The Baseball Ticker: Week of May 22, 2006

by Bryan Roth
May 22, 2006

Editor's note: I you have any fantasy baseball questions please send Bryan a message at AHPfantasybaseball@hotmail.com

Two-start pitchers worth starting:
Curt Schilling (5/22 vs. New York Yankees, 5/27 vs. Tampa Bay)
Jake Peavy (5/22 vs. Atlanta, 5/28 vs. St. Louis)
John Smoltz (5/22 @ San Diego, 5/28 @ Chicago Cubs)
Roy Halladay (5/23 vs. Tampa Bay, 5/28 vs. Chicago White Sox)
Kenny Rogers (5/23 @ Kansas City, 5/28 vs. Cleveland)
John Lackey (5/23 @ Texas, 5/28 vs. Baltimore)
Justin Verlander (5/22 @ Kansas City, 5/27 vs. Cleveland)

You make the call:
Mark Mulder (5/22 @ San Francisco, 5/27 @ San Diego)
Bronson Arroyo (5/22 vs. Milwaukee, 5/28 vs. Arizona)
Barry Zito (5/22 @ Chicago White Sox, 5/27 @ Texas)
Kelvim Escobar (5/22 @ Texas, 5/27 vs. Baltimore)
Sean Marshall (5/22 @ Florida, 5/28 vs. Atlanta)
Casey Janssen (5/22 vs. Tampa Bay, 5/27 vs. Chicago White Sox)
Derek Lowe (5/22 vs. Colorado, 5/28 @ Washington)
Jamie Moyer (5/22 vs. Baltimore, 5/27 @ Minnesota)
Byung-Hyun Kim (5/22 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 5/28 @ San Francisco)
Wandy Rodriguez (5/22 @ Washington, 5/27 @ Pittsburgh)
Tim Wakefield (5/23 vs. New York Yankees, 5/28 vs. Tampa Bay)
Jason Marquis (5/23 @ San Francisco, 5/28 @ San Diego)
Steve Trachsel (5/23 vs. Philadelphia, 5/28 @ Florida)
Gavin Floyd (5/23 @ New York Mets, 5/28 vs. Milwaukee)
Chien-Ming Wang (5/22 @ Boston, 5/28 vs. Kansas City)
Hayden Penn (5/23 @ Seattle, 5/28 @ Los Angeles Angels)

Other two-start pitchers this week:
Jeremy Affeldt (5/22 vs. Detroit, 5/27 @ New York Yankees)
Erik Bedard (5/22 @ Seattle, 5/27 @ Los Angeles Angels)
Jon Garland (5/22 vs. Oakland, 5/28 @ Boston)
David Bush (5/22 @ Cincinnati, 5/27 @ Philadelphia)
Zach Day (5/22 vs. Houston, 5/27 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Kameron Loe (5/22 vs. Los Angeles Angels, 5/27 vs. Oakland)
Seth McClung (5/22 @ Toronto, 5/27 @ Boston)
Orlando Hernandez (5/22 vs. Pittsburgh, 5/28 @ Cincinnati)
Ricky Nolasco (5/22 vs. Chicago Cubs, 5/28 New York Mets)
Oliver Perez (5/22 @ Arizona, 5/28 vs. Houston)
Jamey Wright (5/22 vs. St. Louis, 5/28 vs. Colorado)
Mark Hendrickson (5/23 @ Toronto, 5/28 @ Boston)
Runelvys Hernandez (5/23 vs. Detroit, 5/28 @ New York Yankees)
Vicente Padilla (5/23 vs. Los Angeles Angels, 5/28 vs. Oakland)
Joel Pineiro (5/23 vs. Baltimore, 5/28 @ Minnesota)
Kirk Saarloos (5/23 @ Chicago White Sox, 5/28 @ Texas)
Dana Eveland (5/23 @ Cincinnati, 5/28 @ Philadelphia)
Fernando Nieve (5/23 @ Washington, 5/28 @ Pittsburgh)
Ramon Oritz (5/23 vs. Houston, 5/28 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Jorge Sosa (5/23 @ San Diego, 5/28 vs. Chicago Cubs)

At the hitter’s parks:
At Ameriquest Field in Texas: Angels (5/22-24 and A’s (5/25-28)
At US Cellular Field in Chicago (AL): A’s (5/22-24)
At Chase Field in Arizona: Pirates (5/22-24)
At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia: Brewers (5/26-28)
At Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati: Brewers (5/22-24) and Diamondbacks (5/26-28)

Playing seven games this week:
Nationals, Rangers, Red Sox, Mariners, Royals and Tigers

Ratchet them up!

Josh Bard (C, Padres): If you’re in need of a temporary filler for your backstop position, Bard might be your man for the upcoming week. He’s on a 5-game hitting streak and has gone 8-for-16 over that span. He also cranked two home runs.

Andre Ethier (OF, Dodgers): The guy who came over in the Milton Bradley deal is finally paying dividends. Ethier has been getting the starts in left field the last 10 days and has produced a .368/.350.526 line, including a five-hit game on Friday. If you’re looking for help with your average and a little pop, Ethier is your guy.

