The Baseball Ticker: Week of August 22, 2005

by Jonathan Leshanski and Ray Flowers
August 21, 2005

Our two start pitcher selections for the week:
Josh Beckett (@MIL, @CHN) 8/23, 8/28
Roger Clemens (@SD, @LAD) 8/23, 8/28
Freddy Garcia (@MIN, @SEA) 8/23, 8/28
Tim Hudson (@CHN, @MIL) 8/22, 8/28
Kevin Millwood (@TB, @TOR) 8/22, 8/27
Mark Mulder (@PIT, @WAS) 8/22, 8/27
Roy Oswalt (@SD, @LAN) 8/22, 8/27
David Wells (@KC, DET) 8/22, 8/28
Woody Williams (HOU, COL) 8/22, 8/28
Dontrelle Willis (LAD, @CHN) 8/22, 8/27
Jaret Wright (TOR, KC) 8/22, 8/28
Carlos Zambrano (ATL, FLA) 8/22, 8/28
Victor Zambrano (@ARI, @SF) 8/23, 8/28

You make the call:
Chris Capuano (FLA, ATL) 8/23, 8/28
Zach Duke (STL, CIN) 8/23, 8/28 - Reality might set in this week.
Tom Glavine (@ARI, @SF) 8/22, 8/27
John Lieber (@SF, @ARI) 8/22, 8/28
Noah Lowry (PHI, NYN) 8/22, 8/28
Jeff Weaver (COL, HOU) 8/23, 8/28
Brandon Webb (NYN, PHI) 8/22, 8/27
Jake Westbrook (@TB, @TOR) 8/23, 8/28
Chris Young (SEA, MIN) 8/23, 8/28 - v. J. Santana

Other two Start Pitchers
Tony Armas Jr (CIN, STL), Joe Blanton (@DET, @BAL), Scott Downs (@NYA, CLE), Eric DuBose (LAA, OAK), Josh Fogg (STL, CIN), Zack Greinke (BOS, @NYA), Mark Hendrickson (CLE, LAA), Luke Hudson (@WAS, @PIT), Al Leiter (TOR, KC), Jason Marquis (@PIT, @WAS), Jamie Moyer (@TEX, CHA), Odalis Perez (@FLA, HOU), Nate Robertson (OAK, @BOS), Josh Towers (@NYA, CLE), Claudio Vargas (NYN, PHI), Doug Waechter (CLE, LAA), Jarrod Washburn (@BAL, @TB), Jamey Wright (@LAD, @SD)

At the best hitters’ parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field (Rangers): Mariners, Twins (3 games each)
At Bank One Ballpark (Diamondbacks): Mets (4 games), Phillies (3 games)
At Citizen’s Bank Ballpark (Phillies): No Games.
At Coors Field (Rockies): No Games.

Teams with 7 games: Blue Jays, Cardinals, Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Indians, Marlins, Mets, Pirates, Yankees,
Everyone else plays six times.

Ratchet them up!

Moises Alou (OF, Giants): Came off the DL and returned to the Giants lineup. You can do better despite his gaudy AVG (.328).

Casey Blake (3B/OF, Indians): A season long disappointment, he’s actually hitting .308 in August, well above his season mark of .240. Don’t forget he hit .271 with 28 HR last year (currently he has 14 HR).

Sean Casey (1B, Reds): While his power numbers are nothing to write home about (7 HR, 47 RBI), especially for a 1B, his .315 is solid. In fact, he’s been as hot as a jalepeno pepper in August hitting .373.

Prince Fielder (1B, Brewers): Was called up from AAA Nashville and could start eating into Lyle Overbay’s playing time the rest of the way.

Tony Graffanino (1B/2B/3B, Red Sox): The “super-sub” has quietly put together and excellent season hitting .309 before the break, .329 since. He’s kicked it up a notch the past 30 days: .360-1-10-17.

Jerry Hairston Jr. (2B/OF, Cubs): Was called up from AAA Iowa where he was rehabbing. With the call up of Corey Patterson, who knows how the PT situation will play out however.

Matt Lecroy (C, Twins): .273-4-10 in 14 August games. He has been getting time at DH as well with the injuries to Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones. 3 HR his last 2 games as well.

