Fantasy Baseball Player Musings and Pickups For Week Five

It's week five in Fantasy Baseball, and April is finally over.  With a full month in the books, it's time to reevaluate some of the things we thought were true at the beginning of the year.  First, I'm going to go back to draft day for a minute and go over the first few rounds for players who have been underperforming so far and let you know whether or not it's time to panic.  Then I'm going to go through some mid level players, and let you know who to cut.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 4/30/11

Friday's Recommendations' Stats - Daisuke Matsuzaka - 4.0 Innings Pitched - 4 Strikeouts - No Decision - 4.50 ERA - 1.75 WHIP

Week Four Cumulative Stats - 29 Innings Pitched - 17 Strikeouts - 5.28 K/9 - 2 Win in 5 Starts - 5.59 ERA - 1.52 WHIP

Cumulative Total Stats - 205.2 Innings Pitched - 157 Strikeouts - 6.87 K/9 - 14 Wins in 34 Starts - 3.72 ERA - 1.21 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Daisuke had a short fairly poor day because of an elbow injury.  His fastball fell from 93 at the start of the game down to 87 when they pulled him with elbow tightness.  As always, while I count the stats, I don't take responsibility if the starter gets hurt.  I'm happy to take the four strikeouts here and just move on.  As we roll into Saturday, the pitchers are looking better as the match-ups look rockier.  It's a two-starter day as we move to the end of head to head match-ups....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 4/29/11

Thursday's Recommendations' Stats - Kyle McClellan - 5.2 Innings Pitched - 2 Strikeouts - Win - 7.94 ERA - 1.77 WHIP

Week Four Cumulative Stats - 25 Innings Pitched - 13 Strikeouts - 4.68 K/9 - 2 Win in 4 Starts - 5.76 ERA - 1.48 WHIP

Cumulative Total Stats - 201.2 Innings Pitched - 153 Strikeouts - 6.83 K/9 - 14 Wins in 33 Starts - 3.70 ERA - 1.20 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

It was a weak starting pitcher day Thursday and McClellan was just one example of that.  My second recommendation, Baker, ended up being pushed back to Friday, and the only good starts that came from anyone were Jeff Niemann and Carlos Carrasco.  McClellan didn't do much else, but he did squeak out a win because of the amazing Cardinal offense.  It's been a rough week, but as we get into the weekend we have a few solid spot choices coming up Saturday and Sunday, and we'll make up this bad week yet.  Fridays starter coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 4/28/11

Wednesday's Recommendations' Stats - Bartolo Colon - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Win - 1.13 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Week Four Cumulative Stats - 19.1 Innings Pitched - 11 Strikeouts - 5.12 K/9 - 1 Win in 3 Starts - 5.12 ERA - 1.40 WHIP
Cumulative Total Stats - 196 Innings Pitched - 151 Strikeouts - 6.93 K/9 - 13 Wins in 32 Starts - 3.58 ERA - 1.18 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Bartolo Colon goes out there and gives us eight great innings a day after Brandon McCarthy ruined everything for us.  Stick with me and I'll churn out more good days than bad, as my cumulative stats show through almost 200 innings.  Bartolo gave us six strikeouts and just one run over the eight innings, and Robinson Cano had a three run homer in the first to give him plenty of cushion for the win.  Going with another great starter today, coming up right now...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 4/27/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter's Stats -  Brandon McCarthy  - 5.1 Innings Pitched - 3 Strikeouts - Loss - 11.81 ERA - 2.81 WHIP

Cumulative Starter Stats - 188 Innings Pitched - 145 Strikeouts - 6.94 K/9 - 12 Wins in 31 Starts - 3.69 ERA - 1.19 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

First off, I'd like to apologize for the worst recommendation I've given so far. McCarthy has looked sharp on the year so far, but the Angels beat him up and did it for 5.1 innings.  I went down with you here, with McCarthy damaging my WHIP and ERA.  Hopefully can make it up by Sunday.  Secondly want to say sorry everyone, but got back extremely late here after the horrible Yankee loss.  Don't have time before bed for the full write up today... just going to post my recommendation with an explanation.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 4/26/11

