The Baseball Ticker: Week of August 8, 2005

by Jonathan Leshanski and Ray Flowers
August 7, 2005

Our two start pitcher selections for the week:
A.J. Burnett (ARI, SF) 8/9, 8/14
Cliff Lee (@KC, TB) 8/9, 8/14
Pedro Martinez (@SD, @LAN) 8/9, 8/14
Matt Morris (@MIL, @CHN) 8/8, 8/13
Mark Prior (CIN, STL) 8/9, 8/14
Horacio Ramirez (SF, ARI) 8/9, 8/14
Carlos Silva (@SEA, @OAK) 8/8, 8/14

You Make the Call:
Josh Beckett (@COL, SF) 8/8, 8/13
Sean Douglass (@TOR, @KC) 8/9, 8/14
Rich Harden (LAA, MIN) 8/9, 8/14
Orlando Hernandez (@NYA, @BOS) 8/8, 8/14
Scott Kazmir (@BAL, @CLE) 8/9, 8/14
Mike Maroth (@TOR, @KC) 8/8, 8/13
Wade Miller (TEX, CHA) 8/8, 8/14
Mike Mussina (CHA, TEX) 8/8, 8/13 - tough matchups.
Robinson Tejada (@LAN, @SD) 8/9, 8/14
Javier Vazquez (@FLA, @ATL) 8/9, 8/14

Other Two Start Pitchers:
Jose Acevedo (PIT, WAS), Tony Armas Jr. (@HOU, @COL), Ezequel Astacio (WAS, PIT), Eric Bedard (TB, TOR), Joaquin Benoit (@BOS, @NYA), David Bush (DET, @BAL), Brandon Claussen (@CHN, @MIL), Brad Hennessey (@ATL, @FLA), Felix Hernandez (MIN, LAA), Chan Ho Park (NYN, PHI), Byung-Hyun Kim (FLA, WAS), John Lackey (@OAK, @SEA), Dustin McGowan (DET, @BAL), Gil Meche (MIN, LAA), Brad Penny (PHI, NYN), Ricardo Rodriguez (@BOS, @NYA), Victor Santos (STL, CIN), Jeff Suppan (@MIL, @CHN), David Williams (@COL, @HOU), Jerome Williams (CIN, STL)

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): Marlins (2 Games), Pirates, Nationals (3 Games Each)

Teams with 7 games: Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs, Rangers, Tigers, Yankees
Teams with 8 games: Marlins, Rockies
Everyone else plays six times.

Ratchet them up!

Bobby Abreu (OF, Phillies): Hit a pathetic .214-1-10 in July…do you really think that will continue? Started off just as slow in August before hitting 2 HR with 5 RBI the past two nights. Look for a strong finish from just the 3rd man to have 7 straight 20/20 seasons (Bonds-father and Bonds-son are the other two men).

Russ Adams (SS, Blue Jays): Tearing it up since the break, he appears to have found his stroke big time (.350-2-8-13 in 15 post break games).

Armando Benitez (RP, Giants): Has been rehabbing at class A San Jose and hopes to be back within the next 14 days.

Miguel Cabrera (OF, Marlins): Is it legal to be this hot ? Since the all-star break he has been hotter than the surface temperature of the sun. In 20 games he has hit, and this isn’t a misprint, .447-7-17-18 raising his season AVG to .355. Since 2000 only 4 righties have hit over .350 in a season (Alou, Manny, Garciaparra and Pujols). Looks like the Derrek Lee for Triple Crown talk is about through.

Geoff Jenkins (OF, Brewers): Who’s hotter, Jenkins or M. Cabrera? Well it’s actually pretty close, and that is saying something. Jenkins is just a notch behind after hitting .424-7-21-18 in his last 22 games.

Casey Fossum (SP, D’Rays): Has had a good season overall going 6-8, 3.83 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP in Florida. Even better since the break: in 4 post break starts: 3-1, 2.08, 18 K, 0.85 WHIP in 26 IP.

Dan Johnson (1B/DH, A’s): Hitting .319-7-27-31 for the season and is batting .369-3-9-13 with a 1.040 OPS in 18 games since the break.

Travis Hafner (1B, Indians): Returned from the DL after missing just over 2 weeks after being beaned and suffering post concussion syndrome. Get him back in the lineup.

Matt LeCroy (C, Twins): Should be the beneficiary of a regular DH slot since Torii Hunter went on the shelf. He’s got good power and could offer some surprisingly good offense in a sleeper type role.

Noah Lowry (SP, Giants): While the Giants implode this lefty has actually turned it on to be one of the lone bright spots in their dismal season. Since the all-star break his changeup has fooled quite a few hitters (1-2, 2.55 ERA, 26 K, 1.01 WHIP in 24.2 IP). Averaging 7.9 K per 9 IP for the season.

Scott Kazmir (SP, Devil Rays): Over the last 21 days Kazmir has gone 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 30 Ks.

Jim Thome (1B, Phillies): Started a rehab assignment and could be back very soon.

Todd Helton (1B, Rockies): Will play some rehab ball early in the week and should be back by the weekend if all goes well. Will he pick up from the .400 he hit in July or the .274 he hit in June?

