You know what I can't stand? Those guys who just go nuts on your bench. It's just really a pain. Just like in the majors, when guys are hot, you need to find them a way into the lineup. Just the same, it maybe a smart move to sit some one for a bit until heats up again. So here are a few suggestions my loyal reader.
By the way keep the comments coming! We love to know what people think.
START THESE GUYS IMMEDIATELY
Mike Lowell
This fellow is on fire the last week. If you need any proof, check out his two homers against the Yankees Sunday night. Third base is a really deep position, but wherever you can get this guy in the lineup. He's raking like your dad after the leaves fall. Lowell looks like he's fully recovered from his injury and 2005, and fits in nicely in that stacked lineup.
Pat Burell
Pat the Bat catches a lot of flack from the public eye, but he's off to a fast start this season and now faces a four game stretch in which he'll play the Astros and Nats. Sometimes you may be scared to play Burrell, who his manager benched against Matt Belisle, but don't worry, he'll be fine this week.
Xavier Nady
The Pirates aren't as bad as you think, but they still aren't very good. One of the better and unheralded players on the team is Xavier Nady. The X-Man, who enjoyed success last year with the Mets before being traded, has come into his own with Pittsburgh. Once Adam LaRoche heats up, Nady will have a lot more RBI oppurtunities.
OK, THESE GUYS NEED TO SIT
Akinori Iwamura
No one was hotter or more suprising to start the season than the D-Rays main man Aki. However, major league pitchers may have begun to figure him out as he has experienced a bit of a cool off lately. It would be wise to keep the Ak-man on the bench till we know what kind of player he will be in this league.
Mike Cameron
The reliable Padres CF has a couple of tough matchups on slate this week as he's due to face Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb and Derek Lowe. This not bode well for the strikeout heavy Cameron. There are most likely better options on your bench, so please play them.
Mark Texiera
Sit, Texiera?! Are you crazy?? No I'm not. Tex is becoming the worst first half player of our generation. Last year, I had to sit him until the All-Star Break, and I advise you do the same till things change. Tex shows no signs of turning it around and don't let him kill your team until he does.
-David Cassilo
asuhouse@aol.com
Start 'Em/Sit 'Em
Streaming Starters April 21-24
Here's your list of pitchers to pick up for spot starts or potential spots on your permanent roster. While these may be good matchups, I never guarantee the success of these pitchers.
Saturday April 21
Paul Byrd Cleveland at Tampa Bay Jae Seo
Paul Byrd has been solid in his first 2 starts. Ok so the first one which was a 4 2/3 inning no hitter didn't count because of the snow, but he was solid again in his next start giving up no runs. This could be another solid start as he goes against the D-Rays and Jae Seo.
Sunday April 22
Ramon Ortiz Twins at Kansas City Jorge De La Drosa
Am I actually saying this? Well Ramon Ortiz may already be owned in your league because of his great start, but if he's not, there is a good chance he could keep it going against the Royals and De La Rosa. Of course this could also blow up in your face and Ortiz could get lit up
Monday April 23
I got nothin...
Tuesday April 24
This is a bad week for streaming starters....
~Brian Melnick aka Grande Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com
FANTASY MD: The Doctor is In
Why hello there loyal readers! Remember me? I'm back and if you enjoyed my Fantasy MD column from the football season, you'll be sure to love this. Busy night last night with the no-hitter and Felix injury, so if you're looking for your fantasy fix, I do not disappoint.
Felix Hernandez- I actually own Felix and lost a good amount of sleep last night due to the horrific possibilities of the injury. It's an elbow injury which is never good. Luckily, King Felix had the sense to pull himself from last night's contest really early. A DL stint seems inevitable, and let's just hope this isn't too serious. Losing Francisco Liriano and Felix Hernandez in back to back seasons would be devestatiting to baseball.
Ryan Howard- One of the noticeable problems for the struggling Phillies has been the lack of production from last year's MVP Ryan Howard. Last night, things almost went from bad to awful when Howard appeared to injure his leg. However, after an MRI today, it's been confirmed that Howard is merely day to day. It's likely he will see some action this weekend.
Howie Kendrick- Originally, Kendrick was thought to be just day-day after being hit in the head with a pitch on Tuesday. However, things have esacalted rather quickly, and he will now most likely miss between 4-6 weeks. Kendrick has been decent this season but it is time to start looking for other second basemen to fill the void. In a related story, in my draft this season I was forced to choose between Ian Kinsler and Kendrick to be my starting second baseman. I went with Kinsler and so far the rest is history.
Jason Schmidt- It has been a truly ugly start for Schmidt this season with his new team. The ex-Giant has been less than stellar in all of his outings so far this season and now finds himself on the DL with shoulder inflammation. Schmidt didn't believe health was an issue, but an MRI confirmed he was wrong. This is probably the best thing for Schmidt who could use a little time off to get his game back. Mark Hendrickson will fill in for the next few weeks.
-David Cassilo
asuhouse@aol.com
Streaming Starters April 17-20
I know many of you fantasy baseball players draft hitters early and often and go with the "Streaming Starters" strategy. For those of you who don't know, this is the strategy of picking up decent pitchers on the waiver wire that have a good matchup, and then dropping them right after the game for a starter with a good matchup the next day. I won't 100% recomend this strategy, but I will tell you that I won my Head 2 Head league last year using this strategy, which caused a change in the rules this season to a 75 move limit. For those of you in Roto leagues, this may not be the best strategy, because even against the Nats, a below average pitcher could get hammered which would hurt your total stats. Anyway, if you are looking for starters to stream this week, here are the matchups you should look at from Tuesday to Friday.
*I do not gauarantee the success of any of the following pitchers*
Tuesday April 17
Mike Maroth Tigers home against Royals Jorge De La Rosa
Mike Maroth is having a decent start to the season with a 2-0 record so far. If he's available in your leage this is a great opportunity for a W. He is pitching at home against the improved, but still horendus KC Royals and a below average pitcher De La Rosa. If he has a quality start in this game he may be worth holding onto as he pitches for one of the best offensive teams in baseball.
Steve Trachsel Orioles @ Devil Rays Casey Fossum
If slow and steady wins the race, the Trachsel is on his way. Steve rarely pitches a shutout, but rarely gets lit up, so this game against the D-Rays and the inconsistent Casey Fossum would be a good game to stick Trachsel in your lineup.
Wednesday April 18
Claudio Vargas Brewers home against Pirates Paul Maholm
The Pirates and Paul Maholm are bad, and Vargas is at home pitching for a decent offense. Unless you are desperate, I wouldn't even use this as a spot start.
Thursday April 19
Darrel Rasner Yankees home against Indians Fausto Carmona
A yankee pitcher always has a chance to get a W even if he gives up some runs. Picking up Rasner for this game is not a bad idea, especially at home and against Fausto Carmona who is just plain bad.
Friday April 20
John Danks White Sox @ Tigers Chad Durbin
Even in Danks' 2 losses, he has pitched well posting a 3.97 ERA. He could put it all together at any time, and even if he doesn't on Friday against the Tigers, Thome and the gang should be able to crush the Tiger's 5th starter Durbin.
Randy Wolf Dodgers home against Pirates Tony Armas
Randy Wolf has started off strong with a 2-1 record and a 4.00 ERA. The Dodgers are a strong offensive team and should win at home against the perenial bottom dwelling Pirates.
~Brian Melnick aka Grande Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com