The Baseball Ticker: Week of August 1, 2005

by Jonathan Leshanski and Ray Flowers
July 31, 2005

With the trading deadline just hours away things can change rapidly - especially with two start pitchers and matchups. Keep your ears open and set your lineup as late as possible.

Our two start pitcher selections for the week:
Mark Buehrle (@BAL, SEA) 8/1, 8/6
Chris Carpenter (FLA, ATL) 8/2, 8/7
Roger Clemens (@ARI, @SF) 8/2, 8/7 - Sweet matchups.
Bartolo Colon (BAL, TB) 8/2, 8/7
Zach Duke (@ATL,LAD ) 8/1, 8/6
Jon Garland (TOR, SEA) 8/2, 8/7
Tim Hudson (PIT, @STL) 8/1, 8/6
Estaban Loaiza (LAD, SD) 8/2, 8/7
Johan Santana (OAK, BOS) 8/1, 8/6
Tim Wakefield (KC, @MIN) 8/2, 8/7
Jeff Weaver (@WAS, @PIT) 8/2, 8/7

You make the call:
Jason Johnson (SEA, CLE) 8/2, 8/7
Jason Marquis (FLA, ATL) 8/1, 8/6
Vincente Padilla (CHN, MIL) 8/2, 8/7 - Hot lately but pitching at home.
Chris Young (TB, BAL) 8/2, 8/7 - a chance to rebound?
Dontrelle Willis (@STL, @CIN) 8/2, 8/7 - good hitting teams
Carlos Zambrano (@PHI, @NYN) 8/2, 8/7 Zambrano v. Zambrano
Victor Zambrano (MIL, CHN) 8/2, 8/7

Other two Start Pitchers
Joe Blanton (@MIN, @KC), Bruce Chen (CHA, @TEX), Scott Elarton (NYA, @DET), Dan Haren (@MIN, @KC), Runelvys Hernandez (@BOS, OAK), Al Leiter (@CLE, @TOR), Seth McClung (@TEX, @LAA), Joe Mays (OAK, BOS), Jamie Moyer (@DET, @CHA), Ramon Ortiz (ATL, FLA), Sidney Ponson (@LAA, @TEX), Victor Santos (@NYN, @PHI), Jorge Sosa (@CIN, @STL), Brett Tomko (COL, HOU), Josh Towers (@CHA, NYA), Ishmael Valdez (@STL, @CIN), Claudio Vargas (HOU, COL), Kip Wells (SD, LA), Jamie Wright (@SF, @ARI)

At the best hitters’ parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field (Rangers): Devil Rays, Orioles (3 Games Each)
At Bank One Ballpark (Diamondbacks): Astros, Rockies (3 Games Each)
At Citizen’s Bank Ballpark (Phillies): Cubs, Brewers (3 Games Each)
At Coors Field (Rockies): No Games.

Teams with 7 games: A’s, Braves, Cardinals, Marlins, Orioles, Pirates, Twins, White Sox
Everyone else plays six times.

Ratchet them up!

Adam Eaton (SP, Padres): Appears to be ready to return to the Pads, though it looks like he will pitch out of the bullpen since his hand injury is not letting him throw his breaking ball effectively. Expect him to be activated soon.

Roy Halladay (SP, Blue Jays): Is expected to return to the rotation as early as Tuesday but no matter what he should get a start next week.

Carl Pavano (SP, Yankees): Is expected to return to the rotation by next weekend. That doesn’t mean he’ll be good.

Adam Dunn (OF, Reds): Let’s hope that the Reds aren’t morons and they hang on to one of best sluggers in the game. On absolute Fire in July with 10 HR and 26 RBI in 26 games played.

Nomar Garciaparra (SS, Cubs): Has been doing well in rehab starts, he could be activated and possibly signed to a contract extension.

Victor Martinez (C, Indians): Finally starting to hit .306-8-31 in his past 48 games. He has been even hotter lately with 14 RBI in his past 9 games.

Roy Oswalt (SP, Astros): Overall he is 14-8, 2.33, 114, 1.07 which places him 2nd in Wins, 3rd in ERA, 14th in K, 6th in WHIP and 1st in IP in baseball. He hasn’t been too bad the past 2 months either going 9-2, 1.51 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP.

John Patterson (SP, Nationals): Only 4 Wins to show for all his efforts. Currently he ranks 5th in MLB in ERA, 11th in WHIP, 6th in BAA…plus he has been pretty good since the break: 1.23 ERA, 0.86 WHIP with 27 K in 22 IP.
Travis Hafner (1B, Indians): Will be eligible to come off the DL this week but if he’ll be ready to play is unknown.

Milton Bradley (OF, Dodgers): Returned to action last week. Get him back in the lineup.

Steve Trachsel (SP, Mets): Heads up warning here. Trachsel could be back as early as this week, but more likely will not return to the rotation until next week. That could change if the Mets make some deals.

Chris Shelton (1B, Tigers): Hitting .359-9-34-34-0 in 181 AB, he has also hit over .330 all three months he has been in the big leagues. Amongst all 1B with over 175 AB, Shelton is 2nd in AVG, 9th in OBP (.406) and 5th in OPS at .981. That ain’t half-bad for Carlos Pena’s replacement is it?

