Even the Yankees' signing of Masahiro Tanaka, the backlog of free-agent pitchers hasn't been reduced.
There's still not much going on in baseball. I did hear that Rangers LHP Derek Holland, on crutches, said the microfracture surgery on his knee wasn't as bad as what RHP Scott Feldman had when he was Holland's teammate. Feldman missed most of the season after his surgery, but has bounced back with other teams.
How Holland would know that isn't clear. In any event, it sounds like wishful thinking. You know, like how every player's surgery is deemed "successful" on the day it's performed. Who's going to remember that two years later when the guy has pitched 12 innings and can sign only a minor league contract with a non-contender?
* * *
Hockey. Saturday night was good.
I saw the best game, with the best crowd, that I've seen in the eight seasons I've been going to Stars game. Dallas stayed hot, defeating the Penguins 3-0 before the second sold-out house this hockey season at the American Airlines Center.
My fantasy team picked up 2 1/2 points, 2 in plus/minus (despite a combined minus-4 for my two Colorado defensemen) and 1/2 in power-play points. So I'm up to 66 1/2, but still third among 10 teams.
I have to do a better job checking out matchups. Philadelphia's Steve Mason was in goal against the Bruins, who all but skated on his face in a 6-1 victory. My goalies are down to 5 points in wins, with three teams below them within three wins. Of course, I'm already at the bottom of the league in GAA and save percentage. It could get worse.
I've set my team up for Monday so that the Avalanche players on my roster won't be in my lineup on the road against the suddenly red-hot Stars. We'll see how that works.
* * *
Basketball. I've made some lineup moves for Sunday, the last day in this week's competition. I'm ahead by about a 2:1 ratio in all six counting categories, but have slim leads in both field goal and free throw percentage.
I'd like to preserve that 8-0 lead, so I've benched the active players, Victor Oladipo and Mo Williams, with the poorest shooting percentages. My opponent still might overtake me. Among the players in his lineup are Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili and David Lee. I'll get to see Dirk against the Pistons. I wouldn't wish ill on him, but if he has a cold night, so be it.
* * *
Football. Does anyone know who's even playing the Pro Bowl Sunday? Somewhere, I'm sure, bookmakers have set a line for the game? exhibition? farce? And somewhere, someone will bet on it.
Showing posts with label Derek Holland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Derek Holland. Show all posts
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
What? There are game limits?
The only recent movement in baseball's off-season has been sideways or downward rather than moving any player or team's prospects upward.
The Rangers' bad news is that LHP Derek Holland could miss half of this season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after a fall in his home.
Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez had his appendix removed, but that doesn't seem likely to cost him any playing time in 2014. Other injuries? Those seem probable, given his history.
The Nationals signed RHP Stephen Strasburg to a one-year contract for $3.975 million plus incentives, to avoid arbitration.
The Yankees designated OF Vernon Wells for assignment, officially to clear room on their 40-man roster. For what? Unless it's Masahiro Tanaka, the move could be no more than addition by subtraction, removing Wells from consideration in a crowded outfield picture. Too bad for them that they'll still be on the hook for most if not all of his contract. Most likely, Wells will simply go into the pile of mostly scrap-heap free agents. He would fit in there.
* * *
Hockey. I'm still treading water in third place, at 67 points. Five out of second place. I'm above average in every category except for goals against average (10th) and save percentage (ninth). I just recently realized that we have a limit for games played -- for forwards, defensemen, utility players and goalies. I can't find on the ESPN site a breakdown of games played by position. But the total games played seems to indicate that the league's top three teams could be on a pace to run out of games before the season ends. There is a gap down to the other seven teams, but guess who they would catch first if they're playing longer into the season. I think that even though the first-place team has more games played than anyone, it's so far ahead that none of us could catch up.
The games limit makes it most important to build a lead in the "average" categories -- GAA, save percentage and ATOI -- as well as plus/minus. If you run out of games at any position, those "average" figures wouldn't change. And they'd have to add a positive performance in plus/minus. Someone would have to outperform you in those categories. In the other seven categories, just showing up every day would build the totals and allow them to pass the teams with exhausted player limits. Not sure whether I could devise a strategy for limiting games played during the time remaining this season, but if I do, I'll pass it along. But I will observe the stretch run, and have a strategy before next season.
* * *
Basketball. Before I fell asleep at about 9:30 last night, I had a 5-1-2 lead this week. Right now, it's 7-1. If all of this week's matchups remain the same -- and I probably shouldn't be saying or even thinking this because it could jinx me -- I would move into third place (from fourth) but just two games out of first place (seven games coming into the week).
Several categories are close. I'm trailing by three steals, lead by one 3-pointer, two blocks and five assists. I currently have just two players active for Sunday. My opponent has three, but two are point guards. I might have to pick up a viable point guard of my own, one who's playing Sunday, to protect my lead. I'll figure that out more after Saturday's games.
* * *
Turns out I placed third in a Pittsburgh bowl pool. My winnings will pretty much cover my entry fees in the bowl and NFL playoff pools I entered.
