Eric Chavez: It is looking like a platoon with Chavez and Jake Fox at DH for the A’s. Before the back problems surfaced in 2007, Chavez consistently displayed above average power and at just 32 years of age, the power could still be there if the back has not done too much damage. Being the left handed batter in the platoon and qualifying at 3B in most formats, Chavez maintains fantasy relevance in mixed leagues. However keep an eye on the power in the next couple of weeks. If you don’t see it returning, so far just 2 doubles and 0 home runs in 25 AB, then you should cut bait because he is not going to help you in the batting average department, .267 career batting average.
Mike Lowell: Lowell was in the DH slot against a left-hander yesterday. He has battled injuries over the last couple of years and his power is now just about league average, 17 home runs in 445 AB last year. Not that he has ever struggled against RHP, 10/53/.285 in 302 AB last year, but if David Ortiz, who is clearly declining, struggles against LHP, Lowell could find himself in a DH platoon, which would limit his value to AL-only leagues.
Mike Cameron: Cameron missed yesterday’s game due to a lower abdominal strain. It doesn’t sound like anything serious, but those are the kind of injuries that make 36-year-old players miss games here and there. He is no longer a major speed threat, 7 steals in 10 attempts last year and has yet to attempt a steal in 8 games this year, but he still has pop, 24 home runs and 32 doubles in 544 AB with the Brewers last year. With his poor contact skills, 2007/2008/2009 Ct%’s 72%/68%/71%, you were always trading batting average, 2007/2008/2009 #’s .242/.243/.250, for power and speed, but now it is just for power with a few steals, so the deal is less attractive as he gets older.
Matt Harrison: After allowing 1 ER in his 2010 debut against Seattle, Harrison took a loss against Cleveland yesterday despite allowing just 1 ER, 3 overall, in 7 innings of work. Prior to this year, Harrison has not had success at the major league level, 2008/2009 ERA’s 5.49/6.11, and a look at his skills tells you all you need to know, 2008/2009 K/9’s 4.5/4.8, BB/9’s 3.3/3.3, and GB%’s 40%/47%. The improvement in induced ground balls is a positive sign, but with weak control and dominance (7 K’s in 13 innings this year), it would have to be higher than that before he could be a consistently effective pitcher. Let someone else be fooled by his 13-9 career record and hot start, as this is a very hittable pitcher.
David Huff: Huff threw a complete game against the Rangers yesterday allowing just 2 ER, leaving him with 1.80 ERA and a 6/3 K/BB in his two starts this year covering 15 innings. His 5.61 ERA in his rookie season last year was a combination of weak skills, 4.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and a 44% GB%, and bad luck, 65% S% and a .316 BHIP%. However he did show outstanding skills in Triple-A back in 2008, 9.0 K/9 and a 1.7 BB/9, before regressing at the same level last year before being called up to the major leagues, 7.3 K/9 and a 3.7 BB/9. The 2008 skills and good start to the season make him worth watching, but last year’s numbers and the low dominance tells you to keep him on your reserve list unless there is a favorable matchup or he shows some consistency at the major league level.
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