Greatness, Injuries & Hotness

Some players are hitting, some are slumping, as the season wears down. Other players are being shut down due to injury, and some of us, a rare few, are already deep into our plans for Halloween. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I do need a girlfriend.

Adrian Beltre seems to think that it’s his mission to prove that he has been overlooked all these years. His overall numbers are first rate, he’s hitting .316 with 35 homers, 98 RBIs and 92 runs scored, not to mention a strong .915 OPS, and if that was all there was it would be enough. However, it’s his out of this world pace of late that is the even bigger story. Over his last 20 games played Beltre has gone deep 10 times, has driven in 16 runs, has scored 16 times and has an OPS of 1.121. Going back just a bit further, starting with his three homer game on August 22nd (my parent’s anniversary), he’s hit 16 homers in 29 games. No need to belabor the point – he’s just been dynamic, period.

Michael Brantley has had a solid season for the Indians for those of you who added him in AL-only leagues. He’s hit a solid .286, gone deep six times, stole 12 bags, and hit the 60 plateau in RBIs and runs scored. He’s limited by sore groin right now.

Tyler Clippard has had an amazing season relative to his draft day cost as the former setup man has stepped up to record 32 saves. Alas, his performance of late has been pretty awful as he’s racked up two loses an a blown save in his last three outings. Moreover, he’s sporting a 9.64 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in September. The result is Drew Storen is now the main closer for the Nats. Storen has pitched well with a 2.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP including a 0.87 ERA/WHIP with 12 Ks in 10.1 innings in September. Not saying a move doesn’t make sense given how the two are pitching right now, but it’s a bit odd given that the Nationals are in first place getting ready for the playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs the Giants, who have already clinched he NL West, are 10 games up on the Dodgers.

Carlos Gonzalez may be shut down for the rest of the year with a sore hamstring. “I don’t know if I will be able to play again,” said Gonzalez. If his season is indeed over he’ll end the year hitting .300 with 20 homers and 20 steals. In fact, his performance this season is a near match for his 2011 effort. Check it.

2011: .295/.363/.526 with 26 HRs, 92 RBIs, 92 runs, 20 SBs
2012: .303/.371/.510 with 22 HRs, 85 RBIs, 89 runs, 20 SBs

Hey, I’m never about me, OK maybe sometimes I am, but with all these people telling me they are winning their leagues or in the finals, I’m left with two thoughts. (1) Like a proud papa, I’m proud of everyone and glad I could help out a bit. (2) When people say ‘I’m about to win $500 because of you!’ I think to myself – where is my share of the pie? I know, it’s always about me.

Jason Kubel hit his 30th homer Monday night, the first time he’s reached that level. It’s a surprise given that he hit only 33 homers the past two years in 242 games. Kubel has also knocked in 90 runs and scored 74 times for a very effective fantasy season for the Diamondbacks. However, his performance has fallen faster than my tolerance for stupidity as he’s hit a mere .206 with a .274 OBP in the second half of the season. He’s kept bashing the ball though with 15 homers in 57 games.

For those of you that don’t know, I’m kinda a huge Halloween fan. When you can combine Halloween and hotness in one, I’m an even bigger fan. Given that lead in, for your viewing pleasure the one and only Kate Beckinsale. Leather never looked so good for the werewolf killer.

Anyone else have the following problem? Tyler Skaggs was supposed to make two starts this week, so I picked him up in two of my leagues. The D’backs just announced that Skaggs was being shut down for the year (Josh Collmenter will take the hill). Great timing guys. Wonderful. Skaggs tossed 158.1 innings last year, so it seems odd that they shut him down this year at 151.2 innings. Can’t think he won’t be in their rotation next year, but that doesn’t mean squat to anyone right now does it?

If you have some time, some pretty interesting photos of some anomalies on the moon from Mike Bara.

