N.L. FAAB Log: April 18, 2011

Charlie Morton $5.  Other bids: $4, $1.

I wrote about Charlie Morton on Saturday morning.  To repeat, here is the good: 2W, 1.64 ERA, 1.136 WHIP.  The bad: 2.455 K/9; 4.91 BB/9; .50 K/BB.  You see the ingredients for disaster here, right?  Morton gets the Marlins on Wednesday, and has decent career numbers against the Marlins…some one has rolled the dice, and may god have mercy on your soul.

Matt Downs $4.  Other bids: $1

Downs is, has been, and always will be a super-utility player.  In the minors, Downs exhibited both a little bit of pop and the ability to steal a base.  In the majors, Downs has not had much opportunity to demonstrate either.  With the number of injuries in the Astros infield (including Chris Johnson who is just a little dinged up), and his ability to field a number of positions, Downs should see time in spot starts, pinch hit appearances, defensive replacement situations and pinch-running situations.  This is only a play for those in desperate need of at-bats.

Alberto Gonzalez $3.  Other bids: $1.

Gonzalez is useful in real baseball because he can play a number of positions.  He did knock in 33 runs for the Nationals in 2009, and he knows how to handle the bat.  He just cannot hit for power and cannot run much, so he has very little fantasy value, other than to offer a decent average if you catch him the right week.

Jason Marquis $2.  Other bids: $1

Coming in to today’s games, Marquis posted a 5.50 K/BB.  That certainly caught my attention.  He then scattered 9 hits and a walk today in picking up a win.  He gets the Pirates this week, and, frankly, I am surprised he did not get more action (well, he is Jason Marquis, of course).

Wes Helms $1.  Other bids: $1

Helms is not a great player.  We do know, however, that he will hit in the .240s and hit the occasional home run.  With Donnie Murphy nursing a bone bruise in his knee, Helms and Dobbs will both see some time this week.

Dillon Gee $1.  Other bids: $1.

Gee is about to turn 25, and is not really a prospect per se at this point.  His 2010 AAA strikeout numbers did turn heads, and he threw up a 2.18 ERA in five starts at the end of the year last year for the Mets.  Gee danced around a little trouble today and scattered 7 baserunners in picking up win number one.  It looks like Gee will get at least one more start against the Diamondbacks this weekend.  Just remember – his xFIP last year: 5.00.

Jesus Flores $1.

Flores, coming in to today, had one at-bat all season.  That is really all there is to say.

Miguel Cairo $1.

Cairo gets his share of at-bats, and Brandon Phillips is nursing a strained groin.  In 226 plate appearances last year, he hit .290 with 4 home-runs, 28 RBI and 4 SB.  You generally hope Cairo is not on your roster that long, but if you need at-bats, particularly this week, Cairo might not be a bad gamble.

Jordan Smith $1.

Smith is off to a nice start, with a 7.04 K/9 and 2.35 BB/9.  He is benefiting from a very high LOB%, and strikes me as not much more than another fungible reliever in the Reds’ bullpen.

Eduardo Sanchez $1.

If you want to have some fun, take a look at Sanchez’ strikeout rates: the lowest strikeout rate of his career is 8.74, and his current K/9 is 24.00.  This looks even better when you do not walk anyone.  That will be the trick – will Sanchez keep his control?  If he continues to pitch like this, he will be put into more pressurized situations.