Yeah, this is a regular notes column. It’s an update piece not the work of a tradeaholic, but Oswalt’s value should already be higher than it is and now he’s going to a team with a real lineup. If the Astros had provided anything resembling run support this season, Oswalt’s record would be more like 12-6 than 6-12. His ERA (3.42) is the best it’s been since 2007 and his only better WHIP (1.109 this season) was during his rookie season in 2001. He has 120 Ks in 129 innings.

In the last month, Oswalt has 23 Ks in 25 innings with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. But he only has one win to show for it. If he can keep pitching like he’s been pitching, he could get 10 more wins with the Phillies.

There’s lots of other stuff going on in fantasy baseball, let’s put a couple of the big things under the microscope:

Josh Bell — The former 2005 fourth-rounder was recalled by the Orioles. His initial MLB stint earlier this season is nothing to get excited about, but in the AAA International League this season he has shown the power promise that has made him a top Baltimore 3B prospect. He has 13 homers and 50 RBI in 316 ABs. He’s available in all Yahoo leagues and could be a nice prospective add in dynasty leagues if you have the roster flexibility.

Miguel Tejada — Read a rumor from the Baltimore Sun saying Tejada was traded to the Padres. The deal isn’t final, but ESPNnews verified that it is very close to being done. Big news for those of you in AL- and NL-only leagues. It also fits with the Josh Bell recall.

Brett Wallace — Blue Jays sent Wallace to Houston for outfielder Anthony Gose, one of the pieces in the Oswalt to Philadelphia deal. Wallace is a slugger and would appear to be the expected eventual replacement for Lance Berkman at 1B.

Jacoby Ellsbury — Finally taking part in rehab, Ellsbury went 1-for-2, walked and was hit by a pitch Thursday. A KFFL report says Ellsbury could be moved up to AAA Pawtucket this weekend.

Dexter Fowler — Now the leadoff hitter for the Rockies and responded with the best game he’s had since we touted him almost a month ago. He went 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a stolen base Thursday. Fowler is available in 95% of Yahoo leagues and could provide a nice speed boost to your team if this is the beginning of another tear.

Ike Davis — Hit a 3-run-homer Thursday, his 15th longball of the season. Davis’ average will hurt you, but his slugging potential is evident. Davis has a legitimate shot at matching or breaking Darryl Strawberry’s club rookie record 26 taters.

R.A. Dickey – Trying to figure out why Dickey is 70% available in Yahoo leagues. Is it the sterling 1.89 ERA in the last month? The scoreless streak (extended to 17 innings after 8.1 shutout IP Thursday)? The not-outstanding-but-helpful 12 Ks in his last 19.2 innings? I can’t figure it out.

Alexei Ramirez – Usually someone 70% owned doesn’t make this list for playing well, but this dude is killing the ball and should be 90% owned at this point. In the last two weeks, Ramirez has scored 12 runs, driven in eight, hit three homers and stolen two bases while hitting at a .396 clip. By all means, drop him if he starts hitting as terrible as he did in the beginning of the season, but it’s like winning the fantasy lottery if you find a player like that on waivers right now.

Ian Kinsler – Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Ian Kinsler is going on the DL. … Seriously, the leg injury doesn’t seem serious, but as we all know, Kinsler is good at injuries.

Travis Snider – Will be called up Friday by the Blue Jays. Snider has five homers, 17 RBI and a .283 average in 99 AAA at-bats. In 430 career major-league at-bats, Snider has 17 homers. If he can get his average (.251 in the majors) closer to his minor league .302, he’ll be a coveted fantasy player. He’s available in 95% of Yahoo leagues. Like Bell above, Snider is a good prospective add for dynasty league owners.

Scott Sizemore – Humble pie. It doesn’t taste good, but we’re not going to scrape it off our plates. Sizemore was one of the players we pushed in the preseason as a good late 2B option. He was sent down to AAA Toledo. As evidenced by his 31 strikeouts and .205 batting average, Sizemore is not quite ready. It’ll be interesting to see what happens after he builds confidence in AAA, though.

Stephen Strasburg – A flaw in the golden arm already? Yep. Time to be alarmed? Yep again, especially after one report on KFFL that quoted a Chicago coach comparing Strasburg to two players no pitcher ever wants to be compared to: Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. It’s easy to compare the hard throwers, but we’ll have to wait a season or two before we characterize Strasburg as injury prone. Currently, Strasburg is shut down for 10 days, but another report said he could end up on the 15-day DL. I’m not taking any chances if I’m the Nationals. Strasburg should not throw at anything less than 100% this early in his career.

Domonic Brown – Debuted in a big way Wednesday. Brown went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, two RBI. He’s the top prospect in the Phillies system and this brief glimpse is enough to convince me that he should be owned in far more than 23% of Yahoo league right now. Brown should also be owned in every dynasty/keeper league.

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With the recent Dan Haren trade to the Angels, expect the dominoes to fall one-by-one up until the nearing trade deadline. As usual, there will be some interesting players on the move. There will likely be a lot of big-name guys who don’t get traded despite numerous hot-stove reports. Who will move and what does it mean for fantasy production? Let’s discuss:

1. Prince Fielder, MIL. Perhaps the biggest name on the list, Fielder’s slow start to 2010 has dropped his stock and perhaps his ultimate chances for a deal. Brewers fans don’t want to see Fielder go, and the organization knows that they’d need to net some serious talent to justify losing one of their premier power hitters. They’re unlikely to get that at this point. Rumors have Fielder going potentially to a number of teams, most notedly the Chicago White Sox. The Brewers have a pretty nice young lineup already, and it is hard to think Fielder will gain or lose much fantasy value no matter where he goes.

2. Adam Dunn, WAS. Contract issues have put Dunn’s name on the list, and considering how solid Dunn has played this season, there is little doubt he could help a contending team right away. Surrounded by mediocre talent, Dunn continues to whack homers and has even this season improved his typically abysmal batting average. On a team with more protection, logically, Dunn should see even more opportunity to produce. Some suggest the Yankees have shown interest in Dunn, and Dunn’s value would skyrocket surrounded by the talent already in pinstripes, but it seems more likely that the White Sox would look at Dunn as a cheaper alternative to Prince Fielder.

