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.
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
John Buck, KC
.353 BA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R
The Royals’ backstop lost considerable playing time to Miguel Olivo earlier in the season, but Olivo is getting more time at designated hitter. If you have marginal catchers, look at flipping them for a hot bat–like Buck.
First Base
Ross Gload, KC
.440 BA, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, 5 R
With the recent recall of Billy Butler from Triple-A Omaha, many thought Gload would hit the pines. Perhaps it was incentive, or maybe coincidence, but whatever the reason, Gload is on fire. Short-term corner infield help may be out there on your waiver wire.
Second Base
Mike Fontenot, ChC
.357 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
The 28-year-old seems to have quietly taken over as the Cubs starter at second base. Not only that, but Fontenot has been in the second spot in Lou Piniella’s batting order, adding to his value.
Shortstop
Mike Aviles, KC
.345 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R
I was among the many who thought Aviles’ 15 minutes of fame were over. I was wrong. Actually, the 27-year-old’s line in the majors this season (.287/.314/.487 – BA/OBP/SLG) really isn’t that different from his minor league history (.297/.338/.464) over six seasons.
Third Base
Nick Punto, Min
.423 BA, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 3 R
I dissed Punto big-time here last week. Yet, here he is again, still on fire. I still don’t believe it will continue, but he has hit in all ten games played this month and is batting .432 (16-for-37) with ten RBI. Can’t take that away from him…
Outfield
Scott Hairston, SD
.522 BA, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 8 R
Last week, brother Jerry was here. Now, Scott takes his turn. While most are marveling over Jim Edmonds’ results in Chicago, it is worth noting that Hairston has received playing time with the Padres he wouldn’t have seen if San Diego hadn’t sent Edmonds packing.
Fernando Tatis, NYM
.435 BA, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R
Formerly known for hitting two grand slams in the same inning against the same pitcher (Dodger Chan Ho Park, third inning, April 23, 1999), Tatis had just 56 at-bats in the majors since 2003 prior to this season. The injury-plagued Mets have given him a chance and to his benefit, he has delivered. Also third-base eligible in many leagues.
Denard Span, Min
.500 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 4 R
If Michael Cuddyer lingers too long on the disabled list, Span may just steal his job away. Since his end-of-June recall, he is hitting .455 (15-for-33) and has swiped a couple of bases, too.
Starters
Paul Maholm, Pit
1 W, 16 IP, 1.69 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 10 K
Pretty amazing that any pitcher for the Pirates could go nine starts without a loss, yet that is Maholm’s streak (four wins, five no-decisions). During that period, he has shaved over a run off his ERA (over five to under four). His WHIP on the season is also now below 1.30.
Dave Bush, Mil
1 W, 16 IP, 0.56 ERA, 0.44 WHIP, 20 K
That is not a typo – 20 strikeouts in 16 innings last week, including 13 Rockies in eight innings for the Inconsistent One. Still, he’s allowed just seven runs in his last five starts and through it all, Bush’s WHIP on the season is a microscopic 1.15.
Doug Davis, Ari
0 W, 14 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 11 K
Everyone remembers the thyroid cancer and the courageous return. Yet, with spotty results, Davis was dropped in many leagues. While he has only one loss in his last six starts, he has only one win, too, due to the anemic Arizona offense. Still, he has cut a full run off his ERA in that time.
Reliever
Damaso Marte, Pit
3 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 0 K
Matt Capps is on the disabled list, creating an opportunity for Marte to return to the ninth inning job he held last with the White Sox earlier this decade. In this stint with the Bucs, he is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities.
Ice
Catcher
Kenji Johjima, Sea
.083 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
I don’t recall how many times I have called Johjima out this season, but it is two weeks in a row here. Despite having been relegated to part-time duty due to the arrival of Jeff Clement, the Japanese import is still not hitting. A .216 average, three home runs and 20 RBIs on the season is it.
First Base
Paul Konerko, CWS
.133 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Konerko owners held high hopes that when he came off the disabled list that he would take off with the bat. He was activated, but his bat is still on the DL. Prior to the time off: .210/8 HR/30 RBI. Since his return: 2-for-15/1 RBI.
Second Base
Jeff Kent, LAD
.063 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Two times in three weeks here for the usually-reliable offensive second baseman, along with a .237 average since the first of May tell me that that 40-year-old may have exhausted his fuel cell. A balky back probably isn’t helping matters.
Shortstop
Khalil Greene, SD
.063 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Known as a streaky hitter, Greene is hitting, well, like a shortstop this season. A .220 batting average is a killer and the power isn’t even a redeeming factor in 2008 (eight home runs and 32 RBIs).
Third Base
Alex Gordon, KC
.130 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
Gordon is having a sophomore slump season. While respectable against righties, he’s under the Mendoza line with no homers and five RBI in 105 at-bats vs. portsiders. To add to the misery, Gordon is among the league leaders with 86 strikeouts.
Outfield
Gary Sheffield, Det
.133 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R
The 39-year-old is hitting just .200 in June and .222 on the season. Sheffield has a paltry five home runs and 18 RBI in 194 at-bats in 2008. Will he rebound in the second half or is his time past? I wonder…
Jeff Francoeur, Atl
.167 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R
That three-day demotion to Double-A didn’t seem to help at all, as Francoeur is just 2-for-12 since returning from exile. On the season, his average has fallen to .231. A number of outfielders have nine home runs and 42 RBIs, so don’t stay in love with him.
B.J. Upton, TB
.250 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 0 R
B.J. is having to bear a bad stretch, hitting just .206 (7-for-34) this month and continuing a subpar June. Since the first of last month, Upton’s batting average has fallen from .305 to .276.
Starters
John Lackey, LAA
0 W, 11.2 IP, 8.49 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 12 K
Inexplicably, Lackey was left in to give up a whopping 15 hits against the Rangers this past week. Did he do something to anger manager Mike Scioscia? The six runs he gave up in Texas was coming off five runs that the Blue Jays scored against him. Prior to this stretch, he had allowed as many as three runs in only one start in 2008, so don’t panic.
Kevin Slowey, Min
1 W, 9.2 IP, 10.24 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 7 K
Despite getting hammered for 11 earned runs in two outings this past week, Slowey managed to go 1-0 with a no-decision. He had allowed only three runs combined over his previous four starts. Prior to that, he yielded 12 runs in his first two starts in June. Jekyll and Hyde.
Zach Duke, Pit
0 W, 8.1 IP, 10.80 ERA, 2.52 WHIP, 5 K
Believe it or not, Duke came into the week with a respectable 3.88 ERA on the season. Yet, he was slapped around by divisional foes St. Louis and Milwaukee this past week. Duke’s WHIP grew to a whopping 1.58, so stay far away.
Reliever
Kerry Wood, ChC
2 SV, 1 BS, 0-1, 2 IP, 18.00 ERA, 4.00 WHIP, 1 K
Perhaps it is the finger blister that will keep him out of All-Star action, but Wood was soft last week. He allowed runs in two of his three outings and took a blown save and loss in St. Louis last weekend. Still, he has been a nice first-half surprise.
Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.