http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/555 Recent articles about Scott Rolen en-us Screaming Sports' Phil Yoon runs down several baseball Bulls and several baseball Bears in the latest edition of Stock Market. Carlos Delgado? Oh yea, he's definitely a bull. Scott Rolen? Ehhhh ... not so much. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:34:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298543 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298543 The year was 1998 and I just graduated from high school and began college. It was also the year the Phils finished 75-87 with Terry Francona at the helm. Looking back over the Phils from 10 years ago I notice not one player is on the current squad and in fact only 6 players remain in the game today. Take a walk down memory lane as I look at the lineup and pitching staff of the 1998 Philadelphia Phillies, with some stallwart names such as Curt Schilling, Scott Rolen, Mike Lieberthal, Rico Brogna, Doug Glanville, and Bobby Abreu. Also, click on the URL for a Braves/Phils recap as well as a look at the upcoming Mets series. JA Happ vs. Johan Santana tonight! Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:58:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285708 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285708 Atlanta's 1B Mark Teixeira hit 6 HRs last week while driving in 11 runs and hit .429 with an OBP of .571 to take this past week's top spot for hitter of the week. The Rays' rookie sensation had another good week hitting 4 HRs while driving in 12 runs of his own and he hit .424 with a stolen base. Number three on this list with 3 stolen bases is Yankee OF Bobby Abreu. His complete line was 6/2/9/3/.478/.571 (R/HR/RBI/SB/BA/OBP). The 4th & 5th guys on this list both play for the Sox and had 2 stolen bases. They are Boston's minuete 2B Dustin Pedroia and White Sox RF Jermaine Dye. Rounding out the bottom 5 of this top 10 list are Met's 3B David Wright, Toronto 3B Scott Rolen, Rays' LF Carl Crawford, Mets' 1B Carlos Delgado and Boston's 3B Mike Lowell. Player Tm Pos R HR RBI SB Avg OB% Totals Mark Teixeira ATL 1B 8 6 11 0 .429 .571 26.000 Evan Longoria TB 3B 8 4 12 1 .424 .444 25.868 Bobby Abreu NYY OF 6 2 9 3 .478 .571 21.049 Dustin Pedroia BOS 2B 8 2 5 2 .594 .606 18.200 Jermaine Dye CWS OF 6 2 7 2 .423 .500 17.923 David Wright NYM 3B 5 3 9 0 .417 .483 17.900 Scott Rolen TOR 3B 5 3 9 0 .360 .448 17.808 Carl Crawford TB OF 7 3 6 1 .273 .314 17.587 Carlos Delgado NYM 1B 4 3 10 0 .138 .242 17.380 Mike Lowell BOS 3B 7 1 8 0 .500 .545 17.045 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:13:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284224 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284224 If you are in need of pitching, but missed out on early season Waiver Wire Wonders like Justin Duchscherer or Jair Jurrjens, AccuScore fantasy expert Tim Williams has a few options for you, and suggests patience is the key to realizing their long term value on your team. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:36:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283030 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283030 Time To Cut Your Losses The Fantasy Sports Forum.com We're almost two months into the season and it's time to evaluate if your draft day investments are paying off or if it's simply time to cut your losses on an investment gone bad. Sat, 24 May 2008 21:18:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270693 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/270693 Think about having someone so animated that your team was always pumped up to play. Or how about someone that wanted nothing more than to start a brawl. Find out who I'd pick in my top 10 as a baseball manager. Thu, 22 May 2008 09:54:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269648 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269648 As soon as the Toronto Blue Jays released Frank Thomas rumors began to fly that they would be interested in Barry Bonds. Talk of Bonds in a Jays uniform has silenced, but if they hope to contend this season they should seriously consider bringing in baseball's home run king. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:42:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/261724 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/261724 In this daily column, we take a look back at the weekend developments in fantasy baseball highlighting the best/worst performances, emerging fantasy options and developing trends. Check out the Fantasy Baseball Happy Recap every weekday on FSE! Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260522 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260522 In this weekly column, we provide updates on injuries to key batters and provide the fantasy impact. Check back tomorrow for our pitcher injury updates! Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:22:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256721 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256721 It shouldn't be surprising that Howard is going to ask for so much money. He's been a premier offensive threat in all of baseball since he won the NL MVP in 2005. However, if Stark's description of Howard's desires — "an unprecented contract" — are true, then it really is time to start thinking about moving him. Not this year, and not next year, but perhaps at the trading deadline in 2010. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:35:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228813 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228813 This week's Risers & Decliners lists the players who have had their stock rise in value by emerging as winners from their spring training position battles. Conversely, you'll also find the players with declining stock, due to loss of their starting job, ineffectiveness or injury. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:26:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224998 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224998 Earlier in the week, we highlighted winners and losers of Spring Training positional battles and discussed the fantasy impact. Now, we turn our attention to the impact key Spring Training injuries will have on the upcoming fantasy baseball season. In this piece, we focus on the hitters with pitchers to follow. Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:52:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223612 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223612 Position Battle Winners Joe Crede will be the starting 3B for the White Sox beating out Josh Fields…..wait this just in, Crede is injured already!?!?!?! He fouled a ball off his foot and it is possible that he might miss Opening Day. Still think that Crede is only playing to increase his trade value, but knowing his injury history, maybe Fields isn't going to AAA just yet. As previously reported, it is official that Jorge Cantu will man third base for the Marlins. If he is able to continue what he did in Spring Training and regain his 2005 form, Cantu could be a major sleeper who could also still have 2B eligibility in your league. Jayson Nix was also named the starter at 2B for the Rockies. Those of you in keeper leagues were hoping for Ian Stewart to score an upset win here, but he has been sent to Colorado Springs. Nix will hit for a decent average and run some, but don't count on him to give big production. Former Mets' prospect Carlos Gomez has been named the starter in center for the Twins. Was he the best man for the job, or are the Twins just trying to show they got SOMETHING from the Santana trade? Gomez will run a lot, just don't expect too much more. After his last spring performance it is now very likely that the 5th starter for the Mets will be Orlando Hernandez. El Duque gave up just one run in 5 innings, while Mike Pelfrey blew the game in the 9th. It's just a matter of time, before Hernandez gets hurt, but it looks like to start the year he will be the Mets' last starter. After cutting Claudio Vargas, it is likely that the last three spots in the Brewers' rotation will go to Carlos Villanueva, Dave Bush, and rookie Manny Parra. Parra has the most upside of the three, with big time strikeout potential, although he did have some injury problems while in the majors. He is worth a flyer in larger leagues. Villanueva and Bush will most likely be owned in most leagues as well, and you can expect them to produce similar to the way they did last year. Shockingly Sent to the Minors After fighting to get back after Tommy John surgery sidelined him all of 2007, Francisco Liriano will start this season in the minors. Now before you lose your mind, he is scheduled to start one game for single-A and one game for Triple-A before being reevaluated where he stands. If Friday night's performance means anything, he won't be gone long. Liriano went five innings giving up just one run and striking out seven against the Pirates. Ok, so maybe he was already pitching against AAA talent. Another shocker was the news that Gerald Laird beat out top prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the starting catching job in Texas. Fantasy players all over are now searching for other options to start at catcher before Opening Day. I don't expect it to be long before the Rangers realize they made a mistake, but for now are JR Towles, Chris Snyder, or John Buck available for you? Not as much of a surprise was the news that Evan Longoria, the Rays' top prize was optioned to the minors. Most expected this after news that if Longoria spends a month in the minors the Rays can put his free agency off until 2014. If you own him, don't release him unless you really can't afford the roster spot, Evan will be back before the middle of May. Finally, superstud in waiting Cameron Maybin was sent down to AAA after struggling at the end of spring, going hitless in his last 18 at bats. Maybin is another guy that I don't expect to be in the minors for long, so if you own him and can afford to stash him, do yourself that favor he could have a major impact when recalled. Last, Reds big pitching prospect Homer Bailey was sent to the