All posts under "Player Commentary" - Page 117

Vernon Wells (OF—Blue Jays) Talk about hot! Vernon Wells crushed two more home runs on Tuesday for his 26th and 27th of the year. He has hit four home runs in the past three games and is just mashing the...

Matt Lindstrom: It looks like Brandon Lyon will be the Astros’ closer for the rest of this year, but Lindstrom will have a chance next spring to reclaim the job. Although his walks are on the high side, 3.6 BB/9,...

Adalberto Mendez - Adalberto Mendez was an interesting choice for the Marlins to use as a starter in Game 1 of yesterday's twinbill, as the 28 year old has been primarily a reliver throughout his 8-year minor league career. Finally...

1. Jason Kubel (OF - Twins) - Kubel broke out of his HR funk yesterday, hitting his first HR since August 20th and his 19th of the season. He missed a few games last week with a sore left wrist,...

Bobby Abreu: It’s been a difficult season from a batting average perspective for Bobby Abreu (.253) as his LD Rate has dropped 2% and his BABIP has fallen off about 40 points below his career average. Despite the lower batting...

Leo Nunez (RP-FLA) – In case you missed it, Nunez has been temporarily removed from the close position in favor of veteran reliever Clay Hensley. Nunez allowed runs in four consecutive appearances last month, culminating in an ugly BS/L in...

The Braves’ Freddie Freeman finished his 2010 minor league campaign hitting .319 in 461 AAA ABs, helped a bit by a .351 BHIP%. He posted a healthy .378 OBP, fueled by a healthy 8.3% BB rate and a .518 SLG%...

Nick Markakis OF (BAL) – Markakis’ downward trending power numbers for a player in his peek years are extremely disturbing. He homered yesterday, but it was just his 9th of the season! For a while, I chalked Markakis’ production up...

Clay Hensley (SP—Marlins) Closer Alert!! Looks like there's a new closer in town for the Florida Marlins and his name isn't Leo Nunez. Rather Clay Hensley will be taking over closer duties from the inconsistent Nunez. Hensley has never taken...

Javier Vazquez – Javier Vazquez returns to the Yankees’ rotation this afternoon against the Blue Jays looking to regain his 2009 form when he posted a 2.77 FIP. For the season Vazquez has experienced a drop in his K/9 (9.77...

Eric Young Jr.: Young remains a staple atop the Rockies lineup despite posting just a .313 OBP this season at the major league level. Fantasy owners sure won’t complain though as Young continues to run recklessly whenever he does get...

Brett Gardner: Gardner’s two above average skills are plate patience, 14% BB%, and speed, 39 steals in 46 attempts. However it is not enough for someone with so little power, 5 HR and 15 doubles in 402 AB. In the...

Cliff Lee- TEX- Caution- Lee’s heavy usage the past two seasons may be catching up with him. The Rangers have treated Lee far better than did the Indians, Phillies and Mariners. With 20 starts if 110+ pitches last year and...

This is my swan song for 2010, the final version of the Prospect Spreadsheet updates. I hope this feature of Fantistics has helped you in your fantasy leagues this year, and moreso in the future as you build your prospect...

Mat Latos – The young Padres’ ace tossed another gem on Wednesday, holding the Diamondbacks to 1 ER over 6 innings while striking out 10 and allowing just 5 base runners. Just 22-years old, Latos has some ridiculous numbers for...

Derrek Lee- ATL- Hot- Three days ago Fantistics’ Drew Dinkmeyer said, “He’ll eventually get hot for a little while…” It looks like “eventually” came pretty quickly. In the two days since Drew’s pronouncement Lee has gone 5-for-8 with a double,...

Justin Masterson (SP—Indians) Despite walking away with a no-decision on Tuesday, Justin Masterson pitched a solid game allowing just one earned run through 7.2 innings and struck out seven batters. Masterson has been putting up some pretty credible numbers in...

Jenrry Mejia - The 20 year old has been tearing up the minors since his demotion, but last night may have cemented his return to Flushing later in the week. Mejia took a no-hitter into the sixth against the Chiefs...

