Milestones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following bits of info were posted on the BaseballGuys Twitter account. See what you’re missing if you aren’t following along…

@MLB_PR: All-time doubles leader Tris Speaker had 445 through his age-32 season. Albert Pujols has 505.

@ESPNStatsInfo: Albert Pujols has 50 doubles this yr. He is the first player in MLB history to have 3 seasons of 30+ HR and 50+ doubles.

@MLB_PR: Robinson Cano and Rogers Hornsby are the only 2B ever to have consecutive seasons with 80+ extra base hits.

@GregJohnsMLB: Felix was Cy Young contender heading into Sept., but in last 6 starts went 0-4 with 6.62 ERA and 53 hits in 35.1 IP.

@richardjustice: A’s rookies have 53 victories. According to Elias, this is the most victories for rookies on one team in MLB history.

@richardjustice: Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker, A’s are 1st team to have 2 rookies win 13 games since the ’52 Dodgers (Black, Loes).

Some of my own thoughts…

Albert Pujols is simply amazing. It hasn’t been the season he has hoped for, and it will go down as his worst season ever, but he’s still hitting .289 with 30 homers, 105 RBIs and 85 runs scored. This means he is polishing off his 12th straight season of 30 homers and 99 RBIs. That ties him with Jimmie Foxx for the second longest such streak in baseball history behind the 13-year run of Alex Rodriguez. Oh, and the other two times that Pujols had 50 doubles, he hit 51 each year, he blasted 43 and 46 homers (2003-04).

Robinson Cano is on his way to Cooperstown. Hitting .308 with 31 homers, 88 RBIs and 102 runs scored, he’s a four category fantasy superstar. Moreover, each of the past four years he hit at least 25 homers with 85 RBIs and 100 runs scored. That four year run is the longest by any second sacker in baseball history (Ryne Sandberg did it three years in a row from 1990-92). Cano is also a double machine. With a career-high tying 48 doubles this year, Cano has reached 40 doubles six times in his last seven seasons missing only in 2008 when he hit 35 (his career-low for a season is 34 doubles). Only one other second sacker hit 40 doubles in 4-straight years – Jeff Kent in 1999-2002.

September cost Felix Hernandez. His terrible final month pushed his ERA to 3.09 on the year, For some reason as well, the guy just can’t get the Angels out. Take a look at his career numbers against the club from Southern California: 6-12, 4.07 ERA in 30 starts. “I don’t know what kind of approach they take,” he said. “Don’t ask me. Ask them. They hit me pretty good.”

As noted, Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker both have had a lot of success this season. In fact, their numbers are virtually identical if you look at their fantasy production.

Milone: 13-10, 3.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 137 Ks in 190 IP
Parker: 13-8, 3.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 140 Ks in 181.1 IP

Milone was tremendous when pitching at home as he went 7-5 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 15 starts. Parker tied for the team in in wins and led the club in ERA and Ks and WHIP (Bartolo Colon was better at 1.21 but he only threw 152.1 innings on the year falling short of the 162 needed to qualify for the ERA title).

A few more notes for fun.

Manny Banuelos, one of the elite prospects on the hill, will likely miss all of the 2013 season as the Yankees announced he will need to undergo Tommy John surgery. Just goes to show you why it is so dangerous count on young arms when building a dynasty club. You have to build around those young arms of course, but give me an Arroyo or Harang type any day over a prospect that could be something at some point.

Lance Berkman is unlikely to play again because of his knee issue. His career could be over.

Since Gio Gonzalez will skip his last start, Tom Gorzelanny will take his spot Tuesday against the Phillies, Gonzalez will become the first pitcher in baseball history to win 21 games in a season while throwing less than 200-innings (199.1 is his total this season).

C.J. Wilson admitted that he will have offseason elbow surgery to remove bone spurs that have been bothering him for a couple of months. Now we finally find an explanation that fits to explain the pathetic work that Wilson has offered his owners the past couple of months. After a 2.43 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over his first 18 starts he barely made it to the finish line with a 5.54 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over his last 16 outings. Use that slow finish to your benefit next year on draft day.

By Ray Flowers

Daily Joust – Wk 12: Did We Learn Anything?

On Monday each week I take a look at the fantasy baseball game breaking down players who have produced noteworthy performances of late – not just positive outings mind you, but I’ll also delve into some of the players that have been sucking wind of late.

To get your daily fantasy baseball fix make sure you head over to DailyJoust.com to set your salary cap club. Can you use this information to your benefit over at DJ?

