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Fanball.com Staff

MLB Blog Breakdown

June 30, 2009 11:20am CDT

DBacksVenom.com: It's Time For A Garage Sale!
Diamondbacks correspondent Adam Brennan is calling for a firesale.

"The fact of the matter is that this team is either underachieving or they simply are not that good. I tend to lean towards the latter. Granted, this team has had to suffer through the adversity of losing co-ace Brandon Webb to a shoulder injury and Conor Jackson to valley fever; however losing 2 players does not make a team go 16 games under .500. The Diamondbacks need to seriously consider being a seller and rebuilding this team. Anyone other than Dan Haren, Max Scherzer and Justin Upton should be available as for potential suitors around the trade deadline. Yes, this does include Mark Reynolds! Mark Reynolds is the ultimate feast or famine player; his 21 homeruns are nice, but for every dinger there is 5 strikeouts in between. Reynolds has stuck out 102 times in 276 AB's this season. This is putting him on a pace of 217 strikeouts this season. He already owns the record for most in a season all-time with 204. In addition, his fielding futility is nothing short of terrible, he led baseball in 2008 with 34 errors. This season has not been marked by any drastic improvement, Reynolds already has 13 errors despite playing 1st base some of the time as well."

Impact: It's clear that 2009 is a lost season for the Diamondbacks, but Reynolds has been one of their few bright spots. He is on pace to become one of baseball's top home run hitters, already hitting 21 homers this season. It seems highly unlikely that the team would move him, though a full-time move to first base is not out of the realm of possibility considering his defense. That would not be great news for fantasy owners in the long-term.


CamdenCrazies.com: Tillman, Matusz Chosen for Futures Game
Orioles correspondent Daniel Moroz has a rundown of the O's highly touted starting pitchers shown for the Futures Games taking place during All-Star week, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman.

"Given the difference in levels, you could make the arguement that [Jake] Arrieta deserved to make it instead of Matusz, though Jake is also a year older. Tillman pitched at the highest level and is easily the youngest, and that's the main reason I still like him best of the Three. In any case, it's really nice to have guys like these in the system and still have other reserves (David Hernandez - 3.30 ERA, 12.38 K/9, 2.83 BB/9, 0.87 HR/9 in Triple-A) that can be called on to fill in the rotation in Baltimore - one that already contains a couple of young pitchers."

Impact: The AL East could be a doozy in a couple years with the O's improving. The Orioles have arguably the best crop of pitching prospects in the game to go along with Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters at the plate. Like Moroz, I agree that Tillman is the best prospect of the group, but the other two pitchers are really not far behind.


CubsPack.com: Much Ado About Bradley and Lou
Like many Cubs fans, Cubs correspondent Mark Sherrard is frustrated with Milton Bradley this season.

Milton Bradley is testing the Cubs' patience.
"Well, if the Cubs did any kind of due dilligence prior to signing Bradley, they knew that they were getting a volatile headcase, to say the least. They already had a fiery manager in Lou Piniella and another headcase in Carlos Zambrano, but they decided to take a chance on Bradley, hoping that his offense would offset his personality disorders."

Impact: Bradley has had an eventful season on the North Side to say the least, but better performance would like end all of the fuss. Remember, Bradley has had two very good years in a row when healthy, hitting 35 homers over his last 623 at-bats with an average above .300. With his history of solid performance, I am far from ready to give up on him.


EyeoftheTigers.com: Edwin Jackson's Worst Enemy - the Tigers Offense
Tigers correspondent J Ellet Lambie points out the bad luck that Tigers No. 2 starter Edwin Jackson has had this season.

"In the seven games Jackson has started that the Tigers have lost the opposing starting pitcher has been:

David Purcey 0-2, 7.01 ERA, Matt Palmer 7-1, 5.16, Philip Hughes 3-2, 4.44, Francisco Liriano 4-8, 5.62, Zack Greinke 10-3, 1.95, Gavin Floyd 5-5, 4.45 and Todd Wellemeyer 6-7, 5.68.

So, six of the seven losses in this situation have come against pitchers with a current ERA of 4.44 or worse, although strangely three of those same pitchers have a .500 record or better. Counting Greinke four of the seven have a .500 record or better. The Tigers have scored 18 total runs in these seven losses."

