Gordon Beckham (SS – White Sox)
Gordon Beckham started at 3B in his first game at Triple-A on Thursday. This is significant due to the fact that Josh Fields and Chris Getz are both reeling at the moment. Beckham has played some 2B at Double-A this season, and figures to already be capable in that spot. It is my guess that once the Sox feel comfortable with Beckham’s play at 3B, he will get the call up to the majors. Upon his call-up, he will immediately be the White Sox’s best option at both 3B and 2B. At Double-A this season, Beckham has shown himself to be a very polished hitter for just his 1st professional year of baseball, as is evidenced by a .299 / .366 / .497 line and a .58 EYE. Beckham won’t light the world on fire with his fantasy production in the majors, but he should be good for a solid BA and some decent power numbers with middle infield eligibility. Adding him now would be a very proactive and speculative claim, but it is advisable in AL-only leagues.
Josh Outman (SP – Athletics)
Josh Outman added to his streak of consecutive quality starts on Friday by limiting the Rangers to 3 ER over 6.2 IP while striking out 9 and walking 3 batters. His 3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP have made him Oakland’s best SP this year, but I still contend that he is a Triple-A level pitcher at this point (which is where he would be on the vast majority of major league teams). His 1.90 K/BB ratio on the season isn’t very inspiring, and does not support his ERA and WHIP numbers thus far. He has benefited greatly from a .246 BABIP and a 79.1% strand rate, which explains why his FIP is 4.58. I agree with Drew advocating him as a possible spot-start type of SP in fantasy leagues. But, I would resort to that only if your other options are lacking, since the correction in his overall numbers could come at any moment and it won’t be pretty.
Luke Scott (DH – Orioles)
Luke Scott homered twice last night for the second consecutive game. Since returning from the DL, Scott has gone 7 for 11 with 5 HR, 12 RBI, 6 runs, and a 3/0 BB/K ratio. This ridiculous 3-game stretch has brought some attention to the improved season that Scott is having in ’09. Scott’s BA is now all the way up to .336, and it has not been greatly aided by luck. Scott has improved his EYE from .52 last year to .74 this year, which has mostly been due to his contact rate jumping from 77.3% last year to 82.2% this year. Scott has always shown that he has very good big league power, but his low batting average has prevented him from being a viable mixed league contributor. If Scott can maintain his current contact rate, he will retain value in all leagues all season long.
Scott Baker (SP – Twins)
Scott Baker continues to be foiled by the long ball, as all 4 of his ER last night came via home runs. Also in typical Scott Baker fashion, he walked none and struck out 4 through 5.2 IP. Baker now possesses one of the largest spreads between his ERA and WHIP that I have ever seen (6.32 ERA; 1.27 WHIP). Baker’s career best and highly impressive 3.9 K/BB ratio explains the nice and tidy WHIP, while the 14 HR allowed explains the astronomical ERA. Baker has been the same fly ball pitcher that he has always been this season, it’s just that twice as many of these fly balls are leaving the yard. Although I am becoming increasingly worried about Baker, I am still confident that he will curtail the HR, and return to being the same undervalued SP that we know and love. Currently he has allowed more HR (14) than BB (10). I mean come on – there is no possible way that can continue.
Clayton Richard (SP – White Sox)
Clayton Richard was very impressive on Friday night against the White Sox by throwing 7 innings, allowing 2 ER, striking out 7, and walking just 1 batter. In his last 3 starts, Richard has posted an ERA of 1.35, a WHIP of 1.00, and a K/BB of 18/7 in 20 IP. Further confirming that he has actually pitched exceptionally well, rather than being exceptionally lucky is that he has recorded 22 GB outs to 20 FB outs in these 3 starts. Richard has not exactly shot through the minor leagues; in fact, his first exposure above the Single-A level came last season at age 24. Richard will certainly not continue to strike out this many batters, since between Double-A and Triple-A last season he struck out just 6.1 per 9 IP. But, on the other hand, the walks will most likely come down a bit (1.4 BB/9 last season). Because he was so stingy with the free passes last year, he posted a 2.47 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 127 IP between Double and Triple-A. Richard obviously cannot continue along this current pace, but I would not be surprised to see him post solid but unspectacular numbers all season.
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