Think of the wonderful possibilities now that Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero have traded places
Savior in Seattle
It's not possible for the New York Yankees to feel the same way about Jesus Montero that the Seattle Mariners will. The Bronx Bombers play in a bandbox, their offense is rarely in crisis, and a problem in the batting order is easier to fix with moo-lah.
And Seattle probably couldn't appreciate Michael Pineda the way that the Yanks will. The M's have the kind of resource it takes to turn overachievers, busts and retreads into useful pitchers more easily than the average club.
But the Pinstripes are now in an unfamiliar position. And the Mariners don't have to toss any ol' bum into the rotation.
Cheap chumps on the bump Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy baseball players adore Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer, but Mike Moustakas is more attractive
Moustakas is lookin' good
Don't get me wrong. Eric Hosmer is handsome. He looked better without facial hair, but his intense eyes and chiseled chin help to form the haunting mug that furnishes his dreaminess, which an indeterminately large portion of the ladies must appreciate.
Mike Moustakas is no ugly duckling, but he has nothing on his teammate. He has a by-gosh, D.B. Sweeney thing going on that appeals to no greater than a small faction of females. But if these babes are shallow, they've done their homework: He makes decent coin, and his earnings potential is ginormous.
In a charity date auction, Moustakas can't compete with Hosmer. In a rotisserie auction, the former has the goods, but even the depthless dames are disinclined to dabble. Damn, that's cold.
Show Moustakas some love Tap your mouse here for more »
Charlie Furbush’s crafty move
Although less so, Furbush is tempting
Just a week after the San Diego Padres' insertion of Cory Luebke into the rotation made my mouth water, the Detroit Tigers pulled a similar swap with another southpaw who arouses my curiosity.
(I know. Bear with me. I'm trying pretty hard here. Don't act like you aren't. Hey, they're tasteless, but they make us chuckle. I never claimed to be above juvenile humor, and I take umbrage with the confusion of "crass" with "no class." None of it diminishes my arcane appreciation.)
So, where were we? Oh, right. Charlie Furbush is coming to a fantasy baseball waiver wire near you. You might want to hop on that.
Abject affair with adolescence Tap your mouse here for more »
Cory Luebke looks mighty nice now
Believer in the now-former reliever
One of my peepers has been stealing glances at Cory Luebke for a good portion of the season in Tout Wars (the mixed league). Perhaps, in hindsight, I should've harbored him on my reserve list, although the parameters of this fantasy baseball league and the composition of my roster would've made that difficult.
The San Diego Padres will insert the slinky southpaw, who had served his team in relief until this point of 2011, in the rotation. It's a move that may not register on your roto radar immediately, but don't overlook Luebke when you fill out your FAAB lists this week.
Jiffy Luebke Tap your mouse here for more »
Domonic Brown’s cram session
Brown: still a little green
Well, you can't win 'em all.
Charlie Manuel's PowerPoint presentation was reportedly enough to convince Ruben Amaro Jr. that Domonic Brown is better off attending MLB-level classes. Manuel believes that he can cultivate Brown as he did two previous Philadelphia Phillies prodigies, Chase Utley (in 2004) and Ryan Howard (in 2005).
This decision may yield positive results in the long run. But, fantasy baseball players who invested in the phenom outfielder are probably going to have to let him sit for a bit. (You know, kinda like Uncle Cholly did in two of the kid's first three games after his call-up, both against southpaws.)
Brown skid marks Tap your mouse here for more »
Philadelphia Phillies not quite ready to flip switch on lineup’s Domonic Brown-out
Brown pummeling AAA pitchers
A pickup of Domonic Brown is definitely in order, if he's still available in your fantasy baseball league. For as much as I've been a proponent of that transaction, however, I caution any rotisserie manager who's banking on a recall of the Philadelphia Phillies' ballyhood prospect terribly soon.
Todd Zolecki covers the club for its official site (he did some fine work at the Philly Inquirer before that) and speculates that Brown will be up within a few weeks. It's possible. The Phightins are 10th in the NL in scoring (4.05 runs per game). Raul Ibanez (.225/.281/.338), Ben Francisco (.218/.347/.346) and John Mayberry Jr. (.255/.359/.418) don't ring the neon Liberty Bell often.
Phuggeddaboutit phor now Tap your mouse here for more »
Jorge Posada non grata
Posada: designated bitter
He asked out of the lineup because he was experiencing back stiffness - or, it turns out, unhappy with his lineup spot. He bitched and moaned about it - the nine-hole assignment, not the booboo - to his skipper and GM. He wanted to leave the New York Yankees - not just on Saturday, but for good.
It seems pretty obvious that Jorge Posada acted largely out of frustration, which at least one source close to the 39-year-old backstop confirms, for whatever that's worth. But fantasy baseball players who drafted him are almost as peeved as Posada was and not nearly as patient as Joe Girardi has been. Brian Cashman, contemplating the release of Posada? Rest of the rotisserie world, already way ahead of him?
Not-so-hip clip, Jorge Tap your mouse here for more »
Playing it safe with Matt Holliday, and Magglio Ordonez’s tough break
Matt Holliday's return isn't far off. That summarizes media interpretation of comments from GM John Mozeliak, skipper Tony La Russa and even Holliday. He has been cleared for baseball activities.
The St. Louis Cardinals are certainly no longer facing the doomsday scenario of the speculative three- to six-week timetable that accompanied the news of Holliday's appendectomy when it first broke. But is the construal a bit optimistic? Or, perhaps more purportedly, why are they in a rush?
Credit Cards statements Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy baseball players on other side of Neftali Feliz’s trapdoor, and other Texas Rangers tips
The second shooter
The Texas Rangers have added first Adrian Beltre and now Mike Napoli to the roster in an offseason in which pitching, at least of the starting variety, was a greater need.
Ron Washington says that Michael Young is a regular. "Michael's going to get his at-bats. He's still going to be my primary DH. He's going to get some chances to play first. He's going to get some chances to play second. He's going to get some chances to play third." (It's also interesting, although not necessarily telling, that Texas' official site lists Young as Elvis Andrus' backup.)
Tanner's hideout Tap your mouse here for more »
Toronto Blue Jays find taker for Vernon Wells and make fantasy baseball mess
Angels make their splash with Wells
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have agreed to take on at least some portion of the four years and $86 million remaining on the contract extension that the Toronto Blue Jays handed Vernon Wells about five years ago.
The Halos hoped to grab some attention (and add some offense) in the heavy free agency period, so they'll sacrifice Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera to accomplish something similar.
Lind's view of the Rivera in Napoli Tap your mouse here for more »
Blog Calendar
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