The Day in Review

With the conclusion of the late games tonight, the month of April will have drawn to a close. There have definitely been some surprises, as always, but in the end all I can say is - it's your last chance to pick up Ichiro! Here are the headlines from the day.

Injury Watch

• Phil Hughes joined A-Rod and Posada on the Yankee DL with an oblique strain. Unfortunately, it's still too early for Joba Chamberlain to join the rotation.
• Chad Cordero will be out 4-6 weeks but will not need surgery for the tear in his latissimus dorsi.
• No word yet on the nature of Tulowitzki's injury, but a DL stint seems probable. Maybe that will right the ship for the Rockies shortstop, who has struggled so far this year.
• John Smoltz says that he will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns. No word on whether he or Bobby Cox (who hasn't said anything about the issue) has the final say. 

Notable Performances

• Geovanny Soto continues to live up to the preseason hype, hitting another 2 HR as the Cubs routed the Brewers.
• Josh Hamilton hit a grand slam. He now has an extra base hit and RBI in 5 straight games, with no strikeouts in those five.
• Chase Utley hit another HR to give him 11 for the month of April. It's hard to imagine him slowing down, because the additions of Rollins, Victorino, and Howard (who isn't hurt but can't hit anything right now) to the Philadelphia lineup can only help him.
• Chad Billingsley threw well tonight, as did Andy Sonnanstine. Sonnanstine's performance may keep him in the rotation after Scott Kazmir returns.

And, of course, Wladimir Balentin and Jeff Clement were both called up by Seattle. Clement could get some appearances and quickly pick up catcher eligibility, while Balentin hit a homer in his debut tonight. 

That's what you need to know about the day.

Buyers and Sellers: NL East

I realized that reviewing all of the AL teams would lead to a lot of "This team doesn't have a lot of holes while this team is, literally, one big hole", but in the NL, there isn't as much of a dichotomy. That is to say, the AL East goes by "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", while the NL East goes by "It was, well, about time"--didn't expect a Dickens reference in a Fantasy Baseball editorial influenced by economics?

Florida (15-10): Now, I'm happy for Hendrickson's early season success, and I'm sure Andrew Miller will one day be a top-end starter, but there is no way the Marlins compete this year. Hermida and Willingham will likely stay, but I could see Gonzalez going to a contender as a fourth outfielder with veteran leadership. Also, Gregg will get shipped out as the most expensive player on the team, and likely end up in middle relief.

New York (13-11): The Mets didn't do much last season trade-wise (though I liked the Castillo acquisition), but they will probably try to grab some corner outfield help. The Pirates make sense as trade partners, with a Nady deal most likely, but the Pirates are so bad that they may move Bay for... Matt Morris (UPDATE: This is now more likely due to Morris's retirement). If Alou is healthy, a deal makes less sense, especially with Church performing.

Philadelphia (14-12): Philly will be competitive, but the Pedro Feliz signing at least distracts from the teams biggest offensive weakness. A backup catcher might help since Ruiz hasn't been great so far, but its the players who throw the ball that are the biggest weakness. I can't think of a likely pitcher, but I can't seem them mustering the price for Burnett.

Atlanta (12-13): I doubt the Braves will sell anyone even if they are pretty far out, but if so Teixeira seems the most likely. Their farm system was spent last year on the very same name, so if they are buyers it won't be anything major unless they send Lillibridge out since he's blocked by Escobar.

Washington (9-17): I believe the Nats will turn it around, but the division is too deep for them to make a difference now. Jon Rauch will have more value than Chad Cordero, but it will be the latter that they'll try to move for prospects. They have some depth at shortstop, and Felipe Lopez is probably worth moving if someone needs a middle infielder, and someone will.

So if you haven't noticed, this will likely take shape once we analyze more divisions. Next up, the AL Central

The Day in Review

Well the night is young, but the major news has already happened, so lets get straight to it...

Injury News

• Alex Rodriguez is hitting the DL. Personally, and as an A-Rod owner, I'm not that upset since I'd rather the injury be addressed now rather than allowed to linger. However, I consider the 2007-MVP worth moving if you can get a decent offer. Think late-first round talent among a larger deal.
• John Smoltz is also on the DL, and will be out for "a few weeks". I think it will be longer than this, and the extent of the inflammation could linger after a return. I'd advise trading him if you can, but if not you still have to wait him out because there's too much potential.
• Posada is out for a while, evidenced by the fact that its good news that he won't miss the entire season. Yesterday Pete advised grabbing Doumit, and I agree--I'd take the Pirates backstop over hyped prospect Saltalamacchia (and its not a coincidence that "over" and "hyped" are next to each other).
• Chad Cordero is also heading back to the DL, further decreasing his trade value as far as the Nats must be concerned. Rauch is worth grabbing in the meantime.
• Tulowitzki left the game with a quad strain, and also might be headed to the DL. Hopefully any rest will give him a time to straighten out his game, since he's epitomizing a sophomore slump.

Notable Performances

• Roy Halladay threw his fourth consecutive CG, but only won the first. I don't like how the Jays are using their ace and recently traded him in the only league I have him.
• Out west, two prospects are catching my eye. First, the obvious--Max Scherzer. After Gonzalez threw a poor 2.2 innings, Scherzer came in and struck out every other batter he faced, so far not giving up a hit. A rotation spot could be in order. The other player is Brandon Wood, who I've hoped could earn the SS spot once Kendrick forces Figgins back to third. Once one of the best prospects in the game, Wood has been quiet for more than a year now, but is worth watching.
• Gary Sheffield hit a homer today, which is important since he was coming dangerously close to being droppable. From what I've read of scouting reports, he can still turn on fastballs, so I'm regarding the slow start as, just that, a slow start.
• Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Reyes had been struggling, but after a 3-4, HR, and 3 RBI game for the former and a 3-3, 3 BB game for the latter, the tides seem to be turning.

If anything else happens, I'll make sure to make a note of it. Until then, that's what you need to know about the day.

Liquidity: How Trade-able is Your Team?

One economic concept we have yet to bring up is that of liquidity. An asset is considered liquid if it can be easily turned into cash (therefore, a checking account is more liquid than a savings account, because it's easier to withdraw money from an ATM than to go into a bank and get money from a savings account). In fantasy baseball, I would call players "liquid" if you can easily turn them into other players. What determines how easy it is to trade another player?

First is name recognition. Along with this is expectations. If a player has good name recognition, because of a long career, or high expectations, because they are widely written about among the fantasy community, they will be easier to trade. One great example of this would be Nick Markakis - last year, Brandon Funston (Yahoo! fantasy analyst) wrote about Markakis all year, and he was much easier to trade because of it. On the other hand, Alex Rios sticks out in my mind as a player who gets very little recognition and is actually harder to trade because of it.

