The Baseball Ticker: Week of July 24, 2006

by Bryan Roth
July 24, 2006

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

Two-start pitchers worth starting:
Barry Zito (7/24 vs. Boston, 7/29 vs. Toronto)
John Lackey (7/24 @ Tampa Bay, 7/30 @ Boston)
Randy Johnson (7/24 @ Texas, 7/30 vs. Tampa Bay)
Josh Beckett (7/24 @ Oakland, 7/29 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Roy Halladay (7/25 @ Seattle, 7/30 @ Oakland)
Curt Schilling (7/25 @ Oakland, 7/30 vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Chris Carpenter (7/25 @ Colorado, 7/30 @ Chicago Cubs)
Roger Clemens (7/25 vs. Cincinnati, 7/30 vs. Arizona)
Carlos Zambrano (7/25 @ New York Mets, 7/30 vs. St. Louis)
Mark Redman (7/25 vs. Baltimore, 7/30 @ Texas)

You make the call:
Kevin Millwood (7/24 vs. New York Yankees, 7/30 vs. Kansas City)
Cliff Lee (7/24 vs. Detroit, 7/30 vs. Seattle)
Brad Radke (7/24 @ Chicago White Sox, 7/30 vs. Detroit)
Jeremy Bonderman (7/24 @ Cleveland, 7/30 @ Minnesota)
Jeff Francis (7/24 vs. St. Louis, 7/29 vs. San Diego)
Greg Maddux (7/24 @ New York Mets, 7/29 vs. St. Louis)
Derek Lowe (7/24 vs. San Diego, 7/30 vs. Washington)
Javier Vazquez (7/24 vs. Minnesota, 7/30 @ Baltimore)
Doug Davis (7/24 vs. Pittsburgh, 7/30 vs. Cincinnati)
Tim Hudson (7/24 @ Philadelphia, 7/29 vs. New York Mets)
Zach Duke (7/24 @ Milwaukee, 7/30 vs. San Francisco)
Aaron Harang (7/25 @ Houston, 7/30 @ Milwaukee)
Matt Morris (7/25 @ Washington, 7/30 @ Pittsburgh)
Jon Lieber (7/25 vs. Arizona, 7/30 vs. Florida)
Kris Benson (7/25 @ Kansas City, 7/30 vs. Chicago White Sox)

Other two-start pitchers:
Casey Janssen (7/24 @ Seattle, 7/29 @ Oakland)
Jason Marquis (7/24 @ Colorado, 7/29 @ Chicago Cubs)
Joel Pineiro (7/24 vs. Toronto, 7/30 @ Cleveland)
Steve Trachsel (7/24 vs. Chicago Cubs, 7/30 @ Atlanta)
Jae Seo (7/24 vs. Los Angeles Angels, 7/30 @ New York Yankees)
Miguel Batista (7/25 @ Philadelphia, 7/30 @ Houston)
Jason Jennings (7/25 vs. St. Louis, 7/30 vs. San Diego)
Mike O’Connor (7/25 vs. San Francisco, 7/30 @ Los Angeles Dodgers)
Chan Ho Park (7/25 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 7/30 @ Colorado)
Anibal Sanchez (7/25 @ Atlanta, 7/30 @ Philadelphia)

Eight games this week:
Phillies

Seven games this week:
A’s, Braves and Rockies.

At the hitter’s parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field in Texas: Yankees (7/24-26) and Royals (7/28-30)
At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia: Braves (7/24), Diamondbacks (7/25-27) and Marlins (7/28-30)
At Coors Field in Colorado: Cardinals (7/24-26) and Padres (7/27-30)
At US Cellular Field in Chicago (AL): Twins (7/24-26)

Ratchet them up!

Brian McCann (C, Braves): McCann caught fire this past week, homering in five straight games while hitting close to .400. He’s been one of the best catchers in fantasy baseball so far and will continue to do so.

Aramis Ramirez (3B, Cubs): Here’s why Ramirez is locked in - Derrek Lee isn’t in the lineup, but he’s still going crazy at the plate. While Lee was on the DL, Ramirez looked lost, but even without D-Lee in the lineup now, Ramirez is still going off. He’s making a great second half push.

