Godzilla is back! But can a part time DH really save the Yankees, or your fantasy team?
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Baltimore Orioles
George Sherrill has hit the disabled list, retroactive to August 16, 2008, with inflammation in his left shoulder. The team reports that X-rays taken are almost identical to the ones that were taken during spring training, so there are not any long-term worries floating around the organization. In all likelihood, Jim Johnson (2-4, 2.37 ERA, 1 SV) will uphold the closer-role duties until Sherrill’s return.
Melvin Mora continues to demolish pitching since the All-Star break, batting .445, with nine homeruns, one triple, 12 doubles, 24 runs, and an impressive 43 runs batted in. With players such as Mora, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Brain Roberts, Aubrey Huff, and Luke Scott, the Baltimore Orioles may not be winning a ton of games this year, but with the youth on this line-up, there is still hope for the franchise.
Garrett Olsen has been relegated to the bullpen. Coming into the 2008 season, Olsen was being touted as one of the next up and coming pitchers in the majors. Now, Several months later, there are questions on his value to the club all together. My, My, My… how times change when you have a slew of mediocrity on the mound and even more in your minor league system. It is obvious to almost everyone that the team, in order to compete in the AL East, needs to fix their pitching and fast.
Boston Red Sox
News is spinning around the web regarding soon-to-be free agent catcher David Ross. The Red Sox, as well as the Phillies, are said to be the two most interested teams. With Jason Varitek on the decline at the plate, regardless of his game-calling ability, there is an apparent need to start looking to the future. Ross, who did manage to hit 17 homeruns in 2007, actually has a batting average (.2313) in line with Varitek, but the team simply needs depth to give the savvy veteran some days off. Is Ross a long-term answer? No. However, there is nothing worth mentioning at the position in their farm system, which means they are likely to be shopping in the off-season.
Jed Lowrie, the “future” shortstop of the organization has made quite an impact since his arrival in the big leagues, capitalizing on Julio Lugo’s injury. Lowrie, who has racked up 30 runs batted in and 14 runs in his short, 147 at-bat career, has done it with a solid glove and a .314 batting average. In tandem with Duston Pedroia, you are looking at the Red Sox infield for the next several years.
Like Red Sox fans that are feeling numbed by the performances thus far by Josh Beckett this season, Beckett to is feeling numb. Beckett’s next start has been pushed back due to numbness and tingling in his pinky and ring finger of his right arm. The good news is that with the testing that has been conducted to date; there have been no plans to ship him back to Boston…yet!
Chicago White Sox
Carlos Quentin continues to punish hitters. Smashing 35 home runs in his short but illustrious career. Had he not been batting .295, he would likely not receive as much publicity, but when you are punishing pitches like Quentin is doing, nearing a 40/100/100 season in your first full-season, there is no reason that he should not be in consideration for rookie of the year. He had less than 250 at-bats in 2007, making this season his first full year.
If you find a flaw in that thinking, then let us turn to another player that was not being relied upon when the team broke from spring training and headed into the season. Alexei Ramirez has been simply outstanding since securing the full-time second base position. Putting up a respectable .310 batting average of his own, Ramirez has knocked in 13 homeruns; stolen nine bases, and to date, has 52 runs batted in and 45 runs. I make Ramirez my second player to run against Texas’ Josh Hamilton.
As the team looks towards the playoffs, the team may have found their fifth starter. Relief pitcher turned starter, Clayton Richard, displayed some positive results in his first start of the season, holding Seattle to five hits, striking out five, and walking one, as he pitched the Sox to a victory.
New York Yankees
Hideki Matsui is back in the Yankee lineup after missing the better part of two months with knee problems. Word is he is only going to be a part time DH, so unless a pattern emerges for his use in the lineup, he is going to be a difficult fantasy player to use. Brett Gardiner will be the big loser, as Johnny Damon will play center field so they can keep his bat in the lineup.
I finally was able to see a Yankee’s game this past week only to see Damon demonstrate on two separate plays what the Yankees’ season has felt like. Damon, attempting to field to routine fly balls, botched both, resulting in errors, runs, and the continuation of what feels like the longest August Yankees’ fans have felt in almost two decades. Regardless of the team captain, Derek Jeter’s statement, this season is all but packaged up with destinations on their luggage and everyone looking towards the off-season.
As the season winds down and the realization that they may very well be eclipsed by Toronto in the standings, some questions have arisen in fantasy circles. Does this mean that Mariano Rivera, who has been a fantasy stud to date, will be simply rendered useless, driving many a fantasy manager to the mad house? Should you invest in pitchers like of Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy as they are likely to get their shot at some solid innings before the season comes to a close?
There are rumors of both a Victor Zambrano sighting and a Carl Pavano sighting within the next five to seven days, all but guaranteeing that they will play for pride and not for pennants. Although the news is that Joba Chamberlain appears near a return, the front office has countered this news with reports that even if Chien-Ming Wang was ready to go in late September/early October, the likelihood of seeing him pitch again in 2008 is as close to zero as you can get without actually outright stating that he will not pitch again this season.
Oh, and what happened to the untouchable, Melky Cabrera, being sent to the minors for a slap-hitting utility man?
