Icon SMI
Raven Maniac
Flying High!
... picking the waiver wire clean, one pitcher
at a time.
This is the second edition of a regular feature here on www.fantasybaseballgeeks.com ... Flying High! Every couple of weeks this crazy Raven recaps a few pitchers who *might* be available on your league's waiver wire and give you a bird's eye view of what to expect if you add them to your roster.
Hopefully, as the season progresses, we'll come across a few pitchers who have the potential to move you up a couple of places in the standings either this year or, maybe, in the future if you are playing in a keeper/dynasty league.
Each day I generally prepare a list of pitchers I want to look at or evaluate - this could be a televised MLB game (Extra Innings package I love you) or a trip to a nearby minor league game where a pitcher on the patent pending RavenRadar is scheduled to pitch. Every couple of weeks I will select a few of these pitchers and give you my insights and recommendations right here ... consider it one click scouting!!!
Let's get started with chapter 2 of Flying High! ...
Yovani Gallardo (Milwaukee) - Gallardo's availability could very well depend on your league's structure. In dynasty leagues, keepers, and even leagues with deeper benches he is probably already on a roster and stashed away waiting for the good times. However, if you play in a redraft league or in any league with very few bench spots, he started 2008 on the DL and he might still be out there and its time to pounce! Prior to last season, I had Gallardo ranked second (behind only Tim Lincecum) on my must have list. He remains one of my favorite young pitching prospects and he is someone who can help you now and for many years in the future (for you keeper owners). Gallardo has a fastball that can get into the 90-97 ranges to go along with a very effective slider and a potent curve. Perhaps most importantly, he can throw any of them for strikes, which equates to a fairly high strikeout rate and an excellent WHIP.
Recommendation: It's time to use that #1 waiver pick or your FAAB budget ... you aren't likely to find someone with more upside on the wire. Gallardo pitched deep into his first start off the DL and should be ready to produce right away.
Shawn Hill (Washington) - Another pitcher coming off the DL, Hill is probably the best starter in the Nationals rotation when he is healthy. Unfortunately, Hill has been a bit fragile and he is best suited to be a "pick your spots" starter on a fantasy team that can stash him on the bench while he works through his latest ailment. He is straightforward with a fastball (low 90s), curve and change and when he is stretched and in a groove, he can throw strikes. Hill is not overpowering but his ball moves, he changes speeds and spots his pitches pretty well. He is not likely to ring up an exceptionally high k/9 ratio but he will be an average strikeout pitcher. He had elbow surgery in 2005 and has had a variety of other injuries, which have cost him developmental time, but if he can put the injury bug behind him, he can be a solid middle of a fantasy rotation starter.
Recommendation: He is not likely to pitch deep into games over the next few weeks as he builds his arm strength back up but he could be a very valuable add for later this season if he can take a regular turn for the rest of the year.
Jonathan Sanchez (San Francisco) - So far in 2008, Sanchez has given fantasy owners exactly what they should expect as he matures - extreme inconsistency. With some of the best stuff around, Sanchez still struggles with command from game-to-game or even inning-to-inning. He can get beat up one start and then throw a low-hit, high strikeout gem his next and trying to guess which it will be on any given night is virtually impossible. Sanchez' command struggles can generally be attributed to a failure to maintain his arm slot/release point and occasionally forgetting to stay on top of the ball (the action that both keeps the ball down in the zone and creates that movement which makes him very difficult to square up. Last year, and so far this year, the lapses of command seem to be getting further and further apart and that will likely mean more consistent performances. Expect higher pitch counts resulting in fewer innings pitched but he is worth considering for a pick up.
Recommendation: Sanchez is not too far behind teammates Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain on the upside measuring stick so he is worth grabbing, especially in keeper leagues. If you have to use him regularly this year, expect some rough spots, but keep thinking about the future - his could be a bright one.
B.J. Ryan (Toronto) - It is appropriate for us to "close" this edition of Flying High! with a reliever coming back from major surgery. B.J. Ryan struggled in a couple of early outings last year and ended up having arm surgery to end his 2007 season in May. He returned last week even though 11 months is very quick to come back, and he is already getting regular save opportunities. Ryan's velocity is down a bit as he continues to work his way back to full strength, but he has enough movement on his pitches to be successful even when he is only pitching in the upper 80s and low 90s. In addition, his command is not as sharp as you might expect to see when he is at the top of his game, but he is the closer and he will get you regular saves. Some will question his health and, because he will not pitch on consecutive days for a while, some will overreact to Accardo or another Jays reliever getting the occasional save so he might still be available on your wire.
Icon SMI
Recommendation: A dominant closer before the injury, he displays the same mound presence he had when he was one of the best in the game. He shows nice fluid motion and is worth a pick up even though he will miss chances on back-to-back days as the Jays temper his return with caution.
Please email me with questions, comments, or just to talk pitching: raven@fantasybaseballgeeks.com
