The Baseball Ticker: Week of May 1, 2006

by Bryan Roth
May 1, 2006

Editor's note: Did you catch Bryan's mailbag column? If not please click here to read it. If you have any fantasy baseball questions for the mailbag please send Bryan a message at AHPfantasybaseball@hotmail.com

Two-start pitchers worth starting:
Jeremy Bonderman (5/1 vs. Kansas City, 5/6 @ Minnesota)
Barry Zito (5/1 @ Los Angeles Angels, 5/6 vs. Tampa Bay)
Dontrelle Willis (5/1 vs. Philadelphia, 5/6 vs. St. Louis)
Jake Peavy (5/1 @ San Francisco, 5/6 vs. Chicago Cubs)
Javier Vazquez (5/1 @ Cleveland, 5/6 vs. Kansas City)
Brad Penny (5/1 @ Arizona, 5/6 vs. Milwaukee)
Mark Buehrle (5/2 @ Cleveland, 5/7 vs. Kansas City)
Johan Santana (5/2 vs. Seattle, 5/7 vs. Detroit)

You Make the call:
Cliff Lee (5/1 vs. Chicago White Sox, 5/6 @ Seattle)
Erik Bedard (5/1 vs. Toronto, 5/6 @ Boston)
Tom Hudson (5/1 vs. Colorado, 5/6 @ New York Mets)
Mark Mulder (5/1 @ Cincinnati, 5/6 @ Florida)
Sean Marshall (5/1 vs. Pittsburgh, 5/6 @ San Diego)
John Lackey (5/2 vs. Oakland, 5/7 @ Toronto)
Josh Beckett (5/2 vs. New York Yankees, 5/7 vs. Baltimore)
Angel Guzman (5/2 vs. Pittsburgh, 5/7 @ San Diego)
Woody Williams (5/2 @ San Francisco, 5/7 vs. Chicago Cubs)
Odalis Perez (5/2 @ Arizona, 5/7 vs. Milwaukee)
Ben Sheets (5/2 vs. Houston, 5/7 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Jon Lieber (5/2 @ Florida, 5/7 vs. San Francisco)
Zach Duke (5/2 @ Chicago Cubs, 5/7 @ Washington)
Sidney Ponson (5/2 @ Cincinnati, 5/6 @ Florida)

Other two-start pitchers this week:
Scott Baker (5/1 vs. Seattle, 5/6 vs. Detroit)
Hector Carrasco 5/1 vs. Oakland, 5/6 @ Toronto)
Jason Jennings (5/1 @ Atlanta, 5/6 vs. Houston)
Ryan Madson (5/1 @ Florida, 5/6 vs. San Francisco)
Tomo Ohka (5/1 vs. Houston, 5/6 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Ted Lilly (5/1 @ Baltimore, 5/6 Los Angeles Angels)
Kameron Loe (5/1 @ Tampa Bay, 5/6 New York Yankees)
Runelvys Hernandez (5/1 @ Detroit, 5/7 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Fernando Nieve (5/1 @ Milwaukee, 5/6 @ Colorado)
Seth McClung (5/1 vs. Texas, 5/6 @ Oakland)
Joel Pineiro (5/1 @ Minnesota, 5/6 vs. Cleveland)
Claudio Vargas (5/1 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 5/6 vs. Cincinnati)
Dave Williams (5/1 vs. St. Louis, 5/6 @ Arizona)
Ramon Ortiz (5/1 @ New York Mets, 5/6 vs. Pittsburgh)
Tim Wakefield (5/1 vs. New York Yankees, 5/6 vs. Baltimore)
Chien-Ming Wang (5/1 @ Boston, 5/6 @ Texas)
Jamey Wright (5/1 vs. San Diego, 5/6 @ Philadelphia)
Victor Zambrano (5/1 vs. Washington, 5/6 vs. Atlanta)
Victor Santos (5/1 @ Chicago Cubs, 5/6 @ Washington)
Rick Bauer (5/2 @ Tampa Bay, 5/7 vs. New York Yankees)
Kris Benson (5/2 vs. Toronto, 5/7 @ Boston)
Paul Byrd (5/2 vs. Chicago White Sox, 5/7 @ Seattle)
Shawn Chacon (5/2 @ Boston, 5/7 @ Texas)
Mark Hendrickson (5/2 vs. Texas, 5/7 @ Oakland)
Casey Janssen (5/2 @ Baltimore, 5/7 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Mike Maroth (5/2 vs. Kansas City, 5/7 @ Minnesota)
Mark Redman (5/2 vs. Detroit, 5/7 @ Chicago White Sox)
Jarrod Washburn (5/2 @ Minnesota, 5/7 vs. Cleveland)
Bronson Arroyo (5/2 vs. St. Louis, 5/7 @ Arizona)
Aaron Cook (5/2 @ Atlanta, 5/7 vs. Houston)
Orlando Hernandez (5/2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 5/7 vs. Cincinnati)
Matt Morris (5/2 vs. San Diego, 5/7 @ Philadelphia)
Mike O’Connor (5/2 @ New York Mets, 5/7 vs. Pittsburgh)
Scott Olsen (5/2 vs. Philadelphia, 5/7 vs. St. Louis)
Wandy Rodriguez (5/2 vs. Milwaukee, 5/7 @ Colorado)
Jorge Sosa (5/2 vs. Colorado, 5/7 @ New York Mets)

At the hitter’s parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field in Texas: Orioles (5/3-4, Yankees (5/5-7)
At Chase Field in Arizona: Dodgers (5/1-2), Cubs (5/3-4), Reds (5/5-7)
At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia: Braves (5/3-4), Giants (5/5-7)
At Coors Field in Colorado: Reds (5/3-4), Astros (5/5-7)
At Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati: Cardinals (5/1-2)
At US Cellular Field in Chicago (AL): Mariners (5/3-4), Royals (5/5-7)

Playing seven games this week:
Brewers, Diamondbacks, Mets, Red Sox, Twins, Cardinals, Pirates, Royals and Yankees.