Julio Lugo (SS, Devil Rays): He’s expected to be traded this week and he’s been doing a great job auditioning his skills, including that two home run effort against the Orioles. Rumor has him going to Toronto, where he’d be picking up a few more of those bombs in a much better lineup.

Hanley Ramirez (SS, Marlins): It’s been a roller coaster ride for Ramirez who started as hot as anyone in April, cooled down considerably, and how has caught fire again. He’s a great source of steals, but he even cranked three home runs this past week.

Adrian Gonzalez (1B, Padres): All along, he’s been saying he only needed regular playing time to be something special. Well, he’s not that special, but he’s having a hell of a season for playing in PETCO Park. Gonzalez is closing in on 20 homers and his close to .600 last week. No, that’s not a typo.

Scott Olsen (SP, Marlins): Much like Ramirez, he’s played brilliantly as of late, including winning both decisions in the past week. What surprised me the most was his K:BB ratio of 17/6, much improved from earlier in the year.

Ricky Nolasco (SP, Marlins): Another Marlin? For those of you who doubted Florida’s method for rebuilding, think again. These two guys are going to be good and honestly, the Marlins may be able to start really competing as early as next year. Nolasco has had a fine week with two wins and an ERA under 1.00.

Anibel Sanchez (SP, Marlins): I just can’t help myself. Sanchez has been throwing really well and pitches against the Braves and Phillies, both teams that could either crumble or succeed against him with the way they’ve been playing. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to ride a pitcher when he’s hot.

Mark Redman (SP, Royals): He was the hard luck loser against Boston in a 1-0 game, but he did hold the Red Sox to just one run. He’s pitching twice this week, presumably in auditions for other teams. If he gets traded - and the Red Sox are a distinct possibility - his value will jump with the way he’s been pitching all year.

Matt Cain (SP, Giants): Along with Noah Lowry, he’s the key to San Francisco’s second half. He dropped his ERA from June to July by almost three full runs and at just 21, he’s a prime candidate to put things together in the latter half of the season.

Ratchet them down!

Brad Hawpe (OF, Rockies): Hawpe is having a much better year than most thought, but his slugging has dropped more than 250 points since April and his OBP has done the same. He’ hitting the ball for a solid average, but everything else suggests that’s going to end soon.

Bobby Abreu (OF, Phillies): Until he gets traded, he’ll probably stay in his mini slump. It’s hard to play well when you’re under constant speculation that you could be traded any minute. He hit .238 last week and until he finds a greener pasture, don’t expect much.

Jose Reyes (SS, Mets): What happened to Reyes? His average is good, but took a freefall from last month. His slugging has also dropped more by more than .200. He’ll turn it around, but that .182 average from last week doesn’t do it.

Austin Kearns (OF, Nationals): He hit his first home run with Washington over the weekend, but the move from a bandbox to RFK won’t do wonders for his power. Expect a huge drop-off in home runs.

Felipe Lopez (2B/SS, Nationals): Ditto for Lopez. His real appeal in Cincinnati was his speed, where he stole 30 bases. He’ll have a long learning curve to get used to things at Washington, and may not be a threat to really start swiping bags for another week or so.

Jake Peavy (SP, Padres): There’s something wrong with him. Peavy is normally among the best pitchers in all of baseball and all of a sudden, he has become mediocre. He’s injured, plain and simple. He’d be a good buy low candidate if you are very optimistic.

Roy Oswalt (SP, Astros): Another great pitcher who is just having it rough. His ERA (2.97) and WHIP (1.16) suggest he’s pitching normally, but he’s 0-4 in the last month. Weird.

Tom Glavine (SP, Mets): Earlier this season I pointed out that Glavine always has better season on even years. In 2006, he’s pitched well, but this last month has been a tough streatch. He’s only got a 15/14 K:BB ratio with a 3.63 ERA. The telling sign? A 1.73 WHIP. Unless he can right his ship soon, it may be time to trade him before New York gives him plenty of rest for the playoffs.

Derrick Turnbow (RP, Brewers): Did it really take Milwaukee this long to figure out Turnbow can’t close games? Matt Wise and Jose Capellan are the best options for his replacements. Wise has pitched better, but Capellan will be the future closer for this team.

Jeremy Bonderman (SP, Tigers): He has been pitching well, but faces two key match-ups this week at Cleveland and at Minnesota. They’re both away and against divisional rivals gunning for Detroit.

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