The players in these two sections were the statistical leaders during the last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
SS Miguel Tejada, Astros 12-23 .522 3-4 1
OF Hunter Pence, Astros 11-22 .500 1-4 0
C Joe Mauer, Twins 11-24 .458 4-13 0
1B Justin Morneau, Twins 11-24 .458 1-8 0
SS Alex Gonzalez, Reds 9-20 .450 0-4 0
OF Michael Cuddyer, Twins 13-29 .448 4-12 0
2B Adam Kennedy, Athletics 13-29 .448 1-8 0
1B Mark Teixeira, Yankees 12-27 .444 5-10 0
2B Akinori Iwamura, Rays 11-25 .440 0-4 0
1B Adam LaRoche, Pirates 9-21 .429 2-5 1
Note that Houston and Minnesota, teams that didn’t have much overall success last week, provided half of this list. That shows that there’s more to real baseball than hitting. Kennedy must have thought he was back with the Angels in the 2002 playoffs. Teixeira is following his usual pattern of starting slowly and heating up after the first 4-6 weeks. LaRoche continues to be extremely streaky and unreliable from week to week.
Home runs – Teixeira 5; Cuddyer, Mauer, Rangers OF Nelson Cruz, Phillies OF Raul Ibanez, D-backs 3B Mark Reynolds and Marlins 2B Dan Uggla 4.
RBI – Mauer and Rays SS Jason Bartlett 13; Cuddyer 12; Teixeira, Rockies 1B Todd Helton and Angels OF Torii Hunter 10. Bartlett also now has the majors’ highest batting average. Don’t expect that to last.
Stolen bases – Reynolds 6; Bartlett, Cruz, Hunter, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Phillies OF Shane Victorino 3.
Runs – Mauer 12; Cuddyer 10; Bartlett and Yankees 2B Robinson Cano 8; Rays 3B/1B Willy Aybar, Brewers OF Ryan Braun, Angels OF Juan Rivera, Marlins OF Cody Ross and D-backs OF Justin Upton 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Aaron Cook, Rockies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 3:1
RHP Kenshin Kawakami, Braves 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.38 7:0
RHP Gavin Floyd, White Sox 8.0 0.00 1-0 0:50 8:2
RHP Jake Peavy, Padres 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.75 10:4
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.75 5:1
RHP Anthony Swarzak, Twins 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 3:2
LHP Joe Saunders, Angels 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 3:3
RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 2:3
RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 7.0 0.00 0-0 0.86 6:1
LHP Josh Outman, Athletics 13.2 0.66 1-0 0.95 6:6
It was Halladay’s second consecutive week on the Hot list. He pitched well even during a week when he didn’t win. Those who have criticized Peavy for wanting to stay in the National League where he can bat don’t understand real baseball. The contention that he’s “afraid” to pitch against the big, bad American Leaguers is preposterous. Floyd, who was on the Not list last week, and Kawakami could be coming out of season-long funks. They could be good pickups in leagues where their owners justifiably dropped them after five or six weeks.
Wins – Pirates LHP John Grabow, Rockies RHP Jason Marquis, Red Sox RHP Tim Wakefield and Padres RHP Chris R. Young 2.
Saves – Padres RHP Heath Bell and Angels LHP Brian Fuentes 3-for-3.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Twins RHP Kevin Slowey 12:0; Giants RHP Tim Lincecum 10:1; Cardinals RHP Kyle Lohse 11:3; Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez 14:4; Pirates LHP Zach Duke 11:4; Peavy, Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler and rangers RHP Brandon McCarthy 10:4.
WHIP – Kawakami 0.38; Mariners LHP Jason Vargas 0.43; Floyd 0.50; Cook 0.56; Phillies LHP J.A. Happ 0.67.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B Bill Hall, Brewers 1-22 .045 0-0 0
C Bengie Molina, Giants 2-26 .077 0-0 0
SS Ryan Theriot, Cubs 2-24 .083 0-0 0
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 2-23 .087 0-2 0
SS/2B Ramon Martinez, Mets 2-23 .087 0-2 1
2B Ian Kinsler, Rangers 2-23 .087 1-1 1
OF Alfonso Soriano, Cubs 2-21 .095 0-0 0
OF Wladimir Balentien, Mariners 2-20 .100 0-1 0
OF Adam Lind, Blue Jays 3-27 .111 0-0 0
2B/SS Alberto Callaspo, Royals 3-24 .125 0-0 0
This week’s hitless wonders are D-backs 2B Augie Ojeda (0-for12) and Giants 2B/3B Kevin Frandsen (0-for-11).
Caught stealing – Giants 3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval 0-for-2; White Sox OF Scott Podsednik 2-for-4.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Hall 0:11; D-backs OF Chris B. Young 0:10; Pirates 2B Freddy Sanchez 1:10; Red Sox DH David Ortiz 2:11; Rangers 1B Chris Davis and C Salty, and D-backs OF Justin Upton 2:10; Reds OF Jay Bruce 3:10.
The pitchers on the next list each made two starts, doubly damaging their fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Matt Palmer, Angels 9.2 8.38 1-0 1.76 5:5
RHP Shairon Martis, Nationals 12.0 7.50 0-0 1.33 4:4
LHP Mike Hampton, Astros 9.0 7.00 0-1 1.67 4:4
RHP Tim Redding, Mets 10.2 6.75 0-1 1.69 8:8
RHP Ross Ohlendorf, Pirates 12.2 5.68 1-1 1.34 5:5
RHP Jeff Karstens, Pirates 11.1 5.56 0-0 1.32 4:3
LHP Ted Lilly, Cubs 13.1 5.40 0-2 1.28 9:5
LHP Andy Pettitte, Yankees 13.2 5.27 1-0 1.46 8:3
RHP Brian Bannister, Royals 12.0 5.25 1-0 1.58 8:3
RHP John Lackey, Angels 12.0 5.25 1-0 1.25 8:1
Martis was on the Hot list last week. His bubble might be bursting for now, but he seems likely to have some long-range value. I mean beyond 2009. This week’s Not list isn’t as bad as usual. Last week, all 10 had a higher ERA than Palmer’s this time – seven of them in double figures.
Losses – Lilly, Marlins RHP Leo Nunez and Giants LHP Barry Zito 2.
Blown saves – Marlins LHP Renyel Pinto 0-for-2; Phillies RHP Brad Lidge 1-for-3. I don’t especially mean to be alarmist, but a closer’s performance breakdown often signals a physical problem. Be careful with Lidge.
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