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
Chris Coste, Phi
.438 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Early in the season, it was Carlos Ruiz who took at-bats away from Rod Barajas, who after hitting 21 home runs two years ago, looked like a good play back in March. Now it is Coste, who has returned again from the minors when Barajas went onto the DL after making a short, but notable splash last season.
First Base
Ben Broussard, Sea
.429 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Rightfully so, with Richie Sexson in the midst of a long slump, is Broussard stealing playing time away. Short-term results are good, but don’t expect miracles from either player.
Second Base
Ronnie Belliard, Was
.364 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
The second baseman was unwanted in the off-season, but translated a Minor League deal into a two-year contract with the Nats. The man called “Mini-Manny” by some due to his hairdo and indifferent-appearing play at times has a starting gig and has been putting up very solid numbers, including 15 RBI last month. Take a look.
Shortstop
Jack Wilson, Pit
.474 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Unfortunately, Wilson does not get to feast on the National League-worst St. Louis Cardinals staff all the time. Restrain any enthusiasm, as the former Redbirds farmhand is coming off a .219 July during which he scored just three times.
Third Base
Yunel Escobar, Atl
.421 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Some Chipper Jones owners may have held Escobar as important insurance. Now Edgar Renteria has gone onto the disabled list, Escobar is assured starter’s at-bats at shortstop, increasing his short-term value considerably.
Outfield
Nelson Cruz, Tex
.409 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 4 R
Back from spending most of June in the minors, the former Brewers prospect is hitting well. Yet, his season average is now up to .217 as a result, so there was a long way to go. Needless to say, waiting for a bit of consistency before jumping might be prudent unless you have a bench spot to spare.
Reggie Willits, LAA
.320 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 5 R
After a quick start to the season, some dropped Willits when the return of Garret Anderson was assured. Fear not, there are still at-bats for the speedster. Yet, don’t expect a repeat of his .312, 25 RBI, 18 stolen base first half.
Matt Diaz, Atl
.316 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
While he has been getting only about 50 at-bats per month, here are Diaz’ monthly averages since May - .424, .345, .321 and .417. Surely both Bobby Cox and you have room in your lineups for that kind of hitting.
Starters
Doug Davis, Ari
1 W, 15 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 10 K
Maddingly inconsistent earlier this season, Davis was relegated to the waiver wire in many mixed leagues. Since then, he has posted six consecutive quality starts (six innings or more, three runs or fewer allowed) and a second-half ERA and WHIP of 2.67 and 1.04, respectively.
Kyle Kendrick, Phi
1 W, 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 6 K
Expectations were low when Kendrick was called up from Double-A to try to help shore up the Phils’ shaky rotation. In ten starts, he has allowed three runs or less in all but two. Nothing fancy here, but decent results.
Manny Parra, Mil
0 W, 12.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 11 K
Though Yovani Gallardo received all the attention when called up by the Brewers recently, Parra also impressed in his two outings last week. With only four Triple-A appearances in his career, the former 26th-rounder is green, yet has promise.
Reliever
C.J. Wilson, Tex
2 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3 K
With Eric Gagne dispatched to Boston and Akinori Otsuka sidelined due to injury, it was expected that Joaquin Benoit would be called upon for saves. Instead, Wilson has gotten the first two and converted both. It could still be a shared role, so bid with that in mind.
Ice
Catcher
Michael Barrett, SD
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Everyone has been focusing on former batterymate Carlos Zambrano’s dramatic improvement on the mound since his fistfight with then-Cubs teammate Barrett. As a Padre, Barrett is batting just .226 with no home runs and eight RBI in 93 at-bats. An erosion in playing time could be in order.
First Base
Richie Sexson, Sea
.056 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Big Richie’s batting average has again dropped below the Mendoza Line for the season after a putrid, two home run, .165 July. Only if you can truly afford a sub-.200 hitter in your lineup should you be playing Sexson.
Second Base
Josh Barfield, Cle
.188 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
After a decent June in terms of average (.317), Barfield fell apart in July, hitting just .207 and striking out once out of every four at-bats. Bench him and look for alternatives until at least some life is demonstrated.
Shortstop
Bill Hall, Mil
.111 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Since returning after missing almost three weeks due to injury, the Brewers’ former shortstop, now centerfielder has yet to rediscover his groove. Assuming Hall is healthy, keep running him out there, especially if you don’t have better middle infield options. Don’t assume he is a 2008 keeper as an outfielder, though.
Third Base
Troy Glaus, Tor
.083 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Glaus is coming off a 2-for-24 road trip and is hitting 60 points higher at home as well as better power numbers per at-bat. If you have a way to bench him away from SkyDome, do it.
Outfield
Barry Bonds, SF
.111 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Yeah, yeah, I know. You are tired of hearing about Bonds. But, the fact is, he should not be in your active line-up unless you like losing. Since the All-Star break, Bonds is batting .170 with just three home runs.
J.D. Drew, Bos
.182 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
No matter how you cut it, Drew has been a major disappointment this season with just six home runs and a .245 batting average. I know you probably paid a lot for him, but with no long balls and a .170 average since the break, Drew needs to be riding the pines.
Ryan Freel, Cin
.235 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
With a .217 average since the break, the five stolen bases you would have received from Freel would have been most costly. With no contribution in the power departments, you at least need a decent average from him. It isn’t there.
Starters
Ian Snell, Pit
0 W, 11 IP, 7.36 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 9 K
Unless you are in a keeper league, you may want to consider dropping Snell. While he put together a stellar 2.93/1.17 first half, the five starts since the All-Star Game have been totally opposite – 8.31/1.85. One has to wonder if Snell isn't hurt.
Andrew Miller, Det
0 W, 9 IP, 8.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 9 K
The promising rookie suffered a hamstring strain bad enough to put him on the disabled list. While it was not reported to be severe, Miller was hammered in two of his last three starts. If you can reserve him, especially in keeper leagues, do so.
Sean Marshall, ChC
1 W, 8.2 IP, 8.31 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 5 K
Don’t give up on the Cubs’ talented second-year pitcher based on one bad outing, a pasting at the hands of the hot-hitting Phils at Wrigley. Prior to that, he had allowed just six runs over his last four starts.
Reliever
Kevin Gregg, Fla
2 SV, 1 BS, 0-1, 2.1 IP, 11.57 ERA, 3.43 WHIP, 4 K
Though Gregg had a loss and blown save this week and was scored upon in two of his three outings, overall he has been pitching just fine. The blown save was just his second of the season. Assume this week was a blip unless problems continue.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.