Ratchet them up!

Kevin Mench (OF, Rangers): He has a 13-game hit streak and has connected on 5 home runs in the last week. He’s as hot as anybody has been this season right now and will play at Tampa Bay and home against Baltimore this week. Enough said.

Jonny Gomes (OF, Devil Rays): Gomes makes it back on the list after hitting .400 in the last seven days. He hit his 11th home run on the season on Saturday and has hit three in his last 20 at-bats. Before the season it looked like he could hit 30 home runs. Now 40 is not out of the question.

The Cincinnati Reds' offense: As of Sunday they are the best team in the majors, have the best all-around offense and will be playing at home before heading to Colorado this week. Everyone is a must start.

Garrett Atkins (3B, Rockies): He has continued his strong 2006 campaign by hitting .348/.483/.652 in the last week. He’s not hitting above .360 on the season and is clicking along with the rest of the Rockies offense.

Jermaine Dye (OF, White Sox): Dye is quietly putting together a very good season with Chicago and fantasy owners should take notice. He’s hit three home runs with six RBIs last week while hitting above .300. Use him until he cools off.

Aaron Harang (SP, Reds): Bronson Arroyo isn’t the only Cincinnati pitcher enjoying a fast start. Harang is 4-1 on the year with a very good 33 strikeouts, including two wins and 11 Ks last week. He’ll be pitching at Colorado this week, but the way Coors has been handling fly balls this year, Harang should be a safe start.

Cory Lidle (SP, Phillies): He did go 1-1 last week, but if you’re in a league in which strikeouts and walks count, this is your man. He whiffed 16 more over he last two starts to push his season total to 33. He’s only got 3(!) walks.

Jeremy Bonder man (SP, Tigers): One of the two-start pitchers this week, Bonderman has been far better than his numbers suggest. With 27 strikeouts and six walks, Bonderman has shown good control and his WHIP (1.02) suggests that his ERA (5.04) is inflated. Take advantage of his starts against the weak offenses of the Royals and Twins. He’ll be huge this week.

David Weathers (RP, Reds): Just last week it seemed like Weathers was one more lousy game away from losing his role as Cincinnati’s closer. Four saves later, he looks like he’s OK for now. Even though Todd Coffey might be breathing down his neck, Weathers and his eight saves have secured the role for now.

Takashi Saito (RP, Dodgers): Saito is technically third in line for saves behind Eric Gagne and Danys Baez, but could steal a few here and there. Saito has moved into the set-up role and has perfoemed brilliantly, Striking out 15 while walking two. Saito will snag some vulture victories and a handful of saves, so it doesn’t hurt to have him on your roster.

Ratchet them down!

Jeff Kent (2B, Dodgers): If Kent makes this list next week, I’m considering giving out a weekly award for futility in his name. He went .111/.280/.111 last week with no homers. He may break out of this slump, but no time soon. If there’s better second base options on the waiver wire, seriously consider them.

Rafael Furcal (SS, Dodgers): Speaking of awful Dodgers players, Kent’s double play-mate went an abysmal 1-for-21 in the last seven days. At least he scored four times.

Richie Sexson (1B, Mariners): Talk about being in a funk. While hitting only two home runs on the season, Sexson has managed to hit under the Mendoza line again this week with a paltry .158 batting average. He’s got to face strong pitching staffs from the Twins (Johan Santana included) and White Sox.

Carlos Beltran (OF, Mets): I’ve got Beltran in a couple leagues and he’s killing me. Thanks to a sprained hamstring, we’re going through 2005 all over again. If you can trade him for a better CF option, go for it. Otherwise be prepared to wait this one out as he tries to get back to normal.

Cliff Floyd (OF, Mets): Did anyone else expect this much trouble from a guy trying to earn a contract? Floyd is in his last year with the Mets but is hardly putting together a season to earn him the big bucks. The threat to platoon with Victor Diaz should be enough to kick him into gear but he hasn’t shown much promise yet.

Josh Beckett (SP, Red Sox): He was hammered by the Indians in his last start, giving up nine runs (eight earned) in 3.2 innings. For start one of his two-start week, Beckett has to face the Yankees at Fenway. He’s usually a must start, but you should stay away from that one.

Andy Pettitte (SP, Astros): He’s 1-4 on the season and got rocked by Cincinnati his last time out. Be cautious with him, as he’s been walking a lot more batters than usual. In his last four games he’s picked up three loses and a no decision.

Eddie Guardado (RP, Mariners): If you didn’t head my advice the last two weeks, this will probably be the last warning. Everyday Eddie is hanging on to the closer’s role by a thread and sports a whopping 9.39 ERA on the season. Rafael Soriano, he we come.

Erik Bedard (SP, Orioles): He’s 4-1 on the season and has been impressive, but this week will be his first teal test. His first start will be today against Toronto and then he’ll face the Red Sox later in the week. Those are two very scary lineups to face for any pitcher.

Brad Radke (SP, Twins): It really looks like he’s almost pitched his way out of the rotation for now. He’s given up six runs in his last three starts, all loses, and has lasted no longer than six innings in those games. With Francisco Liriano breathing down his neck, that 8.89 ERA is looking worse every day.

If you have any fantasy baseball questions please send Bryan a message at AHPfantasybaseball@hotmail.com