Eye On: Mitch Talbot

A young pitcher with a few good starts under his belt. That describes the 26 year old Mitch Talbot, starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.

His first start for the Indians was against the Detroit Tigers and he wasn't great - 5 innings, 4 earned runs, 6 hits, 5 walks, 1 K. Since then, he has settled down nicely. His second start was against the White Sox - 9 innings, 1 earned run, 0 walks, and 2 Ks (and his first win). This was a very solid outing. Today (4/22) he pitched another nice game against the Twins - 6 innings, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, 3 Ks. The strike outs are not encouraging (7 total in 3 games) but he seems to be able to get guys out regardless. Not to be overlooked in this is that his first three starts have come against good teams. He is showing that he can pitch at this level.

It's early to run out and grab this guy in all formats, but he is worth keeping an eye on. In deep leagues, definitely consider him. The rest of you, watch and see how he progresses. If he can get a few more strike outs, that would give a nice increase to his value, but even as is, if he stays this solid, he is looking like he can help your team.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

The Amazin' Pelfrey

Last year I was excited about the New York Met pitching. I figured that when they added K-Rod, that the already talented (albeit raw) starters would put up some very nice numbers. Well, it didn't happen (except for Santana of course).

For this year, my expectations of Met pitching, were next to nothing. Outside of Santana, I didn't think any of the other starters were worth much of a look except maybe in deep, deep leagues, or in leagues where you get points for high ERAs and losses.

With all that said, there is a starter on the Mets who is looking good. In fact, he is looking down right great! It's Mike Pelfrey.

Now Pelfrey had the 'young up-and-comer' label along with many of his peers (Maine, Niese, etc.), but didn't do much last year. This year though, it is a very different story. He has started 2 games, pitched a total of 13 innings, given up only 2 runs, 4 walks, and 10 strike outs! Me likes. Oh yea, he also talked the manager in letting him pitch in the 20 inning game and he got the save.

Two games hardly makes him a great pitcher, but it is a good sign. Evidently he started throwing a split finger fastball and this new pitch is what has improved his outings. Time will tell for sure, but he is now worth a look in moderately deep formats. He should be available as he is owned in just over 5% of leagues.

After the last few years, the Mets can use some good news. Mike Pelfrey's performance so far is the best news they have had in a long awhile.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Number 5 is Alive!

For all of you in deeper leagues, there are a couple of number 5 starters to look at.

Charlie Haeger, L.A. Dodgers: When a pitcher fans 12 batters, you have to give at least a little attention. Well, Haeger struck out 12 Marlins in 6 innings with his knuckleball! He also gave up 3 runs and 4 walks (all in all, a quality start). He is not known to strike out batters at the pace he showed on Sunday, so temper some of those expectations. He plays in a nice pitchers park, a team that has an above average (if not good) offense, in a division that is not terribly strong. All of this gives Haeger the potential for double digit wins. Owned in less then 1% of leagues, he should be available.

Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds: Leake has no minor league experience. None. He went straight from college to spring training and won a spot (over Chapman no less). Not many have done this, but Leake has been given a shot. In his first start he only gave up 1 run and struck out 5 in 6.2 innings. Sounds good. However, he also walked 7 batters. Yep, 7. Amazing that he only gave up 1 run! Still, you have to imagine the guy was battling some nerves. All in all, we're not sure yet what we will get with Leake, but again, a number five starter available in about 98% of leagues.

BONUS: Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals: I've mentioned him before. He's good. In his first start he went 6 innings, 5 Ks, 1 earned run, 3 BB, and got the win. He's still available in 99% of leagues. If your league has any depth at all, grab him now.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Reminder - Jaime Garcia

Well, it's finally official. Jaime Garcia has been named the 5th starter for the St. Louis Cardinals. The choice for the spot was between Garcia and Kyle McClellan. With this announcement, McClellan is bullpen bound. In my opening article for the season, I advised watching this race. So now I'm reminding you again now that the race is over. Go grab Garcia.

Why the attention for a #5 starter? A young pitcher for a good team with good defense. Nice combo. Consider, Garcia was the last person the Cardinals wanted to win the job, not because he's not good, but because of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Being that they chose him anyway, means he really impressed them. Also, he is adaptable. Huh? Garcia can strike people out (almost a batter per inning), but when conditions/situations call for it, he can get the ground ball outs. Yes, his 'A Game' is good, but so is his 'B Game'. Lastly, the proof is there in his spring numbers: 18.2 innings, 4 Earned Runs, 5 Walks, and 16 Ks.

Being that Garcia is still recovering, you must consider that he will probably have an innings limit. This could hurt at the end of the year, but it should be a nice ride until then. I like his upside and believes he should have a spot in leagues that are at least of average depth. Should be a nice late pick with big upside potential. Keeper leagues should value him a little more.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Sleeper Ace - Part 2

Jake Westbrook, SP, Cleveland Indians, did not throw a pitch last year in the majors. Tommy John surgery will do that to you. But now over a year and a half has gone by since the surgery and Westbrook is ready to go.

What can we expect? Well, before surgery he was a 15 win guy, his ERA was around 4.00 (some years better, some worse), and he struck out about 1 batter every 2 innings. I think Westbrook can keep his ERA around 4.00, the strikeouts will probably be around the same clip, but the wins is where we might see a little dip. Cleveland is not bad, but they were a little better when Westbrook was last pitching. Still, I'm seeing value.

Westbrook looks to be the opening day starter (Staff 'Ace'), which cuts both ways: On one hand, it shows that the Indians like what they see (plus Westbrook says he is feeling good). On the other hand, as the opening day starter, it is going to pit him against all the other teams aces. This could end up with him having a few losses out of the gate until the rotations start to mix.

In any event, I like Westbrook as a late round sleeper in H2H point leagues and a potential waiver wire pickup in deep roto leagues. When healthy, he is a workhorse (200+ innings), and he could do that this year. The team around him is not bad, but the division is competitive. I like him for 13 Wins, 4.10 ERA, and around 100 Ks. I also believe that the more he pitches, the stronger he will get. So if he is available after the draft, watch his starts closely. He is not a top tier starter, but could absolutely give some value to your fantasy team in deeper leagues.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

B.H.L. - Matt Harrison

Big, hard throwing, and a lefty. This is a basic criteria that teams like to see in a pitcher. Clearly, not everyone who meet this criteria works out, but it's a nice place to start. With this in mind, let's answer a couple of questions about Texas pitcher, Matt Harrison.

First, is he big? Yes. AT 6'4" and 240, that would qualify him in my book as big.

Second, is he hard throwing? This spring he has reached 97 on the gun. So again, yes.

Third, is he a lefty? Being that he throws the ball with his left hand, the answer is yes.

Fourth, will he be worth anything to my fantasy team? This is the difficult question. Last year he wasn't so hot (I'm being nice). He started 11 games, had a 6.11 ERA, and 34 Ks in 63 innings. Nothing of interest here. However, he was only 23 years old. So why look at him now? Well, this spring he has been fantastic. So far this spring, Harrison has pitched 9 innings, given up 2 runs, and has 10 Ks to only 1 walk. Very nice. Being that he is only 24, maybe he's turned the corner. After all, he does meet the initial criteria we talked about. So to answer the fourth question, yes, he will be worth something to your fantasy team (or at least he can be worth something).

