Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Rising

August 22, 2008 @ 10:38:15

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents 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. Do you need to add players to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which players can you ignore? KFFL.com's Diamond Market series gives you the fantasy baseball tips and advice you need to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

Acquire - Add player (in most circumstances)

Watch - Track player; consider adding if trend continues

Pass - Do not add player (in most circumstances)

Catchers

None

First Basemen

None

Second Basemen

Ronnie Belliard, Washington Nationals

A 0-for-3 effort Thursday, Aug. 21, ended Belliard's six-game hitting streak. Prior to that, the portly infielder reeled off 14 hits in 23 at-bats (.609 average), with five RBIs. His second-half average stands .100 points higher than his first-half clip. He's eligible around much of the infield and could provide a short boost in average, but his stats are somewhat empty otherwise.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Third Basemen

None

Shortstops

None

Outfielders

None

Designated Hitters

None

Starting Pitchers

Tom Gorzelanny, Pittsburgh Pirates

Gorzelanny is headed back to Pittsburgh after turning in some productive starts with Triple-A Indianapolis. In 35 innings, Gorzelanny has gone 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 33 strikeouts and only four walks. With sub-4.00 ERAs the past two years, Gorzelanny is worth consideration despite his early-season struggles (6-7, 6.57 ERA, 1.83 WHIP).

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Dana Eveland, Oakland Athletics

Injuries in the starting rotation combined with three straight quality starts (21 innings, 2.57 ERA, 21 strikeouts) has Eveland back in the majors. He was pretty ugly in his three starts after the All-Star break, so it is advised you wait to grab him in mixed leagues.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Dallas Braden, Oakland Athletics

Braden has turned in a quality effort in two of his last three outings. His Wednesday, Aug. 20, start fell one out shy of a quality one, but he did chip in seven strikeouts. Wins could be a problem, but Braden has been solid since entering the rotation July 22.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Carl Pavano, New York Yankees

Since June 27, 2005, Pavano (elbow) has taken the mound just two times (both at the beginning of 2007) for the Yankees. The oft-injured hurler will start Saturday, Aug. 23 - coincidentally, at the same park (Camden Yards) he made his last 2005 start. He has put up great numbers in the past; he allowed 20 hits and seven earned runs, with 19 K's, in 19 innings at two minor league stops during rehab. However, he shouldn't be considered anything more than a speculative pickup at this point.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Dirk Hayhurst, San Diego Padres

Hayhurst is set to make his major league debut Friday, Aug. 22, in place of departed starter Greg Maddux (Los Angeles Dodgers). Hayhurst has compiled a 3.75 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 46 appearances (two starts) for Triple-A Portland this year. It is not known how long he will last in the rotation, and he wasn't much of a prospect to begin with. He's merely a flier pickup.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Relief Pitchers

Jon Rauch, Arizona Diamondbacks

Rauch picked up the save in place of closer Brandon Lyon Wednesday, Aug. 20, though manager Bob Melvin said he was giving Lyon a night off. Melvin has stuck with Lyon despite some less-than-stellar outings recently. However, most of Lyon's struggles have come in non-save situations. Owners shouldn't ignore Rauch, but temper expectations unless Lyon begins blowing save chances. Lyon owners are better served to add Rauch.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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