3. Lance Berkman, HOU. Another slugger on a bad team, Berkman’s skillset has declined and his no-trade clause and impending free agency seem to indicate that he’ll balk at any potential trade scenarion that doesn’t place him on a bona fide contending team. No squad, even the Yankees, would look to shell out tons of money for a declining Berkman for what could be half a season. It isn’t likely Berkman gets dealt, although a change in venue and stronger supporting cast would help his fantasy value.

4. Adam LaRoche, ARI. The Diamondbacks brass has mentioned that moving Dan Haren isn’t the last piece of their mid-season trade efforts, and LaRoche could be the next name to fall. He’s typically a late-season bloomer, doesn’t come with too steep of a price tag and could produce well for seasons to come. It is much more likely that LaRoche gets dealt than others on this list, and again, a change in venue will most likely help his value as long as he gains more lineup support in the process. The Angels have been mentioned as a destination, along with numerous other spots.

5. Chad Qualls, ARI. Like LaRoche, Qualls’ chances of being dealt seem higher than others because the Diamondbacks are looking to 2011 and beyond. Qualls has struggled this season, but could provide some nice middle relief assistance to a contender, with potential to fill in at closer if the team gets in a pinch. Expect Qualls to be moved, just expect more holds than saves wherever he winds up.

6. Jose Bautista, TOR. A banner season for Bautista may land him on another team. The third baseman could be an outfielder for any potential suitors and his power numbers have superceded anyone’s wildest imaginations for him. According to sources at Yahoo sports, the Giants, White Sox, Tigers and Braves have asked about Bautista’s services. Considering the Blue Jays will have to shell out $6 or $7 million to him next season before free agency, it is likely he’ll move elsewhere.

7. Rickie Weeks, MIL. Just like in fantasy baseball, major league teams are always looking to sell high on players. Can’t get much higher for Weeks than right now, after he’s avoided injury and posted great numbers and reached potential for the first time in forever. Weeks will be a free agent after next year, and at the pace he’s going statistically, his price tag will likely soar moving forward. Still, it just doesn’t feel like Weeks will be going anywhere. Are the Brewers ready to wave the white flag on their 2010 season just yet?

8. Roy Oswalt, HOU. Said to be willing to waive his no-trade clause, Oswalt is the best pitcher remaining on the alleged trade market. Recent mention of wanting any new team to absorb his $16 million option for 2012 may muddy the waters somewhat, but it is still likely that a contender makes a move for Oswalt. Depending on the ballpark, and whether he lands in the AL or NL, will go a long way to determining his fantasy value change.

9. Ted Lilly, CHC. A cheaper option than Oswalt, and one also likely to be moved this summer is Lilly. Allegedly, 10 teams have asked about his availability. The Mets, Tigers, Twins and Dodgers appear to be the front runners, but again, Lilly’s value would suit best if he remains in the NL and not in a high-powered division like the NL-East.

10. Kerry Wood, CLE. A recent trip to the DL was very untimely for Wood, who had been a major name on the hot stove trade market. Chris Perez is the future of Cleveland save opportunities, and the Indians would love to free themselves of Wood’s contract. They are allegedly trying to rush him back from the DL and saying he’ll be the unquestioned closer when he does return … but I wonder how much of this is to create a better picture of Wood while the trade market is still open. Any move, like with Qualls, will likely see Wood produce more holds than saves, so watch closely.

Who else is on the trade deadline? What do you think will happen? How will fantasy values be affected? We’d love to hear your comments in the section below.

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Hitter reports are pretty clean and easy to work with. When it comes to pitchers, a reliever with a win or two in a month can skew the list. Yes it makes things more interesting, but it doesn’t necessarily make it more helpful.

To combat this, I’ve slipped two extra names in — one reliever and one starter — just to provide ample options for your ailing pitching staff.

Dealing with injuries? Inconsistency maybe? There are some options out there and these are some of the best.

Ownership rates in Yahoo and ESPN leagues are included. Statistics are current as of the morning of Sunday, July 25:

Vicente Padilla (31% Yahoo, 34.8% ESPN) — No delusions here. Padilla’s not going to be this good all season, however he’s pretty awesome right now: three wins, 34 Ks and a 1.30 ERA with a 0.77 WHIP in the last month. He had a 14-inning scoreless streak halted on Friday. He’s only 3-2 in his last six despite a 1.30 ERA. He should be on more rosters right now.

Madison Bumgarner (36% Yahoo, 52.5% ESPN) — Has four wins in the last month. Over that stretch he has 31 Ks in 40.2 innings, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. If you want to play matchup games, he’s 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP on the road. If you carry an extreme dose of crazy, play him in away night games against lefty heavy lineups. He should be owned in all keeper/dynasty leagues at this point and his Yahoo rate should be closer to his ESPN rate.

Jonathan Niese (Yahoo 29%, ESPN 24.3%) — His recent stretch — winless in his last three starts despite a 3.20 ERA — might be scaring some people off. But let’s compare numbers: Niese has two wins, 32.2 IP, 31K, a 2.20 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in the last month. Another pitcher, who is 94% owned, has just 3 more Ks, 3.2 less innings, one more win, an ERA more than half a run higher and a slightly higher WHIP over the same stretch. The other pitcher is must-hold, coveted golden child of baseball Stephen Strasburg.

Brett Myers (Yahoo 29%, ESPN 23.2%) — Myers has been on this update before and I’m singing the same song. The chorus echoes quality starts (he has 14 this season) and workhorse (six innings pitched in every 2010 start) over and over again. In the last month, Myers has two wins and 24 Ks in 34.2 innings. He has a 3.38 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP over that stretch.

Vin Mazzaro (Yahoo 7%, ESPN 3.9%) — I suggested adding Mazzaro earlier this week. He’s 4-1 in his last five decisions. In the last month, he has a 2.12 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP with 24 Ks and four wins in 34 innings. The low WHIP is a bit surprising considering the 14 free passes he’s issued the last five games. He’s a cautious add, especially if you need a spot start, but don’t be surprised if his WHIP goes on a roller coaster ride sometime soon.

