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Fantasy Baseball Report 8/28 - 9/03

Phillies Howard slugs another
Rookie Ryan Howard hit his 11th home run in 205 at bats. That puts him at around a 30 home run type first basemen at this point. In addition, he is batting .285. He has struck out 66 times and that is a pace for almost 200, so it is not all good news.

Rookie Jacobs getting time at 1B
Mets rookie left-hander, Mike Jacobs has been starting at 1B over the last week. He is batting .304 with 4 home runs in his 28 plate appearances. Like all rookies who start hot you never know if they are for real, but if you have a spot or need a change, they make a good plug and you never know if you hit the jackpot.

Fantasy Baseball Report 8/21 - 8/27

Rookie Vargas sharp again
Florida has been getting great pitching from everywhere lately, including there rookie, Jason Vargas. He pitched a complete, 7 strikeout game in his last outing and is 4-1 with a 2.43 and 33 K's in 37 innings overall.

Farnsworth picks up save
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher, Kyle Farnsworth took a step to finally becoming the Braves closer. He pitched 1.1 inning striking out 3. Sounds like a closer. Once again we are saying he will close and stay the closer. If he is still out there, get him now.

Kearns back and hitting
Cincinnati Reds often injured prospect, Austin Kearns is back and hitting. He is 7 of 22 with 3 home runs in the last 7 days. Kearns makes a solid late season pick up.

Ice cold Pena catches fire
The on again, off again Tiger first basemen, Carlos Pena, is hot. He went 7 for 13 with 5 home runs and 10 RBI's in the last week. Don't get excited, but he could fill a hole for a week.

Duke injured in start
Rookie sensation Zach Duke sprained his ankle while running the bases. He will probably miss a start, but the injury is not serious. He pitched a perfect 2 innings before being injured against St. Louis. He is 6-0 with a 1.81 ERA for the season.

Fantasy Baseball Report 8-14 to 8-20

Payton keeps hitting
Jay Payton hit his 15th home run of the season against the Royals. The A's outfielder has been on fire as of late and makes are a great "rent-a-player" as he will probably cool down. Batting .268 with 15 HR's and 47 RBI's, most of which has come in the last month with Oakland.

Seo pitches another strong outing
NY Mets starting pitcher, Jae Seo, pitched 8 strong shut-out innings against the Nationals in the Mets 1-0 win. Seo is 28 from Korea and is in his 4th year, so keep that in mind, but Seo is also 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 29 K's in 41 innings. In addition, he has giving up just 1 run in his last 4 starts.

Reitsma blows another save
Braves closer Chris Reitsma's time is just about up. He blew another save in the Braves 6-4 loss to the Dodgers. Danny Kolb has a shot at getting his job back, but if Bobby Cox has any sense he will give the job to Kyle Farnsworth who just finished his 5 game suspension.

Rookie Morse goes yard
Seattle Mariner rookie shortstop, Mike Morse hit his third home run of the season. He is having a solid season batting .305 with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases with 174 at bats. Not spetacular, but if you need a shortstop he can fill the hole.

Fantasy Baseball Report 8-7 to 8-13

Hernandez brilliant again
Seattle Mariner rookie sensation Felix Hernandez pitched 8 innings giving up one run and striking out 11. He is now 2-1 with an ERA of .86. Amazing starts for touted rookies aren't unusual and until the league gets to know him he will dominate. The way he is pitching he will probably continue to dominate after that as well. Believe it or not, he hasn't been picked up in many leagues. If not get him now.

Brazabon finally yanked as closer
LA Dodger reliever Yhency Brazoban has been "relieved" of his closing duties. Manager Jim Tracy stated he would use RP Duaner Sanchez and RP Steve Schmoll to close games. Brazoban may get a second chance if he improves and Sanchez has the inside shot, but consider this a committed situation for now and stay away.

Molina goes yard
LA Angels catcher, Bengi Molina, is quickly becoming one of the best. He stroked his 12th home run of the season against the Mariners. He is batting .306 with 51 RBI's this season.

Prospect Diaz returns for Mets
23 year-old rookie New York Mets outfielder, Victor Diaz, was called back up to take the starting spot of injured Mike Cameron. Diaz is a talented prospect who has pop in his bat. He started the season with the Mets and batted .242 and hit 6 home runs with 124 at bats. He went 3 for 4 with his 7th home run in his return debut.

Benitez ready for return
San Francisco Giant relief pitcher Tyler Walker run at the closer spot is just about over. He has been solid, but expect him to close for about another week, maybe two. Trainer Stan Conte has stated that when Armando Benitez returns next week, he will pitch in earlier innings until he regains his power. The time is now to snatch Benitez if he is out there.

Payton helps A's in streak
It has taken a lot of different player to come through for Oakland's amazing come back and out fielder Jay Payton has been one of those players. Payton has flirted with being a good fantasy player over the years, particularly when he was in Colorado, but he is once again flirting with the notion. He is batting .33 with 6 home runs over the last 30 days. Overall he is batting .277 with 11 home runs and is starting somewhere in Oakland. Unfortunately, he is only batting .237 against righties.

D'Rays Gomes pounding the ball
A three home run performance was a signal that the 24 year-old rookie could hit and he hasn't stopped yet. Tampa Bay starting outfielder, Jonny Gomes is batting .284 with 13 home runs in his major league 186 at bats. That calculates to more than 40 home runs if he were to continue that pace.

Holliday improves as season goes
Colorado outfielder, Matt Holliday has hit 6 home runs while batting .341 over the last 30 days. Holliday hasn't been able to get over the hump and become a legit fantasy player to this point, but if he continues to bat like he has over the last 30 days he may be a nice late season pick up. Overall he is batting .306 with 10 home runs and 8 stolen bases.

Fantasy Baseball Report 7-31 to 8-6

Rookie Johnson gets # 8
Oakland A's 1B, Dan Johnson hit is 8th home run of the season against the Twins. He is batting .319 for the season with 185 at bats.

