Andrew Miller has a tough upcoming schedule, but he's someone who has to be owned in all but the shallowest of leagues, despite an ugly ERA (5.33) and WHIP (1.66). Over his last three starts, he's posted a 22:5 K:BB ratio and has issued more than two walks in just one of his last seven outings. Some inconsistency with control is likely to still pop up from time to time, but Miller keeps the ball on the ground and is tough to homer off. His .378 BABIP is bound to come down, as is his ERA and WHIP.
What has gotten into Dan Uggla? During 22 games in May, he has 12 HRs, 26 runs scored, 25 RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. He's always had a knack for racking up runs and RBI despite low OBPs, and at age 28, a career-year is almost certainly in store. Still, his contact rate (.71) is actually worse than his career level (.77), as is his BABIP (.369 vs. .299). He's someone you should be trying to sell-high.
Clayton Kershaw is without question the best pitching prospect in baseball, with a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a curve that drops all the way to 72 mph. However, it's good to remember he just turned 20 years old last week, and since he's already thrown 50 innings this season, he's probably only going to be allowed to toss around 100-120 more in 2008. Additionally, he averaged just 4.8 innings per start in Double-A this year due to control problems (he threw six wild pitches during nine starts). That said, he's extremely difficult to hit, so No. 1 waiver priorities have to be used on his upside.
With a .770 OPS, James Loney has been a disappointment in 2008. Still, he's a guy I'd be trying to buy-low, as it's only a matter of time until he starts raking. His contact rate (.85) is solid, and most of his struggles have come against southpaws, whom he hit .319 against during 94 at-bats last season. Go get him.
Over the past week, there have been at least six erroneous home run calls.
I admit, I undervalued James Shields entering the year. His K:BB ratio was extremely impressive in 2007, but with such a lucky schedule (five starts against the Orioles, four combined versus the Yankees and Red Sox) and pitching in a tough AL East, I figured some regression was likely. Instead, he's continued to impress, and now his ERA is matching his component stats. It's a small sample size that might ultimately mean nothing, but it's worth noting he's sporting some extreme splits so far – 1.75 ERA, 0.80 WHIP at home, 6.04 ERA, 1.69 WHIP on the road.
If an outfielder or infielder loses the ball in the lights/sun and it drops in without him touching it, that's an error – I don't care what the rulebook says.
With a .283/.421/.602 line, Pat Burrell is having an MVP-type season. Finally over his past health problems and playing for a contract, it's safe to assume a career-season is in store. He's always had this type of potential, so unless you get a star in return, might as well hold onto him and enjoy the ride. He'll never hit better than .280, but 35 homers and 115 RBI are well within reach. And to think, he was getting benched versus righties at one point last season.
Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins and Clint Barmes? It's safe to say the Rockies are having some injury problems. Scott Podsednik and Seth Smith need to be owned in all deep and/or NL-only leagues.
Over his last five starts, Ben Sheets has a 29:1 K:BB ratio.
Carlos Quentin is on pace to finish with a .301 BA, 46 HRs, 142 RBI, 116 runs and 13 steals. You don't need me to tell you he's going to decline some, but Quentin is also showing the best plate discipline of his career and plays in the American League's best park for power hitters. This talent is for real – his 2007 was ruined by a shoulder injury. Can you imagine the Diamondbacks if they didn't give up on him so soon?
In RotoWire's Staff Keeper League, Albert Pujols was just traded for Dana Eveland and Jose Vidro. Not to call out this specific owner or even go over this particular deal, but I wanted to use it to highlight just how much better it is to play in redraft leagues. Don't get me wrong, there's some added strategy to keeper formats, and I like the fact you can become even more attached to your players over a longer period of time. However, more often than not, trades like this one occur, so unless you're willing to sell out for one year, you're either rebuilding or guaranteed to finish behind some powerhouse who traded a minor leaguer for a top-5 talent before even June arrived. Moreover, yearly leagues are better because of the actual draft/auction process, which is the best part anyway.