Fantasy Player's Edge

April 13, 2008


Roster Shuffle:

Received an email, text message, voicemail and Fed
Ex from the Gardenhire camp claiming to have no
connection with the Twinman and to assert that they
never, never, never visit the Player's Edge. The
postscript indicated that after a team vote they
would prefer Francicito the Uncannito.

What is all this buzz about the D-Train being
added to the DL by the Tigers? Has anybody
been paying attention, Willis has spent the last
2 seasons disabled with the Marlins. He should
not be on anyone's roster going forward.

J-Roll and J-Rey are both indicated to return on
Tuesday after an off day for both the Phillies and
the Mets. Something tells me one or both of these
first rounders are a bit more dinged than we are
being led to believe. I play Reyes this week so
perhaps this is wishful thinking!!!

Carlos Guillen tweaked a hammy and is day to day.
Conor Jackson is playable tomorrow if you need a
few quality atbats on Monday (see below).

Pujols is reportedly being rested today to afford
his majesty an extra day of leisure. The Cards
are off tomorrow. But before you sit Albert the
Great check back at about 3pm EST just to make
sure that he's not in the lineup. Yes, you have to do
these things if you want to play well consistently.
You do want to compete......yes?

Hunter Pence continues to struggle hitting a buck
eighty. Go get this guy but try not to offer Andruw
Jones.

Shane Victorino has been an early season bust going
ahead of Hamilton, Milledge, Justin Upton and Ankiel
in most drafts. The logic was that Charlie Manuel cleared
the way for Don Ho's protege in the offseason by letting
Rowand move on and unloading Michael Bourn. The
Philly flash stole 37 bases in limited action last year so he
was a lock for 50 swipes and 100 runs batting second
behind Rollins. Don't get me started on Charlie Manuel's
managerial prowess but it's suffice to say that this is
all about Victorino. He was disabled yesterday with a
bum calf. Don't waste your DL slot, drop him.

B.J. who? Justin is the main Upton currently. I know
that touts are pointing to his strikeouts as the reason
that this incredible start (.415/5 hrs) cannot be
sustained. So what. Get him in your daily lineup now
ahead of just about anyone not named Holliday.

Drop Rauch, who's short term owners hoped for a
rash of saves but only got the redness. Chad Cordero
was activated yesterday.

The Nationals are rushing Wily Mo Pena back into
action cutting short his minor league rehab. Either
Acta's panicking 11 games into the season or he
can't bear another day in the dugout with lovable Mo.

For you Rotisserie players on an innings count. Here's
the math: Using 1250 as the base maximum innings:
Most teams have played 11 or 12 games to date.
11.5/162 = .07099. x 1250 = 89 innings.

The tendency is to overuse innings early in the
season. At the minimum of have a sense of the
parameters that guide your leagues scoring.


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

Not much tomorrow with the short schedule:

Jarrod Washburn- recently purchased a winter
retreat in Kansas City as repayment for their
summertime hospitality. True story, honestly.
8-4, 3.36/1.19 over 88 innings.

Andy Sonnanstine- this Yankee doodle dandy has
bombed the Pinstripers over 20 innings. 2-1
3.98/.89 with 12 k's


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

Emil Brown- has a man crush on Buehrle's soft curves.
14/33, 3 jacks, 8 rbi, 2 steals.

Conor Jackson- sees only the best in Jonathan Sanchez. 4/5.

Coco Crisp- puffs Westbrook every chance he gets. 6/8.


Start/Sit: (today)

Johnny Damon(start)- feasts on fine Japanese cuisine today.
5/13, 1 homer, 4 rbi when facing Matsuzaka.

Orlando Hudson (start)- spends an inordinate amount of time
in Cook's kitchen. 12/29, with only 2 k's.

Jeff Kent (start)- Clark's boy makes the column again. This
time as the tormentor of the sinister Lex Maddox (Luther's
kid-also with Lois Lane). 28/83, 5 blasts, 13 ribbies. He's
always hit him.

Juan Pierre (start)- plays an unfair game of red light/green
light with Maddox. 12/33, 11 stolen bases.

Jim Thome (sit)- is cold. Rogers will keep him in the deep freeze.
8/47 with 16 k's. That's dreadful.

Bill Hall (sit) - is hot but Oliver will twist him in the batters box.
Perez is cool. 2/15 with 8 whiffs.

Robinson Cano (sit)- in an extremely Dice(k)y position today.
1/12 and an amazing 7 k's. This guy is a contact hitter.

Jimmy Rollins (sit)- only for the record as Jimmy is sitting.
3/31 against Marquis.


Game Keys: (daily strategy tips)

Streaming, or dropping and adding starting pitchers
is a strategy used primarily in Head to Head competition.
It's used to gain an advantage over your opponent in wins
and strikeouts. Be prepared to experience pain when employing
a streaming strategy. Normally streamed pitchers are back of
the rotation types so do your homework to minimize the
negative impact this strategy can have on era/whip. Read
the Player's Edge daily.


All Done:

Ryan Braun has now batted 44 times without taking a walk.
The Kingman tapes have not had the desired effect. Yost
has brought in a hypnotist to work on Ryan's psyche. Right
before gametime Braun will become Barry Bonds incarnate.
After the game he'll admit to using steriods.

Andrew Miller was ordered to throw harder by the Marlins
braintrust. Andy, aiming to please, fired pellets at Astros
striking out 6 in 5 innings. He also allowed 5 earned on 12
whip. Rather than shipping him out, et al Maybin, to get
right they continue to wheel him out there to get abused.
Throwing hard is not necessarily pitching unless you can
hit 96+ mph, have another pitch and have reasonable
control. See Daniel Cabrera's career stats for a refresher.
Send him down. He needs some seasoning, duh.

Today's the day to scout next week's opponent. Count starts
giving Monday and Tuesday's pitchers 2 starts and the rest
of his rotation one each. Now count yours as this is how you
determine whether streaming is a viable option. Assess his
offense particularly homeruns and steals. This will give a
sense of what you're looking to add with spot plays. Monday's
abbreviated schedule will leave a lot of holes in your starting
lineup. Use the streamers/spotties above to fill out your card.

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