LestersLegends.com

Several veteran players have found new homes the past few days.

Ben Sheets finds himself pitching in Oakland. The deal is for $10 million. It’s a risk for the A’s, but it’s the kind of calculated risk a small market team needs to make to compete with the big boys.

Sheets turned heads in his throwing session, routinely hitting 92 mph with his fastball. If he can stay healthy, he has the tools to be a high-end SP option. He does come with baggage and plenty of risk. Take a chance on him towards the end of the draft. He he busts, it won’t hurt too bad.

Jim Thome has made a career of eating up Twins’ pitching. They followed the Vikings’ footsteps by signing their nemesis. I don’t see Thome having the impact of Brett Favre though. His best days are behind him, and the Twins already have a DH in place. Jason Kubel could spend more time in the OF (especially against righties), but it will come at Delmon Young’s expense. Plus,  the Twins used Joe Mauer at DH 28 games last year. He’s going to need a break from catcher. Surely, Mauer’s bat is preferred over Thome’s. They say he’s going to be a bench bat, but he did not excel in that role with the Dodgers last year. Perhaps the Twins will attempt to move Delmon so Kubel can play LF and Thome can DH. Unless that happens, Thome has minimal fantasy value.

The Yankees signed Randy Winn, which all but signifies the end of Johnny Damon’s run with the Bombers. Winn will be no more than a platoon player with Brett Gardner, rendering both of them mostly useless for fantasy owners.

Jon Garland signed with the Padres. Playing in pitcher-friendly PETCO Park, Garland could be a sneaky late round option to lower your ERA & WHIP.

Miguel Tejada returned to Baltimore. He’s sliding over to third base for the O’s. He still has some life in that bat, but he could struggle as he adjusts to a new position.

The Cubs signed Xavier Nady. He’s going to be their fourth OF so don’t worry about keeping tabs on him at this point.

Tuesday, August 26th
Geovany Soto went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, a HR, and 7 RBI.  Jimmy Rollins went 5 for 7 with a Run, a Double, a HR, 3 RBI, and 3 SBs.  Orlando Cabrera went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, a Triple, and 2 RBI.  Ben Francisco went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Damion Easley went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Double, a HR, 2 RBI, and a Walk.  Cody Ross went 3 for 5 with a Run, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Johnny Damon hit a pair of solo HRs.  Fernando Tatis had 4 RBI.   Vernon Wells (3 RBI), Omar Infante (3 Runs), Briand Giles (3 RBI), Carlos Quentin, Manny Ramirez, Cristian Guzman, Coco Crisp, Alfonso Soriano, Nyjer Morgan, Miguel Olivo, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Craig Counsell, Jayson Werth, Torii Hunter, Adrian Beltre (it’s almost as he’s punishing the Twins for not making a move for him at the trading deadline), and Rich Aurilia each had 3 Hits.  Franklin Gutierrez, Brad Hawpe and Adrian Gonzalez each scored 3 Runs.  Jason Kendall and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had 3 RBI.

Bronson Arroyo tossed a Complete Game allowing 1 Run on 5 Hits to improve to 12-10.  John Lackey Lackey threw a Complete Game allowing 1 Run with 5 Ks to improve to 9-2 with a 2.95 ERA.  Kevin Millwood also threw a Complete Game allowing 1 Run to improve to 8-7.  Gavin Floyd gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits in 8 Innings to improve to 14-6 with a 3.70 ERA.  Cliff Lee did it again.  He allowed 2 Runs in 7-2/3 Innings to improve to 19-2 with a 2.43 ERA.  Ben Sheets pitched 6 scoreless Innings allowing 5 Hits to improve to 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA.  Roy Halladay gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 16-9 with a 2.69 ERA.  Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 3-2 with a 3.73 ERA.  Jorge de la Rosa gave up 1 Earned Run on 5 Hits in 6 Innings to improve to 7-7.   Wandy Rodriguez gave up 2 Runs on 3 Hits in 7 Innings with 10 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Zack Greinke gave up 1 unearned Run on 4 Hits in 6 Innings with 5 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Derek Lowe gave up 2 Runs in 8 Innings with 6 Ks, but lost.