Last, where should I draft him? Here is the beauty part. You ask people who Matt Harrison is and you will get blank stares. No one knows him (not that he has given anyone much reason to know him), so he should be available late in your draft. With a nice fastball, and some good strikeout number (not to mention pitching for a strong offensive team), he could be a nice sleeper. The one problem with Harrison is that if he pitches poorly, then Tommy Hunter will take his spot as soon as Hunter returns from his injury. Harrison will probably have to pitch well to keep his place in the rotation. With all that said though, we are still looking at a low risk/high reward type player.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Sleeper Ace - Part 1

Every year we have pitchers who are coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery. The question always is, how good will they be? Some come back strong, others fade. Let's take a look at Shaun Marcum, SP, Toronto Blue Jays.

Shaun Marcum had Tommy John surgery in 2008. He did not pitch at all in 2009 as he was recovering. Now recovered, what will we get? To find out (no one knows for sure, but let's speculate a little), we need to look at a few things:

First, how good was he before surgery? In 2007, his first full year in the majors, he put up a 4.13 ERA, 12 wins (6 losses), and 122 Ks in 159 innings. Not bad at all for a young pitcher in his first full season. In 2008, before he got hurt, he had a 3.95 ERA, 123 Ks, in 151 innings. Nice improvement. All in all, he was a good pitcher with all signs pointing to him getting better as he gained experience/maturity.

Second, how old is he? Marcum is 28. His young age is a huge positive as there is a difference between a 35 year old coming back from TJ surgery and a 20 something. At this age, Marcum can recover fully from the surgery and have time to get to where he was and beyond.

Lastly, how does the team view him? It was announced on Monday that Marcum was going to be the opening day starter. They must view him as healthy and pitching well. I guess they like that he has only given up one hit in 5 innings so far this spring. To be fair, they have a fairly inexperienced staff, so Marcum, with his experience before his injury, has a leg up. Still it's a good sign.

So when we put this all together, what do we get? We get a nice pitcher that won't be targeted very much on draft day. Yes a sleeper ace. When a guy disappears for a year (due to injury or whatever) he drops off of a lot people's radar. That is going to be the case with Marcum. But, now that he's healthy, he should not be overlooked. He has shown that when he is healthy, he can pitch very well in the majors. I think a 4.00 ERA. 130 Ks, and double digit wins is well within reason for him this year. Remember, it's picks like this, late in the draft, that really make or break a fantasy team.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

What You Know: Rick Porcello

My dad told me a story one time about how he was taken out to a fancy restaurant for a business dinner. My dad, not accustom to eating at fancy restaurants, figured he would order something he never had before, you know, something fancy. So he looked over the menu and decided on the squab. When the meal arrived, my dad looked down at his plate and disappointingly saw just one very small cooked bird. He ate it, it was good, but he was still really hungry as the portion was so small. He looked to the guy next to him (who had ordered a thick steak) and the guy, understanding my dad's predicament, leaned over and told my dad, 'Next time, go with what you know.'

Going with what you know can keep you from a bad decision. This is how I feel when I think of Rick Porcello, SP, Detroit Tigers. You know what you are going to get, a good pitcher.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun here as he is only 21, with just one year of big league experience. But, as a 20 year old rookie, he held his own. He had a sub 4.00 ERA, 14 wins and 89 Ks. On top of that, as the season went on, he got stronger. In spring training, he has picked up where he left off - being solid.

Draft charts (mixed league) have Porcello around the 50 spot as to where he ranks with other pitchers. I disagree. Although he is NOT an elite pitcher, what he gives is very valuable. He is a guy who is already good and will probably just improve on his numbers from last year. This makes him a solid pitcher with upside (hopefully in the strikeout department). He will not hurt your roto league team, and the consistency he gives is awesome in a points league. There is a comfort factor with Porcello as you already know he will not be a bust. I put him around the 35 mark in my pitcher rankings.

Now, you may choose to order the fancy, unknown dish, a pitcher with good upside but also some downside (Carlos Zambrano, Ervin Santana, Jorge De La Rosa are examples that are ranked higher or around Porcello). And you may end up with a good choice. But they may also end up leaving you hungry. I say, go with what you know, go with Porcello. He may not 'Wow' you, but you know you are getting a good meal that will leave you satisfied.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Don't Call Me 'Matt' Latos

Although I think his name needs another 'T', Mat Latos is starting to win me over. Latos is a candidate for the San Diego Padres starting rotation. This 22 year old, 6'6", 225 pound right hander seems to be close to locking up a starting job.

Latos has the 'stuff' to be a good if not great pitcher. My favorite thing that I have heard about him is that he throws around 97 and doesn't miss his targets. The phrase 'finesse pitcher' was used with him, but I don't know any finesse pitchers that throw high 90's. Tom Glavin (best finesse pitcher I've ever seen) would have been a 400 game winner if he threw that hard! Anyway, Latos is young, talented, and plays in the best pitcher's park in baseball. There is a lot to like here. So far this spring, he has pitched 9 innings, has 6 Ks, and has given up only 2 runs. A good start for sure.

What about the bad? Well, he is on a team that probably won't score too many runs. His wins won't necessarily reflect his talent. Also, at 22 years old he will probably be given an innings limit. More then likely he will lose starts at the end of the year. If you own him (and it's not a keeper league) look to trade him later in the season. Also, you can't ignore that in his 10 starts last year, he had 4 wins and 5 losses, a 4.62 ERA. Not great numbers, but hey, he's young. He did have 39 Ks in those 50 innings - respectable.

You have to imagine that he will improve this year. He likely will not reach his full potential, but can be a solid starter. I like him as a flier in mixed formats, and as a nice sleeper in NL only formats. Keeper leagues should give him a good look and probably a bench spot if you have one.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Dark Horse Rising - Alfredo Aceves

When talking about the 5th starter for the New York Yankees, you generally are talking about Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes (with a dash of Chad Gaudin). But a new wrinkle has appeared. That wrinkle is Alfredo Aceves (please, no pasta jokes).

Aceves has been a good bullpen guy for the past two years. Before that though, he was a starter (not in MLB). Coming in to spring training Aceves was not resolved to go back to the bullpen, he is fighting for that 5th spot. Personally, I didn't give him a chance. I was sure it would be Joba or Hughes. However, Aceves has pitched head and shoulders above any of the other candidates.

It's still early, but you can't ignore what the 27 year old, right hander, has done (and what the others have NOT done). Alfredo Aceves has faced 30 batters so far and have retired 27 of them. He has given up 1 HR and 2 singles. That's it. The other candidates seem to giving up those hits and HRs every inning (been a rough spring training so far).

So what do we do with this info? Honestly, I think the cards are stacked against Aceves. The disparity between his stats and the others would need to remain as they are for the Yanks to really have him as the 5th starter. It can be done, but we'll see. If he ends up in the bullpen, then that probably won't help your fantasy team too much, or at all. If he ends up as a starter, well then we must take notice. Whereas you would need to take a Joba or a Hughes higher then you would like in a draft (which I do not recommend), Aceves should be available late. He is worth a late round pick/flier. If he makes starter, you have yourself a nice value for a low pick. If he ends up in the bullpen, you didn't give up much. I say take a chance on this dark horse.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Joba the 'What' (Yet Again)?

By Scout Monkey, http://www.profantasybaseball.com/

New year, same argument. What is Joba Chamberlain? Is he a relief pitcher/future closer or a starter? This debate continues to rage in New York state (my current home) and around baseball.

