Esteban Loaiza $21. Other bids: $9, $2, $2, $1, $1.
As the year winds down, it's almost as much about match-ups as it is about quality. Loaiza's a pedestrian pitcher who had a great year in the hitters' graveyard known as RFK Stadium, but he's really a 4th or 5th starter who is as good, in Roto terms, as the team he is on. Chavez Ravine will mask some of his deficiencies, but he's an unpredictable bet the rest of the way. That being said, Loaiza has a two start week this week at Chicago and at San Francisco. He could very well be lights out against teams like the Giants who, if they aren't mailing it in yet, are at least on line at the post office trying to figure out how much postage they'll need to ship themselves to the golf course in time for the postseason.
Steve Trachsel $11. Other bid $1.
I wrote about Steve Trachsel in last week's A.L. FAAB log. I may have sat through ABC's train-wreck-of-a-miniseries Amerika as a kid, but even I'm not enough of a glutton for punishment that I'd write about Trachsel twice in two weeks.
Nate McLouth $9. Other bids: $4, $1.
McLouth is a great pick-up if he's inexplicably available in your league, and he's even an OK option for the bottom of a mixed league active roster. He's shown power and speed this year, and should play the rest of the way with Chris Duffy out for the season. If you're locked in a tight BA race, avoid McLouth, but otherwise he should be owned in all N.L. only leagues.
Willie Harris $2. Other bids: $2, $1.
Speaking of ABC, Willie Harris's performance this year was sure to earn him a spot on ABC Family in The Willie Harris Story, the touching tale of a lifelong major league scrub who tricks an irascible but loveable major league manager into handing him a starting gig for two months, despite questionable skills. Harris looks like he's lost his starting job now that his bat has cooled. He's a desperate option for N.L. only owners who really need an extra steal or two, but nothing more.
Matt Albers $1.
I'm not much of a fan of Albers. Whether or not he's worth adding to your roster depends on whether or not you think he'll continue starting. He was pressed into duty for Houston due to a lack of arms, and has done well against the likes of Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Brandon Backe is listed as the probable starter by ESPN this week against Milwaukee, so Albers might very well head back to the pen for September. Given the fact that the 'Stros are playing out the string, Albers isn't such a great risk in any event.
Steven Pearce $1. Other bid $1
If nothing else, Pearce is a nice little stab in the dark for next year. He creamed three levels of minor league pitching this year, hitting .335/31/113/14 in 483 AB. He mashed 66 extra-base hits in 2006, so Pearce isn't a one-year wonder. He might very well be blocked by Adam LaRoche, but the Pirates should at least let Pearce get a little playing time in September and figure out what they've got here. Pearce will be 25 years old next April, so the clock is ticking, and he has been old for his leagues up until this year. This is a nice bid for next year, not a play if you're contending now.
Carlos Villanueva $1.
He's back up with the Brewers to start this time, not relieve. I like Villanueva long-term, but the vibe for this year isn't good: a pitcher who has been jerked between roles starting for a team that looks like it's running full speed for the bus. You can play match-ups here, and I think Villanueva will be fine against the Astros and Brandon Backe on Tuesday, but I wouldn't play Carlos against some of the tougher opponents on the schedule.
Emilo Bonifacio $1.
This is entirely a stab in the dark for 2008; Bonifacio is only 22 years of age and would only get a shot next year if the D-Backs decide to move Orlando Hudson for pitching help this winter. Right now, Bonifacio definitely isn't ready; his .283 BA in Double-A probably translates to an empty .250 batting average at best in the majors, and his poor SB/CB rate in the minors tells me that he's not going to steal 40+ bases right away in the majors if given the opportunity.
Chin-Lung Hu $1
Rotoworld sounds like they're down on him, but Hu has a shot to be a decent if not spectacular long-term regular. He hit .329 in his second tour of Double-A, but at 23 years of age, you can't hold repeating the level against him. His .318 average at Las Vegas is more of a possible red flag, especially since Hu stopped walking even though he kept hitting. He'll need at least half a year at Triple-A next year, so he's doesn't look like a valid keeper-league play unless you can FAAB him and stash him on reserve in 2008.
Jake Fox $1
Jake Fox is probably a non-prospect. He's 25 years old, and he was mired in the Florida State League for years before being promoted to Double-A in 2006. He returned to Tennessee and continued to mash Double-A, but 25 year old, college-trained hitters damned better well mash Double-A pitching. His best bet is as a 25th man who can catch in a pinch. Pass.
Rod Barajas $1
Do you think Rod wishes he had signed the two-year deal the Blue Jays offered this past winter? He's still got decent power, but Carlos Ruiz has been solid, and I doubt Charlie Manuel's going to mix things up now and let Barajas start catching a pitching staff that's turned over significantly since early August. If you do think Barajas will play, he's good for power but not for BA.
Kevin Correia $1. Other bid $1
Giants pitchers are bad bets the rest of the way...the Giants have 12 games combined against the Diamondbacks and Padres, who will be sending their best hitters out there the rest of the way. Correia's put up some very good numbers the last two years out of the pen, but I'm not sure I trust him the rest of the way as a starter. He's also got Colorado this week at Coors, so I'd pass it it were my decision.
Joel Pineiro $1
Pineiro's now had six starts for the Cardinals since being acquired from the BoSox, and he's had three solid ones and three not-so-good ones to date. There isn't any rhyme or reason based on match-ups, so you're rolling the dice on Joel this week versus Ian Snell and the Pirates on Tuesday. One problem with the Cards is that Mike Maroth, while not guaranteed a spot, might inexplicably be given another shot at starting, and Pineiro could be bumped. ESPN speculates that Anthony Reyes is the most likely candidate to get 86ed, and that's probably correct, but Pineiro has pitched out of the pen this year and thus can't be ruled out as a candidate to get bumped as well.
Marlon Anderson $1
The 33-year old Anderson is a filler in deep leagues only. He doesn't have much value now or in the future.
Gabe Gross $1
Gross certainly has enough power to help in an N.L.-only league at the back of a line-up and, sure enough, Gross started three times last week. He's not quite a desperation play, but he's not a palatable option if you're looking for an everyday player. Long-term, Gross will be 28 on Opening Day next year and is probably looking at a best case scenario as a fourth OF. This guy was a John Sickels Top 50 prospect once, showing that even a prospect expert like Sickels succumbs to the same problems that we do when trying to forecast rookie success.
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