Daily ArchiveTuesday, April 4th, 2006
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
BP’s Baker slams Brandon Watson
BP’s Jim Baker slams on Brandon Watson in Prospectus Matchups:
Speaking of Dead Pools, what day do you have in your Brandon Watson Watch? That would be the day the Nats come to their senses and get him the hell out of the starting centerfield job. That is probably a bit misleading in that we don’t have a lot of evidence right now that the Nats have any senses. Watson is probably going to have to ring up numbers so maddeningly inferior that the Washington braintrust has no choice but to remove him. Another analyst who shall remain nameless stated yesterday that he was “expecting big things from Brandon Watson.” That’s actually not an indefensible statement in that he did not add “on a baseball diamond.” By leaving it open-ended like that, the analyst could mean any number of things. Perhaps Watson will become a record producer after his baseball career and do “big things” in music. Perhaps he will enter the field of medicine or the clergy and heal bodies and/or souls. The possibilities are limitless.
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
National Notes
More Day 1 notes from Rotowire, and their patented “next day” notes:
Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday in the Nationals’ season opener. He was batting sixth, behind Nick Johnson and Alfonso Soriano. Zimmerman showed a power stroke during spring training, but he still needs to prove he can hit it out regularly when the games count to join the ranks of the elite fantasy third base prospects.
Brandon Watson went 1-for-4 batting leadoff in the Nationals’ Opening Day loss to the Mets Monday. The onus is on Watson to prove he can handle leadoff responsibilities, so if he fails to get on base regularly don’t be surprised if he gets bumped down in the order, or even out of the starting lineup entirely.
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
AaRr Transactions - Week 2, starting 4/4/06
Added Juan Cruz (P-Diamondbacks) for $5, sent Armando Benitez down, cut Ryan Franklin. No other bidders.
Juan has some potential, the same potential that caused him to be traded from the Cubs to the Braves to the A’s, and now the Diamondbacks. Acquired from the A’s for Brad Halsey on March 26th, he’ll be primarily used as a swingman at the beginning of the season, but his stuff is good enough to warrant a starting slot, or possibly an emergency closer. For the RoadRunners? I’m banking that he’ll get his head clear, find consistency, and will supplant Russ Ortiz come May. Ryan Franklin wowed them in Clearwater, but that’s a different ballpark than Citizens. Plus he didn’t make the rotation, so he would have been the first cut regardless of who was acquired.
Added Taylor Buchholz (P-Astros) to reserves for $5, cut Clay Hensley. Pi Train bidded $0.
Buchholz finally put the pieces together in Spring Training, claiming the Astros’ 5th starter position, something that no one else wanted, apparently. With Brandon Backe hurting, Wandy Rodriguez sucking, Fernando Nieve to the pen, and Ezekiel Astacio sent down, Buchholz could be the nominal #3 behind Oswalt and Petitte. We’ll see how he does first time out, but there’s plenty of upside here. Buchholz spent 2-1/2 seasons in AAA, so he may have a short leash - but Roger Clemens isn’t walking through that door - yet. Clay Hensley had an outstanding season last year in relief, and was thought that he could be a quality swingman, possibly starting this season. But a relatively poor spring, and the emergence (as it were) of Dewon Brazelton scuttled his value. He’s one to keep an eye on, and he pitched a shutout inning yesterday. He may be back, once the outfield situation is sorted through.
Added Matt Herges (P-Marlins) for $3, cut Matt LeCroy. No other bidders.
Matt Herges is a known quantity in an unknown situation - namely, the Marlins’ bullpen. He was a good pickup in 2004, and ended up with 21 saves before Dustin Hermanson took over. Last year he was flammable. But Borowski was shaky yesterday, and Joe Girardi is unpredictable. So he’s a potential closer, who will stay in my minors until that happens. Meanwhile, Matt LeCroy is a known quantity (backup 1B, emergency catcher), who’s contributions depend on the occasional pinch hitting appearance and Nick Johnson injury. Although the later may be a distinct possibility, until the OF is sorted, he’s 6th on the corner man depth chart, and we need saves.
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
Armando Benitez (knee) had a case of the flu on Sunday which delayed his recovery. The Giants are more concerned with Benitez’ delivery than they are with his knee. Benitez had a 23.48 ERA this spring.
Brandon Webb will start Saturday’s game against the Brewers. The Diamondbacks have Tuesday off and which will allow Webb to start on his usual four days’ rest. No. 5 starter Claudio Vargas will start on Sunday instead of Saturday. Webb had a strong outing for Arizona at Colorado on Monday, allowing just one run in seven innings (five hits, two walks, two strikeouts; 66 strikes in 97 pitches). Here’s a stat that shows how effective Webb’s sinker was on Monday: of his 21 outs, Webb recorded two strikeouts, two fly-ball outs, and 17 ground-ball outs behind the Diamondbacks’ revamped infield defense. Webb’s last three spring outings were relatively sub-par, but an outing like this at Colorado’s ballpark will do a lot to put Webb’s owners at ease. Webb’s next start will come at Saturday at Milwaukee.
