Sunday, July 31, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 7/31/11

Saturday's Starter Recommendation One - Alex Cobb - 6.1 Innings Pitched - 9 Strikeouts - Loss - 4.27 ERA - 1.11 WHIP
Saturday's Starter Recommendation Two - Bartolo Colon - 5.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 3.60 ERA - 1.40 WHIP
ESPN Week 16 Starter Stats - 31.2 Innings Pitched - 34 Strikeouts - 9.66 K/9 - 3 Wins in 5 Starts - 2.84 ERA - 1.23 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 658.2 Innings Pitched - 480 Strikeouts - 6.56 K/9 - 44 Wins in 105 Starts - 3.40 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Saturday wasn't a great day for the spot starters here, but it wasn't bad either.  The ERA and WHIP weren't great, but they were definitely survivable when they also picked up 15 strikeouts and a win.

It's pretty late here on Saturday night, so I'm just going to get right to the recommendations...

Saturday, July 30, 2011

NFL Player Movement Reactions - 7/30/11

Whew... It finally calmed down some.  News was probably lighter partially because it's the weekend and partially because the free agent pool has slimmed some.  There were still a few big name moves today, and even though it's the weekend, they still deserve some analysis.  Before we get to that you can check out my reactions to Tuesday's player moves here (cuts) and here (signings), Wednesday's player moves here, Thursday's moves here and Friday's moves here.

All of today's reactions coming up right here...

Best&Worst: Best Divisions in Sports

I like lists. They're neat and organized. So I decided to start doing a Best&Worst segment (nothing set, just as often as I want) which will either count down the 5 Best, 5 Worst, or both of a specific topic. The first one is "Divisions in Sports", in case you couldn't read the title, and this first article is the top 5. Since I find this topic interesting and it's the first of the segment I will be posting a Worst 5 soon. This list takes a look at success/talent/competitiveness in the past decade, with extra emphasis on the most recent season. Enjoy and feel free to tell me how wrong you think I am.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 7/30/11

Friday's Starter Recommendation - Jeff Niemann - 6.2 Innings Pitched - 11 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.90 WHIP
ESPN Week 16 Starter Stats - 20.1 Innings Pitched - 19 Strikeouts - 8.41 K/9 - 2 Wins in 3 Starts - 2.21 ERA - 1.23 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 647.1 Innings Pitched - 465 Strikeouts - 6.46 K/9 - 43 Wins in 103 Starts - 3.39 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

I said yesterday that there was shutout potential on Friday night, and I was right.  I had hoped it would have been a complete game, but 6.2 innings of shutout ball is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you throw in the eleven strikeouts and the win.  It was an amazing all around start that cost you nothing but a free agent pick up to throw out there.  Niemann should be held onto if you picked him up, as he's on a streak of five great starts.

It's Saturday, and that means two recommendations as we reach the end of head-to-head match-ups for the week.  As always, all recommendations are available in more than 50% of ESPN leagues...

Friday, July 29, 2011

NFL Player Movement Reactions - Friday 7/29/11

I had hoped free agency would have slowed down a little today, but it just kept on trucking along at full speed.  You can check out my reactions to Tuesday's player moves here (cuts) and here (signings), Wednesday's player moves here, and Thursday's moves here.

Onto the Friday news quickly here in more or less the order that the news came out.  There is plenty to discuss.......

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 7/29/11

Wednesday's Starter Recommendation - Phil Hughes - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Loss - 3.00 ERA - 1.67 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 640.2 Innings Pitched - 454 Strikeouts - 6.38 K/9 - 43 Wins in 102 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Not the greatest start out there Wednesday for Hughes, but definitely not the worst.  He pitched well wnough to pick up the win, just the Yankee offense (and his bullpen later) didn't back him up on the day.  The WHIP isn't pretty, but the ERA balances it out.

Friday brings us a handful of choices, including the always interesting situation where there are two playable fantasy pitchers in one game...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

NFL Player Movement Reactions - 7/28/11

Not going to waste your time or mine on a long introduction today, as the NFL player moves have been coming in all day even faster than they have been. I'm going through the list of important player moves the way they are listed chronologically over at footballoutsiders.com, so that is the order I'll be listing the players in.

Be sure to check out yesterday's player movement reactions here.

Just going to get right into it...

