Today is July 7. On this day in 1900, Kid Nichols became the youngest player (at age 30) to reach 300 wins. It took him just 9 seasons. Today is the 6th anniversary of the London Public Transport Bombings. Happy birthday to Satchel Paige (1906), Ringo Starr (1940), and sliced bread (1928). Here are your fantasy baseball links for today:
Home/Away Splits | Fantasy Baseball Cafe
Below are 10 pitchers with large home and away splits. I focused the list on players that you may be able to find on the waiver wire.
Updated AL Starting Pitcher Rankings | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
Under the Radar - AL/NL Only Leagues | BaseballPress.com
Davis was scratched from a start with a sore groin earlier this week, so for owners in need of some power-hitting depth during this transaction period, he should be very cheap. If he is called up to the Rangers, Davis could get regular playing time, which will also increase his trade value as we approach the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of this month.
2011 Closer Rankings: July | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
If I owned Papelbon, I would email this list to everybody in my league and watch the offers roll in.
FANTASY BASEBALL: CLOSING TIME | RotoExperts
Closer depth chart plus some updates.
Follow the jump for more of the latest fantasy baseball news and analysis from around the web.
Harden and McCarthy: Returning From DL | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
In my opinion, Rich’s value depends on his ability to stay healthy, but probably more importantly is keeping his walk rate down. Previously, he could away with having a high walk rate since his K/9 was higher. Unless he keeps low walk rate (2 to 3 BB/9), he will have little value even if healthy.
Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 RBI Guys Vol. 6 | LestersLegends.com
Nyjer Morgan and Chris Getz: Waiver Wire Fill-ins | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
During the month of June, he hit .308 with 2 HR, 9 RBI, 14 runs scored and 3 stolen bases and already in July, he’s hitting .375 with another home run, and another 4 in each the RBI and runs scored column. He’s definitely being supported by an outrageous .394 BABIP which should drop, but not as much as you’d think since Morgan has always had a BABIP near .350 for most of his career. Again though, we’re talking short run here, and Morgan could fit perfectly if you’ve got an outfielder on the DL or just slumping real hard.
Reliever Roundup: Joe Nathan, David Hernandez and Rex Brothers | Roto Hardball
Brothers isn't the type of reliever you make room for, but if you have an open spot on your roster in deep leagues, he's worth an add as a source of strikeouts and holds. He holds additional value in keeper leagues, as he could be the heir-apparent to Huston Street while providing decent stats in the meantime. He's owned in 0% of ESPN leagues, so if you want him, he's yours for the taking.
Baseball-All-Starlytics: Curtis Granderson: What a difference a year makes | Baseball Analytics
On the morning of July 6, 2011, Curtis Granderson is hitting .278 (I'm no math genius but I think that's 50 points higher) with 25 homers and 62 RBI. He is slugging .597. He is hitting .260 against lefties with nine homers and 63 total bases and 31 strikeouts (over twice as many total bases as whiffs is very good).
Buy ‘Em or Deny ‘Em: Has Mark Reynolds "Returned"? | Rotoprofessor
If you need power, as always, Reynolds is a fine option, just be prepared for the issues in average that could follow. It’s a shallow position, so that obviously changes things a bit, but selling high on him may not be a terrible idea either (unless you are desperate for power).
The Venters Difference | Baseball Analytics
Note, also, that when Venters comes into a game late, batters are almost always going to used to seeing a traditional fastball/change up combination from earlier in the game. Venters forces batters to adjust to a fastball that sinks, and a slider off that with great movement. That's why he's on the All-Star team.
Injury Report: July 7: Jon Lester, Jose Reyes, Evan Longoria & More | Rotoprofessor
Prospect of the Day: Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners | Minor League Ball
While Seager doesn't have the home run power of the typical third baseman, he has solid strike zone judgment, makes contact, and has respectable gap power. His running speed is a tick below average and he can be overaggressive, stealing nine bases but being caught six times this year, but no one ever accuses him of lack of effort and his makeup is a strong suit. The standard comparison for Seager is Bill Mueller: a third baseman without big power but possessing a solid line drive bat with a good feel for the strike zone.
Daily Dish: Michael Choice Powers Red Hot Stockton | Baseball America
Choice, Simmons, Joseph, Brown, Tekotte
2011 MLB All Star Futures Game Roster Review: World Team Pitchers | Minor League Ball
Tyler Skaggs and J.D. Martinez, Scouting the Unknown | Razzball
[Skaggs'] numbers have been highly impressive since becoming a pro. Statistically has progress with few, if any, outliers. "Luck" (BABIP) hasn’t ever been an issue, he doesn’t strand runners (LOB%) at an unsustainable rate and he keeps the ball in the park (.6 Hr/9 career rate and a 1.63 and 1.46 GO/AO in 2010 and 2011 respectfully).
Kyle Seager: Mining the Minors | FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
Already branded the everyday starter at the hot corner by Jack Z, Seager is a savvy add, especially if he’s already eligible at 2B in addition to his expected third base role. If he can translate his minor-league momentum into a nice start in the majors, he’ll make a rather useful MI/CR starter in all AL leagues.