Fantasy Notes: Blake’s Back
Activate Blake immediately. He’s enjoying the finest year of his career and looks like he’ll pick up where he left off when he landed on the DL.
Fantasy Notes: Blake’s Back Read Post »
Activate Blake immediately. He’s enjoying the finest year of his career and looks like he’ll pick up where he left off when he landed on the DL.
Fantasy Notes: Blake’s Back Read Post »
Hell, he’s even healthier than he’s been in some time, as evidenced by the fact he’s headed for his most work since 2000. Enjoy the ride, and expect — if possible — even greater success in the second half. Over the past three years, Hoffman’s ERA is three-quarters of a run lower after the break. Now, that counts.
Fantasy Notes: Don’t Fret Over Hoffman Read Post »
And he didn’t exactly tear it up during Tuesday’s game, taking an 0-for-2. A-Rod best hope that history repeats itself as for the past three years, his OPS during the second half has been 100 points higher. I mean, it’s not as if his numbers are bad — 61 runs in 84 games places him 10th in the AL and 90 hits, 19 homers, 65 RBI, nine steals, a .390 OBP and .505 SLG are all impressive totals — but given his stature in the game, he is held to a greater standard. Now, granted Rodriguez has laboured to an extent with a sore groin lately. But given the boos raining down on him at home, it’s clear that there’s a great number of Yankee fans who think that this ailment might best be cured with a good swift kick to the sore spot. Let’s face it, when you’re pulling in a salary that rivals the GDP of some third-world countries, people tend to expect superhuman results.
Fantasy Notes: A-Rod Target of Fans’ Ire Read Post »
The outfielder, who turns 28 on Thursday, was never quite able to stick in the majors, making brief appearances every season since 2002. All told, he’s appeared in 104 major league games, going 79-for-334 with 14 homers, 44 RBI and four steals. It’s that .299 OBP that hurts and his .416 SLG does not speak well to his power. This season, Ludwick has already produced 19 doubles and 16 homers in 89 games and 330 at-bats for Toledo. He’s racked up 51 runs and 85 hits with an 810 OPS, but is dogged by a horrible K/BB ratio. In fact, the Florida native has already topped 100 Ks. Still, considering he hit just .191 at Triple-A Buffalo last year, at least Ludwick is showing something in the minors this year, perhaps enough to earn another call at some point.
Fantasy Notes: Ryan Ludwick Bashing at Toledo Read Post »
He’s on a 7-for-14 tear heading into the break, and smoked his 16th dinger of the season Sunday. In the past three years, Ramirez has slugged 56 points higher after the break. You definitely want to avail of his second-half surge.
Fantasy Notes: Aramis Ramirez Due for Big Second Half Read Post »
Talk about help from a surprise source. Rusch had been shelled for 18 earned runs in 15 IP over his last five appearances before Sunday’s four-hit, two-run, two-walk, five-strikeout start. With the Cubs’ rotation in shambles, Rusch could have bought himself another couple of starts with this win. But we’ll have to see a lot more before suggesting he’s worth a waiver wire claim.
Fantasy Notes: Glendon Rusch to the Rescue Read Post »
But the wins have been hard to come by thanks to lack of run support and some shoddy bullpen work that’s cost him four, perhaps five wins. Last Monday he earned his first victory in eight starts to square his record at 5-5. Smoltz followed that up Saturday with a remarkable outing for his sixth win. He’s dominated the Reds over the years, winning 19 games against them including a 13-0 mark over the past 16 starts. And Saturday’s eight-inning, six-hit, one-run, one-walk effort gives Smoltz a three-start line of 21 IP, 19 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB and 21 K since the injury scare. He really had it going Saturday, still gunning it in at 94 mph in his final inning. All told, the 39-year-old righty fanned at least 10 for the 39th time in his career. Smoltzy even contributed a pair of singles, the second of which drove in a run and was huge as the club rolled the dice and let him hit for himself in the bottom of the seventh with two on and two out while clinging to a one-run lead.
Fantasy Notes: John Smoltz Rolling Read Post »