There are a ton of moves this week. I'm going to focus on September call-ups that have a good change of getting some real playing time or have value from a keeper perspective. I have some other comments, but there is no way that I can go over every move in a timely manner. Before I begin, I'd like to talk about a strategy of picking up September call-ups to boost your place in the standings.

The benefits of spending money on a September call-up are many. These players have an extra incentive to do well. They are playing for a chance on the Major League roster next year. After five grueling months, the veterans are nearly out of gas and that adrenalin boost is critical. Youth is not as affected by the workload.

From a tactical perspective, the average owner doesn't have much FAAB left, so he cannot make a move. It is also difficult to give up on someone you have had on your roster all season for someone new in September. Certainly, things are different in a keeper league where you might be able to pick someone up now that is a major part of your roster two, three years down the line.

The risks are high. Playing time is not guaranteed. On the other hand, the upside can also be very high. If you are risk adverse, this isn't the strategy you want to take.

With that in mind, let's take a look and see what we can find.

Athletics reinstated DH Mike Sweeney from the 60-day DL and transferred DH Frank Thomas to the 60-day DL.

Sure, a big introduction where I talk about focusing on September call-ups and I start with a transaction about a 40-year-old veteran. I just take the transactions in order. First in, first out.

Normally I do not write about the transfer of a player from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list, but in this case, I've made an exception. The Big Hurt was seen clearing out his locker before the announcement was made of the transfer, and it made me sad. Many fantasy dollars have been spent on Frank Thomas since he was first added to the White Sox roster in 1990. For many years he was the backbone of many successful fantasy baseball teams. All good things must come to an end, and I'm pretty sure that Thomas' career is now complete. Assuming he retires, his career batting average is .301 with 521 home runs. He's a pretty sure bet to make the Hall of Fame.

Braves purchased the contract of RHP James Parr and recalled RHP Charlie Morton.

James Parr is a forth-round pick that might get a start at some point this month to see what he can do. Morton rejoined the rotation and still cannot find success at the Major League level. He is worth picking up if you are in a keeper league playing for next year.

Orioles recalled RHPs Kam Mickolio, Bob McCrory, and Radhames Liz from Triple-A Norfolk.

Mickolio has been very good after his promotion to Triple-A. He had a 4.70 ERA in Double-A but a 1.80 ERA in Triple-A. He has Major League stuff. Unfortunately, he is a reliever. Liz is back in the rotation for the rest of the year. If his 7.91 ERA doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

White Sox recalled INF Josh Fields from Triple-A Charlotte.

Fields' season has been a disaster after loosing out to Joe Crede for the third base job this past spring. He does have a very good chance of playing everyday as there are mixed messages about Joe Crede's back. Crede says he is day-to-day. Ozzie Guillen says that he is done for the season.

Reds recalled RHP Ramon Ramirez from Single-A Sarasota.

The Reds did a little bit of trickery. Ramirez was called up to make his first start on the 29th of August where he gave up three runs over seven innings while striking out six. They sent him down after the game, knowing that he'd be called up again in a couple of days when rosters expanded. How much time he is going to get on the mound is unknown, but he seems to be worth a flyer in a pitch-and-ditch strategy.

Indians recalled INF Michael Aubrey, RHP Tom Mastny, RHP John Meloan, RHP Brian Slocum, and LHP Rich Rundles from Triple-A Buffalo.

The Indians would seem to be a good place to find a September starter. Aubrey's injuries have sapped his power potential. He doesn't have a place to play. Meloan was a top closer prospect, and then the Dodgers tried to convert him to starting. That wasn't working, so when the Indians acquired him in the Casey Blake deal, they made him a reliever again. He is a possible candidate for closer, but not next year. Slocum and Rundles are not prospects. I guess there is nothing here.

Rockies selected the contract of OF Dexter Fowler from Double-A Tulsa.

Fowler is a good prospect for the Rockies. He is a centerfielder with good range. He lacks power, but has good speed and more importantly, get isn't afraid to take a walk. He is a potential lead off hitter similar to Willy Taveras. The question you need to ask is if he is going to play this month. Right now, the answer is no. The Rockies are still in it as they are only six games behind. If the Rockies falter, I think he will start the rest of the way.

Rockies recalled INF Joe Koshansky, C Edwin Bellorin, and RHP Jason Hirsh from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Bellorin hit .293 in Triple-A, but he is too old at 26 to be a real prospect. Koshansky has been up before. Yes, he hit .300 with 31 home runs in Triple-A, but he doesn't have any success at the Major League level. Hirsh has been pitching through a strained rotator cuff. He'll fight for a spot in the rotation next year.

Tigers recalled RHP Chris Lambert from Triple-A Toledo.

Lambert is a first-round pick with a high-80's fastball, slider, curve and changeup. He's had two poor starts so far, but the Tigers will keep him in the rotation to see what he can do. He might give you wins because of the Tigers' bats.

Tigers purchased the contract of C Dusty Ryan.

Ryan will not play much this September, but he has been invited to attend the Arizona Fall League, so he is a candidate to be the backup in Detroit next season. He hit only .266 in Double- and Triple-A this year, but he did hit with authority. Some good play here could go a long ways towards real playing time next year.

