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Raven Maniac
Flying High!
... picking the waiver wire clean, one pitcher
at a time.
This is the eleventh 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.
September! It seems like just yesterday we were talking about draft strategies and now its all about the playoff run, and for some, the "wait 'til next year" hot stove league is already on the calendar. So Flying High! will adjust slightly and provide a "lightning round" of names to be watching as the curtain falls on 2008. Some of these are worthy of a pickup for the remainder of this year, but more are guys you might want to acquire in keeper leagues or add to your list of arms to target at your 2009 draft. There is a lot of potential value here, and isn't that what Roto is all about?
All right, let's get started with chapter 11, the Winter Is Coming Lightning Round Edition of Flying High! ...
1. Yovanni Gallardo - In March 2007 Gallardo was the second name on my "must have" kid list right behind Tim Lincecum. After missing most of 2008 with an injury there may be many who have forgotten how good he could be. Don't be one of those.
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2. Clayton Kershaw - He's right there on that super kid list too. He has been up and down in 2008 so some may undervalue his potential one more year. Next year he begins to establish himself as a top tier starter.
3. Brandon Morrow - Will he start? Will he close? You shouldn't really care; he has the stuff to be very successful in either role. However, he is almost assuredly going to start next year and he might just lead the AL in strikeouts. Amazingly, there are still non-believers out there so maybe he's still available.
4. Dustin McGowan - Everyone here knows how heavily he was hyped going into this season - by myself and a few others. Injuries sidetracked his progress but he's definitely worth another chance. Disappointed owners in 2008 might scratch him off their lists and that will make the pick all the sweeter.
5. Chris Carpenter - His value in 2009 may be heavily influenced by his numbers in late 2008. His first start showed a lot of explainable rust so his command isn't there yet. If he stays healthy he could be back in a big way next year.
6. Justin Verlander - 2008 has been a roller coaster with some serious struggles early on that will tarnish his season stats. Take a chance that this year was just a season of growth with the best yet to come.
7. Jonathan Sanchez - Yeah, the Giants could have 3 "ace" quality pitchers and this one will be the least publicized. If he refines his delivery to maintain the proper arm slot he could be a dominant strikeout producer. He's very close.
8. David Purcey - Another lefty with huge strikeout potential and improving command. He is not unlike Sanchez in that they both need to consistently throw strikes to be a major force. 2008 was a big step forward for him and he might not be on too many radar screens just yet.
9. Trevor Cahill - He doesn't have the gaudy high 90's heat so there are those who question his long term potential. He throws all of his not great but above average pitches for strikes anywhere in the count. I'd give him a chance.
10. Joel Hanrahan - Let's close out the first 10 with a new closer. Lots of stuff but he's all over the place at times. The opportunity is there for him and he will need to work on his command but I think he has the potential to be a good one going forward.
11. Sean Gallagher - He might not deserve to be quite this high on the list but I like what I have seen since he moved to Oakland. Injuries darkened his 2008 numbers a bit but if he keeps his pitch counts down and his breaking balls in the strike zone he could be a very productive sleeper.
12. Oliver Perez - Lots of people hate him. That's good news for you. New pitching coach Dan Warthen moved his spot on the rubber and inserted a pause at the beginning of his windup. He's throwing strikes with movement again. Beware.
13. Scott Baker - May be the quietest success story in MLB in 2008. He's a soft-tosser with incredible command which means he is a poor man's Greg Maddux. Okay, that's pretty presumptive, but it's not impossible. He's a good middle of the roto rotation guy.
14. Clay Buchholz - The post hype poster child for 2009. Late last year he pitches a no-no and he is discussed in conversations with Lincecum et al. Next year is the year to get him cheap after a rough 2008. I have a hunch he'll be back in a big way.
15. Manny Parra - I really thought he might break out in a big way in 2008 despite rather limited pro experience. He has shown positive signs but throws too many pitches which have lead to a higher WHIP and shorter outings. Next year the experience starts to pay off.
16. Ian Snell - He's been a mess for most of 2008. Don't be fooled, its still there. If he can get it back together (see Oliver Perez) you could have a major steal and he'll never be this cheap again.
17. Luke Hochevar - Slowly but surely he is developing into the pitcher he could be. The clock is ticking on him as a value pick because he's the kind of arm who finds it all at once and makes a big splash not unlike Edinson Volquez has this year.
18. Koji Uehara - On par with Dice-K in Japan, he has had some injury problems, was converted to closing, and some say his Japanese team is punishing him for saying he is definitely coming to the US in 2009.
19. Ian Kennedy - Another finesse type who struggled in his 2008 trials. He wasn't quiet ready and it's harder for a pitcher who doesn't have overpowering stuff to establish himself because mistakes are more costly. He is coming along.
20. Radhames Liz - There is nothing finesse about him. He's all power but his mechanics do not always result in a repeatable delivery so his command can be awful. He has better stuff than Jonathan Sanchez but is behind him in development. He still has an undefined role, especially with Ray due back next spring, but he is a pure potential pick.
Please email me with questions, comments, or just to talk pitching: raven@fantasybaseballgeeks.com