Line of the Day: 06/30/2010

OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero, TEX was 4-for-4 with a double and two home runs (one was a grand slam) with five RBI and two runs. Vlad is putting up MVP-type numbers (.339/51/18/68/4) and was clearly a steal at an ADP of 151.9. At his current pace, he projects at (.339/110/39/147/9). WOW! Those numbers are right on pace with his 2004 MVP season.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Baseball Bloggers Alliance Announces 2010 All-Stars

Recently, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (which I am now a member of) polled its members and announced the 2010 All-Stars. Take a moment to read the entire story and see the All-Star list here.

The BBA can also be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/baseballblogs and with hashtag #BBBA.

Line of the Day: 06/29/2010

OF Denard Span, MIN was 4-for-4 with THREE TRIPLES, five RBI, two runs and a walk. Span continues to be a solid fantasy baseball outfielder and projects at 191 hits, 104 runs, 72 RBI and 32 stolen bases.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/28/2010

OF Michael Bourn, HOU was 4-for-6 with a home run (his 1st), two RBI, two runs and stole his 23rd base (was caught stealing once, too). His batting average is now up to .265. His career average is only .262, so anything north of that is a plus. Bourn is on pace for 49 steals and 97 runs. That's about all you get when you draft him (and Juan Pierre).

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/27/2010

SP Jon Lester, BOS allowed one run in a complete game win against the Giants, striking out nine while giving up just five hits and a walk. Lester bested Tim Lincecum on the road and increased his record to 9-3 with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP this season. Lester continues to prove he was worth being drafted (40.9 ADP) as a fantasy baseball "ace".

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/26/2010

SP Carl Pavano, MIN pitched a three-hit shutout for his second consecutive complete game. He walked one and struck out four. He's now won for consecutive decisions and becomes the first repeat winner of Line of the Day. Still only owned in 49% of ESPN leagues.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

2010 Waiver Savior All-Stars: 06/26/2010

With everyone naming their All-Star teams, I thought it was about time I released my version based on value for your money. Most of these guys were either very late round picks or waiver wire guys once the season started. Here we go!

CATCHER
Starter - Miguel Olivo, COL (.296/31/10/33/4)
Backup - John Buck, TOR (.269/24/12/38/0)

FIRST BASE
Starter - Paul Konerko, CHW (.301/42/18/54/0)
Backup - Troy Glaus, ATL (.270/39/14/55/0)

SECOND BASE
Starter - Martin Prado, ATL (.330/53/7/31/2)
Backup - Kelly Johnson, ARI (.268/47/13/35/5)

THIRD BASE
Starter - Scott Rolen, CIN (.303/40/16/48/0)
Backup - Alberto Callaspo, KC (.284/34/7/35/3)

SHORTSTOP
Starter - Alex Gonzalez, TOR (.262/38/13/38/1)
Backup - Juan Uribe, SF (.273/36/12/45/1)

OUTFIELD
Starter - Vernon Wells, TOR (.282/43/18/45/3)
Starter - Marlon Byrd, CHC (.319/40/9/35/4)
Starter - Corey Hart, MIL (.272/35/18/55/4)
Backup - Jose Bautista, TOR (.233/47/20/49/3)
Backup - Scott Podsednik, KC (.295/35/3/31/20)

STARTING PITCHER
Starter - Mike Pelfrey, NYM (10-2, 2.71 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)
Backup - Carlos Silva, CHC (8-2, 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP)

CLOSER
Starter - Matt Capps, WAS (22 Saves)
Backup - Neftali Feliz, TEX (20 Saves)

So there it is. If you were savvy enough to draft some of these players or scoop them up off waivers once they got hot, you're probably running away with your league, regardless of format.

Agree? Disagree? Vocalize it in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter (@COSFBA).

*Statistics accurate through 06/25/2010

Line of the Day: 06/25/2010

SP Edwin Jackson, ARI threw a 150-pitch no-hitter, striking out six and walking eight! He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. Not the gem usually associated with a no-hitter but it still counts. Jackson's been all over the place this season, which is reflected in him being owned in only about 50% of leagues. Hopefully this game helps him right the ship but I would wait a start or two to see. Congrats, Edwin Jackson!

