Around the NL: Bonds homers, shake-up in St. Louis
What's been going on around the National League in the past week? Tristan H. Cockcroft takes a quick-hitting look at the news and notes for each of the 16 NL teams:
Atlanta Braves: So much for Mike Gonzalez as the preferred handcuff to closer Bob Wickman. The left-hander managed only two saves to Rafael Soriano's four while Wickman nursed a back strain the first two-plus weeks of May, and now he's out for the season after being diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He'll require season-ending Tommy John surgery, perhaps costing him as much as half of 2008 as well, leaving Soriano as the clear-cut favorite to stand in should Wickman go down again. Gonzalez's velocity was down from the mid-90s to the upper 80s this spring, so surgery doesn't come as a huge shock. Still, it's a significant loss for the team, even if it does help ease Wickman owners' worries. Macay McBride, who is hardly a threat to Wickman's job security, will get the first chance to step in as the team's primary left-handed set-up man.
Florida Marlins: Could we be on the verge of seeing Josh Johnson, one of 2006's best rookies, back in the Marlins' rotation? The right-hander is scheduled to throw three innings and around 60-65 pitches in a rehabilitation start at extended spring training on Tuesday, the first of perhaps three to five appearances before returning to the big league club. Once he's done with those, he should claim Wes Obermueller's rotation spot; remember, that's the one that once belonged to Ricky Nolasco, before the latter suffered some elbow soreness of his own. Johnson believes he could be ready to return to the Marlins within 15 days, though fantasy owners should be prepared for the team to be patient with the youngster, and then for him to need a few big league starts to get back to full speed. In short, it might not be until after the All-Star break before Johnson is a helpful fantasy starter, though he could indeed be a second-half sleeper. After all, when healthy, he's an imposing figure on the mound, all of 6-foot-7, and the higher plane on which he pitches helps him induce more grounders than the typical starter (1.35 per fly ball in 2006).
New York Mets: So far the Mets have done a decent job slotting in platoon players to fill in for the team's weak lineup spots at second base, left field and right field, though they'll truly be put to the test this week if Shawn Green's broken bone in his right foot costs him a trip to the DL. He suffered a hairline fracture during Friday's game and hasn't played since, forcing the team to shuffle bit parts like Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and Carlos Gomez between the left-field and right-field roles over the weekend. Usual left fielder Moises Alou, on the DL himself with a quadriceps strain, could be back by next weekend, so at least we're talking only a short-term limitation at the corner outfield spots. Keep tabs on Green, who has been more productive than expected, but if he lands on the DL, it's possible the Mets will merely shift their Chavez/Gomez platoon from left to right field once Alou is activated. That would continue to keep both players NL-only worthy in the short term.
Philadelphia Phillies: The critics are back in full force, as the Phillies' decision to shift Brett Myers to the bullpen was a questionable one, but now there's little doubt after the right-hander suffered a strained shoulder in a May 23 game. Since his first relief outing on April 18, Myers had made 18 appearances in 36 days, spanning 34 scheduled Phillies games. On a pace like that, he'd have pitched in 86 games over a full 162-game schedule, a number topped only by the Pirates' Salomon Torres in 2006. It's bad timing for Myers, who all but secured the permanent closer role in the past month, though at least former closer Tom Gordon isn't much closer to a return from the DL himself. Neither reliever has a timetable for his return, with Myers' only news that an MRI revealed nothing more than a strain, while Gordon was only scheduled to resume throwing on Tuesday. Don't expect either back until at least mid-June, leaving the save chances in the hands of Antonio Alfonseca for now. Isn't it curious how often managers lean on "closer experience" in seeking fill-ins? Charlie Manuel seems to have overlooked that both Geoff Geary and Ryan Madson have outpitched Alfonseca, the Marlins' closer from 1999 to 2001 and a man with a 6.48 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in nine appearances in May. Still, Manuel's decision gives Alfonseca short-term NL-only value, though a shaky stretch could turn things over to Madson.
