Remember the push-up bra analogy?  Ladies and gents, I bring you 26-percent owned Casey McGehee.

I’m sure most of you know him, and kudos to those few GMs who were lucky enough to bag him before his recent hot streak.  For those owners who’ve decided to hop on that train now, though, the Artist has bad news for you: he’s just another in a long line of players whose beauty is aided by a gargantuan over-the-shoulder boulder holder.  This is probably common knowledge, but let’s undo the clasp, one-handed, just for fun:

Ground and pound baby, that’s how I get down.  Photo Credit: Icon SMI

1. He’s powerless.  With a home run every 47.7 at-bats throughout his minor league career and a similar rate during his short stint in the bigs (3 HRs in 120 at-bats with Chicago and Milwaukee), he’ll have a difficult time reaching double-digit jacks even if he remains a starter the entire season.

2. With just seven steals in 2,696 at-bats between the minors and majors, it’s safe to say he’s riding on rims. 

3. He’s never been a prolific batsman on any level.  To be fair, he did hit a minor-league career high .296 at Triple-A last season (in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League), but that was supported by an anomalous .341 BABIP.  In 2007, with a BABIP hovering around .300, he hit a mediocre .261 between Double and Triple-A.  Going back further…ah, never mind.  The fact that he was stuck on the farm for six years says more about how average he was than anything. 

A third baseman with no power is bad enough.  A second baseman with no power, average, or speed?   Unacceptable.   
 
Essentially, McGehee will need to maintain his .344 BA to have value in mixed formats (in an NL-only, sometimes all you need is a warm body).  How likely is that?  Track record aside, his current 23.5 LD% and .395 BABIP say not likely at all.  He’s a utility player who was forced into full-time duty only because of injuries (Richie Weeks) and others’ struggles (Bill Hall).  The more at-bats he accumulates, the more he’ll get exposed.

The wise move would be to talk up his average, his respectable 17/11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and his position eligibility, and sell to the highest bidder.  You never know; maybe you can get a quietly surging Placido Polanco for him. 

“If Chicago was a meat market, you’d be the prime rib.”
Gordon Beckham (3B/SS, CWS) – 26 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: @CLE, @KC
Now here’s a kid with a pedigree.  Hype and fanfare rained from the heavens when he was called up in early June, but after a 2-for-28 start (with just 233 minor-league at-bats under his belt) many were left wondering whether the 22-year-old prospect was ready for the big time.  Still, Sox skip Ozzie Guillen stuck with Beckham through tough times and his seemingly reluctant patience is beginning to pay off: 8-for-30 with six runs scored, three doubles, a homer, and eight RBIs over his last nine games.  A .172 batting average has him looking like an ugly duckling at the moment, but his anemic 10.4 LD% and resulting .191 BABIP are the culprits.  The positive is that he’s exhibited a healthy discipline at the dish through 58 at-bats, striking out just 10 times while drawing seven base on balls.  As he continues to get acclimated to his new surroundings, we should all see the true line-drive hitter with burgeoning power that the White Sox saw on draft day just a year ago.   Eligible at shortstop in the Y! game, a forecast of .270/8/40/40 from today forward makes him a top-10 option at the position.     

“Stop, drop and roll baby, ‘cause you’re on fire!”
Kevin Correia (SP, SD) – 22 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On Tap: 6/27@TEX, 7/2 HOU
Believe it or not, Correia has been a fantasy ace over his last four starts.  And with a BABIP (.282) and strand rate (71.9 LOB%) right around league averages, a rabbit’s foot has had nothing to do with it (4.08 FIP).  The San Diego righty hasn’t faced the stiffest competition (ARI, LAD, SEA, OAK), but anyone who can post a 0.56 WHIP, to go along with a 20/2 K/BB over their last 26.2 innings deserves a look.  The reason for his most recent success?  Using a fastball/curve/slider/change combo, Correia has efficiently kept hitters off balance, forcing them to pound pitches into the dirt.  His current 1.21 GB/FB is the second best mark of his seven-year career, and he’s moved into extremist territory with a 1.55 split over the last month.  His command has also improved, with just 13 walks in his last 10 turns.  He’s got a tough matchup at Texas this Saturday, but with upcoming tilts versus Houston, Arizona, San Francisco, Florida, and Washington, there’s little, if anything, not to like about his prospects in July.  Just don’t chase wins here; the Padres are 29th in baseball in runs scored. 

“It’s always good for you to see me again.”
Scott Hairston (OF, SD) – 35 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: HOU, LAD
Scott was hot (.327 BA, 8 HRs, 24 RBI, 21 R, 6 SBs in 147 ABs) and had just been handed the reins to a full-time gig in the Padres outfield before going on the DL in early June with a biceps strain.  Fortunately for the Pads – not so good for Hairston – San Diego’s haul in the Jody Gerut deal, Tony Gwynn, hit better than expected while the six-year vet was out (.333, 17 runs in 96 at-bats with San Diego).  This, of course, led to speculation that Hairston might once again be platoon-bound upon his  return, but a funny thing happened the day he was activated: Brian Giles was subsequently shelved for 15 days (right knee contusion).  In three games since rejoining the club, Hairston’s just 2-for-11, but with everyday at-bats his to lose, those pre-injury visions of a .280 BA, 20-homer, 15-steal season could still be realized.    

