Scott Kazmir- TB- FYI- Kazmir's arm has not fallen off...yet. Since manager Joe Maddon has seemed to be watching the young pitcher's workload more closely (only 3 starts over 110 pitches in the second half), maybe damage will be dodged. Still, Kazmir has to be considered a high risk for injury or effectiveness heading into 2008 because of the number of pitches he threw early this season.
J. P. Howell- TB- Cold- After his last start, a quality effort against the AL West Champion Angels, there was hope that maybe Howell would fulfill his potential in a Tampa Bay uniform. After yesterday's pounding at the hand of the Yankees (8 ER on 6 hits and 3 walks in 4-2/3 IP) that possibility is not nearly as likely. Howell now has a 7.59 ERA for the season, definitely not a resume enhancer.
Howie Kendrick- LAA- Idea- Despite his .324 batting average, I remain a Kendrick skeptic. The main difference between his number this season and the .285 mark he posted in 2006 appears to be his BHIP. Last year it was at .254 and this season it rests at .313 (as of the last update to his Fantistical Player Charts). Kendrick's walk ratio and strikeout ratios are worse than last season and he still has little to offer outside the batting average category. If he has to depend on luck for his fantasy value, then Kendrick will be a high risk player in 2008.
Victor Zambrano- TOR- The old saying is that familiarity breeds contempt and the Blue Jays couldn't have treated their old teammate with much more contempt than they did yesterday. Zambrano was able to get just two batters out in his start, throwing 17 balls in 36 pitches before getting removed. He allowed 4 hits, 3 walks, and hit a batter. All 8 men he put on base eventually scored. This implosion came after Zambrano had made two successful appearances for Baltimore and raised his ERA as an Oriole from 1.00 to 8.38. His outlook for 2008 is bleak.
Dustin Pedroia- BOS- Hot- Pedroia burnished his rookie-of-the-year credentials by going 3-for-5 with a walk and hitting 2 doubles and a homer. His .317 average has been helped along by a .283 BHIP, but his outstanding 1.12 Batting EYE probably has a far greater hand in Pedroia's success than does luck.
There are over 100 player news blurbs posted in the member area each morning, members can read the rest of today's player news by clicking here link:www.fantistics.com/baseball00/. Not a member? Join today link:www.fantistics.com/join/join.php3
