Jason Giambi is back - now what?

So…I am back this week and will take a tour around the American League.

American League East

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles are the anti-Twins or anti-Athletics.  They are a team that pays “name” players for performance that is not worth the salary.  They really have little interesting in the upper farm system so the Orioles will be bad for the foreseeable future.  At any rate, Danys Baez is apparently the closer now though his 0-5 record with an ERA north of 5 does not inspire confidence.  Yeah, he might get a few saves here and there, but you expect Chad Bradford and/or Jamie Walker to get a few more chances as well.  Thus, if you have a long reserve list, do not cut Bradford or Walker if you are desperate for saves.

Boston Red Sox

Bobby Kielty signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox.  In a different scenario, he could have some fantasy value, but, for now, he will slide into the Eric Hinske realm – which means, “chance at World Series ring…but not many at-bats”. 

New York Yankees

With Jason Giambi set to return from the DL any day now, Johnny Damon is grumbling.  Yawn.  Same old, same old…nothing is going to happen here.  Well, maybe Melky Cabrera will see a little less at -bats, but that is about it. (Torre is all about the veterans)  Someone is always day-to-day and needs a day off, especially with the age of the players. 

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Remember when I was plugging Andy Sonnanstine?  He has an ERA over six and is 1 – 7 on the year.  I still think he has the ability to be a league-average pitcher, but the walks have really hurt him lately.  At any rate, Sunday’s outing was the only one (of 12) where he did not pitch at least five innings.  For a team like the Rays, that is a big deal.  Also, an update on Casey Fossum – several weeks ago, I mentioned that Fossum has been consistently lousy…so much so that he has sported an ERA that begins with a “7” since May 4th.  He is now up to 7.70 through Sunday.  There really has to be a better use of a roster spot, right?

Toronto Blue Jays

I tried and I tried to trade Lyle Overbay in my home league.  You see, Overbay is a fine player, but was coming off a hand injury.  Those notoriously zap power from a player and Overbay’s slump since his return just adds more data to those findings.  Alas, I could not trade Overbay and I am stuck with him in my lineup.  Manager John Gibbons feels the same way, but moved him down to the eighth spot on Monday, though that might have been because a lefty was pitching (Andy Pettitte).  At any rate, Overbay will probably turn it around a little bit with the average, but don’t expect much power the rest of the way.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox

Gavin Floyd…hmm?  Pitched well on Sunday, striking out six in a win.  However, for me, the most important statistic was that he walked zero batters.  He’s had very borderline control in the minors and his previous Major League stints (in ’04 and ’05) resulted in 32 walks in 54 innings.  At any rate, Ozzie Guillen was reluctant to promise another start in Jose Contreras’ rotation spot, but expect to see Floyd make several more starts during the rest of the season.  Oh, by the way…the White Sox are ten games out. 

Cleveland Indians

I worry about Cliff Lee.  You see, oftentimes players will go through rough patches and they either are left in the rotation to work it out or are shipped to the bullpen to work long relief (sort of like a Big League detention).  Rarely, however, do you see an established player “expelled” from school (to continue the analogy) and shipped to the minors.  It is far better, in my opinion, to have that player “develop arm soreness”…take a few days off…then start a rehab assignment pitching in Triple-A.  It allows both the player and the team to save face since the player is not demoted…just rehabbing (for a recent example of this, see both Jeff Weaver and Nate Robertson this season).  However, when a Big League player is farmed out like Lee, that stuff sticks with you. 

Detroit Tigers

I though Brandon Inge had turned a corner.  No one ever confused him with Kevin Youkilis, but the Tigers’ third baseman had double-digit walks in the each of the season’s first three months.  However, he endured a horrific July where he walked just three times and struck out 34 times…ouch.  Further, he has hit just one home run since June 12.  Inge is a streaky hitter so maybe you can pluck him off a team that is frustrated with him at this point. 

Kansas City Royals

Have you ever heard of Craig Brazell?  Chances are, you have not.  I have stored him a few months ago in a deep league with a long reserve list.  Brazell has 32 homers this year between Double-A and Triple-A, but is (apparently) too old (he’s now 27) to be a prospect.  At any rate, he should get a call-up when rosters expand and could hit several homers in meaningless games in September.  Well…maybe they are meaningless in the Major League standings, but those homers will count in your roto league.  Keep an eye on him and/or bid on him now if your league allows. 

Minnesota Twins

You really have to feel, somewhat, for Johan Santana.  He is a great pitcher and yet the front office and manager really let him down.  For example, the Twins lineup (in a crucial game against a team they are chasing) contained the following “hitters” (and I use that word loosely):  Jason Tyner, Alexi Casilla, Nick Punto, and Brian Buscher.  Oh yeah…Paul Byrd shut them out on four hits.  Minnesota is a team looking forward to the return of…wait for it… Rondell White.  If I were Johan Santana, I’d be thinking about where I want to play in 2009 as I get set for my big pay day. 

American League West

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels should get Erick Aybar back this week (he was actually recalled yesterday) and he will be thrown into the mix at a few positions with his versatility.  He could see time potentially in place of Maicer Izturis at second base.  Aybar does have some speed, so he is worth a look for those desperate for steals in large leagues.  Also, in keeper leagues, he is an intriguing player. 

Oakland Athletics

In my home league yesterday, there was a frenzy to acquire Alan Embree as he showed two saves on the weekly stats sheet.  Alas, that might be his last saves of the year as Huston Street is ready, willing and able to close.  In fact, Street has been ready for more than a week now.  Rather than move Street from “irritated” to “angry”, I suspect the next opportunity will be for Street. (Note:  Embree blew the save on Monday night)

Seattle Mariners

Whither Adam Jones?  He is a fourth outfielder/pinch runner for the near term, so if you picked him up in the hope that you’ll give your offense a big boost, you are likely barking up the wrong tree here.  With Seattle right in the mix for a playoff spot, Jones will not play everyday.  He would seem to have much more value in September than August since someone could either get hurt by then or the Mariners will be out of the hunt.  If you really like Jones but missed out on him, wait a few weeks until his owner is frustrated by his lack of starts.

Texas Rangers

I way overbid on Jason Botts yesterday in my home league.  With Texas out of the race, they need to take a long look at Botts and this is his opportunity.  He was somewhat persona-non-grata after he was called up with Texas last year, but that was under Buck Showalter (who played favorites).  I suspect he will be given a lot of opportunity to struggle.  Botts’ walks a decent amount, hits from both sides of the plate and has power.  It would not take much for him to be a fantasy asset to your team the rest of the way (he did hit clean-up a few days with the Rangers). 

I have not given an Expert League update in a while, so here it goes.  I have an 8-point lead in the CBS SportsLine Analysts League and hope to hang on.  I have basically been in front the whole way, so my team just has to keep doing what it’s been doing.  In my head-to-head expert’s league, I have moved into a tie for second place in my division and am trying to secure a playoff spot.  We’ll see on that.  I am in a few other leagues as well this year.  I have a 7.5-point league in another fantasy writer’s league and am in second place (by ½ a point) in my home league.  All in all, it’s been a good year (so far) for my teams. 

Questions and comments may be sent to donvisco@sportsgrumblings.com