Photo Credit:  DJ_Anto_D 

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Week: 3-2          L10: 5-5            Overall: 34-29, 2^nd in AL WEST 

When the Athletics traded pitcher Dan Haren, the cornerstone of that deal was hitting prospect Carlos Gonzalez.  Well, Gonzalez, once a skinny Venezuelan kid who was hardly a standout at the Senior League World Series, has arrived--thanks in part to the scouting report Miguel Nava wrote after watching him.  Nava compared him to Miguel Cabrera, and comparisons like that will garner you express tickets to the MLB.  Before being called up, Gonzalez was batting .293 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 41 games with Sacramento.  With team Sweeney (Mike and Ryan) relegated to the 15-day DL (Mike out until the All-Star Break due to arthroscopic knee surgery) and Frank Thomas also ailing once again, Gonzalez debuted last week.  In just nine games, the lefty slugger already has seven doubles and six RBI.  He's only 22, so expect him to play more if he delivers.  The A's already released Jeff Fiorentino, and will be faced with further tough decisions as Chris Denorfia rehabilitates his back.  Also, with Travis Buck's return and Ryan Sweeney expected back by around June 13, Gonzalez's stay could be just a test run for the future.  One other note--team RBI leader Emil Brown's season seems to have hit a speed bump, as he hit .241 in May and .200 so far in June.

Sixty feet, six inches away on the pitching side of things, Kiko Calero returns to the A's bullpen after missing time with a torn rotator cuff.  Considering both Santiago Casilla and Joey Devine have found their way to the DL, Calero couldn't have returned at a better time.  In his first two appearances, Calero's rotator cuff appears to be holding together, as he has struck out three in 2 1/3 innings while surrendering zero hits.  The 33-year-old has struck out 251 batters in 240.1 IP in his career, but with Keith Foulke and Huston Street already spearheding the AL's fourth best bullpen for the month of May, don't expect Calero's numbers to have much value for you. UPCOMING SERIES: NYY (6/10-6/12), @SF (6/13-6/15)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Week: 2-4            L10: 4-6            Overall: 34-30, 1^st NL WEST 

They say one is the loneliest number.  Perhaps that's why the Diamonbacks have been doing their best to make things close once again for their divisional counterparts.  We all knew Brandon Webb couldn't stay undefeated forever.  We knew Mark Reynolds and Conor Jackson were likely to calm from their respective torrid offensive paces.  But considering Arizona was 20-9 as of May 3, no one saw the next 35 games going the way they have.  The Diamondbacks are 14-21 along that stretch, including a most recent run of 4-10.  Things don't get any easier, as Arizona only returns home for one six-game homestand and a seventh home game on the last day of the month.  The rest of June is spent traveling. 

Mark Reynolds is certainly not upset about playing on the road, particularly against the Pirates.  Reynolds went 6-for-15 with three home runs and five RBI.  He now has 14 home runs to lead the Diamondbacks.  Chad Tracy finds himself in a conundrum for the first time in his career.  At 28, he returns from the DL to find his spot taken and with some depth in each position he can play.  With Conor Jackson developing into the team's OBP leader and Reynolds having a career year, Tracy's $4,000,000 salary may be expendable.  However, since Tracy has been on the DL three times in the last year and a half, it's hard to know what his trade value is.  He clearly hasn't returned to the production level he posted in 2005 and 2006. 

Micah Owings has had two straight subpar outings, yielding 10 earned runs in 9.1 IP, while Doug Davis has been able to manage only one quality start all year (due in part to his illness).  The loss of Eric Byrnes normally would be a tremendous blow.  However, Byrnes has never found a rhythm this year and is hitting a Mendoza-esque .219.  It's clear that he has been battling hamstring problems for a while, and one has to wonder why Bob Melvin didn't recommend time off for Byrnes sooner.  While one can applaud Byrnes' competitive spirit, his numbers betray any favors he thought was doing for himself or the team.  The season's expectations that were a near .300 average with 20-plus each of home runs and steals has been dashed as he succombs to a DL stint.   