Alfredo Simon (Yahoo 37% Yahoo, 50.1% ESPN) — Despite the 50% ownership in ESPNs, Simon is still not owned enough. He has seven saves in 13.2 innings in the last month, with a 1.98 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. People probably haven’t added Simon because of Mike Gonzalez’s return, however, the Orioles have announced that the closer job is Simon’s until he loses it. He’s been effective all season. If he wouldn’t have gone on the DL Simon would be owned in the 70-80% range right now and should be owned in your league.

J.J. Putz (Yahoo 31%, ESPN, 12.3%) — A developing situation for Putz: The fall of Bobby Jenks. The Jenkster will probably make his way back into the closer role, but for now Ozzie Guillen has declared the job “open.” Putz has a 25 appearance scoreless streak ongoing. Bet he’s the top candidate for the open spot. Don’t forget, Putz has 105 career saves.

Sean Marshall (Yahoo 24%, ESPN, 4.5%) — There are no saves to be had here, but wins and holds make him a viable choice. Even in leagues where holds are not a category, Marshall is a good option for closerless squads. He struck out 18 in 16.1 innings in the last month, has eight consecutive shutout appearances and has shut out foes in 15 of his last 16.

Hong-Chih Kuo (Yahoo 16%, ESPN, 4.1%) — Another choice that isn’t a save machine but does get holds and has been a supremely effective reliever. He’s got a 0.86 season ERA, a .123 batting average against and still hasn’t allowed a hit to a lefty in 2010. In the last month, he struck out 13 and earned a win while snagging a pair of saves when Jonathan Broxton wasn’t available.

Jonny Venters (Yahoo 6%, ESPN, 0.8%) — Venters has five holds since July 7th, which is why he was one of the rising stars in our most recent holds update. Venters has 14 Ks in 16.1 innings in the last month. He also has a 0.56 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP over that same stretch. Like Marshall and Kuo, even in leagues that don’t count holds, Venters is could provide some minor help out of your RP slot.

Joaquin Benoit (Yahoo 6%, ESPN, 2.1%) — He didn’t make our holds update, but Benoit will likely make the list next time. He has holds in each of his last three appearances and has the potential to rack up Ks at a high rate. In the last month he struck out 19 batters in 12.2 innings and posted a 0.71 ERA and a 0.55 WHIP.

Logan Ondrusek (Yahoo 0%, ESPN 0%) — Ondrusek is the one player on this list that cannot be recommended at this point. But his 15.1 scoreless inning streak could make him more of a household name by the time we do the next update. Ondrusek earned his first big league win on Friday and has struck out nine batters in 13 innings in the last month. If he starts picking up holds/saves/more Ks  over the next week and keeps up the scoreless pitching, he’s worth considering.

Related posts

• Pitchers waiver report for 6.10.10: Felipe Paulino and the setup men brigade (2)
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But that doesn’t mean fantasy owners should avoid them. Three Pirates’ prospects make this most recent waiver report and at least two of them should be owned in every league right now.

As usual, there is a mix of players who are must-adds, others that are dynasty/keeper prospects and still others who are spot fill-ins at best. All players are available in at least 75% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Ownership rates provided are as of mid-day Saturday, July 24:

Pedro Alvarez (23% Yahoo, 21.1 % ESPN) — The top available player on the list in my opinion. Alvarez is an uber prospect at a scarce 3B position. He had two-homer games on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, scored eight times, drove in nine and hit .393 (11-for-28) over the last seven days. Yet, the fantasy world has left Alvarez 77% available in Yahoos and almost 79% available in ESPNs.

Luke Scott (16% Yahoo, 10.4% ESPN) — Another must-add from this list. When Scott starts mashing he’ll mash for a while. He is a streaky player and in the five games with the Orioles since coming off the DL, he is 9-for-20 (.450) with three homers and six RBI. He has 15 homers and is on pace to reach 30 this season. Don’t be surprised if the 1B/OF eligible Scott gets most of the way there in the next couple weeks.

Jose Tabata (4% yahoo, 4% ESPN) — While speed is not at a premium at this point in the season, Tabata is still one of the better options in the majors, especially for dynasty/keeper leaguers. Tabata scored nine runs, drove in seven and hit .323 (10/31) in the last week. The outfielder misplayed a triple Friday and was called out on a close play at home despite being safe, but don’t expect that to hurt his confidence or playing time. Tabata has been too good so far this season.

Chris Johnson (2% Yahoo, less than 1% ESPN) — Hit his first major league homer on Monday and his second on Tuesday. In the last week he also drove in eight runs, scored six and went 9-for-22 (.409). He’s still listed behind 3B Pedro Feliz on the Houston depth chart but has been getting more regular at-bats and has done more with them than Feliz. Look for Johnson to officially take over soon and eventually develop 20+homer power. He’s a great add now in deep keeper/dynasty formats and will help teams in redrafts as long as he keeps up this hot hitting.

Jack Cust (4% Yahoo, 2% ESPN) — Cust’s .297 average is the best on the Athletics. In the last week the OF/DH hit .375 with a pair of homers and eight RBI. He hit 25 homers last year and 33 the year before but has never had an impressive average. He’s been getting regular playing time since returning from the DL and will be on a lot more fantasy rosters as the season progresses. Add him for his pure power potential and consider any average bump you get a bonus, but don’t be afraid to drop him if he gets mired in a prolonged slump.

Neil Walker (9% Yahoo, 7.1% ESPN) — Walker, a 2B/3B eligible player starting at 2B, is the one Pirates player who might not need to be owned in every league. His versatility is a great bonus, but he won’t help you in homers (3 in 175 ABs) or steals (2). Walker will get some runs and RBI to go with an impressive average. He has 16 hits in his last 30 at-bats and his string of six multi-hit games was broken in an 0-for-3 on Friday.

Chris Denorfia (1% Yahoo, 0.3% ESPN) — Denorfia has three homers, two steals and a .471 average in the last week, but has only two starts since the All-Star Break. Will Venable returned from the DL late this week and that will only make it harder for the Padres to find a place to play Denorfia. Denorfia is a cautious add for the same reason he’ll continue to get some at-bats. But if he struggles it won’t take long for the hook.