Here’s a stat I like: Ground Balls-Fly Balls: B Webb 15-2 Did I mention that this game was played at Coors Field?
The Diamondbacks are converting Justin Upton from shortstop to center field, a move that would indicate Stephen Drew has won the battle to become Arizona’s shortstop of the future, the team web site reports. It’s not clear if the D-Backs are moving Upton because of a recent shoulder injury he suffered, or if it’s because Drew looked so good this spring that the organization decided Drew was clearly the franchise’s future shortstop. In any case, Drew now has no real organizational competition at the shortstop position. He’s now the odds-on favorite to be the team’s starting shortstop on Opening Day 2007, and perhaps sooner if Craig Counsell’s shoulder gives out.
Aaron Heilman, who limited left-handed hitters to just a .208 average last season, gave up three consecutive hits to them to start the seventh inning, but was able to get the hold in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Nationals. Heilman was bailed out from being the goat when umpire Tim Tschida missed a key call in the eighth inning, incorrectly calling Alfonso Soriano out at the plate, while replays showed Paul Lo Duca juggled and dropped the ball after applying the tag. The Mets moved Heilman to the bullpen to provide solid relief, especially against lefty hitters, but on Monday, he was average at best in that regard.
Prince Fielder went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Monday’s win over the Pirates. Fielder seemed to be too anxious in the opener, often swinging at high fastballs out of the strikezone. Things should turn around quickly for the young power hitter. While on the subject of tough openers, how about Prince Fielder’s debut? He was 4-for-4…in K’s, that is. Granted, the rookie faced a tough left-hander in Oliver Perez, but Cecil’s son is going to have to make better contact if he wants to avoid being platooned.
(Thanks to RotoWire, RotoWorld, and Baseball Analysts.)
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Day 1 Performances
Top Performer:
Khalil Greene - 2 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Bottom Feeder:
Prince Fielder - 0 for 4, 4 strikeouts.
Ouch, babe.
Posted on April 4, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Day 1 Standings and Statistics
Standings: 2nd Place, 74 points, .5 points out of first. Atomic Roadrunners ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Estrada Ari C 4 0 1 0 | 0 0 .250 Mike Lieberthal Phi C 4 0 2 0 | 0 0 .500 Prince Fielder Mil 1B 4 0 0 0 | 0 4 .000 Jeff Kent LAD 2B 4 1 2 4 | 1 0 .500 Ryan Zimmerman Was 3B 3 0 2 0 | 1 1 .667 Khalil Greene SD SS 4 1 2 3 | 0 0 .500 Adrian Gonzalez SD 1B 4 2 2 0 | 0 0 .500 J.J. Hardy Mil SS 3 1 1 1 | 1 1 .333 Adam Dunn Cin OF 4 2 2 2 | 0 1 .500 Moises Alou SF OF 4 0 1 0 | 0 0 .250 Dave Roberts SD OF 4 0 1 0 | 0 0 .250 Brandon Watson Was OF 4 0 1 0 | 0 0 .250 Jose Reyes NYM SS 5 0 0 0 | 0 1 .000 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 51 7 17 10 | 3 8 .333 --------------------------------------------------------- DID NOT PLAY: VDiaz RBI: JKent 4(4), KGreene 3(3), JHardy 1(1), ADunn 2(2) 2B: JKent 1(1), RZimmerman 1(1), AGonzalez 1(1), MAlou 1(1) HR: KGreene 1(1), JHardy 1(1), ADunn 1(1) ERRORS: JKent 1(1), ADunn 1(1) PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Davis 6.0 6 2 2 4 1 6 27 3.00 1.67 Aaron Heilman Ho(1) 2.0 5 1 1 0 0 1 9 4.50 2.50 Brandon Webb 7.0 5 1 1 2 0 2 27 1.29 1.00 Matt Wise Ho(1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.00 0.00 Danys Baez 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0.00 1.00 Gary Majewski 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 0.00 1.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 18.0 17 4 4 7 1 10 74 2.00 1.33 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DID NOT PLAY: DWheeler, ABenitez, JVargas, MMulder RESERVE HITTING ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Rich Aurilia Cin 2B 1 0 1 1 | 0 0 1.00 Shane Victorino Phi OF 1 0 0 0 | 0 1 .000 Jeff DaVanon Ari OF 1 0 0 0 | 0 0 .000 Ben Johnson SD OF 0 1 0 0 | 0 0 .000 Matthew LeCroy Was 1B 1 0 0 0 | 0 1 .000 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 4 1 1 1 | 0 2 .250 --------------------------------------------------------- DID NOT PLAY: SDrew, CQuentin, MDiaz RBI: RAurilia 1(1) RESERVE PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Clay Hensley 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.00 1.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.00 1.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DID NOT PLAY: KWood, RFranklin, TGorzelanny