Achievers/Bums - 08/8/08

ACHIEVERS

CC Sabathia - SP - Milwaukee Brewers - CG Shutout, 5 H, BB, 9 K's - In seven starts with the Brew Crew, Sabathia has four complete games and two shutouts. While this is very impressive, Ned Yost may want to consider saving CC's arm for the stretch run. But if you're in a league that gives bonuses for complete games or shutouts, you gotta hope Ned continues to go Dusty for the rest of the season.

Carlos Lee - OF - Houston Astros - 4/5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB - After Carlos Lee hit a two-run double in the 10th off of Francisco Cordero to beat the Reds last night, manager Cecil Cooper called him the best player in baseball over the last couple of months. Carlos Quentin owners might disagree, but Carlos Lee has been a top five outfielder all year and he's definitely still a keeper.

Chipper Jones - 3B - 2/4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB - Chipper is back and doing what he does, i.e., mashing. He hit a loooong HR last night. If your trading deadline hasn't passed, see if you can snag him from an owner who thinks he's selling high.

BUMS

Adam Dunn - OF - Cincinnati Reds - 0/4, 3 K's - Adam Dunn has been awesome this year. The average is up a little bit and the home runs are there, but he has gone cold, and it looks like a strikeout binge has begun. If you're in a league that penalizes for K's, I'd keep him on your bench until another home run tear begins. Otherwise, you gotta keep him in there.

Dan Uggla - 2B - Florida Marlins - Remember when you picked Uggla off of the free-agent pile for a spot start since your everyday second baseman had the day off, and then hit a couple home runs, so you left him there? Then, he just kept hitting them...and hitting them? It's time to forget about that and drop him. 2nd half numbers are as follows: .162 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 23 K, 8 BB.

Alex Rios - OF - Toronto Blue Jays - 0/5, 3 K's - I challenge someone to give me a good reason for anyone to own Alex Rios at this point. At least he wasn't drafted above Josh Hamilton, Bobby Abreu and Nick Markakis in most leagues this year. (See, it's funny because he was!!!)

Achievers/Bums - 07/18/08

ACHIEVERS

Nomar Garciaparra – 1B/3B/SS – Los Angeles Dodgers – 3/5, 2 HR 3 RBI – Mr. Hamm had a great offensive night in a big game against the D-backs. He played SS and batted fifth for Joe Torre's squad and is probably worth a pickup due to his multi-position eligibility. Obviously, he's a huge health risk, so don't get too excited.

CC Sabathia – SP – Milwakee Brewers – Win, 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K's – Boy, has Sabathia been just what the Brewers were hoping for, or what? He's 3-0 as a Brewer with two complete games. If you were able to get Sabathia earlier in the season when he was struggling, pat yourself on the back and enjoy watch the big fella the rest of the season.

Bronson Arroyo – OF – Cincinnati Reds – Win, 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's – I've been pretty hard on Bronson lately (he deserved it), but he's quietly been a pretty effective pitcher over his last few starts with four wins in a row.

BUMS

Clay Buchholz – SP – Boston Red Sox – Loss, 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's – Boston's defense was terrible last night, but Buchholz gave this one away early. He'll have every opportunity to succeed in Boston's rotation, but he hasn't shown much lately.

Zack Greinke – SP – Kansas City Royals – Loss, 3 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's – This is the second time this year that the White Sox have rocked Greinke. He's 0-6 lifetime now at U.S. cellular and last night he got crushed.

Jacob Ellsbury – OF – Boston Red Sox – 0/4, K – Ellsbury has been terrible over the last month, batting .232 with 15 K's and only four walks. You want worse news? He is only stolen one base out of four attempts in the same time span. That said, if you've found an owner who has give up one him, I'd buy low. He's going to bat lead-off for the Sox for a long time and his numbers will absolutely bounce back.