Josh Willingham reached career bests last season with 29 homers and 98 RBIs in a tough place to hit – Oakland. Moving to Minnesota, another pitcher’s park, it was thought unlikely that he would improve upon those numbers. Well, he has and then some. Willingham has blasted 35 homers while knocking in 110 runs, and he’s also scored 85 times – all career-high’s. He’s also appeared in a career best 145 games, and for only the second time in his career has’ appeared in 120 or more games in back-to-back seasons (he’s gone for 136 and 145). He’s dealing with a wonky shoulder that needs an MRI, so it’s tough to tell if he will be able to offer much of anything the rest of the way.

By Ray Flowers

History in the Making

A slugger made history. A pitcher who also made history has hit hard times. A pitcher is getting no love despite personal success. A former elite option is returning to action. Two middling hurlers have been mighty impressive. And oh, Kate Beckinsale…

Josh Hamilton had one of the greatest nights in baseball history Tuesday as he went deep four times with eight RBI as he became just the 16th player every to hit four dingers in a game. He also hit a double to propel him to 18 total bases, the most in a game in the history of the American League (Shawn Green had 19 total bases in his four homer game for the Dodgers in 2002). So what do I say to all of that? Trade Hamilton now at his zenith. Remember, the guy has averaged 114 games played the past three years.

Reason 1,963 why wins mean nothing… Ryan Dempster has a 1.02 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 9.17 K/9 an a 3.60 K/BB ratio through five starts and he is 0-1 for the Cubs.

Phil Humber tossed a perfect game on April 21st, the 21st in the history of the game. However, he’s been an unmitigated disaster in three outings since. Humber has tossed 13.1 innings an allowed 20 hits. As bad as that sounds, it’s nowhere near the worst of it. In those 13.1 innings he’s also walked 11 batters, allowed five home runs and permitted, and his is no misprint, 20 earned runs to cross the plate. Add that all up and Humber, in his last three starts, has an ERA of 13.50 an a WHIP of 2.40. Now you see why I had him ranked outside my top-100 amongst starting pitchers this season and why all that talk about him taking the next step this season were baseless.

I know the movie was terrible, but if anyone can watch Underworld Awakening – which was released on DVD this week – and see Kate Beckinsale and not want to immediately buy some leather pants, then I don’t know what your problem is. Where is my Kate Beckinsale? What a looker.

Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees on Sunday. With a name that will almost certainly far outpace his production, Pettitte is nothing more than an innings eater for a mixed league staff, an a moderate one at that. The 39 year old tossed four games as he worked his way back into shape and he allowed seven earned runs (3.71 ERA) and 22 base runners (1.29 WHIP) against the whipper snappers in the minors, not exactly impressive totals.

Joe Saunders got lit up Monday allowing six earned runs in 3.1 innings in his first non-quality start of the year in his sixth start. It’s all about the law of averages, or regression to the mean if you prefer. Saunders is the owner of a career 4.10 ERA an only twice in four seasons as a full-time starter has his ERA been under 4.40. Clearly he wasn’t going to post a sub 2.00 ERA this season. In fact, even with his outing Monday his ERA is still nearly a full run better than it has ever been at 2.50 (he had a 3.41 mark in 2008). Given Saunders skill set everything, an I mean everything, will have to go right for him this season to post an ERA under 3.40. What that means is that he still has a long way go to regress back to the pitcher he actually is. Be sure you’re aware of that if you have him rostered as anything other than a rotation filler in mixed leagues.

Carlos Zambrano was a pitcher I targeted as a pick up this week because of his two start status. Consider game one a rousing success as Big Z tossed a nine inning shutout at the Astros permitting only three hits and one walk while striking out nine. I know it was the Astros which is akin to mowing down a Triple-A roster, but it’s time we give Carlos some props. His 1-2 record blows chunks but it certainly has nothing to do with how he has performed as he’s posted a 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP for the Marlins. Moreover, Zambrano has made six starts, all of which have been “quality starts” (at least six innings pitched while permitting three or fewer runs). A hell of a start for the combustible one.

Here are some pitchers that are bound to have brighter days ahead given their massive BABIP mark (it’s very rare to see a hurler end a year with a mark as high as .330).

.439 – Josh Johnson
.407 – Mar Scherzer
.381 – Ivan Nova
.369 – Zack Greinke
.363 – Juan Nicasio

By Ray Flowers