Rent-a-Vet: Jose Contreras

The 37 year old (officially) righty is showing some good stuff lately. Last two starts were both 8 innings, with a total of 3 hits, 3 walks, 11 Ks, and no earned runs. How can a guy who put up those kind of numbers be owned in about 1% of leagues? Because Contreras is unpredictable (that's being kind). There is no pitcher in baseball that I can think of that can match Contreras' unpredictableness. When 'on,' his stuff is top, but him being 'on' happens with no rhyme or reason. It is for this reason that he is owned so sparsely, and why I recommend him only as a rental. There is potential that he can keep it together for the rest of the season and then you will have an excellent starter. I predict he will continue to do what he always has done, be up and down. Shallow leagues, don't even look. Deep leagues, consider him and be ready for the good and bad. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)