The Fantasy Baseball Daily Fix: Lots of Injuries & Quarter Year Awards
A-Rod is going to have his hip checked-out. Apparently his two-homer outburst on Tuesday did not alleviate concerns over his health. Keep an eye on this, as they say, “hips don’t lie”.
Matt Holliday left the game early with “tight quadriceps” and
Lance Berkman was removed from the game after reporting some tightness in his wrist as the result of a diving catch. The middle of the Cardinals order has been fearsome with Holliday, Berkman, Colby Rasmus and Albert Pujols. Any lingering injuries to Holliday and Berkman could rob the other two of the protection they need in the line-up.Finally,
Daisuke Matsuzaka will miss at least a month with a strained ulnar collateral ligament and strained flexor.When there has been any type of injury to your ligaments, whether that be in your wrist or to your elbow, you could be facing a lot of time on the sidelines. Certain nerves in the wrist are protected by what’s called the carpal tunnel, and if these nerves start to get compressed, they can cause pain, numbness and tingling. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome tends to occur in athletes, like Matsuzaka, as they repeatedly use their wrist in a similar sort of motion on a frequent basis. When this happens, you could be forced into finding a surgeon who can carry out successful carpal tunnel surgery in order for you to return to the court as soon as possible. When athletes suffer from an injury, it is important that they do whatever they need to, to ensure they can return back to their sport.
After all that we need some positive injury news and we have it in the form of
Jake Peavy. The former Padre picked up his first victory of the season by scattering 3 hits over nine innings without giving up a run. It looks like he might be fully back after his unique injury and ensuing surgery.There will be no
Bryce Harper this year. The Nationals GM said that they did not think he would be ready this year, but he left some wiggle room by saying they would bring him up when he is ready. For the record Harper is batting .366, 9 HR, 31 RBI and 1.103, and his numbers are even more impressive since his discovery of the modern marvel known as contact lenses.Jose Bautista has been proving everyone wrong this year. He was especially good this past week with .435 average and 5 home runs. But one other stat sticks out, despite those numbers he only had 7 RBI’s last week, and on the season despite 16 HR he only has 27 RBI. This means those players ahead of him are not getting on base and robbing him of valuable RBI opportunities.
In their 42nd game of the season, the Oakland A’s offense finally busted out and topped the 10-run barrier in a 14-0 trouncing of the rival Angels.
Quarter Season Awards:
Honorable Mention:Curtis Granderson (.263, 14, 31) Special points are awarded for him as he spends all day with senior citizens and still continues to carry the geriatric crew.
End of the year Prediction: Adrian Gonzalez The Sox and Gonzalez have picked it up recently. Gonzalez is having a ridiculous May (.349, 8, 22)
AL CY YOUNG: It looked like a race between Dan Haren and Jered Weaver early in the year, but they have cooled off and opened the door for a wide-open race. Still, Dan Haren, Top-3 in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts gets a slight nod over Trevor Cahill, Jered Weaver, and Josh Becket.
End of the year Prediction: BARTOLO COLON! Ok, I can’t back that, but I’ll take Justin Verlander, I know he is inconsistent, but I don’t have 100% faith in anyone ahead of him. Plus, he just faced 50 hitters without giving up a hit, anyone with that kind of stuff can put it together for a season and win the Cy Young.
NL MVP: Your 1st Quarter MVP is…Lance Berkman? (.349, 11, 35) I feel like Ron Burgundy when someone put a question mark on the teleprompter (“I’m Ron Burgundy?”) I know he has cooled, but multiply those numbers by 4 and tell me those aren’t MVP numbers (.349, 44, 140).
End of the Year Prediction: Ryan Braun (.302, 12, 33) entering his prime, consistently good, with protection in the name of Prince Fielder (also, playing for a contract). At least I didn’t take the easy way out and pick Albert Pujols to come back strong and win it.
NL CY YOUNG: Jaime Garcia (5-0, 1.64 ERA, 53 SO). The entire Phillies staff has received more publicity and Josh Johnson has been superb, but Jaime has become the number one the Cardinals needed to replace Wainwright.
End of the Year: I’ll take the lazy choice, Roy Halladay.
And finally, Yes,
Evan Longoria is pretty dope, but nobody can do this!Written by Chris Summers exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com
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(May 13, 2011 – Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)
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