We’ve haven’t done a hot and cold list this season yet, so why not? With the solstice coming up next week, what better time for another installment of Spikes Up’s Stars and Spikes column?

STARS

• He’s coming and he’s coming fast. David Murphy, a Red Sox outfield prospect, was recently promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket and he’s stepped up the level of his play since the move. After doubling and tripling on Thursday night, he now has nine extra-base hits in his first 49 at-bats of Triple-A ball. Murphy, the Bosox’s first round pick in 2003, is batting over .325 and has as many walks as strikeouts with the Paw Sox. I smell a September call-up possibility for the 24-year-old. 
• OK, he’s 0-for-7 in the past two games, which hardly qualifies anyone for the hot list, but Rockies’ outfielder Brad Hawpe gets the call for his breakout season. He’s in the NL top 10 in OPS, batting and slugging, is on pace for his first 30 HR-season, and is now starting to earn PT against lefties. It’s about time for baseball to notice that this guy can rake. 
• Chin-hui Tsao was the Rockies’ closer at the start of 2005 before undergoing season-ending surgery to fix his rotator cuff. Well, he’s back now, looking very good in his bullpen sessions and might start throwing to live hitters next week if he keeps making progress. Tsao just turned 25, so he could still have a future, especially if he makes his way out of Colorado. 
• Everything is coming up roses for Brad Lincoln these days. Taken fourth overall by the Pirates in last week’s first-year player draft, the righty has now been announced as a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, college baseball’s top honor. Lincoln has a 1.69 ERA for the University of Houston this season, good enough to make him the school’s first player ever to go in the top 10 of the draft. In fact, no other Conference USA player has ever been a top 10 pick. Among those who have won the Dick Howser Trophy: Alex Fernandez, Todd Helton and Mark Teixeira. Last year’s winner, Alex Gordon, was picked second overall in the 2005 draft.
• Kris Benson lost on Wednesday night, but pitched very well, scattering five hits and striking out four over six innings. In a pair of starts this month, he’s really turned things around (3.75 ERA) after a May in which his ERA was over 6.00. And no, he’s not on the hot list just because his wife is hot. But it doesn’t hurt. Send me some pics of your wife or girlfriend, and maybe you’ll make my next hot list too.
• Bruce Bochy, once the catcher for Nolan Ryan, said that Chris Young’s two previous starts, when he flirted with no-hitters each time, were the best consecutive outings he’s ever seen. In 16 IP, Young gave up a mere three hits, while striking out 12. He followed that up on Friday with 12 more Ks in just six innings to win his sixth game of the season. Many expected Young to jump to the next level after moving from hitter-friendly Ameriquest Field in Arlington to pitcher’s pal Petco Park, and he’s done the trick, shaving over a full run from his ERA. 
• Ichiro Suzuki is batting .463 over his last 134 at-bats since May 5. Is there any doubt that he represents the best possibility to break baseball’s 60-year drought of .400 hitters?

