Friday fantasy wrap
BY ADAM RONIS
The wind was blowing out heavily today at Wrigley Field, which is why seven homers were hit and the Cubs erased a 9-1 deficit to win 10-9. Aaron Cook is usually a groundball pitcher, but he allowed three homers and seven runs in 6 1.3 innings. Manny Corpas allowed three runs without recording an out to take the loss. Ted Lilly had pitched very well lately, but allowed seven runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in three innings. Kerry Wood picked up save No. 13.
Jacob Ellsbury stole three more bases giving him 23 for the season.
Josh Beckett needed 118 pitches to get throught six innings. He allowed four hits, three walks and struck out 10 in a no-decision. Jonathan Papelbon got save No. 15.
"The Tease" Daniel Cabrera had a good outing. He went seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs, two walks and struck out two in a no-decision. He has a 3.60 ERA.
Chase Utley hit his 18th homer and Ryan Howard No. 15.
My Sunday column is on players to buy low, especially owners near the bottom of the standings that need to take chances on players off to horrible starts. It was writter before today's games (it's due on Friday afternoons) and one of the guy's featured is Brett Myers. He allowed three first-inning runs, but bounced back to go eight innings, allowing six hits, three runs, three walks and struck out 11. He allowed no homers for the third straight start.
Another guy I mentioned is Adrian Beltre. I guess I should have played the Lotto tonight. Beltre hit two homers and has 12 for the season despite a .245 average.
Cliff Floyd hit a walkoff homer and he should be owned in AL-only leagues.
Russell Martin is hot after a slow start. He went 4-for-4 with three runs, his fourth homer and three RBIs.
Clayton Kershaw has displayed control issues in the minor leagues, but was sharp this season and in his major league debut. He walked four, allowed four runs and five hits with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. He has excellent stuff, but hasn't pitched above Double-A. He will struggle and be dominant at other times. He could be headed back to the minors in a few weeks, so don't have high expectations for this season.
Carlos Gonzalez went 2-for-3 in his major league debut for the A's. He could have AL-only value.
Jay Bruce went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
Edinson Volquez has great stuff. The problem he walks too many which prevents him from going deep in games. He has lasted just six innings in five of his last six starts. He went six innings against the Braves and allowed five hits, three walks, two runs and struck out seven in a no-decision. He has a 1.46 ERA and now is the best time to get the most for him.
How the hell is Mike Mussina 8-4? Another example of why you can't project wins. Mariano Rivera picked up save No. 14.
Prince Fielder hit his seventh homer. Hurry up and buy low before it's too late. There is a rumor he was seen eating a triple Whopper today.
Grady Sizemore hit two home runs and has 10 for the season. Cliff Lee improved to 8-1. He went six innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs, one walk and struck out three. At least we know he is human. His ERA is 1.88. Joe Borowski picked up save No. 4.
Albert Pujols hit HR No. 14. How many people regret passing on him now?
Todd Wellemeyer is 6-1 and Aaron Harang is 2-7? What the hell is going on? Wellemeyer went seven innings and allowed six hits, one run, two walks and struck out four. He has a 3.16 ERA. Ryan Franklin allowed a run, but picked up save No. 5.
Chad Tracy started at third base and hit a home run. He should be owned in NL-only leagues, but he might not play every day. Mark Reynolds has shown power, but he strikes out way too much and that could lead to a lot of playing time for Tracy.
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Comments (15)
Somebody offered me Bay for Smoltz. Should I do that? My outfielders are Holliday, Soriano, Victorino, Rowand, and Bourn, so I don't really need Bay. My relievers are Wood, Lyon, and Marmol, so I guess I need Smoltz, but it seems as if Bay will be more productive. Should I make the trade?
That sounds like a good deal, Jack. How far are you behind in saves? You do need a closer and if Smoltz is healthy, he will get you a lot of saves. I would usually do a trade like that, but saves are difficult to come by.
