Fantasy Baseball Short: Yahoo Owners Beware!

In the world of Fantasy baseball, there are just as many predictable aspects of player movements and player performance, as there are mind-boggling moves on the part of the manager.

Why do I mention this?

Well, I recently came across a startling message posted on the Yahoo message board within the front page that read something like this: Pedro Martinez has been dropped by 1,922 teams.

Really? This is how managers are handling the emergence of Martinez as he makes his way back into baseball?

I suppose, a large portion of this can be attributed to managers looking to finding a good spot pitcher to help bolster their playoff spot.

I can imagine that maybe the sudden slump of the Phillies in general perhaps had something to do with it, but 1,922 teams?

C’mon people! This is September first of all, and if you think there is anyone left on the wire that is going to be a better option in the playoff realm—one that will last game in and game out that is—you are kidding yourself.

In case everyone is NOT paying attention, Pedro is 3-0 out of five contests, with a 1.09 WHIP while sporting 23 strikes and only 3 walks; correct me if I am wrong, but that is pretty damn good for someone who has been out of the mix for a year or so.

Tonight he will get the Nationals—all apologies for those who get this late—then it is on to the Mets again, the Braves and the Brew crew; he will be fine trust me!

Pedro is a really good pitcher, and he will undoubtedly only get better like a fine wine that has been aired just right.

But wait, what about those of you who haven’t yet jumped on the Martinez train? Well, now is your chance apparently, and I would make the most of his sudden drop in ownership.

Just like the old Flavor-Flav/Public Enemy song “Don’t Believe the Hype” do not follow the masses here; I’m tellin’ ya, he is going to be a cash-cow for those of you looking for a solid LONGTERM addition to your roster as you try to make a push for a playoff spot; this guy is Mr. Clutch.

Don’t worry about the Phillies sudden slump either as this is pretty much par-for-the-course, and as hard as it is, don’t worry about the closing position cause the Phillies are not going to wait forever for Lidge to get his mojo back—and if you look at him historically he more than likely will not—so I say go for it!

The moral of the story here is simply this: If you are not in the top three in your league right now, chances are a good QUALITY long-term pitcher will definitely help your team, NOT your spot. But you spot doesn’t matter if you have the right players in the right situations against the right competitors—especially in the playoffs!

 

Around the League

Ryan Madson-RP-Phi has been slumping as of late and it could be due to his Oblique strain so stay clear of the boy, Mike Cameron–OF-Mil is slated for a Sept. 11th return from a mild hamstring injury while Josh Hamilton-OF-Tex is day to day with a pinched nerve.

Houston Street-RP-Hou is still battling biceps tendinitis, and although he is slated for the 11th or 12, I would use sever caution with him since the Astros are not really disclosing too much on his current status, and finally, Seth Smith-OF-Col has had a pretty good introduction to MLB as a Rockie, but the problem here is that, Colorado will still have to decide AND make room for Gonzalez and/or Fowler relegating Smith useless in about two or three days.

Stay away from the hype, but for those of you in keeper leagues he is definitely an intriguing player to consider.

As always, good luck to everyone as we all approach the end of the season!

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Baseball Wolf Hunt: Out With The Old And In With…The Old?

Unless, for some very odd and inexplicable reason, you have lost all contact with the Fantasy or even outside world, you all know by now the scheduled start of Pedro Martinez this Wednesday against the Cubs.

You also are then probably aware of Jamie Moyer being moved to the pen.

At this time of year as I scour the various leagues and teams that are out there, as well as my own leagues and teams, I have been noticing a rampant problem growing in the pitching department—both in starters AND relievers.

Most of these issues for managers have been primarily due to injury, but there has been a good show of hands for those pitchers who just haven’t lived up to the hype (cough, Liriano).

So with the news that Martinez is in fact back in the lineup once again—after a very long hiatus—some of you who are looking for a new arm may find some success into the eventual Hall Of Famer; success that has a bit of risk of course.

Let’s take a look at Martinez’s career in case you guys forgot.

From the blossoming days as a young aspiring pitcher for the Dodgers, to the bitter end that came September 25th against, ironically, the Cubs as a matter of fact, Pedro cemented his place in baseball history hands down.

There are very few pitchers left who can compete with a stat line that looks like this:

214 Wins, 99 Losses, 2.91 ERA, 17 Shutouts, 3 Saves, and a jaw dropping 3117/752  K/BB ratio; there are also very few retired pitchers who can compete with these numbers.

But, alas, we live in the land of Fantasy do we not; just because he has had this type of success doesn’t guarantee a manger that he will have this type of impact on a manager’s roster.