Washington Nationals: Who is this Mike Bacsik character? Mets fans might remember him as a fifth-starter candidate for the team in 2002-03 after coming over from the Indians in the Roberto Alomar trade, though the soft-tossing lefty managed only a 5.77 ERA in two seasons with the team. Since then Bacsik has endured the life of a journeyman, working out of the Rangers, Phillies and Diamondbacks organizations, including posting a perfect 11-0 record and 2.79 ERA in 28 appearances, 10 of them starts, for Triple-A Tucson in 2006. Still, don't take that performance, or his back-to-back quality-start efforts for these Nationals, as a sign that Bacsik is a burgeoning fantasy star. He rarely tops 90 mph with his fastball, and the MLB record books are littered with similar lefty command specialists who have come up after a long stint in the minors and had a brief hot streak, taking advantage of teams with limited scouting reports on them. Bacsik also did it in July 2002 with the Mets, winning his first two career starts before becoming largely inconsistent, so be aware of the risk, even if you're looking at him as an NL-only spot starter.
Chicago Cubs: While the Cubs' fifth-starter opening spawned rumors of a Ryan Dempster shift from the closer role, left-hander Sean Marshall has actually stepped up as a decent stop-gap option in that spot. He has back-to-back quality starts since making his season debut on May 23, though he has only two losses to show for them after the Cubs scored a combined four runs total in the games. It's not the first time Marshall has gotten off to a hot start; he managed a 3.12 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in his first six starts of 2006. Of course, that his first start came at spacious Petco Park, while his second came against a Marlins team averaging only 4.00 runs per game in May, indicates that he's probably only an NL-only matchups type. Continue to treat Marshall as only that, a spot-start option, though it seems he'll get a long look in the role for now. Keep in mind that Dempster has thrown only 28 pitches combined his past three appearances, hardly the kind of workload increase that suggests he's being ramped up for a move into the rotation.
Cincinnati Reds: A nasty collision with outfielder Norris Hopper knocked Ryan Freel from Monday's game, sending him to the hospital for tests on his neck and head. He suffered only a contusion to each, though the Reds decided to play it safe and placed him on the DL on Tuesday. It's not a significant loss for Freel owners, unfortunately, as he had started only 22 of the team's 26 games in May and offered merely a .242 batting average (23-for-95) and three stolen bases. With Josh Hamilton due back around June 5 -- he's on a rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Louisville right now -- he should reclaim the starting role from the current Hopper/Dewayne Wise platoon once healthy. Meanwhile, Edwin Encarnacion's 9-for-27 (.333), two-homer performance in seven games since his recall should assure that his third-base role is locked up by the time Freel returns, meaning the latter will have to fight with Hamilton for at-bats once healthy. Freel's 8-for-14 stolen-base performance this year has made him a bit shakier fantasy player than expected.
Houston Astros: Apparently tiring of their lack of production from the right-field position, the Astros shifted Lance Berkman there from first base for each of their last three contests. Through 50 games, the Astros have received only a .186 batting average and .605 OPS from their right fielders, both bottom-three numbers in MLB. Luke Scott has been a real disappointment to date, with .208/.666 numbers against right-handers, down from .366/1.130 rates in 2006, so the team felt it'd be better to upgrade that spot and deal with Berkman's defensive limitations. It's unclear whether it's a permanent switch, but it's possible the Astros could utilize a Mike Lamb/Mark Loretta platoon at first base. Lamb has started each of the past three games, each against a right-hander, while Loretta's .337 batting average (33-for-98) to date makes him too valuable not to start somewhere four or five times a week. In NL-only leagues, either one should be a useful corner or middle infielder for as long as the arrangement lasts, which could be awhile.
