Ninja notes: The Bizarro edition [FBB]
How much money could you have won if you had bet that Russ Ohlendorf was going to outpitch Johan Santana. … ever?
Santana got ruffed up for 6 ER in 6 IP, to complete a woeful June (6.19 ERA over the 30 glorious days).
Meanwhile, our boy Ohlendorf threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight.
Let’s not dump on the Johan, it wasn’t a great day for star pitchers. Cleveland’s Cliff Lee gave up 7 R and 11 H in just 3 IP, his worst outing in forever. The recently rejuvenated Cardinals’ SP Chris Carpenter gave up 6 R and 11 H in 5 IP.
Clayton Richard was good, I’m sure that’s comforting. The White Sox pitcher gave up four runs and four hits while striking out six in a complete-game wi… OK. It was a rainshortened game, but still CG W for Richard and he’s the one who beat Lee. Yes, he’s good for a spot-start,.
Ohlendorf, on the other hand, is a very spotty starter.
Some other news and notes from yesterday around baseball:
Infirmary report
New Cardinals slugger Mark DeRosa got all wristy and left the game. He’ll have some tests today. Monitor this and get back to me.
Orioles CF Adam Jones left with an (undisclosed) – I’m sure that’s painful – after running into the wall. Nolan Reimold, if he gets shelved. Actually, Reimold anyway.
Offseason surgery likely necessary for Indians OF Grady Sizemore. Again I say, trade him in non-keeper leagues while you can still get value. This will linger all season.
Yunel Escobar, y’know, the Braves SS, scratched with a hip (injury, obviously). You’re probably in a deep league, or in deep, if you’re playing him anyway. I’d hold onto him until more is known. Also, dynasty-leaguers should know not to drop him.
Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez tweaked a knee while sliding into third on his RBI triple. I don’t need to tell you to monitor a knee injury suffered by one of the best sluggers in the game.
In other news: Ervin Santana pitched a BP session, but is still miles away from the Angels rotation. Josh Hamilton is likely to return to Texas’ OF this weekend. Mets OF Carlos Beltran is likely to miss 3-to-4 weeks. Blue Jays RP Scott Downs throws some pitches and may be ready by Friday. Reds SP Edinson Volquez is cleared to throw, that means he’s miles away with Santana. Mets SS Jose Reyes is (finally) off to Florida for rehab.
Moves
Nyjer Morgan is now a National and Lastings Milledge is a Pirate. Morgan can still steal bases and Milledge will play centerfield for the Bucs, again urinating in Andrew McCutchen’s pool.
The Pirates also got the Nationals’ once closer Joel Hanrahanahanan (What? That’s the real spelling) for lefthander Sean Burnett, who has zero fantasy value.
Eric Hinske is a Yankee. He plays 1B and OF. Well, he played those positions. Not sure why the Yankees went after him, but he’ll be a nice addition to the bench. You can’t have enough Nick Swishers on your team i s’pose.
Ninjas in the field
Pirates 2B Freddy Sanchez followed up his stranding five 0-fer with a 3-for-3, 2 RBI, R, SB. It was his 31st multi-hit game of the season. He’s your league leader in that category, folks, and available in 42% of Yahoo leagues. He shouldn’t be.
Still suffering from flashbacks, Blue Jays 3B Scott Rolen is on an 18-game hit streak and available in more than half of Yahoo leagues. He’s the ninth best third baseman over the last month of play, better than A-Rod, Youk and Miggy, in case you were wondering.
Martin Prado’s performance Tuesday – in particular a game-winning hit in the 10th inning against the Phillies – earned him a starting spot at 2B for the Braves. He also qualifies at 1B and 3B and is hitting .299 with 16 R, 13 RBIs and 4 homers in limited at-bats this season. Available in 99% of Yahoo leagues. I wouldn’t pick him up yet, but if he has another decent game today, I would contemplate the move.
Colby Rasmus, the much-hyped Cardinals OF prospect, didn’t start, but was 2-for-3 as a pinch-hitter. He’s being kept out of the lineup by too many late-night cheeseburgers – the official diagnosis is a hiatal hernia. He has seven homers, so if he gets that uncomfortable condition (some might call it indigestion) figured out he won’t be available in 93% of leagues anymore.
Yankess Of Melky Cabrera doubled and scored three times. Cabrera was a starter last year, and splits time with Brett Gardner in center now. Why the Yankees acquired Hinske baffles me. They have too many players as it is and Cabrera’s performance Tuesday is a perfect example of that.
What did I miss? Are you going to pick up Sanchez? What other shrewd moves are you pulling to get ahead? Let us know in the comments or start a conversation in our forums.
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