Matt Diaz (4% Yahoo, 8.4% ESPN) — Jason Heyward, Nate McLouth and Melky Cabrera are listed as the Braves starting outfielders, but Heyward’s recent injuries have allowed Diaz to see more at-bats. In the last week, he had 16 and did a lot with them. Three of his eight hits (.500 average) were homers and he drove in nine runs. Diaz hit safely in nine of his last 12 games and is 17-for-44 (.386) since he came off the DL himself June 29. He needs to get more playing time to get full approval for an add in mixed leagues, but at this point he deserves the chance to start.

Reid Brignac (3% Yahoo, 1.6%) — Brignac had a great preseason and won his chance to make the major league roster. He qualifies at both shortstop and second base but is not a starter at either position. He’s done a lot more with his at-bats than current SS starter Jason Bartlett. In the last week, Brignac hit three homers and drove in seven runs while hitting .471 (8-for-17). I’ve been monitoring Brignac, and his middle-infield parter-of-the-future Sean Rodriguez since the spring. They’ll both be fantasy relevant in the future, probably by 2011.

Randy Winn (7% Yahoo, 0.5% ESPN) — In the last week, Winn has two homers, two steals and five RBI. He’s hit .385 over the same stretch and is hitting .292 in 72 at-bats since joining the Cardinals. However, like a couple other players on this list, Winn will get less frequent at-bats once regular starter Ryan Ludwick comes off the DL (expected back Sunday). Unlike the other players on this list, I don’t have any delusions about Winn winning more playing time. As many of you know, that means he’ll be the one to somehow pull it off.

Who did I miss? Who did you add/drop this week? Let us know in the comments.

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Every fantasy baseball season, around this time, you’ll notice certain teams that have coasted near the top of the standings all season suddenly take a nosedive. Like a lottery winner cashing in his ticket for more chances at the jackpot, luck usually runs out for managers who ignore one important concept during the 162-game marathon known as the MLB regular season.

The formula is simple: As a young pitcher’s innings pitched go up and ultimately exceed previous seasons’ workloads, there is an equal and opposite reduction in fantasy stud-dom. The following pitchers should be watched closely down the stretch:

It has been documented pretty heavily here at chinstrapninjas.com that those counting on Phil Hughes in their fantasy rotations should beware. The Yankees have acknowledged that the young pitcher needs a reduction in innings if they want him to contribute in the post season. An injury to Andy Pettitte may alter their plans a little, but Hughes is likely to see a reduction in stats regardless. His highest innings pitched in a season was 146. At the moment, he’s on pace for 196. No wonder he’s started to look mortal during his last several outings.

Matt Latos has injected huge amounts of fantasy awesomeness into the teams willing to give him a shot off their respective waiver wires. But workload concerns have already led to the Padres majorly limiting Latos. A good MLB move, considering his previous high was 122 innings pitched and he was on pace for 207 … an obscene increase of 85 IP. Fantasy-wise, it doesn’t matter if Latos becomes ineffective while on the mound or is given a lengthy break by his team … the results are the same: less fantasy stats.

Few pitchers have blown onto the scene like David Price has this season. He’s been one of many important reasons that the Tampa Bay Rays are legitimate title contenders in 2010. However, he’s on pace for more than 60 innings pitched above and beyond anything he’s seen in the past. While some pitchers rise to the challenge regardless, and Price may or may not be one of those pitchers, one would be smart to test the waters for potential trade before the wheels possibly fall off the cart.

And the list goes on.

Cincinnati’s Mike Leake previously pitched a high of 161 innings between college and fall ball. He’s on pace for 213 this season.

The Cardinals’ Jamie Garcia is facing a possible increase of 28 innings pitched. Recent call-up Madison Bumgarner is on pace for 207 innings pitched in 2010 – his previous high was 151.

What’s one to do? Are you doomed if you rose to the upper echelon of your league’s standings on the backs of young pitchers who are facing major workload increases?

Not necessarily. Just like a junkie who’s attempting to go straight, the first step is to admit you have a problem.

Then, act. Start canvassing your league for potential trade partners. Look for teams with reliable veteran pitchers who have a track record of handling a full-season workload. Find pitchers, such as Jorge De La Rosa or soon to be Brett Anderson, who are recently back from injury and looking a little rusty.

The worst mistake a fantasy owner who’s team is at the top of the standings can make is to assume his team is bulletproof and not in need of tweaking. Get past the ego, admit there’s always room for improvement and make some proactive moves.

What are your opinions on young pitchers who are facing a big spike in their career workloads? Have any individual questions about a team and how you should address your dependence on young pitchers? Let us know in the comments below.

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Last time we spoke, it was all about how a certain few players had a stranglehold at the top of the rankings. Times have changed in three weeks. Oh, you’ll still see some familiar faces, but the holds landscape is very different.

We’re talking J.J. Putz at the top and Jose Veras makes an appearance kind of different.

Just like in previous updates, the ranking score is a completely unscientific score that factors in overall performance and holds success over the season, last month and week. Ranking last update is also included. If a player has an MO it means they are a must-own reliever and have scored highly in several updates.

The top 15 setup men

1. J.J. Putz (Score: 26, Previous: N/A) — In the last update, Putz was a setup man to watch and he’s lived up to the billing so far. He was the most effective setup man on this list overall, had the most saves in the last week and is in the top 10 in the last month. Let’s not call him a must-own yet, but if he returns to this list he’ll be close.

2. Sean Marshall, MO (Score: 27, Previous: N/A) — A couple top 10 ranking scores have pushed Marshall into MO territory. He makes the No. 2 spot in this update because he was tied for tops in the majors in the last week and tied for third in the last month in holds. He was the seventh best in overall performance as well.

3. Jonny Venters (Score: 27, Previous: 9) — Venters made his debut in the rankings in the last update mostly because of his overall performance. He’s still the third best in that ranking, but also scored highly in the last week and is tied for third in the last month in holds. Like Putz, it won’t take long for Venters to get an MO if he keeps this up.

