The Baseball Ticker: Week of August 29, 2005

by Ray Flowers
August 28, 2005

Our two start pitcher selections for the week:
Mark Buehrle (@TEX, DET)8/29, 9/3
A.J. Burnett (STL, NYM) 8/30, 9/4
Shawn Chacon (@SEA, @OAK) 8/30, 9/4
Bartolo Colon (OAK, SEA) 8/30, 9/4
Jon Garland (@TEX, DET) 8/30, 9/4
Mike Mussina (@SEA, @OAK) 8/29, 9/3
Jake Peavy (ARI, @MIL) 8/30, 9/4
Jae Seo (PHI, @FLA) 8/30, 9/4
Carlos Silva (@KC, @CLE) 8/30, 9/4

You make the call:
Chris Carpenter (@FLA, @HOU) 8/30, 9/4
Matt Clement (TB, BAL) 8/29, 9/3
Livan Hernandez (@ATL, FLA) 8/30, 9/4 - knee issues
Brad Penny (@CHN, @COL) 8/30, 9/4 - not that brave.
Curt Schilling (TB, BAL) 8/30, 9/4 - I want to see a good start first.
Jorge Sosa (WAS, Cin) 8/30, 9/4
Jerome Williams (LAD, PIT) 8/30, 9/4 - weak opponents
Barry Zito (@LAA, NYA) 8/30, 9/4 - tough opponents

Other two Start Pitchers
Ezequiel Astacio (CIN, STL), Erik Bedard (OAK, @BOS), Joaquin Benoit (CHA, @KC), Jeremy Bonderman (@CLE, @CHA), David Bush (BAL, TB), D.J, Carrasco (MIN, TB), Brandon Claussen (@HOU, @ATL), Aaron Cook (@SF, LAD), Juan Dominguez (CHA, @KC), Scott Elarton (DET, @MIN), Ryan Franklin (NYA, @LAA), Jeff Harris (NYA, @LAA), DJ Houlton (@CHN, @COL), Scott Kazmir (@BOS, @TOR), Byung Hyun Kim (@SF, LAN), Jose Lima (MIN, TEX), Rodrigo Lopez (@TOR, @BOS), Seth McClung (@BOS, @TOR), Mike Maroth (@CLE, @CHA), Tomo Ohka (PIT, SD), Ramon Ortiz (@PIT, @ATL), Russ Ortiz (@SD, @SF), Kirk Saarloos (@BAL, NYA), John Thomson (WAS, CIN), Brett Tomko (COL, @ARI), Kip Wells (CIN, CHN), Woody William’s (ARI, @MIL),

At the best hitters’ parks this week:
At Ameriquest Field (Rangers): Royals (4 games)
At Bank One Ballpark (Diamondbacks): Giants (3 games)
At Citizen’s Bank Ballpark (Phillies): Mets, Nationals (3 games each).
At Coors Field (Rockies): Dodgers (3 games).

Teams with 7 games: A’s, Braves, Devil Rays, Mariners, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Rangers, Reds, Royals, Tigers, White Sox, Yankees.

Everyone else plays six times.

Ratchet them up!

Joe Blanton (SP, A’s): Has had an incredible August, rivaled only by that of Jae Seo (SP, Mets), both have pitched lights out this month with ERA’s of less than one while going unbeaten.

Brady Clark (OF, Brewers): Was activated from the DL on Friday and went 1-4 with a run scored. He was on the DL with bruised ribs which could slow him down for a few more days.

Brad Claussen (SP, Reds): Who leads baseball in wins the past 31 days? If you guessed Claussen, you’re good (he has a 5-0 record).

Victor Diaz (OF, Mets): With the injury to Mike Cameron, Diaz returns to the Mets OF. He has hit well in August...314-4-11-12 in 13 games.

Chris Duffy (OF, Pirates): Has been on fire lately and playing regularly since the trade of Matt Lawton. Batting .348 in his last 115 AB since the break.

Adam Eaton (SP, Padres): Returned from the DL. He’s a good pitcher and might be available in some leagues. Now if only his finger can hang on.

Lew Ford (OF, Twins): Having an average year after last years breakout, Ford has recently been leading the Twins charge for the wildcard. After hitting a horrid .173-0-2 in July, he has turned things up a notch in August (.317-3-12).

Nomar Garciaparra (SS/3B, Cubs): Nomar’s value will rise as soon as he qualifies at third base in your league (Aramis Ramirez went on the DL). With Mike Lowell and Scott Rolen gone and Troy Glaus soon to be shut down, Nomar could end up as a surprisingly valuable commodity the rest of the way.