The arguments for both sides are simple:

He's a reliever - His body of work as a reliever is stellar. He has shown to be one of the best setup men in baseball and should take over when Mo finally retires. His body of work as a starter is average, not bad, but not great. (Not that it matters, but I agree with this argument)

He's a starter - Why take a guy with this much talent and limit him to one inning? Relief pitchers are easier to come by then starters. He may not be the ace of the Yankees, but he doesn't have to be. He's a solid starter and with potential to get much better.

Regardless of how you or I feel, the problem is that this issue is not resolved, not even close. With Phil Hughes and Chad Gaudin still pitching for the Yanks, the question will linger for most of spring training, if not beyond. Your draft is probably coming up soon, and no one knows for sure what we are going to get with Joba - a starting pitcher for one of the best teams in baseball, or a reliever. Depending on your league, one of those could be good while the other a waste.

I say leave this headache for someone else. I'm not against gambling with picks, but this gamble doesn't make sense to me. Unless he is available very late, and you have a deep bench, avoid him. If he becomes a reliever (oh by the way, his first spring start was awful), he will have little value in most leagues. If he becomes a starter (best case scenario for fantasy) he has shown himself to be average. By average I mean, sporadic. He has had great outings (which is the potential that people keep talking about) but he has also had terrible outings. Put the good with the bad, and you get average. Why gamble on a pick to get an average player?

Again, unless he is there very late, avoid him. There are plenty of pitchers with upside that will start this year that should be picked instead of Joba.

Joba the 'What'? How about Joba the 'Not on Your Team'!

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

'Bargain' Brett Anderson

After doing a lot of research on Brett Anderson, I have come to the conclusion that he is a middle round pick that is going to pay off. He's too young to be a top pick (22). His numbers are not good enough to be a top pick (11-11, 4.06 ERA, 150 Ks in 175 innings). His flashes of dominance show that he could perform as a top pick.

His 'stuff' has impressed a lot of people. Not only is it good, it is accurate. It's one thing to throw a slider, quite another to throw a slider that catches the black. Anderson has shown he can do this. He has the ability to strike out a batter an inning, and has the ability to minimizes any damage by getting a lot of ground balls. Nice combo.

So what is the bad news (there is always bad news)? 1) Brett Anderson is only 22 years old and young pitchers can struggle. 2) His team is not great. I think he will pitch well enough to win plenty of games, but his team may not give him run support. 3) He threw 175 innings last year - that is a solid work load for a 21 year old rookie. I haven't seen any talk of a pitch count, so he may get worn down this year. However, at 6'4" and 235 pounds, he may have a frame that can handle it - we'll see, but it's worth mentioning.

Anderson should be picked up in most all formats. He will not be there too late, but if you can grab him after the middle round, he could really give your team a nice boost. Keep in mind, some think he can be an elite pitcher THIS year! I love potential, but I'm not riding that band-wagon yet. However, he should easily perform above (perhaps way above) his draft position making him a great 'Bargain'.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Ode to Daisuke Matsuzaka

Time to cash in on a wasted season.

Target Dice-K in your draft for good reason.

Dice-K was side tracked by injuries last year,

Now with no WBC, and better prep, there is nothing to fear.

He will not be valued too high,

others will just pass him by.

But, a mid to late round decision

should give you strength at this position.

In 2008 he pitched rather great.

Lost only 3 and won 10 plus 8.

A 2.90 ERA kept the hitters at bay,

striking out about 1 an inning along the way.

The Red Sox are good and should give him plenty of support.

15+ wins, 3.40 ERA, and 150+ Ks sounds like a reasonable 2010 report.

Despite a soar back,

Dice-K remains on track.

He should be ready by the opening bell.

Have him on your fantasy team and you should do well.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Wang Nats!

Chien-Ming Wang has signed with the Washington Nationals. It's hard to believe, but I like how the Nationals are shaping up! With the latest addition of Wang, they could have a good rotation, dare I say excellent (especially with the potential of Strasburg).

What should we expect from Wang? I am willing to overlook his unbelievably bad stats from last year and just chalk it up to injuries (9.64 ERA, 1W, 6L). If I am right, then he will be back to his old form - ace (or near ace) capabilities! Prior to injury, he pitched stongly in a very tough AL division (2007 - 3.70 ERA, 104 Ks, 199.1 innings). Now he is in the NL, still a good division, but he will now have the advantage of no DH to go up against. Also, lets face it, in general the NL is a weaker hitting league (I hate to say it, I'm an NL guy, but it is what it is).

Now you still have to be concerned about run support, but I believe the Nationals will be alright, after all, it wasn't their biggest problem last year. *cough*bullpen*cough*

I can't really say that you should draft Wang as a top pitcher (especially since he will miss at least a month recovering from surgery), but he has the potential to be that, especially if he keep his pitches down. A mid to late round pick could deliver in a big way. Do I hear come-back player of the year?

Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Harvesting the Farm - Part 3

On the farm, some things take longer to grow then others. Baseball players are no different. Part 3 of this series is going to focus on some players that will more then likely be late call ups at best but are still considered top prospects. You want to know these names as they may surprise us this year, and should be on your radar for next (especially those of you in keeper leagues).

Justin Smoak, 1B, Texas Rangers - I must admit, I am very impressed with what the Rangers have going. They have some good young pitchers (including some real studs in their farm), and they continue to have great hitting. It's almost unfair that they have Justin Smoak. Smoak is a switch hitting 1B - ala Mark Texeira. At 23 he has nice power which should keep increasing. The only thing that has slowed him down is good AAA pitching. Before AAA he had a .320+ AVG, but it took a dip down to .244 in 54 games when he reached the Pacific Coast League. As talented a hitter as he is, expect him to adjust. Another concern is that his strikeout rate is about 25% (in AAA). Not too good (but better then Texas' current 1B, Chris Davis). Again, he needs some adjustments. If/when he adjusts, it will be hard for the Rangers to not bring him up - but they just don't have a spot for him yet. However, unless Davis improves, Smoak may overtake him as soon as this year.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates - Alvarez is all about power. It is easy to see him as a 40 HR guy. It was much easier to see that before last year. His fast track to the majors took a major detour to the tune of a .234 AVG. Not sure why he struggled so much, but assuming he turns it around in the minors this year, he could be huge in 2011. At 23, it's also not far fetched to see him contribute this year, but not likely until after the All-Star break, and even then not likely as an everyday player. With all that said, the potential of Alvarez commands our attention.

Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants - Of the three guys mentioned in this article, Bumgarner has the best chance to play the most in the majors. He is a left handed pitcher who throws in the low 90's (he's been clocked above 95, but did not show that kind of velocity for much of the year). He got a taste of the bigs last year with a spot start and faired well (but one start is not much to gauge). He has a chance to make the rotation, but he will have a serious innings limit (he is only 20 years old). My guess is that they will wait to bring him up and use him for a late fall push (or at least to get his feet wet for 2011). How good is he? In the last two years (AA and A+), he has an ERA of 1.65 and strikes out almost a batter an inning (8.4 per nine). You have to imagine that those numbers will not be that good against big league hitting, but the potential for success is there. Depending where he ends up when camp breaks, he may just be a guy to keep an eye on, or he may be worth a late round flier.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Harvesting the Farm - Part 2

The prospects growing in the farm systems are a must know for your fantasy team. Not all will make the majors, and some that do will not produce well - that said, some will be the next stars.