The good thing about Justin Upton is that he, like so many others this year, is very young.  Youthful inconsistencies are bound to flourish, as evidence by his .340 average, five home runs, and 15 RBI in April, followed by a .216 batting average for the month of May.  Then he began June in a 1-for-18 slump.  Melvin granted him some time off in the series against the Pirates and the Nationals.  Expect that to continue as needed, meaning some extra playing time will go to newly recalled Alex Romero.  Romero was tearing it up down in AAA-Tucson (.331/2/12/22), so there's no reason to assume Melvin wouldn't prefer a stronger contact man than Chris Burke or even Stephen Drew sitting atop his order soon.  But Romero will have to do better than his current .192 clip in the "big show" to earn that opportunity.  

UPCOMING SERIES: @NYM (6/10-6/12), KC (6/13-6/15)  

FLORIDA MARLINS

Week: 3-4           L10: 4-6            Overall: 34-29, 2^nd in NL EAST

UPCOMING SERIES: PHI (6/10-6/12), @TB (6/13-6/15),  @SEA (6/16-6/18) 

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Week: 1-6          L10: 2-8            Overall: 25-40, 5^th, NL EAST 

An ode to the Nationals: New ballpark, new lights, it's time to don the red and white….do we have to carry on the Senators' blight?

UPCOMING SERIES: @PIT (6/10-6/12), @SEA (6/13-6/15)  

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Week: 4-2            L10: 5-5        Overall: 31-31, 5^th AL EAST 

Dave Trembley has had to make some tough choices this year, but none is harder than having to tell a veteran his days with the team are over.  However, after Steve Trachsel was unable to corral an eight-run lead into a victory in one inning of relief, there's a good chance Trachsel will be designated to the minors, and thus he would retire.  Trachsel has never been much more than a serviceable third or fourth arm in a rotation, and he has won 15 games only three times over his sixteen year career. He would finish with a career record of 143-159.  It is hard to recognize when you should be willing to hang 'em up.  With an 8.39 ERA in ten appearances and only 16 strikeouts in nearly 40 innings, Trachsel should be cognizant by now.

2002 first round selection Adam Loewen continues to rehab his elbow but hasn't given up the idea that he'll start this year--despite Trembley's insistence that Loewen will do nothing of the sort.  Meanwhile, my new favorite name in baseball, Radhames Liz was called up to be the fifth starter after posting a 1-5 record with a 4.05 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 60 innings at AAA-Norfolk.  While he's had a decent early run in his first two starts, his GB/FB ratio is under 0.5, a trend that Baltimore, much like any fantasy owner worth his snuff, would prefer makes a U-turn. 

And though Adam Jones has yet to prove he can maintain a batting average over .250 for very long, he's certainly had an auspicious start to the month of June.  So far, he is batting .267 for the month, adding two home runs and nine RBI.  He still strikes out way too much for my liking (and he has yet to draw a walk in June).  However, he's 22 and his upside is very high.  If you're in a keeper league, this is the time to get him on the cheap.  

UPCOMING SERIES: @BOS (6/10-6/12), PIT (6/13-6/15)  

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Week: 4-3            L10: 6-4           Overall: 31-33. 4^th NL CENTRAL 

A year ago the Pirates would have done anything to buy some runs.  This year, they'll do anything to buy whatever drug will correct their young pitching staff's funk.  Expected to be developing into one of the top young rotations in the league, the Pirates instead sport a 4.80 team ERA, third worst in the majors.  Anticipated fifteen game winners Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny have found little consistency, with Gorzo slumping in his sophomore campaign to the tune of a 6.83 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.  His BABIP is .309, which may be a little high, but doesn't warrant a correction that would solve fantasy owners’ concerns.  In addition, his 29 strikeouts in 61.2 IP points out that Gorzelanny lacks a true, consistent out pitch.  He isn't throwing the ball by anyone.  Add 31 walks to the picture and you can add Gorzelanny to your bench (or waiver wire) until he finds the handle.  The bigger stunner is that Phil Dumatrait continues to shine since his move from the bullpen, so much so that Adam LaRoche was quoted as saying that everyone wants Dumatrait out there because he has the team's full confidence.  He's 3-3 with a 3.44 ERA, but more importantly, Phil has yielded only 57 hits in his 65.1 IP.   

