Sports Blog

September is almost here and that means that prospects and rookies will be brought up to the big leagues for the September Call-ups. While these players have really no value on contending team, On non-contending teams they will be given plenty opportunities to prove their worth. This means that they can have some value for owners looking for a difference maker the rest of the season. Here are some guys you should keep your eye on:

Brandon Allen (1B, ARZ)
Allen has been crushing Triple-A pitching since being traded to the Diamondbacks from the White Sox for reliever Tony Pena. Pena on the other had has struggled, making the Sox kick themselves for trading away a promising player. In 145 Triple-A at-bats, Allen was batting .324 with 12 home runs, and a .641 slugging percentage. Even better he showed a good eye for a power hitter with a .8 walk-to-strikeout ratio. In September he will be fighting for a starting job next season so he is primed for a break out. Pick him up now and stash him away.

Drew Stubbs (OF, CIN)
If your looking for steals and runs, Drew Stubbs is your man. With the Reds out of contention and riddled with OF injuries, he should get regular playing time batting at the top of the line-up. He had 46 stolen bases in Triple-A so you know the speed is there. His bat though is not fully developed yet( .268 Triple-A), so don’t be too gun hoe on him yet. I’d wait and see how he plays before picking him up.

Justin Lehr (SP, CIN)
Lehr has pitched well since his call-up with a 3-1 record in August. Besides the wins his numbers aren’t really as good as his record looks only 14 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. Even worse he has walked just as many batters during that time (14 walks). Before this call-up the 32-year old Lehr was kind of a journey man minor leaguer, not someone you want to be pitching down the stretch for your fantasy team. Don’t be fooled by the wins they can’t last for too much longer. If you do own him deal him now while there is some value.

Matt LaPorta (OF/1B, CLE)
LaPorta was in the Big Leagues earlier this year before he was demoted to work on his swing. Now he’s back up getting regular playing time for the non-contending Indians. In Triple-A, LaPorta hit over .290 and hit 12 home runs in three months. If he can cut down his strikeouts and focus on making contact, he can be a force down the stretch. Pick him up and stash him away cause I see a big finish in his future.

Travis Snider (OF/DH, TOR)
Snider is probably the best prospect to own for the September run. He is a pure hitter that will get plenty of opportunity to perform the rest of the season. Last September he batted .313 and slugged .485 in the Majors, so he knows how to perform to end a season. In Triple-A he batted .337 with 14 home runs so his production has been consistent all year. Pick him up now before he breaks out!

Chris Davis (3B/1B/DH, TEX)
A pure power hitter who can play defense, the only problem is he strikes out a ton. He was sent down earlier this season because of all the strikeouts, but now he is back. He improved his patience at the plate in Triple-A, so it will be interesting to see if he can carry it over. Pick him up now cause his power is top notch.

N.L. EAST
1. Philadelphia 48 - 38
2. Florida 46 - 44
3. Atlanta 43 - 45
4. NY Mets 42 - 45
5. Washington 26 - 61

Supposedly, one of the strongest divisions going into the season, the N.L. East has been a big disappointment.  Philadelphia coming off a championship season has had a potent offense but have struggled to find consistent pitching.  Look for them to make a big deal at the trade deadline, possibly Roy Holliday, to further separate themselves from the rest of the division.  The Mets have been loaded with injuries and have been forced to play with many people out of position.  Good news could be on the way, however, because Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado might be back to start the second half of the season.  That will give them a chance to compete for the division in the second half.  Florida has been solid all season but the question is: will management make a move to help them seriously compete for the division?   It doesn’t look like it going to happen.  Atlanta’s close too but I don’t see them staying there in the second half.

Predicted Finish: Philadelphia, NY Mets, Florida, Atlanta, Washington

N.L. CENTRAL
1. St. Louis 49 - 42
2. Milwaukee 45 - 43
3. Chicago 43 - 43
4. Houston 44 - 44
5. Cincinnati 42 - 45
6. Pittsburgh 38 - 50

St. Louis has been the class of the division, with Albert Pujols, for the first half.  Its been sort of a surprise that they have been this good.  They are going to have to keep playing good baseball if they want to stay in first because four other teams are within striking distance to start the second half.  Milwaukee and the disappointing Cubs have the best shot at catching them for the division and could make a big deal to put them ahead in the race.  I think it will be a fun race to watch with the second place team possibly winning the Wild Card.  Houston and Cincinnati are close but a bad start to the second half could make them both sellers at the trade deadline.

Predicted Finish: Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh

N.L. WEST
1. LA Dodgers 56 - 32
2. San Francisco 49 - 39
3. Colorado 47 - 41
4. Arizona 38 - 51
5. San Diego 36 - 52

The Dodgers have been the best team in baseball, with or without Manny Ramirez, for the first half.  Good news is that they will have Manny for the whole second half.  Their pitching has been surprisingly solid so far, as it was looked upon as a weakness to start the season.  If they keep playing the way they are, the second place team in the division can only hope for the Wild Card.  Speaking of the Wild Card, San Francisco and Colorado are first in second in that race at the break.  San Francisco’s pitching has been unbelievable and they are a bat away from becoming a very dangerous team for the playoffs.  Colorado has a solid all around team that is capable of going on long wining streaks.  It will be a fun race till the end.

Predicted Finish: LA Dodgers, San Francisco(Wild Card), Colorado, Arizona, San Diego

Image Source: AP Photo

I was just looking over the scores from last night’s baseball games and I happened to check out the San Francisco Giants game. Now it doesn’t surprise me that the Giants lost, that’s a given. But when I saw who the losing picture was, I couldn’t believe that he still hasn’t won a game yet.

Yep, that would be Barry Zito. The man is now 0-5 with a 5.61 era and 10 strikeouts, bringing his overall record in San Francisco to 11-18. Usually I wouldn’t care about the Giants and their ace, but I just happened to remember two years ago, Zito claimed a seven-year, $126 million contract, including $14.5 million this year alone, making him the sixth highest paid player at the time. In other words, Zito hasn’t lived up to the hype and will soon be named, if not already, about to be named a bust.

And after last night’s short outing, he even knows he sucks.

“We came out and we capitalized on Webb’s mistakes. They gave me a lead of 3-0, and I feel like…(rhymes with spit). I let them back in the game. I gave them two runs in a shutdown inning, and then I went out in the fourth and gave up a hit to Webb.”

Webb would be Brandon Webb, the opposing Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher.

Well, I guess I can look at it this way, he may have had a rough year last season and is off to a bad start again this season, but look at the bright side. At least he has five more seasons to earn the rest of his money.

Source: Deadspin

Who would have thought back to spring training that the Colorado Rockies would be representing the National League in the World Series?

Well, believe it now because the Rockies have swept their way into the World Series by eliminating the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 6-4 win last night.

The Rockies have now won 21 of their last 22 games, including their first seven playoff games. The Rockies now await the winner of the Indians/Red Sox series and hope that they can ride this wave for another four wins.

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All good streaks are bound to end and that’s what happened with Brandon Webb’s last night.

The Arizona Diamondback pitcher’s scoreless inning streak ended Wednesday night at 42 innings when Prince Fielder singled home a run in the first inning.

The night still ended well for Webb as the reigning NL Cy Young winner got his sixth consecutive win after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2.

Webb, who started his streak July 20, gave up two runs in seven innings worked to improve to 14-8.

Source: Fox Sports
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