Elijah Dukes: Rocco Baldelli sat last night with the cold weather in New York. It looks like if the weather is cold or if the field is wet, the Rays will not let Baldelli play the field. That will help Elijah Dukes, who will get the starts in center field and hurt Jonny Gomes. Those is daily transactions leagues need to be aware of this and make the proper adjustments Dukes is just 22 years of age and has shown a nice power/speed package, with a good batting eye, in the minors. So far the power has translated well to the majors, as Dukes has gone deep in both Devil Rays games this season. If the hot start continues, he could force his way into playing time at the expense of Gomes.
Jeremy Sowers: After allowing 5 walks and having a 7/10 GB/FB ratio, Sowers was lucky that he only surrendered two runs in six innings against the White Sox yesterday. He is not a strikeout pitcher, only a 3.6 K/9 in 88.1 innings last year, but one who relies on control and inducing ground balls for success. If his control is that spotty and he cannot keep the ball down, there could be some trouble in his next start.
Ramon Hernandez: It looks like Hernandez is heading to the 15-DL with a strained oblique. Paul Bako and Alberto Castillo will fill in for him behind the plate. No matter how desperate you are, do not even consider using either one. Bako is a powerless, poor contact, slow running, ground ball hitter, which is the worst of all worlds. Castillo is not much better. For those in a daily transaction league, make sure anyone on your team, with any kind of speed, is active when Castillo is catching. The Twins stole 5 bases in 5 attempts against him on Tuesday.
David Riske: Octavio Dotel was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left oblique. Riske will be the closer until Dotel is ready to return. It is very hard to trust a guy whose K/9 is in an incredible 5-year nosedive, 11.4/9.9/9.0/5.9/5.7. It is not like has turned into a control, 3.5 BB/9 last year, ground ball, 36% GB% in 2006, type pitcher. For the few saves that he might provide, let him wreck someone else's WHIP and ERA.
Dan Johnson: Johnson may skip the surgery on hip that would have kept him out for 3 months and instead rehab the injury. Under the rehabbing scenario, he could be back in a month. An early return from Johnson would push Nick Swisher back to the outfield and Travis Buck to the minors. Johnson was a major disappointment last year going 9/37/.234 in 286 AB, eventually spending some time in Triple-A. There was definitely some bad luck in his season, a .204 BHIP%, but his power decreased while his GB% increased, 38% in 2005 to 49% in 2006. At 27 years of age, his power should be growing, not trending in the other direction. If he is still available in your league, he is worth grabbing and stashing on the DL or reserve to see if he can recapture his 2005 skills, but do not be surprised if he disappoints.
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