GAINERS OF THE WEEK

Matt Holliday (+21, $128,000 in DailyJoust Salary)
And you were doubting him just a few weeks ago, admit it. Holliday is on fire over his last eight games as he’s produced 17 hits, two homers, 12 RBI and nine runs. In the process he’s jacked up his average to .299 on the year with 12 homers, 47 RBI and 48 runs scored. Guess what? That puts him on pace for his traditional .300-25-100-100 effort. The greats usually figure it out and end up producing by the time the season is over.

Tommy Milone (+70, $241)
Doesn’t it seem like his name should have two “L’s” in it? I need to talk to his parents about that. When a rookie starts the year 7-5 with a 1.21 WHIP you can’t help but be excited about it. However, his ERA is slightly below average at 4.13 and he’s taken the whole “I’m Clayton Richard and you only pitch me when I’m at home” situation to a whole other level. In eight starts on the road Milone is 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. In six starts at home in Oakland he’s the best pitcher ever at 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA and 0.77 WHIP. There’s your blue print on how to use him.

Chris Nelson (+20, $93K)
With Troy Tulowitzki out of action, Marco Scutaro has moved on to short leaving second base to Nelson. Displaying an uncommon power bat given his “game,” Nelson has gone deep three times with two doubles and a triple over his last eight games leading to nine RBIs. He’s also lifted his average from .226 to .268 the past 10 days thank to five games with at least two hits. He makes an excellent short term play given how hot he has been and for the fact that he should qualify at second and third in all leagues (many seem to be slow to the party, just take a look at his owned rate at Feaflicker).

Jake Westbrook (+105, $320K)
The last time he took the hill he tossed the 14th complete game of his career as he allowed only one unearned run to the Tigers. Over his last three outings he’s been “quality” each time out lasting at least six innings with no more than three earned runs allowed. One of the main reasons for his success is that he’s walked only two batters in those three games. It’s really pretty simple. When he avoids the free pass and keeps the ball down in the zone he has a lot of success. He’s a two-time starter this week against the Marlins and Pirates, and that would seem to make him a solid play this week.

LOSERS OF THE WEEK

Felix Doubront (-60, $274K)
After a run of 5-straight games allowing two or fewer earned runs, Felix has now permitted 12 earned runs over his last three starts as his ERA has gone from 3.75 to 4.31. The strikeouts are terrific, 85 in 79.1 innings is impressive, but his recent cold spell has knocked his ratios down to below league average (his WHIP is 1.35). He’s 8-3 and pitches for a strong squad, but it might be time to consider whether or not you should be counting on him to lead your fantasy rotation.

Bryce Harper (-19, $73K)
Hey, it was bound to happen. Bryce Harper might end up being the next Mickey Mantle as some say, but let’s not forget he can’t legally buy a Jack & Coke – not by a longshot – and that he isn’t exactly flush with professional experience at this stage of his life. At his current pace he’d produce the following numbers over 150 games (he’s played 50): 21 homers, 60 RBI, 95 runs and 14 steals. That’s impressive for any player no doubt, never mind one his age, but he’s seen his average fall .017 points the past 10 games (.286), the same total his OBP has dropped (.367). Everything is still impressive, but perhaps, just maybe, there’s a slowdown on the horizon?

Trevor Plouffe (-24, $87K)
Plouffe has a rather amazing 15 homers in just 175 at-bats this year thanks to his insane run the past month, but let’s keep things real here. He is batting .246 with a .327 OBP, hardly impressive numbers. He has 40 strikeouts in 175 at-bats. He has just one long ball and two RBI over his last eight games. You added him for nothing so who’s complaining, but his outlook in the second half of the season isn’t exactly golden.

Giancarlo Stanton (-21, $62K)
Look at his monthly totals. Maybe Jay Bruce has some company for the streakiest high level power bat in the game.

April: .247-1-9
May: .343-12-30
June: .205-3-5

Like I have said every time someone has asked me, this guy just isn’t a .300 hitter. His current mark of .274 seems about right, and he’s on pace for 35 homers and 100 RBIs which would also be impressive, but that transcendent season people were hoping for isn’t likely to materialize.

DAILY CONTEST

I’ve likely got some big news coming on this front this week, so keep an eye our for that. As for right now…

Today you can sign up for the King Arthur’s $50 Free Roll on DailyJoust. No entry free is required to get a chance to play the game and earn your free chance to take home part of the $50 prize pool. All games that start at 7:05 PM EDT or later are open to add players to your daily fantasy baseball squad. So get over to DailyJoust, put together your one day lineup, and get ready to win some free $.

By Ray Flowers