LestersLegends.com

The Milwaukee Brewers were dealt a blow when Second Baseman Richie Weeks went down with a wrist injury.  He is lost for the season.  Weeks was hitting .272 with 28 Runs, 9 HRs, and 24 RBIs.  Casey McGehee, who is hitting .188 in 11 games will see more time at 2B.  Craig Counsell will also play the position, but at 38 years old, he’s not likely to play every day.  He is doing well though with a .324 average in 28 games.

Carlos Delgado will have his hip scoped.  The procedure could cost him a couple of months or more.  Fernando Tatis and Jeremy Reed will man First Base until Delgado can return.

The Cardinals got a three-pack of good news when they learned that Chris Carpenter and Rick Ankiel will be back on Wednesday and Ryan Ludwick should be able to return when he’s eligible to come off the DL.

Cincinnati’s Joey Votto will get checked out by doctors to try and find the cause of his recent dizzy spell.  Adam Rosales has been getting time at First Base for the Reds.

Kevin Youkilis started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.  He went hitless in his debut with the club, but he felt good. 

Vladimir Guerrero is set to begin a rehab assignmnet for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. If all goes well, he could be back in the Angels’ lineup early next week.

Pat Burrell landed on the DL with a neck injury.  Ben Zobrist will continue to fill in for Burrell.

The Rangers placed Closer Frank Francisco on the 15-day DL because of biceps tendinitis.  The move was made retroactive to May 7th.  Francisco has been one of the best Closers this year with nine Saves in nine Save Opportunities.  His ERA is 0.00 and his WHIP is 0.75.  C.J. Wilson, who has one Save, a 4.11 ERA, and 1.63 WHIP, will hold down the fort.

The Nationals put Catcher Jesus Flores on the 15-day DL (shoulder) retroactive to May 10th.  Flores was hitting .311 with 4 HRs and 15 RBIs.  Wil Nieves will take over Catching duties for Flores.  Nieves is hitting .294, but lacks Flores’ power.  His slugging percentage is nearly 200 points lower.

Finally, the Mets placed Carlos Delgado on the 15-day DL (hip) as well.  The move is also retroactive to May 10th.  Delgado was hittin g.298 with 4 HRs and 23 RBIs.  Fernando Tatis, who loves to hit Grand Slams, will take over.  He is hitting .323 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs.

Kevin Youkilis – I hate to pick on one of my favorite players in the league, but I see a slight decline from his outstanding 2008 season.  He hit .312 with 91 Runs, 168 Hits, 43 Doubles, 29 HRs, and 115 RBI.  The previous two seasons he averaged .283 with 92.5 Runs, 155.5 Hits, 38.5 Doubles, 14.5 HRs, and 77.5 RBI.  I don’t see his Runs, Hits, or Doubles changing much, but I do expect a dip in his average to around .300 and his HRs and RBI to drop to 24 and 100.

Aubrey Huff – Huff exploded last year with a .304 average with 96 Runs, 182 Hits, 48 Doubles, 32 HRs, and 108 RBI.  From 2005-2007 he averaged .269, 65 Runs, 141.7 Hits, 28.3 Doubles, 19.3 HRs, and 76.7 RBI.  His 2003 & 2004 seasons were nearly identical to his 2008 production so last year wasn’t a complete fluke.  That said I expect him to hit .290 with 80 Runs, 170 Hits, 35 Doubles, 25 HRs, and 90 RBI.  Still solid fantasy numbers, but a decline from last year.

Carlos Delgado - Carlos Delgado had an MVP type year for the Mets.  He scored 96 Runs, had 162 Hits, 38 HRs, and 115 RBI.  He hadn’t scored that many Runs or had that many Hits since 2003 when he was a Blue Jay.  His HRs & RBI are nearly identical to what he produced in 2005 & 2006.  If you look at his splits you can see why I’m skeptical:

I think he’ll be closer to his pre-All-Star numbers and hit .270 with 150 Hits, 85 Runs, 30 HRs, and 95 RBI.

Troy Glaus - I don’t know what was more impressive…the 27 HRs and 99 RBI Glaus produced in 2008 or the 151 games he played in.  Either way, I suspect all three will take a dip in ’09 as he recovers from shoulder surgery.  He likely won’t play until May.

Melvin Mora - I hate to pick on the Orioles, but Mora is a guy I see failing to match his ’08 RBI production.  He drove in 104 last year after averaging 76.3 the three previous seasons.  He’s only topped 90 RBI twice in his career.  I expect him to drive in 80 this season.

Jason Giambi - Giambi is back in Oakland.  Hopefully he’s not looking up his old BALCO pals.  He slugged 32 HRs with 96 RBIs for the Yankees.  He’s 38 years old.  I don’t see him matching that production.  If he hit 25 HRs with 75 RBIs, I’d be impressed.

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

Thursday, July 17th
David Wright hit a HR and had 4 RBI.  Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis each had 3 Hits, a HR, and 3 RBI.  Edwin Encarnacion  went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, a Double, a HR, and an RBI.  Troy Glaus hit a pair of solo HRs.  Javier Valentin and Chris Iannetta each had 3 RBI.  Marcus Thames and Melvin Mora each had 2 Hits (Double, HR) and 2 RBI.  Gary Sheffield, Jeff Keppinger, Adam LaRoche, and Brandon Inge also had a pair of RBI.

Kyle Lohse gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 12-2 with a 3.35 ERA.  Ubaldo Jimenez gave up 3 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 5-9 with a 4.20 ERA.  He’s lowed his ERA from 5.43 on June 6th.  He’s 3-1 in Julyn with a 2.39 ERA.

I am going out of town today so I won’t be able to post the July 5th and 6th editions of the FBPoD.  Enjoy the holiday everyone!

Thursday, July 3rd
Aubrey Huff cracked 2 HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  J.J. Hardy, Matt Joyce, and Mark Grudzielanek each had 4 Hits.  Jeff Baker had 4 RBI.  Corey Hart, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Lopez, Pedro Feliz, Brandon Phillips (3 RBI), and Cody Ross each had 3 Hits.  Chad Tracy, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jose Guillen each had 3 RBI.

Jon Lester threw a five-hit Complete Game Shutout to improve to 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA.  Cole Hamels gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 8-2/3 Innigs with 7 Ks to improve to 9-5 with a 3.22 ERA.  Manny Parra tossed 6 scoreless Innings, but took a no-decision.  Johnny Cueto gave up 3 Runs in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 7-8.  Chad Billingsley gave up 2 unearned Runs in 8 Innings to improve to 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA.  Mark Redman gave up 2 Runs in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Justin Duchscherer gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 9-5 with a 1.96 ERA.  Javier Vazquez pitched a Complete Game giving up 3 Runs on 4 Hits with 10 Ks, but took the Loss.  Mike Pelfrey gave up 1 Run in Inniings to improve to 6-6.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings to improve to 5-9.