Top 10 Hot Players this week

Text Bytes: from this week's Daily Reporting

 Jason Bay was the lone bright spot for the Bucs’ offense yesterday. He was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and an RBI (courtesy of a solo home run). Bay is SCARY close to our preseason projection for him in terms of FPI. He has 0.77 FPI on the season, compared to our preseason projection of 0.74. He has slugged for a higher percentage than we anticipated, which accounts for most of the difference. This can be relatively easily explained, in an intuitive sense. He hacks like a mother, as his 80 strikeouts in 73 games illustrates. In fact, he strikes out in almost a third of his plate appearances. Second, he hits a lot of fly balls. His GB/FB ratio is currently 0.83. “Hacks like a mother” + “Low GB/FB ratio” = P-O-W-E-R.Jeff Ackerman

It's hard to figure Damon out. After an absolutely torrid first half of July, his bat went cold after the All Star Break, with the exception of the yankees' series. Now, with yesterday's 3-for-5 performance including a triple, maybe he is snapping out of his slump. Damon is now working on a modest 3-game hitting streak. It's time, though, to bury thoughts that maybe he will give you the steals he once did. On the plus side, he was at least trying again this weekend, making his first official attempts since swiping a base on July 21st. In the "cup half empty" department, though, he was thrown out each of the 3 times he attempted against Pudge Rodriguez. Paul Sauberer

We talked about …well, why should I drag everyone here down with me? …Yesterday I talked about how I felt Zack Greinke was hitting a wall and I see the same thing happening to Sean Burnett. He gave up 4 runs to the Pirates on 7 hits and 5 walks last night in 5.2 IP. After going 4-1 in 5 July starts with a 3.64 ERA, Sean has given up 10 runs in 9.2 IP in two August starts, allowing 15 hits and 6 walks. In his last start he gave up 4 HRs which may have very likely led to the 5 walks in this start. Pitchers work hard out of the gate and word gets around the league quickly. It doesn’t talk long before young pitchers hit a bit of a wall. Sideline Sean for now until he proves he’s made an adjustment … The Giants may have just been a bit excited to see a left-hander. Burnett is the first LHP they’ve seen in 17 games. Lou Blasi

Brandon Claussen dropped to 1-3 with a 6.93 ERA after hading out 7 runs in 3 innings to the Dodgers last night on 4 hits, 5 walks and 2 strikeouts. Brandon needed 49 pitches to get through the first inning (I’ll let that sink in a bit … ready?) and then gave up back-to-back Jack in the third. He’s now walked 13 hitters in 14.1 IP over his last three starts, He’s also given up three HRs and struck out 8. More walks than strikeouts? Not good … 1.8 HRs per 9 IP? …Not good … Mysterious pink rashes in unusual places? … Not good …But that’s a problem of … a friend of mine …ya, that’s it …a friend … It’s not one of Brandon’s problems, He’s got enough of his own right now and too many for your lineup. Sit him down until he exhibits a pulse.  Lou Blasi

Batting average is much more variable than the power categories, but a player like Darin Erstad can help you when he's getting his singles. Erstad, rightfully much of the time, has been much maligned in the sabermetric circles, and the Angels decision to move him to first base removed most of what little value that he still possessed. However, he is such a successful base stealer that when he's batting .300, he has enough value to help most teams. This season, Erstad is hitting 302/349/407 with 12 steals in as many attempts. Perhaps he's finally healthy, perhaps this is an aberration, or the most optimistic thought: maybe he hasn't been healthy in four years, and some power will show up again next year. I'd bet on a combination of one and two, but any of them are possible. Just like Barry Larkin and Omar Vizquel, don't completely write off the "washed up" players before their value has completely evaporated.- Schulyer Dombroske

Ben Broussard has been on fire since the middle of June, slugging well over .500 and putting up an OBP of close to .400. Broussard singled, doubled, and homered last night against Chicago, bringing his season line to 279/381/449. I'm uncertain as to why people are so quick to dismiss Broussard, just as I'm curious about people's opinions on another Ben without a glove: Ben Grieve. These guys have fair power and get on base very well, but they are constantly the first guys on the firing line when another guy comes around. Broussard, especially in leauges that value OBP, can be a decent contributor, and at age 27 it's reasonable to expect a bit more power to come along as well. I'd take him on my squad, if the league weren't one of the most shallow. Schulyer Dombroske

 The Phillies acquired Cory Lidle from the Reds for two players in the low minors. The injury to Kevin Millwood forced Slow Eddie’s hand, and he had to make a deal for a starter. Lidle had dominating second halves in both 2001 and 2001, but that is the extent of his success in the majors. His FPI has fallen for three straight years (1.73 – 1.51 – 0.97), and continues that slide this year (0.81). He is not worth owning from a fantasy perspective (and probably not from a major league baseball team perspective, either). He will throw a bullpen session today, and then the date of his first start for the Phils will be decided. Here’s what Yours Truly had to say about him just one week ago: “His 2.0+ K/BB on the season is where you want it to be, but he hasn’t had a month where his ERA was under 4.50, and the 7.76 ERA in five July starts is downright scary.” E-A-G-L-E-S.....EAGLES !!!!! Jeff Ackerman

Wait, I thought Beltran was supposed to be better in the hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park? Since going to the Astros, Beltran is hitting .242 compared to .278 with the Royals. Let’s take a look at his power numbers to see Beltran’s fantasy effectiveness. His OPS was .901 in KC and over .870 in Houston – not a huge difference. A look at his FPI shows a similar trend – 0.78 with KC compared to 0.74 in Houston. The key is that he’s hitting HR at a faster pace in a smaller park. While wearing the Astros pinstripes, Beltran has 1 HR / 12.4 AB compared to 17.7 AB with the Royals. Chalk up the lower average to an entire league of new pitchers combined with trade rumors and contract talk. If he can get up the learning curve over the next few weeks and ignore the off-field distractions, I think we’ll see some special things out of Beltran before the end of the season.-Joe Ribando

We publish over 100 player reports EVERY DAY in our member section.
 

• Daily News Analysis

• Detailed Minor League Prospect Analysis

• Pitching Intelligence logs

• Weekly Player Rater based on opposition.

• Daily Fantasy Values

• 14 day Expected Pitching Rotations

• Advanced Stat Databases

• More, more and much more!

See More

Are you ready for some Football?

See More