Injury risk is another major factor. Age is a big part of this. I own Chipper Jones and David Wright in a ten-team league. Jones has been filling my utility spot, but unfortunately, he's not very liquid. The other players in the league know he's old (unlikely to have a career year) and an injury risk (already has a strained quad), so they're not willing to pick him up. Wright would be much more trade-able, but right now I'm not ready to pursue that option.

Finally, I would say position also affects liquidity. Catchers are very liquid, because if you don't own Russell Martin or Victor Martinez you could get a very tangible upgrade. Same with second base if you don't own Utley. However, I wouldn't consider first base very liquid at all. Someone who has David Ortiz is probably less likely to trade for Mark Teixeira because they just don't stand to gain all that much. Pitcher is probably the most liquid position - because everyone starts so many so regularly, every owner is looking to pick up more pitching.

Those are my main factors considering liquidity. I would use this analysis to target players that aren't liquid and see if the owner wants to play ball (the owner of Chipper Jones may be so surprised to get an offer for him that you can get him for cheap, for example). Do you think I missed any important factors concerning liquidity?

The Day in Review

Hey all, just got back from trading Josh Hamilton for Mariano Rivera and Nate McClouth. Nothing like holding out until you get a good deal! Here are the top stories from Sunday and Monday:

Injury Watch:

• Jorge Posada hit the DL Monday with a shoulder tear. No big surprise here; age is finally catching up to him, and hopefully you didn't pay for his career year last season. My advice: avoid his replacement, Jose Molina (unlike one owner I know), and look to pick up Ryan Doumit, who is somehow still unowned in many leagues.
• Hank Blalock has a partial tear in his hamstring, while teammate Michael Young has a slight tear. I liked Blalock but another injury for him is awful. Young, meanwhile, had been quietly productive. Hopefully this isn't a sign of an imminent drop-off for him.
• A-Rod re-aggravated his nagging quad injury. I have a bad feeling that this could be a recurring story for him; think Pujols last season, where he never was able to shake the pain. Maybe 15 days off now would just be better for him - too bad the Yankees can't afford it with Posada out.
• John Smoltz is going to skip a start with shoulder soreness. Time may finally be catching up with the ageless wonder; I feel bad about jinxing him by touting him early.
• Alfonso Soriano will be back in the Cubs starting lineup, batting leadoff, on Thursday. Mike Lowell (Tuesday), Scott Kazmir (sometime this weekend), and Jimmy Rollins (May 5) are also on pace for returns.

Notable Performances:

• Rotoworld likes Rick Ankiel to be starting a hot streak. He's been walking a lot, meaning he's seeing the ball well, and he hit a solo shot last night. He plays Cincinnati and the Cubs at home this week, but goes to Colorado and Milwaukee next week. Ankiel is bound to hit well in at least one of those series.
• Justin Verlander continues to pitch poorly. While CC Sabathia appears to have turned a corner, Verlander is still completely ineffective, even while hitting 97 mph against the Angels. 
• Brandon Phillips and Brandon Webb are both earning their high draft picks; the former is hitting .280 with 5 HR and 4 SB after homering twice on Sunday, while the latter already has six wins. 
• Josh Beckett looked good with 13 strikeouts on Sunday. As long as he's healthy, he's a great pitcher - personally, though, I just don't trust him to stay healthy for an entire season after all the innings he logged in winning the Series last year.

Don't know where to file this, maybe under "Waste of Money," but Barry Zito is headed to the Giant bullpen. You shouldn't have owned him, anyway. Relief pitchers worth owning include Bill Bray (CIN) and Max Scherzer (ARI), top prospects who were just called up and should be playing big roles fairly soon. Finally, Chone Figgins may be on his way to picking up 2B eligibility, if Howie Kendrick's return takes a little longer.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Buyers and Sellers: AL East

I've wanted to put up something more interactive, and since playing GM is an enjoyable pastime for most Fantasy Baseball enthusiasts, lets start the speculation. It is almost the end of the first month, and while some teams are probably overperforming or underperforming, we are about a quarter of the way till the trade deadline. Players in AL-only or NL-only teams need to know as soon as they can which of their stars might be lost to a deadline deal, or which players they might want to hold their waiver out for. Starting with the AL East, lets look at real baseball so far...

Tampa Bay (14-11): This one looks interesting, because the surplus of prospects and the win-now attitude, in important conjunction with the  winning now reality, points to the Rays as buyers come July 31st. I still think Barry Bonds makes sense at DH, but they've been explicit about not wanting the baggage (apparently, they are okay with the baggage of failing to have a winning season, ever). A veteran pitcher makes sense, but the one-year rentals for RF don't seem to fit the team's needs. 

Baltimore (14-11): Why do I think Tampa is for real and Baltimore is not? Well, for starters (pun intended) their rotation is about one-man deep, and Guthrie isn't really "ace" material. Luke Scott (if only for his age), Brian Roberts (if only for his value), and Ramon Hernandez (if only for catcher scarcity) are likely gone, with only Roberts holding a full time job on a contender. If he does go, it should be to a National League team--the Cubs were the rumored destination all summer--and this is worth monitoring in an NL/AL-only league. As far as pitching goes, George Sherrill is the only relevant player who will probably be shipped off, becoming middle relief. As likely as this seems, its probably best to trade the Orioles' closer in early July to whoever is desperate for saves.

Boston (15-12): I think it's a safe bet to assume that the Red Sox will look to move Coco Crisp for bullpen help, and I expect them to be in the Huston Street sweepstakes. From the same Athletics team, a Keith Foulke reunion is plausible. However, the Red Sox don't have that many holes, and the best model for this year is likely the Gagne-acquisition of last, looking only for middle relief.

New York (13-13): The Yankees have internal options at pitcher (Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa... obviously I'm talking about Joba Chamberlain) once Pettitte or Mussina wear down, or Hughes/Kennedy can't handle a full season. They have so many options at first, I can't see a deadline move unless they go all-out and push for Teixeira to sign him long term. It's possible, especially if Smoltz goes down and the Braves have to rely on Hampton/Glavine to stay healthy, but otherwise I can't see the Braves that far out of the race.

Toronto (11-15): Toronto really can't compete this year, so they will likely be sellers. The young pitching core should hold up (McGowan, Marcum), but they could definitely try to move bullpen help or A.J. Burnett. Burnett in the National League would be a force, possible as much of an impact player as Brian Roberts in fantasy leagues. Accardo and Ryan could go, with the former much more likely, but ending up in middle relief.

So who do you think is going to take a hike in mid-summer?

The Day in Review

If you've noticed the recent scarcity of editorials, do not fret. Next week Pete will be in charge of the blog and has all the time in the world, and the week after I will be done with the year, and ready to scour fangraph after fangraph for the next Alex Rodriguez. Okay, maybe that's a bit optimistic, but it was around this time last year that Ryan Braun came up and performed better than anyone in the league (tell that to his fielding coach) for the rest of the year. With further adieu, the day in review...

Injury News

• If you owned Nomar Garciaparra, you are living in the past. In the future, he will be on the DL for at least 15 day, and likely on the pine for most of the season.
• I haven't been a big fan of Micah Owings, but unfortunately the young hurler won't be able to exceed my expectations due to a right ankle injury. However, this is important if the Diamondbacks decide to call up Max Scherzer, who has been putting up Lincecum-esque numbers so far in the minors.
• Ortiz and Chipper are day-to-day, and as injury prone as the two have shown to be in the past couple seasons I don't think either injury is a serious one. 

Notable Performances

• Former DL'd Mariners Bedard and Putz both pitched tonight. Bedard improved his record to 2-0 going 6 scoreless with 4 K's. Putz almost blew it, giving up 2 hits and 3 walks that resulted in 2 runs. I haven't yet seen footage, but hopefully Bedard can stay healthy.
• I'd just like to point out that Zambrano has been a legitimate ace. He was ranked far too low this offseason and now sports a 4-1 record with a 2.21 ERA. This from a guy who started terribly last season. However, he was lucky that many of his walks led to double plays, and this luck could run out.
• Lance Berkman is really responding to the even year, smacking his 7th and 8th homers on the night. It'd be nice if they weren't both solo shots, but you take what you can get.
• Jose Reyes has been outright cold, going a full week since a 2-hit game, actually only hitting 2 hits over that entire span (2-26). Its ugly, but the guy has got to be a buy low. Remember how David Wright started last season, with all the commentary on homerun derby and his second half? 

I can't help but notice that drafting a third basemen early this year seems ridiculous when you look at all the quality bats at the hot corner. But this is a subject of more dedicated conjecture, and for now, thats what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

Not much new today, so I'll run you through the few headlines...

Injury News

• Carlos Gomez has started strong but might miss some time with a strained hamstring. His replacement might be worth starting if you're in a very deep league, but otherwise some speedster ought to be in your free agency while Gomez is out.
• A-Rod is back, but didn't do much. At least he's back in the lineup.

Notable Performances

• In a true win-now move (just kidding), the Rangers called up Saltalamacchia. MLBTradeRumors recently pointed out that Texas should be sellers at the deadline, so I expect they are grooming their replacement if Laird leaves.
• On the other hand, Francisco Liriano is going back to the minors. I just don't see him having fantasy relevance for at least a year, if ever. 
• Yovani Gallardo pitched seven scoreless and didn't get the win. Apparently the Marlins pitching was too much for his supporting cast.
• Lyle Overbay homered for the first time this year, and I just have a gut-feeling he's going to show some power in the weeks to come. He's capable of a 20 HR, 80 RBI season in spurts, so if you get him when he's on a spurt he could be valuable.
• The Mariners tied up Johjima for three more years, and I wonder if they will be buyers around the deadline. I'm dreaming of a Konerko for Clement + others deal, and years of Clement with catcher eligibility at U.S. Cellular. Always fun to pretend your a GM, especially for the White Sox since the competition ain't bad.
• Jonathan Sanchez has been missing bats, and put up a gem tonight against Cinci (8 IP, 0 runs, 10 Ks). He's worth a chance if your in need of pitching.

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

Hey all. I owe you an apology for the lack of a summary post yesterday. The biggest news is Brian Fuentes regaining the closer's role in Colorado. The three-time All-Star deserves an immediate add in all formats. Don't sell on Manny Corpas quite yet, though; you never know what could happen to either one.

Injury Watch

• Derek Lowe left his start with elbow tightness but should be fine. Any injury here, he is a marginal pitcher in most leagues and wouldn't really be worth a DL-spot. 
• Exact same analysis for Carlos Silva, except he's less valuable than Lowe in my opinion and his was a thigh injury.
• Jimmy Rollins apparently was scheduled to take batting practice Thursday, meaning that his ankle is not broken.
• Dice-K Matsuzaka has the flu. The Sox don't want him in the clubhouse if he's contagious, but apparently it's been going around. He shouldn't miss significant time.
• Carlos Guillen is expected to miss one more game with a bruised leg, while Jacque Jones is day-to-day with a knee contusion for the banged-up Tigers. 
• Long-term injury update: Mike Gonzalez is well ahead of schedule. No word on whether this is because nobody in Atlanta seems to be able to hold the ninth inning job, but I've heard a May return is possible for Gonzo.

Notable Performances

• Cliff Lee threw a 3-hit shutout for Cleveland. He's had a surprising return to 2006 form.
• Albert Pujols has reached base at a .525 clip and has yet to go without getting on base in any game this season.
• Lance Berkman, for those who haven't seen, has four steals to go with his impressive numbers across the board. Zach pointed out a while back that he has the strange statistical discrepancy of hitting significantly better in even years, and it looks like he's sticking to that so far.
•  Zach called Francisco Liriano! His control was awful against Oakland and he'll probably be asked to work out those problems in the minor leagues.
• Greg Maddux threw a good game Wednesday, but Trevor Hoffman failed to seal the deal. Still, it's good to see him recovering from his last terrible outing.
• Rotoworld is down on Daniel Cabrera because, well, he's Daniel Cabrera. But the guy has put together three straight quality starts and frankly, does have a lot of potential. I'm just saying...

Frank Thomas is back in business, hitting in Oakland, and I still think he's very own-able in a utility spot. Again, sorry for the delay in the posts. That's what you need to know about the day.

The Injured

About a week ago, Pete posted an interesting thread about what it takes for a player to acquire the title "oft-injured". With several first round players down with injuries, its worth exploring who is worth trading and who is worth holding, because even an injured player with potential (ex. Pedro Martinez last year) is valuable trade bait. So who has gone down so far?

Alfonso Soriano: You all know my infatuation with the slugger, but I'm hesitant to write off this injury. While it isn't as severe as last year's quad injury, his legs getting banged up really diminish his value. While 35-20 is still a real possibility, it will come with a .280-.290 average, and guys like Alex Rios or Carlos Lee should improve on those numbers. The fact is, if someone still sees Soriano as a significant upgrade to guys you expect to go 30-20, you should cash in on the profits they'll throw in for the switch.