In part one of 'Harvesting the Farm' I brought your attention to the top of the top of prospects, Stephen Strasburg, Aroldis Chapman, and Jason Heyward. The next three are still highly touted and nearly guaranteed to play this year.

Neftali Feliz, SP/RP, Texas Rangers - A young right hander who throws some serious heat (in the area of 98 MPH). The Rangers could always hit, but now are adding some good young pitching to the mix. Feliz has already pitched well in the big leagues, albeit in the bullpen (31 innings, 39 Ks, 1.74 ERA). Texas would like him to be a starter, but hasn't made any final decisions. He could be a great starter, an excellent late innings guy, or even a closer this year. He is worth a mid to late draft pick as long as he is a starter or a closer.

Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwakee Brewers - Not every prospect is going to hit like Pujols, but that doesn't mean they can't help your team, even significantly. Escobar falls into that category. He is a speedy hitter with excellent defense. His defense will keep him as a starter for the Brewers, but his bat is where he needs to show he can be their new leadoff guy. If all things go to plan, count on a .280 hitter, 40 SB, and around 80 runs - there is so much potential for more SBs and runs with his speed. If you miss out on the top tier SS in your draft, Escobar should be available in the later rounds.

Austin Jackson, OF, Detroit Tigers - The corner stone in the Curtis Granderson trade, Jackson's time is now. He has been the top prospect for the Yankees for awhile, and now he is going to actually start for Detroit (what Yankee fans were hoping the Yanks would do for much of last year). With his speed and what he has shown as a contact hitter, the initial plan is for him to be their leadoff man. However, his bat has not been as consistent as one would like. He really seems to be a streaky hitter so far. If he is able to show a little more consistency he will deliver in a big way. If he increases his power some, he could be a super-star. The ceiling is high on Jackson and is definitely worth a late round pick.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Harvesting the Farm - Part 1

I could tell you that Hanley Ramirez should be drafted very high, Albert Pujols is arguably the best hitter in baseball, and Tim Lincecum is a monster pitcher, but you know all of that. I would like to help you out on more of the up-and-comers. The farm systems are ripe for picking.

Part 1 of this 3 part series is about the top prospects. May not be too many surprises here, but these are names you must know (and will know, for better or worse) by the end of the season.

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals - One of the most super hyped pitchers I can remember. The guy can throw 100+ MPH and had an amazing strikeout rate in college. When he plays in the majors and how well against big league hitting is yet to be seen, but the potential is there. Downside of Strasburg is that he could be a serious injury risk. Barring injury, he will be in the majors before year end, and I wouldn't be very surprised to see him on the opening day roster.

Aroldis Chapman, SP, Cincinnati Reds - After Strasburg, Chapman was the leader in hype. A young lefty that can throw 100+. Visions of the next Randy Johnson danced in teams heads. Again, when he will show up in the majors and how well he will do is unknown. Good thing about Chapman is that he is said to throw an 'easy' fastball, meaning that he is less of an injury risk. I give Chapman an outside shot at making the opening day roster, but see him as a late call up.

Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves - Generally considered the best non-pitching prospect, Heyward could contribute right away. My favorite description is that he does everything good, but nothing great. This is not a bad thing, good average, good power, good speed, good defense - this adds up to making an immediate impact. However, he is only 20 and does not have a guaranteed spot in the OF. He will battle in spring for one, and even if he makes the team he could share time as the Braves have some good options. If he gets full time play, he could be a solid player on your team, if he gets part time play, he might be nice off the bench, but would be more of a keeper prospect for 2011.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Welcome 2010!

Hello all and welcome to spring! Baseball is around the corner and it's now time to start thinking about your draft and/or the up and comers who you should know about in your keeper league. I'm here to help you along. I'm the Scout Monkey.

Question: Why listen to your advice?

Answer: I do lots of research.

Question: Is that the only reason to listen to your advice?

Answer: No, but that is the best. I do the research so you do not have to. Read enough articles about a guy and you start to get a nice impression of what to expect. Couple that with being a baseball fan for 30+ years, and I usually come up with some solid stuff.

Question: How was your advice last year?

Answer: Much more good then bad (Nobody's perfect).

Good Advice: J.A. Happ, Jordan Zimmerman (prior to injury), Joba expectations (and Sell High advice), Kendry Morales, Cliff Lee (pleaded with people to not trade him after his bad start to the season), Shin-Soo Choo. - To name a few.

Bad Advice: Daniel Murphy (way off), Kris Medlen (AAAA pitcher I guess), Derek Holland (wasn't a bust, but I had higher expectations), Mets (pretty much anything with them).

Clearly I'm not perfect, I'm certainly not psychic, but I can throw down some decent knowledge to keep you informed.

Question: How about some advice now?

Answer: Keep an eye on the Cardinals 5th rotation spot. The two prime candidates are Kyle McClellan and Jaime Garcia. McClellan has more experience and has pitched very well in relief. His four pitches can keep hitters guessing even after the first time through the lineup. Garcia is younger and has the higher ceiling, but has had only limited time to show his stuff since his return from Tommy John surgery. What Garcia has shown, though, has been very good. Usually you don't focus too much attention on a number 5 starter, but both of these guys can pitch better then the spot they are vying for (not to mention a good offense and a good defense to back them up).

Question: Is this the end of the article?

Answer: Yes.

- Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Dancing in SoCal: Charlie Haeger

Nothing dances like a knuckleball. Tim Wakefield in Boston has had a long effective career with this pitch. Now there is a young knuckleballer in Southern California that is making the pitch known on the left coast.

Charlie Haeger has now had two good starts with the Dodgers. His first start was against St. Louis, where he gave up 5 hits in 7 innings, 3 runs, and 2 Ks - decent numbers against a good team. His 2nd start, against the Cubs, he pitched 7 innings again, 3 hits, and 7 Ks - a great start, albeit against a struggling Cubs team.

Will Haeger carry the knuckleball torch from Wakefield and have a nice long career? Not sure, but he's off to a good start.

The Dodgers have picked up Padilla from the Rangers, presumably as their fifth starter. Padilla wasn't having a great year, so Haeger may just be pitching himself into the rotation.

Charlie Haeger is only worth looking at in deep leagues and NL only leagues. He pitches in a pitcher friendly park with a good offense behind him. If he puts together another good start or two, his value will rise quickly.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Out with the Older, In with the Old

The Phillies have decided what to do with Pedro - he will be a starter. However, to make room, they have sent Jaime Moyer to the bullpen. Yes, in with the old and out with the older.

This is a little surprising as Pedro did some relief work at the WBC, and Moyer is not crazy about coming out of the pen. In any event, it's done. Pedro will start Wednesday against the Cubs.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Phillies pitchers are worth more then other pitchers due to the great offense. In addition, Pedro is not just some pitcher, he's Pedro! He has shown that he still has a little in the tank. He probably won't go real deep in games, but should rack up some wins and average to above average strikeouts.

Moyer's value takes a huge nose dive in most formats. Pedro makes an intriguing flier in NL only and deeper formats. He might even help you make a little late season and playoff run.

-Scout Monkey

Out with the old...

The Red Sox have release future hall of famer John Smoltz. In his place, they have called up Junichi Tazawa.

Tazawa was signed in the off season out of Japan - grabbed before he signed a multi year contract with a Japanese team. He's a 23 old right hander who has been handling the minors extremely well. In double A, he had 9 wins, 2 losses, and a great ERA of 2.57. In triple A, he hasn't won a game, but has lowered his ERA to 2.37.

