Dan Uggla:
I was just commenting to a friend the other day that there were a few 2B in the NL I couldn't have been more wrong about coming into the season and one of the guys I was referencing was Dan Uggla. I thought Uggla's 2nd half in 2006 was more indicative of what we could expect in 2007, something along the lines of .260-.313-.447. Well after Sunday's 0-4, Uggla now sits at .247-.318-.488 on the season with 67 runs scored, 17 HR's, and 52 RBI's at the break. The big jump in Uggla's performance has come from continued growth in the power departments and a rising FB%. Uggla's numbers are very strong and his batting average even has some room to grow as its currently being suppressed by a .177 BHIP%. Uggla's 77% contact rate suggests the batting average has a ceiling somewhere in the .270 range but there is some room for growth here for Uggla. Uggla certainly benefits from hitting in a stacked Marlins lineup and if you can take the batting average hit that Uggla comes with, his Run, RBI, and Power production out of the 2B production. For those owners with depth at 2B, I think Uggla makes an excellent sell high candidate because of the weak 2nd half last season combined with the fact Uggla's only managed 1 month in which he's hit above .250 this season and his K Rate has increased each month since his big May.
Brian McCann:
McCann gave fantasy owners a glimmer of hope on Sunday that his 2nd half will be nothing like the 1st half he's struggled through. McCann went 2-4 launching his 9th HR of the season and driving in 4 Runs. As a McCann owner and someone who's heavily invested in him this season, I'd like to believe a big 2nd half is coming, but the statistical indicators just aren't there right now. McCann's EYE has regressed this season as has his overall power, thanks to an increased GB% of 43%, up from 32% last season. The GB% is in line with McCann's 2005 season as are much of the power numbers. While there is room for improvement in the batting average category with a measly .194 BHIP%, all the indicators currently suggest McCann's 2006 season may be the outlier here. I hope I'm wrong on this one because I'm so heavily invested in McCann and maybe the big fellas' power has been sapped by the nagging hand and knee injuries this season, but the current numbers suggest McCann's 2007 season may be eerily similar to his 2005 campaign and certainly not worth the high draft pick many of us spent on him.
Chris Capuano:
Capuano struggled for his 2nd consecutive start since coming off the DL and both have come against bottom-feeder offenses. This time Capuano allowed 7 ER's in 5 innings of work against the Nationals seemingly hitting a wall in the 6th inning, where he allowed 6 of the 7 ER's. Up until that point Capuano was cruising, so I'm willing to chalk this one up to a lack of stamina since coming off the DL, but it should be noted that Capuano's control has reverted back to his career levels after showing what seemed to be genuine improvement in 2006. Expectations for Capuano the rest of the season should be revised closer to the mid 4's ERA than the high 3's ERA some of us had hoped for and an unfriendly WHIP in the upper 1.30's or lower 1.40's. Though I don't foresee the Brewers moving Capuano out of the rotation it should be noted that he's really a very similar option to Claudio Vargas.
Shane Victorino:
After a cold June, Victorino has gotten off to a ridiculous start in July hitting .400-.471-.767 through the first 7 games in July. Victorino knocked out his 3rd HR of the month on Sunday and with the improving power Victorino's turning himself into a poor man's version of Carl Crawford as the increased power has him eyeing a 20 HR, 40 SB campaign. Victorino's production is very much for real as the big increases in value come from his increased efficiency and aggressiveness on the basepaths along with the developing power.
Chris Carpenter:
Carpenter owners got some good news on Sunday as his rehab continues to progress nicely. On Sunday Carpenter made his 2nd rehab appearance throwing 3 scoreless innings for High A. Carpenter threw 39 pitches in his 3 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2. The lower pitch count suggests Carpenter likely has at least 2 more starts in the minors and possibly even 3. This would put Carpenter on pace to be back in the Cardinals rotation by the end of the month and give him 2 full months of fantasy production. When back and healthy Carpenter should be a solid fantasy option but it may take him some time to get back to the Cy Young caliber pitcher his owners have come to expect, I'll peg Carpenter down for 6 wins and a 3.50 ERA the rest of the way with 55-60 K's.
