Friday's action included a day game in Chicago where the Pirates Andrew McCutchen went 5-5 with a HR, 2 RBIs, 5 runs scored, a walk and 2 SBs. Man, he is good. And i am glad I traded for him in the UBA league recently. McCutchen is hitting .336-.390-.522 on the season with 5 HRs, 12 RBI and 12 SBs.
Here are my thoughts after reviewing Friday's boxscores:
McCutchen's teammate Garret Jones went 5-5 with a HR and 5 RBI on Friday. He is hitting .264-.367-.456 for the season with 5 HRs and 27 RBIs, but only 2 SBs so far this season. Does he turn on the speed for fantasy owners come the summer months?
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez went 2-5 with with a run scored and is hitting .168-.233-.267 for the season with just 3 HRs and 15 RBIs. Who is a bigger disappointment-ARam or Carlos Lee?
It's gotta be reaching a boiling point in Arizona after Chad Qualls blew another save last night in Atlanta. Qualls got only one out in the 9th, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Setup man Juan Gutierrez wasn't much better as he served up a HR to slumping Nate McLouth in the 7th. Quall's blown save was his 3rd of the season. Get more reaction over at AZ Snakepit.
Much maligned David Ortiz went 2-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs in the Red Sox 7-2 win over the Tigers. Both HRs came off of Tigers starter Max Scherzer. Will May be the month Ortiz catches fire?
A beer-league softball game broke out in Toronto last night as the Blue Jays beat the Rangers 16-10 by hitting 5 HRs, two off of Rangers struggling starter Rich Harden. Neither Harden or Toronto starter Brett Cecil were able to get out of the 3rd inning, with both giving up at least 7 runs. Mama always told me there would be days like this.
Speaking of struggling starters, Mets starter Oliver Perez is on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation after putting up all sorts of crooked numbers in his 3+ innings vs the Marlins on Friday. Perez gave up 7 runs on 9 hits, 3 walks, and 4....yes 4 HRs! Time for a demotion to AAA?
Jose Contreras pitched the ninth inning of the Phillies 9-5 win over the Brewers last night. I assume he will close until Brad Lidge is healthy enough to pitch. Something tells me that may be after a DL stint.