The Sox are a bunch of homewreckers. First they split of the LaRoche brothers then they break up the Duncan father/son combo in St. Louis. Not good news for the softball team managed by Bob Boone with Bret and Aaron Boone on it. Yesterday, the Red Sox acquired Adam LaRoche from the Pirates. This hurts LaRoche’s value a bit, but he was kinda hurting his value on his own. He’ll see time against righties, pushing Lowell to the bench in favor of Youkilis. It’s doubtful Youuuuuuk will see a reduction in time other than the occasional day off. This hurts Lowell’s value as well, but his old man hip was doing that already. Since LaRoche will see time against the stronger half of the platoon and he’s a 2nd half hitter, he’s still worth owning in deep leagues, but you’ll need a backup for when he sits. Meanwhile, the Pirates are that team in your keeper league that can barely field a team but they keep saying, “Wait til next year.” So who plays 1st for the Pirates? Jones? Call up Pearce? Sid “The Dream” Bream? My guess is they’d stick with Garrett “I Need A Nickname” Jones and maybe call up Pearce in a month or so and give him some ABs. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Garrett Jones – 3-for-4, HR yesterday. He’s now batting third for the Pirates and has 9 homers in about three games (and 11 RBIs). I hate to be the buzzkill to your Jonesing, but he will cool off. If you need a piece, no time like the present to trade him.
Ryan Doumit – 2 HRs yesterday. Days like these make you glad you stashed him on your DL for three months.
Paul Maholm – 4 2/3 IP, 7 ER. Only thing worse than a Pirates starter is one who throws a gem last time out then gets pounded.
Casey McGehee – HR yesterday as Felipe sat out with a sore hammy. McGehee’s got spunk, but no playing time kinda hurts that.
Adam Jones – HR yesterday. 2nd homer since the All-Star break. He’s not sure where he lost his stroke in June (maybe by the Doritos), but it looks like he’s found it.
Chris Duncan – Cards decided he didn’t look right with a ‘stache so he was traded to the Sawx for Julio Lugo. At best, Duncan won’t be anything but a bench player. I imagine Francona will use him to pinch hit to get the opposing teams to bring in a lefty, then he’ll pull Duncan and put in a righty hitter for the ol’ switcheroo.
Julio Lugo – Julio Lugubrious is not worth owning in any league.
Clay Buchholz – 4 IP, 3 ER. Well, that could’ve went better. I’d start him next time out vs. the A’s, then depending on how that goes we might need to reevaluate.
Nelson Cruz – 2-for-2, 2 SBs. Guess all his fractured finger needed was two days of rest. I’d like to see him hit a homer before I call him “all better,” but it’s a step in the right direction.
Brad Lidge – 2/3 IP, 2 ER. Kazaam!
Miguel Montero – Few hitters are hotter right now. Yunel Escobar is another one. Oddly, they both hit three-run homers yesterday.
Justin Upton – 0-for-3, not many colder hitters right now and I saw him limping in the game yesterday. Gracie believed it was a tweaked back. I’m not 100% sure, but it’s not going to help him kick this slump.
Tim Lincecum – 5 IP, 4 ER, 9 Ks. I don’t usually watch games of A) Pitchers I don’t own B) Pitchers that are not available anywhere C) There’s no C. But I watched Lincecum pitch yesterday. Jurrjens didn’t outpitch him (7 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 Ks) as much as the Braves outhit the Giants. (BTW, Five days ago, Matthew Berry said re: Pablo Sandoval, “The Giants have a better team than folks think these days…” If anyone can figure out how a team with the major league worst OBP and 2nd worst OPS is better than people think, I’d love to hear it. I’m guessing they’re worst than he realizes, but that’s me.)
Russell Branyan – Continues his march towards the most homers while going 1-for-4.
Felix Hernandez – 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 Ks and won his 11th game. F-Her is having one of those years where the run support is falling just right.
Mark DeRosa – Hit another homer and the Cards lost again. Stop hitting homers!
Bobby Jenks – Ozzie said Jenks is his closer and quote, “…if people don’t want him to be my closer, don’t come to the God damn game.” He then let Matt Thornton save the White Sox victory on Wednesday. I think because he brought Thornton in in the 8th, Ozzie thought he technically wasn’t lying.
Bronson Arroyo – 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 Ks. Ugly end result, but he gets the Padres next time out.
Ubaldo Jimenez – 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 Ks. I wouldn’t have started him at home, but guess where he pitches next? Metco!
Joe Mauer – 0-for-3. I told you to trade him on May 22nd. Since June 1st, he has 4 homers and a .329 average. Miguel Montero’s outhitting that.
Chris Tillman – Supposedly going to get the call next week. Here’s Chris Tillman’s fantasy breakdown from Scouting the Unknown. For those too lazy to click-through, his K rate alone warrants a pick up.
Brandon Inge – Has a partially torn knee cap and says it’s excruciating. But no fear, he also said this, “”How would I come out (of the lineup with) the race this close and for the fans of Detroit and the fans of Michigan going through what they’re going through with economics?” You fantasy owners can thank Little Timmy, who told Inge this, “Gee whiz, Mister, since Pops fell between dem gears at the fac’try, Maw and the 8 of us kids have been hopin’ the ballteam could pull one out and give us somethin’ to believe in!”
Tony Bernazard – Former White Sox middle infielder and current Mets scout challenged the entire Double-A Binghamton Mets team to a fight. And you thought Ozzie was the only crazy 80’s White Sox MI? The best part was when the players started snapping their fingers while Bernazard and a prospect circled one another. When you’re a Met, you’re a Met for life…
