Around the MLB Majors, May 2: Questions about Perez, Fielder, Price, and More

Is it time for the Mets to demote Oliver Perez?  Is it time to worry about Prince Fielder?  Is it time for the Rays to replace Jeff Niemann with David Price?  Let’s take a look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games.

Los Angeles (AL) vs. New York (AL)

Was CC Sabathia worth the $161 million contract given to him?  He certainly hasn’t looked like it so far this season. 

After giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk, striking out five, over 6.2 innings, he’s now at 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA. 

He’s only given up less than four earned runs in two of his six starts this season.  He got off to an extremely slow start last season as well (7.76 ERA in April). But the Yankees absolutely need him to be better.  He’ll come around, it’s just a matter of when.

Brandon Wood got a start, going 2-4 with one run.  I still don’t understand why he’s up, if he’s not going to play, but that’s just me.

Matt Palmer was significantly better in his second start, giving up one run on three hits and two walks, striking out two, over 6.1 innings.  Nice start, but he’s far from being worth using, except for in the deepest of formats.

Baltimore vs. Toronto

Adam Jones went 3-6 with one HR, one RBI, two R and one SB.  He’s now on a nine-game hitting streak, going 17-42 with three HR, seven RBI, 13 R and three SB over the streak. 

In fact, there’s only been one game during it that he has not scored a run. 

It certainly has been an amazing open to his season, hasn’t it?  While he’s this hot he’s definitely worth using in all formats. I just can’t say enough about Aaron Hill can I?  He went 2-6 with one HR, two RBI, and one R to put him at .374 with six HR, 22 RBI and 19 R.  He has multi-hit games in four of his last five games.

Cleveland vs. Detroit

Matt LaPorta got called up to sit on the bench?  Really? 

I have no clue about what I should say, because this makes no sense to me.  Hopefully, he’s in the line-up tomorrow.

Asdrubal Cabrera went 2-4 with three RBI and one R, giving him a modest three-game hitting streak.  The more impressive number is his five multi-hit games in his last eight games. 

He’s far from a top option, but could be a viable middle infielder for those in deeper formats. Curtis Granderson has a three-game hitting streak after going 2-4 with one HR, two RBI, and one R.  Over the streak, he’s 5-12 with two HR, five RBI, three R ,and one SB.

Boston vs. Tampa Bay

The Rays have given up enough games with Jeff Niemann in the rotation.  It’s just time for them to make a move. 

Niemann got shelled, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks, striking out three over three innings. 

That raised his ERA to 5.68 on the season.  Unfortunately, the prime candidate to replace him, David Price, has not been all that impressive himself (3.92 ERA after giving up two earned runs on four hits and three walks, striking out one, over 3.2 innings at Triple-A yesterday). 

Still, the time has come to make a move. Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-6 with two R and three SB.  That gives him 13 stolen bases on the season, leading the league.

Will David Ortiz ever wake up?  He went 0-2, dropping his average to .215.  Comparisons to Carlos Delgado in 2007 and early 2008 seem justified to an extent, so hold out hope that a return to greatness is on the horizon. 

Time will tell, but you obviously cannot cut him loose, no matter how much he struggles.  Just sit tight and hope for the best for now.

Kansas City vs. Minnesota

Joakim Soria returned to the mound and gave up one hit with one strikeout over 1.2 innings to pick up a victory. 

Obviously it’s safe to return him to your lineup immediately, certainly great news for owners.

Joe Mauer is not wasting any time to make an impact.  He went 4-6 with one RBI, putting him at .667 since returning from the DL.  Considering how bad the catching position has been this is a relief. 

He’s obviously safe to slide back into your lineup. It has been a struggle for Michael Cuddyer, but he showed signs of life yesterday. 

We went 2-4 with one HR, one RBI, and three R.  But, he is still just hitting .238 with two HR, eight RBI, and 11 R over 84 AB.  He’s better then that, but right, he should only be a last resort in all formats.

Chicago (AL) vs. Texas

Alexei Ramirez went 0-3 with one RBI, dropping his average to .195 with just one HR, 10 RBI, six R, and five SB.  Owners can overlook the average if he were contributing in other areas, but he simply hasn’t been. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, do not panic. 

He may just be a slow starter, as he hit .138 last April.  I know, that was in 29 AB, but trends are trends.  Hold on tight and hope for the turn to come soon. Owners simply cannot be happy right now. 

He went 1-4 with one RBI and one R after being dropped to eighth in the order.  Eighth?  Really? 

He was supposed to be this big breakout power hitter and he’s hitting .208 with five HR, 10 RBI, and 12 R. 

Those who took him gambled with a high draft pick, so you have to keep sitting tight and hope he rights the ship. For those who wanted to declare Nelson Cruz the instant breakout, that may need to be rethought. 

Over his last seven games he’s gone 5-27, dropping his average from .298 to .262.  He also has no HR, three RBI and one R over that stretch. 

Is it the end of him?  Of course not, but temper those expectations.  He can either emerge from here or regress to that Quadruple-A player he used to be referred to.  We’ll know over the next few weeks which path he takes.

Oakland vs. Seattle

Trevor Cahill was strong, giving up one run on seven hits, and three walks, striking out one over six innings.  The base runners is the big concerned.  Cahill allowed 30 base runners (hits and walks) over his past 14 innings, helping him get to his 1.73 WHIP. 

