Archive for the 'NL East' Category

Jurrjens Is All Good

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on February 17, 2010
in Atlanta Braves, Fantasy Baseball, Jair Jurrjens, MLB and NL East
. 1 Comment

Well, maybe not all good, but for the most part. An MRI on dude’s throwing shoulder revealed no structural damage, and the 24 year old right hander just needs to rest his sore shoulder. The official diagnosis is anterior shoulder inflammation. Jurrjens should be on pace to make his first start of the season without any issues.

This is great news for the Bravos as well as their fans. It is also good news for you fantasy players, because a lot of people will see this as a red flag and drop him on their boards. Good. Drop him all you want. Jurrjens will prove to be a solid fantasy option again this year, if not a top 10 starter. Yes, I know that a lot of publications, including Baseball Prospectus, are a little bit down on him in relation to last year. My advice is to ignore them and listen to the Mike Bohn gut algorithm. Of course, I’m also a Bravos fan so I may be a little clouded here, but I expect Jurrjens to win 15+ games this year with an ERA around 3.00.

Uh oh, Jurrjens getting MRI?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on February 16, 2010
in Fantasy Baseball and NL East
. 1 Comment

It looks like the Atlanta Braves may regret trading Javier Vasquez earlier than expected. Jair Jurrjens is experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder, which just happens to be connected to the arm he throws darts with. Hopefully this is just regular soreness, but Jurrjens is getting an MRI later this week to see make sure there is nothing to worry about structurally.

Jurrjens is a complete stud. After two seasons with the Braves, dude has a 3.10 ERA, including a 2.60 ERA in 2009. The lower mark in his second season is extremely telling about the future of Jurrjens, as most second year pitchers no longer have that fresh look advantage and hitters typically figure out their mechanics. So for Jurrjens to have actually lowered his ERA by just over a full run is promising about dude’s chances of being a top of the rotation guy. Some would argue that he already is.

Your fantasy impact right now is minimal. Since you haven’t drafted yet, you have time to find out if this is anything to be worried about and move him up or down your board accordingly. Before this news, I have Jurrjens as a top 15 starting pitcher. He struck out over 150 batters last season while keeping his WHIP at 1.276 and his ERA at that astounding 2.60. He also collected 14 wins, so he gets it done in all of the categories a starting pitcher needs to. He also comes much cheaper than similar pitchers with bigger names.

Braves Send Soriano to Tampa

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 10, 2009
in AL East, Atlanta Braves, MLB, NL East, Rafael Soriano and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. 0 Comments
Rafael Soriano agreed to allow the Braves to trade him early, and they obliged by sending the closer to Tampa in exchange for Jesse Chavez.  This move allows the Braves to free up some cash, while keeping a right handed arm in the bully.  While Chavez did not light the world on fire last season, dude is only 26 years old and did hold opponents to a .264 batting average.

Braves Build Bullpen of Death?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 8, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Billy Wagner, MLB, NL East, Rafael Soriano and Takashi Saito
. 0 Comments

Okay, that might be a little bit strong, but the Atlanta Braves are building one of the best bullys ever right now. First they added Billy Wagner to the mix as the new closer. Then they added Takashi Saito to fill the set-up role. Then a strange thing happened, Rafael Soriano accepted the Braves arbitration offer.

Deep breathes, people. Soriano is not going to be the 7th inning guy. He is going to ask to be traded, just like Mark Bowman says in the article linked above. If he does not ask to be traded, the Braves will have to wait until June 15th to move him due to current MLB arbitration rules. The Braves could outright release him during Spring Training if they choose to, but that scenario is about as likely as me being offered the GM job in New York.

Billy Wagner Set to be a Bravo?

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on December 2, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, Billy Wagner, Boston Red Sox, MLB and NL East
. 1 Comment

I just raked my own eyes out. Billy Wagner, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, is set to become a Brave. Apparently they have agreed on a one year deal, pending a physical. Wagner is set to make $7million for the 2010 season, with a $6.5million vesting option if dude finishes 50 games.

Wagner, whom I have always despised for various reasons, pitched well last season after returning from Tommy John surgery. In 17 trips to the mound, he compiled an ERA of 1.72 while striking out 26 batters in his 15.2 innings of work.

