Is Billy Hamilton's Speed Worth A Roster Space Today?

If and when do you pick up Billy Hamilton and his speed? In my big money Roto League I am currently in 1^st place by 4 points. I am 2^nd in SB (12 behind) the 2^nd place overall manager in my league. I am also 16 ahead of the 3^rd place team in SBs. If I overtake him in SB I have just about locked up a Championship.  The dilemma is, I currently have no roster space and I am not convinced the Reds will give him a call-up. If they do call him up. Will he only be used as a pinch runner?

Let’s look at what he accomplished this year; between two minor league stops he set the single season SB record of 146, eclipsing Vince Coleman’s previous record.  He is not the greatest of hitters but he has increased his BB-K ratio this year quite dramatically. He went from 52/133 to a respectable 77/101. Those extra walks are what put him in the position to make a run at the SB record.

With only SS eligibility and Cozart blocking any playing time it’s hard to justify a critical roster space for a player who may only contribute in 1 counting category. In addition I hate to pull the trigger so early and lose flexible roster space with a possible big payday looming with a championship. If you are in the same dilemma, I feel for you. Hamilton is only owned in 2% of leagues thus far but once the word gets out he is being called up that number will spike tremendously. If I do make this move for the Usain Bolt of baseball it will be before the end of weekend. I will keep you posted.

The Angels Staff & Their Scary Numbers

What happened to the Angles rotation? Is it time to sit their entire SP for the remainder of the season? Even when a powerhouse offense, like the Halo’s have, puts up 5 runs a game it can help a beleaguered rotation put up Wins or counting Fantasy stats.

Here is a sample of what is going on for the AL’s Southern California team’s once elite starting rotation.

Dan Haren, who I have owned all season, is now 0-2 in August with a 7.62 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. They have decided to skip his next start. His back issues are obviously a reason for concern.  I do not think I will start him for the rest of the year and try to conserve my innings limit down the stretch. Owned in 87% of leagues and dropping fast.

CJ Wilson is even worse than Haren. He has posted an August line of 0-2 with an 8.31 ERA and a WHIP of 1.98. He hasn’t posted a win in two months.  His last start he blew an 8 run lead. He went from dominating to serviceable to killing your staff in 2 month increments. Still owned in 95% of leagues…hopefully not on your team.

Ervin Santana has a helpful August brewing but his July soured any owner that started him in Fantasy. His July line might have been the worst in baseball with a 12.21 ERA and a WHIP of 2.29. Hard to believe he is still owned in 44% of leagues.

Then comes Greinke. I predicted he would finish 8-2 down the stretch after the trade. I was wrong. His July/August numbers look horrifying. For the last 8 weeks he is 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. If he has been anchoring your staff you have lost ground since the All-Star break.

The moral here is do not fall in love with your ace pitchers. If they are struggling sit them down, check the waiver wire and conserve your innings limit if need be. Only 40 games left folks. Your top pitchers have 5 starts left which include playoffs. Continue to monitor recent trends and get ready for some of the September call-ups on the mound. Also I predict their Pitching Coach gets canned this week.

I Just Added...

By Corey R. Cunningham

In 2 leagues I just added LF Ryan Ludwick; and why not? Ludwick has been on a hot streak ever since 1B Joey Votto has been sidelined with an injury. Ludwick so far on the season is hitting .273 with 25 HR, 69 RBI and 43 R. Since the All Star break her is hitting .333 with 13HR and an OPS of 1.165. Ryan is on the FA wire in numerous leagues and is only owned in 50% of yahoo leagues. If you are a Melky owner and need a replacement that is producing or if you need to cut someone, you will want to grab Ludwick ASAP.

I grabbed Ludwick later than sooner, for I was lagging on the Ludwick train. He was hitting well a couple weeks ago and of course like most people I thought it would disappear. In Ryan’s last 12 Games he has 6 HR, 12 RBI, 10 R, 3 Multi Hit Games, and 15 H. He has raised his average from .260 to .273 and his SLG from .541 to .584. This is his most productive year yet out of the last 3 years and look for the hot streak to continue, if so Ryan has a deal for next year from Cincinnati. Which I just heard they are in negotiations.

Catching Help Down the Stretch

The recent move of Kelly Shoppach to the Mets has opened up the door for fan favorite Ryan Lavarnway. No, he won’t be the #1 Catcher in Beantown, but he will get starts behind the plate and should get all starts against lefties. With Ortiz still nursing an Achilles tendon injury his timetable for a return to the DH is uncertain. This gives Lavarnway some extra ABs as the DH.

