Sunday Odds And Ends

I know I haven't posted for a while so let's get to some relevant news...

• By now you know that Aramis Ramirez dislocated his shoulder and will be on the DL for about 8 weeks. In mixed leagues, you'll probably want to roll with your backup at third base, and hopefully, it's a decent alternative. In looking to replace Ramirez on your roster, most of you will look to add another third baseman. The best choices in mixed leagues are the following: Mark Reynolds (57% owned in Yahoo leagues), Mark Teahen (38% owned, and also qualifies at 1B and OF), Scott Rolen (32% owned), Adrian Beltre (57% owned), Melvin Mora (34% owned), and Russell Branyan (53% owned). Reynolds is the best bet to sustain his power production; Teahen offers versatility and some upside; Rolen is a health risk but does look good right now while healthy; Beltre has been terrible so far but could be due for a hot streak; Mora is in a great RBI spot in an underrated Baltimore offense; and Branyan is probably a guy I'd avoid due to his being in the midst of an inevitable slump right now. He has no homers or RBI in his last 6 games, with 10 strikeouts and just 2 walks in that span.

• Notice that I didn't recommend Emilio Bonifacio to Aramis Ramirez owners. After his torrid first week, Bonifacio has gone frigid with the bat. His average has dipped under .250, and he simply looks overmatched against good pitching. Bonifacio should only be owned in NL-only leagues at the moment, and if he keeps playing this poorly, he could be sent down to the minors like his teammate Cameron Maybin.
  

• The Royals finally decided to DL Joakim Soria, hoping that two weeks off will help his ailing shoulder (he had only appeared in 4 games since the middle of April). In the meantime, Juan Cruz should see most of the save chances; feel free to see if he's available if you own Soria in an AL-only league, though Cruz should be rostered in most AL-only leagues. In mixed leagues, Cruz should be widely available and wouldn't be a terrible stopgap option for Soria owners. Check to see if LaTroy Hawkins or Scott Downs is on the wire first, because those would be better options than Cruz.
  

• In another move by the Royals, Sidney Ponson has been banished to the bullpen and the team has recalled Luke Hochevar from the minors to take his place in the rotation. Ponson should not have been anywhere near your fantasy squad, and I can't recommend Hochever even in AL-only leagues, at least not yet. Take a wait-and-see approach on him.
  

• This wasn't a good week for the Ramirez last name. We had the Manny PED suspension; the Aramis injury; and we had Alexei Ramirez continue to flounder. Ozzie Guillen sat him down briefly, saying he wanted to see more purposeful at-bats, and in the two games since the benching Alexei has gone hitless. Mixed leaguers would be wise to bench him for now until he gets out of this funk. He hasn't been completely useless--he does have 6 steals--but if you have a viable alternative to play for now you should do it.
  

• It doesn't seem that long ago that Emmanuel Burriss was in danger of a demotion to the minors. But "Don't Call Me Plaxico" has been on a tear of late, as he's raised his average from .171 on May 1 to his current mark of .287 (he had 4 hits today in an extra-inning win over the Dodgers). Burriss is still best left for NL-only league play, because he gives you absolutely nothing in power or even runs scored (though that could improve a little bit going forward), but he has 9 steals and could be solid in the batting average, hits, and SB departments in NL Roto leagues.

• I advised that Juan Pierre should be starting in most mixed leagues for as long as he's going to be the everyday left fielder for the Dodgers, and he is certainly making me look good in his first 4 starts after the Manny Ramirez suspension. I speculated that Pierre would run often, and sure enough, he has 2 steals over the 4 games (along with 2 caught stealings). But if Pierre can exceed expectations with the batting average, he would be an outstanding fantasy outfielder, especially in Roto leagues. As it is, he should be a safe bet for a .280-.290 average and 2-3 steals a week, solid numbers for fantasy owners. Pierre has his average up to .426 after a 3-hit game today, and he actually hit leadoff with Rafael Furcal sliding down to the #2 hole. While that may not be the usual arrangement going forward, Pierre could get some looks batting leadoff, increasing his value a little bit more. Pierre is 9-for-16 since the Manny suspension, and his owned percentage in Yahoo leagues has shot up to 28% (from 7 percent). You may have to snag him now before he's not widely available, if you need a player with his SB ability and ability to hit for average.

• As I alluded to earlier, there's bad news for Cameron Maybin owners...the young center fielder was demoted to AAA today after a slow start. He can be dropped in mixed leagues, but NL-only leaguers will want to keep him. He could get the call again fairly soon if he rights the ship in the minors, because the team can't seriously want to play Alfredo Amezaga as their regular center fielder for too long. And the recently called-up Chris Coghlan isn't a regular CF option (he's a guy the Marlins will work into the lineup at second base, third base, and in the corner outfield spots at times).
  

• Brett Cecil is trying to be the best athlete in sports with the last name of Cecil since former NFL safety Chuck Cecil. Cecil has had a very auspicious beginning to the season, as the lefty has allowed a mere earned run in his first two starts. He went 8 shutout innings against the A's today in picking up the victory. He is now 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA, and he's struck out 12 batters in 14 innings, with a 0.93 WHIP. When the Toronto rotation gets fully healthy, Cecil very well could remain (over Brian Tallet), so Cecil is a worthy AL-only play at the moment and mixed leaguers should have him on their watch lists.
  

• This doesn't really have fantasy implications, but I'm mentioning this anyway...kudos to Bobby Cox for how he handled his bullpen in today's win over the Phillies. Usual closer Mike Gonzalez was called into the game to pitch the 8th inning, because lefties Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Matt Stairs were due up. Gonzalez got through the inning, and then Cox had Rafael Soriano pitch the 9th inning for the save. Gonzalez is still the clear closer, so his fantasy owners don't need to panic, but this was the right baseball move, and something you almost never see anymore. Bravo, Bobby.

• Jimmy Rollins is now batting .195 after an 0-for-5 day today. His OPS is at an incredibly feeble .499, and he's been a major bust thus far. So what's my advice here? Buy low. There's just too much talent here for Rollins not to rebound, and he's healthy, so there's no injury to worry about here. He's going to pick it up, and you'll be glad you swung a trade for him if you didn't give up a big piece of your team to do it. I can't see his Andruw Jones-like season (I speak of the 2008 Andruw Jones) continuing for much longer.
  

• I mentioned that Jeff Weaver was an accepetable NL-only play today at home against the Giants, and he was OK, but not great, going 5 innings and allowing 3 runs in a no-decision. The good news was that he only allowed 3 hits, but he issued 4 walks and had just 2 strikeouts. I don't recommend Weaver in his next start, which will come on Saturday on the road at Florida.