Welcome to our exclusive weekly player hot and cold feature. I recommend you
use this like I do to identify players who might be worth picking up this week, as
well as ones to consider benching or moving, perhaps.

I will be calling out names that may have eluded your notice that either could still be available on your waiver wire in a mixed league or perhaps stashed on someone’s bench in an AL- or NL-only league. I will pick anyone who is on ice, as that information can help guide your line-up selection choices.
 

FIRE
 

Catcher

John Buck, KC

.333 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R

Only because Buddy Bell continues to split time behind the plate between his two catchers, Buck and .167-hitting  Jason LaRue, is Buck not considered one of the top catchers this season. He still ranks as a major surprise. Buck’s ten home runs lead the Royals, not Mike Sweeney, Ryan Shealy, Billy Butler or Alex Gordon.
 

First Base

Dmitri Young, Was

.400 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R

Raise your hand if you thought Young’s career was toast late last season. Yeah, me too. But, the former Tiger has let his bat answer the critics of his off-field problems. Young has raised his average 110 points in his last 20 games. That’s hot!
 

Second Base

Kaz Matsui, Col

.370 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, 7 R

Once his back was healthy, the former Mets shortstop came ready to play. In just 25 games, “Little Matsui” has scored 20 runs and has 11 stolen bases. He is clearly worth mixed league consideration and might be available if dropped early on.
 

Shortstop

Brendan Harris, TB

.393 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB, 6 R

Ben Zobrist may not be heard of for some time if the well-traveled Harris continues to hit anywhere near like he has been here in 2007. Nine hits in his last four games qualifies as a hot streak. Take a look and see if he’s available in your mixed league. I nabbed him in one of my leagues on Saturday now that Mike Reynolds’ 15 minutes of fame seems to have passed.
 

Third Base

Chone Figgins, LAA

.407 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 SB, 7 R

Remember that guy drafted in the early rounds, only to go onto the disabled list with a finger injury? Then, he returned, maybe a bit too soon and proceeded to stink up the joint. Well, you probably missed your only “buy low” opportunity on Figgins. On the other hand, he is still hitting just .234 on the season, so give it a try. Don’t wait, though.
 

Outfield

Felix Pie, ChC

.393 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB, 8 R

Still angry for missing Hunter Pence in your mixed league last month? Well, here’s another chance. Pie (Pee-YAY) is also a highly-touted prospect and like Pence with the Astros, should be given a good chance to hit early in the order and play centerfield for the Cubs. Don’t wait to make a move. 

Victor Diaz, Tex

.250 BA, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R

So the average isn’t so hot, but double-digit RBIs in any week is impressive. Diaz has to compete with Marlon Byrd and Sammy Sosa for playing time for the Rangers, but Mark Teixeira’s trip to the disabled list may open up a few more at-bats. 

Alfredo Amezaga, FLA

.333 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 SB, 4 R

If you found yourself playing for the Marlins, you’d better be flexible in terms of what glove you bring to the park every day. With the ongoing set of injuries in Florida, even though Amezaga may not be leading off and playing in centerfield all season long, he will play somewhere, qualifying at both middle infield positions and outfield in many leagues.

Starters

Joe Blanton, Oak

1 W, 16.2 IP, 0.55 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 8 K

Sadly, Blanton was given only one run of support from the A’s offense across his two starts last week. As a result, he gained just one win despite having allowed just a single run himself. In a mixed league, I dropped Blanton last month as he was in a rough stretch and wish I had room to re-add him. 

Jorge Sosa, NYM

2 W, 14.2 IP, 0.61 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 9 K

In my other role, I cover the St. Louis Cardinals and I saw Sosa first-hand last season on a number of occasions giving up home runs at an amazing rate. Whatever the Mets did with Sosa in Triple-A New Orleans early this season, they should sign Fred McGriff to endorse it. I finally picked up Sosa as a free agent in the XFL (Xperts Fantasy League) last week and am thrilled. 

Kyle Lohse, Cin

1 W, 14.1 IP, 2.51 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 5 K

Three very solid starts in a row (1.54 ERA) qualify as a trend. However, Lohse was hammered, and I mean hammered (13.50 ERA) in the three before that. In between, a video session has allegedly turned Lohse’s season around. Decide for yourself.

