Dancing in SoCal: Charlie Haeger

Nothing dances like a knuckleball. Tim Wakefield in Boston has had a long effective career with this pitch. Now there is a young knuckleballer in Southern California that is making the pitch known on the left coast.

Charlie Haeger has now had two good starts with the Dodgers. His first start was against St. Louis, where he gave up 5 hits in 7 innings, 3 runs, and 2 Ks - decent numbers against a good team. His 2nd start, against the Cubs, he pitched 7 innings again, 3 hits, and 7 Ks - a great start, albeit against a struggling Cubs team.

Will Haeger carry the knuckleball torch from Wakefield and have a nice long career? Not sure, but he's off to a good start.

The Dodgers have picked up Padilla from the Rangers, presumably as their fifth starter. Padilla wasn't having a great year, so Haeger may just be pitching himself into the rotation.

Charlie Haeger is only worth looking at in deep leagues and NL only leagues. He pitches in a pitcher friendly park with a good offense behind him. If he puts together another good start or two, his value will rise quickly.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Out with the Older, In with the Old

The Phillies have decided what to do with Pedro - he will be a starter. However, to make room, they have sent Jaime Moyer to the bullpen. Yes, in with the old and out with the older.

This is a little surprising as Pedro did some relief work at the WBC, and Moyer is not crazy about coming out of the pen. In any event, it's done. Pedro will start Wednesday against the Cubs.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Phillies pitchers are worth more then other pitchers due to the great offense. In addition, Pedro is not just some pitcher, he's Pedro! He has shown that he still has a little in the tank. He probably won't go real deep in games, but should rack up some wins and average to above average strikeouts.

Moyer's value takes a huge nose dive in most formats. Pedro makes an intriguing flier in NL only and deeper formats. He might even help you make a little late season and playoff run.

-Scout Monkey

Out with the old...

The Red Sox have release future hall of famer John Smoltz. In his place, they have called up Junichi Tazawa.

Tazawa was signed in the off season out of Japan - grabbed before he signed a multi year contract with a Japanese team. He's a 23 old right hander who has been handling the minors extremely well. In double A, he had 9 wins, 2 losses, and a great ERA of 2.57. In triple A, he hasn't won a game, but has lowered his ERA to 2.37.

He has 4 pitches, fastball (low 90's), slider, curve, and a splitter. He has shown good strike out ability with this repertoire.

Boston hasn't said what his role will be for this season. He has been a starter in the minors and Boston wants him as a starter for the long run. We'll find out soon.

As with any young pitcher, you have to tread carefully. Keeper leagues should be grabbing this guy sooner then later. Deep leagues may want to take a flyer. In shallow leagues, let Tazawa show what he can do at the major league level - and let his spot be finalized (Starter or Reliever).

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

A Yankee Not to Own

The New York Yankees have one of the finest teams that money can buy. There may not be another team in baseball that has more fantasy relevant players. With that said, avoid the newest Yankee like the plague.

The Yanks have just completed a deal for San Diego pitcher Chad Gaudin. His role has not been clearly stated - he might be long relief (which is not too useful in most fantasy leagues), or he is going to take over for the struggling Mitre (this would be my guess).

With an offense like the Yankees have, why would I avoid one of their starting pitchers? Because Gaudin is going to kill your ERA. Simply put, pitching in perhaps the most friendly pitcher park in all of baseball (Petco Field), Gaudin has an ERA of 5.13 - bad, now he is going to what is proving to be one of the worst pitching parks in all of baseball (New Yankee Stadium). Nothing about this looks good. His poor ERA is just going to get worse, much worse.

There is talk of his upside, but until he shows it, let someone else take the gamble. I cannot think of any format where you would want to add this pitcher.

- Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

No Bull(pen): J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ owners can breathe a sigh of relief. Happ will be staying in the rotation. With the addition of Pedro Martinez, it looked like Philly might move Happ back to the bullpen (and into fantasy obscurity). But today, the Phillies announced that Happ is staying right where he is. I guess this isn't a surprise with the way Happ has been pitching. How does 6 wins, 2 losses in 14 starts sound? Oh yea, ERA of 2.80. On top of that, he just pitched a complete game shutout. Don't forget, he pitches for the Phillies - an offensive juggernaut that can make any pitcher look a little better (not that Happ needs it). Still, something must change to accommodate Pedro. If not Happ, then what? Latest thoughts are a 6 man rotation, Pedro to the pen, perhaps even Moyer to the Pen. Whatever the case, Happ is safe. Happ is owned in less then half of fantasy leagues. He may not be a top tier pitcher yet, but he's up there. All formats need to consider him (except AL only of course). -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Strike Three Please

