Sunday silence

Sunday offers a bunch of average to below-average pitching match ups, but there's one that stands out:

CLE: Lee (6-0, 0.67) vs.
CIN: Volquez (6-1, 1.12)

These two standouts seem to have everything going their way. Volquez owns the better stuff, but Lee's the best pitcher in baseball right now. It's too bad this isn't the Sunday night primetime game, which pits this so-so match up:

NYM: Perez (3-3, 4.61)
NYY: Wang (6-1, 2.90)

Wang is the heavy favorite in that one, and last year he dominated the Mets (1-0, 2.18 ERA).

Not very Sori

Alfonso Soriano is heating up like the weather in Chicago. He's hit seven home runs this week and four in his last two games. His batting average was at .188 entering last weekend's series with Arizona. Now he's hitting .265.

Fantasy Impact: Ride the wave, but proceed with caution. Soriano's battled a number of leg injuries in the last couple of seasons, and he doesn't look too good running the bases or chasing fly balls in left. He's healthy enough to hit, but how healthy is he?

Livan on the edge

Livan Hernandez continues to defy the odds that say he's about to slip back to mediocrity. The 33-year-old right hander pitched well enough to win his seventh game (perfect through five innings) on Saturday night, but lost his second, instead.

Hernandez's line for the night:
7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Hernandez's numbers over the past few seasons show a steady decline in production since arguably his career best season in 2003 with Montreal: 15-10, 3.20 ERA. That he's pitching more like he did that year (when he was 28) than he is like his most recent seasons is a huge surprise. Hernandez' ERA is now at 3.88, and his record is 6-2. A closer look at his numbers, however, reveals cracks in the foundation. In 65 innings he's allowed 80 hits. He's giving up a home run per start, and while his walk numbers are improved, they're approaching a career low while his hits allowed are approaching a career high. It would seem only a matter of time before the walk rate balloons back to normal, pushing up the ERA while restoring his record closer to .500 (his career norm).

Fantasy Impact: Hernandez has started strong in his return to the American League. Don't expect it to last. Most of his success has come against light-hitting teams, and his second tour through the A.L. should prove a bit more difficult. Treat him like any pitcher switching leagues; expect less success as the year goes on.

Gonzo for road games

Padres 1st baseman Adrian Gonzalez was hitless in his last 15 at bats before launching his 10th home run of the season in the fourth inning off of Seattle's Erik Bedard on Saturday. Gonzalez went 1-4 on the night after rocketing a line out to right in the ninth against Mariner closer J.J. Putz.

Fantasy Impact: Gonzalez rarely slumps, and he hits a majority of his home runs on the road. Eight of his 10 bombs this year are away from spacious Petco Park. Last year he hit 20 of his 30 round trippers on the road. Imagine what he could do with a different organization.

Will the real Shaun Marcum...

...please stand, or sit? All season long, Shaun Marcum's seemingly pitched over his head. Or not. If you take a look at his minor league stats, Marcum's displayed the kind of pedigree built for success at the major league level: striking out a batter per inning. Sunday at Philadelphia is a huge test for the 2nd-year right hander. Pitch well against arguably the best lineup in baseball, and Marcum's first-quarter success looks legitimate. Struggle, and well, the "he's not overpowering enough to be successful" naysayers will say "nay."

Fantasy Impact: Keep a close eye on this one. Pitching in a bandbox ballpark against that lineup forces Marcum to locate his decent stuff as well as he ever has. If he does, watch out! He's becoming a fantasy steal. If he doesn't, nobody expected this anyway.

CP works the... 7th?

Chris Perez, the Cardinals call-up who replaced an injured Jason Isringhausen, hit 100 mph on the radar gun in his MLB debut. While he appears an obvious candidate for the closer role, St. Louis used him in the 7th inning of Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning win over Tampa Bay.

