MLB Fantasy Baseball: Thursday News and Notes

• If this season has done nothing for fantasy owners, it has shown that there are good players ready to emerge, if they are given the opportunity to play every day. No place was this more evident than with the injury to Victor Martinez in Cleveleand. Kelly Shoppach was simply cast off by Boston, and they have to be regretting that decision. It's rarely brought up, though. Shoppach homered again last night, giving him 17 on the season, to go with a .263 average. The lack of power at the catching position is amazing. But even more amazing is that Shoppach is only 30 percent owned. Riddle me that one.
• Dan Murphy came through for the Mets again yesterday. Murphy is currently stuck in a crowded outfield, thanks to the emergence of Fernando Tatis and the recovery of Ryan Church. Add Damion Easley and Endy Chavez to that mix, and it just gets tough to manage. Murphy has done an admirable job in his brief stint with the big club. He has posted a .328 average with a couple home runs. Another one to watch heading in to next season.
• Between what I heard on ESPN, as well as what I have been reading in the Boston papers, it seems the root of Paul Byrd's early problems came in the fact he was tipping his pitches. I'm not sure I buy that as the complete explanation, especially given his solid performances at home. That said, whatever he's fixed is working. He tracked down people to help with his curveball and has been better for it. He's still available in a majority of leagues and can be counted on in fantasy playoffs as a reliable starter that will generate positive WHIP and win chances.
• Matt Garza continued his dominance over the Toronto Blue Jays last night with a stellar performance that saw him give up no runs while working into the eighth inning. He combined with two relievers on the shutout. He's now 3-1 against Toronto, with a miniscule 0.29 ERA. Seriously, if this matchup happens again, continue to bench everyone on Toronto. It's for your own good.
• David Ortiz is hitting nearly .330 in his last 15 games. Ortiz has been on a tear, belting extra-base hits like they're going out of style. He continued his solid hitting last night against New York, as did the rest of the Boston roster. Dustin Pedroia should be looked at as one of the top-four second basemen heading in to next season. You can make arguments as far as the order between Dan Uggla, Ian Kinsler, Pedroia, and Chase Utley, but the rest of the field is incredibly lagging.
• Interesting night for Greg Maddux. He did work into the sixth inning and gave up four runs. Only two of them were earned, though. Maddux gave up eight hits and walked one, for a WHIP that approached 2.00 and did not earn the win. Sort of a mixed bag. He largely didn't hurt you, but he didn't provide a whole lot of help either.
• Mark Kotsay was acquired by Boston yesterday and will start in right field today, with Jacoby Ellsbury moving to center and Coco Crisp sitting down on the bench. Kotsay's acquisition makes you think there is more to the injury of J.D. Drew than is being let on. Drew hasn't been seen in game action for a while and has struggled since his solid month of June.
• Glen Perkins has 12 wins. Let that sink in for a second, then read it again. Yes, 12 wins. He gave up four earned runs over seven innings against the Mariners last night and improved to 4-1 on the road. Perkins is now 4-0 in August and will draw a weaker A's lineup his

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