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Ready to Pounce :: 8/13/08
by Andrew G.
Published: August 12, 2008, 9:09 pm
Rocco Baldelli, OF, TB – Right after the Rays were dealt a great blow with Carl Crawford being placed on the DL, the oft-injured Rocco Baldelli played for the first time since last May. Baldelli missed the entire first half due to a rare muscle condition that causes fatigue and slow recovery, but now the Rays need him to produce in the worst way. The former first round pick is still only 26 years old and has shown glimpses of stardom throughout his career that have constantly been hampered by injury. Fantasy players can't expect too much from Baldelli after missing so much time, but he is an intriguing player to take a risk on in deeper leagues. Keep watching to see if Baldelli shows signs of a successful comeback.
Brandon Morrow, RP, SEA – After looking brilliant as the closer for the last-place Mariners, the young flame thrower was sent down to the minor leagues to work on his conversion to a starting pitcher. The way Morrow was pitching in the bullpen, his fantasy owners would have been a lot happier with him staying there. In 36 innings, he gave up an unbelievably low 18 hits and struck out 47 batters. If Joba Chamberlain got a daily update on ESPN, Morrow should be monitored carefully as he is just as talented. Morrow will have some early struggles and he'll be held to a tight pitch count, but he has the potential to come in later in the season and provide a great boost for teams fighting for a championship. Watch his progress carefully, and grab him in dynasty leagues if an owner was foolish enough to let him go.
Anthony Reyes, SP, CLE – After being traded from the Cardinals to Indians, Reyes won his first start on his new team, pitching over six innings and only giving up one run. The young pitcher, most remembered for his impressive outing in the 2006 World Series, has not panned out the way the Cardinals have expected, but a change of scenery just might be what Reyes needed. A fresh start for Reyes makes him worth a flier in AL-Only leagues and deeper mixed leagues, but he could become more valuable than that with a strong finish.
Phil Hughes, SP, NYY - Does anyone remember when Hughes was one of the most talked about prospects in baseball? Yes, it was all but three or four months ago, but six awful starts and a rib-cage stress fracture have completely killed that momentum for the 22-year-old Yankee. Hughes was 0-4 with a 9 ERA before getting hurt, but the potential is still there. Last September, Hughes went 3-0 in five starts with 2.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Hughes is expected to return shortly, but let him prove his value in his first start or two before picking him up.
Emilo Bonifacio, 2B, WAS – The Diamondbacks are likely regretting trading Bonifacio to the Nationals now that Orlando Hudson is out for the season. His exceptional play defensively helped him get the starting job right away in Washington, but his speed will make him a valuable commodity in fantasy leagues down the road. He has no power and is not yet a disciplined hitter, but a rotisserie owner aching for speed in a deeper league could be able to get around 10 steals from Bonifacio.
Steve Pearce, OF, PIT –Considering the hype surrounding the Pirates' prospect before the season, his call-up seems to have been fairly ignored. The young outfielder has shown a mix of power and speed in the minors with 11 home runs and 8 steals in 93 games at Triple-A. In the last three games, Pearce has gone 5-13, including a game-winning hit against the Mets' pathetic excuse for a bullpen. While his power has yet to translate into the majors, he is at least starting to hit some doubles, and could serve of some use to fantasy owners that have chose to challenge themselves by participating in beyond the standard leagues.
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