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/24/2010

2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS went 5-for-5 with (1) 2B, (3) HR, (5) RBI, (4) R and (1) BB in a good old fashioned slugfest in Colorado. INSANITY! At his current pace, ESPN projects his season to look like this: .293/116/27/91/18. Pedroia continues to put up numbers similar or even better than his MVP season.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/23/2010

SP Cliff Lee, SEA pitched his 3rd complete game in his last four starts, striking out nine and walking none. He threw 90 of his 115 pitches for strikes and has only walked four batters THIS SEASON (86.2 IP). Want more stats? How about a 19.0 K/BB ratio? And his 2.39 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP aren't too shabby either. If Lee is auditioning for a mid-season trade, teams are noticing. The Mariners are 11 games under .500 and could get a king's ransom in return for Lee. Sorry, Mariners fans, but your team just isn't getting it done. NOTE: Lee is owned in 98% of Yahoo! leagues and was starter in 88% of them yesterday. Those 10% that didn't start him should quit fantasy baseball (or probably already have).

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/22/2010

3B/OF Jose Bautista, TOR was 2-for-3 with (2) HR, (3) RBI and (2) Runs. Bautista's 2nd home run of the game was his major league-leading 20th to go along with 46 runs and 49 RBI. If you can stomach the .232 batting average, you could wind up the recipient of 46 HR, 113 RBI, 106 R and 99 BB at season's end (according to ESPN projections). PS, this is the first time in his career he's eclipsed the 20-HR plateau.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/21/2010

OF Justin Upton, ARI was 3-for-3 with (2) HR, (4) RBI, (4) R, (1) SB and (1) BB. Some owners may still be questioning if he was worthy of such a high pick (ESPN ADP 18.6) with his .256 BA but he's still projecting 105 R, 30 HR, 89 RBI and 26 SB. If he can raise his average to .275, those projections could easily validate his ADP.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/20/2010

SP Carl Pavano, MIN tossed a complete game four-hitter at Philadelphia versus Roy Halladay. Complete games are a thing of the past and deserve recognition, especially against Halladay and the Phillies lineup. Pavano has gone at least seven innings in 10 of his last 11 starts. He doesn't normally strike out many batters (5.14 K/9) but doesn't walk many either (1.31 BB/9). He will take a lump or two pitching to as much contact as he does, but Pavano is proving a worthy fantasy baseball asset this deep into the season that should be owned (36% E; 38% Y!) in almost all league formats.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/19/2010

SP Jake Peavy, CHW threw a complete game, three-hit shutout versus the Nationals, walking two and striking out seven. He retired a career-high 20 batters in a row, not allowing a hit after the second inning. It was nice to see his shoulder issues were a non-factor tonight.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/18/2010

1B Ryan Howard, PHI was 4-for-4 with a double, triple and two home runs, for a total of 13 bases. Add in three runs and three RBI and this is one of the best lines I've seen in a while. BEAST! ESPN projects Howard to finish with 32 HR, 122 RBI and 102 Runs.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/17/2010

SP Ubaldo Jimenez, COL continues to dominate hitters. He pitched eight innings for the win allowing eight hits but just one earned run while walking two and striking out four. He's now 13-1 in 14 starts with a Pedro Martinez-esque ERA of 1.15 and a 1.00 WHIP. WOW!

