Welcome back 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
Brian Schneider, NYM
.350 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
One of the few Mets consistently hitting is the former Nationals catcher. Schneider was out from April 24 through May 3 with an infected finger, but since coming back, he is 10-for-30 (.333).
First Base
Darin Erstad, Hou
.455 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
The former Angels star hasn’t seen much playing time this season, yet with expensive Michael Bourn struggling mightily, Erstad may begin to steal more at-bats. His productivity when doing so has to be noticed.
Second Base
Jerry Hairston Jr., Cin
.353 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 4 R
With Jeff Keppinger out with a (ouch!) fractured kneecap and regular Alex Gonzalez still sidelined, too, Hairston has become Dusty Baker’s starting shortstop. He already has eligibility at second, third and the outfield. Play him at your own risk, however.
Shortstop
Omar Vizquel, SF
.362 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 5 R
The former Cleveland Indians shortstop is going to eventually make the Hall of Fame due to his glove. Yet, the now-41-year-old recently returned from a stint on the disabled list and should be good for a dozen or more stolen bases the rest of the way.
Third Base
Doug Mientkiewicz, Pit
.357 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
The totals for the week are modest, yet the former Twin and Red Sox first baseman is beginning to see more and more time for the Bucs. This includes eligibility at third base in many leagues, a position that “Eye Chart” had played once in his previous ten years and 924 games as a major leaguer. Jose Bautista owners should be nervous, but then they've probably been nervous from the very start.
Outfield
Jayson Werth, Phi
.421 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB, 3 R
Never able to stay off the disabled list in Los Angeles, Werth used a calf injury to Shane Victorino to claim a regular role in the Phillies outfield. The loser is Geoff Jenkins in right, which isn’t a big loss at all.
Cody Ross, Fla
.250 BA, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
Don’t go nuts here, as Ross is hitting just .181 on the season. Yet, he seems poised to seize the centerfield job with the Marlins, with only struggling Alfredo Amezaga to beat out.
Matt Joyce, Det
.357 BA, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
The 23-year-old ostensibly took the spot of waived Jacque Jones. Unlike the veteran, Joyce has upside and the potential to inject some youth and enthusiasm into the moribund Tigers offense. It remains to be seen if he is truly given a chance to shine, but his first 25 career at-bats were serviceable.
Starters
Bronson Arroyo, Cin
1 W, 15 IP, 0.60 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 14 K
Arroyo allowed just one earned run in 15 innings last week, including one game started on short rest. Yes, he had an ERA of 8.63 over the seven starts prior to that, but Arroyo is better than that.
Mike Pelfrey, NYM
1 W, 13.2 IP, 1.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7 K
Pelfrey carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start, against the Nationals. Yet, he has lost his last four games and is without a win for over a month. Wait for greater consistency before taking waiver wire action in mixed leagues.
Andrew Miller, Fla
1 W, 12 IP, 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 13 K
I have already suggested a second look at Arroyo. I am not sure I can do that yet for Miller, despite three consecutive wins. He is lugging a WHIP of 1.79 this season and came into the month with an ERA over nine. Still, the strikeouts are alluring.
Reliever
Masa Kobayashi, Cle
2 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 3 K
Rafael Betancourt couldn’t hold the Tribe’s ninth-inning role, but Kobayashi may at best be at the front of the dreaded closer-by-committee. With Joe Borowski’s return just around the corner, Kobayashi-san’s value may have already peaked.
Ice
Catcher
J.R. Towles, Hou
.059 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Apprenticing under the notoriously weak hitter Brad Ausmus may not be an entirely good idea. After batting just .197 last month, Towles went downhill in May, posting a microscopic .034 mark (1-for-29).
First Base
Paul Konerko, CWS
.148 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 2 R
That one measly steal isn’t why you drafted Konerko. Neither is a .210 batting average, 70 points under his career mark. Still, there is hope, as a year ago in April, Konerko batted just .198, but improved in average, home runs and RBI in each of the next three months.
Second Base
Rickie Weeks, Mil
.118 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 2 R
A regular in this spot of the column in 2008, Weeks is still batting below the Mendoza line this season at .187. He’s not improving, following a .208 April with a .157 May to date. Another bad signal is that he has more strikeouts (30) than walks (23) this season.
Shortstop
Carlos Guillen, Det
.158 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Since the end of last season, Guillen has moved from shortstop to first base and now to third. Hopefullly, all the change isn’t affecting his hitting. Guillen began with a nice .304 in April, but just has amassed a .226 mark with no home runs this month.
Third Base
Bill Hall, Mil
.111 BA, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
After spending a considerable part of April under .200, Hall has again fallen below the line. Still, his power numbers are decent (nine home runs, 21 RBI), so you have no choice but to continue to send Hall out there.
Outfield
Curtis Granderson, Det
.105 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Overall, Granderson is hitting just .225 on the season after having been on the disabled list until making his debut on April 23. Still, it is only 80 at-bats. Same as Detroit manager Jim Leyland is doing, you need to keep Granderson in your line-up.
Gary Sheffield, Det
.083 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
I know Sheff has been great for a long time. He has also been increasingly injured and his shoulder problems are lingering. Add in the fact he has just two home runs and is batting just .190 should tell you it is time to let go.
Brad Hawpe, Col
.150 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
A standout for the World Champions last season (.291, 21 HR, 116 RBI), Hawpe has to be considered a major first half 2008 disappointment with just three home runs and a .244 average this year. Consider him a good potential trade target.
Starters
Dustin McGowan, Tor
0 W, 8.2 IP, 11.42 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 4 K
Though he finished April with a 3.57 ERA, McGowan had just one win in six starts. This past week, he had outings of 3.2 innings and five, including a five-walk game. With a 1.44 WHIP, keep him parked unless he can demonstrate consistency and results.
Johnny Cueto, Cin
0 W, 10.2 IP, 7.59 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 12 K
The weight of unmet expectations... The good news is he has 53 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. The bad news is he is carrying a 5.75 ERA and has only one win since his initial start. Be patient, but also watch matchups carefully, as Cueto shouldn’t yet be considered an automatic start.
Shawn Chacon, Hou
0 W, 9.1 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 3 K
Chacon had washed out in enough places previously (Pittsburgh, New York, Denver, etc.) that his return to earth in Houston should not be considered a surprise. Nine starts without a win (or a loss) and a 1.48 WHIP are not league-winning kinds of stats. The trend is bad with 16 runs allowed in his last 21.1 frames.
Reliever
Jason Isringhausen, StL
0 SV, 1 BS, 0-1, 2.1 IP, 11.57 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 1 K
Oddly, the 35-year-old pitched in three of four days when the deposed closer was supposedly supposed to be working out his problems. The last time, Tony La Russa sent him out in the eighth inning to protect a lead. The results were disastrous. Izzy is now on the DL, with Ryan Franklin at the front of the line. It seems unlikely that rookie Chris Perez will be handed the job. He would need Franklin to fail. Yet, Seattle fans can attest that is possible.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.