Finally back to full health, Jose Reyes is on pace to finish with 120 runs scored and 58 steals while batting .336. With a 26:23 K:BB ratio over 307 at-bats, he's shown real growth this season, and while Reyes remains an injury risk, he only recently turned 28 years old and is just now entering his prime. The three homers are disappointing from a fantasy perspective, and Citi Field is partially to blame, but with 20 doubles and 12 triples, Reyes has posted a career-high .508 slugging percentage. Considering that production has been paired with slightly above average defense from the shortstop position, he's quite the valuable player – both in real life and fantasy terms. If the Giants offered Jonathan Sanchez and Zack Wheeler for Reyes and Carlos Beltran, who says no? Sticking briefly with the Mets, what a devastating blow this Ike Davis injury is turning out to be for his fantasy owners, including myself. He now looks like a long shot to return this season. And he was playing so well too.
This fair makes deep fried Twinkies look like a sustenance for vegans.
Pretty crazy footage of a police chase.
Brandon Beachy impressed during his return to the rotation Wednesday, recording 11 strikeouts while allowing just one run (which was Jose Bautista's second homer since May 28) over six innings against the Blue Jays. Beachy, who is coming back from an oblique and not an arm injury, continues to impress, as he's now sporting a 57:14 K:BB ratio over 50.1 innings in 2011. He's been an extreme fly ball pitcher, so more homers could follow, but Beachy's WHIP should remain a major asset all year. I thought Atlanta was making a mistake choosing him over Mike Minor entering the year, but clearly, I was the one being foolish.
Potentially huge news in the Amanda Knox trial.
I've stubbornly stuck with Juan Pierre in my home league lineup all season long, but he's been nothing short of a disaster. A .235/.314/.295 (.295!) line won't play for even the best defensive corner outfielder, so it's not exactly ideal for one who's also posted a -7.5 UZR like Pierre has. It's no surprise his -1.2 WAR is tied for last in major league baseball. Pierre's batting eye remains fine (21:21 K:BB ratio), and after ending June with a .249 batting average last season, he hit .289 the rest of the way, so he's shown the ability to improve during the summer months at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field. However, the biggest issue for him as a fantasy player, other than possibly losing his job outright, is his lack of running. Pierre swiped 68 bags as recently as last year, and even as a part time player when he averaged just 378 ABs over 2008-2009, he stole 40 and 30 bases, respectively. He's been successful on just 10 of his 19 attempts so far in 2011, which leads to the biggest concern, as manager Ozzie Guillen has instructed him to slow down, as he hasn't even attempted a SB since June 5. If Pierre isn't running, he's pretty much worthless in fantasy leagues.
There's got to be a better way.
Plenty will change between now and then, but what does your preliminary top-five board look like for 2012? Mine would probably look something like this: 1) Adrian Gonzalez 2) Albert Pujols 3) Jose Bautista 4) Matt Kemp 5) Ryan Braun. There are strong arguments for Miguel Cabrera and Troy Tulowitkzi, among others, and I wonder how much Pujols' down year and injury will affect his draft stock. I can't see Gonzalez falling out of the top-three, barring a disaster.
Now this is a driver who knows how to multitask.
Cory Luebke posted a 2.68 ERA and 0.98 WHIP between Double and Triple-A last season, and while his 6.9 K/9 rate wasn't overly impressive, it was accompanied by a 3:1 K:BB ratio and half that time was spent in the hitter-friendly PCL. Luebke's K rate has jumped significantly since joining San Diego, and while it's been a small sample and primarily out of the bullpen, he's an intriguing arm who calls Petco Park home. Now a member of the Padres' starting rotation – at least while Aaron Harang is out – he's a fantasy sleeper who should be owned in all but the shallowest of leagues.
Maybe it helped I didn't have too high expectations despite the intrigue of its marketing campaign, but I thought "Super 8" was fine (certainly not great). I actually really liked the overall concept, but they could have executed it better, especially toward the end. And if "The Tree of Life" doesn't get released near me soon, I'm going to harm someone.
Not sure what to make of Colby Rasmus right now. As a center fielder who posted a .276/.361/.498 line at age 23 last season, he certainly appeared to be a future star, but he's taken a step back this year, and especially in fantasy terms, his five steals and five stolen bases leave plenty to be desired. He's an extreme fly ball hitter, so the lack of home runs is especially perplexing. Have the Cardinals messed with his swing too many times? Moreover, after posting a 9.2 UZR as a rookie, he recorded a -6.7 last season and sits at -4.6 so far in 2011, so he's really regressed as a fielder too. Still just 24 years old, there's plenty of time for him to turn it around, and as a blind faith play, maybe he's someone to target as a buy-low in fantasy leagues.
Meet the Amish Anthony Weiner.
Rarely is it what happens after the motorcycle crash that's most noteworthy.
Neftali Feliz has been one of the tougher closers to figure out this season. Although he sat with a 1.37 ERA on June 1, he sported a 9:14 K:BB ratio, so something was clearly amiss after he had 71 strikeouts to just 18 walks over 69.1 innings in 2010. He posted a 10:1 K:BB ratio over his next seven appearances (including 6:0 over his past three), showing increased velocity, only to get rocked for four runs while retiring just two batters against a weak Astros team Wednesday. Just when it seemed safe he may finally be feeling back to his old self after getting moved back and forth from starting and relieving, Feliz imploded in spectacular fashion…One other quick closer note: Kevin Gregg has a 23:19 K:BB ratio and a 1.52 WHIP while Koji Uehara has a 42:6 K:BB ratio and a 0.79 WHIP. One (or actually two) of these things is not like the other. Over the last two years, Uehara has a ridiculous 97:11 K:BB ratio over 77.0 innings. – while pitching in the AL East. He's one of the best relievers in baseball few people talk about.
I'm beginning to question just exactly how the system works.
Only eight million gallons? Is that all?
I fully admit I was high on Travis Wood entering the year. And while he certainly appeared to be unlucky in April, when he flashed a 6.85 ERA despite a 3:1 K:BB ratio, he's been flat out bad ever since, and I can't fault Cincinnati for optioning him to Triple-A. Wood settled down nicely after a rough first inning against the Yankees his last time out, but before that, he hadn't recorded more than four strikeouts in any of his previous seven starts, posting an anemic 4.07 K/9 rate over that span, which is simply unacceptable, especially since it was paired with shaky control. Wood is throwing his changeup (which has been his most effective pitch) more this season and his fastball less compared to last year, and his velocity across the board has been as good if not slightly better, so there's nothing obvious to pinpoint his massive decline other than maybe the league adjusted to his admittedly not overwhelming stuff.
My favorite part is that he knows 38 beers is his typical cutoff.
I've made a point of posting a link whenever a 7-year-old gets in a police car chase, and I'm not making an exception this time.
Since 2009 on a per 162-game basis, Nelson Cruz has averaged 40 homers, 23 steals, 90 runs scored and 107 RBI. Of course, few players appear in a full season, and Cruz especially has proven injury-prone. Health is a skill he's yet to exhibit, and Cruz's batting average has also fluctuated greatly, going from .260 to .318 to .241 over that timeframe. Still, it's clear he's one of the more productive fantasy assets while not injured, essentially performing as a top-five player when on the field. Despite the 17 homers over 220 at-bats in 2011, he entered Wednesday with a disappointing .236/.289/.514 line. Cruz is capable of far outplaying that from here on out, so if you're willing to take on some risk, he's the type of player to trade for who could truly help you win your league.
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