Hump Day Look See: 5/20/09

originally published 5/20/2009 at www.jelletlambie.wordpress.com

It’s time again for the hump day look see, a random collection of stats and thoughts to help get you through your fantasy week. the look see will appear every Wednesday evening for the remainder of the season.

This week is shaping up to be a good one for the top two finishers in the 2005 NL Cy Young Award.

Runner-up Dontrelle Willis had an impressive showing last night, allowing one hit, two walks and no earned runs while striking out five over 6 1/3 innings en route to his victory since 2007.

Winner Chris Carpenter cruised through 5.0 innings against the Cubs Monday surrendering 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 and also holding his opponent scoreless. He threw 67 pitches on a pitch count, 41 for strikes.

Willis is owned in 2.8 percent of ESPN leagues, while Carpenter is owned by 82.7 percent. Both players are coming off injuries and/or bouts of wild uneffectiveness–an add to the watch list might be in order.

Not long ago, I was telling a friend that if the Pittsburgh Pirates' Brandon Moss didn’t get off his ass, Andrew McCutchen might get the call from the minors and take his job.

I’m not sure if Moss heard me, but he’s sure acting like it. He’s 11 for his last 21 (.524) with five RBI and six runs scored in that span. I still think McCutchen will end up in the bigs before all is said and done, but Moss is beginning to make a statement that the phenoms playing time should come at someone else’s expense.

Juan Pierre is taking advantage of his new found playing time. In his last 15 games, Pierre is 21-51 (.412) with 13 runs scored, nine RBI and six steals. He’s owned in almost 60 percent of ESPN leagues, that number was 27 percent 10 days ago.

Glen Perkins found his way out of Minnesota via the DL after another rough outing earlier this week. The left-hander began the season with three-straight eight-inning starts in which he allowed two earned runs or less. However, he has allowed four or more earned runs in each of his last five starts, including six earned runs in 2/3 innings Monday.

I don’t know what’s gotten into Joel Pineiro, but I’ll have what he’s having. The right-hander threw a three-hit shutout yesterday to improve to 5-3 with a 3.48 ERA. His victory ended a run of three-straight defeats and was his first complete game since July of 2005. Add in the fact that he has 19 total strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings pitched and a career 4.50 ERA, and it explains why so few are drinking the Kool-Aid. He’s owned in 7.7 percent of ESPN leagues–do yourself a favor, keep it that way.

Jorge De La Rosa was quietly having a very impressive, yet winless 2009…..until Monday. Coming into today’s start against the  Braves, he featured a 3.16 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 45 K’s in 43 innings pitched. Yet he was 0-3, which is tough to understand until you remember he pitches for the Rockies.

It’s safe to say De La Rosa had his second bad start of the season Monday. After an April 11 start in which he was knocked around for five earned runs in 4 2/3, he rattled off six-consecutive quality starts and had a K:BB ratio of 22 to 1 over his last two starts. Monday, however, 3 2/3, five hits, five walks and seven earned runs. The kid still has above average stuff but is still learning. There will be nights like this now and again but don’t give up on him yet. He’s owned in 12.8 percent of ESPN leagues.

The Boston Red Sox (and possibly your fantasy team) will see Kevin Youkilis and Daisuke Matsuzaka return to the roster this week.

Youk was 3-5 tonight in his first game off the DL while Matsuzaka is expected to re-join the BoSox Friday. Adjust your rosters accordingly, although keep an eye on Daisuke early. Pitchers often need a start or two against big league hitters to really get back in the groove.

Before I go, here are the top 10 hitters and pitchers in the Yahoo game from the last 7 days.

*NOTE* this is as of Thursday AM so these stats are through 5/20, and once again I don’t pick ‘em, I just print ‘em – this is according to the Yahoo rankings over the last week in a standard 5 x 5 roto league. Enjoy.

Top 10 Hitters of the last 7 days:

1 – Raul Ibanez - .429, 4 HR, 11 RBI’s, 9 Runs, 1 SB

2 – David Wright – .636, 0 HR, 10 RBI’s, 5 Runs, 5 SB

3 – Mark Teixeira – .407, 4 HR, 12 RBI’s, 6 Runs

4 – Mark Reynolds – .300, 3 HR, 5 RBI’s, 7 Runs, 5 SB (4 last night)

5 – Cody Ross – .500, 2 HR, 9 RBI’s, 7 Runs

6 – Jason Bartlett – .435, 0 HR, 8 RBI’s, 7 Runs, 3 SB

7 – Ryan Raburn – .455, 3 HR, 9 RBI’s, 5 Runs

8 – Shin-Soo Choo – .435, 2 HR, 6 RBI’s, 8 Runs

9 – B.J. Upton – .172, 2 HR, 2 RBI’s, 7 Runs, 6 SB

10 – Nate McClouth – .333, 2 HR, 6 RBI’s, 6 Runs, 2 SB

Top 10 Pitchers of the last 7 days

1 – Wandy Rodriguez – 2 Wins, 16 K’s, 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 14 IP

2 – CC Sabathia – 2 Wins, 12 K’s, 1.80 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 15 IP

3 – Justin Verlander – 1 Win, 21 K’s, 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 12 and 1/3 IP

4 – Javier Vazquez – 1 Win, 16 K’s, 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12 IP

5 – Heath Bell – 3 Saves, 8 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5 and 1/3 IP

6 – Joel Pineiro – 1 Win, 5 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 9 IP

7 – Jake Peavy – 1 Win, 8 K’s, 1.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP, 9 IP

8 – Jonathon Broxton – 1 Win, 3 Saves, 5 K’s, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 5 IP

9 – Dave Bush – 2 Wins, 9 K’s, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 13 IP

10 – Cole Hamels – 1 Win, 16 K’s, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 13 IP

Until then next time kiddies,

Hazaa

If you have comments, questions, swarmy outbursts or ideas for a future Hump Day Look See segment your comments are welcome below. If you prefer the more traditional electronic mail route you can drop me a line at [e-mail]