The defense is “wrooooong”. Are you sure? Positive! That is a great exchange between Joe Pesci’s Vincent Laguardia Gambini and Marissa Tomei’s Mona Lisa Vito in the courtroom classic My Cousin Vinny. So what is the relevance to fantasy baseball in the dog days of August? Well, it is obvious no? One must admit when one is wrong and adapt. Own the fact that those tire tracks could not have been made with a car with positraction and move along! So without further delay, the week that was . . . .
Miguel Montero: Given up for roto-dead after his injury, Miguel Montero is making short-sighted fantasy owners pay. Sunday, the other Miggy went 1-2 with a 3 run jack. With Kyle Schwarber playing the outfield and Chris Coghlan playing second base, there should be plenty of time behind the dish for Montero. Like the old lady in My Cousin Vinny who realized she needed new glasses, you should too if you overlooked Montero in a two catcher league. After all, here is a guy who has double digit dingers in 6 of the last 7 years and whose OBP is .400 over the last 30 days. A definite buy target for those in fantasy pennant races!
Rusney Castillo: Rusney Castillo stayed red hot Sunday going 2-3 with an RBI and a run. As reported right here on Fantasy Alarm, Castillo is 19-59 with 14 runs, two home runs, 11 RBI and a stolen base recently. So if you wrote off Castillo, admit you were wrong! He came to the US from Cuba amidst great fanfare, made the show quickly and proceeded to hit .333 in his short 2014 debut. So, why would you write him off? Did you really think Victorino would keep the job? Did you really think the buried BoSox would fail to give their big investment a chance? If you did, admit you overreacted and see if someone in your league overreacts worse. Indeed in only 3 games this whole month has Rusney failed to get a hit. Buy if you can.
Andres Blanco: Do not look know but Andres Blanco is on fire. Blanco went 2-4 Sunday and is now 10-28 over his last eight games. With the Phillies playing better down the stretch, Blanco is a very sneaky daily game play. He costs very little against your budget and seems to produce something of value most days. Pay attention here!
Troy Tulowitzki: Ugh, so many of us blew the FAAB budget on Tulo when he was traded to Toronto. When will he hit??? Kind of like Vinny searching for some quiet among hogs, train whistles and prison rackets, Tulo is searching for his stroke. Despite his teammates putting crooked numbers up all over town, Tulo is hitting a paltry .167 over the last two weeks and .186 over the last 30 days. We have no choice but to hold Tulo for this year however, if you are playing for next year, I would try and sell now. I just do not see him staying healthy on that concrete field north of the border.
Tom Wilhelmsen: Do not look now but with the arrow shooting Fernando Rodney out of town and Carson Smith returning to earth, Wilhelmsen registered the save on Sunday. With his 95 MPH average fastball, pitchers’ park and opportunity, Wilhelmsen could be a sneaky pick going forward. Do not wait until those grits cook and grab saves that are there for the taking.
Jason Bourgeois: Welcome back to the show Jason. With all the injuries in Cincy (plus the trade of Byrd), Jason Bourgeios has been in the lineup. Be warned that he is not running as he did in the past. However, Cincy plays in a bandbox, Jason is getting opportunities at the top of the lineup and hitting .333 over the last 14 days. Those in NL-only leagues pay attention. Those in daily leagues – Blanco and Bourgeois are minimum salary guys who could allow you to really load up!
Travis Jankowski: Travis Jankowski has lived up to the hype so far. With Wil Venable in Texas, Jankowski is getting his opportunity in the show and making the most of it. So far, the young Padre is 5-9 with 2 runs and 3 RBI in his first 3 games. Given that he hit .393 in AAA this year and stole a total of 32 bases in less than a full minor league season this year, Jankowski could win your case for you. Buy!
And now the moment you well, may or may not be waiting for, the Baron of Bottom of the Page pontificates a/k/a Schultz says: “At first blush, scouting for talent amongst the teams dwelling in the cellar of any MLB division hardly seems like a productive strategy for achieving roto-success in the fantasy world. Nonetheless, if your team is in need of slight improvement (whose isn't?) or you enjoy the thrill of nabbing a great deal off the waiver wire (who doesn't?), the bottom dwellers are the place for bargain-basement shopping. Where else are prospects going to be given extensive time to ply their trade? In past years, September call-ups like Billy Hamilton, Jorge Soler and even Rusney Castillo have made their presence felt in tight roto-battles.
While a bit early to speculate who will get an audition as the weather turns cold - although Cuban Hector Olivera seems a lock - the Red Sox pitching staff may have a couple bargains that could help you right now. Eduardo Rodriguez spent the early part of 2015 struggling with consistency and the occasional shelling. Once it was determined that he was likely tipping his pitches, Rodriguez has become an above-average starter, even if the wins are few and far between for his club. Joining E Rod (let's make this catch on) in the Sox' rotation of the future is Henry Owens, who is slowly but surely learning the cliched ropes of pitching in the big show. Even when he gets creamed, he strikes out 10 in the process. Especially for those in keeper leagues, Owens is well worth the proverbial flyer.”
Response: Hmmm, there is some good information there but I do not think the Schultz-isms will be catching on any time soon!