Reitsma gets save
At this point it seems like Bobby Cox will stick with Chris Reitsma as his closer. Kyle Farnsworth is working as a set-up man. It may be hard to keep Farnsworth, but he still may end up closing for the Braves by seasons end.

Nevin goes yard for Texas
Phil Nevin, starting at DH for the Rangers, went 3-4 and hit his first home run for Texas. His stats should improve in his move from San Diego to Texas and he is a worthwhile pick up in the leagues where he has been cut.

Hernandez impressive in debut
Felix Hernandez may have lost in his big league debut, but he proved that he may be the next great pitcher in baseball. Hernandez pitched 5 innings, striking out 4 and giving up 1 earned run. Unfortunately, the Mariners continued lack of hitting lead to their 3-1 loss to the Tigers. Hernandez should be on your team unless you are loaded and if you are in a keeper league, you need to find a spot. *Fernando Rodney picked up his second save of the season in the Tiger win.

Patterson pitches a gem
Washington Nationals starting pitcher, John Patterson, pitched a 13 K, complete game shout out against the Dodgers. Patterson has struggled all year to get wins, although he has pitched very well. He is now 5-3 with an ERA of 2.42 and 126 K's in 127 innings. Patterson is the real deal and should be on your squad if he is still hanging around in free agency.

Hernandez gets the call
Felix Hernandez, the top pitching prospect in minor league baseball, is being called up by the Seattle Mariners...He is barley 19. Worth a gamble if you have a spot.

Rodney to close for Tigers
SportsLine.com reports Detroit Tigers RP Fernando Rodney will close now that RP Kyle Farnsworth was traded to the Braves.

Duke with another impressive performance
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie, Zach Duke, pitched a strong 8.1 innings giving up 7 hits and 1 run in the Pirates 4-1 win over Atlanta. Duke is now 4-0 with a .92 ERA.

Farnsworth traded to Atlanta
Detroit Tiger closer, Kyle Farnsworth, is now an Atlanta Brave. This brings up more questions than answers. Farnsworth is said to be coming in as a set up man, but the way he has been pitching lately say he will close eventually. Reitsma has done a good job, but is not a typical closer and is a good set up man. It just makes sense for Farnsworth to close...but doesn't mean he will. Farnsworth 55% Reitsma 45%.

The other question is who will close for the Tigers. It may go committed for awhile, but most sources are reporting Fernando Rodney will close. He was injured all of 2004 and in 2005 is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.21 and 25 strikeouts in 21 innings. In 2003 he had 3 saves and was considered as a possible closer of the future. Franklyn Germán has a shot as well. He is 3-0 with 1 save and an ERA of 2.54. Rodney 70%, German 20% Chris Spurling 10%.

Aquino picks up first save
Former Diamondback closer, Greg Aquino, picked up his first season of the 2005 season in the 3-2 win over the Cubs. Aquino recorded 16 saves with an ERA of 3.06 last year as he finishing as the teams closer. Manager Bob Melvin hasn't committed to a change, but Bruney has not been playing well as of late and has blown 4 saves. Don't get to excited about Aquino and his 9.37 ERA, even though he is much better than that, because closer Brandon Lyon and his 1.96 ERA are due back in about a week.

Braves put out another rookie
The Atlanta Braves have been winning with a lot of rookies in there lineup and yet another one is playing well. Right fielder, Jeff Francoeur, a 21 year-old rookie has started his major league career by batting .405 and hitting 6 home runs in 42 at bats. As usual, this means nothing yet, but you never know who the next star will be and he is taking the right steps.

Fantasy Baseball Report 7-24 to 7-30

Nevin Traded to Texas for Park
1B Phil Nevin's stock rose a bit as he was traded to the Texas Rangers. In exchange the Padres will receive Chan Ho Park. Park's worthless stock rises. He should at least be looked at. He excelled in LA and could improve vastly in pitcher-friendly San Diego.

DeJesus showing potential
Kansas City Royals center fielder, David DeJesus is playing much better as of late. He is batting .330 over the last month with 3 home runs. He is batting .298 with 7 home runs, 47 RBI's and 57 runs for the season.

Tiger rookie staying put
At this point, Tiger rookie 1B, Chris Shelton, will continue to get playing time. Shelton is batting .365 with 9 home runs with just 178 at bats. He may not continue at this pace, but he is a golden prospect at this point and very worthy of picking up if he is still available.

Huff is hitting again
Seems like a replay from last season when Tampa Bay RF, Aubrey Huff, started the season horribly, but finished red hot. Huff seems to always land around .290 and 30 home runs. Injuries more than slumps may hinder that this year, but you can bet he will finish at about .290 with about 25 home runs.

Giambi continues his tear
Yankee 1B and DH, Jason Giambi has 11 home runs over the last 30 days, including back-to-back 2 home run games last week. He is batting .285 with 16 home runs with just 239 at bats. The former MVP is playing like an MVP over the last month, the only question is, how long will the last? Giambi is available in some leagues, but has long been snatched up in most.

Berkman Back
Houston Astro first basemen, Lance Berkman, is back to his old ways. He is batting .314 with 11 home runs, 19 2B's, 43 runs and 43 RBI's with 255 at bats. There were concerns that he would not be playing at 100% after the injury that cost him half the season, but he seems to be playing as good as ever.

Piazza goes yard again
Just when it was time to right off Mike Piazza, his bat starts swinging. He went 3 for 3 against the Dodgers, hitting his 12th home run of the season. His batting average has now risen to .267.

Valentin showing power
Cincinnati Reds part-time catcher, Javier Valentin hit his 9th home run of the season in just 120 at bats. That's roughly a pace for 45-50 home runs. He has been in the majors for 6 years, so he is not a new prospect, but when a guy hits that many homers in so few at bats, it is worth mentioning. In addition, Valentin is batting .283 with 28 RBI's. He is someone to keep an eye on and maybe plug in for awhile. The Reds are sure to use him if he keeps hitting.

