WAR SHEET
WAR SHEET |
The season has begun to settle in, and some trends are finally beginning to develop and take shape. Whether anyone is actually in the ballparks to witness it is another matter. Eight teams (seven in spanking-new ballparks) drew all-time low single-game attendance figures. You think perhaps that the fans are finally sending their message to both the owners and players??? The most alarming total was just over 14,000 tickets sold in Milwaukee on an unseasonably warm Monday night. Witnesses estimated that actual total in the house as more like 7,000. And that doesn't even tell the whole story, all tickets (even the field levels) were half-off in a promotion to Milwaukee-area residents who are still paying an extra tax to pay for the white elephant, I mean stadium. Bud Selig's daughter of course is unconcerned, explaining in her female Chowd accent that the attendance is still miles better than at the old barn. Only because the carrot of the All-Star Game was being offered this year. Next year, season ticket sales will plummet even more and will get down to Expo/Marlin levels. At that point the Selig's may choose to contract themselves.
There was also allegedly labor negotiations going on this week, with representatives of both New York teams, as well as reps from the Orioles and Braves attending. Bud is of course on record as saying the talks are going �very well�. You can take that with an entire bag full of salt. The owners want a �world-wide�draft along with salary constraint. That will happen over Donald Fuhr�s dead body. I�ll say it again, look for this season to end around late August-early September, before the Red Sox fall out of first place and their fans look for this generations scapegoat.
Notice a recurring theme regarding players commanding attention this week�
Juan Encarncion (CIN) � Fantasy owners by the thousands have been disappointed with Ency�s development the past two seasons. His real-life team in Detroit grew impatient as well and discarded him this offseason. Getting out of Detroit proved to be plus #1, plus #2 proved to be early injuries to Ken Griffey Jr. and Sean Casey, plus #3 is that he is now 26, in his third full season, and has a chip on his shoulder. The early returns after 14 games are favorable with a .298 BA with 4 HR, 11 RBI, and 3 SB. If he�s able to stick in the lineup and multiply those totals to even close to ten-fold he would make for a nice pick-up.
Shea Hillenbrand (BOS) � Once again, a gem has been found in the rubbage. Hiding behind the mega-hyped 3rd base prospects Hank Blalock and Sean Burroughs, Shea has exploded out to the early AL RBI lead with 17 in 14 games, to go along with 5 bombs and a .380 BA. Shea was listed as only the 25th best prospect in the organization as recently as last year, and produced at an unremarkable .263/52/12/49 in 468 AB�s last year. But then again Albert Pujols wasn�t exactly tearing up the world in A ball two years back. And it wasn�t like Wade Boggs was looked at as a can�t-miss when he got the call to Boston two decades ago. By the way, Shea is now 26 years old � notice a trend here. His CDM salary is virtually the same as Blalock, but only 17 of the top 250 teams have him this week. That will change dramatically, especially if the slumping Blalock were to follow John Rocker down to AAA.
Jim Edmonds (STL) � Is back flashing his Y2K MVP form, with 6 bombs and 14 ribbies in 48 AB�s to go along with a .375 BA/.545 OBP/.812 SLG. Looks as good as ever smack in the middle of a loaded lineup.
Jeremy Giambi (OAK) � If you need runs, Jeremy is looking good in his new leadoff role. 10 runs to go along with 3 HR and a .315 BA. Do not look for speed though, his next SB will be the first of his career which now spans over 1000 AB�s.
Brandon Duckworth (PHI) � 30 K�s v. only 6 walks in 19 innings over three starts, to go along with a 2.37/1.00. The strikeout production is a quantum-leap leap over the 40 Duck had in 69 IP last year. At a CDM salary of 600, he is exactly on par with Wade Miller�s value at this time last year. And can you guess how old Duck is???
Vicente Padilla (PHI) � Not listed in CDM, which means he goes for 750. Padilla has also been a middle reliever the three seasons prior to this, another reason I�m not as sold on him as Duckworth. On the plus side though is 21 K�s in 20 IP, to go along with a 0.90 (ERA)/1.00, so he�s a good pick-up if still available in your league. Just be aware that the arm could tire from not being used to extended stress.