2008 MLB All-Star Game
J.D. Drew took home MVP honors going 2 for 4 with a Run, a HR, 2 RBI, a Walk, and a SB.  Home Run Derby Champ Justin Morneau went 2 for 4 with 2 Runs (including the game-winner), a Double, and a Walk.  The NL got solid offensive contributions from their Shortstops as Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada each went 2 for 3 with a Run.  Tejada added a Walk and a SB.  Albert Pujols also collected two Hits.  Matt Holliday clubbed a HR for the game’s first Run.  It was the NL’s only Extra-base Hit.

Obviously pitchers don’t last long in All-Star Games, but a few performances stood out.  Starters Cliff Lee and Ben Sheets each allowed 1 Hit in 2 scoreless Innings with 3 Ks.  Aaron Cook had the longest outing throwin 3 scoreless Innings.  Ryan Dempster struck out the side.  Carlos Zambrano, Dan Haren, and George Sherrill all pitched at least 2 scoreless Innings.  Scott Kazmir pitched a scoreless 15th Inning for the Win.

Wednesday, July 9th
Carlos Quentin went 2 for 3 with 3 Runs, 2 HRs, 4 RBI, and a Walk.  Garrett Atkins went 3 for 3 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 3 RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury had 4 Hits.  Dustin Pedroia had 3 Runs and 3 RBI.  Kevin Youkilis went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Manny Ramirez (3 RBI), Sean Casey, Delmon Young, Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Sal Fasano, Matt Joyce, Nate McLouth, Nick Markakis (3 Runs), Carlos Delgado, Michael Young, Mark Grudzielane, Ross Gload, Ichiro Suzuki, and Adrian Beltre each had 3 Hits.  Miguel Cabrera, Geoff Blum, Adam Jones, Jesus Flores, Juan Rivera, Jose Lopez, Donnie Murphy and Ramon Castro each had 3 RBI.

John “A Day in the Life” Lannan gave up 2 Hits in 6 scoreless Innings to improve to 5-9 with a 3.40 ERA.  Johan Santana threw five scoreless Innings to improve to 8-7 with a 2.84 ERA.  Scott Olsen gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 8 Innings to improve to 5-4 with a 3.77 ERA.  Sidney Ponson (6 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 Run) and Edwin Jackson (6-1/3 Innings, 1 Run) each earned no-decisions.  J.A. Happ gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in a 6-1/3 Inning no-decision.  Ben Sheets gave up 3 Runs in 6 Innings with 11 Ks, but took a Loss.  Glendon Rusch gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 6 Innings to improve to 2-3.  Jered Weaver gave up 1 Earned Run with 5 Ks in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Carlos Zambrano gave up 1 Run on 1 Hit in 8 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 10-3 with a 2.84 ERA.  Derek Lowe (7-2/3 Innings, 1 Run, 2 Hits) improve to 7-8 with a 3.85 ERA as he outdueled Tim Hudson (7 Innings, 2 Runs, 4 Hits).

Monday, June 23rd
Richie Weeks had 3 Hits.  Pitcher Felix Hernandez hit a Grand Slam.  Mark Teahan had 3 RBI.  Mike Cameron, Matt Holliday (2 Hits), and Jose Guillen (2 Hits) had 2 RBI each.  Ryan Braun, Kelly Johnson, Jose Lopez, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Chris Young, Mike Aviles, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Cristian Guzman, and Willie Harris each had a pair of Hits.

Ben Sheets pitched a Complete game four-hitter allowing 1 Run with 7 Ks to improve to 9-1 with a 2.59 ERA.  Dan Haren tossed 7 scoreless Innings of two-hit ball to improve to 8-4 with a 3.04 ERA.  Josh Beckett gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 8 Innings with 8 Ks, but took the loss.  Brian Bannister gave up 3 unearned Runs on 3 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 7-6.  John Lackey gave up 1 Run in 8 Innings to improve to 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA.  Jason Bergmann gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings, but earned a no-decision.