Fantasy Baseball Report 7-17 to 7-23

Schilling closing for Red Sox
Until Keith Foulke returns from the DL, expect Curt Shilling to get the majority of the save opportunities. It is an ideal situation. Schilling can take his time coming back, pitching 1 or 2 innings at a time, while the Red Sox get a flame throwing closer. By the time Foulke returns Shilling will be more than ready to get back into the starting rotation. Mike Timlin may get a few save chances, but once again, he is not worth picking up unless you get points for holds.

Rowand goes yard
Chicago White Sox outfielder, Aaron Rowand hit his 6th home run of the season and went 3 for 4 overall in the 6-5 loss against the Red Sox. Rowand was highly touted to begin the year but has been average for most of the season and his home runs have been anemic. Rowand played excellent in the second half of the 2004 season when he batted .319 with 15 home runs and 8 stolen bases. If he is in the free agent pool, you may want to keep an eye on him or snag him now.

Schilling blows save, but gets win
Mike Timlin pitched the 7th inning for a hold and then Curt Schilling came in for 2 innings and gave up the tying run in the 9th. Manny Ramirez bails him out with a solo shot and Schilling ends up with a win. We don't know how long Schilling will remain in the bullpen, but this is clearly not just a getting into shape thing. Schilling may close until Foulke returns in about a month. Bottom line is this is bad news for Timlin owners or prospectors. He is not worth picking up at this time unless you get points for holds.

Westbrook picks up victory
The up and down year for Cleveland Indian pitcher continues. After losing 3 straight, Jake Westbrook pitched a strong 7 innings giving up only 1 run and striking out 5. Westbrook had won 4 in a row before the loss streak. He had an awful start, but he and the Indians have played much better as of late, even with the loss streak His ERA was 6.69 as May 8th, it is now 4.51. He should be a good pitcher down the stretch and is worth picking up.

Percival likely out for season
Detroit Tiger closer Troy Percival is doubtful for a return this year. Current closer Kyle Farnsworth has been excellent and will remain the closer. If you need closing help Farsnworth will get some shots, but not enough to justify cutting a good player.

Schilling picks up first save
Curt Schilling has pitched his second straight successful 9th inning. He has also said he likes closing. Interesting, but don't expect to see him closing very long if his is looking sharp. The Red Sox need him in the starting rotation just as bad. This does weaken Timilin's current role in closing. He is not the closer-type and Red Sox may shop around before handed him the job.

Orioles chase after Burnett
Florida Marlin starting pitcher, A.J. Burnett, has been rumored to be on the trading block. The Baltimore Orioles have been the number one contender for his services. This would have to be considered good news for Burnett owners. He has been mediocre all year and unable to get wins. While moving to the American League is not always good for ones ERA, moving to the Orioles would have to be good for more wins.

Orioles Cabrera wins 3rd straight
Baltimore Orioles starting 24 year-old pitcher, Daniel Cabrera, has pitched 3 straight good outings. In the 3 games he has pitched 20 innings, struck out 19 and only gave up 3 earned runs. For the season he is 8-7 with an ERA of 4.70 and has 95 K's in 105 innings. The 6 foot-7 inch Cabrera has a bright future with the Orioles...the question is has it already started?

Red Sox's Nixon on fire
A waiver-wire free agent in some leagues, Boston Red Sox outfielder, Trot Nixon is on fire again. He has had a very up and down season, and he is up right now. He has hit 3 home runs in the last 4 games and knocked in 9 runs in the process. For the season Nixon is batting .300 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI's.

Fantasy Baseball Report 7-10 to 7-16

Yankees acquire Leiter
Veteran starting pitcher Al Leiter was been sent down by the Marlins and then traded to the NY Yankees. He is currently 3-7 with an ERA of 6.64, so this isn't big news, but Leiter is a solid veteran pitcher and is moving to a winning team, in a city where he has had success. He was 10-8 with an ERA of 3.21 with the Mets in 2004. If you are desperate for starting pitcher (as the Yankees were), he is worth a gamble, otherwise, just keep on eye on him.

Schilling pitches strong inning
It has been a horrid season for Boston ace Curt Schilling, but the road to a comeback has begun. He pitched a perfect inning with 1 K against the Yankees 2 days after being rocked by the Yankees. Sources say that he looked much better, but is still about a month away from being a dominate starter.

Farnsworth picks up another save
It seems like the perfect job for Detroit Tiger RP Kyle Farnsworth. Fantasy ballers have wondered when he would close and he finally is...at least while Percival is on the DL. It has been a great start for Farnsworth who is 1-1 with 3 saves , an ERA of 1.85 and 51 K's in 39 innings. He will close for someone next year.

A's with another rookie pitcher
Bravo to the Oakland A's farm system. They have put out another pitching prospect. Starting pitcher Joe Blanton had a rocky start, but like his counterpart Danny Haren, he has been hot of late. He is 5-2 in his last 7 starts giving up only 11 earned runs in those 7 starts. For the season he is 5-7 with an ERA of 4.44 and 47 strikeouts in 99 innings.

Fantasy Baseball Report 7-3 to 7-9

Furcal finally hitting
Atlanta Brave shortstop, Rafael Furcal, was supposed to be one of the better fantasy shortstops. Of course, Furcal owners have been bitterly disappointed for he has been a bum all season, but finally the law of baseball averages is coming around. Furcal has been batting .405 in July and has bumped his season stats up to .243 with 7 Triples, 6 home runs, 52 Runs and 29 stolen bases. He is performing well in many fantasy categories including, stolen base, runs and triples.

Cleveland rookie SS getting better
Rookie Jhonny Peralta has been on fire in July. He is now batting .307 with 11 home runs. Nothing wrong with a .300 - 20 HR shortsop...for free.

Red Sox to go by committee
With closer Keith Foulke out indefinitely, the Red Sox will lean on Mike Timlin to close, but depending on the situation, they may use a committee that includes Alan Embree and even Curt Schilling for awhile. Timlin is a solid pick up because it should be about 5 weeks before Foulke can return. The Red Sox may trade for a closer if it is any longer than that.

