LestersLegends.com

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Obviously Bobby Valentine is concerned with the way that Kevin Youkilis has started. Should fantasy owners share the same concern?
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He’s hitting just .184 on the year with a .528 OPS. Plus, The Greek God of Walks has just three walks on the year with thirteen strikeouts. Obviously there is some cause for concern. Youk only has two extra base hits to make matters worse.
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Given his age and injury history, there is every reason for fantasy owners to be fearful that their draft pick won’t deliver on his promise. He missed a game earlier this week with a sore groin so that concern is real.
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Youk has shown some signs of life though, including hitting his first home run on the season on Wednesday. Thursday’s day off will not only allow him to rest his body, but it will also give him a mini-break from the drama that is circling the Red Sox’ dugout.
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Another good sign is the production Youk has had in his last seven games. He’s hitting .269 over the stretch after starting the season hitless in twelve at bats. He’s been even better of late, hitting .278 with all of his seven runs and five RBI in his last five games.
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Youk is a big time hitter. I’m more concerned with him staying healthy than producing. As long as he is on the field, I trust that he’ll turn things around.
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This is a good time to see if you can land him if he has a scared owner. If you can get him at a discount, it’s a good gamble.
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Also check out:

• Is J.A. Happ Back?
• Should You Own Adam LaRoche?
• Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Picks
• Overrated Fantasy Baseball Players
• Closer Talk

The Cardinals and Red Sox will both get emotional lifts tonight as Chris Carpenter and Kevin Youkilis have come of the 15-day DL. 

Carpenter injured his rib cage while swinging back in April.  He’s scheduled to start tonight against the Cubs.  On the year he’s 1-0 with 9 Ks, a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in 10 Innings.  He’s 7-3 lifetime against the Cubs with a 3.08 ERA.

Youkilis is expected to be in the lineup for the Red Sox against Toronto.  He’s hitting .393 with 6 HRs and 20 RBIs.  He has struggled against the Blue Jays hitting .239 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs in 58 games.

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

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.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

The Red Sox placed Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day DL with a strained oblique.  The move was made retroactive to May 5th.  On the year Youk is hitting .393 with 23 Runs, 6 HRs, and 20 RBI.  Jeff Bailey is struggling on the year hitting just .194, but was hitting .250 entering tonight’s game since taking over for Youk on May 5th.  Bailey is 0 for 3 tonight.  To take Youk’s spot on the roster, the Red Sox called up Gil Velazquez from Triple-A Pawtucket.  Velazquez was hitting just .207 in 16 games for the PawSox.

Things went from bad to worse for Lastings Milledge.  First he got demoted by the Washington Nationals, and then he breaks his finger laying down a bunt for Triple-A Syracuse.  He could miss two months.  He hit .167 (4 for 24) with 1 RBI and 10 Ks in seven games with the Nationals.  He was hitting .253 in 22 games for Syracuse.

Chien-Ming Wang had a spectacular, and scary, rehab start for the Yankees at Triple A-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  Wang threw six scoreless Innings giving up three Hits with 3 Walks and 6 Ks.  He also was hit by a line drive, but was able to stay in the game.  With a 34.50 ERA and 4.83 WHIP in three losses for the Yankees, he’ll have a couple more rehab starts to make sure he’s ready.

The Diamondbacks got mixed news as Stephen Drew returned from the DL.  Unfortunately Conor Jackson went on it.  Both hitters are struggling.  Drew was hitting .205 before injuring his hamstring.  Jackson was  hitting .182, though he was third on the team with 14 RBI.  The Diamondbacks are not sure what’s wrong with Jackson.  According to a report on MLB.com, it’s a “general illness”.

Lance Berkman, Derrek Lee, Josh Hamilton, and Chipper Jones are in the lineup for their respective clubs.  Kevin Youkilis remains out for Boston.

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

Happy Birthday Dukes!

 
Wednesday, August 13th
Raul Ibanez went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, 2 RBI, and a Walk.  Mark Teixeira went 3 for 6 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 3 RBI.  Jim Edmonds (Game 1) had 3 Runs and 3 RBI.  Geovany Soto (Game 1) went 3 for 5 with a Run, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Troy Glaus went 4 for 4.  Jeff Kent also had 4 Hits.  Vernon Wells hit a Grand Slam.  Daniel Murphy (3 RBI), Omar Infante, Michael Young, Kevin Youkilis (3 Runs), Corey Hart (3 RBI), Nick Markakis, Melvin Mora, David Eckstein, Skip Schumaker, Brad Hawpe, Maicer Izturis, Yuniesky Betancourt, Russell Martin, and Eric Hinske each had 3 Hits.  Delmon Young, Wladimir Balentien and Milton Bradley each had 3 RBI.

Mark Buehrle threw 7 scoreless Innings allowing 5 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 10-10 with a 3.77 ERA.  C.C. Sabathia gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA with the Brewers (13-8, 3.05 overall).  Kevin Slowey gave up 1 Run on 3 Hits in 6 Innings to improve to 9-8 with a 3.94 ERA.  Paul Maholm gave up 2 Runs in 8 Innings to improve to 8-7 with a 3.69 ERA.  David Purcey threw 6 scoreless Innings to improve to 2-3.  Jeremy Guthrie gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 10-8 with a 3.18 ERA.  Andy Sonnastine gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings with 6 Ks to improve to 12-6.  Braden Looper gave up 1 Earned Run on 5 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 11-9.  Randy Wolf gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 8-10.  John Maine gave up 1 Hit in 5 scoreless Innings with 6 Ks to improve to 10-7 with a 3.97 ERA.  Brian Stokes threw 4 Innings of scoreless relief.  Rich Harden gave up 2 Hits in 5 scoreless Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA with the Cubs (7-2, 2.09 overall).  Ricky Nolasco gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings with 5 Ks, but got a no-decision.