Fantasy Player's Edge

April 11, 2008

"If I'm going to play the game you might as well lose"


Roster Shuffle:

Okay Liriano lovers the word is that he's close to being
brought back to the bigs. It depends on the weather!!!!
If it rains real hard in Chicago he has to stay in the
minors.This makes perfect sense to me in an absurd way.
Hey Gardy, even if it showers bring him up anyway.
Nobody should have to stay in Rochester. Yeah, I own him.

You're not going to believe this but the normally
indestructible Rich Harden is going on the DL. He's
had 2 good starts so how much more could you ask
from him. His Hardness, please infer nothing, is eligible
to return on April 18th but given his track record it
would take a miracle on the order of the resurrection
for him to return on schedule (cue the music). Get this,
he has a strain in the muscle below his shoulder blade.
C'mon you're a professional athlete!!! Yeah, I own him.

Rafael Soriano had a teensy weensy bit of soreness in his
elbow on Monday. After 2 days of rest and treatment he
was disabled on Wednesday. It's amazing what rest and
rehabilitation can accomplish. Moylan or Acosta, Acosta
or Moylan, only the shadow knows. Hey anyone have Bob
Wickman's e-mail address? He's said to be infatuated with
the Food Network and is stalking Rachel Ray. Yeah, I own
Soriano too.

Do you see a theme developing here?

Five category killer Hunter Pence is beginning to frustrate
owners with his 8/43 .186, 4 runs, 1 rbi, 1 steal, 0 homer stat
line. Take a run at him as he may come cheap. He's a poor
man's Corey Hart but a solid # 3 outfielder. Look over his
owner's roster and offer to bolster a weakness such as steals
or saves in exchange Pence. Don the sheep's clothing and
pretend to be humble during the fleecing.

Mike Lowell has been placed on the DL. Take a flyer
on Edwin Encanaracion if he's available.

Ty Wigginton should be back any day now.


Streamers: (tomorrow's probable starters available as free agents)

Todd Wellemeyer- pitching at the Double A Giants tomorrow
afternoon. They're simply pitiful. Streaming against the Giants
is going to become a recurring theme. Todd's been to this well
before with a 1-0, 0.00/1.20 over 5 innings.

Franklin Morales- the kid will mint a victory over the D'Backs
on the road. He handled them last week at Coors hurling a
shutout over 6 innings with 5 whip. He only had 2 k's but
he's got better stuff than that so expect an upside in whiffs.

Daniel Cabrera- tread carefully if you stream the wild man.
He's 6-0 against your grandfather's Devil Rays. But these
are not those Rays. That said, he faces Hammel who is 0-3,
8.84/1.86 over 29 innings versus the O's. If losing whip is
already a certainty but you're in need of a win and 4-6 k's
then reach for him.


Spotties: (tomorrow's position players available as free agents)

Coco Crisp- has no respect for his elders. 8/24 with 4 steals in
5 attempts versus Mussina who's petitioned the league to adopt
softball diamond dimensions to accelerate his heater.

Scott Podsednik- clings reverently to the greatness of Procol Haren
but is openly devoted to the memory of namesake, heart throb and
Idol finalist Scott Savol. BTW Savol was robbed!!!! Whistles Danny
Boy tomorrow. 5/10 with 4 doubles and a steal.

Javier Valentin- shows his affection for Snell with dead flowers and
a half eaten box of Godiva. Javy will once again break little Ian's
heart. How cruel can he be? 9/16 with 2 homers. Use at C or Util
and fittingly dump him tomorrow.

Hank Blalock - has already signed on for Roy's Halladay annual junket.
11/29 with 2 blasts.


Start/Sit: (today)

Brad Hawpe(start)- impossible to tangle this prey for Webb.
14/40, 4 homers and 12 rbi.

Raul Ibanez (start)- this dream-weaver is a nightmare for
Jered. 10/19, with 2 jacks.

Conor Jackson (start)- might as well be playing softball with
his best gal Francis. 10/27, with 4 roundtrippers.

Andruw Jones (sit) -has a pet Peave(y), doesn't everyone. 1/18.

Jim Thome (sit) - just about the only batter Willis can handle of
late. Jimbo is 4/25 with 11 whiffs vs. the D-Train. Gosh that stinks.

Adam Dunn (sit) - Paul Maholm's jailhouse partner is 2/20 with 8 k's.


Game Keys: (daily strategy tips)

Stay informed by watching telecasts and be up to date on player
news by consulting MLB news on Yahoo! or Fanball.com. Of course,
visit the Player's Edge early and often to gain a strategic
advantage daily.


All Done:

Another trio of young arms were impressive yesterday.

Edwin Jackson, Dana Eveland and Kevin Correia all
pitched shutouts over 8, 6.1 and 7.2 innings respectively.
All of these kids posted a sub 1.00 whip with about a
strikeout per inning. Of this group I like Correia the
best but with the Giants offense he's at a distinct
disadvantage for wins.

Lemon Harang was solid over 8 innings earning a win
against the Brew crew. His 3 k's left a little bit to be
desired but 1 run and 5 whip are category winners.
The Reds are now very interesting with a solid offense
and young studs like Edinson Volquez and the "Elixer"
Johnny "Jose Cuervo" Cueto terrifying major league
hitters. I know they still have Arroyo, el inconsistentito,
but you've got admit he's a serviceable number 4.

A plethora of young arms have impressed early on this
season including Cueto, Volquez, Parra, Jackson, Eveland,
Correia, Franklin Morales, Owings, Sanchez, Bannister,
Greinke along with "rookie" Kuroda and the resurgent
Ryan Dempster. Look for a bit of inconsistency among
these young arms when the weather warms and the
timing improves for hitters in general.

Speaking of timing the Twinman has a theory that the
fossils (Hall of Famers-Glavine/Maddox) should be used
early in the season for the very same reasons. The Player's
Edge concurs as they may even have a bit of trade value by
mid-May.

Speaking of trades, respected Yahoo! pundit Brad Evans
suggests it might be time to trade "The Elixir" Cueto. He
cites freshman troubles experienced by young guns such
as Tim Lincecum and I'll toss in Yovani Gallardo. The
prevailing theory implies that major league hitters will
adjust and rookie fireballers won't until they gain some
seasoning. The evidence supports his conclusion. However,
Cueto will pitch many solid games before and after getting
roughed up in a few so if you can stomach the blow ups hang
on, if not sell high right now. Meanwhile enjoy the ride.

From the sublime: the Marlins have ordered Andrew Miller
to throw harder. His agent is demanding that he be recalled
to the major leagues as compensation for his compliance.

To the ridiculous: Bartolo Colon has been put on a minor league
DL. I didn't know the minors had a DL!!! He's suffering from a pain
in his right side undoubtedly caused by outsized portions of refried
beans. He's on prescription Gas-X.