If you need some strikeouts, there is probably no one available in your league who will get you more then Gio Gonzalez. If you throw out one very bad game against the Twins, Gio has struck out 29 batters in 23+ innings. More then a batter an inning is pretty good for someone on the free agent pile. In addition, he may help with your ERA too if he keeps up his recent good starts. If the guy is this good, why is he available? One, he plays for the Oakland A's. He won't get too many wins with that offense. Second, when he is bad, he is really bad. Against the Twins, he gave up 11 runs in 2.2 innings. Since that game however, he has pitched 3 solid games - against the Yankees, the Red Sox, and most recently against Texas. I guess no really good teams were available to pitch against (kidding of course, could you have a tougher stretch???). He is available in most leagues and should be considered in deep leagues and maybe in AL only leagues - if you need strike outs. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Yes Yusmeiro Petit

7 innings of no hit ball. 3 Ks and 3 BBs (however, there was a very bad call that should have been strike 3 and ended up being ball 4 - so 4 Ks and 2 BB in my book). That is how Yusmeiro Petit (pronounced peh-teet) started his night against the Pirates. He finally gave up a single in the 8th. Now the Pirates are not exactly the best offensive team, especially with the fire sale they just went through. Still, you have a major league team that Petit shut down for 7 innings. It must be respected. His previous start was 6 shutout innings against the Phillies (yea, they are arguably the best offensive team). These are two big time displays by the Arizona pitcher. Petit is a 24 year old righthander that is showing he can pitch at the big league level. He must know how to pitch with a fastball that barely sniffs 90 on the radar gun. He pitches smart. Downside? He's a fly ball pitcher who can give up some long balls. But at 24 years old, he has room for improvement. He's hardly owned in any league, but should start being picked up in deeper leagues. -Scout Monkey

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If Only We Listened: Randy Wells

Way back in early June Scout Hoffman told us about a rookie pitcher for the Cubs by the name of Randy Wells. If you payed attention and picked him up, you made a very wise move! Here we are, some 2 months after that article and what has Wells done? How about 8 wins in his last 9 starts? Wow! There is more... 2.85 ERA. Sparkling! His K/BB ratio is 3:1 - although he is not a strikeout artist (I would consider him average). Wins, a good ERA, decent Ks, low walks, what more do you want? His ownership in leagues is growing everyday, so unless you have top pitching on your fantasy team, go get Randy Wells now! -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Rick VandenHurk

Last night Rick VandenHurk, 24 year old, 6'5" righty for the Marlins, struck out 9 in 6 innings. Umm, who? Rick VandenHurk. He is a rookie pitcher that was called up in mid-July and has pitched very well in his 3 starts. In those starts, he is 1-0, 17 innings pitched, 2.65 ERA, 16 Ks, and 6 walks. Impressive. The Marlins are a solid, if not good, team. They haven't scored much for VandenHurk which accounts for him having only 1 win despite his low ERA. One would have to assume that he will get the run support he needs to pick up a few more wins (Hanley Ramirez alone should be enough!). A young pitcher on a solid team - worth a flyer if you are able to gamble a little. Shallow leagues should just watch him - maybe he will turn out to be an 'out of nowhere' kind a guy (no one truly knows who will be the next big thing). Deeper leagues have to pay attention to him as 3 good starts can't just be chalked up to a fluke (neither can 9 strikeouts in 6 innings). He is owned in less then 1% of leagues. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Tim Hudson

Before getting injured, Tim Hudson was a stud pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on July 22, 2008 and has been recovering well. Hudson is pitching in the minors and hasn't given up a run in his two games (6 innings total) so far. He could be a very nice addition for your stretch run! There is a little uncertainty to be aware of though. He still has to build stamina, which means he will not be called up for at least a few weeks (no timeline has been set by the Braves but it is getting close to a time when they will have to decide). Will he be a starter this year or go to the bullpen? Probably be a starter, but again, nothing has been set. A pitcher of Hudson's caliber that you can grab off of the free agent pile could be a nice late season present. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

More Pitching Help: David Hernandez

4 starts, 2 wins, no losses, 7 earned runs, 11 strikeouts - solid. Not the best line ever, especially with the low amount of strikeouts, but 7 runs in 25+ innings is great. The above line is for Baltimore Pitcher, 24 year old right hander, David Hernandez. His bad outings have not been too bad (never given up more then 5 runs - and that was only once). His other outings are good and even great. 6 starts in a row now with 3 runs given up or less. His last test was against the Red Sox, he gave up only 1 run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts in 7 innings. I'm sure Baltimore was happy, and the 1% or so who own him in fantasy are also happy. Keeper leagues always want to watch a promising young pitcher - David Hernandez qualifies. Shallow leagues will want to see if he keeps up the solid work - even then he may not be good enough to trump other established pitchers. Deep leagues could do much worse. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Pitching Help: Clayton Richard