Brian Lawrence (SD) � The first of several great pitching prospects you are going to see hit San Diego in the next year or two. A 1.66 ERA and .88 ratio in his first three outings. Downside is only 8 K�s in 21 2/3 IP.
Kaz Ishii (LA) � ISH-IZ-I (I think that�s how it�s pronounced) passed another huge test at Coors Field this week. Kaz now has 21 K�s in 17 2/3 IP to go along with a 1.53 ERA. Grab him before he gets too popular.
Eric Gagne (LA) � Another reason never to believe that pre-season �we�re going with a closer-by-committee� garbage. Eric is a perfect five-for-five. Any questions.
Hdieki Irabu (TX) � Then there�s the import that actually crapped out. Irabu did immediately convert on a save opp in John Rocker�s stead. A good short-term save solution if you�re desperate.
And now the not-so-hot�
Mike DeJean (MIL) � Many jumped at him with a challenge salary of 530, only problem is Mustard Boy just does not get the chances �closing� for that mutt of a franchise known as the Milwaukee Brewers. A couple of infield bleeders cost him dearly in the one save opp he did have. Also, Chad Fox and Curt Leskanic are on the mend, and could be back in the picture at some point soon.
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This will not help Aram's HR totals... |
Sean Casey (CIN) � Is going to wind up being out a tad longer than originally announced due to last weeks beaning, which is still leaving him with 'lightheadedness'. Was out A FULL TWO MINUTES after that scary incident, which almost qualifies as 'brief coma' in medical translation.
Hank Blalock (TX) � A classic rookie 'false start'. No bombs and three ribbies, and 15 K�s in 41 AB�s. You can almost smell a trip to OKC coming here, so he can get his stroke back down. Best case scenerio for the moment has the lefty in a platoon with Herbert Perry.
Other members of the walking wounded include Greg Maddux (more back pain), Larry Walker (elbow/dtd), Gary Sheffield (wrist/dtd), Mark Mulder (elbow/dl), Wade Miller (dead arm/pinched nerve/dl), Andy Pettitte (lingering elbow pain), Kevin Brown (ditto), and Ivan Rodriguez (back spasms/dtd)
Week 4 features as straight a schedule as you will ever see. CWS, CLE, ATL, and FLA have seven game weeks, while everyone else plays six. Atlanta and Florida will see all their games be at home, and fellow NL teams MON, NYM, CHC, CIN, and PIT will be at home as well. Arizona will be on a southeast roadie through the A-T-L and Florida. Schilling is slated Tuesday in Atlanta as well as the Sunday in Florida, Unit of course precedes Schill on Saturday, be aware of possible rain-marred starts for the weekend. Colorado will get three at home with PHL while HOU also has a FLA/ATL road trip. In addition to Schilling, the two start list is a monster and includes Tim Hudson, Mark Buehrle, Kaz Ishii, Tom Glavine, Matt Morris, Josh Beckett, and Bart Colon.
CDM�s first free agent list of the season is not exactly a blockbuster and features
Glavine with his two home starts is the only one who merits consideration, but remember he�s projected to go against Schilling on Tuesday.
STATS OF THE WEEK
Talk about a dead heat. Kaz Ishii and Mike Hampton lock horns at Coors Field and both pitch six innings. Kaz gives up three earned runs on eight hits and three walks, along with six strikeouts. Hampton also gives up three earnies on eight hits and six strikeouts. However, Hampton would walk six, and exhaust 120 pitches to Ishii�s 93. Kaz would get the win as LA went ahead to stay with a couple of runs in the top of the seventh.
Last Saturday would had been a good day to stay inside if you had the Extra Innings package on the dish. Nine of the fifteen games were one run affairs. A tenth game (AZ/COL) wound up 7-5 in ten innings.
LATROY F HAWKINS AWARD
A perfect illustration of what happens to a closer who goes a couple of weeks without a chance to save. Tiger closer Matt Anderson enters a game in Minnesota nursing a 7-6 eighth inning lead and gives up five earnies on four hits and a walk without retiring a batter. An honorable mention goes to Montreal starter Tomo Ohka, who gives up six ER�s on five hits and a walk before giving way to Bruce Chen. If Chen had retired all 27 batters after that would the statistician nerds credit him with a perfect game???