Category: Fantasy Baseball (Page 37 of 48)

Former Yankees prospect Karstens nearly throws perfect game

August 7, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

When the New York Yankees traded a handful of prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, many figured the Bucs got fleeced like every other team that deals with the Bombers.

But maybe not. One of the prospects the Yankees gave up in the trade was right handed starter Jeff Karstens – a player NY was willing to part ways with due to his recent struggles with a groin injury.

On Wednesday, Karstens made his Pirates’ debut and took a perfect game into the eighth inning before Diamondbacks’ outfielder Chris Young hit a double down the left field line. Karstens wound up completing the game (a 2-0 Pirates win), yielding no runs on just two hits and striking out four.

Kind of ironic how Joba Chamberlain goes on the DL the same day a former Yankee prospect almost pitches a perfect game for another club. What NY needs most right now is pitching and how fitting is it that they gave up a starter to acquire yet another bat. (I’m not a Yankee-hater, I just find the irony in the situation.)

Media outlets like ESPN jumped all over the Nady trade because they thought the Pirates made a horrible deal (and maybe they did). But let’s wait to see how these prospects perform before we just assume the Yankees fleeced another team at the trade deadline.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB

Jeff Karstens Jeff Karstens near perfect game

Joba Chamberlain heading to the DL

August 6, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

According to the New York Post, Yankees’ starter Joba Chamberlain will be placed on the DL.

The Yankees put the right-hander on the 15-day DL with an injured shoulder before tonight’s game against Texas while awaiting word on a diagnosis from Dr. James Andrews.
The Yankees recalled pitcher Chris Britton from Triple-A, despite the fact he was sent down less than 10 days ago.
A player cannot be recalled after a demotion before 10 days have passed, unless his team needs him to replace an injured player.
Chamberlain is in Pensacola, Fla., today having his right shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews, is bound for the DL.
A diagnosis from Andrews likely would determine how much time the 22-year-old would miss, and if surgery is required.

That thud you just heard was the Yankees’ playoff hopes.

Fantasy Baseball, General Sports, MLB

Joba Chamberlain Joba Chamberlain DL New York Yankees

Top 10 Active Players Who Can’t Get Out of the Way

July 26, 2008 / Mike Farley

Some baseball players have a penchant for getting hit by pitches. Either they stand too close to the plate and can’t avoid it, or they like pain. No player was hit by more pitches than Hugh Jennings, who began his career with the Louisville Cardinals in 1891. Ol’ Hugh was hit by 287 pitches, and holds the record for a single season with 51 in 1896 while playing for the Orioles. Ouch. But there are a few active players who don’t mind a little pain now and then, and here is a list of the active Top 10 in the hit-by-pitch category:

1. Jason Kendall, Milwaukee Brewers (229)—Jason Kendall is a catcher, and those guys can pretty much endure pain more than any other position player. But Kendall is also scrappy as hell, even today at the age of 34. And with 229 times that a pitch has nailed his body, Kendall ranks first in that category for active players by a mile. He was hit a career high 31 times each in 1997 and 1998, and he’s on pace for 19 times in 2008.

2. Carlos Delgado, New York Mets (166)—At 6’3” and 220 lbs., Carlos Delgado is just a big dude who can’t help but get in the way of pitches sometimes. He’s had double digits in the category from 1998 through 2007.

3. Jason Giambi, New York Yankees (149)—Between 1995 and 2001 with Oakland, Mr. Giambi was hit by 48 pitches. From 2002 until now with the Yankees, he’s been hit 101 times. Either ‘roids have made this guy’s body stick out over the plate more, or opposing pitchers just don’t like Giambi or the Yankees.

4. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (136)—Teammates and opposing players may respect him, but he’s still the captain of the Yankees. If you don’t know what I mean, read what I just wrote about Jason Giambi again.

5. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (132)—A-Rod was hit by 31 pitches while playing for Seattle for seven seasons, and has already been hit 50 times while wearing pinstripes since 2004. Damn, pitchers really do hate the Yankees.

6. Gary Sheffield, Detroit Tigers (131)—With an average of nine hit-by-pitches per season, this one is more about longevity than anything. But Sheffield did play for the Yankees for two-plus seasons.

7. Damion Easley, New York Mets (129)—Here’s an interesting statistic. Of Easley’s 129 times of being hit by a pitch, 87 of those were while playing with Detroit from 1996 to 2002. That’s 2/3 of his total in 1/3 of his career.