Jimmy Rollins: I maintained the the Phillies speedster was overrated this season, and while he was performing decently before the injury the slight break in his ankle will really hurt him. I'm a fan of Furcal and think that he's solid fifth round talent that went later, so if you can trade Rollins for Furcal and a significant upgrade elsewhere, consider it. Beyond runs, both players should hit around .300 with 15-20 HRs and 30+ steals.

Howie Kendrick: I'm cynical here, because Kendrick was overrated except for the notes from his coaches that they'd let him steal upwards of 30 bags. With a hamstring injury, that number is way lower, and he's no better than Aaron Hill going forward.

Alex Rodriguez: He's not on the DL, but A-Rod has been missing games and there is speculation he could miss more. Don't be concerned though, as last years MVP should be able to return to form. I'm reminded of Pujols injury a couple years back, where he left as the best player, then came back a couple weeks later and ripped the ball.

Erik Bedard: After the move to Safeco, Bedard should have provided Webb and Beckett type value, but so far hasn't lived up to those expectations (nor has Beckett, ironically). I think that he is one of those "oft-injured" guys, and drafted him on the premise that his rest toward the end of last season should limit him to only one DL stint. I expect more to come, but when he's healthy he should still be a good pitcher who just experienced a slow start.

John Lackey: All signs point to go on Lackey, and with the Angels starting to hit the ball he could be a legitimate ace on return. If he was drafted as a team's second pitcher, you might be able to grab him while he's still relatively cheap. Try to.

Scott Kazmir: I'm not looking forward to Kazmir's first return back against Boston, but after that he should better adjust to major league games. His rehab has gone smoothly, and I have a lot of confidence that he will come back and pitch well. 

So there are the guys that could make big impacts on their returns. Does anyone have any others that they think need mentioned?

How To Handle Imports

I've been thinking a lot about hockey, my other favorite sport, and specifically the fact that most hockey players imported from other countries (I'm thinking specifically of Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin last season) start strong but struggle because the American season is more demanding than anything they had ever trained for or played in before. So I went to the numbers, mostly to give a recommendation on what to expect from Kosuke Fukodome and Hiroki Kuroda at season's end. Here's what I found:

Hitters: I went to the most memorable of Fukudome's predecessors in order, starting - of course - with Ichiro. He came to America in 2001 and was a national sensation, hitting .350 and slugging .457. He hit 8 HR, drove in 69 runs, scored 127 runs, and stole 56 bases. Since then, he's been a great player, but he's never stolen more bases, scored more runs, driven in more runs, or hit for a higher slugging percentage (and he's only bested the average once and the HR thrice). He has been a great player since, but his first season was actually his career best in just about every category. Hideki Matsui, the next sensation, had his worst season in his first year in. His OPS+ was 15 points lower than his next-worst year, and his power numbers were way down from other years. Kazuo Matsui, he of the same last name, played better in his first year here than in the next two. He finally got untracked in Colorado last year. Kenji Johjima only has two full seasons catching in Seattle, but each offensive statistic was a little worse in 2007 than it was in 2006. 

What does all this mean for Fukudome? Well, unfortunately, it means there isn't a great trend to follow. But I see Hideki Matsui as a different type of player than Ichiro, Kaz, or Johjima, because his game was based on hitting for power. Fukudome seems to compare in playing styles with Ichiro, and I think he could easily hit well for an entire season. 

Pitchers:  The classic pitcher case is Hideo Nomo, who came over all the way back in 1995. He took baseball by storm with his unusual delivery, and like Ichiro, he never equaled his 2.54 ERA or 236 strikeouts, but he had excellent seasons in his career. There isn't as much data on pitchers; I want to look at Dice-K but he's only been here a year. Takashi Saito, in two years, has experienced two successful seasons. Though his strikeouts went down in year two, his ERA also went down by .50, so I can't call one season much better than the other.

What does this all mean for Kuroda? Very little. I'd love to say he will imitate Nomo's success in his first year, but I think much of it was due to the fact that US hitters had never seen Japanese pitchers before. In the NL West, where most hitters have faced Takashi Saito, Kuroda will derive little of that advantage.

So, in the end, what I've found may not seem like much. Returning to my gut-check feeling, I like Fukudome to keep hitting well all year. He's in a great lineup that should allow him to see good pitches all season long, the warm weather can only help a guy whose game is based on speed, and I think he's shown in the very small sample that is this season that he will have no trouble figuring out American pitching. Training and endurance, the main issue for "imports" in other sports, seems to be a non-factor for Asian ballplayers coming to America. As for Kuroda, I don't expect him to reach Nomo-like success. He's a little tougher to predict, though the same statement on endurance applies. Hopefully, in a few more years, the picture will expand and I can make better predictions. Until then, treat them like typical players. Watch for injuries, bench them during slumps, but look for them to have excellent seasons at year's end.

The Day in Review

John Smoltz, one of the most underappreciated fantasy ace, notched his 3,000 strikeout tonight and I for one feel privileged to see him play. He's still an injury risk, but less so than many starters (Kazmir, Bedard, any pitcher on my Yahoo! team) and if he's pitching this well now I don't see any reason to doubt him due to his age through the rest of the season. Who was injured?

Injury News

• Speculation continues as to whether A-Rod will avoid a DL stint. At this point, its the difference of a week, since it will be retroactive and it seems the Yankees will handle as they did with Jeter's early season woes. 
• Jake Westbrook hit the DL today, but because the injury wasn't noticed in a game its expected to be minor. If Aaron Laffey is called up, try to spot the start against Seattle or Kansas City, but not the Yankees.
• I'm starting to lose faith in Beckett's ability to stay healthy. Something about the huge workload last season should have tipped fantasy owners, though I must admit I was duped.
• Rotoworld makes an astute point about Pujols's inning at second--if his shoulder was healthy, he would be at third. More on this later...

Notable Performances

• Sabathia pitched a gem, lowering his ERA to 10.13. How often do you hear that about any pitcher? I haven't seen the footage, but if his arm is coming through the slot a couple inches higher, then he should be his usual self.
• Ted Lilly is the second Cub (the other being Rich Hill) to find himself finally. 
• Jacoby Ellsbury had two homeruns tonight, and while I think he has the talent to be a big leaguer for years to come, I expect a two-dinger night is going to be a rarity. 
• The Indians put up 15 points and Pronks went 0-4. This kind of thing happens (remember Michael Young 0-RBI'ing in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre last year?) but it's still disappointing. 