SPIKES

• Well, the good news is he’s back after missing the 2005 season because of Tommy John surgery. The bad news is that Sean Burnett looks nothing like the pitcher who stormed through the Pirates’ system and wound up winning five games in the majors in 2004 before getting hurt. Thursday night, Burnett lasted just 2.1 IP for Triple-A Indianapolis, getting lit up for five hits and six runs. The Pirates’ first rounder in 2000 (19th overall) has now dropped to 4-5 and his ERA has ballooned to 6.36 through 11 starts. With 60 hits and six homers allowed in 46.2 IP and an ugly 21/14 BB/K ratio, Burnett won’t be making it back to Pittsburgh any time soon.
• Dustin Nippert is not quite ready for prime time. After getting shelled for seven hits (including a pair of dingers), six runs and four walks in five innings on Wednesday, the towering righty was farmed out back to Triple-A. Still, considering how well he was pitching down there, the 25-year-old will find himself back in Arizona’s rotation soon enough.
• Barry Bonds’ side acted up this week, and he’s missed four straight games. I’m sorry, but he’s just not helping my team this season. A .250 BA with just 24 RBI? Dealing with his fragility is one thing, but dealing with his ineptitude is something else altogether. With 715 in the rear view mirror, didn’t you expect him to start producing? Barry, your fantasy owners are waiting.
• The Braves had lost 10 of their past 12 games before a win Saturday and are now just tied with Washington for third in the NL East. If you’re looking for a scapegoat, cast an accusing glance at their bargain-basement bullpen. Sometimes, you get what you pay for and Atlanta is in big trouble if they don’t address this situation soon. After my road trip to Turner Field a few weeks ago, I finally have a foam tomahawk. Now wouldn’t you know the club would be struggling so I barely get a chance to wield it? Life is unfair sometimes.
• Richie Sexson is in a 0-for-7 skid and has dropped to .211 for the year. You probably wouldn’t care that much if he at least was going yard, but just nine homers so far? What’s wrong with this guy? 
• First Bruce Chen lost his rotation spot. Then, on Friday, he served up a gopher ball to Canadian slugger Justin Morneau to lose the game. He’s now 0-6, 7.76. Much was made of how Leo Mazzone would help the O’s starters this year, but it stands to reason that Chen wouldn’t be one of the benefactors of Rockin’ Leo’s presence. After all, Mazzone couldn’t do much with Chen when they were both in Atlanta, either.
• Albert Pujols. Hey, this is probably the only time in his career he’ll ever be spike-worthy, but thanks a lot for dashing the hopes of every fantasy team that owns you, Al. Not very Phat of you. Meanwhile, the Cards were skidding, losing six of nine and three of four since Pujols went down before a huge comeback win Friday got them back on track.

MAILBAG

Last week, we asked for the opinions of the pitching vs. hitting debate when it comes to drafting strategies. Steve Parsons, of New York, NY, had this to say:

Hey Rob,

Although I think that one can build from solid and expensive pitching, the problem really isn't the unpredictable nature of pitching (at least not usually), it's the failure to recognize early enough how to configure the offensive side to earn the points necessary, particularly in the counting categories. A pitching-centric approach leaves one vulnerable in the pitching, to nibbles from various teams following strategies that allow other teams to earn low-cost pitching points (for years I have been able to construct excellent earning pitching staffs via a couple of non-standard and cheap means), which maximizes the pressure on the offensive side of the equation. Counting categories have to be fixed early if they are to happen at all since the marginal value of the replacement "good" bats diminishes with each game played. It's amazing (to me, anyways) that players who do extensive pre-season preparation don't also use the same care in analyzing their in-season moves; if they did, they'd realize that, for example, adding a 40-home run guy to replace your 25-home run guy might earn you a marginal bump of eight or nine home runs from here on out. That might score a point or two unless the category is bunched, but it's not going to move anyone far regardless of the apparent large difference (and be assured you'll pay as if it was a 20-home run difference).
 
I think the moral is to do everything in moderation (at least as far as expenditure, whether that be draft picks or budget dollars), and be responsive to local conditions. Above all, remember that reconfiguring to fix weakness starts now; a decent upgrade now is going to earn you more than a really good upgrade three or four weeks from now.
 
Regards,
Steve

NEXT: Spikes Up returns next week, June 19. Basketball fans should check out Three in the Key. It’s recently switched to Thursdays and will next appear on June 15.
 
Comments? Questions? Criticisms or witticisms? You can reach me at rob@creativesports.com if you’d like further information or have a question you’d like me to answer in an upcoming column. Have a suggestion for a column or want to hear analysis about a particular player? Feel free to write. I might even answer!

Rob Blackstien is a freelance writer and the principal of Pen-Ultimate (www.pen-ultimate.ca), a Toronto-based writing and editorial services firm. Position Battles, a column he writes for www.rotoworld.com, also appears on usatoday.com and foxsports.com.