minors this week. Bailey was passed by Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez this spring, and now you have to wonder if all the predictions that we have been reading about for the last few years will come to fruition. Cueto and Volquez are hot pickups as young arms that have big time strikeout potential. If they are available, I would suggest grabbing one of them. Injury News B.J. Ryan threw a bullpen session on Thursday and now it seems that he is back on track for a mid April return. Ryan reported no soreness after 22 pitches, and is looking to return in the April 11-13 range. Scott Rolen now has a timetable to be on the shelf. Reports out of Toronto have him out a minimum of six weeks, meaning it will be mid May before the former Gold Glove winner is back at the hot corner for the Jays. John Smoltz also threw in the bullpen, and said that he is targeting April 6th as his return to the mound. Kelvim Escobar may have suffered a major setback in his attempt to the mound. Escobar reported discomfort in his shoulder after his latest bullpen session and he has been shut down indefinitely. After 18 wins last year, owners were expecting another big season out of him, but now I can't say that I wouldn't just cut ties with him now before worse news comes down. Perpetual Sleeper Jeremy Hermida will start 2008 on the disabled list due to a tight hamstring. He is eligible to be activated on April 5th, but given the fact that he has bought a summer home on the DL, this sends up big red flags on Hermida. Horrible Performances Newly acquired star Eric Bedard didn't exactly instill a lot of confidence in his last spring start. Bedard gave up four runs in just six innings. You can still expect big things out of Bedard this season as long as he stays healthy, don't put to much stock in his spring stats (8.63 ERA). Brewers oft-injured ace Ben Sheets didn't finish his spring off the way he would like either, as he gave up a whopping nine runs in just five innings. If he can stay healthy, Sheets has the ability to be a top 15 starter, but that is about as likely as Rocco Baldelli staying healthy. Lastly, soon to be out of the rotation Mike Mussina had another crappy outing on Friday. Mussina gave up 5 runs in 5 1/3 IP, but will still be part of the Yankee rotation anyway. Good Performances Rays number 2 starter Matt Garza completed his excellent Spring Training with five strong innings. Garza gave up two runs, while walking two and striking out two. Because of the injury to Scott Kazmir, Garza will be starting the second game of the season for Tampa Bay. After posting a 2.45 ERA this spring, you can expect good stats from him this year, just don't expect too many wins. Stephen Drew doubled and tripled in the same game on Wednesday, and 10 of his 15 hits are for extra bases. He is one of my big sleepers for the 2008 season, and the fact that he is starting to hit for more power, makes me more confident in that prediction. Florida 1B Mike Jacobs hit a pair of homers against the Yankees on Sunday as he tries to live up to his hype that is now a couple of years behind him. Other News The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that 3B Bill Hall will bat 5th, while Corey Hart will be in the 6th slot to start the season. This could have a positive effect on Hall's RBI numbers, and a slightly negative effect on the number of runs scored that Hart will have. It really shouldn't have much effect on how you draft Hart, although I think many expected him to bat higher, but this could bump Hall back to a late round selection, hoping he can duplicate his breakout season after this vote of confidence from his manager. Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:54:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223461 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223461 The Toronto Blue Jays are a good baseball team. Don't take my word for it, just look at the facts. In 2005, the Blue Jays went 80-82, and finished third in the division. In 2006, the Jays improved to 87-75, and finished 2nd to the Yankees, ahead of the Red Sox. It seemed as though the Jays were about to take the next step. In 2007, the Jays took a bit of a step back, falling back to third place at 83-79. Still, there's a feeling in the air that the Blue Jays may be on the precipice of something better. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:42:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/221505 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/221505 The gruesome details about Toronto Blue Jays 3B Scott Rolen's finger injury were given today. Kind of weird to be saying gruesome when it comes to a finger but this one is! I'll get into the details in a few moments but first lets talk about the updated time line for his return. Rolen said the pin in his middle finger has to stay in 14 days and "at that point, it would be pretty speculative" to say when he'll be back. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:42:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/220596 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/220596