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

It's really been a quiet day in fantasy baseball. Here are the factoids I scrounged together:

Injury Watch:

• Ben Sheets has been pushed until April 29. They're hoping that by giving him that amount of time off, they can shake the injury completely. I'm skeptical.
• Placido Polanco should be back in the Detroit lineup by Tuesday.
• No update on A-Rod, the Yankees sent him to see a physical therapist in New York but planned no tests. Chipper Jones, however, was in Atlanta's starting lineup on Monday, strained quad and all.

Notable Performances:

• In case you haven't noticed, it's time to add Chase Utley. Just kidding. Baseball's premier second baseman has homers in his past five and is dominant at the plate thus far. Just wait two more weeks until Rollins comes back and he can start driving in more runs. 
• Nice stat line, Miguel Tejada: 4-of-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. He's hitting .342 on the year and looks good; as long as he stays on the field, owners are being rewarded for their faith in Miggy.
• Blast from the past: Josh Willingham. Remember when the Marlin outfielder was eligible at catcher? Well he's turned into a quality outfield option, with a .310 batting average, five HR, and a bonus two steals. 

David Ortiz had another 3 RBI. Josh Hamilton added two. Good news for my fantasy teams; I really hope Big Papi is pulling himself out of this slump. Also, note to all regular readers... Now is the time to add Ichiro. Make the aggressive offer. I promise, he won't let you down. That's what you need to know about the day.

April Flowers

I've seen many fantasy websites running posts about which fast starts are legitimate. I think they are right in the sense that they do trust their gut and past performances, but I'd like to see a bit more sabermetric analysis (Tim Dierkes does a good job looking at BABIP - batting average on balls in play - over at his site, RotoAuthority). However, the simple fact of the matter is that every player you selected even in the middle of your draft deserves enough credit to be trusted. It is the end of the draft, those high risk picks like Randy Johnson or Zack Greinke, that make a difference, and it is the teams that drop the picks that didn't pan out for the free agents that will who tend to win.

I've talked a lot here about Fantasy (Baseball) Mechanics, the first post ever run at Rotonomics and then republished soon after the move to MLBFrontOffice. Those familiar will remember that above marginal pitchers represent the best measure of team value, especially when position players are gaged as "embodied pitchers". Let's look at some the guys you might have picked up this season and discuss who is worth keeping. I will try to use anecdotal players so that the reasoning can be applied for future call-ups.

Cliff Lee: As far as an anecdote goes, Lee is the "lucky pitcher whose fast start is a product of a fortunate spot in a rotation". Okay okay, that's a bit long, but consider how lucky the Indians current "ace" has been. He's played Oakland twice and Minnesota, poor lineups at best, and undisputedly left-hand heavy. On top of that, his BABIP is .154, more than seventy-five points beneath league average. Sell him while you can, touting his impressive control (20K/2BB) and former top prospect status. (Also, Justin Germano - can't sustain ERA with more Ks, Gavin Floyd - BABIP at .136

Zach Greinke: Greinke is anecdotally the "good pitcher on a bad team". However, this year it looks like the Royals are improved, and so is the pitcher. His BABIP is actually above league average, though I think improvement on his 1.24 ERA would be asking a bit much. However, and this is crucial, even if we expected Greinke to regress, he doesn't have the name value to make trading his upside worth it. Keep the young ace, or trade for him if you can. (Also, Dana Eveland, Nick Blackburn - BABIP of .320, no HRs yet, Shaun Marcum, Edinson Volquez, and obviously Johnny Cueto)

Joe Saunders: Saunders is one of those guys who "has a track record arguing against his current success". He's never really dominated the minors, and that 2.15 ERA is somewhat the product of a low BABIP. His walk rate is improved this year, but it'll likely come up once teams have a better idea of what they are up against. Combine this with a LD% that is half what it was last year and you have a fast start on a good team that you should move (Also, Micah Owings).

Randy Wolf: This one is easy, the "Veteran starter who has supposedly returned to form". Wolf is not necessarily going to fall back to earth, though I think he is. That's not the issue, but rather that trading him with name value should upon up the possibility of improving your team while picking up one of the other great players. (Also, Kevin Millwood, Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva)

Ervin Santana: I'm going to go out on a limb here and entitle this one "The turnaround". Ervin has a well known vice-he cannot pitch away from home. He's always had great stuff, but away games at Minnesota and Texas have been solid outings, even if they weren't great. Both games could have been disasters given his priors, and he had the mindset to keep the game under control. You have to take a risk at some point, and in this case, you'd pay too much for it trying to move him (Not Wandy Rodriguez, since the injury concerns add to the risk).

These are some of the characters you might have already found in your free agency, and if not, they will be there again soon enough.

The Day in Review

Hey everyone, sorry about missing last night's post, its been a hectic weekend. I'll make sure to note anything crucial from yesterday...

Injury News

• A-Rod might be hurt. He's down for a strained quad, and will use Monday to better gage the seriousness of the injury. As healthy as the Yankees - Rodriguez relationship is..., I consider their choice of giving him the call a cause for optimism. More on this later, and if he goes down we will have to look at some free agents worth picking up.
• Jimmy Rollins hit the DL today, and as Rotoworld notes, the Phillies shortstop will have to stay out at least the required 15 days. This doesn't bode well, but hopefully when he returns the lineup will be in its normal run-producing form.
• Rafael Soriano experienced a setback, and won't be back for at least another week. I sold the Braves closer just before his injury, and if he comes back strong you might want to consider selling on him also.
• Chipper Jones, he of four homers in two games, juxtaposed his reward with risk by going down with a quad injury. However, Bobby Cox said its "nothing that's going to have him out any length at all". Wait till next time.
• Wandy Rodriguez hit the DL, so that makes it easier backing off the fast start.
• Sheffield is complaining about the range of motion due to his shoulder, and I'm regretting owning him in more than half of my leagues. Hopefully I trade him before anyone in those leagues reads this.

Notable Performances

• As long as Ryan Theriot hits from the two-hole, he might have to be considered a legitimate fantasy starter. Add this to the resurgence of depth in the middle infield and you have a good idea how notable his .338, 4 SB start has been. I'm a Cubs fan, and even I don't much care for the riot, but that kind of run production is valuable in all but the shallowest leagues.
• Hanley Ramirez, he of five homeruns (2 today) and 5 steals, is making all the trendies who took him #1 overall feel pretty smug. There's no reason to doubt the young hitters ability, and the absence of Miguel Cabrera in the lineup might have only forced the shortstop to rise to a new occasion.
• Edwin Encarnacion also launched two, and has been pretty solid after a slow start cured by a day of batting practice. If only that worked for all slumps. One was off Gallardo, who faired well despite only 4 K's in 7 innings of 1 run ball.
• I think the Brewers are smart enough to consider Gagne a sunk cost, even at that 1 year, 10 million deal. They might want to catch on soon.
• The Big Unit struggles in his second start, but won't in his second start in a row against the Padres in San Diego. Just watch.

