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
Dioner Navarro, TB
.333 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, 3 R
A single event – a grand slam at Yankee Stadium – made the difference between a good week and an average one. However, while the pair of steals look nice, don’t get too excited, Navarro had only one swipe before now and is hitting just .183 on the season.
First Base
Ryan Garko, Cle
.545 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 8 R
After a great start to the season, Garko struggled to the tune of .192 last month. However, in July, he’s found the mark again, extending his hitting streak to 14 games and 17 of his last 18.
Second Base
Mark Grudzielanek, KC
.357 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 9 R
Since coming off the disabled list on July 6, Grudz has hit in nine of ten games, collecting 17 hits during that time. The 37-year-old is hitting a cool .415 this month and may be a free agent worth a short-term ride.
Shortstop
Wilson Betemit, LAD
.533 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Though most of his time this season has been at third base in Chavez Ravine, the multi-talented Betemit qualifies at second and short in many leagues, too. In reality, he should be starting at third for toothless Nomar Garciaparra, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Suppose the Braves are ticked about having traded away Betemit for suspended Willy Aybar last season?
Third Base
Andy Phillips, NYY
.320 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Third base eligibility remains from 2006. While Phillips’ recent success has been nice, odds are that the Yanks will acquire a first baseman and the designated hitter at-bats will dry up when Jason Giambi returns.
Outfield
Matt Kemp, LAD
.478 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 7 R
Why did the Dodgers sign ancient Luis Gonzalez, again? While the immensely-talented Kemp is earning more playing time, it is mostly coming at the expense of also-promising Andre Ethier. Such problems to have!
Jerry Owens, CWS
.290 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 SB, 8 R
If you’re like me, you grabbed Owens early, only to give up on him when he was returned to the minors. However, any team with Scott Podsednik and Darin Erstad penciled in as starters is going to have playing time to offer. Hold onto Owens this time, at least until after the trading deadline.
Billy Butler, KC
.458 BA, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Like Owens, Butler was sent to Triple-A after a so-so debut. Yet, playing a level below iron man Mike Sweeney assured Butler of a rapid return. This time, he is making the best of it.
Starters
Adam Wainwright, StL
2 W, 14 IP, 0.64 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12 K
His Cardinals team may be going down the drain, but the 2006 post-season hero is pitching very well in their 2007 rotation. The 25-year-old has only allowed three runs in total over his last three games, all of seven innings duration. Take a look and see if Wainwright is still available in your mixed league.
Aaron Cook, Col
1 W, 13 IP, 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12 K
Cook doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, but then he doesn’t walk many either. (49 and 39 respectively in 138 innings this season.) Cook has four quality starts in his last five and is worth a gander in larger mixed leagues. Just don’t expect one strikeout per inning like this past week.
Chuck James, Atl
0 W, 13 IP, 0.69 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 8 K
Inconsistent much of the season, James has put it together recently, with only three runs allowed in total over his last four starts. However, due to a lack of run support, he had a pair of no-decisions this past week. If you need pitching help, take a look.
Reliever
Bob Howry, CHC
3 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 4 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 5 K
The window of opportunity for Howry is officially over now that regular closer Ryan Dempster has returned from the disabled list. Still, Howry performed admirably over the last month, picking up two wins, seven saves and only one blown save.
Ice
Catcher
Ivan Rodriguez, Det
.059 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Pudge was just 1-for-17 last week after coming unglued at the umpires twice in two weeks. While Rodriguez is hitting .304 on the month, he is homerless and has just three RBIs, by far his lowest-production period of the season.
First Base
Nick Swisher, Oak
.143 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Battling a shoulder problem has added to Swisher’s summer woes. He is hitting just .200 since the first of June. You should be sitting him until he can find the mark again.
Second Base
Orlando Hudson, Ari
.125 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Truth is, I could have iced Rickie Weeks for the third week in a row, but instead I went for variety. “O-Dog” is striking out one every six at-bats, roughly on par with the worst seasons of his career. The switch-hitter is batting just .200 this month, in an alternating pattern of good then bad months.
Shortstop
Orlando Cabrera, LAA
.048 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
It was too tempting not to have an all-Orlando middle infield on ice. Cabrera is having a hideous July, batting just .132 in 53 at-bats. He’ll be back, but you may want to look for a better short-term answer.
Third Base
Scott Rolen, StL
.250 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Though he has never admitted discomfort, the Cardinals third baseman had a cortisone shot in his left shoulder this last week. The 2004 Rolen was an MVP candidate, but the 2007 Rolen is slugging .371 this season, lower than light-hitting teammate, shortstop David Eckstein.
Outfield
Torii Hunter, Min
.214 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
While Hunter is in the midst of a solid season, he has been slowed a bit lately by a hamstring injury. As a result, July has been Hunter’s least-productive month of the year. Still, keep him in there.
Jason Bay, Pit
.143 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Bay has been a regular in this section of the report this season. He is hitting just .161 since June 1, so the placement is justified. Keep him at Bay (in other words, benched) until life is shown again.
Johnny Damon, NYY
.083 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 4 R
Whether he’s hurt a little or a lot shouldn’t matter to you. It is all about production. Since the start of June, Damon has been awful, hitting an even .200. Even worse, the trend is down, with a .164 mark this month, including just one extra-base hit in three weeks.
Starters
Joe Blanton, Oak
0 W, 13.1 IP, 6.08 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 5 K
Three straight losses. During each, Blanton has allowed double-digit hits. While it has been a great, unexpected season to date, you’ll be better served to sit Blanton until he shows his ship has been righted.
Jose Contreras, CWS
0 W, 13.1 IP, 10.13 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 5 K
Don’t fall victim to the trap of holding onto struggling veterans just because of their name. Contreras, for example, has just one win and eight losses in his last ten starts. He should remain on your league waiver wire.
Kenny Rogers, Det
0 W, 11.1 IP, 7.94 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 4 K
On his fourth and fifth starts of the season, the Gambler was folded by the Mariners and Royals, neither to be confused with the ’27 Yankees. Still, Rogers’ initial three starts were solid, so don’t bail yet.
Reliever
Bobby Jenks, CWS
2 SV, 2 BS, 0-0, 4.1 IP, 8.31 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 2 K
Dr. Jenks and Mr. Hyde showed up this past week as the Pale Hose’s closer alternated blown save, save, blown save and save. Still, don’t be overly concerned, as it was Jenks’ worst stretch of the season to date.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.