Every week Update! will be putting together a list of noteworthy performances, events and going-ons in the baseball world. We'll get you up to speed on what to get excited (or nervous) about while providing useful fantasy insight:
Comment: Last June, Fuentes was removed from the closer's role following four straight blown saves and Manny Corpas was given the ninth inning gig. Now Corpas is the bum, blowing four saves in eight chances. Fuentes had 85 career saves entering 2008 and is a three-time All Star who has been a dominant reliever. He has some implosion-risk, but he also has the talent to be an elite closer in fantasy leagues.
Comment: Rolen is back on the field and he enjoyed a nice series against Kansas City, batting .364 with one home run and four RBI. Anyone that owns a hurting or stuggling third baseman, like Chipper Jones, Chone Figgins or Hank Blalock, should add the veteran player. Toronto still has a pretty good offense and he could put up good numbers.
Comment: While his teammate Tim Lincecum continues to baffle batters, Jonathan Sanchez has quietly been a K-machine himself. With his second 10 strikeout game Friday, Sanchez has now whiffed 36 in 28 innings this season with a 3.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He'll hit some bumps along the way, but Sanchez is worth a pick-up right now based on his strikeout potential alone.
Comment: Gerald Laird hasn't been awful this season (.269 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI), but he obviously has not done enough to keep the Rangers from calling-up Saltalamacchia, who was playing well at Triple-A. Manager Ron Washington has let it be known that both players are going to be splitting catching duties at the moment, but it's apparent that a changing of the guard is on the way. I'd tell you to add Salty, but if your league is competitive, he's probably long gone.
Comment: The Cisco Kid was brutalized in his three starts this season, posting an 11.32 ERA and 2.71 WHIP. The Twins decided it would be best if he worked his pitching problems out in the minors and fantasy owners were quick to drop him. That might be a bit hasty, especially in leagues with deep rosters. If Liriano rights himself and builds confidence at Triple-A, the Twins are going to call-him back up sooner than later. Keep an eye on his play in the minor leagues.
Comment: The Yankees lost one of their most dependable players to the disabled list this week and fantasy owners may be in a heap of trouble. There is a ton of speculation abound about just how serious his shoulder injury is. He's been examined by specialist Dr. James Andrews, which usually spells season-ending surgery. Fantasy owners are holding out hope that Posada's stay on the DL is a short one.
Comment: Maybe, at age 41, father time has finally caught up to Smoltz. An insanely durable pitcher, throwing 200-plus innings every season after returning to the starting rotation, Smoltz has been rapped by neck and shoulder pain since the beginning of the season. He seems to be a lock for the DL at this point and we may be witnessing the beginning of a disappointing season for Smoltz.
Comment: Sheffield's bat has been terrible all season as he has just one home run in 63 at-bats. He is clearly not fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery and at age 39, who knows if he'll be a valuable fantasy commodity this year. Luckily for his fantasy owners, manager Jim Leyland is sticking with Sheffield in the three-hole, so one can only hope he will turn it around.
Comment: Yet another reason why you don't draft closers until late in fantasy drafts. Corpas looked like a star in the making in 2007 after taking over the closer's reins from Brian Fuentes. Yet a loss of velocity and poor command have led to a disastrous 2008, with Corpas failing to last an entire month in the closer's role. He needs to be dropped in all leagues as he has virtually no shot at getting his job back at this rate.
Comment: Trevor Hoffman has looked every bit like an over-the-hill major-leaguer. He obviously has a ton of leash in the closer's role, but if he keeps killing the Padres, they may have no choice but to move Heath Bell into ninth inning duties. Fantasy owners will still value him, as he is a Hall of Fame player with a decent amount of job security. So it may be best to try to move him in a trade to a league-mate seeking a closer.
Comment: Who is he Mike Mussina? His fastball had been topping out at 85 mph and he was pitching so poorly, the Pirates actually decided it was better to pay him approximately $11 million to not pitch, releasing him from their franchise. Morris, who went to Pittsburgh in a mid-season trade with San Francisco last year, may retire.
Comment: Zito's awful career in San Francisco has come to a head. The Giants announced that Zito, who was made the highest paid pitcher entering the 2007 season, would move to the bullpen. Talk about a fall from grace. The former Cy Young winner was supposed to have his numbers aided by a move to the National League, but instead has been shellacked game-in and game-out. For the scant few of you still holding onto Zito, please remove him from your lineup ASAP.
BULLISH
BRIAN FUENTES
Colorado Rockies, RPComment: Last June, Fuentes was removed from the closer's role following four straight blown saves and Manny Corpas was given the ninth inning gig. Now Corpas is the bum, blowing four saves in eight chances. Fuentes had 85 career saves entering 2008 and is a three-time All Star who has been a dominant reliever. He has some implosion-risk, but he also has the talent to be an elite closer in fantasy leagues.
