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Once again, my apologies for the late start on this weeks Seesaw Report. It's been a busy week all around. But we here at the Seesaw report would like to make a special welcome for the first name on this list Brian Roberts. It's good to see a guy who has struggled with concussion symptoms make his way back and not go the way of Corey Koskie. On that note, we'd also like to extend our best wishes to Mets fans and Jason Bay, who just can't seem to catch a break. Alright, to the report!
Hitters Up
Brian Roberts - Roberts made his long awaited return this week, starting off with a 3/4 night. He's an above-average hitting second baseman when healthy and deserves to be owned in all leagues until he gets injured again. Welcome back B-Rob.
Franklin Gutierrez - Speaking of long awaited returns, Gutierrez trades spots with Mike Carp on the Seattle roster, pushing Saunders to a corner outfield spot. Gutierrez is more valuable a player in real life than in fantasy and I'd wager you can find a better option in all but the deepest of leagues.
Gaby Sanchez - The Marlins offense has stagnated and they're trying to bring in new blood, much as a cheating cyclist would when he/she dopes. They removed Sanchez from the lineup a few weeks ago and are now reinserting him into the lineup in hopes that he can provide a spark for them. I choose to believe in his career numbers over this years performance, and have snagged him in one of my leagues hoping for a rebound.
Read more after the jump...
Leonys Martin - Martin finally makes his first appearance in 2012, and while he has some nice speed, his bat is a bit of a question mark. He won't hit for much power either. I wouldn't drop anyone of value for him, but if you have room for a flier, he'll play in one hell of a lineup.
Pablo Sandoval - Sandoval returned from his second broken hamate bone in two years (the good news is he doesn't have any left to break), and has even hit some right off the bat. He's worth inserting right into your lineups, though last year he didn't become the Pablo Sandoval of old until several months after his return.
Austin Jackson - Jackson finally returns from his oblique injury and can be reinserted into all lineups. We finally get to see if the change in his performance was a small sample size or for real.
Chipper Jones - I have him in one league and have put him back in the lineup. It's safe to do so until the next time he goes to the DL.
Hitters Down
Brett Pill - Pill was optioned to Triple-A freeing up some time for Brandon Belt, and the #Belted hashtag. Belt has been making the most of his playing time recently and is worth a grab in all leagues just on the chance he can convince Bruce Bochy to play him every day. Aubrey Huff also went on the DL this week, furthering Belt's hold on a starting job for the time-being.
Drew Stubbs - Stubbs heads to the DL, which opens up time for one of my favorite part time players Chris Heisey. Heisey has struggled a bit this year, but has produced in years past. I like Heisey's chances of producing if he can steal the lion's share of playing time due to Stubbs' injury.
Marlon Byrd - Byrd was designated for assignment after he couldn't even get consistent playing time in a Red Sox outfield consistently in flux. If this hurts your team, you've struggled more than the Red Sox have.
Pitchers Up
Justin Grimm - Grimm is a bit of a pop-up prospect, having a great season in Double-A Frisco. He's posted K/9 IP ratio above 7 and BB/9 below 2 so far this season. He also has a groundball/flyball ratio above 2, and thus far has an ERA of 1.87. He's worth a grab in deep leagues, and perhaps a spot start in shallower leagues.
Erasmo Ramirez - Ramirez is a solid prospect with more of a 4/5 ceiling than front of the rotation stuff. That said, Safeco is a great home park and he is a good enough prospect to thrive at the back end of a rotation. I've added him in a league as a holdover where I lost Brandon Morrow and will start him against weaker offenses or at home. He's replaced Blake Beavan in the Seattle rotation.
Pitchers Down
Brandon Morrow - A devastating blow to two of yours truly's teams, Brandon Morrow only made 9 pitches before exiting the game vs the Washington Nationals this week. Oblique/side injuries average 34 days before returning and I wouldn't expect anything shorter than that from Morrow.
Felipe Paulino - This is the risk with Paulino, who has a great arm but just cannot stay healthy. This time it's a groin injury.
Andrew Cashner - Cashner was demoted to get stretched out so that he can join the Padres rotation. A talent like his in a home park like PETCO deserves attention and should be grabbed for his upside. A warning though, he has had shoulder troubles in the past and many think he cannot hold up under a starters workload.
Alexi Ogando - Trying to make the transition that Cashner will soon attempt, Ogando strained his groin and will be down a couple weeks. The Rangers have promoted Justin Grimm, an interesting prospect to take his place in the rotation for the time being. Robbie Ross could also see a spot start or two.
Drew Smyly - I'll avoid the obvious joke here, and just say that Smyly should be good to go as soon as his stint on the DL ends, as it is only a blister that is sending him there. It's not an injury that would keep me from plugging him right back in, if I was using him in the first place.
Drew Hutchison - Hutchison furthers the Blue Jays' rough week by exiting a game with a sprained elbow. Already a replacement in the Jays' rotation from much earlier in the season, Toronto will have to turn back to Brett Cecil or Joel Carreno as a makeshift rotation option.
PJ Walters - I just had to end this with another Twins starter going to the DL that I sincerely hope has no impact on your team whatsoever. The only guy worth owning in the rotation is the inconsistent wonder, Francisco Liriano.