bad
that it may be a lost cause, but he looked every bit
like the Johnny Sinkers we once knew and loved. Those
in very deep leagues who have hung on to Garland will
want to check their ERA category–this kind of start
can still move you up a couple points, even in the
last week.
DISASTER:
Johan Santana @ DET (ND, 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K)
This was not a blow-up–it was a rain-shortened
performance, but it’s still a game ERA of 6.0 and a
game WHIP of 1.67, and you can’t deal with that from
Santana yet again. I specifically bring it up, though,
to congratulate him on an incredible streak–at least
five innings pitched in 123 straight starts, more than
three years old. And it took the rain to bring him
down. Tune in Friday to see if Evan and Tony still
consider Johan a first-rounder!
Key Starts of the Day, 9/23/07
by Ken In Toronto
DOMINANT:
Carlos Zambrano v PIT (W, 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 3BB, 6K)
It’s been a rough year for Zambrano - but he’s produced for the Cubs
and your fantasy team in the end. Cramping cut this outing short at 93
pitches or you may have seen Carlos go 7 or 8 innings in this one.
None the less - 6 shut out innings at this time of year is gladly accepted.
Zambrano has one more start this year - Saturday in Cincy - but even
in an off year the big bull Zambrano is a must
start against all NL opponents.
DISASTER:
Dustin McGowan @ NY (L, 4.1IP, 6ER, 6H, 6BB, 5K)
Hopefully you restrained yourself from starting McGowan in Yankee stadium.
McGowan only threw 50% of his pitches for strikes and left
with a game WHIP of 2.76. Think of this outing next time you want
to sniper start or are on the fence of any young pitcher
facing the Yankees this week - as they are still very much
in the hunt for the divisional crown.
Key Starts of the Day, 9/22/07
by Ken In Toronto
Ever wonder how bad it is to have a disaster start on your fantasy team?
How much damage do they really do? If you had today’s Dominant Starter
Oliver Perez in your regular lineup and Zack Duke for a Sniper Start - their
cumulative fantasy stats would be 1-1, 3.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 12IP, 12K.
It would take even more than Perez’s GREAT start for your fantasy team
to recover from Duke’s poor outing. Let’s just hope your Dominant starts
outnumber the Disasters.
DOMINANT:
Oliver Perez @ FLA (W, 8IP, 1ER, 6H, 0BB, 8K)
I’m not spot on positive, but I think Perez won Dominant Start last time I
filled in for the Censor in August. Obviously no favoritism with the stuff Oliver
brought to the table last night - 102 pitches and 70% for strikes! Oliver’s
undoing historically has been walks - but this is the kind of outing he gives
you when he’s in control and puts his slider where it needs to be. Barring a
one game playoff game - fantasy owner’s should be licking thier lips at
Perez’s final start of the year home to St. Louis.
DISASTER:
Zack Duke @ CHI (L 4IP, 4ER, 9H, 3BB, 4K)
What is more upsetting about Duke is this is not Duke’s first disaster start
this month. I don’t know about you - but I’ve been watching how Duke finishes
out this year in hopes of him being a sleeper in 2008. The once great prospect
has regressed every year since his 2005 rookie campaign and may not even
be in the team’s plans given the new ownership. Duke gave up 3HR in this
game - If it had been against any other team than the Cubbies you’d have
to think there would have been men on base; and Duke would have been
charged with 5-6 runs instead of 4. This was only Duke’s second outing back
from injury but he’s pretty much run out of chances fantasy wise.
Key Starts of the Day, 9/21/07
by Ken In Toronto
Question: How did Scott Olsen allow 8 UNEARNED runs and leave the game down 8-4? His team committed 6 ERRORS! Better question - How does a major league team commit 6 errors in a game?! Word to the wise, careful when picking up Marlin pitchers for sniper starts down the stretch - they have talent but very high risk.
DOMINANT:
Josh Beckett @ TB (W, 6IP, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 8K)
An impressive start against a good home offense made Beckett the first 20 game
winner of 2007, and the first in the majors since 2005! The Rays were able to pull
18 pitches an inning out of Josh, prompting his relief after only 6 innings and 113
pitches. He did throw 69% of them for strikes an resisted retaliating after two
Red Sox were beamed by Kazmir in the third. The only extra base hit allowed by
Beckett was a two out run scoring double to Delmon Young in the first. Beckett
will look to improve his position for the Cy Young award next week at
home against the Twins.
DISASTER:
Jason Marquis v PIT (2.2IP, 7ER, 8H, 2BB, 1K)
In a game owners were likely expecting a win, Marquis got manhandled. Maybe
it’s the news of a new GM in Pittsburgh, but Marquis could not get anyone out
in this one. Pinella only let Jason throw 55 pitches before pulling him and sitting
down in the clubhouse for a heart to heart. At the end of the year Jason will
have datable numbers - he’s currently 12-8 with a 4.35 ERA - but they don’t
show the inconsistency. In the end Maquis lacks the upside and starts like this make
him less a sniper start candidate and more a DTM.