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Waiver Saviors: 06/17/2010

Here are some names of note that are widely available in ESPN and Yahoo! leagues in the latest installment of Waiver Saviors:

• 2B/OF Sean Rodriguez, TB (41% E; 18% Y!) was an early season sleeper while tearing it up during Spring Training but crawled out of the gate by hitting only .184 in April. Well Rodriguez is hitting .367 in June with 3 HR, 12 RBI and 3 SB. Anyone producing and playing regularly in the Rays lineup deserves to be owned.
• OF Corey Patterson, BAL (0.3% E; 1% Y!) is worth the look if you are desperate for steals. Over the last seven days, Patterson is 10/29 (.345 BA) with 4 SB. I said "desperate", didn't I?
• OF Andres Torres, SF (26% E; 17% Y!) is hitting .293 on the season with 30 runs and 11 stolen bases. His defense has kept him in the lineup and the offense has been a pleasant surprise for owners that keep sending him out there.
• C John Buck, TOR (24% E; 36% Y!) is sporting a .265/24/12/35/0 line this season and should be owned even in the shallowest of leagues. He's crept up to the number three catcher on ESPN's Player Rater and the inaugural nominee of COSFBA's "Line of the Day".
• SP Jonathon Niese, NYM (21% E; 14% Y!) is riding a nice three-game winning streak (23 IP, 15 H, 4 ER, 0.78 WHIP) and could be a nice addition to any fantasy baseball staff while he's hot.
• SP/RP David Hernandez, BAL (4% E; 9% Y!) has given up four hits and allowed one earned run in 8.2 IP since being moved to the bullpen. Oh, by the way, he's also recorded two saves and recorded a win. Alfredo Simon is active but Hernandez still got the call on the O's last save opp. Keep an eye on how this plays out but both may be worth owning if your league uses holds.

I know you can find this information on your own or even rely on sites that have a full staff of writers and researchers, but I hope you come to COSFBA and visit often to read and appreciate one man's take on a game (baseball and fantasy baseball) that he loves so much.

Follow me on Twitter and check me out on Facebook, especially if you are a Colorado-based fantasy baseball player. 

Line of the Day: 06/16/2010

SP Scott Baker, MIN pitched seven shutout innings against Colorado, allowing only two hits, one walk and struck out a career high 12 batters, and received the win. Owners of Baker have a pretty solid mid-tier pitcher that should continue to give them good value.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/15/2010

1B James Loney, LAD was 4-for5 with (3) 2B, (2) RBI, (1) R and (7) total bases. It doesn't look like Loney will ever be a power bat at first base (career 15 HR/162 G), but his career .296 BA and 94 RBI/162 G make him a very nice mid-tier option. Loney is also 9-for-12 in stolen bases this season, which is a very nice plus for a corner infielder.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Line of the Day: 06/14/2010

C John Buck, TOR was 2-for-3 with (2) HR, (3) RBI, (2) R and (1) BB. Buck is now the 4th ranked catcher on ESPN's Player Rater with a .266 BA, 11 HR, 33 RBI and 22 R in 53 games. Only 21.5% owned in ESPN leagues, Buck could be an upgrade over guys like Russell Martin or Geovany Soto. Also, Buck was virtually undrafted and paying off dividends for those that used an early season waiver claim to get him.

Agree? Disagree? Nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section or hitting me up on Twitter.

Fantasy Forum: 06/13/2010

Dictionary.com defines regret as "to feel sorrow or remorse for".
And to quote the immortal Frank Sinatra, "Regrets? I've had a few..."

This edition of Fantasy Forum asks what regrets have you had so far this season? Poor draft pick? Unfortunate keeper? Bailed too soon on a gamble? Pulled the trigger too late on a waiver claim?

Looking back at a draft I had, I found two regrets. I drafted Raul Ibanez as my third outfielder with the 106th pick in the 8th round. I've never been a fan and knew last year's stats were a fluke but I panicked and made the selection. With my last pick (30th round, 414th pick), I drafted Jose Bautista. I promptly dropped him a few days later for David Robertson. The regret comes knowing I missed out on 18 home runs and 45 RBI since then.

I'm sure I'll find more regrets as I look through each of my four teams but I'm very interested in hearing yours.

I'll post more of mine on Twitter, so be sure to follow me there, too.

Ups and Downs: 06/13/2010

This edition of Ups and Downs will look at players being added and dropped the most (according to ESPN leagues) and the possible reasons why.

