Z - Batter's Box

Who's Hot, Who's Not

April 11, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by KFFL Staff

Welcome to this week's edition of Who's Hot, Who's Not. We're only a week deep, and already countless players are creating buzz with their blue-flame beginnings or arctic-blast starts. Even if you're not in shape for the marathon that is a fantasy baseball season though, you ought to be prepped for a 5K. In the early going, high-round picks will underachieve and players floating on the free-agent list will overachieve.

It's a good idea to monitor the performances of the hottest and coldest players in your league, as you'll have the upper hand when looking to acquire or trade players. It may be a little early to bail on a proven vet or add an undrafted middle infielder, but it's never too soon to gauge value. Some players are surging out of the gates, and some have struggled from the word "go," either in the batter's box or from the hill. For which team in your league are these studs and duds making noise?

Rank	Who's Hot	Rank	Who's Not
1	1B Chris Shelton, Detroit Tigers	1	SP Bartolo Colon, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2	SP Brad Penny, Los Angeles Dodgers	2	OF Scott Podsednik, Chicago White Sox
3	2B Ryan Freel, Cincinnati Reds	3	OF Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta Braves
4	SP Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox	4	SP Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves
5	SP Jake Westbrook, Cleveland Indians	5	1B Dan Johnson, Oakland Athletics
6	DH Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians	6	OF Rondell White, Minnesota Twins
7	SS Edgar Renteria, Atlanta Braves	7	SP John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves
8	C Ramon Hernandez, Baltimore Orioles	8	SP Kevin Millwood, Texas Rangers
9	SP Vicente Padilla, Texas Rangers	9	OF Brady Clark, Milwaukee Brewers
10	CL Derrick Turnbow, Milwaukee Brewers	10	CL Mike Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Pirates

WHO’S HOT

1) 1B Chris Shelton, Detroit Tigers - If you haven't heard, the young fella has drilled five long balls already and collected 14 hits (nine for extra bases) in his first 24 at-bats of 2006. He's also knocked in nine. If he went undrafted in your league, Shelton is almost certainly no longer a member of your league's free-agent pool.

2) SP Brad Penny, Los Angeles Dodgers - After earning just seven wins last season, Penny has already notched two in 2006. The Dodgers think this is the pitcher for whom they traded in 2004, right before he had to shut it down with a right bicep injury. He's allowed just nine hits, two runs and has fanned 14 batters in 12 innings. He also knocked in a go-ahead run in his second win, against the Philadelphia Phillies.

3) SP Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox - The Big Schill is doing everything he can to answer questions about his ability to rebound after a subpar 2005 that followed offseason ankle surgery. With just eight hits and three runs allowed, plus nine strikeouts in 14 innings, owners are listening. He has two wins, including his Opening Day conquest against the Texas Rangers at Ameriquest Field.

4) SS Edgar Renteria, Atlanta Braves - So far the return to the National League has been a triumphant one for Renteria: 12 hits in 31 at-bats (.387), including four doubles, a home run, seven runs and 10 RBI. He's also pilfered a bag and collected at least one hit in each of the Braves' first seven games.

5) SP Jake Westbrook, Cleveland Indians - Westbrook followed a solid first outing (two runs and six hits allowed in 6.1 innings) by holding the Minnesota Twins to one run on two hits in 7.1 innings. At one point, the righthander had retired 14 in a row, including eight strikeouts. Both games ended as victories for the 28-year-old.

Others of Note...

DH Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians - Hafner was walked Sunday, April 9, to reach base in 11 straight plate appearances before going hitless in his three at-bats that day. He's hitting .391 with four home runs, six RBI and eight runs.
2B Ryan Freel, Cincinnati Reds - It seems like every season Freel heads in wondering about his playing time. In just 11 at-bats, he has six hits and has swiped five bags in his limited time on the field.
C Ramon Hernandez, Baltimore Orioles - Several other players deserve a nod for their hot hitting, but it's hard to complain about your catcher giving you 11 hits in his first 16 at-bats, even if they have only resulted in six RBI and one run scored.
SP Vicente Padilla, Texas Rangers - Padilla deserves mention as the last of the two-win starters in the bigs thus far, despite allowing 11 hits and walking five in 12 innings. He's allowed only four runs while fanning eight and has scored both wins at home.
CL Derrick Turnbow, Milwaukee Brewers - Turnbow picked up right where he left off in 2005. He nailed down the Brewers' first four games of the season, becoming the first ever pitcher to do so. He hasn't allowed a run, but watch out for his four hits and three walks in four innings.

WHO’S NOT

1) SP Bartolo Colon, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Colon's first start wasn't so bad (three runs, eight hits and four strikeouts in five innings in the no-decision). But to follow that with eight runs (seven earned), seven hits, two walks and two home runs allowed in two-plus innings in start No. 2 is bad. Colon said he suffered a slight groin injury in the opener, but it wouldn't affect him. Hmmm....

2) OF Scott Podsednik, Chicago White Sox - He deserves a spot because he's good for only one thing, steals. When he's not getting on base (1-for-22 to start the year, with one free pass), he's not going to get that one thing. He's knocked in one and driven in one in his slow start. Perhaps the nagging injuries he suffered this spring are more than nagging.

3) OF Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta Braves - The free-swinging rightfielder has gotten off to a horrible start, with just two knocks in his 29 trips to the plate. He's whiffed six times and displayed his usual lack of patience (less than three pitches per plate appearance and zero walks). He's scored once and has two RBI.

4) SP Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves - Hudson seemed a sure bet to rebound after surrendering five runs, six hits and three walks to the Los Angeles Dodgers in four innings on Opening Day. Four innings later, the San Francisco Giants tacked on nine hits, three walks, eight runs (six earned) and a loss to Hudson's line. Typically a slow starter (though not this bad), he should be able to get it together.

5) 1B Dan Johnson, Oakland Athletics - A sleeper first baseman for many entering the season, Johnson's going has been tough (no hits in 19 at-bats, two runs scored), but he hasn't been tough enough to get going. He's walked three times and struck out twice, but he's not making solid contact. How long before he begins to lose time in the platoon situation in Oakland? Probably a while, because his teammates (designated hitter Frank Thomas and first baseman Nick Swisher) are off to slow starts too.

Others of Note...

OF Rondell White, Minnesota Twins - With just two hits in 22 at-bats, White hasn't exactly given Minnesota the presence in the middle of the lineup they'd hoped for.
SP John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves - Smoltz seemed to handle the demotion from ace well, but his poor showings (15 hits, four walks, nine runs allowed in 12 innings) say otherwise. He's too good to be this bad.
SP Kevin Millwood, Texas Rangers - Millie went from ERA leader in 2005 to near the back of the pack to start 2006 (7.36 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), with two losses. Maybe the new ballpark IS a problem....
OF Brady Clark, Milwaukee Brewers - Many hitters could fall into this spot, but Clark (with four hits in 23 at-bats, two runs) garners mention because he's done it while batting leadoff for the 5-1 Brewers.
CL Mike Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Pirates - You could make the argument for countless others, especially since the Pirates only have one win. But Gonzalez blew his first save opportunity (on a questionable out call, given), then pitched the eighth inning before yielding to reliever Roberto Hernandez for the save Sunday, April 9. Matchups dictated the order, but it's interesting to see that Pittsburgh might be going with situational closers more often that expected.