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
David Ross, Cin
.412 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Granted, Ross doesn’t get to face Seattle and often (two home runs Friday), but the Reds’ catcher is hitting against about everyone. He is available in many mixed leagues.
First Base
Mike Lamb, Hou
.478 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Second week in a row here. Better get in on the action, before it is too late. Whether spelling the highly-struggling Morgan Ensberg at third or weak-kneed Lance Berkman at first, there looks to be at-bats available. Lamb is taking advantage.
Second Base
Aaron Miles, StL
.462 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
With former Angels Adam Kennedy and David Eckstein up the middle for the Cards, the switch-hitting Miles was expected to be a 2007 reserve. But, with Kennedy on the disabled list with a bad back, Miles is grabbing regular time and making the most of it. He isn’t helping in home runs and RBI, but scoring and batting average look to be potentially useful.
Shortstop
Mark Loretta, Hou
.545 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Though slowed a bit by back pain, Loretta is taking advantage of playing time opened up when Houston’s shortstop, Adam Everett, went onto the disabled list. In fact, Loretta has played all over, qualifying in many leagues at all four infield positions.
Third Base
Scott Spiezio, StL
.421 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
Though the man with the red soul patch has no permanent home on the diamond, all of the Cardinals injuries have turned Spiezio into a pseudo-regular. He already qualifies at first, third and outfield and has played at second base in recent days. Needless to say, a couple more games there and he becomes more valuable as a fill-in at least.
Outfield
Corey Hart, Mil
.393 BA, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, 9 R
Hart has been on fire since being installed in the leadoff spot for the Brewers earlier this month. He has eight long balls and seven steals in June.
Reggie Willits, LAA
.545 BA, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB, 5 R
If you are like me and dropped Willits in your mixed league, take a look and see if you can undo the damage before it is too late. With Garret Anderson sidelined again, there should be ample at-bats for Willits for the foreseeable future.
Jonny Gomes, TB
.360 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
To his credit, Gomes didn’t make a big stink when he received no playing time earlier in the season. He went down to Triple-A and came back with a vengeance. Of course, Rocco Baldelli's latest injury and Elijah Dukes’ self-destruction helped, too. Gomes may be available in your mixed league.
Starters
Mark Buehrle, CWS
1 W, 15 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 8 K
The trade winds are blowing even harder than before, but in his defense, Buehrle keeps on pitching. If you are a Buehrle owner in an AL-only league that does not allow stats to follow when a player is traded out of the league, your time to make a dump trade is now.
Daniel Cabrera, Bal
1 W, 14 IP, 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 11 K
The talented enigma dropped his season ERA under five with two decent outings this past week. However, the inconsistency is such that he cannot be counted on – yet. If Cabrera is a free agent in your league, keep an eye on him.
Micah Bowie, Was
1 W, 10.1 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 13 K
The strikeouts look great and the ERA is nice, but the WHIP is pretty ugly. Start the lefty at your own risk next week against John Smoltz in Atlanta.
Reliever
Alan Embree, Oak
1 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 4 K
While the save opportunities are not as prevalent as hoped, Embree continues to do a nice job filling in for Huston Street, whose return is still unknown. Santiago Casilla might grab a few innings, but shouldn’t get the (interim) job.
Ice
Catcher
Johnny Estrada, Mil
.190 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
The Brewers’ catcher’s home run and RBI pace are both behind his decent 2006 for Arizona (11 home runs, 71 RBI). Still, Estrada is rebounding nicely in June (.318) after a rough May (.236).
First Base
Travis Hafner, Cle
.071 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Granted, with his Indians club playing in National League parks, Hafner only received 14 at-bats. But, still 13 times, an out was recorded and he is batting just .194 all June. In 2007, Hafner is on pace for career full-season lows in home runs, RBI and batting average. In the latter category, he is over 50 points under last season.
Second Base
Julio Lugo, Bos
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
0-for-16 is never good. Nor is an average for the season below the Mendoza Line (currently .198). The fact Lugo qualifies at multiple positions only means he can screw up your numbers more frequently – if you let him. Where is that guy who hit .306 in the first half of 2006 for Tampa Bay?
Shortstop
Rafael Furcal, LAD
.154 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Furcal started the season on the disabled list, but that didn’t last long. His batting funk has, however. He has just seven stolen bases on the season and on either side of his .371 May were two terrible months – April at .203 and here in June, .213.
Third Base
Eric Chavez, Oak
.231 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Chavez looks to be on pace to roughly match his 2006 home run count of 22, but fall short of the 72 runs batted in earned last season. That isn’t saying much as both 2006 counts were Chavez’ lowest full-season totals in his career.
Outfield
Andruw Jones, Atl
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
In what may be one of the worst salary drive seasons ever, Jones went 0-for-19 this past week, dropping his season mark down to .199. His power numbers are on pace to be his worst since 1999. What can you do other than ride it out?
Jeff Francoeur, Atl
.143 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Francoeur is in the midst of an ice-cold stretch, hitting just .225 this month with 20 strikeouts in 80 at-bats. Four walks jacked his on-base percentage all the way up to .262. Bench him if you have a better alternative.
Pat Burrell, Phi
.083 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Burrell is back to being benched selectively by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. It is understandable given that Burrell is hitting under .150 since late April. Divest.
Starters
Jeff Suppan, Mil
1 W, 9.2 IP, 13.03 ERA, 2.48 WHIP, 7 K
Amazingly, the Brewers’ $42 million man won one game last week despite the ugly, ugly numbers. Suppan’s season WHIP is 1.50. He entered May with a 2.55 ERA and in the ten starts since, almost doubled that to 4.90. Need I say more?
Anthony Reyes, StL
0 W, 9.1 IP, 9.64 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 4 K
Reyes drew a lot of attention as a sleeper pick for 2007 based on his power and strikeout success in the minors. Problem is that it isn’t carrying over to the majors. Reyes just returned from a shot in Triple-A, but seems stuck between Memphis and St. Louis.
Jorge De La Rosa, KC
0 W, 9.2 IP, 13.97 ERA, 2.79 WHIP, 10 K
Let’s see. What positive can I say? I know, look at those strikeouts! Seriously, after a nice 3.83/1.21 April, bad, bad Mays and Junes followed. How bad? 6.09/1.59 then 8.27/2.08 this month so far.
Reliever
Todd Jones, Det
1 SV, 0 BS, 0-0, 3 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 2 K
The Tigers’ closer coughed up three runs to narrow a lead against Washington last week, but no harm was done other than to Jones’ numbers. Jones hasn’t blown a save since June 1, but lugs around a 5.65 ERA for the season. His job seems secure if for no other reason than there are no viable alternatives currently healthy.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.