The move will make it hurt less if either Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano leave via free agency. Like Wagner, who was offered arbitration on Tuesday by the Red Sox, both players have been offered arbitration and are Type-A free agents. K-Ros explains some of what that means in his column, and we will try to give a full breakdown when time permits.

Phillies Opion Out of Feliz’ Contract

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 9, 2009
in MLB, NL East and Philadelphia Phillies
. 1 Comment
The Philadelphia Phillies could have spent $5.5million in the 2010 season on Pedro Feliz.  Instead they are giving him $500K and declining their club option.  Apparently the Phillies are looking for more offense from the hot corner, as Feliz hit for a .266 average with 12 homers, 82 RBIs and 62 runs scored in 2009.  While it is always nice to have a masher at third, they did score the most runs in the entire NL with 820 in ‘09, and knocked 224 homers which also led the NL.

So why are the Phillies looking to add offense, when they already dominate the NL in most offensive categories?  To do so at the expense of Pedro Feliz’ glove is a crime, as dude is one of the best three baggers in the game.  Speculation is that they will try to sign free agent Adrian Beltre, who would certainly have the potential to be a huge offensive upgrade over Feliz.  Beltre, however, has not hit over 30 homers since 2004 in which he belted 48 of them.  That is also the only year he did manage to hit over 30, by the way, and in 2009 he only managed eight in an injury plagued season that saw him play in only 111 games.

Here at The Sports Idiot we think that the Phillies should have picked up this option.  The Phillies failed to ask us for our opinion, and have yet to return calls that we have not placed to them.

Myers Done in Philly

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 6, 2009
in Brett Myers, MLB, NL East and Philadelphia Phillies
. 0 Comments
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the Philadelphia Phillies have informed Brett Myers that they would not be resigning him this off-season.  This is good news, as the Phils do not really need his circus act hanging around.  He is a complete jerk, and likes to beat women.  Do not let the door hit you on the way out of town.

Bravos Top 10 Prospects – Baseball America

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 6, 2009
in Atlanta Braves, MLB Prospects, NL East and New York Mets
. 0 Comments
Baseball America, the leader in prospect information for MLB, has released is in the process of releasing it’s top 10 lists for the NL East.  The Braves and Mets are up.

It is no surprise that the Bravos top two needs are also their top two prospects, outfield and first base with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.  We will refrain from posting the entire lists so that you visit the BA entry.

The two top Mets prospects are Jenrry Mejia (right handed pitcher) and Wilmer Flores (short-stop).

Yankees Back on Top

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 5, 2009
in AL East, MLB, NL East, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies
. 1 Comment

The New York Yankees got a perfdormance for the ages from Hideki Matsui as they wrapped up the 2009 World Series. Since I am on the road I will have to keep this short.

Congratulations to the Yankees. Congrats also to the Phillies on a great year as well. It was a tough loss, but fret not Phillies fans as your boys are set up nicely for next season.

Johnny Freaking Damon

Published
by
thesportsidiot
on November 2, 2009
in AL East, MLB, NL East, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies
. 1 Comment
The defensive shift in baseball is something that makes my stomach turn.  Not because the defensive team employs it, but rather because the offensive player should have no trouble beating it.  How many times do you see the shift in action, which leaves most of the left side of the infield vacant, only to see the batter pull the ball directly to the strategically placed defensive player on the right side of the field?  Dude, push the ball toward that huge, gaping hole on the left side already. 

In last night’s Game Four of the 2009 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees we saw the offensive team finally use the shift to their advantage.  With Mark Teixeira at the plate and Johnny Damon standing on first base, the Phillies put the shift on.  Damon proceeded to do one of the smartest things I have ever seen a baseball player do.  He stole second base, doing a feet first slide and popping right up to his feet.  He then raced to third, where there was no one to cover the bag.  Dude stole two bases on one pitch.  Damon then scored the game winning run when Alex Rodriguez hit a double later in the inning.

In a series that base running figured to be a factor, this may turn out to be the biggest play of them all.  The ironic thing is that most of us figured it would be the speedy Phils who would use their base stealing ability to wreak havoc, not old ass Johnny Freaking Damon.