Thursday Roto Round Up

Despite Manny Ramirez being suspended for 50 games, a full slate of games was still played.  For those looking for more proof that Manny was juicing and not looking for bedroom help, read this piece at Deadspin.

SP Jarrod Washburn, Seattle Mariners:  With 5 more Ks and zero walks, Washburn was a 3.1 K:BB ratio over 40.1 innings.  28 ks over that many innings is not exactly a recipe for the high Ks total necesaary to eb this year's Cliff Lee.

1B Casey Kotchman, Atlanta Braves:  No sooner do I mention Kotchman as one of the most disappointing players in this young fantasy baseball season then he goes and hits his 1st HR and drives in his 5th and 6th runs.  The bottom may have been missed.  Kotchman's 89% contact rate augers well.

SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies:  Another oh-fer has dropped Tulowitzki's AVG to .198.  It won't be long before the Rockies will have to start Ian Stewart at 2B and play Clint Barmes at SS.  Oh wait, those two are hitting .224 and .240 respectively.

C Bengie Molina, San Francisco Giants:  With 2 HRs and 4 RBIs, the best hitter amongst the brothers Molina no has 7 HRs and 27 RBIs in 100 ABs.  Still no walks though.  Pablo Sandoval's "patience" has resulted in four walks already in the same number of ABs.

OF Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks:  Against the holding-runners indifferent Chris Young, Upton was the only Diamondback to steal a base.  Any chance to buy low on upton has passed as he is now hitting .294 on the season.  Not that anyone was selling low on upton anyhow.

OF Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays:  Zobrist hit one of the seven HRs in last's game at the new Yankees Stadium.  It was his 5th of the season.  He also stole a base.  On the day Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games, the former utility infielder looks like he has the bat to be a corner outfielder.

SS Jayson Nix, Chicago White Sox:  The younger Nix brother hit his 1st major league HR spelling the struggling Alexei Ramirez.  Ramirez owners should feel better knowing position players don't lose their jobs easily the way a struggling closer would if his fill-in had one game.

3B/C Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers:  His third consecutive oh-fer dropped the April hottie to a more pedestrian .278.  Over those last 10 ABs, he hasn't drawn a walk but struck out five times.  If there was a chance to sell high on him, that time has passed.

1B Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies:  His 6th HR isn't remarkable.  Nor are his 22 RBIs.  What is interesting is Howard has passed the 1/6th pole hitting .291.  His BABIP is .353 which is considerably higher than last season's .285, but it is not his career best as it finished at .356 in 2006.

C Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels:  Following a 2-4 night with a HR and 2 RBI as the DH, Napoli is now hitting a Pujols-esque 328/444/628.  Surprising last night's 4 plate appearances as a DH took his career total to 10.  I'd be very curious to see how his bat responds to less frequent catching and more frequent hitting. 

8th Inning Set-Up (Holds): Juan Cruz KC (4), Rafael Soriano ATL (5), Trever Miller (1) and Blaine Boyer (1) STL, Arthur Rhodes CIN (5)

Saves: Joakim Soria KC (7), Mike Gonzalez ATL (5), Ryan Franklin STL (9), George Sherrill BAL (5), Francisco Cordero CIN (8)

Blown Saves: None