Monday, August 17, 2009

Hot and Not: Mauer, Beckett still sizzling

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders 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

1B Adrian Gonzalez, Padres 19-30 .633 3-8 0
2B Mark Ellis, Athletics 12-21 .571 1-11 0
C Joe Mauer, Twins 13-24 .542 2-7 1
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers 13-24 .542 0-7 0
2B/1B Jeff Baker, Cubs 12-23 .522 1-6 0
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, Padres 13-25 .520 1-8 0
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 14-27 .519 3-6 1
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 13-27 .481 0-7 4
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 11-23 .478 2-4 0
2B Felipe Lopez, Brewers 12-26 .462 1-6 0

This is Mauer’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average. Figgins was 0-for-15 a week earlier.

Home runs – Red Sox OF Jason Bay, Reds OF Jonny Gomes, Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez, Phillies 1B Ryan Howard and Astros OF Hunter Pence 4.

RBI – Ellis and Howard 11; Pence and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 10; Gomes 9.

Stolen bases – Astros OF Michael Bourn 5; Figgins, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 4; Rangers SS Elvis Andrus and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 3.

Runs – Gonzalez 10; Morales and Tulowitzki 9; Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 8; Jeter, Marlins 1B/3B Jorge Cantu, Mets 2B Luis Castillo and Phillies OF Shane Victorino 7.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Scott Baker, Twins 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 5:0
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.33 3:1
RHP Ervin Santana, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 6:2
RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 8:1
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 6:4
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Tigers 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.63 4:2
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.88 3:1
RHP Tommy Hunter, Rangers 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.78 5:0
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 3:0
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 7:4
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.43 10:4

Greinke was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.

Wins – Angels RHP Jason Bulger, Rockies LHP Jorge DeLaRosa, Indians LHP Aaron Laffey, Giants RHP Brian Wilson and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 2. DeLaRosa was one of our pitchers to seek when he hadn't won a game this season. Now he's among the major league leaders in wins.

Saves – Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin and Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera 3-for-3; Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor, White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, Nationals RHP Mike MacDougal and Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez 2. franklin, Rivera and MacDougal were on this list the previous week.

WHIP – Baker 0.22; Arroyo 0.33; Mariners RHP Josh Johnson 0.55; Santana 0.56; Wolf, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Cubs RHP Rich Harden and Twins LHP Francisco Liriano 0.57.

Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter 10:0; Wolf 13:1; Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte 10:1; White Sox LHP John Danks 11:2; Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia 10:2; Johnson 11:3; DeLaRosa 20:7; Hernandez 10:4.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B/1B Adam Rosales, Reds 2-22 .091 0-0 0
C Russell Martin, Dodgers 2-22 .091 0-0 0
3B Casey Blake, Dodgers 2-21 .095 0-0 0
OF Alfonso Soriano, Cubs 3-25 .120 0-2 0
OF Melky Cabrera, Yankees 3-23 .130 0-3 1
OF Raul Ibanez, Phillies 3-22 .136 1-3 0
2B Brandon Phillips, Reds 3-21 .143 0-4 0
SS Cristian Guzman, National 3-20 .150 0-0 1
3B Mark Reynolds, D-backs 3-20 1-1 1
3B Alex Gordon, Royals 3-20 1-3 0

Guzman was on the Hot list a week earlier.

The week’s hitless wonders were White Sox 1B Paul Konerko 0-for-15; Giants OF
Aaron Rowand and Mariners DH Mike Sweeney 0-for-13; Indians OF/1B Chris Gimenez and Nationals C Josh Bard 0-for-11.

Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Yankees C Jorge Posada 0:10; D-backs OF Gerardo Parra 1:11; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 2:10; Reynolds 3:10; Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 4:10; Blake 5:11.

Caught stealing – Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 2-for-4.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 4.0 22.50 0-2 3.50 2:2
RHP Johnny Cueto, Reds 4.2 15.43 0-1 2.14 3:1
RHP Sean O'Sullivan, Angels 8.2 12.46 0-0 1.96 6:4
RHP Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles 10.1 10.45 0-1 2.32 4:3
LHP Tom Gorzelanny, Cubs 6.1 9.95 1-1 1.89 9:3
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 11.0 9.00 0-0 1.91 8:4
LHP John Lannan, Nationals 10.1 7.84 0-1 1.94 3:7
RHP Braden Looper, Brewers 11.0 7.36 0-1 1.64 4:3
RHP Rick Vanden Hurk, Marlins 10.2 6.75 1-1 1.55 13:6
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 11.0 6.55 0-1 1.55 7:5

Losses – Blackburn, Tigers RHP Zach Miner and Astros RHP Brian Moehler 2.

Blown saves – Phillies RHP Brad Lidge 2-for-4.

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