Felix Hernandez- SEA- Hot- King Felix was back home and took advantage of it. After 2 road starts in which he gave up a total of 10 earned runs over 10.1 IP he handled the Rangers with relative ease in Safeco Park, allowing a single run on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 in 8 IP. Hernandez's home/road splits remain extreme, with a 0.87 ERA in Seattle and a 4.31 ERA away. He is enjoying the benefits of a whopping 93.8% LOB% at home, along with a .247 BABIP while getting whacked with a 69.9% LOB% and .339 BABIP on the road. As regression to the mean occurs his split performances should equalize into a more consistent performance from game to game, wherever that game happens to be played.
Tommy Milone- OAK- Hot- Milone was back home and pitched like a Cy Young contender, as he does in Oakland. In the wide expanses of the Coliseum he owns an ERA of 0.60, as opposed to 7.16 in enemy parks. All 6 of his homers allowed have come on the road. Milone's K/9 of 4.99 means that batted balls happen a lot for him and the ample foul territory in Oakland, combined with the good luck of a .184 BABIP at home have driven this Jekyll and Hyde performance. Milone will probably maintain extreme splits throughout the season but regression to the mean at home will make him less valuable even if you pick and choose his starts. Milone is a sell high candidate.
Eric Sogard- OAK- Drop Value- Sogard was optioned to AAA Sacramento to make roster space for Coco Crisp. Sogard had horrendous luck in his time with Oakland so far this season, with a BABIP of .135 in 6 ABs. He did hit 2 homers and steal a base, so it looks like his skills could earn him a trip back to the Bay Area as the utility infielder if his luck evens out at AAA and his production follows.
Kole Calhoun- LAA- Rookie- Calhoun has put up some impressive numbers in a relatively short time in the minors and earned a call up to the Angels. At AAA so far this season he was hitting .296 with 5 homers and 6 steals in 43 games. This was Calhoun's first taste of pro ball above high A and he has produced. He has enjoyed favorable BABIPs of .342, .362 and .346 over the past 3 seasons. His Batting EYE has dipped from .76 last season to .46 at AAA and that is a concern that he still has some learning to do as far as facing more advanced pitching is concerned. Calhoun is definitely no Mike Trout, but he could be a sleeper in deep leagues to help in the homer and steal categories.
Brian Dozier- MIN- Rookie- Minnesota's 2011 Minor League Player of the Year, Dozier hit .277 in camp this spring, .276 at AAA Rochester before being called up earlier this month and .279 as a Twin. That is a kind of consistency but he does have the potential for a higher average. His .18 Batting EYE is far below what he posted in the minors and will likely rise. Dozier may also help in the steal category as he continues to get acclimated to the majors. He swiped 28 bases in the minors a year ago. Dozier has a mature approach to the plate and shouldn't hurt you if you are in need of a SS. If his running game gets untracked he could give a cheap boost in the steal column.
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