Monday Recommended Starter's Stats - Dustin Moseley - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 2 Strikeouts - No Decision - 4.50 ERA - .67 WHIP
Cumulative Starter Stats - 182.2 Innings Pitched - 142 Strikeouts - 7.00 K/9 - 12 Wins in 30 Starts - 3.45 ERA - 1.14 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Moseley's day wasn't great, but it wasn't an awful start.  The WHIP and the ERA don't match.  He only allowed four hits and didn't walk anyone, but those four hits happened to turn into three runs. Knew going into it that we weren't getting too many strikeouts, and the great WHIP offsets the subpar ERA on the day. Tuesday's starter coming up right now...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Monday 4/25/11

Saturday Recommendation One's Stats -  Brandon Beachy  - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - No Decision - 3.00 ERA - 0.50 WHIP

Saturday Recommendations Two's Stats -  Carlos Carrasco  - 3.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - No Decision - 6.00 ERA - 2.67 WHIP

Week Three's Recommended Starters' Final Stats - 52.1 Innings Pitched - 43 Strikeouts - 7.40 K/9 - 2 Wins in 9 Starts - 2.92 ERA - 1.09 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 176.2 Innings Pitched - 140 Strikeouts - 7.13 K/9 - 12 Wins in 29 Starts - 3.41 ERA - 1.16 WHIP

Starter Stats Spreadsheet Online Here

Carrasco was taken out of the game after three innings with elbow tightness.  It adds to my totals, but I take no responsibility for any of his three inning mess.  No injury guarantees here folks.  On the other hand, Beachy gave another six solid innings of three hit no walk ball, showing off his excellent control.  The run support didn't come in time to get him a win, but you'll never be too mad at your starter for six innings of two run ball.  The numbers overall on the week were very solid.  Sub-3.00 ERA and Sub-1.10 WHIP will win you most of your match-ups.  The two wins in nine starts was a bit fluky, but that's the nature of wins even when you are trying to chase them.  Monday's spot starter recommendation.....

Fantasy Pickup, Musings, and Trade Ideas Heading into Week Four

It's Easter Sunday as I write this, and Week Four starts on Monday in most leagues, so this column is essentially my reaction to what we know from the first three weeks.  I'm going to talk about guys who are hot and who are cold, and end the column with pickups for those of you in weekly leagues.  Anything I say in terms of cutting or picking up guys is in ten-team mixed leagues....Adjust accordingly for your deeper or AL/NL-Only leagues.

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickup For Sunday 4/24/11

Saturday Recommendation One's Stats - Fausto Carmona - 5.0 Innings Pitched - 1 Strikeout - Loss - 7.20 ERA - 1.60 WHIP
Saturday Recommendations Two's Stats - Dillon Gee - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 5 Strikeouts - Win - 3.00 ERA - 1.00 WHIP
Week Three's Recommended Starters' Stats - 43.1 Innings Pitched - 35 Strikeouts - 7.27 K/9 - 2 Wins in 7 Starts - 2.70 ERA - 1.06 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 167.2 Innings Pitched - 132 Strikeouts - 7.09 K/9 - 12 Wins in 27 Starts - 3.38 ERA - 1.16 WHIP
Starter Stats Spreadsheet Online Here

One good one bad on Saturday.  Sorry that I didn't help your ERA and WHIP if you were chasing, but Gee gave us a decent amount of strikeouts and the win, so that'll help.  Still it's been a good week, and it's going into Easter Sunday and ESPN.com is down, combining for a very short pickup column today.  Pair of catchup pickups coming up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Saturday 4/23/11

Friday's Recommended Starter's Stats -  Tyson Ross  - 4.1 Innings Pitched - 0 Strikeouts - Loss - 6.24 ERA - 1.85 WHIP