The Mets are Wheeler-ing and Dealing at the Deadline

Fred likes to only talk about fantasy, so I guess I'm here to talk about what's actually happening. The big trade so far this MLB trade deadline is Carlos Beltran going to the San Francisco Giants with right-handed pitching prospect Zack Wheeler coming to the New York Mets. Everyone is talking about the impact Beltran can have in San Francisco this season, but nobody is talking about how Wheeler could be a household name in 5 years.

Spread The Wealth

This is the first article here by the new writer here at Big Derf Sports, Alex Scarlett. He's going to be the new second writer here and hopefully will be posting more than once a day just like I do.

Rather than overintroduce him, I'll let him be himself when he has posting privileges. For now, right onto his column...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

NFL Player Movement Reactions - 7/27/11

Rather than run two separate threads today, I'm just going to put both the cuts and signings into this one post and just update it throughout the day.  Be sure to check back in throughout the day for reactions and analysis both real life and fantasy.

Yesterday's signing reactions are here and cut reactions are here.  Also have a fantasy football article about the Buccaneers that i posted yesterday here.

Still not blowing all of my time tracking down moves and just drawing most of the news from footballoutsiders.com.  They do great work there and I'm going to be using their DVOA advanced stats here in the future, so stop by over there too and check them out.

Anyways,  right onto the moves in no particular order....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 7/27/11

Monday's Starter - Freddy Garcia - 7.2 Innings Pitched - 5 Strikeouts - Win - 3.52 ERA - 1.17 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 634.2 Innings Pitched - 451 Strikeouts - 6.40 K/9 - 43 Wins in 101 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Garcia came out on Monday and turned in a very average performance on the way to a win.  The 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP weren't great, but they aren't going to hurt you either and if it gets you a win for free, it's totally worth the start.

Wednesday has plenty of guys available to choose from below the fifty percent owned line, but they are all guys with bad stats or guys who you can't trust right now.  I'd like to pick Cory Luebke, but he's up above the 50% owned line still.  So it's going to be a risky pick here...

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

NFL "Signings" Reactions - Tuesday 7/26/11

I love the NFL.  Third blog post (of hopefully four) today made possible by the NFL lockout ending.  This is going to be shorter today than my earlier fantasy article about the Buccaneers and today's reactions to NFL cuts, but it's going to become much longer by the end of the week.  This is all about teams that have "signed" players.  I say "signed" in quotes because they can't officially put any deals through until Friday, but all of these players have reportedly agreed to new contracts already.....

NFL Cut Reactions - Tuesday 7/26/11

First real football news of the new year has started pouring in today as teams start making cuts to get themselves in position to be under the salary cap.  Offensive lines have been the hardest hit so far.

I'm using the list they have running here at football outsiders because I am just one man and can't run everything down myself and provide analysis.  Going to be relying on others often in these first few weeks of free agency because I just won't have the time to track down all of the information while also commenting on what goes on.

Anyways, onto the cuts.  They are listed alphabetically by cut team and in no other real order.  Just because he is listed first doesn't mean that I'm in any way saying that Derek Anderson was the most important player cut on the list....

Fantasy Football 2011: Buccaneer Bargains

Football is back.

Thank God.

Football news is going to be coming fast and furious soon, and  I'm going to have opinions on as much of it as possible.

For now I'm just going to talk about fantasy drafts.  I've already written about The Marshall Faulk Strategy this year, and I'm going to write more draft strategy pieces soon.  I will also release rankings as soon as free agency shakes out.  Today I'm going to write about a group of players that are currently being drafted too low.  They all just happen to play for the same team...

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 7/25/11

Sunday Starter One's Stats - Bartolo Colon - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 2.57 ERA - 1.29 WHIP
Sunday Starter Two's Stats - Rick Porcello - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 3.00 ERA - 1.17 WHIP
ESPN "Week 15" Final Starters' Stats - 44.1 Innings Pitched - 33 Strikeouts - 6.70 K/9 - 5 Wins in 7 Starts - 3.86 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 627 Innings Pitched - 446 Strikeouts - 6.40 K/9 - 42 Wins in 100 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Pair of starts on Sunday and a pair of solid wins.  They were essentially the same start, just Colon went an inning further into his game than Porcello.  Boh guys picked up a win and four strikeouts while letting up just two runs.  It was as advertised here on Sunday, as both guys were picked for their win chances and delivered.

