Justin Duchscherer - If you're trying to find some evidence that Duchscherer is due to backslide, I'll offer up a few points to consider. The .242 BABIP has been mentioned already, and by itself it isn't too far from his normal levels, but when combined with an LD% of 23 it's definitely 50-75 points lower than you'd expect. Add in the fact that he's allowed somewhere between one-quarter and one-third of the amount of homers you'd think from the number of flyballs he's allowed, and I'd wager that his ERA should be in the high 3.00's, not the high 1.00's. His control (and the solid defense behind him) makes him a viable #4 starter, but if someone will offer you more value than that it makes sense to take it.
Garret Anderson - Anderson had a typical night last night, sandwiching an RBI single between a pair of strikeouts in the Angels' 3-2 win over Washington. Anderson was always an AVG/ISO hitter, offering league average to below OBP's even in his peak, which he is long removed from. His AVG is a bit lower than you'd expect this year given the batted ball data, but his ISO fell off a cliff in 2004 and except for a brief resurgence last season has been unacceptable for a corner OF since, so there's little reason to expect a major turnaround.
Casey Kotchman - Kotchman hasn't broken out this year quite as much as I expected him to, but he is in the middle of a fairly amazing streak right now. No, it isn't the 8-27 with a pair of homers in the past week-plus, it's the 2 strikeouts in the last 90 AB's that's absolutely remarkable. I am bullish on both of the LA 1B (AL and NL) primarily due to their uncanny ability to make contact, assuming that their power will continue to develop through their mid-20's.
Mark Teahen - After slugging .360 for the first two months of the year, Mark Teahen has broken out in June, slugging .519 for the month after hitting another homer last night againt the Rockies. Teahen is only 26, and a sharp decrease in his K rate this season is a strong data point in his favor. After elevating the ball a decent amount in 2006 (the year he slugged .517, not coincidentally), Teahen is hitting the ball on the ground more and more the past few seasons. More of his flyballs are leaving the park this year than last, but the problem remains. Teahen is not likely to show a return to his 2006 power numbers without a change in approach, so I'd be inclined to consider June's power surge as an aberration rather than an indicator of things to come.
Jason Kubel - Kubel has been on fire in June, hitting 340/438/679 and walking more than he's striking out. Unfortunately he's still hitting only 175/261/200 against left-handed pitching, so it's been difficult for him to get enough at-bats to accumulate counting stats. I'm torn on Kubel, because I've liked him more than most for quite some time, but for the first time he might have a bit more perceived value than actual, as I'm not sure he'll ever be more than a platoon player in Gardenhire's eyes.
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