Ronny Paulino's lack of defensive prowess and lackadaisical work ethic is well known both inside the organization and among the fans.  But nobody saw Raul Chavez's arrival as a threat to Paulino's stint in the majors.  However, Chavez's defensive skills, as well as his recent knack for timely hitting, gained him a roster spot upon Ryan Doumit's return from the DL.  Paulino returns to AAA-Indianapolis to see if he can find the bat that he used to hit .310 in 2006.  Chavez is now hitting .278, and with RISP he is clubbing to a .333 average with six RBI. 

The Pirates selected Vanderbilt slugger Pedro Alvarez with their first pick in the draft.  Seeing that Alvarez is represented by Scott Boras must give the Pirates that same queasy feeling as finding a hole in the pants pocket where your wallet used to be.  Expect the Pirates to attempt to increase their credit limit in an effort to actually sign this kid.  Adam LaRoche – you had better pick up the slack, big guy – your contract is feeling a bit heavy. 

UPCOMING SERIES: WSH (6/10-6/12), @BAL (6/13-6/15) 

TEXAS RANGERS

Week: 3-3            L10: 5-5           Overall: 32-33. 3rd AL CENTRAL 

The Texas Rangers are doing their best to become the Cincinnati Bengals of MLB.  Initially, Rangers fans were applauding the inner genius in Jon Daniels and Ron Washington, who had the chops to bring back Sidney Ponson.  Ponson has been one of the few highlights on an otherwise dreary pitching staff.  In his nine starts, Ponson gathered a 4-1 record and a 3.88 ERA.  He pitched the fourth most innings on the team and was a team leader in games started.  While his K/9 ratio was rather laughable (a 4.04), he was providing solid innings and a much needed veteran presence.  Of course, you can never underestimate the value of a screwed up head to undermine natural talent.  In Tampa Bay last week, Ponson apparently stayed out a tad too late (read: tipped back a few) and showed up the next day for his start in less than desirable condition.  He lasted just five innings and apparently vented his frustrations in the clubhouse, upon which he was shown the door.  Vicente Padilla returns from the DL and Ponson looks for work elsewhere. 

There's also a rumor that the Rangers would like to move Kevin Millwood.  Though he may be the closest thing they have to a 20-game winner, and that's not saying much, his nearly $10.5M salary is money that Texas would like to spend elsewhere.  According to ESPN, the Braves are interested, but they may not have the young arms to trade in order to acquire Millwood and the $23 million that he is owed over the next two years. 

At 30 years young, Milton Bradley continues his revival.  I still like him as a sell-high candidate, even with his 14 home runs, 1.096 OPS, and league-leading .456 OBP.  Just imagine what kind of Hall of Fame career this guy could've had if his melon hadn't been pulled from the patch too soon?  Even if the meltdown never occurs this year, he's got limited upside from this possible career year.  So, if you're in a keeper league and falling out of contention, deal him for a future stud like Jay Bruce or Evan Longoria.   

UPCOMING SERIES: @KC (6/10-6/12), @NYY (6/13-6/15)  

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Week: 3-4            L10: 6-4            Overall: 38-26, 2^nd AL EAST 

You know that phrase you always hear the pundits say?  "They just don't know how to win yet."  Every time I hear that one, I think to myself, "This guy just needs something to say."  Well in just one week, the Tampa Bay Rays not only lost the lead in the AL East to the Boston Red Sox, but it's possible they've lost their minds.  While it's completely normal for competitive guys like Matt Garza and Dioner Navarro to get into an argument, how many times have you seen it happen on the mound?  This follows a Thursday night bench-clearing melee after James Shields admittedly plunked Coco Crisp on the hip.  In the same game, B. J. Upton was ejected after arguing balls and strikes.  The Rays rebounded from the Boston series by taking two-of-three from Texas, but the pressures of winning may be taking a toll on this young team.  Shields drew the longest suspension (six games) for the brawl. 

