The Baseball Ticker: Week of July 25, 2005

by Jonathan Leshanski and Ray Flowers
July 24, 2005

Our Two Start Pitcher Selections for the Week:
Chris Capuano (ARI, SF) 7/26, 7/31
Freddy Garcia (@KC, @BAL) 7/25, 7/31
Randy Johnson (MIN, LAA) 7/26, 7/31
Mark Mulder (@SD, @LAN) 7/26, 7/31
Roy Oswalt (PHI, NYN) 7/26, 7/31
Andy Pettitte (PHI, NYN) 7/25, 7/30
Ben Sheets (ARI, SF) 7/25, 7/30
John Smoltz (WAS, PIT) 7/25, 7/30
Javier Vazquez (@MIL, @CHN) 7/25, 7/30
David Wells (@TB, MIN) 7/25, 7/31
Jake Westbrook (@OAK, @SEA) 7/26, 7/31
Barry Zito (CLE, DET) 7/26, 7/31

You Make the Call:
Daniel Cabrera (TEX, CHA) 7/25, 7/30
Livan Hernandez (@ATL, @FLA) 7/26, 7/31 - Not that confident about his knee.
Jason Johnson (@SEA, @OAK) 7/26, 7/31
Derek Lowe (CIN, STL) 7/25, 7/30
Greg Maddux (SF, ARI) 7/26, 7/31
Brad Radke (@NYA, @BOS) 7/26, 7/31 - Ugh..
Nate Robertson (@SEA, @OAK0 7/25, 7/30
C.C. Sabathia (@OAK, @SEA) 7/25, 7/30
Jason Schmidt (@CHN, @MIL) 7/25, 7/30
Brandon Webb (@MIL, @CHN) 7/26, 7/31

Other projected two start pitchers:
Jose Acevedo (NYN, PHI), Joaquin Benoit (@BAL, @TOR), Paul Byrd (@TOR, @NYA), Gustavo Chacin (LAA, TEX), Josh Fogg (@FLA, @ATL), Jeff Francis (NYN, PHI), Ryan Franklin (DET, CLE), Tom Glavine (@COL, @HOU), Aaron Harang (@LAN, @SD), Mark Hendrickson (BOS, KC), J.P. Howell (CHA, @TB), Kaz Ishii (@COL, @HOU), Cory Lidle (@HOU, @COL), John Lieber (@HOU, @COL), Jose Lima (CHA, @TB), Rodrigo Lopez (TEX, CHA), Noah Lowry (@CHN, @MIL), Eric Milton (@LAN, @SD), Brian Moehler (PIT, WAS), Odalis Perez (CIN, STL), Joel Pineiro (DET, CLE), John Wasdin (@BAL, @TOR), Woody Williams (STL, CIN)

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): No Games
At Coors Field (Rockies): Mets (3 games), Phillies (4 games)

Teams with 7 games: Astros, Cubs, Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Indians, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Phillies, Rangers Reds, Rockies, Royals. Everyone else plays 6 times.

Ratchet them up!

Edgardo Alfonzo (3B, Giants): Returned to the lineup on Friday. He’s not a bad third base option in deep leagues.

Hank Blalock (3B, Rangers): When you hit .379 with 11 runs scored in a week, you make this list. Perhaps his traditional 2nd half fade wont happen this year.

Chris Carpenter (SP, Cardinals): Easy call here, but do you realize just how good he has been? Here are his June and July numbers, and no, we didn’t type them in incorrectly: 7-1, 0.82 ERA, 0.76 WHIP.

Adam Dunn (OF, Reds): Why would they want to trade this guy regardless of how much $ he will make next year? Sure he’s hitting .262 in July, but in those 19 games he has 7 HR, 18 RBI and 18 Runs. Hell, he also has 69 Runs scored, which are the 3rd most in the NL.

Pedro Feliz (3B, SS, OF): Homered for the 3rd straight game on Friday off of the suddenly human D-Train. Shouldn’t lose any PT with the return of Alfonzo.

Jason Giambi (1B, Yankees): Is looking like the Giambi of old. There isn’t a hotter hitter in the game in July as he has hit .389 with 10 HR in 18 games.

Geoff Jenkins (OF, Brewers): Who has the longest current hitting streak in baseball? That’s right, Mr. Geoff and his 15 games. Hitting .455 with 7 Runs and 9 RBI the past week.

John Lackey (SP, Angels): Has 125 K in 123.1 IP this year, not to mention the fact that his season ERA just dipped below 4 after his past 2 starts (2 Wins, 1.46 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 17 K in 12.1 IP).