Giambi on a hot streak
NY Yankees 1B/DH continues his comeback. He batted over .500 with 4 home runs last week. His season stats are starting to look like that of a solid fantasy players: .276 - 9 HR's - 30 RBI's. Nothing flashy, but solid. If Giambi continues to play hot, he will be a very good fantasy player.

Patterson sent to minors
Mired in a horrific slump, Cubs star centerfielder, Corey Patterson, has been sent to the minors. This is bad news for Patterson owners...obviously. Cut him and find another prospect. Jerry Hariston will take over so keep an eye on him.

Fantasy Baseball Report 6-26 to 7-2

Hafner hot after slow start
The Cleveland Indians have been red hot and DH, Travis Hafner has been leading the way. After his big 2004 where he hit .311 with 28 home runs with just 482 at bats, Hafner looked like a fluke with a slow start. Suddenly, he is hitting .300 with 13 home runs, 20 doubles and 48 RBI's. Many managers gave up on him and he is actually still available in some leagues.

Veteran Dye coming through
Chicago White Sox's outfielder, Jermaine Dye has had an up and down career that has seen him hit .321 with 33 home runs and 118 RBI's in 2000, but recent years he hasn't come that close. After a slow start in 2005, Dye has been knocking the ball out of the park with great frequency, including 6 in the last 11 games. For the season he is batting .266 with 16 home runs and 36 RBI's. Even with Dye being a veteran, he is a gamble, but you should get a .270 - 30 HR type player if he remains healthy.

New Yankee second basemen making his mark
The Tony Womack experiment has failed. The NY Yankees are going with their 22 year-old rookie at second base. Robinson Canto looks like the real deal. He hit his 6th home run of the season against the Mets and is batting a solid .284.

Kennedy goes yard
Adam Kennedy hit his 1st home run of the year in the Angels 13-3 romping of the Texas Rangers. Kennedy has missed much of the season with an injury, but since returning he is batting .344 and has 7 stolen bases. Kennedy isn't this good, but he is a solid second basemen (and it is a thin position). He is at least good temp pick-up (or a "rent-a-player") while he is hot. .278 - 10 HR's - 15 SB's in 2004.

Ordonez almost back
All Star, fantasy stud outfielder, Magglio Ordonez is scheduled to be back with the White Sox in about a week. The Detroit Tigers will take their time with Ordonez, but he may be 100% for the second half of the season. He is a bit of a gamble, but if you like .300, 30 home run, 100 RBI hitters, he is your man.

A's Haren continues to impress
Oakland A's rookie starting pitcher, Danny Haren, continues to pitch well after a bad start. The 24 year-old pitched a complete game against San Francisco, giving up 3 runs and striking out 5. Haren is 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA and 78 K's in 104 innings. He has won 5 in a row and has 8 consecutive quality starts.

Hall still on fire
Brewers third basemen, Bill Hall, who qualifies as a second basemen and a shortstop, is now batting .300 with 11 home runs and 7 stolen bases. He is panning out to be a heck of a fantasy player. He may be available in some small leagues.

Schilling on his way back
Boston's starting pitcher Curt Schilling pitched a simulated game in Philadelphia. "It's getting better. I felt good. I felt smooth," Schilling told the Associated Press after throwing 84 pitches. "My pitches have gotten sharper the last couple days and I felt like I was ready." He is expected to pitch in a bullpen session on Sunday and make a start for Triple-A Pawtucket next Wednesday. Don't give up on Schilling. Expect good numbers in the second half. Our sources say there is a 30% chance that he could pitch a game before the All Star break.

Fantasy Baseball Report 6-19 to 6-25

Gagne out for the season
As reported earlier and now it is official, Dodger closer Eric Gagne is out for the season. Yhency Brazoban will close. He has done very well in his first stint, (he did blow a save the other night though) and although he is no Gagne, he should be a top notch closer

D'Backs Clark continues hot streak
Arizona first basemen, Tony Clark, is now batting .348 with 11 home runs. He has 8 home runs in the last month and has gone 30 for 78 (.409 average). While not old at 33, Clark is now newby. He has always been solid and is playing way above his norm. He should come down soon, but could make a nice spark plug for awhile.

Rookie Sizemore looks like future star
Cleveland starting outfielder, Grady Sizemore, has shown great all-around skills thus far in his young career. He is batting .308 with 6 home runs, 6 triples and has stolen 8 bases.

Fantasy Baseball Report 6-12 to 6-18

Gagne possibly gone for year
Don't cut him yet, but you need to pick up Brazoban now. He will be a top closer.

Freel begins to settle in
Ryan Freel was not expected to be a star. The Reds utility has made a name for himself in Fantasy Baseball because of his position availability, but not much for his bat. He is now the starting second basemen for the Reds and recently has been hot. Last week he was 5 for 15 (.333) with 4 stolen bases. For the season he is batting a solid .306 with 2 home runs, 17 stolen bases and 36 runs.

Choi unstoppable
6 home runs in three games...Arod, right? No, LA Dodger's Hee Seop Choi. After a hot streak earlier in the season, Choi had cooled down or maybe even froze, but he is back, big time. It seems as if he is developing into a streaky player. That is not always bad. When he is cold, bench him, when he is hot start him. Simple.

Schilling on the way back
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said he expects starting pitcher Curt Schilling to return to Boston mid-week. Unfortunately this is only to meet with the team doctor, so there is still no time-table on his return. If you have held on to him this long, keep holding. Boston papers report he will pitch for the Red Sox before the All-Star break.

Burrell red hot
It happens 3 or 4 times a year. Phillies outfielder, Pat Burrell, is on fire and suddenly has amazing stats. .329 - 14 HR's - 55 RBI's. Wow! Now it is a waiting game to see when he falls to .270. If you can trade him, now is the time to do it.

