It's the most specialized baseball article there is; as we focus solely on
one category at a time. As usual, your disclaimer: These are NOT everyday
players, and nor are they claimed to be. These are players that will help
you in one way and one way only. Sometimes our rosters are very deficient
in one area or another, and these are players who are available on the cheap
(or for free) who can help sure that area up. So, with that out of the
way, let's get started.
Speed Kills
Jody Gerut - OF - San Diego
Padres - As a rookie for Cleveland
five years ago, Gerut had 22 HR and 75 RBI. While he hasn't been heard
from since, that may be changing a bit. He's riding a 14-game hit streak;
he's hitting with power, but most importantly for this category, he's got 5 SB
on the season, 4 SB in the last 30 days, and 2 SB in the last week. His
season's line to this point: He's batting .288 (38/125) with 3 HR, 12 RBIs, 17
Runs Scored, 5 Stolen Bases, 23 Ks, and has an OPS of .772.
Jamey Carroll - 2B, SS, 3B - Cleveland
Indians - He is typically a bench player, but he's been in nine of the last
10 games, and seems to have found a pretty nice spot on this team. He's
got 6 SB on the season, but 2 SBs in the last three games, and although he's not
hitting with much power or anything, he's rocking a pretty decent .379
OBP. Here is his statline for the year: He's batting .287 (45/122) with
10 RBI, 25 Runs Scored, 6 Stolen Bases, 20 Ks and has an OPS of .723
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
Russell Branyan - 1B, 3B - Milwaukee Brewers- Just another chapter of
the Brewers' offensive resurgence; this former Indians "star of the
future" has been up in the bigs a little over three weeks, but has made a
huge impact. He's missed just one game in the last 11, and since June 4th
has hit 7 HRs and 11 RBI, rocking a sick .774 SLG%. It looks like
Branyan's going to stay with the big club for now, but Owners may be scouring
that Waiver Wire for him soon. Branyan's line: He's batting .302 (17/53)
7 HR, 11 RBI, 11 Runs Scored, 20 Ks, and has an OPS of 1.180.
Mike Cameron - OF - Milwaukee
Brewers - It's an all-Milwaukee power section, and the second spot belongs
to the returning from suspension Mike Cameron, and it appears Milwaukee's
gamble may just pay off if this keeps up, especially since he's been dropped
into the six spot in the lineup. He's got 7 HR and 14 RBI in the last
month, and 3 HR, 5 RBI in the last five games, since moving down in the
lineup. What has Cameron done on the season? He's batted .225
(38/151) with 10 HR, 24 RBI, 22 Runs Scored, 1 Stolen Base, 53 Ks, and has an
OPS of .770.
Pettite, Mussina, Rasner, Joba and maybe Igawa? No joke
here. That's the Yankees' rotation
Seth McClung - SP/RP - Milwaukee
Brewers - Why not? Let's keep the Brewers' theme going, shall
we? Seth McClung has been moved from the bullpen and into the
rotation. He's had three quality starts (all wins) in the last five
games, and although that's not going to win any Cy Young awards, it is one of
the better win totals of the month; and that's all we're looking for
here. Here's his numbers since moving to the starting rotation: 27.2 IP,
3 W, 2 L, an ERA of 4.16 with 7 BB and 16 Ks.
Jeff Bennett - SP/RP - Atlanta Braves - And as usual, unlike
everywhere else, who gives you saves; we here give you the elusive
"holds" stat which so many of us search for. Please remember,
these pitchers aren't real good in other areas typically, so use pitchers like
Bennett only if you're lacking for holds. Bennett has 3 holds over the
last two weeks, tops on the Wire, but that's about all he's good for; the rest
of his numbers can be downright bad. For the season, here they are: 52.1 IP, 0
W, 4 L, 2 SV, 41 Ks, 5 Holds, with a 4.47 ERA and a WHIP of 1.41.