Pablo Sandoval (1B/C-SF) – The Giants are certainly glad to have Sandoval back in the lineup after a brief hiatus. Sunday, playing first base, Sandoval had a single and double in four at-bats with an RBI, the third multi-hit game in his last four starts. Sandoval is up to .308/.350/.467, this after he sat at .195 in April 18. Depending on your league’s rules, Sandoval may already qualify at C, 1B, and 3B and though you’re likely using him at catcher, the versatility is nice. Sandoval is never going to be a walk machine, but it is worth noting the increase in his BB rate from 3% last year to 5% in 2009. You always like to see that sort of progress. Hopefully next up – a power spike, though that is probably unlikely. Sandoval had 50 hits for the Giants last year and 50 so far in 2009 and this year, he’s tacked on an extra four XBH’s (18) over last year’s mark.
Max Scherzer (SP-ARI) – Reminding us all that inconsistency is part of the deal with young pitchers, Scherzer was lit up for eight runs in just 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the Braves. It got so bad for Scherzer Sunday, that even Garrett Anderson got into the act. Anderson had yet to homer in 106 at-bats this season before connecting off Scherzer in the fourth inning, an inning after Chipper Jones hit his own three-run homer. Scherzer did strike out four, but he also allowed a whopping 13 base runners. Scherzer had notched back-to-back double-digit strikeout efforts against the Pirates and Marlins, but the Braves were a bit more of a challenge. For the year, Scherzer’s ERA skyrockets from 3.38 to 4.47, and though a 9.4 K/9 isn’t too shabby, Scherzer has already allowed eight home runs in just 54 1/3 innings. Look for that rate to come down, as Scherzer is actually generating more groundballs this year (45.3%) over last (41.7%).
Trevor Hoffman (RP-MIL) – What Hoffman is doing this year at age 41 is astounding. He notched save number 13 (in 13 opportunities) on Sunday, reaching that mark in just his 15th appearance. Just imagine where Hoffman’s total would be had his season not been delayed three weeks due to an oblique injury. In 15 innings, Hoffman has allowed a miniscule six hits, the one walk, and he’s struck out 14. Much was made this spring about how Hoffman fell of the map last year with his 3.77 ERA, but in actuality, he was as good, if not better, than ever in 2008. His 9.1 K/9 was his best full-season effort there since 2002 and he walked just nine batters all year. Now obviously hitters are going to end the season with an OPS higher than their current .255 against Hoffman, but for those who thought he was washed up, Hoffman is having the last laugh and while he’ll regress a bit, a healthy Hoffman is still capable of pitching at an All-Star level.
Ian Stewart (OF-COL) – Stewart has been a huge disappointment this season, going 0-for-3 on Sunday to drop him to .182/.294/.417. It’s pretty obvious that Garrett Atkins won’t be around much longer (certainly not in 2010), leaving 3B for the taking for one of baseball’s top prospects a few years ago. That was a few years ago – this is now. In 416 career at-bats, Stewart is batting just .236 with 146 strikeouts (a 64.9% CT%) and at 24, he might be somewhat at a crossroads. Oddly, the left-handed hitting Stewart has just a .625 OPS versus RHP but .924 versus lefties. He had a similar split last year as well (1.137 / .720), and that actually gives us some hope, as the skill to hit same-sided pitching (especially for LH hitters) is something you can’t teach. Don’t give up on Stewart quite yet, but the Rockies are going to be hard-pressed to play him every day with a .182 average, but that’s the catch-22 is it not? Without consistent at-bats, how is Stewart going to progress and reach that potential?
Antonio Bastardo (SP-PHI) – While wondering what sort of nickname Bastardo had growing up and has now, you should be aware that Bastardo will be replacing Brett Myers (hip) in the Philadelphia rotation. Between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Bastardo compiled a 1.89 ERA and impressive 51:10 K:BB in 47 2/3 innings. Sounds good, right? Bastardo though stands just 5’11”, isn’t a hard thrower, and allows a lot of flyballs – 0.87 GO/AO this year and a more-extreme 0.45 in 2008. Not exactly something you want to see from a guy pitching half his games in the CBP launching pad. Perhaps I’m wrong on Bastardo, but while he’s certainly worth a speculative pickup in NL-only and deeper mixed leagues, I’m not sure his minor league success is going to transfer too well to Philadelphia.
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. Not a member? Join today.
