The Baseball Ticker: Week of May 29, 2006

by Bryan Roth
May 29, 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:
Brett Myers (5/30 vs. Washington, 6/4 @ Los Angeles Dodgers)
Roy Oswalt (5/29 @ St. Louis, 6/4 vs. Cincinnati)
Jason Marquis (5/29 @ Florida, 6/4 @ Chicago Cubs)
CC Sabathia (5/30 vs. Chicago White Sox, 6/4 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Dan Haren (5/29 vs. Kansas City, 6/3 vs. Minnesota)
John Lackey (5/29 vs. Minnesota, 6/4 @ Cleveland)
Roy Halladay (5/29 vs. Boston, 6/4 @ Tampa Bay)
Brad Penny (5/29 @ Atlanta, 6/3 vs. Philadelphia)

You make the call:
Javier Vazquez (5/29 @ Cleveland, 6/3 vs. Texas)
Cliff Lee (5/29 vs. Chicago White Sox, 6/3 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Jarrod Washburn (5/29 @ Texas, 6/4 vs. Kansas City)
Jeremy Bonderman (5/29 vs. New York Yankees, 6/3 vs. Boston)
Randy Johnson (5/29 @ Detroit, 6/3 @ Baltimore)
Matt Clement (5/29 @ Toronto, 6/4 @ Detroit)
Jon Lieber (5/29 vs. Washington, 6/4 @ Los Angeles Dodgers)
Doug Davis (5/29 @ Pittsburgh, 6/3 vs. Washington)
Matt Morris (5/29 @ Florida, 6/4 @ New York Mets)
Greg Maddox (5/29 vs. Cincinnati, 6/4 @ St. Louis)
Mark Buehrle (5/30 @ Cleveland, 6/4 vs. Texas)

Other two-start pitchers:
Vicente Padilla (5/29 vs. Seattle, 6/4 @ Chicago White Sox)
Jorge Sosa (5/29 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/3 vs. Arizona)
Jason Jennings (5/29 @ San Diego, 6/4 vs. Florida)
Steve Trachsel (5/29 vs. Arizona, 6/4 vs. San Francisco)
Brad Radke (5/29 @ Los Angeles Angels, 6/3 @ Oakland)
Mark Redman (5/29 @ Oakland, 6/4 @ Seattle)
Mike O’Connor (5/29 @ Philadelphia, 6/3 @ Milwaukee)
Scott Olsen (5/29 vs. San Francisco, 6/4 @ Colorado)
Elizardo Ramirez (5/29 @ Chicago Cubs, 6/4 @ Houston)
Victor Santos (5/29 vs. Milwaukee, 6/3 vs. San Diego)
Mike Thompson (5/29 vs. Colorado, 6/4 @ Pittsburgh)
Casey Fossum (5/30 @ Baltimore, 6/4 vs. Toronto)
Brad Halsey (5/30 vs. Kansas City, 6/4 vs. Minnesota)
Rodrigo Lopez (5/30 vs. Tampa Bay, 6/4 vs. New York Yankees)
Mike Maroth (5/30 vs. New York Yankees, 6/4 vs. Boston)
Aaron Small (5/30 @ Detroit, 6/4 @ Baltimore)
Tony Armas Jr. (5/30 @ Philadelphia, 6/4 @ Milwaukee)
Miguel Batista (5/20 @ New York Mets, 6/3 @ Atlanta)
Jorge De La Rosa (5/30 @ Pittsburgh, 6/4 vs. Washington)
Zach Duke (5/30 vs. Milwaukee, 6/4 vs. San Diego)
Edgar Gonzalez (5/30 @ New York Mets, 6/4 @ Atlanta)
Aaron Sele (5/30 @ Atlanta, 6/4 vs. Philadelphia)
John Thomson (5/30 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/4 vs. Arizona)
Scott Baker (5/30 @ Los Angeles Angels, 6/4 @ Oakland)

At the hitter’s parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field in Texas: Mariners (5/29-31)
At US Cellular Field in Chicago (AL): Rangers (6/2-4)
At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia: Nationals (5/29-31)
At Coors Field in Colorado: Marlins (6/2-4)

Playing seven games this week:
A’s, Indians, Tigers, White Sox, Braves, Pirates, Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies

Ratchet them up!

Eric Byrnes (OF, Diamondbacks): Byrnes has secured a spot in the outfield for himself with a sizzling last two weeks. In his past 13 games he’s hit .368 with five home runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases.