If you remember, Lavarnway had great power in the minors last year when he hit 32 bombs. That will translate to the bigs, especially in home games. With Salty now hitting .229 in the dog days if summer the door is wide open for Lavarnway to walk through or in his case hit through. He was hitting .295 for the RedSox Triple A team in over 300ABs this year.  If you are in AL only leagues, 2 catcher leagues or very deep leagues it is time pick up Lavarnway for your push to the playoffs or a title.

Southpaw Prospect Down, But Not Out

By Corey R Cunningham

Arizona Diamondbacks SP prospect Tyler Skaggs was slammed hard Tuesday against Triple-A Round Rock. Skaggs was looking great in AAA for the Diamondbacks, and having more success than SP Trevor Bauer was having, and it was looking good for Skaggs to be getting a September call up, however, Tuesday might have put a call up on hold for another two or three starts.

Skaggs went 5 innings Tuesday night, allowing 8 R and 10 hits, while giving up 2 BB and striking out 4 batters. According to yahoo sports, it was the worst beating the 21 year old has had since his first AAA outing. Put his promotion on hold just for another two weeks or so, as I see the Arizona front office giving him a promotion in the near future.

Tyler besides Tuesday has pitched very well for Reno, having an ERA of 2.91, in 9 games, pitching 52 IP, allowing 49 H, 22 R, 17 ER, only 4 HR, and having 45 K. Tyler was promoted to Reno from AA Mobile, after 13 games, and a 2.84 ERA, in 70 IP. He has pitched a total of 122 IP this year between AA and AAA with a 2.87 ERA, his innings pitch totals is down, so this is an indicator that a promotion is near. If you can afford to grab Skaggs in your dynasty league, grab him, as I feel he will be up to the big leagues for a permanent spot in the rotation.

Skaggs was the gem piece that sent RHP Dan Haren to the Angels. Skaggs was the Diamondbacks top prospect before they had drafted Trevor Bauer in this past years 1st round of the June Amateur Draft.

Zobrist Gains Added Value

All you luck Ben Zobrist owners…like me, your favorite super utility man just qualified at SS to go along with his 2B and OF eligibility. I traded for Zobrist early in the season when his value was at an all time low in my Dynasty league. Remember when he was hitting under .200? I scooped him up for Jed Lowrie and Wandy; this was after I plucked Lowrie off waivers the week before.

This new position eligibility gives him so much more value. This instantly places him as the 9^th best Fantasy SS overall. He now has the 2^nd best OPS (.817) for SS with over 300 ABs, this is due to the many walks he generates. Always a consistent 15/15 guy who could either add a few more HR or SB depending on what his manager wants him to do and always contributes with Runs. He was already a top rated Fantasy 2B but now it is as if he cloned himself for fantasy owners. You just have to love mid season position eligibility upgrades. As you may have noticed from many of my previous posts on gaining position eligibility and flexibility I love this type of player!!

I looks as though Madden will continue to pencil Zobrist in at SS since he has yet to commit an error, so that guarantees us (Zobrist Owners) SS eligibility for next year. If you have a chance to pry him away from another owner in keeper/dynasty leagues you should think about overpaying a little to gain such a valuable/flexible asset. Currently owned in 91% of leagues he could even be wasting away on your waiver wire.

Trade Deadline

By Corey R. Cummingham

The trade deadline is coming to an end soon in every fantasy baseball league you play in, if it has not already passed. Look for this to be the most active teams will be all season, besides the FA wire.

If you need a SP, RP or offensive player, go get them. Give up whatever you need to get the player(s) you need. If you are on the verge of a championship team, then you have every right to give up what you need to, if its picks and players to gain the piece or pieces you need to become a championship team.

If you are on the verge of just being a playoff team, the chances of you acquiring a piece of ‘gold’ are slim, due to the price you will have to pay. You will more than likely need every piece you currently have in order to stand pat and join the playoff race. If you can upgrade, look at upgrading in small packages. Grab a "B" tier type pitcher and trade a "C" tier pitcher and a pick, small trades likes this will help you upgrade your team, slowly but surely for you to get into the playoffs.

Do not give up on your players just yet; give these guys a chance to perform, as you have about 3-5 weeks left of regular season play before the playoffs begin. Do not count out bad performances that have happened over the past two weeks as a predicting item that could occur in a few weeks where it will count.

Have faith in your playoff team, as it has stand pat during the whole season, no reason to doubt your current team now. Look over the FA wire one last time and before next week once the rosters expand for teams bringing up September call ups, there will be a diamond in the rough somewhere. If you are out of the playoffs, go ahead and sell, sell, sell. No reason to hold onto guys that you cannot keep, or perhaps grab draft picks for the 2013 season.