Rounding The Bases: April 21

Carlos Zambrano has been moved to the bullpen by the Chicago Cubs and this might not be a temporary move.  He is being moved to the pen to make room for a returning Ted Lilly, but the way he has struggled over the past year plus, he could be there in a while.

Manager Lou Piniella seems to like the idea of having Big Z and Marmol at the end of the game, and if it helps the Cubs win, it might stay that way.

Zack Greinke finally looked like the Zack Greinke we grew to know and love in 2009 on Wednesday as he kept the Blue Jays in check over seven innings.  Greinke allowed just two hits and two runs and struck out eight. 

Hopefully, this will calm some of you who have been having dizzy spells watching Greinke pitch this year and wondering why he wasn’t pitching to a 0.50 ERA yet.  There is no reason to doubt this guy’s stuff. 

Shaun Marcum continued his strong start as he had another seven-inning outing, and he allowed just three runs and struck out six.  Marcum hasn’t been a front-of-the-rotation starter from a fantasy perspective, but he has had four solid trips to the bump to begin 2010. 

I still like him as a third or fourth arm in your fantasy rotation and wouldn’t hesitate to pitch him regardless of his matchup. 

Jose Guillen cranked another home run in the first inning giving him six on the season and his batting average is now .377.  I know it seems like it is a long streak, but I promise you this isn’t going to last much longer. 

If you have an injury or something like that I can see you picking up Guillen, but I really don’t like him long term.

I would even try to trade him away and capitalize on this hot start and trade him for someone like Hunter Pence, Adam Dunn, or Carlos Quentin who are not off to great starts.

Alex Gordon hit a game-winning home run in the top of the 10th inning for the Royals today, unfortunately it was his only hit of the game.  Gordon is just returning from a fractured thumb and hopefully this is a sign that he will be able to start hitting again and perhaps the start of him turning his career around and living up to his potential. 

This is very enticing because of what we have long thought of Gordon, but I can’t advise making the move on him just yet. 

Jon Garland pitched a very good game for the Padres on Wednesday, even though it wasn’t a masterpiece from a fantasy perspective.  Garland allowed just one run over seven solid innings, the bad part was he walked two but struck out just one. 

Garland is a decent pitcher in a pitch-and-ditch capacity, but he isn’t someone that you want on your roster on a constant basis. 

Yovani Gallardo finally had a very solid outing like his owners had been hoping for.  You would have like to see him last longer than five innings, but you can’t argue with the three hits allowed, no runs allowed, and 10 strikeouts. 

This is the kind of thing this kid is capable of on a nearly-every-start basis.  He will generally go deeper into games than this, but this start is hard to be upset about considering what he has done to this point of the season. 

Rafael Furcal continues to rake and while I believe that he is capable of continuing this kind of production, it is his ability to stay on the field that worries me.  Furcal has gotten off to fast starts before until an injury has derailed what seems to be a promising campaign. 

I know that you can’t predict injuries, but when a guy has had a long line of them it has to start to come into play. 

If you have problems with your middle infield, or a need at the middle infield position, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up Furcal.  Just hold your breath every day and hope he stays on the field. 

Julio Borbon finally got himself into gear on Wednesday, with two hits (including a triple) and two stolen bases.  Borbon has one real use to your fantasy team and that is his speed on the basepaths, and so far he has been a colossal letdown. 

There is still plenty of time in the season so I wouldn’t give up on Borbon just yet, but his leash continues to get a little shorter by the day.  I would keep him in your starting lineup for a few days after this game to see if he is turning it around. 

Josh Hamilton finally hit his first home run of the season, and I still think that he is nowhere near the guy he was a couple of seasons ago.  Hamilton is batting just .250 and four of his seven RBI came in today’s game. 

If he is your third or fourth outfielder that isn’t a bad place to have him on your roster, but I am so worried about him getting injured that I do not have him on any team. 

Geovany Soto isn’t hitting for power or driving in any runs, but given the fact that he hit .218 last season, I would say his owners aren’t exactly upset by the fact that he is now hitting .333 after two hits and three walks on Wednesday. 

Soto can hit for power and the fact that he is putting the bat on the ball successfully makes me think that the homers and RBI will come if he continues to be successful. 

I’m not saying to go out and drop Matt Wieters or even Kurt Suzuki for him, but if you have Chris Iannetta or Miguel Montero on the DL, I would give Soto a try. 

Stephen Strasburg had another incredible start in AA and it just a matter of time before they at least move him up to AAA.  Strasburg allowed just one hit and one walk in five shutout innings and struck out six. 

He now has a 0.73 ERA in three starts in the minors and those of you stashing him have got to be drooling at the possibilities. 

Ian Kinsler successfully tested his injured ankle for the second straight day and will be sent on a rehab assignment starting with extended Spring Training before heading to the minor leagues.

If all goes well, you could see Kinsler back with the Rangers before the end of the month, so it seems like you will have one more scoring period without him after this one ends. 

Matt Lindstrom has now saved four straight games for the suddenly resurgent Astros and in a week’s time he has gone from useless to a reasonable fantasy closer. 

I liked Lindstrom coming into the season, but I have to say that if you can capitalize on this hot streak and work a deal for a closer on a better team I would absolutely try to make that move, perhaps someone like Andrew Bailey from Oakland who has just one save to this point of the season. 

Francisco Liriano improved to 2-0 with his second straight dominant start as he shut out the Indians over eight innings and struck out six.  Liriano scattered six hits and two walks in those eight innings, and the fact that he seems to have his control back has me very excited. 

It certainly seems in the early going that Liriano is back, and if you can try to get him from whoever owns him in your league before the price gets too high, I would at least make that try.

See what the price tag is and then email me at [e-mail] and I will tell you yes or no.

Wade Davis had another very impressive outing as the Rays’ rookie is showing that he is ready for the big leagues right away.  Davis threw six shutout innings against a better than average White Sox lineup and struck out six. 

This is the second straight start that Davis has allowed just two hits, and he is quickly becoming a very useful fantasy pitcher and if you have any need for starting pitching and Davis is out there I would make the move for him. 

Davis has faced the Red Sox, White Sox, and Yankees in his three major league starts and owns a 2.65 ERA after that.  There will certainly be some bumps in the road along the way, but it seems that Davis is legit. 

Sean Rodriguez hasn’t been playing every day, and hasn’t been incredibly successful when he has been playing, but he certainly had himself quite a night on Wednesday.  Rodriguez had three hits, including a double and a home run to go with four RBIs on the night against the White Sox. 

It appears that Rodriguez playing time will be too sporadic to have him on your fantasy team right now, but keep tabs on the kid and when he plays.  If he starts to get more regular time he will be worth adding. 

Colby Rasmus had himself quite a game as the young Cardinals center fielder had three hits including a triple and two home runs.  Rasmus is off to an impressive start as he is batting just .273 but he already has five dingers on the season and has also stolen two bases and driven in 10 runs. 

This kid is going to be a very good major league hitter for a long time, and in keeper/dynasty leagues you want him on your team.  I might not try to deal for him the day after this performance, but before too long you will want Colby Rasmus. 

Phil Hughes had his best performance in the majors as he carried a no hitter into the eighth inning, only to lose it on a laser beam back to the mound.  Hughes lasted 7.1 innings, gave up just the one hit, which turned into one run and struck out ten. 

This kid is the real deal folks, and one of the better young pitchers in the majors.  My one concern is if the Yankees will baby him and not let him pitch too many innings in 2010. 

Hughes is one of the most talented arms in all of baseball in keeper/dynasty leagues he is very valuable. 

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