Welcome to our exclusive weekly player hot and cold feature. I recommend you use the information in this column like I do to identify players who might be worth picking up this week, as well as ones to consider benching or moving, perhaps.
Consider this the ultimate in short-term gratification. We’re not looking at histories of contact rates or command or anything other than what has occurred over the last week in the ten standard fantasy scoring categories, whether good or bad.
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
Miguel Montero, Ari
.417 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Chris Snyder is still the starter, but with him missing time with a respiratory problem, Montero has stepped in smartly. Those in daily transaction leagues should note that Montero appears to be Randy Johnson’s personal catcher and should be seeing more time soon.
First Base
Wes Helms, Fla
.278 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
Only because Mike Jacobs missed time with a finger injury was Helms in a position to receive 18 at-bats last week. Even in the deepest of NL-only leagues, Helms is not going to play enough to warrant a roster spot. Pass.
Second Base
Ramon Vazquez, Tex
.389 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Part of a platoon team to cover third base while Hank Blalock hit the disabled list, Vazquez’ value shot up from zero to considerable. The left-handed hitter should be seeing plenty of at-bats and also qualifies at shortstop in many leagues.
Shortstop
Luis Hernandez, Bal
.353 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 SB, 3 R
Post-Tejada, who could even name the Baltimore shortstop? Well, now the O’s have called upon the 23-year-old Hernandez, who had just 69 at-bats in his MLB debut last season and batted .290.
Third Base
Jose Bautista, Pit
.333 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 4 R
Not a bad line for a guy who is very likely sitting out there on your waiver wire, eh? To top it off, Bautista also has outfield eligibility, increasing his lineup value. With 12 RBI and 12 runs scored, he has some value, but only until he cools off again. After all, Bautista is still batting just .213 overall.
Outfield
Jack Cust, Oak
.444 BA, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Here’s the problem. Did anyone see this coming? In the weirdness that is the A’s roster, there seems to be no clarity as to who is going to take the field when. Despite leading Oakland in home runs and RBI last season, Cust is batting just .213 in 2008.
Emil Brown, Oak
.323 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
While none of us were looking, the extremely well-traveled Brown has already driven in 26 runs and is batting .291 this season. He has a decent shot at his career high in RBIs, which is 86, gathered with Kansas City in 2005. Since coming up with Pittsburgh in 1997, he has never once batted over .290, however.
Franklin Gutierrez, Cle
.409 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, 2 R
After a dreadful start to the season followed by cameo MLB appearances by two Tribe outfield prospects, Gutierrez has stepped up big time in recent days. He’s raised his average 50 points this week, collecting nine hits in his last five games.
Starters
Vicente Padilla, Tex
2 W, 14.2 IP, 0.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8 K
Last week, Padilla put together consecutive wins for the first time this season, topping the Twins at home in a complete game shutout and also besting the A’s on the road. Still his WHIP is over 1.50, so bid very cautiously.
Brian Burres, Bal
1 W, 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 9 K
In five starts on the season, Burres has posted an ERA under three, yet has two losses to go along with his three wins. Such is life pitching for the Orioles. Still, take a look if you need pitching help, and who doesn’t?
Sidney Ponson, Tex
1 W, 13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 9 K
These results represent the large Arubian’s two MLB starts this season. While he has walked just three to go with the nine strikeouts, if you think this is going to continue, I have a bridge to sell you.
Reliever
Kyle McClellan, StL
1 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 4.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 4 K
This rookie had just 20 innings above A-ball prior to the season, yet has impressed pitching coach Dave Duncan with his four-pitch repertoire. The save was a three-inning outing that didn’t usurp Jason Isringhausen’s incumbency. The reality is that unless Izzy is injured, neither McClellan nor anyone else (Ryan Franklin or Russ Springer) will get a chance to close for the Cardinals this season.
Ice
Catcher
Kenji Johjima, Sea
.077 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Let’s see. Play poorly, sign a big contract extension, then you don’t have to look over your shoulder when the next big thing comes up, at your position, nonetheless. While the contract says Jeff Clement isn’t going to take Johjima’s job, it doesn’t mean he can’t eat into playing time at DH and behind the plate.
First Base
Travis Hafner, Cle
.176 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
It has been a rough season for the Indians’ slugger, having been dropped from the third spot down to number six in the order. Hafner is batting .221 on the season with just three home runs. Over his career, Hafner heats up with the weather, so could be an excellent trade target now.
Second Base
Kelly Johnson, Atl
.063 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
The Braves’ second sacker has been dealing with a back that has been acting up on occasion this season. If you own Johnson, especially in an NL-only league, look at handcuffing either Ruben Gotay or Martin Prado. I like the latter since he also backs up the fragile Chipper Jones at third.
Shortstop
Jhonny Peralta, Cle
.111 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
A great buy-low candidate. Peralta is hitting just .229 with five home runs on the season, the former being typical for his career. Overall, he is a .226 batter out of the gate in April, but has posted a .302 mark in 281 May at-bats.
Third Base
Kevin Youkilis, Bos
.100 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 0 R
It was a tough week for Youk, going just 2-for-20, though he did contribute his first stolen base of the season. This could be his last year with third base eligibility depending on your league rules, as he played 13 games there while Mike Lowell was out.
Outfield
Manny Ramirez, Bos
.100 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R
Manny had a rough week but he’s still hitting .321 on the season. What was noteworthy is that he swiped his first stolen base since 2005, a season during which the often-indifferent one also collected one steal.
Vladimir Guerrero, LAA
.136 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
In what has to be considered a monster slump, Vlad has just two RBI in the last two-and-a-half weeks. One has to hope he isn’t hiding an injury. Keep him in there and hope for the best.
Eric Byrnes, Ari
.130 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Normally, I wouldn’t call out a guy hitting .255 with 15 RBI and 19 runs scored. Yet, Byrnes has been nursing a hamstring injury. If this lingers, which they can do, it could sap the outfielder’s edge. At this point of the season, Byrnes had six steals last year, but has only three today.
Starters
Micah Owings, Ari
0 W, 10.2 IP, 10.13 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 7 K
While his hitting has received the accolades, the reality is that the ceiling has caved in upon the D’backs youngster in recent starts. He posted two dreadful starts with 12 runs allowed last week on the heels of four consecutive wins to start the season during which Owings yielded just seven runs is total. His owners have to hope the ankle sprain gets better very soon.
Justin Germano, SD
0 W, 10.2 IP, 9.28 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 8 K
It seems like a lifetime ago that Germano had a 1.35 ERA through three starts. Now, three ugly outings later, his season ERA is now exactly five runs higher. Divest.
Livan Hernandez, Min
1 W, 9.2 IP, 7.45 ERA, 2.07 WHIP, 6 K
The large one took just his first loss of the season last week, but with a season WHIP of 1.45, Livan is just putting too many runners on base to be depended upon.
Reliever
Jason Isringhausen, StL
1 SV, 1 BS, 0-0, 1.2 IP, 10.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 1 K
Izzy has blown three saves in his last eight games, allowing 10 runs over 7.1 innings in that stretch. His season ERA is sitting at 7.11 but his job is safe. So goes being a veteran on a Tony La Russa club.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.