Lee wins his 7th
Cleveland Indian starting pitcher, Cliff Lee, won his 7th game of the season against the Giants. Lee has won 5 of 7 and is 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 58 K's in 79 innings thus far in 2005. He was 14-8 last year, but has an ERA of 5.43.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 6-5 to 6-11

Oliver Perez has good outing
Pirates ace pitcher in 2004 has struggled all year. He has been pitching a little better as of late, including his 7 inning, 7 strikeout, 2 earned run performance in the Pirates 5-2 victory over the Braves. He is now 4-4 with an 6.41 ERA.

Nationals rookie goes yard again
Washington rookie outfielder Ryan Church hit his 4th home run of the season in the 6-3 win over the Marlins. Church is batting .319 with 119 at bats and is starting.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 5-29 to 6-4

Huff finally homers
It has been a rough start for Aubrey Huff owners thus far. He went 3-5 with a three-run home run to give him 4 home runs a nd a .246 average. Huff is a stud and will finish with great stats. He did this last year and still finish around .300 -30 HR's - 100 RBI's. There is no reason to think he will not do the same this year. Don't trade him, in fact, trade for him if you can get him at a cheaper price.

Huston Street officially named closer
A day after the signs were pointing towards Street being the closer for the Oakland A's, it has been made official. Dotel is out for the season. Once again, Street has looked great, but he is a 21 year-old rookie, which is always a scary ride. Don't risk too much on Street, for the A's don't give many save opportunities, but if you need saves and have a player that you can cut, he is a worthwhile gamble.

Oakland rookie picks up first save
21 year-old A's relief pitcher, Huston Street, notched his first save in a 5-3 victory of Toronto. He is 2-1, has 1 save an ERA of 1.80, and 34 K's in 28 innings. Looks like a stud, but it is early and it scary with a rookie closer. Dotel's injury might be serious and he was only so-so anyway. The time is now to decide whether to cut Dotel and/or pick up Street.

Jones collects another save for Marlins
Bad news for Mota owners. Although nothing has been made official, the writing is on the wall, Todd Jones is the closer for the Florida Marlins. I wouldn't cut Mota just yet, unless it is by chance for Todd Jones, but the time is near. Todd Jones now has 9 saves and an ERA of 1.42.

McPherson hits another home run
He is starting to hit! Highly touted rookie 3B, Dallas McPherson, popped his 5th home run of the season...his 4th in 7 games. It is time to get him.

Hawkins chokes in Giant debut
Who ever thought Latroy Hawkins might be closing for San Francisco can give up the dream. He just isn't that good right now. Tyler Walker is still the closer. He gave up a 2 out grand-slam to Phillies 2b, Chase Utley. By the way, that was Utley is batting .307 with 9 home runs.

Reitsma picks up second save
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Chris Reitsma looks like the strong favorite to win the highly coveted closer job for the Braves. Reitsma is a 65% favorite to get and keep the job. He is a solid veteran with 15 career saves, yet he is still young at 27. Kolb is at 20%, Bernero 15%.

Hasley pitches D'Backs to victory
Arizona starting pitcher, Brad Hasley, went 7 innings allowing 0 earned runs and striking out 6 in a 7-0 win against the Mets. The 24 year-old rookie is 3-2 for the season with an ERA of 2.98 and 39 strikeouts in 66 innings.

Beltre continues to bomb in Seattle
The great bargain draftee or free agent pick up of 2004 is slowly becoming the bust of 2005. The Mariner third basemen is batting a mere .236 with 5 home runs. It would be tough to trade him for anything close to his draft value at this point, so you are better off keeping him and hoping he gets hot in the second half like he has a habit of doing. You may attempt to acquire him at a bargain priced based on the same reasoning.

Pirate's 1B knocks out his 10th home run
Daryle Ward, starting for Craig Wilson, hit his 10th home run of the season. He is batting .267. He will probably find a place to start when Wilson gets back. Ward is very streaky. He may make a good "rental".

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Fantasy Baseball Report 5-22 to 5-28

Padres Roberts healthy and playing well
San Diego CF, Dave Roberts, is 12 for 25 with 3 triples over the last week. He is batting .294 with 2 home runs, 4 triples and 8 stolen bases this season. If you need stolen bases, Dave Roberts is a good alternative.

Phelps finally hitting for Devil Rays
Former Toronto Blue Jay prospect Josh Phelps has had his moments, including 20 home runs in 396 at bats as a rookie, but has never blossomed into the star he was projected to be. The Devil Ray DH, who also qualifies as a 1B, has been red-hot over the last week hitting .500 with 3 home runs. For the season he is batting .288 and his hit 5 home runs with 25 RBI's and 20 Runs. Don't sell the farm and invest in Phelps, but he could be a nice pick up in deep leagues.

Hidalgo heating up
Texas Ranger outfielder, Richard Hidalgo, slammed his fifth home run in a weeks time against Kansas City. Hidalgo is 8 for 20, (.400 Avg.) in his power charge. There is a good chance he is available in many leagues and would be a worthy gamble, even if you just ride his hot streak.

Alex Sanchez doing what he does best
Denounced in Detroit for his sloppy defense, suspended by MLB for steroid use, Tampa Bay Devil Rays starting centerfield is doing what he does best, hitting the baseball. You can't argue that he is a legitimate .300 hitter with speed...and if he used steroids, all the better, it might give him some pop. He is batting .353 with 2 home runs, 22 runs and 5 stolen bases.

Utley coming through
Phillies starting 2B, Chris Utley has quietly been putting together a good season. He is currently batting .283 with 8 home runs, 17 RBI's and 18 runs. The 27 year-old lefty stared slow and, in fact, was not even starting. Now the starting job at 2B is his. In addition, he qualifies as a 1B.

Kolb picks up save
A couple days after Bobby Cox announced that Danny Kolb would be relegated to set-up duties, he is back as the closer. He struggled a bit but picked up his 11th save of the season. Adam Bernero, thought by many to be the new closer, has yet to get a save chance. This is a messy situation, but it is going to mean a lot of saves for somebody. Kolb is a 50% favorite at this point with Bernero at 30% and Reitsma at 20%.