Milwaukee Brewers: The next hot prospect reached the majors on Friday, as Ryan Braun was recalled by the Brewers, who had endured terrible .219/.611 numbers from their Craig Counsell/Tony Graffanino third-base platoon to date. It's a significant move for fantasy; Braun is the kind of player with the ability to make an immediate impact with the bat. His defensive limitations were the primary thing keeping him in the minor leagues this deep into the season, though it's a good sign that he committed only three errors in 32 games in the field at Triple-A Nashville. Braun's bat has never been the issue; he was a .342 hitter with 10 homers in 34 games for Nashville, and in his professional career, he's a .313 hitter with 42 homers in 199 contests. Plus, he can steal bases, with 34 in his minor league career. As with any rookie, he might need some time to get fully comfortable at the MLB level, but there's little doubt Braun could be every bit to fantasy what Miguel Cabrera was in his debut year of 2003, when he batted .268 with 12 homers and 62 RBIs in 87 games. In fact, he could be better in batting average and home runs, making him well worth a pickup in the approximately 31.5 percent of ESPN leagues in which he remains available.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Our question has been answered; Shawn Chacon earned the Pirates' rotation opening after Tony Armas Jr. was bumped to the bullpen. Chacon's performance in his first start of 2007 wasn't anything extraordinary, as he went only 3 2/3 innings and walked five batters, but that he limited the Reds to only one run on three hits in a road assignment should easily earn him another turn or two. His 5.03 ERA might make him appear like an instant candidate for the discard pile, but don't be too hasty. Chacon's career has been filled with brief spells of fantasy usefulness, including after his mid-2005 trade to the Yankees, after which point he was 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 appearances, 12 of them starts. It's possible that his having to settle for a bullpen role to begin the season, earning this chance at a starting role, will motivate him to perform at a similar level, so keep an eye on him in NL-only formats. He'll face the Nationals at RFK Stadium in his next turn, a favorable matchup indeed, and don't underestimate the value of a matchup like that as a potential springboard to better things down the road.
St. Louis Cardinals: Sometimes roster moves aren't exactly fair, and one could say that might have been the case with Anthony Reyes, who was returned to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday. His 6.08 ERA was actually better than Kip Wells' 6.20 mark and wasn't much worse than Adam Wainwright's 5.59, and his 1.35 WHIP easily beat Wells' 1.48 and Wainwright's 1.79. Sure, Reyes got hit hard in his last two starts, allowing 12 runs in 11 1/3 innings combined, and he was 0-8 in nine turns overall, but to be fair, the Cardinals managed only 19 runs total in his starts, a terrible run-support rate. Perhaps a few weeks in Triple-A ball will help turn Reyes around, making him worth keeping on hand in NL-only formats, but don't count on replacement Todd Wellemeyer faring much better. Like Braden Looper and Brad Thompson before him, Wellemeyer makes the move into the rotation after a long history of relief work at the MLB level. Still, that he has 123 walks in 185 career innings doesn't bode well for his chances, even under the tutelage of Dave Duncan. It's a rotation swap that could easily be switched back within two weeks.
Arizona Diamondbacks: The way rookie Mark Reynolds has been hitting, the Diamondbacks are going to have to find a space for him on their roster even after the healthy return of usual third baseman Chad Tracy. Since his promotion from Double-A Mobile, Reynolds has played every inning of the team's last 13 games, hitting safely in 10 of them, managing five multi-hit efforts and batting .435 (20-for-46) with three home runs and 13 RBIs overall. More importantly, he's 8-for-15 (.533) against left-handers, enough to almost guarantee he'll stick around as a platoon option at third base, shortstop and in the outfield even after Tracy's return in mid-June. Offense wasn't really a question with Reynolds in his minor league career; his strikeout rate (one per 3.78 at-bats) and shoddy defense (58 errors in 333 games) were his primary concerns. The latter could be an issue for him in a utility role, though it's encouraging that he has yet to commit an error in 35 chances at third base thus far, as is the fact that Tracy's return isn't imminent. Reynolds might qualify at shortstop in your league, as he played 32 games there in the minors in 2006, his most at any position, and in that spot, he's not a bad NL-only fill-in while he's hot.