8. David Eckstein, Toronto Blue Jays (124)—This guy got a late start in the majors (at the age of 26 in 2001), otherwise he would be challenging Jason Kendall and maybe even ol’ Hugh Jennings. Eckstein has been hit 124 times, or 3 percent of every time he comes to the plate. Yikes.

8. Jeff Kent, Los Angeles Dodgers (124)—In seventeen seasons as a scrappy second baseman, 124 times is sort of inevitable.

10. Jose Guillen, Kansas City Royals (119)—Yes, he’s been hit 119 times. Bud oddly, Jose Guillen was hit 60 times in a four-year stretch between 2004 and 2007. I guess sometimes you have to just stick your body out there to get on base.

Source: Baseball Reference

Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

MLB trade rumors heat up

July 22, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching and as usual, rumors are flying. The Brewers have already made one huge acquisition (C.C. Sabathia) and one to beef up their bench (Ray Durham). Are they done? Will the Pirates become huge sellers? Will the Blue Jays successfully unload A.J. Burnett? Tampa is finally in contention – will they become buyers?

THE FANTASY SPORTS FORUM takes a look at some of these questions.

The Tampa Bay Rays have made it no secret that they would like to add another bat, preferably a right handed bat that can play right field. The players most associated with the Rays so far are Xavier Nady and Jason Bay of Pittsburgh. Tampa has a very strong farm system and would have whatever chips are necessary to add any bats they need. The question is if they choose to go that route. Tampa is in new territory at this season’s trade deadline, as this is the first season in their existence that they are in contention for a playoff spot…
Toronto would love to trade A. J. Burnett, but his contract makes that highly unlikely. He has a player option for two years and 24 million or become a free agent at the end of this season. So, if he pitches well the last two months for a contender, he can exercise said option and become a free agent, and if he pitches poorly he can just stay with you for 12 million a year for two years. Don’t see many teams lining up for him…

Things have to be frustrating in Pittsburgh. They have some sporadic position talent and young pitching in Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny (optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in early July), but it just hasn’t developed. Now they appear to be sellers again and the sad cycle continues.

And I agree with the guys at TFSF – no team is touching Burnett with a 10-foot pole.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB

Top 10 MLB Earners of All-Time

July 19, 2008 / Mike Farley

My source for this information only goes back as far as 1985, but really, what players are making now in a single season may have been a career’s worth back then anyway. So here are the top earners of all-time, and naturally there are several active players on here.

1. Barry Bonds ($188,245,322)—Are you kidding? Almost $200 million over the course of his career? And you surely can’t put an asterisk on that statistic. But how much of Barry’s nest egg has gone and will go to legal fees?

2. Alex Rodriguez, ($170,416,252)—A-Rod signed that ridiculous 10-year, $250,000 contract with Texas back in 2001, and I believe he’s still honoring said deal with the Yankees. That’s a lot of money spent for zero World Series rings, isn’t it?

3. Randy Johnson ($152,449,473)—The Big Unit has earned it all, and has been maybe the most feared pitcher in the game over the last fifteen seasons. My favorite stat is that Johnson struck out 1417 batters between 1999 and 2002, an average of 354 per season, and won four straight Cy Young Awards in the process.

4. Greg Maddux ($143,845,000)—In most areas, a $500,000 home would be pretty freaking nice. If your lifetime salary can afford you 286 of them, that’s just insane.

5. Manny Ramirez ($143,328,346)—Think about this. Man-Ram is still only 36 and I’m guessing he’s got at least five more seasons left in him. And over sixteen seasons he’s averaged .312 with 40 homers and 132 RBI per season. Holy crap.

6. Gary Sheffield ($140,682,244)—Sure, this guy has hit the snot out of the ball, but in 2007 Sheff hit .265 with 25 homers and 75 RBI. Is that worth $11 million?

7. Derek Jeter ($139,630,000)—He’s not a power hitter per se (200 career homers over 14 seasons), but a leader on a consistently great team, and arguably the game’s most popular player today.

8. Ken Griffey Jr. ($139,070,987)—If anyone on this list has been underpaid, it’s this guy. He currently has 605 home runs and is the epitome of class.

9. Pedro Martinez ($134,446,234)—Pedro is on his last leg, or make that arm, with the Mets in 2008. But when he was with Montreal and Boston, he had some of the most wicked stuff I’ve ever seen.

10. Mike Mussina ($133,462,590)—I was going to say that $11 million, his 2008 salary, is ridiculously high. But Mussina is on pace to win 19 games for the Yanks when they need him the most. And he’ll take the Steinbrenners’ money all day long.