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
.533 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Beware of the one-week sample sizes represented in this report. The good news is that Navarro actually posted the line above. The bad news is that he is still hitting just .209 and has all of five home runs in 2007. You need more than this.
First Base
Ross Gload, KC
.417 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
First it was Mike Sweeney (sort of), then Ryan Shealy, then Alex Gordon and finally, even Billy Butler was said to be getting lined up for time at first base for the Royals. But, lately Gload has been the man and has shown he deserves more action there.
Second Base
Maicer Izturis, LAA
.333 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Izturis is quietly putting together a solid second half with a .284 average with three home runs, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored in just 88 at-bats. Not bad production for a middle infielder that may be on your league’s waiver wire.
Shortstop
Donnie Murphy, Oak
.333 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 6 R
The latest injury to regular starter Bobby Crosby opened the door and Murphy has laid down the law, with a .323 average to go along with three home runs and eight RBI this month alone.
Third Base
Mark Reynolds, Ari
.444 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
Heeees baaaaack! No one can forget his .426 average and 15 RBI in 15 May games in his big league debut. However, his next two months, during which his average was below .200, caused Reynolds to become unwrapped from many leagues. Chad Tracy’s ongoing knee problems continue to create opportunity.
Outfield
Nook Logan, Was
.462 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5 SB, 5 R
The former Detroit Tiger finally received some consistent playing time in centerfield for the Nationals and has impressed with the bat and of course, with his legs. I have held Logan all season in one expert league, only to have had him on the bench last week. Time for a change!
Ryan Spilborghs, Col
.400 BA, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 6 R
After starting the season in the minors, Spilborghs returned with an average above .300 in May. He has stayed above that every month including three straight months of batting average and power improvements. He is again keeping the pace here in August.
Rajai Davis, SF
.500 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4 SB, 7 R
The 26-year-old speed burner never seemed to get a shot with the Pirates, but the Matt Morris trade opened the golden gates of San Francisco to Davis. Getting to face his old club this past weekend and excelling had to make the success even sweeter.
Starters
Livan Hernandez, Ari
2 W, 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 5 K
Granted, it is only two starts and perhaps does little to wash away four months of 5.00 ERA/1.50 WHIP returns, but Livan did only allow three runs in 13 innings against the Dodgers and Nationals last week. Be aware the strikeouts remain down.
Joel Pineiro, StL
1 W, 12 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 6 K
I don’t know how much of the failed Red Sox’ seven innings of shut-out pitching on Thursday was the Padres’ offense and how much was Pineiro plus a touch of that old Dave Duncan magic. I don’t know that it will last, but I am pleased with my $8 NL Tout Wars acquisition so far.
Brandon McCarthy, Tex
0 W, 10.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 7 K
Once the former hot White Sox pitching prospect was shipped to the pitchers’ purgatory called Texas, he disappeared from many fantasy players’ radar. The odd stat line above indicates that McCarthy still cannot be trusted due to allowing too many baserunners.
Reliever
Alan Embree, Oak
2 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 4.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 K
There were many who didn’t believe it when the Oakland brass (Billy Beane or one of his mouthpieces) said that Huston Street would not return to closing immediately upon his return from the disabled list. Well, here’s hoping you held onto Embree as his embers have not yet been snuffed out.
Ice
Catcher
Ivan Rodriguez, Det
.188 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
As is his Tigers team, Pudge is slumping, though the catcher can partially blame a sore ankle injured last weekend. On the other hand, he has just a .234 average and a single home run for the second half.
First Base
Justin Morneau, Min
.148 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
This season, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player has alternated very average months with great ones. August’s turn looks to form as he is batting just .143 this month with no home runs or RBI, coming off a .347, 8/28 July.
Second Base
Jeff Kent, LAD
.063 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Kent has been slowed by a sore hamstring, but even so was due to cool down after a 12-game hit streak and a 39-game on-base run, the latter representing one for each of his years. Pretty impressive.
Shortstop
Stephen Drew, Ari
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
This has not been a good season at all for the brothers Drew. Stephen has been under the Mendoza Line, .195 to be exact, since the All-Star break. You can do a whole lot better.
Third Base
Troy Glaus, Tor
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Two weeks in a row and countless other mentions here for Glaus. Get out of the past and bench Glaus ASAP. He is currently 0-for-August and is batting just .184 since the break.
Outfield
Andruw Jones, Atl
.125 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
The free-agent-to-be’s perplexing season continues. After looking better in July, Jones hit bottom again here in August. He has just one extra base hit (a double), a 6:1 strikeout to walk ratio this month and a .194 average. Sadly, you can probably do better than Jones with someone off your waiver wire.
Willy Taveras, Col
.200 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
When you have a player with a strained quadriceps whose entire game is speed, you know you are in trouble. Taveras trying to play through his maladies may not be helping anyone – certainly not your team.
Grady Sizemore, Cle
.156 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
I don’t think Sizemore has ever appeared here – he is too good to appear in the “Fire” section and seemingly too consistently good to be called out here in the depths of coldness. In all fairness, Sizemore’s average and steals are down in the second half, but there is plenty of time for him to pick it back up again.
Starters
John Maine, NYM
0 W, 8 IP, 13.50 ERA, 2.13 WHIP, 5 K
The youngster was spanked by the Cubs and Braves last week and may be tiring after tossing over 140 innings so far. Maine has never pitched as many as 170 innings at any level since becoming a professional in 2002.
Jeremy Bonderman, Det
0 W, 13 IP, 9.00 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 8K
The Tigers’ ace is in a serious slump, with four straight losses culminating in an embarrassing seven-run goring by the Devil Rays on Friday. In six starts since the break, Bonderman’s ERA is 8.50 and opposing hitters are teeing off him at a .344 clip. To the bench for now.
Joe Blanton, Oak
1 W, 11 IP, 8.18 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 2 K
Two measly strikeouts in 11 innings, but he still managed a win. All in all, Blanton has been really bad lately. In his seven starts since his first outing in July, he has averaged five earned runs allowed per start with only this single victory to show for it.
Reliever
David Weathers, Cin
2 SV, 0 BS, 0-1, 3.2 IP, 12.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 1 K
That powerhouse San Diego offense manhandled the Reds closer on Friday, making for a bad week. On the season, Weathers has five blown saves, but with three in the last month and the loss last week, Weathers should soon be concerned about the artist formerly known as Everyday Eddie Guardado’s return from the disabled list.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.