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My apologies for not getting to the Saturday morning Roto Roundup. I decided at 5pm on Friday night, as I was walking out of work, to go to the New York Giants-Chicago Bears game at 8pm that night. Getting home close to 1am was not conducive to writing one.
Blue Jays outfielder was activated from the DL a few days ago, and now finds himself back on the DL with inflammation in his left wrist. He walked in his only at bat yesterday, and there is talk that he could be shut down for the season. If so, he would end the 2012 season with a slash line of .241-.358-.527 with 27 HRs, 64 runs, and 65 RBI. Wrist injuries, espeically for power hitters, are worrisome, so one has to wonder if it will be a lingering injury in the future.
R.A. Dickey is doing his best to maintain his lead in the National League Cy Young award race. Dickey held the Astros to 1 run on 5 hits, a walk and just 2 strikeouts to earn his 16th win. He is now 16-4 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 183-41 strikeout to walk ratio in 182.1 innings of work this season. He currently leads the NL in wins, complete games and strikeouts, is 3rd in innings pitched, and 4th in ERA and WHIP.
Before the Dodgers traded for Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett, they apparently approached the Twins about first baseman Justin Morneau. Morneau struggled to start the 2012 season, but has turned things around since June 30th. Morneau went 4-4 with a solo HR yesterday, raising his triple slash line to .276-.336-.472 with 17 HRs, 49 runs and 60 RBI. Since June 30th, Morneau is hitting over .300, hitting .315 in July and .301 in August, with 7 of his 17 HRs and 26 of his 60 RBI coming in the last two months.
Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is on his way to another 20 HR, 20 stolen base season, his 4th in the last 6 seasons, and he missed the 5th by 2 home runs. Kinsler went 3-5 with a HR and 4 RBI last night, and is now hitting .271-.343-.443 with 15 HRs, 88 runs, 64 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a 67-49 strikeout to walk ratio. He will go into the 2013 season as my 2nd ranked fantasy second baseman.
More Roto Roundup after the jump:
Speaking of fantasy second baseman, Red second bagger Brandon Phillips might be one of the more consistent hitters at the position. He went 3-5 with a HR, 2 runs and 2 RBI yesterday in the Reds 8-2 win over the Cardinals. Phillips is hitting .292-.332-.448 with 14 HRs, 72 runs, 67 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Phillips has multiple hit games in 5 of his last 8 games.
I read a few days ago that the Orioles are giving serious consideration to calling up the top pitching prospect in the game, Dylan Bundy to help in their push for the playoffs. I understand their reasons, but I wonder if he is really ready to pitch in the big leagues. As a Bundy owner in an AL-Only league, I prefer they wait till mid-2013 to call him up. Tom Froemming from MLB Daily DIsh has more on the possible callup.
Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is some kind of hot right now. Ethier has now gone 4-4 in each of his last two games, homering in both games. In addition, he has a hit in each of his last 10 at bat. Ethier is now hitting .291-.358-.467 with 14 HRs, 62 runs and 74 RBI, and is on pace for an 18 HR, 94 RBI season. He doesn't hurt you in any one category, and I don't see him approaching his fabulous 2009 season where he hit 31 HRs and drove in 106, but he is good for 20 HRs and 90 RBIs on an annual basis with a .290 BA.
With the Red Sox dealing Adrian Gonzalez and Car Crawford on Saturday, one has to wonder if they will attempt to sign outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to a long term contract. Ellsbury went 2-5 with 2 runs scored, raising his slash line to .266-.314-.365 with a HR, 28 runs, 14 RBI and 8 stolen bases in just under 200 at bats this season. He becomes a free agent after the 2014 season, so there is no real rush for the team to sign him long term just yet, especially with his injury history.