Key Starts of the Day, 9/19/07
by Ken In Toronto
Great night for pitchers yesterday as 16 starters allowed 2 or fewer earned runs. That could change tonight as 12 of 20 scheduled starting pitchers have an ERA on the season over 4.45 - including the return of Homer Bailey and a road start for Wandy Rodriguez. Make sure you’ve dropped your middle relievers for a Monday/Thursday guy as every AB counts down the strech. Here’s the best and worst from Wednesday night.
DOMINANT:
Jose Contreras @ KC (W, CGSHO, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K)
It would have been tough to start him if your fantasy team is contending, but if you did you scored big time. Contreras scared most owners away earlier this year but has quietly been comming around. Since August 1, Jose has gone 5-2 and lowered his ERA from 6.60 to 5.55 but still does not WOW you with strike out numbers. Contreras is scheduled to face the Royals again next Tuesday at home and now owns an 8-4 career record agaist them.
DISASTER:
Brian Bannister v CHI (L, 5 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 1 K)
Those of you holding onto Bannister while climbing to the top just fell down the stairs (I now own the WORST pun ever on Key Starts). Normally there would be worse starts than this, but on a night with so many good pitching performances and Bannister being owned in most leagues - he takes it. In giving up more earned runs than innings pitched, against a pretty bad road offense in the Chisox while netting only 1 strike out, fantasy owners must be disappointed. Luckily, Bannister only walked 1 but did give up 3 HR, so it could have been worse (but not worse than the before mentioned pun).
Key Starts of the Day, 9/17/2007
by Evan “the Censor” Dickens
DOMINANT:Dustin McGowan v BOS (W, CG, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K)
You just can’t ever give up on this kid–his season
has been a roller-coaster ride but in the games you
would expect mediocrity, he delivers in a big way.
McGowan threw almost four pitches per batter faced, so
the efficiency leaves something to be desired, but the
ground ball rate and strike percentage are as good as
you could ask for. McGowan may be a serious sleeper
for next year.
DISASTER:Kelvim Escobar v TB (ND, 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K)
Escobar is picking a bad time to crash down to earth,
because the Angels need him as a solid #2 arm when the
Yankees come to town in the playoffs. Even with a
decent strike percentage, throwing 4.7 pitches per
batter faced is horribly inefficient, and I hate to
say it but this type of line will always bring up the
same concern with Escobar–is his annual injury coming
at the worst possible time?
Key Starts of the Day, 9/12/07
by Evan “the Censor” Dickens DOMINANT:Javier Vazquez v CLE (W, 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K)
If you were smart enough to buy low on Vazquez
(drafted in the 21st round of Mafia League 8 ) you have
loved life this year. He’s given you everything you
could ask for, considering his draft position, in all
categories, including wins in the midst of a miserable
White Sox season–and struck guys out like his
life depends on it, and will take a run at 200 strikeouts for
the season. You never would have thought it or expected
it but he and Buehrle are the only bright spots in this
train wreck of a season for the White Sox.
DISASTER:Dan Haren @ SEA (ND, 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 12 H, 1 BB, 6 K)
This one’s personal, folks. I was depending on Haren
in a very tough head-to-head big money league tonight
and he made hamburger meat of my WHIP, but these
numbers are also evidence of a troubling decline.
Haren has not completed seven innings of work in a
game since July 26th and has now given up 21 ER in the
last five starts, in which he’s 1-3. How could we all
have looked at his May game log (8 ER in 43 IP) and
not sold high. Since he threw seven shutout innings in
San Francisco on June 9th, his season ERA has
increased in SEVENTEEN straight starts and now, it’s
not even that impressive. Let me tell you something,
I’m so tired of September pitching swoons, I’m maxing
out my innings by 7/31 next year…
by Evan “the Censor” Dickens
Don’t be surprised if the pickings for true Disasters
get pretty slim as the season winds down–there are a
LOT of no-names getting turns in the rotation these
days and if you put an ounce of fantasy reliance in
any of them, you get what’s coming to you.
DOMINANT:
Yovani Gallardo @ PIT (W, 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 7
K)
Gallardo has had young-pitcher-itis all
year–inability to pitch efficiently, struggles with
high WHIPs and walk rates, etc.–but he’s also shown
an uncanny ability to strike out major league hitters
and since the efficiency really can only improve, we
may be looking at a serious sleeper next year.
DISASTER:
Tim Wakefield v TB (ND, 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 0 BB, 4 K)
Ever feel like the sky is caving in and the world no
longer makes sense? Left is right, up is down,
and Tim Wakefield gets blown up by the Tampa Bay
Devil Rays. Wakefield has been channeling Pedro
circa 1999 every time he faces the free-swinging Rays
but it all fell apart on Tuesday, reminding us all of one
eternal lesson: there’s no such thing as a sure
thing in this mess we call fantasy baseb