Fantasy Baseball: Thursday News and Notes

The lame duck status of a manager always amuses me. Whether it is a college football coach making his way to a bowl game after taking another job or simply a guy playing out the string, letting a person stay on that has no real vested interest makes little sense. That is what the Indians are going to do with Eric Wedge.

After dismissing Wedge and firing the entire coaching staff, the team is either letting him stay on or he agreed to stay on to finish out the weekend.

How often do you see a person let go and then go back to the office for a few more days? Unless it is an actual layoff, it is pretty rare. In sports, you know it means that the inmates will be running the asylum for a while.

Wedge should walk away relatively proud, and he deserves another shot to manage. Not many managers would have won this year without the list of players he lost due to injury. Curious, though, what the difference is between the expectations they had in Cleveland and the ones that Jerry Manuel has failed to live up to for consecutive years.

On to the notes.

Wednesday Rewind

• There is no way not to lead with Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins starter struck out nine consecutive Braves last night and whiffed 16 overall in 7.2 innings. This season, he ended up throwing 185 innings and striking out 195 batters to go with his 13 wins. There was no way for his ERA to recover after the disaster of a beginning, but owners should be encouraged with his performance after his recall. He went 11-4 from June on and held batters to a .231 BAA after the break.
• Freddy Sanchez will undergo surgery on his knee that has had him in and out of the lineup for the Giants. Sanchez was brought over to help push the Giants into the playoffs, but was sidelined far too often. While his season is over, he is expected to be ready to go by spring training. Yes, it is already being talked about.
• Roy Halladay did pitch well last night, but he faced the Red Sox JV squad. The only regulars in the lineup for Boston last night were David Ortiz and Alex Gonzalez. Congratulations to you if you were able to capitalize on this one. Halladay has pitched well in three consecutive starts after having problems all through August and in to early September.
• Nolasco did not have the only impressive performance last night. Brandon Morrow worked eight innings, giving up just one hit and two walks to Oakland while striking out nine. Morrow has improved in each of his last three outings. He was expected to start at the beginning of the season, but injuries held him back again. Look for his breakout year in 2010.
• There is reason to be bullish on Clayton Richard at the back of the Padres' rotation next season. Since coming over in the trade for Jake Peavy, he has gone 5-2. His September ERA was 3.90, while the August numbers were largely skewed by one bad outing against Atlanta. He has given up just two earned runs in his last 19 innings, pitching against two playoff teams in the process.
• Jamie Moyer is done for the season. The pitcher will require shoulder surgery that will keep him out through the playoffs. Moyer was a solid spot-start option for owners in deeper leagues, but at 48 next year and recovering from surgery, his days as a useful fantasy player in any respect have come to a complete end (unless he pitches against Florida).
• Couple things to actually like about the Texas-Los Angeles game last night. Julio Borbon hit leadoff again for the Rangers last night. In his four at-bats, he saw 22 pitches and drew one walk. Borbon's ability to work counts and pitchers is going to be a benefit for the Rangers moving in to next year. With his speed, he gives Texas an option rather than re-signing Marlon Byrd.
• Mark Buehrle pitched an effective game against the Indians last night, working six solid innings and giving up just three hits and no runs. Buehrle is done for the season, but ends with 13 wins and an ERA of 3.84. Since 2001, he has recorded double-digit wins every season. This year, his strikeout numbers fell off quickly. In 2008, he had a K/9 number of 5.77 after a 5.20 number in 2007. This year, that figure dropped to 4.44.
• There are only so many ways to discuss how impressive Bronson Arroyo has been since the All-Star break. His ERA since then is 2.34, even if the record is only 5-5. He has allowed two runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts. Arroyo grabbed the win last night, as the Reds gave him run support.

