Jhoulys Chacin (SP – Rockies)
After Aaron Cook’s start was pushed back due to injury, Jhoulys Chacin made his first career major league start on Tuesday night. He had a nightmare of a start as he struggled mightily to find the strike zone (6 BB in 2.2 IP, 36 of 72 pitches for strikes). Chacin is certainly a bigtime prospect (#12 pitching prospect on fantistics), but at just 21 years old, the Rockies may prefer to break him into the majors as a reliever in ’09. Chacin has seen his numbers drop after making the jump to Double-A, but he has still impressed with a 7.5 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, and 1.88 GO/AO. Chacin has in no way been a disappointment in Double-A this year, but he has not maintained the dominance that he showed in Rookie and Single-A ball. He has been deadly out of the pen thus far in the majors with a 16.20 K/9 and 85.7% GB rate, which tells me that he may be very hard to hit until the book is out on him. After tonight’s disaster, I would expect him to stay in the bullpen for the remainder of the year.
Chris Dickerson (OF – Reds)
Chris Dickerson made his return from the DL on Tuesday night, and found himself in the lead-off spot. Dickerson excited a lot of people last season after posting a .287 / .384 / .479 line in Triple-A, and then following that up with a .304 / .413 / .608 line in 102 major league at bats. In ’09, however, Dickerson has not been the player that he had become in ’08, but rather he has reverted to the player he was prior to ‘08. Dickerson had always oozed athletic ability, but he struggled to make that translate into production at the minor league level (.260 / .363 / .414 for his career). With just 220 at bats on the season, it is still to early to proclaim that last year was a mirage, but he certainly has not been the potential 20/20 threat we had hoped. Seeing Dusty Baker get Willy Taveras and his .272 OBP out of the lead-off spot last night (hitting Taveras lead-off is inexplicable even for Dusty Baker) could be just what Dickerson needs to finish up the season strong. He should have plenty of playing time with Jay Bruce still out, and should be a decent source of steals in NL-only leagues if nothing else. I’m looking for a big finish here.
Tommy Hanson (SP – Braves)
Tommy Hanson turned in his first truly impressive start since July 20 last night by striking out 9 and walking none through 6.2 innings. I, along with many others, was expecting more dominant success from Hanson based on his buzz and based on his ridiculous 12.2 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 in Triple-A this year. It is hard to say that a 22 year old pitcher with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP has been a disappointment; however, Hanson’s 6.18 K/9 and 3.90 BB/9 certainly have been disappointing. The indicators for Hanson scream sell (1.59 K/BB, .270 BABIP, 81.5% strand rate, 7.9% HR/FB rate); but, I just can’t recommend letting go of a talent of this type. His minor league numbers, as well as last night’s start indicate that Hanson could get significantly better in a big hurry. Perhaps acquiring him from a more statistically savvy owner who is aware of his poor peripherals and 4.50 FIP would actually be easier than acquiring him from a less knowledgeable owner who is fixated on just his lucky ERA and WHIP.
Will Venable (OF – Padres)
Will Venable continued to torch the ball by hitting another homer on Tuesday night. The former Princeton two-sport star now has 6 HR in his last 11 games. Clearly, Venable does not actually have this type of HR power (career high was 14 HR in minors), but he did have 12 HR in 226 AB in Triple-A this season. Playing half his games at Petco will certainly hurt, but he is just entering into his prime power years (age 26), and there may be something more than just aberration to this latest power surge. Toss in the fact that he is a modest threat on the base paths (3 SB in 131 AB), and you have yourself a must-own in NL-only leagues at the moment.
John Lannan (SP – Nationals)
Just like clockwork. Another start on the road for John Lannan – another blow-up. He was scorched for 5 ER in 4.2 IP with a 1/4 K/BB. There is literally no reason to ever start him on the road in any type of league in which there are bench spots (5.68 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 26/24 K/BB). While at home though, he actually becomes a solid option even in mixed leagues (1.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 38/20 K/BB). After 148 IP, this is a trend that can be trusted, though will not be true all the time, of course.
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