Shawn Chacon (SP, Yankees): Opinions suggest that the Yankees were scraping the bottom of the barrel when they acquired Chacon but he has pitched very well away from Coors all season (3.12 ERA) and he should have better run support. Still the pressure and changing leagues probably won’t help.

Chan Ho Park (SP, Padres): Moving to a very pitcher friendly park and a very weak division could make Park a pleasant surprise. Keep an eye on how he fares his first few starts, his best years were in LA.

Phil Nevin (1B, Rangers): Take away PETCOs pitcher friendly dimensions and drop Nevin back into a great offensive lineup and his stats can’t go anywhere but up.

Larry Bigbie (OF, Orioles): Playing at Coors often makes even a middling hitter into a very good one, keep an eye on how Bigbie’s playing time shakes out and how he hits in Colorado.


Ratchet them down!

Brian Roberts (2B, Orioles): The inevitable slow down has begun July since he is batting only .219 for the month (in 96 AB).

Torii Hunter (OF, Twins): Sprained a tendon in his left ankle on Friday and will miss some time, probably 4 to 6 weeks. Keep him on your bench.

Frank Thomas (DH, White Sox): Looks to be done for the rest of the season after a fracture was detected in his ankle close to the site he had surgically repaired.

Eric Byrnes (OF, Orioles): After a short stay in Colorado he was dealt to Baltimore. He didn’t do much in a Rockies uniform but anytime you leave Coors Field your value takes a hit even if Camden Yards is a bandbox.

Ramon Hernandez (C, Padres): Was placed on the 15 day DL and underwent surgery on his ailing left wrist. He probably won’t be back until September at the earliest.

Gil Meche (SP, Mariners): Has been experiencing some shoulder stiffness and could miss another start or worse. He’s pitching badly anyway.

Carlos Delgado (1B, Marlins): Has a sore elbow which will sideline him for at least several days, probably longer. Hitting only .256 in July.

Derek Lowe (SP, Dodgers): Had to be pulled from his last start (on the 25th) with a blister - this may or may not be a problem next week (though he gave up only 1 hit in that start).

Kevin Brown (SP, Yankees): Went back on the DL, Brown and the Yankees are supporting the sports medicine industry once again. It’s a back issue.

Brandon Backe (SP, Astros): Was placed on the DL with a strained intercostal muscle. This is the type of injury which can take a while to heal, 2 to 4 weeks is the estimate.

Kerry Wood (SP, Cubs): Is in limbo, he’ll need off-season surgery on his shoulder but may be healthy enough to pitch out of the bullpen. He won’t be a closer so his value takes a huge hit.

Matt Clement (SP, Red Sox): Took a line drive off the noggin last week and despite a clean bill of health it wouldn’t surprise us to see him miss a start or two or at least be shaky the first time out.

Trot Nixon (1B, OF, Red Sox): Was placed on the DL with a strained oblique muscle, he’ll miss at least 15 days. This should open the door for Kevin Millar and Gabe Kapler to get a few ABs.

Laynce Nix (OF, Rangers): Will miss the remainder of the season after surgery to repair a torn muscle in his right shoulder.

Mike Hampton (SP, Braves): Returned to the DL, this time with a back injury suffered in a hot tub mishap (and no, we are not making that up). He’ll miss at least a week or two.

Larry Walker (OF, Cardinals): Has been bothered by a herniated disk in his neck - this is a very unpredictable injury and it could end his season, or he could be pain free in a few days. In any case he’s on the 15 day DL.

Bob Bruney (RP, Diamondbacks): Has been dreadful as a closer and with Brandon Lyon just days away from returning he’s likely to lose the closers job very soon.

Todd Helton (1B, Rockies): Strained his left calf and will be headed to the DL next week. A shame since he was finally turning his season around (.400 with 4 HR in 75 July AB).

Jason Jennings (SP, Rockies): Will miss the rest of the season with a finger injury suffered on the basepaths. Shouldn’t pitchers be good enough athletes not to get injured while running?

Johnny Estrada (C, Braves): Has been suffering from intermittent back pain and could miss more time next week.

Oscar Robles (IF, Dodgers): Hitting .313 in July, unfortunately that includes a current 0 for 25 tailspin.

David Eckstein (SS, Cardinals): In the past 30 days he is hitting .198-0-5-5-1. Too bad since he was hitting .288 before July.

Dontrelle Willis (SP, Marlins): Even with 7 SO innings the other night, he has still been poor in July: 2-3, 7.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP in 29.1 IP. His career numbers show a surprising fall off after the all-star break.
BEFORE the Break: 29-10, 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, AFTER the Break: 9-13, 4.66 ERA, 1.33 WHIP.

Jorge Posada (C, Yankees): Hitting .175-3-8-5-0 in the past 30 days. On pace to have his worst season since before the turn of the century. Hitting a measly .229 with RISP this year.

Chris Young (SP, Rangers): He has decent overall numbers 8-6, 4.54, 100, 1.29. Unfortunately, he has been pathetic in July: 10.18 ERA, 1.87 WHIP. Will he wilt with the summer heat in Texas?

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