Nomar Garciaparra (SS, Cubs): Was activated off the DL on Friday. Get him back in the lineup but expect a little rust.

Matt Lawton (OF, Cubs): A move to the Friendly Confines and out of PIT has got to do wonders for this 2nd tier outfielder. He has a .380 OBP this season so Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez must be licking their chops after hitting behind Corey Patterson and Neifi Perez most of the year.

Miguel Olivo (C, Padres): Will get some regular at bats and yet another chance to live up to the hype he generated as prospect. He’s a Jason Kendall type player.

Alfonso Soriano (2B, Rangers): Has anyone noticed that he stepped up his play once the he was getting traded out of Texas rumors heated up (.31-6-23-18-8 in the past 30 days). Seems like he wants to stay right where he is.

Felix Hernandez (SP, Mariners): One of the most hyped pitching prospects in the game made his debut last Thursday and gave up just one earned run and three hits to go with 4 k’s over five innings. He’s worth a pickup in keeper and AL only leagues.

Reed Johnson (OF, Blue Jays): Has been so hot that the Jays will give him more at bats at the expense of Alex Rios. Expect Rios to sit in the next week.

Kaz Matsui (2B, Mets): May return next week. It’s hard to get excited by it though. Not even sure why we mentioned it.

Ratchet them down!

Garret Anderson (OF, Angels): What happened? He hit .304-11-65 before the break but only .225-2-6 since (80 AB). A great comeback season is in grave danger.

Eric Bedard (SP, Orioles): Despite good numbers overall (2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP), he just hasn’t had it since he returned from his injured knee (0-3, 5.48 ERA, 1.73 WHIP in 21.1 IP).

Bret Boone (2B, FA): .231 with a .684 OPS for SEA. Unbelievably he was way worse for the Twins (.171 with a .411 OPS in 53 AB). Jeez, did he just loose it in 5 months?

Milton Bradley (OF, Dodgers): So much for injecting some life into the Dodgers. Bradley hasn’t been able to breath enough air to blow up a bushel of balloons for a kids B-day party let alone buoy the Dodgers playoff chances since he came back (.184-1-5 in 37 AB).

Lew Ford (OF, Twins): No choice but to play the struggling OF in Minnesota with Hunter’s injury. You of course, have the option to not play him. Let’s hope you avail yourself of that option after seeing him hit .140-0-2-2 in 17 post all-star break games.

Jeff Francoeur (OF, Braves): HUH, why is he on this list and not the one above since he is hitting .406 with 19 RBI in 19 games? Well, have you seen his BB totals thus far…it’s a big ZERO indicating that when his fall comes, an it will, it might be a major drop.

David DeJesus (OF, Royals): Suffered a concussion in Thursdays game and could miss time or end up on the DL.

Carlos Delgado (1B, Marlins): Has a sore elbow which will sideline him for at least several days, probably longer. Might end up on the DL by the time you read this. Hit only .256 in July.

Ryan Frankin (SP, Mariners): Was suspended 10 days for steroid use.

Torii Hunter (OF, Twins): Broke his ankle and will miss at least 6 weeks.

Chipper Jones (3B/OF, Braves): Has a bruised rotator cuff which is possibly more damaged than they are letting on. If he’s not activated before Monday he could end up on the DL yet again.

Kevin Millwood (SP, Indians): Was suspended five games for intentionally hitting a batter during a game in July. He’s likely to appeal but he could miss a start next week.

Rafael Palmeiro (1B, Orioles): Was suspended 10 games for violation of MLB’s policy on steroids. He’ll be back mid-week but could miss more time if called to testify in front of Congress, again.

Manny Ramirez (OF, Red Sox): Collided with Edgar Renteria on a flyball on Wednesday and suffered some severe bruising on his face and chest. He may miss a few games, but you never know with Manny now do you?

Ivan Rodriguez (C, Tigers): Was supposed to start serving a four game suspension for arguing, rather vehemently, with home plate umpire Ted Barrett and making contact with him. He will appeal but could still miss time next week.

David Riske (RP, Indians): Was suspended four games for intentionally hitting a batter during a game in July. He may appeal and not miss time next week.

Kurt Rueter (SP, Giants): Was demoted to the bullpen - again. No great loss in fantasy circles.

Ichiro Suzuki (OF, Mariners): What happened to Ichiro? Sure he has scored 74 runs on the season, but he is currently in a 0 for 19 slump. He’s had two months this year with an AVG over .350, and two months with an AVG under .290. He’s been all over the map.

Brian Schneider (C, Nationals): Is suffering from bursitis and will miss a few days.

Miguel Tejada (SS, Orioles): Overall, the top SS in the game (.320-22-70-63). Is hitting way below that established level since the break: .281-3-8-8 in 21 games.

Jarrod Washburn (SP, Angels): Was placed on the DL with inflamation of the elbow. This sounds like he might get more than 2 weeks off.

Jason Werth (OF, Dodgers): Was placed on the 15 day DL on the 31st with irritation of the bursa in his left knee.