I'M BACK!

I'm feeling better, and I'm hoping to stay that way. First I would like to point out a couple things...I totally called Darwin Barney, Jonathan Lucroy, Brett Wallace, Matt LaPorta, Matt Joyce, and my pre-season/every season love for Logan Morrison has flourished into a full blown torrid affair....with his stat line! But you came here to read some stats, maybe have a question or two answered so here we go.

I'll start off week 9's article with a question posted on a previous On the Waiver Wire entries. This is from our friend Brandt, "So is it worth having that one fluid roster spot on your team to pick up these streaky guys as the peak, then discard them when they go cold? Or is it to find that hot waiver pick up and hold on thru the ebb and flow of the season?"

For me most of the guys mentioned in these articles are guys that I want for a week or two tops. If they're producing I'll find a way to get them into my lineup, but as soon as they go cold I cut bait. Of course there has to be a reason behind cutting bait though. For example a player like Matt LaPorta. If he struggles for a week I will likely bench him and plug in someone else from my lineup. But a guy like Casey Blake or Ty Wigginton, I will cut without hesitation. The primary reason being age, upside, lineup and the opponents that he's faced.

Typically on draft day I will designate a slot that for the majority of the season will be a revolving door of flavor of the week offensive bursts. The upside being able to find a guy like Matt Joyce who gives you 25 R, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 1 SB, .429 AVG in a month! That's enough to production to stay in my line up from day to day!

Thanks for the question Brandt, and don't hesitate to ask any of us here at FantasyGameDay.net for help any time.

On to the Wire!

Catchers-

What do these five players have in common?

• Player A- 9 R, 5 HR, 8 RBI, .338 AVG
• Player B- 12 R, 5 HR, 15 RBI, .291 AVG
• Player C- 8 R, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .263 AVG
• Player D- 12 R, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .256 AVG
• Player E- 9 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .283 AVG

I'll tell ya. They're all catchers, they're all owned in less then 20% of leagues , with the exception of Player E, more on that later. They've all out produced guys like Carlos Santana, Kurt Suzuki, Mike Napoli, Geo Soto, and Jorge Posada (why is he even still relevant?) over the past month. Those five catchers in order are Ramon Hernandez, Chris Iannetta, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Miguel Olivo and my boy Brian McCann. If that's not indication that you shouldn't pay premier prices for catchers I don't know what is.

It appears as it Chris Iannetta has found that stroke that everyone has expected from him for the previous three seasons and that Jarrod Saltalamacchia is finally, FINALLY comfortable enough at the plate to produce!

If any of those catchers are still available in your league along with 60% owned Jonathan Lucroy you may want to consider snapping them up before anyone else does.

Corner Infield

What sets these two groups of  5 players apart?

• Group A-  40 R, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 7 SB, .293 AVG
• Group B- 40 R, 3 HR, 36 RBI, 4 SB, .227 AVG

Well clearly it's obvious what sets them apart. Production, but the biggest difference. No player in group in A is owned in more then 57% of leagues where as no player in Group B is owned in fewer then 65% of leagues. The players involved?

Group A- Mike Morse, Mark Trumbo, Brad Hawpe, Jacob Turner, Mike Aviles.

Group B- Aramis Ramirez, Jed Lowrie, Chipper Jones, Casey McGehee, Chone Figgins.

This may be deemed radical thinking, but given that all of the players in group B have struggled over the past month they could all be dropped if the need arose. Owners may be quick to cut bait with fragile Chipper Jones and the enigmatic Chone Figgins, but will they soon realize that rotating guys at third base like Turner and Aviles would have- and likely will continue- to provide more production then Aramis Ramirez?

Sure guys like Ramirez and McGehee have the bats to rebound, and put up solid production the remainder of the season, but have we already waited to long and missed out on too much offense for it to matter anymore?

With all that being said Mike Morse's power makes him a solid pick up for those dealing with injuries or just in need of a plug and play power bat.

Brad Hawpe has shown in the past that he's a serviceable 80/20/80 bat in the heart of the order. His current OBP, and SLG are below his career marks, so there is an chance that he could continue to produce and do so at an even higher level then he is now. You may want to Hawpe on the bandwagon before it's to late, you got that Padre?

Oh gosh...moving on.

Outfield

We'll continue with our theme here;

• Group A- 19 R, 12 HR, 22 RBI, 3 SB, .346 AVG
• Group B- 33 R, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 2 SB, .229 AVG

The difference between these two groups is actually pretty staggering. Every player in group B is owned in 100% of leagues. These players have struggled at times to get going offensively, whether it be the power, the speed or the average. These guys have left managers thus far disappointed with their production. Those players are Carlos Quentin, Shin Shoo Choo and Ben Zobrist.

The combined ownership of group A, equals 100%. The hitters in this group have been largely underrated coming into this season, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE under sold their talents. The hitters in group A?

Jose Bautista.

Dear Jose-

I am sorry.

Signed-

The Entire Fantasy Baseball Industry.

But seriously that's a fantastic month's worth of production typically not seen from any player not named Albert Pujols. Since Jose Bautista isn't available in your league you may want to look at guys like Raul Ibanez 16/5/16/.307, Josh Willingham 11/5/18/2/.241 or David DeJesus 12/4/11/.273 to help make up for the sub-par performances from some of the "better" outfielders.

Pitchers-

When it comes to finding free agent pitchers, or any pitcher for that matter strikeouts are key for me. Which is why I don't own Trevor Cahill in any leagues, ARGH! Wrong about that one too I guess. Since strikeouts are king, it makes me wonder why Tim Stauffer and his 51 K  and 3.60 ERA are owned in just 5.7% of leagues! That's more K's AND a better ERA then higher percentage owned guys like- Brett Myers, Mat Latos, Travis Wood, Carlos Zambrano, Ubaldo Jimenez, John Danks, Aaron Harang, Jordan Zimmermann, Bronson Arroyo, Ted Lilly and the list goes on and on! So why aren't people taking a flier on him yet?

The message is clear. ADD Tim Stauffer!

Another fellow in the same boat with a slightly higher ERA and by slightly I mean .05 is Minnesota Twins ace Scott Baker. Let's face it, he's the best pitcher on their staff right now. His improved strike out rates have him near the top of AL pitchers in K/9. He's cut back on the walks, and held the opposition to 3 or less runs in 6 of his last 10 starts. The Twins poor bullpen and anemic- at best- offense hasn't helped much in the win department but Baker definitely deserves to be owned in more then 12.6% of leagues.

The final pitcher is a pitcher that I love to love and hate. Because he makes me want to pull my hair out, and then send him a box of chocolate and flowers all at the same time. I've mentioned him before, he's none other then Big Erv, or Ervin Santana for those don't call him that. He was a monster in May. 33 K, 3 W, 2.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP,  38 IP, 48% owned. The numbers don't lie, he can pitch well. He just has to be on. When he's on he's one of the best in the league, when he's not....well  a 10 hitter, 5 earnie night is not to far away, and with that goes my ERA....as it always does.

Next week, I'll back...all things willing and hopefully you will too.