• OF Michael Stanton, FLA (+67.2%) deserves being added in all formats, especially after starting off 7/19 (.368 BA) with four RBI and two stolen bases in his first five games. Everyone is waiting for the power to come, but it's nice to see that he can do more than just hit the long ball.
• SP Brett Cecil, TOR (+34.9%) is now 7-2 with a 3.22 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He's won his last five starts (the last two being against TB and NYY) and each was also a quality start. Only 65% owned in ESPN leagues, he could be a nice addition to your staff.
• C Carlos Santana, CLE (+29.1%) is another rookie that just got the call and didn't disappoint, homering in his second big league game. Immediately inserted into the number three slot in the Indians batting order, look for him to be given every opportunity to succeed.
• SS Starlin Castro, CHC (-23.7%) is hitting only .229 in June and has just two RBI in his last 18 games.
• SP Johnny Cueto, CIN (-21.1%) was a hot add not too long ago. In his last three starts, he's given up 17 ER and 25 hits in just 17 IP. UGH!
• 2B Orlando Hudson, MIN (-21.0%) seems to simply be a casualty of roster space. Prior to going on the DL, he was hitting .305 with 39 R, 3 HR, 16 RBI and 4 SB in 49 games. Could be a nice add if you have the roster space and need.

What other players have you finally given up on? Does your league's keeper rules force you to hold onto a player longer than you want for the sake of next season?

Your League Probably Sucks: 06/07/2010

...IF these two guys are still available on waivers:

• SP Stephen Strasburg, WAS - His arrival to the majors has been covered slightly less than the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. Someone in your league should have been hanging on to him since draft day and they are dying to finally get a return on sacrificing the roster spot. More than likely he will disappoint expectations. For the sake of the entire Nationals franchise, I hope he succeeds.
• OF Michael (Mike) Stanton, FLA - Another guy that is finally getting the call after homering in roughly once every nine at bats. It wasn't as clear when he'd get the call and how much playing time and impact he will have in the Marlins lineup, but he still should be owned in any league worth being a member of.

What other players are you stashing away on your roster now in hopes of paying off dividends this season?

Waiver Saviors: 06/04/2010

Here are a few more names of note that are widely available in ESPN and Yahoo! leagues in the latest installment of Waiver Saviors:

• 3B Neil Walker, PIT (0.5% E; 3% Y!) is the latest Pittsburgh prospect called up to the big club and will be given the chance to keep the 2B job. In the minors, he's shown home run numbers in the the teens. So far he hasn't disappointed with a .312 BA (10/32), 2 R, 1 HR and 4 RBI in 8 games. He'll soon have 2B eligibility and could provide a nice boost in a CI or MI roster slot in deep mixed leagues.
• C/1B Buster Posey, SF (60% E; 50% Y!) finally got the call-up and is living up to the preseason hype, so far. In his first five games, he's gone 9/19 (.474 BA) with a run and four RBI. It may take him some time to find his power stroke, but in the meantime, he has the potential to be a top-10 catcher by season's end.
• OF Michael Stanton, FLA (10% E; 18% Y!) should be called up to the Marlins any day now. The question is "How much playing time will he get?". His 20 HR in just 176 Double-A at bats this season is what the buzz is all about (oh, and stuff like this).If you have the roster spot to stash him, now may be the time.
• SP John Ely, LAD (59% E; 35% Y!) had a rough first outing (5 ER in 6 IP) but has run off six straight quality starts and boasting very nice ratios of a 2.54 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. Toss in his 7.24 K/9 and 4.63 K/BB ratios and you have a very ownable starting pitcher.
• RP John Axford, MIL (31% E; 21% Y!) seems to be the Brewers closer and is getting the job done (1 W; 3 SV). Until he loses his grip on getting the ball in the 9th inning, he should be owned in all formats using saves.

Have you been stashing away prospects such as Stanton, Posey, Strasburg and catcher Carlos Santana of Cleveland? How has your roster suffered during the wait? Are you ready to start seeing dividends or fear you may have sacrificed precious roster spots for a chance at stardom?

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