4. Matt Thornton (Score: 34, Previous: N/A) — One of the relievers we expected to be near the top in holds all season, Thornton is finally living up to that expectation. He is tied for first in the last week and third in the last month in holds.

5. Scott Downs, MO (Score: 38, Previous: N/A) — Six times this season Downs’ name has appeared in these rankings. He can be unreliable but was the ninth setup man in overall performance in the last month. He’s tied for fourth this season in holds and was in the top 10 in the last week and the last month.

6. Jose Veras (Score: 38, Previous: N/A) — Another one of the surprises on this list, Veras has been impressing in the last week and is the fourth-best reliever in overall performance in the last month. If he can keep up that kind of play, he’ll be back on the update and will get my approval. I wouldn’t drop a Mike Adams or Joba Chamberlain — who did not have high enough scores to rank in the top 15 this update — to add him, but his effectiveness will help your team if you have the roster flexibility.

7. Clay Hensley (Score: 42, Previous: N/A) — A lot of Previous: N/As here, but Hensley is no stranger to these rankings. He ranked fourth a little while back and is racking up the holds currently. He’s also tied for 12th in holds this season and can be a K machine. Hensley sets’em up, Nunez finishes’em off. That’s a good 1-2 punch for the Marlins.

8. Kameron Loe (Score: 44, Previous: 8) — We announced his rise in the headline of the last update and he’s kept pace. Loe is tied for the most holds in the last week and the last month. He should be rostered in all leagues that count holds.

9. Rafael Betancourt (Score: 46, Previous: N/A) — In the first holds update of 2010, Betancourt was seventh. We haven’t seen him since, but he’s quietly made his way into the top 12 in holds this season and had two in the last week, tying him for fifth best. Betancourt is not a must-add, but he has a 10+ K/9 and should be on your radar.

10. Joel Hanrahan (Score: 46, Previous: N/A) — We’re putting the old gang back together. Hanrahan has been in the update’s top 11 five times. Another appearance and he’ll likely get that blue badge of consistency. He has a 12.39 K/9.

11. Matt Belisle (Score: 48, Previous: N/A) — Another brand new name, however, Belisle’s been on the bubble a couple times. He scored well in overall performance and was tied for the eighth-most holds in the last month.

12. Fernando Rodney, MO (Score: 50, Previous: 6) — Finally, another recognizable name. Rodney had six holds in the last month, tying him for eighth place. He’s scored high enough to rank in the last three consecutive updates.

13. Luke Gregerson, MO (Score: 53, Previous: 1) — There were probably some of you wondering “Where’s Gregerson?” Here he is. He had two holds in the last week, tying him for fifth-place. Without that he wouldn’t have made the list. I’m still giving him an MO because I’m not dropping him, especially with MLB holds leader — and Gregerson teammate — Mike Adams on the disabled list.

14. Joe Beimel (Score: 57, Previous: N/A) — Beimel’s made a couple updates now and is among the top 10 in season holds and tied for second-most in the last month. Beimel/Betancourt are looking like the new Gregerson/Adams. At least for right now.

15. Arthur Rhodes, MO (Score: 58, Previous: 10)– Rhodes has three holds and a loss in July. He actually showed his human side and gave up some runs in the last 30 days. He has gone from ninth to 10th to 15th in the last three updates because the holds just haven’t been coming. However, he had two in the last week, tying him for fifth place.

Normally discussion after the top 15 turns to potential newcomers for the next update (like Zack Braddock, Todd Coffey, Evan Meek, etc.), but there is enough new blood on the actual list. It’s more beneficial to discuss some of the players who were knocked out. I’ve included the ranking score — in many cases the big names from past updates were edged out of the top 15 by a point or two.

Mike Adams (Score: 62, Previous: 3)– Third last update, Adams is on the DL. He is eligible to return July 27 but could be at least another week. Despite missing time, he still had a top-15 holds total for the month. Maybe someone foolishly dropped him. Add and stash on the DL if you have the opportunity.

Daniel Bard (Score 59, Previous: 2) — Bard has been ranked first, second (twice) and been in the top 10 five times. I don’t own him in any leagues, but the fact he hasn’t been as productive in the last month isn’t enough to scare me away yet. He still had a 0.00 ERA, a 0.69 WHIP and a 9+ K/9 over that stretch. Don’t drop him for any of the setup men in the top 15.

Tyler Clippard (Score: 75, Previous: 4) — Has more losses (2) than holds since June 27. He has an 8.25 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP in the last month. He’s still owned in more than half of all fantasy leagues — how many of those teams are abandoned? If he doesn’t get settled, Clippard should be dropped.

Brandon Lyon (Score: 68, Previous: 5) — Reread what I said about Clippard while replacing “Clippard” with “Lyon” and changing the losses to three.

Hong-Chih Kuo (Score: 64, Previous: 7) — He had a hold in his last outing, which is the only thing keeping him on my roster. He has been very effective as a pitcher but hasn’t been very productive on the holds front for a while.

Joba Chamberlain (Score: 72, Previous: 13) — His ERA has gone up almost half a run in the last month while he’s recorded three holds, two blown saves and a loss. He’s 1-4 on the year with a 1.56 WHIP and is a shaky play in fantasy. I wouldn’t drop him but I wouldn’t be starting him every day/week at this point either.

Kyle McClellan (Score: 65, Previous: 12) — One of the more effective relievers in the last month, McClellan just didn’t get a lot of holds to match. He sports a 1.89 ERA and an 0.97 WHIP this season. Don’t hold onto McClellan as tightly as Joba, Bard or Adams, but don’t be surprised to see him back among the top 15 next update.

Others knocked out: Pedro Feliciano (11) , Brandon League (14), Kevin Jepsen (15).

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Usually there’s not much reason to dawdle about the big name players and even some of the marginal ones. They’re not available on the waiver wire and you know the kind of deal you’re going to have to throw out there to get an Albert Pujols after he goes 3-for-4 with a homer.