Just realized I don't have any choice in the AMFL playoffs. I have eight players on my roster: Chagers QBs (hoping it's all Philip Rivers), D'Angelo Williams and Danny Woodhead at RB, Keenan Allen and Danny Amendola at WR, Vernon Davis at TE, Patriots Ks (Stephen Gostkowski) and Seahawks D/ST. This is a scoring-only league. This week is our league semifinals. The two winners in the top-division playoffs advance to the two-week AMFL Super Bowl. For this week at least, I have to hope the Chargers' offense performs well. There's a good chance against the Broncos. Also a good chance San Diego would lose 45-42. That would be OK as long as I could win and advance, and get good draft picks for the conference finals and big game 48.
The Rangers' bad news is that LHP Derek Holland could miss half of this season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after a fall in his home.
Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez had his appendix removed, but that doesn't seem likely to cost him any playing time in 2014. Other injuries? Those seem probable, given his history.
The Nationals signed RHP Stephen Strasburg to a one-year contract for $3.975 million plus incentives, to avoid arbitration.
The Yankees designated OF Vernon Wells for assignment, officially to clear room on their 40-man roster. For what? Unless it's Masahiro Tanaka, the move could be no more than addition by subtraction, removing Wells from consideration in a crowded outfield picture. Too bad for them that they'll still be on the hook for most if not all of his contract. Most likely, Wells will simply go into the pile of mostly scrap-heap free agents. He would fit in there.
* * *
Hockey. I'm still treading water in third place, at 67 points. Five out of second place. I'm above average in every category except for goals against average (10th) and save percentage (ninth). I just recently realized that we have a limit for games played -- for forwards, defensemen, utility players and goalies. I can't find on the ESPN site a breakdown of games played by position. But the total games played seems to indicate that the league's top three teams could be on a pace to run out of games before the season ends. There is a gap down to the other seven teams, but guess who they would catch first if they're playing longer into the season. I think that even though the first-place team has more games played than anyone, it's so far ahead that none of us could catch up.
The games limit makes it most important to build a lead in the "average" categories -- GAA, save percentage and ATOI -- as well as plus/minus. If you run out of games at any position, those "average" figures wouldn't change. And they'd have to add a positive performance in plus/minus. Someone would have to outperform you in those categories. In the other seven categories, just showing up every day would build the totals and allow them to pass the teams with exhausted player limits. Not sure whether I could devise a strategy for limiting games played during the time remaining this season, but if I do, I'll pass it along. But I will observe the stretch run, and have a strategy before next season.
* * *
Basketball. Before I fell asleep at about 9:30 last night, I had a 5-1-2 lead this week. Right now, it's 7-1. If all of this week's matchups remain the same -- and I probably shouldn't be saying or even thinking this because it could jinx me -- I would move into third place (from fourth) but just two games out of first place (seven games coming into the week).
Several categories are close. I'm trailing by three steals, lead by one 3-pointer, two blocks and five assists. I currently have just two players active for Sunday. My opponent has three, but two are point guards. I might have to pick up a viable point guard of my own, one who's playing Sunday, to protect my lead. I'll figure that out more after Saturday's games.
* * *
Turns out I placed third in a Pittsburgh bowl pool. My winnings will pretty much cover my entry fees in the bowl and NFL playoff pools I entered.
Just realized I don't have any choice in the AMFL playoffs. I have eight players on my roster: Chagers QBs (hoping it's all Philip Rivers), D'Angelo Williams and Danny Woodhead at RB, Keenan Allen and Danny Amendola at WR, Vernon Davis at TE, Patriots Ks (Stephen Gostkowski) and Seahawks D/ST. This is a scoring-only league. This week is our league semifinals. The two winners in the top-division playoffs advance to the two-week AMFL Super Bowl. For this week at least, I have to hope the Chargers' offense performs well. There's a good chance against the Broncos. Also a good chance San Diego would lose 45-42. That would be OK as long as I could win and advance, and get good draft picks for the conference finals and big game 48.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thoughts on Game 2
The first sign of trouble for Texas tonight came in the top of the fifth inning. After a leadoff double by Ian Kinsler, both David Murphy and Matt Treanor failed to hit the ball to the right side to move Kinsler over to third base in a scoreless game.
Thus, instead of potentially taking a lead, the Rangers fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the inning. After that, Texas gave the Giants insurance runs by walking batters in the seventh and eighth.
The decreased offensive output from seven runs to none made it easy for Joe Morgan to second-guess manager Ron Washington. Morgan was all over the decision not to play Vladimir Guerrero. The announcer also pointed out that “the other good hitter,” Bengie Molina, was out of the lineup.
It’s surprising that the Hall of Famer, who was considered a good defensive second baseman would dismiss the importance of defense out of hand. Guerrero showed that he no longer can play right field in what must have been the saddest display since Willie Mays was stumbling around in center field for the 1973 Mets. By the way, that was my only direct interaction with Mays, in the Mets’ locker room after Game 2 in Oakland.
