N.L. FAAB Log: April 7, 2008

Welcome back to the FAAB log for 2008. For those of you new to the blog, this is my weekly look at winning and losing FAAB bids from two established keeper leagues to give you an idea of how your weekly FAAB auctions could go in your leagues.

These bids were for a league that auctioned this weekend; most of these players were injury replacements.

Paul McAnulty $5. Other bid $1.
A poor campaign in Triple-A last year due to a couple of nagging injuries masks McAnulty's value; John Sickels once compared him to Matt Stairs, and it's possible that McAnulty could be a late bloomer like Stairs. With Jim Edmonds coming off the DL, McAnulty will head back to the bench, and he'd need either another Edmonds injury or for Scott Hairston to fall off the map to get an opportunity. McAnulty's better in leagues where you can reserve him at will.

Martin Prado $5. Other bid $1.
Prado got some AB this week due to a minor Kelly Johnson injury, but with Johnson back in the line-up, Prado's value is minimal. He's a middle infield utility guy who isn't worth owning.

Brian Bixler $4. Other bids: $2, $1, $1.
Don't be fooled by those who tout this guy as a prospect. Bixler is 25 years old, doesn't hit for power, but strikes out like he does. He's got some speed, but probably projects as a .240 hitter in the majors. With Jack Wilson hitting the DL this weekend, Bixler is probably a decent short-term play at a thin position, but don't go past the bid you see here.

Endy Chavez $3.
Chavez was supposed to get a decent amount of AB with Moises Alou out, but Angel Pagan has been getting the lion's share. I'd pass; even the SB mostly disappeared last year.

Hong-Chih Kuo $2.
He threw three decent innings in that peculiar rain delay game in L.A. earlier this week, but he's probably a long reliever with next to no Roto value.

Andrew Miller $2. Other bid $2.
I'm a little surprised no one in this league took a shot on Miller in their auction. One tactical reason to FAAB Miller was not to buy his terrible first outing, but in most leagues I've been in, someone typically takes a shot on a guy like this as a future. For you N.L.-only owners, Miller was once a very highly regarded prospect whose name was mentioned in the same breath as Tim Lincecum and Yovani Gallardo. Unlike those two, Miller's had virtually no success in the majors. Like his teammate Cameron Maybin, Miller really should be in AAA honing his craft. Still, I'd take this gamble if I had a weak staff.

Tom Gordon $2. Other bid $2.
Gordon looked terrible in his first outing this week, throwing flat 92 MPH fastballs and getting lit up. He was better in his next outing, but definitely looks like he's near the end of the line. Brad Lidge will be back sooner rather than later, and Gordon should be dropped immediately after that happens.

Alfredo Amezaga $1. Other bids $1, $1.
He was supposed to be in an outfield platoon, but has barely received any playing time thus far. Not much of a Roto asset, though he could steal 15-20 bases per year as a starter.

Ship Schumaker $1.
A nice OPS at AAA last year hides the fact that Schumaker is 28 years old and more of a 4th OF than a starter. He's currently starting for the Cardinals, but I don't expect it to last. Like Amezaga, Schumaker does have a little speed.

Brad Thompson $1.
He had a strong start against the explosive Colorado Rockies. That being said, his K/IP rate in the majors last year was low and Thompson will get hit hard from time to time.

Paul Maholm $1.
Maholm got roughed up by the Marlins in his first start, though the nine strikeouts raised more than a few eyebrows. I wouldn't read too much into those; Maholm was facing a young, impatient line-up. His 2007 numbers were a little better than his 2006 numbers, but I don't see Maholm as a great bet for success.

Todd Wellemeyer $1.
Wellemeyer had a decent - if not great - start against the Rockies this week. He's a converted reliever, so don't expect more than five or six innings out of him per start. He or Thompson will return to the bullpen when Joel Pineiro comes back.

Cla Meredith $1.
Meredith is truly an example of a sleeper in 4x4 leagues: a guy who got lucky with his BABIP in 2006 but probably was unlucky in 2007. He's got good stuff, pitches in a strong home park, and could get some vulture wins due to the tight games the Padres typically play. Not a bad $1 flier.

Chin-Lung Hu $1.
Hu made the Dodgers due to their lack of organizational depth at infield. He's a prospect who isn't worth owning right now unless there is another injury. He's got some speed and would probably look like David Eckstein or Adam Everett right now as a starter. Pass at the moment.

Chris Coste $1.
Back-up catcher for the Phillies. He's a great story in real life, but won't add a lot of value for your purposes unless Carlos Ruiz gets hurt or falls off the map.

Greg Dobbs $1.
Another Philadelphia back-up whose value was minimized by the Pedro Feliz signing. He's a nice pinch hitter to have on a real bench, but not so much on a Roto one.

Brian Bocock $1. Other bid $1.
He's filling in for the injured Omar Vizquel and has two steals so far. A short-term replacement, but keep in mind that Bocock was in A-ball last year, will be pretty empty in the power department, and the average could crater.

Pedro Feliciano $1.
Lefty specialist for the Mets who has put up nice numbers but doesn't have much of a role and doesn't look like he's in line for a lot of innings at the moment.

Paul Bako $1.
He is not worth owning in Roto.

Joe Beimel $1.
Another lefty specialist. This one pitches for the Dodgers.

Mike Rivera $1.
Rivera is Jason Kendall's caddy in Milwaukee. Nice pop last year in the minors, but those 19 HR were accompanied by a .215 batting average. Oh, and Rivera is 32 years old. Perhaps he'll pull a Coste and surprise in a limited role, but Rivera is a weak option.

Mike Fontenot $1.
Back-up middle infielder for the Cubs. Probably worth watching in the A.L. if the Orioles and Cubs ever do pull off a Brian Roberts deal; Fontenot might very well wind up playing short for Baltimore; he'd certainly be a slight upgrade on Luis Hernandez.

Jason Bergmann $1.
He got pounded by the Phillies at CBP in his first start. There's certainly no shame in that, and Bergmann is OK to play as a match-up pitcher or if you're desperate for innings.

Geoff Blum $1.
He has a HR and has a surprising 10 AB in the first week. I'd chalk that up to the typical shuffling managers make in April and not read anything into it.