Still, this update is a star-studded affair with a lot of returning from or suffering a (thumb), (back) (shoulder), (etc.). Now I’m dawdling with the at-least-it-makes-me-laugh prose. … Let’s just get to the update:

Elvis Andrus – He’s owned in almost all Yahoo leagues (91%), but it’s worth noting that Andrus broke out of an 0-for-26 slump, according to the Associated Press, after going 3-for-4 on Sunday. He’s also not being as aggressive on the basepaths recently, according to a KFFL report, because of how hot the Rangers have been hitting. Now’s a good time to buy low, he brings elite speed and he’ll score runs as long as the Rangers are rocking pitchers. Don’t forget to check jzak’s second half buy low candidates for more options.

Russell Martin – Due to return from an injured thumb today. He has a terrible batting average and hasn’t been great but is still the 11th-best catcher in fantasy baseball and is available in 21% of Yahoos.

Mat Latos – Due back from his oblique injury on Saturday. Although not widely available (85% owned), it’s good knowledge for you and me because we both own Latos.

C.J. Wilson – Dumbfounded Wilson is available in 43% of Yahoo leagues. He struck out 10 in just six innings Sunday and is just murdering lefties (.093 BAA). He’s got a 3.23 season ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

Matt Wieters – Should return from his hamstring injury on Sunday, July 25. He’s available in 35% of Yahoos. That’s not an astronomical number considering his poor play so far in 2010, but for someone with his pedigree/potential, it seems very high. Have an available roster spot? Check the wire, maybe the DL trip was all he needed.

Justin Mourneau – Big names keep coming. Mourneau is undergoing tests today to see if he’ll be able to return when he’s eligible on Friday.

Josh Beckett – Another big name. Boom. Well, Beckett’s been bust (zing!) in 2010. But he’s due back from his (back) on Friday. I still wouldn’t start him until you’re sure the rust is off.

Chone Figgins – Started 1-for-15 out of the break. Unfortunately it looks like more of the same for Figgins. Found an ESPN the Mag from around the time he signed with Seattle. They were talking moneyball, defense, etc. Bet Mariners fans feel a little differently right now. He still has time to right the ship, but he’s pretty far off course. Buy-low in 2011?

Andrew McCutchen – Sprained his AC joint while diving to make a catch Sunday and now officially has a (shoulder). He wasn’t in the lineup Monday, but there was no fracture according to his player notes at Yahoo.com, so expect him to return soon.

Matt LaPorta – A while back in this very space I suggested adding Matt LaPorta after he was recalled. I did so myself. In the last month he’s hit .321 with four homers. He’s hitting .346 with four homers and 12 RBI in his last 15 games. And he’s still available in 84% of Yahoos. That’s too high for a producing 1B this late in the season.

Vin Mazzaro – Improved to 5-2 after allowing one run in 7.2 innings. He wasn’t terribly impressive in allowing eight baserunners and only striking out five, but he’s been demoralizing pitchers for a month now (3-0 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his last four starts). He’s available in 96% of Yahoos and should be on your list of potential streaming starters right now.

Shaun Marcum – Released from the grasp of the DL on Saturday, picked up the win after hurling five innings on Sunday. He’s rosterable and at least a streaming starter (available in 34% of Yahoos). He has a 3.36 season ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 92 Ks in 112.1 innings.

Brian Roberts — Mentioned in the previously linked to second-half buy-low article by jzak, Roberts is in AA today and could return by Sunday, July 25 or a day later. He’s available in 31% of Yahoo leagues.

Victor Martinez — Played catch for the first time since injury his thumb on June 27. The quote I saw on KFFL.com had V-Mart joking he was glad he could actually fit his thumb in the glove. Boston thinks he might be back sometime during the upcoming 10-game road trip. I think he’ll be a little while yet.

Dustin Pedroia — Will have his foot reevaluated at the end of the month. So don’t expect him for the aforementioned upcoming road trip.

That’s it for today. Some of the things that seemed a little less newsworthy got cut. Did I miss something big? Update us in the comments.

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For those of you who didn’t realize, the All-Star break actually ended several days ago. MLB 2010 is back in full swing. Your fantasy team needs attention. No more snooze buttons for you.

If, like many, you are waking up to a team with more question marks than Jim Carrey’s horrific Riddler costume in the Batman Forever snoozefest, than it is time to dig deep and start increasing the trade offers. To help, here are jzak’s own second-half trade targets. My buy-low candidates for the rest of the season:

Francisco Liriano, SP. If you followed our extensive preseason coverage, you know that Liriano was a ninja favorite from the start. In 115 innings so far, he is 7-7 with a 3.76 ERA and 125 strikeouts. However, the stat most important? His .361 BABIP. That number will drop during the second half, and Liriano’s fantasy value will inversely improve.

Kerry Wood, RP. A few days ago, Wood would have no shot of making this list. If anything, he’d be a major sell-high. That’s because he was the talk of numerous MLB trade rumors, and likely would have found himself pitching setup duty on a contending team. A blister and a DL stint later, and Wood suddenly looks more and more likely to stay put in Cleveland, where he will likely continue saving games. I would NOT sell the farm for Kerry, but if you can net him for someone already on your bench, than go for it. Chris Perez is the future closer of the Indians, and will get some opportunities regardless over the rest of the season, but Wood should still retain enough value as long as some team doesn’t decide to take a risk on Kerry regardless of the blister issues.

Aaron Hill, 2B. The Toronto second baseman was never one to post a super-great batting average, but the .196 he’s been so far in 2010 is ways off his career average. He won’t hit 36 homers again this year, but should still hit 15 more this season, and his batting average has no place to go but up.

Adam Lind, OF. Everything is worth buying at the right price, and Lind’s value can’t get much lower. His .215 average so far this year is 90 points lower than the .305 he hit throughout last season. It would be ludicrous to think he’ll be a .300 hitter again in 2010, but his average is surely to improve down the stretch. He should also produce another 15 homers the rest of the way.

Jorge De La Rosa, SP. It’s a contract year for JDLR, and many expected huge things from him … me included. A trip to the DL sidelined those expectations. Giving up five earned runs in 4.1 innings in his July 9 return to the majors increased his season ERA by a whole point. He gave up six more earned runs Saturday night in just 3.1 innings. Owners of De La Rosa are starting to sweat. However, he has too much at stake to not work out the kinks and hammer out some quality starts down the stretch. Grab him on the cheap at the moment and stash him away for a rainy day.

