| Welcome Back Pedro |
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Welcome back Pedro Martinez. The former Cy Young winner returned from injury and pitched the Mets to a victory over the Giants 9-6. He should provide a much needed performance and emotional boost to the Mets desperately in need of good pitching and leadership. Martinez went six innings and struck out three allowing three runs in the process. He even hit two singles and drove in a run. Probably most importantly however was the fact that he threw 109 pitches and hit 89 mph on the gun to the last batter he faced. Pedro will be a huge boon to the Mets if he can stay healthy this time around, and his arm will be fresher down the stretch for having missed two early months. He can also be a very solid third or fourth starter in mixed leagues depending on league size. He’s no longer dominant and won’t post terrific K-numbers, but he stills a great pitcher and knows how to get batters out. His opposing pitcher, Barry Zito, morphed back into his terrible self. Zito had thrown four straight decent outings making him fringe fantasy relevant once again. This time he lasted just 4.1 innings, walked 5, and fanned just one batter. I’ve been an unabashed Zito hater for years now, but if you’re relying on him in any league you probably deserve to lose anyways. • Some guy named Joba made his first start for the other New York team, and it wasn’t pretty. First the good: three strikeouts. Now the bad: everything else. With a pitch count in effect, Joba Chamberlain lasted just 2.1 innings, gave up 2 runs, and walked 4. For the record, I was and am a proponent of the move to the starting rotation. The Yankees are doing what is right for Chamberlain, and for the team in the long run by making the conversion now. He will one day be a dominant starter, but that day was not Tuesday. He’ll be just like every other talented rookie like Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw (Jay Bruce is excepted, he is impervious to poor performance) with some ups and downs. Yankee fans and fantasy owners need patience and tempered expectations. It’ll be good for your blood pressure. • In the second game P.D.O. (post-David Ortiz) the Red Sox beat the Rays to pull within half a game of first place. Rookie Justin Masterson had his worst start of his young career, but still moved to 3-0 giving up four runs in 6 frames of work. Coco Crisp once again manned the outfield with Manny Ramirez shifting to DH. He will see plenty of time as could first baseman Sean Casey. Crisp is a good short-term add for speed. • Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez broke away from his extreme home-road split shutting out the Pirates for six innings allowing just six baserunners. Granted, the opponent was hapless Pittsburgh, but any progress on this front is news for Rodriguez whose home-road differences were similar to Ervin Santana’s problems. I don’t hold out too much hope that Rodriguez will morph into a consistent pitcher, but he is very worthy of spot starts depending on the opponent especially at home. • The Braves finally won a one-run game (albeit at home) and it was Rafael Soriano appearing in the ninth inning not John Smoltz. I had speculated that he could receive some save opportunities, and it turns out I was right. Smoltz should still be the main closer (depending on health) but Soriano will probably steal a save or two a la Scott Downs in Toronto earlier this season. • Cardinal shortstop Cesar Izturis stole home during the fourth inning against the Nationals. He was earlier doubled off first on a flyball. Albert Pujols left the game in the fourth immediately after being hit by a pitch. He felt tightness in his left calf, and with the game delayed by rain Tony LaRussa likely did not want Pujols to run in the wet conditions or sit around waiting for the game to resume. He should be fine. • The power is finally coming for the Brewers. Ryan Braun hit his 16th home run of the year, a 2-run shot off of Randy Johnson. Prince Fielder hit his 10th, and 4th in the last 5 games. • Baltimore prospect Radhames Liz quietly made his 2008 debut against Minnesota. He pitched fairly well lasting 5.1 innings and gave up just 4 hits while striking out 4. Liz was rated as the second best prospect in the Baltimore system by Baseball America, and a top-100 overall prospect by Baseball Prospectus. He has a mix of power stuff with his fastball reaching the mid- to upper-90s with a power curve, but below average change. Like many other young pitchers, his control is not very good but he walked just one on Tuesday. His Triple-A numbers this season are just decent: 4.05 ERA, 8.70 K/9, 3.75 BB/9, and a not so great 0.45 groundball-flyball ratio in 60 innings. He will turn 25 in a week so there is still time for Liz to figure it out. He could also turn out to be a very closer with his good stuff if he cannot harness his control enough to be an effective starter. Liz is a name to remember next season and in keeper leagues. • Dontrelle Willis tossed four shutout innings in his return to the rotation, but he walked five batters in the process. If he can’t maintain his control he will join Zito in the fantasy scrapheap if he is not already there. The four inning limit was predetermined, and the plan was for Armando Gallaraga to back him up. Ironically Gallaraga, who has been the best Detroit starter, served up a three run home run to Eric Chavez in the fifth to give up the lead. Oakland eventually won the game 5-4 in 11 innings. Chavez probably has 12-15 home runs left in his bat this season, but coupled with a .250 average. Trackback(0)
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