Kosuke Fukodome- CHN- Hot- The optimist would look at Fukodome’s Major League debut and go, “Wow! What a great game!” The pessimist would see the 3-for-3 with a walk effort (that was a triple short of a cycle) and say, “He has nowhere to go but down from here.” Fukodome certainly seemed at home in the 5th spot in the batting order and spring training concerns have at least momentarily been allayed.
Carlos Zambrano- CHN- Inj- In his last 3 season debuts Zambrano gave up a total of 13 runs in 14-1/3 IP. Yesterday was quite different. Before leaving the game after 6-2/3 IP due to forearm cramps, he held the Brewers scoreless on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Zambrano also threw only 89 pitches, a far more efficient rate than he did for much of last season. The injury is not expected to have any lasting impact and if Zambrano can avoid the 120+pitch starts he made 4 times early last season, he could be more consistent than he has been in recent seasons.
Chris Young- ARI- FYI- Results were mixed on Opening Day for Young. He hit a homer, and that is definitely one of the things that gives him fantasy value (along with his ability to steal bases. Unfortunately, when he didn’t hit the ball out of the park, Young was whiffing. The 3 Ks bring up bad memories of his 141 strikeouts in 2007 that went along with only 43 walks. An increase in Batting EYE would be a good sign that Young was not going to get solved by NL pitching in his second full year in the majors. A 3 strikeout game is not a way to increase Batting EYE.
Eric Gagne- MIL- Cold- Even if he were to grow a handlebar mustache, Gagne wouldn’t have the Brewers faithful confusing him with Rollie Fingers if he keeps pitching like this. Gagne was handed the easiest of save opportunities, a 3-run lead going into the 9th and he didn’t hold it. After his inning of work was over the Cubs had tied the game on 3 hits and a walk. The Milwaukee offense got Gagne a win by scoring in the top of the 10th and then David Riske picked up the save with a scoreless bottom half of the inning. Gagne was identified in the Mitchell report as an HGH user. That could explain a lot.
Jake Peavy- SD- Great Player- It doesn’t get much better than Peavy was last night. He threw the first 7 innings of a shutout of the Astros, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Peavy’s workload at a young age (he is 26) puts him at a statistically higher risk of injury. Still, because of performances like last night he is worth the risk. As if his Cy Young Award winning stuff wasn’t good enough, Peavy has added an effective changeup to his selection of pitches. It’s almost unfair to hitters.
