Saturday, May 10, 2008

Howard vs. Lincecum

Ryan Howard, the major league strikeout leader as a hitter with 52 entering the day faced top-10 strikeout pitcher Tim Lincecum (45 K in 42.1 IP entering today) in the first-inning at spacious AT&T Park and promptly launched a home run. It was only the 2nd home run Lincecum had given up all year, and the hit brought Howard's batting average up to .173. I love baseball. You just never know.

Belisle rocked again

Cincinnati Reds starter Matt Belisle coughed up five earned runs in five innings while allowing seven hits against the Mets Saturday, ballooning his already balloon-like ERA to 7.45. While he's only made four starts this season, the Reds have been through this before and likely don't need to see much more to know what they're getting. Belisle lost nine games last year and posted a 5.32 ERA. He's never been more than back-end starter in recent seasons, and Cincy has top-of-the-line prospect Homer Bailey still waiting his turn in Triple-A Louisville. It would seem we're closer than ever to Bailey time. In fact, a call-up is practically overdue at this point.

While Bailey struggled with his control last season, posting 28 BB in 45.1 IP in the Majors, he's back in a groove at Louisville. Bailey's notched 39 Ks in 46.1 IP in the minors this year, walking only 12. In his last outing Bailey went seven solid innings, giving up four runs in a 4-1 loss, but opponents are hitting just .222 against him thus far, and the just-turned 22-year-old needs a chance to compete at the highest level sooner than later. Pick him up now. The Reds need help in the rotation.

Belisle's only hope is that manager Dusty Baker and GM Walt Jocketty, both new to the Cincinnati organization, think the 27-year-old right hander still possesses some upside. Certainly they know Bailey possesses more.

Izzy's out, for now

Tony La Russa announced Saturday that Jason Isringhausen will no longer close games for the St. Louis Cardinals. In the International Herald Tribune La Russa said, "(Isringhausen's) still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning." He also said, "It needed to be done. It's a mental break more than anything."

While Spitting Seeds expected Isringhausen to stay in the closer role and iron out his problems, La Russa seems to be willing to get him away for a while. It will only be a short time before he's back closing games, however, as setup men Russ Springer and Ryan Franklin 24 times less experience than Izzy nailing down wins. If Springer and Franklin falter La Russa might soon need a mental break of his own.

Ortiz agrees: yank your Yanks

David Ortiz' somewhat ancient comments further reinforce the argument of Yanking your Yanks (at least with regard to Kei Igawa). After Chien-Ming Wang, Yankees starting pitchers have little to offer, and their offense is mediocre. Sounds a lot like the Texas Rangers.

No longer banking on Yanks

In years past the best source for a win was a New York Yankees starter. No matter who climbed the hill for the Bronx Bombers you knew that Bronx Bombing lineup would be enough to help get the job done more often than not. Not anymore. For starters, Yankee starters Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Kei Igawa are changing that notion thanks to their utter futility. Hughes (DL), Kennedy (sent to minors) and Igawa (struggled in his first 2008 start) can't seem to hold down the last starting spot in the Yankees rotation, and thanks to Hughes' injury the pinstripes turned to the not-so-spectacular Darrell Rasner. He's underwhelming statistically, but Rasner did win his first start of the season and was once a freshman All-American at Nevada (14-2 record in 2000).

Pitching, however, is not the Yanks main problem. Instead, it is the once opponent-terrorizing offense which suddenly looks terrifyingly offensive by Ruthian standards. New York is 15th in runs scored in the Majors with 162 touches of home plate entering the weekend. That sandwiches the biggest payroll in baseball between the penny-pushing Marlins and the underachieving Rockies. With Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada on the DL plus Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano struggling to hit their own weight, it might be a while before NY pitching (especially the back end of the staff) can be counted on to win each time out. As a whole the Yanks stand one game under .500 through 35 games this spring.

Rasner and Igawa are not worth much based on their own merit. Without above-average run support, they become below-average fantasy options in terms of earning wins. And if this option comes stumbling into the House that Ruth Built anytime soon, well, packing it up for that new home in 2009 might be the Yankees only option in real baseball terms.

Dizzy Izzy

Jason Isringhausen sure knows how to ruin Friday night in St. Louis. For the third TGIF in a row, ONII (Oh No, It's Izzy) blew a save. He's been downright awful this year, posting a 7.47 ERA and 1-4 record in 15.2 innings of work. That's typically grounds for losing your closer's role, but not in the Gateway City. Tony La Russa's best options after the fantasy flub that is Isringhausen are Ryan Franklin (2 career saves), Russ Springer (8) and Randy Flores (4). No thank you. Izzy owns 292 career saves including 11 this year. It's his ship to right for right now, otherwise the STL bullpen likely becomes a gateway to opponents' victories. None of the pitchers listed but Isringhausen is even worth owning in fantasy play right now.

Hey, Aaron Cook, that's enough!

Apparently Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook doesn't realize who he is. The guy whose career was partially derailed because of blood clots is now stopping the blood-letting that is the Colorado Rockies. While his team flounders below .500 and eight games out of first, Cook has been his usual, dominant self (at least for this year). He worked 7 strong innings, giving up 3 hits to pick up his 6th win of the season against San Diego Friday night. Colorado's actually won three in a row now, the first time they've won more than back-to-back games since a four-game win streak in mid-April. Cook is looking like a poor man's fantasy ace. His 2.40 ERA, however, would appear to be destined to climb with a lifetime mark at 4.34. Enjoy him while he's hot.