Fantasy Impact: Ryan Franklin remains the Cardinals' closer while Isringhausen is on the shelf. Russ Springer is expected to pick up a save or two as well. If those two falter before Isringhausen returns, Perez might get a look. Then again, Perez is talented enough that he might get a look even before Isringhausen returns. You have to figure Tony La Russa will exhaust each an every opportunity to win games.

Tribe starting rotation "pitching in"

If you're looking for the best starting rotation in the majors right now, you'd be crazy to look anywhere else but Cleveland. The numbers speak for themselves. Sliding Shorts breaks down the unbelievable numbers here.

Cueto pinch-runs, scores winning run

If you count pitchers' offensive stats in your fantasy league, then you need to seek professional medical help...but if that describes your fantasy league, then you received an unexpected boost from Johnny Cueto on Wednesday night. Sliding Shorts has the story.

Darn it, Doumit

Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit hit the DL today, sidelined indefinitely. He's been tearing it up offensively, stepping out of a platoon with Ronny Paulino as Pittsburgh's primary backstop. Thumb fractures have varying degrees of seriouness, and the fact that this one deals with the tip of the thumb and not the joint is good news for Doumit.

Fantasy Impact: Paulino's going to get a bunch of at bats while Doumit's out. Don't underestimate a hand or wrist injury to a hitter, especially when that player is a catcher who handles 130-150 pitches every night. These things can last a while.

Jonesin' in the minors?

Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones lost his job recently and may head to the minors. That's Joe Torre's idea for getting the slumping slugger out of his, um, slump.

Fantasy Impact: And you thought Juan Pierre's days were numbered? Looks like he's a full-time starter again.

To pitch and not to pich

Eric Gagne is back at closer for the Milwaukee Brewers. It only took one day for the Brew Crew brass to realize he's their only true option at the position. This from a staff that had a meeting to decide to do nothing about anything earlier in the week. Good work, guys.

As it turns out, Clay Buchholz will not pitch Sunday. Instead, he's headed for the DL.

Fantasy Impact: The Brewers go back to Gagne, as exepected. Buchholz' replacement, Justin Masterson did well his first time out. Give him a look.

Figueroa doesn't like girls, Nats or his outright release

Nelson Figueroa had had enough, so he tongue-lashed the Washington Nationals for their anticts during his latest start. Figueroa compared the Nats' dugout behavior to that of a girls softball team.

"They won tonight," Figueroa said after dropping the 10-4 decision, "but again, in the long run, they are who they are." Sounds like a page out of Dennis Green's postgame press-conference handbook.

Figueroa won't have to worry about witnessing Washington's ways anymore. The Mets released him before Tuesday's game, bringing up Claudio Vargas to take his spot on the roster.

Fantasy Impact: Figueroa wasn't a big fantasy player and Vargas has never been much of one over his career. Figueroa needs to check himself for his own pitching debacle before he rails on the opponent's bench.

Boston's no tea party

Keep a close eye on Boston's outfield today. J.D. Drew sprained his left wrist, and Coco Crisp left with an apparent migraine during Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

It could leave Boston juggling the lineup for at least the next few days.

The Bo Sox also named a starter for Sunday's home game against Milwaukee. Clay Buchholz, who's really been struggling of late, gets the nod. That gives Buchholz two starts this week. The second one is a chance to make up for his horrendous outing in Minnesota.

Fantasy Impact: Drew seems to miss a chunk of every season, and the fact that he couldn't turn his wrist after the injury could be significant. If Crisp recovers quickly the Red Sox will start both him and Jacoby Ellsbury as one of the speediest duos in the major leagues. Kevin Youkilis played emergency right fielder on Tuesday.

Pitching recap - Tuesday night games

A follow-up on the night's best pitching matchups:

FLA 3 F
CIN 5
L: Hendrickson (5-2, 3.91) W: Volquez (6-1, 1.12)
...Eddie V gave up 1 run in the win, and his ERA rises .06!

NYY 1 F
TB 2 (11)
No dec.: Wang (6-1, 2.90) No dec.: TB: Jackson (2-3, 3.47)
...Both went 7, only run earned was Wang's. Both deserved to win, but neither got run support.