Red's dump Graves as their closer
Not a big surprise considering Danny Graves poor pitching of late. David Weathers and Ryan Wagner are being touted as possible closers. The 23 year-old Wagner has the tools to close and is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 21 K's in 23 innings. Weathers is a dependable veteran. Weathers got the first shot Monday night and picked up his first save. Another murky situation to get involved in. Early news had Wagner with the job, but Weathers picks up the first save. Weathers is a 60% favorite, Wagner at 40%.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 5-15 to 5-21

Kolb no longer closing
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Danny Kolb has had struggles all year trying to replace John Smoltz as the Braves closer. That struggle has ending in demotion. The Braves will give Adam Bernero and Chris Reitsma a shot at the closing job. A trade is possible, but there is not much out there. Bernero is doing better at the time with a 3-0 record and an ERA of 2.78. He has struck out 19 in 32 innings, so he is not classic power closer material. Reitsma has closed some in the past with 14 career saves, including last year picking up 2 when Smoltz was down. It is hard to pick one of these guys up not knowing who will close, but Bernero should be a 60% favorite, and this could be a big pick up if he is successful.

Giant's Walker picks up 4th save
Although it has not been made official, Tyler Walker has the closing job for the Giants. He pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Rockies to get his 4th save of the season. Matt Herges has not had one save chance sending a clear signal that he will remain a set-up pitcher. Naturally Walker could lose the job if he fails, but for now the job his his. This could be a valuable pick up if he comes through.

Mike Wood closing for Royals
I don't think that is good news, but if you are desperate, he has 2 saves and will close until Affeldt returns.

Dempster picks up first save of the season
Chicago's closer situation continues to go in circles. One time closer, who never closed, Ryan Dempster, may be back in the closing role while Borowski is still injured. Dempster has struggled as a starter so it is not out of the question for him to be the closer all season if he does well.

National's Johnson swinging hot bat
Washington National's 1B, Nick Johnson, hit his 6th home run of the season against Milwaukee. He is batting .326 and has 24 RBI's in 2005. All 6 home runs have come in the last 30 days where he is also batting .340.

SS Peralta knocks out his 5th
Cleveland Indian rookie shortstop, Jhonny Peralta, hit his 5th home run of the season against Toronto. He is batting .269 with 10 RBI's and 11 Runs. If you are desperate for a shortstop or have room from a prospect, Peralta should be a solid solution.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 5-8 to 5-14

Walker picks up save for Giants
San Francisco reliever, Tyler Walker, pitched a perfect ninth to notch his second save of the season. Manger Felipe Alou has not settled on any closer, but it looks like Jim Brower is out of the mix and Walker and Herges are in.

Lopez to start SS for Reds
3B/SS Felipe Lopez will start while Rich Aurilla is on the DL. This is a very good thing for Lopez. He is already batting .328 with 4 home runs. He needed to start somewhere. He has been a big Reds prospect for the last couple years and he may be given the chance to keep the job.

LA's Choi red hot
Dodger first basemen, Hee Seop Choi, has raised his average to .302 and has 6 home runs. He has batted .353 with 3 home runs in the last week. Choi is still young and is really learning how to hit. He may yet fulfill his potential.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 5-1 to 5-7

Met rookie Diaz
The highly touted Victor Diaz hit his 4th home run of the 2005 season. The rookie outfielder is batting .284 and has hit 4 home runs.

Bedard pitches brillant gain
Baltimore Oriole starting pitcher, Erik Bedard, hurled 8 innings of 4 hit, 12 strikeout ball in a 5-1 win over Toronto. We have been talking about him since spring training, if you don't have him and he is still available, now may be the time to grab him. He is now 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA.

Klesko pounds 2 more
Nothing to get too excited about, but if you need some depth at OF or 1B, Ryan Klesko would be a nice veteran free agent pick up. He pounded two home runs in the Padres 8-7 win over Colorado. Klesko is batting .258 with 6 home runs for the season.

Brower gets first crack
Manager Felipe Alou told the Contra Costa Times that Jim Brower will get the first chance at the closer job. So far he is 1 for 2, so it is wide open. If you need saves he is a better bet than Herges, but investor beware.

Takastsu picks up 7th save
The White Sox closer pitched a perfect ninth inning striking out 2 to get his 7th save of the season. Guillen still wants him to close so therefore, Takastsu is the White Sox's closer.

No set closer in San Francisco
Jim Brower seems to be beating out former closer Matt Herges for the job, even with his blown save win, the other night. Herges got tagged with a loss on Tuesday night showing he once again was not in-line for the save.

Perez loses again
Lefty Oliver Perez was hammered for 7 hits, 5 walks and 6 runs in the 13-6 loss to the Giants. He was the great fantasy hope in Pittsburgh and now you have to question his value. Not much use trading him, unless you get solid value, so you may has well sit in him on the bench for awhile and be sure about him.

Rookie Garland now 5-0
Chicago White Sox pitcher Jon Garland pitched a complete game shut out over the Tigers. He is now 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA. Not a big K pitcher, but he is for real. Perez or Garland. You have to go with Garland.

Mora knocks out two more
Baltimore Orioles have a lot of big guns and 3B Melvin Mora may be one of the biggest. He knocked two home runs in the 7-4 victory over the Devil Rays. Mora is batting .323 with 6 Home runs.

Fantasy Baseball Report 4-24 to 4-30

Mota sent to DL
Florida closer Gulliermo Mota is yet another closer heading for the DL. Todd Jones will be the likely closer.

Hermanson picks up third save
Chicago reliever Dustin Hermanson pitched the ninth to collect his third save of the season. His ERA is still 0.00. Takatsu's loss Friday night along with his 8.10 ERA should mean the end for him, but Guillen really wants him to be their closer, so we'll see.

Giant closer Benitez on DL
Armando Benitez may be out up to 4 months with a torn hamstring. Matt Herges is the likely closer. Jim Brower picked up the save on Saturday, but it is still expected that Herges will be the closer at this point.

Izzy goes to the DL
Jason Isringhausen was put on the 15 day DL. It is not a serious injury and he should be back after the 15 days. Julian Tarverz will close for St. Louis, but lefty Ray King will be used against lefties and may pick a save or two.

