A.L. FAAB Log: April 27, 2009

Brad Bergesen $8.
Bergesen was called up by the O's this past week to start against the White Sox and wound up as a two-start pitcher for the week. He looked solid against the Sox and to no one's great surprise got pasted by the Rangers. Bergesen profiles as the kind of pitcher who does well in the minors but is probably no more than a 4th or 5th starter in the majors. His fastball is a major league pitch - and he did a nice job of changing speeds on it against the Sox - but his secondary pitches need refinement. He strikes me as a pitcher who could do OK his first time through the league but get pounded his second time through. He faces the Blue Jays this week and I'm not recommending him at the moment.

Mark Melancon $7.
Melancon was called up this weekend due to an injury to Brian Bruney that will likely knock Bruney out for about a month. Melancon has great stuff; the only question he's had during his short professional career has pertained to his health (which is why the Yankees were able to get him in the 9th round of the 2006 amateur entry draft). It's unclear how much value Melancon will have now in the Yankees pen, but with Bruney on the DL and Damaso Marte struggling, Melancon could pitch in high leverage situations almost immediately. If you're playing for beyond 2009, keep an eye on Melancon as a possible closer candidate after Mariano retires.

Brian Bannister $7. Other bid $2.
Bannister was lights out against the Indians after his call up this week. 2008 was likely more indicative of Bannister's ability than 2007, though. Bannister himself has admitted that he doesn't have the greatest stuff and tries to outthink his opponents with every pitch. That makes Bannister a guy to root for but not necessarily a guy to own. He is a two-start pitcher this week, going against the Jays in KC and at Minnesota; if you need the wins, he's one of the few two start options available in deep leagues.

Nick Green $5. Other bids $1, $1.
Green has been a surprisingly capable fill-in for Jed Lowrie at SS, putting up an 899 OPS (entering tonight) and even swatting a HR. With Julio Lugo due back tomorrow, it's likely that Green will play somewhat less this week and much less after that assuming that Lugo is healthy. He's probably earned himself a job on Boston's bench but has little Roto value once Lugo is up to speed.

Luis Montanez $2.
Montanez was brought up to the O's when they put Ryan Freel on the DL due to a minor head injury. Montanez did pick up a good chunk of AB this week, but I expect his value to be limited for the two weeks or so he'll be up while Freel recovers.

Angel Berroa $2.
With Cody Ransom hitting the DL, Berroa should pick up a good chunk of AB at 3B until Alex Rodriguez comes back sometime in the next 2-3 weeks. Berroa hasn't hit for average in the majors in years, but he offers a little pop and might hit a dinger or two while he keeps the seat warm for A-Rod.

Jose Molina $2.
Jorge Posada has been healthy, but the Yankees seem committed to resting him a little bit more than they did in the past. This means Molina should play more than the one time per week he has the past couple of years when Posada's been healthy. The problem is that Molina offers defense and little else, which is great for the Yankees but does nothing for us.

Mitch Maier $2. Other bid $1.
Maier got some AB in the Royals OF with Jose Guillen on the DL, but with Guillen returning on Saturday Maier's PT should drop off dramatically, and he might even get sent back to AAA. The former first round pick has flashed a little power and a little speed in his long minor league career, but at the age of 27 Maier is running out of opportunities to make it. His best bet at this point is likely as a 5th OF.

Jose Mijares $1.
Mijares has great stuff but significant personality issues. I normally don't like to write about the personality issues but in Mijares case this had an impact on him in winter ball, an impact in Spring Training and could have an impact going forward. His best case scenario would be setting up Joe Nathan, but Matt Guerrier is ahead of Mijares in the pecking order for now and he'll have to win back Ron Gardenhire's trust before the Twins count on him in a significant bullpen role.

Jon Van Every $1.
A 26 HR season for Van Every at AAA in 2008 got the attention of some last year. But Van Every's a 29-year-old minor leaguer who is very unlikely to make a Roto impact, particularly with the Red Sox. He's up to provide depth and probably won't start more than 1-2 times a week at best.

Tony Sipp $1.
Injuries sidetracked this once highly regarded prospect, but Sipp's finally in the majors now, and should at least stick around as a LOOGY. He looked like murder on lefties this afternoon, but I think that if he can pitch as well as he did today (and keep his velocity in the low to mid-90s) he could move out of the LOOGY role and start facing more than just lefties. His Roto value will likely be limited, though, as long as Kerry Wood is healthy.

Shawn Kelley $1.
Despite having only one full year of professional experience and never having pitched above AA, Kelley forced the issue for the M's and broke camp with the big club. He hasn't disappointed so far, not allowing a run and logging some very solid middle relief innings. If you're looking for saves, he's buried behind Brandon Morrow and David Aardsma, but Kelley has value in 4x4 leagues.

Miguel Batista $1.
Batista is another Mariners reliever who has looked solid so far this year. Mariners watchers say it's because Batista pitched hurt last year and is 100% this year, but it could also be that he's more suited for a lower leverage relief role at this point in his career. Like Kelley, Batista is unlikely to compete for saves with Morrow and Aardsma in front of him.

Scott Richmond $1.
I've said it many times before in this space, but this is one of those players you root for even if you don't necessarily want to own him. Richmond started college late and as a result went undrafted and signed in the independent Northern League in 2005. He toiled there for 2 1/2 years before getting a shot with the Blue Jays. He's a poor man's Brad Bergesen: he throws strikes but on his bad days has pretty hittable stuff. He's defied expectations so far, though, striking out nearly a batter an inning and posting an ERA just a little north of 3. He's a two-start starter this week against the Royals and the Orioles, so as a short-term pick-up he might be worth it.

Matt Guerrier $1.
With Jesse Crain hitting the DL, Guerrier might be see some slightly higher leverage situations for the Twins for the next couple of weeks if Jose Mijares doesn't wow his way into the set-up role. Guerrier had 15 decisions last year, and it's not hard to imagine him vulturing 6-8 wins on a Twins team that plays low scoring games on both sides of the ball.

Jesse Carlson $1.
Carlson put up terrific numbers last year for the Jays primarily as a LOOGY, but the team must have noticed what I did: that Carlson's numbers against righties aren't so bad, either. Scott Downs' strong performance makes him entrenched as the fill-in closer while B.J. Ryan is out, but Carlson could pick up the odd save here and there, particularly against left-handers.

Russ Springer. Claimed by 4th place and 6th place teams.
Springer is still doing what he did since he was claimed two weeks ago: pitching well for the A's in low to medium leverage situations. He could close if Brad Ziegler stumbles, but I think that Santiago Casilla and up-and-comer Andrew Bailey have better shots right now if something happened to Ziegler.