WSH 3 F
NYM 6
L: Lannan (3-4, 3.74) W: Maine (5-2, 2.81)
...Maine looked dominant & notches his 5th win. Lannan gave up 12 H, 4 ER in 6 IP.

SEA 2 F
TEX 5
L: Hernandez (2-4, 3.38) No dec.: Gabbard (1-0, 2.12)
...Both reached the 6th, both give up 2 earned.

CWS 0 F
LAA 2
No dec.: Danks (3-3, 2.74) No dec.: Weaver (2-5, 4.86)
...Danks reached the 7th, Weaver completed the 7th. Neither gave up a run.

Notables:

-Randy Johnson notched career win No. 287 as the D'backs beat Colorado, 8-4.

No, I'm 'Little Pedro'

Welcome late, ESPN, to the "name a Reds pitcher 'Little Pedro' party." Maybe you reserved this story until now for the fact that sometimes it's better to be the last one dishing out a nickname than it is to be the early bird eating the wrong worm. Johnny Cueto is that worm. He started off hot in spring training and then again in his first start against Arizona, but as the worm turns so did Cueto, and now he's stuggling to keep runs off the board (2-4, 5.91).

Edinson Volquez inherits Cueto's status as "The Next Pedro Martinez," according to ESPN. Coming off a less-than-impressive 2007 with the Texas Rangers, Volquez was dealt to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Considered a top prospect who now carried baggage, some wondered whether Volquez would be able to turn things around at the Major League Level. Cueto's record was flawless because he'd never pitched a game in the big leagues before. That, coupled with Cueto's dominant spring left many to believe he was suddenly the better pitcher, let alone prospect. Things have changed. Now, through one-quarter of the year, Volquez inherits the monicker "staff ace." He enters tonight's game with Washington as the far better Reds pitching phenom, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.06 ERA. Volquez is striking out well over a batter an inning and has served up just one home run while Cueto's coughed up nine.

ESPN, which typically jumps the gun with its "Next" campaign, actually waited on this one. Now they're taking Cueto's nickname and pasting it on Volquez. While everyone else was diving in to relate one diminutive Dominican to his idol, ESPN waited back and delivered a change-up for a clean single through the box. Johnny C is no Eddie V. Not right now, anyway.

Tuesday's top tossers

Today's most intriguing pitching matchups:

FLA: Hendrickson (5-1, 3.86)
vs. CIN: Volquez (5-1, 1.06)
*Journeyman vs. phemon is this battle for win number six.

NYY: Wang (6-1, 3.12)
vs. TB: Jackson (2-3, 4.04)
*The top pitcher in the AL against the hot & cold former prospect.

WSH: Lannan (3-3, 3.40)
vs. NYM: Maine (4-2, 3.00)
*Is Lannan for real? Maine certainly seems to be.

SEA: Hernandez (2-3, 3.42)
vs. TEX: Gabbard (1-0, 1.85)
*Gabbard hasn't allowed a run in his last two (short) starts

CWS: Danks (3-3, 3.18)
vs. LAA: Weaver (2-5, 5.59)
*Weaver tries to right the ship like last year. Danks staying alfoat.

Morgan En(d)sberg?

What happened to Morgan Ensberg? The former Houston Astros 3rd baseman got off to a solid major league start in 2003 (.291 avg., 25 HR in 385 AB), and followed that up with a dynamic '05 (.283 avg., 36 HR, 101 RBI). Since then the California native's been in serious decline, including mustering just a .224 average with his hometown San Diego Padres at the end of last season.

Now that he's with the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez is out, Ensberg has been getting the lion's share at third base. After hitting just .222 through 19 games, however, the Yankees made an unlikely move on Monday night. Alberto Gonzalez, who is at most a middle-infield utilityman, got the start at 3rd instead.