Another Colorado Rookie shines early
Brad Hawpe, the sweet-swing lefty, is not just starting right field for Colorado, but is batting .351 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI's. Fellow rookie Clint Barmes continues to tear up the league. Preston Wilson is also heating up...Colorado, you gotta love that city in Fantasy Baseball.

Turnbow gets 1st save
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow notched his first save of the season in a 8-5 victory over the Giants. Furthermore, Mike Adams, the thought to be closer, pitched .2 innings in a set up role. Adams has pitched so-so all year and it really looks like Turnbow is the Brewers new closer.

Fox picks up save for Cubs
Chad Fox picks up his first save of the season in the 5-2 victory over the Pirates. Hawkins has not been successful as a closer and Fox may get some chances while they wait for Borowski.

Takastsu regains stranglehold on closer job
The White Sox closer pitched a perfect ninth inning to get his 6th save of the season. The jury is still out on Takastsu, but he is the White Sox's closer.

Mark Mulder goes 10 in win
St. Louis Cardinal starting pitcher Mark Mulder went an amazing 10 innings in his complete game shut-out. Up to this point of the season Mulder has been less than impressive. We know he is good, so it was a matter of time. One game shored up his season at 2-1 with an ERA of 3.10.

Another strong performance from Webb
Arizona starting pitcher Brandon Webb pitches 8 strong innings giving up 5 hits, 1 run and struck out 5 in a no decision. Webb is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.63. He is Arizona's best pitcher and should win 15 games in 2005.

New Houston centerfielder off to great start
23 year-old Willy Taveras is batting .321 with 2 triples, 1 home run and 5 stolen bases. Playing in the Houston lineup can mean good numbers for the speedy centerfielder, the only question is, what happens when Berkman returns?

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Fantasy Baseball Report 4-17 to 4-23

Hampton almost tosses complete game
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Hampton tossed 8 2/3 innings in a 6-2 victory over the Phillies. Kolb got the last out for his 6th save of the season. Hampton is off to a great start at 2-0 with in ERA of 1.17. He does not pick up a lot of strikeouts, just 9 in 25.2 innings, but pitching in Atlanta has been successful for Hampton. He is 27-19 lifetime with the Braves.

Beltre of to a slow start in Seattle
Not time to panic yet Adrian Beltre owners. He is batting .271 with just one home run. He does have 12 RBI's and 10 runs.

Clement and Lopez duel in Baltimore
Matt Clement out does Rodrigo Lopez in the 1-0 pitchers duel. Clement went a strong 8 and is now 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 24 K's in 25 innings. Lopez also went 8 and is now 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 23 K's in 28 innings.

Shingo gets save for the White Sox Merry-Go-Round
Takatsu picks up his 5th save of the season pitching a perfect 9th in Chicago's 4-3 win against Detroit. Hermanson pitched the 8th for the hold. Guillen seems determined to keep Takatsu at the closer spot, but his 9.64 ERA gives reason to remain worried.

Colorado's Holliday and Miles playing well
Always looking to Colorado for fantasy help. Starting outfielder Matt Holliday is batting.321 with 2 triples and 2 stolen bases after batting .290 with 14 home runs in 2004. 2B Aaron Miles is batting .327 after batting.293 in 2004. Neither are spectacular and although they hit well, don't provide too much in the way of fantasy numbers, but they have potential and can plug a hole in a fantasy team.

Lieber off to hot start
Phillies starting pitcher Jon Lieber goes 8 strong innings giving up 3 runs against Colorado. Lieber is now 4-0 with an ERA of 2.73. Lieber has been inconsistent throughout his career, but has always been solid. Went 20-6 in 2001.

Jose Reyes hits two home runs
Pleasant surprise for Reyes owners as he launches 2 home runs in the Mets 16-4 stomping of the Phillies. Reyes is having a solid start batting .286 with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases.

Roberts knocks another one out
Brian Roberts hit 4 home runs with 641 at bats in 2004. He has 6 with 58 at-bats in 2005. He has also stolen 6 bases and is hitting .421. So he is on pace to be the first 60-60...Okay, maybe not, but he is looking pretty good. It's probably too late to get him in most leagues, so it's time to watch how good he really is.

Shingo attempts to close and fails, Marte gets save
For now, it is clear the Chicago White Sox will go by committee. Takastu did come in to close after Hermanson set him up. He then gave up two hits and a run. Damaso Marte finished up and got the last two outs and the save. Once again if you have the roster spot consider Hermanson or Marte. Our money is still on Hermanson because Marte is a lefty.

Shingo closes for White Sox
The Chicago White Sox closer question continues as Shingo Takastu picks up his 4th save of the season in the 5-4 win over the Twins. He did give up a home run to Minnesota's Joe Mauer (the catcher's first). Like we said don't cut him yet, but try and get Hermanson for insurance or a gamble.

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Fantasy Baseball Report 4-10 to 4-16

Harden looks dominate against Angels
8 innings and 8 strikeouts with no runs scored in a no decision against the Angels. 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA to start the season. He is for real.

Willy Mo makes Reds give him playing time
It seems as though the Reds always have that extra outfielder and he is usually better than the rest, so they trade him. This year that player is Willy Mo Pena. He has started the season strong with a .316 average and 2 home runs. The Reds are simply forced to find him a spot in the lineup. Keep on eye on him.

3B Wright struggles early
The hot prospect for the 2005 Fantasy Baseball season has struggled early on in the season. He is batting .200 with 2 home runs. Don't worry too much yet, it is still early and with a couple of good games he could be batting .350.

Affeldt sent to DL
Kansas City closer Jeremy Affeldt was sent to the 15-day DL with a strained left groin. Former closer Mike MacDougal will take over. Affeldt pitches pretty good, but can't seem to shake the injury bug. Either way, although it is sure to change, ROyals have yet to give their bullpen save opportunity.