That's what you need to know about the day.

Satisfaction: Homing and Hearts

I hear a lot of people say things in drafts such as "Draft with your brain, not with your heart". I have to ask though, Why? I'm not about to lecture about how fantasy sports are just games, but what I will state is that people play fantasy sports for entertainment, and it is from this principle that we must economically analyze drafting with one's "heart".

Let's look at two of the main reasons players will overpay for someone, and earn that aforementioned accusation: They are either homing (drafting players from their home town or favorite teams too high) or simply putting too much faith in a player that they like. Fellow author here Pete Abbate, if given the opportunity to do so without ridicule, would have taken Guerrero about a round too soon. I myself have drafted teams with a first four picks including Soriano, Ramirez, and Lee (though I can't see why this is bad... but that might just be my cubbie blindness).

Still, if you think about it, how much satisfaction does homing give you? I live in Pittsburgh, so of course I don't home for Pirates, but as a Cubs fan grab up the Chicagoans faster than you can say Kosuke Fukudome. Still, I'd say that when the Cubs come to town, attending the games is about twice as enjoyable. I stand to lose about 20 dollars in the barely competitive leagues where I do home, and tickets are about 15 bucks but are worth $25 to me if I get to see my fantasy team win. I imagine this is the same for everyone.

Also, ignoring that player you "know" is going to have a 35 HR season no one is expecting can be devastating if he does. While performing a round or two beneath this projection (a.k.a. defining your pick as a reach) may hurt your team, it is nothing you can't make up, and having those players you like makes it more enjoyable to play the game and play catch up. Compare this to the scenario when you passed on him and he did exactly what you thought he would. The disappointment will likely affect your game play, and you will likely lament for most of the season. 

So if you were unfortunate enough not to be born in Boston where every player is worth drafting, trade for those Tom Gorzelanny's, Adam Jones's, Jeremy Hermida's, and Zack Greinke's a bit too aggressively (sorry Athletics fans, I can't professionally suggest drafting Jack Cust or Bobby Crosby. Next year though you should have plenty of former-Diamondbacks that are today only in the rough).

The Day in Review

So fortunately tonight doesn't feature any 22-inning marathon games! Look for Colorado to show fatigue tomorrow as jet lag and reality catch up with them. San Diego already looked fatigued today. 

Injury Watch:

• Howie Kendrick has shown up on the 15-day DL. Rotoworld's analysis looks strangely like what I wrote about him yesterday. Tom Glavine also made his first DL stint in 22 seasons, making him the complete opposite of Kendrick. 
• Ben Sheets had another solid outing, but left because of a triceps strain. No word yet on whether or not this injury will send him to the DL.
• Paul Lo Duca, he of a .200 batting average this year, was put on the 15-day DL by Washington. If you owned him, what are you thinking? Cut him and move on.

Notable Performances:

• For the second straight game, Chipper Jones had two HR. I hate to keep mentioning him but he's hitting the cover off the ball.
• Richie Sexson hit two HR and had a potential third taken away from him by Torii Hunter. If he is getting his stroke back, he will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with Ichiro ahead of him. Stay tuned.
• Hopefully you didn't start Greg Maddux after he got moved up a day, because he was lit up early by Arizona. He always pitches poorly in the BOB, though, and he did eat up seven innings because the Padres bullpen had nobody to relieve him.
• In the first of what will hopefully be many duels, Johan Santana outpitched Cole Hamels. Both looked good, though, and this should be a great rivalry for years to come.

Congratulations - I think - to Evan Longoria, who either locked himself into some nice guaranteed money or missed out on a big payday in the future. Time will tell if the budding star was right to sign long-term at such a young age. Also, congrats to Big Papi for the grand slam. Hopefully sending a ball over the Monster will jump-start his season.

That's what you need to know about the day.

The Day in Review

Hey all, it's been a typical Thursday in fantasy baseball. Kudos to Steve McNair, who has been a fan favorite throughout an outstanding career. Here's a summary of today's news.

Injury Watch:

• Only bumps and bruises today. Vlad was out of the lineup with a bruised finger but should start tomorrow.
• Carlos Pena is day-to-day with a tight hamstring, while Carlos Beltran is day-to-day with a strained neck. 
• Curtis Granderson will play minor league baseball on Friday. The team wants him to get 20-25 at-bats before rejoining the big club, but he still ought to be back soon.

Notable Performances:

• John Smoltz struck out ten in just five innings. Hopefully, in five days, we will be announcing him passing 3,000 strikeouts in a great career that isn't close to finished.
• Smoltz's teammate Chipper Jones went 4-for-4 with two HR, a double, and 3 RBI. He's having a Renaissance and is a very good option at third as long as he's healthy.
• Roy Halladay threw a second consecutive complete game. He has given great value to the owners that scooped him up - he was going too late in my opinion. 
• Justin Verlander had another poor outing. He should be clumped with CC Sabathia as buy-low candidates. I don't see any injury risk with either of these guys, and both are too talented to pitch so poorly for so long.

Two other quick bits: Congrats to Prince Fielder for finally getting off the schneide with his first home run, and look out for Joey Votto. Two HR and 3 doubles in his last 3 games could force Dusty Baker to keep him in the lineup. Grab him while he's hot!

That's what you need to know about the day. 

When Does a Player Become Oft-Injured?

You know the names. J.D. Drew. Rich Harden. Ben Sheets. Ken Griffey Jr. A.J. Burnett. Mark Prior. These are the guys with such phenomenal talent that fantasy players bite on them year after year, only to find themselves consistently let down as the player suffers one injury after another. Here are some names that could be heading down that same road.

Howie Kendrick: It kills me to put Kendrick on this list, because like Brandon Funston, I absolutely love this guy. He's a great pure hitter who provides you a nice boost to your team BA. Unfortunately, for the second straight year, he is having injury problems. Last season it was his hand - it never truly healed, and he struggled at the plate for much of the season. This year, it is a hamstring, which for many players is the worst nagging injury you could have. His minor league track record doesn't indicate regular trips to the disabled list, but if his hamstring bothers him for most of this year, you have to look at him as an injury risk for the next year and beyond.

