Quietly, Andruw Jones has posted a 1.003 OPS this season, with more walks (18) than strikeouts (15). It's a small sample size with 69 at-bats, and his production has been solely Arlington aided (1.209 OPS at home, .728 on the road). Still, after hitting .205 over the past two seasons, it's surprising to see some life back in his bat. He's not all that valuable in fantasy circles as a part-time player, but there isn't any good reason he shouldn't start getting more action at Marlon Byrd's expense.
I expected Johnny Cueto to really improve in 2009, and so far he has. However, he's done so with a decreased K rate (6.97 K/9), and a crazy low BABIP (.253) is largely responsible for the tidy ERA. I still like Cueto plenty long-term, but don't confuse his early season success with a true breakout.
I have no clue how Jon Gruden will be, but good riddance to Tony Kornheiser in the Monday Night Football booth. Actually bringing someone in who knows and follows football? What a novelty!
Right now, I'd rank Justin Verlander as a top-15 fantasy player.
Mike Jacobs has always had pretty extreme splits, but it's gotten ridiculous this year. He has a .588 OPS versus southpaws and a .965 OPS against right-handers – nearly a 400 point difference. This makes Jacobs' fantasy value entirely dependent on format, as he's basically a negative in mixed weekly leagues, whereas he's got plenty of value in daily ones.
It appears the situation with Conor Jackson could be serious. Apparently, some people never recover from his "Valley Fever" illness. Most do, however, but his absence could prove lengthy, and whoever is playing worse between Gerardo Parra and Chris Young may be sent down once Jackson returns.
Joe Mauer is simply unconscious right now. He might win the MVP despite missing April.
Dusty Baker is at it again, as he brought back Aaron Harang to pitch the fifth inning Monday after a lengthy 123-minute rain delay. The decision is especially curious after a four-inning relief appearance, followed by a start on three days' rest, essentially ruined his 2008 season. Hope Monday's "win" was worth it.
I really don't know what to make of B.J. Upton, who continues to disappoint in the power department. After hitting 24 homers as a 22-year-old over 474 at-bats in 2007, he hit just nine long balls last season. Still, he followed that up by going yard seven times in just 66 at-bats in the postseason, and a shoulder injury could explain the regular season output. He's obviously been slow to recover from offseason surgery, and Upton still possesses about as much fantasy upside as anyone in the game, but a .291 slugging percentage is unacceptable. He's helped offset the lack of power by stealing 14 bases, and it's encouraging his success rate has climbed, and his current BABIP (.270) is nearly 100 points below his career mark (.359), so his BA is bound to improve soon enough. Still, is he a 10-homer guy or a 30-homer one?
Everyone's favorite ambidextrous pitcher, Pat Venditte, is currently sporting a 31:1 K:BB ratio with a 1.55 GO/AO ratio over 20.0 innings in the minors. He's legitimately going to make the majors, and I can't wait.
Good article by Joe Posnanski. I agree – Joe Mauer has the best chance to bat .400 of any hitter in baseball.
Matt Cain for Dan Uggla? Please, please let this be the last year Sabean is GM of the Giants.