LNHM: Week 6

Listening to Noise and Hearing Music: Week 6

Back again and let us start of as we did with our last entry, taking a look at how the players I recommended have done over the past two weeks.

Wil Middlebrooks: 1/25 with 3 runs and an RBI
Caleb Joseph: 9/32 with 2 runs and homeruns with 5 RBIs
Kevin Plawecki: 8/36 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs
Alejandro De Aza 3/19 with a homerun and 2 runs and RBIs
Joe Kelly: 16.1 innings with 16 strikeouts, 16 earned runs and no wins
Aaron Harang: 19 Innings with 10 strikeouts to 3 walks and 1 win.
Carlos Rodon: 10 innings with 5 walks, 11 strikeouts and 1 win.
Mike Leake: 16 innings with 2 walks, 5 strikeouts and 2 wins.
Phil Hughes: 17.1 innings with 2 walks, 10 strikeouts and 2 wins.

On the surface it looks like a two week set of trash. However a closer look, will lead you to the same conclusion. Not a lot to be happy about in this crew seeing as the batters didn't produce and the pitchers had a propensity to give up runs. The one very slim silver lining in all this is that Carlos Rodon was given the start on Saturday and although manager Robin Ventura has not confirmed it, I think Rodon should be the White Soxs 4th starter from here on out.

Lets ditch all that noise and try to get some music.

Batters

Jose Pirela 2B, NYY: As a Yankee fan, I am often weary when it comes to profiling Yankee players. In recent years we have seen the Yankees struggle to maintain their perennial playoff status and it is because of this that very few yanks have been fantasy worthy. Pirela is returning from a concussion and subsequent rehab assignment and will immediately be plugged in versus lefties. Although he has had fielding problems in the past, he has the tools to man the keystone. On the fantasy side, Pirela is an attractive option because he has speed, and will hit on the hot Yankee lineup. Pirela will likely only have immediate value in deep deep leagues, but you would be wise to put him on your watch list. Given PT and a slump from Stephen Drew we could be seeing the new Yankee second baseman. Pirela is owned in less than 1% of both ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Allen Craig OF, BOS: Allen Craig was just demoted to AAA. You might be asking why on earth would I be recommending him if he was just demoted, to which I say, the writing was on the wall in the spring. In the spring, the Red Soxs had 7 outfielders for 3 spots and with Betts and Hanley locking their spot down it really meant that Craig, Castillo, Victorino, Nava and Bradley had to duke it for one spot. Therefore we knew that PT would be scare and most likely Boston would be looking to trade. Craig has the most experience and upside in the bunch and therefore makes the most sense to move. If Boston agrees to eat most of his contract Craig could be starting for a new club in the upcoming weeks. He, like Pirela is a deep league play but given a new team and substantial at-bats, Craig is a good option at OF. He is owned in less than 1% of ESPN leagues and in 2% of Yahoo leagues.

Jung-Ho Kang SS, PIT: Leading the Korean league in HRs might be a stat to take with a grain a salt, but power at the SS position cannot be ignored. Alen Hansom figures to be the SS of the future for Pittsburgh but in the meanwhile if Kang hits well, he could displace Mercer easily. It is also worth noting that Kang has played 7 games at 3B and 3 more would mean 3B eligibility in ESPN leagues. He already has 3B in Yahoo leagues so consider that icing the on the cake. Kang is owned in 5% of ESPN leagues and 15% of Yahoo leagues.


Pitchers

Henderson Alvarez SP, MIA: After two starts Alvarez went down with a inflammation and tightness on his right shoulder. Behind Jose (who is still hurt) Alvarez will be MIA's best pitcher this summer. He could need 2 or 3 weeks to get back into the system and then some time to get back into rhythm but I see him helping out the Marlins rotation in a much needed way. Henderson will be owned in most leagues in 2 months but now he is owned in 7% on ESPN leagues and 34% on Yahoo leagues.

Carlos Rodon, RP, CWS: Two weeks ago I wrote about Rodon so I am going to keep this short. In his first ever start he threw 6 innings with 4 walks and 8 strikeouts. Although that is high on the walk side, we can chalk that up to rookie jitters. Rodon has everything we like in top pitching prospects and now that he has shown he can start it might not be long before his own % start to climb. Get him now while they are low. Rodon is owned in 23% of ESPN leagues and 47% of Yahoo leagues.

Noah Syndergaard SP, NYM: Widely consider a top pitching prospect, Syndergaard ( I am calling him Syn for short) moved from TOR to NY and figures to be another bright young arm in the Mets rotation. Although many thought he would factor more in 2016, injuries to Wheeler and Gee. There is a lot to be excited about in Syn. Standing tall at 6'6, 240 pounds he has immense downhill velocity which can get scary good. As excited as am for Rodon, I am even more pumped to watch him play for the Mets. As all prospects I expect growing pains, but if he continues to show us his talent in the big leagues, he will be here to stay. Syn is owned in 44% of ESPN leagues and 53% of Yahoo leagues.



Jim Johnson RP, ATL: Closers have some of the toughest jobs in baseball. They play for one inning and the game often rest on their 15 pitches sometimes less. Yanks fans have been blessed for a long time with Mariano closing for so long that we have forgotten that many other teams struggle to find reliable closers. Jason Grilli has been a great story with great success on the Pirates and Angels in the past few years which ultimately led to his earning the closing role in Atlanta. However on the other side of the coin while Grilli has gotten better, Johnson has tried our patience. Normally I love a closer who likes groundballs as much as strikeouts but Johnson's uncanny ability to give up runs has lost him many a closer job and now he sets up for Grilli. However how that Grilli is hurt, Johnson will take the 9th inning. I might not be so quick to recommend a backup closer but there are a couple reasons why this situation is different. Grilli's injury is a bit of a mystery as currently it is listed as "undisclosed". This for a young arm might not be too much of a worry but for an older vet, this warrants some attention. The second reason is like I said, Johnson has the stuff to be a great closer. With the 9th inning his to loose, he could be a quick and easy supply of saves. Johnson is owned in 3% of ESPN leagues 14% of Yahoo leagues.



Finem Cogitationum
Final Thoughts


If you didn't trade for Harper when I advised you too, it is too late now.

Who is the best team in the AL West? The Astros......you heard me right the Houston Astros.

I do not like what I am seeing in Clayton Kershaw, but I am not ready to sell my shares yet.

I wonder how much Fountain of Youth water Torii Hunter has? I would like some too.

I have oscillated on my feelings to Danny Salazar. First I loved him, then I didn't want anything to do with him, now I am envious of the people that have him now. As the writers of BaseballHQ like to  say, regression is the worlds strongest force.

Who saw the Avengers movie and what were your thoughts? I didn't like it as much as the first one.

Don't Stop the Music with Mark Nessel

Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper (2013, Self Released)

Genre: Hip-Hop 

In honor of Carlos Rodon this weeks album comes from Chi Town.  Chance the Rapper is another rising star in Chicago, not on the baseball field but in its budding rap scene.  After his 2011 mixtape "10 Days" created a lot of buzz in the underground rap blogosphere he followed up with another mixtape (yes both of his release are self released, and free to download on mixtape websites).  It received almost universal acclaim upon release and, featured other Chicago native rappers including BJ the Chicago Kid, Vic Mensa, Twista and Lili K.  His much anticipated major label debut will be called Surf and is scheduled to be released later this year.  Until then feel free to check out his other stuff.  It won't cost you anything.