N.L. FAAB Log: June 22, 2009

Todd Wellemeyer $7.
On June 12, Wellemeyer admitted that he had inexplicably lost about 5 MPH on his fastball this year. As a result he was released and only one team out of 12 even took a shot on a $17 earner from last year. His start against Detroit this week was OK, but doesn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence that Wellemeyer is back to where he was in 2008. The team who made this bid needed to gamble, and that's what Wellemeyer is right now: a gamble that you should only take if you're desperate.

Stephen Pearce $6. Other bids $2, $1, $1.
Is Pearce a failed prospect yet? Did he ever have enough luster that we can really consider him that much of a failure? Esoteric questions aside, Pearce is back up with the Pirates for yet another go-round. At 26, this could be his last shot to impress, and John Russell admitted this weekend that he's going to have trouble finding PT for Pearce. If he does play, Pearce does offer some power potential and could sock a few HR out of your 5th OF or 3rd CO slot.

Matt Downs $3. Other bids $3, $2, $1, $1.
Downs is a 25-year-old fringe prospect who qualifies as more of a long-term utility player than as a future starting 2B. He's been getting almost all of the starts there for the Giants since his call-up, though, and he does have the potential to steal 15 bases if he can keep the starting gig. I think he's a poor bet to do that, but if you really need the steals, be aware that Downs stole 24 bags in the minors in '08 and is versatile enough that he could stick around as a utility guy even if he doesn't stick as a starter.

Jason Hammel $3.
I wrote about Hammel last week. He was knocked around a little bit by the Pirates at Coors this week. He gets a good match-up this week in Oakland, and might not be a bad match-up play.

Ian Snell $1.
The numbers against the Twins looked OK, but Snell didn't throw a lot of strikes, had a poor K/BB ratio, and was facing an injury-riddled line-up. He still looks like the shell of the pitcher he once was and even Joe Kerrigan isn't helping. I'd avoid against the Indians this week.

Josh Bard $1.
With Jesus Flores set to miss three months with a shoulder injury, Bard and Wil Nieves look like they're going to split time down the middle for the Nationals at catcher. Bard has shown that he can provide some decent pop at catcher with enough playing time and is worth a $1-3 bid if you have a dead spot at catcher. He's done next to nothing this year, though, and could also simply continue doing nothing.

David Ross $1.
Ross has been the beneficiary of a few day games after night games recently, but Brian McCann is locked in at catcher and Bobby Cox hasn't been willing to play Ross at DH. Ross definitely has power potential, and is an OK back-up backstop if you don't have two starters on your team and just want to take the shot at getting a few cheap HR.

Russ Ortiz $1.
Ortiz was pressed into starting duty for Felipe Paulino, but an impressive start against the Cubs and a solid one against the Rangers mean that he should get more opportunities going forward. He isn't going to blow anyone away, but he's kept hitters off balance with an assortment of off-speed pitches and is worth riding while he's hot. He's not a terrible two-start option at home against the Royals and Tigers this week.

Paul Janish $1.
Janish might get some AB with Alex Gonzalez going down, but Janish offers no power, not much speed, and is mostly in the majors due to his defense. Pass.

Pedro Feliciano $1.
Feliciano's been an extremely solid middle reliever for the Mets this year. He might get a handful of vulture opportunities with J.J. Putz out, especially after Bobby Parnell's disastrous outing today. However, his value is still limited as a middle reliever even in 4x4 leagues.

Mark DiFelice $1.
Fangraphs summed it up aptly. DiFelice throws slop, and doesn't hit 86 MPH on a good day, yet he gets righties out. He'll never close, and he's probably going to have some games where his "stuff" isn't working and he gets pounded, but he's definitely earned himself a major league career, and if he keeps pitching like this it's going to be a long one.

Rich Aurilia $1.
Aurilia used to provide a little pop at corner, but now it's starting to look like even that modicum of value he provided is disappearing. He's playing a little bit more right now than your average bench player, and a series at Oakland might buy him another start or two this week, but Aurilia's starting to look like a fading oldster who has reached the end of the line, both in the majors and in Roto.