Monday starts a new week here and hopefully a new streak will continue here.  I may seem like a homer here, but the schedule says what the schedule says...

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 7/24/11

Friday's Starter's Stats - Phil Hughes - 4.1 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Loss - 14.55 ERA -3.00 WHIP
"Week 15" Starters' Stats - 31.1 Innings Pitched - 25 Strikeouts - 7.18 K/9 - 3 Wins in 5 Starts - 4.31 ERA - 1.21 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 614 Innings Pitched - 438 Strikeouts - 6.42 K/9 - 40 Wins in 98 Starts - 3.44 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

A second total dud in the row made me just duck and hide from picking starters on Saturday.  Trusting Javy and Phil on back to back days was a bad idea in retrospect.  Luckily it's still not that bad of a week in ERA and WHIP considering those last two horrible starts.

Sunday we have a pair of starters coming in who probably aren't going to make the ERA and WHIP much better, but will rack up some strikeouts and have the best shots at the wins you need on Sundays...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Top Ten NFL Quarterbacks 2011 - #5 - #1

The lockout looks to be wrapping up here, so football coverage is about to start ramping up here at Big Derf Sports.  Reactions to all the news and player movement along with fantasy football draft strategies and rankings all coming fast and furious once the league starts moving again.

Until then, finishing off my top ten NFL quarterbacks list.  The notable players that missed the list are here, and numbers 10-6 are here.  This list takes into account past performance and what I expect from these guys this year.  This top five section took me longest to get around to writing because it's going to be a bit of a love fest that's going to have to be interrupted with nitpicking to separate them.  It's hard to talk bad about any of these top five guys...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 7/22/11

Thursday's Starter's Stats - Javier Vazquez - 4.1 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Loss - 10.39 ERA - 2.54 WHIP
"Week 15" Starters' Stats - 27 Innings Pitched - 22 Strikeouts - 7.33 K/9 - 3 Wins in 4 Starts - 2.67 ERA - 0.93 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 609.2 Innings Pitched - 435 Strikeouts - 6.42 K/9 - 40 Wins in 98 Starts - 3.37 ERA - 1.18 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

All good things must come to an end... and this isn't the first good thing to end because of Javy Vazquez.  It was a weak day, and I got sucked in.  I don't have any real excuses here.  Luckily there was such a string of good starts leading up to him that it didn't destroy my ERA and WHIP too badly.  

Also I'd like to note here that Cory Luebke is still my favorite available play, but he is just slightly above the 50% owned line that I use for this column, so I won't be selecting him as my play today.  If he's available in your league though, I'm rolling him out there.

Hopefully, if you just joined me yesterday,  I can make up for it for you with Friday's starter...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 7/21/11

Monday's Starter's Stats - Josh Collmenter - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.38 WHIP
"Week 15" Starters' Stats - 22.2 Innings Pitched - 16 Strikeouts - 6.35 K/9 - 3 Wins in 3 Starts - 1.19 ERA - 0.62 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 605.1 Innings Pitched - 429 Strikeouts - 6.38 K/9 - 40 Wins in 97 Starts - 3.32 ERA - 1.17 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

At a point where I didn't write a column the last two days because I just didn't want to ruin my streak.  15 Straight starts all two earned runs or less.  I can't keep this up. Heh.

Collmenter looked excellent against the Brewers on Monday, and honestly I would hang onto him here.  Sub-3.00 ERA and Sub-1.00 WHIP means he should be earned even though he doesn't rack up a bunch of strikeouts.  He's better at home than on the road, and will be there (and likely here in this column) his next time out.

A bunch of aces are starting and it's a travel day tomorrow, so there are only six pitchers available under the 50% owned line.  Luckily, there is a good option here....

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 7/18/11

Saturday's Starter's Stats - Cory Luebke - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 5 Strikeouts - Win - 2.57 ERA - 0.71 WHIP
Sunday's Starter's Stats - Matt Harrison - 7.2 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - Win - 1.17 ERA - 0.78 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 597.1 Innings Pitched - 422 Strikeouts - 6.36 K/9 - 39 Wins in 96 Starts - 3.36 ERA - 1.18 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Continued to roll over the weekend.  Picking up another 14.2 good innings with a pair of wins.  Luebke's only mistake was a two run home run, and Harrison just let up a double and a single in the eighth to ruin his shut out.

