A.L. FAAB Log: May 11, 2009

Matt Harrison $15. Other bid $3.
John Sickels provided a great write-up on Harrison right before the season started. The big bid here is because he put up two huge games against the struggling White Sox this week, but I agree with Sickels that Harrison is going to get pounded if he keeps putting up that sickly 4.3 K/9. He's got a favorable match-up this week in Texas vs. Seattle. In deep A.L. only leagues, this is probably one of the better pitchers out there, but realize that he's a risky selection.

Clete Thomas $8. Other bids $2, $2, $1.
After being shut down last September so he could undergo Tommy John surgery, it didn't look like Thomas would provide much impact for the Tigers in '09. A speedy recovery changed that, and despite a poor start in the minors Thomas got the call for the Tigers and has not only played almost every day this past week but also has been firmly entrenched in the three-hole. He's got basestealing speed and little else, but if he's playing every day he has value for the shot at steals alone. Watch the situation closely in Detroit; Josh Anderson didn't really do anything to lose his job, and a slump by Thomas could put him into a reserve role fairly quickly.

Adam Kennedy $6. Other bids $4, $2.
With Mark Ellis out for another month or so, the A's quickly decided they couldn't live with Eric Patterson's poor defense or Gregorio Petit's poor bat and traded for Kennedy. His skills have eroded, but he should provide an OK batting average, steal the odd base, and hit the even odder HR. He's worth it in deep A.L. leagues only.

Clayton Richard $5.
With Jose Contreras' removal from the rotation, Richard will have an opportunity to fill the slot for the White Sox. Richard has pretty pedestrian stuff, but he is a groundball pitcher, which gives him a slight chance for major league success. His LD % of 12.3% is unsustainable, though, and Richard's best case is probably as a guy with a 4.50 ERA, a neutral WHIP, and a handful of wins. He pitches at Cleveland this week.

Matt Tolbert $3.
Alexi Casilla's demotion to AAA leads to an opportunity for Tolbert, who is starting over the slightly more deserving Brendan Harris. Tolbert's Roto value lies entirely in his speed, but with his crummy 3-for-15 start he's not giving the Twins or Roto owners many opportunities to see him run. I can't imagine that the Twins will be too patient with Tolbert if he doesn't hit, but Tolbert's worth a low end bid if you need the steals, have a hole up the middle, and are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

Chad Moeller $1.
The good news for Moeller is that Matt Wieters has struggled a little bit at AAA, which should keep Moeller in Birdland for an extra month or two. The bad news for Moeller is that Gregg Zaun is finding himself at the plate, which should keep Moeller on the bench five or six days a week. Moeller would have to play almost every day to even have marginal Roto value. Even in deep leagues, there are likely better options floating around in the free agent pool.

Omar Vizquel $1. Other bid $1.
Vizquel got to play all weekend against the White Sox due to Michael Young's back soreness. Young says he'll return on Tuesday, so Vizquel will go back to the bench and caddy Elvis Andrus. The key for Vizquel getting any playing time would be if Andrus fell off the cliff, but Andrus has held his own thus far. As a back-up, Vizquel offers a shot at the odd steal and little else.

Mark Lowe $1.
With Brendan Morrow coming off of the DL, Lowe's slim shot at getting the odd save got even slimmer. Like Morrow and David Aardsma, Lowe throws gas. He's worth a stab in deeper A.L.-only leagues, but with the Mariners falling to earth this past week isn't as appealing as a vulture as he would have been in April.

Danys Baez $1.
After missing all of 2008 with Tommy John, Baez was in competition for a rotation spot this spring before landing a middle relief role with the Orioles. He's been excellent thus far, mixing a fastball that comes in in the low 90s but looks faster with a split finger fastball that Fangraphs says Baez is using a lot more this year. I don't think the numbers to date are sustainable (the G/F rate is not in line with his career numbers), but Baez looks like a solid bet right now. Dave Trembley says that Baez won't close, but if you're desperate for saves and/or patient, Baez isn't a horrible gamble, given that his competition for the job is George Sherrill, Chris Ray, and Jim Johnson.

Jayson Nix $1.
Nix started a couple of times this week at SS for the White Sox, in an attempt to rest Alexei Ramirez in the hopes of shaking him out of his early season slump. Nix's real potential value, though, comes if the White Sox decide to bench Brent Lillibridge and his horrendous 504 OPS. Nix offers some pretty decent power potential at MI (though his HR total at Colorado Springs last year has to be taken with a few handfuls of salt). He's a better play than the middle infielders listed above, even if he's not assured of starting right now. Nix should eventually get a shot at 2B, and could keep the spot warm all year for Gordon Beckham if he can simply tread water and post a 700-750 OPS.

Willy Aybar. Claimed by 10th place team.
Aybar filled in for Carlos Pena tonight due to Pena's weak career numbers against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett. Aybar offers a little pop and is suitable for the CO or DH spot on an A.L.-only team. He's playing 1-2 times a week at best now that we've moved past April and Joe Madden - like most MLB managers - is less likely to rest his regulars as much as we head toward the dog days.

Octavio Dotel. Claimed by 9th, 7th, 5th, and 4th place teams.
Even with an incredibly high walk total, Dotel's been an asset in Rotisserie leagues thus far, as he hasn't allowed a run and - for 5x5 owners - continues to rack up the whiffs. The problem is that in real life is that Bobby Jenks' velocity looks like it's back this year and Matt Thornton and Scott Linebrink are ahead of Dotel on the pecking order due to Dotel's aforementioned problems with his control.

Jose Contreras. Claimed by 3rd place team.
An interesting gamble here. The Arlington Daily Herald reported this morning that Contreras is likely headed for the minors to work on his issues, so the team that claimed him will be able to stash Contreras on reserve next week and can sit on him for 2-3 weeks after he returns to the majors. If it doesn't work out, fine, but it's always useful to know your league's rules and try to take advantage of these situations when you can.

Rob Johnson. Claimed by 1st place team.
With Kenji Johjima back in action, Johnson's playing time will continue to diminish. He got three starts this week, but will probably see 1-2 once Johjima's completely rounded into shape. Johnson wasn't hitting anyway, so he wasn't even that good of a pick up when he was starting.

Robert Andino. Claimed by 11th place team.
Andino has a little speed and will pick up the odd start at SS in favor of Cesar Izturis. He needs to play more than he has, though, to have any substantial Roto value.