Mark Loretta (2B, Padres): Came off the DL and returned to the lineup last week hitting his first HR on Friday.

Phil Nevin (OF, Padres): Came off the DL and returned to the lineup last week.

Vincente Padilla (SP, Phillies): Has returned to his pre-injury form in July, just in time for the sliding Phils (2-1, 2.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP). Lost a 17 IP scoreless streak on FRI night.

Curt Schilling (SP/RP, Red Sox): Curt came out on Friday night and said the thinks he can now return to the starting rotation. Should have greater value both to the Sox and you if he does.

Nick Swisher (OF, A’s): Hitting a decent .284 in July, he has a .974 OPS and 16 RBI in 18 games as well.

Ismael Valdez (SP, Marlins): Returned to the Marlins' rotation on Friday. This makes it easier for the Marlins to deal away a pitcher before the deadline and Valdez could slip under a few radars for those desperate for pitching.

Jose Valverde (RP, D’backs): With Bruney’s implosion on FRI. night, could it be that this 99-mph throwing righty will soon get his chance to close in the revolving door in ARI?

Ratchet them down!

Jeremy Bonderman (SP, Tigers): Is appealing a five game suspension resulting from his role in a brawl with the Royals last week. He probably won’t miss time this week but it’s a possibility.

Joe Crede (3B, White Sox): Has a pair of herniated disks in his back and has been playing with pain. This probably limits any value he might have had.

Erubial Durazo (DH, A’s): Is done for the season following Tommy John surgery on his left elbow and his A’s career might likewise be finished.

Kyle Farnsworth (RP, Tigers): Is appealing a six game suspension resulting from his role in a brawl with the Royals last week. He probably won’t miss time this week but it’s a possibility. Great body slam though.

Travis Hafner (1B, Indians): Missed most of last week after being hit in the jaw by a pitch early in the week. He’s shown signs of concussion and could miss serious time or even be DL’d. He could also be back by the time this column is published, but we’d bench him for next week.

Mike Hampton (SP, Braves): Returned from DL and made one start, now will miss his next after he hurt his back getting into a hot tub…and no, we’re not kidding.

Dustin Hermanson (RP, White Sox): Has been having back problems, finally pitched on FRI but gave up 2 runs in his inning. Might be best to hold him out of the lineup right now.

Livan Hernandez (SP, Nationals): Has been suffering from right knee problems but has vowed that he’ll play for pain…that is after he said he was 99.9% sure he was through for the year. When will players learn they shouldn’t speak to the media when they are angry?

Ramon Hernandez (C, Padres): Is still in pain from his wrist injury and is day to day. He could decide to have the surgery which would probably sideline him the rest of the way.

Runelvys Hernandez (SP, Royals): Is appealing a ten game suspension resulting from his role in a brawl with the Tigers last week. He probably won’t miss time this week but it’s a possibility.

Jason Jennings (SP, Rockies): Cross him off the list of players that are likely to be moved before the trading deadline. He broke his hand and will miss the remainder of the season.

Placido Polanco (2B/3B, Tigers): Has a strained left hamstring and has been placed on the 15 day DL.

Scott Rolen (3B, Cardinals): Was placed on the 15 day DL again after complaining of more pain in his surgically rebuilt shoulder. Expect this DL stay to be much longer than 15 days until Rolen feels he can swing normally.

Reggie Sanders (OF, Cardinals): Was placed on the DL with a fracture of the fibula in his right leg. He’ll miss a month, more likely two.

Mike Sweeney (1B/DH, Royals): Was hit in the hand by a pitch thrown by Toronto’s Pete Walker on Friday. He’s day to day and could miss some time early in the week…shocking huh?

Frank Thomas (DH, White Sox): Returned to his regular role, that of occupying a DL slot, on Friday. The pain in his ankle which was surgically repaired earlier this season has become too much. He’s more likely to miss 6 weeks than just 15 days.

Dontrelle Willis (SP, Marlins): Has been dreadful his last three starts lasting no more than 5.2 innings in any of them and giving up 23 runs in just 13 innings work (15.92 ERA). It may be locking the barn door after the fact but it's time to drop him onto your bench until he finds his form again.

Craig Wilson (C/OF/1B, Pirates): Came off the DL last week and promptly returned to it this time with a broken 5th metacarpal (pinkie) after being hit by a pitch.

Kerry Wood (SP, Cubs): Left a game last week with shoulder pain and had a steroid shot in the shoulder to reduce inflammation. He’ll probably miss the whole week. All that talent, too bad his body wont allow him to use it.

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