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Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Falling

August 15, 2008 @ 11:36:53

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy baseball waivers and discarded fantasy baseball players can make or break a season. You may have adjusted your fantasy baseball cheat sheets over and over during spring training. If your team remains the same after opening day, though, you will probably have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league. When is it time to give up on your fantasy baseball sleepers? Which players are worth retaining? KFFL.com's Diamond Market series gives you the fantasy baseball tips and advice you need to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

Discard - Drop player (in most circumstances)

Stash - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues

Hold - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)

Catchers

None

First Basemen

Richie Sexson, New York Yankees

Well, that didn't take long. New York released Sexson Friday, Aug. 15. In 28 at-bats (spanning 22 games), Sexson collected seven hits, including a homer, and six RBIs. For the second time this season, Sexson will be hoping to latch on somewhere else. He should, but fantasy owners shouldn't expect him to contribute much of anything for the rest of the season.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Second Basemen

None

Third Basemen

Jose Castillo, San Francisco Giants

The Giants designated Castillo for assignment Wednesday, Aug. 13. Last month, they were trying him out at second base; he no longer appears to be part of the club's future plans. Castillo (.244-6-35 in 394 at-bats) garnered mild interest from a team or two around the non-waiver trade deadline, so it shouldn't take long for him to end up somewhere else. The question is, in what role?

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Stash

Shortstops

None

Outfielders

Melky Cabrera, New York Yankees

The Yanks optioned Cabrera to the minors Friday, Aug. 15. He has been disappointing this year, particularly in August (3-for-26, all three hits in one game) and with runners in scoring position (.204). The move is probably an indication that Johnny Damon will move back to center field.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

John Bowker, San Francisco Giants

San Fran is obviously looking for some direction - any direction! - and Bowker seemed to make a good impression initially (.274-9-38 in 234 at-bats before the break). He has collected 10 hits (no homers) since the virtual midseason point, though, and now it's someone else's turn. The Giants optioned Bowker to Triple-A Fresno Wednesday, Aug. 13. In deep NL-only formats, he might stick on a fantasy roster in case of a September call-up.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Stash

Designated Hitters

None

Starting Pitchers

Chris Young, San Diego Padres

This has been a nightmarish season for Young (forearm), who went back on the disabled list Thursday, Aug. 14, retroactive to Monday, Aug. 11, this time for a strained right forearm. He missed about two months earlier this season because of a nasal fracture and laceration. The right-hander was dominant, though erratic (three hits, seven walks and two earned runs in 10 1/3 innings), in his first two starts since the schnoz incident; he fanned a combined 13 in the pair of no-decisions. His last outing (four innings, nine hits and seven earned runs) was disastrous; the injury can absorb some of the blame. There is no ligament or tendon damage, but there's no incentive for the Friars to rush him back, either, so he may not pitch again this year. In deep mixed, you can wait, but be ready to cut him loose.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Stash

NL-only: Hold

Brad Penny, Los Angeles Dodgers

Penny (shoulder) returned from the DL Friday, Aug. 8, and was effective (one earned run and one hit allowed in five innings), but he was shelled in his second outing back. He gave up six hits - including three bombs - and six earned runs in three innings for his shortest outing in nearly two seasons. Oh, and he's back on the DL with inflammation in his shoulder, the same shoulder that had tendonitis and kept him out for nearly two months. This seems to be a problem Penny won't kick anytime soon. Manager Joe Torre: "I have no idea when he will be able to come back." Be ready to drop him in all formats if the news gets any worse.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Stash

NL-only: Hold

Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

Carpenter (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday, Aug. 15, with a strain the shoulder of his pitching arm, but that is the extent of the damage, per an MRI. He was already going to miss a start; there is no need to take any chances with a player who recently returned from reconstructive elbow surgery. Carp has been very good in three starts (1.88 ERA, 1.26 WHIP), although he isn't same the pitcher yet (only six K's in 14 1/3 innings). One can't expect him to be, though. Stash him if you can.

Shallow mixed: Stash

Deep mixed: Hold

NL-only: Hold

Relief Pitchers

Troy Percival, Tampa Bay Rays

As expected, the Rays placed Percy (knee) on the disabled list. The good news is that it's not a hamstring injury, something that sidelined him twice earlier this season. The bad news is that he has cartilage damage in his right knee, and he's expected to miss two to three weeks. The worse news is that he might need surgery. Fantasy owners should value saves highly enough to be patient and find out, though.

Shallow mixed: Hold

Deep mixed: Hold

AL-only: Hold

Joel Zumaya, Detroit Tigers

The Tigers ended up placing Zumaya (shoulder) back on the disabled list after he couldn't shake pain in his surgically repaired shoulder. He could come back to pitch for a game or two by the end of the season, but manager Jim Leyland doesn't believe he'll be 100 percent until 2009. Why bother?

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Discard