WAR SHEET
WAR SHEET |
One of the biggest questions regarding fantasy baseball at the moment regards what is going to happen to the Cincinnati Reds lineup once Ken Griffey Jr. returns to the lineup. Waiting for Griff to return to the lineup, that kind of like �the check�s in the mail. But lets say Griffey is ready to return Friday as has been indicated. Well, if you�re an owner of Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, or Juan Encarncion, you shouldn�t have much to worry about. In particular Dunn can spell Sean Casey at first base on occasion against lefthanders. And if we have to pick the weakest link of the five, Casey may qualify just on lack of power (although the BA and RBI bring no complaints whatsoever). So we have five players in the mix for four positions, Casey, Dunn, Ency, Griff, and Kearns. Just out of rotation all five would start 80% of the time. But there�s more, Griffey will no doubt be eased back into the lineup, especially with the other four going well. I will say for now Griff plays four days out of six. That jumps Dunn, Kearns, Ency, and Casey up to 85% playing time. And there�s more, the Nati has a six-game road trip coming to AL parks where Griffey (or whomever) can DH. And then even on those days where one of the five has to sit, there is still the opportunity to pinch-hit in a clutch situation. And finally there is the injury factor, history tells us that there is an increased risk of injury on Griffey�s part. And even if there isn�t, the chances of five typical major league hitters all staying healthy for an extended period of time is less than 50-50. Just take a look at your fantasy team, out of a 25-30 player roster, you are constantly with injuries (or other factors) with about 20% of them. My final analysis on the situation is Griffey gets some off days, while the other four operate at near capacity.
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7:09 PM, MAY 22, 2002, a new era begins |
Speaking of two-steps, the Yankees pulled a surprise and had Mike Mussina pitch on three days rest this Tuesday, and went on to have a fine outing (win, 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K�s v. TOR). Mussina was moved up in the rotation due to the back woes of David Wells (d-t-d), and Orlando Hernandez (DL). Also Moose was coming off an 87-pitch outing in being roughed up v. MN last Friday night. So don�t expect Mussina, or anyone else in the Yankee rotation to suddenly go every fourth day. The last time a starter did that for an extended period was then-Kansas City ace Kevin Appier in 1995, which made him a huge fantasy commodity for two months since he was a two-stepper 75% of the time, as opposed to the normal 30%. However that experiment did not end well as Appier began getting roughed up and eventually succumbed to arm problems. So do not expect any manager to dare try the four man rotation on a regular basis any time soon.
And then there is �saber rattling�, the labor war that intesified just as I rolled out last week�s column. As indicated last week, just as I did in the pre-season, the best plan is to act early and often this season, just in case everything shuts down in August. In an uncharacteristically candid interview this week, Barry Bonds spoke out about the labor issues, among other things. Barry suggested that the fans not worry about the strike threat yet, that �these things always tend to go down to the last minute�. I can accept that statement until you remember what happened in 1994, and eight years later the sport is heading down the exact same path, without any positive signs in sight. I think the best case scenario would be for a strike to begin, followed by fan/media backlash so great that an agreement is hammered out in days, leading to the missed games being rescheduled (as what happened last year) and the World Series making another foray into November. You could also see the players strike sometime in September, to pick up the maximum no. of paychecks, as well as a possible shot across the bow by boycotting the All-Star game in July. I don�t know what that would accomplish, but if that were to be the only casualty this year it would be a miracle.
And Barry had something to say for Jose Canseco as well. In case you missed it, after announcing his retirement last week, JC did his ax-grinding deal on the TV interview circuit and proclaimed that 85% of MLB players are on the juice. How about that for calling the kettle black. Oh what the hell, I�ll address it. Yes, players like McGwire, Bonds, and Sosa looked much bulkier in recent years that when they first broke in. I�m sure weight training has played a huge part, along with better diets, better conditioning, and I�m sure in some cases various enhancers. I�ve even attributed the craze of lazer-vision correction in aiding in the increase in offense. I�ll take my own uneducated guess on steroid use, somewhere between 25 and 30 percent. I�m sure it�s there, it must be addressed, but don�t jump on everything than an apparently bitter man spouts out.
Now for the players moving up�
Mark Prior � This just in, 56,193 nabbed him as he came off the waiver wire early Thursday in Yahoo, that is off the charts.
