September Call-Ups: A.L. Pitchers

Keeping in mind that I already wrote about Ian Kennedy and Clay Buchholz in my last A.L. FAAB log, it looks like the pickings for A.L. pitchers are pretty slim in September. I've vented about this all year, and anyone in a tight wins race (like Toz and I are in our A.L.) knows what I mean. I might look like a wizard for picking up Andy Sonnanstine's win in Tampa Bay's drubbing this week over Baltimore, but I didn't feel all that good when I made that move.

Anyway...

Jose Capellan: Even when the Tigers fall completely out of the race, I don't see Jim Leyland pulling Todd Jones from the closer role. And, even if Leyland does, I don't see Capellan getting any saves. Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney probably get first crack at it next year. Capellan has a long way to go to work himself into the closer picture in Detroit.

Brandon Duckworth: He'll receive a spot start now and again, but Duckworth is mostly a mop-up man on a team that doesn't win a ton of games. Still not worth adding to your roster.

Scott Feldman: Middle reliever for Texas who put up some solid numbers in 2006 and has been a disappointment in 2007, particularly because of the terrible BB/IP and K/BB ratios (18 K, 29 BB, 35 2/3 IP). He's a big-time ground ball pitcher, which is great if you're pitching in Texas, but he won't provide any Roto value as long as he's walking the park.

Luke Hochevar: I was hoping there would have been more guys like this to write about: hotshot prospects up for a few sips of sweet 40-man roster coffee. Hochevar only has a full year of professional experience, so I'll reserve full judgment, but his 2007 looks pretty lousy to me. 24 HR in 152 IP between Double-A and Triple-A tells me that Hochevar isn't ready. There is talk out of K.C. that he'll be competing for a rotation spot next year, but that sounds like a really awful idea. Give him a full year in Triple-A.

Brandon League: I said this earlier in the year, but the Blue Jays bullpen could be wide open next spring if B.J. Ryan isn't ready. However, League has been hurt himself and hasn't pitched too well since his return to the bigs. He's a stab in the dark for next year, in other words.

Cliff Lee: With Aaron Laffey getting blown out of the water on Monday by the Twins, Lee might wind up getting a start or two before the season is done. However, I'm not sure I'd use him. His Triple-A line across eight starts is very odd. In eight starts (over 41 IP), Lee struck out 50 and only allowed 1 HR, both very unusual numbers for a flyball pitcher who isn't a strikeout machine. However, he also walked 25, which is also high for him. Lee might not be a bad roll of the dice for wins if he does get a start, but the results at this point cannot be guaranteed. Hopefully, winter ball or Spring Training provides some kind of answer, though I think part of the answer is that Lee pitched over his head in 2005.

Garrett Olson: Dominant Triple-A numbers followed by awful major league numbers, capped off by the fact that he's walked nearly a batter an inning in 32 1/3 of them. The good news is that he's also nearly struck out nearly a batter an inning, so there is some hope in the long term. In the short term, Olson left his start early last night due to an injury, and he might be shut down for the year.

Kenny Rogers: Rogers pitched five solid innings against the White Sox in his first start of the DL on Wednesday. He threw 83 pitches, and his chances for wins could be limited by a 90-100 pitch count from here on out. Rogers the kind of pitcher who gets results despite less-than-overwhelming stuff, so you'll have to just not watch TV when he pitches and hope for the best. A good play in leagues where he was dropped due to limited reserve lists.

Kevin Slowey: A lot of space has already been used on this blog discussing Slowey, so I won't rehash too much here. He went back to Triple-A and did what a lot of the Twins never ending supply of arms do in Triple-A: dominated, with a 1.89 ERA, 107 K, 18 BB, and 4 HR in 133 2/3 IP. Rototimes has Slowey listed as the starter over Boof Bonser this coming Monday versus the Royals; ESPN still has Bonser listed. If Slowey has indeed replaced Bonser in the rotation, he would have four starts left this year, with two good match-ups (KC and Chicago) and two tough assignments (Detroit and Boston). If I were running the Twins, I'd probably pull Carlos Silva, who won't be back next year, and let both Slowey and Bonser go every fifth day. Anyway, Slowey is probably one of the better risks left out there in a thin free agent pool.