Achievers/Bums - 07/13/08

ACHIEVERS

Chad Billingsley – SP – Los Angeles Dodgers – Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 13 K’s – Billingsley is the real deal. He pitched a brilliant game against the fish last night, striking out thirteen and walking none. This is a guy I have tried to get in a couple of leagues, but probably didn't try hard enough. He had a pretty good first half, and after last night's start, the window to acquire him at a fair price may have just slammed shut.

CC Sabathia – SP – Milwakee Brewers – Win, 9 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 9 K’s – C.C. didn't appear to have his best stuff in the early innings, but the Reds didn't capitalize on the opportunities they had, and Sabathia went nine to secure the win. The turning point in the game was when C.C. cranked a no-doubter home run into the right field bleachers off of Homer Bailey in the bottom of the third. Sabathia has looked solid in his first two starts as a Brewer, and I expect him to have a phenomenal second half.

Carlos Beltran – OF – New York Mets – 3/4, 1 HR 3 RBI – Beltran has come alive in the last month, hitting eight HRs with twenty-four RBI in that span. The Mets have won their last nine games and they'll need Beltran keep playing at this level if they're going to make the playoffs. A lot of people say Reyes is the key to the Mets' success, but I think it's on Beltran. Reyes and Wright are going to be good, but will Beltran be able to deliver that kind of second half he did with the Astros in 2004?

BUMS

Derek Jeter – SS – New York Yankees – 0/4, 2 K's – Jeter has been moved into the leadoff spot with Damon out, and has actually been pretty good in that role so far, but he was owned by A.J. Burnett yesterday. I know I pick on Yankees' hitters a lot, but remember they were supposed to be the juggernaut, bitch? (link NSFW)

Jose Contreras – SP – Chicago White Sox – Loss, 4 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's – Contreras has had some good moments in the first half, but he got mauled yesterday. Manager Ozzie Guillen - normally not prone to hyperbole - said, "I've never seen such a poorly pitched game in all of my years in baseball." So did he miss Gavin Floyd's start the other day or what?

Andrew Miller – SP – Florida Marlins – Loss, 1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 5 BB, 3 K's – I guess Ozzie missed this one too. Miller's line from Sunday night is just ugly to look at. We're talking Bronson Arroyo ugly. Remember when you blew a waiver spot on this guy when he got called up by the Tigers a couple of years ago? Yeah, it might be time to go ahead and admit that was a mistake.

Brewers Land Big One

Reports that pitcher CC Sabathia has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers have been confirmed. So Prince Fielder finally has a teammate he can call fat. I think this is a win for everyone involved. Fantasy owners have to be happy with a move to the National League for Sabathia, where he will now devour lowly NL Central hitters like so much bratwurst. I also think Ben Sheets owners should be happy as Sheets seems like the type of guy who will flourish with a little less pressure on him. Sabathia has got to be giddy at the prospect of those slimming home pinstripes. Indians fans can take solace in the fact that they at least got a nice prospect in Matt Laporta for Sabathia. Lastly, Brewers fans have to be thrilled to have a bona fide ace who, like them, is fat.

CC Is a Big, Fat Achiever

CC Sabathia went 8 scoreless innings and struck out 11 as the Indians shutout the Reds last night. He continues to show why he is considered the top pitcher on the trade market.

Grady Sizemore made an amazing catch and hit a bomb last night.

Jar Jurrjens continued his impressive rookie campaign last night with a strong 8-inning performance against the Blue Jays. He only struck out 3 though, and it may be a good time to try to move him to an owner who's willing to overpay for a rookie pitcher.

Looks like Mark Teixeira is starting his second half hot streak early this year.

Carlos Delgado had 9 RBI! You still don't need him.

Bobby Abreu went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 SB in the second game of the Yankees double-header with the Mets.

Hideki Matsui is headed to the DL due to lingering knee issues.

J.D. Drew owners hope David Ortiz stays down for awhile. He hit his 11th HR of June last night, backing an encouraging start by Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Joe Saunders did not get his 12th win last night.

I'd be surprised if anyone started Chan Ho Park last night against the Angels. But if they did, they were rewarded with a win and 7 k's. I'm still not picking him up just yet though.