Colorado Rockies: It's about time the Rockies got some production out of their center and right field spots, and perhaps that both Willy Taveras and Brad Hawpe are finally beginning to hit will convince the team that veteran Steve Finley is best left to a little-used reserve role or perhaps an outright release. In Taveras' case, it was a five-hit effort on April 25 that jump-started his season; since that date he has hit safely in 18 of 23 games, registering 10 multi-hit efforts, a .382 batting average (34-for-89) and eight stolen bases and 20 runs scored. Hawpe, meanwhile, hit two home runs on May 16 to begin an 11-game stretch in which he has batted .364 (12-for-33) with five homers and 11 RBIs. Remember, things tend to settle a little closer to the norm in Colorado as the summer approaches, which is why Taveras should soon look more like the .290-hitting, 40-steal candidate, and Hawpe the .290-hitting, 30-homer hopeful, that each did in the preseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers: So much for the Dodgers making a firm decision with regard to their leadoff spot in the lineup. It appears they're now settled upon a platoon approach to the role, with Juan Pierre getting the nod against right-handers, Rafael Furcal against left-handers. The other player hits second on those days. It's actually not that bad an idea, as Furcal has .361/.867 numbers against lefties this year, .290/.802 for his career, while Pierre has .293/.660 rates against righties this year, .302/.734 for his career. What's interesting about the decision, though, is that Furcal seems to lose out with regard to his freedom stealing bases in either arrangement. On the days he leads off ahead of Pierre, he'd be on base with MLB's eighth-most impatient player (3.42 pitches seen per plate appearance) at the bat. On the days he bats second, he hits ahead of Nomar Garciaparra (3.20), who isn't much more patient than Pierre (3.20). Furcal himself is at 3.87, which favors Pierre's ability to run on days where the Dodgers face a right-hander, so be prepared for the possibility Pierre manages 45-50 steals, while Furcal gets only 25-30.
San Diego Padres: If Brett Myers' hefty usage was viewed as a concern of late, surely Trevor Hoffman's workload for the Padres this year has to be looked at similarly. With 22 appearances in the team's first 50 games, he's on pace for a career-high 71 outings, and Hoffman has pitched on back-to-back days 10 times this year, half of his 2006 total and five short of his number in 2005. His performance to date -- his 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP are right in line with his career numbers -- might seem like he's a safe member of the elite closer level, but remember that this is a 39-year-old pitcher who does have a surgery in his recent past (in 2003). He was held out of Friday's game due to arm soreness, and the Padres would be smart to rest him a little more in the coming weeks to preserve their ace closer. It's nothing significant for Hoffman owners to get worried about, but is something to watch nonetheless. In leagues where you're allowed the bench room to make such a move, it's a good idea to handcuff him to Scott Linebrink for now.
San Francisco Giants: Speaking of older players showing some signs of concern, Barry Bonds finally snapped a 14-game home run drought, during which time he didn't have an RBI, either, on Sunday. That snapped a stretch in which he batted only .125 (5-for-40), looking downright foolish at the plate on occasion, and seemed to be wearing down from being so heavily used to date. Bonds today finds himself on pace for 145 games and 575 plate appearances, his most since 2004, and he's actually on track for more than 1,000 innings in the field, well ahead of the 875 he managed a year ago. Manager Bruce Bochy hasn't been nearly as afraid as his predecessor, Felipe Alou, to play the veteran regularly, and at age 42, Bonds seems likely to endure the occasional dry spell like that as the effects of age continue to slow him. Bonds is currently batting .275 and on pace for 40 home runs, numbers he could reach in the best-case scenario; more likely, though, he should be a little closer to 30-35 homers and a .280-.285 mark in batting average.
Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
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