Fantasy Baseball: Friday's Spring Training Roundup

by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 20, 2010 11:02 AM EDT in Baseball

I am late getting to the spring training boxscores as I slept in after my annual NYC NCAA tournament barhop yesterday. I made up for missing last year's trek into NYC. I didn't get a chance to write Thursday's writeup either, but here are my thoughts after reviewing yesterday's boxscores:

Newly acquired pitcher Cliff Lee has an ab strain and could start the season on the DL. Not much has gone right for Lee since the 2009 World Series. Lee is in his walk year and is looking for Roy Halladay money next offseason.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter gave up 7 runs on 10 hits in 4 innings of work yesterday, although he did strike out 5 without walking a batter. I have a feeling fantasy owners will be disappointed with Carpenter and Adam Wainwright this season after all the innings they logged last season.

Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan was 3-4 with 2 RBI and is hitting .361 this spring. Maybe I will be wrong about him.

Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz held the Phillies hitless for 5+ innings on Friday, giving up only 2 walks and striking out 6. He struck out 10 in his last outing, so he is looking like a nice pitcher to have in 5 x 5 leagues.

Nat's pitcher Stephen Strasburg gave up 2 solo HRs, but struck out 8 and walked none in 4 innings on Friday. He will be sent to AA Harrisburg to start the season. I will be sure to try to see him pitch vs the Trenton Thunder this summer, as the company I work for has season tickets.

Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls was knocked around for 6 runs on 5 hits and a walk in 1/3rd of an inning on Friday. Juan Gutierrez is the backup closer in Arizona, and fantasy owners should watch how Qualls pitches in his next few outings.

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia had his best outing of the spring giving up 2 runs in 5+ innings, while striking out 8 and walking 2. Sabathia should be one of the top starter off the board in mixed and AL-only leagues, but don't get frustrated early on as he is usually a slow starter.

A's pitcher Trevor Cahill pitched 5 strong innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits vs the Rockies. The A's have a few young pitchers fantasy owners should target in 2010 drafts, and Cahill is one of them.

The competition for the backup closers job in Colorado heated up as both Manny Corpas and Franklin Morales pitched yesterday, with Morales throwing a scoreless inning, and Corpas giving up a run on 2 hits.

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Comments

Carpenter

Lets not get nuts about a vet like Carpenter’s poor Spring outing. Did you watch the game? Dude threw nothing but fastballs and he got hit. He dropped the hook on them in his last inning and batters were flailing as usual.

Carpenter threw more breaking ball than anyone last season (Wainwright was 2nd I think). With a long injury history, don’t you think he wants to save the wear and tear on the arm from throwing breaking stuff, for later – like when it counts?

Unless it’s Ben Sheets topping out at 85mph, don’t read to much into Spring Training box scores people.

by Luis Tiant on Mar 20, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

could be

but Carpenter has been an injury risk for awhile now. Plus, he didn’t look to good against LA in the playoffs if I remember correctly.

raygu
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 20, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Going nuts

Well, people have to go nuts about something, right?

I’m with Ray though. I wouldn’t touch Carpenter with a ten foot pole at his ADP right now.

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by Ian, yo on Mar 20, 2010 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

Going Nuts

Hahaha I hear you Ian. If we don’t get amped up now, then what are we watching in the spring, other than a bunch of guys getting loose.

I would be wary of Carpenter at that ADP too. He’s kept in my league, so I don’t have to make that decision (for better or worse). I myself have Wainwright kept at the price of a 9th round pick, where he was drafted last season. Hopefully he’ll keep throwing his monster curve and his arm won’t fall off this season.

On another note. I’m totally lovin’ me some Matusz late in my draft… How long a leash do we see Qualls having? I’m a vulture for cheap saves.

by Luis Tiant on Mar 20, 2010 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

Qualls

I think he’s probably going to have a pretty long leash. Nothing really to give me that, but I don’t think that there’s a lot of other competition there besides maybe Juan Gutierrez.

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by Jason Hunt on Mar 20, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Qualls

I am wondering if he is still hurt. He should come cheap in drafts imo.

raygu
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 20, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Small sample, size small sample size, small sample size.

And all the best evidence we have show that the Verducci effect is not real:
http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2010/02/more-testing-of-the-verducci-effect/

Anyone who expects Wainwright to post the stats he did last year is obviously going to be disappointed but if they expect properly regressed numbers pitched in 175-200 IP then they won’t be disappointed.

by kellemonster on Mar 20, 2010 4:43 PM EDT reply actions