Rookie Clint Barmes knocks two more out
Colorado Rockies starting shortstop (and 2B in fantasy) hit two more home runs in his 4 for 5 performance against the San Francisco Giants. He is batting .389 with 4 home runs. He is probably gone in most leagues by now, but if not, you better get him now.

Hermanson picks up his second straight save
Chicago White Sox RP and one-time San Francisco closer, Dustin Hermanson, pitched a perfect two-thirds of an inning against the Mariners to pick up his second save of the season. Once, no big deal, twice, it matters. Shingo was pulled and replaced by Hermanson, which also says a lot. Takatsu has an ERA of 11.57. You may not want to cut Shingo quite yet, but you better pick up Dustin Hermanson if you can.

Lane homers twice for Houston
The Houston Astro's starting outfielder, who had an average spring and an average start to the season, broke out with a 3 for 5, 2 home run performance against the Reds. His 5 RBI's gives him 9 for the season along with 3 home runs and a .342 Avg. Suddenly, his stats make him look like the star he could be.

Gonzales hit his second homer
Texas rookie DH/1B Adrian Gonzales hit his second home run of the season. If you have a spot on your team get him now. He could be a big one and is worth a gamble.

Bedard pitches another solid performance
Baltimore Oriole rookie starting pitcher Erik Bedard pitched 5 innings giving up just one run in a no decision against the Devil Rays. You never no if a first timer is going to bust after a few starts, but he has looked sharp since we have been scouting him in spring training.

Brian Bruney picks up save for Arizona
No word on why, but it looks like they were just giving D'Back closer Brandon Lyon a day off. Withe Aquino and Valverde still injured, it is at least good to know who the back closer is.

Prior pitches strong in debut
His spring training injury had owners running to trade him, but in his first game after the injury, Mark Prior pitches 6 strong shutout innings of 6-K ball. It doesn't mean he won't be back on the DL again, but it is great news to see him pitch strong.

Willis tosses complete game shutout
Another Florida Marlin starting pitcher looking great. Dontrell strikeouts 7 and gives up just 3 hits in the 4-0 win over Philadelphia. He is now 2-0 with an ERA of 0.00.

Burnett throws complete game
Great news for A.J. Burnett owners who were unsure of him after his injury. Not just a win, but a complete game 8-2 victory over the Phillies. He only had three strikeouts, but no walks.

Texas rookie DH goes yard
Adrian Gonzales, the 23 year old rookie DH for the Texas Rnagers, hit his first home run of the season. He had a good spring to win the job and even though he is only batting about .200 he is a hot prospect.

Roberts shows surprising power
Baltimore Oriole's starting 2B Brian Roberts smacked his 4th home run of the young major league season. He also stole his 2nd base. He is batting .414. You may need to get him in your lineup and see if he is for real. *Sammy Sosa homered for the first time as a Oriole in their 7-6 win over Tampa Bay.

Nady goes 4 for 5 with home run and triple
The San Diego Padres back up centerfielder is off to a hot start this season filling in for Dave Roberts. If he continues he will be playing somewhere. That was his third home run this season.

Tampa Bay 2B Cantu starts hot
Last year Devil Rays's Jorge Cantu hit .301 and 2 home runs with 173 at bats. This year he has already hit 3 home runs and is batting over .400. He also qualifies as a third baseman. Worth a gamble if you have a spot, but still early.

Regular Season Report 4-3 to 4-9

Brewers Adams gets first save
If you were wondering who was closing for Milwaukee, you can stop for now, it is Mike Adams.

Willis tosses a shutout
The Florida Marlins 23 year old phenom tosses a complete game shutout against the Washington Nationals. He gave up five hits and struck out three. He continues to regain his rookie dominance even though his strike outs were down.

Orioles young Ace pitches a strong seven
Orioles rookie starting pitcher Erik Bedard goes 7 innings giving up just 3 hits and 1 run while striking out 5 in a no decision. His stock continues to climb.

Barmes goes yard again
The Colorado rookie SS/2B hits his third home run. You better be safe and get him now.

A's OF Swisher knocks 2 out
The 24 year old starting outfielder hit two home runs in Oakland's 9-0 rout over Baltimore. One game means nothing, but the watch begins. *A's SS Bubba Crosby has been put on the DL.

Beckett shuts down Smoltz and the Braves
Florida Marlins starting pitcher Josh Beckett hurls 6 shutout innings. He gave up just two hits and struck out six. Beckett had a big spring, he is for real. We will have to wait till the end of the season to see if injuries ruin this. On the other hand, John Smoltz only made it 1.2 innings and gave up 7 runs. Don't panic, give him another start or two.

Batista gets second save against Royals
The Blue Jay closer looks like the real deal as a closer. Royal rookie pitcher Scott Kazmir goes 5 innings and gave up just one run with two strikeouts in a no decision.

Rockies SS Barmes big in debut
Clint Barmes goes 4-6 with a home run as the Colorado Rockies new starting shortstop. It is only one game, but this has to excite you.

Got Sexson? 2 Homer runs in Mariner debut
If you wondered about his health or how he will do in the American League, I think one game answered all your questions.

The Big Unit looks strong against Red Sox
Randy Johnson pitches 6 strong innings giving up 1 run on five hits and striking out 6 in his debut as a Yankee. So far so good. An injury free Johnson may mean 25 wins and a Cy Young.

Alex Sanchez suspended for 10 days for steroids
Really? Good he needs them. This guy has problems, but he does bat .300. Buyer beware!

Spring Training Report 3-27 to End

Brewers SP Chris Capuano grabs 4th spot in rotation
4-6 with 4.90 ERA and 51 K's in 60 innings in his brief 2 year career. 2-1 with an 1.08 ERA and 21 k's in 25 innings this spring. Pitching in Milwaukee is never a plus, but he is a prospect to watch.

Aaron Rowand has a huge Spring Training
We have been singing the White Sox outfielder praises since last season. .438 and 5 home runs this spring. Watch out for this guy.

Braves 1B looking like a solid fantasy player
Last year Adam LaRoche hit 13 home runs and batted .278 with 324 at bats. Not ex