One of my biggest regrets during draft season is not having Kevin Slowey on a single team of mine. He's never going to win any ERA titles with his susceptibility to the long ball, but his pinpoint control makes Slowey one of the bigger helps in WHIP. He's also showing signs of even bigger things to come, as he fanned 44 batters over the final 46 innings last year and has posted a sparkling 20:1 K:BB ratio over 20.1 innings this spring. He's a darkhorse candidate to win the Cy Young.
I was surprised to see Gary Sheffield released, as I considered him a sneaky fantasy pick while a full-time DH this year. It would have to be extremely frustrating to end a career stuck on 499 homers, but it would also be sweet karmic revenge for throwing my main man Barry Bonds under the bus. Prediction: Sheffield never plays baseball again.
During my NFBC draft Wednesday night, a whopping 24 relief pitchers were taken before the end of round 11. I have been shying away from my usual punting saves strategy, but I was left with no choice during this madness. I like Chris Ray quite a bit this year, but I didn't expect him to go in round 11. As for some middle relievers who I have been stashing in hopes of getting saves later while also helping in the meantime: Ryan Madson (14:0 K:BB ratio over 13.1 innings this spring), Octavio Dotel (14:2: K:BB ratio over 10 innings this spring, Jenks is somewhat shaky), Rafael Soriano (terrific when healthy, coming cheaper than expected after more injuries this spring), and Santiago Casilla (Devine looks done for, and we'll see how Ziegler does the second time around the league. His low K rate is a red flag. Casilla hasn't been all that impressive this spring, but he has upside and reminds me a lot of former A's prospect Jairo Garcia).
What if Luther Head's dad named him Richard instead?
Judging from the drafts and auctions I've been in this year, most are much higher on Scott Kazmir than I am. Listen, he might have the most upside of any pitcher in the American League, especially in the K department, but there's also plenty of downside. Maybe an offseason of rest cured him, but I can't shake the memory of how different he looked at the end of 2008. Despite striking out 94 batters over 85.1 innings, Kazmir didn't finish with a WHIP better than 1.43 in any of last year's final three months. He's reached 190 innings in just one of his four big league seasons, so he's a pretty big injury risk. He's shown improved command this spring, but this is a pitcher with a career 4.13 BB/9 mark. I'm not saying I'd avoid Kazmir, but he's certainly gone high for my taste, at least in the leagues I've been in.
For a good laugh, read this column over at newsday.com. He's another misguided soul who believes Joba Chamberlain would be more valuable throwing 70 innings than 150 (and eventually 180-200). The money quote: "Many can start; few can finish. Joba can finish. He was a great setup man, and someday he'll be a great closer. Those commodities are a lot scarcer on the market than starting pitchers." One quick glance at the discrepancy between starting pitchers' salaries versus closers' salaries makes it pretty clear which one is the "scarcer" of the two.
Jay Cutler to the Bears. Wow. We may never see a bigger trade in the NFL ever again. Top-five commodities in their prime are rarely available. I applaud Chicago and Washington for their aggressive pursuit (although now the Skins may have to deal with an unhappy Jason Campbell) and am left dumbfounded why the 49ers sat this one out. I would have traded my team's entire 2009 draft plus a first rounder next year for Cutler. This deal was flat-out robbery. I mean, this year's first round pick is just No. 18 – and one can only assume it will be lower next year with Cutler on board. Then again, ESPN's Trent Dilfer said Kyle Orton has something Cutler does not – "moxie," so what do I know anyway? Josh McDaniels might be the worst coach in NFL history before even coaching his first game.