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
Kelly Shoppach, Cle
.368 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
What we have here is a very strong fill-in, at least until Victor Martinez returns in a month or so and perhaps longer. Shoppach is batting .313 with 14 RBI in the 20 games since V-Mart went down.
First Base
Rich Aurilia, SF
.273 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R
The Giants’ utilityman seems to have at least one week like this every season. Yet, no one is ever playing him then and by the time one can react, it is too late. Only in a daily transactions league perhaps, could Aurilia help. He has eligibility at all four infield positions in many leagues.
Second Base
Edgar Gonzalez, SD
.417 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
30 is the number. Adrian’s older brother is now 30 years of age, having been drafted in the 30th round way back in 2000. A career minor-leaguer, Gonzalez sat and waited, not even getting the call from St. Louis last season when Adam Kennedy hit under .220 and went onto the DL. Now, in his first 125 major league at-bats, Edgar is halfway to 30 RBI.
Shortstop
Clint Barmes, Col
.500 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
Look for Barmes to become a beneficiary of Todd Helton’s back injury. After coming off the disabled list, Barmes was in a platoon situation with Jeff Baker at second for the Rockies. Now, Baker will likely take over at first, opening up time for Barmes.
Third Base
Nick Punto, Min
.333 BA, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Raise your hand if you saw this coming. Keep it up if you believe it will continue. Any hands still remaining in the air certainly are attached to members of the Punto family. The long ball was Nick’s first in a year and a month. End of discussion.
Outfield
Ryan Spilborghs, Col
.318 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 7 R
Spilborghs’ immediate opportunity is due to Willy Taveras’ quad injury, a bad one for a player who depends on his legs. Yet, the big payoff may be ahead if the rumors that Matt Holliday is on the trading block prove to be true.
Cody Ross, Fla
.433 BA, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
Despite hitting just .239 in June, Ross remains in the Marlins’ lineup most every day. He does have 36 RBI since the start of May, which justifies playing him until he stops producing.
Jerry Hairston Jr, Cin
.333 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, 6 R
While missing most of June with a broken thumb, Hairston experienced good news and bad. While Alex Gonzalez officially called it a season without ever playing, the return of Jeff Keppinger is squeezing his playing time a bit. Watch the situation and don’t be afraid to fold if Hairston does.
Starters
Edwin Jackson, TB
1 W, 14.2 IP, 2.48 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 5 K
Jackson has allowed just six runs in his last three starts combined, but his only standout outing was against the Royals. He remains too inconsistent to be counted upon in mixed leagues.
Jason Bergmann, Was
0 W, 13 IP, 2.09 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8 K
Bergmann has just one win in 13 starts for the Nats this season. Despite decent peripherals, if you care about wins (and who doesn’t?), you should look elsewhere for help,
Bronson Arroyo, Cin
2 W, 12 IP, 0.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9 K
Inconsistency, thy name is Arroyo. Here are his runs allowed in his seven starts since June 1 – 5, 4, 0, 6, 10, 1, 0. Next start is against the Cubs at Wrigley. His results at home have been bad, but on the road, they are terrible. Feeling lucky, well do ya, punk? (Yes, I know it was Eastwood, not Bronson. Humor me here…)
Reliever
Grant Balfour, TB
1 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 K
Not bad for a guy designated for assignment at the end of spring training. With Troy Percival on the disabled list, Balfour is part of a committee led by Dan Wheeler. So, there is surely room to move up.
Ice
Catcher
Kenji Johjima, Sea
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
The Bill Bavasi regime gave the Japanese catcher a fat contract extension earlier in the season and he’s done nothing since, other than lose time to top prospect Jeff Clement. Johjima had only nine at-bats last week. Consider alternatives.
First Base
Prince Fielder, Mil
.167 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
Though his team is heating up, the vegetarian is cooling off. Coming off a nine-game road trip during which he hit .056, Prince did have two hits back home on Friday. Still, his average has dropped 20 points and he has just 16 home runs, a pace far off from his total of 50 last season.
Second Base
Chone Figgins, LAA
.100 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
A 2-for-20 week is nothing to brag about, yet it happens to most at one time or another. Still, one has to be concerned. Through almost 200 at-bats, Figgins has no home runs, nine RBI, 26 runs and 14 steals. That compares to 19, 120, 174 and 93, respectively, over the last two seasons.
Shortstop
Yunel Escobar, Atl
.154 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Watch this situation carefully if you are an Escobar owner. Yunel missed five games and ultimately submitted to a cortisone shot in his non-throwing shoulder. Without time to heal, the problem could get worse before it improves.
Third Base
Aramis Ramirez, ChC
.000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
A-Ram went 0-for-17 on the week. If you count the three days he was away on a personal matter, he hasn’t had a hit since June 25 and an extra-base hit since June 23. Perhaps the personal issue is affecting his play on the field.
Outfield
Ryan Braun, Mil
.091 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Coming off a hand injury could be affecting Braun’s numbers. Specifically, while the power remains decent, his average is off 20 points in the last month. If you own him, keep him in there. If you want to make a trade offer, this is a good time to try it.
Carlos Beltran, NYM
.083 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
Beltran is in a prolonged slump, with his last long ball hit almost a month ago, on June 11. His last stolen base was on June 23 and he has fanned 11 times in his last six games. Consider a short-term benching until Carlos is back to normal.
Hunter Pence, Hou
.250 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
At least temporarily, the second-year centerfielder has been dropped from the important number two spot all the way down to number seven in Cecil Cooper’s order. Since June 8, Pence has crossed the plate only five times for the struggling Astros offense. His batting average has fallen 35 points in that period.
Starters
Tom Gorzellany, Pit
0 W, 10.2 IP, 7.59 ERA, 2.34 WHIP, 12 K
It is a nice sum of strikeouts, if you could somehow choke down a WHIP that is double what it could be. Other than Rich Hill, is there another young NL hurler that is a greater 2008 disappointment? Still, Gorz is usable at home with good matchups, but never, ever start him on the road.
Update: After this article was published, Gorzellany was demoted to Triple-A, making your line-up decision easier.
Scott Olsen, Fla
0 W, 12 IP, 8.25 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 7 K
There were whispers of decreased velocity earlier. A bigger concern is that his ERA has risen almost two runs since his last win, which was two months and 12 starts ago. Those are expensive strikeouts.
Mitchell Boggs, StL
1 W, 12 IP, 8.25 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 8 K
Those who hopped on the Cardinals rookie’s bandwagon after a six-inning, one run outing against the Royals were burned when the Mets piled on for ten earned runs the next time out. With 17 walks and 12 Ks in 28.2 innings, Boggs will soon be back in Triple-A.
Update: After this article was published, Boggs was sent down to Triple-A.
Reliever
Todd Jones, Det
1 SV, 1 BS, 0-0, 2.1 IP, 23.14 ERA, 4.29 WHIP, 1 K
Jones has been scored upon in three of his last four outings. With all the talent in the Tigers’ pen, why does Jones continue to close? Given the recent history in the Indians ninth-inning role, wouldn’t Jones be a worthy successor to Bob Wickman and Joe Borowski, in age, physique and results?
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.