Week 3 Starters' Stats - 32.1 Innings Pitched - 29 Strikeouts - 8.07 K/9- 1 Win in 5 Starts - 1.95 ERA - 0.99 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 156.2 Innings Pitched - 126 Strikeouts - 7.24 K/9 - 11 Wins in 25 Starts - 3.27 ERA - 1.15 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Due to a postponement in Minnesota, instead of my original choice for Friday, I'm defaulting to my second recommendation, Tyson Ross.  I warned that Ross was a risky second option yesterday, and it showed.  He pitched just 4.1 innings and let up four hits and four walks without giving a strikeout.  It would have been decent despite the strikeouts, but he was pulled with two men on base, and the reliever Jerry Blevins proceeded to walk the bases loaded, then walk a run home credited to Ross, and let up a two run single which one run of was credited to Ross, before they pulled Blevins.  Anyways, Ross had strikeout potential, but wasn't showing it as a starter on Friday night.  Still have fin numbers on the week though.  Because we are getting to the last two days of the weekly match-ups, I'm offering up a pair of spot starter recommendations for those attempting to catch up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Friday 4/22/11

Thursday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Brandon McCarthy - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - Loss - 1.13 ERA - 0.63 WHIP
Week 3 Starters' Stats - 28.0 Innings Pitched - 29 Strikeouts - 9.32 K/9- 1 Win in 4 Starts - 1.29 ERA - 0.86 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 152.1 Innings Pitched - 126 Strikeouts - 7.44 K/9 - 11 Wins in 24 Starts - 3.19 ERA - 1.13 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Can't complain about the game McCarthy had on Thursday night.  He was great except for the one home run.  Complete eight inning game, six strikeouts and just the solo home run that lead to him getting a loss.  Sometimes you run up against Felix Hernandez and don't get a win in a one run game.  Regardless, he gave you eight solid innings of great ERA and WHIP and the strikeouts with it. Still have a great week going so far, in spite of my lack of wins.  You can ride my hot streak with my Friday recommendation coming up...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Thursday 4/21/11

Wednesday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Bud Norris - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 6 Strikeouts - No Decision - 4.50 ERA - 1.83 WHIP

Week 3 Starters' Stats - 20.0 Innings Pitched - 23 Strikeouts - 10.35 K/9- 1 Win in 3 Starts - 1.35 ERA - 0.95 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 144.1 Innings Pitched - 120 Strikeouts - 7.48 K/9 - 11 Wins in 23 Starts - 3.30 ERA - 1.16 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

So Bud Norris didn't end up being quite the start that Beachy or Zambrano were, but it wasn't too offensive for a spot start.  The ERA and WHIP were bad, but with just six innings pitched, it will only take one solid start to bring it down to an acceptable level.  Balancing the ERA and WHIP are the six solid strikeouts.  I'll take six strikeouts from a guy who was owned in just 2.6% percent of standard leagues.  The week three stats are still great, and going to follow that up with my Thursday pick coming up....

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Wednesday 4/20/11

Tuesday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Brandon Beachy - 6.0 Innings Pitched - 7 Strikeouts - Win - 0.00 ERA - 0.67 WHIP
Week 3 Starters' Stats - 14.0 Innings Pitched - 17 Strikeouts - 10.93 K/9- 1 Win in 2 Starts - 0.00 ERA - 0.57 WHIP

Cumulative Starters' Stats - 138.1 Innings Pitched - 114 Strikeouts - 7.42 K/9 - 11 Wins in 22 Starts - 3.25 ERA - 1.13 WHIP

Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Week Three is off to a great start so far.  First Carlos Zambrano came through huge on Monday, and now Brandon Beachy does the job today.  I didn't expect him to be this good, but he does have the stuff to strike guys out like this on a regular basis, and to be nearly unhittable when he's on like he was tonight   14 innings of no run ball with more than a strikeout per inning is more than you can really ask for from spot starters, but hopefully I can keep the streak going on Wednesday...

Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Pickups For Tuesday 4/19/11

Monday's Recommended Starter's Stats - Carlos Zambrano - 8.0 Innings Pitched - 10 Strikeouts - No Decision - 0.00 ERA - 0.50 WHIP
Cumulative Starters' Stats - 132.1 Inning Pitched - 107 Strikeouts - 7.28 K/9 - 10 Wins in 21 Starts - 3.40 ERA - 1.15 WHIP
Starter Spreadsheet Online Here

Week three started off amazingly here, as Big Z did everything you could ask of him in a Cubs win over San Diego.  He didn't get the win, but he went eight innings and didn't allow any runs while striking out ten.  He did everything in his power to deliver you a strong fantasy day. So who do I like as a spot start for Tuesday?  Find out right here....