Jason Lane (OF, Astros): In 27 games since the all-star break this perennial prospect has finally become bonified hitting .370-5-19 in 92 AB since the break.

Todd Linden (OF, Giants): Even the return of Alou shouldn’t cut into his PT since he is hitting .444 (12 for 27) in August.

Larry Walker (OF, Cardinals): Returned from the DL.

Travis Lee (1B, D-rays): His overall numbers, well, they aren’t too good (.269-6-25-38-6). However, astute fantasy owners will realize he has turned it up since the break hitting .347 with 4 HR and a .982 OPS in 26 games.

Luis Matos (OF, Orioles): Has pushed his season AVG up to .300 with a blistering .439 in 12 August games.

Yadier Molina (C, Cardinals): Returned from the DL and should be back behind the plate with regularity. Hit .321 and .279 his last two full months.

Jae Seo (SP, Mets): Has given up just one run in the last 30+ innings and could be a late season surprise.

Jason Vargas (SP/RP, Marlins): Can everyone in FLA pitch or what? Vargas is 3-1, 2.89, 26 K, 1.18 in 28 IP after putting up solid minor league numbers (7-4, 2.50 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 118 K in 108 IP).

So Taguchi (OF, Cardinals): Injuries to Larry Walker and Reggie Sanders have given this import PT, and he has responded. In 32 games since the break he is hitting .357-2-15-16-4 with a .925 OPS.

Gary Matthews (OF, Rangers): Since the break Gary is hitting .325-7-22-4 in 126 AB.


Ratchet them down!

The Kansas City Royals: Losers of 19 straight games during which they have hit .221 and have an ERA of 6.97. This is the 5th longest losing streak since 1961 (the Phils in 61 lost 23 straight, the all-time record). When will it stop? Pools are starting, and it appears the money is on Sundays game with Zack Grienke on the hill.

Garrett Anderson (OF, Angels): Did not play last week and the team is awaiting blood results. This might be related to the arthritis problems which sidelined him much of last season. What is certain is that his injury might not be related to his back but it might have something to do with the sciatic nerve in his hip The DL seems likely.

Mark Bellhorn (2B/OF, Red Sox): Was designated for assignment. His Red Sox career is most likely done.

Brian Brunny (RP, Diamondbacks): Was designated for assignment, the D’Backs have cut their losses here and inserted Jose Valverde into the closers role (where have you gone Brandon Lyon?).

Paul Konerko (1B, White Sox): Strained his back during batting practice on Friday night. He is day to day and could miss time next week.

Kirk Reuter (SP, FA): Was released by the Giants. Looks like he might catch on with the Cubs, Cardinals or Angels as a reliever.

Kevin Gryboski (RP, Rangers): Was suspended three games for verbal abuse of an umpire.

Nomar Garciaparra (SS, Cubs): Is day to day with a back strain. This seems to happen to him a lot. Maybe he should get on the Mia Hamm training program.

Russ Otriz (SP, D’backs): A lost season for this former winner. For the season, he has a 39 K and 48 BB in 86 2/3 IP to go along with a 6.44 ERA.

Scott Rolen (3B, Cardinals): Scott is done for the season but should be ready for spring training if his surgery on his ailing shoulder goes well.

Scott Podsednik (OF, White Sox): Was placed on the 15 day DL with a strained adductor muscle. He’ll probably miss several weeks.

Mike Piazza (C, Mets): Has a small fracture in his hand, and it looks like he might not be able to avoid a trip to the DL. At a minimum sit him this week.

Keith Foulke (RP, Red Sox): While pitching in a simulated game to fellow DL'er Trot Nixon, he was hit by a line drive on the elbow, and will have his rehab pushed back a couple of days.

Carlos Guillen (OF, Tigers): Was DL'd with right knee problems…again.

Rondell White (OF, Tigers): Dislocated his shoulder August 14th and will miss at least the next couple o’ weeks.

Ryan Freel (2B/3B/OF, Reds): Has torn cartilage in his knee that required surgery today. Will be out at least 3 weeks.

Khalil Greene (SS, Padres): Will miss 2-3 weeks with a broken bone. At least this time it’s not in his hands. 2 words - Calcium Supplements.

Brady Clark (OF, Brewers): Was placed on the 15 day DL with a ribcage injury.

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