Brian Roberts, 2B. Many may have forgotten that Roberts still plays baseball. He’s been on the DL all season, but is nearing a return to the majors. His minor league rehab has been going well, and he’s been raking at the plate … hitting well over .500 so far. Recent reports have Roberts back in a week or two, and some owners may be hesitant to deal him after rostering him all season, but it is worth throwing a few flyers out.

Jimmy Rollins, SS. Rollins has been plagued by injuries this year, and has batted jusy .206 since returning from his most recent DL stint. However, he’s ways too talented to struggle for long, especially surrounded by the potent Phillies lineup. The whole team has underperformed lately, but as teams start to eye the postseason, expect the Phillies to fix their demons and once again become a well-oiled machine. Rollins will be at the center of resurgence. Buy now.

Jason Bartlett, SS. A right hamstring injury landed Bartlett on the DL in late May, and he’s been underwhelming since his June 16 return to the bigs. However, like Rollins, he is talented enough and surrounded by enough talent to show some more signs of life in the second half.

Adam LaRoche, 1B. His 13 homers and .251 batting average aren’t too shabby at this point, although both are not up to snuff when compared to previous seasons. However, LaRoche is historically a second-half player and, as an added bonus, is looking more and more likely to see a potential trade to a contending team before the deadline. More lineup support would only enhance what should already be a solid second half for LaRoche.

Lance Berkman, 1B. A fixture with the Houston Astros for a decade, Berkman’s best days are well behind him. However, his fantasy stock could see a nice uptick if he is dealt from dismal Houston to a contender in the coming weeks. Berkman has improved his chances of a move by offering to nullify his no-trade clause if he is dealt to a contending squad. Again, like LaRoche, any improvement in the supporting cast will directly affect the fantasy numbers in a postive way.

Madison Bumgarner, SP. Beyond the media circus that is Stephen Strasburg and other rookie phenoms making an impact this season, Bumgarner continues to fly under the radar. In 28.2 innings pitched since his call up to the bigs, Bumgarner has been solid, notching 21 strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA. There were rumors that the Milwaukee Brewers wanted Bumgarner in a trade for Corey Hart, but don’t expect the Giants to give up the young pitcher so easily. He is someone you should snag and quickly insert into your starting lineup. There will be some growing pains, but his overall stats will be much more savory than many realize.

Edinson Volquez, SP. Hope the dude who owns him in your league didn’t see the six-inning, nine-strikeout performance Saturday in Volquez’s official return to the majors. There is little doubt that Volquez, sidelined for more than a year with Tommy John surgery, has ample talent to succeed in the league. His minor league numbers were plenty impressive, and his dominance over the Rockies was a sign of potential things to come.

Who are your buy-low candidates for the second half of the 2010 MLB season? We’d love to hear about them below in the comments!

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It’s not exact, but multiply each players current statistics by two and it gives us a barometer to compare against preseason projections. After reading jzak’s awesome review of his bold predictions — the most popular fantasy baseball article on the site for several days running — and CJones’ comment on the preseason Top 20, I figured it was time to face up to the masses for a portion of my first foray into projections.

Not a lot of analysis after the names today because there isn’t a lot of time — work… uh, let’s call them work-related issues for now, have me battling the clock like 24′s Jack Bauer. The mess will be over this week and normalcy shall return.

Like I said, not a lot of analysis, but in this case I think the numbers speak for themselves. I’ve included preseason projections (R/HR/RBI/SB/AVG for hitters and W/SV/K/ERA/WHIP for pitchers) and the current inexact pace of the players in the preseason Top 10 and top 20:

1. Albert Pujols – I’d call this a hit so far, despite Pujols struggles at time this season. Predicted: 110/40/120/10/.325 … Pace: 110/42/128/18/.308

2. Hanley Ramirez — Being dogged and benched for not playing hard, Ramirez wasn’t living up to expectations early in the season. However, Han-Ram is close to my projections. Predicted: 115/30/115/30/.320 … Pace: 100/26/106/36/.301

3. Alex Rodriguez — Hasn’t really been the A-Rod we know and love/hate. Predicted: 100/35/110/15/.290 … Pace: 92/28/140/4/.269

4. Chase Utley — Forever more, Utley’s preseason projections will be cut down to reflect his injury-proneness. Predicted: 105/35/110/15/.290 … Pace: 98/22/74/10/.277

5. Ryan Braun — On pace for a little less power and a little more speed. We’ll take it. Predicted: 105/35/110/15/.310 … Pace: 116/26/108/24/.292

6. Mark Teixeira — Hasn’t come around late in the first half as usual, but is still on pace to shatter my run projections and come close to the homer total. Predicted: 95/35/115/1/.295 … Pace: 126/34/120/0/.254

7. Matt Kemp — On pace to surpass the runs, power and RBI, but his average has been a bit of a disappointment. He was getting picked even higher than 7th in a lot of leagues. Predicted: 95/25/95/30/.305 … Pace: 116/32/102/30/.261

8. Prince Fielder — After struggling to start the season, Fielder has fought his way back to a near 40-homer pace. His RBI have been abominable for a power producer picked in the top 10. Predicted: 95/40/125/1/.290 … Pace: 106/40/78/2/.265

9. Evan Longoria — The numbers speak for themselves: He’s clearly been better than I thought he’d be. Predicted: 90/30/100/10/.285 … Pace: 108/26/122/26/.300

10. Miguel Cabrera — Next year, I have to keep better track of which players I projected to be far better than the mainstream outlets. I do know I jacked Cabrera’s numbers up quite a bit and still didn’t meet the ridiculous amount he’s on pace for. Predicted: 95/35/115/5/.320 … Pace: 128/44/154/4/.346

11. Ryan Howard — Would you trade 12 homers for 15 more runs and an average that could help you win the category? Predicted: 95/45/130/5/.270 … Pace: 110/34/130/0/.294

