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
Chris Coste, Phi
.385 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
About any Phillies player had a big week last week, but when it is the second-string catcher, it is worth taking note. Overall, Coste is hitting .341 with 16 RBIs in just 91 at-bats this season.
First Base
Aaron Boone, Was
.240 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
Big brother Bret officially retired this week, but Aaron made it back from baseball’s graveyard. With Nick the Sick and Ryan Zimmerman both out, Boone will continue to see time on both corners, sharing the former with another fragile player, Dmitri Young.
Second Base
Alexi Casilla, Min
.400 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 2 R
That’s 12 RBI in the last two weeks from Casilla, recently called up from Triple-A by the Twins. Being listed here in consecutive periods likely signals that he is gone from your league’s waiver wire.
Shortstop
Luis Rivas, Pit
.333 BA, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
The former Twins second baseman continues to grab miscellaneous bits of playing time for a Pirates team again going nowhere. Though Jack Wilson is back from the disabled list, his knee is bothering him again. As I type this, Rivas tripled and hit a grand slam on Saturday, which obviously aren’t even included in the numbers above.
Third Base
Greg Dobbs, Phi
.444 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Also qualifying at first base and outfield in many leagues, Dobbs still doesn’t see enough playing time to be of value in all but deep NL-format leagues. Yet, if Pedro Feliz drops off, Dobbs could see more time down the stretch.
Outfield
Brad Wilkerson, Tor
.318 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
OK, it was a solid week for the ex-Ranger, Mariner, National/Expo, etc. But, no one had him in their lineups and by the time one reacts, Wilkerson will revert to the .226 hitter we all know so well.
Jerry Hairston, Cin
.407 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 6 SB, 7 R
Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Hairston has had exactly one season with more than 300 at-bats since 2002, yet he is on pace to do so this year and is hitting .345 on top of it. Midnight may soon be upon him, however.
Ryan Spilborghs, Col
.360 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 5 R
From the aforementioned injuries to regular Rockies starting corner outfielders Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe and the inconsistency of centerfielder Willy Taveras comes opportunity for playing time. Spilborghs is making the most of it. Grab him while he’s hot.
Starters
Phil Dumatrait, Pit
1 W, 12.2 IP, 0.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 11 K
The former Cincinnati Reds hurler has quietly slipped into a consistent groove for the lowly Pirates. Dumatrait allowed just one unearned run in seven innings at Great American Ball Park and held the Cubs’ high-powered offense to one run over 5.2 frames at home this past week. Hold off in mixed leagues yet, though.
Kyle Lohse, StL
2 W, 12 IP, 0.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 K
Lohse isn’t going to do much to help fantasy owners in strikeouts, yet with a decent Cardinals offense and defense behind him, he is proving to be a solid six-inning pitcher this season. With five wins to date, he is over halfway to his 2007 total of nine, registered with Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
Kevin Slowey, Min
1 W, 9 IP, 1.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6 K
Normally, I highlight two-start pitchers here, but Slowey’s first major league complete game indicates he shouldn’t be skipped over. Despite a non-memorable 2-4 record, the 24-year-old sophomore is carrying a solid 3.38 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Take a look.
Reliever
Salomon Torres, Mil
3 SV, 0 BS, 1-0 W-L, 4 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 WHIP, 3 K
It seems like Torres surfaces at least once a year to serve as an interim closer. When Eric Gagne imploded, the 36-year-old was ready to step in with an impressive three saves and one win this past week. Not only did he not give up a run, he allowed just one baserunner in four outings.
Ice
Catcher
Jason Varitek, Bos
.000 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
No longer an elite fantasy catcher, Varitek’s average has dropped 36 points in the last ten days, three of which he sat out. He also has just 19 RBI on the season, or about half of Geovany Soto or Bengie Molina.
First Base
Kevin Youkilis, Bos
.077 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R
Overall, Youk is having a solid season, but he is dealing with soreness on the top of one of his hands. That has him in a 1-for-17 funk. Consider a short-term benching if you have a better option available.
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia, Bos
.083 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Ten days ago, Pedroia was hitting above .300. Now, he has fallen below .280 on the heels of a .254 month. Yet, his other categories – runs, home runs, RBI – are all up in May over April.
Shortstop
Stephen Drew, Ari
.161 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Continuing a theme here, Drew’s average has dropped 24 points in the last ten days. Yet, the reality is that his power numbers are up in May while his average and runs scored are comparable to April. He has yet to attempt a stolen base this season.
Third Base
Garrett Atkins, Col
.056 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
In fairness to Atkins, he has been battling back spasms and a stiff neck. Yet, with Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday on the shelf, the Rockies need his bat. Instead, Atkins’ May production is just two home runs and nine RBIs after going 6/21 in April.
Outfield
Delmon Young, Min
.056 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
So what if his consecutive games played streak was broken? The fact is that based on his pedestrian play this season, Young should have been sat down sooner. He is hitting just .257 and is still looking for his first home run of the year.
Nick Swisher, CWS
.190 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Like teammate Paul Konerko, Swisher remains in the grip of a season-long deep slumber. He’s batting just .203 with four home runs and trending downward with a .180 average and a single long ball over the entire month of May.
Raul Ibanez, Sea
.043 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
In what has to be considered an amazing feat, over the last two weeks, Ibanez has twice as many RBIs, six, as he does hits, three. That is certainly worth a second consecutive mention here. And you probably though that Richie Sexson was the only batting average black hole in Seattle. Not so.
Starters
Luke Hochevar, KC
0 W, 11.1 IP, 7.15 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, 7 K
The former first-rounder generated a lot of attention when called up in mid-April and followed with wins in three of his first five starts. Since, Hochevar has yielded 13 runs over his last three outings. He should be a fine MLB player at some point, just not now.
Daniel Cabrera, Bal
0 W, 12.2 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 3 K
It seemed like Cabrera was ready to step up and leave his wildly inconsistent ways behind. Then, he allowed nine hits and six walks in an ugly loss to Tampa Bay, but did come back to give up just two runs in seven innings against the Red Sox. Don’t give up on him.
Brad Penny, LAD
0 W, 11 IP, 7.36 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 7 K
Once considered a reliable starter, Penny has served up an alarming 29 earned runs over his last five starts, losing four of them along with a no-decision. Keep him reserved until he gets his act together or if you don’t have the bench space, don’t be afraid to cut him.
Reliever
Ryan Franklin, StL
2 SV, 0 BS, 0-0, 1.1 IP, 13.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 1 K
Those two saves were pretty expensive in terms of ERA and WHIP. While Jason Isringhausen is in Florida trying to get his act together, Franklin will still get the save opportunities unless he totally comes apart. It could happen, so NL leaguers should hold onto emerging closer Chris Perez, especially in keeper leagues.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.