Steve Cishek got the save, but it wasn’t that cut and dry. Edward Mujica came in for the ninth for the save, but promptly gave up 2 runs. One person who was nowhere in sight was Leo Nunez and with only 17 people in attendance at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Blockbuster/Dolphin/Sun Life/Whoever Ponies Up Money To Sponsor This Godforsaken Stadium, it’s not hard to find someone. As of right now, I’d grab Cishek and Mujica, in that order, but yesterday I thought it was the opposite, so it could change at any moment. Really depends on McKeon or how good his memory still is. “Let’s warm up Looper!” Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Javier Vazquez – 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 11 Ks. From April-June, Vazquez looked like he should’ve retired. Or returred, if Ludacris is reading this. Or he looked down right turrible, if Charles Barkley is reading this. In July, he looked good. In August, he’s been great.
Logan Morrison – 2-for-4 and his 18th homer in his return to the Marlins. He pissed off Florida management by pulling out his iPhone during the home run trot to send out some tweets. Jack McKeon wondered why he’s fiddling with an abacus.
Wily Mo Pena – 3-for-3 with a HR, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. I would not want to go anywhere near Jim Bowden’s keyboard or mouse after he read that box score line. That said, Pena isn’t assured regular playing time with Seager, Carp, and Trayvon hitting well. More of a day-to-day matchup play.
Kyle Seager – 4-for-4 and 10 for his last 14. That’s not a hot schmotato…. This is a hot schmotato! For right now, Seager reminds me of Omar Infante when he’s on a hot streak.
Kevin Kouzmanoff – Rockies called him up. Why do the Rockies keep taking the A’s discards? Do they think, “We had success with CarGo. Why would Mark Ellis and Kouz be any different?”
Bobby Parnell – Got his first save of the year. Only 299 more to go before the Mets change closers.
Hiroki Kuroda – 7 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners, 4 Ks. 2.92 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He’s basically Tim Hudson on a bankrupt team, offensively and otherwise.
James Loney – 3-for-5. He’s been hot (11 for last 17), but I can’t recommend him. He’s just so…James Loney. Maybe ask a different fantasy baseball ‘pert if you should pick him up.
Skip Schumaker – 4-for-4 with four singles for the Homeless Man Cycle.
Shaun Marcum – 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 4 Ks. Season ERA is 3.38. I loved him in the preseason, and he’s actually been about as good as I thought he’d be. Only I didn’t foresee some pitchers having ERAs in the low 2’s. If you won’t lower the mound, raise the plate!
Alex Gordon – 1-for-2, 3 runs and a slam & legs. Now has 17 homers and 14 steals. Having a nice year, but anyone who owned him in previous years can tell you 17 homers and 14 steals turns to 12 homers and 7 steals very easily and you don’t want to own that.
Wandy Rodriguez – 6 IP, 4 ER, 14 baserunners, 2 Ks vs. the Rockies. In related news, it doesn’t look like Wandy’s gonna be traded to the Rockies.
Brian Bogusevic – 3-for-4. Picked up where J.D. Martinez left off, which is to say he’ll probably be hot for a few days, unless the Astros move into Coors.
Eric Young Jr. – 1-for-5 with his 4th steal in his last four games. Okay, that’s slightly cherrypicking stats because he got three steals on Saturday, but still if you need steals it’s silly to not plug him in.
Carlos Gonzalez – 2-for-5, 3 RBIs with 5 homers in the last ten games. Whatever Tulo had, CarGo caught it. Remind me next August to go out and acquire all Rockie hitters.
Colby Rasmus – Will miss two to three days with his jammed wrist. With his time off, he’s going to throw bags of flaming turds at La Russa’s Prius.
Brett Lawrie – 2-for-3 with his 4th homer, ending his 1-for-13 slump. Maybe he slept with one of the Molina sisters as a slump buster.
Michael Cuddyer – Hit by a pitch on the wrist and was pulled from the game. Oddly enough, his wrist felt fine but the Twins’ trainer just reflexively figured it was a concussion.
Brad Peacock – Mystery’s favorite player is due to be called up for September. He’s 6′ 1″ but seven-two with his giant boa-rimmed top hat. Peacock has been dominant in the minor leagues this year. Double-A: 2.01 ERA and a 11.77 K-rate in 98 2/3 IP. Triple-A: 8.58 K-rate, 3.56 ERA in 43 IP. Here’s what Stephen just said during his Peacock fantasy, “With a quick, loose arm action, he throws a 92 to 94 MPH straight fastball, a plus knuckle-curve ball with sharp downward action, and an average changeup. I often dream of pulling Grey’s fingernails out one at a time.” Whoa, maybe I should read those closer. Peacock probably won’t see enough starts this year to make a difference, but I’d look at him in deep NL-Only keepers.
Tom Milone – Nats announced Milone would also be called up when rosters expand. He’s actually put together a better season than Peacock, but his upside is lower because he’s a soft-tossing lefty that uses deception where Peacock uses good ol’ fashioned speed. Leave it to Peacock to show off.
Heath Bell – Giants claimed the Padres closer on waivers and they now have until Friday to work out a deal. I don’t think it happens unless Wilson is totally FUB(e)AR’D. If it does happen, I’d grab Gregerson or Qualls, in that order.
Joey Votto – 5-for-7 with 2 homers in the doubleheader. Member when you were mad at Votto midseason because of his lack of power? Member I said it was a long season? This blurb was sponsored by Members Only.
Scott Sizemore – 4-for-4, 1 RBI. Nice game but he’s been painfully yawnstipating for an extended stretch. 4 RBIs in his last ten games with no homers or steals. That’s the new blech.
Coco Crisp – 4-for-4, 5 RBIs and two homers. One homer was against Sabathia. Odd since CC Sabathia usually devours left-handed hitters and anything that sounds like Coco Crisp.
Nick Swisher – 2-for-3 with his third homer in two games. He’s not quite as sexy without the sideburns, but if you’re power deprived he’s worth a look.
Daniel Hudson – 8 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 6 Ks. Was one out from the shutout and then gave up back-to-back HRs to Nix and Gomes. Kind of like how Kate Hudson performed so well in Almost Famous and then made back-to-back bombs. Fortunately for Daniel, he had Putz to back him up. Unfortunately for Kate, she had the putz from the Black Crowes and Alex Rodriguez.
Carlos Santana – Won’t miss time but left early yesterday after taking a couple of foul balls off his mask, inspiring him to write a song, Oye Como Vas Deferens.
Shin-Soo Choo – Was scratched with a sore trunk. Trunk? Maybe that’s why Matt LaPorta mistook him for his Kia.
Ezequiel Carrera – 1-for-4 with a steal. Has now started five games in a row with 3 steals. Oh, and Ezequiel Carrera sounds like a Porsche carriage built for the Amish. Up to 4 horsepower!
