July 10, 2006
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by RotoRob
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Comments Comments Off on Fantasy Notes: Aramis Ramirez Due for Big Second Half
Humberto Sanchez was picked for the Futures Game.
In today’s notes, we look at the return of Aramis Ramirez’s power stroke, the fuss over Manny Ramirez and Ichiro Suzuki’s recent slump.
- Aramis Ramirez is starting to hit with power right on cue. 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.
- So Manny Ramirez is sitting out the All-Star Game. Big deal. If his knee is hurting, then that’s his call. Let someone else play. Why all the fuss? It’s just Manny being Manny. And despite the whole beaten to death ‘This time it counts’ mantra of the All-Star game, look at what Manny is doing when it really counts. He’s on pace for a fourth straight 100-run season (sixth overall) and a third straight 125-RBI campaign (also, sixth time overall). And his .615 slugging percentage is his highest in four seasons. Now that’s Manny being Manny. And if he wants a few days off before he begins terrorizing AL pitchers again, who the hell cares?
- The break comes at a good time for Ichiro Suzuki. He limps into the break mired in a 2-for-22 skid dropping him under .345 for the year. My god, what a stiff! All kidding aside, I wouldn’t sweat it. The AL All-Star’s lead-off hitter was batting just .177 on April 18 but was up to .311 by May 18. This guy can turn it on like few we have ever seen.
- Unsightly line of the night: The Cubbies score 11 runs and lash 14 hits, yet Derrek Lee takes an 0-for-6 with a trio of Ks, one GIDP and leaves — get ready for it — 10 runners on base.
- If the Tigers need to reach down the minors for a spot starter, don’t look for it to be Lance Davis. The 29-year-old journeyman southpaw was slapped around for seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 IP in his first Triple-A start since April 25. Davis, a 16th round pick of the Reds back in 1995, was only starting because scheduled starter Humberto Sanchez was appearing in the Futures Game. Davis went 8-4, 4.74, in 20 starts with Cincinnati in 2001, but hasn’t been back to the Show since. And given his middling numbers at Toledo this year (4.21), it’s doubtful he’ll return anytime soon, especially considering that pitching is suddenly an organizational strength in Detroit.
- Another Tiger farmhand, Kevin Hooper, is having his finest Triple-A season. the 29-year-old shortstop, an eighth-round pick by the Marlins in 1999, went 1-for-5 in six games with the Tigers in his major-league debut. A three-hit performance Saturday has him up .274 for the season. Hooper doesn’t walk a lot, but also doesn’t strike out much. His game is speed: 16 steals in 85 games for Toldeo last year, a mark he’s already matched this season. Hooper can play second base as well, so come roster expansion time, he might make a decent utility man/pinch runner for Detroit, a job currently filled by Ramon Santiago. With just 37 steals against 27 times caught stealing, the Tigers could definitely use some better base stealing ability.
By RotoRob
Tags: Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Derrek Lee, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Futures Game, Humberto Sanchez, Ichiro Suzuki, Kevin Hooper, Lance Davis, Manny Ramirez, MLB All-Star Game, Ramon Santiago, Toledo Mud Hens
Posted in BASEBALL, Fantasy Notes, RotoRob | Comments Off on Fantasy Notes: Aramis Ramirez Due for Big Second Half
July 6, 2006
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by RotoRob
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Comments Comments Off on Fantasy Notes: Westbrook Dominates Yanks
He’s been one of the only bright spots on the woeful Royals this season and his streak is the longest by any member of the team in 2006. DeJesus got his BA up to .331 with the run, and despite being held hitless Wednesday, did manage his 15th RBI of the year. I’d like to see more pop or speed before declaring him much more than a hollow .300 hitter, but the 26-year-old outfielder is definitely on the upswing and is starting to get scooped up in mixed leagues.
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By RotoRob
Tags: Boof Bonser, Cleveland Indians, David DeJesus, Detroit Tigers, George Steinbrenner, Jake Westbrook, Jay Payton, Joe Mauer, Joe Torre, Kansas City Royals, Kris Wilson, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Pat Neshek, Ron Villone, Shawn Chacon, Victor Martinez
Posted in BASEBALL, Fantasy Notes, RotoRob | Comments Off on Fantasy Notes: Westbrook Dominates Yanks
July 3, 2006
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by RotoRob
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(4)
The East Carolina senior led the Pirates in batting average, hits, doubles, RBI, total bases and slugging, while finishing second in home runs. The A’s, as they are wont to do, plucked the college kid in the 21st round in last month’s entry draft.
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By RotoRob
Tags: Adam Dunn, Adam Wainwright, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Austin Kearns, Baltimore Orioles, Billy Beane, Boston Red Sox, Brad Cresse, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Dave Bush, Detroit Tigers, Dontrelle Willis, East Carolina Pirates, Eddy Rodriguez, Jake Smith, Jake Westbrook, Jeff Clement, Jeff Kunkel, Jeremy Brown, Joe Mauer, Johnny Bench, Juan Castro, Kansas City Royals, Kelly Shoppach, Kurt Suzuki, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teahen, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines, Mike Piazza, Oakland A's, Ryan Garko, St. Louis Cardinals
Posted in BASEBALL, RotoRob, Spikes Up | 4 Comments »
June 30, 2006
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by RotoRob
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(0)
Wednesday’s win over the sagging Dodgers was the Twinkies’ lucky seventh straight. Minny was a dismal 27-34 and 11.5 games back in the AL Central after getting beat by the O’s on June 10. Since then, the club has gone an unconscious 15-1. And guess how many games they’ve shaved off of the Tigers’ lead with this run?
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By RotoRob
Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Bill Dickey, Chicago White Sox, Chig, Detroit Tigers, Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mike Piazza, Minnesota Twins, Roy Halladay, Todd Pratt, Torii Hunter
Posted in BASEBALL, RotoRob, Team report | No Comments »
June 28, 2006
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by RotoRob
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What’s the deal with these Tigers? They just refuse to go away.
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By RotoRob
Tags: BASEBALL, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Fernando Rodney, Houston Astros, Jamie Walker, Jeremy Bonderman, Jim Leyland, Joel Zumaya, Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Nate Robertson, Roger Clemens, Todd Jones, Toronto Blue Jays
Posted in BASEBALL, RotoRob, Team report | No Comments »