The Baseball Ticker: Week of July 11, 2005

by Jonathan Leshanski and Ray Flowers
July 10, 2005

Our two start pitcher selections for the week:
No two start pitchers due to the all-star Break

At the best hitters’ parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field (Rangers): No games.
At Bank One Ballpark (Diamondbacks): No games.
At Citizen’s Bank Ballpark (Phillies): Marlins (4 games)
At Coors Field (Rockies): No games.

Teams with 3 games: Astros, Cardinals, Cubs, Rockies
Everyone else plays 4 times.

Ratchet them up!

Orlando Hernandez (SP, White Sox): Should return within several days after the all-star break.

Ryan Freel (UT, Reds): Looks like he could be ready to return right after the break.

Odalis Perez (SP, Dodgers): Should be back in all rotations this week after making a healthy return in Colorado this week.

Jose Vidro(2B, Nationals): Was reactivated from the DL before the break and could provide a huge boost to anyone needing help at the 2B spot.

Ramon Hernandez (C, Padres): Should be back in the lineup this week as he was activated by the Padres.

Bret Boone (2B): Will be playing somewhere next week. Will he be ultra motivated and produce huge numbers in the second half? Currently hitting .231-7-34, from 2001-2004 he never hit fewer than 24 HR or 83 RBI. Also, since 2000 amongst 2B: 10th in AVG (.283), 2nd in HR (139), 2nd in RBI (522) and 3rd in Runs (452).

Brad Lidge (RP, Astros): Should be back in the closer’s role post all-star break as his bicep injury appears almost totally healed.

Juan Pierre (OF, Marlins): Looks like he’s returning to form hitting .355 with 6 SB in the first 7 games of July. Has raised his average from .252 on June 27 to .265.

Tim Hudson (SP, Braves): Should be back in the rotation immediately following the all-star break after a successful week of rehab.

Mike Timlin (RP, Red Sox): Will split closing duties with Curt Schilling until Keith Foulke returns. Timlin could easily get the bulk of saves if Schilling struggles.

Jeff Francour (OF, Braves): A 2002 first round pick will be in the Braves lineup next week due to all the injuries the team has suffered in the outfield. He’s worth a gander in NL-only leagues even though he’s jumping from AA to the bigs. Don’t expect more than a .250 average but he’s got some pop.

Michael Young (SS, Rangers): As if he wasn’t already good enough he hit .520-3-7-7 this past week. Take that all you ‘Jeter should have made the all-star team’ fans.

Todd Helton (1B, Rockies): Watch out below, Helton is back and looking to reek havoc on all pitchers in his path after a huge week (.480 with 7 RBI in 25 AB).

Willy Tavares (OF, Astros): 4 SB the past week…oh, and he hit .438 as well.

Jason Giambi (1B/DH, Yankees): A Giambino sighting? You bet your britches as Giambi finally woke up to the tune of a .529-5-9 week.

Ken Griffey Jr. (OF, Reds): Don’t look now but the last two guys on our list think its 1999. Ken did as well as Giambi this past week hitting .414-3-7-9.

Ratchet them down!

Greg Aquino (RP, D’Backs): Recently returned from the DL with high hopes. IN 3 games in July he has been putrid – 16.88 ERA/3.38 WHIP in 2.2 IP.

Roy Halladay (SP, Blue Jays): Took a vicious liner off his shin, he may be headed for a DL stint.

J.D. Drew (OF, Dodgers): Was hit by a pitch and broke his wrist. This will sideline him until at least September.

Keith Foulke (RP, Red Sox): Was placed on the 15 day DL and has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his knees and will miss at least 6 weeks. Curt Schilling will close part time until Foulke returns.

Brian Jordan (OF, Braves): Was placed on the 15 day DL with inflammation of his left knee.

Kirk Reuter (SP, Giants): Was demoted to the bullpen. Fantasy owners are unlikely to miss him.

Jim Edmonds (OF, Cardinals): On one of his patented done trends…hit only .143 with a HR in 21 AB last week.

Jorge Posada (C, Yankees): 1 for his last 14, his average is down to .263 overall.

Dontrelle Willis (SP, Marlins): In two starts in July he has been very mortal: 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, is a 2nd half fade coming? In 2003 after going 9-1, 2.08 at the break he fell to 5-5 with a 4.60 ERA in the 2nd half. In fact, he has a career 4.30 ERA in the 2nd half.

Josh Beckett (SP, Marlins): Was placed on the DL again this time with a strained oblique. This is his ninth trip to the DL in 4 seasons.

Eddie Guardado (RP, Mariners): It’s all rumor right now but Guardado may end up as a set up man to Chad Cordero in Washington in the near future which would be horrible for his owners.

Jeff Kent (2B, Dodgers): Will probably be fine next week, but he did injure his hamstring and you should be aware of that.

Derrek Lee (1B, Cubs): Supposedly has had some shoulder irritation the last two weeks and he’ll be rested before the break. There is always the chance that this injury may turn out to be more serious than the Cubs are letting on…this might be a good time to see if you could get some top healthy talent in return.

Cesar Izturis (SS, Dodgers): Was placed on the DL with a sore right hamstring, retroactively, and should only miss a single game post break if all goes well.

Carl Pavano (SP, Yankees): Was placed on the 15 day DL because he is suffering from a sore shoulder which is a major concern for the team which usually downplays injuries.

Desi Relaford (MI, Rockies): Is hitting .232 but is 0 for his last 26. But why would he be on your team anyway?

Preston Wilson (OF, Colorado): Will be traded away from the Rockies, possibly to the Nationals. Losing the rarefied air at Coors will hurt, but if he ends up in a good lineup his stats could actually improve.

Rafael Betencourt (RP, Indians): Was suspended 10 days for violation of MLB’s drug policy.

Tom Gordon (RP, Yankees): Was pulled from Thursday’s game with shoulder stiffness

Corey Patterson (OF, Cubs): Was demoted to AAA and may have trouble returning to the ML team this year. Was hitting .232 with 11 HR and 12 SB.

Shawn Estes (SP, Diamondbacks): Was placed on the 15 day DL with what is thought to be a stress reaction in his left foot. He’ll miss between 2-8 weeks.

Dallas McPherson (3B, Angels): Placed on the 15 DL with an inflamed hip. Only hitting .244-8-26 in 61 games.