Saturday Odds And Ends

Again, a light day of posting for me, but here are some of my thoughts...

• Rich Hill made his first start of the season for the Orioles and came up victorious, tossing 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Hill allowed 7 hits and 2 walks, but struck out 6 batters. I did see some highlights of the game, and his curveball looked nasty. Command will be the issue for Hill though, not stuff, so he should not be trusted except in AL-only leagues as a guy with potential at this point. You shouldn't be depending on him at all, but he does have upside, and as such he should be owned in AL-only leagues without question.
  

• Nice job, Shellackey. I give John Lackey that moniker whenever he happens to get lit up, but I call him that today because of an incredibly stupid decision to hit Ian Kinsler with his second pitch, which prompted an immediate ejection. Consider that Kinsler had hit two home runs last night. And consider that Lackey threw the first pitch of his season behind Kinsler. And consider that Lackey was then warned. There is no way on God's green earth that Lackey wasn't trying to hit Kinsler, and I don't care how the Angels will try to spin it. Dumb move, Lackey, and it wasn't exactly what the team needed today; the Rangers beat the Angels 5-3, and the Angels' bullpen ERA was actually lowered in the game, giving up 5 runs in 9 innings. Lackey has an ERA of infinity since Kinsler came around to score, but was not charged with a loss because the Angels scored a run in the top of the first. Mixed leaguers should get Lackey active when he makes his next start, and hope he isn't out to bean people again.

• What an auspicious debut in a Brewer uniform for Trevor Hoffman. Despite not pitching until April 27, Hoffman recorded his 9th save (in as many chances) today. How impressive has he been? He has a perfect 0.00 ERA, a WHIP of 0.30, and in 10 innings he's allowed just 3 hits and walked none, with 9 strikeouts. There could be bumps in the road later, but Hoffman has erased doubts about his effectiveness once coming back from his oblique injury. He has to be considered a solid #2 closer in mixed leagues.

• I hope you took my advice about Juan Pierre. It's now blatantly obvious that he needs to be owned in all leagues when he's an everyday player, but even I didn't think he would be this scalding hot. Pierre had 3 more hits today, scored 3 runs (all of the Dodger runs in the loss), and stole 2 bases. He's now at .406 in 51 at-bats, and he has ascended to the leadoff spot in the order against lefties and righties (with Rafael Furcal sliding to the #2 hole and Orlando Hudson batting third). Pierre is still only owned in 39% of Yahoo leagues. Get on board, people!