The Melkman heads to the minors, Kotsay hits for the cycle and Schultz evokes images of Travis Hafner. All that and more in this week's Week That Was.
Phil Hughes: Look for Phil Hughes to return to the Yankee rotation soon, possibly by next weekend. Hughes will make a rehab start this weekend, probably his last. Yes, he was awful in April with a Kei Igawa-like 9.00 ERA. However, he has filthy stuff and has already proven he can pitch in big games (he won the only playoff game the Yankees won last year). For those looking for a quick spark, Hughes could be your man. After all, in just his second big league start last year, he was on his way to a no-no before injury struck.
Paul LoDuca: According to reports, the Fish will bring Paul LoDuca up this weekend. Is he a good defensive catcher? No. Is he a good hitter at this point in his career? Not really (2 for 13 at AAA hardly turns anyone on). Is he better than who you have at C2 in your deep NL league. Maybe. It is worth a look if you can afford the batting average hit.
Chris Perez: Chris Perez notched his fourth save last night, closing out a win over the Reds. On the plus side is the fact that he has saved the last three games in which he has appeared. Also in the plus column is the fact that LaRussa/Duncan do not fear putting rookies in the closer role (remember Adam Wainwright 2006). However, Perez has notched an ugly 1.35 WHIP for a reliever in the bigs this year as well as an even uglier 1.36 WHIP in the minors last year. Translation - he gives up way too many baserunners for comfort. If you need saves, pick up Perez, buy a ton of maalox, stay away from spicy food, and hope Wainwright returns to the starting rotation.
Chris Dickerson: Chris Dickerson went yard last night but his team lost anyway. Since arriving from the minors, Dickerson has plain old hit - he is 6 for 13 and counting. There is little doubt that with Griffey on the south side of Chicago and Dunn replacing O-Dog in the desert (sort of), Dickerson will get his opportunity to show his wares in Cincy. If you need speed, Dickerson could be your man. Chris swiped 26 bags in just 336 AAA at-bats this year. However, given that he was hitting in the .280s on the farm means that the high average is not likely to last long in the show. Bid accordingly.
Melky Cabrera: In what this author will dub a panic move, the Yankees sent the Melkman, Melky Cabrera, to AAA. Yes, he was hitting a paltry .242. Yes, the Yankees have hit like [fill in expletive]. However, Melky is the team's best defensive outfielder and should have been kept with the club. Brett Gardner was recalled from AAA and supposedly will start everyday in CF. If you need steals, Gardner could help, but he looked lost at the plate to me. Those steals will come at the price of a weak batting average.
Richie Sexson: In more Yankee news, the Bombers designated Richie Sexson for assignment. Hey, what the heck, they took a chance. It was a very inexpensive gamble and they lost. Sexson proved what those in the pacific northwest already knew - he has been reduced to a weak imitation of Major League's Pedro Cerrano and Jobu trying to hit a curve ball.
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Kendry Morales: Angels recalled Kendry Morales from AAA. With a gaudy .338 average on the farm, Kendry has earned this promotion. However, if there is anyone out there who thinks he will unseat big Tex at first, well, you should quit fantasy baseball. The real value Morales brings is two-fold. First, he will be the Angels 1B next year as Tex will be playing in one of the new New York stadiums next April. Second, the Angels are so far ahead in their division that Kendry will likely play a lot in the final two weeks as Vlad, Garrett Anderson and others take breathers.
Chris Young: Continuing what has been a lost season, Chris Young was put back on the Padres DL, this time with a forearm injury. All those Young owners who counted on him to be a horse, say it with me . . . ."UGGGGGGGGGH". Ok, I feel better. You? Ok, enough nonsense. According to reports on this site and others, the Padres are likely to promote Chad Reineke. Well, there is no lightning in that bottle. A 4.30+ ERA in AAA spells trouble in the bigs. Avoid!
Mark Kotsay: Mark Kotsay continued his hot hitting this week, going 5-5 and hitting for the cycle Thursday night. Don't look now, but Kotsay is hitting .303 and looks like a strong bet to continue to hit down the stretch. For all of you that invested a buck or two in his balky back, good for you.
Kei Igawa: The Yankees are panicking and yet still do not even think about bringing Kei back from the bush leagues. That proves how far the $46 Million Man has fallen and that there is some sanity left in the Bronx. I hope he wears that button around his neck where he can press it and say "I have fallen and I can't get up."
And finally, this from the baron of the bottom of the page, Schultz says: "Brett Myers success upon his return to the Phillies rotation from the minor leagues has flown well under the radar. This is mostly because unless you own him, you stopped paying attention after the brouhaha over him slugging his wife died down. Your apathy is well justified: the only Myers excelled at in the first half of the season was frustrating his owners and causing them go prematurely gray. Patience is sometimes rewarded though. Over his last couple starts, Myers has looked like the bulldog of old, keeping the ball inside the stadium and regaining his strikeout touch. Seeing as he recently flirted with the untouchable zone, he may be sitting on your waiver wire. If so, grab him.
Another resurrection, although not nearly as dramatic, is taking in place in Boston where David Ortiz has become the 3 run homer machine that Yankee fans still have nightmares about. If the Red Sox could play the Rangers every game till the end of the season, Ortiz would be a pace to hit 50 HRs in the last month and a half alone. In the meantime, the Manny-less Red Sox haven't been too worse for wear with Kevin Youkilis reaping the biggest benefits. Since moving behind Big Papi, Yuke has become a masher. This is the breakout year that people have been expecting. Somewhere Billy Beane is rending his garments that he's doing it in Boston and not O-Town.
The Indians essentially gave Paul Byrd to Boston earlier this week. The newest Red Sock (it looks funny but I believe it is grammatically correct), should be an adequate fill-in for Tim Wakefield and likely put up similar numbers. Byrd has always more allure in real baseball than in the fantasy world. His ratios are never quite good enough to cultivate real excitement but never quite bad enough that he merits being ignored. Factoring in that Byrd was pitching real well for a rebuilding Tribe, I think you can count on him to put in a decent 6 week run and make an adequate need-a-sixth-pitcher-who-won't-absolutely-kill-me for the stretch run.
Speaking of stretch runs, I am excited that Travis Hafner recovered from that nasty car wreck at the end of No Country For Old Men and may resume swinging wildly at curveballs in the dirt by the end of the month. Get well soon Friend-O."
Response: Travis who? Was he the guy on the Bachelor? Seriously, Schultzie old buddy, there are many a roto player who followed your advice and invested in Travis. I would not be stoking the flames of discontent if I were you!