The good news for Upton owners is that his power stroke seems to have returned.  Homerless for the month of May, and thus drawing the ire of fantasy owners who typically drafted him in the late-second/early third round, Upton has stroked two round-trippers to begin the month of June.  He now has five for the year, still far off the projected 30-homer stud whom owners anticipated.  However, he's mashing to the tune of .301 and has added 20 stolen bases, 39 runs, and 37 RBI.  At 23, Upton is demonstrating that he's a four-category candidate, with the fifth not far away. 

Carlos Pena was forced to the DL after being diagnosed with a fractured finger, one that could worsen with further play.  Since Johnny Gomes decided to serve his five game suspension right away, the Rays recalled Justin Ruggiano, who continues to add frequent flyer miles to his card.  Ruggiano was hitting .325 with five home runs and 27 RBI at AAA-Durham.  He already batted .300 during the month of April while filling in during the DL stints of Chris Floyd, Willy Aybar, and Rocco Baldelli, so he's proven he can hang at the major league level. Ruggiano will see outfield time, while Eric Hinske moves over to first base.    And the news on Baldelli is slightly encouraging if not insignificant.  Baldelli is playing again in extended spring training games and went 2-5 in a game against the Blue Jays’ team.  There is no timetable for a return. 

The Rays finish their road trip in Anaheim against the Angels.  They're 3-0 this year against the Halos, sporting a team .301 batting average versus Angels pitching.  And they wasted no time taking out whatever anxiety has been plaguing them on Joe Saunders Monday night in a 13-4 rout of the Angels. 

UPCOMING SERIES:  @LAA (6/10-6/11), FLA (6/13-6/15)  

COLORADO ROCKIES

Week: 5-1            L10: 4-6           Overall: 24-39, 5^th NL WEST 

Is Aaron Cook for sale?  Lord knows the Colorado Rockies need something to get them started.  Though if they look up, they'll notice that Arizona is doing their darnedest to give the Rockies another chance at a miraculous late-season surge.  And the Rockies, with a locker room that looks more like a M.A.S.H. unit than a baseball clubhouse, are finally beginning to heal.  Names like Garrett Atkins, Cliff Barmes, Bowie, Kip Wells, Jason Hirsh, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday have all faced injuries, leaving this team scrambling.  Ironically, though 15 games under .500, the Rockies are still only 9 1/2 games away from pay dirt.

Pitcher Jeff Francis has yet to find the form that made him a 17-game winner a year ago.  However, his last two outings presented the Rockies, and those of us who made him a top pitching choice this year, some hope for the rest of the season: 13 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 9 K.  Those two outings also gave Francis a career milestone: 500 strikeouts.  With the Rockies holding onto the second worst team ERA in the majors, Clint Hurdle has had little patience.  One start after Glendon Rusch was belted around for five runs in 4.1 IP, the Rockies optioned him back to AAA-Colorado Springs.  Luis Vizcaino takes his place, coming off the DL for his Rockies debut as a possible setup man.  But he could also potentially become a closer if the Yankees really come calling for Brian Fuentes.  No doubt, he becomes direct competition to Taylor Buchholz.  Should Vizcaino earn a shot at closing, Manny Corpas becomes all but irrelevant.  The trading deadline will determine all, but if Vizcaino improves and you've got room, he will be worth a pickup. 

The one highlight amongst all the injury angst has been the rise of infielder Ian Stewart.   Stewart is only batting .243, but of his nine hits, five have gone for extra bases, including an upper deck home run shot that left even the umpire crew gawking.  He's also been impressive defensively.  With news that Jeff Baker is nursing a bad knee bruise, bad enough that he required Aaron Cook to pinch run for him, it's likely Stewart will continue to see time at second base.  For now, he has a spot to showcase his stuff before both Barmes and Tulowitzki return.  Unless he catches fire, he'd be, at most, a short term fill-in.

UPCOMING SERIES: SF (6/10-6/12), @CHW (6/13-6/15), ATL (6/16)  

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Week: 2-5          L10: 4-6             Overall: 25-39, 5^th NL CENTRAL 

I told you to board the Jose Guillen train.  In fact, he's not really a train.  He's the whole darn subway.  And that subway arrived in the Bronx fully loaded.  Versus the struggling Yanks, Guillen pounced on the home team's pitching to the tune of 9-for-16 in the series with four home runs, the last of which came in the top of the ninth against Mariano Rivera.  Guillen now has 11 homers for the year, with eight of them in the last month.  During this last series, he added 10 RBI and six runs.  His average, a paltry .198 on May 10, is now a healthy .266 and climbing. 