Am in a 5 X 5 league with the following roster:
C Dioner Navarro (TB - C)
1B Lance Berkman (Hou - 1B,OF)
2B Rickie Weeks (Mil - 2B)
3B Ryan Braun (Mil - 3B,OF)
SS Hanley Ramírez (Fla - SS)
OF Nate McLouth (Pit - OF)
OF Carlos Beltrán (NYM - OF)
OF Carlos Gómez (Min - OF)
Util Nick Markakis (Bal - OF)
SP Max Scherzer (Ari - SP,RP)
SP Cliff Lee (Cle - SP)
RP George Sherrill (Bal - RP)
RP B.J. Ryan (Tor - RP)
P Brian Fuentes (Col - RP)
P Josh Beckett (Bos - SP)
P Tim Lincecum (SF - SP)
BN Rich Aurilia (SF - 1B,2B,3B,SS)
BN Ryan Church (NYM - OF)
DL Jorge Posada (NYY - C) DL
BN Ervin Santana (LAA - SP)
BN Adam Wainwright (StL - SP)
BN Jorge Campillo (Atl - SP,RP)
I just made the following trade and wonder what you honestly think:
Traded:
Lance Berkman
Jorge Posada
George Sherrill
Brian Fuentes
For:
Geovany Soto
David Ortiz
Justin Verlander
Billy Wagner
Thanks . . . enjoy your column . . .
It looks like you got the better of the trade. You gave up two closers, but Sherrill isn't a top-notch closer. Fuentes could get traded and become a steup man if the Rockies continue to lose. Wagner is one of the best fantasy closers, too. I think Soto could decline, but Posada is a healh risk. As long as Ortiz is healthy, I like him a lot. I'm not high on Verlander, but he can't get much worse. For what you gave up, it's a good deal for you. Where are you in saves?
Thanks for the reassurance; I think I clearly got the better of it but wanted another opinion to make sure. The other party was very "hot" to get Berkman, whom I think is going to cool a little, while Ortiz is starting to stroke the ball . . . and even if Berkman doesn't cool off, the small dropoff in offense was worth the upgrade in pitching, which I seriously needed. I am hit-and-miss with saves thus far, and Sherrill and Fuentes were hurting me in WHIP and ERA, which I think will be helped immensely by Wagner . . . and I think Verlander will start winning as the Tigers right their ship, which I think they will. I also feel Soto is on the rise while Posada is in deline, but again, even if I am wrong about that, the small decline in offense was worth the upgrade in pitching.
Thanks again, Adam . . . anyone else have another opinion?
My saves are decent. I am getting around 3-5 a week. I am currently tied for first in an NL-only league, which ends late June. Can you tell me which of these players I should sell high? Chris Snyder, Michael Barret, Derrek Lee, Joey Votto, Kelly Johnson, Orlando Hudson, Edwin Encarnacion, Ian Stewart, Jimmy Rollins, Matt Holliday, Alfonso Soriano, Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, Michael Bourn, Tim Lincecum, Micah Owings, Ian Snell, Ted Lilly, Matt Cain, Randy Wolf, John Smoltz, Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, Brandon Lyon, and Ryan Franklin.
Jack,
Sell Rowand, Votto, Lilly, Wolf, and Marmol high if you can. Rowand could get you the most with his recent hot streak. What do you need to acquire?
Jack,
I would look to see if you can trade Rowand for something, maybe a closer. Then, do the Bay for Smoltz deal. For example, I traded Brian Wilson for Dan Uggla, and then traded Uggla for Josh Beckett. That's also a good trade philosophy to utilize.
I need 3rd the most, I have Stewart and Encarnacion. I also need SP. Then I guess I need a reliever if I do the trade. Can you think of a bunch of people at those positions that I could buy low on that will most likely turn it around very soon? Very soon, as my league ends on June 20th.
if you need saves, keep Smoltz. As for third, check on Chad Tracy, you could take a chance on Russell Branyan for power and play him against righthanders, Jose Bautista and Pedro Feliz are options, too.
I nearly killed myself trying to trade Bautista, I don't want him back. Maybe Tracy. What SPs can I buy low on?
Jack,
Brett Myers comes to mind. Also, Roy Oswalt and maybe Ted Lilly after his last bad outing when the win was blowing out. Try Derek Lowe and Matt Cain, too.
Oswalt and Lowe are owned by the same owner, and he never makes trades. I already own Lilly and Cain. Possibly Myers. Any others?
Cueto, Billingsley, Bergmann, Moyer, Wolf, Sanchez, Arroyo, Bush.
Thanks.