Now up two fourteen straight starter choices that have let up at most two runs.  Fourteen straight better than "quality starts" from players that were owned in less that 50% of ESPN leagues at the time.  Going to roll along here Monday with another good choice...

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 7/17/11

Saturday's Recommended Starter Stats - Cory Luebke - Results Not In Yet

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 582.2 Innings Pitched - 413 Strikeouts - 6.38 K/9 - 37 Wins in 94 Starts - 3.40 ERA - 1.19 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

First, sorry for labeling yesterday's post as Friday, just brainfarted.  

Luebke is just starting to pitch as i write this, so it's right on to the Sunday starter...

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 7/16/11

/8/11 Starter's Stats - R.A. Dickey - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - No Decision - 2.57 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Week 14 Final Stats - 35 Innings Pitched - 27 Strikeouts - 6.94 K/9 - 2 Wins in 5 Starts - 1.80 ERA - 0.86 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 582.2 Innings Pitched - 413 Strikeouts - 6.38 K/9 - 37 Wins in 94 Starts - 3.40 ERA - 1.19 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Took some time off for the All-Star break, but I'm gonna call it start limiting myself.  ESPN Standard Roto leagues cap at 200 starts, and I'm still on pace to blow past that number.  Might announce and take another week off of start recommendations come Football ramp up.

Last start was last Friday, and Dickey continued a long hot streak of starters.  Up to twelve starts in a row of two earned runs or less.

This Saturdayday we have a pitcher likely making his second and last appearance in this column, as he'll be over the 50% owned line by his next go around in the rotation...

Friday, July 8, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 7/8/11

Thursday's Starter Stats - Cory Luebke - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 8 Strikeouts - Loss - 3.00 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Week 14 Starter Stats - 28 IP - 23 Strikeouts - 7.39 K/9 - 2 Wins in 4 Starts - 1.61 ERA - 0.82 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 575.2 IP - 409 Strikeouts - 6.39 K/9 - 37 Wins in 93 Starts - 3.41 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Riding a nine game hot streak here into Friday, with the worst of any of the starts having come today.

Luebke was solid on Thursday and gave us six innings with just two earned runs and a flat 1.00 WHIP.  Not as good as the last few days, but still a very fine start when you add in the eight strikeouts.  Luebke is still striking out more than a batter per inning and gets to pitch in the friendly confines of Petco when he is home.  He's definitely worth a pickup if you need pitching help in your league.

Andrew Miller was the alternate option for Thursday, and he wasn't very good.  Three runs over five innings without any strikeouts isn't what you want out of a starter, but he did give you a win and that's why he was the alternate choice for the day.  Getting the win makes the start salvageable.

Friday is a good spot starter day, featuring many former recommendations.  We're going to go with a pitcher we've spot started for each of his last two rotation turns...

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 7/7/11

Wednesday's Starter Stats - Jason Vargas - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Loss - 2.25 ERA - 0.75 WHIP
Week 14 Starter Stats - 22 IP - 15 Strikeouts - 6.14 K/9 - 2 Wins in 3 Starts - 1.23 ERA - 0.77 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 569.2 IP - 401 Strikeouts - 6.34 K/9 - 37 Wins in 92 Starts - 3.41 ERA - 1.20 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

I picked the wrong starter yesterday.  Recommended Vargas with Guillermo Moscoso as an alternate, but had the two backwards in this particular pitchers' duel.  Moscoso pitched seven scoreless innings of just two hit ball on his way to a win.  Vargas wasn't no slouch himself, but he got hit up by Scott Sizemore on a solo shot and an RBI single, and that was his downfall on the day.  Still, short of picking up the win Vargas did deliver spendidly with an 8 inning complete game of low ERA and WHIP ball.  Can't complain about that.

A bunch of starters are under the line on Thursday, but most of them aren't very good.  Luckily there are a few gems available....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 7/6/11

Monday's Starter Stats - Vance Worley - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.57 WHIP
Tuesday's Starter Stats - Jeff Karstens - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Win - 1.29 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 561.2 IP - 395 Strikeouts - 6.33 K/9 - 37 Wins in 91 Starts - 3.43 ERA - 1.21 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Late small post today because I fell asleep at my computer last night and never wrote this up.  Want to get it out as quick as possible so people do have a chance to see it and update their rosters before games start at 1:10.