Fantasy Impact: Ensberg's diminished value continues to erode. He's the kind of sleeper that's gifted enough for comeback player of the year potential, but not if he's losing at bats to a middle infielder.

Peace, Pie

It sounds like the Cubs' signing of recently released Jim Edmonds is imminent. Various media are reporting that the former Padre will be a Cub as soon as he clears waivers on Wednesday.

With Felix Pie getting optioned back to Triple-A you have to wonder if his time at Wrigley Field is over. The Cubs are in a playoff race, and with the addition of Edmonds they have five outfielders. Trade rumors of Pie leaving the organization for pitching will begin to swirl.

Kershaw pounded, may still get call

Clayton Kershaw seems to take a loss every time he climbs a Double-A mound. On Monday it was actually his fault. Typically plagued by poor run support, the 20-year-old Dodger farmhand struggled for the first time all year in the worst outing of his season to date, but it was the fact that Kershaw is back in the Double-A rotation that is most telling about his immediate future.

The Dodgers are rumored to consider starting Kershaw this coming Saturday. Kershaw had been dropped out of the Double-A rotation recently in order to limit his innings and keep the lefty flamethrower fresh for a potential late-season call-up. The fact that Kershaw was suddenly working Monday night, exactly five days before the Dodgers might need him at the major league level, suggests that Kershaw's first start in the big leagues may be imminent.

Then again, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said they might use him both out of the bullpen and then again in the rotation in Double-A to keep Kershaw fresh yet prepared for a later call-up. This is high drama.

Money bawl

That flushing sound is the 2008 Detroit Tigers season going down the toilet. Or is it that Flushing sound, as in Flushing, NY, the home of Shea Stadium and the many airplanes that whir overhead? It could be both. In last place in the American League Central heading into Tuesday play, the high-priced Tigers seem to have something in common with the 1992 Mets: they were retooled to win, but they're going down the drain.

After a 77-84 campaign in 1991 and tiring of a lineup made up of Rick Cerone, Kevin Elster, Vince Coleman and Hubie Brooks, the Mets bought what they though could win them the National League East. Enter six new starting position players in 1992: Todd Hundley, Willie Randolph, Dick Schofield, Eddie Murray, Darryl Boston and Bobby Bonilla. The Mets also brought in Bret Saberhagen to solidify the starting rotation. Many considered New York as talented as any team in baseball until they promptly imploded, losing 90 games to wind up back in 5th place just like the year before.

The Tigers made similar changes to their roster for 2008. Slugging 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera was to become the anchor of the left side of the infield along with newly-acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria. Jacque Jones, brought in to stop what had been a revolving door of misfits in left, would be counted on as a steady offensive contributor. Dontrelle Willis, pried away from Florida in the Cabrera deal, was expected to regain his unorthodox form as one of the top lefties in baseball. It hasn't happened.

Cabrera's hitting .252, almost 60 points below his career average. Renteria's on base percentage is a paltry .295. Jones hit .152 and was cut. Willis is struggling to get healthy, having thrown just five innings this season. It's not just the newcomers' fault. Plenty of old hands like Gary Sheffield (.208 avg.) and Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64 ERA) share the blame. But if the terrible Tigers are to continue down this miserable path, it is the big names they brought in who will feel the hottest white rays of a fading spotlight. Detroit is in the American League Central toilet, caught in a downward spiral while clunkers like Kansas City and Minnesota remain buoyantly optimistic for the long summer ahead.

Statistically speaking, the Tigers are more than likely to turn this around, but if it is history that serves as our guide then even the talented 1993 Mets -- the all-too-similar remnants of that '92 purchase party -- will tell you it doesn't always work out. Another year removed from trying to buy a championship New York took another step in the wrong direction, slumping to 103 losses and a last-place NL East finish, even with the addition of a talented, young Jeff Kent to the lineup. Thanks to those low flyovers in Flushing Meadows some of the booing din of Mets fans' was washed out below. Here's hoping there's an airport near Comerica.