12. Tim Lincecum — Hasn’t been his normal Freak-ish self, but Lincecum is on pace for more wins and more Ks than I thought he’d get. Predicted: 15/0/240/2.80/1.15 … Pace: 18/0/262/3.16/1.28

13. Joe Mauer — In hindsight, and for as much as I ripped Mauer apart in the preseason, I went all namby-pamby on the projections. Should have followed my gut and lowered his homers and RBI considerably. Predicted: 90/20/95/5/.330 … Pace: 94/8/70/2/.293

14. David Wright — Despite my predictions, I was afraid he wouldn’t bounce back. He has bounced back and is on pace to surpass in every category. Predicted: 95/25/95/25/.305 … Pace: 104/28/130/30/.314

15. Ian Kinsler — Chase Utley’s blurb about injury-prone players also applies to Kinsler. Predicted: 100/25/80/25/.275 … Pace: 94/8/60/16/.310

16. Carl Crawford — Like I told CJones in the comments of the original article, I wanted to pump up Crawford’s stats but felt like my personal bias was getting in the way. I was wrong to second guess. Predicted: 90/15/70/45/.295 … Pace: 140/22/100/62/.321

17. Troy Tulowitzki — Despite the injuries and his early struggles, Tulowitzki is still on pace to meet/surpass a couple projections. Predicted: 95/25/90/10/.290 … Pace: 94/18/68/14/.306

18. Mark Reynolds — If his batting average wasn’t so awful, I’d call this a hit. Everyone knows he’s a capable average-killer, but I have no excuse for a 46-point difference. Predicted: 90/35/95/15/.260 … Pace: 98/40/112/10/.214

19. Jacoby Ellsbury — Another player that I was calling a bust in the wee hours of the preseason morning, but I didn’t expect him to get hurt and bust this bad. Predicted: 95/10/60/55/.300 … Pace: 14/0/6/4/.250

20. Jimmy Rollins — Injury cost him quite a bit of the first half, so his numbers will look better by the end, but he won’t come close to reaching the projections. Predicted: 100/20/50/30/.270 … Pace: 36/8/36/6/.254

Well, now this discussion is up to you. Did you use this top 20? Get burned by Joe Mauer? Reap the benefits of Miguel Cabrera or Evan Longoria? Let us know in the comments.

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Still it’s worth noting that there are some scorching hot hitters and pitchers that are ridiculously available on a lot of waiver wires out there right now. Let’s take a look at a few:

Hitters

Buster Posey (owned in 67% of Yahoo leagues) — His ownership rates aren’t low, but there is no way a super prospect who qualifies at catcher and scored nine runs with five homers, 14 RBIs and a .556 average in the last week should be available at all.

Carlos Quentin (owned in 70%) — Another player with relatively high eligibility — there are a number of hitters that fit that bill this update, however they are big-time names who should be 90% owned. Quentin hit six homers and drove in 11 runs while hitting .538 in the last week. He has 14 homers and 35 RBI in his last 33 games.

Aramis Ramirez (owned in 73%) — It wasn’t long ago that I left him for dead. Last week he hit .429 with four homers, 10 runs and nine RBI. Figures. Check to see if he’s available. Even though he’ll get hurt again, he’s worth playing when doing this.

Angel Pagan (owned in 45%) — At this point, you probably don’t need speed, but Pagan has a good average to go with it. He was probably dropped by a lot of folks while he was battling injury, but he’s ok now. He hit .462 with four steals, two homers and three runs scored in the last week and has had multiple hits in five of his last six games.

Lance Berkman (owned in 74%) — Has the same ownership rate as Aubrey Huff. And like Huff, Berkman is on a hot streak. The Astros 1B hit four homers with five runs, six RBI and batted .400 in the last week.

Andruw Jones (owned in 9%) — Finally hits his 400th career homer on Sunday. Since July fifth, Jones has raised his average 20 points, hit two homers and driven in seven runs. He’s not elite anymore, but watch to see if comes out of the break light on his feet after getting that 400th homer off his back. He could help power-needy fantasy teams if he stays hot.

Mike Stanton (owned 28%) — Super outfield prospect Mike Stanton hit three homers, scored six times and drove in seven runs in the last week while hitting .308. He’s got a 1.141 OPS and is hitting .333 in a six-game hit streak. If he touches the low end of his potential out of the break, Stanton will never be more available than he is right now.

Pitchers

Vicente Padilla (owned in 15%) — I wouldn’t ever recommend trading for a pitcher in fantasy baseball. Padilla’s performance is reason enough why. He won twice and struck out 15 in 14.2 innings in the last week, posting a 1.23 ERA and a 0.61 WHIP. Yet he’s available in 85% of Yahoo leagues. Padilla has a phenomenal 20:2 K to BB ratio in his last 21.7 innings.

Madison Bumgarner (owned in 24%) — Another top prospect making good on his potential. Bumgarner averaged 7.0 innings in two wins this week. He struck out 11. over that stretch and posted miniscule ratios: 0.64 ERA, 0.93 WHIP.

Chris Tillman (owned in 2%) — Another pitcher I had given up on. Tillman wasn’t lights out in his only start of the week, but he struck out three and threw 7.1 shutout innings with a 0.41 WHIP. A speculative add on one of the Orioles top pitching prospects wouldn’t be a bad thing. Only start him in his next outing if you’re feeling adventurous.

Travis Wood (owned in 12%) — He’s on here after his near perfect game against the Phillies on Saturday. His 1.98 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in the last week are skewed a bit by the near perfecto, but his 13 Ks in 13.2 innings caught my attention. A speculative add now — or right before/after his next start — is a good call.

Brett Myers (owned in 18%) — The little notes blurbs Yahoo includes on their fantasy site — most sites include them, I know — are great tools. Take this for instance blurb from Myers notes from STATS Inc. via Yahoo: “Myers (6-6, 3.41 ERA) extended his club record of starts of six innings or more to begin the season to 18 and is the only pitcher in the majors to achieve the mark in every start since the season began.” A quality-ish start every outing? Myers is at least a streaming start in good matchups, especially in leagues that score quality starts.

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