Erik Bedard: I predicted before the season began that he would have one, probably two, disabled list stints this year, but I take no joy from finding this prediction fulfilled. He's 6'1" but weighs only 190 lbs. That body frame is not built to handle the rigors of power pitching on a daily basis. Bedard didn't pitch at all last September, either, limiting him to 182 innings for the year. I consider lanky power pitchers a yearly injury risk, but the good news with Bedard: his injury is hip inflammation, rather than the usual elbow or shoulder problems. This is less likely to be recurring and perhaps - perhaps! - Bedard can get healthy and stay healthy for the rest of his career.

Scott Kazmir: Kazmir is, like Bedard, a 6 foot, 190 lb. power pitcher. His frame is not built to handle the rigors of throwing in the high 90s once every five days, and we've seen players just like him battle injuries year in and year out. He threw 206 innings last season, which is certainly a demanding workload, and his body is now showing the strain. The really bad news with Kazmir is that his is an elbow injury. There's no indication that it's serious, but I would not be surprised if someone predicted Tommy John surgery in Kazmir's future. This story has been told many times before, and it's one reason I generally avoid Kazmir in my fantasy leagues.

Any of these guys or a number of others could pick up the dreaded "oft-injured" label. I actually thought Josh Beckett was going down that road with his finger problems, but he has proven to be healthy and moved away from it. You generally don't want to be the owner holding the player once he acquires that label, because he becomes much harder to trade. Nonetheless, these players don't become unownable simply because they are going to get injured. Look at Fred Taylor in fantasy football - there are always people willing to take high risk/high reward types. Just know exactly what you're getting into with these types. Only time will tell if Kendrick, Bedard, and Kazmir will join this list.

The Day in Review

Well, I've spent most of the day hitting refresh at the Cubs homepage, MLB.com, Rotoworld, and Yahoo!'s player profile, but the mystery of Alfonso Soriano's calf is far from clear. In a special edition of The Day in Review (appropriately called "Pete don't call me livid") we will touch on the issue.

Soriano Watch

• One thing is certain, and that is Alfonso has hit the DL. The other--Lou Pinella is crazy for calling up Eric Patterson instead of Matt Murton. I've looked at this many ways: maybe he wants to let DeRosa play left so Fontenot has a spot (wait, why call up a second base prospect), or maybe he wants to spell Felix Pie (wait, Patterson is also a lefty). Ultimately, it seems that Pinella either hates Matt Murton or is obsessed with getting lefties in the lineup (Pie should play against righties, so the outfield would presumably be all lefties, with Fontenot at second? I don't want to talk about it).
• Rotoworld says that there is no timetable for Soriano's return. Yahoo! says that it shouldn't be more than the fifteen days. My bet is three weeks unless the Cubs need him.
• Rotoworld says that this is an injury that could hurt his game for awhile. Last time he hit the DL (and the only other time) he proceeded to hit 15 homeruns in 31 games.

Other Injury News

• Nomar is back, and I don't think its important. However, if you are in a very deep league and missed out on A-Rod, David Wright...Kevin Kouzmanoff, Troy Glaus, etc. etc., you should consider him.
• Carlos Zambrano found a way to avoid getting cramps--limiting caffeine intake. This explains a lot.
• Hank Blalock left in extra-innings with a possible injury. If it turns out the oft-injured post-hype sleeper is hurt, it'll be tough to justify him on a team.
• Al Reyes found the DL, which should mean a bit more job security for Percival. Wheeler gets a little boost in value as a handcuff.
• Shawn Hill should be ready to pitch Saturday against the Marlins (technically today). Monitor him closely, but the less pitcher-friendly confines and the injury risk worries me.
• Not injury-related, but Joba Chamberlain and Jimmy Rollins should be back this weekend, tomorrow at the earliest for family reasons.

Notable Performances

• Miguel Cabrera gave owners taking him in the first round what they were expecting, but I still doubt he'll pan out with that kind of value. Nonetheless, a 4-6, HR, 5 RBI ain't nothin'.
• Derrek Lee, one of our favorites here at Rotonomics, went 3-4 with a HR, bringing his totals up to a .393 BA and 6 HRs. Another favorite, Rafael Furcal, had his second after a 3-3 night so far, and is batting .397.
• Josh Hamilton went 4-7 in a long game that usually turns a decent statline (a.k.a 1-3) into a (1-7). As hyped as he was this offseason, so far he's living up to it.
• You'd think I'd mentioned Contreras great start before Webb's, since its much more rare. However, the O's aren't much of an opponent and I'm not reading into it. Webb's 4-0 record, on the other hand, foreshadows a 20+ win season even against the lowly Giants (the irony).
• Clay Buchholz looked bad tonight, and is going to need a big turnaround if he's going to help everyone touting him as the Rookie of the Year favorite. I don't see him as any better a bet going forward than Phil Hughes.
• At the other end of the spectrum, King Felix is making M's fans forget about Bedard. He pitched a complete game tonight--probably because the bullpen had lost his first two games. Put him down at 9 innings, 8 hits, 1 run, 1 BB, and 8 Ks. He's a legitimate fantasy ace.

It's a long post, but that's what you need to know about the day.

Ask the Experts: Minnesota Twins

Our friends at RotoProfessor recently had the opportunity to ask a few questions of Phil Miller of St. Paul Pioneer Press regarding the upcoming season for the Minnesota Twins. The questions were asked awhile ago and the responses are relatively recent, but I think all of the answers are still relevant.

How Francisco Liriano will perform this season. What are your thoughts based on what you have seen during Spring Training?
Phil Miller: He’s still got good stuff, but the ungodly slider may be gone for good. I just think every time he throws it, he’s reminded of the pain, and he’s worried about tearing the sutures or the new ligament. So he’s probably a fairly conventional pitcher from now on, albeit an above-average one considering his velocity. If he learns to mix his pitches and use his changeup effectively, he’ll be one of the best left-handers in the game. Just not Superman.

Where do you see Delmon Young fitting into the batting order and how do you see him producing?
Phil Miller: Ron Gardenhire has obviously answered this already: Fifth, to serve as protection for Justin Morneau. He seems destined for third eventually, but it may take a year. The short answer on Young is: Wow. Seeing him up close, you become impressed very quickly with his bat speed, which absolutely stands out, even from Morneau. He’s going to be counted on to replace Torii Hunter’s production, and that’s a pretty good baseline for this season. Something like .275/25/100 is reasonable. He’s still learning pitch selection — but he IS learning it, and he should keep improving.