Another by the way, tonight in addition to following the fake pitches to the fake batters on the fake field at MLBAM’s Gameday, I listened to the ESPN radio broadcast. I was disappointed that radio broadcasts on the internet are blacked out.
Anyway, Guerrero didn’t belong in the lineup because he can’t play in the field and also because he hasn’t really hit much since July. I attribute Morgan’s stance to what I call the Monday Night Football Syndrome, in which out-of-town network hotshot announcers come to town and pretend they know more about the local team than the local-yokel hicks broadcasting and writing about the games. That extra knowledge usually is nonexistent.
Also, Molina, who hit very little for Texas during the regular season, wasn’t playing because starting pitcher C.J. Wilson established a rapport with Matt Treanor before Molina arrived in Texas.
So it’s possible that Guerrero could have given up some runs on defense and that Wilson might have given up more than one run in the first six innings with Molina behind the plate.
I didn’t hear what Morgan said when Julio Borbon pinch-hit to lead off the eighth inning, with the score 2-0. To me, that was an OK move for several reasons. 1. Guerrero couldn’t tie the game with a home run and could be a liability if he reached base ahead of speedster Elvis Andrus. With at least one runner on base, Vlad would have been the correct pinch-hitting choice. 2. I envisioned Borbon as bunting for a hit, then Andrus reaching base and the two of them working a double steal to get into scoring position ahead of Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. Borbon exploded that thought bubble like a cartoon character with a shotgun by swinging at the first pitch and grounding out. Perhaps he wanted to earn his Historical Texas Rangers card by swinging the bat recklessly but my God, man, you have to take at least a strike and you’re up there to get on base.
A note on Hamilton. Thus far, he has been down, up and down in the three postseason series. The biggest difference was that in the ALCS the Yankees continually pitched around him, walking him as if they were afraid of him and his bat.*
On the other hand, we have Derek Holland. I really like Holland’s future, but in the present – tonight – he entered the game with a runner on first base and two outs and gave up Darren O’Day’s run by walking three batters on 13 pitches. Was he afraid to throw a strike that could be hit? He shouldn’t be, because his pitches are good enough to get batters out.
*Joe Morgan, whom I think can do a good job but may now be too impressed with his own work, probably would say that Hamilton is a Teixeira-like 0-for-the Series because Guerrero wasn’t batting behind him tonight.
Could the Rangers’ biggest problem be Mark Lowe bad karma?
OK, so it’s two games to none, a lot worse than 1-0, but still not critical because the Rangers can regain the lead in games by winning the three games they’re “supposed” to win at home.
The biggest mystery with Texas is what the Rangers might do to win a close game. There was none after the first game against the Yankees in the ALCS. Texas’ bullpen has been spotty – with brown spots in tonight’s game. Because there have been so few close postseason games, closer Neftali Feliz, who had 40 regular-season saves, has none in any of the three playoff series.
Thus, instead of potentially taking a lead, the Rangers fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the inning. After that, Texas gave the Giants insurance runs by walking batters in the seventh and eighth.
The decreased offensive output from seven runs to none made it easy for Joe Morgan to second-guess manager Ron Washington. Morgan was all over the decision not to play Vladimir Guerrero. The announcer also pointed out that “the other good hitter,” Bengie Molina, was out of the lineup.
It’s surprising that the Hall of Famer, who was considered a good defensive second baseman would dismiss the importance of defense out of hand. Guerrero showed that he no longer can play right field in what must have been the saddest display since Willie Mays was stumbling around in center field for the 1973 Mets. By the way, that was my only direct interaction with Mays, in the Mets’ locker room after Game 2 in Oakland.
Another by the way, tonight in addition to following the fake pitches to the fake batters on the fake field at MLBAM’s Gameday, I listened to the ESPN radio broadcast. I was disappointed that radio broadcasts on the internet are blacked out.
Anyway, Guerrero didn’t belong in the lineup because he can’t play in the field and also because he hasn’t really hit much since July. I attribute Morgan’s stance to what I call the Monday Night Football Syndrome, in which out-of-town network hotshot announcers come to town and pretend they know more about the local team than the local-yokel hicks broadcasting and writing about the games. That extra knowledge usually is nonexistent.
Also, Molina, who hit very little for Texas during the regular season, wasn’t playing because starting pitcher C.J. Wilson established a rapport with Matt Treanor before Molina arrived in Texas.
So it’s possible that Guerrero could have given up some runs on defense and that Wilson might have given up more than one run in the first six innings with Molina behind the plate.
I didn’t hear what Morgan said when Julio Borbon pinch-hit to lead off the eighth inning, with the score 2-0. To me, that was an OK move for several reasons. 1. Guerrero couldn’t tie the game with a home run and could be a liability if he reached base ahead of speedster Elvis Andrus. With at least one runner on base, Vlad would have been the correct pinch-hitting choice. 2. I envisioned Borbon as bunting for a hit, then Andrus reaching base and the two of them working a double steal to get into scoring position ahead of Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. Borbon exploded that thought bubble like a cartoon character with a shotgun by swinging at the first pitch and grounding out. Perhaps he wanted to earn his Historical Texas Rangers card by swinging the bat recklessly but my God, man, you have to take at least a strike and you’re up there to get on base.