He has 4 pitches, fastball (low 90's), slider, curve, and a splitter. He has shown good strike out ability with this repertoire.

Boston hasn't said what his role will be for this season. He has been a starter in the minors and Boston wants him as a starter for the long run. We'll find out soon.

As with any young pitcher, you have to tread carefully. Keeper leagues should be grabbing this guy sooner then later. Deep leagues may want to take a flyer. In shallow leagues, let Tazawa show what he can do at the major league level - and let his spot be finalized (Starter or Reliever).

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

A Yankee Not to Own

The New York Yankees have one of the finest teams that money can buy. There may not be another team in baseball that has more fantasy relevant players. With that said, avoid the newest Yankee like the plague.

The Yanks have just completed a deal for San Diego pitcher Chad Gaudin. His role has not been clearly stated - he might be long relief (which is not too useful in most fantasy leagues), or he is going to take over for the struggling Mitre (this would be my guess).

With an offense like the Yankees have, why would I avoid one of their starting pitchers? Because Gaudin is going to kill your ERA. Simply put, pitching in perhaps the most friendly pitcher park in all of baseball (Petco Field), Gaudin has an ERA of 5.13 - bad, now he is going to what is proving to be one of the worst pitching parks in all of baseball (New Yankee Stadium). Nothing about this looks good. His poor ERA is just going to get worse, much worse.

There is talk of his upside, but until he shows it, let someone else take the gamble. I cannot think of any format where you would want to add this pitcher.

- Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

No Bull(pen): J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ owners can breathe a sigh of relief. Happ will be staying in the rotation. With the addition of Pedro Martinez, it looked like Philly might move Happ back to the bullpen (and into fantasy obscurity). But today, the Phillies announced that Happ is staying right where he is. I guess this isn't a surprise with the way Happ has been pitching. How does 6 wins, 2 losses in 14 starts sound? Oh yea, ERA of 2.80. On top of that, he just pitched a complete game shutout. Don't forget, he pitches for the Phillies - an offensive juggernaut that can make any pitcher look a little better (not that Happ needs it). Still, something must change to accommodate Pedro. If not Happ, then what? Latest thoughts are a 6 man rotation, Pedro to the pen, perhaps even Moyer to the Pen. Whatever the case, Happ is safe. Happ is owned in less then half of fantasy leagues. He may not be a top tier pitcher yet, but he's up there. All formats need to consider him (except AL only of course). -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Strike Three Please

If you need some strikeouts, there is probably no one available in your league who will get you more then Gio Gonzalez. If you throw out one very bad game against the Twins, Gio has struck out 29 batters in 23+ innings. More then a batter an inning is pretty good for someone on the free agent pile. In addition, he may help with your ERA too if he keeps up his recent good starts. If the guy is this good, why is he available? One, he plays for the Oakland A's. He won't get too many wins with that offense. Second, when he is bad, he is really bad. Against the Twins, he gave up 11 runs in 2.2 innings. Since that game however, he has pitched 3 solid games - against the Yankees, the Red Sox, and most recently against Texas. I guess no really good teams were available to pitch against (kidding of course, could you have a tougher stretch???). He is available in most leagues and should be considered in deep leagues and maybe in AL only leagues - if you need strike outs. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Yes Yusmeiro Petit

7 innings of no hit ball. 3 Ks and 3 BBs (however, there was a very bad call that should have been strike 3 and ended up being ball 4 - so 4 Ks and 2 BB in my book). That is how Yusmeiro Petit (pronounced peh-teet) started his night against the Pirates. He finally gave up a single in the 8th. Now the Pirates are not exactly the best offensive team, especially with the fire sale they just went through. Still, you have a major league team that Petit shut down for 7 innings. It must be respected. His previous start was 6 shutout innings against the Phillies (yea, they are arguably the best offensive team). These are two big time displays by the Arizona pitcher. Petit is a 24 year old righthander that is showing he can pitch at the big league level. He must know how to pitch with a fastball that barely sniffs 90 on the radar gun. He pitches smart. Downside? He's a fly ball pitcher who can give up some long balls. But at 24 years old, he has room for improvement. He's hardly owned in any league, but should start being picked up in deeper leagues. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

If Only We Listened: Randy Wells

Way back in early June Scout Hoffman told us about a rookie pitcher for the Cubs by the name of Randy Wells. If you payed attention and picked him up, you made a very wise move! Here we are, some 2 months after that article and what has Wells done? How about 8 wins in his last 9 starts? Wow! There is more... 2.85 ERA. Sparkling! His K/BB ratio is 3:1 - although he is not a strikeout artist (I would consider him average). Wins, a good ERA, decent Ks, low walks, what more do you want? His ownership in leagues is growing everyday, so unless you have top pitching on your fantasy team, go get Randy Wells now! -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Rick VandenHurk

Last night Rick VandenHurk, 24 year old, 6'5" righty for the Marlins, struck out 9 in 6 innings. Umm, who? Rick VandenHurk. He is a rookie pitcher that was called up in mid-July and has pitched very well in his 3 starts. In those starts, he is 1-0, 17 innings pitched, 2.65 ERA, 16 Ks, and 6 walks. Impressive. The Marlins are a solid, if not good, team. They haven't scored much for VandenHurk which accounts for him having only 1 win despite his low ERA. One would have to assume that he will get the run support he needs to pick up a few more wins (Hanley Ramirez alone should be enough!). A young pitcher on a solid team - worth a flyer if you are able to gamble a little. Shallow leagues should just watch him - maybe he will turn out to be an 'out of nowhere' kind a guy (no one truly knows who will be the next big thing). Deeper leagues have to pay attention to him as 3 good starts can't just be chalked up to a fluke (neither can 9 strikeouts in 6 innings). He is owned in less then 1% of leagues. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Tim Hudson

Before getting injured, Tim Hudson was a stud pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on July 22, 2008 and has been recovering well. Hudson is pitching in the minors and hasn't given up a run in his two games (6 innings total) so far. He could be a very nice addition for your stretch run! There is a little uncertainty to be aware of though. He still has to build stamina, which means he will not be called up for at least a few weeks (no timeline has been set by the Braves but it is getting close to a time when they will have to decide). Will he be a starter this year or go to the bullpen? Probably be a starter, but again, nothing has been set. A pitcher of Hudson's caliber that you can grab off of the free agent pile could be a nice late season present. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

More Pitching Help: David Hernandez

4 starts, 2 wins, no losses, 7 earned runs, 11 strikeouts - solid. Not the best line ever, especially with the low amount of strikeouts, but 7 runs in 25+ innings is great. The above line is for Baltimore Pitcher, 24 year old right hander, David Hernandez. His bad outings have not been too bad (never given up more then 5 runs - and that was only once). His other outings are good and even great. 6 starts in a row now with 3 runs given up or less. His last test was against the Red Sox, he gave up only 1 run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts in 7 innings. I'm sure Baltimore was happy, and the 1% or so who own him in fantasy are also happy. Keeper leagues always want to watch a promising young pitcher - David Hernandez qualifies. Shallow leagues will want to see if he keeps up the solid work - even then he may not be good enough to trump other established pitchers. Deep leagues could do much worse. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Pitching Help: Clayton Richard

