WEEK AHEAD: WHO'S LOSING DH AT-BATS? SportingNews [06/14/2009]
There's good symmetry to the schedule this week:Every team has six games, and every team has at least one series versus aninterleague opponent. And since head-to-head stat splits often have littlevalue in interleague play (due to the infrequency of at-bats against the otherleague), we stick to the theme of who will lose or gain DH at-bats that wefirst explored
inMay and in
a blog post last week.
The biggest effect on fantasy leaguers usually isto those who own a DH who is in danger of losing playing time. Typically, theNL players who gain DH at-bats this week are useful only to those in NL-onlyleagues -- and for just a short period of time.
Sure, there might be a case where a player makes arun for more playing time based on having a good week at DH, but usually the NLteams are just trying to temporarily fill a gap. The Brewers said they'd keep
Mat Gamel through interleague games to have him as a DH, but they haven'tguaranteed him a spot beyond that -- something for fantasy prospectors to watch.
The American League teams that don't have to worryabout losing the DH include the Red Sox, Royals and Twins because they are at homeall week (where DH rules will be in play).
So David Ortiz and Mike Jacobs owners don't have toplan for adjustments (unless it's simply to get a better hitter in theirlineups). Plus, the fact Jason Kubel can stay at DH for Minnesota means a complicated outfieldsituation of Delmon Young, Carlos Gomez, Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer won'tget any worse.
Meanwhile, the White Sox, A's, Rays and Blue Jaysare the AL teamswho are on the road all week. Jim Thome, Jack Cust, Pat Burrell and KevinMillar will either see reductions in playing time or work elsewhere, like inthe outfield where Cust could cut into Adam Cunningham's time - and laterTravis Buck's once he returns from the DL.
The remaining AL teams have one home and one roadseries, meaning the potential for lost at-bats is there for Baltimore's LukeScott or Nolan Reimold, Cleveland's Travis Hafner, Detroit's Marcus Thames, theAngels' Vladimir Guerrero, the Yankees' Hideki Matsui, Seattle's Ken GriffeyJr. or Endy Chavez, and Texas' Hank Blalock or Chris Davis.
Good luck with your DH decisions this week. Log onto
Fantasy Source for more updates.
Read more of George Winkler's Week Ahead column at Fantasy Source.THOME SMOKES A FARNSWORTH HEATER ESPN [04/07/2009]
Last year, Kyle Farnsworth gave up 15 home runs in 60 innings. In his career, Farnsworth has allowed a .441 slugging percentage to left-handed hitters. Jim Thome is a left-handed hitter with 541 caree...
CRASNICK: WHITE SOX VETERANS KNOW THE SCORE ESPN [03/03/2009]
The old guard won't be caught off guard in Chicago. Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome are well aware the White Sox are trying to get younger.