A note on Hamilton. Thus far, he has been down, up and down in the three postseason series. The biggest difference was that in the ALCS the Yankees continually pitched around him, walking him as if they were afraid of him and his bat.*
On the other hand, we have Derek Holland. I really like Holland’s future, but in the present – tonight – he entered the game with a runner on first base and two outs and gave up Darren O’Day’s run by walking three batters on 13 pitches. Was he afraid to throw a strike that could be hit? He shouldn’t be, because his pitches are good enough to get batters out.
*Joe Morgan, whom I think can do a good job but may now be too impressed with his own work, probably would say that Hamilton is a Teixeira-like 0-for-the Series because Guerrero wasn’t batting behind him tonight.
Could the Rangers’ biggest problem be Mark Lowe bad karma?
OK, so it’s two games to none, a lot worse than 1-0, but still not critical because the Rangers can regain the lead in games by winning the three games they’re “supposed” to win at home.
The biggest mystery with Texas is what the Rangers might do to win a close game. There was none after the first game against the Yankees in the ALCS. Texas’ bullpen has been spotty – with brown spots in tonight’s game. Because there have been so few close postseason games, closer Neftali Feliz, who had 40 regular-season saves, has none in any of the three playoff series.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Look for hot pitchers Holland, Hellickson in majors
We’re getting back toward our normal schedule, when the Tuesday Emails will contain Minor League updates, letting you know which players you could look for to move up from the minors or up through an organization.
The free period for these Emails will end Sunday, April 25. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
NEW!
The good news is that you now CAN subscribe. Here’s how:
Email us at lary@fantasybaseballscout.com. Include your name, address and phone number so we could contact you with any questions, and (most important) tell us the Email address where you would like to receive the Emails. You then would receive an invoice from PayPal, which you could pay by following simple instructions within that Email. Once we receive your payment, we’ll add you to the subscription list so you would receive all of this year’s Emails and have access to any other features from fantasybaseballscout.com.
Subscriptions will include Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay, and he was only one of our picks that were on the money. Choosing him was inspired; he was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Subscribers will be able to ask questions specific to their fantasy teams and leagues, and receive answers through these Emails, the web site or personal Emails.
Leading the way
The first group of minor league Players of the Week and Pitchers of the Week include the usual overaged suspects and inconsistent or previously underachieving prospects.
Seven of the 10 minor leagues that have started their season used the entire season since Opening Day, April 8, as the basis for these first awards. The Triple-A International League and Double-A Southern and Texas leagues based their awards on the calendar week April 12-18.
The shining stars on the list are two of baseball’s best young pitchers, who won the weekly awards from the two Triple-A leagues: LHP Derek Holland (Oklahoma City, Rangers organization, Pacific Coast League) and our Best Arm from the Farm, RHP Jeremy Hellickson (Durham, Rays, IL).
Holland spent most of last season with Texas. Even though he could be a better pitcher than anyone currently in the Rangers’ rotation, he began this season with the 89ers again and has gone 2-0 with an 0.46 ERA and 15:3 strikeout/walk ratio in 19 2/3 innings during three starts. Hellickson improved to 3-0 in a week when he was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 15:2 K/W ratio in 14 innings.
The biggest surprise among the award winners was that three catchers had big weeks at bat. They were 25-year-old Robinson Chirinos (Tennessee, Cubs, Southern League), who batted .444 (8-for-18) with three homers, eight RBI and four runs; Ryan Lavarnway (Salem, Red Sox, high Class A Carolina League), .462 (18-39), three homers, 15 RBI, 13 runs, and Travis d’Arnaud (Dunedin, Blue Jays, high Class A Florida State League), .425 (17-40), three homers, 10 RBI, seven runs and a stolen base. D’Arnaud was one of the prospects Toronto received from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay trade.
Other than 24-year-old Nick Evans, who already has played in the major leagues, the Triple-A and Double-A award winners are at least 25 and thus marginal prospects at best. The PCL Player of the Week, 1B John Lindsey of Albuquerque (Dodgers) is 33! He batted .538 (21-39) with two homers, 13 RBI and 13 runs in a hitters’ home park. OF John Mayberry, 26, of Lehigh Valley (Phillies) had an 11-for-21 (.538) week with a homer, five RBI and eight runs.
In Double-A, 25-year-old 1B Andrew Brown began the Texas League season 3-for-18, but last week batted .423 (11-26) with three homers, 11 RBI and five runs for Springfield (Cardinals). In the two games where I saw him play, he was 1-for-8 (a home run) and didn’t impress me as a prospect. Evans began the season 16-for-43 (.372) with three homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs.