Eric Byrnes (OF, Diamondbacks): In the world of the Arizona Diamondbacks, only the streakiest survive. Byrnes started the season in the outfield, but was replaced by Jeff DaVanon because of a small slump. Well, Byrnes is back to hitting and has regained notoriety in fantasy baseball circles. He’s hit .500 over the last week with three homers and nine runs scored. He’s not going to do anything special, but he could hit 10 home runs and steal 10 bags for your team over a few months.

Dan Uggla (2B, Marlins): Hanley Ramirez isn’t the only useful middle infielder from Florida. Uggla is hitting over .300 for the season with six home runs, 21 RBI and 29 runs. This kind of production from a second baseman should keep Uggla owned for the rest of the season, if he keeps it up.

Bill Hall (2B/SS/3B, Brewers): With JJ Hardy hitting the DL, Hall finally has a place to play on a full-time basis. He responded by hitting his 9th home run of the season, half of his total output from 2005. He’s also closing in on a 10-game hitting streak and should be started on a daily basis in fantasy baseball now that he is in real life.

Kevin Millwood (SP, Rangers): Is Millwood finally starting to earn his fat check from Texas? He won two games this past week and has collected wins in four of his last five starts. In those last two wins he’s struck our 12 while walking none. He’ll be facing the A’s this week.

Gil Meche (SP, Mariners): Meche is a guy who has started to turn it around as well. He’s won three games in a row, striking out at least five in each contest. Meche isn’t a starter who’s going to blow opposing batters away, but he’s a decent pick up for a spot starter or in deep leagues.

Tyler Walker (RP, Devil Rays): One team’s trash is another team’s treasure. In the case of Walker, the Giants' former closer solved a huge problem for Tampa Bay. He saved two games last week and could save another 20-25. The D-Rays will be playing close games all year long because of a weak pitching staff, so grab Walker.

Chien-Ming Wang (SP, Yankees): Coming into this weekend, New York had the second best team ERA in the American League and Wang has been a big part of it. In his last four starts he’s 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA. He has to start at Boston this week, but finished against the Royals at home, which should be an easy win.

Hayden Penn (SP, Orioles): Baltimore’s top pitching prospect will head back to the majors this week, getting a start at Seattle and Los Angeles. He’s been pitching well in Triple-A, racking up 30 strikeouts in 30 innings with a 1.48 ERA. His first start at SAFECO should be decent because it’s a pitcher’s park and the Angels haven’t been hitting anything lately. Top that off with the fact that none of these hitters have faced Penn this year and you have a quality two-start guy.

Ratchet them down!

Los Angeles Angels' hitters: As a team they are hitting .247 and since May 17 have scored no more than four runs in a game. Even Vlad is having a rough time, going 5-for-21 last week for a .238 average.

Joey Gathright (OF, Devil Rays): Nine stolen bases is alright, but a .204 average is not. Gathright is proving that his bat may not be completely ready for any major league outfield not in the state of Florida, but his speed is what keeps him in the majors. If you’re desperate for steals and can handle him killing your team BA, pick him up.

Jason Giambi (1B, Yankees): In the last week even Giambi’s OBP has been so-so at .360. If you match that with his latest skid in which he’s 3-for-19 with no home runs and no RBI and you’ve got a candidate to get benched. New York faces Boston to start the week, who Giambi has never hit particularly well.

Jimmy Rollins (SS, Phillies): Rollins is playing far under where he should be, considering a lifetime .272 hitter is hitting .240. In the last two season he’s hit .289 and .290, so there’s definitely something going on.

Aramis Ramirez (3B, Cubs): Even with Derrek Lee in the lineup, Ramirez could barely cut it. I’m really starting to think this is a lost season for Ramirez and his owners, as he’s hit a paltry .223 with six homers through almost the first two months.

Randy Johnson (SP, Yankees): Another week, another rough start for the Big Unit. He hasn’t won a game since May 4 and in that game he gave up five runs to Tampa Bay. His 5.62 ERA is just ugly and he’s struck out just 41 hitters. The only thing you can do right now is ride out this slump and hope for the best.

Francisco Rodriguez (RP, Angels): K-Rod isn’t losing his job as closer, so don’t panic, but he’s only had two save chances this entire month because of the Angels’ bats. In his one appearance last week he threw an inning and gave up four runs. You can’t stay sharp if you can’t pitch.

Bronson Arroyo (SP, Reds): Are the wheels finally coming off Arroyo’s hot start? He’s got two loses and a no decision in his last three outings against Arizona, Washington and Pittsburgh - not exactly offensive juggernauts. This week he’s got two starts against Milwaukee and Arizona, so be cautious.

Billy Wagner (RP, Mets): He already had three blown saves before his meltdown against the Yankees over the weekend and has eight saves this season. He gets the job done, but I’m starting to worry just how effective he’ll be the rest of the way. He won’t kill your team by any means, but if you can deal him for a more sure-fire closer, go for it.

Danys Baez (RP, Dodgers): This guy, however, has pretty much lost his grip on LA’s closing duties, but should keep them by default until/if Eric Gagne comes back. He’s 1-for-4 in save chances with a 6.75 ERA in his last six appearances.

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