Tuesday Notes

Today featured four games that went into extra innings, and amazingly, one of them still isn't over (the Astros and Nationals will resume a suspended game in the bottom of the 11th inning on July 9). The Dodgers still can't be defeated at home, and the Indians are still a big disappointment. Here's what's on my mind after the games today...

Could we actually have two Weavers be fantasy-relevant again this season? Jeff Weaver was excellent in his first start in the big leagues since 2007, going 5 innings and allowing just one run, while fanning 6 batters. Weaver was on a pitch count (he ended up throwing 85 pitches), which is why he only went the 5 innings. I wrote on May 1 that I think Weaver could be a decent play in NL-only leagues at home, and as such I'm going to recommend him again on Sunday for his next start (at home against an anemic San Francisco lineup). I can understand skepticism on Weaver--I really can--but the pitcher I have seen in two appearances has good velocity, good movement, and good location.

Weaver's teammate, Jonathan Broxton, made sure that Weaver would get the win tonight, as he fanned two batters in a perfect 9th inning, notching his 8th save of the season. Broxton, as a reliever, is trying to match what Zack Greinke is doing as a starter, since Broxton is the #1 ranked closer in Yahoo leagues at the moment (with Greinke the Great as the #1 ranked starter). While Broxton is technically 8-for-9 in save chances because he allowed an inherited runner to score in an 8th inning appearance last week that tied the game, his ERA and WHIP total are barely above 1.00, an incredible number. He's fanned 25 batters in just 14 innings, which is scary-good, and to put into perspective how dominant he has been in that category, the next-highest total for a closer is 20 K's by Scott Downs, and he isn't even likely to remain a closer all year. (The next-highest after that is 16 K's by Francisco Rodriguez.) It's quite possible Broxton will finish as the #1 fantasy closer this season, because of his dominance in the strikeout category.

Last year didn't work out for Erik Bedard and the Mariners, but 2009 is not 2008 for the talented lefty. Bedard twirled yet another outstanding performance tonight, going 7 innings and allowing just one run on 7 hits, with 7 K's (and zero walks). Despite the no-decision, his fantasy owners have to be giddy over his sparkling ERA, which now stands at 2.37, and his K-BB ratio, which is 39-6 in 38 innings. His WHIP is at 1.05, as well. His owners would like to see better than a 2-1 record with those numbers, but that's nitpicking. It appears that the only thing that could derail Bedard is an injury, because he is fully back in terms of stuff. It's unlikely you could get fair value for Bedard in a trade since other owners know he is prone to injuries, so my best advice is to just hold onto him and enjoy the benefits. Unless you're able to sell legitimately high, don't do it. Bedard is going to be a fantasy ace for as long as he's healthy, and maybe since he didn't throw a lot of innings last year he will be more apt to hold up this year.

Vicente Padilla was actually even more brilliant than Bedard tonight, as the right-hander threw 8 innings of one-hit ball in an unfortunate no-decision for him. He allowed merely an unearned run and 3 walks, while striking out four batters. Padilla is a roller-coaster and is not a recommended option, however, except in AL-only leagues, and I wouldn't even feel too great about owning him in AL-only formats. He's just as apt to get hammered in his next outing. Even with the 8 innings of no earned runs tonight, his ERA is still at a high 5.71 figure. If you do happen to own him, feel free to shop him to an owner after his great effort tonight.

Maybe Ken Macha did the right thing by sitting J.J. Hardy down for a couple of games over the weekend, because he's come out this week and had two solid games. On Monday Hardy went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and tonight he was even better, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored and 4 RBI. As I said, mixed leaguers shouldn't give up on Hardy, and, in fact, you should get him back into your lineups while he's hot. Hardy is known for being a streaky hitter, and he may have a hot month of May. As the holder of a .195 average at the moment, Hardy is also a perfect buy-low candidate.

Adam Wainwright carried a 2.74 ERA into his start against the Phillies tonight, and the numbers suggested he was lucky to have it, considering his less-than-impressive 25-18 K-BB ratio. So even though Wainwright only walked two hitters today and had 5 K's, it can't come as a shock that he gave up 7 earned runs in 6 innings against the Phillies, taking his ERA up to 4.08. The luck had to run out at some point. I actually take some encouragement in the fact that he only walked two hitters tonight, and most nights Wainwright won't be facing a lineup as powerful as the one Philadelphia trots out every night. The stuff is there for Wainwright; he just needs to do a better job harnessing it. Be patient with him, mixed leaguers.

Josh Beckett bounced back nicely today in defeating the Yankees at Bandbox Field--formerly known as the new Yankee Stadium--as he went 6 innings and gave up 3 runs (all on a 3-run homer to Johnny Damon in the 1st inning). He struck out 5 and walked just one. Normally I'd be a little concerned about the 10 hits he allowed (this is actually the third straight start in which Beckett has allowed exactly 10 hits), but, again, I'll excuse that since he was pitching in a park with less outfield space than my PONY league field when I was 14 years old, at least to right field. (No joke, folks.) Beckett's fastball looks electric, and he just needs to iron out his command issues. Feel free to buy low on Beckett if you can.

Speaking of Damon, he already looks like he's trying to open up his hips and loft fly balls to that short porch in right field at Bandbox Field. He's up to 6 homers already, and 5 of them have come at home. Damon, usually a solid bet for about 15-20 homers, now has to be considered a 25-30 HR threat in this park. And as I mentioned when I initially saw the park, you have to upgrade all of the Yankee hitters (and downgrade the Yankee starting pitchers a little bit, too). And if you have bench players on your squad that have games at Yankee Stadium--err, Bandbox Field--you might want to consider starting them if there isn't much of a gap between your bench guy and your starter at a certain position, especially for left-handed batters.

Beckett's counterpart tonight, Joba Chamberlain, took the loss, but he showed why he is a big league starter, despite what the multitude of brain-dead baseball analysts will have you believe. Chamberlain allowed 4 runs in the first inning (the big blow coming courtesy of a 3-run homer by Jason Bay, on a ball to left field that would've been a routine out in most parks), but from there was sensational. His final line was 5 2/3 innings pitched, 4 ER, 6 hits, 2 walks, and a whopping 12 strikeouts. After a very slow start, Chamberlain now has a decent 29-15 K-BB ratio in 28 2/3 innings. His ERA is at a decent 3.77, also.

In nearly 100 career innings as a starter, Chamberlain's ERA is barely above 3 and he has struck out more than a batter per inning. Why is it so hard for TV analysts to understand that this man is not just a legitimate starting pitcher in the big leagues, but a damned good one? It is not his fault that the Yankee bullpen isn't good other than Mariano Rivera. Somebody in the Yankee organization better realize that the team made a decision to make him a starter and they need to go with it. Yet another switch mid-season from starting-to-relieving, or vice versa, could have adverse effects on his arm, and you'd literally have to be an idiot to not think that. You'd also be an idiot to think that a pitcher could possibly have more value as a setup man than as a starting pitcher; this isn't even about making him a closer, a la Jonathan Papelbon.

Steve Phillips, idiot, I'm talking to you!