The other Players of the Week were LF Dan Robertson of Lake Elsinore (Padres, high Class A California League), .400 (16-40), one homer, eight RBI, eight runs and a stolen base); RF Jerry Sands of Great Lakes (Dodgers, low A Midwest League), .439 (18-41), two homers, 12 RBI, 11 runs, two steals, and 3B Tyler Kolodny of Delmarva (Orioles, low Class A South Atlantic League), .386 (17-44), six homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs and two stolen bases.
The Double-A Pitchers of the Week also were older than the prime age for a prospect – 25-year-old LHP Luis Perez of New Hampshire (Blue Jays, Eastern League), 2-0, 0.53, 11:6 K/w ratio in 17 innings; 27-year-old Tom Cochran, a former independent-league pitcher now with Carolina (Reds, Southern League), 2-0, 0.75, 15:3 K/W ratio in 12 innings, and 26-year-old RHP Federico Castaneda of Northwest Arkansas (Royals, Texas League), 0-0 with an 0.00 ERA and 11:1 K/W ratio in 9 2/3 relief innings. Castaneda, who has spent five years in the Mexican League, could find a spot in Kansas City’s bullpen this season.
Another Royals farmhand, 2008 first-round draft pick Michael Montgomery, was the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week at Wilmington. The lefty was 1-0 with an 0.75 ERA and 19:1 K/W ratio in 12 innings, including a 17-strikeout game against Kinston (Indians). He’ll also get to the major leagues, though not likely this year.
Other Class A Pitchers of the Week were RHP Juan Nicasio of Modesto (Rockies, California League), 1-0, 2.65 ERA, 13:2 K/W ratio in 17 innings; RHP Hector Noesi of Tampa (Yankees, FSL), 2-0, 1.50, 16:1 K/W ratio in 12 innings; Australian RHP Lian Hendriks of Beloit (Twins, Midwest League), 0-0, 0.00, 20:1 K/W ratio in 17 innings, and LHP Nick Hernandez of Lakewood (Phillies, Sally League), 2-0, 1.29, 20:1 K/W ratio in 21 innings.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. There’s also a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games. It will be updated whenever there’s a change or speculation about a change in a team’s closer.
Padres RHP Heath Bell earned his fourth save in the day’s best-pitched game, a 1-0 victory over the Giants in which the winning pitcher, RHP Mat Latos, had a pitching line of 740012.
The only save with any kind of trouble was by Astros Lindstrom, whose third save came in a game he entered with a 7-4 lead against the Marlins and left with a line of 121100.
The other saves were by Reds RHP Francisco Cordero, fifth, 11-9 vs. the Dodgers; Angels RHP Fernando Rodney, fifth, 6-5 over the Tigers; Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gregg, fourth, 4-3 against the Royals; White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, third, 4-1 vs. the Rays, and Diamondbacks RHP Chad Qualls, second, 9-7 over the Cardinals.
The free period for these Emails will end Sunday, April 25. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
NEW!
The good news is that you now CAN subscribe. Here’s how:
Email us at lary@fantasybaseballscout.com. Include your name, address and phone number so we could contact you with any questions, and (most important) tell us the Email address where you would like to receive the Emails. You then would receive an invoice from PayPal, which you could pay by following simple instructions within that Email. Once we receive your payment, we’ll add you to the subscription list so you would receive all of this year’s Emails and have access to any other features from fantasybaseballscout.com.
Subscriptions will include Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay, and he was only one of our picks that were on the money. Choosing him was inspired; he was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Subscribers will be able to ask questions specific to their fantasy teams and leagues, and receive answers through these Emails, the web site or personal Emails.
Leading the way
The first group of minor league Players of the Week and Pitchers of the Week include the usual overaged suspects and inconsistent or previously underachieving prospects.
Seven of the 10 minor leagues that have started their season used the entire season since Opening Day, April 8, as the basis for these first awards. The Triple-A International League and Double-A Southern and Texas leagues based their awards on the calendar week April 12-18.
The shining stars on the list are two of baseball’s best young pitchers, who won the weekly awards from the two Triple-A leagues: LHP Derek Holland (Oklahoma City, Rangers organization, Pacific Coast League) and our Best Arm from the Farm, RHP Jeremy Hellickson (Durham, Rays, IL).
Holland spent most of last season with Texas. Even though he could be a better pitcher than anyone currently in the Rangers’ rotation, he began this season with the 89ers again and has gone 2-0 with an 0.46 ERA and 15:3 strikeout/walk ratio in 19 2/3 innings during three starts. Hellickson improved to 3-0 in a week when he was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 15:2 K/W ratio in 14 innings.
The biggest surprise among the award winners was that three catchers had big weeks at bat. They were 25-year-old Robinson Chirinos (Tennessee, Cubs, Southern League), who batted .444 (8-for-18) with three homers, eight RBI and four runs; Ryan Lavarnway (Salem, Red Sox, high Class A Carolina League), .462 (18-39), three homers, 15 RBI, 13 runs, and Travis d’Arnaud (Dunedin, Blue Jays, high Class A Florida State League), .425 (17-40), three homers, 10 RBI, seven runs and a stolen base. D’Arnaud was one of the prospects Toronto received from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay trade.