Thursday Notes

• Scott Baker gets the ball for the Twins against the Tigers, but this is a matchup to avoid. Baker is 0-1 in three starts against Detroit, and he has given up 10 runs in his last nine innings against them. He is 8-4 on the road this season, but his 4.50 ERA does not shout confidence. Curtis Granderson, Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco have all seen him at least 30 times and not one is hitting above .235.
• Ugly numbers for the Orioles against Matt Garza. There is no one worth starting in this one. Brian Roberts is just 4-for-21, but he does have two home runs in those four hits. Nick Markakis has been bad as well, posting a .150 average in 20 at-bats. AL-only owners should avoid Melvin Mora as well, given his 1-for-18.
• Between pitching on the road and against the Angels, Kevin Millwood could be a stretch tomorrow. Millwood is 1-1 in four starts against the Angels, but has given up 35 hits in 23.2 innings to go with 17 earned runs. On the road, he has been roughed up, going 4-7 with a 4.35 road ERA. In other words, start your Angels. Only Chone Figgins should be benched, as he is 6-for-38 against Millwood.
• The only Diamondback with decent numbers against Tim Lincecum is Justin Upton. He has gone 6-for-17 against the pitcher. Look to avoid as many as you can otherwise. Mark Reynolds is only 2-for-13, and Stephen Drew is just 3-for-23 when facing the Cy Young candidate.
• Jon Lester feels he should be good to go against the Indians. He threw a side session on Monday and thinks that the start should be set. Lester is 6-3 at home this season and has gone 4-1 in September. All good signs for certain, but this is one start where owners in tight races should be careful.
• John Lackey has struggled against the Rangers, having gone just 1-2 this season in four starts with a 6.75 ERA and .316 BAA. All your regular Rangers are worth a start in this one, as just Ivan Rodriguez and Omar Vizquel are below .300 against Lackey. Start as many as you can in this one.
• All signs remain positive on Chris Carpenter, so owners would be advised to avoid all their Reds in this one. Carpenter is 8-2 on the road this season, posting a 2.15 ERA and a .200 BAA in those starts. Against the Reds, he is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA. In those three outings, he has allowed just 16 hits in 23 innings.
• Aaron Cook will get the start for the Rockies against the Padres. Cook returned last week and pitched well in his first start back. He reported no problems with his shoulder and draws a favorable matchup against the Brewers. Cook has thrown the ball well at home, and is a decent spot play in deep leagues where owners could use a win.
• The Giants do not have great numbers against Dan Haren, but Haren has struggled in his last two outings. He has given up five earned in each of his last two starts. Still, avoid Randy Winn, as he is only 7-for-41 against Haren. Aaron Rowand is a bust as well, and though Juan Uribe has been red-hot, he is only 2-for-10 against Haren.
• Spot Starts: Brett Anderson, Aaron Cook

Friday Notes

• Edwin Jackson has not had the best luck against the White Sox. He has given up 20 hits in 19 innings of work to go along with nine walks. Factor in 10 earned runs in this stretch, and it looks scary. Still, five of those runs came in his last outing. He is still 7-2 at home this season, and the strikeout numbers will still help.
• Ubaldo Jimenez has been a nice surprise, but the Dodgers have seemingly had his number all season long. Look to get many of them in your lineup. Even Russell Martin is 8-for-21 against the Colorado starter. Only Manny Ramirez has struggled, posting just one hit in nine at-bats. How bad has Jimenez been against the Dodgers? Try 0-3 in four starts with 19 earned runs allowed in 22 innings.
• Derek Lowe's numbers against the Nationals look worse than they are, as he was roughed up by them early this season. He has given up five earned runs against them in his last 13 innings of work. Still, he has struggled of late, giving up at least three earned runs in six of his last eight starts. Only once in that span has he worked beyond the sixth inning.
• Joe Blanton has been very tough at home, going 7-3 in 2009. He has also been effective against most of the Florida Marlins. Look to avoid Dan Uggla, Emilio Bonifacio, and Jeremy Hermida, as none have been particularly good against Blanton. Nick Johnson hopes to be back this weekend, and if available he is a good start here. Johnson is 7-for-16 against Blanton.
• Braden Looper might get you a win on the road, but it is likely going to cost you in ERA. He is 9-3, but has posted a 5.25 ERA and .3-2 BAA away from home. The key will be in how St. Louis approaches the weekend. Regardless, you will want to avoid the 2-for-20 of Mark DeRosa.
• Spot Starts: Randy Wolf, Kevin Correia, David Purcey

Collin Hager writes The Elmhurst Pub fantasy blog. You can get your questions answered by sending an e-mail to [e-mail]. He's also on Twitter @TheRoundtable.