If you're looking for a catcher, Miguel Olivo has been showing that he's healthy again.  Sure, his batting eye is atrocious.  He adds a K to his box score nearly once per game, but 22 of his 43 hits have gone for extra bases, and he already has eight home runs this year, half his total from last year.  In most leagues he was left undrafted, and while he's not likely to hold onto his .289 average, he did bat over .300 in the month of May.  Historically, his best month of the year is June. 

The Royals sent down Joel Peralta and replaced him with the huge specimen that is 28-year-old Jeff Fulchino.  Fulchino is listed at 6'5" and between 240 and 250 pounds.  He appeared 12 times, five of them starts for AAA-Omaha  He is a ground ball pitcher with nearly a 2:1 GO/AO ratio, and he posted a 2-1 record with 3 saves, striking out 35 in just 38.1 IP.  While Fulchino might add to your strikeout total, his age and the bullpen he joins make him nothing more than a possibility for middle relief. 

UPCOMING SERIES: TEX (6/10-6/12), @ARI (6/13-6/15)  

MINNESOTA TWINS
Week: 1-6            L10: 3-7           Overall: 31-33, 2^nd AL CENTRAL A

s the Twins wrapped up May, they couldn't have been happier.  They were 28-27 and in the heart of the AL Central race, even though inconsistency has plagued their team.  They took three-of-four from Boston, then turned right around to get swept by the Jays and lose two-of-three to Colorado.  Next came a split with Texas, two wins out of three from Detroit, and a sweep against Kansas City.  Then they turned promptly around and split with the last-place Yankees,  followed by losing two-of-three to faltering Baltimore.  Now after being swept by their divisional rival Chicago White Sox, the faltering Twins find themselves two games under .500 and 6½ games off the pace.  It's this kind of inconsistency that will probably send Ron Gardenhire to the DL with a heart attack.  Hell, my chest is heavy just recapping all of this.  

Most of the problem lies in the Twins' lack of starting pitching.  The rotation hasn't had a quality start in the last ten tries.  Certainly, the return of Scott Baker will hasten the end of such a streak.  In his first start in over a month, Baker tossed 99 pitches through five innings of work, yielding two earned runs on five hits.  But Gardenhire wasn't about to test Baker's groin too much, so he pulled him before the crucial sixth and seventh innings.

Just as Matt Macri returned to the minors in AAA-Rochester, he was given a swift 180 degree turn and pushed back to the Twins.  Nick Punto is back on the DL with the same hamstring problem that took him there just weeks ago, and Adam Everett joins him after re-aggravating his shoulder.  With Mike Lamb hitting an anorexic .091 against lefties, expect Macri to get his share of at bats while Ron Gardenhire continues to get Brendan Harris practice at the hot corner.  Macri has nothing short of an audition, which so far is going his way.  He's 7-for-18 with one double.  Macri was hitting an unremarkable .263 at Rochester, having plated nine RBI in 29 games.  He only knocked out one round-tripper, but had twelve other extra base hits in his 99 at bats.  Expect that he's a temporary fill-in for left-handed pitching until either Lamb finds the handle or either Punto or Everett return. 

In draft news, the Twins chose Aaron Hicks out of Long Beach, a outfield/pitching prospect who has been compared to the likes of another Los Angeles phenom, Darryl Strawberry.  He is 6' 2", 175 pounds and was an AFLAC All-American in 2007 during his junior year of high school.  Let's hope they're referring strictly to his talent and not his penchant for recreation. 

UPCOMING SERIES: @CLE (6/10-6/12), @MIL (6/13-6/15) 

Jon Phillips returned from Mexico and Washington speaking politics in Spanish.  No one seems to understand him except people who can't vote in this forthcoming election.  Thus, he's returned to writing his column here in English.  Send comments or poetic Spanish thoughts to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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