Other than 24-year-old Nick Evans, who already has played in the major leagues, the Triple-A and Double-A award winners are at least 25 and thus marginal prospects at best. The PCL Player of the Week, 1B John Lindsey of Albuquerque (Dodgers) is 33! He batted .538 (21-39) with two homers, 13 RBI and 13 runs in a hitters’ home park. OF John Mayberry, 26, of Lehigh Valley (Phillies) had an 11-for-21 (.538) week with a homer, five RBI and eight runs.
In Double-A, 25-year-old 1B Andrew Brown began the Texas League season 3-for-18, but last week batted .423 (11-26) with three homers, 11 RBI and five runs for Springfield (Cardinals). In the two games where I saw him play, he was 1-for-8 (a home run) and didn’t impress me as a prospect. Evans began the season 16-for-43 (.372) with three homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs.
The other Players of the Week were LF Dan Robertson of Lake Elsinore (Padres, high Class A California League), .400 (16-40), one homer, eight RBI, eight runs and a stolen base); RF Jerry Sands of Great Lakes (Dodgers, low A Midwest League), .439 (18-41), two homers, 12 RBI, 11 runs, two steals, and 3B Tyler Kolodny of Delmarva (Orioles, low Class A South Atlantic League), .386 (17-44), six homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs and two stolen bases.
The Double-A Pitchers of the Week also were older than the prime age for a prospect – 25-year-old LHP Luis Perez of New Hampshire (Blue Jays, Eastern League), 2-0, 0.53, 11:6 K/w ratio in 17 innings; 27-year-old Tom Cochran, a former independent-league pitcher now with Carolina (Reds, Southern League), 2-0, 0.75, 15:3 K/W ratio in 12 innings, and 26-year-old RHP Federico Castaneda of Northwest Arkansas (Royals, Texas League), 0-0 with an 0.00 ERA and 11:1 K/W ratio in 9 2/3 relief innings. Castaneda, who has spent five years in the Mexican League, could find a spot in Kansas City’s bullpen this season.
Another Royals farmhand, 2008 first-round draft pick Michael Montgomery, was the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week at Wilmington. The lefty was 1-0 with an 0.75 ERA and 19:1 K/W ratio in 12 innings, including a 17-strikeout game against Kinston (Indians). He’ll also get to the major leagues, though not likely this year.
Other Class A Pitchers of the Week were RHP Juan Nicasio of Modesto (Rockies, California League), 1-0, 2.65 ERA, 13:2 K/W ratio in 17 innings; RHP Hector Noesi of Tampa (Yankees, FSL), 2-0, 1.50, 16:1 K/W ratio in 12 innings; Australian RHP Lian Hendriks of Beloit (Twins, Midwest League), 0-0, 0.00, 20:1 K/W ratio in 17 innings, and LHP Nick Hernandez of Lakewood (Phillies, Sally League), 2-0, 1.29, 20:1 K/W ratio in 21 innings.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. There’s also a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games. It will be updated whenever there’s a change or speculation about a change in a team’s closer.
Padres RHP Heath Bell earned his fourth save in the day’s best-pitched game, a 1-0 victory over the Giants in which the winning pitcher, RHP Mat Latos, had a pitching line of 740012.
The only save with any kind of trouble was by Astros Lindstrom, whose third save came in a game he entered with a 7-4 lead against the Marlins and left with a line of 121100.
The other saves were by Reds RHP Francisco Cordero, fifth, 11-9 vs. the Dodgers; Angels RHP Fernando Rodney, fifth, 6-5 over the Tigers; Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gregg, fourth, 4-3 against the Royals; White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, third, 4-1 vs. the Rays, and Diamondbacks RHP Chad Qualls, second, 9-7 over the Cardinals.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Making their mark: Mills, Reckling, Holland, Chacin
On Thursday evenings during the regular season our Emails to you usually would consist of News and Notes. Those notes also could include items you would see on other days of the week – such as injuries, minor league news, changes in pitching rotations, players lighting it up or stinking up stadiums.
This week, because the minor league season didn’t begin until Thursday, we switched the News and Notes to Tuesday and are bringing you information on those opening games.
NOTE: We have extended the free period for these Emails through Sunday, April 18. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
During this weekend, we’ll provide you with information on how you can subscribe for five (or more)-times-a-week themed Emails during the regular season.
That subscription would include occasional Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay. He was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Let us know of your interest and what you’d like to see by Emailing lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
Thanks for your continuing interest in and support of Fantasy Baseball Scout.
A key to first pitching call-ups
A rule of thumb is that the first pitcher a major league team recalls during the regular season is the Opening Day starting pitcher for its Triple-A affiliate. That isn’t always the case, because sometimes a team needs a pitcher to fill a specific role, such as left-handed relief specialist, and sometimes by the time the parent team needs a pitcher the Opening Day guy has been injured or has pitched himself out of consideration.
As a service to you, we’re providing a list of the starters for each of the 30 Triple-A teams’ opener.