I've been on the Richard bandwagon and off of it. I think I'm about to buy another ticket to get back on. Clayton Richard has given me some good games, he also given me some horrible ones. However, he is available in most leagues and has now strung together two excellent starts. How is 16 innings, a 1.13 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and only 4 walks. Not bad at all, in fact, it's downright good! If you take him, you will likely have to take the bad with the good. My personal hope is that it will be a lot more good then bad. He has shown that he can pitch very well in the majors, so hopefully the bad games can be chalked up to 'learning experiences' for the young lefty. Shallow leagues can probably ignore him except for a spot start in a favorable match-up, the rest should decide if they can take a few rough games if they get some gems like he has been pitching lately. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Sell High: Joba Chamberlain

Pull the trigger on selling Joba right now. Don't keep reading, go put him on the market. His value is as high as it has been since before the season began, get rid of him. Why? Innings limit. Joba is on an innings limit of about 150. He has already pitched over 100. This means one of two things - 1) Yankees will skip starts with him 2) Yankees will move him to the bullpen. Either way, he will lose a lot of value once this becomes apparent. Send him packing to an unsuspecting rival. He is not considered a top tier pitcher (Santana, CC, etc.), but he should be considered as a borderline second tier pitcher. He has had two very good outings in a row, so you might get a little extra in a trade. You should have stopped reading by now, but if you haven't, please stop and go trade Joba. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Mat Latos

Sunday marks the big league debut of the San Diego prospect Matt Latos. The 21 years old, 6'6" righty is looking to be a promising big league pitcher. With a fastball that tops around 97, a curve, a knuckle curve, and a change up, he has a good mix to cause a lot of trouble for opposing batters. Must be nice to be coming to one of the most pitcher friendly parks in all of baseball. Not so nice to have that offense to back up his starts. In AA Latos is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in nine starts. He has 46 strikeouts in 47 innings. Opponents are only hitting .192 against him. Down side? Young, inexperienced, concerns about mental toughness (he has done much to improve this view of him), and stamina - he has not thrown 100 innings in any year. He's worth a flyer in deeper leagues and NL only leagues. Keeper leagues should keep a close watch. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

I'm Back! I'm Pedro!

Being recognized by just your first name in sports is pretty cool. Michael, Tiger, Kobe, LeBron, Bo, Magic (close enough), Larry, Manny, to name a few. Pedro Martinez makes the list. In his prime, he is probably my most favorite pitcher to watch (I see a lot of him in Lincecum). Pedro, however, is 37 years old and definitively past his prime. He has injury issues, velocity issues, weight issues (today someone commented that he looked like he was 'stuck in a vat of cheese and had to eat his way out'). But come on, he's Pedro! Despite the negatives, he is still a brilliant pitcher - not that he's the smartest guy (maybe he is, maybe he isn't, we're not friends) - he is baseball smart. His 'A' stuff is long gone, but with his smarts and his 'B' stuff, he still can be pretty nasty. Clearly I'm a little biased, but I would take a flier on him in deeper leagues or NL only leagues (in fact, I did). He moves up a spot as he will be pitching for the Phillies, with a good defense behind him and a top notch offense. He won't go deep in too many games, he may not stay injury free for the second half, he won't strike out hit 1+ batter an inning (his heyday was AWESOME), but he could prove good enough to make a difference on your team in the second half. Maybe he'll make your team so good that your friends will start referring to you by your first name! -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

This Year's Cliff Lee?

Last year Cliff Lee came out of nowhere to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. There were no signs that he could do what he did (and is still doing). That was last year, this year I will give that 'Cliff Lee Out of Nowhere Award' to Chad Gaudin of the San Diego Padres. Nothing in his past would say that he would be a good pitcher. I have always though of him as average - you know, that one time I though of him. He went undrafted in most leagues but is now starting to be picked up off the waiver wire. In his last 3 starts, he has struck out 28 in 21 innings while only giving up 5 runs (and 5 walks). That is Cy Young caliber stuff. In fairness, it has to be mentioned that two of those games were against Seattle, but one of them was against Texas. Now, up to three weeks ago, he was fairly bad - he had a couple of good outings, but nothing to point at his current success. The question now is, will he keep it up? Don't know. I hope so as I picked him up in my deep league. In my shallow league, I will pounce if he has one more good outing. I bet you wish you had picked up Cliff Lee last year - maybe you can this year. Keep an eye on Chad Gaudin. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Watch Your Mouth: Bastardo