• Which pitcher do you see as the most likely to take the next step and emerge as a top of the rotation starter, Scott Baker or Boof Bonser? Do you see any other young starter stepping up and emerging?
  
• Phil Miller: Well, this is the central question about the Twins this season. I think of the two, Baker is a more likely candidate to step forward, because he’s able to shrug off problems more easily. I think Bonser is going to be a decent 3-4 guy. But I’d keep an eye on Nick Blackburn and Philip Humber, both of whom could easily surprise with a 15-win season. Like most of the Twins, they’re pitch-to-contact guys, but they have the potential to strike out a few more hitters than anyone else on the staff (other than Liriano), a trait that could move them up fairly quickly.
  

Which hitter do you see having the best season this Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer?
Phil Miller: Well, this question depends upon definitions, doesn’t it? I mean, who had the better season in ‘06, Mauer or Morneau? Cases could be made either way. To me, Mauer looks primed for a big year, because he appears so obviously recovered from last year’s injuries, and he’s got the most amazing swing of anyone in the game right now. Really, it’s effortless, and I could imagine him doing something like .330/15/110. Morneau, despite his 0-for-12 start to the season, is a decent bet for 35 home runs, but I suspect Mauer might be the team’s MVP. Unless it’s Gomez.

• Do you think Carlos Gomez is ready to produce at the major league level and if not, who do you think will be the centerfielder?
  
• Phil Miller: Again, the second part has been answered. But Gomez is definitely ready, if only because he has spectacular, world-class talent. Sure, in a perfect world, he’d probably spend this year in Double-A and next year in Triple-A (and win MVPs at both levels) because he’s got volumes to learn. But his speed and his hitting ability and his outfield range, they’re just a level above a typical major-leaguer already. Honestly, his presence is so electric, even though he’s not really suited to the leadoff spot, that it would not surprise me at all if he was the Twins’ MVP this year, even if Mauer and Morneau get most of the attention. Of course, I wouldn’t be entirely shocked if he was hitting about .150 in mid-May (pitchers can learn, too) and spent a couple of months at Rochester, either. But I just think his ability to turn bunts and grounders into hits will prevent that.
  

The Day in Review

Hey all. Brad got a head start on our day in review, but here are some of the non-Borowski highlights from today.

Injury Watch:

• Zach has got to be livid about this one: Alfonso Soriano is looking at a possible DL trip with a calf injury. Lou Pinella says his star left fielder will be out "a while." 
• Erik Bedard has also landed on the DL (that didn't take long at all). Because it was retroactive, he could pitch as soon as next Thursday, but Seattle is keeping quiet about the nature of the injury. 
• In bullpens outside Cleveland, Peter Moylan hit the Atlanta DL. No word yet on when he or Rafael Soriano will be back. Look for Manny Acosta to pick up the early save chances for the Braves.
• Timetables: Scott Kazmir is on track to return May 3 against Boston, while Pedro could be out until June. 

Notable Performances:

• Zack Greinke! with the complete game victory against Seattle. I was recently asked who would be the better acquisition, Greinke or Tom Glavine - needless to say, I advocated the youngster. 
• Matt Kemp continues to outplay Juan Pierre in LA. He scored three runs on Tuesday, which is two more than Pierre has scored all season.
• Jose Valverde blew another save for Houston. His job is still relatively safe because there's nobody behind him in that bullpen, but he's not looking like the major league leader in saves in 2008.
• Quality second basemen: Aaron Hill has 12 RBI in 14 games, Mark DeRosa hit a two-run homer, and Jose Lopez is hitting .308 on the year. 

Be constantly looking for ways to adjust your team - for example, now is the time to push to get Ichiro. And pitching, pitching, pitching is my favorite adage. I have Randy Johnson returning, I am trying to get JJ Putz and John Lackey at bargain prices, and still wouldn't mind picking up Sabathia. 

That's what you need to know about the day. 

Indians Catch A Lucky Break

Zach and Pete will probably touch on this in the daily wrap up, but news like this deserves its own post and I had a little free time so I thought I would pop into Rotonomics and give it proper respect. Its been almost a year since I was blogging full time, and it feels good to be back, temporarily. Anyway...

Last night the Indians caught a lucky break when Joe Borowski went down with an injury. He'll be placed on the 15-day DL and won't be out nearly the whole year, but you might as well let him go in favor of Rafael Betancourt. Borowski likely won't earn his job back when he returns. Betancourt may very well be owned in your league already, but if he isn't grab him. Masahide Kobayashi is next in line after Betancourt and is also worth a look in deeper leagues now.

I'm probably being facetious saying the Indians caught a lucky break. Obviously, losing depth in your bullpen is never a good thing, but leaving Borowski in the closers roll was the wrong decision to start with. When you drafted him, you knew he wasn't going to make it the whole season. Although the Indians couldn't, consider this just another sunken cost and make the switch in your bullpen. In case you're in a really deep league, the other guys who will benefit from this move are Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis.

It's been fun, hopefully this helps all the Borowski owners out there make a decision. Perhaps I'll pop in again sometime.

The Day in Review

I have good news--no major injuries today. Today will be a day of youngsters, so without further adieu...

Notable Performances

• Billy Butler, Evan Longoria, and Conor Jackson all hit their first homeruns of the season, and Butler in particular is looking like the real deal. I think it's premature to mention Ryan Braun. In the same sentence as Longoria, but the potential is there and even half the season Braun put up would be formidable. I'm a big fan of Jackson and think he'll have more value come season's end than Justin Upton.
• Randy Johnson is back in the rotation, and is hurling well. Provided the strikeouts are where they have always been, he should be a great start going forward. Hopefully he'll get better defense the next time around.
• A lot of young hurlers hit the mound today. The good: Zack Greinke as usual, who is starting to look like an ace, and Ervin Santana, who is pitching well away from home. The bad: Nick Blackburn (the strikeouts weren't there, as his minor league track suggested) and Ian Kennedy (a quality start, but not enough for you to regret having dropped him). And the ugly: Jon Lester, who is having his chronicled control issues, and Andy Sonnanstine, who at least has the stacked Yankees lineup to blame.
• I'd just like to make a general comment that the middle infield of the Blue Jays (Aaron Hill and David Eckstein, for those scoring at home) are going to make every pitcher on that team look good this year. Like every AL East team not named the Yankees or Red Sox, it's a shame they won't see the playoffs for awhile (unless Scott Boras becomes the agent of every veteran superstar after the two teams trade their farm systems for... none other than Kaz Matsui).

That's what you need (well, you didn't need to know the last part) to know about the day.