Pick-Up Lines: week of 7/28/05

by Brandon Wilson
July 21, 2005

Each week, we publish this article which highlights the players that are probably free agents in your league, but should be considered as pick-up targets. We try to offer some shallow league targets as well as some deep league targets so that different types of leagues will be covered. As always, feel free to e-mail questions to me and they will be addressed here or on the message boards.

Shallow Leagues (Mixed Leagues)
Todd Walker, 2B, CHC (.297, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
Need a second basemen? Check out Todd Walker’s past two weeks. With 4 home runs and a .297 batting average over that span, Walker has been one of the best options available at the position. He is batting mostly second right in front of Derrek Lee so he will get plenty of good pitches to hit and (for those in 5x5 leagues) will score runs when he gets on base. For comparison, over that same two week period, Brian Roberts is hitting .255, has no homers, just 2 RBI and one steal. Over the last month, the gap is similar. It might be time to evaluate who would be better in your lineup over the next month.

Scott Kazmir, SP, TB (5-7, 4.15 ERA, 1.46 WHIP)
Kazmir is just 2-2 in July, but he has a 3.13 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, but he has won his last two starts allowing just one earned run in 13 innings while striking out 14. More impressive is that those two starts were against Baltimore and Boston. His lack of control has caused some inconsistency, but if he can manage the walks better, his strikeout numbers are pretty interesting in 5x5 leagues.

Deep Leagues (AL or NL Only)
Curtis Granderson, OF, DET (.318, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
I almost mentioned Granderson last week prior to his call-up because he had been doing so well at Triple-A. I wish I had now, because his first big league at bats of the season proved to be impressive. Through his first 22 at bats, he has 7 hits for a .318 average and 4 extra base hits including a pair of home runs for a .773 slugging percentage. Granderson, 24, was rated as the Tigers best prospect by Baseball America prior to the season. He was brought up to share time in center field with Nook Logan (after hitting .297 with 13 HR and 17 SB at Toledo), but will probably stay in the lineup everyday until he cools off. That might happen soon. His big problem at Triple-A this season was an increased strikeout rate and he struck out three times Tuesday night. Still, he should play at least half the time and will probably hit .250 or better with some homers and steals to go with it.

Javier Valentin, C, CIN (.281, 9 HR, 28 RBI)
Valentin has emerged as one of the better back-up catchers. He recently had a five day, three game stretch in which he belted five home runs. Even outside of those three games, he has 4 HR in 111 at bats which is excellent for a second catcher in most NL-Only leagues. He might even end up playing regularly with someone as the trading deadline approaches and contenders needing catching help look around.

Extreme Leagues (Ultra Leagues)
Jon Papelbon, SP, BOS (currently with Triple-A Pawtucket)
After going 5-2 with a 2.48 ERA for Double-A Portland, Papelbon was promoted to Pawtucket at the beginning of July. He has continued to strikeout almost a batter per inning in four starts since the promotion and has allowed just two earned runs in his last 13 innings. With the Red Sox needing pitching help (especially if the injury to Matt Clement keeps him sidelined for any period of time) Papelbon may be an option if a trade is not made. He may even help out in the bullpen, even if a trade for a starter is made.

Jeremy Hermida, OF, FLA (currently with Double-A Carolina)
Hermida is hitting .304 with 15 HR and 21 SB for the Carolina Mudcats. More impressive is his 90 walks which rank him second in the minor leagues and has his on-base percentage at .469. Ranked as the Marlins best prospect by Baseball America prior to the season and recently ranked as the 4th best prospect in baseball in their mid-season update, Hermida looks like the real deal. His name has come up in trade talk, but the Marlins seem intent on hanging on to him. He could get a look in September this year if the Marlins continue to slip out of the race.

Brandon Wilson is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and can be reached by e-mail at brandon@athomeplate.com. You can read more of Brandon’s work at his website www.baseballmuse.com