Nearly every winning bid above $2 this time of year is a case of
"I could have bid $2 and saved my FAAB." But since you can't spend it
on beer, you might as well use your cash to push for your preferred guys. ESPN
has Johnson listed as a two-start pitcher this week at
home against the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. I've seen Johnson not listed at all
elsewhere, so I checked with Tristran Cockroft of ESPN directly. He told me
that the ESPN forecaster listing is up-to-date but that the "Orioles
rotation is subject to constant change." I think if you need wins and/or
strikeouts that Johnson is a must add even as a mere spec play. He has mostly
been used in the Majors as a reliever this year, but even the results from his
two starts have been solid. If the Orioles rotation changes again, then you
still might get a pitcher here that goes 3-4 innings in relief once or twice
next week with 3-8 whiffs and good rate stats. That's not bad, and is likely
better than what you'll get from most of the starters on the wire.
I'm slightly surprised that Garcia has sat out there for this
long, but he hasn't quite been a full timer and contenders need at bats right
now more than they need anything else. Garcia has some long-term promise as a
potential starting corner outfielder, but he done little so far with his cup of
coffee and probably isn't going to be a $10 keeper next season.
Scott Downs $2
Mike Scioscia announced that Ernesto Frieri will be part of a
committee in the Angels bullpen the rest of the way after Thursday's loss to
the Rangers. Since then, Frieri has a save and ended today's win against the
White Sox. Downs - who is supposedly part of the committee - got the second out
in the ninth before being removed for Frieri. This purchase certainly isn't a terrible
play, but Frieri still looks like the guy to me despite his poor, poor Post
All-Star performance.
Gerald Laird $1
Laird had been getting a good chunk of starts behind the plate for
Detroit due to Alex Avila's concussion. Avila was cleared to play over the
weekend, but concussions are never mild so the Tigers might split time between
the two of them down the stretch. The problem is that Laird isn't very good and
doesn't provide more than nominal value unless he's playing almost every
day.
Jamey Carroll stole his ninth base today? There's his value in
deep leagues. He hasn't done anything else this year, but if you're in a tight
steals race and think that he might run over the last 10 days, he's OK to add.
If you still need power, RBI, runs or anything else from that spot, you might
want to think better of this scintillating maneuver.
Robbie Ross $1
Ross stopped vulturing (I don't care what you say spellchecker,
IT'S A WORD!) wins a while ago but continues to provide solid ERA/WHIP out
of the Rangers pen. He's a safe add if you're looking to protect your rate
stats, with the caveat that any pitcher can get all blowed up, particularly at
this time of year after teams clinch and managers start treating games like
Spring Training tune-ups.
Jake McGee. Claimed by 12th, 11th,
9th, 6th and 1st place teams.
I wrote about McGee in Friday's Gearing Up. Not surprisingly, he was a popular
waiver claim among the non-contenders. He'll provide solid value even as a
non-closer next season.
Zach Britton. Claimed by 11th place team
Britton could get a start this week, but as of right now he's not
listed as a probable this week. That's a shame, because the team that picked
Britton up is battling to make the league's inning requirement and this could
have an impact on the league's final standings because this league plays with
the stupid, asinine Byzantine rule that knocks a team that doesn't make innings down to one
point in ERA/WHIP and bumps every team behind him up a point. It almost
definitely won't change my place in the standings, but could impact one or two
teams if this team doesn't make innings.
Joel Peralta. Claimed by 9th place team
Peralta isn't quite having the impact year that McGee is having,
but has been pretty strong by his own right. Peralta's a free agent this
winter, and I suspect he won't be back in Tampa Bay but won't be closing
somewhere else in 2013 either.
Jeff Niemann. Claimed by 8th place team
Niemann could return this year but this is a claim by a team
playing for 2013. If the Rays get knocked out on the earlier side, I don't think they'll risk it.
Daniel Bard. Claimed by 6th place team
Bard's a project right now. He's an OK spec claim for a
non-contender, but it's fairly likely that he gets thrown back and bought at an
end game price. There are no guarantees he starts 2013 with the big club
either.
Cliff Pennington. Claimed by 4th place team.
Pennington has been awful this year, but has quietly been only
slightly subpar/adequate since August. His stolen bases make him worthwhile but
unlike Carroll he can pop the odd home run. He's a batting average risk, but
the team that picked him up isn't trying to move up in batting average and
isn't at risk of moving down. This is OK to do in A.L.-only.
I'll have one more of these next week. Try to contain your excitement until then.
I'll have one more of these next week. Try to contain your excitement until then.
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