That makes him tough to use, especially with the Rangers next on the schedule. Jarrod Washburn continues to pitch well, despite taking a no decision yesterday.  He went seven innings giving up one run on five hits and two walks, striking out six, putting his ERA at 2.97. 

Did anyone see that coming?

Florida vs. Chicago (NL)

Ted Lilly was superb, giving up one run on five hits and no walks, striking out 10, over eight innings to improve to 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA on the season. 

He’s had two hiccups, giving up a total of 10 earned runs over 10 innings.  In his other three starts he’s allowed just one earned run over 21.2 innings. 

He’s a pitcher I would use in most formats, even with the inconsistency.  Next up is a start at Houston, so definitely use him if you own him. When you think power hitters on the Chicago Cubs, Ryan Theriot is probably one of the last names that comes to mind. 

Yet, after going 2-5 with one HR, two RBI and one R, he’s now homered in back-to-back games. 

In 580 AB last season he hit just one home run.  He had seven for his career entering the season.  He’s a nice player for his speed potential, but don’t get caught up in this mini power stroke.  It’s certainly a mirage.

St. Louis vs. Washington

The Cardinals gave Albery Pujols a day off, using Chris Duncan at first base.  Big mistake, as Pujols is the engine that makes the Cardinals offense go. 

The only run they scored was a home run from Colby Rasmus (2-4, one HR, one RBI, one R). 

That’s not to mention the important error that Duncan committed. Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to twenty-one games going 2-4 with one run.  He’s hitting .306 on the season, never having more then two hits in a game this season. 

The streak is nice, but the average is not overwhelming.  I wouldn’t bump him too far up your rankings because of it quite yet, despite how impressive it is.

Houston vs. Atlanta

Roy Oswalt threw just one inning and Jair Jurrjens threw two innings thanks to an extended rain delay. 

That can’t make owners too happy. Jordan Schafer went 2-5 hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season.  If they use him there a little bit more, his fantasy value should increase, though who knows. 

For as much of a splash he made early on, he hasn’t had an RBI since April 8th.  That tells me that he really shouldn’t be used in any format (outside of NL-only) until he proves he can contribute something to fantasy owners.

New York (NL) vs. Philadelphia

Something needs to be done with Oliver Perez.  Send him to the bullpen.  Send him to the minors.  Something.  Anything. 

The Mets just can’t endure any more of this.  I could rant on and on about him, but I’ll let his line talk for itself: 2.1 IP, four ER, five H, six BB, and two K.  His ERA is now at 9.97.  Enough said. 

Don’t use him in any format at this point. Raul Ibanez continues to excel, going 2-4 with two RBI and one run.  He’s like an RBI machine, now with 21 on the season and well on his way to 100 for the fourth straight season.

Colorado vs. San Francisco

Ryan Spilborghs had a huge game, going 3-4 with two HR, three RBI and three R. He plays most games, which gives him value in deeper formats and NL-only leagues, but that’s about it.

I am no Jason Marquis fan, but he certainly has proven usable thus far this season.  He went the distance giving up one run on five hits and one walk, striking out four.  He’s now 4-1 with a 3.31 ERA on the season.  His next start is a rematch with the Giants. 

Remember, he hasn’t had an ERA under 4.13 since 2004, so a regression is certainly likely. 

Proceed at your own risk. Matt Cain can’t blame run support in this one.  He took his first loss of the season, giving up five runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out three over 6 innings of work. 

This was the first time this season he gave up more than two runs in a start.  Walks have been a problem, however.  With this being his third start in which he walked four batters, this is certainly something that needs to be monitored.

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh

Micah Owings has shown flashes of usefulness, but then he tosses up a dud like this.  He yielded five runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.2 innings.  What was even worse was that he failed to register a strikeout. 

Basically, this start brought absolutely nothing positive for fantasy owners. Nate McLouth eased himself back into the lineup on 5/1, then made his splash yesterday.  He went 3-5 with one RBI, three R, and one SB, showing owners just how valuable he is.  Now, one can see that he’s healthy and that he proved he should be in your lineup in all formats.

Arizona vs. Milwaukee

Dan Haren continues at a Cy Young type clip, giving up one run on four hits and two walks, striking out 11, over eight innings to even his record at 3-3. 

With a 1.47 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 43 innings, it’s amazing that the Diamondbacks found a way to lose three of his starts. Prince Fielder went 1-3 with one RBI, leaving him homerless since April 25th, and he has scored just seven runs on the season.  This is beginning to look very reminiscent to ‘08, when he had just six HR entering May 30th, before finishing the season with 34. 

That tells me to be patient before selling low on him, because a power explosion is coming sooner or later.

San Diego vs. Los Angeles (NL)

Chris Young had a great bounceback after his disaster against Colorado (eight earned runs over three innings), giving up one run on six hits and two walks, striking out five over seven innings of work. 

He’s a good option in all formats, especially with his home ballpark, so keep using him. Matt Kemp continues to bat seventh.  I know, I’m beating a dead horse, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning over and over again.  I really just don’t get it.

Anyone have any thoughts?  Anything to add?

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM