BY ADAM RONIS
Let me try to figure this one out. Andruw Jones hasn't done a thing this season, unless you count swinging and missing incessantly as an achievement, yet Joe Torre has hit him second several times. If it wasn't for Jones' track record, he might be in Triple-A right now with the way he has produced. He hit just his second homer today and is batting .182. If you own him -- fortunately I only have him in one league where I got him in the 10th round -- all you can do is bench him or hope for a turnaround. I can't see him being completely done......yet.
Russell Martin started at third base and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. It's nice to have your catcher play a day game after a night game, but you have to wonder if this will wear him down late in the season.
Ryan Braun signed an extension and hit his 10th homer.
Chad Billingsley is still walking too many batters, but he has pitched better lately. He walked four in seven innings against the Brewers and allowed one run in seven innings. He is 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA.
Ben Sheets suffered his first loss after allowing six runs in 6 1/3 innings.
An Indians starter finally allowed a run after a remarkable stretch of 44 1/3 scoreless innings, although it was unearned. Aaron Laffey allowed one run in seven innings to improve to 2-2 with a 1.35 ERA. Rafael Betancourt started the ninth, but allowed two hits and a run. Masa Kobayashi struck out the final two batters to get his second save. Pick him up.
I'll be blogging the Mets game live tomorrow, so I'll leave the Mets analysis until then. It won't be pretty.
Nate McLouth hit his 11th homer and stole his fourth base. I'll say it again: He's the real deal.
Ian Snell was horrible again. Still not ready to give up on him yet.
Jason Isringhausen came into the 8th inning with a 5-4 lead and could only get one out, while allowing four runs, three earned. He is 1-5 with an 8.00 ERA.
One of the biggest surprises this season is Ryan Dempster. He has issued too many walks, but it has yet to hurt him. He threw 8 1.3 scoreless innings, walked one and struck out 12. He is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA. I'd sell high. He hasn't thrown more than 100 innings since 2003 when he threw 115 2/3 innings. Braden Looper had a good start last season too and wore down.
Matt Joyce hit his third homer. He is getting regular playing time and should be owned in AL-only leagues.
Akinori Iwamura has been sizzling, so if you need a MI, pick him up. He went 2-for-3 with a homer.
Ian Kennedy returned to the majors with the same results. He allowed five runs in five innings and is 0-3 with a 8.48 ERA.
Scott Kazmir threw six scoreless innings after signing a contract extension. He is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA. Mets' fans dreams of him signing a free agent contract is over. At least we have memories of Victor Zambrano.
Troy Percival rebounded after blowing a save with his 10th.
I wish I owned Lance Berkman this year!!! He hit home run No. 15 and stole his seventh base/ He is hitting .391 with 15 homers and 43 RBIs.