You have to love a name that sounds like you are swearing but is perfectly legitimate to say. Bastardo. Oh yea. Besides having a great name, this young pitcher is holding his own in the majors. Scout Hoffman brought our attention to him after his first start, and Bastardo has warranted continued attention. Bastardo has had 4 starts in the majors and 3 of the 4 have been solid. He had one bad start against Boston in a strange rain effected game - outside of that, he's been strong. He had a great game against San Diego (not saying too much there), but followed that up with a good game against the Dodgers (yea, that's something you can hang your hat on). Next was the Boston start, nothing good to say about this, maybe the rain spooked him. His latest start was against Baltimore. He got the loss in this one but pitched well - 7 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 5 strike outs. Normally I wouldn't recommend someone like this except for deep leagues only, but you have to factor in that he is pitching for the Phillies. The Phillies are one of the best in the baseball assuring that Bastardo will at least get some wins. I believe his four starts allow him to be considered in medium depth leagues and even shallow NL only leagues. Keep in mind, Bastardo has been this effective throwing mainly fastballs. If he gets more confidence in his secondary pitches, he could be real trouble for the NL East. Lastly, don't you want a guy named Bastardo on your team? Watch your mouth. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Time to Sign: John Smoltz

John Smoltz is now recovered from his shoulder surgery and will be called up to the majors anytime now. Time to check your waiver wire and see if anyone has grabbed him yet. He's owned in about 20% of ESPN leagues and closer to 50% in Yahoo (are people in Yahoo smarter?). There is not a lot to say about Smoltz that hasn't been said over his great career. He simply knows how to pitch. He is not the same pitcher as he was when younger but he makes up for his slight drop in velocity with his location, movement, and smarts. Do not let his age (42) fool you, he is still good and can strike out batters at an above average clip. His minor league rehab starts have been solid. In his last two starts he only gave up a total of 5 runs (4 in one game, 1 in the other). There is enough pitching this year that shallow leagues may want to view him as a spot starter. In all other leagues, you probably want him on your team. Don't forget, not only is he good, he plays for one of the best teams in baseball. It is definitely time to sign Smoltz to your team. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Strasburg Strategy

If you have paid even a little attention to baseball you have probably heard of the super-stud pitcher out of San Diego State, Stephen Strasburg. Labeled as a 'once in a decade prospect', 'once in a lifetime prospect', 'best pitching prospect ever' - it's hard to ignore the guy. I'm not here to tell you how great he has been in college, rest assured that he has been as good as can be. I'm not here to tell you that the guy may end up throwing the fastest pitch ever in a baseball game (he's really close). I'm here to tell you what to do with the guy with regards to your fantasy team. First off, something needs to be mentioned. In my opinion, this hasn't gotten the attention that it should. Strasburg's pitching mechanics are almost identical to the pitching mechanics of one Marc Prior. Does that scare you? It should. Maybe Strasburg will not have the injuries that Prior did/does, or maybe he will. Bad mechanics are bad mechanics. This is a must know item as it can effect your Strasburg Strategy. One other thing of note, it is not known if Strasburg will pitch in the majors this year. Many say he is good enough to start right now, but, some in Washington say that they would not do that to any rookie. Another Strasburg question mark to consider. Unless the other owners in your fantasy league are asleep, you will probably need to grab Strasburg off waivers to get him. Hopefully, you have a high waiver priority. But, if he could be the next Marc Prior, or not even start this year, should you burn your waiver priority to get him? The answer is 'Yes' - especially in a keeper league. You see, you are in the same position as the Washington Nationals (first pick in the draft). You have to pick him up because of his potential. If Washington doesn't draft him, they will be the laughing stock of baseball - how can you not draft one of the best (if not the best) prospects of all time? They have to, no choice. Same for you. If you have the chance to get him, you must. The potential of Strasburg demands it. Now for my Strasburg Strategy. In one of my leagues (a keeper league) I have the first waiver priority and will be getting Strasburg. I am seriously considering trading him. The hype on Strasburg is so high that I just may be able to get a top tier player, a player who is proven and healthy. I figure it is a win/win situation. I either trade Strasburg for a great player, or no one bites on the offers and I keep a potential top pitcher. Remember, just because you have to draft him, you don't have to keep him. I'm pulling for Strasburg. I hope he goes on to be the next Randy Johnson. But I will not ignore the potential for him being the next Marc Prior. June 8th is draft day, check your league regularly for his availability (he is already available in CBS). -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

The Yankee Test: Derek Holland

Derek Holland's first start of his career was very average. Against the Astros, he went 5.2 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs (off of a 3 run homer), had 5 strikeouts, and walked none. Not bad but not great for this Texas prospect. He left with the lead, but didn't get the win as the bullpen coughed it up. Holland is/was the top pitching prospect for Texas (yes, even over Feliz) and has his second career start on Wednesday against the Yanks. This will be a tough assignment. The Yankee test should give us a decent look at what this guy can do - will he implode under the pressure, step up his game, or be average again. We'll see. Padilla is set to return in about a week, which may mean that Holland goes back to the pen, but GM Joe Daniels said, "Let's see how these guys pitch and then we'll decide," - Being that they want Holland to be a starter and had planned all along for him to be starting, his spot in the rotation may be long lasting (Harrison, failing the Yankee test, by getting lit up doesn't hurt Holland's chances either). All prospects should be watched very closely. Some of these prospects will fail, some will be the next Santana (Johan), and some will fall into the 'journey man' category. We should have a little clearer picture of the potential of Holland after Wednesday. Deep leagues may want to give him a seat on their bench (hard to recommend starting any pitcher against the Yanks) and hope for a breakout. The rest of you, watch and wait. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