SCOTT ROLEN
Toronto Blue Jays, 3BComment: Rolen is back on the field and he enjoyed a nice series against Kansas City, batting .364 with one home run and four RBI. Anyone that owns a hurting or stuggling third baseman, like Chipper Jones, Chone Figgins or Hank Blalock, should add the veteran player. Toronto still has a pretty good offense and he could put up good numbers.
JONATHAN SANCHEZ
San Francisco Giants, SPComment: While his teammate Tim Lincecum continues to baffle batters, Jonathan Sanchez has quietly been a K-machine himself. With his second 10 strikeout game Friday, Sanchez has now whiffed 36 in 28 innings this season with a 3.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He'll hit some bumps along the way, but Sanchez is worth a pick-up right now based on his strikeout potential alone.
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA
Texas Rangers, CComment: Gerald Laird hasn't been awful this season (.269 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI), but he obviously has not done enough to keep the Rangers from calling-up Saltalamacchia, who was playing well at Triple-A. Manager Ron Washington has let it be known that both players are going to be splitting catching duties at the moment, but it's apparent that a changing of the guard is on the way. I'd tell you to add Salty, but if your league is competitive, he's probably long gone.
BEARISH
FRANCISCO LIRIANO
Minnesota Twins, SPComment: The Cisco Kid was brutalized in his three starts this season, posting an 11.32 ERA and 2.71 WHIP. The Twins decided it would be best if he worked his pitching problems out in the minors and fantasy owners were quick to drop him. That might be a bit hasty, especially in leagues with deep rosters. If Liriano rights himself and builds confidence at Triple-A, the Twins are going to call-him back up sooner than later. Keep an eye on his play in the minor leagues.
JORGE POSADA
New York Yankees, CComment: The Yankees lost one of their most dependable players to the disabled list this week and fantasy owners may be in a heap of trouble. There is a ton of speculation abound about just how serious his shoulder injury is. He's been examined by specialist Dr. James Andrews, which usually spells season-ending surgery. Fantasy owners are holding out hope that Posada's stay on the DL is a short one.
JOHN SMOLTZ
Atlanta Braves, SPComment: Maybe, at age 41, father time has finally caught up to Smoltz. An insanely durable pitcher, throwing 200-plus innings every season after returning to the starting rotation, Smoltz has been rapped by neck and shoulder pain since the beginning of the season. He seems to be a lock for the DL at this point and we may be witnessing the beginning of a disappointing season for Smoltz.
GARY SHEFFIELD
Detroit Tigers, OFComment: Sheffield's bat has been terrible all season as he has just one home run in 63 at-bats. He is clearly not fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery and at age 39, who knows if he'll be a valuable fantasy commodity this year. Luckily for his fantasy owners, manager Jim Leyland is sticking with Sheffield in the three-hole, so one can only hope he will turn it around.
BUST
MANNY CORPAS
Colorado Rockies, RPComment: Yet another reason why you don't draft closers until late in fantasy drafts. Corpas looked like a star in the making in 2007 after taking over the closer's reins from Brian Fuentes. Yet a loss of velocity and poor command have led to a disastrous 2008, with Corpas failing to last an entire month in the closer's role. He needs to be dropped in all leagues as he has virtually no shot at getting his job back at this rate.
TREVOR HOFFMAN
San Diego Padres, RPComment: Trevor Hoffman has looked every bit like an over-the-hill major-leaguer. He obviously has a ton of leash in the closer's role, but if he keeps killing the Padres, they may have no choice but to move Heath Bell into ninth inning duties. Fantasy owners will still value him, as he is a Hall of Fame player with a decent amount of job security. So it may be best to try to move him in a trade to a league-mate seeking a closer.
MATT MORRIS
Free Agent, SPComment: Who is he Mike Mussina? His fastball had been topping out at 85 mph and he was pitching so poorly, the Pirates actually decided it was better to pay him approximately $11 million to not pitch, releasing him from their franchise. Morris, who went to Pittsburgh in a mid-season trade with San Francisco last year, may retire.
BARRY ZITO
San Francisco Giants, SPComment: Zito's awful career in San Francisco has come to a head. The Giants announced that Zito, who was made the highest paid pitcher entering the 2007 season, would move to the bullpen. Talk about a fall from grace. The former Cy Young winner was supposed to have his numbers aided by a move to the National League, but instead has been shellacked game-in and game-out. For the scant few of you still holding onto Zito, please remove him from your lineup ASAP.
