Daily ArchiveWednesday, August 23rd, 2006
Posted on August 23, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Overnight Dispatches
Carlos Quentin will be a full-time starter in right field for the Diamondbacks now that Shawn Green has been traded. Quentin is hitting .239 with a .341 OBP and four homers in 71 at-bats this season. If Quentin is available in your mixed league, grab him. He is slumping lately, but he’s still been rather productive as a major leaguer. The Green trade also could mean that Chris Young will have some fantasy value in NL-only leagues.
The discoloration on the bruised right hand of Roy Oswalt is gone, according to the Astros website. Oswalt will get the nod on Wednesday against the Reds.
Clay Hensley is completely recovered from a left buttocks strain and will start on Saturday against the Rockies. Hensley was removed from his last start after four innings because of the injury. He should be able to make his next scheduled start. Hensley said the buttocks strain has improved his posture which allows him to throw a better sinker. He gave up just one unearned run while pitching in relief on Sunday.
Shane Victorino was 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a walk on Tuesday. He’s now batting .296 in August and .270 overall with 35 RBI. If the Phils persist in using Rollins in the three-spot, Victorino stands to gain value, because with his skill set, he profiles as the best leadoff hitter on the team. Victorino will likely be the regular in center field with the injury to Aaron Rowand. Victorino is hitting .266 with six homers and 34 RBI in 244 at-bats this year for the Phillies.
After entering with a four-run lead, Armando Benitez had to be pulled in the ninth Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. He was charged with three runs. Benitez mixed in two strikeouts while giving up a single, a walk and then an RBI single. Manager Felipe Alou decided to go to Steve Kline with left-handed hitter Chad Tracy due up. Tracy hit a two-run double, making Benitez’s outing look worse than it was, and Kline then got Johnny Estrada to ground out to end the game. Benitez isn’t going to lose his closer’s role over this.
Brandon Webb wasn’t involved in the decision against the Giants on Tuesday after allowing three runs in five innings. Webb walked four and hit a batter. 57 of his 105 pitches went for strikes. This isn’t the same Webb we saw in the first half of the season. His elbow is likely still bothering him, and it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if he landed on the disabled list.
Johnny Estrada went 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and three RBI against the Giants on Tuesday. Estrada was hitting just .196 with five RBI this month while playing with a possible ulcer. The homer tonight was his 10th, surpassing his career high of nine from 2004 with the Braves. He needs 14 more RBI to match his total of 76 from that year.
John Maine was hit hard by St. Louis Tuesday, but escaped a loss when the Mets roared back. He gave up six hits, seven runs and two walks in five innings, striking out five. Maine only made two mistakes, but they happened to result in a grand slam and a three-run homer, both by Albert Pujols. He’s actually pitched very well of late, so I wouldn’t worry too much about this start.
Mike Jacobs hit a two-run homer Tuesday, snapping a five-game hitless streak. Jacobs came in mired in an 0-for-19 slump, but broke out with a two-run jack and a pair of walks. He’s enjoying a fine rookie season and is now up to .265 with 16 dingers and 61 RBI.
The Mets designated former Roadrunner outfielder Victor Diaz for assignment to make room for Shawn Green. Diaz has been a big disappointment while hitting .224/.276/.330 in 379 at-bats for Norfolk, but he did hit .257/.329/.468 in 280 at-bats for the Mets last year and he’s just 24. We can’t imagine that he’ll make it through waivers unclaimed. Unless there’s a trade, the Pirates will have the first crack and they should be all over him.
Posted on August 23, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
August 23rd - Standings and Statistics
Standings: 4TH - 72.5 points - 15.5 out of first Gained 1 points and 0 standings place since yesterday GOK! 88 / X 83 / COVER ZERO 82.5 / AARR / SJ 65.5 / 10PK 59.5 HR AVG RBI R SB W ERA WHIP K'S S -- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ----- --- --- 208 .2790 783 762 116 70 4.39 1.429 781 45 2ND 4TH 2ND 5TH T-2 4TH 5TH 10TH 7TH 6TH --- + 1 +.5 --- -.5 - 1 + 1 ---- --- --- BOX SCORE FOR 08.22 Atomic Roadrunners ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Estrada Ari C 5 1 4 3 | 0 0 .308 Ronny Paulino Pit C 4 0 2 1 | 0 0 .310 Prince Fielder Mil 1B 3 2 2 0 | 1 0 .281 Jeff Kent LAD 2B 3 0 1 0 | 1 0 .266 Chipper Jones Atl 3B 3 0 1 0 | 2 1 .324 Jose Reyes NYM SS 5 1 0 1 | 0 0 .290 Mike Jacobs Fla 1B 2 1 1 2 | 2 1 .265 Stephen Drew Ari SS 4 0 0 0 | 0 3 .305 Adam Dunn Cin OF 4 2 2 3 | 0 2 .251 Shane Victorino Phi OF 4 1 2 1 | 1 0 .270 Carlos Quentin Ari OF 4 1 1 0 | 0 1 .239 Jason Bay Pit OF 4 1 1 1 | 0 2 .292 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 45 10 17 12 | 7 10 .378 --------------------------------------------------------- RBI: JEstrada 3(62), RPaulino 1(40), JReyes 1(62), MJacobs 2(61), ADunn 3(87), SVictorino 1(35), JBay 1(87) 2B: JEstrada 2(24), PFielder 1(27), CJones 1(25) HR: JEstrada 1(10), MJacobs 1(16), ADunn 1(38) CS: SVictorino 1(1) ERRORS: MJacobs 1(7), CQuentin 1(1) PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Brandon Webb 5.0 4 3 3 4 0 5 24 5.40 1.60 John Maine 5.0 6 7 7 2 0 5 22 12.60 1.60 Francisco Cordero S(16) 0.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.00 0.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 10.7 10 10 10 6 0 10 48 8.41 1.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RESERVE HITTING ab r h bi | bb so avg --------------------------------------------------------- Geoff Jenkins Mil OF 1 0 0 0 | 0 1 .251 Ryan Spilborghs Col OF 4 0 1 0 | 0 0 .274 --------------------------------------------------------- Totals 5 0 1 0 | 0 1 .200 --------------------------------------------------------- RESERVE PITCHING ip h r er bb ibb so bf era whip ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Armando Benitez 0.7 2 3 3 1 0 2 5 38.57 4.29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 0.7 2 3 3 1 0 2 5 38.57 4.29 ----------------------------------------------------------------------