Monday, April 28, 2008

A.L. FAAB Log: April 28, 2008

Gabe Gross $29. Other bid $1.
I can't help wondering if the winning owner meant to bid $2 and accidentally typed a nine after he entered his bid. It looks like Gross is going to get most of the AB in right field until Cliff Floyd comes back, tentatively in early May. He's not a world beater, but he's got 15 HR power and can hit right handed pitching. He's worth owning if you've got a dead spot, but a $5-7 bid is probably more realistic.

Armando Galarraga $15. Other bids $4, $3.
Rotoworld keeps writing this guy off, but I think he can contribute if his elbow stays healthy. Galarraga was never a top prospect since the Rangers acquired him in the Alfonso Soriano trade with the Nationals, but he's always had good rate stats in the minors, with the exception of his injury marred 2006. He throws a good sinking fastball and a plus slider. He's obviously not this good, but I think he could contribute if the Tigers find a place for him after Dontrelle Willis returns from the DL. And despite my positive comments, no, the $15 bid wasn't mine.

Brian Burres $10. Other bid $2.
Thus far, Brian Burres has been very, very, very lucky. He's not going to keep striking out four and a half batters per nine and limiting right-handed hitters to a .203 BAA. At some point, Burres is going to have one of those outings that really hurts your ERA and WHIP. Burres is a finesse pitcher who has plenty of guile and moxie but will always live on the razor's edge of major league success. In other words, he's a huge gamble for your squad.

Rajai Davis $6. Other bids $2, $1.
We all know the story with Davis. His game is speed and not much else. Chris Denorfia and Ryan Sweeney are probably better options for the A's in center field, but Davis could steal 20 bases even if he only gets 200 AB or so. The bigger question is whether or not Davis will stick on the roster. With Jack Cust as one of their options, the A's do need some athleticism and speed out there off the bench, so I'm guessing Davis will hang around for a little while.

German Duran $4. Other bid $1.
Duran is a tout favorite, particularly the touts at Baseball HQ and Baseball Prospectus. John Sickels did a nice write-up about Duran last weekend, and I'd agree with his assessment of Duran's ceiling. His Roto value in the short-term could be decent with both Hank Blalock and Michael Young nursing injuries; I could see Duran getting a couple of starts at 3B this week.

Aquilino Lopez $3. Other bid $1.
Lopez is white hot right now, and with the rest of the Tigers bullpen languishing, could jump to the front of the line to set up Todd Jones, and possibly replace him if the naysayers are ever right about Jones. In the meantime, he's been getting used by the Tigers in more significant spots, meaning greater chances at wins as long as he keeps pitching well. He won't keep up current levels of performance, but nothing wrong with riding the hot hand.

Jamey Carroll $2.
Carroll stole three bases this past week, and he should keep getting AB for the Indians as long as he keeps hitting. He's a 34-year-old journeyman, so I wouldn't expect him to wrest the starting job away from Asdrubal Cabrera, but Carroll will have some value in the A.L. as a middle infielder with 10-12 SB potential, even as a back-up.

Matt Albers $2.
I was a little surprised to see Albers in the pen for the Orioles to start the season, because I figured his long-term future was in the rotation. He's a bit of a sleeper, given some of the bigger names that came along with him to Baltimore in the Miguel Tejada trade, but Albers has good stuff and isn't all that old (25) for a prospect. His Roto value depends on what the Orioles plan on doing with him in the long-term. I think he should start, but the O's might go to Brandon Morrow route and leave Albers in the pen all year to keep down the innings.

Jesse Carlson $1.
Carlson is a journeyman reliever who has bounced around the minors and is finally getting a major league shot at the age of 27. He's the kind of pitcher who doesn't have great stuff and doesn't throw hard but seems to get results: his K/IP rates at AA last year were quite impressive. He picked up a save today, with B.J. Ryan pitching in the 8th. I wouldn't read anything into this. Carlson is probably just a middle reliever for the Jays, but he could carve out a significant set-up/middle relief role if he keeps pitching well.

Frank Francisco $1.
I would stay away from Francisco. He's buried way in the back of the Rangers bullpen, and has only pitched once since being recalled from AAA a week ago.

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