Clearing The Bases: The Playoff Push

Fantasy baseball seasons are in the midst of the playoff push and fine-tuning your roster will be essential to post-season success.
See which under the radar players we think might help your team in this week’s Clearing The Bases column.

By George Kurtz, The Fantasy Sports Forum.com

 

Isn’t it funny what a difference a few months make?  Before the season when the news broke that Alex Rodriguez had used steroids, the media was out in storm to hang him from the highest tree.  A few months later, news comes out that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz also failed drug tests in 2003 and it barely raises a blip on the radar.  Have we just become numb to this now?  Is it becoming the norm now rather than the exception?  It does seem to be that way.  It’s hard to believe anyone right now.  Ortiz came out strong against steroids in the off-season and now he’s proven to be a do as I say, not as I do person. 

Speaking of the Red Sox, the Victor Martinez acquisition was one of the shrewdest moves made by a team at the deadline in a long time.  He hasn’t wasted any time giving their offense a much needed boost with his lethal bat.   

Pedro Martinez had his second start for Double A on Wednesday, and pitched about as well as could be expected.  He struck out nine of the first 12 batters before tiring.  Overall in AA he has given up seven earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.  This might be what Philadelphia can expect from Pedro at the major league level as well, a five inning pitcher who gives up 3-4 runs.  The Phillies have not announced if Pedro’s next start will be for Reading or for the big club.  Can this one-time superstar reach back for one last time and help a fantasy team down the stretch?  Doubt it.

 

The Yankees are in first place and playing good baseball, but one still has to think they will be looking to upgrade their pitching staff before August 31.  Sergio Mitre has pitched admirably in his three starts but the Yankees clearly need an upgrade if they are going to hold off Boston and Tampa Bay and win the AL East.  Yankees GM Brian Cashman will be scouring the waiver wire to see which starting pitchers aren’t claimed and will see if they can upgrade their number five starter. 

 

It may be time to give up on Francisco Liriano; he’s just not the same player he used to be.  He missed his last start with a forearm injury and allowed four runs in five innings and only threw 54 of 96 pitches for strikes.  He should only be kept in the deepest of keeper leagues at this point. 

The Mets are having some serious bad mojo.  We all know about the injuries they have suffered to their superstars earlier this season, but now even regular players are coming down with injuries.  Luis Castillo slipped down the dugout stairs and sprained his ankle this week, Gary Sheffield reinjured his hamstring on Wednesday while running the bases, Jonathan Niese tore his hamstring covering first base, and Jose Reyes has been sent back to New York to have an MRI which showed significant scar tissue and inflammation behind his right knee.  The Mets haven’t announced it as of yet, but it certainly looks like Reyes is done for the season.

 

Doug Davis allowed only two runs in seven innings against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.  This could’ve been an audition for a job with a contender later on this month.  Jon Garland would also be a candidate to go. 

The Red Sox signed Paul Byrd on Wednesday.  Curious move to say the least, but he will provide Boston with starting rotation insurance in case of another injury or three. 

Here is a stat you won’t believe.  Magglio Ordonez strung together multiple hit games for the first time on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Tigers face an interesting dilemma with Ordonez. They’re in a pennant race and need all the offense they can get, but they certainly don’t want to play Ordonez everyday and risk his expensive option for next season kicking in.

 

Those fantasy owners who were patient with Jimmy Rollins have certainly been rewarded since the start of July.  He has seven home runs and 24 RBIs during that span and is in the middle of hitting HRs in three straight games.

 

There is a chance Prince Fielder could be suspended for his actions after the game on Tuesday night.  For those of you who don’t know what happened, Fielder was drilled in the leg by Guillermo Mota during the ninth inning of a blowout loss.  This seemed to be in retaliation for a pitch that was close to hitting Manny Ramirez earlier in the game.  After the game was completed, Fielder had to be stopped by stadium security and his teammates from entering the Dodgers clubhouse.  You never know which way MLB will go with their suspensions, but it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Prince will be sitting a couple of games. 

Feel free to comment on this column or any other at GeorgeK@TheFantasySportsForum.com

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