I've been on the Richard bandwagon and off of it. I think I'm about to buy another ticket to get back on. Clayton Richard has given me some good games, he also given me some horrible ones. However, he is available in most leagues and has now strung together two excellent starts. How is 16 innings, a 1.13 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and only 4 walks. Not bad at all, in fact, it's downright good! If you take him, you will likely have to take the bad with the good. My personal hope is that it will be a lot more good then bad. He has shown that he can pitch very well in the majors, so hopefully the bad games can be chalked up to 'learning experiences' for the young lefty. Shallow leagues can probably ignore him except for a spot start in a favorable match-up, the rest should decide if they can take a few rough games if they get some gems like he has been pitching lately. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Sell High: Joba Chamberlain

Pull the trigger on selling Joba right now. Don't keep reading, go put him on the market. His value is as high as it has been since before the season began, get rid of him. Why? Innings limit. Joba is on an innings limit of about 150. He has already pitched over 100. This means one of two things - 1) Yankees will skip starts with him 2) Yankees will move him to the bullpen. Either way, he will lose a lot of value once this becomes apparent. Send him packing to an unsuspecting rival. He is not considered a top tier pitcher (Santana, CC, etc.), but he should be considered as a borderline second tier pitcher. He has had two very good outings in a row, so you might get a little extra in a trade. You should have stopped reading by now, but if you haven't, please stop and go trade Joba. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Mat Latos

Sunday marks the big league debut of the San Diego prospect Matt Latos. The 21 years old, 6'6" righty is looking to be a promising big league pitcher. With a fastball that tops around 97, a curve, a knuckle curve, and a change up, he has a good mix to cause a lot of trouble for opposing batters. Must be nice to be coming to one of the most pitcher friendly parks in all of baseball. Not so nice to have that offense to back up his starts. In AA Latos is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in nine starts. He has 46 strikeouts in 47 innings. Opponents are only hitting .192 against him. Down side? Young, inexperienced, concerns about mental toughness (he has done much to improve this view of him), and stamina - he has not thrown 100 innings in any year. He's worth a flyer in deeper leagues and NL only leagues. Keeper leagues should keep a close watch. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

I'm Back! I'm Pedro!

Being recognized by just your first name in sports is pretty cool. Michael, Tiger, Kobe, LeBron, Bo, Magic (close enough), Larry, Manny, to name a few. Pedro Martinez makes the list. In his prime, he is probably my most favorite pitcher to watch (I see a lot of him in Lincecum). Pedro, however, is 37 years old and definitively past his prime. He has injury issues, velocity issues, weight issues (today someone commented that he looked like he was 'stuck in a vat of cheese and had to eat his way out'). But come on, he's Pedro! Despite the negatives, he is still a brilliant pitcher - not that he's the smartest guy (maybe he is, maybe he isn't, we're not friends) - he is baseball smart. His 'A' stuff is long gone, but with his smarts and his 'B' stuff, he still can be pretty nasty. Clearly I'm a little biased, but I would take a flier on him in deeper leagues or NL only leagues (in fact, I did). He moves up a spot as he will be pitching for the Phillies, with a good defense behind him and a top notch offense. He won't go deep in too many games, he may not stay injury free for the second half, he won't strike out hit 1+ batter an inning (his heyday was AWESOME), but he could prove good enough to make a difference on your team in the second half. Maybe he'll make your team so good that your friends will start referring to you by your first name! -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

This Year's Cliff Lee?

Last year Cliff Lee came out of nowhere to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. There were no signs that he could do what he did (and is still doing). That was last year, this year I will give that 'Cliff Lee Out of Nowhere Award' to Chad Gaudin of the San Diego Padres. Nothing in his past would say that he would be a good pitcher. I have always though of him as average - you know, that one time I though of him. He went undrafted in most leagues but is now starting to be picked up off the waiver wire. In his last 3 starts, he has struck out 28 in 21 innings while only giving up 5 runs (and 5 walks). That is Cy Young caliber stuff. In fairness, it has to be mentioned that two of those games were against Seattle, but one of them was against Texas. Now, up to three weeks ago, he was fairly bad - he had a couple of good outings, but nothing to point at his current success. The question now is, will he keep it up? Don't know. I hope so as I picked him up in my deep league. In my shallow league, I will pounce if he has one more good outing. I bet you wish you had picked up Cliff Lee last year - maybe you can this year. Keep an eye on Chad Gaudin. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Watch Your Mouth: Bastardo

You have to love a name that sounds like you are swearing but is perfectly legitimate to say. Bastardo. Oh yea. Besides having a great name, this young pitcher is holding his own in the majors. Scout Hoffman brought our attention to him after his first start, and Bastardo has warranted continued attention. Bastardo has had 4 starts in the majors and 3 of the 4 have been solid. He had one bad start against Boston in a strange rain effected game - outside of that, he's been strong. He had a great game against San Diego (not saying too much there), but followed that up with a good game against the Dodgers (yea, that's something you can hang your hat on). Next was the Boston start, nothing good to say about this, maybe the rain spooked him. His latest start was against Baltimore. He got the loss in this one but pitched well - 7 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 5 strike outs. Normally I wouldn't recommend someone like this except for deep leagues only, but you have to factor in that he is pitching for the Phillies. The Phillies are one of the best in the baseball assuring that Bastardo will at least get some wins. I believe his four starts allow him to be considered in medium depth leagues and even shallow NL only leagues. Keep in mind, Bastardo has been this effective throwing mainly fastballs. If he gets more confidence in his secondary pitches, he could be real trouble for the NL East. Lastly, don't you want a guy named Bastardo on your team? Watch your mouth. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Time to Sign: John Smoltz

John Smoltz is now recovered from his shoulder surgery and will be called up to the majors anytime now. Time to check your waiver wire and see if anyone has grabbed him yet. He's owned in about 20% of ESPN leagues and closer to 50% in Yahoo (are people in Yahoo smarter?). There is not a lot to say about Smoltz that hasn't been said over his great career. He simply knows how to pitch. He is not the same pitcher as he was when younger but he makes up for his slight drop in velocity with his location, movement, and smarts. Do not let his age (42) fool you, he is still good and can strike out batters at an above average clip. His minor league rehab starts have been solid. In his last two starts he only gave up a total of 5 runs (4 in one game, 1 in the other). There is enough pitching this year that shallow leagues may want to view him as a spot starter. In all other leagues, you probably want him on your team. Don't forget, not only is he good, he plays for one of the best teams in baseball. It is definitely time to sign Smoltz to your team. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Strasburg Strategy