Not entirely a list, though, because we want to single out a few – most of whom are top prospects who had exceptional pitching lines. The best effort was by Blue Jays LHP prospect Brad Mills, with a line of 620009 for Las Vegas. Angels LHP prospect Trevor Reckling’s line for Salt Lake City was 650023. Our Best Arm from the Farm, Rays RHP prospect Jeremy Hellickson, was 542116 for Durham. LHP Derek Holland, who was in the Rangers’ rotation last season and should be again this season before long, gave up a run on career minor leaguer Michael Restovich’s home run for Triple-A Albuquerque as part of a line of 651106. RHP Vin Mazzaro, down from the Athletics rotation, had a line of 4 1/3 0027 for Sacramento. The best line for a National League affiliate was the 510016 for Jhoulys Chacin with Colorado Springs in the Rockies’ organization.
The Red Sox sent RHP Boof Bonser to Pawtucket to start on an injury-rehab assignment. Others who have enough years that they’re no longer considered prospects were RHP Ruddy Lugo, Toledo (Tigers); RHP David Pauley, Tacoma (Mariners); RHP Josh Banks, Round Rock (Astros); RHP Kameron Loe, Nashville (Brewers); RHP Kevin Hart, Indianapolis (Pirates), and LHP Evan MacLane, Memphis (Cardinals).
The other Triple-A starters were RHP Chris Tillman, Norfolk (Orioles); RHP Lucas Harrell, Charlotte (White Sox); RHP Carlos Carrasco, Columbus (Indians); RHP Gaby Hernandez, Omaha (Royals); RHP Anthony Swarzak, Rochester (Twins); RHP Ivan Nova, Scranton (Yankees); RHP Kevin Mulvey, Reno (Diamondbacks); RHP Jim Parr, Gwinnett (Braves); RHP J.R. Mathes, Iowa (Cubs); RHP Sam LeCure, Louisville (Reds); RHP Ryan Tucker, New Orleans (Marlins); RHP James McDonald, Albuquerque (Dodgers); RHP Tobi Stoner, Buffalo (Mets); LHP Brian Mazone, Lehigh Valley (Phillies); LHP Wade LeBlanc, Portland (Padres); RHP Kevin Pucetas, Fresno (Giants), and RHP J.D. Martin, Syracuse (Nationals).
Making his regular-season pro debut Sunday is Nationals RHP prospect Stephen Strasburg, who will start for Double-A Harrisburg. That’s the same day Reds LHP prospect Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to start for Louisville at Toledo.
The day’s hitting hero was Indians C prospect Carlos Santana, who had a memorable Triple-A debut with two home runs in Columbus’ 17-4 rout of Indianapolis.
Major matters
The Rangers put C Salty on the 15-day disabled list because of a tight upper back. He told the team after Tuesday’s game, in which he struck out as a pinch hitter, that he had been injured Monday. GM Jon Daniels admitted that the team was upset, but added that there wouldn’t be any action taken against Salty. To take his place, Texas purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City the contract of C Matt Treanor, a fantasy non-factor. In most games, C Taylor Teagarden will be given a chance to kill your fantasy team’s batting average.
Also missing the Rangers-Blue Jays game was 2B Aaron Hill, because of a tight right hamstring. In his place was 29-year-old minor league journeyman Mike McCoy, who led off the game with his first major league hit and had another single to drive in a run during Toronto’s game-winning three-run rally in the ninth inning.
The Mariners fortified their bullpen by adding RHP Jesus Colome. To make room, they designated OF Ryan Langerhans for assignment.
Jonny Gomes’ walk-off home run against Cardinals RHP Jason Motte gave the Reds a 2-1 victory at home.
Our Jarrod Washburn Award winner, RHP Kevin Slowey, earned his first win with a pitching line of 5 1/3 71123 in the Twins’ 10-1 rout at LA/Anaheim.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. We’ve also put a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games.
Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor picked up his second save in their 3-1 victory at Texas. Toronto won with three runs in the ninth as the Rangers’ closer, RHP Frank Francisco pitched for the cycle – allowing a home run, triple, double and single in that order.
Indians RHP Chris Perez also had his second save, in a 5-3 win on the south side of Chicago.
Receiving their first save were Nationals RHP Matt Capps, 6-5 over the Phillies; Cubs RHP Carlos Marmol, in relief of RHP Randy Wells in a 2-0 victory in Atlanta; Orioles LHP Mike Gonzalez, finishing up for LHP Brian Matusz in a 5-4 win at Tampa Bay, and Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, in relief of LHP Nate Robertson as Florida won 3-1 at CitiField.
This week, because the minor league season didn’t begin until Thursday, we switched the News and Notes to Tuesday and are bringing you information on those opening games.
NOTE: We have extended the free period for these Emails through Sunday, April 18. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
During this weekend, we’ll provide you with information on how you can subscribe for five (or more)-times-a-week themed Emails during the regular season.
That subscription would include occasional Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay. He was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Let us know of your interest and what you’d like to see by Emailing lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
Thanks for your continuing interest in and support of Fantasy Baseball Scout.
