Managing Editor and
Director of Operations for Sports Grumblings LLC, is nationally
published covering the National Football League, Major League Baseball,
College Football and has been a FSWA Writer of the Year finalist.
Involved with Fantasy Sports since 1973, Tony has hosted radio and
internet broadcasts that include the 'Dog and Tony Show' with NFL draft
analyst D.J Boyer, 'Football Central', 'Finn on Sports', 'Gridiron
Gamblers', and is the Senior NFL analyst for the PBS broadcast of "NFL
Intellect". Tony's
columns include 'The Finn Factor', 'Six Days to Sunday' and 'Sunday No Huddle' which are featured exclusively at Sports Grumblings and 'For Better, For Worse' a weekly feature for SportsIllustrated.
Thinking about using Miller who has two starts this week? Think twice.
NL SCHEDULE
NOTES
The entire National League plays seven games
this week.
The Reds play seven at home, which
should be a good time for the long ball ... The Cubbies play five of
their seven games this week at home ... The Dodgers visit Arizona and Colorado this week ... The Padres play two in Wrigley and
three in Coors … The Rockies are on a homestand all week.
The Nats are at home for four before traveling to Florida, making it a fine week for their pitchers.
FAVORABLE
Colorado Rockies COL: A full slate of games at Coors Field, so it really
doesn't matter who the Rockies play.
Los Angeles Dodgers LAD:
Favorable playing conditions to go along with favorable match-ups such as Micah Owings and Josh Fogg.
San Diego Padres SD: Face
Wade Miller in Wrigley, and then
three vs. the back of the Rockies' rotation in Colorado.
UNFAVORABLE
St. Louis Cardinals STL:
It is well known that the Cardinals struggle against lefties, and they will
face four this week including new NL members Ted Lilly and Barry Zito.
Atlanta Braves ATL:
Go to Washington and Shea, so it could be a tough week for Andruw Jones and company.
Washington Nationals WAS:
Face the toughest pitchers Atlanta
and Cincinnati have to offer while at roomy RFK Stadium.
FIELD GRUMBLINGS
BREWERS OFBill Hall wasn't in the team's lineup Friday. Hall is hitting just .194 with one homer on the season, and had Friday's game not been rained out it would have been his second consecutive game on the bench. Not the situation fantasy owners envisioned when using an early pick on Hall in March.... CARDINALS 2B Aaron Miles received two starts this past week because the Pirates have thrown lefthanders at the Cardinals. Manager Tony La Russa said he wanted to give 2B Adam Kennedy (3-for-23) a break but in truth the second base spot for the Cardinals have become a true platoon... CUBS 3B Aramis Ramirez is out indefinitely with swelling his wrist ...DIAMONDBACKSOF Carlos Quentin is set to come off the DL early this week. The Arizona Republic reports Quentin could be back in the D-backs' lineup Monday.... 2B Orlando Hudson is now hitting in the third in the lineup and is arguably the team's best all-around hitter among a young group. Hudson's value has skyrocketed since pre-season player rankings were charted but yet one hears very little about his improvements as a player across the board. ...
DODGERS SS Rafael Furcal came off the DL Friday ... PADRES 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff is day-to-day with a bruised elbow. C Josh Bard (groin) was placed on the 15-day DL Thursday. Trainer Todd Hutcheson told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Bard should be ready to return when he is eligible to come off the DL (Week 4). San Diego will turn to Rob Bowen as their starting catcher in Bard's absence.... NATIONALS SS Felipe Lopez has hit just two home runs over 300 at-bats at RFK. We at SG never understood the hoop-la surrounding Lopez's value this pre-season. He will never duplicate the offensive numbers he produced in Cincinnati. … REDS SS Alex Gonzalez was placed on the bereavement list.He will return next week... ROCKIES 2B Kazo Matsui still has that 'me' attitude but he went 3-for-5 on Friday night and stole his fifth base of the season. This could be the season he finally lives up to his potential. Fact is he's avaible in well over 50 percent of mixed leagues and is outplaying Josh Barfield and Jose Vidro at the second base position. Grab him if you still can.
MOUND GRUMBLINGS
ASTROSJason Jennings'
status is unknown after being scratched from his last start with a sore elbow
..BRAVESMark Redman is likely the odd man
Johnson is tentatively scheduled to face the Padres and Jake Peavy April 19.
out of the Atlanta rotation once Lance Cormier (triceps) is ready to come off the DL in early May. At this point Kyle Davies will remain a starter. ..CARDINALSAnthony Reyes, whose start was rained on Friday will not pitch again until Monday offering him a double start in Week 3. Because he already had warmed up the coaching staff had to get him at least two days of rest. Reyes will face the Pirates in new Busch and then pitch on Saturday at Wrigley.... DIAMONDBACKSRandy Johnson will make his first start of the season April 19 versus San Diego and Jake Peavy. The start is still tentative. Johnson allowed two earned runs in six innings for Triple-A Tucson on Friday night....MARLINSRicky Nolasco (elbow) played catch on Friday and will repeat the session for 10 minutes every day. He is eligible to return from the DL on April 22... METSOrlando Hernandez was ejected from Saturday's game after hitting pitcher Shawn Hill in the sixth inning. This came at the end of tough outing where El Duque allowed three dingers and six earned runs to Washington. Expect the Nats to call for a suspension for Hernandez. PHILLIES Freddy Garcia (biceps) will come off the
DL to start Sunday.
BULLPEN GRUMBLINGS
REDS Todd Coffey recoreded his first victory of the season Friday by pitching two scoreless innings of relief against the Cubs. He has allowed one earned run in 6.1 innings this season and is the most likely to succeed David Weathers in the closer role if the need arrises... MARLINSTaylor Tankersley is ready to come off the DL this weekend. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he plans to have an open competition for the closer job. The candidates are Tankersley, Henry Owens, Matt Lindstrom, Randy Messenger and Kevin Gregg. Tankersley is easily the favorite to take over for the recently demoted Jorge Julio....