4th Straight Win for Porcello

Tell me why Rick Porcello is owned in less then 15% of leagues? I know there is a good amount of pitching out there, but a good young pitcher that is getting stronger and more confident, that plays in a pitchers park, and has a good offense to back up his starts is someone you want. Porcello won his 4th straight game yesterday against the Rockies giving up only 1 run. In his last 4 starts he has given up a total of 3 runs while striking out 16. He has a nice 3.55 ERA for the year. Unless you are in a very shallow league, Porcello should be owned. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Happ-y Days?

A situation that I have been watching since spring training has yielded some interesting news. During spring, Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ of the Phillies were both vying for the 5th starting spot in the rotation. Park edged out Happ, but not by much as both had pretty good springs. Once the season started, things looked a bit different. Park has been all over the place with his starts. He's had some good ones, but he's also had some really bad ones (like on Sunday, 5 runs in 1.1 innings). Manager Charlie Manuel has opened the door for Happ by saying, 'We're concerned about our pitching. And we're going to do what we think is the best way to go, any way we can improve it. We just want to do what's best for our pitching staff. We want to put the best pitchers out there that we possibly can get.' NOT a vote of confidence for Park. So far Happ has put up a line of 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 17 Ks, in 21.2 innings pitched. Not a huge sample, but solid numbers for the 26 year old. Should you own him? I imagine he will be very average for awhile (room for improvement as the season goes on), which means his numbers won't really help you in a roto league - so just keep an eye on him. However, average numbers on the Phillies should translate to many wins (what a lineup!). In a points leagues, wins are often where the big points are, so you should probably be a little more eager to grab him. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Texas P: Matt Harrison

Even with the recent injury to Josh Hamilton, Texas can still mash. Must be nice to be a pitcher with that offense to back you up. It's even nicer if you are a good pitcher. Texas hasn't had too many of those, but this year things are coming together nicely on the mound. Of their pitchers, 23 year old lefty Matt Harrison should be getting some looks. He is 4-2, with a 4.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 24 Ks. Those numbers are pedestrian at best, except he had two rough starts to begin the season (5 runs and 4 runs), but has been extremely good since then. In his last 3 starts he has given up a total of 2 earned runs and has struck out 15 (all wins). A good young pitcher on a team that can score runs is worth a long look in all but the shallowest of formats. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Looking For Pitching Help?

by Scout Hoffman (seniorbeisbol@gmail.com) www.profantasybaseball.com When you check box scores a bad pitching outing always looks a lot worse than a bad hitting day. Even All-Stars have 0-4 days throughout the season and no fantasy owner would bat an eye, but if a pitcher lets up seven runs in four innings, that 15.75 ERA will send them to the waiver wire. Don’t get me started on Troy Percival and his 108.00 ERA on Thursday. If you are like most fantasy owners, you are searching the wires for some starting pitching help. Most everyone available will have their flaws, but if used properly they could become great assets to your fantasy squad. All three of these pitchers are available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Jorge De La Rosa – Colorado Rockies

If I offered you stats of 15 innings, 11 hits, 3 ER, and 22 K’s, I am sure you would expect two wins. This is what makes wins so hard to chase in fantasy baseball. De La Rosa would have been 0-2 in those two starts if it weren’t for a 9th inning bailout by Brad Hawpe in his most recent start. As it stands, De La Rosa is 0-3 on the season, but the ratios and strikeout numbers show a mixed league worthy pitcher. He has an ERA of 3.16, a WHIP of 1.18, and 45 K’s in 42.2 innings. His career ratios are much higher, but the strikeouts have always been there. Let us not forget that he plays his home games at the hitter’s haven that his Coors Field. While his 2008 numbers actually show his home numbers a touch better than his road numbers, I still don’t trust the thin Colorado air. De La Rosa is in his third year of getting consistent starts, so it is OK to expect growth, but I do not see a guy who can shave two runs off his ERA. He is a guy who I would add only if you need strikeouts and have some low ratio pitchers to hide his WHIP and ERA. Randy Wolf – Los Angeles Dodgers Since being acquired by Houston last year in an odd deadline deal, Wolf has proven to be a very solid starter. He is 8-3 with an ERA of 3.25 and 101 strikeouts in 119.1 innings of work since August of 2008. Dodger Stadium is a pitcher friendly park, and even without Manny Ramirez the Dodgers still provide a solid lineup. It doesn’t hurt that the NL West isn’t exactly full of powerful offenses. Wolf has a career ERA of 4.21, so look for the ERA to rise a bit, but it should stay under 4.00. He has always been a good source of strikeouts and that should continue. The Dodgers should provide him with enough run support to pick up 10+ wins from here on out. Dave Bush – Milwaukee Brewers There is something to be said about sleeping in your own bed. Dave Bush personifies this. His home/road splits over his career are borderline ridiculous. At home he is nine games over .500 with a respectable 3.82 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.33. When he hits the road it is a whole different story. Bush is ten games under .500, his ERA balloons to 5.21, his WHIP to 1.32, and his K/9 drops to 5.82. This season Bush is off to a solid start, posting a 2-0 record through eight games. Six of his seven starts have been quality (3 or fewer ER in 6 or more IP), and his K/BB ratio is a very solid 3.6:1. He has held both his home and road ERA under 3.90 for an overall ERA of 3.83. Eight games is a very small sample size, but in 2009 Bush looks like he may have figured something out. Or maybe the Brewers have realized his affinity for home cooking, giving him five home starts to only two road starts. Either way, Bush is a pitcher that you can feel very comfortable starting when he is at Miller Park, but until gives you a few more solid road starts, I would only use him in favorable matchups on the road.