Corey Patterson (OF, Orioles): Like Byrnes, Patterson is back in the driver’s seat for playing time and is a great stolen base threat when he’s on the field. He’s got three swipes this past week and already has 16 on the season to go along with five home runs and 23 runs. His batting average is way up from last year too, at .278.

Coco Crisp (OF, Red Sox): That’s right, Coco’s back! After being out since April 9, Crisp is set to make is debut this week. He’ll be inserted right at the top of Boston’s order and should be a steady source of runs the rest of the way. Expect 10 homers and 10 steals as a minimum with a .300 average.

Kevin Youkilis (1B/3B, Red Sox): Even with the return of Crisp and the excellent play by Willy Mo Pena, Youkilis should lose no time with the way he’s been hitting (and playing in the field). The Greek God of Walks is turning into one of the nicest surprises of the baseball season in real life and fantasy, and hit .385 with a .529 OBP over the last week.

Marcus Thames (OF, Tigers): Meet Dimitri Young’s replacement. Thames has always been a guy that when he plays, he produces. Unfortunately, he doesn’t play much. Look at it this way, in his last 336 at bats, he’s hit 25 home runs. That’s kind of crazy. He will hit as long as he’s in the lineup, so get him.

Ken Ray (RP, Braves): The closer-by-committee is officially on in Atlanta and Ray is the #2 guy in line behind the troublesome Chris Reitsma. He’s pitched well throughout the early season and could take on the closer’s role for good if he pitches well over the next couple weeks.

Jered Weaver (SP, Angels): Jeff’s younger brother is officially part of the Los Angeles rotation while Bartolo Colon is out and he pitched a gem in his debut against the Orioles, throwing seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts. He was lights out in Triple-A and he’ll have it easy this week starting with a match-up against Tampa Bay.

Dan Haren (SP, A’s): He’s 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last four starts and faces Kansas City and Minnesota this week. A must start.

Matt Cain (SP, Giants): Cain has picked himself up in the last week, going 2-0 in his last two starts with 12 Ks and a 0.56 ERA. He’ll be pitching at Shea this week, so he may be looking at his third win in as many chances.

Livan Hernandez (SP, Nationals): Livan is back after winning two straight this week against Baltimore and the Dodgers. He’s dropped his ERA almost a full run in that span and looks to be getting back to normal.

Ratchet them down!

Kaz Matsui (2B, Mets): Anderson Hernandez is right around the corner and should be finishing up a rehab assignment in the minors soon and Matsui is hitting a pathetic .176 in 14 games. When Hernandez gets back, Matsui should hit the bench.

Vernon Wells (OF, Blue Jays): Wells has hit a cold spell in May, hitting .237 this month with only two home runs. Compare that to the .396 BA and nine homers he hit last month and you can see a problem. He hit .182 this past week, but should heat up come June, when he’s a .326 lifetime hitter.

Victor Martinez (C, Indians): He could be fantasy’s top catcher, if it weren’t for his gross inconsistencies. He hung out right above the Mendoza line last week and starts off this week with a four-game set against the White Sox, who he’s never hit particularly well against.

Carlos Delgado (1B, Mets): Delgado fell off the map last week, barely hitting above .100. He’ll continue to start over Julio Franco, but keep an eye on his performance as it may be wise to bench him until he heats up.

Felipe Lopez (2B/SS, Reds): He has been up and down this year, but mostly up. He’ll continue to start for Cincinnati, but if he struggles, there’s lots of other options on the bench.

Jeff Weaver (SP, Angels): While his brother is on the rise, Jeff might be bumped out of the rotation for Jered once Colon returns. He’s 1-3 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings.

Greg Maddux (SP, Cubs): Maddux continues to freefall and things don’t get any easier this week pitching against the Reds and Cardinals offenses. He hasn’t won and carries a 7.54 ERA in four starts.

Royals’ pitching: It’s your guess who will be the next closer of the day in Kansas City. Aside from no starters worth having, the Royals have no set closer after Elmer Dessens went 0-3 with a 10.80 ERA and a blown save during his time with the title. When’s Mike MacDougal getting back?

Andy Pettitte (SP, Astros): You think Houston really wants Roger Clemens to come back? Pettitte has been a disappointment since a hot start, especially last week. He only stuck around for three innings against the Nationals, giving up seven runs. His season ERA stands at 5.76.

Cliff Lee (SP, Indians): Speaking of disappointments, Lee has done his far share of breaking fantasy owners’ hearts in 2006 after posting great numbers last year. In 10 starts this season he has only allowed fewer than three runs three times.

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