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AL Report
Pitching in: Finding quality arms for the stretch run
Posted: Tuesday July 22, 2003 6:15 PM
Former Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen is just 2-5 but offers the Orioles a lot of versatility. |
By Jason Grey, Special to SI.com
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing hitters that should have a relative change in fortunes over the balance of the season. This week we turn to pitching, and see if we can't find some hurlers who might have a little more performance in the tank for the last two months of the 2003 campaign:
Anaheim: Aaron Sele has pitched at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He is just now rounding into form after returning from shoulder surgery. While he won't be stellar, he is a viable option for the pitching-starved in deep leagues.
Baltimore: Pat Hentgen might be a decent option, but I doubt that he will have a rotation job in September as the Orioles try out some other young hurlers. Eric DuBose is a 26-year-old hurler that until 2002 was having problems getting past the hump at Class AA ball. However, he does appear to have turned the corner, and refined his command enough to where it's conceivable he could have some short-term success for the rest of the year.
Boston: Ramiro Mendoza has had two good starts in three chances, and the third one was not horrible. Considering his ERA is 5.67 and ratio is 1.76, much of it accumulated in the bullpen, he has room for considerable improvement. Don't forget about Casey Fossum either. If the Red Sox are unable to obtain a starting pitcher at the deadline, scuttlebutt has Fossum potentially replacing John Burkett in the rotation. At that point, Fossum's value rises considerably.
Chicago: When your opponents are batting .191 against you, do you have a chance to pick up more save chances before the year is out? Yes, you do. Damaso Marte is behind Tom Gordon and ahead of Billy Koch right now in the White Sox save derby, but don't count him out from getting a chance to be the No. 1 guy the moment there is a sign of trouble with Gordon. Sure, it's a speculative play, but a strong one that still helps you in other categories.
Cleveland: I've talked about Cliff Lee here before, and I can't for the life of me figure out why the Indians have not cleared room for him yet. When does Brian Anderson get dealt? When does Cleveland realize that Lee is ready? Yes, he is a little wild at times, but there is clearly nothing left for him to prove in Buffalo. My guess is that it happens right around the trade deadline, which should leave about 10 starts of good cumulative production from him to add to your fantasy stats.
Detroit: Smart money says Chris Mears remains the man in the Tigers' pen for the balance of the year. I like Wil Ledezma as well in deep AL leagues, but he will be subject to a late-season shutdown similar to Jeremy Bonderman (anyone notice that before last night's shellacking, Bonderman had seven quality starts in a row?). Their September production is thus suspect without knowing how many times they will, in fact, take the mound at all.
Kansas City: I will continue to maintain that we have not seen the best of Jeremy Affeldt yet. Hopefully we will in the last two months. For tight late-season races in the American League, will Zach Greinke and Jimmy Gobble get some September opportunities that could make the difference? Greinke has the bigger upside, but Gobble has more experience. Championships have been won and lost on the strength of September call-ups.
Minnesota: A full-time rotation job for Johan Santana after being inexplicably left in the bullpen for far too long makes it easy to put him on this list. Digging a little deeper, Brad Radke's 1.39 ratio seems to be a tad low for someone carrying an ERA in the mid-fives. Radke's ERA should be dropping down a bit. Digging even deeper, we may see the recently demoted Grant Balfour back in a Twins uniform and in the rotation before it is all said and done. Balfour could provide some excellent September numbers.
New York: Brandon Claussen has the potential to be a very good back-of-the-rotation starter, but he is behind too many veterans right now, with the Yankees possibly adding another veteran pitcher. Still, if he gets a chance, he could produce. It looks like he won't though.
Oakland: Well, you know about Rich Harden, so I'll move on. An injury and a lack of a trade for a veteran arm could also lead to time for minor leaguer Justin Duscherer, who is a quality pitcher in his own right. Like Claussen, though, more than one piece has to fall into place for that to happen.
Seattle: Do not under any circumstances forget about Rafael Soriano. Can Gil Meche, with his injury history, keep it going at 150 IP and beyond? Soriano steps in and goes Johan Santana on hitters if he gets a rotation slot from anyone.
Tampa Bay: The entire staff scares me. Next.
Texas: John Thomson has a 1.33 ratio, but an ERA of 5.31. See Radke, Brad. Thomson has been getting better lately, posting a 2.49 ERA this month. There is value to be had here in deep AL leagues.
Toronto: Cory Lidle, 5:30 ERA, 2002 pre All-Star game
Cory Lidle, 2.69 ERA, 2002 post All-Star game, including 5-0, 0.20 ERA in August.
I'm a buyer right now, tough first start after the break or not.
Jason Grey is the publisher of The Masters of Fantasy Baseball at www.mastersball.com, a free daily source for news, analysis, insight, and opinion.
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