The Rangers have exchanged Derek Holland for Rich Harden in their rotation, beginning on Friday when Holland faces the Twins. I’m less than blown over. Derek has been pretty mediocre this year for the Rangers (2-2, 4.76, 1.45) and a...

Mitch Talbot – After posting a surprisingly solid 3.99 ERA prior to the All-Star break, Mitch Talbot has struggled in his last 6 starts to the tune of a 6.26 ERA and 1.90 WHIP to go along with 19 Ks...

Leo Nunez (RP-FLA) – Nunez blew his second-to-league-worst eighth save of the season on Sunday, allowing a pair of ninth-inning homers in a loss against the Braves. Nunez has now allowing four homers in his last four appearances after just...

Daniel Hudson: Hudson continues to make the DBacks front office look like geniuses. He posted his 6th straight quality start since coming over from the White Sox and he’s worked at least 7 innings in all 6 games while posting...

Brandon Morrow SP (TOR) – I’ve been on the Brandon Morrow bandwagon for some time, and he continues to impress me. Yesterday he picked up his 10th victory of the season against the Tigers, allowing just 1 ER over 6...

Stephen Strasburg (SP—Nationals) The Nationals announced on Friday that rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg has a severe tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and may be looking at TJ surgery. If surgery is the chosen path, fantasy owners can forget about...

Wandy Rodriguez: Joe touched on Wandy’s elite peripherals prior to this start and he stayed on a roll on Thursday shutting down the Phillies over 7 innings, allowing just 1 ER on 5 hits and 1 bb, while striking out...

Wade Davis: The 24-year-old Davis is healthy again and back in Rays’ rotation. Despite shaky skills, 5.8 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, and a 40% GB%, and having a better option in Jeremy Hellickson, the Rays seem determined to stick with Davis...

Evan Longoria- TB- Idea- Longoria’s decrease in power may be coming from a lack of proper plate discipline. He is taking more pitches, swinging at only 43.9% of them, down from 44.7% last year. However, he is swinging at 25.7%...

Madison Bumgarner SP (SF) – Bumgarner got absolutely lit up yesterday, as he gave up 7 ER without making it out of the third inning. He did strike out 3, though, while walking just 1. I wouldn’t worry too much...

American League 13 Aaron Hicks MIN OF B+ .300/.404/.429 since ASB, but ISO not driven by HRs (none). 5 HR, 18 SB in 378 at-bats. 17 J.P. Arencibia TOR C B+ Will be back next month, but real playing time...

Rick Porcello (SP—Tigers) Nifty game for Rick Porcello on Tuesday. He pitched seven shutout innings of two hit ball. Granted, it was against the Royals but you still have to go out there and deliver. So kudos to Porky. It's...

JA Happ: It has been a difficult season for Happ, as he missed over 3 months with a forearm injury and was traded from a playoff caliber team to one in the cellar. On the positive side, in his 8...

Sean Burnett - Lost in the departure of Matt Capps and the ascension of Drew Storen has been the performance of Sean Burnett in the Nationals' bullpen this year. Burnett has pitched exactly nine innings here in August, allowing four...

Jose Bautista hit his 40th HR of the season in Monday night’s win over the Yankees, continuing a torrid second half in which he leads the majors in HRs (16), RBI (39), and XBH (25). If you asked in March,...

Scott Baker: Its been frustrating watch Scott Baker continue to show great peripherals without any signs of a turnaround. Well on Sunday night we finally got a taste as Baker tossed 7 shutout innings against the Angels allowing just 5...

Josh Thole (C-NYM) – Thole was given a day off on Sunday, but with the trade sending Rod Barajas to the Dodgers, Thole stands to be the primary catcher the rest of the way. Of course he deserved to be...

Domonic Brown (OF - Phillies) - After a few eye-opening games, Brown has certainly cooled-off when he gets the chance to play. The good news is that he’ll stay in the majors now that Ross Gload is on the DL....