Erubiel Durazo � What a huge immediate impact with 5 bombs, 12 RBI, and a .389 BA in his first five games coming off the DL. Listed as an outfielder in CDM at 440, keep that in mind, especially for second season. Also Mark Grace has graciously gave way as Durazo now becomes the everyday first sacker in Zona.
Derek Lowe - That no-hitter was not a fluke, as Derek fired a two-hit shutout on the White Sox (baseball's best hitting team). Now sports a 7-1 record with a 1.90 ERA and an amazing 0.75 ratio.
Alfonso Soriano � His five cat prowess never move evident than in the past week with six runs, three bombs, eight RBI, and four steals. As one of the Yankees radio announcers says, you don�t want to be stuck in the concession stand when he�s up.
Troy Glaus � Has got the average over .300, along with 9 HR and 41 RBI for the white-hot Angels. But it gets even better, three steals in the last six games!!!!!
Torii Hunter � Another stellar week for the MVP candidate, driving in nine runs in six games.
Jeff D�Amico � Yet another example on how getting the hell out of Milwaukee can do wonders for a mans career. A two-hit shutout in LA last week lowered his ratio to .96, along with 45 K�s in 61 IP.
Jeff Weaver � Took a no-hitter into the eighth this week and has his ERA under three and is being mention in trade rumors. His stock would take a nice jump if traded to a contender.
Juan Acevedo � Matt Anderson has hit the DL again (possibly for the season), so Juan becomes the closer for a Detroit team that has been playing .500 ball since it�s horrid start.
Jerry Giambi � Joins his brother on the East Coast, being traded from Oakland to Philadelphia this week, don�t know how that will affect fantasy status.
Shawn Green � He's been awful this year, only three home runs and a .230 BA. Whoops: News Bulletin - Shawn has just torched the Brewers with a 6 for 6, 7 RBI, 19 total bases and 4 home runs, in one freakin game. That puts Green at a suddenly respectable 9/31/.265. But there is one area where he is still a disapointment with only one stolen base, after four straight seasons of 20 or more. One must wonder if he's now one of those players who one just decided not to steal anymore.
Now for a few who are skidding...
Mike Piazza � Most attention surrounding Piazza this week center around gay rumors that he suddenly finds himself smack in the crosshairs of. The likes of Steve Young and Kordell Stewart can definitely synthesize with that garbage. On the field though a slide that started last year seems to be continuing with a .238 BA, and a .473 slugging pct. That compares to .300/.573 last year and .324/.614 in 2000. The power numbers are still decent with 9 HR/26 RBI.
Carlos Pena � One of the more highly touted rookies coming into the season, Pena found himself optioned to AAA after a .218 BA in 124 AB�s. 7 HR�s does bode well for the future however, look for him to return for good sooner rather than later.
Bobby Hill - Second baseman has not quite developed since his call up, starting 6-38 with 1 SB busting out with a 3-5, 4 RBI outing that included his first MLB home run.
Jermaine Dye � A predictable slow start coming back from the DL with a .250/2/11 through 84 AB�s, that should pick up.
Members of the walking wounded include Matt Morris (stomach flu), Gary Sheffield (hammy), Matt Anderson (shoulder), Moises Alou (hip, shoulder), Rich Aurilia (elbow surgery), and Bob Wickman (sore elbow).
WEEK 9 PREVIEW
ATL, FL, MON, CHC, PIT, AZ, COL, SD, SF, CLE, DET, and MN have seven game weeks, while PHI and KC have 5-gamers. Colorado is on the road (SD, SF) while Houston has three at home v. STL. Other teams at home all week include BAL, TB, CLE, TX, LA, SD, and SF. Shawn Green gets three more v. the Brewers at home, but also has to face Randy Johnson later in the week. Two-start pitchers include Jeff Weaver, Dany Baezs, Pedro Martinez, Roy Halladay (first start v. Pedro), Al Leiter, Tom Glavine, Mark Prior, Roy Oswalt, Brian Lawrence, and Mike Hampton.
CDM's free agent list is as follows, with recommended purchases in bold...
C 35 MARRERO, ELI STL 360000Look for second season game strategy next week in the War Sheet...
LATROY F HAWKINS AWARD
Make it back-to-back for the goat boy, as Billy Koch was trotted out for more mop-up duty v. his old buddies in Toronto. This time around Billy faced four batters giving up a hit and three walks, which all came around to score. That masterful performance brought his ERA for the year to over six. You miss Izzy yet???