Rent-a-Rookie: Matt Palmer

You have to like a guy who is a rookie and is 30 years old - it means he does not give up. Matt Palmer, SP for the Angels, has definitely not given up. Not only has he not given up his desire to pitch in the majors, he has also not given up many runs (3.38 ERA), not given up many base runners (0.98 WHIP), and has not given up any losses. So far in 4 starts, he is 4-0. To make that even better, he has been pitching against some good teams (Red Sox, Royals, Yankees, and Tigers). 16 Ks in 26 innings is not too bad either. Unfortunately, he will probably not be in the rotation by mid-June as the Angels hurt starters will all be back (Lackey, Santana, Escobar). But until then, consider putting him in your fantasy rotation and get a month out of him. He should be available as he is owned in less then 1% of leagues. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Me and Cecil

I have been dishing out advice for a few months and yet have still not introduced myself or my methods. Let me take a brief moment to do that. I think that it's at least fair for you all to know how I'm coming to the conclusions that I provide here. My name is Mark, and I am a California native who now lives in New York. I go by the Scout name of' Scout Monkey' for the simple reason that I like monkeys (who doesn't?). Enough about me. My methods are simple, research, research, more research. My goal is to do all the research so you don't have to. I try to consolidate what I learn into timely, useful articles. Now, I don't have inside access to any baseball organizations, but I do have access to the TV, radio, and the internet and I make full use of them. Official MLB sites, large news sites, small sites, I visit them all. Reading all the news about a player from different sites and different view points, allows me to get a good all around picture of what to expect from him. Not that my picture is always right, but a lot of data gives me the best chance at being right. My own opinions/gut come into play as well. Although I try to be as objective as possible, some guys just jump out at me for one reason or another - I go with it, sometimes I can't put my finger on it, but there must be some reason that they got my attention. Here's an example of how an article/recommendation comes to be: Brett Cecil, SP for the Blue Jays. First, is he a known player? A quick look at my leagues tell me that he is owned in less the 15% of Yahoo and less then 2% of ESPN. Ok, not very well known at all. Second, should he be known? - After all, what point is there to writing a recommendation that everyone knows about already or writing a recommendation for a player who stinks? A check of his stats shows that he has pitched very well since being called up (due to injuries in the rotation). He's not walking people, he's not giving up runs, he has nearly as many K's as innings pitched (12:14), playing for a hot team. I like where this is going. My initial opinion is that this guy needs to be getting more looks then he currently is. But, I'm not satisfied. Third, more research. I haven't watched his games, so what if he has just been getting fortunate so far? Well, according to sites that talk about him, they have generally good things to say. Some go as far as sayin he is a future star (but how many times has that been said about a guy who put together a few good starts?). So, good stats, good opinions in general, talk of some decent upside, I think we have an article. Where is the down side (everyone has a downside - Pujols is slow, Lincecum plays for the Giants, etc.)? He's young (22) which means there will be the inevitable 'bumps in the road.' No big deal there, just be aware of it. Second, he has only two major league starts to look at, not a big sample, but not irrelevant either. Third, the Jays have a ton of pitching and much of it will be back soon from injury. What will the Jays do? Keep a hot Cecil in the rotation, move him to the pen, or send him down to AAA until another injury? Don't know, no one is talking about that yet. Not a deal breaker by any means, but another good thing to be aware of. You have to think though, that if a guy is on a streak, he would have to show signs of struggling before getting the hook. All in all, I would recommend Cecil. Although young, he is doing great so far, has upside, playing on a good team, and will probably keep his spot in the rotation unless there is some sort of breakdown. And we have an article. Well, there you go. That's me and my method. Aren't you glad you didn't have to do all that? Just remember, this one panned out and could make a decent article/recommendation, many don't pan out at all (but the time is still spent). I won't always be right, but I'm hoping to be right far more often then wrong for you all, and yes, I do take my own advice (I am of that 2% in ESPN that own Cecil). Feel free to call me out when I make mistakes (and I have...), or feel free to pat me on the back if I help your team (aww shucks, just doin my job). That's all for now, gotta go do some more research (will Buster Posey have relevance this year...). - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Barry Zito