Martinez hasn’t really blown anyone away in his rehab stint—he did a pretty good job posting a 1-1 record with a suspect 5.11 ERA, but he had no explosiveness.

I personally am not one for looking into rehab games and stats as I find them too often to be misleading, but feel free to use such information if it helps.

So what to do, what to do?

Well think of it this way; Martinez’s potential schedule could look a little something like this:

ARI, @ NYM, ATL, SF, @WSH, NYM,@ATL, @MIL, HOU, and possibly the Marlins considering how the Phillies handle their schedule.

Now, I don’t know about you guys, but that seems like a very inviting schedule for a guy who has the type of stuff Pedro has been known to have—I’ll give him six out of nine and those are pretty good odds considering.

All in all, if you take into account where we are in the year, there isn’t very many long-term pitching options out there to consider; a consideration that Pedro seems to fit.

If you are one of those managers looking for a reliable pitcher without having to give up the farm I say go for it—you won’t be limping to the barn with a has-been that’s for sure.

Martinez has a 13% average ownership in Yahoo leagues and an overall average of 22% in various sites and leagues around the net; the point being; he is out there so don’t necessarily be a follower, you could see great rewards in the near future.

Around the League:

Both J.A. Happ and Tom Gorzelanny are safe in the rotation, and are there for the taking. If these two are available, I say take a chance on them and stay away from the shinny rookie arms coming out of San Diego and Oakland; now is not the time of year for experimenting unless you are in a Dynasty or Keeper league.

LaTroy Hawkins is said to be back around the 12th or 13th, Mark DeRosa is battling back issues so keep a very sharp eye out, and very interestingly, Brett Myers is rumored to make a run at a comeback in late August; something that the Phillies did toy with idea-wise. Put him on your waiver list and keep an eye out.

Remember, contending managers need now, more than ever, to stay on the ball with the season and players; one small bad move could kill your season.

Comments are always appreciated and as always good luck to everyone and we’ll see you in the next installment when the focus will be the road to victory.

The Return of Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia’s Newest Toy

The Philadelphia Phillies have confirmed the acquisition of super pitcher and three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez Wednesday.

The move sends a big message to the division and gives a huge shot in the arm to the Phillies.

Martinez sports a lifetime 2.91 ERA and a very impressive 214-99 record. His travels have included the Dodgers, Expos, Red Sox, and Mets.

With the Mets last year, Martinez played well beneath his caliber, achieving a less than impressive 5-6 record alongside a dismal  5.61 ERA; his health and father’s death were the main reasons for last year’s performance says Martinez.

So what exactly does this mean for Philadelphia?

Well right now—nothing.

Martinez will be put on the 15 day DL with a mild shoulder sprain, and it is unclear just exactly when he will join the club under the spotlight.

“We are trying to assess where he is,” says general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

In time however, the Phillies will inevitably enjoy Martinez’s more than capable arm, and it could come at just the right time.

If Martinez does go on the DL, that means his rehab probably won’t start until somewhere around August.

He will ultimately have to spend some additional time in the minors before coming back up which could push his first start to mid August.

By the time he gets his swagger going, if at all, it will be just in time for the playoffs.

A potentially healthy and potentially hot Martinez, in the postseason, is about as intimidating as Jason Werth’s mug shot on the Philly homepage.

But there is a twist to all of this.

Signing Pedro DOES NOT mean talks with Roy Halladay are dead. The Phillies don’t have any problem affording Halladay, rather, they are concerned with who the Jays want in return.

So let’s think about this for a moment shall we?

We all know that the Phillies’ pitching situation has been hurting for a while now. They have had times of greatness and other times of subpar play.

They have had to deal with some key injuries to Condrey and Bastardo and even Hamels twice already this year.

But if you look at what could be, this team can very quickly become an even more dangerous team than they already are.

In a perfect world for the Phillies, their starting rotation could look a little something like this:

Cole Hamels

Roy Halladay

Pedro Martinez

Joe Blanton

J.A.Haap

Let’s also assume that Moyer gets relegated to the bullpen in a set up role which could equally bolster the pen with Lidge and Romero leading the way, and there is the ever present rumor of bringing Myers up to a reliever spot to help integrate him back into play from his recent hip surgery.

Some players have already commented on their hopes of the front office making a bold move in signing Halladay as well—how mighty the pen can be.

All in all, the Phillies continue to improve upon an already very good team, and as their play continues to get better, a couple of right moves will put this team as a heavy favorite to be the first team to repeat a World Series since the 2000 Yankees.

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