Both Worley and Karstens have been great to start this Week 14.  14 Innings in the book already with just a solo home run keeping them from being scoreless.  Two wins in two starts also never hurt anyone.

Wednesday starter coming up....

Monday, July 4, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 7/5/11

Monday's Starter Stats - Vance Worley - Results Not In As Of Posting.
Cumulative Starter Stats - 547.2 Innings Pitched - 386 Strikeouts - 6.34 K/9 - 35 Wins in 89 Starts - 3.50 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Here

Posting this early between getting out of work and heading out for the night here Monday night.  Will update with Worley's results later tonight most likely, but for now I'm just going to get right into Tuesday's starters to maximize my 4th of July BBQ time....

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 7/4/11

Sunday's Starter One - Freddy Garcia - 7.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeouts - No Decision - 1.29 ERA - 0.86 WHIP
Sunday's Starter Two - Ervin Santana - 7.2 Innings Pitched - 8 Strikeouts - Win - 1.17 ERA - 0.91 WHIP
Week 13 Starter Stats - 50 Innings Pitched - 32 Strikeouts - 5.76 K/9 - 4 Wins in 8 Starts - 2.34 ERA - 1.14 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 547.2 Innings Pitched - 386 Strikeouts - 6.34 K/9 - 35 Wins in 89 Starts - 3.50 ERA - 1.22 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Here

Closed out a great week here Sunday night. It started off ugly, but the spot starter choices over the weekend got the ERA and WHIP down to fantastic levels.  Could use more strikeouts, but an otherwise solid spot starting week.

Freddy Garcia turned in another great start here Sunday.  His strikeout totals will never be high, but as long as he turns in these one run outings, he'll do great things for your fantasy team.  He would have picked up a win here Sunday too, but a rare blown save by Mariano lost the game for them.

It's a full slate of games here on a holiday Monday, but only half the starters are available under the 50% owned line, and the two most owned options under the line have been scratched from their Monday starts.  Still, I found a pair of strong options from the thirteen available starters....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Sunday 7/3/11

Saturday's Starter One - Bartolo Colon - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.83 WHIP
Saturday's Starter Two - Doug Fister - 9.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Loss - 1.00 ERA - 0.78 WHIP
Week 13 Starter Stats - 35.1 Innings Pitched - 23 Strikeouts - 5.86 K/9 - 3 Wins in 6 Starts - 2.80 ERA - 1.25 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 533 Innings Pitched - 377 Strikeouts - 6.37 K/9 - 34 Wins in 87 Starts - 3.56 ERA - 1.23 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Spreadsheet Viewable Here

Another solid day to help clean up a week that started off poorly.  Fifteen innings of one run ball will help out any ERA or WHIP.

Colon came out in his first start off the DL and turned in a strong six innings against a decent Mets lineup before being taken out after 80 pitches.  He's picked right back up where he left off before he went on  the DL and should be allowed to go deeper into his next start.  Pick him up if he's available in whatever league you are in.

Fister was robbed by his offense of a win, as the complete game of one run ball should have gotten the job done.  That's the drawback with a Mariners pitcher, can't rely on any sort of run support.  Even when Fister is great like Saturday night, he still will lose more than he wins.

Onto Sunday's starters.  Two recommendations coming right up...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 7/2/11

Thursday's Starter Stats - Carlos Zambrano - 1.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - No Decision- 9.00 ERA - 4.00 WHIP
Friday's Starter Stats - Jason Vargas - 9.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.67 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 518 Innings Pitched - 364 Strikeouts - 6.32 K/9 - 33 Wins in 85 Starts - 3.65 ERA - 1.24 WHIP
Starter Stats Spreadsheet Viewable Online Here

Sorry this post is so late, but better late then never.  Should still have an hour to get your moves in here on Saturday.

Thursday night didn't go well, with Carlos Zambrano lasting an inning before being removed with a back injury and placed on the disabled list.  As always, can't predict injuries here... So just forced to take the bad inning of stats and move on.

Luckily Friday night went amazing to make up for Thursday.  Jason Vargas went the distance for his third complete game shut out of the year.  I alluded to the possibility in yesterday's column, and I turned out to be right.  Doesn't get any better really.  Nine innings of shut out ball off the waiver wire is as good as it gets, especially with a solid seven strikeouts.

Onto Saturday's starters.  It's the weekend, so that means a pair of starter recommendations for you all...