If you have paid even a little attention to baseball you have probably heard of the super-stud pitcher out of San Diego State, Stephen Strasburg. Labeled as a 'once in a decade prospect', 'once in a lifetime prospect', 'best pitching prospect ever' - it's hard to ignore the guy. I'm not here to tell you how great he has been in college, rest assured that he has been as good as can be. I'm not here to tell you that the guy may end up throwing the fastest pitch ever in a baseball game (he's really close). I'm here to tell you what to do with the guy with regards to your fantasy team. First off, something needs to be mentioned. In my opinion, this hasn't gotten the attention that it should. Strasburg's pitching mechanics are almost identical to the pitching mechanics of one Marc Prior. Does that scare you? It should. Maybe Strasburg will not have the injuries that Prior did/does, or maybe he will. Bad mechanics are bad mechanics. This is a must know item as it can effect your Strasburg Strategy. One other thing of note, it is not known if Strasburg will pitch in the majors this year. Many say he is good enough to start right now, but, some in Washington say that they would not do that to any rookie. Another Strasburg question mark to consider. Unless the other owners in your fantasy league are asleep, you will probably need to grab Strasburg off waivers to get him. Hopefully, you have a high waiver priority. But, if he could be the next Marc Prior, or not even start this year, should you burn your waiver priority to get him? The answer is 'Yes' - especially in a keeper league. You see, you are in the same position as the Washington Nationals (first pick in the draft). You have to pick him up because of his potential. If Washington doesn't draft him, they will be the laughing stock of baseball - how can you not draft one of the best (if not the best) prospects of all time? They have to, no choice. Same for you. If you have the chance to get him, you must. The potential of Strasburg demands it. Now for my Strasburg Strategy. In one of my leagues (a keeper league) I have the first waiver priority and will be getting Strasburg. I am seriously considering trading him. The hype on Strasburg is so high that I just may be able to get a top tier player, a player who is proven and healthy. I figure it is a win/win situation. I either trade Strasburg for a great player, or no one bites on the offers and I keep a potential top pitcher. Remember, just because you have to draft him, you don't have to keep him. I'm pulling for Strasburg. I hope he goes on to be the next Randy Johnson. But I will not ignore the potential for him being the next Marc Prior. June 8th is draft day, check your league regularly for his availability (he is already available in CBS). -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

The Yankee Test: Derek Holland

Derek Holland's first start of his career was very average. Against the Astros, he went 5.2 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs (off of a 3 run homer), had 5 strikeouts, and walked none. Not bad but not great for this Texas prospect. He left with the lead, but didn't get the win as the bullpen coughed it up. Holland is/was the top pitching prospect for Texas (yes, even over Feliz) and has his second career start on Wednesday against the Yanks. This will be a tough assignment. The Yankee test should give us a decent look at what this guy can do - will he implode under the pressure, step up his game, or be average again. We'll see. Padilla is set to return in about a week, which may mean that Holland goes back to the pen, but GM Joe Daniels said, "Let's see how these guys pitch and then we'll decide," - Being that they want Holland to be a starter and had planned all along for him to be starting, his spot in the rotation may be long lasting (Harrison, failing the Yankee test, by getting lit up doesn't hurt Holland's chances either). All prospects should be watched very closely. Some of these prospects will fail, some will be the next Santana (Johan), and some will fall into the 'journey man' category. We should have a little clearer picture of the potential of Holland after Wednesday. Deep leagues may want to give him a seat on their bench (hard to recommend starting any pitcher against the Yanks) and hope for a breakout. The rest of you, watch and wait. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

4th Straight Win for Porcello

Tell me why Rick Porcello is owned in less then 15% of leagues? I know there is a good amount of pitching out there, but a good young pitcher that is getting stronger and more confident, that plays in a pitchers park, and has a good offense to back up his starts is someone you want. Porcello won his 4th straight game yesterday against the Rockies giving up only 1 run. In his last 4 starts he has given up a total of 3 runs while striking out 16. He has a nice 3.55 ERA for the year. Unless you are in a very shallow league, Porcello should be owned. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Happ-y Days?

A situation that I have been watching since spring training has yielded some interesting news. During spring, Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ of the Phillies were both vying for the 5th starting spot in the rotation. Park edged out Happ, but not by much as both had pretty good springs. Once the season started, things looked a bit different. Park has been all over the place with his starts. He's had some good ones, but he's also had some really bad ones (like on Sunday, 5 runs in 1.1 innings). Manager Charlie Manuel has opened the door for Happ by saying, 'We're concerned about our pitching. And we're going to do what we think is the best way to go, any way we can improve it. We just want to do what's best for our pitching staff. We want to put the best pitchers out there that we possibly can get.' NOT a vote of confidence for Park. So far Happ has put up a line of 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 17 Ks, in 21.2 innings pitched. Not a huge sample, but solid numbers for the 26 year old. Should you own him? I imagine he will be very average for awhile (room for improvement as the season goes on), which means his numbers won't really help you in a roto league - so just keep an eye on him. However, average numbers on the Phillies should translate to many wins (what a lineup!). In a points leagues, wins are often where the big points are, so you should probably be a little more eager to grab him. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Texas P: Matt Harrison

Even with the recent injury to Josh Hamilton, Texas can still mash. Must be nice to be a pitcher with that offense to back you up. It's even nicer if you are a good pitcher. Texas hasn't had too many of those, but this year things are coming together nicely on the mound. Of their pitchers, 23 year old lefty Matt Harrison should be getting some looks. He is 4-2, with a 4.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 24 Ks. Those numbers are pedestrian at best, except he had two rough starts to begin the season (5 runs and 4 runs), but has been extremely good since then. In his last 3 starts he has given up a total of 2 earned runs and has struck out 15 (all wins). A good young pitcher on a team that can score runs is worth a long look in all but the shallowest of formats. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Looking For Pitching Help?

by Scout Hoffman (seniorbeisbol@gmail.com) www.profantasybaseball.com When you check box scores a bad pitching outing always looks a lot worse than a bad hitting day. Even All-Stars have 0-4 days throughout the season and no fantasy owner would bat an eye, but if a pitcher lets up seven runs in four innings, that 15.75 ERA will send them to the waiver wire. Don’t get me started on Troy Percival and his 108.00 ERA on Thursday. If you are like most fantasy owners, you are searching the wires for some starting pitching help. Most everyone available will have their flaws, but if used properly they could become great assets to your fantasy squad. All three of these pitchers are available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Jorge De La Rosa – Colorado Rockies

If I offered you stats of 15 innings, 11 hits, 3 ER, and 22 K’s, I am sure you would expect two wins. This is what makes wins so hard to chase in fantasy baseball. De La Rosa would have been 0-2 in those two starts if it weren’t for a 9th inning bailout by Brad Hawpe in his most recent start. As it stands, De La Rosa is 0-3 on the season, but the ratios and strikeout numbers show a mixed league worthy pitcher. He has an ERA of 3.16, a WHIP of 1.18, and 45 K’s in 42.2 innings. His career ratios are much higher, but the strikeouts have always been there. Let us not forget that he plays his home games at the hitter’s haven that his Coors Field. While his 2008 numbers actually show his home numbers a touch better than his road numbers, I still don’t trust the thin Colorado air. De La Rosa is in his third year of getting consistent starts, so it is OK to expect growth, but I do not see a guy who can shave two runs off his ERA. He is a guy who I would add only if you need strikeouts and have some low ratio pitchers to hide his WHIP and ERA. Randy Wolf – Los Angeles Dodgers Since being acquired by Houston last year in an odd deadline deal, Wolf has proven to be a very solid starter. He is 8-3 with an ERA of 3.25 and 101 strikeouts in 119.1 innings of work since August of 2008. Dodger Stadium is a pitcher friendly park, and even without Manny Ramirez the Dodgers still provide a solid lineup. It doesn’t hurt that the NL West isn’t exactly full of powerful offenses. Wolf has a career ERA of 4.21, so look for the ERA to rise a bit, but it should stay under 4.00. He has always been a good source of strikeouts and that should continue. The Dodgers should provide him with enough run support to pick up 10+ wins from here on out. Dave Bush – Milwaukee Brewers There is something to be said about sleeping in your own bed. Dave Bush personifies this. His home/road splits over his career are borderline ridiculous. At home he is nine games over .500 with a respectable 3.82 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.33. When he hits the road it is a whole different story. Bush is ten games under .500, his ERA balloons to 5.21, his WHIP to 1.32, and his K/9 drops to 5.82. This season Bush is off to a solid start, posting a 2-0 record through eight games. Six of his seven starts have been quality (3 or fewer ER in 6 or more IP), and his K/BB ratio is a very solid 3.6:1. He has held both his home and road ERA under 3.90 for an overall ERA of 3.83. Eight games is a very small sample size, but in 2009 Bush looks like he may have figured something out. Or maybe the Brewers have realized his affinity for home cooking, giving him five home starts to only two road starts. Either way, Bush is a pitcher that you can feel very comfortable starting when he is at Miller Park, but until gives you a few more solid road starts, I would only use him in favorable matchups on the road.

