Playing With Fire: Around the League
This week, I'm going to briefly cover a few of the best hitters and pitchers in the past seven days. Lets go to it.
Hitters
Hot
Chase Utley has been the best offensive weapon in the past week, even with the absence of Jimmy Rollins in the Phillies lineup. In the past seven days, Utley has hit seven home runs had has brought his batting average all the way up to .385. Sure Utley isn't going to hit one homer every day, and even though his stock is really high, there is nothing at second base that can amount to his numbers. Make sure you hold onto him.
Casey Blake has also been solid this week. Racking up ten RBI's and hitting .421 in just five games. Blake won't keep up those numbers, so if try to get someone to bite on him.
Jacoby Ellsbury has been flying around the base paths this week for a total of six stolen bases, to compliment two homers and a .370 batting average in the past seven days. Ellsbury is very young and still has a lot of upside. Sure he wont steal a base a game, but he his bat really compliments his speed. Good things are yet to come, especially for keeper league owners.
Hot and Cold
Hanley Ramirez is an interesting guy this week. He has managed to hit four home runs, steal four bases, and hit .290, but nine strikeouts in 31 at bats is ridiculous. That's hard to do, but his contact rate should come up.
Joey Votto is in a similar situation to H-Ram. The Canadian has hit three home runs, but has struck out seven times in 25 at bats. I've never been a big fan, and if you get the chance, try to sell him if he gets hot for a few games.
Pitchers
Hot
Chad Gaudin has pitched 14 innings in his two starts this week, allowing just one earned run. Gaudin started out a little slow, but if he keeps these numbers up it will be a pleasant surprise. It will be very hard for him to sustain his 3.38 ERA this year though; I'd be surprised if he finished below four. See what you can get for him while it lasts.
John Lannan has also been able to put up solid numbers in two starts this week. Though only resulting in one win, he has managed to allow just one run in 13 innings of work. Lannan's K/9 is over 9 right now, which is a very high number for a starter. I don't know if I have to even give trade advice here, I think it's pretty obvious. After all, when is the last time a National's pitcher was successful?
Brad Lidge is starting to pick it up. He has managed two saves in two opportunities, but has pitched in four games. He does have five strikeouts in his four innings of work, a solid number. He has always shown potential to be a solid closer and has done so, but needs to avoid the DL. He should get a lot of opportunities as the season goes on so I would hang onto him.
Brian Fuentes was handed over the closer role today from Manny Corpas. Corpas, who has blown multiple saves costing the Rockies, could be the reason the Rockies end up missing out on the playoffs.
One last note that I must point out, is that CC finally threw a solid game. Sure he got a lot of run support (its happened before), but he might have gained some value. Don't forget though, it was only one start. Let's hope he can continue to post "decent" numbers.
Hitters
Hot
Chase Utley has been the best offensive weapon in the past week, even with the absence of Jimmy Rollins in the Phillies lineup. In the past seven days, Utley has hit seven home runs had has brought his batting average all the way up to .385. Sure Utley isn't going to hit one homer every day, and even though his stock is really high, there is nothing at second base that can amount to his numbers. Make sure you hold onto him.
Casey Blake has also been solid this week. Racking up ten RBI's and hitting .421 in just five games. Blake won't keep up those numbers, so if try to get someone to bite on him.
Jacoby Ellsbury has been flying around the base paths this week for a total of six stolen bases, to compliment two homers and a .370 batting average in the past seven days. Ellsbury is very young and still has a lot of upside. Sure he wont steal a base a game, but he his bat really compliments his speed. Good things are yet to come, especially for keeper league owners.
Hot and Cold
Hanley Ramirez is an interesting guy this week. He has managed to hit four home runs, steal four bases, and hit .290, but nine strikeouts in 31 at bats is ridiculous. That's hard to do, but his contact rate should come up.
Joey Votto is in a similar situation to H-Ram. The Canadian has hit three home runs, but has struck out seven times in 25 at bats. I've never been a big fan, and if you get the chance, try to sell him if he gets hot for a few games.
Pitchers
Hot
Chad Gaudin has pitched 14 innings in his two starts this week, allowing just one earned run. Gaudin started out a little slow, but if he keeps these numbers up it will be a pleasant surprise. It will be very hard for him to sustain his 3.38 ERA this year though; I'd be surprised if he finished below four. See what you can get for him while it lasts.
John Lannan has also been able to put up solid numbers in two starts this week. Though only resulting in one win, he has managed to allow just one run in 13 innings of work. Lannan's K/9 is over 9 right now, which is a very high number for a starter. I don't know if I have to even give trade advice here, I think it's pretty obvious. After all, when is the last time a National's pitcher was successful?
Brad Lidge is starting to pick it up. He has managed two saves in two opportunities, but has pitched in four games. He does have five strikeouts in his four innings of work, a solid number. He has always shown potential to be a solid closer and has done so, but needs to avoid the DL. He should get a lot of opportunities as the season goes on so I would hang onto him.
Brian Fuentes was handed over the closer role today from Manny Corpas. Corpas, who has blown multiple saves costing the Rockies, could be the reason the Rockies end up missing out on the playoffs.
One last note that I must point out, is that CC finally threw a solid game. Sure he got a lot of run support (its happened before), but he might have gained some value. Don't forget though, it was only one start. Let's hope he can continue to post "decent" numbers.