Impact: Jackson remains of one baseball's best pitchers this season, posting a 2.49 ERA in 16 starts. He only has six wins over that time, but perhaps it is karma considering that he had 14 wins in 32 appearances with a 4.42 ERA for the Rays last season. Regardless, it is clear the Jackson has finally found his control this season, walking only 29 batters in 108.1 innings.


RoyalsWithCheese.com: Bucking a Chen
Royals correspondent Kyle Elfrink talks about the Royals catcher situation when John Buck comes off the DL.

"When John Buck eventually returns and is healthy, I have no use for the guy. Sure, he can start once every five games, but it's about time this job is just handed to Miguel Olivo. Since Buck hit the DL with an herniated disc on May 30th, Olivo has taken over the every day role and has hit eight home runs in just 21 games (18 of them starts), while also hitting .308. Granted a 0:23 BB:KK-ratio is incredibly unsightly, but this is a team with no threats. Anyone that can do anything in terms of pop has to be in the lineup. This is the American League."

Impact: Olivo has also been far superior defensively for the Royals defensively, throwing out a far better percentage of baserunners. Olivo has already matched his home run total from last season in nearly half the at-bats, as he has been one of the AL's top fantasy catchers.


MonkeyWithAHalo.com: Free Agency Ideas - Get Sheets
Angels correspondent Garrett Wilson promotes the idea of signing injured starting pitcher Ben Sheets.

"Now, adding another injury-prone starter may not make the most sense given the fragile state of Santana and Lackey's healthy, but Sheets is the only available arm that has big-time potential in it. All the other free agent options, well, they are unemployed for a reason. Sheets though is a power-pitching ace and a four-time All-Star. It is probably a reach to expect him to approach All-Star form so soon after elbow surgery, but even Sheets at 85% effectiveness is better than any other free agent option available."

Impact: Certainly, Sheets will have his fair share of suitors if he shows that his arm is healthy. The most recent reports have Sheets ready to pitch in August, and he could be a key part of a playoff contender. It is not the worst idea to stash him in fantasy leagues, though you probably have more time to wait.


GodBlessBuckner.com: Yup, the Mets Need a Bat
Mets correspondent Eno Sarris points to the Mets injuries and hitting woes, suggesting that Aubrey Huff would be a good trade target.

"Aubrey Huff seems like a decent choice, as his defense in the outfield is just as bad as his infield defense. If only he wasn't a lefty, he'd be the target. Also, Baltimore is known for asking a lot in exchange for its veterans. But at least we know he can hit."

Impact: Plent of teams could have interest in acquiring Huff as we get closer to the trade deadline. Huff's versatility does make him a very good fit for the Mets, but his current fantasy owners can't be hopeful that he will be traded to the Mets based on how Citi Field has played for power hitters.


MoneyBallBlog.com: On Holliday
Oakland A's correspondent Larry Yocum looks at the possibility of the A's acquiring top Cardinals prospect Brett Wallace in return for Matt Holliday.

"Brett Wallace would be exactly the type of young player that would fit nicely in the A's future plans and would be a nice player to get in return for a guy that everyone knows is a rental and is represented by Scott Boras. Wallace is currently a third baseman, but the fear from the Cardinal's organization is that his future is at first base. Well, there is no opening at first any time soon, so moving Wallace might definitely be in the plans. The A's could play him at either third or first and this could be a very good fit for them. The 21-year-old is hitting a combined .282 with nine home runs, 35 runs and 26 runs batted in over 277 at-bats."

Impact: Interestingly, the A's acquired their last first baseman of the future from the Cardinals in Daric Barton. Barton has yet to pan out for the A's, even though the team got more than their fair share in that trade by acquiring Dan Haren and Kiko Calero as well for Mark Mulder. The A's have long-term openings at first base and the hot corner, though they also have some prospects at this positions, among them Sean Doolittle, Chris Carter and possibly even Adrian Cardenas if he is shifted to third base full-time. However, Wallace is widely considered a safer prospect than any of the three aforementioned names.

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