Tom Glavine (SP, Mets): Just when you thought he was done, Glavine has been great since the break: 2.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .275 BAA, 2.75 K/BB ratio. Can he keep it up?

DJ Houlton (SP, Dodgers): In August he has zero wins because the Dodgers scored 3 runs in his starts (he allowed 0, 3, 2 and 2 ERA in his 4 starts. He has a 3.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP his last 31.1 IP.

Mike Jacobs (C/1B, Mets): 8 for 20 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs in his first week in the big leagues. He’s not this good but he’s worth a gander, especially since he qualifies as a catcher. What a pretty swing.

Scott Podsednik (OF, White Sox): Is expected to return to the big team early this week, though his legs are not 100% which may curtail his running.

Carlos Pena (1B, Tigers): Recalled on August 17th from AAA Toledo (Chris Singleton took his place).
This past week hit .563-6-12-7 with a 2.361 OPS in 5 games!

Juan Rivera (OF, Angels): With the injury to Garret Anderson and the season-long struggles of Steve Finley Rivera has emerged as a legit offensive force. In August he has been especially hot: .375-3-14-13 in 15 games

Kirk Saarloos (SP, A’s): In the last month he has been one fine pitcher (3 Wins, 2.70 ERA, and 1.16 WHIP) Despite one of the worst K per 9 IP in the majors (2.64). Not many have been better the past 3 months: 8-2, 3.39 ERA, 1.03 WHIP.

Steve Trachsel (SP, Mets): Had a blistering 2005 debut on Friday going 8 shutout innings and striking out six. He’s not a fantasy ace but he’s been the best Met pitcher the past 2 years and could get a handful of wins the rest of the way with decent peripheral numbers.

Ratchet them down!

Mark Bellhorn (2B, FA): Was released by the Red Sox after refusing an assignment to AAA.

Jeremy Bonderman (SP, Tigers): Will miss one start at minimum even though X-rays were negative. He took a liner off the arm, but it looks like he might return at the end of the week.

Milton Bradley (OF, Dodgers): Was placed on the DL again this time with a partially torn patella in his left knee. Between Bradley and J.D. Drew the Dodgers are getting their money’s worth out of their healthcare policy. He’s likely done for the year.

Joe Crede (3B, White Sox): Has a non-displaced fracture of the middle finger on his right hand. It’s thought he can play through this, but it lowers his already middling fantasy value.

Zack Duke (SP, Pirates): Sprained his ankle last week and could miss some time this week. Also, be wary of reports out of Pittsburgh that he may be shut down in order to protect his arm because he has thrown a career high in innings.

Troy Glaus (3B, D’backs): Is likely to be shut down for the rest of the season as soon as the D’Backs are realistically out of contention in the NL West. He has been suffering from a sore knee which may need surgery to clean it up as well as back problems which are likely related to compensating for the knee.

Roy Halladay (SP, Blue Jays): Is done for the season. He attempted to make it back but setbacks in rehab have forced the Jays to rethink rushing him to the hill. Instead he’ll rehab in order to return in the spring.

Mike Hampton (SP, Braves): Was DL'd with a herniated disk in his spine. He’ll miss at least two weeks possible the rest of the season.

Rich Harden (SP, A’s): Is day to day with a strained lat muscle. He’ll be sidelined until at least mid week.

Runelvys Hernandez (SP, Royals): Elvys has left the building once again, this time with both back and shoulder pain. He’s been placed on the 15 day DL.

Cesar Izturis (SS, Dodgers): Sat on the bench most of last week with lower back pain and could be placed on the DL. Use another option if you have one.

Cory Lidle (SP, Phillies): Will miss at least a week with a strained oblique. Another pitching woe leaving the Phillies up a creek.

Mike Lowell (3B, Marlins): Will probably find himself in a platoon situation after Sept. 1 call ups. Mike brought this on himself by lack of production.

Sidney Ponson (SP, Orioles): Has a strained or torn ligament in his right thumb. He’s likely done for the year. He was also arrested and charged with DWI Thursday - all in all he’s had better weeks.

Aramis Ramirez (3B, Cubs): Was placed on the 15 day DL with a strained quadriceps muscle in his left leg.

Curt Schilling (SP, Red Sox): Looked dreadful in his first start back in the starting rotation. Until he shows he can pitch well over 5 plus innings it’s time to stick him on the bench.

Sammy Sosa (OF, Orioles): Has his second foot injury of the season, this time to his big toe with an injury and possible infection under the nail. He’ll probably miss a few games, but we suspect that it’s more than his sore toe which has caused his dreadful play.

Rondell White (OF, Tigers): Will miss the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff to go along with his dislocated shoulder. He’ll have surgery now and aim for a Spring Training return.