I can't believe I'm saying this, but you may want to consider picking up Barry Zito. I'm not kidding. No, really. Cross my heart. The one time ace, who has since fallen out of pitching relevance faster then a Strasburg fastball, has put together some nice starts. Although he doesn't have a win yet (not really his fault so far) he has pitched very well. The 30 year old left hander has an ERA of 3.99, a WHIP of 1.16, and 19 Ks in 29 innings. On top of this, he seems to be getting stronger - his last start was a 7 inning 2 hit gem. He lost that start as the Giants failed to produce any runs. The bottom line, a one time great pitcher has shown signs of his old form (at 30 years old, he's not washed up yet). Grab him now and ride the wave of good starts. I doubt he will be a long term pickup, but you could probably grab a few good stats from him for your fantasy team. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Radar Watch: Justin Duchscherer

It's hard to overlook Duchscherer's affinity for injuries, but when healthy, the guy can pitch. He was after all, an all-star in 2008 (with a steller ERA of 2.54) The best news? He is sitting on the free agency pile in 2/3 of fantasy leagues. Not bad, an all-star pitcher just sitting there waiting to be grabbed. Similar to Kelvim Escobar, Duchscherer won't be pitching for a month or so, but if you can stash him on your bench, you will have a top pitcher for the rest of the year (barring injury, again). There is 'paint' on the long range radar, be sure you are paying attention. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Rent-a-Vet: Tim Wakefield

Wakefield is old (42) and his age nearly is the speed of his fastball (ok, double his age). Seems scary, but the knuckleball is dominating hitters so far this season. Wakefield has a record of 2-1 and his line is a fantastic: 2.45 ERA, 12 Ks, and a 1.05 WHIP. If that's not enough, he is also on a good team. Now I hate having guys on my team who's fastball doesn't sniff 90+, but an exception has to made for the crafty (aka old) knuckleballer. In fact, he may be worth more then a rental. Ride the wave of his great start and see if it lasts all year (it usually does). By the way, he is owned in less then 20% of leagues. He's another good player who never gets the fantasy credit he deserves. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Prospect Watch: Derek Holland

Starting spring training for the Texas Rangers, Neftali Feliz was their #1 pitching prospect. Feliz should still be on everyone's radar, but Derek Holland is has taken over the #1 spot. Feliz is 20 and Holland is 22, so maybe the little more experience has pushed him up. Derek Holland is a left handed pitcher with a mid 90's fastball, and above average secondary pitches. In the minors in 2008, his combined stats (multiple levels) were: 13-1, 2.36 ERA, 150/38 K/BB in 145 innings, 107 hits allowed, only 3 homers. Pretty good stuff! Unless Texas pitching makes a dramatic change (that would be more surprising then the Rays making the world series last year) they will be calling up Holland sooner then later. - Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Taking a deep plunge

So people ask me all the time, "Hey Rob, I'm in a 20 team keeper league with 28-man rosters where pitching is devalued and I'm always looking for deep sleepers as far as starting pitching goes." Well the thousands of you that have sent me that exact question can get off of my back because, just for you, I'm looking at some starters who are way off the radar that might be able to help you out. We're not talking late-round sleepers, we're talking about watch list sleepers. Not even sleepers. Guys who are in comas. Nick Adenhart, LAA. He brings the pedigree and the raw tools, but the question is if he can improve on a downright bad 2008 campaign. This might just be conjecture, but I have the feeling with him this year, and he's certainly going to have the opportunity to shine, at least early in the season, with John Lackey's elbow strain, Joe Saunders' dead arm, Ervin Santana's sprained ligament and Kelvim Escobar's rickets. The door is wide open for Adenhart right now to pitch in front of a pretty good offense. You could do a whole lot worse. David Purcey, TOR. Purcey is another young guy who was roughed up last year but who has a solid shot to latch on with a rotation this season. Also, remember his complete-game, 11-strikeout performance in a 1-0 loss to Tampa last August? 'Cause I didn't. He also had a 2.69 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 19 Triple-A starts last season. And he's your No. 3 starter for Super Team Canada. How come no one's talking about this guy? Jason Schmidt, LAD. Two years ago I was drafting a team I co-owned with my friend Nick and this choice came up: Schmidt or Cole Hamels? Well, you can probably see where this one is going. But the point is, Schmidt is just a couple years removed from elite status and the only problem is that he can't stop getting hurt. There's another guy that sounds a lot alike and everyone's all over him this year, Rich Harden. I don't think Schmidt's ceiling is as high as Harden's but it's a great value play, especially as the season's starting and everything's getting settled in. Anyways, that's three really deep guys that no one else is even thinking about drafting, and you shouldn't either. But keep them on the radar and if you have an extra bench spot, stash 'em. You just never know.