A key to first pitching call-ups
A rule of thumb is that the first pitcher a major league team recalls during the regular season is the Opening Day starting pitcher for its Triple-A affiliate. That isn’t always the case, because sometimes a team needs a pitcher to fill a specific role, such as left-handed relief specialist, and sometimes by the time the parent team needs a pitcher the Opening Day guy has been injured or has pitched himself out of consideration.
As a service to you, we’re providing a list of the starters for each of the 30 Triple-A teams’ opener.
Not entirely a list, though, because we want to single out a few – most of whom are top prospects who had exceptional pitching lines. The best effort was by Blue Jays LHP prospect Brad Mills, with a line of 620009 for Las Vegas. Angels LHP prospect Trevor Reckling’s line for Salt Lake City was 650023. Our Best Arm from the Farm, Rays RHP prospect Jeremy Hellickson, was 542116 for Durham. LHP Derek Holland, who was in the Rangers’ rotation last season and should be again this season before long, gave up a run on career minor leaguer Michael Restovich’s home run for Triple-A Albuquerque as part of a line of 651106. RHP Vin Mazzaro, down from the Athletics rotation, had a line of 4 1/3 0027 for Sacramento. The best line for a National League affiliate was the 510016 for Jhoulys Chacin with Colorado Springs in the Rockies’ organization.
The Red Sox sent RHP Boof Bonser to Pawtucket to start on an injury-rehab assignment. Others who have enough years that they’re no longer considered prospects were RHP Ruddy Lugo, Toledo (Tigers); RHP David Pauley, Tacoma (Mariners); RHP Josh Banks, Round Rock (Astros); RHP Kameron Loe, Nashville (Brewers); RHP Kevin Hart, Indianapolis (Pirates), and LHP Evan MacLane, Memphis (Cardinals).
The other Triple-A starters were RHP Chris Tillman, Norfolk (Orioles); RHP Lucas Harrell, Charlotte (White Sox); RHP Carlos Carrasco, Columbus (Indians); RHP Gaby Hernandez, Omaha (Royals); RHP Anthony Swarzak, Rochester (Twins); RHP Ivan Nova, Scranton (Yankees); RHP Kevin Mulvey, Reno (Diamondbacks); RHP Jim Parr, Gwinnett (Braves); RHP J.R. Mathes, Iowa (Cubs); RHP Sam LeCure, Louisville (Reds); RHP Ryan Tucker, New Orleans (Marlins); RHP James McDonald, Albuquerque (Dodgers); RHP Tobi Stoner, Buffalo (Mets); LHP Brian Mazone, Lehigh Valley (Phillies); LHP Wade LeBlanc, Portland (Padres); RHP Kevin Pucetas, Fresno (Giants), and RHP J.D. Martin, Syracuse (Nationals).
Making his regular-season pro debut Sunday is Nationals RHP prospect Stephen Strasburg, who will start for Double-A Harrisburg. That’s the same day Reds LHP prospect Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to start for Louisville at Toledo.
The day’s hitting hero was Indians C prospect Carlos Santana, who had a memorable Triple-A debut with two home runs in Columbus’ 17-4 rout of Indianapolis.
Major matters
The Rangers put C Salty on the 15-day disabled list because of a tight upper back. He told the team after Tuesday’s game, in which he struck out as a pinch hitter, that he had been injured Monday. GM Jon Daniels admitted that the team was upset, but added that there wouldn’t be any action taken against Salty. To take his place, Texas purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City the contract of C Matt Treanor, a fantasy non-factor. In most games, C Taylor Teagarden will be given a chance to kill your fantasy team’s batting average.
Also missing the Rangers-Blue Jays game was 2B Aaron Hill, because of a tight right hamstring. In his place was 29-year-old minor league journeyman Mike McCoy, who led off the game with his first major league hit and had another single to drive in a run during Toronto’s game-winning three-run rally in the ninth inning.
The Mariners fortified their bullpen by adding RHP Jesus Colome. To make room, they designated OF Ryan Langerhans for assignment.
Jonny Gomes’ walk-off home run against Cardinals RHP Jason Motte gave the Reds a 2-1 victory at home.
Our Jarrod Washburn Award winner, RHP Kevin Slowey, earned his first win with a pitching line of 5 1/3 71123 in the Twins’ 10-1 rout at LA/Anaheim.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. We’ve also put a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games.
Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor picked up his second save in their 3-1 victory at Texas. Toronto won with three runs in the ninth as the Rangers’ closer, RHP Frank Francisco pitched for the cycle – allowing a home run, triple, double and single in that order.
Indians RHP Chris Perez also had his second save, in a 5-3 win on the south side of Chicago.
Receiving their first save were Nationals RHP Matt Capps, 6-5 over the Phillies; Cubs RHP Carlos Marmol, in relief of RHP Randy Wells in a 2-0 victory in Atlanta; Orioles LHP Mike Gonzalez, finishing up for LHP Brian Matusz in a 5-4 win at Tampa Bay, and Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, in relief of LHP Nate Robertson as Florida won 3-1 at CitiField.
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