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Ready to Pounce :: 8/26/08
by Andrew G.
Published: August 26, 2008, 10:27 pm
Chris Dickerson, OF, CIN - In 11 games for the Reds, the young centerfielder already has three home runs and three stolen bases from the lead-off spot. Dickerson hasn't been a huge power hitter in his minor league career, but he stole 26 bases in 97 games at Triple-A, so his speed is certainly legit. The Reds may not have Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr. in their lineup, but they still have Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, and Jay Bruce to drive in the 26-year-old rookie. Dickerson is looking like a nice guy to take a flier on for the stretch run in most leagues, more so in rotisserie leagues.
Jon Niese, SP, NYM – After John Maine got bombed in his last start against the Astros, the Mets are considering shutting Maine down for the season. Although he didn’t give up any runs in his past two starts, they weren’t very encouraging, as he walked four batters and only managed to pitch five innings in each start. Those starts were also against the Nationals and Pirates. At this point, it would be a bit surprising to see Maine not go back on the DL, as he has admitted to be pitching through pain. Niese looks likes the logical choice to take Maine’s spot in the rotation. Niese has gone 4-1 with a 3.66 ERA in Triple-A, and all five starts he's lasted six or seven innings. Niese isn’t a dominating pitcher and he’s not a future ace, but he is capable of giving them instant production that the Mets badly need in order to offset their horrendous bullpen.
Tom Gorzelanny, SP, PIT – One year removed from being selected to play in the All-Star game and finishing with 14 wins, Gorzelanny wasn’t even good enough to keep a spot in the Pirates rotation. After working his way back to the majors with impressive minor league numbers, Gorzelanny was shelled in his first start back with the Pirates, giving up six runs in less than five innings. Just a year ago, Gorzelanny and Ian Snell were impressing at the top of the Pirates rotation, and now neither has achieved anything greater than an appearance on Ready to Pounce. Hey, someone has to give them a pat on the back to make them feel good. It’s alright Tom, better times can come. He’s still only 26 years old, so all I’m saying here is don’t completely forget about him.
Felipe Lopez, IF, STL – Since signing with the Cardinals at the beginning of August, Lopez has hit for a .327 average in 15 games with a .400 on-base percentage and 3 stolen bases. With a plethora of infielders in St. Louis, Lopez does not have the every day job, but his playing time is growing as he continues to swing a hot bat. While he’ll likely never hit 23 home runs in a season again like he did in 2005, he is still a threat for some steals that could make him a nice pick up for an NL-Only or deep mixed league manager looking to gain some points in the steals department.
Alberto Callaspo, IF, KC – Hitting .290 for the Royals in 42 games before landing on the DL, Callaspo returned right after the Royals lost Alex Gordon. Callaspo picked up three hits on Sunday to raise his average above .300. There isn’t much question of playing time here, as Callaspo figures to start at second base for the last place Royals. He doesn’t deliver much power or speed to the table, but he at least could be a solid middle infielder in the deepest of leagues where finding useful free agents is a grueling task.
Aaron Poreda, SP, CHW – With Jose Contreras done for the season, the White Sox are looking for someone to step up as the fifth starter as they seek a spot in the postseason. A first round pick in the 2007 draft, the 21-year-old lefty isn’t quite dominating in Double-A, but he is starting to get in a grove. Poreda has only given up six runs in his past five starts, and could be a September call-up for a team that hasn’t been able to find an answer for the last spot in their rotation. Keep an eye on the situation, as Poreda could be a decent option in deeper leagues while pitching on a team with such an explosive offense.
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