“Here I am.  What were your other two wishes?”
Dan Meyer (RP, FLA) – 44 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: WAS, PIT
With a 2.03 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and a tight 30/7 K/BB in 31.0 IP, it’s safe to say Meyer’s been the best reliever out of the Florida pen this year.   He’s also the guy Fredi Gonzalez turned to in the first save situation of the post-Matt Lindstrom era (out for at least four weeks with an elbow sprain).  Yes, I know that Leo Nunez is supposed to be the guy and that he was held out of action only because of a minor ankle sprain, but Gonzalez had to be impressed by Meyer’s ability to retire the side in order on Wednesday night. After all, Lindstrom hadn’t pitched a 1-2-3 inning in a ninth-inning save situation since May 20.  The 27-year-old lefty may not get all the save opportunities going forward, and if Nunez is called upon and succeeds, it’s possible Meyer’s days as a closer are finished.  But Nunez hasn’t exactly been lights out (4.13 ERA, 15 BB in 32.2 IP), and should he falter, Meyer could take the job and keep it.  Like, for the rest of the season. 

“Good news – the test results are negative!”
Khalil Greene (SS/3B, STL) – 16 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: SF, @CIN
The last three months have been a roller coaster ride for the former Padres shortstop.  A fabulous spring turned into a horrendous April and May, followed by a trip to the DL for anxiety-related issues which prompted rumors he might retire.  Throw in the steady wood/leather the Cards were getting from Brendan Ryan at short, and the Hulkster-haired one had fallen off the face of the fantasy earth.   That is, until he returned on June 18.  Since then, he’s gone 5-for-21 with three long balls and five RBI, starting five of the Cards’ last six games at the hot corner.  It appears he’ll find steady work at the new position, at least in the short-term, and if he can continue to help out an offensively-challenged St. Louis squad, perhaps the rest of the season.  With a career .246 BA (heavily weighted by a .228 BA at PETCO), it would be silly to expect anything higher than a .250 average.   Still, he can provide much-needed muscle at a relatively thin position (27 HRs in ’07; five jacks in 124 ABs in ‘09), and that alone makes him worth the investment.   

“When God made you, he was showing off.”
Jordan Zimmermann (SP, WAS) – 43 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: 6/30 @FLA
Pay no attention to the Washington rookie’s 4.65 ERA; a .331 BABIP and 24.5 LD% can do that to a man.  What’s more significant are his 69 Ks in 69.2 IP, the two earned runs or fewer he’s allowed in five of his last six starts, and the 3.03 ERA and 37/9 K/BB he’s posted over his last 35.2 IP (including a 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K performance against Boston on Thursday night).  The keys to his success?  Throwing strikes (53.7 percent of his pitches are in the zone) and keeping the ball down (1.39 GB/FB).  Zimm won’t see many Ws pitching on a Nats squad infamous for blowing leads, but a 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and another 75 Ks the rest of the way (could be higher if not for an innings cap) warrant consideration in all but the shallowest of formats.     

“Did you hear the latest health report?  You need your daily intake of Vitamin Me.”
Garrett Anderson (OF, ATL) – 9 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: PHI, @WAS
Historically known for his second-half surges, Anderson’s decided to get a head start on things.  Since the beginning of May, the Braves outfielder has hit .294 while driving in 26 runs.  More importantly, his soon-to-be 37-year-old body has held up remarkably well, with starts in 17 of the Braves last 22 games, and pinch-hit appearances in three others.  Along with the consistent playing time, the lefthanded-hitting Anderson has found his groove, with base knocks in 13 of his last 15 contests and seven RBIs over his last seven.  Some may chalk up the former Angel’s recent success to interleague play, but he did hit .286 with 15 RBIs in May, a month in which he played just three games against familiar AL foes.  His final numbers won’t be sexy, but if you’re looking for consistency, it appears the 16-year vet is well on his way to yet another .280/15/80 campaign.  Bobby Cox believes.  If you’re looking to fill that last outfield spot, so should you.      

“You know the more I drink, the prettier you get!”
Joel Pineiro (SP, STL) – 31 percent owned in Y! Plus Leagues
On tap: 6/28 MIN, 7/3 @CIN
I’m not being lazy here, but my colleague Adam McFadden really sums it up best:
 
“Joel Pineiro continues to impress. He leads the majors with a 61.3 GB% and the secret to his success is as simple as that. Against the Mets on Tuesday, he got 22 groundouts. It’s tough to score runs on a guy when you can’t get out of the infield. He still doesn’t provide strikeouts, but I’m starting to believe in his ability to be useful in fantasy leagues.”

Needless to say, I concur. 

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Got a question or comment?  Send the Artist an email at bourdepa@rotoexperts.com.

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