What we can take from the Galarraga mess, Mike Stanton rumors and Grady Sizemore
What a crazy day in baseball Wednesday, thanks mostly to that blown call in the Tigers game… The one where pitcher Armando Galarraga lost a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning.
Take away that huge incident and we have Ken Griffey Jr. retiring, rumors that Mike Stanton is coming up this weekend and wholesale changes coming for the Diamondbacks roster. And that’s not all:
Armando Galarraga — As sad as it was to see a perfect game get thrown away like that, focus on what Galarraga did do. He threw a complete-game one-hitter, striking out three. He’s now 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP and a .178 BAA. Just a few years ago, Galarraga was one of the most promising arms in the Rangers organization. He got dumped on Detroit who witnessed the worst he had to offer in 2009. Maybe this outing is a sign of things to come. Don’t expect a lot of strikeouts, but if he has the stuff to throw a perfect game — it was perfect, I don’t care what you say — he has the talent to be fantasy relevant.
Grady Sizemore – Will have surgery Friday and they’ll know then if he needs microfracture surgery and will be out for the rest of the season. None of this news matters to fantasy owners. We’ve gotten used to not having Sizemore in our lineup.
Edwin Jackson – Threw a nine-inning shutout against the Dodgers but it was wasted because the Diamondbacks’ anemic offense couldn’t get it done. Matt Kemp homered in the bottom of the 10th to win it. This isn’t the only reason, but it sure catalyzed the Diamondbacks plans to make massive changes to their Major League roster. It’ll be interesting to see what exactly that means.
Carlos Lee – Hit his sixth homer of the season. I’d like to say he’s heating up. Instead I’ll say, blind squirrel finds nut.
Mike Stanton – He belted two more homers at AA Jacksonville on Tuesday. The going rumor puts Stanton on the Marlins roster June 8 for a three-game set at Philadelphia.
Carlos Santana — He’s hitting .318 with 10 homers and 43 RBI for AAA Columbus but the Indians don’t think his defense is ready for the majors. I don’t see the problem. For years Victor Martinez prepared them for life with an awful defensive catcher who could hit.
Wandy Rodriguez — Won his first start since May 12 by striking out a season-high eight batters in five innings. He also allowed eight baserunners. He’s got a 1.62 WHIP and a 5.07 ERA. You’ll find him, and his 3-7 record, in tomorrow’s piece on the unluckiest pitcher’s in baseball.
Mike Napoli – Is hitting .307 with four homers and 10 RBI in his last 10 games. He started at first base on Wednesday. The plan is to use him there when Jeff Mathis returns from his wrist injury. A C who’s getting PT at 1B? Music to fantasy owners’ ears.
John Axford — Another save, his third, after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s the Brewers new closer. At least until he bobbles it. Then it’s anybody’s guess.
Jose Lopez – In his last six games, Lopez is hitting .434 (10-for-23) with six runs, two homers and four RBI. He hit .329 last June, .315 in June 2008 and .290 in June 2007.
Colby Rasmus – Went 3-for-5 with a home run on Wednesday, his first day back from getting new contacts. He admitted to not being able to see the spin on the ball. If he’s breaking out of his funk, he’s a must-own talent. Bench him against lefties for now, but he’s hitting .290 with 8 homers, 33 runs and 22 RBI against righties in 2010. He’s still available in 36% of Yahoo leagues.
It’s not really relevant to fantasy baseball in 2010, but it’s worth noting that Ken Griffey Jr., one of the most beloved players in this era of baseball — and fantasy baseball — announced his retirement Wednesday. A report from KFFL today said he’ll get a job in the Mariners’ front office. That’s a fitting end for the slugger, who is among the top four in Mariners history in every major offensive category except batting average.
I can remember like it was yesterday the excitement surrounding his Upper Deck rookie card, and if you saw one in person, it was like seeing Jesus appear in your toast!
I am referring to Griffey … :)
I have one of those Upper Deck Rookie Cards you are referring to. It has gone down in value like all the other baseball cards.
That’s a shame … I used to love reading those weird, fun facts about the players.
“Dave Winfield once found a mongoose in his house”
“Tom Henke operates a snow-plowing service in the off-season”
Then Upper Deck came out with those glossy cards anchored by the Griffey special, and I was hooked … well at least through middle school and junior high.
Ah, the good ‘ol days
@Jay-Mo: @Sockonfl: I have two of those Griffey cards. As @Sockonfl said, I should have sold the spare a long time ago.