Astros activated INF Kazuo Matsui from the 15-day DL.

Activate him if you want his steals.

Dodgers recalled LHP Clayton Kershaw from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Kershaw was sent down on the 29th, but only because they could knowing that they would bring him up when rosters expanded. He never really left the rotation. Could one of your opponents missed this? Possibly.

Yankees activated RHP Joba Chamberlain and RHP Dan Giese from the 15-day DL.

There is more drama in the Yankees' front office about the role that Chamberlain will have next year. Is he a starter or a reliever? You'll just have to wait and see (again). Giese will pitch out of the bullpen, but could rejoin the rotation.

Athletics selected LHP Josh Outman from Triple-A Sacramento.

We will have to see what the A's plan to do with Outman. He was a starter, but was moved to the bullpen when he suffered from some control problems. He was traded to the A's and they returned him to his previous role. The A's intend him to both start and relieve and see how he does. If he is successful one way or the other that will be the final answer.

Giants recalled OF Nate Schierholtz from Triple-A Fresno.

It looks like Nate Schierholtz with not only start in 2009, but for the rest of the 2008 season. He looks to be a 15/15 player with a good average.

Mariners selected the contract of INF Matt Tuiasosopo from Triple-A Tacoma.

Tuiasosopo had a solid year as a 22 year-old in Triple-A. He hit .281 with 13 home runs and a healthy .364 OBP. Adrian Beltre is signed through 2009, so Tuiasosopo doesn't have a spot until then unless the Mariners can dump Beltre. So, it looks like Triple-A again next year for at least half a season and a full-time job in 2010.

Rays activated RHP Troy Percival from the 15-day DL.

He will return to his role as closer.

Orioles activated OF Adam Jones from the 15-day DL.

Jones missed a month with a broken foot and will return to his spot in centerfield and the #2 spot in the lineup.

Brewers purchased the contract of INF Mat Gamel from Triple-A Nashville.

Baseball America considers Gamel the best hitter in the minor leagues. In fact, he looks like the next Ryan Braun. He can hit for average and power. He will steal a couple of bases here and there. He has good range, but has trouble throwing the ball. Sounds just like Braun, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the difference between Gamel and Braun is that there is no place left to high a bad glove. If Gamel cannot play third, then they are in trouble. The 22-year-old hit .329 with 19 home runs in Triple-A. If the Brewers really want to catch the Cubs maybe they want to replace Billy Hall with someone who can hit more than .226. Right now Gamel will pinch hit, but I think if the Brewers find themselves in a pinch, the are going to have to go with Gamel.

Brewers purchased the Contract of C Angel Salome from Double-A Huntsville.

The Brewers look like they have their replacement for Jason Kendall. Angel Salome hit .360 with 13 home runs as a 22 year-old in Double-A. He isn't going to get any real playing time this year. Jason Kendall played in 110 games, so he automatically gets his option approved. Therefore Salome will finally get a chance to start in 2010. It would seem to be a shame for Salome to sit on the bench, so he'll play in Triple-A next year to get full-time at-bats. Two years might be too long to hold a player on your roster, but if you can, he looks like a very solid hitting prospect in a hitting weak position.

Phillies purchased the contracts of OF Greg Golson and C Lou Marson from Double-A Reading.

Golson has much speed so he is an interesting fantasy play, but he strikes out too much and doesn't hit for a high enough batting average. Marson is also very interesting. Although he has no power or speed, he does hit for average and walked 54 times while striking out 48. That gave him a .444 on-base percentage. Those are solid numbers for a 22 year-old in Double-A. Neither one will play now or be on the Major League roster to start the season next year, but both could eventually have starting roles.

Padres purchased the contracts of INF Matt Antonelli and LHP Wade LeBlanc from Triple-A Portland.

Antonelli had a terrible year, hitting only .215, but he did walk 76 times in 451 at-bats, giving him an OBP of .335. He is going to start everyday, so he might be worth the risk. If you remember, he was supposed to be the starting second baseman and lost his job to Tadahito Iguchi late in the spring. Maybe the playing time will be the motivation to get his batting average over the Mendoza line. LeBlanc will get some time in the rotation to see if he can help there.

Rangers recalled C Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Oklahoma.

Taylor Teagarden is expected to be the #2 behind Gerald Laird. Next year he'll back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Diamondbacks acquired INF David Eckstein from the Blue Jays in exchange for RHP Chad Beck and placed him on the 40-man roster.

Good news for Eckstein owners as he will play every day.

Dodgers placed 2B Jeff Kent on 15-day DL with torn cartilage in left knee and recalled INF Chin-Lung Hu from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The surgery went very well, and Kent is expected to return at the end of the month, so the season is not quite over for him. Hu will replace him.

Tout Wars Update

It has been a rough week for me. I started the week at 71.5 points, and now I'm at 65. That also means I dropped from fourth to seventh. I've lost points in both ERA and AVE, so I can easily move up. I'm likely to loose my #1 spot in strikeouts, but I have over 100 strikeouts between #2 and #3, so I should be okay there.

From a week-to-week perspective, I've had a great week, but others have done better. Like I said, I can find 10 points, but I need my opponents to help me. Right now, they aren't.

I don't want to read too much into this at this point. I still have four weeks to go.