Rent-a-Rookie: Matt Palmer

You have to like a guy who is a rookie and is 30 years old - it means he does not give up. Matt Palmer, SP for the Angels, has definitely not given up. Not only has he not given up his desire to pitch in the majors, he has also not given up many runs (3.38 ERA), not given up many base runners (0.98 WHIP), and has not given up any losses. So far in 4 starts, he is 4-0. To make that even better, he has been pitching against some good teams (Red Sox, Royals, Yankees, and Tigers). 16 Ks in 26 innings is not too bad either. Unfortunately, he will probably not be in the rotation by mid-June as the Angels hurt starters will all be back (Lackey, Santana, Escobar). But until then, consider putting him in your fantasy rotation and get a month out of him. He should be available as he is owned in less then 1% of leagues. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Me and Cecil

I have been dishing out advice for a few months and yet have still not introduced myself or my methods. Let me take a brief moment to do that. I think that it's at least fair for you all to know how I'm coming to the conclusions that I provide here. My name is Mark, and I am a California native who now lives in New York. I go by the Scout name of' Scout Monkey' for the simple reason that I like monkeys (who doesn't?). Enough about me. My methods are simple, research, research, more research. My goal is to do all the research so you don't have to. I try to consolidate what I learn into timely, useful articles. Now, I don't have inside access to any baseball organizations, but I do have access to the TV, radio, and the internet and I make full use of them. Official MLB sites, large news sites, small sites, I visit them all. Reading all the news about a player from different sites and different view points, allows me to get a good all around picture of what to expect from him. Not that my picture is always right, but a lot of data gives me the best chance at being right. My own opinions/gut come into play as well. Although I try to be as objective as possible, some guys just jump out at me for one reason or another - I go with it, sometimes I can't put my finger on it, but there must be some reason that they got my attention. Here's an example of how an article/recommendation comes to be: Brett Cecil, SP for the Blue Jays. First, is he a known player? A quick look at my leagues tell me that he is owned in less the 15% of Yahoo and less then 2% of ESPN. Ok, not very well known at all. Second, should he be known? - After all, what point is there to writing a recommendation that everyone knows about already or writing a recommendation for a player who stinks? A check of his stats shows that he has pitched very well since being called up (due to injuries in the rotation). He's not walking people, he's not giving up runs, he has nearly as many K's as innings pitched (12:14), playing for a hot team. I like where this is going. My initial opinion is that this guy needs to be getting more looks then he currently is. But, I'm not satisfied. Third, more research. I haven't watched his games, so what if he has just been getting fortunate so far? Well, according to sites that talk about him, they have generally good things to say. Some go as far as sayin he is a future star (but how many times has that been said about a guy who put together a few good starts?). So, good stats, good opinions in general, talk of some decent upside, I think we have an article. Where is the down side (everyone has a downside - Pujols is slow, Lincecum plays for the Giants, etc.)? He's young (22) which means there will be the inevitable 'bumps in the road.' No big deal there, just be aware of it. Second, he has only two major league starts to look at, not a big sample, but not irrelevant either. Third, the Jays have a ton of pitching and much of it will be back soon from injury. What will the Jays do? Keep a hot Cecil in the rotation, move him to the pen, or send him down to AAA until another injury? Don't know, no one is talking about that yet. Not a deal breaker by any means, but another good thing to be aware of. You have to think though, that if a guy is on a streak, he would have to show signs of struggling before getting the hook. All in all, I would recommend Cecil. Although young, he is doing great so far, has upside, playing on a good team, and will probably keep his spot in the rotation unless there is some sort of breakdown. And we have an article. Well, there you go. That's me and my method. Aren't you glad you didn't have to do all that? Just remember, this one panned out and could make a decent article/recommendation, many don't pan out at all (but the time is still spent). I won't always be right, but I'm hoping to be right far more often then wrong for you all, and yes, I do take my own advice (I am of that 2% in ESPN that own Cecil). Feel free to call me out when I make mistakes (and I have...), or feel free to pat me on the back if I help your team (aww shucks, just doin my job). That's all for now, gotta go do some more research (will Buster Posey have relevance this year...). - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Barry Zito

I can't believe I'm saying this, but you may want to consider picking up Barry Zito. I'm not kidding. No, really. Cross my heart. The one time ace, who has since fallen out of pitching relevance faster then a Strasburg fastball, has put together some nice starts. Although he doesn't have a win yet (not really his fault so far) he has pitched very well. The 30 year old left hander has an ERA of 3.99, a WHIP of 1.16, and 19 Ks in 29 innings. On top of this, he seems to be getting stronger - his last start was a 7 inning 2 hit gem. He lost that start as the Giants failed to produce any runs. The bottom line, a one time great pitcher has shown signs of his old form (at 30 years old, he's not washed up yet). Grab him now and ride the wave of good starts. I doubt he will be a long term pickup, but you could probably grab a few good stats from him for your fantasy team. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Justin Duchscherer

It's hard to overlook Duchscherer's affinity for injuries, but when healthy, the guy can pitch. He was after all, an all-star in 2008 (with a steller ERA of 2.54) The best news? He is sitting on the free agency pile in 2/3 of fantasy leagues. Not bad, an all-star pitcher just sitting there waiting to be grabbed. Similar to Kelvim Escobar, Duchscherer won't be pitching for a month or so, but if you can stash him on your bench, you will have a top pitcher for the rest of the year (barring injury, again). There is 'paint' on the long range radar, be sure you are paying attention. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Tim Wakefield

Wakefield is old (42) and his age nearly is the speed of his fastball (ok, double his age). Seems scary, but the knuckleball is dominating hitters so far this season. Wakefield has a record of 2-1 and his line is a fantastic: 2.45 ERA, 12 Ks, and a 1.05 WHIP. If that's not enough, he is also on a good team. Now I hate having guys on my team who's fastball doesn't sniff 90+, but an exception has to made for the crafty (aka old) knuckleballer. In fact, he may be worth more then a rental. Ride the wave of his great start and see if it lasts all year (it usually does). By the way, he is owned in less then 20% of leagues. He's another good player who never gets the fantasy credit he deserves. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Derek Holland

Starting spring training for the Texas Rangers, Neftali Feliz was their #1 pitching prospect. Feliz should still be on everyone's radar, but Derek Holland is has taken over the #1 spot. Feliz is 20 and Holland is 22, so maybe the little more experience has pushed him up. Derek Holland is a left handed pitcher with a mid 90's fastball, and above average secondary pitches. In the minors in 2008, his combined stats (multiple levels) were: 13-1, 2.36 ERA, 150/38 K/BB in 145 innings, 107 hits allowed, only 3 homers. Pretty good stuff! Unless Texas pitching makes a dramatic change (that would be more surprising then the Rays making the world series last year) they will be calling up Holland sooner then later. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)