Paul Sauberer - Page 11

Jonathan Papelbon- PHI- Stats- Papelbon picked up his 11th save of the season and second against his old team, Boston, in as many days yesterday. He has yet to blow a save this year. Although the run Papelbon gave up...

Alejandro De Aza- CHA- Cold- De Aza has gone back to his whiffing ways, striking out 6 times in 15 ABs in his last five games. He had seemed to be making progress, only striking out 3 times in 22...

Vance Worley- MIN- Drop Value- Worley was sent to AAA right after getting pounded for 8 runs in 3.2 IP yesterday. That increased his ERA to 7.21. He has had some bad luck as he has an FIP of 5.52....

Zack Greinke- LAN- Cold- Greinke's control was suspect from the start last night. I went to the game, figuring I would write about him today. I made a note on my phone after 24 pitches that half of them were...

John Axford- MIL- Cold- Axford retired the only batter he faced yesterday, which is a distinct improvement for him over his recent appearances. He hasn't had a full inning facing the minimum number of batters since April 23rd. An inordinate...

Mitch Moreland- TEX- Hot- Moreland added two homers last night, giving him 6 in his last 9 games. His average is up to .296 for the year. Moreland has had some luck recently, but not of the outrageous kind. His...

Michael Cuddyer- COL- Hot- Cuddyer is on a 6-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. Luck plays a major part, as his BABIP is .365 this season, compared to .287 last year. However,...

Ian Kinsler- TEX- Cold- Kinsler went 0-for-4 to snap an 11-game hitting streak. He is 2-for-13 over his last 3 games. Although the sample size is small this might be the start of some regression to the mean. Kinsler's BABIP...

Jordan Schafer- ATL- Cold- Schafer is 5-for-21 since getting more playing time due to Jason Heyward's appendectomy. He is 2-for-14 in his last 5 games, 3 of them starts. There may be some regression to the mean happening as even...

Jordan Lyles- HOU- Rise Value- Lyles had a horrible spring, posting a 17.74 ERA in Grapefruit League play. He has settled down some at AAA. He has a 5.32 ERA in his first 6 games, 5 of them starts, but...

Brett Cecil- TOR- Hot- Manager John Gibbons might credit Cecil's increased velocity and mix of pitches for his early success, but there are other factors in play. Cecil has a BABIP of .200 and a LOB% of 93.8%. As a...

Martin Prado- ARI- Stats- Prado's versatility may become an asset once his luck turns around. His current .241 average is being driven by a .239 BABIP. Prado has been more selective, swinging at 22.1% of pitches out of the strike...

Cody Ross- ARI- Hot- Ross went 2-for-4 to give him a .333 average in 4 games since coming off the DL. In this micro sample size he has a .444 BABIP and hasn't walked yet, so don't get all excited...

Oswaldo Arcia- MIN- Rookie- Arcia was recalled a day after being sent down. With Darin Mastroianni on the DL Arcia could get a chance to show how close he is to being ready for a full time major league slot....

Robert LaFromboise- SEA- Rookie- LaFramboise came from nowhere to join the Mariners' bullpen yesterday. He isn't on anyone's top prospect list that I can find. LaFramboise did make a big jump last year in strikeout rate, fanning 87 in 79.1...

Tim Lincecum- SF- Cold- Last year Lincecum wasn't quite as bad at home (4.15 ERA as he was on the road (6.43 ERA.) However, a return to San Francisco didn't help him last night. Lincecum gave up 6 runs to...

Tim Lincecum- SF- Caution- To say that Lincecum had control issues last night would be an understatement. Not only did he walk 7 in his 5 IP, but the slimmest majority of his 91 pitches were strikes (46.) Lincecum gave...

Yu Darvish- TEX- Hot- The most impressive thing about Darvish's outing last night might not be the near perfect game. Ok, maybe that is the most impressive. Very close, though, is that he struck out 14 and didn't walk anyone....

Notes on the last day before real games start... Jason Frasor- TEX- RP- Frasor looks to be the prime setup man for the Rangers, He has been very tough against righties in his career, so could have some value in...

Notes from around the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues... Mike Fiers- P- MIL- Fiers lack of stuff has caused him to be underestimated by many scouts. However, he has consistently struck out more than a batter per inning in his pro...

Notes from around the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues... Michael Kirkman- TEX- RP- Kirkman is finally going to assume the prominent role in the Texas bullpen that he was expected to last spring. A diagnosis of skin cancer and subsequent treatments...

Observations from the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues... Nelson Cruz- TEX- OF- Cruz woke up with chest soreness yesterday and spent the day in the hospital undergoing tests. If the stress test he had went well then he will be released...

Mitchell Boggs- STL- FYI- In leagues that count holds, Boggs has been golden, picking up 34 of them after last night. Boggs has had good fortune this year, with his 2,21 ERA well below his FIP of 3.43. However, that's...

Matt Cain- SF- Great Player- Cain needed only 91 pitches to get through 7 shutout IP. He has only thrown 110 or more pitches 10 times this season, two fewer than last year. Cain hasn't had the same work load...

Blake Beavan- SEA- Stats- Beavan has experienced a roller coaster ride this season. In his two June starts before being sent to the minors for a month he had a BABIP of .379 and LOB% of 43.9%. That's not to...

C. J. Wilson- LAA- Cold- Wilson experienced a lot of regression to the mean in August, when his 7.99 ERA was well above his 5.03 FIP. Even after getting knocked out early last night Wilson is still experiencing some good...

Carlos Santana- CLE- Stats- Santana is experiencing some regression to the mean. His .314 September BABIP is a driving force in his .316 average this month. His power returned after a weak start to the season, with 28 of his...

Tim Lincecum- SF- FYI- I'm not sure what the writer on the Giants' official site was looking at, but Lincecum doesn't have a 3-game winning streak. He has won twice in his last 3 starts, with a no decision mixed...

Joe Nathan- TEX- Hot- Nathan picked up his 32nd save of the season with a perfect 9th inning. It was his 30th consecutive converted opportunity. After going through a stretch in August where he had retired every batter he faced...

Donovan Solano- MIA- Stats- Solano ended a 5-game hitting streak by going 0-for-2 with a sac fly yesterday. His .293 average in 73 games this year is very luck dependent. He has a .347 BABIP and has followed his .354...

Travis Blackley- OAK- Hot- Blackley threw 3 scoreless innings of emergency relief after Brandon McCarthy was hit in the head with a liner. If MCcarthy can't make his next scheduled start, Blackley would be a prime candidate to sub for...

Mike Carp- SEA- Inj Update- Carp is likely to be activated from the DL today. With Justin Smoak not exactly tearing it up since he was recalled from AAA, there will probably be opportunity for Carp to get playing time...

Tom Wilhelmsen- SEA- FYI- Wilhelmsen may be feeling some fatigue from his 61 appearances this season. Whether it is physical or mental is still a question. He has walked at least one batter (for a total of 8) in his...

C. C. Sabathia- NYA- Hot- Sabathia seems poised to finish strong as usual. Since 2005 he hasn't had a monthly ERA in September higher than 3.35. He has posted quality starts in each of his 2 games since coming off...

Tim Lincecum- SF- FYI- When I saw the headline on mlb.com, "Giants stretch out lead behind stellar Lincecum" I had high expectations. "Stellar Lincecum" to me would mean something like 8 IP and double digit strikeouts. Instead, seeing 4 Ks...

David Murphy- TEX- Hot- Murphy went 2-for-4 yesterday after going 3-for-5 on Thursday. That puts his August average at .345, driven by a .365 BABIP. Murphy has benefited from luck this year, with a .335 BABIP. That has been mostly...