Around the Horn: May 5, 2011
May 5th, 2011 | by Ray Flowers |(1) Tim Lincecum makes strikeout history as his fastball speed returns thanks to his offseason training (for more see Link O’ Rama).
(2) Josh Johnson the best early season pitcher in the game.
(3) Aaron Crow showing Royals his worth as a pen ace.
(4) Carl Crawford finally hitting, making history.
(5) Adrian Gonzalez productive, minus the power.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Aaron Crow, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Carwford, Christy Mathewson, Cinco De Mayo, Johan Santana, Josh Johnson, Red Sox, SF Giants, Tim Lincecum
By Chad on May 5, 2011
Ray- The beard is looking thick. To bad the Sharks beat my Kings. I was only able to grow mine for a week. I had Bailey come off the DL today and didn’t want to start him so I kept him on the DL until I saw what he did. He looked good. Now I need to make a decision. Which SP should I drop of the bunch:
Baker, Hudson (ARI), Norris, Bailey?
By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2011
Chad – The beard is coming in well — would look even thicker if I didnt have all this gray coming in now. lol
I don’t want to drop any of those four Chad. All have value.
Can’t drop Baker with way he is throwing.
Norris has huge arm, massive K potential.
Hudson solid combo of skills and youth — ditto Bailey.
Honestly, if I had to make the call, I’d drop Bailey. Can you trade him and someone else to someone else after the strong outing by Bailey?
By Chad on May 5, 2011
Ray- I will give it a whirl. My other starters are Weaver, Pineda & Gallardo. What value do you think I could get for a Bailey?
By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2011
Chad – After today’s outing, I’d think many look at him as a top-50 SP, so you should be able to get something solid for him.
By Bill on May 5, 2011
I’m in a 12 team head-to-head points league. I’m 3-1 probably heading to 4-1 but am looking for down the road this year. Would you trade Shin Soo Choo and Papelbon for Hamilton? I would not have a closer to replace Papelbon and my outfield would then be Holliday, Hamilton, Sizemore with BJ Upton and Drew Stubbs waiting in the wings.
By Cameron on May 5, 2011
Hey ray. What do you think Brett wallace’s power potential for this year is? Is 20-25 home runs a stretch for him? and would you take him or adam laroche in a 10 tm mixed? I need homers… Badly. Thanks.
By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2011
Chad – After bailey’s good first start, you might be able to get a substantial deal for him worked out. Think top-50 arm – that’s at least the level I would be shooting for.
By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2011
Bill – I would not do that deal. I don’t see a tremendous difference in the value of Choo and Hamilton the rest of the way. If you add in a 35 save arm, the deal would totally swing in favor of the other guy.
I’d pass.
By Ray Flowers on May 5, 2011
Cameron – 25 homers would be a stretch for Wallace. Did you see the piece where I broke him down about a week ago?
http://baseballguys.com/2011/04/28/2011-player-profile-justin-smoak-brett-wallace/
I’d say 20 homers tops, but even that might be a little optimistic.
LaRoche = all about health. On skills he’d be the choice, but based on his struggles with his shoulder, you’re better off with Wallace for the moment.
By Rob on May 6, 2011
Hi Ray,
General trade question for you. I’ve stocked my bench with pitchers, leaving my offense lacking when injuries pop up (at the moment, Bautista, Tabata, LoMo and Ethier).
Going forward, would you trade a pitcher to get an impact bat for the bench? 10 team, H2H points, mixed.
Starters: Hamels, Gallardo, Cahill, Scherzer, GioGo, Nolasco, Shields, WRod, Kennedy.
Is Kennedy & Seth Smith (or LoMo) too much to give up for a Stubbs, Rasmus, Zobrist type player? Could I package that for a Cruz or Choo in stead?
And I picked up Figgins mid-day yesterday for last night’s game (dropped Brox)…only to find he sat out due to illness! Arg. What an unpredictable web we weave.
Thanks for the advice!
By Ray Flowers on May 6, 2011
Rob – No way to know how people evaluate performers. All you can do is to make a fair offer and see how it goes.
Kennedy/Smith for Stubbs is a lot to give up. I like Smith, he should be solid, so your going to be giving up two B players for a A- type. Likely not great.
IF you could move that duo for Choo, who will hit .050 points higher than Stubbs, do it.
By Rob on May 6, 2011
Thanks! I’ll see if I can make the Choo deal happen. In another league, I was just offered the following trade:
Giving: Votto, Utley, Butler
Receiving: Carl Crawford, Juan Pierre, C.J Wilson and JDLRosa.
I’d still have Kendrick, Kinsler at 2B and Lind, Berkman, Hosmer at 1B.
Worried about giving up Votto but I need steals and strikeouts. I’m really liking this deal! Pull the trigger?
By Chad on May 6, 2011
Ray- What’s your thoughts about Bourgeois (HOU)? I need steals and Fuld is really in a funk. Worth the switch?
By Rob on May 6, 2011
Or would you counter: Votto, Utley, Butler, Arroyo for Crawford, Prado, CJ Wilson, DL Rosa.
By Brad on May 6, 2011
Do you think Madison holds save job even when contreras comes back in a few weeks I have lodge also in my league it will cost me ranks for Madison
I have held off trading Stubbs but I need power and am going to trade Stubbs for Ortiz and Hudson or waney Rodriguez
Let me know what you think
Thanks
By Ray Flowers on May 6, 2011
Chad – Fuld isn’t likely to bounce back as I’ve been saying for nearly a month now. Bour. can’t possible keep up his torrid steals pace. He simply doesn’t play enough. When Lee returns Bour. will go back to his pinch hitting, pinch running, part time role. He’ll still produce steals, but not much else. IF Fuld plays everyday he’ll likely be more valuable, but I doubt that will happen.
By Ray Flowers on May 6, 2011
Brad – Madson, I would suspect, will hold on to the role when Contreras returns in a few weeks, but that could chance if he has a hiccup or two before then. When lidge is healthy, he will be the closer (likely in June).
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110506_Halladay__Ibanez_help_Phillies_sweep_Nationals.html
If you can trade Stubbs for Ortiz/Wandy that’s a fair deal. Just make sure you have OFs to step in for Stubbs and that you can afford to clog up your UT spot with Ortiz.
By Jeff on May 6, 2011
I have a DL issue. I have 3B Freese, P Aardsma, Broxton, Johan Santana all on the DL and I only have 3 spots. I am down to only 1 CL. I was thinking of dropping Santana or Freese and picking back up League.
By Ray Flowers on May 7, 2011
Jeff – Freese is likely out for at least two months. Santana seems to be progressing well. Now I’m not at all sold that we will see the “normal” Santana this year, but with Freese just getting one injury after another, I’d drop Freese, though I would understand why you would dump sanatan.