http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/76 Recent articles about Taylor Buchholz en-us Ben Sheets and Cliff Lee have been named starters for Tuesday's All-Star Game, but are they the best options? Also, Carlos Marmol was named as an injury replacement, but he is undeserving of a spot ahead of several higher profile and some lower profile (and better) pitchers. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:12:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290297 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290297 There is a new look to the Closer Report this week with expanded coverage of bullpen situations around baseball and rankings for the top fantasy closers and middle relievers. This week AccuScore analyst looks at the All-Star relievers, and has a problem with the selection of one player in particular. Also, the trade deadline is approaching so which closers could be swapping uniforms in the near future? Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:00:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287565 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287565 In terms of fantasy baseball, middle relievers are often forgotten when they can be a huge weapon as an added bonus to your pitching staff. Middle relievers can be the secret key to lower WHIP and ERA, and many of these guys pile up strikeouts and are available in your fantasy league: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:59:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284361 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284361 There are a few situations worth monitoring in case you need saves namely the return of Mike Gonzalez, Santiago Casilla, and Joel Zumaya. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:12:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280132 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280132 Injuries have created new ninth inning situations in both Seattle and Atlanta. Brandon Morrow steps in for the Mariners while the Braves welcome back an old face who should step right into the closer role. Also, there is a shake-up at the top of the rankings in this week's Closer Report. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:42:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279463 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/279463 Brandon Lyon hasn't given up a run since April 6. J.J. Putz suffered another injury, and Troy Percival is set to return. Find out where these three rank, and expanded middle reliever rankings in this week's Closer Report. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:59:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277331 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277331 John Smoltz lasted just one game before electing to undergo season-ending surgery. Rafael Soriano, coming off his own injury, takes over for the Braves who also await the return of Mike Gonzalez. Most other bullpen situations have stabilized for now, but some players will be prime candidates to be traded to contenders very soon. Find out who in this week's Closer Report plus rankings for middle relievers. Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:07:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274414 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/274414 The Braves failed to take advantage of several opportunities given to them by erratic starter Ubaldo Jimenez and lose their 5th game of the year by one run. In the 8th inning Bobby Cox double switched Gregor Blanco to centerfield replacing Mark Kotsay and put Manny Acosta on the mound to reliever Jair Jurrjens. Down one run in the 9th is an ideal situation for a homerun, or to try and atleast get a man on base. Giving a rookie who has never been on the base paths besides as a pinch runner the 2nd AB of the 9th with nobody else on the bench being used....idiotic. Bobby Cox we salute you, you are a f'n moron. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:13:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/233169 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/233169 Caple nails it in this article, a really good article for all of you who don't really know too much about the Twins owner Carl Pohlad. OPEN THE WALLET CARL! Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:12:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39769 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39769 After hearing whispers in the baseball world that in order for the Mets to land Santana they would need to include Reyes. Minaya has come out saying, "He (Reyes) is one of our core players." He went on to say that he wouldn't be involved, it "wouldn't make sense" for the organization. I can see where he is coming from, but when push comes to shove and the Red Sox and Yankees are close to landing the Twins ace, will he be willing to put him on the table? After the epic collapse from last year, he is under enormous pressure to put together a winning team, judging by his options of marquee starters I would say Santana needs to be his number one option. Haren is still very young, but does have fantastic stuff. Would he be able to perform down the stretch in a race involving the big guns of the NL East? I don't know if Minaya can afford to gamble on that sort of player after last season. This really upsets me as a Twins fan because I was looking forward to seeing Reyes lead off and Mauer bring him in on a single or double in every first inning for 162 games... I just hope the Twins and Bill Smith don't go off and do something stupid like "settling" for a mediocre trade* for Santana's extremely high value. From the way the trade offers have fallen into place, with Boston and New York being the number one and two contenders, but holding their stud players (Buchholz, Ellsbury, Cano, Chamberlain), and the Dodgers falling out of the sweepstakes, I wouldn't be surprised if Smith held onto Santana till the 31st of July at the latest. At least I hope that's what he does if the offers don't look any better. Wait, weren't the Angels trying to get involved? Where is their projected offer? *See Boston trade involving Coco Crisp, Lester, and two prospects. See any Yankee trade involving Melky Cabrera. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:38:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39612 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39612 Dear Santa, I know what I'm about to ask you for seems almost impossible, but can you try to make this happen? Red Sox Nation & I have been good this year. I'll even leave you some tickets instead of cookies. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:42:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39580 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39580 DENVER, CO — The National League champion Colorado Rockies continued their red-hot ways on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to 12 games, and winning 23 of their last 24 as they took both ends of a double-header against the Boys and Girls Club of Aurora, located in suburban Denver, Colorado. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle decided to schedule the affair after the Rockies swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in four straight games in the National League Championship Series. (SATIRE) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:47:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/32007 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/32007 Phillies hot-hitting leftfielder Pat Burrell pounded a two out 3 run homer to leftfield in the 7th inning off of reliever Jorge Julio to erase a 5-2 Colorado lead. 1st baseman Ryan Howard resolved the issue with a one out walk-off double to left off of Taylor Buchholz in the 10th inning as the Phils defeated the Rockies by a 6-5 score in the opener of their four game series. Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:29:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26699 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26699 Put your on your dork hats. David Gassko of Hardball Times lists the 20 luckiest and unluckiest pitchers using a statistic known as LIPS, Luck Independent Pitching Statistics. "Essentially, the idea behind both DIPS 3.0 and LIPS is that a lot of luck goes into a pitcher's performance, as measured by ERA, every year. To get a better feel for how good a pitcher actually was, we want to remove the elements of his pitching line that could be especially overwhelmed by luck. It so happens that while defense independent events like strikeouts, walks, and hit-by-pitch are pretty stable from year-to-year, things like singles per outfield fly ball or line drives are not. DIPS and LIPS try to correct for that." Consider yourself warned, Chien-Ming Wang owners! Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:32:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/7966 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/7966 When the Cubs started to lay out the money this offseason, first on Ramirez then on Soriano and Lilly. It started to look like the organization was shedding it's Ebenezer Scrooge ways and spending a little more freely than in the past. Then came the signing of the 28 year old former Saint Louis Cardinal, Jason Marquis, and the Cubs official spending status went from the "miser" level to the apex of "drunken sailor" level. The impact of signing Jason Marquis effects not only the Cubs now and future Cubs but it goes beyond just the northside club. Sun, 17 Dec 2006 03:35:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/6962 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/6962