Breakout Prospects: Starting Pitching

David Price (LHP) -- Devil Rays -- Any conversation about pitching prospects must begin with David Price. The big lefty has been touted since being taken #1 overall out of Vanderbilt in the 2007 draft. Last year he quickly rose through the ranks of Tampa's farm system helping both AAA Durham and the big league club make playoff runs. The fact that Price was the guy the Rays trusted to get the final outs in the ALCS speaks volumes about the man. He can dominate both sides of the plate with his fastball as well as his slider. Both are considered "out" pitches and are even more devastating because he can throw both at a variety of speeds. I would be shocked if he doesn't make the rotation out of spring training but even if he didn't I'd still recommend keeping his on a fantasy roster. Just like last year, Price is too good to keep down for long. He will rack up strikeouts his first time through the AL and should have plenty of wins when all is said and done for what will be a good Tampa Bay team. *Price was demoted to AAA to start the season, but this is a temporary move and should have little affect on his value. Jordan Zimmerman (RHP) -- Nationals -- Zimmerman's stock has risen higher than a bonus check for AIG executives. This guy is absolutely dominating the Grapefruit League this spring and is leaving the Nationals with little choice other than to pencil him in to start every fifth day for them. It is difficult for me to understand just how Zimmerman has become so damn good so quickly. A couple of years ago he was a player without a position who had the dreaded label of 'good athlete' but had to take a path and spend a few years making his way. Two years later he is a franchise type starter with four above average pitches. The problem for me is that none of his pitches are truly dominating with the possible exception of his hard curve ball. While he doesn't have the pedigree of David Price, Zimmerman is more likely to make an impact in the early going in 2009. His longevity we will have to watch unfold but for now there isn't a better starting pitching prospect in baseball than Jordan Zimmerman. Tommy Hanson (RHP) -- Braves -- Hanson is making his push for a rotation spot by dominating the Arizona Fall League and continuing that trend right into spring training. This coming off a year in which he reacted to his promotion to AA by promptly throwing a 15 strikeout no-hitter. This kid is the real deal. He has a natural bite to his fastball which isn't overpowering but falls in to right handers and away from lefties. His curveball is filthy with a 12-6 break on it and he is way ahead in mastering a changeup that makes his fastball better than it actually is. It is unknown if the Braves will take Hanson north when camp breaks. My feeling is that he will begin in AAA and have to toil down there a bit before getting the call. The Braves added some pitching this offseason and will save a year of arbitration if they keep Hanson down for a month. If you got the balls, take Hanson late or pick him up early in the season and wait for the eventual call up which will happen this year. Anthony Reyes (RHP) -- Indians -- I put Reyes here to make a point. The Breakout Prospect series I have been doing for Fantasy Baseball Search is not all about minor league or even young talent. It is about players who will come out of nowhere to produce good fantasy baseball numbers. I don't care about age or eligibility and neither should you. What we are all looking for is production so before you write me to point out that Anthony Reyes isn't a "prospect" any more believe me kimosabe...I know. It is safe to say that Anthony Reyes is not on any fantasy site's HOT list or even been named a possible sleeper by anyone in the industry. This is why you read Fantasy Baseball Search. Reyes busted out with the Cardinals. But before he did he showed flashes of brilliance most notably game 1 of the 2006 World Series. He has great stuff and a funky motion that will confuse hitters. The Indians are emphasizing that Reyes throw more two seam fastballs this year which is a great idea. The pitch has fallen out of favor with pitching coach Dave Duncan who forced Reyes to ditch it in favor of the four seam fastball. The subtle drop in velocity however gets hitters ahead of the pitch and forces many lazy pop outs or ground ball double plays. With a spot in the rotation guaranteed, new found confidence and minus a Stalin like manager/pitching coach I foresee a big year for Anthony Reyes. Gio Gonzalez (LHP) -- Athletics -- It's all about the strikeouts, baby. Gonzalez is small but deceptive lefty with a knack for pitching away from contact. His curveball is one of the best in the minor leagues. He is downright scary to left hand hitters with an almost sidearm delivery. The problem for Gio has been finding the strikezone. He gets into lapses with his delivery, most often his landing spot which causes him to be high out of the zone. The A's have a history of correcting such mistakes and if they can do so with Gonzalez may have a future ace or good #2 starter on their hands. If given a full season of starts Gonzalez could rack up close to 200 K's in 2009. Jeff Mans www.fantasybaseballsearch.com