       

Reliever

Antonio Alfonseca, Phi

3 SV, 0 BS, 1-0 W-L, 3.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 0 K

Yeah, I know his peripherals were awful before becoming closer and he didn’t fan anyone last week. But, the ancient one has saved four of five opportunities given and until Brett Myers or Tom Gordon is well, the job is Alfonseca’s. Newly-signed Jose Mesa sure isn’t going to take it away!

 

ICE
 

Catcher

Johnny Estrada, Mil

.211 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

Estrada is with his third club in three seasons, having moved from Atlanta to Arizona in 2006. With only 18 RBI on the season, he is heading for the lowest production of his career, despite the decent Brewers offense. On top of it, Estrada batted .236 in May and .217 so far here in June.

 

First Base

Richie Sexson, Sea

.100 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R

While the 36 RBI are ok, how long are you going to allow that .197 season batting average to tank the category? Eight home runs aren’t nearly enough of a swing to matter. Trade or bench.

 

Second Base

Felipe Lopez, Was

.118 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

Lopez is hitting just .240 on the season and with just three home runs and 20 RBI, his 23/85 2005 season seems like a lifetime ago. Watch to see how Lopez responds after his benching for a lack of hustle. He is on the edge of either picking it up or perhaps tossing the season in the toilet.

 

Shortstop

Stephen Drew, Ari

.063 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

This season, Drew is hitting like… a shortstop. In fact, a not very good shortstop. His .223 batting average alone is making Drew a fantasy plague, despite his pedigree. Drew hit .237 last month and .100 so far here in June, making this slump a prolonged one.

 

Third Base

Joe Crede, CWS

.083 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R

Normally, I don’t call out injured players on ice, but in this case, you may have to make a decision on Crede this week. If your league doesn’t have a disabled list, you may want to consider dropping the Sox’ third baseman. Even if he is able to return, Crede may not be able to contribute much the rest of the way. Better to grab a youngster like his replacement, Josh Fields.   

 

Outfield

Juan Pierre, LAD

.208 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R

The Dodgers #2 hitter has been dropped to the number eight spot in the lineup on the heels of a .217 June to date. Perhaps Pierre will get his game back on track, but short-term, take a look to see if you have a hot alternative on your bench.

Jermaine Dye, CWS

.118 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R

While the power numbers are OK, Dye is hitting just .234 this season. Complicating matters is the fact that he missed several games to receive injections into his knee. A prudent act would be to try to move Dye during his next hot streak if you own him. The White Sox may do the same.

Bill Hall, Mil

.167 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

I am running out of words to describe how consistently rough the Brewers’ new centerfielder’s season with the bat has been. I am sure this is at least his third, maybe fourth week “featured” here. Hall actually got his average above .280 in mid-May, but has lost 30 points since. His last home run was on May 19.

 

Starters

Robinson Tejeda, Tex

1 W, 12.1 IP, 9.49 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 11 K

How Tejeda actually managed to win a game last week is beyond me. He started out great with a 3-1, 3.82 ERA April. Since then, he’s posted an 8.57 ERA in May before this ugly week. Drop him like I did in my AL-only league. I knew I should have bid for Hideki Okajima back in April instead…. 

Chris Capuano, Mil

0 W, 11 IP, 6.55 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 15 K

Hard to argue about those 15 strikeouts. The problem is and continues to be too many baserunners. Capuano is carrying a 1.41 WHIP on the season, which can help torpedo the category if you aren’t very careful. Talk up the strikeouts and aim for a trade if you own him. 

Cliff Lee, Cle

0 W, 10.1 IP, 7.84 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 7 K

Clearly, Lee is not back to full strength from his time on the disabled list. If can afford to stash him in reserves, great, but if not, look for someone you should play. Under no circumstances should Lee be in your active lineup at this point.

 

Reliever 

Dan Wheeler, Hou

2 SV, 1 BS, 0-2, 4 IP, 13.50 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 6 K

Listen up. I know the decision to move back to Brad Lidge as Houston’s closer hasn’t exactly happened yet. Don’t hold onto Wheeler while you wait for the inevitable. He’s allowed three runs in three different appearances this month so far. Dump.     

 

Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.