Friday Roto Round Up: David Ortiz Out, Same Results

DH David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox:  Big Papi will sit until Tuesday in an effort to clear his head and ignite his bat.  He looks like a great biuy low candidate as his owner is probably at the capitulation stage following the news.

Filling-in for Ortiz at DH, Rocco Baldelli went 0-4 with three strikeouts and six LOB.  That was the baseball version of "Same sh*t, different day" for suffering Red Sox fans.

OF B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Rays:  In a 3-5 night, Upton hit his 1st HR of the season and stole his 10th and 11th bases.  Despite a .190 AVG, Upton is likely unattainable as a buy low candidate.

RP Matt Capps, PIT:  After a closer is shut down with elbow discomfort and returns and blows a save, alarms go off in my head.  I'm not exactly sure who to grab ahead of the "demotion", but I am on high alert.

OF Gerardo Parra, Arizona Diamondbacks:  Parra started a second consectuive game since being recalled.  This time in left field.  He went 1-3 and drew a walk without striking out.  The 3-4-5 hitters for the D'backs struck out seven times in 12 ABs.

OF Wladimir Balentien, Seattle Mariners:  In case you have missed this, the rookie slugger has started nine of the Mariners' 14 May games.  Last night's 2-4 brought his slash stats in the month to 303/378/485.  Because he hasn't hit a HR in those games, he is likely under-appreciated.  Acquiring him in an AL-Only format is still possible.

3B David Wright, New York Mets:  Another three hits sees Wright season AVG rise to .341.  He also stole his 10th base.  For the month, Wright is hitting a gaudy 434/500/717.  His HR totals are still disappointing at three half way through May.

OF Scott Podsednick, Chicago White Sox:  Since being recalled on the 1st of the month, Podsednick has been the regular in center field.  Over that time, he has a .278 AVG and no stolen bases.  A slash stat of 278/289/306 combined with the lack of SBs screams he is finished.  Was it really necessary to lose Jerry Owens for this?

SP Edwin Jackson, Detroit Tigers:  In his 3rd win of the season, Jackson struck out six A's and walked none.  With a 2.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 3.7 K/BB, where are the Rays'sychophants who thought dealing Jackson for Matt Joyce was brilliant?

CF Carlos Gomez, Minnesota Twins:  After I capitulated on Gomez as a regular, he was given the start in centerfield.  He was 0-2 with a K, BB and no stolen base attempts.  With Delmon Young away from the team dealing with a serious illness of his mother, Gomez's efforts over the enxt few games will tell us whether he is going to be viable as a fantasy contributor for the rest of 2009.

8th Inning Set-Up: Tyler Yates (3) and John Grabow PIT (4), Corey Wade LAD (5), Eric O'Flaherty (5) and Peter Moylan ATL (6), Mark Lowe SEA (2), Luke Gregerson SD (2), Jose Mijares MIN (4)

Saves: Huston Street COL (5), Jonathan Broxton LAD (9), C.J. Wilson TEX (1), Dave Aardsma SEA (4), Heath Bell SD (9), Francisco Rodriguez NYM (11)

Blown Saves: Matt Capps PIT (2), Mike Gonzalez ATL (3), Brad Lidge PHI (2), Joe Nathan MIN (2)